I stood in the center of the village clearing, surrounded by thirty-nine kneeling figures, and felt the full weight of what had just happened settle onto my shoulders like a physical thing. The sun had fully set now, painting the sky in deep purples and blacks, and torches had been lit around the perimeter of the clearing, casting flickering shadows across the faces of my new subjects.
My new subjects.
'That thought is still completely insane. These are people, not game pieces. And I just killed their leader.'
Novar was still kneeling beside her father's body, her sobs quieter now but no less heartbreaking. Her long dark hair fell around her like a curtain, hiding her face, and I could see her shoulders shaking with each breath. The other tribe members remained frozen in their positions of submission, waiting for me to do something, to say something, to act like the chief they now apparently recognized me as.
I had no idea where to start.
'Come on, think. What would a leader do right now? What do these people need to hear?'
Before I could formulate any kind of speech, one of the guards who had dragged me here earlier rose to his feet. He was a big man, heavily muscled, with scars crisscrossing his chest and arms that spoke of countless fights. He moved with the confidence of someone who knew his place in the world, and when he spoke, his voice carried across the clearing with practiced authority.
"I am Dren," he said, his fist pressed against his chest in that same gesture of respect. "Lead warrior of the River Stone Tribe. I serve the chief, whoever that may be. You have won the right to lead us through combat. I will follow your commands."
The words were formal, almost ritualistic, and I realized this was probably how leadership transitions happened here. Direct and immediate. No elections, no debate, just the simple recognition of whoever proved strongest.
'At least that is straightforward, even if it is brutal.'
Another figure rose, this one an older woman with gray hair and deeply weathered skin. She moved more slowly than Dren, her joints clearly stiff with age, but her eyes were sharp and assessing as they studied me.
"I am Kerra," she said, her voice raspy but strong. "Healer and keeper of medicines. I have served three chiefs in my lifetime. You are now the fourth. I offer my knowledge to you, as I did to those who came before."
One by one, the tribe members began to rise and introduce themselves. The system helpfully provided identification tags over each person's head as they spoke, showing me their names, ages, and basic information. I tried to focus, to remember, knowing that a good leader would know his people.
A young man with lean, rangy build and quick eyes stepped forward next. "Mika," he said simply. "Hunter and tracker. I can find anything that moves in these forests. I am yours to command."
A woman close to my own age, with kind eyes and callused hands, bowed her head. "I am Sala," she said softly, glancing toward Novar with obvious concern. "Weaver and friend to Novar. I will serve you, Chief."
An older man, maybe in his early forties, approached with considerably less enthusiasm than the others. His resemblance to Tovar was unmistakable, the same hard angles to his face, the same build, though his hair showed less gray. When he spoke, his voice was tight with barely controlled emotion.
"Tovan," he said shortly. "Craftsman. I make tools, weapons, and work wood and stone. I was brother to Chief Tovar." His eyes met mine, and I saw the hostility there, the grief, the barely suppressed anger. "I will follow tribal law and accept the outcome of the trial. But know that I do not forget easily."
'Great. So I have at least one person who would happily see me dead. Probably more than one, if I am being honest.'
A woman with a warm smile despite the tension in the air stepped forward, two small children clinging to her legs. "Yara," she said. "I prepare meals and manage food stores. These are my children, Piko and Mara. We welcome you, Chief."
The introductions continued, a blur of names and faces that the system dutifully cataloged for me. Warriors, gatherers, craftspeople, mothers, fathers, children. Thirty-nine lives, each with their own hopes and fears and opinions about the stranger who had just killed their chief and taken his place.
By the time the last person had introduced themselves, I felt exhausted in a way that had nothing to do with the physical fight. The emotional weight of it all was crushing.
Finally, Dren stepped forward again. "The hour grows late, Chief. The body of Tovar must be prepared for the funeral rites. We will honor him at dawn. For now, you should rest. The chief's hut is yours."
He gestured toward the largest structure in the village, a substantial hut near the center of the clearing. It was easily twice the size of the others, built with better materials and clear care. Tovar's home. Now mine.
