Misc. Erotica Asian Experience becomes an Isekaie

"We have potions here, cheaper than the ones you buy at the herbalist," Darline called after him as Jake neared the door.

"What, and have you poison me?" Jake retorted, clearly taking her aback by that remark. "Yeah, no thanks."

"Everyone follow my lead," Shasa ordered, taking charge as she led the way through the archway. It was the only reliable way to move vast distances.

"No hard feelings about the knife to the neck," said the twenty-something man who had been to the right of him on that day.

"Who doesn't hold grudges against the people who point weapons at one's throat," Jake said humorlessly.

"Just not to the point where one has to look out for the knife, eh?" he retorted. He would have to take that as a yes, as Jake just walked away from them the moment he stepped out of the archway.

"Alright, everyone!" Shasa began to roll out their game plan as Jake buffed himself. She noted how the magical circles were appearing around Jake doing whatever he normally did when facing such beasts. She saw that same indifference on his face when she paired him up with Morgan and Uriel.

"I shall cast protection on us..."

"I'm fine. Your spell would just interfere with my own," Jake lied; he just didn't want to owe anyone of them a thing.

"As you wish," Morgan uttered, placing the spell on herself and Uriel. She just didn't understand why their leader just didn't release Jake from the Guild. They all knew he hated them. She just didn't think keeping him on was going to end well for anyone. "Uriel and I are used to fighting together. You're free to act as you will," she uttered; Jake was gone before the last word had a chance to settle on their shoulders. What worry that was playing out in her head faded to the wayside as the dragon's roar thundered through the area, knowing the fight of their lives was on.

Jake was panting hard as he retreated behind the barrier the mages had set up as he gathered his second wind. While he was glad, the beast couldn't fly since it was technically an earth dragon. He could tell the beast was just as tired as he was as he downed mana, health, and a stamina potion to deal with the fatigue he felt. Straightening out his back as he stood and stretched out his weariness. His eyes moved over the beast, wondering which part he was going to take with him since he knew Shasa was going to screw him over. He wondered if his new friends had ever had dragon meat before as he noted the dragon was holding on, but the end was neigh. His face was set as he raced back into the fight. The five wands he had on his person began to leave the pouches on his belt as he raced to the rear of the dragon where the more delicate meat was. He knew he was drawing too much attention to himself as he mentally controlled all five wands at once. Each firing off a different element when he added his fireball and dark bolt to the mix, the dragon howled in pain as the spells collided with the beast's massive side. Chanting the spell to conjure a giant battleaxe, using his hands to guide the weapon through the air in an arch.

Blood sprayed everywhere as the dragon swung its tail in pain, coating the ground with its life force. He turned his head as he heard the shout of 'Holy Javelin' before it struck the same spot on the dragon's hide. It was due to the combination of elements that caused the erosion of the dragon's scales, weakening them enough for Morgan's spell to tear through the dragon's midsection, thus ending its reign on the world. With the dragon dead, he slung the six-foot part of its tail he had cut off over his shoulder.

"Who said you can take a part of the kill?!" Shasa shouted out as she hurried to stop Jake from leaving.

"I did; I fought far more than you did. You were planning on screwing me out of my gold anyway. So I'm taking my reward; enjoy your fucking fame," Jake said, flipping her off as he muttered the spell to open the doorway to his home. He watched as the doorway crumbled as Shasa tried to reach him before it closed. Hanging up the tail by its tip to drain the remaining blood from it. He smiled at it as it swung back and forth. Jake began to remove the scales and the horns that ran along the top of the tail. Those alone would be worth the fifty gold he would have gotten. Then again, he was debating on whether he could collect the gold from them or from the clients themselves. Shaking that thought from his mind, knowing that would bring more questions than he was willing to answer and draw Shasa's attention to what he's been doing since distancing himself from the Guild.

"Don't expect to be joining us at the capital for Morgan's inception to the Platinum rank since you couldn't stick around after the battle."

"Meh, not interested," Jake replied. "If you try to stiff me out of my pay. You won't have a Guild to lead, clear?"

"Oh, wouldn't dream of it, you pussy. I bet you're mopping like a little bitch. Hope you won't regret this. Platinum-rank is a once in a life time kind of thing, and you just threw your own chance away to earn it as well. Shame."

