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After some self-reflection, I've decided that I'm a faggot. I am taking steps to be less of a faggot.

I don't really like prompts since I feel like they're inherently guiding, but looking over the feedback you guys have kindly given me, I think it'd be for the best to start including them again.

I'm going to try and run twice a week when possible, since I would like to wrap up the quest for those of you still following but I don't want it chopped too thin.

I've also finally sat down and made that rough map which was asked for in the earlier threads, after how many months? It's uuuh, very rough and privy to change at my slimsiness but, here y'go. If you'd curious about whatever, ask and I'll answer.

To the end of the world, let's go!

>>34067872
Step 1: Have Sheryl go talk to the local guards. Find out as much info we can about the ruins we're headed to.

Step 2: While Sheryl does that we find a room at the inn. We should have some place to fall back to when we get injured. Judging from past experiences we're totally getting injured.

Step 3: We meet back up and head out.

>>34068457
Sure this.

>>34068457

Sounds good.

Glad to see you are running Librarian.

>>34067872
>Bag of flour or dye to counter invisibility

>Check Sheryl's specialties in combat

>Ask tavern about villages that got wiped out by demons

>>34068980
and with that, I gotta go to class.

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"You talk to the guards and find out what you can, I'm going to see about finding a room at the inn." You tell Sheryl, she nods before turning to find the guards...

Every inn in Belgrand you've come to find has a tavern built into ground-floor, it seems they've little to do other than drink in the cold lands. A young lad greets you at the counter of the inn, asking what drink you want.

"Just give me the keys to a room, I want to pay now so I can stumble in later."

"Oh? Waiting for your companions before you drink mister?"

"No, waiting to see how bloodied I get." Everywhere you go, you seem to get injured. At this point it seems unavoidable, safer to prepare for it than to prepare to avoid it. The lad cocks his head to one side, before grabbing keys off the wall behind the counter.

"Bloodied eh? You an adventurer of some sort? Not much to do around here that the Sky-Knight don't already handle, everyone looking for glory heads to greener pastures."

"I just have a way. Could I get a bag of flour too?"

The young innkeeper cocks his head the other way. "You... are you some travelling chef? Collecting exotic ingredients or something?"

"No?" Why would he think that?

"W-well... alright then." He steps into the kitchen before returning with a thick sack, flinging it onto the counter. You pay him for the room and the supplies, and make some idle talk while waiting for Sheryl's return...

"From the sounds of it they haven't had any demon problems in the area recently, they never rebuilt the village after it was lost because of the population thinning, it's all ashes frozen now." Sheryl gives you a run-down on her findings, "As survivors go, all the guards are too young to remember any... what's with the flour? Is that your new birdseed?"

"No." Maybe? "If we run into Rasci, we'll need it."

Sheryl nods, the innkeeper cocks his head up in pensive thought. You and your companion begin making way to the ruins...

>CONT

Among your class, Sheryl's the fastest and unfortunately she's become the most deft in arms recently. You try not to linger on that thought for long.

"Learn any new tricks on your mission?" You ask her, wanting to gouge her skills.

"I learned that I hate salt-water, but at least I can swim now..." She frowns.

"You couldn't swim before?"

"Hmm?" She shoots you a sharp looks, but her ears fold softly. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"You seem like you'd be good at most things."

"My family was poor, so we couldn't afford swimming lessons. A good third of the Raschan population can't swim, it's perfectly normal." Sheryl declares. "Also, I can swim now!"

Swimming lessons? You'd learned from Carna pushing you into lakes all the time, but Sheryl probably didn't have the luxury of a cruel childish friend. It's probably best not to sit on this topic though.

"Cute thing, we should push her in a lake when we get the chance." Frangelico whispers to you.

"I was wondering more about your training though." You shove the demon's voice into the back of your mind, or chest as it were.

"Ah. I mostly practised my blade, and how to gather information... torture is difficult though, who knew a man's heart kept beating when you cut it out."

"What."

"That last one was a joke..." Sheryl shrugs her small shoulders. Her ears widen again. "It seems I'm still not good at this. How about you?"

There's a lot you did out there, but most of all you're feeling...

>Smarter
>Faster
>Stronger

>Talk to Sheryl about...?
>[CUNNING] Tease Sheryl about swimming.