'I am going to sleep in a dead man's bed. A man I killed. This just keeps getting better.'
But I nodded, because what else could I do? "Thank you, Dren. Please, see to the preparations for the funeral. And make sure Novar has whatever she needs."
Several women had already moved to Novar's side, gently coaxing her away from her father's body. She went with them reluctantly, her face blotchy and tear-stained, and she did not look at me once. I watched her disappear into one of the huts, guilt sitting heavy in my chest.
'I need to talk to her. Soon. But probably not tonight. She needs time to grieve.'
The tribe dispersed slowly, people returning to their huts and evening routines, though I caught many of them glancing back at me with expressions ranging from curiosity to fear to calculation. Dren assigned two warriors to stand guard near my hut, though whether they were there to protect me or watch me, I could not say.
I walked to the chief's hut and pushed aside the hide covering the entrance. Inside, it was surprisingly well appointed for a primitive dwelling. A large bed made from wooden frame and stuffed with what felt like furs and dried grass dominated one corner. Clay pots and woven baskets lined the walls, filled with various supplies. A small fire pit in the center provided warmth and light, the smoke escaping through a hole in the roof. Weapons hung on the walls, spears and clubs and knives, all well maintained.
This had been Tovar's space, his sanctuary, and now it was mine.
I sat down heavily on the bed, my body finally acknowledging how utterly exhausted I was. The cuts from the fight stung, though none of them were serious thanks to the Battle Endurance passive. My hands were still stained with dried blood, some mine, mostly Tovar's.
'Okay. I need to understand what I am working with here. The system gave me all these interfaces and options, but I barely looked at them during the fight notifications. Time to actually explore what I have access to.'
I focused my attention inward, calling up the system interface. It responded immediately, the familiar glow of text appearing in my vision.
[Welcome, Chief Axel Kyeler]
[Current Level: 4]
[Experience: 50/400]
[Available Interfaces: Personal Status, Lewd System, Tribal Management, Quests]
[You have unspent Skill Points: 3]
[You have notifications: 7]
I started with the notifications, curious what I had missed during all the chaos.
[New Title Acquired: Chieftain - Respect from tribal peoples increased. Intimidation factor increased against lower-level opponents.]
[New Title Acquired: Kinslayer - You have killed a family member of someone under your rule. Some tribe members will fear you. Others will respect your ruthlessness.]
'Kinslayer? That is a harsh title. Though technically accurate since Novar is now under my authority and I killed her father. Great.'
[Leadership Skill Tree Unlocked - Multiple new skills available for purchase]
[Influence Points Awarded: 50 - Earned through successful trial by combat]
[New Currency Unlocked: Influence Points - Can be spent on tribal improvements, technology research, or population management]
[Warning: Current tribe morale is Low due to leadership transition. Recommend taking actions to improve stability]
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked: Against the Odds - Defeated an opponent 11 levels higher. Bonus reward: +2 to all combat stats]
I dismissed the notifications and pulled up my personal status first, curious to see how the fight and level ups had changed things.
[Personal Status]
[Name: Axel Kyeler]
[Level: 4]
[Titles: Chieftain, Kinslayer, Progenitor]
[Primary Attributes]
[Strength: 13 (+2)]
[Endurance: 15 (+2)]
[Agility: 12 (+2)]
[Intelligence: 15]
[Perception: 14 (+2)]
[Charisma: 13]
[Virility: 22]
'Wait, Progenitor? When did I get that title?'
I focused on it, and additional information appeared.
[Title: Progenitor - You have successfully impregnated your first partner. Fertility rate increased. Children will inherit enhanced traits from both parents. Bonus: +2 Virility, Genetic Legacy skill unlocked]
My heart stopped.
'Impregnated. Novar. Pregnant. Oh fuck. Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck.'
I sat there frozen, staring at the notification, my mind racing. We had only been together once, just this afternoon. How could the system already know? Was it even possible to know that quickly?