"Yeah, you seem to think I care. Now, goodbye," Jake said, cutting off the magic flow. Once the dragon tail was dressed, he went into his home and cleaned the blood that dripped onto his armor off before it stained the metal. Since he didn't see the reason to go in his full armor, he only kept his gauntlets and greaves on; the rest he stored in his home. Feeling very light on his feet, he rebuckled his sword belt to his waist. He carefully rolled up the dressed dragon tail and wrapped it in a magical web to keep the meat clean and chilled as he wrapped the meat in giant palm leaves. He wondered what their faces would look like when he showed them the meat.

Jake pressed himself against a tree in the little cluster he appeared in that was a quarter mile from the town. He didn't want anyone learning about his spell. Once he was sure the coast was clear, he left the underbrush and stepped out onto the well-worn road. He waved friendly to the people he passed on the road into town as his guild plate bumped against his breastplate, showing off his pride in it. Something in the leather shop caught his attention. What it was, he couldn't say. Still, the sight of the dragonnewt leather, pondering if he should do what he was contemplating. He knew he had enough dragon scales to do what he was thinking. He wondered how they would take it if he did. He theorized no one would turn down extra armor to protect one's heart. After haggling with the armor about what he wanted, he headed off towards the Guild in hopes of catching them. Jake almost ran into Mark as he and the others were using the back alley as a shortcut, except for Marda, who was using the congested roads. Jake shared friendly smiles and warm welcomes as they greeted one another.

"I take it was a rough battle?" Jake uttered, referencing their soiled and tattered clothing and damaged armor.

"It was difficult but nothing we couldn't handle," Bard said truthfully as they all continued their trek to the Guild as one.

"What brings you to town, Jake?" Holly asked, noting everyone's interest, namely Shion, when she asked that question.

"Oh, going to sell some dragon horns and wondered if you all ever had dragon meat before?" Jake asked, feeling very ill at ease at their blank, blinking stares.

"You telling us you've been dragon hunting, and you didn't ask us to join you?!" Mark said, incensed at missing out on such an opportunity.

"Yeah, sorry, when I hear about another, I'll let you know," Jake said, feeling he was about to be killed at any moment.

"No, we have not had that luxury to know what a dragon tastes like, seeing how most dragons range in the west of the kingdom," Shion said offhandedly, grinning at Jake, wondering how he was going to get out of it. "Why do you ask?"

"Was wondering if you wanted to join me in feasting on what I have in my pack," Jake said sneakily with a devious smirk on his lips at how ravenous they appeared at his words.

"And you wanted to share this with us?" Holly asked, touched by his kindness as Jake nodded. Everyone knew dragon meat was a very sweet and juicy cut of meat highly sought by the nobility.

"I mean, if you all don't want to help me eat it..."

"Nah, mate, we definitely will be helping you," Bard said in all seriousness, with the others nodding, matching Bard's emotions.

"Yeah," Shion's alluring voice filled his ears, causing him to peer over at her, "we definitely can't allow you to horde those goodies to yourself," Shion said, dragging him towards the Guild Hall.

"Greetings, Jake, good to see you again," Marda greeted as they all met up in front of the Hall.

"Marda, how's life?" Jake asked, trying to ignore the three-foot height difference between them.

"Can't complain, quests need doing, and my purse is always full," Marda joked.

"Marda, you won't believe what Jake brought for us," Holly said, moving to her friend's side as they took the long way around the Guild Hall, where the more vertical members could enter.

"Oh?"

"Thanks for this, Jake; I know the others are not going to forget this," Shion whispered to him as Marda's voice faded away after she rounded the corner. "So, what kind of dragon did you fight?" she asked curiously.

"Ever hear of the Mountain Dragon?" Seeing the sign of recognition in her eyes as they grew wide at the name.

"Y-y-you fought against such a monster?!" Shion stammered.

"I did," Jake nodded. "Got requested to help with the Guilds in its battle. Have no idea if the noble that woke the damn thing is still alive or not. Hopefully not; by the time I got there, they had already been fighting it for a day or so. A few times, thought I'd be dead," he admitted.

"I'd bet, I mean, it's a dragon!" Shion exclaimed, throwing up her arms.

"What's taking you two!" Mark called out, waving for them to catch up.

