Framework of the Frontier, Sain Artwell [read me a book .TXT] 📗

I used to have some fat and be less strong and definitely didn’t have any powers. This isn’t exactly ‘me’.”

She murmured in understanding, but remained quiet for a few moments, thinking. When William was already starting to regret saying anything, she spoke, “Permanent body alteration is highly advanced magic, I don’t know many who could do it even among the elder arcanists of Adamant Archives. This is a nice body, but you were also so determined to accept a dangerous task to find your friends and brave to risk yourself to save me from the chimera’s snake bite. I like how calm you are. You were like a mountain when we and Lidarein first approached you and didn’t hold it against us. I like that part about you. And also…” Ember breathed in deep from his neck. “…you designed a comforting scent.”

“Hah.” William felt his ears burn at her earnest words. “Nah, that’s all me, I think.”

“What about this?” Ember patted his still slippery cock.

“All authentic Earth-made William.”

“I like them, a lot.” She rubbed against him, putting a thigh over his and squishing her breasts to his side. “I don’t mind if you get some fat back. Then I won’t be the only one who has a soft tummy.”

William’s lust was renewed in one instant and had an urge to take her hard. She seemed to notice his erection swelling under her hand, encouraging it with firm tugs. William pulled the hand away, bending Ember over and pushing her knees apart as he pinned her down by hair and wrist, leaning close. “Thank you for being you Ember, you don’t know how much I needed that.”

“Oh, I know many things.” She snorted, smugly wiggling her rear against his cock.

He grinned, kissing her cheek. “Now, I don’t know why, but I want to fuck your brains out.”

Whimpering in anticipation, Ember reached behind her back to pull her cheeks wide as she whined a needy plea against the pillow, “Yes please.”

10

Ember gave Duhie and Raneign extra warm hugs and made them promise to be careful on their journey. It was a little bit hypocritical of her, but Ember felt awfully anxious every time a friendly adventuring troupe parted ways with her. Unfortunately, Goodbyes tended to be more common on the Frontier than the ‘welcome backs’.

“See you around then and good luck,” Will patted Trotto’s back and shook Orien’s hand.

Trotto guffawed. “Right back at you. You have work to do fixing Nastall into a town.”

“Bet you won’t recognize the place when you come back.”

Orien gave Ember a sidelong glance, grinning smugly. “It sure has sounded like you’ve been trying to re-populate the Frontier these last few nights.”

Embarrassment drew Ember’s eyes to her hooves and flushed her cheeks with warmth. Orien cackled. Sure, Ember knew she was a little loud, but it wasn’t exactly easy keeping quiet under Will’s pelvic sorcery.

“Are you jealous Ori?” Trotto leaned down to his triton partner, frowning. “Was that why you were pouting at me naked and not saying a thing? You have to be honest if you want more action. We have talked about this.”

Orien’s face went deep blue, brows furrowing in a half-playful half-serious snarl as she snapped at him, “Don’t speak of this in public! I— Gah! It wasn’t. I know how to flirt. It was a test and you failed.”

Trotto chuckled, teasing her with little whispers.

Ember thought that they looked cute together as the two poked back-and-forth while turning to leave.

“Bye!” Will waved at Orien’s Band. They waved back and soon disappeared behind the thickets of shrubbery and stunted evergreens.

“Aaalright. My wounds are feeling good. I think it’s time for me to start working for the payday,” Will said, nodding as if to encourage himself. “The office is a never ending project and my powers don’t seem to be making that quick progress. Might as well spend the daytime on a scouting trip.”

Not making progress?

Ember could almost laugh in depression. A man who’d fallen from a distant realm had his bearings set better than her. Only yesterday he’d figured out yet another blessing — a mental strength ward of some kind — and fixed the prison cells into working order. Meanwhile here she was on her fourth month in the Cursed Frontier with nothing of substance to show. Ember gave herself a mental slap on the butt.

You need to refocus dum-dum. Don’t let the teacher be wrong about you.

“Could I join you?” Ember asked. “I need to do some investigating in the area too, but I don’t dare to venture far alone.”

“Sure. That’d be great.” Will had that wide friendly smile that seemed to always spread to his eyes. “Is there anywhere specific you wanna go, or something you want to look for?”

Ember weighed for a moment if it was okay to trust him, but decided for it. Willi wasn’t the type of guy who would steal a discovery from her. “Keep it a secret from others please.”

“Of course.”

“I’m actually searching for an entrance to a Primordial Maze, a legendary dungeon which may well predate all known civilizations, Iram included. No one knows who built it, or where they’ve gone, but… Okay, this is going to be another really big secret though, it’s more of a rumor, but it’s still a secret, okay?”

“I’m good with secrets. Especially if they’re from a cute girl I like.” Will’s eyes squinted with his grin.

Ember blushed. Her chest swelled with warmth. “Certain ancient manuscripts from the beginning of the Nibirian Empire hint towards the Dragon Emperor Ahi having discovered a secret entrance to a Maze in his youth. They say it gave him access to secret corridors to every corner of Nibir and each of its portals. It’s hard to say how true that is, but based on some research I did on the Mazes, it seems there could be