-Jeanne d’Arc-
Jeanne gulped loudly as she held her shield and sword up, maintaining the basic guard stance she’d been practicing all this time, or, well, a little over a month. But this time, it wasn’t her usual afternoon practice. She was facing actual Grimm, real human-eating monsters that had her surrounded. Her hands and knees trembled slightly, but she had only one thought in mind.
Shield close to the body, feet planted, stay focused.
The Grimm were far more terrifying in person than any pictures she’d found online. Their red eyes seemed to pierce right through her, and the bone-white masks covering their faces made her skin crawl.
HOWEVER!
However…. At least, thankfully, she wasn’t alone. Her partner stood behind her, their backs pressed together to prevent any sneaky beast attacking them from the back. Though honestly speaking, nothing could have prepared her for how this day had unfolded.
Everything had gone wrong from the beginning - like, who throws students off a cliff without parachutes?! ‘Landing strategy’ her ass! If it wasn’t for Pyrrha, she would’ve...
Oh right, her partner, Pyrrha Nikos, the cereal girl, who somehow ended up as her partner in this mess.
Jeanne was beyond grateful that Pyrrha had not only saved her from becoming a red splat on the ground, but had also awakened her aura. The warm, protective feeling still tingled through her body, though right now it was hard to appreciate it with a pack of Beowolves circling them. Her breathing came in short bursts as she tried to maintain her stance, remembering that proper breathing was half the battle.
She gulped again, trying to steel herself. But her heart leaped to her throat when the monsters charged in together.
Gripping her shield handle tightly, she held it close, aiming, hoping, for a stalwart defense. The first Beowolf lunged at her, but muscle memory took over - she stepped forward quickly, bashing its snout with her shield and sending it rolling away before returning to her defensive stance.
Wait... did she just do that?
She glanced at her hands, then back at the fallen Grimm in quick succession. Those basic moves she’d practiced over and over... they actually worked! But her moment of pride was cut short by three sharp gunshots behind her. She flinched, watching as the remaining Beowolves collapsed, their heads exploding from the precise shots.
Jeanne whirled around to see Pyrrha, her weapon still aimed before smoothly transforming it into a sword.
“That was a solid move,” Pyrrha commented with a genuine smile.
“Thanks,” Jeanne replied, feeling her cheeks warm at the praise. “I’ve been practicing.” She made a mental note to thank Ma’iq later - assuming she survived this initiation, that is.
And maybe ask him about that...
NO NONONO NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW! FOCUS GIRL!
Jeanne shook her head vigorously, trying to clear away the distracting thoughts. This was definitely not the time to get flustered over... certain recent events. She was in the middle of an initiation test, surrounded by who knows how many Grimm, and she really needed to keep her head in the game.
“Are you alright?” Pyrrha asked, concern evident in her voice.
“Y-yeah!” Jeanne squeaked, her voice a pitch higher than normal. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just, uh... I never thought the Grimm would be this...”
“Scary?” her partner finished for her.
Jeanne nodded, looking down, a little ashamed that a champion like Pyrrha had to witness her nervousness.
“I understand. Don’t feel bad about it.” Pyrrha’s smile shifted to something softer, more sympathetic. “Most people aren’t prepared for their first encounter with a real Grimm, no matter how much they’ve trained.”
Jeanne let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. “I guess pictures in textbooks don’t really do them justice, huh?” She glanced at the dissolving Beowolf corpses, trying not to think too hard about how close they’d come to making her their lunch.
“But you handled yourself well.” Pyrrha sheathed her sword on her back and extended an open hand, which Jeanne gratefully took to pull herself up. “Come on, we need to find the temple. It shouldn’t be that far.”
“Yeah, good idea.” Jeanne brushed off her pants and adjusted her shoulder pads, which had gotten loose during the fight.
They headed north, following the headmaster’s directions to where the abandoned temple and its relics should be. Jeanne just hoped they wouldn’t run into any more Grimm along the way, though, given their luck so far… Well, she just had to keep going.
The walk through the Emerald Forest continued in relative silence, their footsteps crunching through fallen leaves and twigs. Jeanne kept her sword and shield at the ready, still riding the adrenaline high from their encounter with the Beowolves.
Probably minutes of walking. Since she didn’t have a watch with her, they came upon a rather large body of water - not quite a lake, but a sizable pond that stretched out before them, its surface eerily still under the afternoon sun.
That was when Jeanne found herself slowing down, squinting at the water’s surface. Something felt... wrong. A strange sensation prickled at the back of her neck, making the hair there stand on end. It was like the feeling you get when someone’s watching you, but different… more unsettling.
“Something wrong?” Pyrrha stopped and approached her, her own weapons still at the ready. The champion’s instincts were clearly as sharp as the stories said.
Jeanne shook her head, still staring at the pond while pointing towards it. “I don’t know, just... something feels off about that water.” She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but every instinct was screaming at her to stay away.
Pyrrha studied the water for a moment, her bright green eyes narrowing as she observed the unnaturally still surface, as her expression shifted to a frown. “You’re... you’re right. We shouldn’t get near it.”
Jeanne couldn’t agree more. They gave the pond a wide berth, and she found herself unconsciously matching Pyrrha’s movements as they circled around it, neither of them willing to turn their backs to whatever might be lurking in those waters, if any at all.
