I stood there, Cici plastered to my side, as we waited for Clarissa. She had promised us both that nothing like what her father did would ever happen again. As the only child of the Baron, she was next in line to take his place, and she promised us that things would be different. She was currently getting me some clothing from one of their spare rooms, as mine were pretty fucking shredded, and I didn't want to take Cici back to her village with my penis and stuff hanging out.
Cici rubbed her head against my bicep, and it just made me smile. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. I had told her of what I had done, of the people I freed and sent home, and of saving and meeting her family. Her response was a teary eyed kiss and her telling me repeatedly how much she loved me.
"Thank you so much Eli. I bet my mom was shocked." Cici said when I told her about saving her mom.
"Yeah...I still would have done it even if I knew it wasn't you, but I would have handled it... differently." I said, wincing at the memory. She'd definitely have questions, but I really wanted her to approve of me.
"She probably already knows, or suspects it after that. My mom is really good at reading into things like that. I wouldn't worry though, I'm sure she'll love you when she gets to know you." She said with a smile.
I just nodded. I sure hoped so. I wanted her to like me. For them all to like me, because they all seemed like a wonderful family. After a while, Cici began to look me over with inquiring eyes, and began to feel my biceps, and trace her fingers over my chest and abdomen. The touch was electric.
"You definitely definitely got an amazing class if it let you do all of this, and made you look like this. What is it, exactly? You're so... big." She said, and I paused.
Of course I was going to tell her, but...
"Maybe... wait till we get back to your village? It's a lot to take it. Still is for me." I said.
She just leaned against me, purring contently. Now, instead of being just cute, that sound was also incredibly sexy to the ears.
"Makes sense. There are more ears around here, too." She replied, her tone like silk against to my ears.
"Sorry, my dad had a lot of useless stuff, but I found something you might like." She said, and when I took a look at what she brought me, I found that I did indeed like the clothes she brought me quite a bit.
For one, the outfit was all black, so that was a plus in my book. The chest reminded me of black light armor you'd find in an RPG, with various thin plates covering the chest, the arms, and the shoulders. It also had a cape, black as night, attached to it that would end at about the back of my thighs. I guess the main character look is in full swing in this world.
The pants were much the same, although the armor was much more subtle, and instead, the pants were made of a thicker material, but there were thin plates on the knees of the pants. The boots kinda reminded me of combat boots, only the quality was much better than anything anyone made on Earth. And that went for the whole fit as well.
"Oh! I bet that'll look great on you!" Cici said from side, and I turned to look at her.
She had on an elegant looking dark blue silk shirt with enough of a gap in the chest to see a decent amount of soft cleavage, but not too much that it was inappropriate. The damn pants she wore similar colored pants that put velvet leggings to shame, the garments hugging her thighs and ass so tightly, I had trouble concentrating on much else if I looked for too long. They had even cut a hole for her cute fluffy tail in the back of it, and it swayed back forth happily as she continued to look at me.
"Nothing I do will ever be better than how you look at all times." I told her after taking all of her in.
She blushed furiously, but the smile she wore was wide, and I even saw the gathering mositure in her eyes. I leaned down, placing a kiss on her head, making her purr loudly, before walking over to an equally red faced, but also very guilty looking Clarissa.
"Stop making that face, Clarissa." I said, making her jump in surprise, but she still looked a little sad.
"Seeing how much you both care about each other... it's sweet... and my father tried to take that away from you. He took that away from so many people." She said, tears leaking from her eyes.
I walked over to her, and put my hands on her shoulders, making her look at me.
"Key words. 'Your father.' Not you. You've done nothing wrong. You helped me get her back to me, and I'm grateful to you for that. So please, stop blaming yourself for this. I don't like seeing my friends sad." I told her, making her look at me in surprise, before her lips trembled, and she buried her face into my chest.
I smiled as I returned her hug, and Cici joined by rubbing the girls head. She really did help me, and was a kind girl. I felt a sorta kindred spirit with her, as it was clear she didn't have many friends, if any at all, before today. It really must have been hard given her station, and who her father was. Cici had offered to be her friend, and after what she had done for me, of course I'd be there for her. I could use some more genuine and honest people in my life anyways.
"Listen to Eli. I'm not upset with you, and neither is he. And we're happy to call you a friend, so enough of this self blame, okay?" Cici added softly, and Clarissa just nodded against me as she sniffed.
"You two are the first people to ever want to be my friends." Clarissa mumbled through her tears.
"Well, then others are missing out. You're a wonderful person, Clarissa, and I know you can turn this place around." I told her, and she nodded, more firmly this time.
"It'll be a hassle, but I think I can do it. I'm old enough to take his place, and people will listen to me because I'm the Baron's daughter, "The Framework should... oh!"
She paused, looking at nothing, or seemingly staring off into space. I assumed she was looking at something her windows were displaying, and curious myself, I used Abyssal Eye on her.