But even as I questioned it, I remembered the final moments before I passed out, remembered finishing inside her, remembered her begging me to. And the system had been affecting both of us, amplifying everything, including presumably fertility.
'Of course. Of course this would happen. Nothing about this situation can be simple. I have been in this world for one day. One single day. And I have already killed someone and gotten someone pregnant. What is my life right now?'
I forced myself to keep breathing, to think rationally. Panicking would not help. I needed more information.
I navigated through the menus until I found what I was looking for.
[Bloodline Tab]
[Current Heirs: 1]
[Novar Sae'Nal - Status: Pregnant, 1 day]
[Estimated Birth: 250-270 days]
[Child Attributes: Calculating... Enhanced strength likely, Enhanced vitality confirmed, Inherit system compatibility: 47%]
[Note: As Chief, your heirs grant legitimacy to your rule. Announcing pregnancy will increase tribe stability]
[Special: First heir provides unique bonuses upon birth]
'Two hundred and fifty days. Eight to nine months. She is definitely pregnant. And I am going to be a father.'
The reality of it hit me like a physical blow. I was going to be responsible for a child, in a world I did not understand, leading people I had just met, with abilities I barely comprehended.
'And I have not even told Novar yet. Does she know? Can she know this early? I need to talk to her.'
But first, I needed to understand all my tools. If I was going to lead these people, if I was going to be a father, I needed to know exactly what the system could do.
I pulled up the Lewd System shop interface, which I had only glanced at briefly before. The moment it opened, my eyes widened.
[Lewd System Shop]
[Current Balance: 150 Pleasure Points]
[PP Earned From: First Conquest +50, Partner Satisfaction Bonus +50, Impregnation Achievement +50]
[Categories: Consumables, Skills, Passives, Enhancements, Bloodline, Special Items, Epic Items]
I started with Consumables, curious what was available.
[Consumables - Available Items]
[Stamina Potion - 10 PP: Restore stamina completely, reduce recovery time by 50% for 2 hours]
[Aphrodisiac Incense - 15 PP: When burned, increases arousal of everyone within 10 meters. Duration: 1 hour]
[Fertility Enhancer - 20 PP: Increases conception chance by 80% for 24 hours]
[Contraceptive Draught - 25 PP: Prevents conception for 30 days. Can be given to self or partner]
[Virility Boost - 30 PP: Temporary increase to stamina and size for 4 hours]
[Sensation Amplifier - 35 PP: Partner experiences double sensitivity for 2 hours]
'Well, that Contraceptive Draught would have been useful yesterday. Though I guess the system wanted this to happen, given all the fertility bonuses.'
I moved to the Skills section.
[Skills - Available for Purchase]
[Advanced Techniques - 50 PP: Unlock knowledge of 20 advanced intimate positions and methods]
[Tantric Mastery - 75 PP: Learn to extend sessions indefinitely while maintaining full control]
[Multi-Partner Coordination - 100 PP: Instinctive ability to satisfy multiple partners simultaneously]
[Dominance Aura - 80 PP: Project an aura of sexual authority. Submissive personalities become more compliant]
[Pleasure Reading - 60 PP: See real-time feedback on partner satisfaction and desires]
[Body Modification - 90 PP: Temporarily reshape partner's body to preferred specifications during encounters]
'Some of these are actually useful. Others are getting into territory I am not sure I am comfortable with. Body modification? That seems ethically questionable at best.'
The Passives section showed permanent upgrades.
[Passives - Available for Purchase]
[Pheromone Range Increase - 40 PP: Extend effect radius to 15 meters]
[Enhanced Recovery II - 55 PP: Reduce recovery time between encounters by additional 40%]
[Attraction Multiplier - 70 PP: Double the effect of all charisma-based interactions]
[Instant Analysis - 45 PP: Automatically identify receptiveness and fertility windows of anyone you see]
[Harem Harmony - 120 PP: Reduce jealousy and conflict between multiple partners by 60%]
[Genetic Control - 85 PP: Choose desired traits for offspring during conception]
'Harem Harmony. So the system definitely expects me to have multiple partners. And Genetic Control is both fascinating and terrifying. Designer babies through a system interface.'
