“You want me to go topless?” Yuriko asked with a little bit of incredulity, but really, Madeline had hinted at nude portraiture last week, so why was she surprised?

To her amusement, while she didn’t mind, it seemed that Lilibeth was a bit more modest than what her reputation indicated. While she was fine with having casual relations with Evan, she was in no way, shape or form, comfortable with exposing her body to others.

Yuriko didn’t mind. Hmmm, even in her true body, she probably wouldn’t mind. She was proud of her body, and it was probably her Mien’s influence that prompted her to expose it. Ancestors, even at thirteen she had half exposed her body when she first felt the draw of Radiance.

So, no, she didn’t mind, but she would if they took pictures and showed it off to their friends. Her body, her choice.

“No pictures,” Yuriko said in a flat tone.

“Of course not,” Madeline answered, though she hesitated a moment. “But fair warning, fashion modelling might require you to expose yourself. My friend, Lance Hiller, is a designer and some of his works are a bit risque.”

“He’s my employer this Goldsday?”

“Yes. The photoshoot is in the afternoon from one o’clock to six. The pay’s basic since this is your first official gig: thirty Torries an hour.”

“That’s fair,” Yuriko admitted.

“Thanks. Should I come with you?” Madeline asked hesitantly.

“If you wish to,” Yuriko answered easily as she undressed in the side office. She had her back turned to the professor but her perception caught the blush rising on her cheeks. Yuriko giggled softly and the woman’s flush intensified.

“I…”

“Hmmm?”

“Nothing.” Madeline released a heavy breath, then she squinted at Yuriko. “You tease…” she muttered under her breath.

Yuriko smirked and openly showed it, but this time, the cute professor just rolled her eyes. She pulled on the silk robe she would wear during class, though she’d have to undo the top and press it down to her waist. The pose would have her seated in an armchair and brushing her hair.

“Are you…?” Madeline half whispered, eyes alight with curiosity and barely concealed attraction.

“Either way is fine,” Yuriko said placidly.

Madeline nodded and gave back a tremulous smile, and she was just about to say something when they heard the classroom door open. “Ah, class starts now.”

“I’m ready,” Yuriko answered.

Madeline exited the side office and began speaking with the students, stating the class’ goals for the day as well as the restrictions. Yuriko hummed to herself and picked up the props. And while she waited for Madeline to call her to the classroom, in her true body, she looked up at the door where Heron just entered. It was still midmorning, but he’d been gone for a couple of days.

“Hey,” Yuriko said while she pulled her mind from her contemplative state.

“Yuri,” Heron smiled, looking a tad bit wistful.

“Not yet.”

He pouted, but nodded. “I know. One can hope, but that’s not why I’m back.”

“Alright?”

“I’ve commissioned powered armour for you, to hide your identity,” Heron said.

“Oh, sure!”

He smiled. “Let’s go to the armourer. They need to fit it for you.”

“Doesn’t powered armour adjust?” Yuriko asked.

Heron snorted. “The common ones do. I would not shame you by having you wear a grunt’s uniform.”

“I don’t really mind…”

Heron shook his head. “I do.” He gave her a cheeky grin.

Yuriko shrugged, “I guess that’s fine. You and Saki have found the target?”

 “Yes. But it won’t be easy or simple to get to him. Armando Malta is the father of Daniel Malta who orchestrated the capture request on you, Gwendith, and Ryoko. Saki killed him while you were in the mountains, but either she didn’t cover them well enough, or more likely, someone more skilled in unravelling secrets got involved. Now, the father wants revenge and put up a bounty.”

“I guess that’s to be expected.”

Heron had purchased, or perhaps, leased a vehicle. It was a bit bulkier than the normal automobile, was a bit clunky, and from what she could tell, was armoured enough to fend off a fusillade of bullets. She got in the passenger seat and allowed Heron to drive them away.

Her incarnation body walked into the classroom and stepped up the pedestal, sat down on the cushioned armchair, leaned back, and nodded at Madeline. Her perception roamed around the classroom and she noticed that there was a basket of smartphones on Madeline’s desk. She took the hairbrush and placed it on the arm rest, loosened the sash around her waist, folded her legs and sat sideways so that her ankles crossed underneath the seat, then pushed the top part of the robe off her shoulders. She held in a grin at the collective gasp from the students as she settled the fabric on her waist. She pulled her hair over her shoulder and over part of her bosom, then ran the brush down, stopping when she reached halfway down the length of her hair. She froze into the pose, her expression was soft and relaxed.

Settled into her pose, Yuriko let her mind wander while the students frantically sketched, then painted her likeness.

As the class progressed, Heron and her true body arrived at one of the mega buildings in the core area of the city. Unlike most of the other towers, this one had its name plastered across the side: Millennium State Conglomerate.

“I met some of their people under the mountain,” Yuriko commented, “along with an Ancient who said he was from the Conclave of Technocracy.”

“Johann Larson, I remember your story,” Heron said warmly. “He followed your incarnation to Astoria?”

“Yeah. But he went with his true body.”

“Do you think both of you wound up in Astoria or does the Tower send climbers to different places?”

