Finding Answers

John struggled to get up but after finding a bit of strength he was back on his feet. John could hardly walk but felt as though he had all the time in the world. He slowly limped towards the dark elf in front of him. Fear welled in her eyes “Pio please release me so I can kill him.” The shadow demon simply tightened it’s grip. John found that he still couldn’t speak.

When he reached the dark elf her body trembled as he reached out and touched her. John then thought out “Skill Steal!” John felt his voice open up as he stole her mute skill; removing the curse from himself. He figured this skill may come in handy later down the line. John knew he was veering kinda far from his plans and needed to move on with this quick. John moved his hand from her arm to her head and began looking through her memories. This ‘Pio’ the shadow demon appeared to be her best friend so John decided to change that. He filled himself into her best friend role through a few memory changes. He had a really full plate so he didn’t have time to keep adding party members but he was sure that he would come back for her.

John simply took over the role of her best friend/childhood friend so then she wouldn’t miss Pio who John decided to take with him. She would be attached to John in a matter that wouldn’t require her on his shoulder so it gave him a nice breather.

John was settled to just send her back from whence she came and she could be an ally in the future if the ever crossed paths again. However John decided to look through all her memories to see where a divergence might have occurred in the current timeline to make her a hero.

John learned a decent number of things from her memories. Firstly her name was Vannil Golarud she was the first and only daughter of Malpa Golarud (Mother) and Doyle Golarud (Father). Malpa was the queen of the ever dwindling race of dark elves making Vannil the princess. They had been hiding out in a small cabin hidden from the eyes of the elves but would often sneak into the kingdom for food. Her father had been killed by Ophilio years ago supposedly because he “challenged” him and Ophilio announced that if he had any ally’s she and her mother would be free experience. This scarred her and made her vow **** on all heroes. She kept up her father’s training while in the forest but had managed to surpass even her expectations. Her level was while in combat 102 but her base level was 51 this was thanks to a Hero’s Necklace her mother gave her. When John looked at the necklace it looked very familiar. Then reality had dawned on him the necklace in the previous timeline had been worn by Ophilio meaning he likely killed Vannil as well as her parents in the other timeline simply because Lailia was in his party. John began to feel bad for the girl deciding that he wanted to make her have a better life. He looked at her hobbies and saw that she took after her mother with sewing. She had actually stitched together her own outfit which looked finely made to the naked eye. She held no special skills to be a seamstress but John knew he had some abilities he no longer used. Because he was no long just a pawn and took he wouldn’t need any speciality tailoring skills. He had no time for it anyways. He decided in return for her Mute skill he gave her the skills Perfect Seamstress and Needle Master John knew he wouldn’t need them anymore. John wanted to build extra trust inside her so she would listen to what he had to say.

John’s next move he felt wrong doing but knew it had to be done. He removed the memory of her father being killed by Ophilio and replaced it with him dying peacefully. This would allow her to move on with her life because obviously she would never find Ophilio as he no long existed. John’s mind falling back to images of the small girl Ophilia he found he wouldn’t want anyone but himself hurting her.

John’s newly blossomed friendship or in Vannil’s mind old friendship would come with some perks so that she wouldn’t go on a rampage. She would have complete trust in John and would see him as her main supporter behind her own mother when it comes to sewing. He added a small submissive streak just to make her a little more compliant and easier to enlist. He then did a small mental reset on her making her believe she was in some kinda daze believing John to be someone else that’s why she attacked him. John then took the initiative of waking Vannil up while signalling for Pio to release her. John braced for the worst.

Vannil slowly blinked her eyes as they came back into focus. John began to lose focus himself falling to one knee. “John! John are you okay oh my god what did I do! I’ll get you to my mother she’ll use her medicine and…” John passed out the blood loss becoming too much before he could hear her finish her sentence.

When John began to wake up he felt himself in a warm bed while being patted on the head very gently. When John opened his eyes he found a different looking woman dark elf staring down at him. This one looking slightly older than Vannil all the while sharing some characteristics. Most noticeably the purple eyes and jet black hair. “My my, you woke up sooner than I thought I better tell my daughter her little friend has woken up.” John noticed he was in an unfamiliar Cabin. The mysterious woman which John now made out as Vannil’s mother turned towards the door. “Vannil honey he’s awake come in and properly apologise.” She called towards the door.

Vannil meekly opened the door she believed John would hate her and didn’t want to face him. John decided to play his part “Hey Vannil, you were pretty rough with me back there are you feeling alright? Where am I where did you take me?”

