{Alex}

  On reaching home, Lily pulled me into our room and hugged me. I wasn’t sure what it was about, but I loved it when she hugged me. “Master, are you going to the party?” She asked as she batted her lashes at me.

  “If you want to go, you’ll have to take Uta to get something nice to wear.” The scream of joy she let out nearly made me go deaf. Maybe I was getting better at dealing with people. By the fast happy kisses, she was giving me showed me I was right. Uta came in and gave us an odd look.

  “What is all this about?” She asked and I could see a worried Gen clinging to her pants.

  “Uta, we are going shopping in the morning.” Lily said, her red eyes sparkling. Uta sighed and put her hands on her hips.

  “Darlin, I know you bring in gold, but really new clothes again? If you keep this up, we’ll need a bigger house.” She scolded, but I could see the shadow of a playful smile.

  “Shut up, we get to dress up for the party. I don’t know about you, but I want to dress up.” Lily said, turning on a now laughing Uta.

  “Relax Bunny. I’m with you.” Uta replied.

  “Oh, we’ll have to get something nice for Master and Gen too.” At Lily’s words, Gen darted off to hide in my office. I didn’t blame him, in fact I envied him for being able to escape. If only I could be so lucky. It felt like there was a war going on between the girls and I wanted out badly.

  “Darlin, tell me how much you have in savings.” She asked, turning those golden eyes on me. I gulped and scratched my head.

  “I don’t know. Maybe three small mithril.” Both women locked eyes.

  “How much debt do you have?” She was moving to me like a lioness and I was a helpless puppy.

  “None. I have been very careful not to owe anyone anything.” I said backing off.

  “Lily first thing in the morning we are going to get something nice from Tailor. As for you,” She turned her deep eyes on me. “We are going to have a long talk about investing. I get the feeling I may need to take your finances in hand.” She let her eyes dip down to my crotch and she licked those red lips. Fucking hell, what did I do to earn her acting like that? I needed to know so I could do it again.

  Two days later, I was given a bundle of fabric and told to go get washed and dressed. The sun had set and I was able to get some work done converting the Knights, but not as much with Lily dragging me out around noon every day. I had merged all my goblin cores into one that sat in a tiny mana engine. My bracelet was looking interesting and I had to remove some of the gold as it wasn’t needed. I still wore it at all times just in case I needed the mana. I wasn’t able to make it automatic, but I would work it out one day.

  After my bath, I dressed in black slacks and a white shirt with a black vest. It made me almost look like a dark gangster. I didn’t mind it, but it felt a little stuffy. I slicked back my hair and went out to see the girls. My jaw hit the ground. Lily was dressed in what almost looked like a Kimono with red trim that matched her eyes. It left her long slender neck exposed as she had put her hair up in a bun. She had on blush and eyeshadow that seemed to make her red eyes stand out and nearly burrow into my soul. She blushed and looked away pulling at her ears to hide those deep eyes. Someone coughed and I turned to see Uta and had to look twice.

  She was dressed in a brown dress that seemed to cling to her curvy frame. A belt of lightly singing copper cinched the dress around her middle. A long slit up the side showed me leggings would make sure she didn’t get cold on the walk to the inn. Long elbow gloves left her mostly covered, but still somehow made her look more feminine. Heels seemed to give both girls an extra inch and made me drool over their looks. “I have no clue where to look.” I said subconsciously. Uta smiled and Lily pulled her ears down over her eyes.

  “That is what I expected.” Uta said, putting her hands on her hips. She moved closer and let one gloved finger stroke my chin. “You don’t look that bad yourself, Darlin.” I couldn’t help myself and pulled her into a deep kiss. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I felt someone tug at my vest. We broke away and Uta had to step away or I would have to drag her to the bedroom.

  Turning I saw Lily covering one eye with an ear as she looked up at me as she tugged at my vest. “I want one too.” She said blushing madly. Fuck me these women were driving me nuts. I swept her into a kiss that left us both breathless. When we pulled apart, Uta slapped my chest as she held her little brother who was dressed like me. I ruffled his hair and smiled as he laughed in that cute kiddy way.

  “Looking good, little man.” I said with my own warm smile. He nodded and we left out into the cold night air.

  Everyone was gathered outside of the inn holding torches. Great, this is the part where they run me out of town like Frankenstein. The man, not the monster. I thought as they all looked at me. Maybe I had been betrayed by these people. Gorloth smiled at me, but I wasn’t sure what was going on. “Friend Runt, come with us. This is good thing.” He said as he led the way to the center of town. The sky was clear, and the moon was full. They pulled me to the metal tree I had made months ago at Mayor's request. It glimmered in the clear night air. Fuck it was cold. Maybe this is where he wanted to be married. He had me stand in front of it and everyone gathered around. A large bonfire was lit giving off a sinister feel. “Remove shirt and coat.” Gorloth said. I did not like any of this, but everyone was looking at me so I couldn’t argue. A large bowl of something that looked like blood was brought between us. Not good. Nothing can be good of a large bowl of blood, a bonfire in the middle of the night. Gorloth started speaking in orc and Orthonai who was holding Gen translated for everyone.

