Julian catches up with his sisters, then heads home with his retinue

When Julian arrived in the lobby, Izel had yet to show her face. His escorts followed him, but only Reyna kept close to him. The buxom redhead almost hugged his side. Purple-robed Menders scampered about the room. There was a palpable sense of urgency evident in their movements, as if a second of delay would result in something catastrophic occurring. Some of the Menders would approach newcomers who arrived through the entrance. Those who appeared visibly injured were immediately ushered towards the hallway Julian had entered from.

Over two dozen people sat on benches situated along the walls of the lobby. All were human or elf. None were injured as far as Julian could see. A few of them wore the tattered clothes of a commoner while others were ornately dressed and armed. Julian couldn’t help but notice how the better-dressed individuals had effectively sequestered themselves off from the others. Some of them glared over at the others, their chins held high. Haughty. Confident.

If those people aren’t classed, I’ll be surprised. Even in places like this where class status isn’t supposed to matter, it still finds a way to influence the dynamics within. How is it that Nyros managed to dissolve the caste system without the nobles descending into a rage at finally being made equal to their supposed inferiors?

A few of them glanced in his direction. Some even widened their eyes in recognition. They started whispering amongst each other while gesturing towards him animatedly, as if they had just glimpsed their favorite playwright or adventurer.

He shifted uncomfortably. A part of him wished he had taken Beginner’s Telepathic Invisibility so he could **** others to ignore him at his leisure.

“Hey Reyna, do you know if Rila’s still here?” he addressed the head of his retinue.

The redheaded Hylaner faced him. Her emerald eyes stared into his searchingly.

“As far as I know, yes. Do you want to visit her before we leave?” Something glimmered in her gaze. Approval?

Julian thought for a moment.

Izel said Rila was all right. That she only has mana exhaustion. But it would still be nice to see her and ask her how she’s doing. With my new duties I’ll probably not be able to speak with her as often as I wish. And if it gets me away from prying eyes at the same time while I wait for Izel, all the better.

His lips curved upward. “Yes, I think that we would be for the best. I haven’t seen her since we arrived here. Can you take me to her room?”

Reyna gave him an uncharacteristically friendly smile. It made her look entrancingly beautiful. As soon as the smile appeared, it was gone.

“Follow me. I believe your mother mentioned she was staying in a room down this hallway.” Reyna started to walk off.

"Wait," Julian said. Reyna stopped and gave him a questioning look. "When Izel gets here, she won't know where to look for me. One of you should stay behind make sure she ends up in the right place."

Reyna nodded stiffly. She glanced meaningfully at Zoris.

The gaunt-faced mage nodded and faced Julian. "I think I know enough about Izel to point her out in a crowd. When she arrives, I'll explain who I am and lead her to you."

"Thanks, Zoris," Julian said gratefully.

The young man inclined his head humbly.

"It's my honor to serve you, Lord." He set off towards the entrance to the mending ward, the crowd making way for him as he passed, eyeing his staff warily.

Reyna led the rest of them down one of the hallways, with Gartho and Petra fell into step behind him like an honor guard. Gartho attempted to make small talk, remarking about the weather and commenting about an apparent uptick in monster and brigand attacks across the Empire. Petra was silent as ever. He felt her hostile ice-blue eyes boring in the back of his head. He glanced back at her once, and she met his gaze fearlessly.

She’s going to hold her mother’s demotion over me for as long as possible, isn’t she? Fine. Let her! Soon I’ll have her mind so twisted she’ll thank me for getting Brianna demoted so she could be assigned to me.

In the deepest recesses of his mind, the presence smiled.

His boots thudded softly against the hallway’s stone floor. Mana torches lined the walls, casting the hallway in radiant amber light.

As he followed Reyna, his eyes inevitably drifted down to her rear. The leather pants she wore formed perfectly to her round rump. His manhood hardened as he imagined her bending over in front of him and begging him to ravage her holes.

Then she stopped in front of a wooden door.

“This is it,” she said.

His retinue hung back in the hallway. Reyna took up a position alongside the door. Julian walked up to the door and knocked.

Seconds later, the dark wooden door squeaked open, revealing Velri. His older sister’s black hair was tied into a ponytail. She was dressed in similar purple livery to Julian, though hers was rather small and tight on her. Her shirt clung to her large breasts almost like a second skin and the low neckline exposed a decent portion of her cleavage.