Rolled 1

>>34069454
>Faster
>[CUNNING] Tease Sheryl about swimming.

Rolled 9

>>34069570
Well shit.

>>34069454
>Smarter
>[CUNNING] Tease Sheryl about swimming.

We can barely call ourself smarter if we don't disregard our smarter thoughts
>>It's probably best not to sit on this topic though.

>>34069454

Is this to level up a stat? I'm okay with "faster."

Let's ask her about her brother instead of teasing. How he's doing, etc.

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Running around all over the place has done wonders for your legs, stabbing yourself in the gut-not so much for the rest of you.

"You really had quite the journey huh..." Sheryl nods her head, speaking softly.

"Don't worry about me, you must've had a hard time too."

"Hm? I didn't do much of any thing on my mission."

"Sure you did, learning to swim must've been scary." It's probably best not to sit on this topic, but there's not much else sitting on your mind. You can hear Frangelico's snickering.

"What? It was easy." Sheryl's ears flatten again, her mouth pulls to a side.

"I guess since you're so talented you must've gotten it right away."

"Of course I did. I didn't take long at all." Her ears twitch fiercely once.

"It took me a month to learn when I was younger." A month, a day, who's counting?

"We're trained assassins, it only took me a week to float. We have to be ready for every occasion after-all."

"Listen to her talking all calm like that! That's hardly swimming at all! HAHAHAH!" Your demon is enjoying this, and as long as Sheryl doesn't find out what's going on, so are you. With most things the girl stays calm and collected, but despite her firm expression it sounds like she's a cat to water, and quite embarrassed at it too. You shower on cheap praise as you come into the ruins...

Past the forest trails, and resting adjacent to a mountainous slope the remains of the town lies. It's clear the place hasn't been lived in a long time, there's naught sign of even bandits who've made it their rest. Buildings reduced to ground and planks, a well well-chipped now filled from the bottom up in snow.

"Do you remember this place Frangelico?" You ask.

"I remember this place, I lived here once."

"You were here before?"

"Not was here, lived here... it's almost vivid, I, one of me spent some long years here."

>CONT

"Remind me again why we're here?" Sheryl kneels down in the remains of a home, the ceiling is torn clean off and some of the walls went with it.

"Frangelico... Franny remembers this place." You'd do well to keep the names separate when speaking, make it easier for Sheryl to know which demon you're talking about.

"Hm..." Something seems to be bothering Sheryl.

"Any more memories Franny?"

"Do NOT call me that! I will consume you from the inside out!" Franny snarls fiercely, though in his state you're not particularly afraid of that. "I was contracted here once... a young girl, if my thoughts are not all lost. Why, I don't remember... the images blur and vanish, I must've been vanquishd just around the time I tore her apart."

"So you did destroy this village?"

"This village wasn't destroyed by a demon." Sheryl says, "The roof of this house was pulled up, and the walls are roasted from the top-down. A dragon attacked here."

"Hmm?" Yours and Franny's reactions align, a sudden surprise at her words.

"I asked Rein a bit about Belgrand when I was with her... about pegasi mostly, and The Sky-Knights weren't yet the strong-arm they are now at the time this village vanished. Judging by the lack of bones left around here, and that not the whole town went in flames, the fiery beast may still live yet."

You can feel Franny's feelings, a faint sense of anger flows from him to you.

"I'd wager it's just up this mountain-side, if you want to go sight-seeing." Sheryl says, "The town we were in looks young, for whatever survivors that were, they probably headed to the closest place in the opposite direction."

>Scale the mountainside
>Try to find the survivors
>Investigate the ruins further.
>Write-In

>>34070694
>>Investigate the ruins further
Narrative convention tells me there'll be something either wandering around there, unable to leave for all of the memories the ruins hold.

Or something waiting to ambush us.

Either way, it's a win.

>>34070694

>Scale the mountainside

>>34070694
>Investigate the ruins further.
Mystery is waiting

Rolled 5

>>34070694
What do you mean by "survivors?"

>>34070786

Yes, investigate further.

"The report you received from Masoch, you said it noted a few survivors?" Sheryl says.

"Yes." The village's destruction was much like yours, but it sounds that the people had better luck escaping than yours did.