The forest grew denser as they moved away from the pond, shadows deepening under the canopy of leaves. However, the eerie silence was broken by a strange chittering sound - not quite like any animal Jeanne had ever heard before. It sent chills down her spine.
Pyrrha immediately dropped into a defensive stance, her movements so smooth and practiced that Jeanne couldn’t help but stare for a moment.
Wow, she really knows what she’s doing.
Shaking herself out of her daze, Jeanne followed suit, raising her shield and trying to remember her training.
Keep calm, scan your surroundings, look for movement.
That’s when she noticed something odd on the forest floor - a large mound of dirt and dead tree branches that seemed out of place. It looked like a nest, but it was far too big for any bird or rodent she knew of. And that was when she realized what that might be.
Before she could voice her concerns, the nest erupted. Humanoid Grimm emerged from it, their movements jerky and unsettling. Jeanne had never seen anything like them before, but Pyrrha’s sharp gasp of recognition caught her attention.
“Why is a Gnawer here?!” The alarm in Pyrrha’s voice made Jeanne’s anxiety spike higher.
The creatures were like something out of a nightmare - small and hunched, about waist-high, with spindly bodies covered in chitinous black armor. Jagged spines jutted from their limbs and backs, twitching and rattling as they moved. Their bone-white masks seemed to grin maliciously at them.
“A what now?” Jeanne asked, keeping her shield raised and trying to watch all of them at once. She’d never even heard of these things.
“They’re not supposed to be in Vale!” Pyrrha’s voice carried a note of genuine confusion beneath the urgency in her tone.
“Wait, you know what these are?” Jeanne’s surprise was cut short as the monsters sprang at them in unison. Right, questions later, don’t die now!
Pyrrha’s rifle cracked twice, the shots echoing through the trees as her blade followed through in graceful arcs, bisecting two of the creatures. Jeanne’s jaw nearly dropped at the display. How did she move that fast?
Forcing herself to focus, Jeanne let out a battle cry, partly to boost her courage, as she swung her sword in a clean arc, just like she’d practiced. The blade caught one Gnawer in the neck, decapitating it cleanly. Riding the wave of confidence from that success, she charged forward and smashed another’s head with her shield, feeling the satisfying crunch of its mask breaking under the impact.
“Watch out!”
Jeanne turned at Pyrrha’s warning just in time to see her partner’s spear whistle past her head, impaling the last Gnawer through its skull just as it was about to leap at her. The spear then somehow flew back to Pyrrha’s hand, which was really cool, although how did she do that?
“Okay, that was amazing,” Jeanne breathed out, still trying to process what she’d just witnessed. “How did you do all that? And how do you know about these things?”
“Oh, um...” Pyrrha seemed oddly uncomfortable with the question, rubbing her arm. “I’ve... encountered them before in Mistral. They’re… common? Yeah, quite common in rivers and the jungles of Mistral.”
“Really?” Jeanne frowned, checking her shield for damage. “Then what are they doing all the way out here?”
“Perhaps they were placed here deliberately to test us?” Pyrrha suggested, though she didn’t sound entirely convinced.
“The teachers can do that?” Jeanne asked incredulously. “Actually, you know what? After getting launched off a cliff, I wouldn’t put it past them.”
That earned a small laugh from Pyrrha. “Maybe.” She then adjusted a strand of her red hair. “But we should be more careful from now on.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” Jeanne watched the Grimm corpses dissolve into black mist. “Though I have to say, for my first real Grimm kills, those weren’t quite what I was expecting.”
“Your shield technique was quite impressive,” Pyrrha noted warmly. “Not many people think to use their shield offensively like that.”
“R-really? I mean-“ Jeanne caught herself, straightening up and trying to sound more confident. “I mean, yeah, of course! All that... combat training, you know?” She rubbed the back of her neck nervously, laughing and hoping her partner hadn’t caught her slip-up.
Pyrrha just crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at her, yet she was still smiling or smirking. It wasn’t judging - if anything; it seemed almost... knowing? Understanding? Jeanne couldn’t quite place that expression, but it made her face heat up all the same. The way those green eyes studied her made her feel like Pyrrha could see right through her.
“SO let’s go find that relic!” Jeanne practically squeaked, spinning around so quickly she nearly tripped over her own feet. She marched forward with perhaps a bit too much enthusiasm, desperately hoping to leave both the dissolving Grimm and this increasingly awkward conversation behind. “The temple has to be around here somewhere, right? Can’t be too far now!”
Smooth, real smooth.
She heard Pyrrha’s light footsteps following behind her, and thankfully, her partner seemed content to let the subject drop. The forest ahead was getting less dense, which hopefully meant they were heading in the right direction. Though after the Beowolves and those weird Gnawer things, Jeanne kept her shield ready. No way was she getting caught off guard again.
Her thoughts drifted briefly to her earlier training sessions, and how different real combat felt compared to practice. She shook her head slightly, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. She could sort through all of that later.
“The trees are thinning out,” Pyrrha observed, moving up to walk beside her. “We might be approaching a clearing.”
“Right,” Jeanne nodded. “Think that’s where we’ll find the temple?”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
-Ozpin-
Ozpin took another sip from his ever-present mug, eyes fixed on the scroll’s screen as he watched Miss d’Arc and Miss Nikos dispatch the Gnawers. He had to admit, the young d’Arc handled herself better than expected against creatures she’d never encountered before.
