“Well, that throws a wrench in things,” Ann sighed. “Sorry Bren, I promise we’ll have our history talk on the way there. Stuff keeps happening.”
“Such is the way of the world,” Bren said, a slight glint of eagerness at the promise. “Is there anything we should know, Katlyn?”
“Well, there’s not too much that came through. It’s big, whatever it is. Scared the shite outta the locals, so it’s not a Quillbear or something like that. They should be used tae those. They wanted tae give us backup, but I staved it off with the promise we’d be tryin’ tae get the local witch fer help.” Kat said, leading them by default back into the city proper.
“I don’t think anything but our normal weapons or the rest of our stuff is going to be done by tomorrow,” Ann pointed out, keeping pace with Kat as she walked quickly.
“Nae, gonna have tae deal with what we’ve got. Bren, wanna come wit’ tae pick up Ann’s armor?”
“I don’t see why not?”
“Think it’ll be ready, Ann?”
“Hells if I know,” Ann shrugged as they turned toward the craftsmen district.
It wasn’t long before they reached the disheveled storefront once more. Bren gave the place a disapproving look, but shrugged as they entered.
“Riva? You here?” Ann called out as she ducked into the cluttered shop.
“Oh, fuck, yeah! That you, wolf girl?” a voice cracked out from the back.
“Yeah, it’s me and friends. Take your time.”
“Cool, I’ll be out there in like, half an hour or something? Just, uh, take a seat and I’ll be out. Almost done.”
Chuckling, Ann found a mostly comfortable pile of furs to sit on, while Bren and Kat made themselves as comfortable as possible with what they could find.
“This place is a mess. How did you decide to be outfitted here?” Bren asked disapprovingly.
“People recommended her. I asked around, and they said she’d be the best I could ask for.” Ann shrugged. “Figure the people around here would know best.”
“I mean, ye’re right about that, just didn’t expect it tae be such a mess.” Kat said, curiously picking through hides.
As they waited, Bren filled Ann in on the rest of the Gods they’d not been able to get to.
Bryltia was apparently the Goddess of the hunt and the patron Deity to the Thrundol. She was known as a wild goddess who constantly sought greater challenges and urged her adherents to do the same. Many worshiped her, from soldiers sent to fight the Warped, to the more mundane of hunters. She was usually depicted as a Thrundol with wild dreadlocks and antlers, eyes always scanning the horizon for the next adventure.
Voltid, up next, was the God of the earth and forge. Patron of the Grrn. He was a slow god. Embodying the patience and skill required of a blacksmith, he was a big deal in Korvas with its multitude of craftspeople and mining culture. If he was depicted, it was in the form of either a Grrn or a literal mountain.
Lastly, Bren explained that there were innumerable minor Gods. They usually presided over certain areas and creatures. An example of it being Estvall and his region of woods. Some presided over rivers, lakes, birds, fish, mountains, plains. The list went on and on. They were worshiped in the general temples, like the one placed at the end of the lines of temples. If it was a smaller city or village, they’d have altars set up for the nearby Gods in some way shape or form.
During the middle of the explanation on the minor Gods, Riva had made her way out of the back with a bundle of black leather and had cleared a section of counter by tossing the furs to the side. Not interrupting, she set out the pieces of armor across the only clean space in the shop.
“Ah, you’re done,” she said as the conversation ended. “You must really be from out of town if you don’t know all that,” she chuckled at Ann. “Now get over here. Need to make sure I got it all right for ya. Strip.”
Looking over at Bren, who shrugged, Annita pulled off her loose shirt, tossing it and her kilt into a small pile.
Riva bustled over, carrying what looked like the top of the outfit. It was almost a corset, made of thick studded leather. As she knelt for the Inlon to get it on her, she noticed that while it hugged her body, it never pinched, never pulled on anything, and most importantly, didn’t squash the fur running down her back. Above the corset, covering her chest, parts of her shoulders, and about half her neck was a span of leather that looked like it was fashioned out of several strips cleanly stitched together. The whole chest piece was split down her left side, with ties to fasten it to herself. The shoulder and neck pieces utilized small but sturdy clasps to stay in place.
