12 Chapter 12: Timber!

The first thing I notice after my brief nap is the faint song of the birds outside. A truly beautiful melody when accompanied by the slow even breath of Maya. After our actions yesterday she seemed to be very worn out, but she had that special glow that the truly happy have.

I smile softly to her sleeping form and give her a soft kiss on the cheek before slowly extracting myself from her embrace. Looking around the room, I can see a few knocked over vases, and other assorted knick-knacks that were in the way during our 'struggles'.

Looking in a corner I see a small wardrobe made of a beautiful glowing red wood, sliding open the top drawer I am assaulted by the scent of sandalwood. I guess this is how they make clothes smell better in this time period, I think as I slowly begin dressing in the trousers and shirt. Since these are clearly too big for Maya it doesn't take much brain power to figure out that they are intended for me. After dressing quickly I start heading for the door, but I am stopped by the tall standing mirror in the corner.

While I had gotten a few glimpses of my appearance before, I was never able to get a true idea of what I looked like. I was much taller than in my previous life, I stood easily at 6'6" and I had broad shoulders. My hair is both long and straight, hanging down to my shoulders, and it is completely white in color. I smile and I can see my perfectly white straight teeth, the contrast nicely with my deep green eyes. All in all I must say that I look quite handsome with my broad shoulders, and chest.

I nod once and head out of the door quietly to try and let my wife sleep a bit longer. Walking down the hallway I slowly start to examine the decor of the manor. The furnishings are both lavish, and tasteful. Everything in here feels expensive, but never going so far as to look tacky or out of place. What catches my eye the most are the crests dotted around the entire manor. It looks amazing, a pale yellow moon with a snakes eye.

I head outside into the garden, that I suspect is quickly just becoming my garden, and see that my wild untamed paradise has been untouched since Maya and I had our tryst.

Equip Insect Glaive

I can feel the long smooth handle of my weapon in my hands along with my curious bug companion that rests on my shoulder. "Now this is going to be great!" I yell in joy. I had always wanted to try out this ridiculous weapon. I spin the weapon in my hands once, twice and feel it thrum through the air. Moving the weapon in the same complex pattern that I had seen in the games is obviously impossible, but I am dexterous enough to maneuver the staff around my body and to deflect in a timely manner.

"No, this isn't gonna be enough." I say to myself as I try to get more familiar with the weapon. "The biggest problem, is that I'm untrained. I wonder if there is any kind of staff master around here?" Sinking into thought I sit on the ground in the exact same spot that I awoke my druidic powers. Sitting there feels calm and comforting, like I am one with myself and the universe.

Then a very simple though hits me. "I should just train my druid powers, I was never all that violent anyways" I nod to myself in agreement completely ignoring the fact that I had, no more than a day ago, murdered a man for calling me dumb. I slow down my breathing and visual in my mind a simple forest. I concentrate on the forest in my mind and begin to make it more real and vibrant. I construct every root and stem for the plants, I can feel their bodies thrum with power from the sun.

Their leaves I shake from the wind, and I can feel every gentle swaying branch, every twitching leaf, and even the pollen being carried into the air. My breathing slows even further as I begin to comprehend the vastness of the life structure that is a forest. Suddenly my mind goes blank as I begin to receive the love of the plants. Their power flows into me body, much like the sunlight gives life to the plants, they in turn are giving their life to me, and I can feel my body swelling with power.

My breath stops completely as my body turns all of its ability towards gathering in the power from the world. Though my breathing and even heartbeat have stopped during my meditation my body feels no weakness, just overflowing power. Then as quickly as it began my meditation ends as a shadow covers my body. This causes enough of a distraction to break me from my trance early, I think it will take a long time for me to have the willpower to train without letting the world break me out of it.

I look up and see Reginald standing above me with a curious smile on his face. "Good morning son, what are you doing there?" I shake my head and get off the ground to face Reginald directly. "Good morning sir, I was just meditation to restore my power." I say simply and Reginald nods in understanding and begins walking around the garden. He pauses as if asking me to walk with him, and I oblige easily. As we start our tour of the overgrown garden Reginald keeps looking at me curiously, but turns away when I start to ask him anything. "So you and my daughter are um...getting along I hear." I blush instantly as he says that. I guess we were pretty loud. "Yes, my Lord. She is quite dear to me." I try to look him in the eye, but my embarrassment makes me break it quite quickly. It's not easy to look at your father in-law after you just recently finished defiling their daughter.

He sees my embaressment and he smiles and nods at my words, "Yes she's quite the handful, but our darling." He says viewing the gardens in all their overgrown glory. "I like what you've done with the place. It's more natural, and the extra Mana is more than welcome for us."