“We should stop the initiation,” Glynda stated firmly beside him, her own tablet displaying multiple camera feeds of the other students. “The Myrmidons’ appearance coincided with Rakhan’s... incident,” Glynda noted, pulling up the footage from weeks ago. “Now Gnawers during initiation. These foreign species appearing in Vale cannot be coincidental.”
Ozpin’s grip tightened slightly on his mug, remembering his last conversation with the young faunus. Ma’iq Rakhan had such potential - even untrained, he’d managed to hold his own against Grimm, multiple times, including these foreign species, and his fight with Miss Xiao Long only reinforced that potential.
However, the unfortunate incident with the motorcycle and the subsequent police intervention had been... regrettable. Especially the officer’s excessive force, which had only reinforced the boy’s distrust in authority.
“Have Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck continue their investigation, especially on the Gnawers’ location,” Ozpin said quietly. “Perhaps it will shed light on their earlier findings regarding the Myrmidons.”
“The investigation is still ongoing,” Glynda reminded him, her tone carrying a hint of reproach. “We haven’t even fully understood how the Menagerie species arrived here, and now we have Mistralian Grimm to contend with as well. Though I still believe we should consider postponing the remainder of initiation until-“
Ozpin felt that familiar twinge of regret. Perhaps if he’d allowed Rak’han to review the scholarship contract in full... but no, the restrictions and conditions were necessary, even if the young man wouldn’t have understood why they were placed. The ten-year movement limitation alone would have likely driven him away immediately, despite being a necessity due his crimes even if they were minor.
Some you save, he thought, watching the current initiates continue their trials, and some you lose.
“Ah,” Ozpin noted, grateful for the distraction from his troubled thoughts. “It seems the first teams have located the temple.”
-Jeanne d’Arc-
Jeanne’s arms trembled from the strain of holding her shield against the monster’s many and unstoppable attacks. This was nothing like the Beowolves or even those weird Gnawers from earlier. This thing was just wrong. The grotesque Grimm towered over them, its bulbous body swaying as it moved. But what really made her stomach turn was its mouths. Both of them. There was the usual one on its face with razor-sharp teeth, but then there was that horrifying second one on its stomach, gaping wide like some nightmare shark’s maw.
“Look out!” She barely had time to dive to the side as the creature’s massive arm swept through where she’d been standing. The ground shook when its fist impacted a tree instead, splintering the trunk.
Even Pyrrha seemed to be having trouble. Her usually precise strikes weren’t doing much against the creature’s thick hide and armor. “We need to find a weak point!” her partner called out, ducking under another wild swing.
“I’d settle for finding any point that actually hurts it!” Jeanne shot back, trying to keep her voice steady despite her racing heart. She’d managed to land several solid hits with her sword, but they might as well have been paper-cuts for all the good they did.
The Grimm suddenly went still, and Jeanne’s combat instincts - however limited they were - screamed that something was wrong. And she gave that feeling credence when its body began to expand like some grotesque balloon, black flesh stretching outward at a rapid pace.
“It’s doing something!” Jeanne warned, backing away quickly. The creature’s stomach-mouth stretched wider as its body inflated.
“Get back!” Pyrrha’s voice carried an urgency Jeanne hadn’t heard before. “NOW!”
They both scrambled away just as the Grimm released a cloud of black smoke from both mouths. The toxic-looking gas billowed out where they’d been standing moments before and killed, or more like burning, the patch of grass where it had been standing.
“Okay, that’s new,” Jeanne muttered, adjusting her shoulder pads again. “Please tell me you’ve fought something like this before?”
“I...” Pyrrha hesitated, which did absolutely nothing for Jeanne’s confidence. “Not exactly.”
“Great.” Jeanne gulped as she watched as the creature turned its attention back to them, both sets of teeth gleaming with hunger. “Really wish I’d paid more attention to Grimm studies right about now.”
The monster charged again, forcing them to split up to avoid its rush. Jeanne’s mind was working overtime, trying to think of something - anything - that might work. They couldn’t keep this up forever. According to Pyrrah, more Grimm would come and join.
Come on, think! There has to be a way to beat this thing!
Nearby, Pyrrha was attempting to target the creature’s eyes with her spear, but she kept missing her throws as the monster thrashed its head wildly. Its movements were erratic, unpredictable. The fact that his eyes were so small only made it even harder for her partner.
Something clicked in Jeanne’s mind as she watched its stumbling movements. Wait... with a body that huge, its legs must be struggling to...
Without giving herself time to second-guess, Jeanne tightened her grip on her sword and charged forward with a battle cry.
“Jeanne, wait!” Pyrrha’s alarmed voice called out. “Don’t-“
But Jeanne was already committed. Her heart pounded in her ears as she ran straight at the monster. At the last moment, she dropped into a slide, ducking between its stubby legs. Her sword flashed upward, cutting deep into the creature’s ankles and the backs of its knees, and a very deep cut.
The Grimm shrieked in pain. Its massive body wobbled before crashing down onto its injured legs, both mouths snapping uselessly at the air.
I actually did it! I-
A flash of yellow streaked overhead, accompanied by the sound of explosions. Jeanne barely registered who or what was that before it connected with the Grimm’s face. The impact sent the monster reeling backward.
Directly toward where Jeanne was still sprawled on the ground.
Oh no.