All five of them crowded around the table. Their faces showed their glee as Jake unwrapped the tail. Mark and Bard raced to the kitchen, hoping they could get the cook to cook up the tail for them. A crowd hovered along the edges as Jake seasoned the meat. The thumping of feet caused Jake to raise his head as Mark carried a very large bread peel. He had cut off six inches of the tail just for his friends to try out while the bulk of the meat cooked.

"What's this about a dragon?" Marlin spoke loudly as she came out from the back rooms of the Guild Hall. "Are you bringing chaos into my Guild Hall?" she asked with a smile on her face when she walked up to his and Marda's group's table.

"Of course, have to show these people what they're missing, don't I, Boss?" Jake joked, keeping the meat aloft as it rotated over the flame Mark was maintaining.

"And that's the meat that's been driving these fools into a frenzy?" Marlin asked, trying to keep her nose from wiggling as the smell began to fill her Guild Hall.

"What... this?" Pointing at it, to which Marlin just nodded, "Oh no, they're more gaga over the five and a half feet that's currently in the kitchen cooking than this little piece," Jake said with a devious grin on his face.

"I see, I see, you know, if you didn't bring enough for the rest of the Guild, that's just cruel," Marlin spoke as if she was speaking to a child. To her Jake and all the rest that weren't elven were children to her since she was already nearing her three hundredth and seventy-fifth year of life.

"To whom?" Jake retorted.

"To us," Marlin uttered, holding out her arms to her side to refer to the rest of the guild members who were still there and not out on quests. She knew only a small fraction of her people would be able to handle a dragon and come out of it alive and unharmed like it appeared Jake was.

"You all okay with that since I brought it for you all to enjoy?" Jake inquired, looking at his new friends. Who didn't hesitate to voice their agreement to share their meal with the rest of them.

"I'll have the cooks whip up some sides for us, no use in just having dragon meat!" Marlin cheered as she marched like a band leader towards the kitchen over the thunderous cheers of the Guild Hall.

Holly looked like she was in seventh heaven; Bard and Mark banged their heads on the table when there wasn't more meat to eat. Marda and Shion nearly melted at the sweetness and sheer goodness they'd never tasted before. Jake just sat there chewing on the crunchy bit of the end of the tail which he liked like it was just a normal meal to him. Which was given the numerous times he's had dragon meat.

"Oh man, that was soo good," Mark groaned as the table muffled his words slightly. "I want more," he looked up on the verge of tears. He peered over at Bard, who was lightly patting Mark's back in solidary in his pain.

"Do you always eat that good?"

"Not always," Jake lied not voicing that he still had the upper thigh of a dragon leg hanging in his root cellar that was under a time spell to keep it from spoiling. "Hey Marda, you ever think about having a dragon bone warhammer?" he asked, wondering if he blew the woman's mind as it appeared to him her mind just went offline at his question. The dishes on the table jumped a few inches in the air as her hands slammed on top of it.

"Who doesn't want dragon bone weapons?!" Marda's voice thundered, causing everyone to nod in agreement as she surged from her seat. She lowered herself back into her seat, clearing her throat, her face heated in her embarrassment at her display.

"I'm sure you want a dragon bone sword," Shion said, trying to show how foolish his question was. Since dragon bone weapons were on par to be the best weapons or armor one can have.

"No, why would I want another?" Jake countered with a smirk.

"Then your sword... it's dragon bone?" Bard asked in awe of the weapon when Jake nodded.

"It's better than a magical metal and lighter, too. It just looks like steel when it's forged," Jake informed him, seeing the envy in the man's eyes. "Want to hold it?" He just smiled at Bard's rapid nodding as he got up from his seat and drew his sword.

"Oh my gods, it's so light!" Bard exclaimed as he gave Jake's sword a few swings.

"Jake," her large hand covered his shoulder as she took hold of it, "I hope you weren't toying with my feelings," Marda asked, standing over him.

Jake felt really, really small at that moment. Fear like he's never known filled him as he stared up into her eyes. His throat was as dry as the Atacama desert as the fire of her envy burned around her like a cloak of bubbling emotions.

