819 Exp available, 23 cycles till next payment

  Zelda huffs out a sigh. She had spent the night reading up on life magics. It's a lot of mana to heal simple wounds. More reason for Int and Will level ups. She feels a pinch from her suppressor dose. Ahh seriously, Pamulur, you suck. She was getting rather restless. The stimulant keeping her awake has made her jittery. Being confined to the medbay is making me jittery. She opens a new vid. This one is on Arth human biology. Healing magic to change my body will need to be based on a firm understanding of what a human body is. There probably won't be any DNA left to guide changes. Pfft, aren't I hopeful, thinking I'll make it fully through this curse.

  She condenses her mana again.

  -----

  A view screen popped up in front of Zelda. It shows a planet with oceans and various landmasses of green. She quirked her face, thinking they all looked wrong. Dagnit voice sounds out from the screen.

  “Welcome to Gwintamix Two, Terraformed to Insectoid needs. Owned By Red Deliverance Company. With a gravitational strength of twenty point one Newton per kilogram. Weather at the settlement is described as wet, wet and more wet. Not that it matters under a shield, mind you.”

  That's a lot of gravity. Another Red Deliverance planet? The planet on the screen grows closer. What was a dot nestled in a valley slowly grows into a grid of squares. It reminded her of the planet they came from, grey, efficient and square. The ship landed with a lurch.

  -819 exp for Visa Issuance

  “Seriously Pet, you couldn't afford the landing fee.”

  “Not like I had time to recoup your spell purchase suggestion. Is this a problem?"

  “No, I covered the difference. Well pet, you ready for the drop?”

  Drop? The ship's gravity field turns off. Zelda's body grows heavier. She finds herself not taking in as many breaths. But each breath is harder. Before she can ask the screen, Pamulur comes into the room. She pops a few more screens and looks at them.

  “Looks like your body is handling it fine. Not a lot of study for Arthling gravity adaptation. Any issues?”

  “I feel my breathing is off.”

  “To be expected, the air is denser now. Dagnit should have done a gradual shift, not just turn the gravity off. I swear she is trying to kill someone. Take movement slowly. Just being here will raise your Str and Con stat.” Pamulur grouses.

  “Am I allowed to go?”

  The bunny looks at her and lowers her left ear while giving her an annoyed look. Then she fusses with her tablet. Is that a yes or a no? She'll stop me if it was a no. Zelda gets up and off the bed and heads out of the med bay. She wasn't stopped by the doctor as she put on her armor. Nor when she picked up her shield and sword.

  Zelda chose the way she remembered coming here a day ago. She hoped to run into someone or the very least see the landing ramp deployed. By the time she reached the hatch, she was a bit winded. Everything weighs twice as much. Frankie walks down from the other end of the ship.

  “Rather bold to assume you are in any shape to fight.”

  Zelda squints at the stout lizardman. “How are you so unaffected.”

  He gives a stare. Incredulously he answers, “My clutch was on a planet far denser than this one. I only wish we went somewhere new.”

  “So you've been here before?”

  “First time.” He says as if it made perfect sense.

  “Then how can it not be new?” Zelda balks.

  “You'll see when you're out there. Come on, I'll show you the sights.”

  Frankie leads Zelda out, very much confused.

  -----

  Zelda was getting a distinct level of deja vu. There was an apartment building that looked very much like the one that possessed her closet of a living space. And over there was a smithy. If it wasn't for the oppressive gravity she would think she was still on that ice ball.

  She dipped into the smithy. Half expecting to see a bored red scaled clerk. An insectoid greater her. She left before more questions were asked. Well at least it's just the building, not sure what to think if the people were the same.

  “So what gives, why is everything…?”

  “The same? Bugs in Red Deliverance pride themselves on uniformity. Figure if their customer knows where to go they will get to buying sooner.” Frankie says with a snort.

  “Thats kinda disappointing, what about outside the settlement.”

  “Fancy surviving out there with your stats? You're already breathing hard now.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  +1 Str

  Str is now 11

  The strain lessens on Zelda. Wonder how many more I can gain this way?

  “Hey, ready to head to a dungeon, Frankie and pet?”

  Zelda frowns at Dagnit. “I was told not to get into combat until I finished my core.”

  “But you don't know when you will finish it though. From what I was told it doesn't seem to be forming like a normal core.” Dagnit responds.

  “I prefer not vaporizing cause you got impatient, besides I'm broke.” Zelda huffs out.

  “I'll pay your share if you cover mine tomorrow. You can be honest, you're restless aren't you?” She purrs back.

  Zelda responds quickly sensing the trap, “Yes, but that is partially the stimulant in my arm. I haven't slept since we left the planet.”

  Dagnit smiles and grabs her arm leading her to the lift, “Then a good fight is what you need.”

  -----

  Zelda murmurs the one thought she had, “So was Marla not her name?”

  Frankie grunts an ‘eh’ but Flocks answers, “The Insectoids don't have names like we do. At least not vocalized. Unique pheromones identify each one. Each of these positions carries the same name tag between worlds.”

  “Are we about to go into ‘Kobold Pits’?” Zelda turns to Flocks.

  His eyes crinkled towards her, “Dags said to keep it a surprise.”

  The mentioned cat finishes her transaction and comes back to the group, “Alright everyone, ready to go?” She doesn't wait for an answer. Everyone else begins to follow. Zelda takes a moment to condense her mana again and then follows as well.

  What greets her on the other side of the portal is familiarity though the gravity was still dense.

