Lazarus

  Primordial limit.

  Primordial 1.

  Paragon luck.

  Paragon strength 4.

  Presence detection 5.

  Regeneration 13.

  Centaur riding 5.

  Sex 8.

  Sword mastery 1.

  Blink 3.

  Resistance 2.

  Acid resistance 2.

  Poison resistance 1.

  Centaur pleaser 10.

  Forging 1.

  Copycat 1 (-------)

  Primordial blessing 1.

  Limitless Primordial 1.

  Primordial Pantheon (presence detection 5)

  Skill points - 0

  "Ummm hi Rayna, we weren't expecting you." I tried to greet her stumbling over my own words.

  "Obviously. There would have been more tea if you did." She replied sipping from her tea cup without breaking eye contact.

  I am so thoroughly out of my depth here. I turned my gaze to Willow hoping to get some reason why the Paragon was here but she just shook her head seemingly just as confused. I mean after our little scuffle I wasn't surprised I just wasn't expecting her to be here this quickly. I should have at least had a little time to get cleaned before some guards came to find out what happened but even then Rayna didn't need to come herself.

  "I'll ah get some more then." I was definitely trying to weasel my way out of this one but Rayna had other ideas and with a snap of her fingers a table with enough seats for everyone appeared. With more tea as well.

  "Sit."

  "Yes ma'am."

  There was enough space for all five of us including Kayalett who was more than twice the width of the centaurs present. Arath attempted to calm her nerves by drinking some of the offered tea but with how much her hand was shaking it wasn't doing much. Kayalett didn't even try and drink as instead she was trying to make herself as small as possible, a task she was succeeding at but still didn't allow her to hide at all.

  Rayna gave her an appraisal before turning to Arath. "Well done Arath, Kayalett will be a fine addition to your herd. She has proven most useful to the vilge and will continue to do great things under your care."

  My mare just choked on her tea in response that the Paragon ignored. "But you will be accepting Zemelly as well. I will hear no buts on this as Lazarus needs a priestess due to his unique css and I would rather not have any of the other species trying to corrupt him with their faiths when it becomes known what he is."

  "Yes Paragon." Arath agreed after she'd stopped coughing although she wasn't too unhappy with that command. I'm guessing she had simir thoughts. Hopefully Zemelly would know a bit more about how my css works.

  "And that brings me to my next topic. Do you know why I'm really here Lazarus?" Rayna asked turning back to me.

  "I can think of a few reasons but not one that jumps out." I said trying to get her to answer in case I mentioned something I shouldn't.

  "Try."

  Well it was worth a go I guess.

  "The harpy kidnaping me?" It was an obvious reason but the way she didn't move said she was here for something else.

  "Hmmmm that little interaction with their way of life was always going to happen but even I thought they'd be more smarter in their approach." The Paragon hummed to herself more than anyone else. Willow excused herself to make some food and Rayna didn't stop her.

  "So I'm guessing this will become a big problem?"

  "Quite the opposite. Harpies have a way of life that involves breeding with males of other species. A normal outcome for an all female species but one they have found a way to deal with. In harpy territory any male not accompanied by a harpy is fair game to be taken to a nest regardless of if they are willing." Rayna took a sip from her tea making eye contact with Arath before continuing. "This is not the case in centaur territory and anyone that thinks otherwise about the fate that befell those two harpies for their crimes will deal with me."

  The room shook slightly with her decration. Is it sad I kinda want someone to try something just to see what would happen?

  "So it doesn't matter if she was someone of political power?" I asked. I really didn't want to get dragged into a political argument because of some stupid girl.

  "Oh I hope she was. Nobody disobeys my ws in my territory and I look forward to the excuse they use when they find out her fate."

  Well that solves that problem quite nicely. So long as I don't go anywhere near the harpies territory. This would involve getting a map so I actually knew the terrain.

  "Now for the real reason I'm here." Rayna continued.

  And of course it couldn't be that simple.

  "A little fairy has visited me recently to tell me the world tree has been damaged"

  A collection of gasps rang out from Kayalett and Willow who dropped the tray of cookies she was carrying in. Arath remained silent her hands clenched into fists under the table.

  "I'm guessing that's a bad thing?" I queried.

  "Very." Arath said her eyes remaining fixed on her Paragon. "The tree acts as a barrier from the many things beyond our pin of existence. The st time something broke through it caused a pgue that drove a few species to extinction."

  "Arath is correct, and considering that wasn't the first time something broke through it was rgely agreed on by all species that in the event the barrier is breached whatever comes through is to be killed on sight." Rayna finished as she pced her tea cup down.

  Well crap.

  "And are you here to complete that?"

  Willow who had just finished picking up the remaining cookies she had previously dropped gasped again this time managing to hold onto her tray. "You're a world jumper my lord?"