"N-n-no, nothing like that at all," Jake said nervously, waving his hands in front of him as the fear of death by snu-snu was evident in his mind. "Just I have a really old and large thigh bone that I can't even lift without magic, and I don't use normal arrows like Shion does. But I could sell it if you won't like for a new hammer." His heart went to his throat as Marda took him by both of her hands, who had no trouble making sure he knew he was nothing more than a rag doll to her as she lifted him off the floor and brought him to her eye level.

"Don't you mess with me, Jake. I'm not known for my civil temperament," Marda warned.

"I would never piss off a woman who could pop me like a pimple," Jake said with a smile, getting laughs from their friends.

"Good," lightly patting Jake's left arm once she had set him down, "I'd hate to wipe off the goo that would come out when you do go... pop," Marda teased, getting a ragging from his new friends as they crowded around him.

"Here, Jake, your drinks are on the house for the night," Marlin said, handing Jake a flagon of their best mead. "It's the least we can do for the dragon meat, right boys!" she exclaimed, turning to look at her members, who shouted in joy as they raised their own flagons in response. "I talked to Maston. He says he'll buy the horns, yet the Guild will need to wait to pay the rest of the balance off."

The cook made a grand performance as he carried out the bread peel with the now fully cooked tail steaming away on it's wooden surface. The helpers carried out the platters of side dishes so everyone at least got a taste of the dragon meat. He watched their faces as they had their first taste of a dragon. He never thought he would see the kind of look on an elf's face he saw on Marlin's.

"Don't worry, I got more; I'll bring some jerky for you all next time I'm in town," Jake whispered low, noting the serious looks on their faces at the mention of dragon jerky. He was not expecting the knives drawn by Bard and Shion pointing threateningly at him.

"You have us addicted to this life. You will continue to supply us with such goodness," Shion said, wearing a smile that felt far more menacing than friendly.

"I see, and I thought adventurers were supposed to be good and just..." The snort that filled the air came from someone he thought wouldn't, as Holly kept herself from smiling.

"Jake, Jake, Jake," Holly sighed, shaking her head, then her eyes shot open glaring at him in the most threatening way she could. "This is Yardrat; the gods know the world isn't just and good. So you will continue to feed us this divine bliss on which we have feasted." If Jake had to equate it to something back on earth, he would say it was akin to crack addiction.

"Holly," pointing his flagon at her, "I've met a few people aligned with the temples; got to say, you're my kind of priestess," Jake joked, getting a smile then a soft laugh out of her. Then he felt the cold dagger of death aimed at his heart when her face grew hard.

"You will bring it, mmmkay!" Holly chirped before returning to her normal demeanor.

Jake wondered if he had just created a monster. He leaned away as Shion had slid over close to him. He felt the curvature of her breasts as they pressed against his arm. Her breath was hot on his neck. Her lips brushed against his ear as she whispered into it.

"You break your word, I will take this," the tip of her knife caused Jake to jump in his seat as tip pressed into his sack, "we understand ourselves, yes?" Shion uttered in a heated tone.

"Perfectly."

"Good," Shion said, returning to her spot.

"So Jake, since you're here, and you know that forest better than anyone. When do you think would be best to tackle the monster?" Marda asked after they all had their fill of the feast.

"Three weeks, that's the new moon; he only comes out then. He is a cowardly little cunt, anyway; the problem is the rot he and his minions spread. It's counterable, but alone, it tends to overwhelm. Holly, you do have a purification spell, correct?"

"Yes, I am a senior cleric. It's one of my duties to purify areas," Holly stated, lapping up the last of the juice from the meat with the last bit of bread on her plate.

"In that case, we need a lot of mana potions for her to consume during the fight and a few rot potions for us when the spell is on cool down," Jake muttered aloud as he contemplated the battle plan that was forming in his head. "Marda, you're not magic-resistant like your kin are?"

"No, I wish I was," Marda said, blowing off her anger, knowing Jake wasn't trying to be rude.

"Ever fought with a shield before?"

"I have, only once," Marda answered, how it happened and how she moved with one.

"See if you can handle that," Jake said, pointing up to the conjured shield. "Good, you'll be our front line, Bard. You'll have to watch her back for her; he's a sneaky bastard."

"Just how many times have you fought that monster?" Bard asked, wondering just how tough the thing was if Jake couldn't handle it alone.