I moved to Enhancements, which focused on permanent physical changes.
[Enhancements - Available for Purchase]
[Size Increase II - 60 PP: Additional 25% increase to endowment beyond current enhancement]
[Stamina Pool Expansion - 70 PP: Permanently increase base stamina by 50%]
[Regeneration Boost - 80 PP: Heal minor wounds during intimate encounters]
[Sensitivity Control - 65 PP: Manually adjust your own sensitivity levels to extend or intensify experiences]
[Multiple Release - 150 PP: Ability to achieve orgasm multiple times without loss of arousal]
Then I found the Bloodline section, which had just unlocked.
[Bloodline - Newly Available]
[Heir Enhancement Protocol - 200 PP: Ensure next child has optimal physical and mental attributes]
[Genetic Legacy Boost - 150 PP: Increase system compatibility inheritance for offspring to 75%]
[Rapid Maturation - 300 PP: Child reaches physical maturity in half the normal time]
[Loyal Bloodline - 250 PP: Children born with inherent loyalty to you and your goals]
[Royal Lineage - 400 PP: Establish official bloodline. All heirs gain leadership bonuses]
'Loyal Bloodline and Rapid Maturation are both incredibly useful if I am trying to build an empire quickly. But they are also expensive and feel like I am treating children as tools rather than people.'
I hesitated, then opened the Special Items category, curious what qualified as special.
[Special Items - Available for Purchase]
[Chief's Token - 100 PP: A physical token that proves your authority. Grants +10 to all leadership checks]
[Binding Contract Scroll - 120 PP: Create a binding agreement between you and willing participant. Terms are magically enforced]
[Concubine Collar - 90 PP: When worn willingly, increases wearer's satisfaction and loyalty while reducing inhibitions]
[Fertility Shrine - 200 PP: Place in village. Increases conception rates for all tribe members by 30%]
[Harem Chamber - 250 PP: Unlock special living space designed for managing multiple partners comfortably]
'Concubine Collar and Binding Contracts. The system really does expect me to build a harem. And it is providing tools to manage that. I am not sure how I feel about any of this.'
Finally, I reached the category I had been most curious about since seeing it listed.
[Epic Items - Level Restricted]
The screen that appeared made my breath catch.
[Epic Items - Legendary Tools for Empire Building]
[Most items in this category require Level 10 or higher to access]
[Current available preview items:]
[Bloodline Phylactery - LOCKED - Requires Level 15]
[Description: ???]
[Cost: 2000 PP]
[Emperor's Crown - LOCKED - Requires Level 20]
[Description: ???]
[Cost: 5000 PP]
[Dimensional Harem Palace - LOCKED - Requires Level 25]
[Description: A pocket dimension accessible only to you and those you designate. Perfect for managing large numbers of partners]
[Cost: 8000 PP]
[Godhood Ascension Elixir - LOCKED - Requires Level 50]
[Description: Transcend mortal limitations. Become something more]
[Cost: 50,000 PP]
[World Seed - LOCKED - Requires Level 40]
[Description: ???]
[Cost: 25,000 PP]
[PARTIAL ACCESS GRANTED - Low Level Items Visible:]
[System Synchronization Crystal - Requires Level 8]
[Description: Allows you to grant limited system access to one chosen individual. They gain basic status screens and minor enhancement bonuses. Perfect for establishing powerful allies or enhancing key partners]
[Cost: 800 PP]
[Legacy Forge - Requires Level 10]
[Description: Create permanent magical items tied to your bloodline. Your heirs and chosen followers can wield these artifacts, carrying your power forward through generations]
[Cost: 1500 PP]
[Empire Core - Requires Level 12]
[Description: Establish a magical anchor for your growing empire. Allows territory expansion bonuses, population growth increases, and access to advanced civilization features. Required for transitioning from tribe to kingdom]
[Cost: 2200 PP]
[Loyalty Seal - Requires Level 7]
[Description: Mark an individual with your seal. Grants them enhanced abilities while ensuring absolute loyalty. Can be applied to warriors, advisors, or intimate partners. Seal transfers to offspring]
[Cost: 600 PP]
[Divine Bloodline Awakening - Requires Level 15]
[Description: Unlock dormant divine heritage in your genetic code. Your children will carry the blood of gods. Grants access to unique powers and establishes you as founder of a divine dynasty]
[Cost: 3500 PP]
I stared at the list, my mind reeling. These were not just tools for building a harem or improving intimate encounters. These were tools for building an empire, for establishing dynasties, for reshaping the world itself.