“Oh, Julian. You’re awake,” she said. Her severe blue eyes examined him critically. “You look much better. The Menders did their job well.”

He gave her a smile that wasn’t entirely ****.

“I feel a lot better," he confirmed. "What about you? How are you holding up?”

She shrugged.

“I’m fine. Rila took care of the worst of my injuries during the fight. The Menders did the rest.”

She glanced past him. Her eyes widened.

“Reyna? What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice brimming with curiosity.

The redheaded Hylander bowed lower than she had to Julian.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised they know each other. Chances are they fought together while I was languishing back at the estate.

Reyna’s positioning meant that a good portion of her cleavage was exposed. Julian was sorely tempted to look, but kept himself under control, letting his peripherals do most of the work for him.

“I’m here under orders from your mother. Myself and the two others in this hall are to serve as Lord Julian’s personal retinue until such a time as Lady Maela decrees otherwise,” Reyna said.

Velri raised a black eyebrow.

“I see,” she said, then turned to face Julian. “I suppose it is about time you got yourself an escort and finally learned what it is to be a proper noble. Reyna is a skilled warrior. Follow her advice and heed her warnings and she will keep you alive and out of trouble. And Trivus willing, you might just learn something.”

“I’ll do my best,” Julian replied evenly.

“So, where’s your consort? I’d have thought that she would be hanging off your arm right about now,” Velri said offhandedly, her eyes scanning the hallway. Gartho straightened himself hastily, his heavy armor clanking loudly. Petra kept her composure. The dusky-skinned blonde inclined her head respectfully.

Julian met her Velri's ocean-blue gaze and said, “She’s out gathering her things. Mother accepted her as my consort so she’ll be coming to live with me.”

Velri pursed her plush lips in distaste. Julian couldn’t help but imagine how they would feel wrapped around his cock.

I wonder if Velri’s ever done that for a man before. If not, perhaps Izel can instruct her. Heh. I’d like to see the two of them worship me at once.

His manhood throbbed when he remembered what Izel had done for him while he lay in his cot. She had tended to him with a passion that reminded him of when they’d made love, though there had been something else sparkling in her amber eyes as she blew him. A naked satisfaction as she made him came and she swallowed his load, accepting it into her stomach.

Velri’s tone was guarded. “I see. Well, if Mom’s made up her mind, there’s no use disputing her. Be warned that your consort will be your responsibility. You’ll be judged by how she behaves as well as how she dresses. If she dresses at all.”

She scrunched her face in distaste, and Julian knew she was thinking about Izel being entirely nude when they'd rescued her.

I wonder what you’d say if I told you one of Izel’s conditions for being my consort was that I’d have to buy her extravagant outfits? The sort that would befit ladies of noble blood?

“Oh, she’ll be properly attired. When she’s out of my room, that is.” Julian smirked, his tone teasing.

Velri groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose in obvious annoyance.

“I guess that’s the most I can expect,” she said, her tone resigned. Her nostrils flared angrily when he smirked. “Though you two had better keep any sounds of your… activities… to an absolute minimum or I swear no **** in this world will spare you from the consequences.”

He laughed. His sister’s glare intensified, which naturally only made him laugh harder.

“Alright, enough! That’s not funny!” She nearly shouted.

He took a deep breath and settled down.

“Says you. But fine. I’ve had my fun for now. So, is Rila awake? I’d like to go in and see her if she’s up to it,” he said.

Velri’s features softened somewhat.

“She is. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you. She’s been asking about you constantly since she woke up.” She opened the door further and stood to the side.

He couldn’t help but smile.

She has?

Recognizing the invitation for what it was, Julian exchanged a nod with Reyna before walking past Velri into the room. He heard the door shut behind him with an audible clank. Alongside the right wall, out of view of the door was a cot not unlike the one he’d woken up in a few hours earlier. His sister Rila lay there underneath the covers, with only her head and arms exposed. Her platinum blonde hair was splayed out messily all over her pillow. Julian frown when he saw her skin was sickly pale, but her beautiful ocean-blue eyes were wide awake and teeming with warmth. They found him instantly and lit up like twin azure suns.

“Julian!” Rila exclaimed. She shifted as if to get out of bed, but Brynn grabbed her arm, holding her down.