"Enough to know how it thinks," Jake answered, going over how the beast had attacked him using the leftover items on their table. The sun had gone to bed an hour ago as he left the Guild Hall. The light wind filled his lungs as he drew breathe and sighed, feeling light-hearted for the first time in a long time.

"Jake, wait up!" Shion said, rushing out of the Guild hall.

"Something I can help you with, Shion?" Jake asked, trying to keep his mind from focusing on how good her breasts felt and how she would sound as someone clapped her cheeks.

"Of course, there is Jake," Shion said, blending in perfectly into the night. Her smile grew when Jake spun around seeing how agitated he was by how quickly she got behind him. "You're taking me to your home," she said, slipping her arm around him. "Come, I know a good place to do what you do without being seen," Shion said with a coy smirk. "So I think I figured out why you left your former Guild."

"That so," Jake said plainly.

"I think it's about a woman," Shion uttered with a wicked grin.

"Uh-huh, and you think that's why?" Jake asked, his eyes moving around, making sure she wasn't leading him into a trap.

"Your cock got hard," Shion said in a sultry tone. "So you've been alone all this time, hmm?"

"You could say that," Jake said; he wasn't counting the elven brothel he regularly visited.

"This should be good, you shouldn't have any unwanted eyes here," Shion said, bringing him to what he took as an old stable that hadn't seen use in a while. He could see it was already in the process of being torn down. "I won't be attacked the moment I step through, right?" Shion asked, a little afraid of stepping into that forest.

"Here, I'll show you," Jake said, stepping through the doorway and waving for her to join him.

"Okay, I won't tell, but where exactly are we in the forest?" Shion asked, looking around at the high trees. Not seeing a hint of light through the throng of trees. She could feel the evil out within the dark forest before her. However, the area around her felt clean, with no taint of what she felt out there. Her eyes went wide in fear as a brilliant light grew, revealing the undead that wandered the forest before a wave of holy light obliterated those within fifty feet of the clearing.

"The center only place this item will work at given how this used to be a temple of some forgotten religion. With it, its holy light sanctifies this area once again banishing the undead in the area. Then I put up a barrier no one, without depleting large amounts of mana to break through it, can pass to keep this place safe from robbers. Since only the foolish would come this deep," Jake said, smiling at his own poke at himself at Shion's look. "We'll be safe here as long as you don't touch that," he directed, pointing at the holy light before it sank back into the ground where he had buried the relic.

"And why can't I touch it?" Shion asked, incensed.

"Didn't think you were a maiden," Jake uttered with a coy smirk before he turned and walked to his home. Not seeing the smile on Shion's face as he neared his home.

"My, I didn't know there were thirty-something virgins left in this world," Shion uttered, causing Jake to stop and burst out in laughter.

"Cute, but no, it was not I that reactivated the relic, I just paid a priestess to do it for me. She's the one who placed it in the ground. Using the spell is fine as long as I don't touch the ball of light," Jake said, with a flick of his finger, igniting the candles and lanterns around his home inside and out.

"Holy shit!" Shion jumped out of her skin as she came face to face with his demon skull. "You could have warned me, you jerk!" she exclaimed as Jake just balled out in laughter.

It was the reason he kept it there. Even if the fiend was long dead, its essence still lingered, and it was enough to keep must of the undead and foolish robbers from approaching his home. At least, that was his plan, and so far, it has worked.

"So now that you've seen my home, you believe me now?"

"I do," Shion said, looking around the place. She could feel the magic on her skin. Any blind fool could. "So, how did you learn that teleport spell?"

"Found it exploring a ruin in the north after I left a former party ofmine," the fight with Shiron played out in his mind, "where I picked up most of this stuff," Jake said, waving to the items around him. "Tea?"

"I can go for a cup," Shion nodded, knowing she needed more time to suss Jake out to the fullest, given where they were at the moment. "So where exactly is the Dark Emperor currently at?"

"He doesn't leave the ruins to the north. Some old fort, now it's a hot bed for the undead. He has his minions fetch what he needs, namely new bodies to add to his army."

"So he's a lich?" Shion asked since any information on the Dark Emperor was suspected at best.

"Death knight, actually," Jake corrected.

"Aren't those just Paladins that's been corrupted?" Shion asked as she watched him conjure some fresh water into the tea kettle before Jake moved it over the summoned flame that was quickly banishing the chill of the room.