Vannil looked towards her mother who nodded then back to John. “John I’ve something to tell you. This is my mother Malpa queen of the dark elves. I was scared when you passed out and panicked dragging you to me and my mother’s cabin. You can’t tell anyone she is here. I know I can trust you but as my best friend promise me.” She looked John in the eyes.

John nodded “Of course, of course what are friends for? I wouldn’t dare to tell a soul but I have an offer if you guys are willing to listen.” He then grabbed both of Malpa’s hands which seemed to surprise Vannil. John quickly adjusted Malpa’s trust like her daughter to make her more compliant and willing to do what John suggested but not enough to change her personality. John then noticed his hand had been perfectly stitched shut. This only made his determination stronger.

“Malpa, Vannil I’ve been keeping my own secret. I’ve actually become the king of the neighboring elf kingdom. It appears you two have been living here for a long time but it is quite rugged and I’m sure it’s hard. So I would like to formally offer you the option to come work undercover as maids in my castle. I noticed the handiwork on my hand and we don’t have any seamstress’s so I would love to have you two on board. I can promise you protection, housing, and three meals a day and a flow of income. In addition you may leave whenever you desire.” John stared intensely into Malpa’s eyes knowing it would take her saying yes for Vannil to come along.

Malpa pulled her hands away from John a sullen look overcoming her mature and beautiful face. “That offer is very kind but we…” Malpa suddenly got cut off by Vannil “Mama John is trustworthy, I’ve played with him for so long but he has never done anything to me.” Vannil then slapped a hand onto her chest. “John is my friend even if it seems too kind I vouch that it is likely the truth! Mama please consider it he is not the kind to try anything shady. He is not a bad hero like me who attacks their friends.” She too then gained a solemn look. Vannil then turned to address John “Even if it’s just my mother please protect her if I went into a daze and attacked my closest friend, I fear what would happen if I went into a daze around my mother…”

Is this a friends trust John wondered to himself. It’s different then what he is used to. Thinking back John never really had any friends everyone he has ever been around has either been a loyal subject or a traitorous fiend. This was the first time John felt like he had a friend and equal of sorts. “Vannil it was purely an accident I understand entirely and hold no ill will. I’m not just offering this to your mother you are included because we are fr-friends I wouldn’t have it any other way.” John then have a genuine smile.

Malpa suddenly sighed breaking the side interaction. “Well well, I guess it’s decided then. I thought as queen I made the decisions but it appears my daughter is growing into a woman sooner than I expected. Well John we’ll be in your care. And I don’t know how you know of our proficiency in tailoring but I’ll overlook this for now.” She then reached out a hand which John shook profusely. Malpa appeared to just now notice the wedding ring which sat on John’s finger and smiled herself finally shedding her sullen look. John looked into her mind finding the reason she was happier was because she felt a married man was less likely to try anything. She was still weary of John but she trusted her daughter above all else.

“Trust me Malpa and Vannil you won’t regret it.” John felt accomplished. Though he only knew these two for a short time he felt like he had known them forever. Knowing he could protect them and employ them of their own volition made him feel even better. John left them alone as they began to pack their things.

John stepped outside the cabin to meet with Pio. Pio’s shadowy figure appeared before him in that instant. “Pio let me touch your physical form.” Pio who was now at John’s beck and call due to the blood contract obliged. When John was able to he touched the mind of Pio. John had to admit that changing people turned him on and he held himself back with Vannil and Malpa. But the shadow demon was free reign. With a number of changes Pio was no longer genderless but a female shadow demon. John eased her of all her memories with Vannil instead placing himself in her place. Pio would now be loyal to John because of the contract and personal beliefs.

John’s next move was to enable Pio to speak he copied and instilled all his language knowledge in Pio. He then **** Pio’s voice box to open. Pio knew right away there was a change “thwank wu mwy demwon kwing for hewlping me speak.” Pio said in an alluring yet broken female voice. Pio seemed to struggle at first to speak but seemed to grasp it with the last two words. At least John hoped this however he couldn’t let people know he had become one with the demon king. “Pio call my milord or king from now on avoid any talk of demons okay?”

Pio nodded “Of cowse yes milord.” She said.

John sighed this was gonna be harder than he thought teaching someone to speak. Suddenly the door opened again behind him. Pio immediately disappearing into John’s shadow. It was Malpa and Vannil with small bags on their shoulders. John kindly took both the bags which were a lot heavier than they looked and had them follow him. John led the way looking back every once and a while to ensure they were still following him. Every glance his took he noticed another curve on their bodies. He wanted to protect them but inside he felt a carnal desire building.

Vannil innocently smiled and talked with her mother as they walked. Malpa kept a weary eye on John though for some reason her worries faded slightly as they broke into the clearing to the kingdom.