Brynn stood next to the bed. His twin still wore the black-and-white robe she’d had on earlier. There’d been nary a scratch on her during the fight. She turned to face him, her gray eyes capturing his gaze. She smiled in greeting then turned to address Rila.

“Be still, you idiot! Don’t you remember what the Menders said? No leaving your bed unless it’s absolutely necessary,” she chided their youngest sister.

Rila pouted petulantly, somehow making the act look incredibly cute.

“Whatever. I bet I’m a better healer than any of them,” she grumbled.

Julian walked up to the bed and grasped Rila's hand. She smirked up at him and with a strength that surprised him, she yanked him downward and practically dragged him into bed with her.

“Oof!” He allowed himself to fall into her cot, her adoring laugh like music to his ears. The cot was slightly narrower than his was, and he was **** to share the pillow with her. From the bright shit-eating grin on her face, it seemed she didn’t mind. She surged towards him and planted a quick kiss on his cheek, her brilliant blue eyes shining.

“Good to see you’re up and about, Julian,” Brynn said, amusement glinting in her eyes. “We visited you earlier, but you were still asleep and the Menders shooed us away. Said you needed time to rest and recuperate.”

He shrugged, shifting himself in the bed to find a more comfortable position. Rila shifted towards him, resting her head against his shoulder. Her large, soft right breast squished against his arm.

“That’s fine. Izel came and kept me company. She must have showed up when they were done.”

Or perhaps they simply didn’t see her. Shadowers are known for being able to slip into guarded areas undetected.

Julian didn’t see the slight narrowing of Rila’s deep blue eyes, but he did feel it when she angrily pinched his arm.

“Ow!” he hissed. “What was that for?”

She shrugged.

“Sorry, it was an accident.” She fluttered her eyelids innocently, and he sighed.

Such a brat. I give her all this attention and this is the thanks I get?

He’d have retaliated, but with Brynn and especially Velri watching them he hesitated.

I’d very much like to keep my head on my shoulders, thank you.

Brynn touched his arm, drawing his gaze to her. “Hey, next time you see Izel, can you tell her thanks for saving my life?”

He looked up at her, marveling at his twin’s beauty.

I still can’t believe she sees anything worthwhile in Clevis. I think it’s high time I started chipping away at that so-called relationship before anything serious happens between the two of them. Gods, I hope nothing has happened. I'm a fool for not doing anything about them when I came home yesterday.

A sense of urgency gripped him, and moments later he primed a Suggestion and aimed it at Brynn.

-Every time you look at or think about Clevis, you can’t help but be overwhelmed by how ugly and repulsive he is.-

He felt the Suggestion bury itself in her mind with a moderate amount of resistance.

Heh. Fuck you, Clevis. By the time I’m done with Brynn, you’ll be lucky if she leaves your presence fast enough not to throw up in your face.

Brynn’s features twisted in disgust, and it was all he could do not to laugh maniacally.

“Wouldn’t you rather thank her yourself?” he asked, trying to act natural and keep their current conversation flowing.

Brynn’s face turned green, as if she were getting nauseous.

I bet she’s thinking about Clevis right now. About all the time they’ve spent together.

He readied another Suggestion.

Let’s be thorough.

-You’re disgusted with yourself for spending so much time with Clevis. You’ll reflexively rebuff his advances if he ever tries to court you.-

The new suggestion insinuated itself in her mind, perverting and twisting it. He'd have laughed maniacally if it wouldn't earn him wary looks from his sisters.

Brynn choked loudly as if she’d swallowed something down the wrong pipe.

Velri raised her eyebrows and decided to answer for her.

“Mother assigned Brynn to a monster clearing expedition along the northern border with Serithar. The villages there have been being attacked more frequently lately and they’ve called for aid,” Velri said. She moved further into the room, standing a few feet from Julian. Her large breasts jiggled enticingly. She shot Brynn a meaningful glance. “I’d have thought she’d be more pleased about it. A chance to finally work with an adventuring company and make a name for herself.”

The border with Serithar, the region where Father is fighting his latest cleansing expedition against the orcs. That’s at least a week’s journey from here by horse.

Brynn took a deep breath, regaining her composure.

“I am happy, it’s just… I felt sick for a moment. I, uh, must have eaten something that didn’t agree with me.” She fidgeted slightly.