"If the circumstances are right, even battlemages can be come one," Jake informed her. "However, since our magic resistance is high, the chances of a battlemage succumbing to the corruption is nil."

"So, Mr. Mage, since you're worldly and all that, what makes a Paladin fall from their heights?" Shion asked, cocking out her hip at him.

"Pride mostly, they are a prideful lot and angry. You have no idea how tightly wound those people are," Jake said, walking into his bedroom to remove his breastplate. "Would you mind pouring that into the tea pot?" he asked as the kettle hissed.

"Certainly," Shion said; she had seen the clay dish he kept his tea leaves in. By the smell of them, when she ran her nose over them, she could tell they were elven blend. So she took one that she knew from the smell and added it to the tea infuser and placed it gently into the tea pot. Shion felt herself salivating at the smell of the fresh tea as the steam drifted up to greet her. After placing the lid on, she moved off to allow the tea to steep. "Jake?"

"Hmm?"

"How often do you go to the elven lands?" Shion asked, curious.

"Enough to get them to teach me how they heat their baths without expending enormous amounts of mana to use," Jake answered from the depths of his bedroom as he placed his armor on its stand. Not seeing how fast Shion's head snapped towards his direction.

"Are you saying you have a functioning elven bath here, in this house, that you use regularly?!" Shion asked, her face showing her stunned shock at Jake's words: 'Yeah. Don't you?' "No!" she shouted. She always wondered why Jake didn't smell like all the other humans who didn't seem to know what a bar of soap was.

"Why not? Surely you know how they work, don't you?" Jake asked, a little weirded out by how she was looking at him as he reentered the room.

"Jake, they just don't give out that kind of knowledge, just what the hell did you do to get them to trust you so completely?!" Shion asked in sheer awe of him. Only to follow his pointing finger as he gestured to the demon's skull.

"It was hunting their children. So I killed it. Free of charge, children shouldn't be play things for such things," Jake said darkly.

"Good, thank you. Not many would go out of their way to fight a demon, for free no less," Shion said, seeing Jake in a whole knew light. "I hope me and the others have shown you that not all parties are like your former one."

"You're here, aren't you?" Jake retorted as he poured their tea. "Don't have a cow, so no cream, but I do have sugar," he said, pushing it slightly towards her.

"True, I am, I take it they never knew about this place?" Shion asked, looking around with renewed vigor, knowing just how much trust Jake was putting in her.

"No, you're the first one to visit here," Jake said, offering Shion a seat so she could enjoy her tea.

"Jake?" Watching how his red eyes peered up at her as the firelight played across his face, "You wouldn't mind allowing your sweet, dear, elven friend a chance to use your bath?" Shion asked, running the pad of her finger along the rim of her tea cup.

"Not afraid I would take liberties with an unwedded woman?" Jake asked, referring to the lack of the dowery necklace that the elven race use as their form of rings in engagement and marriage.

"I don't know, Jake, you are a dangerous man given your life," Shion said, noting all the very tough monster trophies that dotted the room. "I wonder if I should just prepare myself for the wicked ways of a horny battlemage."

"Before you get a bigger head, this way," Jake mused, intrigued by their banter. It's been some time since he's been with anyone romantically. However, he knew he couldn't stay single forever in that world. That was normally a death sentence for any single person. He heard the soft clink of the cup as Shion placed it on its saucer.

"Jake, where are we going?" Shion asked when they stood in the second bedroom and didn't see a bath in sight.

"Relax, I'm sure you're used to hidden doors, aren't you?" Jake said, unlocking the magical lock he used to keep the stairwell hidden. It would not do to be taken by surprise when in the bath, or that's what Jake always told himself.

"You hide your bath?"

"Along with all my mur*er victims," Jake uttered, playing up his joke.

"Nah, why hide them here? They'll just rise again," Shion mused as she followed him down.

"True," Jake chuckled, stepping into the chamber. He left her to explore the room. He knew she wouldn't be able to open any of the doors in his basement since none had key holes or door handles. "There, just give the magic stone a few minutes, and it'll have the water up to temperature." He noted how she nodded where he kept his towels and the soap that he made from lye. "I'll hang up the hammock you can use for the night."