The arm pieces were the same black leather as the rest of the outfit and fashioned as evening gloves. She pulled each on, testing their flexibility as she flexed her arms and fingers. They were smooth, with pads on the elbows and knuckles for unexpected falls or collisions, similarly studded. They fit, and Annita berated herself for the pun, like a glove. No restrictions whatsoever, but she did notice the tips of the fingers were closed off.
“Hey, Riva. How hard would it be to cut out the tip of the fingers? My fingernails can extend into claws.” Ann asked, pulling a glove off and demonstrating.
“Fuck me, that’s a neat trick,” Riva swore as she pulled the hand down to her level. She looked over the extended weapons for a minute, muttering to herself, before releasing Annita’s hand. “That’ll be easy. Ten minutes or so. Just need to cut out the part and reinforce the edges there. Probably gonna have colder hands, but you said that wasn’t a problem for you, so fuck it. Try on the rest, they’re easy. Be right back.” With that, she shuffled back into the back room. A crash was heard as she moved things off to the sides of whatever she was working on.
“She’s a feckin’ great time,” Kat laughed as she watched Ann put on the black leather skirt. It went down to the Lupine’s shins, flaring out comfortably for her hips. Several thicker strips dangled from the belt, connected by sheets of cloth and leather alternating in horizontal stripes down the length. To keep it light, but still durable, Riva had explained. Running her hands down the sides, she felt loops set into the sides for something to be held. Not enough for a holster or her scabbard, but maybe a couple knives or potions.
“Ye can turn around, Bren.” Kat called to the man who had pointedly kept his back turned.
Ann finished up, strapping the shin guards over her canine lower legs, pulling them tight. A low whistle from Kat as she looked her over brought a blush to her cheeks.
“So, you approve?” Ann asked, running her hands over herself, feeling a stirring between her legs.
“Damn right I do,” Kat returned, walking over and running her hands over Ann’s leather clad body. “Damn sexy. Not a piece o’ ye left tae the imagination. Except this, I guess,” she grinned, grabbing between Ann’s legs and drawing a grasp from the taller woman.
“One track mind on you,” Ann grinned, pulling Kat in for a kiss.
This, of course, was when Riva decided to come back with the gloves. “Oh! So that’s who you were talking about. Shit, I didn’t stand a chance,” she laughed her raspy laugh.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Ann grinned back.
“Aye, if it weren’t fer me bein’ selfish, I’d imagine ye’d already have a tumble wit’ ‘er,” Kat grinned, hugging Annita closer.
“Well, I’m not one to get in the middle of two lovely ladies. Not that I’d mind being in between you, now that I say it. Shit, sorry. Anyway, here are the gloves. They’ll be perfect for your claws.”
“Thanks, I really mean it,” Ann said, looking down at the Inlong who stood with her hands on her wide hips, admiring her work.
“Fuck, the helmet and mask, one sec.” Riva dashed back into her workshop and returned with another couple black pieces of leather. “C’mere you massive mutt,” she beckoned down.
Ann knelt down and Riva secured the helmet over her head, making sure her ears were comfortable, and adjusting her hair to flow out the back in a plume. She then took a polished half mask out. The thing was formed in the shape of a wolf’s muzzle, a toothy snarl engraved into the surface. Taking it in both hands, she pushed it up over Ann’s face and clipped it over the fasteners in the helmet, tugging to make sure it was secure.
“There, that really ties it all together. What’cha think, girlfriend?” she asked as she turned to Kat.
“I would jump ‘er bones here an’ now,” Kat purred, licking her lips. “Ye really didn’t hold back on showin’ ‘er body off, did ye? The mask is a good touch too. Proper fierce an’ protective. I approve.”
“Then that’s that, oh yeah, and the fittings for enchantments. You’ve got a couple inlaid in your shoulders, one on each glove, on the shin guards since you don’t do shoes, and two in the helmet. Should hold up to some serious enchantments, but if you run into troubles, come on back and I can figure it out.” Riva said with a satisfied look.
“You really haven’t gotten any sleep have you?” Ann asked, a concerned look crossing her eyes. “You’re all over the place.”
“Not a wink! Though that’ll be fixed here, soon. Pay time. Two gold, as promised, fifty silver for the enchantment slots.” Riva held out her hand.
Smiling, Ann handed the woman her due, which was quickly deposited into a pouch on her belt.
“Pleasure doing business with you. And pleasure meetin’ you, ah…” Riva trailed off, extending her hand to Katlyn.