Velri rested a hand on her shoulder, the act looking surprisingly tender.

“Didn’t I tell you not to eat the food here? I swear, no one ever listens to me,” she remarked chidingly.

“Yeah, you were right. Sorry,” Brynn said, and Julian knew she was happy that Velri had bought into her excuse.

“I didn’t think the food was all that bad,” Rila whispered so quietly Julian barely heard her. She seemed content to cuddle up against him. Her eyes were half-lidded, as if she were about to fall asleep.

On any other day, I’d stay with her. But I have to report to Brianna Ulner by dawn tomorrow or I’m fucked.

Velri continued, “I only wish I were going with you. Unfortunately, I have to stay here and train our youngest sister so the little brat doesn’t exhaust herself in a fight again.” She glared at Rila, but there was little heat in her sapphire eyes.

Rila’s eyes snapped fully open.

“H-hey, that’s not my fault! I’m not a combat-focused class like you are!” Rila said.

“That’s no excuse,” Velri said authoritatively. She crossed her arms beneath her breasts, squishing them upward. Julian nearly gaped at the amount of cleavage she was showing. “A healer who exhausts herself prematurely or can’t defend herself is useless in a fight. I may not have magic, but I do know how to fight and survive. That’s what I’ll be teaching you until Mom arranges for someone to tutor you in light magic. But the days of you ducking your training are over.”

Rila groaned. “Oh, just kill me now!"

Velri grinned viciously.

“Oh, cheer up, little sister. Anything I put you through will pale in comparison to actually dying,” she said, her voice unusually light.

Rila glared at her.

“Gods, you’re actually looking forward to this! Ugh, I hate you!” She turned to face Julian for a moment. “Hey, why aren’t you training Julian first? He has even less experience than I do!”

Julian grinned.

“Sorry, Rila. Mom wants to work with the servants until I’ve learned my lesson for leaving home without her permission. I’m afraid you’re stuck all alone with Velri for the time being,” he said consolingly.

Brynn snorted and covered her mouth with her hand. Julian grinned.

“You don’t have to make it sound like that’s a bad thing!” Velri glared at him. “You know what? When Mother releases you from your punishment I’ll make sure she knows you could use training of your own! Maybe I'll even find you during your down time. Someone has to make sure your paltry skills don't atrophy while you're working, and I'm sure Mother would agree!"

Rila chuckled beside him, and Julian whipped his head around to glare at her.

Traitor.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

The four of them turned to face the door. Velri narrowed her eyes, her hand reflexively moving to where her sword would normally be sheathed. “Come in.”

The door opened and Reyna stepped into the room. She panned her eyes over the four of them before focusing on Julian. She raised her eyebrows at him.

“My lord, your consort has arrived,” Reyna said.

“Ah.” Julian nodded. He disentangled himself from an irritated Rila and stood up from the bed. “Let her know I'll be right out."

Reyna nodded obediently. She turned and left, shutting the door behind her.

His sisters stared at him.

“Well. It’s been fun,” he said.

“Do you really have to go?” Rila mumbled softly. Velri and Brynn gazed at him curiously.

He nodded. “Yes, Mom said if I’m not in the servants’ quarters by dawn, well…”

The three of them nodded in understanding.

“You’re free to come visit me when I’m not busy working, though,” Julian said.

Rila beamed at him.

“I’ll definitely do that!”

“So will I,” Brynn murmured. “After I leave, chances are I won’t be seeing you for a month or two. I want to make sure I have some fond memories to take with me.”

Something pricked at the edges of his eyes.

“Thanks, Brynn.” He faced Velri. His beautiful older sister stared at him for a long moment.

“Perhaps I’ll stop by if I’m not busy,” she muttered noncommittally. “Now, get going. Don’t waste any more valuable time you could be using to get rest.”

“Fine, I’m going. I’ll see the three of you later.” He smiled at them.

“Bye, Julian!” Brynn and Rila chorused. Velri waved him off.

"See you soon, Julian," his older sister said, smirking slightly.

Gods, I'd better watch out for her.