“It was the same entrance so I doubt it led to different gates,” Yuriko mused, “but I haven’t heard of him at all.”

“I see.”

He shifted uneasily in his seat but didn’t say anything. She detected a bit of jealousy from their connection, but it was quickly smothered out. Yuriko gently rubbed his knee, and said, “You’re mine.”

“Yes,” he answered happily.

They followed the highway ramps and spirals until they reached above the three-hundredth floor. As they entered the parking garage, Heron waved his Autowatch at the barrier, which then opened.

“You’ve made connections,” Yuriko observed.

“Yeah, this woman, Ilvara Erdmann, was the one who wanted to hire us as mercenaries for the delve.”

“Hoh…” Yuriko hummed. “Just that?”

Heron glazed at her, then smirked, “You’re not the only one who’s sought out.”

Yuriko grinned, then patted his shoulder, “If I like her…”

Heron’s teasing smirk disappeared in a flash and he muttered, “I was just joking.”

“But… is she?”

Heron didn’t respond and Yuriko chuckled heartily. They followed the interior road until he found a parking space, then they alighted and headed towards the building entrance.

“You commissioned work directly from the megacorp?” Yuriko asked.

“Through a favour,” Heron said. “Lesser armour would probably just break up if you get serious.”

“I guess…”

The hallways they followed were oddly deserted. They were narrow too, barely wide enough for both of them to walk abreast. Eventually, they arrived at an unmarked door which opened to an empty room barely three paces to a side. There was a circular platform in the middle, and when Yuriko stepped up on it at Heron’s prompting, the walls and ceiling opened up and sent out varied measuring implements. It took about ten minutes or so before the things finished getting her details and she didn’t even have to remove her clothes. Another five minutes later and they were on their way back.

“It shouldn’t take more than a week to finish,” Heron said.

“How much did this cost you, Heron?” Yuriko asked.

“Three hundred for yours. Half that for the others and mine.”

“Heron. That’s too much.”

He shrugged. “What use are ACs if not to help us in battle?”

“Luxuries?”

“Well, that too.”

Yuriko snorted in amusement, then leaned over and nudged Heron’s shoulders with hers. “Make love to me tonight,” she whispered, then giggled when he blushed and sputtered. Really, after everything they’ve done? She was fighting giggles while he drove them back to Junktown.

In Astoria, the painting class ended and Yuriko pulled up her robe before leaving to get dressed. She’d kept the same pose for the two hours though she mostly let her mind wander. The glimpse of the Ennoia of Swords was a temptation that she could barely resist, and she planned to train tonight after work and dinner.

Madeline and the students bid her goodbye, though the professor tried to treat her to lunch, Yuriko refused this time. Once was fine, but to continue might set a precedent.

At work, she notified her supervisor that she wouldn’t be at work the coming Goldsday, and while the woman protested heartily since apparently vacation leaves should have been scheduled at least a couple of weeks ahead, Yuriko shrugged and said she could be absent without leave instead.

The supervisor threatened her with termination, but Yuriko simply shrugged and said, “I wouldn’t have any trouble finding a new place of employment.”

She refrained from using her Mien to get her way, but she wondered if doing so was foolish. She had the power, after all. But then again, the woman would be in trouble for not having enough staffing?

Lilibeth’s memories showed her that many part-time employees also ditched at the last minute, and more than once, she’d been forced to take extra hours.

The supervisor waved her off with an annoyed expression and gave in, though she had a wistful look in her eye when Yuriko left to finish her shift.

Afterwards, she went home, ate her dinner, then left her room to head to the roof deck to practice. She didn’t touch the Ennoia but she could feel herself coming closer and closer.

Just before she fell asleep, she abruptly remembered that she hadn’t sent a confirmation message to accept the invite to her sister’s birthday party. Grumbling to herself, she picked up the phone and sent her confirmation, then dropped it and fell asleep. Well, her incarnation body fell asleep.

The next day wasn’t much different from any other weekday and she went about her routine. In her free time, she browsed the network and read some articles, watched some videos, and researched her possible new career. A fashion model’s income apparently varied widely, almost as much as a movie or television star. Actually, the highest income belonged to those who modelled for corporations, as well as those who were the most popular. Astoria, or specifically, the Republic of Astoria, had nearly half a billion people living in it. It wasn’t as much as the Empire’s population which was about a thousand times more, not to mention the Coalition of Independent Planes or the Xylarchy which had populations two or three times more than back home. Still, the Republic only occupied a third of Northern Astoria, and she read that there were a hundredfold more people in Southern Astoria. The two halves of the continent were separated by nearly impassable mountains and seas, with only a single landbridge a couple of leagues wide that connected them. Huh, maybe Johann was sent to the south?

By the time evening came and Yuriko returned to her apartment, she was feeling a bit morose. Her emotions were shared with her true bodies and both were feeling melancholic. More than that though was that she missed her Mum and Da, as well as her brothers.

Kato’s connecting thread was still there, coated in something similar to daemonfyre. Perhaps if she collected the ritual papers she might devise a way to open a way to where the daemons came from. Perhaps she’d find out what happened to Kato there.

Her apartment door was unlocked. Her perception aura billowed out and penetrated into the room. Someone was there.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep