Nightmares Paradise [LITRPG System Integration]

"Is she a lutin?" Sariel asked in English, glancing towards Aerilayna's knife-like ears. Wilheim, Shamael and Jon all turned back to look at Avahni, eyes half-lidded and expression somewhere in between drunk and nauseated.

Her long verdant-green hair laid sprawled out beneath her, with Jon's lone pillow beneath her head and blanket covering her upper body. Two of her three Mortal Ranked spiritual items were also forms of clothing, a shirt and pants combination that she had copied off Jon.

Aerilayna too noticed Avahni lying flat on her back. The blonde-haired lutin entranced by the presence of her green-haired counterpart. Jon had seen the expression on Aerilayna's face multiple times before, from Wilheim, Sariel and Shamael after first meeting Avahni.

Those that did not possess a Fragment Of Mind or an increase to their mental resistances or spirit resistances would be affected by Avahni's presence.

The worst part was that they would not even realize they were under her influence, considering that the System did not categorize it as a type of debuff or affliction. A single circulation of Jon's Sea Of Knowledge or even Shamael's Throne Of Mycelium would snap them out of this trance.

"I do not think this lutin has managed to integrate a Fragment Of Mind Jon," Eis said, manifesting a throne-shaped ice barrier for her summoner to sit on, "She might not even have a summoned companion to recommend what fragment she should integrate."

Jon pursed his lips, knowing where Eis was going with this.

Narrowing his eyes at the winter demon spirit, he watched as Schwarz Eis shrugged her shoulders, knowing that he had three Fragments Of Mind contained within his Fragment Of Library.

With a huff, Jon rolled his eyes, feeling the consequences of using [Helel] for too long send a streak of pain rippling up his neck. Several strands of ice-white hair brushed against his eyebrows, forcing Jon to blow them back over his forehead.

"I'll see if she'll answer my questions first," Jon said before turning his head towards Sariel, "But before that, I need to ask Despoina a small favour if she would be willing to listen."

The white salvation phoenix manifesting herself moments after, preening her pure-white feathers with a slow and graceful purpose. Lifting her golden-yellow eyes, the Salvation Of White Beginnings glanced towards Jon, wondering what manner of favour he wanted of her.

Gesturing in the direction where he had fought Theodore and Itsumade, Jon spoke.

"I was wondering if you would be willing to scout the area around where I fought that man that kidnapped Theodore. I encountered this woman, Aerilayna, there in addition to seven of her companions."

"Although I cannot be certain of this, I think that there may be a Safe Zone somewhere east of the river. If we can find it, each of us will be able to tick off another mandatory task and earn the Mortal Ranked rewards associated with said task."

"Would you be willing to do this for me, Despoina?" Jon asked, seeing that the phoenix turned towards Sariel, communicating her intent with her summoner mentally for a handful of seconds.

The white salvation phoenix nodded moments after, spreading her wings and taking to the skies moments after, but refraining from releasing her long white-flame tail feathers. During the night such a sight would draw the eyes of both Mortals and Knights alike.

Perhaps even alerting more unsavoury characters of her presence, such as Theodore or Han Of The Red Wind.

Seeing Despoina fly off into the distance, Jon then gestured for Eis to release the barrier she had formed around Aerilayna's mouth, allowing the blonde-haired woman a measure of freedom despite her captivity.

Even with Avahni's natural Aura affecting her mind, she still glared at Jon, furrowing her brows at the green-eyed man. Aerilayna remained silent, just staring at Jon with an unhidden malice behind her gaze.

Said man just rolling his eyes at her, brushing off her glares with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

"Apologies for the kidnapping. Although you have your companions to thank for that. If they did intend on letting me go, I would have thought twice about leaving you behind after getting my friend to safety." Jon gestured towards Avahni, noticing Aerilayna's gaze move towards her fellow lutin for half a second.

Noticing the knife-like ears poking out from behind her Asherah-Shamrock Hair.

"If you are willing to cooperate, I will consider letting you go. But only if you answer some of my-."

"That woman. Your companion… Is she a lutin too?" Aerilayna interrupted Jon's words, replying in English, much to the surprise of Wilheim and the others.

Jon too raised an eyebrow.

"You… can speak English?" He asked.

Aerilayna remained silent before glancing towards Shamael and Wilheim. Continuing in a broken form of Vaayli and Pluntian.

"And the language of the floresiensis. And that of the satanas as well." Her words were heavily accented, but concise enough for all of them understand her. Wilheim, being the language expert amongst the three of them, continued their discussion, sitting down in the space in front of Aerilayna.

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Speaking in Nain, devoid of any discernible accent or regional intonations.

"Interesting. So there is a Safe Zone nearby," Aerilayna's ears twitched as Wilheim's words, watching as the floresiensis smiled examining her changes in expression. For a moment, Jon thought as though he could feel the feelings of fear overflow from Aerilayna's mind before interrupting Wilheim, nodding at her initial question.

"Yes, my- our companion, Avahni, is also a lutin."

"I did not lie during out initial conversation. A man, a human if I am being perfectly honest, by the name of Theodore kidnapped Avahni, prompting me to chase after him through the forest. After a short battle, I injured him enough to-."

"You said that Theodore was a Knight, correct?" Aerilayna interrupted Jon once more, causing Eis to frown but for her summoner to raise his hand, preventing her from acting. The blonde-haired lutin narrowed her eyes at Schwarz Eis, who returned the gesture with a casual cross of her legs.

