Prepare for the trials

After departing the Palace of Pleasure, Kass and Alea split ways. The night had already come and gone among their throes of passion and it was morning again. Alea realized Jenna and Yadra must have concluded their business long ago and were probably wondering where she was.

So Alea headed to the market, cradling the Sword Talisman tucked into her belt as she shifted her clothes, freshly washed and ironed courtesy of the Palace of Pleasure. She felt like a stranger wearing her old clothes. With the new power coursing through her body they felt light on her skin and the feel of the dirt beneath her made her feel like she was drifting on air.

Her body bounced along, hardly even touching the ground as she skipped three paces at a time. She’d become so strong so quickly… the power bubbled inside her like a surging tempest, just waiting to be used. Alea found she wanted to pick a fight.

That was strange. She’d never been that kind of futa, but without even thinking about it her blood ran hot through her as she tilted her head back as an almost arrogant grin crept across her face.

Something was odd here, Alea knew that. But could it be so wrong to just enjoy her new power for a little while?

Jenna, and Yadra could wait. Though picturing Jenna and Thali made blood rush to a different portion of Alea’s anatomy. Alea shook off the feeling, though. She’d just spent an entire night fucking her cares away. She could do without for a little while So she made her way back to the Market Square where she had parted ways with her friends.

On the road Jenna had made some mention of the various Inns and taverns around the market. and had even mentioned the name of the one they would be staying at. Alea decided she’d look for them there, but not before she treated herself to something nice at the market. Jenna and Yadra had probably already done some shopping of their own, but Alea had been off with Kass. Besides helping herself to Kass's pills of resolve, Alea had also helped herself to most of the rich girls' pocket change.

What was pocket change to a very wealthy futa, was riches to a poor provincial girl like Alea, and so Alea wanted to go on a little spending spree. As powerful as the Sword Talisman was, it was still only a single-use item.

After dominating Kass, Alea had had enough of her wits about her to ask the pink-haired girl more questions about the entrance exams for the throbbing Immortal Fist School.

While the actual entrance exams did not occur for another week, the school would allow outsiders to visit as soon as the following morning. While Kass herself did not intend to visit the school so early on, but Alea realized she would benefit from every opportunity she had to improve her understanding of the exams and her competition.

While Alea was fully prepared to fall behind on the written exam to test theoretical knowledge of cultivation, she hoped to be able to showcase her ability well during other portions of the trials.

Something that Kass had made very clear was that there would be a direct combat trial. More than that though, this trial would allow competitors to wield weapons, and those with suitable weapons and training to use them would have an obvious advantage over unarmed self-taught cultivators like Alea.

So, like any young alpha shopping at the market, Alea went looking for a suitable weapon.

Rows of armorers and weapon smiths lined the streets, making Alea’s decision all the harder with so many options to choose from. After gazing through the dozenth window, Alea finally entered a smaller and poorer-looking shop off in a distant corner. Despite having Kass’s gold, weapons were expensive and Alea realized she’d need to budget what she had.

Besides, Alea had grown up on stories of ancient thousand-year-old futa’s playing the role of simple shopkeepers and ordinary futas as they searched for the enlightenment needed to bind their souls to the heavens and ascend as an immortal. If Alea was such an expert, she knew she’d name her store something like “Number One Weapons Shop Under Heaven!” Surely Hardrock wouldn’t allow such an arrogant name if it wasn’t at least a little true?

So, despite the smashed window and drooping sign, Alea headed inside the rundown weapons shop with the proud and lofty name of 'Numbver One Weapons Shop Under Heaven!'.

Alea opened the door. It creaked as a small bell tapped against the wood overhead. Alea gasped and wheezed as a cloud of dust wafted through the air and into her lungs. This place was filthy!

Alea would have left then, had the shop not possessed nearly as many weapons as it had dust. Swords lined the walls while hammers hung from the ceiling. Axes rested on pedestals and pitchforks doubled as racks for bows, clubs, slings, and knives.

Those were not what drew Alea’s attention. There were also arrays of more peculiar weapons unique to cultivators. Heaped into unsorted piles and bins rested all sorts of unconventional weaponry. Torn banners carved with arcane diagrams rested alongside crooked rulers. A pair of chopsticks lay broken on the ground. Strips of wire stained the inky blackish-red of blood lay tangled in a heap around a set of broken nunchucks. On top of the pile, a tiny needle poked through a shield as thick as Alea’s arm, as though the little needle had punched through steel as easily as fabric.

Alea walked up to the tumultuous heap and grabbed the needle by the blunt end. She pinched it between her thumb and forefinger, prying and pulling at it to try to get it loose. The needle didn’t budge.

Unwilling to be defeated by a sewing implement, Alea channeled her newly bolstered reserves of Resolve into her arms and legs. She tugged with the full weight of her body, pulling and prying until her hands became slick with sweat. Her dampened fingers slid off the tiny needle and Alea skidded headfirst across the room, colliding with a broom that supported one of the pitchforks. The broom twisted, and the pitchfork tumbled, sending the display of axes tumbling down towards Alea’s head.

Still blinking in surprise and unsure of the strength in her new body, Alea tried to leap out of the way, only to stumble backwards into a set of hanging hammers that sent a rack of swords careening to the floor.

Alea felt a hand tug on her collar from behind and moments later a sword skewered hilt-deep through a set of floorboards right where her crotch had been a moment before.

“Ah, another young master pumped full of pills for the trials and not knowing her own strength.” The futa, who had tugged Alea to safety moments before, clucked her tongue disapprovingly.

Alea’s face flushed with embarrassment and more than a little anger. She almost snapped at the shopkeeper but stopped herself long enough to realize this was entirely her fault and she only had herself to blame.

“S-sorry.” Alea said sheepishly. “I’ll help clean up.” And she bent over to pick up a fallen axe.

“So they do teach manners to young masters these days after all.” The futa chuckled. “They didn’t in my day. It was always ‘you’re courting ****,’ and ‘cripple your cultivation and I’ll spare your life’.”

“Again, I’m sorry for knocking everything over. I’ll stay and help clean up.” Alea said, but the shopkeeper knocked the axe from her hand.

“Leave it. I’ll clean it faster myself, after you leave.” The shopkeeper yawned and Alea finally took in the other futa.

She had bright pink hair that matched Kass’s, though she carried it with a greater air of maturity than Kass ever did. She sat in the opposite corner of the room, sprawled out on a set of blankets resting on the floor. Despite all her old talk, she scarcely looked a day older than Alea herself. Moments ago she’d pulled Alea to safety, but from her lazy expression leaning against the wall, Alea could have sworn she’d been laying there all afternoon.