"Belgrand is much smaller than Rascha, but much harder to navigate. It's been enough years for the folk to have left anywhere, but they couldn't have went far to escape when first the village fell."

It doesn't look like they had any in the way of an tall-stable here to keep pegasi, so whoever left must have taken by foot. "Let's investigate further." You suggest, Sheryl nods...

The remains of a barracks are small and tightly kept, the weapon-racks lay empty and the lack of bedding tells you that they had few soldiers here ever. The broken shops are not completely barren, but time has rendered the remaining items all worthless.

"The candies they sold here were so tasteless." Franny whispers as you check through crumbling shelves. "The man at the counter said it was just the cold numbing our tongues, but I'm fairly certain he just froze fruit juices in ice."

"You remember some strange things Frangelico."

"It looks like one of me spent a long time here indeed." It muses...

Most of the houses have lost enough of themselves for you to just glance over from the outside, but you take the time to step into each ruined building to see what you turn up. It's one of the wooden huts near the edges, when something catches your eye.

A small wooden doll, missing an arm and a leg. A segmented tail-piece clings off of the back, and two long cattish ears are nailed on each side of the head.

"She left it behind." The demon's voice whispers, "As it should be."

"Do you remember something?"

"Maybe, maybe I do." It's quiet chuckle is met with a pang in your heart.

>Ask Frangelico about...
>...its contractor
>...its demise

>Leave for the mountainside
>Leave for the next town

>Write-In

>>34071485
>>Ask Frangelico about...
>>...its contractor
I feel like asking how he died would just make him less inclined to say anything.

>Leave for the mountainside
Nothing should be left unexplored.

>Take the doll

>>34071485

ask about the contractor, play up his love of tragedy and arrogance, "sounds like a good story..." something like that...

You pick up the wooden doll, it feels rough in your grasp, poorly carved. The wet of the snow has left the wood soft at parts where the finishing layer has worn, you take care putting it away in your pockets.

"Is 'She' your contractor?"

"What's it to you?"

"Sounds like a real tragedy, whatever happened." You leave the house, your demon gone quiet...

"I couldn't find anything, the whole place is completely worn and worthless now." Sheryl accompanies you along the mountain-side, catching you up on her end of the search.

"I didn't find much either, but..." You've got Franny's mind running, and that's might be better than some hidden treasure.

Sheryl nods. The mountain trail is long depreciated and covered in snow, you follow worn signs on the road between sinking steps of trained navigation...

"In an older era, it wasn't uncommon for villages to have a resident contractor," Franny says, "To protect themselves from the demons without, they find themselves a demon within... orphans were often made the sacrifice if they couldn't find a volunteer, it takes longer for demons to settle into the young. In some villages, unlucky ones would be kept caged until they were ready to be used, and in some they were treated as tiny Gods."

Franny goes quiet after that, you hadn't heard of this tradition before, but the Raschan Kingdoms were quick to burn records of their muddled past...

By the end of your climb, the afternoon's sun is already beginning an early set. The mountainside wasn't a high one, not compared to most of Belgrand's but you take a moment to rest still, you'll need your energy for what may come next.

The caverns near the mountain's peak are deep and dark, the insides away from your sight, but you can hear heavy breathes coming off the entrance, you can feel warm air drifting out.

>[CUNNING] Enter the cavern
>Discuss with Sheryl or Frangelico about...?
>Write-In

Rolled 4

>>34072487

"takes longer for demons to settle into the young."

This would seem to contradict with what happened to Carna. That's how it seemed to me anyway (like she watched helpless as Franny Sr. devoured everyone). We can either ask Frangelico to elaborate on the "settling in" process for demons, which may yield some clues about the inner-workings of contracts, or enter the cave. I'm good with either.

Rolling for cave anyway, but my first preference is to talk to Frangelico about this some more.

Rolled 12

>>34072487
>Discuss with Sheryl or Frangelico about...?

>>34072487
I know were supposed to play hard to get with Franny and not be too clinging but I really want to find out more about demons "settling in" process.

>>34072833
About what?

Rolled 3

>>34072958
What happened to Fanny's contractor.

"Tell me more about these children and contracts." You brush off a stone, sitting and speaking, Sheryl's head turns your way in surprise, but her attention returns to the caverns shortly.