Jon just nodded, continuing with his explanation.

"After a short battle I injured him enough to force him to retreat. Moments later, you and your companions arrived, forcing me to take you hostage and then engage in another short battle."

"My question is this. After the explosion, what prompted you to investigate?"

"Surely you have encountered at least one Knight over the course of the past six months? What was the final result of your decision-making process that urged you to examine an environment alone and without backup? What did you hope to find scattered amongst the aftermath of my battle?"

Jon stood up, feeling the effects of his [Mortal] frailty finish, leaving nothing but the consequences of his Fragment Of War within his flesh and muscles. His golden-green eyes narrowed downwards at the blonde-haired woman, noticing that she had averted her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.

A tension-filled silence filled the lakeside campsite.

Even Avahni, in her half-conscious state turned to see Jon interrogating a half-frozen woman on the ground. Her vision slightly blurred, preventing her from seeing the full image.

Jon took a small step forward, gesturing for Wilheim to back up several feet.

"You were looking for something, were you not?" He asked, seeing Aerilayna remain motionless, not daring to give anything away. Jon had long since guessed that she was looking for his Memento Source Fragment but would never openly reveal such a thing in front of a complete and utter stranger.

Instead…

"Perhaps Centurion Of The Ice-Wind, you were looking for an easy target? Someone you could kill and whose fragments you could reap without too much of a hassle?" Jon said, manifesting the Spear Of Verdant Cedar with narrowed eyes and a pointed expression.

Aerilayna remained silent, not rising to any of Jon's provocations.

Although he was tempted to place Assail against her throat, Jon felt Eis communicate something through their connection, furrowing his brows as he turned towards her. The winter demon manifesting a small gemstone in her hands, gesturing to Aerilayna with a human "fishing" motion.

Something that everyone, including Aerilayna could see.

"…" Jon let out a small sigh, shaking his head and dismissing his Fragment Of Spear, instead reaching into the [Red Archives Of Mars Quirinus] and pulling out a handful of fragments from within.

Just at a quick glance of her status page, Jon could see that she had integrated just five Mana Cores and nineteen different fragments. Although the twenty-nine year old lutin had integrated a Fragment Of Marrow and Fragment Of Spirit, she had yet to integrate a Fragment Of Mind or a Fragment Of Heart.

The latter appearing in Jon's hand, drawing the eye of his captive.

Given the expression of shock marring her face it was obvious that she recognized the appearance of Fragments Of Heart.

"If you answer all of my questions, I'll consider giving this fragment to you. If you are worried about me cheating you then consider this," Jon reciting a short chant and manifesting a [Crimson War Contract] in the space above his palm.

[Fragment Of Contract]
[Thy Name Shalt Be Written In Blood And War]
(War, Contract, Spell, Binding, Buff, Debuff)

Effect (Mortal): Perform a ritual in order to forge a [Crimson War Contract] between oneself and another willing individual. Both parties will exchange a minute portion of their spiritual energy with each other, forging the foundation of the [Crimson War Contract]. Both parties will agree upon the details, forging the essence of the [Crimson War Contract].

Both parties will seal the [Crimson War Contract] will a blood oath, solidifying the contract in the physical world. The details of the [Crimson War Contract] will be upheld, or specified consequences will be enacted.

[Crimson War Contract]: Enforces a binding agreement between two parties. This effect cannot be resisted. This effect cannot be cleansed. This effect cannot be refined. This effect cannot be transferred.

Poking the tip of Aerilayna's nose with the contract allowed the information contained within to transfer itself into her mind at Jon's behest. It was done so in a similar fashion to how Ru Luan Di transferred his knowledge of Avant to Jon, although at a significantly reduced spiritual energy expenditure.

Transferring significantly less information as well.

Her eyes widening as knowledge and information relating to his Fragment Of Contract flowed into her unprotected mind, allowing her to comprehend the [Crimson War Contract] that Jon had given her.

'If I answer all his questions over the next twenty-four hours, he promises not to harm me both physically, mentally, or spiritually. Nor will any of his companions. If I do accept, he'll give me a Fragment Of Heart at the end of it! What!?'

Aerilayna had been looking for more universal fragments after trading away a Fragment Of Insight, Fragment Of Erudition, Fragment Of Melody and Fragment Of Rain for a single Fragment Of Marrow. Four potential abilities given away for the chance to integrate just a single universal fragment!

If it were not for her obtaining a Fragment Of Spirit by chance in the first few weeks of the System Introduction, she never would have been able to develop herself so quickly in comparison to the others.

Other than Mael, her leader, she was the only other lutin within the Safe Zone to stand at the Fifth Initiation. With more than ninety lutins and close to a thousand people within their Safe Zone, being able to obtain fragments and Mana Cores was simple, but expensive unless someone had something else to barter with.

Lifting her head, Aerilayna watched as Jon shrugged his shoulders, speaking to her without the pointedness that his words contained previously.

"If it makes you more comfortable, I'll release you from your prison before deciding. But please note that if you attack, my companions will all respond in kind."

Jon watched as the blonde-haired woman grew silent, contemplating his words. After more than a minute of silence, Aerilayna lifted her head, glancing towards Wilheim, Sariel, Shamael and Avahni laying across from her behind the campfire.

"You promise not to hurt me?" She asked.

Jon nodded.

"I promise."

"Hook. Line. Sinker," Said Schwarz Eis, causing Jon to bite his bottom lip, preventing himself from retorting her words.