The System Synchronization Crystal would let me grant system access to someone I trusted, making them more powerful. The Legacy Forge would create magical weapons and items that could be passed down through my family. The Empire Core was apparently required for serious civilization building.
And at the higher levels, things like Dimensional Harem Palace and Godhood Ascension Elixir hinted at possibilities that seemed almost impossible.
'This system is not playing around. It really does expect me to build an empire from scratch. To establish a dynasty. To become something legendary.'
But the costs were staggering. Even the lowest-level epic item cost 600 PP, four times what I currently had. And the really powerful ones required levels I could not even imagine reaching yet.
I closed the shop interface and switched to the Tribal Management screen, needing to see what tools I had available on that side of the equation.
[Tribal Management Interface]
[Tribe Name: River Stone Tribe]
[Chief: Axel Kyeler]
[Population: 39]
[Loyalty: Variable - Average 45%]
[Morale: Low - Recent leadership change, grief over lost chief]
[Resources]
[Food: 320 units - Current consumption: 45 units per day - CRITICAL: Only 7 days of food remaining]
[Water: Adequate - Stream provides unlimited supply]
[Materials: 180 units - Wood, stone, hide, bone]
[Tools: 24 units - Basic quality, showing wear]
[Weapons: 18 units - Spears, clubs, knives - Poor to average quality]
[Territory]
[Controlled Area: 2.5 square kilometers]
[Natural Resources: Dense forest, stream, small game, edible plants]
[Threats: Unknown - No recent scouting reports]
[Buildings]
[Huts: 15 - Condition: Fair]
[Chief's Hut: 1 - Condition: Good]
[Storage: 3 - Condition: Poor, inadequate capacity]
[Other: Fire pit, basic work areas]
[Upgrade Options Available - Cost: 10-50 Influence Points each]
[Population Details]
[Adults: 24 (12 male, 12 female)]
[Children: 15 (Ages 2-14)]
[Elderly: 0 - Kerra is oldest at 58]
[Skills Distribution:]
[Warriors: 6]
[Hunters: 4]
[Gatherers: 8]
[Craftspeople: 4]
[Other: 2]
[Children: 15]
'Seven days of food. We have seven days of food, and winter is apparently approaching. That is my most immediate crisis.'
I dug deeper into the population details, pulling up individual profiles.
[Dren - Lead Warrior]
[Age: 32]
[Loyalty: 65% - Respects strength, follows tribal law]
[Skills: Combat 8/10, Leadership 6/10, Weapon Maintenance 7/10]
[Status: Healthy]
[Notes: Most influential warrior. His support is crucial]
[Kerra - Healer]
[Age: 58]
[Loyalty: 55% - Neutral, pragmatic, has seen many chiefs come and go]
[Skills: Medicine 9/10, Plant Knowledge 8/10, Childbirth 10/10]
[Status: Minor joint pain, otherwise healthy]
[Notes: Respected elder. Her endorsement would help with tribe acceptance]
[Novar Sae'Nal]
[Age: 21]
[Loyalty: 25% - Conflicted, grieving, angry, but physically attracted due to pheromones]
[Skills: Gathering 6/10, Basic Combat 4/10, Diplomacy 7/10]
[Status: Pregnant - 1 day, otherwise healthy]
[Notes: Daughter of previous chief. Her acceptance of your leadership is politically important. Current emotional state: Distraught]
[Tovan - Craftsman]
[Age: 43]
[Loyalty: 20% - Hostile, grieving brother, follows law but looks for opportunities to undermine you]
[Skills: Woodworking 8/10, Stone Working 7/10, Tool Making 9/10]
[Status: Healthy]
[Notes: Brother of Tovar. Dangerous if not managed properly. Possesses valuable skills]
The system had detailed information on everyone, including loyalty percentages and emotional states. Novar's 25% loyalty hurt to see, but given that I had killed her father just hours ago, it was probably higher than I deserved.