  “Seriously, are the dungeons not unique either?”

  Dags laughs, “Come, come pet. We have exp to get you. You need to get at least two hundred and fifty today, yes?”

  Quick to answer, “Yes.” She is going to keep asking me random questions.

  She takes up the front. It just felt to be her natural place. All this desire to raise my magic stats and I still want to carry a giant shield. They round the corner and burst out laughing. Why are the Kobolds half as tall and squatier versions?

  “Oy, it's not right to laugh at properly heighted specimens, you don't see me laughing at the freakishly huge ones in Oiugfyd.” Frankie grouses.

  Zelda apologizes, “Sorry, but why are they different?”

  Dagnit answers, “The Insectoids simply size them based on the planet's expected clientele. With the gravity density this high, it's unusual to have taller races on the planet and delving. Certainly wasn't my first choice but the pay was good.” How much was Grant paying them? Actually when did he start paying them? “You have a question on your mind, pet?”

  Zelda's heart squeezes when she doesn't answer. Damn it. I already paid the price, I'm not answering her. Instead Zelda moves to engage one of the three. It's an odd experience. While their reach was less and their swings were just as fast as before, the force of the blow was twice as hard. Zelda was very much a block and stab kind of gal and this hurt. She decides to stab sooner but her blade doesn't cut as deep. Is their density twice as much? Or are my swings just lacking power?

  Gain 1 Exp from party kill

  Gain 1 Exp from party kill

  Gain 1 Exp from party kill

  Hers was the last. Exhausted, she sits down. She looks to her friends.

  “None of you are tired at all? Are your stats that much higher? I don't understand why you don't delve deeper.”

  They look amongst themselves, then nominate Dagnit to speak. She comes and sits next to Zelda.

  “To be honest our stats are in the thirties. We are kinda in the middle of a rebuild period. Our crew used to be twice as large but a bad delve led to infighting. We all got Returned and our savings got wiped out. Some wanted to delve at our previous level but I owned the ship and decided on going back to basics for a bit. At least until I could afford another Returner charge.”

  “You're not protected?” Zelda's eyes grew as big as saucers at this revelation.

  “I am, I am. I feel it's best to be ready to have enough for the next charge saved up.” Dagnit was quick to answer.

  “Thats good.” Zelda sighs out.

  “Oh, afraid to lose me?” Dagnit purrs out.

  “My father died ‘cause he delved without one.”

  “Ah, I shouldn't have teased you then.”

  Zelda shakes her head, “You didn't know.”

  “That doesn't absolve my regret, pet. Come let us exhaust you more. Perhaps we can get you a Con level.”

  Zelda smiles and gets up.

  -----

  After a hundred dead Kobolds and three ore veins, both Frankie and Flocks called it in. They were courteous enough to help spread the bodies as they all walked out. Her and Dagnit waved them off.

  Zelda's Str had gained another level while her Con grew by three. Doubt tomorrow will see such gains. Seeing Dagnit still with her annoyed her.

  “You're never going to let me do this by myself?”

  “For someone who got all morose at the idea of me dying, is it so hard to consider I might feel the same about you?” Danit chides.

  “Our relationship did not start out that way?”

  “No, your suspicion of my intentions did not start out that way.” Dagnit gives a rather catty reply .

  “You literally called me a debt sink.”

  “Did I do that?” She says with a bit of whimsy.

  “Yes.” Zelda's shout only causes Dagnit to laugh.

  Zelda condenses her mana again and sighs. Before she can think about a nap she feels a pinch in her arm. Another annoyed sigh as her body wakes back up.

  “This bleeding core robs me of my sleep.” She pouts.

  “Yes, Pamulur will definitely have words with you for all this wear and tear you put your body under.” The cat grins at Zelda.

  “I just plan to say you forced me.” Zelda's counter was super effective, Dagnit blanches.

  After a moment Dagnit asks another question, “So what have you been doing instead of sleeping.”

  “Looking up healing and earth human biology.”

  “Ah for the transformation magic.” Zelda squints at Dagnit, “Grant talked my ears off when I asked why he wanted this solar system specifically. But why earth human?”

  “It's what I am.” Zelda blurts out.

  “So?”

  “What do you mean ‘so’?” Zelda says with a bit of annoyance.

  Dagnit shrugs, “You can be anything.”

  Zelda sighs, “O, and what do you suggest?”

  “Not what I want, it's what you want, pet. Though a nice bit of fur is always great to latch onto during intimates.” Cat gives her a strange look at the end.

  “I'd be worried about over heating.”

  “Ah yes, my people do tend to learn thermal magics as one of their first spells if they plan to delve.”

  “What I want?” Zelda murmurs.

  The first gnoll stirs. Zelda stabs it.

  Gain 4 Exp from party kill

  The cat grimaces, “Not very sporting.”

  “Oh shut up, we got ninety-nine to be sporting with.” Zelda grousing elicits a laugh from Dagnit.

  -----

  Pamulur greets them at the ramp into the ship. The stare is rather venomous for the bunny person. Zelda winces at the withering glare, and from her body.

  Dagnit slinks by, “Don't think you won't be hearing from me as well, Dagnit. You, stupid girl, are to report to the medbay. I need to flush all the toxins out of your body for all the exercise you just did.”

  “Toxins?”

  “Yes toxins, the ones your body would clean up during your rest periods. If you insist on this recklessness, then I insist on at least one day off in between."

  Zelda groans but walks up the ramp. She condenses her mana again.