"When a demon and a contractor work together, their existence slowly aligns. You already know don't you... your arms grow black and cold, your body pries itself open; and the same happens to your soul. It becomes harder to control yourself, and one day there's no longer you, only it."

"Then why children?"

"If you asked a priest, he'd tell you The Shepherd protects them. While my kind can whisper sweet nothings to them so easily, it's simply more difficult to meld into a child that still grows and learns than it is to align with a man who is grown... I'm sure you've seen the other contractors, how their powers tore away their bodies and souls? We must take care not to extend ourselves too much in a child, or our host will fall apart before we consume it."

A thought crosses your head, "How long Frangelico? How long does it take to devour a contractor?"

"Hahahah... in what fragments I do hold, I've known men who lost themselves on the first eve. At best most contractors don't last a year containing Rasci before madness, that foppish teacher of yours is a real wonder I'd say, with all the demons in him. Oh, I would like a taste..." You can hear Franny licking his lips.

"Children, Frangelico."

"Ten years is about right, you're thinking of that Carna aren't you? It's a wonder she's not been devoured, it'd take nothing now. She must really want to live, or I must really want to keep her." Franny refers to the other him in a curious tense. You already knew this, but he's reminded you what little time you have left...

Sheryl rustles your hair, "What now? You sit here too long and the snow will bury you."

>[CUNNING] Enter the cavern
>Discuss...?
>Return
>Write-In

Rolled 6

>>34073114
She dares to hair rustle?
Then I roll [ALACRITY] for head pat.

And ask her about the cavern. She was staring into it long enough.

Rolled 12, 1 = 13

>>34073211

I'm up for a little harmless flirting, it will make Franny mad. We can ask about the cavern, but let's head in.

First roll for head pats, second for cavern

Rolled 6

>>34073114
>>[CUNNING] Enter the cavern

>>34073262

Oh damnit...

>that dice spread

Rolled 9

>>34073309
>>34073313
We might have killed MC but Sheryl will remember that head pat for years to come.

>>34073114
pet Sheryl's head
this is the only option and it wasnt even on the board

also, i just got out of work, and its great to see librarian quest again!

>>34073370

talk about going out like a bitch. here lies MC, he never got laid but could pat heads with the best of em

librarian are dragons in your setting intelligent creatures or merely beasts?

You lean your head back, watching Sheryl standing behind you, with her palms on your scalp. She raises a brow at you, as your arm slowly moves upwards, slinking over her shoulder and setting down atop her short stature, patting down on her raven hair, once-twice-thrice.

"What're you doing?" She digs her laid fingers into your head, her mouth curling into a frown. It really seems like her face only ever goes between "annoyed" and "bored". Better than Anlak's one lack of emotion at least.

"I'm petting you."

"Why are you doing this?" She squeezes harder.

You don't really have an answer, it just seemed like the only thing to do. You bring your other arm around, brushing the messy hair on her side back, she shivers a moment when you touch her ear. It's probably not the cold.

"Stop that. I'm going to get angry." She mumbles.

"Usually I'd be dead right now huh."

"I'll let you go since you're so pitiable these days." Her ears are soft, they twitch each time you brush past them. Her hair's smooth and silky, despite the lack of fashioning.

"You're a lot more talkative these days aren't you Sheryl?"

"It's thanks to you, and the others." She says, "I have friends now." Her arms slink down to the side of your face, yours to hers. You meet her jade eyes, she smiles softly, she faintly giggles...

"Dragon." Franny says.

If your demon didn't wake you just now, the following roar would've. Perhaps your play with Sheryl didn't exactly count as sneaking... a white-scaled dragon approaches from the cavern, not as massive as Belgrand beasts often are thankfully, but enough to give you a scare.

"You remember him Frangelico?"

"Unfortunately not... but I think I remember killing his mother now." Your demon snickers, and the dragon starts running forward.

>[Cunning] Skirt between the dragon's legs
>[Alacrity] Turn and run
>[Tenacity] Practice your Push weave on the dragon.
>Write-In

>>34073496
Beasts.

>>34073919

>[Cunning] Skirt between the dragon's legs

Rolled 10

>>34073919
>[Cunning] Skirt between the dragon's legs

Rolled 8

>>34073919
Sheryl a cute. I really feel sorry for all the girls, since we're going to die before any resolution is achieved.