I found the technology tree next and felt my excitement build despite everything else.
[Technology Tree - Current Era: Early Stone Age]
[Available Research - Cost: Influence Points]
[Improved Food Preservation - 30 IP: Extends food storage time by 50%]
[Basic Pottery - 25 IP: Allows creation of better storage containers, cooking vessels]
[Advanced Tool Making - 40 IP: Improves quality of all tools and weapons]
[Simple Agriculture - 50 IP: Begin cultivating basic crops instead of relying solely on gathering]
[Tanning Techniques - 20 IP: Better leather processing for clothing and storage]
[Fire Hardening - 15 IP: Improve weapon durability through heat treatment]
[Locked - Requires Higher Level or Prerequisites:]
[Bronze Working - Requires: Level 10, Mining established, Furnace technology]
[Writing System - Requires: Level 8, Stable food surplus]
[Fortification - Requires: Advanced Tool Making, 80 IP]
[Animal Domestication - Requires: Simple Agriculture, 60 IP]
'Current IP: 50. I can afford one major research or two minor ones. But what is most urgent?'
Food preservation would extend our critical food supply. Agriculture would provide long-term food security but takes time to yield results. Advanced Tool Making would improve everything but does not solve the immediate food crisis.
I was about to close the interface when a new notification appeared.
[New Quest Available]
[Path to Empire - Step 1: Survive Your First Week]
[Objectives:]
[Maintain tribe loyalty above 40% average - Current: 45%]
[Prevent food shortage - Current status: CRITICAL]
[Establish your authority with at least one significant action]
[Resolve the situation with Novar - Current status: Unresolved]
[Time Limit: 7 days]
[Rewards: 100 XP, 50 IP, Title: Capable Leader, Unlock next quest in chain]
[Failure: Possible rebellion, loss of position, death]
[Secondary Quest Available]
[Growing Legacy - Part 1: Announce Your Heir]
[Objectives:]
[Inform Novar of her pregnancy]
[Make public announcement to tribe]
[Ensure Novar's health and safety]
[Time Limit: 14 days]
[Rewards: 75 XP, 25 IP, Improved relationship with Novar, Increased tribe stability]
[Failure: Reduced loyalty, possible complications with pregnancy]
Seven days to solve a food crisis, maintain loyalty, establish authority, and fix things with Novar. And two weeks to tell her she was pregnant and announce it to the tribe.
'No pressure. Just the future of thirty-nine people and my unborn child riding on whether I can figure this out.'
I sat back on the bed, my mind spinning with all the information I had just absorbed. The systems were incredibly powerful, but also incredibly complex. And they both seemed designed to push me toward building not just a tribe, but an empire, complete with bloodlines and dynasties and eventual godhood.
But right now, I had more immediate concerns.
I needed to talk to Novar. Not just because the quest said I should, but because it was the right thing to do. She was grieving, she was angry, and she had no idea she was pregnant. I had caused her pain, and I needed to at least try to make it right.
I stood up, my decision made, and walked to the entrance of the hut. Outside, the village was quiet, most people having retired for the night. The two guards Dren had posted looked at me questioningly.
"Which hut is Novar's?" I asked quietly.
One of them pointed to a medium-sized structure about thirty feet away. "There, Chief. But she asked not to be disturbed."
"I understand. But I need to speak with her. I will take responsibility if she is angry about it."