  “We are here to show Runt honor.” What? “Who will testify as to who he is?” She said beaming at me. Meathead stepped up and dipped his hand in the blood. What the fuck was going on?

  “Runt, I fought by your side and know you to be strong and honorable.” He said slapping the fucking freezing blood on my chest. Fuck that was cold.

  “When did we fight together?” I asked,

  “When we saved the town from the flood.” Not sure that counts, but I wasn’t going to argue as this needed to get over with quickly. The way I remember it as you hiding in your Knight because you didn’t want to get wet. If I don’t fight this, I get to go back inside where it is warm. Woodcutter stepped up next.

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  “Alex, I owe you more than I could ever say. If not for you, I’d just be a woodsman and not a Commander. I fought by your side and know the man you really are.” That is close enough as I was there when he fought McDonalds. A gasp escaped me when he slapped my chest with a blood covered hand. I was so going to get them back for all this. Next up was Orthonai.

  “You protected me when I could not fight for myself. I know who you are.” She slapped my other shoulder. My nipples were turning purple, and I was not happy about any of this as I started to shiver in the cold. What the fuck was going on? Gen dipped his tiny hand in blood and Orthonai brought him before me.

  “Big brother good. Big brother strong.” He said in orc and slapped the blood on my stomach. Even his little hands were fucking cold I hoped someone washed his hand before he put his bloody hand in his mouth. Battery stepped up next.

  “You lit a fire in my soul and for that I will always respect you, Master.” He slapped his bloody hand on my chest. I felt the slap was a little more forceful than it needed to be. One by one people stepped up and slapped bloody hands on my exposed chest. I hoped this would end soon. Finally, Gorloth stepped up and dipped his own hand in the blood.

  “Friend Runt, I have fought by your side and see the man you are.” He slapped his hand in the middle of my back, and it felt like my lips were turning blue. Gorloth brought out a necklace and put it over my head. It looked like his missing tusk, bound in a strand of Orthonai’s hair with a few colorful beads. He spoke in orc and Orthonai translated again.

  “I name him War Chief Weird One.” Everyone started cheering but stopped when the wind shifted and spun around me. And now the fucking wind is here to take away any heat I had hoped to have left in me. A bolt of lightning struck the tree and flew into my back. This should have hurt, but I just felt a strange mana move through me. A screen popped into my mind, and it made me smile.

  YOU HAVE BEEN JUDGED AND FOUND WORTHY. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE TITLE WAR CHIEF. ALL ORCS WILL NOW JUDGE YOU FAVORABLY. ONLY OTHER WAR CHIEFS CAN CHALLENGE YOU. YOU NOW HAVE ACCESS TO ORC MAGIC. NOTE THIS MAGIC IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH YOUR NORMAL MANA. HOLD ON.

  COMPENSATING FOR INCOMPATIBILITY. PLEASE WAIT.

  Something hurt deep inside my chest. What the fuck was that? I felt my mana pool drawing in and filling with the new strange wild mana.

  PLEASE WAIT. FORMING CORE.

  What the fuck? I was getting my own core? It would be all worth it if I could have my own core. Mana issue would be less an issue. Why did it hurt so bad? My throat was hurting. Why was it hurting? Oh, I was screaming. This kind of sucks. The wind picked up and I felt a deep burning in my chest. Is this where I die? FUCK THIS HARD IN THE ASS! Fuck dying here, fuck being this world’s bitch and fuck passing out all the damn time.

  YOUR CORE IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH YOUR FORMER MANA. CHANGING MANA TYPE. FAILURE. CHANGING CORE TYPE. FAILURE. NEW MANA FOUND. REDIRECTING MANA. FAILURE. PLEASE WAIT.

  Fuck this hurt. My mana well hurt as it flowed through my veins. I wanted to pass out but was too pissed to let that happen. My hair was throwing off blue mana sparks and I no longer felt cold if anything it felt like my body was on fire. The bloody handprints were boiling off my skin and steam seemed to roll off me in waves.

  CORE FORMATION FAILURE. UNABLE TO FORM CORE. DANGER MANA OVERLOAD. ERROR MESSAGE SENT. PLEASE WAIT.

  This fucking sucks. I felt Lily and Uta grab my arms. Gorloth touched my back. Orthonai and Gen stayed back. I wished they would all get away; I didn’t want this wild mana to hurt them.

  DANGER MANA OVERLOAD. OTHER MANA POOLS FOUND. PLEASE WAIT.

  I heard them scream as mana sparks flew into them. It hurt my heart thinking about it hurting them. I closed my eyes and pushed my mana into my bracelet. If that breaks, I could rebuild and I lost my hand in this; it would be worth it to save my friends and lovers.