If only we had some rope, man.
We could lasso that shit and crash him into the mountain.

Almost like how my first D&D character died in my first session.
Never mind, then.

>[Cunning] Skirt between the dragon's legs

Rolled 6

>>34073919

Skirt between the legs!

>>34074257

I think the best we can do is give them fond memories of us, I hope they have nice lives after we die. We need to keep them away from Carna, she'll hurt them.

The dragon caught you with your pants down, or arms up more accurately, but you react fast enough not to be bothered. You and Sheryl come loose of each other, dashing at each side of the approaching beast, skirting between its legs with your short-blades in hand. Both deftly skilled, your weapons strike smoothly, sliding between scales and flesh as you dance beneath the dragon, drawing marks of red beneath its belly.

At the end of its run, you've changed places; you and Sheryl closer to the cave entrance and the dragon still running ahead; when it meets the cliff-side it continues off, spreading its wings wide, making a loop in the frigid air between turning back around towards you. It's maw opens, baring razored white teeth; and from its throat vomits fire, melting the snow beneath it as it mows the ground down.

"Small, weak, this is nothing compared to the dragon before and nothing compared to me." Franny says.

"I don't think I need to remind you, but you're powerless right now."

"Huh?" Sheryl looks at you.

"Not you, the demon."

>[Alacrity] Duck to the side, weave a counter attack
>[Tenacity] Brave the flames first, cut into the dragon approaching
>Write-In

Rolled 2

>>34074581
>[Alacrity] Duck to the side, weave a counter attack
Go for the wings.

Also; good night

I don't suppose we'd be able to use a weave to control or alter the course of the flames?

Rolled 9

>>34074581

>[Alacrity] Duck to the side, weave a counter attack

Rolled 1

>>34074671
Have a better roll.
>[Alacrity] Duck to the side, weave a counter attack
We were in concert with Sheryl last time. This seems more likely to result that way this time.

So cute.

Rolled 8

>>34074933

Hah.

>>34074581

Duck to the side, not sure if my roll counts but fuck it.

The two of you each tuck and roll to opposite sides, the flames sweeping between before stopping in front of the cavern entrance. You begin with a grip motion, releasing your fingers out in direction of the dragon's head at the end. The force jerks its neck and bringing it swaying to one side.
Sheryl weaves her hands quickly, and with index and thumb of her right touching she yanks her arm back; force dragging the stumbling dragon into a fall.

As it drops, you release razor winds at it again and again, cutting into the skin of its wings with deadly precision. It spreads itself wide to try and catch itself, and barely manages to stop into a hover before hitting the now uncovered mountain rock.
It's Sheryl that reacts fast, leaping at the beast and cleaving down into its neck. Her blade draws through flesh before catching into the scales, and she releases it as she drops, rolling over to your side.

The dragon tosses and turns, gaining some altitude as blood spills from it... before collapsing to the ground in a heap.

"HAHAH! THAT'S IT!" Franny's voice booms in your mind, "Barely a dragon! More of a whelp!"

Sheryl's brushes snow off her clothes. "I'm surprised it was so aggressive... but I'm surprised it was so fast to fall, Rein tells me the big ones take whole flights to drop."

"I guess we've come a long way." Small birds used to give you trouble, not these days...

"There's no hunting around here, all the large in its brood must've moved flown to new grounds."

"After what its mother wrought, I'm not surprised..." Franny whispers.

"What's this?" You ask.

"The mother dragon devoured most the villages around years ago, until we ended it..." Its leaves its story there.

It's probably time to leave the mountain, you didn't get as much as you wanted but you got what you came for. The demon's memories piecing together...

>Talk to Frangelico about...?
>Talk to Sheryl about...?
>Write-In

>>34075352

Ask Sheryl if she's spoken with her brother since he came to the library. Does he know anything about how he fell under Carna's sway? I think a clue about how her demon controls others may help us. We could also ask Franny, but I don't think he will be forthcoming with such information.

>>34075352
Sheryl, us, and her brother have an awkward relationship. As a friend we should talk to her a bit, though I feel weird about it. It's just weird.

