The Forgotten Faithful: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 2) by Cajiao, Jez (little red riding hood ebook TXT) 📕

show her how you feel,” Oracle cut in, clipping me lightly across the back of the head. “He says it terribly, but his heart is in the right place, you know that.” Cai shifted his glare to her for a second, before closing his eyes and exhaling slowly. When he opened them, he had visibly calmed, and when he spoke, the anger had been tamped down in his voice.

“I know. I am sorry, Jax; Oracle,” he said. “Amongst my kind, things are very different. Some like to have multiple partners, while others do not. Some, like myself, have one and only one, until death separates us, and some maintain harems. It is a personal choice, but the one thing that is never accepted amongst us is force. If one was found to have forced another, they become clanless. They are sold to slavers or put to death. The victim is given all the support they need, and more, as the entire clan becomes their family, looking out for and protecting them. My father was made clanless for such a crime. The clan raised me and guided me.

That I was forced into slavery too, even if by a crime, will forever stain my soul by association.”

“A crime?” I asked him, and he shook his head sadly.

“I was starving. I had been robbed and beaten, left for dead in the streets like the fool I was, and I had no choice. I stole food; I managed to escape a few times, but then I was caught and made a slave.”

“Fuck, this conversation took a miserable turn.” I said without thinking about it, then I froze as I realized I’d said that aloud. There was a long pause as my brain frantically cast around for a way to take that back… when Cai began to laugh.

“You are subtle as always, my friend!” he said, wiping a tear from his eye. “You are right; it was a depressing topic, and do not fear. I will speak to Isabella, make it clear how I feel, and then I will let her make the next move, as the signs I have given her are clear to my race, but perhaps not to a human or an elf.” I drew a deep breath and let it out slowly, shaking my head in relief.

“Sorry, mate. That didn’t come out as intended. If you want to talk, I’m always here, you know.” Cai nodded his thanks and gestured to the group of people that was slowly growing.

“I know, Jax, and thank you. I suggest we get on with ‘swearing them in’, as you put it. Then we have much to discuss.” I nodded at him and smiled.

“You’re damn right we do, mate. We’re going to take Ame and Oracle, and the four of us are going to choose her path as best as we can, then we’re going to choose the best spells and skills to give out to people, and kickstart the Tower to life!”

“Excellent! I have a few suggestions as to who would do well with certain skills, although… might we include Isabella? She has been instrumental in creating the list of villagers and their skills.” I paused thoughtfully for a minute; if I allowed her to come along and help to make that decision, I was essentially letting her join the ‘inner ranks’ of my council, but if she was the best person for the job…

“Not right now, Cai. I know she’s good at what she’s doing, but I’m not ready to have her involved at that level, not in the Hall of Memories directly. We will see for the future. I’d rather not have Ame in there either, but with her skills… she might be more important than she knows.”

“Of course, Jax; it was only an idea.” Cai forced a smile and nodded his head in acquiescence.

“Okay then, let’s get them all together,” I said, and Cai nodded again, moving off to gather the stragglers.

“Why don’t you want Isabella in the Hall of Memories?” Oracle asked me quietly, and I looked up at her.

“It’s not so much about Isabella, as that it’s too much, too soon. If Ame is going to be our only magical crafter, and have a second line as a healer, she’s going to have a voice on our little council. We’re going to need to be very careful about who we bring into that, as it’s a position of power. We’re also going to have to be careful who we exclude, as it’ll piss people off. For now, Cai, Oren, and Barrett make sense, as they cover each logistical side of things: Cai for resident management and the Tower, Oren for the Airships and Barrett for the fighters, guards, and soldiers."

"Once we add in Ame, we’ll have a crafter and healer rolled into one as well, but what then? Do we have a farmer, someone from each other crafting group we’ll need? What about scouts; do they come in separate to the fighters? Hunters? It’s growing too fast, and we need a plan.” I murmured to her. “I miss when it was just us and Bob.”

“I know,” she said softly, looking over to where Bob hulked silently off to one side, watching everyone. “I don’t think he’s happy, you know?”

“Bob?” I asked, surprised, looking over at him.

“Yeah; remember, Jax, you created him, gave him life and a soul, of sorts. He’s your guardian, but you’ve got more people watching out for you now. I don’t think he knows what to do with himself.

He seems fine most of the time, but then…” I made my way to Bob before she’d even finished her thought. I wasn’t having this!

“Hey, Bob!” I said as I came to a halt before him, looking up into the glowing sparks of his eyes. Even now, he towered over me, a hulking skeletal creation covered in bone armor, a nightmare to face in a fight, but he was a damn good friend to me, and had been