She scrambled to get up, but the massive shadow looming over her told her she wouldn’t make it in time. So she raised her shield above her head, hoping that it would somehow help her to stop.
Yet…
Yet something wrapped around her arm, and Jeanne yelped as she was suddenly yanked sideways through the air. She tumbled to a stop several feet away, safely clear of the falling Grimm.
Looking up, she saw a dark-haired girl in a black bow dropping from a tree, some kind of ribbon retracting into her weapon. What caught Jeanne’s attention, though, were the bandages wrapped around the girl’s head - it looked like she’d been through something rough recently. Before Jeanne could process more than that, the mysterious girl was already moving, leaping toward the downed Grimm with incredible speed.
The monster tried to snap at her with its stomach-mouth, but she was too quick. Her blade plunged deep into its hide as she vaulted over it, leaving behind what looked like a copy of herself. Jeanne’s eyes widened as the copy burst into flames, and the Grimm’s final shriek was cut short as it began to dissolve.
“That. Was. AWESOME!” Yang punched the air enthusiastically, her wild blonde hair seeming to glow in the sunlight. “Oh hey Jeanne, nice seeing you here.” She grinned at her before gesturing toward the quiet, dark-haired girl. “This is my partner, Blake, by the way.”
Blake just nodded silently, still keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.
“That was impressive teamwork,” Pyrrha stepped forward with a polite smile, though her expression quickly turned serious. “But I have to ask - what was that Grimm? I’ve never encountered anything like it before.”
“A Gobbue,” Blake answered, her voice quiet but clear. “They’re native to Vacuo’s deserts, usually hiding on ponds and oasis”
Pyrrha’s brow furrowed at that information. “Vacuo? But that’s...” she trailed off, sharing a concerned look with Jeanne.
First the Gnawers from Mistral, and now this?
Great, Jeanne thought, pushing herself up from the ground. More stuff that’s not supposed to be here. Because this day wasn’t complicated enough already.
Something clicked in Jeanne’s mind, making her stomach drop. “Wait... that pond we passed earlier.” She turned to Pyrrha, whose eyes widened in recognition. “That weird feeling we got? You don’t think...”
“Ho ho! A keen observation, young miss!”
All four girls spun around to find an old short man wearing a double-breasted suit that only accentuated his chubbiness frame and a rather intimidating double-edged axe resting on his shoulder. Jeanne blinked twice - was that also a gun built into it?
“Indeed, most unusual to find such creatures so far from their natural habitats!” The rotund professor’s mustache twitched as he spoke. “But I must say, absolutely spectacular display of courage and ingenuity from all of you! Miss d’Arc, that sliding maneuver was particularly inspired - reminds me of my younger days when I found myself surrounded by a pack of Goliaths and had to...”
He caught himself clearing his throat. “Ah, but that’s a story for another time! Miss Xiao Long, that explosive entrance was magnificently timed, And Miss…Blake, splendid use of your semblance to finish off the beast!”
He hefted his axe, scanning the surrounding forest. “However, given the unusual number of... displaced Grimm species we’ve encountered today, I must insist you all accompany me back to the designated safe zone. For safety measures, you understand.” His jovial tone carried an undercurrent of seriousness that made Jeanne’s stomach knot.
Displaced Grimm species? How many more are out there?
-Ma’iq Rak’han-
Neo’s apartment easily fits the word luxurious- a true testament that crime does indeed pay well. If my balance account hadn’t already proven that point already, her lifestyle outside of “work” certainly drives it home. The place practically screams “dirty money,” or another similar term, but who am I to judge? I’m on the same payroll.
As for now I’m sprawled on one of her plush couches in the living room, surfing through apartment listings on my scroll in the net. Even with my newfound wealth, I haven’t given up on finding my own place. My current budget opens up possibilities that would’ve made past-me laugh in disbelief: I could get a modest but well-located apartment all to myself, or rent something more spacious in an equally good neighborhood. No more shitty landlords with shitty contracts, dirty streets and other bad things.
Both choices are within reach, and the utility bills aren’t a problem for the foreseeable future. All I need to do is schedule some viewings and make my informed pick. Although I am leaning towards buying an apartment, it looks like the better option long term.
Funny how life works - one moment you’re scraping by, the next you’re comparing floor plans like some proper citizen.
Don’t get me wrong - Neo’s place is nice and all, but I can’t see myself staying here long-term. Maybe it’s a pride thing? No, that’s not quite it. It’s more about privacy. And maybe the fact that sharing space with someone who could, probably, stab me in my sleep isn’t exactly conducive to peaceful living. I don’t think she would actually do it but I guess I still have that lingering doubt, not even aim to kill me but hurt because I know she is a sadist. A month tops, that’s all I’m willing to commit to.
My ears suddenly perk up at the sharp ring of the oven timer, yanking me from my thoughts and apartment hunting. My ears twitch at the sound as it quickly becomes annoying.
I pocket my scroll and head to the kitchen, where the alarm is still blaring. After switching it off, I grab the oven mitts I left on the counter and pull open the door. The mouthwatering aroma of my cooking hits me like a punch to the gut, filling the kitchen with promises of a damn good meal.
I can practically taste that first bite already. Being an Adept Culinarian has its perks - turning simple ingredients into something amazing is definitely one of them.