Sheryl collects her sword, dipping it into the snow to clean it before sheathing. "I don't really know what all of this is about, but if we're done now..."

You give her a nod, and begin your descent...

"Have you spoken to your brother since last?"

"Just once other than when I spoke to him with you," Sheryl says, "Though, we haven't had as much chance to catch up as I'd like... mostly, he talks about her."

"Carna..."

Sheryl nods. "I wonder I was attracted to you because you were alike him."

"Attracted?"

"Not like that." She sighs. "I meant a meeting like fate--no, let me try that again... the two of you are a bit similar, sticking your heads into stupid things and always trying to play knight when you're rogues." A blush would've been cute, but Sheryl's face is as white as ever and her gait continues on as usual.

"About Carna though..."

"I suppose if you spend enough time with anyone, it's hard not to like them... I guess there must be something magical about that girl though." Maybe there is.

"Did he say anything about her demon's abilities?"

"Shouldn't you know better than anyone?" Sheryl's eyes shift down to your chest. "It sounds like that Rasci of hers can only control so much, and she just leaves them roaming when she's not taking care of them." She pauses, "He wants to see her free as much as you do."

There's a lot riding on you these days, but just a little more and it'll be over...

You pass through the ruined town, the snowy trails, and return to the village where you arrived. The sun has just set, and there's not much left to do but think...

>Talk to Sheryl about...
>...the classmates
>...her family
>Talk to Frangelico about...
>...his memories
>...the other Frangelico
>Write-In

>>34075352
Check the cave to see what the dragon had in there(gold/enchanted weapons and armor/ dragon eggs/etc)

Are dragon hides/ bones/ teeth/ fire breath glands/wing remains/claws worth any good money?

Basically, Salvage anything worth good money we can carry while making small talk with Sheryl about how we just killed a dragon, which seems pretty cool, say we make a great team, and accidentally let slip she is really cute

>>34076526

>Talk to Sheryl about her family

>>34076526

This >>34076616

>>34076614

I don't think dragons collect hordes in this world, and I think we killed a juvenile and it's cold as fuck outside so let's get back. I do wonder if hitting on Sheryl (or doing other things that "make our heart hurt") is a way to draw Carna to us, or a measure of how close we are to one another, geographcally.

>>34076526
Talk about magic ask what other neat weaves she has learned, any down time is a good practice time, and as great as we are, we can surely learn a trick or two from Sheryl
and when we touch her hand to show her something we can hold it just a bit longer

>>34076526
Wait for another opportunity to pet her head

You head on back to the inn, unfortunately you're not grievously injured; but somehow it's not much of a disappointment. The lithe innkeeper greets you heartily when you enter, and you pay him for a meal-set for yourself and one for Sheryl.

"He's friendly isn't he." You say.

"Belgrand men leave me a little uncomfortable." Sheryl pokes at her plate distastefully, it looks like some part out of a pig chopped up and served raw.

"Talking to Yu'yen too much?"

"No, Rein. Apparently around these parts they like their men to look like children... it's weird." You have met a few rather dainty fellows here before.

"Not quite that you come from right?"

"I was born near The Sevens, so I like to think people should try to be strong regardless of gender."

"You're so tiny though." You pat down on Sheryl's head, she jabs her unused fork into your wrist.

"I blame my father's side."

"Your father wasn't short."

"His demon was." You're not sure it works that way, but you're inclined to listen to her. The two of you continue your meal making more quiet chatter...

You retire to the room you've booked, having the slightest regret in not taking two. It's hardly a busy town or a busy in, but because of that it seems they only keep four rooms open, and the other ones vanished in the afternoon you were gone.

Though it wouldn't be the first time you've shared a room with a lady, Sheryl seems much less impressed than Rein was.

"You keep to your side, I'll stay over here." She hangs her cloak up before claiming one of the two beds. The place doesn't have the sort of honeymoon feel the other inn had, and there's not even a meter separating the only two beds that stretch from wall to wall.

"I'm not dangerous you know."

"Somehow I have trouble believing that." Sheryl slides into the blankets, wrapping up in a cocoon...

>CONT

>>34077209

It's not us she doesn't trust, heh...

You settle into your bed, trying to pass into sleep...

"Hey, you awake?"

It's Frangelico.

