Lazarus

  Primordial limit.

  Primordial 1.

  Paragon luck.

  Paragon strength 4.

  Presence detection 6.

  Regeneration 13.

  Centaur riding 6.

  Sex 10.

  Sword mastery 1.

  Blink 4.

  Resistance 7.

  Acid resistance 2.

  Poison resistance 1.

  Fire resistance 3.

  Electric resistance 2.

  Centaur pleaser 11.

  Forging 1.

  Copycat 1 (-------)

  Primordial blessing 1.

  Limitless Primordial 2.

  Primordial Pantheon (presence detection 6)

  [Willows devotion] 2.

  Skill points - 13

  "Well hello there handsome you're finally awake."

  I was having such a good nap as well, only to be woken up by what I can only describe as a very butch female voice. I was also greeted by the still smiling face of the gnome I'd previously killed.

  Both of us where being carried over separate shoulders of the voice. Am I really being kidnapped again? This is becoming a bad joke.

  "Well good morning. You wouldn't happen to know a couple of centaurs and an arachne in this area would you?" I asked trying to look anywhere but at the corpse. Not nearly as scary as the face in the deep but just as unnerving.

  The woman let out a deep ugh that sent vibrations through my body before rolling her shoulder in a way that sent me to the ground. I luckily nded on my feet instead of hitting the ground however.

  "You mean her? Because that mare won't shut up about you." My 'maybe' kidnapper said pointing to Arath who was currently fussing over Kayalett as she was being loaded into a cart by a few more of the creatures that resembled the one that carried me. The arachnid in question was still out cold.

  I thought about yelling out to her but opted to blink onto her back instead, wrapping my arms around her stomach and pulling her into a big hug. "Hey beautiful. You guys okay?"

  Arath jumped, kicking her back hoofs out at some invisible opponent before realizing it was me on her back.

  "My love don't do that!" She yelled in surprise.

  "You don't want a hug?" I taunted back releasing my hold of her.

  My head mare grabbed my arms before I could get too far away and pulled them back across her stomach. "Don't surprise me like that my love. I will always let you on my back just with permission first. It's something only you're allowed to do."

  I gave her neck a kiss. "I make no promises, and I accept that I might get kicked."

  Another deep ugh pulled our attention. "I never thought I'd see the day a centaur would willingly let someone on her back. Also didn't think I'd ever see a human so that's two impossibilities in one day."

  The woman was big, like body builder big. With arms the size of tree trunks that seemed to flex on there own accord. Her bleach white hair complemented her tan brown skin and I'd have paid more attention except she was only wearing a loincloth and a strap around her chest. Didn't want to seem like a perv this early at least around Arath.

  "Thank you for finding him Seveneth." Arath said with a small tilt of her head. "Lazarus this is Seveneth, Paragon of the Amazonians and ally of the centaurs. With Kayalett down I have accepted their assistance so we are traveling to their camp for the night or however long it takes to wake Kayalett."

  I dismounted Arath and offered my hand towards the Amazonian. "Pleasure to make your aquaintance." She was slightly intimidating with her size and I was briefly reminded that I've been looking up at everyone since coming to this world.

  "And he's polite as well. You found yourself a good one here little centaur!" Seveneth rumbled taking my hand and shaking it roughly.

  Arath blushed trying to hide the smile that grew. "Yes we're very lucky."

  "Seveneth we're ready to go." Another Amazonian called out lifting the front of the cart with Kayalett.

  "Alright then. Can you walk human?"

  "Perfectly." I called back jumping back onto Arath noting Willow who was skulking close by unable to meet my eye.

  The Paragon gave a ugh throwing the gnome corpse into the cart.

  "You'll have to tell me how you do that. Most races would kill to know how to ride a centaur without them killing you."

  "Try gaining their trust first." Arath retorted as everyone settled into a pace. We were heading in the wrong direction of the dungeon but we didn't really have a choice.

  I gave the Amazonian a side gnce when Arath couldn't see but the woman just shook it off. "I'd need a very big stallion to be able to take me. Both in the bedroom and on the battlefield, need a lot of muscle to carry around a true Amazonian. If I know anything about centaurs the men like to fight."

  That certainly sounds about right. In all the male centaurs I've encountered half of them have tried to kill me the only exceptions being Willows father and the council leaders. Not a horrible average considering my past where everyone wanted me dead but I don't think bragging like that would get me anywhere.

  "But in all seriousness. It was lucky we stumbled across you guys first." Seveneth mentioned, having a more somber tone as she sided up close to us. "The harpies have unofficially put a bounty on the humans head, with a preference that the bodies not attached."

  Well crap. I couldn't have an easy time now could I?

  "They can't do that!" Willow yelled out from the Amazonians other side breaking from her silence.

  "That's why it's unofficial little centaur. I believe it's just a roost of harpies that have done it without the permission of the whole nest. While the centaur Paragon has made it clear any harm to the human is the same as harming a centaur there are always some that are either despite or dumb enough to try. Especially when that bounty is five hundred gold coins." The Amazonian Paragon replied with a shrug.

  "And I shouldn't fear the Amazonians why?" I asked not at all surprised at this. I'll be honest I kind of wanted to see if I could make it one thousand but making more enemies was definitely a bad idea.