He made his way into the hallway and found his retinue waiting for him. Standing next to Zoris was Izel. The dark-skinned Tenlani woman was beautiful as ever. Her silky black hair fell past her shoulders, framing her gorgeous face. Her amber eyes stared at him almost lovingly, glancing intermittently at the men and women his mother had sent to protect and serve him. She still wore the blue dress she'd had on before, and Zoris carried a large rucksack over his shoulder that he hadn't possessed before. His right eye twitched slightly, and he shifted uncomfortably as if he were struggling with the weight.

Already taking advantage of my vassals, I see. Izel will take to noble life like a fish to water.

Zoris' eye twitch magically went away when Julian looked at him, and the mage smiled diffidently. Reyna rolled her eyes, but said nothing.

"Ah, Julian," Izel greeted him with an amused smirk. "It's nice to see you up and about. I'd expected you to still be in your room when I got back, so imagine my surprise when I'm greeted by a man saying he's part of a group of classed warriors assigned to you by your mother. And I thought, 'my, Julian's moving up in the world, isn't he?'"

She crossed her arms beneath her breasts, pushing them upwards. Beside Petra, Gartho nearly choked, his eyes bulging comically out of his skull as he stared at Izel. Izel paid him no mind. Reyna sent Gartho a glare so intense and withering, Gartho's skin went deathly pale and he looked down squarely at his feet.

Julian sighed. "We're wasting time. Let's make our way back to the manor."

Izel grinned and approached him, hooking her arm in his.

"Yes, let's. I'm looking forward to exploring your ancestral home, especially your bedroom," she said, a teasing grin on her face.

"I doubt there'll be time enough for that," Reyna piped up. "Julian is expected in the servants' quarters by dawn. Any delay in him getting much-needed rest would be very unwise."

"Good point," Izel said, her voice neutral. She squeezed Julian's arm. "So, lead the way then."

Reyna nodded and set off down the hallway towards the entrance to the mending ward. The rest of them followed closely behind.

---

It was late and still dark outside as they rode towards the manor. Reyna and the others had brought horses with them, as well as a spare for Julian. Izel had clambered up the horse and settled easily behind Julian, pressing her ample chest into his back in a way that had to be intentional. She'd kissed the back of his neck, and he thought he felt her lips were curved into devious smile.

Above, the sky glittered with far-off embers of white-blue stars, but not a moon was in sight, leaving the way home darker than it would be otherwise.

“Huh. Your home’s not nearly as majestic as I thought it was going to be,” Izel chirped, a slight smirk on her face as the stone Imerdan manor came into view. The slitted windows of its single spire were illuminated with soft orange light. Izel had wrapped her arms tightly around his chest and rested her head on his left shoulder.

Gartho, Petra, and Reyna held torches. Zoris’ ruby staff was illuminated, casting a reddish hue that melted when it came into contact with the orange light emitted from the torch fires. They traveled down the cobblestone road leading out from Rona, the hooves of their horses clanking loudly against the surface of the road. Chirping insects hummed their mating tunes from within the nearby forest that hugged the road on either side.

“Gods, I can’t help but be a little disappointed,” Izel continued theatrically, tightening her grip around his chest.

Julian resisted shaking his head in exasperation.

Izel is really playing up the clueless commoner consort act. She’s probably far more capable on a mount than anyone here aside from Reyna perhaps, yet she’s acting like she needs to cling to me for dear life to stop herself from falling off.

“What did you picture in your mind?” he said.

She hummed.

“Oh, something plated in gold or silver! A grand statement about the importance of House Imerdan, which I’m officially a member of now. Oh, you must think I am such a fool! After all these years of scraping by in classless poverty, I guess I started to believe that the nobility would live in palaces to rival those of the gods, not something as utterly drab as this!” she practically chanted, drawing an irritated glare from Reyna, who sat atop a large brown warhorse. She rode mere feet away from them while Zoris and the others kept a wider distance. Julian couldn’t help but notice they were positioned at multiple points and that if someone attacked them on the road, any of them would be able to respond or intercept the attack before it reached him.

Occasionally, he caught Gartho staring at Izel, his eyes drinking in her voluptuous body, barely contained by the faint blue dress she wore. A less secure man would have been bothered, but by now Julian had absolute faith in Izel’s loyalty to him. If other men wanted to stare longingly at what they would never have, he saw no reason why he should make that realization any less painful for them.

“It is drab, isn’t it? And it only has a single spire compared to several in other castles. I keep telling my mother we need to completely revamp the property, but she never listens to me. Can you believe that?” he said.