  MONSTER CORE FOUND. USING GREATER GOBLIN CORE AS PERSONAL MONSTER CORE. PLEASE WAIT.

  Why the hell was it asking me to wait. I don’t have a fucking choice here. Everyone was standing back watching us writhe and scream. Another lightning bolt hit the tree and I saw metal flowers forming on the branches.

  MONSTER CORE FORMED. UNSUITABLE MONSTER CORE. SPLITTING MONSTER CORE INTO SUITABLE HOSTS. MONSTER CORES FORMED. YOU NOW HAVE A MONSTER CORE. PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT THIS IS AN ABNORMAL MONSTER CORE. YOU MAY HAVE ABNORMAL EFFECTS.

  Fuck me running that hurt. We all collapsed in the snow, our bodies streaming in the cold night air. My goblin core was gone and now I saw a small metal looking core in the back of my wrist. I didn’t pass out, but Healer looked worried as he pumped healing magic into us. People started feeding him mana and I was able to hold on. Someone started pulling us to the inn. Gen was crying and I reached out to him. Orthonai brought him to me, and I ruffled his hair. “I’m okay.” I said, with a low growl as my throat felt like I had eaten glass. Once inside we were placed in a cleared area and allowed to rest a little. Lily and Uta were placed by my side, and both looked in bad shape. I looked inside them and much to my joy both had cores. Gorloth lay on the ground near us and Orthonai was sitting beside him as she stroked his face.

  “Next time a warning would be nice.” I grunted at my friend. Everyone was around us waiting for something. I wasn’t sure what they were waiting on. Gorloth grunted and sat up slowly.

  “Sorry friend, Runt. I not know the spirits would choose you.” He said, rubbing the back of his head. The pain in my body slowed and I got up slowly. Uta was next to recover and the last was Lily, who I helped to a chair.

  I made a bracelet around my core. Better to hide this thing for now. The last thing I needed was more people hunting me. We enjoyed the party and mostly had a relaxing night. Near the end, Mayor approached me and pulled me aside.

  “Chief Faz de ghoul would you be up to joining Gorloth and Orthonai tonight?” He asked. I blinked. They wanted me to marry them. I thought I was going to be the best man.

  “I have no clue what to do.” I said, shock clear on my face. This day was odd as all hell.

  “All you have to do is repeat after me. We will do it in common.” He said with a smile. I nodded and he led me to the back of the inn where a box had been placed. “Now step on the box.” He turned to the crowd as I did so. “Everyone gathered around. We are starting the next step.” Gorloth and Orthonai came to me, and both knelt, their heads bowed, and hands clasped between them. The two made a cute couple. What would it look like if that were Lily, Uta and I? “Repeat after me.” Mayor said taking his place behind me. “Gathered friends, we are here to join two souls.” He said in a whisper. I repeated him looking at Orthonai who’s one eye was starting to cry. Lily caught my attention as she lifted the corners of her mouth into a smile and let her finger trace down her eye. So Orthonai had happy tears. This was still too freaking odd. “Gorloth Uthontho do you accept Orthonai Volgolus into your house and heart?”

  “I offer her my life and soul.” My big friend said in common. Did he practice this line? If so, then my friend wanted her and everyone to know how much he loved her. It warmed my heart as he looked over at her and smiled.

  “I offer my life and my soul to my love.” Orthonai said as she cited openly. Mayor placed a blade in my hand. What was this for? If I had known any of this would happen, I would have stayed at home and played with Uta and Lily.

  “By this blade may your blood and family be joined.” I echoed Mayor as Gorloth and Orthonai lifted their hands. Gorloth’s right and Orthonai’s left were raised to me.

  “Drag the blade across their palms.” Mayor whispered in my ear. “Don’t worry about it hurting them. The more painful it is, the more it shows their commitment to each other. I gulped and took a breath before slashing the knife deeply across their palms. Neither flinched as they knelt there. “Now wrap this ribbon around their hands joining their cuts together.” He said, handing me a long white ribbon. I knelt to my friends and did so.

  “Now rise the family of Uthontho and show the world that not only your hearts are true, but your honor and blood are strong.” I said feeling my own voice dipping down into a low growl. My new necklace started growling and both bowed to me.

  “Faz de ghoul.” Both orcs said. “We wish to join your tribe.” I blinked at their words. What the hell was going on.

  “Faz de ghoul. You are my chief.” Gorloth said. I blinked a whisper not from Mayor, but from the necklace seemed to fill the back of my mind.

  “You honor me, and I welcome you and your family into my tribe. Rise and know that my blood is yours.” I said with a mildly shocked look. Gorloth and Orthonai stood, and both leaned their heads back and roared. Their yells were joined by everyone, and I really wanted to go home and away from all these screaming people.