With care, I pull out my new masterpiece - a perfectly cooked meat cake that practically glistens under the kitchen lights. The seasoned ground meat is packed tight, layered with herbs and spices, the top beautifully browned to a crispy finish while keeping the inside tender and juicy. The smell alone is making my tail swish in anticipation.
I set it down on the granite counter, letting it rest for a moment as I grab a sharp knife. The blade slides through smoothly, and I can’t help but smirk at the sight of meat juice trickling out. I cut myself a generous slice - no point in being modest when I’m the one who cooked it - and transfer it to a waiting plate.
A healthy portion of steamed rice joins the meat on the plate because everything tastes better with rice. It’s just facts!
Rice is the perfect side dish that complements any meal. I finish it off by drizzling some sweet sauce over the meat, watching it cascade down the sides. The contrast between the dark sauce and the browned meat is almost artistic, if I do say so myself.
The end result looks exactly like the picture in my new cookbook. And this was my first attempt at this recipe. I completely excelled. Though I doubt whoever the author had written it for someone like me and Neo in mind.
Speaking of which, I grab another plate and prepare a portion for my temporary roommate. She’s still holed up in her room doing whatever the hell she does in there, but food has a way of drawing her out, although mostly for desserts and other sweet things.
[Adept Culinarian has been increased by 1, 7/50]
Huh, finally.
I’d almost forgotten what level it was at. You’d think with all the cooking and mixing drinks I’ve been doing lately, it’d be higher by now. Between Junior’s club and cooking here and there, I must’ve made hundreds of different things. Guess the system’s got higher standards than I thought because I’m now on Adept tier. Definitely need to work through more of that recipe book, even if it means dealing with those ridiculous names.
Speaking of which - who the hell comes up with these pretentious titles? “ Rhalgr Ground Beef with Aromatic Sharlayan Herbs and Red Wine Reduction?” It’s a fucking meat cake. No amount of fancy words are gonna change what it is. I’ll stick to calling things what they are, thank you very much.
I gather up both plates, careful not to disturb my perfect presentation, and carry them to the dining table. The meat’s still steaming, sending wisps of fragrant vapor into the air as I set each plate on opposite sides. A quick trip back to the kitchen for proper silverware and everything’s ready to go.
Now for the fun part - summoning my roommate. I walk down the hallway to her door and knock three times. “Neo, food’s ready!”
I don’t wait for a response - not that I’d get one anyway - and head back to claim my seat at the table. My tail curls contentedly as I settle in, eyeing my creation with anticipation.
But I wait, don’t wanna enjoy this alone after all.
Sure enough, moments later, she saunters in wearing nothing but an oversized white shirt, her multicolored hair flowing loose around her shoulders. That familiar mischievous grin spreads across her face as she approaches, and before I can react, she reaches out to pinch my cheek.
“Cut that out,” I grumble, swatting her hand away. But Neo, being Neo, isn’t deterred by my annoyance. Instead of taking her seat like a normal person, she practically launches herself into my lap, making herself comfortable while simultaneously snatching my fork and knife.
“Hey!” I try to protest, but she willfully ignores me, already cutting into my portion. The satisfied hum she makes as she takes her first bite would be gratifying if she wasn’t being such a pain in the ass about it.
I try to recover my utensils, but she fights backs without even paying attention.
After a bit, I roll my eyes at her antics. She’s trying to get under my skin again, playing her usual games. Well, she should know by now that I won’t back down.
Neo then waves the fork in front of my face, loaded with a piece of meat, and tries to push it to my mouth, but I turn my head away with a scowl. “I can feed myself, you know.”
She responds by poking my cheek with her free hand, her shoulders shaking in silent laughter. And when I try to grab the fork, she simply holds them out of reach, somehow managing to stay perfectly balanced on my lap despite her ridiculous position.
“Give those back,” I growl, though there’s no real heat in it. My ears flatten in mock annoyance as I make another grab for the fork, but Neo is frustratingly agile. She twists away, nearly jabbing me with the fork in the process, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I change tactics, trying to lift her off my lap, but she hooks her legs around the chair and clings to me. The more I struggle, the more she seems to enjoy it, her grin growing wider with each failed attempt.
“Fine, be that way.” I reach across the table for the spare utensils, but Neo intercepts my arm, trying to pin it down. What follows is a ridiculous wrestling match where I’m trying to reach the silverware while she’s doing her best octopus impression, wrapping herself around me to prevent it.
Eventually, through sheer determination (and maybe because she lets me), I manage to snag the spare set. I cut myself a piece of the meat cake, and holy shit, it’s even better than I expected. The seasoning is perfect; the meat is juicy, and the sauce ties everything together beautifully.
I hate to admit it, but maybe those pretentious cookbook writers knew what they were talking about after all. Not that I’ll ever tell Neo that - her smug grin is already insufferable enough as it is.
Now gotta see something.
‘Status’
Ma’iq Rakhan
Race–Feline Faunus
Age 18
Class: The gladiator
Level–17 (44%)
Mentor – None
Apprentice– Jeanne d’Arc
HP – 850/850 [60 regen per minute]
MP – 2240/2240 [350 regen per minute]
SP – 3260/3260 [250 regen per minute]
STR–63 (+5)
END–54 (+5)
DEX–65 (+1)
INT–44
WIS–40
CHA– 45
LCK–10
Status:
[The Big One protects yes, yes!]