[Name: Clarissa Osark]
[Age: 19]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Ice Mage (C-)]
[Designation: Baroness of Bergast (New)]
"Oh damn." I said, noting her to be far more impressive than I had first assumed.
She hadn't even used any spells or frozen anything, so an Ice Mage was not what I expected to see from her class. Granted, she probably didn't like using her magic in town, or against her own people. She also just didn't seem like the kinda person would liked to fight, or hurt anyone. The other thing was that it looked like the Framework, well, worked fast. It must have just given her the Baroness title while we were talking.
"Congratulations, Baroness Osark." I said, smiling at her.
Her eyes opened in surprise.
"Do you have an inspection skill too?" She asked me.
"Yeah, something like that. Cool class, by the way. Ice Mages are pretty cool." I said, making her flush, and tuck a strand of her black hair behind an ear. Honestly, the movement was really cute, and I realized just how pretty this girl was.
"Well... you know, I've trained and practiced a lot, but not against people. I don't like the idea of fighting, or of using my class against people. My dad always seemed disappointed in me for that." She said, and I shook my head.
"Don't even feel that way. Not everyone is a fighter, and no one should have to fight if they don't want to." I said, and she smiled weakly at me.
"Like you had to..?" She asked, and I grunted in acknowledgement.
"Yeah... but I'd do it again." I growled, my hand reaching for Cici reflexively, and her hand grasped mine.
The feeling of her warm palm against mine, her soft and delicate fingers interlocked with mine, and the way her thumb gently rubbed the top of my hand gave me a sense of peace I'd never felt before. Like this was where I belonged. Any where that Cici was, that was the only place I wanted to be. That was where my heart was. Thinking about it now, while I didn't relish my actions leading up to this point, I did what I had to do to protect my woman, and I wouldn't hesitate to do so again.
Okay, so maybe I did enjoy torturing that guy a bit more than I'd like to admit, but he deserved it. Any scumbag like that deserved that, and worse.
Clarissa eventually sighed.
"It looks like I have a lot of work to do. At least I'd been learning of and reading up on my father's duties. But I won't do anything like he did, and I'll make sure full reparations are paid to your people, and more." She said, and when Cici opened her mouth, Clarissa held up a hand.
"I will do my best to stop blaming myself. That's what... my friends would want." She said, smiling at her own words, "But, as the new Baroness of this town, I have to make amends. Not to just you two, but to every one there. As an apology, and as a promise that this will never happen again."
She looked around the room, at the body of her father, and at blood and bodies of the other guards. She winced.
"I didn't care for any of them, but I'm gonna have to hire more guards and personnel." She said, sighing again, "Things are about to get busy."
"Sorry." I said, and Clarissa shook her head, and gave me a sincere smile.
"No. This was... all my dad's fault. I'll make it right, and I'll do it better. Once you two leave, I'll get started immediately. I think I'll go and find people to clean up first, though..." She said, gagging as she spotted someone's sml intestine laying on the ground.
Cici pulled at my hand?
"Yes baby?" I asked, and she smiled a cute little fanged smile at me.
"I could get used to hearing that." Cici said, but then she added, "I want to see my family... I miss them."
I smiled at her as I as held her close to my side, and she melted against me like puddy.
"Time to go home?" I asked her.
"Yes. That sounds wonderful." She said, making me smile as I turned to Clarissa.
"You mind? We'd love to come and visit you again." I said, and her lips turned up at that.
"You're always welcome here." She said, and gave us both a polite bow of her head, "This place has kept you long enough. Go, and see your family. I'll await your next visit, Cici, Eli." She said, and Cici and I both just chuckled as we both engaged in a group hug with the woman.
"Oh... you two..." Clarissa said, hugged us both back.
Once that was done, she walked us both out of the room, and back towards the entrance. In only a few short minutes, we were back outside, and she gave us one last smile.
"Come back soon! And... maybe kill less people next time?' She asked, and I grimaced, but nodded.
"Y-yeah. I'll do my best." I said.
"Maybe you could come and visit the village sometime." Cici said, and that put a big smile of Clarissa's face.
"I'd... I'd like that." She responded softly.
I picked up my lover, cradling her against my like the princess she was, causing her to make a little "EEP" noise. My wings extended from by back, and she just watched in facination. We both looked back at Clarissa one last time.
"Take care of yourself." I said, and she smiled.
"We'll see you again soon!" Cici added.
"Have a safe trip back. I'll be waiting for you both." She said, and she began to tear up at the fact that we were leaving.
I gave her one last reassuring smile, before I leapt into the air, one flap of my wings sending us up hundreds of feet in a second.
"UNHOLY HELLS!" Cici screamed, burying her face into my chest, and clutching me tightly.
"Just hang on to me. We'll be home soon." I said, then paused at that. Home...
As I looked down at the woman in my arms, who I'd grown insanely attached to over the last month, I couldn't help but smile. This was home. Anywhere this wonderful woman was... that was where I belonged. That was my home. Without any more preamble, we blasted forward, Cici screeching in my arms.