Returning to the city

In the end, you decided to go back to the city for the night. Today had been a very eventful day for you, after all. After making sure that nothing seemed suspicious, the worm part of you safely hidden within you, you left the cave.

As you walked, you idily wondered what would happen should you separate the two beings that made the current you. Would you get back to being separate entities? Despite Eirene's pride, you knew that it was something both of your previous selves would dislike, especially after receiving such high praise from your god moments earlier. Sekmet did say that he granted you additional power. Maybe it would be worth trying? Worst case scenario, you'd just reunite both parts of you to become one again.

In any case, you were approaching the city as the sun was setting. You could try to get back to Eirene's manor, but you disliked the idea. Eirene wasn't on good terms with her parents, who wanted her to become a proper noblelady instead of an adventurer, considering it to be beneath her status.

You wandered around the city looking for a place to rest. The worm side of you was amazed by the human city, it was so wonderful to be able to explore the world like this after having lived all of your life in a dark cave. The human side of you though was used to this city, having lived there for most of your life. It was a strange feeling to be impressed by a place you almost knew by heart. You stopped by a small stall and bought food, some bread and a steak. Even common food felt so novel to half of you. It was so much more enjoyable than the things you used to eat in the cave.

After looking for a while, you settled for a decent inn near the city center, one popular with passing adventurers as it was close to the guild. You rented a room for the night and decided to take a bath. Your body got dirty after what happened in the cave. The old Eirene was used to more luxurious baths instead of the simple wooden tub the inn offered, but the current you didn't mind. Sinking in the hot water still felt divine.

You carefully washed your body, and also took the time to admire yourself in more details. There was no doubt that you were a beautiful woman. You had long ash-brown hair, vibrant green eyes, and a fairly curvacious body. You knew that many men found the old Eirene attractive, but she always avoided them. Her quest was the only thing she cared about.

The new you wondered if elves truly were as vile as the rumors told. Considering that there were good and evil humans, why wouldn't it be the same with elves?

It wasn't something you lingered on for long due to your exhaustion, so you laid on the bed. The comfy sheets were also such a novel sensation for your worm side. Being human was so much better...

It didn't take long for you to fall asleep, and you woke up rejuvenated the next morning. You took a deep breath, deciding to try what you thought of yesterday. You felt your worm part disconnecting from your human body, and feared that it would mean splitting back into two beings... After a dreadful minute, though, nothing happened. You could still feel the worm-you burrowed inside the human-you's womb. You tentatively wiggled your worm half out, stunned by what was happening. You could see, feel, and move from your worm half, but you still had complete control over your human half... It was a very surreal experience to have two sets of senses.

"Is this... Sekmet's blessing? Was this what he meant when he said that it would help with my task?"

Does it mean that I can potentially control a second body with my worm half?

It was something you had to try out in the future, but, for the time being, you hid your worm half inside your womb again. Now that you could feel it directly, it was a very intense and pleasurable sensation to feel it wriggle inside you like this...

After getting dressed and eating the breakfast the inn offered, you went to the guild to find a quest you could accomplish while on your journey to the eastern mountains, where most of the elves tribes were located. You weren't sure if some adventurers would be able to detect your... unusual situation, but you didn't want to take too long there. Even if a god blessed you, it didn't mean that other humans wouldn't try to hunt you down.

"Judging from your crest, I assume that you're a paladin of Sekmet?" a woman's voice spoke from behind you as you were looking at the different quests pinned on the wall.

You turned around, surprised, and saw a tall and slender silver-haired woman wearing a somptuous black robe and holding a long staff. She was most likely a mage.

"Indeed. I am Eirene. Who might you be?" You replied, observing her.

The woman bowed and smiled. "My name is Trisha. I am a lone mage looking for a companion to travel with, and you seemed reliable enough. Would you like to team up with me?"

She extended her hand in front of you, offering a handshake. The offer was tempting, but you weren't sure if you should accept it. The guild wasn't very crowded at this time of the day, but there were still a few more adventurers wandering around, and yet, she came to talk to you specifically, which was a bit strange. You had a good-quality equipment, though, so maybe you did indeed look like the most reliable person here.