“Katlyn,” she smiled, shaking the offered hand.
“No shit? Heard the princess was in town, didn’t expect her to come to my little place. Or her girlfriend. Well, good to meet you all the same. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to go be unconscious for a few hours,” Riva said with a wide yawn.
“See you later!” Ann called as they were waved out the front door.
“Well, she took that surprise in stride.” Bren chuckled.
“Aye, I’ll give ‘er credit fer that. An’ I see why ye were tempted tae take ‘er up on that offer, Ann. She’s a small thing, but she’s got a fine set o’ assets on ‘er.”
“You approve?” Ann teased her lover.
“Maybe in the future, when I’m feelin’ less greedy wit’ me girlfriend,” Kat laughed back, elbowing Ann’s side.
“Not much else I’ve got left to do today. It’s getting a bit later. Should we just turn in early and head out early?” Ann asked as they walked.
“Nay, should be good tae settle in, get ye off, and pass out,” Kat said, drawing close to Ann as they walked, wrapping a muscular arm around her leather clad body.
“Save it for the bedroom, if you would please,” Bren grumbled. “I do agree that we should get an early start if things are as urgent as that report made them out to be.”
“Ye just want yer history talk, ye liar,” Kat ribbed him.
“I simply wish to protect the land and do it as expediently as possible,” Bren huffed.
“Uh huh,” Ann laughed as she hugged Kat closer.
A short time later, Ann and Kat were in bed, lights turned down and leather stripped. Their previous nights had been hot and heavy, but the energy tonight was different. They had time. Googlᴇ search N0veI.Fiɾe.net
“Your eyes are really something,” Ann said softly, tracing a finger across Kat’s brow. They’d wound up just laying in bed, facing each other, slowly running their hands over the other’s body.
“Mm, yeah, so’re yers, such a beautiful green,” Kat whispered back as her hand idly traced through Ann’s strip of fur running down her back.
“So, you like the armor?”
“Feck, yeah, I do,” Kat blushed. “Just really hugs yer, well, everythin’.”
“Gonna be a problem?” Ann asked, kissing Kat’s nose gently.
“Nae, not unless me wantin’ tae jump ye after a fight is a problem.”
“Hmm, nope. Not a problem then,” Ann giggled. “Cause I’m gonna be real. My blood is pumping after a fight. Wouldn’t be hard to change where that energy is pointed.”
“So I’m hearin’ after we deal wit’ whatever the Warped winds up bein, we find a nice,” Kat slid her hand down, gripping Ann’s ass for emphasis, drawing a gasp, “private” the hand moved to her outer thigh, “clearin’. Strip naked, all hot an’ sweaty,” her hand moved between Ann’s legs, bypassing her cock, and cupping her pussy, fingers teasing her entrance, “an’ feck each other’s brains out.” As she finished, she slid two fingers into Ann effortlessly.
The Lupine tensed, her back arching instinctively, letting Kat get a better angle. “Oh, oh fuck yeah, that sounds awesome,” she gasped as the fingers began to pump inside her.
At the agreement to the plan, Kat’s grip tightened, holding her palm firmly to Ann’s clit as she stared into the hooded green eyes before her. “Mmm, you, me, under the sky, fuckin’ like wild animals.” She increased the pace as she spoke, pulling Ann along.
Ann felt her breath quickening, her chest heaving, and the heat in her stomach growing. “Kat, oh, fuck, yes. More, more, please,” she whispered, pressing her forehead to her lover’s.
“Feelin’ the snow beneath yer back, the sound o’ animals nearby,” Kat murmured into one of Ann’s twitching ears as she added a third finger, all three moving to find the spots that got the best reactions from Ann’s body.
“Taking… taking you, up against a tree. Like I wanted to before,” Ann gasped between moans. For not being as dexterous as Ann was, Kat’s strength and the pressure she could exert on her body more than made up for it. She was quickly falling apart, her core tightening, cock throbbing, and inner walls contracting rhythmically.
“Mmm, yeah, I wanted that too,” Kat purred as she felt Ann start to falter. Her hand picked up more speed while the other reached up behind Ann, grabbing a fistful of her hair and pulling her head back. She leaned in and kissed the Lupine’s exposed neck. “Feelin’ the bark against me back, scrapin’ while ye fill me wit’ yer seed. Wanna give me a taste now, Ann? Wanna give me what I’m askin’ fer?”
