I was beginning to feel like things existed in this world I now found myself in purely to piss me off. Benji and Serena told me of the problem they had, and the biggest reason why they set off on their own in the first place. Not only did this powerful Beastkin invade their village, but he took all of the women there for his own that he wanted, which would have included Serena if they had not fled. Worst of all, I found out that Benji was in love with a woman, but she was taken from him by this man. I almost cracked my own teeth from gritting them so hard.
"So you see... we can't do anything. Serena and I wanted to become stronger, to go back one day and free our people from that horrible man, but it's not fast enough... getting to S rank takes years... decades even, and I just can't bare it... I don't even know if we'll return and find everyone the same way we left them." Benji said, tears in his eyes as he confided in me.
"Raizen has torn families apart... he has ruined everyone's futures. He pushes people down just because he can... because no one is strong enough to go against him... and anything he wants, he just takes. And from what I know, he's not a nice or gentle man." Serena said, tears in her own green orbs, "Alina was my friend... and she is so sweet, and she loved my brother. It's not fair... none of it is... so please Elias... we are begging you... please help us. It weighs down on us so much."
They didn't need to convince me. They were my friends... truly good friends. Even though I've only known them for a short time, I could feel how honest and earnest they were. It was in that part of their souls that I could see. They were trustworthy, but more than that, they believed I could help them... they believed in me. On top of that, the sadness and pain reflected in their tear filled eyes filled me with a protective feeling that practically urged me forward.
Benji kinda felt like an eccentric younger brother to me, where as Serena... well, I'd have to see where that went. I went from thinking I'd only have Cici in my romantic life, to having not just her, but 3... possibly 4 other women interested in me in a very short time, with my wife advocating for me to go after all of them. Just like she said, I was going to be a busy man, and that was just on the relationship aspect of my life. That's to say nothing about Martin wanting me to help him basically purge to nobility, which included the reason Clarissa had asked me to come here in the first place.
I shook my head, dispelling it of all other thoughts besides what was in front of my right now. These two needed me, and seeing them begging me with their hands clasped together sent a stabbing pain through my chest. I put my hands atop of both of theirs, which caused them to raise their heads and look at me.
"Stop. There's no need to beg." I said, giving them both a gentle smile, "I decided I was going to help you both the moment you asked me. After what you've told me... it's just going to be a bit more violent." I growled the last words, but they didn't even seem to catch the anger in my tone.
They both sobbed, and then they both lunged at me. I quickly opened my arms wide as they wrapped their arms around me and hugged me tightly. I put an arm around each of their backs and just held them as they both cried, and thanked me repeatedly. I smiled, my eyes becoming misty as their gratitude hit me like a sack of bricks.
It wasn't too long ago that I couldn't even help myself, that I was doomed to a live of pain and misery until I eventually croaked. And now? Not only did I have strength and a beautiful woman at my side, but I had new friends and family, and they all looked up to me, and they depended on me. These two in my arms needed me...
"I'm here for you both." I said softly as I schooled my emotions, but a tear still leaked free from my eye, "I won't let something like this happen to you both. No matter what it is, just point me to the problem, and I'll take care of it."
Benji nodded against my shoulder as he choked, and Serena hiccuped as she rubbed her face against my chest. I had no idea things were this bad for them. Given my first experiences here in this world... maybe I should just expect that everyone had a tragic backstory. I looked over at Cici, who smiled at me, a few tears tracing down her own face. Clarissa was the same way, looking at me with even more affection than before. Sheila smiled at me, and while she did not cry, I could tell it was a close thing. She must have been holding it back with all of her will, probably to maintain her stoic badass look she was going for.
"You know, when I first..." I said, catching myself, before I just said fuck it, with Cici fully on board in my mind, "When I first came to this world, I had to do something similar to this."
Everyone in the room besides Cici looked at me strangely, and I decided it was time to be more open with my new friends. With Cici's help, I began to tell them about... well, mostly everything. About who I was before, that I was from another world, meeting Cici, and what I had to do upon arriving. Everyone's eyes were wide as I spoke, with Cici detailing much of what she went through as well. Some might say I was being too trusting, but I didn't think so. It was honestly a lot different when you considered that I could literally see the content of someone's character from their soul. I knew I could trust these people, but more than that... these people were my friends... and I didn't lie to friends.
"I... that's..." Serena said, looking at me with her big green eyes in disbelief and awe.
"You really are amazing..." Benji said, and the reverence in his tone made me more than a little uncomfortable.
"All for your mate..." Sheila whispered, the respect and admiration in her eyes clear to see.
"It's just... who you are." Valerie whispered, almost to herself as she felt at her neck, but when our eyes met, she gave me a smile, and I returned it.
"Eli... I know you are powerful... incredibly so. I've seen it firsthand, but..." Clarissa said, pausing as she wet her lips, "Just... how strong exactly?"
I looked over at Cici, and while I could have just spoken with her mentally, I still preferred this way. She answered me both with her facial expression, and in my mind. Basically, how much or how little I wanted to tell them was my call, but her thoughts were just like mine. She knew we could trust them.
I nodded at my kitten, and then turned back to everyone else. I opened all of my pages regarding my stats and skills, and before I could have any second thoughts, I willed them to be shared with everyone in this room.
There was a few moments where everyone's eyes locked onto the windows, their eyes panning up and down. Then, the gasps came next. Benji looked ready to explode from the way he jittered from his seat in front of me. Serena looked at me, and some fucking how, her eyes seemed to just keep getting wider and wider as she kept reading. Sheila looked at me with both stunned disbelief, and an arousal so strong, I'm sure everyone could smell it. Valerie looked almost ready to start calling me "Lord" again, but it also seemed like pieces of a puzzle were being assembled in her head.
Clarissa, however, looked like that specific puzzle had just been completed after trying to solve it in her head for a while, and as she looked at me, her mouth agape and her eyes wide, she said something I didn't expect to hear in her cute voice, but it also summed up what everyone else was thinking rather well I think.
"UNHOLY FUCKING HELLS!"