BLOCKED [Ȳ̶̨̼ỏ̪͔͍ͯ͜͞ú̴̷͔̦̥͍̊͞ ̴̘̲̤̮̠ͦͣͣ̕̕͟c̷͍̩̭͚͔̯̩̓͒ͭ̈́̿̕a̢̡̛̻̭̝̗̗ͥ̉ͬ̀͗̌҉n̸̡̡̡͔͖̺͇̭̯̊̄ͧ͑̍́’̱̗̼̞̱͉̃̾ͬ͂́̃̈͟͜͟t̨̨̨̠͓̗̩̙̙͆̏̅̑̀̅ͮ ̬̙̳̬͖͎́͗ͧ͊̾͗͊͢͜ḛ̷̡̹̟͙̖͍̒̊̈́͌ͥ͞ŝ̴̸̶͍̺̹́̇̓̉͜c̺̀̆́̄ͩͪ͘ͅa̸͚̭̪̔̌̈́p͎͙͆̐e̞▒ (PERMANENT)
[Well Fed, 59:51 minutes remaining]
Apprenticeship: 25% of exp gained from apprentice actions.
Huh, that’s a pretty decent stat boost. Makes sense - the dish was complex and filling, so the benefits correlate… Wait a damn second...
My experience has jumped up. Like, significantly up. The hell? I haven’t done anything for that kind of boost. I haven’t gone to kill Grimm because of obvious reasons.
And I only beat up Emerald, and beating up people doesn’t earn me jack shit. So where did all this exp come from?
Hold up. What’s this “Apprenticeship” thing?
That definitely wasn’t there before. And 25% of exp gained from apprentice actions? Since when does...
Oh. Oh shit. Jeanne. She’s at initiation right now, probably still fighting Grimm in the Emerald Forest. So every time she takes one down, I get a cut of the experience? She must have been killing a lot of them then.
And that’s... actually pretty damn convenient. Just like with… that lying bitch, I got a 25% increase just for having her around, so since Jeanne is my apprentice I get to benefit.
Jeanne….
I hope she is fine… Nah, she definitely is doing fine or she wouldn’t be a killing machine, although I wonder if…
Before I can dwell on it further, Neo somehow manages to twist around in my lap like a contortionist, now straddling me face-to-face. She presses her forehead against mine, that familiar mischievous grin playing across her lips as she starts grinding her hips on my crotch and holds up her scroll.
‘The cook deserves a reward’
My breath is caught in my throat as I stared at the message and then at her, suddenly feeling small under her gaze. I don’t have much time to react, and Neo’s smirk grows wider as she increases the speed of her hips.
It’s not long before I feel the tent in my pants begin to form, a soft groan escaping my lips. It’s a bit embarrassing how fast she’s gotten me hard, but I’m not complaining.
I smirk back at her, but she simply giggles silently, leaning down to nip at my ear. A jolt of pleasure shoots through my body, and my hands slide underneath her shirt to squeeze her bare ass, earning a gasp of mock surprise which quickly turns into giggles before she tosses her scroll away and wraps her arms around my neck as her mismatched eyes bore into mine.
My heart pounds against my chest, and she leans forward to plant a soft kiss on my cheek before moving up to bite on my left ear. The touch sends tingles through my skin, and a deep moan rumbles in my throat. She lowers herself as her lips trail along my jaw, feather-light, and her teeth nibble at my cheek.
Breathing becomes ragged, and my grip tightens on her ass, drawing another nice gasp as I help her to grind faster. She bites down harder, her nails digging into my shoulders as she grinds against my trapped erection, and I can FEEL her wetness soaking through my pants.
We continue like this for a while, and Neo’s moans grow louder as I rub her sensitive pussy through the fabric, her hips rocking faster against me. My fingers dip lower, brushing over her slick entrance, and her body shudders in pleasure.
However, and much to my dismay, my scroll rings.
Fuck!
No, I will ignore that, I’m now deaf.
Whoever is calling can and will wait because I am going to fully enjoy this.
Neo merely flashes me her grin before she pulls up her shirt and lets her beautiful and big, bouncy breasts spill free.
They bounce tantalizingly in front of my face; the nipples standing erect, and my mouth is suddenly dry.
Her hands move to the back of my head, gently pulling me towards her bountiful chest so I can rest and enjoy them to my heart pleasure.
Except...EXCEPT THE FUCKING SCROLL IS RINGING AGAIN!
GODDAMN IT, WHY NOW!? WHY?!
I growl, grinding my teeth, as I take out the fucking scroll and kill the call without checking the caller’s name.
But the bastard doesn’t stop and the phone won’t stop ringing, and after a minute of silence, the caller finally seems to get the hint and stops.
Only for the scroll to start ringing again.
And again.
And again.
“Fuck!” I kill the call again.
And again.
This time, it is Neo who snatches the scroll from my hands and then gives me a look; her face twisting in a wicked smile as she actually answers the call and puts it on speaker mode.
Shit...
I quickly try to get Neo off me to try to have a normal conversation over the scroll, but she just slams her hips down, holding my body hostage, and my cock pulses in protest. I can only glare at the crazy girl.
“What?” I growl, unable to keep the irritation out of my voice.
“Well well, looks like someone is feeling feisty,” Roman’s smooth voice taunts through the speaker.
“What do you want?” I demand, trying to hide how flustered I am.
