Chương 45: A New Way - 1

Penn Vic's story was incredible. How an innocent young lady with a gift from a God could, so suddenly, become entrapped in a petty cult's machinations boggled LANCE'S mind. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing more complex than that and yet... how unlucky. The cultists in question were all petty lawbreakers or well-off students who wanted to walk on 'the wild side,' and thought crime was the way to go.

An asinine belief as far as he was concerned, especially while the students were training to be Initiates in the service of a Holy Order. What on earth was their thinking?! The stupid sods destroyed their careers before they even began! After the militiamen captain questioned her, Lance escorted Penn back to her dormitory.

"I'm sorry you got caught up in all that," he said.

"As has already been said time and time again, you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If it's any consolation, your ordeal enabled us to capture some bad dudes and expose a criminal network. I wouldn't be surprised if that will earn you some XP! Once the events have been fully processed by whatever means our Patrons observe such measures, that is..." Penn smiled.

"It wasn't much of an ordeal. They roughed me up some, sure, that was unpleasant, but no one touched me beyond that. It was mostly just the waiting that was awful. And the fear of the unknown, I guess. I still have no clue why they thought I would be a ransomable target. Desperation, I guess?"

"Probably?" he replied.

"Victims of crime often are random. I wouldn't think too much about it. It's all done now and you can return to your studies in peace."

"I can and it is all thanks to you, Lance. Your steadfast thinking and brave fighting saved me. Any other person would've run and then the militia would've dragged their feet in responding and by the time they found the secret room, I would've been transported halfway to the Forbidden Lands!" Pen sighed.

"Maybe I am being too harsh on the militia, though... it's been a long day."

"That is has been, Penn. Please, get some rest. You know where my dorm is should you have any lingering fears. If anyone tried and messes with you in any way, let me know, and I will barge down every door in every one of their drug dens and kick their skulls in, promise!" The young lady swooned at that and grew red in the fact. Perhaps she had misinterpreted his statement, somehow? Or was she just so giddy at having a protector?

It was nothing he wouldn't do for any student or person in need, male, female, poor, rich, young or old. It was how he be. Being in the dorm hallway and talking to Vic as she was just inside her dorm, he was about to leave when Peen grabbed his arm.

"Yes?" he asked, his tone polite and accommodating. Penn grew nervous, her face red. She leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "Please. Come into my room. I wish to thank you in my own way..." This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Lance's face brightened red. Other parts of him became excited. Yet he resisted.

"No, I cannot, Penn. You are overcome with a flurry of strong emotions from the events of the day. What I did for you I would do for anyone, truly. You do not need to thank me with intimate labors."

"But I wish to thank you like this... I have needs and..." Penn suddenly stopped talking. She seemed to become angry for a moment, then her expression calmed.

"Are you sure?" He leaned in to give her a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"I am sure, Penn Vic. Your offer was very kind, and it tempted my sex to no end, but it would be undue of me to accept such satisfaction in exchange for merely doing my sworn duties. Please, get some rest. In the future, maybe, when we both are not under so much excitement, we can maybe revisit that lovely twin-backed beast. But not now, not like this."

"Okay..." Penn said, quiet as a mouse. She gave him one final smile and closed the door. Lance did not let out his stress until he exited the women's dormitory. Phew! He walked back to his dorm in silent contemplation of Penn Vic's offer and his own refusal. He was surprised. Like any young man, he longed for the pleasurable dance that was only possible between two consenting adults. His oath to Cannabus was clear — he would accept no prize for his just actions. That was not how the order worked.

All the same, the very notion had enflamed his carnal needs. It was a good thing he still had plenty of energy to spare, because a certain limb and appendage were about to become very busy. The next few days on campus were awkward. Word of his deeds spread fast and everyone, professors included, thanked him for his bravery and for acting in a holy way. He was a celebrity! Even the local bard paid him a visit and said he would compose an original piece of his deed to perform at the next harvest festival.

To say he was over-the-moon was an understatement. While he basked in his glory, classes continued. In those classes he shared with Penn Vic, he noticed no change in how she treated him other than a reduction in the odd and annoying noises she made. Had her experience somehow given her the mastery over her ticks? Or maybe, now that she knew her visual glimpses came from her [All Seeing] Boon, she felt less stressed overall and hence she felt no need for the annoying noises? Either case, it benefitted him directly.

Lance was a good student. That didn't change after his heroics. He did find, however, that he was invited to more parties once his heroics were known by all. At those parties, he met a number of vivacious ladies, and with the help of liquor, he gained enough courage to not only talk to them but be dashing as well. He found his way into the 'warmer' parts of many a friendly co-ed and had to say, it was a lot better than rubbing off with his hand. Not that he lacked such knowledge before, to be clear!

After a full week of debaucheries, he got the good in him to steer away from parties. He started to lose precious studying time to drunken reveries and hungover mornings. Though his incredible stamina helped in recovery somewhat, his stamina also allowed him to keep partying long after his peers had passed out in a pool of their own vomit. So, the two cancelled each other out, really.

Having returned to his academic focus — and in the nick of time, too, as midterms were around the corner — he was about to undertake a rigorous studying regiment when he received a postal message from his father.

"Lance: I will be up next weekend to collect you. We will go on another training excursion. Henceforth, such an excursion will happen every weekend thereafter. Please be prepared at the crack of dawn. Sincerely, Warhol." And just like that, his weekends were shot!