"The what?!" Shion stammered since that was not a word anyone on Yardrat knew.

"You'll see," Jake said, waving to her over his shoulder. While he might want to make, the Dark Elf moan like a harlot. He respected her enough to know he would only cross that line if he was in the same room if she was naked. What could he say? He grew fond of clapping elven cheeks. He would assume anyone from Earth, contingent on being straight, would want to make an elf moan. Although that could just be the pervert in him, he was big enough to admit that, so while she was enjoying herself, he was setting up the rope hammock he had a fisherman make for him, given the man's years at net weaving. Something he was sure rightly confused the man. Nevertheless, the man didn't disappoint him. As far as he knew, the man was even selling them when the fishing season was over. Once, he had them attached to the hanging hooks, which allowed three feet of space from the sleeper's body. He knew it would hold Shion's weight since he tested out when he was in his armor. Something he would not advise others to try.

Jake turned his head when he heard her sigh of longing as he heard her body slipping into the water. He would admit women and hot baths are the same on both worlds. Her squeals lifted the corners of his lips as he made up a bed for her.

"By the gods, that was heavenly!" Shion sighed as she leaned against the wall. Her fingertips danced along her skin, feeling how silky it felt. She pondered when the last time she had a good bath. "Is that my bed?" she asked, standing in only a towel as Jake stood in the doorway. The distance was custom to her people, given they weren't bound to one another.

"It is. It might be weird to you at first, but I promise it will probably be the best sleep you've ever had," Jake proclaimed.

"The best huh?" Shion uttered, her tongue clicking against her teeth. "Then I'll trust your word, but how do I get in this thing?" she asked as she pushed the hammock lightly, unsure of it.

"Move to the middle of it; use both hands to stabilize it as you sit down on it. Then you'll want to spread the sides out to... may I approach to show you properly. It will get long-winded if I don't," Jake admitted; he had no wish for Shion to think he couldn't be trusted.

"Please," Shion said, waving to it. "Okay, this is different...eep!" Shion yelped as she moved too quickly almost threatening to dump her out after Jake had helped her to master getting on to it. Which caused her towel to come loose; Jake got a quick peek of her pink nipple before he quickly looked away as Shion snatched her towel closed as her face rapidly ripened. "Thanks," she uttered embarrassedly behind the blanket she held up to her nose that Jake had given her while keeping his attention diverted to preserve her modesty. Throwing her blanket over her head, wishing the room would just open up and swallow her whole. She wondered just what he saw of her body. If he saw any intimate part of her body, by her peoples law he must take responsibility for such an action. She silently freaked out beneath the covers as the door closed.

The hammock swung slowly with every movement of Shion's body in her sleep. Her silver hair swayed as it hung off the ropes. Her soft lips beckoned to the onlooker to pluck at their sweetness. Jake noticed how her nose wiggled and her ears twitched in her slumber. Her left hand rested on her chest above the blanket... her hand darted out of nowhere, taking hold of his wrist.

"Morning, Jake," Shion said softly as she stretched awake.

"Morning, I have breakfast cooking, tea's ready when you're dressed," Jake said, backing away, showing her he wasn't going to try anything untoward directed at her. "I'll give you a minute," he stated, heading towards the door.

"Jake," her questioning, nervous voice stopped him cold, "last night, how much did you see? I need the truth, Jake," Shion uttered, her tone firm, taking her people's customs seriously. Some would say she took them too seriously, given she lived in a mixed-cultured town.

"I... I only saw a flash of pink, nothing more," Jake said truthfully.

"Jake..." Shion's voice was alluring as she silently slipped out of her bed. The soles of her feet were light on the boards. Not even a whisper of sound rose from her footfalls. Her lips curled upwards when Jake jumped slightly when her bare breasts pressed against his back. "Do you know what that means?"

"I... no, why would that matter?" Jake asked, confused, wondering what the hell was going on and what she was about to do.