“Just checking in on my favorite little kitty cat. Did I interrupt your beauty sleep? Or were you too busy playing in your litter box?”
“Fuck off.”
“My my, such hostility! And here I was, concerned about my dear partner’s whereabouts. You wouldn’t happen to know where Neo is, would you?”
Neo lets out another mischievous giggle and playfully wags her finger at me before placing a finger on her lips. Ah, she wants me to keep quiet about her, however that smile of hers is so infectious that tempts me to do something different this time.
“No idea. Maybe she finally got tired of your cheap cigars and tacky fashion sense.”
“Coming from someone who grooms himself with his tongue, I’ll take that fashion critique with a grain of salt,” Roman drawls. “And I’m not hearing a ‘no’.”
That’s when Neo gets off my lap and kneels between my legs, which got me curious for a few seconds until she slowly undoes my pants with a devious grin to know EXACTLY what she is trying to do. And why I silently told her no, but that seemed to embolden her further with her actions.
“I’m hanging up,” I say, knowing damn well what this girl is planning.
“Ah ah ah, not so fast. Neo wouldn’t be with you right now, would she? She was supposed to return a while ago. Where could she be, I wonder...”
I watch Neo pull down my zipper, her hands reaching into my underwear, and I hold my breath as she slowly pulls out my aching shaft, the head throbbing as it stands erect, and her grin widens, licking her lips.
“I don’t have all day, Kitty. Where’s Neo?” Roman asks again.
Neo leans forward, her hot breath tickling my sensitive skin, and her warm tongue slowly drags up the side of my shaft, making me shiver in pleasure.
“S-She’s not with me,” I say.
“Are you sure?”
“I-I’m pretty sure.”
Because she is sucking me off, you piece of shit.
Neo wraps her tongue around the head, slowly twirling it in circles, and a groan rumbles in my throat as she starts sucking lightly, her saliva coating the shaft.
“Hmm, that’s odd,” Roman says. “I thought she would be playing with her pet project.”
“Y-Yeah...” I stutter, fighting the urge to moan until I realized he actually insulted me with that last part. “And fuck you.”
Neo slowly licks up and down the side of my length, her eyes sparkling with delight. She places a hand on the shaft and rubs up and down in tandem with her tongue, her saliva covering every inch.
“Now, now, no need to be hostile,” Roman chides. “Unless you’re hiding something from me.”
“Wha-no,” I quickly deny, “Why would I do that?”
Neo giggles as she starts sucking harder, her lips tightening around the head. Her tongue flicks rapidly under the head, making me jerk slightly.
“Awww, the kitten learned to use some sarcasm. That’s so disgustingly adorable.”
Neo slowly takes the shaft into her mouth, inch by inch. The head presses against the back of her throat, and I bite down on a groan, clenching my jaw shut.
“Shut up, asshole.”
“HA! There’s the stray rat I know and hate.”
The ice-cream girl slowly starts bobbing her head up and down, sucking hard on the thick shaft, her tongue caressing the underside, forcing me to bite my lower lip to not utter a single sound.
And she pulls out with a wet pop, my shaft glistening with her saliva, giving me a moment of respite. “Roman, seriously, why would I know where that girl goes or what that she does?”
Neo Politan licks her lips and then shifts her position to give me a good view of her breasts as she starts playing with them with the same smile and gives me an exaggerated wink.
I’m going to die of a heart attack because of this crazy girl.
“Because I’m starting to believe you’re lying to me.”
She places the shaft between her ample tits and squeezes her breasts together, enveloping the entire length in her soft cleavage.
And holy shit it feels so fucking good.
“Why the hell would I do that?”
Roman chuckles. “You tell me.”
Neo starts bouncing up and down, her heavy breasts smothering the shaft and sending shivers through my body. I can feel my balls churning already.
“Fuck, Roman, you’re a paranoid bastard.”
The small girl’s head dips down, and her lips wrap around the head as she sucks harder, her tongue swirling around the tip. Her tits press down, smothering the base, and the heat builds in my gut.
“And you’re terrible at lying,” he points out.
“And you’re being an annoying douche.”
Neo pulls away and lets her boobs slide up and down my cock. She grins at me, her cheeks flushed, and I can feel her hot breath against the sensitive head.
“You’re really not good at this, are you?” Roman says. “Where is Neo, Kitty?”
“I told you, I don’t know!” I say, and Neo starts moving faster, her lips smacking as they move up and down the wet shaft.
“Come on, we both know you’re full of shit.”
“Oh, I’m full of something, but it ain’t shit.”
“That was weak. I expected more.”
“Fuck you.”
Neo moves her mouth to suck on the head, and her hands massage her breasts, pushing the soft flesh against the shaft, her eyes gleaming as she watches me squirm.
“Well, since you forgot your manners, I’ll just not pay you on your next job. Have a good day, kitten.”
“Wha-HEY!”
He hangs up and Neo lets go of her breasts and starts moving her head again, her hair bobbing up and down.
“Asshole,” I mutter, and I throw the scroll away before my hands grab Neo’s head, holding her steady as I thrust wildly into her mouth.
I don’t care. This is something getting back at that fucking bastard. And sure as fuck, I’m going to enjoy it to its full extent. And I am very much enjoying it.
“Fuuuuuuck,” I groan as I pump into her, my shaft bulging her throat as she tries her best to keep up, her tongue sliding up and down the underside, and my legs start shaking, the pleasure overwhelming my senses.