“Gods, I hardly can!” Izel gasped, theatrically bringing a hand to cover her mouth in mock disbelief. She squeezed him affectionately. “All the more reason to look forward to your ascendancy, my handsome lord. Once you’re in charge, you can show all your countrymen how stunted and clueless they are.” She quickly amended, “Aesthetically, I mean.”

Her smile was anything but apologetic.

“Unbelievable,” Petra blurted out suddenly. Julian glanced back at her confusedly. She hadn’t said a word to him since they met each other again at the mending ward, the constant glares she’d sent in both his and Izel’s direction made it fairly obvious how she was feeling. The muscular dusky-skinned blonde glared at him; her icy blue eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “This is the woman you broke curfew for? Some idiot foreigner who can’t even show proper respect to her new house?”

Julian opened his mouth to respond, but Reyna beat him to it.

“You forget yourself, Petra,” Reyna said coldly, her pale hands tightening on her horse’s reins. “It’s bad enough that your mother brought dishonor upon your family by failing to prevent Julian from leaving against Lady Maela’s instructions. Do you really want to further impugn her honor by insulting your lord?”

Petra’s expression twisted as she realized the depth of her mistake.

“No, I-”

Reyna silenced her with a wave of her hand and faced Julian.

“Shall I reprimand her, my lord?” she asked. “She has shown you disrespect. By custom, she ought to be taught the error of her ways.”

An image of a naked Reyna enthusiastically spanking an equally naked Petra’s ass raw suddenly popped into his mind. His cock throbbed.

Perhaps I’ll be able to make something like that happen soon. It could be a good excuse to see if Suggestion works on multiple targets with Connect Mind. Now that I have Meditation, I don’t have to be as conservative with my WP as I used to be. The only thing that would make my situation better in that regard was if I managed to find Joanna before she left for Hylan and purchase some of those “focus” potions.

They had done a cursory search of the market district where Julian had disembarked from Joanna and Bryce’s wagon, but since night had already fallen, most of the merchants who had been around during the day had packed up their stalls and left. Joanna and Bryce had been nowhere to be seen, and most of the people remaining were shifty, unsavory types who avoided looking in their armed party's direction for too long. Nevertheless, Reyna had been rather insistent that they leave, so Julian hadn’t insisted that they linger.

He let out a sigh. Keeping a hand on the reins of his horse, he grasped one of Izel’s hands with the other and squeezed.

That’s enough fun for now, Izel. Aemar isn’t ready for your sense of humor, such as it is.

She shifted her hand to grasp his and squeezed back, settling down obediently. She nestled her face into the crook of his neck and sighed resignedly.

“My lord?” came the authoritative voice the redheaded Hylaner. She truly was beautiful. He could scarcely wait until she was completely his.

He met Reyna’s inquisitive stare and masked his inner thoughts as he'd learned to over the course of his life.

“It’s very late. Perhaps it would be best if we postponed any punishment until tomorrow. If Petra behaves well in the interim, I might consider pretending I didn’t hear what she said,” he said.

Reyna frowned in disappointment, but kept her tone appropriately deferential. “Very well.”

She and Petra exchanged a heated look.

No doubt Petra will be told to scrub floors all night once I’m out of earshot. Such a waste. I can think of far more productive things she could be doing with those hands. Status.

Julian Imerdan (lv. 7 Psion)

HP: 142/142

ST: 119/119

WP: 445/470

Skills...

Attributes…

Effects…

A nearly-full WP pool. Isn’t that grand?

He primed a Suggestion and aimed it at Reyna.

This thing with Petra might actually be a good opportunity to get her alone with me, but in order to do that I have to make sure Reyna won't object.

-You’ll accept any punishment I dole out to my servants without question.-

A black tendril emanated from the darkest corner of his psyche. It slithered through the air, though no one seemed to be able to see it except for him. It probed at the entrance to Reyna’s mind for a moment before finding purchase.

He barely resisted grinning like a madman as he started to get a sense of how resistant her mind might be to his influence.

It’s good to know Reyna’s mental barriers are nothing compared to my mother’s. Only slightly stronger than Velri’s. Eventually, someday, Reyna will be as controllable and open to my commands as Izel is now.

Reyna’s eyes fluttered. She sighed softly.

Julian pounced. He said, “Actually, I've changed my mind. Petra's behavior has greatly displeased me. I'd like to have her sent up to my room. Being **** to sleep on the wooden floor without a pillow or blanket while I relax on my own bed should teach her not to speak out of turn.”

“Oh, I like where this is going,” Izel whispered pleasantly in his ear.

Reyna inclined her head obediently.

“You’re very wise, my lord.” She glanced back to glare at Petra. “Did you hear Lord Julian?”

Petra’s eyes glowed fearfully. Her tone was measured, but only just.

“Yes. I’ll spend the night on Lord Julian’s floor. My punishment is just. I am truly sorry for my outburst.” She inclined her head deferentially.

Reyna hummed. Gartho’s eyes were wide. Zoris leveled a smug smirk at him as if to say, “I told you so.”

Soon, they came to a stop as they reached the main gate to the Imerdan manor. Two stone towers flanked the gate. Within each, a guard watched. Three armored and armed guards stood behind the metal gate. They bowed respectfully as they recognized him and signaled another guard in the distance, who opened the gate. It parted down the middle soundlessly.

They made their way to the front entrance and dismounted from their horses. Izel moved slowly and deliberately, still acting as if she had no knowledge of riding. She smirked at him as he helped her down and planted a lingering kiss on his cheek that had him blushing. A handful of classless servants wearing pale threadbare clothing took their horses and led them to the nearby stable.

He bid farewell to Reyna, Gartho, and Zoris, took Izel’s hand and headed towards the entrance to the manor. A familiar, somewhat plump servant woman with wide hips and huge matronly breasts opened the front door and ushered them in with a bright smile.

Meanwhile, Petra hesitated, her fists clenched. She heard Reyna dismiss Gartho and Zoris for the night, and then felt Reyna's menacing emerald eyes boring into the back of her skull. A chill ran down Petra's spine, and she let out a sigh.

“Godsdamn my mother for giving me her temper,” she grumbled bitterly and made her way towards the entrance.

---

Julian Imerdan (lv. 7 Psion)

HP: 142/142

ST: 119/119

WP: 428/470

Skills...

Attributes…

Effects…

Julian's Skills

[Manipulation] Suggestion (cost: 20 WP): Telepathically implant a suggestion in the mind of a target to influence or induce an action, thought, or emotion.

[Manipulation] Hypnosis (cost: 30 WP) – Lull someone into a hypnotic trance. Requires the use of a pendant or other foci to draw the target’s gaze.

[Affliction] Mind Jab (cost: 15 WP): Project a weak bolt of psionic energy that attacks the mind of an opponent, causing crippling mental pain that lasts for a few moments.

[Affliction] Psi-Bolt (cost: 5 WP) – Emit an unguided bolt of psionic energy that inflicts low Psi damage to a target upon impact. It deals moderate Psi damage against targets affected by Mind Jab, but clears them of the status.

[Connection] Detect Mind (cost: 2 WP/s): Focus your awareness outward to detect the minds of sentient organic beings within ten feet.

[Connection] Connect Mind (cost: 5 WP) – Choose two minds glimpsed with Detect Mind and link them together for a time, allowing a psionic Skill used on one mind to affect the other.

[Matter] Piercing Field (cost: 15 WP) – Imbue a weapon or projectile within range with an impossibly narrow telekinetic field, allowing it to cut through armor. The field dissipates after a single attack.

[Knowledge] Safe Fall (cost: free) - You have learned how to shift your body mid-air to significantly mitigate falling damage.

[Knowledge] Meditation (cost: free) Clear your thoughts and retreat into an introspective state within your own mind. Your WP regeneration is significantly increased while meditating. Meditation is a viable substitute for the equivalent amount of sleep.

[Innate] Focus (cost: free): When in combat, enter a state of emotional detachment which allows you to ignore pain and resist negative mental effects.

Julian’s Attributes

Human - As a member of the human species, your body is more resilient than most other sapient races.

Magical Ancestry - Several of your ancestors possessed powerful magical abilities and talents. The barest hint of their talent resides within you, granting you easier use of magical items.

Psionic - You are capable of affecting physical and nonphysical reality through Will alone. You are resistant to mental effects and psionic damage. You can perceive all spectrums of psionic energy.

Fardreamer - While you sleep, you may randomly send your mental awareness to another place in the universe.

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