With a deep growl, Ann moved, rolling Kat on her back, taking both her hands and pinning her to the bed. Without ceremony, she lined her cock up and sank balls deep into Kat.
“Oh, there she is,” Kat grinned after her eyes re-focused. “There’s me wolf. C’mon an’ take me ye beast.”
Needing no further invitation, Ann started to move, keeping Kat pinned beneath her. She didn’t allow Kat to adjust, no time to breathe or get used to the massive girlcock inside her. She pounded into the velvety folds.
“Gods, you know how to get me going,” Ann grunted as she clapped her hips against Kat’s.
“That… was… the point…” Kat gasped out between thrusts that shook her whole body. “Feck I love it when ye let loose. C’mon. Harder.”
Growling, Ann reached down, her body enveloping Kat’s as her hands grabbed the Guardian’s ass and roughly began pulling Kat against her in time with each thrust.
“That… oh that’s it Ann. Right there, right, right, oh feck, yes!” Kat cried out as she was manhandled.
Ann felt the woman tighten around her, an orgasm rocking the Alf as her eyes lost focus, and her muscles lost control. Something in her loved that feeling, feeling Kat lose herself in the pleasure. It made her want to go harder, take more, make the woman feel better, make herself feel better in the process.
Ann stopped thinking, all that was left was her growls, groans and the moans from both of them as she continued to Rut into her lover. Not long after, Ann felt her own climax approaching.
“Kat, oh, fuck, I’m cumming,” she gasped.
“Fill me, oh fill me Ann, all the way, deep, feck.”
“I’m cumming. Kat, oh, oh oh fuck!” Ann cried out as she felt Kat’s legs lock behind her, pulling her as deep as she could get the pulsing girlcock. A torrent of seed splashed inside Kat, eliciting a deep, satisfied moan before quickly overflowing and dripping out of her. Ann stayed locked in. Not wanting to leave her lover’s warm embrace for a second.
A few minutes later, they laid there, panting, sweaty, and all kinds of sticky. Their foreheads had pressed together, and as they relaxed, they fell into a deep kiss.
“Ye’re feckin’ amazin’,” Kat breathed, tightening her arms around Ann slightly.
“Says the woman who got me all riled up,” Ann giggled breathlessly. “I don’t want to, but we should probably get cleaned up and pass out if we’re heading out early tomorrow.”
“Awww,” Kat whined, hugging tighter. “Carry me tae the bath?”
Ann rolled her eyes, and kissed her girlfriend again. “Sure thing princess. Ow!” she exclaimed as Kat nipped at one of her nipples.
“None o’ that,” she said, with a blushing grin betraying her true feelings.
Laughing, Ann picked her lover up and carried her to the bathroom.
A relaxing soak in the warm water later, they both returned to the bed, taking a spare set of sheets that had been left them, and snuggling in together. Slowly, their breathing slowed, hearts beating together as they drifted off to sleep.
Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep
Chapters
- Chapter 228: ❤️ Stress Relief
- Chapter 227: Scale to Scale
- Chapter 226: Pride and Prejudice
- Chapter 225: Rumble With a Warped
- Chapter 224: Tight-knit Community
- Chapter 223: Alchemical Pursuits
- Chapter 222: Hobbies on the Mind
- Chapter 221: Land Calamari
- Chapter 220: On Patrol
- Chapter 219: First Day In Town
- Chapter 218: Alruna, Daughter of Worms
- Chapter 217: Old As Dirt
- Chapter 216: Eldest of All
- Chapter 215: Village of the Accursed
- Chapter 214: An Early Meeting
- Chapter 213: The Road Grows Short
- Chapter 212: A Deeper Understanding
- Chapter 211: ❤️ Genital Manipulation
- Chapter 210: ❤️ Tongue Tied
- Chapter 209: Reconnection
- Chapter 208: Cats and Birds
- Chapter 207: Heavy Feet
- Chapter 206: First Blood
- Chapter 205: Bandits, Thieves, and Ne’er-do-wells
- Chapter 204: Core? Core.