“Neo, I’m gonna-“
She sucks harder, and her nails dig into my thighs, her mismatched eyes staring up at me, and her mouth twists in a mischievous smile.
And that’s all I can take, and a loud moan rips through my throat, and a thick stream of cum erupts from the head and shoots into her mouth.
I hold her in place, but she keeps sucking hard as my shaft throbs in her mouth, and I can’t stop my hips from bucking wildly as another thick load bursts inside her warm mouth.
Finally, my cock stops twitching, and I fall back into the chair, breathing heavily, the afterglow washing over me.
“You are fucking crazy, you know that?” I comment.
The short girl just grins devilishly as she climbs onto my lap once again, her hot center pressing against my sensitive shaft and making it twitch involuntarily.
‘Thanks for the meal!~~~’
She licks her lips again, but very slowly. Like a really slow how she circles her tongue while giving a special look with those eyes of hers.
I blink once and shake my head as a chuckle escapes my lips. “Will this be a regular thing whenever I cook for you now?”
She tilts her head playfully and shrugs, her hands finding their way to my shoulders as she leans closer.
‘Maybe, maybe not. Who knows?’
Her lips curve into a mischievous smile as she starts moving her hips again. My member responds eagerly, rising to life once more, and I can feel the heat spreading through my body like wildfire.
I grin, my hands running along her thighs and squeezing her soft flesh and feeling her plump ass react and squeeze my member between her cheeks. However, her hands shoot forward and grab my collar, pulling me down.
‘You owe me, kitten.’
Before I can ask what she means by that, she gives me a sharp push. The chai tips backward with a startled yelp from me, and my hands are helpless to do anything to stop the fall.
“WHa-oof!”
My protest is cut short as Neo lands on top of me, straddling my chest with that insufferable grin still plastered on her face. Her shoulders shake with silent giggles as she looks down at me, clearly proud of herself.
I try to push myself up, but her hands grip my wrists, pinning them against the floor.
‘No, stay’
Her mismatched eyes glow as she presses down, making it impossible for me to budge, and she moves her body, very slowly, as her pussy is right above my face.
‘It’s my turn’
Oh... OH, so THAT’S what she meant.
A grin spreads across my lips. “Alright. Just let me-“
But she shakes her head, her smile growing wider, as she lowers herself down.
‘No, just like this’ And she lets my hands go free.
And then her hips are grinding against my mouth, her juices leaking out and filling my senses with her tangy scent.
I keep my mouth shut for a bit rather confused, just letting her do her thing, creating a sticky mess on my face and ... ah I’m a dumbass.
My tongue immediately darts out, and a gasp escapes from her lips as it slips between her folds. My hands grip her ass, and I pull her closer, her thighs wrapping around my head as her slick walls squeeze around my tongue.
Her hands clutch my hair, her legs squeezing tightly around me as I work on her hot folds. However, there should be a spot. A sweet spot somewhere in there.
And she gasps and jerks wildly when the tip of my tongue touches somewhere in the upper walls.
So I lick the same spot, and she moans, her grip tightening and pulling at my hair, and the taste of her arousal becomes stronger.
I continue to focus on that area, and she starts trembling, her moans growing louder and sweeter to my ears. Her thighs tighten pleasantly around my head as her hands loosen their grip.
She has to be close.
I can feel her inner walls pulsing and constricting around my tongue, and the flavor of her nectar becomes stronger. However, out of curiosity I look up and see her looking at me, her eyes half-lidded and hazy, her lips parted and letting out soft addictive moans, her skin flushed and coated with a sheen of sweat, her hands playing with her breasts.
Fuck, she’s so damn beautiful.
And I know exactly how to finish this...
I pull out from her inner walls and bite down on her clit.
She lets out a startled cry, her entire body shuddering violently, and then a rush of warm liquid fills my mouth.
I was bracing to not gag at the awful taste, based on my experience with Miltia however…
However, Neo tastes... incredible, and I lap up her juices eagerly, relishing the sweet flavor she has. I cannot get tired of this. I don’t want to get tired.
By curiosity, I look up to see her panting heavily, her eyes half-closed, her cheeks flushed, and her chest rising and falling with each breath.
‘Good kitty’
“Are we even now?”
She gives a curt nod and pats my head with a satisfied smile on her face.
“I will take that as a yes.” I kiss her tight. “However, we will need a bath now.”
[Affection with (Neo Politan) increased by 2, 32/100]
She gives me a small smile - a genuine one this time, not her usual smug smile - and gets up, holding out a hand to help me up.
I take it, but can’t resist pushing my luck with a cheeky grin. “What do you say we take a bath together?”
She rolls her eyes so hard I’m worried they might get stuck that way, then jabs her finger into my chest repeatedly before delivering a particularly vicious pinch to my stomach.
“Oww! Okay fine fine, not pushing it!” I yelp, rubbing the sore spot. Message received - loud and clear. Though I notice she’s still wearing that amused expression, so I probably didn’t annoy her too much. “Can’t blame a guy for trying, though, right?”
Neo responds by shoving me towards the bathroom, but I catch her silent laugh before she turns away, watching her swaying her hips with every step.
What a unique girl.
Wait... I haven’t eaten my meal yet.
Ugh dammit, it must be cold now.
