Collisa (Outsider Book 1), page 34
Gently disentangling himself from his sleeping goblin lover, he pulled on his pants and slipped out of the tent. The night air was pleasant this time of year, fresh with the smell of grass and a cooling breeze blowing in from the west to dry his sweat-slick skin.
Dare glanced over at Ilin, who was seated facing the fire, motionless as he meditated. Then he turned and strode into the night, out to the edge of the protection the campfire offered and hopefully out of earshot of his companions.
Once there he looked up at the sky, brilliant with stars as well as numerous phenomena that not only seemed scientifically impossible, but also statistically improbable they would all be visible from the surface of this world. Like a binary system where the larger star was eating the smaller in a brilliant display, or a black hole and its accretion disk, or a nebula glowing a soft but brilliant blue. Or several spiral arms of a galaxy clawing across the dark sky like fingers.
Was this world even in the same universe as Earth?
Dare pushed that thought aside for the moment; he had other questions he wanted answered right now. “I want to know about magic resistances,” he said firmly.
It wasn't exactly a trick question. But he'd already discovered in previous searches that there was no information on magic resistances available. Presumably because they were abilities he hadn't unlocked because he'd never been the target of a spell.
He half thought the disembodied voice, or world system overseer, or whatever he'd been interacting with would either tell him no information was available or just ignore him.
Which was why he was shocked when he received a full screen of information on magic resistances. Including his current resistances for his level, how gear mitigated magic damage, and how increasing his proficiency in different magic resistance abilities would reduce damage received from those schools of magic.
The immediate conclusion to this was that he should start having Zuri pelt him with Mana Thorns a few times a day to build up his Nature resistance. And if any of Ilin's abilities used magic, he could maybe get a few whacks from the Monk too.
But more importantly, this wealth of information seemed like pretty clear proof that whatever talked to him through the command screens wasn't just an automated system.
Dare looked at the lines of text hovering in front of him. “You talk to me more than to others of this world, don't you?” he asked. “In fact, I don't think you talk to them at all. Certainly not aloud.”
There was no response, but he continued stubbornly. “I doubt you're this helpful to everyone. Especially since some of what you've told me seems like stuff you wouldn't tell the average denizen of Collisa. And you'd never give them information they haven't unlocked just because they asked.”
After a long pause, new lines of text quivered in the air in front of him, and the soothing female voice replied in amusement. It was the first time she'd shown emotion since he'd come to Collisa. “Well, I've already given you so many other little edges over the others of this world.”
“And big edges,” he said, thinking of Fleetfoot and Adventurer's Eye. Or his nearly perfect body, for that matter.
“Very big,” she teased, giggling in an almost naughty way before continuing in a sober voice. “You're lacking in decades of knowledge you would've gained organically by living here. It's only fair I help you out when you really need it.”
“That makes sense,” Dare admitted. “Thank you. I don't even know who you are, but I owe you so much. Everything, really, since you gave me a second life and brought me here.”
“You're welcome,” the voice said, sounding amused. “I'm going to transfer you over to the default system now, unless you have something else you need to say.”
“Just thank you again.”
She replied with a peal of lighthearted laughter. “And thank you for taking good care of me tonight. It was a pleasant new experience.”
Then she was gone.
Dare looked up at the sky, smirking. As he'd suspected, the shadowy woman who'd seduced him in his dream had been his benefactor.
On the one hand, he was reassured knowing it was her. That it hadn't been a dream eater or nightmare demon or some other monster that attacked you in your sleep, and she hadn't meant him any harm.
On the other hand, it raised an entire slew of new questions and worries.
Like, what if she came to him again? Given her powers she was probably some sort of god of this world; now that he knew who she was, how was he supposed to just bend her over and give it to her like any other woman?
What if she didn't enjoy it the second time around? Would she smite him on the spot?
Dare wasn't sure whether to be excited or nervous at the prospect of another visit from the shadowy woman. And it again raised the question of whether she had some secret purpose for him that she wasn't admitting to.
He wasn't about to believe he was such a good lay that she'd saved him from death and brought him here and made him an entirely new body, just to get a good fucking.
Sighing, he headed back toward the tent. He doubted he'd be getting more answers from his benefactor tonight. He'd just have to wait and see, and enjoy the adventure as he went.
Slipping through the entry flaps, he crawled up beside Zuri and pulled the blankets back over him, pulling his little lover tight.
Tomorrow was a new day.
End of Collisa.
The adventures of Dare and Zuri continue
in Kovana, second book of the Outsider series.
Thank you for reading Collisa!
I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you feel the book is worthy of support, I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd rate it, or better yet review it, on Amazon, as well as recommend it to anyone you think would also enjoy it.
As a self-published author I flourish with the help of readers who review and recommend my work. Your support helps me continue doing what I love and bringing you more books to enjoy.
About the Author
Aiden Phoenix became an established author
writing stories about the end of the world.
Then Collisa called, a new and exciting world to explore,
and like the characters in his series he was reborn anew there.
Aiden Phoenix, Collisa (Outsider Book 1)