- Chapter 203: It’s Been a Trip
- Chapter 202: Swamp of Sorrows
- Chapter 201: Upper Tower of the Unknown God
- Chapter 200: Lower Floors of the Tower
- Chapter 199: Enter the Temple Tower
- Chapter 198: ❤️ Breaking the Matron
- Chapter 197: ❤️ Said the Wolf to the Spider
- Chapter 196: ❤️In the Spider’s Web
- Chapter 195: A Seductive Diversion
- Chapter 194: Druid and Deadeye
- Chapter 193: Training Yard of Trouble
- Chapter 192: Temple Grounds and the Barracks
- Chapter 191: A Seeded Detour
- Chapter 190: Dreams and Desperation
- Chapter 189: Pork Chop Sandwiches!
- Chapter 188: An Old Friend
- Chapter 187: Camping Once Again!
- Chapter 186: On the Snowy Trail
- Chapter 185: Escape from Korvas
- Chapter 184: The Great Escape
- Chapter 183: Final Checklists
- Chapter 182: Rosalyn’s Goodbyes
- Chapter 181: Mentor and Student’s Farewell
- Chapter 180: ❤️ Bright and Early
- Chapter 179: The Wolf’s Flock
- Chapter 178: Religious Nervousness
- Chapter 177: A Plan for the Future
- Chapter 176: Letting Her Down Easy
- Chapter 175: Seeing With New Eyes
- Chapter 174: The Sheep and the Goat
- Chapter 173: Mourning Her Husband
- Chapter 172: As the Dust Settles
- Chapter 171: Regicide
- Chapter 170: Declaration of the Chosen
- Chapter 169: The Royal Address
- Chapter 168: Secure Transportation
- Chapter 167: The Big Day
- Chapter 165: ❤️ The Night Before
- Chapter 164: The Legend of the Everfrost (Part 2)
- Chapter 163: The Legend of the Everfrost (Part 1)
- Chapter 162: High in the Sky
- Chapter 161: Let the Games Begin!
- Chapter 160: Fortune’s Favoured
- Chapter 159: First Day of the Festival
- Chapter 158: Final Drafts
- Chapter 157: Hear those Bells?
- Chapter 156: ❤️ Making Things Right
- Chapter 155: Struggling with Compromise
- Chapter 166: ❤️ Large and In Charge
- Chapter 154: The Coils of Doubt
- Chapter 153: ❤️ Captured by Desire
- Chapter 152: ❤️Hunted
- Chapter 151: A Successful Expedition
- Chapter 150: Partied Out
- Chapter 149: The Dirty Details
- Chapter 148: Afterparty
- Chapter 147: Dessert
- Chapter 146: The Main
- Chapter 145: ❤️ A Quick Snack
- Chapter 144: The Second Course
- Chapter 143: The First Course
- Chapter 142: For Thine Honour
- Chapter 141: Controversial Commitment
- Chapter 140: High Society
- Chapter 139: Thrust to the Fore
- Chapter 138: Debut
- Chapter 137: Preparation for the Ball
- Chapter 136: Did Someone Say Portals?
- Chapter 135: Orlana Farragher
- Chapter 134: Out of His Comfort Zone
- Chapter 133: Girl Talk
- Chapter 132: Breakfast with the King
- Chapter 131: The Mighty Faithful
- Chapter 130: Introspective Retrospective
- Chapter 129: Face to Snout
- Chapter 128: ❤️ Pint Sized Punk
- Chapter 127: Visiting Wendyl
- Chapter 126: Defence
- Chapter 125: Survivor’s Testimony
- Chapter 124: Witness Borne
- Chapter 123: Waiting Room
- Chapter 122: Enchanting Exclusivity
- Chapter 121: Advice for a Friend
- Chapter 120: ❤️ Taken by the Horns
- Chapter 119: Nature Walk
- Chapter 118: Dress to Impress
- Chapter 117: Trims and Paints
- Chapter 116: Under Pressure
- Chapter 115: ❤️ Deep Thirst
- Chapter 114: ❤️ Distractions from Studies
- Chapter 113: The Bird Has the Word
- Chapter 112: Divine Intervention
- Chapter 111: Soul Searching