  "Because those bitches can suck my left tit." Seveneth growled with a venomous snarl.

  "Lazarus the amazonians are a female only species same as the harpies so they compete for male partners, and by compete I mean the harpies are known to kidnap males from inside homes and take them to their nests high in the mountains where they can't escape or be rescued without angering the whole flock. They have no love for the bird brains no matter what. Not including the fact we are still technically in centaur nds therefore under Raynas jurisdiction." Arath added helpfully.

  "Right you are Red. I may be a Paragon myself but I would rather stay on that particur centaurs good side."

  "I hear that a lot. Is Rayna really that scary?" I was genuinely curious as I would assume most Paragons are of simir strength but this made it seem like Rayna was in a league of her own.

  "You don't know the story?" Seveneth asked more looking at both mares who were avoiding eye contact.

  "Ummm no." Ooow can I finally know more about this woman who wants me to beat her?

  "Well let me tell you because it's a good one." Seveneth rumbled clearing her throat for the tail.

  "Just over one hundred years ago the centaurs came to this nd looking for a fresh start. From what no one knows, but their Paragon was very beat up when they arrived. Deciding to take the uncimed pins where they currently reside as their own they started to build."

  There was a pause for dramatic effect and I noticed both Arath and Willow listening. I probably had an equally engaged expression as well.

  "But then the worst mistake possible was made. The elves saw the centaurs and their strength both with tools and bor, they decided that they were no different to a wild herd of horses. The choice was made to forcefully indoctrinate them into being submissive towards the elves especially and any other race."

  Even while we were walking I could feel the muscles in Araths back tense up.

  "An army was made. Not just of elves as they were smart enough to know they wouldn't win alone but of any species that would join. The promise of smart horses too much for some to pass by. Most notably for us the Amazonians and fairies. Our physical strength and the fairies magic were part of the grand pn to subdue the centaurs."

  This time there was a longer pause. Not for suspense but remorse. Each of the Amazonians around us hung their heads low.

  "We were confident and we had every right to be. The centaurs fought back their strength rivaling our own but we had numbers on our side and an ambush that gave us the edge."

  The Paragon let out a small chuckle."Forgive me but the details on the next part are fuzzy for us."

  "Not for us." Arath returned with her head held high. "Rayna was injured yes, but not defeated. When the attack happened she was furious and not a soul alive wants that. She single handedly fought them all forcing the army to retreat and proving the centaurs were their own people not tools to be used."

  Seveneth gave a slow shake of her head. "She didn't force them to retreat little mare. She killed everyone that was part of it. Not even those that surrendered were spared. All were culled in a bloodbath not seen in these nds for centuries and when she was done, Rayna came for our Paragons regardless of if they were part of the army. But she didn't stop there. When a new Paragon was chosen for each species after she killed the original she killed them as well continuing again and again until each species knew her rage. Only when the new Paragon was already begging would she stop. It's where she earned the title 'Paragon killer'."

  There was a bitterness to her tone not from anger but helplessness.

  "Amazonians love to fight and would have welcomed a challenge. That centaur wasn't a challenge, she was the epitome of death. One I admitted defeat before I even knew who she was."

  The trees broke way to a vilge tucked away in the woodwork, each one built into a rge tree for support with many smaller rooms in the canopy.

  Amazonians walked merrily on the ground while fairies flew between the trees. It was an interesting mix of the two species.

  But I thought back on what she'd said. A new Paragon was picked after the original died. That expins why the elves would know I'm one but also that there will always be one for each species and their not all equal in strength.

  "Because of that the fairies and my kind live together. Our numbers were vastly decreased so we found safety in unity." Seveneth finished her story giving me a new appreciation for Rayna.

  And this woman thinks I can beat her? Definitely going to be a while.

  "Oooh who have you brought with you this time Seveneth?" A fairy with teal wings and very little clothing asked floating down until she was right beside me. Arath gave her a gre and the fairy nodded back. "Rex I won't get on your back miss centaur. I know you guys pride that above all else."

  "Seveneth the arachnid is heading to the healers now." Another Amazonian called out.

  I disembarked Arath, patting her rump when I was on solid ground. "Go with her. She might need a friendly face when she wakes up, plus you two need to sort out whatever that spat was about."

  Arath growled at me. "I hate that your right. Don't sleep with anyone understand? The fairies will try."

  "I promise now go."

  Stealing a kiss my head mare began to gallop towards the cart with Kayalett leaving me with Seveneth, Willow and the new fairy.

  "Sorry about that my names Lazarus." I offered my hand the the teal haired woman who while shorter than myself was hovering just above the ground so we were of equal height.

  "Feru." The woman replied taking my hand. "Paragon of the fairies." There was a twinkle of pride in her voice as it dripped with lustful promise.

  "Paragon of the humans." I said back matching her smile.

  That caught her off guard and she instantly looked at me ears to confirm then to Seveneth. The Amazonian Paragon let out a chuckle. "Drink then questions Feru. This human killed the lightning gnome so we're going to have a feast."

  My stomach let out a loud protest and I realized I hadn't eaten since breakfast. "I like the sound of that."