"Don't look, not yet, but..." Her hands threatened to falter as she reached forward, taking hold of Jake's left wrist. "Maybe a little gift to the man that will be my husband," Shion uttered, running Jake's hand up the back of her thigh up to her naked ass before she pushed Jake out of the room and quickly slammed the door closed. Her right hand rested lightly against her chest, feeling her heart race like it hadn't in over seventy-five years after the death of her first husband and the reason why she no longer lived with her people. Since then, she's left a life of celibacy. She wasn't complaining about it. However, as the years past and, the pain of the loss of her husband slipped away with every year. While she did find some humans alluring to look at, she knew their life span was limited, and they would only have a few decades. Honestly, she didn't know if she had the strength to go through that all over again. With an unsteady heart she walked out of the room in the clothes she wore yesterday. She felt her heart in her throat as she saw how deep in contemplation on what she had told him.

"Want to explain the husband bit?" The question hung in the air as the scents of their morning meal tugged at her stomach.

"Jake, do you truly not know what that meant?"

"Not to the point of marriage, just seeing a hint of skin," Jake said, turning to look at her. He's been around a lot of elves for a long time. To the point where he had to divulge the reason, he wasn't aging like normal humans to prove that he wasn't a demon, fiend, doppelganger, changeling, or vampire to keep from being dismembered by the villagers in the elven village he always liked to visit.

"It's our belief anyone that sees any intimate part of our bodies is destined to be our spouse. Since you know my people, we don't normally reveal ourselves to people," Shion said, growing in confidence when Jake uttered a 'True.' "Since you've seen that part of me, felt something no one in seventy-five years has felt from me," she spoke, seeing the confusion on his face.

"I know it's uncouth of me to ask, but how old are you if we are to be wed as you say. That is if I even go along with such a thing," Jake said, noting how upset she was getting at the thought that he was disregarding her traditions. Traditions he honestly thought were stupid if that was how they were determining marriages. Who knows if she had a brother, and he accidentally walked in on her while she was undressed. Would that mean she would already be married since elves lived for a very long time, probably longer than he would.

"Jake, I know my people's ways are strange to humans, but I assure you if we are not compatible with one another, the engagement will be ended by me. You have my word," Shion said, trying to calm herself and Jake at the same time. She knew this would be so confusing for Jake. "We won't be getting married immediately. That would just be silly," shaking her head as she plucked her tea cup from its saucer before taking her seat at the table. "We will be engaged for five years as tradition dictates. If we are still together after five years, we will marry. I know the new moon is approaching. But once it's passed and we have our new plates, you and I will travel to my home in Strivia. Where we will undergo the elven rights of marriage."

"I might not be versed well in relationships, but I do remember I have a say in who I marry," Jake said combatively.

"True, you would, normally. But you saw something you weren't meant to, so you must take responsibility..."

"Okay, yeah, but that was an accident; that doesn't equate to marriage?!" Jake uttered, trying to keep his cool.

"Are you insulting my virtue?!" Shion shouted, surging to her feet. "Are you saying you can leer at my body and not face responsibility for such and act?!"

"No, I'm not..."

"Then are you saying I'm not beautiful enough for you?! Is my body not alluring enough! Is it because I'm not throwing myself at you?!" Jake had no idea what the hell she was going off on, but he took offense to her thinking he didn't find her attractive. It was quite the opposite. "Jake," blowing out a breath, knowing she was getting worked up, "I know this is strange, but this is how it is done. If it was found out that you saw me... and we didn't try to follow tradition. I will be exiled from my people."

"I see," Jake muttered, dropping his chin into his hand. His mind questioned if he wanted another relationship. If he wanted sex, he could get it readily. He also knew how strict Dark Elves were, especially those who disregards their customs.

"Jake, I know it's sudden, but give it a try, okay?" Shion said, reaching across the table and placing her hand over his. "Plus, who doesn't enjoy having an elf as a companion," she uttered in a flirty tone. "I take it the woman you left was an elf?" Shion asked, noting how he wasn't reacting like she thought he would, given how rare it was for an elf to take on a human partner.

"Yes, she was a High Elf. She was only the second one I've ever met; I don't want to meet another one," Jake said in a monotone voice as he took a sip of his morning tea.

"Really?!" Shion uttered in disbelief. "I've known a few High Elves they do tend to be a tad snotty when dealing with non-elven races. And to think you were suave enough to garner her attention enough to be with you. Can I ask what happened between you two?"

"Caught her with the two other members of the party I was in," Jake said plainly.

"But... wait... were they elves themselves?"

"No... why?" Jake asked, confused.