- Chapter 110: Sister Act
- Chapter 109: Homecoming
- Chapter 108: Aw Hell
- Chapter 107: Beneath the Skin
- Chapter 106: ❤️ Risky Business
- Chapter 105: ❤️ Tying the Knot
- Chapter 104: Friendships Forged
- Chapter 103: A Fuzzy Development
- Chapter 102: A Monochrome Horse
- Chapter 101: Play Ball
- Chapter 100: Limbering Up
- Chapter 99: The Birds
- Chapter 98: Run It Back
- Chapter 97: ❤️ Tastes so Sweet
- Chapter 96: Temple Tours
- Chapter 95: Servitude
- Chapter 94: Meeting the Priestess
- Chapter 93: Flirts and Rifles
- Chapter 92: Return
- Chapter 91: Debrief
- Chapter 90: ❤️ Touches in the Tent
- Chapter 89: Life Debt
- Chapter 88: Escape
- Chapter 87: To the Rescue
- Chapter 86: Survivors
- Chapter 85: The City
- Chapter 84: Call to Action
- Chapter 83: ❤️ Supplication (Part 2)
- Chapter 82: (E) Supplication (Part 1)
- Chapter 81: Bearing Arms
- Chapter 80: Repercussions
- Chapter 79: Aftermath
- Chapter 78: ❤️ Seeing Purple (Part 2)
- Chronicles of the North Star – Chapter 1: Inauspicious Beginnings
- Chapter 77: ❤️Seeing Purple (Part 1)
- Chapter 76: The Finals
- Chapter 75: A Challenge
- Chapter 74: Round One
- Chapter 73: Kat’s Retreat
- Chapter 72: The Peaks
- Chapter 71: Back to the Basics
- Chapter 70: Regular Checkup
- ❤️Chapter 69: Nice
- Chapter 68: Menagerie
- Chapter 67: Magical Manuscripts
- Chapter 66: Beaten and Bruised
- Chapter 65: Training Day
- Chapter 64: Give and Take
- Chapter 63: Coming to the Altar
- Chapter 62: First Day in the Capital
- ❤️Chapter 61: Taking Turns
- Chapter 60: Royalty
- Chapter 59: Korvas
- Chapter 58: Girls on a Train
- ❤️Chapter 57: Royal Summons
- ❤️Chapter 56: Big Bad Wolf
- ❤️55: Lovely Little Lamb
- Chapter 54: Footloose
- Chapter 53: Skol
- Chapter 52: Skill Check
- Chapter 51: Steamy Springs ❤️
- Chapter 50: Rewards and Insights
- Chapter 49: Canada’s Pride
- Chapter 48: To the Depths
- Chapter 47: Otterly Ridiculous
- Chapter 46: Taking a Dip
- Chapter 45: Interlude – Polaris
- Chapter 44: Difficult Feelings
- Chapter 43: Girls Day Out
- Chapter 42: Errands
- Chapter 41: Little Sheep in the Big City
- Chapter 40: Fond Farewells ❤️
- Chapter 39: Home on the Range
- Chapter 38: Breaking Free
- Chapter 37: It Gets Worse!
- Chapter 36: Snail Trail
- Chapter 35: Down Time
- Chapter 34: Runestone
- Chapter 33: Warding
- Chapter 32: Losing Control ❤️
- Chapter 31: The Witch
- Chapter 30: First Contact
- Chapter 29: Excursion
- Chapter 28: Armour Amour ❤️
- Chapter 27: Scholarly Pursuits
- Chapter 26: Loot ❤️
- Chapter 25: No Capes!
- Chapter 24: For the Love of Goddess
- Chapter 23: The Date (Part 3) ❤️
- Chapter 22: The Date (Part 2)
- Chapter 21: The Date (Part 1)
- Chapter 20: North Star
- Chapter 19: Civilization
- Chapter 18: Hitching a Ride ❤️
- Chapter 17: Pushing Onward
- Chapter 16: Return
- Chapter 15: The Core Concept ❤️
- Chapter 14: Croaking Oak
- Chapter 13: The Seed
- Chapter 12: Lending a Hand ❤️
- Chapter 11: On the Prowl
- Chapter 10: Choose Wisely
- Chapter 9: The Outpost
- Chapter 8: Don’t Go Quiet
- Chapter 7: POV: Katlyn ❤️
- Chapter 6: History Lesson
- Chapter 5: The Pack
- Chapter 4: Show Me Your Moves
- Chapter 3: Hello World ❤️
- Chapter 2: Out of Time
- Chapter 1: Brave New World