Level up! And also some cruel taunting.

Apparently my nocturnal escapade was sufficiently monstrous to earn me three full Monster levels. Between Underdog for being small and the Demon King's Heart I obtained as my cheat item, I enjoyed a full 600% increase to monster experience. I also picked up a single class level, possibly because I'd used my Ranger abilities to make it happen. I didn't know.

Humiliating Bioferric Level 4
Ranger 2

I felt it happen as I hid motionless against my tree. All of my Dark- and Monster-related qualities grew tremendously, and my Class-related abilities grew slightly. More health, attack, defense. My body was stronger and faster, more durable, and my ability to affect others with status effects or even breed them had increased.

If I could gain levels simply by **** things, then I was already in heaven. That's all I really wanted to do anyway. Of course, one measly class level wasn't much to be excited about. Oh well; it was progress, and all progress was worthwhile.

Aside from that, there was nothing to really do while I waited for morning to finish arriving. Stern was awake, thanks to the princess, and he restarted the fire so I doubted he was going to be going back to sleep. Perhaps he was feeling paranoid or helpless to protect Legs from whatever had left her in hysterics, but maybe it was just to annoy me, personally, but he left the wards up so I couldn't just leave without setting off his alarm.

So I waited. Again. Just basking in the glorious triumph of my successful raid and listening to the sweet sounds of an emotionally traumatized elf-princess struggle to cope with reality.

Legs did eventually quiet down. Possibly asleep, possibly staring into space inside her tent. I didn't know and I wasn't sure which scenario I'd have liked better. Twink somehow slept through everything, and didn't rise until the sun did.

The two males made breakfast and broke down camp, except for Legs' tent. They didn't know what was going on with her, but every time either of them tried to find out or offer any sort of comfort, she yelled at them until they went away again.

Some time after sunrise, I did hear her finally emerge from her tent. She refused all food, requiring her once again to insist that she was fine to her concerned companions. "I just want to go home. Now, please." Then there was a strangely quiet pause, and the female said, "The wards... are still up?" Her voice trembled. "Nothing crossed the wards? All morning?" Her tone bordered on hysterical.

She knew I was still nearby. Within twenty feet of her, somewhere in the foliage or trees. She had to know. She didn't handle it well at all.

The men tried to gently ask what was the matter but Legs started shrieking and sobbing. "Drop the wards! Drop them now!! Take me home! NOTHING IS WRONG! I WANT TO GO HOME!"

I felt the magical blanket that had been so close to my body vanish suddenly. I could leave. Rather than simply leave, however, I took the opportunity to climb higher into my tree so I could finally look at the elves from a safe hiding place.

Legs' eyes were red and bloodshot, the area around them pink and puffy. Her beautiful hair was a total mess. She had dressed herself in her leather outfit again, but this time included pants beneath the knee-length skirt. She stood in the middle of the clearing while Stern broke down her tent, eyes scanning every clump of grass and tree branch in her vicinity.

I wanted to reveal myself to her, to see how she would react, but I didn't want to expose myself to Stern. It wasn't worth the risk, no matter how delicious it would have been.

But then, as she was shrugging uncomfortably and on the verge of giving up, she froze and then raised her eyes and looked directly at me. Directly into my glassy, black, unblinking eyes.

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her hand twitched, but she couldn't point to me. I had commanded her to keep me a secret, and my Mark would ensure she did exactly that.

"Princess?" Stern said, finally noticing her duress.

When he began to turn his head to follow her gaze, she made a choked cry and fell to her knees to throw up.

Satisfied, I took advantage of the distraction to fly away a safe distance. That was fun. It was time to decide what to do next.