I'm shocked, I had no idea that my plants made Mana. I wonder if it's from my awakening, or just from growing them with my powers. But that brings up another issue that I need to deal with. "My Lord, since I'm married now I think I'll probably need a job here in the future. Is there anything you would..." Oh good, he's laughing at me.

"Ha ha ha ha oh that's rich!" He exclaims bending over to continue laughing his ass off. "You're a druid Masamune?! If you let us announce your position in our household, you would have to worry about very little. Most would come from all over the realm just to meet you! Let alone hiring your services you'll be receiving gifts just for existing here! You're pure magic is one of the only things holding our planet together. After the Wizards ascended from this planet they took most of the natural energy, but you should be well aware of all that nonsense." He says shaking his hand as if it is a far to common story to be repeated.

Note to self, fucking learn! "Then, please my Lord feel free to announce my status in our family when you would like to. I would love to use my powers to further grow here." I say simply and his smile reaches well past his eyes, as a real joy fills his countenance. "That, that would be amazing! You have no idea what this means for our family! No! What this means for our entire race! To actually have a druid on our side.

I smile and grip Reginald's hand with my own shaking it firmly. "Then let's make our stand here." My eyes mist a bit, but I can not shirk this challenge before me. So what if being a druid was an accident? I always thought they were cool. I can actually create a life here, and I can not wait to have that opportunity.

Reginald leaves swiftly after that to go and make his announcements. I follow slightly into the manor and start looking around for the dining area to get some food. I finally have to admit, that I simply didn't map the place as well as I thought after 3 hours. How can I get lost in this damn place for 3 hours! Where the fuck are the butlers, and maids! Oh, theres one. "Hey you!" I holler and the Maid with royal blue hair stops in her tracks. "What is my lord?" She asks curiously completely unfazed at being called so suddenly. "Can you help me find the kitchen? I'm starving!" Her eyes go slightly dead at my request. "Certainly my Lord, however I am curious. Where is your maid?" I blink once, I don't recall there being anyone when I left our room hm.. "I'm not sure..I don't think there was ever a maid around me since I got here?" Her dead eyes flare to an angry life and I can see her visibly holding back on her rage. "Excellent, my lord go down the hall and it is third door on your left. Would you like me to guide you?" She says that, but I'm pretty certain she wants to get yell at someone so I make my own way to the kitchen.

In the kitchen I can smell a delcious aroma of baking bread and simmering soups that causes my stomach to rumble loudly with a craving. My body may be able to be supported with mana, but I can certainly say that my years of eating will make me never quite it. Food is just far too tasty to not eat anything! The cooks eye me oddly as I grab a freshly baked loaf of bread and chow down on it while sitting in the kitchen out of the way. I don't seem to be in the way and cooks slowly tune out my existence as I enjoy the sounds of movement and life around me. Thinking about it I suppose I should look more at my druid information to see how I can level that up.

***********STATUS*****************

NAME: MASAMUNE

RACE: CHANGELING

JOB: DRUID

I select the druid option with my mind to see if it can't expand a bit.

********JOB MENU************

JOB: DRUID

SPELLS: PLANT GROWTH, BEARS STRENGTH

CONTRACT: NONE

GAIA'S LOVE: 45%

INFO: The path of the druid is long as their communion with nature never truly ends. The key to a druids strength is in their inner forest which powers their body with mana and the secrets of the deep untamed wilds. To grow their forest a druid must meditate until they their forest reaches a natural expansion point. From their a Contract Best is required to be a guardian of their forest.

"Hm.. So I need a contract beast then...

***********CONTRACT BEAST***********

CONTRACT: NONE

INFO: To acquire a contract beast can be a simple, or extremely taxing endeavor. Any animal-type creature that has fully submitted to a druid may be contracted. This includes, but is not limited to Demons, Lycanthropes, Animals, and Insects.

"Well now this is..." Okay, just a single animal is needed, but if common sense works the same, then most likely the stronger the beast, the better. I wonder if there are any special animals here! Suddenly my eyes flash with inspiration. "Ents!"

I smile and slip out of the kitchen into the main house hunting for Maya. She seems quite strong already so I think having her around would be quite helpful. I knock on the door to the room we shared and open it after Maya calls me in.

She looks stunning rubbing sleep from her eyes as her purple hair falls messily down her neck and back. "Good morning Maya." She nods at me sleepily and starts dressing herself before fixing her hair. She looks just as stunning as the first time I saw her. "I'm going out to get a Contract Beast wanna come with?" Her eyes shine like the moon at my question and I can almost feel her vibrating with excitement. She slithers over to me quickly and rests her head on my chest. "Of course, I will always follow husband."

We hold hands and make our way out of the manor towards where Cedric first knocked me out. A few people stare at Maya since she is quite the looker, but she has already returned to her two legged form.

Slowly approaching the forest outside of town I can see where I made my out of the forest and I walk forward with a purpose.

"Look out Trees here I come!"