"I don't know about you, but I don't really want to die. Just give up on this why don't you, you're not going to get her back."

"I will."

"I'm dead if you're dead, so I don't want you to die. Simple isn't it? I'm inclined to lend you my help if it comes to, but you really need to give up." You turn yourself around, as if that'll somehow snuff the demon out... where you see Sheryl at the window.

It's a familiar scene, the dim light of the moon shining on the girl. But not like the time you met her in the library, she's now someone you know. Her ears stand freely, and her expressions have grown softer if only so slightly. Her gaze turns to you on the shuffling of your sheets. "Still awake?" She says, "I couldn't get to sleep either. I guess we're both night owls."

You sit up in your bed, and she sits down on hers. She keeps her gaze on the glass, but you've learned to watch for the fidgeting of her ears.

"Did you learn any new weaves?" You ask.

"A few, should we trade?" She holds her hand out and draws a circle with her fingers; you recognize the weave before she finishes pulling her finger out, distorting the air into a magnified look of the moon.

You stand up to watch her weave from her angle, but...

"I told you to stay on your side." She says, "I'll come over there..."

...you go well into the night sharing your spells, she insists it's all work but you find your hands linger together for longer than needed. She starts drifting off before you do, but at her insistence on learning all of your spells, she ends up asleep at your shoulder.

Just one last job to do for the day, put her back where she belongs. You move to carry her but...

"Brother..." She mumbles.

>Carry Sheryl back
>Let her sleep on your shoulder
>Write-In

This is probably a foregone conclusion.

>>34077705
>Let her sleep on your shoulder

>>34077705

>Let her sleep on your shoulder

>>34077705
>>Let her sleep on your shoulder
>>Write-In
Head pat.

>>34077705

Let her sleep on our shoulder. And tell Frangelico to go fuck himself, he can either help us get Carna back and live, or he can die. The choice is his, we aren't stopping.

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You let the girl rest against you, it's been a long way since you've met Sheryl that she's gone from who she was to who she is. With not much thought, place your palm on her head, petting her in her sleep.

"She's cute huh, how about her." Franny say, ruining the moment. "You've got choice picks here, no need hunting down some half-dead witch with a murderous womb."

"You can help me get Carna back, or you can watch both of us die Frangelico." You keep your voice quiet, for fear of waking Sheryl up.

"I'm just saying, I've been around in some shape or form before time began and there weren't many crazies as, crazy, as you."

"So what is it? Dead or alive? I'm not stopping so it's your choice to make Franny."

"I'm not dying, and I'm especially not dying being eaten by myself... well, whatever. Contract with me and my powers are yours, I'll act in your play, if only because I'd rather have some fun before you get me killed. I'm stuck in here so it's your choice to make shit-eater."

"Should I gut myself open right here then?" You say, mostly jesting.

"No..." Frangelico pauses before saying, "You'll wake the girl up."

Is that what it's worried about? For better or for worse, your relationship with the demon doesn't seem to have changed too much, despite your efforts here. But you know it a little better now, and every piece of it, Carna, her Frangelico, and yourself you find will bring you closer to your goals...

Won't it?

Your demon gone quiet and Sheryl resting at your side, you pass into sleep...

And so life goes on.

>>34078107
Sheryl best girl

>>34078107
Also thanks for running~

>>34078107
Thanks for running Lib

It's oveeeer, thanks for playing. Seems a bit more active than recent weeks, hopefully it gets a little bit faster.

I've uuh, not much to say that I didn't say at the start attached to the map. With any luck we can wrap this up quickly, I'm sure you all know I'm pretty drained running but I'd hate to quit, so thanks for being here. I guess. You bastards. Making me run.

>>34078516

This was a good thread. Are you running again later this week?

Also, I have an idea to get Franny under our thumb. I won't spill the beans now, though. One question though, can he read our thoughts? There's definitely some sort of emotional/cognitive link, not on the level of a contractor, but I'm not sure how far it goes.

>>34078709
Will try, I'd like to get this done quickly.

c

>>34083240
was there a reason you bumped this? Well, it's bumped anyway, so I may as well give my input.

>>34071485
>dragon
>Franny allows it to destroy village
>revenge kill
so...Franny got some jollies. I wonder if he cared?