  "More forced to but yes." I answered trying to figure out Raynas stance. She wasn't making a move but with how everyone seems to revere her it wouldn't surprise me if she didn't need to do much to accomplish killing me.

  Willow looked like she wanted to ask more but seemed to think otherwise and instead opted to pce the cookies in the middle of the table. Kayalett remained unchanged in her position but I did catch a small shake of her bottom lip. My arachne was scared.

  "I'm guessing that by me still talking you think I'm different." I stated trying to find out exactly how close I was to actually falling into the 'kill on sight' list.

  "You are correct." Rayna responded unhelpfully.

  "So whats changed?" I asked really not liking how vague she was being.

  "Well putting my personal wishes aside." She gave me a look that said I'm not to say anything more on that topic. "I still believe you are good for the centaurs both because you have taken Arath as your head mare and because you are learning our ways instead of twisting them into your own. The only violence you have shown is when it's first aimed at you, I have yet to see you actively seek out confrontation even with your unique method of gaining skill points."

  She stopped to take a sip from her tea just to let it sink in. She knew how I got stronger, the question is how as I'd only told Arath but part of me really wasn't surprised. It also boded well that I was still alive even though she knew.

  "But there lies the problem. It wasn't hard to figure out you were the world jumper, mainly because of the timing. The tree was damaged and a human suddenly appears when one hasn't been seen for over two hundred years. The elves will put that together especially after I've told them I've delt with you."

  "So what can I do about that?" I had a feeling just telling them I was harmless wasn't going to work.

  "You get stronger of course. They will invite you to visit the world tree just to confirm you are the one who damaged it and during that trip they will attempt to kill you." Rayna replied nonchantly.

  Oh goody.

  "And we can't refuse that request because?"

  "The elves will start a war to kill you."

  Got it. They wanted to subtly remove me from existence without any needless death but were willing to die if that didn't happen. Wonderful.

  "And you have a pn I'm hoping." I asked the Paragon because at this point mine was to run very fast in a direction that wasn't towards the elves, a little cowardly but if the elves have a Paragon half as strong as Rayna I didn't stand a chance.

  "Yes. Seduce the elven priestess who watches over the world tree into your herd. It would make you untouchable to the other elves as well as guarantee a god would lend his power to the protection of the world tree. A win win for all species involved." There was an evil glint in her eyes before she continued. "It would also give you the ability to access other worlds if you so wish to."

  Now that got my attention. I could screw over the church even more. Sign me up.

  "So just so I'm clear. I need to get strong enough that I can survive all of their attempts at assassinating me without fighting back as I assume that would give them a public reason to execute me?"

  Rayna nodded.

  "While also trying to persuade one of the most influential elves that not only am I harmless, I can also protect the world tree and she should join my harem or herd. Whatever word they use? I also have an undisclosed amount of time to accomplish this as we don't know when they will figure out it's me. Any other curve balls you want to throw my way?"

  "They will know you're a Paragon from the very start as you are the only human. So expect them to dedicate a lot of resources to making sure you don't get that close to their priestess in the first pce." The centaur Paragon replied drinking a bit more of her tea.

  Yip it's official I'm screwed. Arath and Willow had simir looks of defeat while Kayalett tried to hide her whole face behind her hair.

  "Oh don't be like that. You are the best chance at strengthening the centaurs among other things so I'm not going to let you go fully unprepared. That being said I cannot be seen physically protecting you. As the elves might take it out on the centaur popution. Don't get anything wrong Lazarus my priorities will always be to protecting centaurs over anything else, regardless of my personal needs."

  Rayna pced her tea down and all the tea cups dissolved into nothingness, I'd finally gotten the courage to taste it but it disappeared in my hands, seems I missed my opportunity. She then summoned a map on the table between us.

  "I am giving you access to a personal dungeon of mine. I expect you to start heading in its direction tomorrow, and don't worry about training with the guards either. This is more important."

  Arath began to trace a faint line with her hand already trying to figure out the best path to take. Given our previous predicament we've just been handed the perfect opportunity, as well as a very rge pending problem but we can deal with that ter. Hopefully a lot ter. And it's a dungeon! I've not had a proper dungeon dive in a long time.

  "It's two days travel but we might want to take a slightly longer route just to avoid beastkin territory." Arath muttered looking at me, she then turned to the Paragon. "Thank you Rayna, for everything you have done."

  Rayna waved her hand without replying.

  I gave the map a look but without knowing much about the terrain or any of the markings it was lost on me. I did have faith in Arath to guide us and with her, Willow and Kayalett we had a well banced team. If I could figure out what role I wanted to py as well or rather get skills that could fill a role.

  "I will however be speaking to Lazarus privately." Rayna interjected and without waiting for a reply I was pulled from Araths home and pced in another simir room that was definitely a lot more lush and expensive. If I had to take a guess Rayna forcefully teleported me into her own home.