The guards exchanged glances but did not try to stop me. I walked slowly toward Novar's hut, my heart pounding. This conversation could go a hundred different ways, and most of them ended with her hating me even more than she probably already did.
I stopped outside her door, hesitating.
'What do I even say? Sorry I killed your father but also you are pregnant with my child and I am your new chief so we should probably talk? There is no good way to approach this.'
But standing out here was not going to help anyone.
I knocked softly on the wooden frame beside the hide door covering. "Novar? It is Axel. Can we talk?"
Silence. For a long moment, I thought she would not respond at all.
Then her voice came, rough from crying, tinged with anger. "Go away."
"I know you are angry. You have every right to be. But please, I just need a few minutes. There are things we need to discuss."
"Discuss?" Her voice rose. "You killed my father. You took everything from me. What is there to discuss?"
I closed my eyes, guilt washing over me again. "You are right. I did kill him. And I know nothing I say will make that okay. But I did not come here planning any of this. I did not want to fight him. I did not want to become chief. And I did not want to hurt you."
More silence.
"Please," I said quietly. "Just a few minutes. Then I will leave you alone if that is what you want."
I heard movement inside the hut, and then the hide covering was pulled aside roughly. Novar stood in the entrance, and the sight of her made my chest ache. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, her face pale. She had changed out of her leopard-print clothing into something simpler, and her long hair was tied back loosely. She looked exhausted and broken.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice cold.
"Can I come in? I would rather not have this conversation where the whole village can hear."
She stepped aside reluctantly, and I entered her hut. It was smaller than the chief's quarters but still comfortable, with personal touches that spoke of the woman who lived here. Woven baskets with intricate patterns. Small carved figurines. A collection of interesting stones arranged on a ledge.
Novar sat down on her bed, as far from me as the small space would allow. "Say what you came to say."
I sat down on the floor, giving her space, trying to look as non-threatening as possible. "First, I want to say I am sorry. For your father. For the pain I have caused you. I know that does not change anything, but you deserve to hear it."
She looked away, her jaw tight. "You are sorry. How nice. That fixes everything."
"It does not. I know it does not. But I need you to understand, I did not have a choice. Your father challenged me. It was either fight or die. I chose to live."
"You could have refused. You could have left."
"Would he have let me leave? After what we did?" I asked gently. "You know the answer to that. He was going to kill me no matter what. The only choice was whether to go down without a fight or to try to survive."
Novar's hands clenched into fists on her lap. "This is all my fault. If I had not... if we had not... he would still be alive."
"No," I said firmly. "This is not your fault. None of this is your fault. You could not have known what would happen. Neither of us could have."
She laughed bitterly. "I should have known better. I am the chief's daughter. I knew the rules. But I could not stop myself. It was like something came over me, something I could not resist. And now my father is dead because I could not control myself."
'The pheromones. She is talking about the pheromones. She does not understand what actually happened, why she felt that way.'
I hesitated, unsure how much to tell her. But she deserved honesty, at least about this.
"Novar, there is something you need to know. Something about me. I am not like other men. I have... abilities. Things that affect people around me. When you felt drawn to me this afternoon, when you felt like you could not resist, that was not your fault. It was me. My presence affects people in ways they cannot control."
She looked at me then, her eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about? What abilities?"
"I do not fully understand it myself yet. But I have something called a system, like a voice in my head that gives me power. And one of those powers makes me more attractive to others, lowers their inhibitions. You felt what you felt because I was there, because my abilities were affecting you. If I had not been there, you would never have done what you did."
She stared at me for a long moment, and I could see her processing this information, trying to decide if she believed me.
"So you are saying you did something to me? You made me want you?"
"Not intentionally. I did not even know it was happening at first. But yes, my presence made you more receptive, more interested than you would normally be. I am sorry. I should have realized sooner, I should have stopped it."
"But you did not stop it," she said quietly. "You kept going. You took advantage of what you did to me."
The accusation hit hard because she was not entirely wrong. I had known the pheromones were affecting her, and I had proceeded anyway.
"You are right," I admitted. "I knew something strange was happening, and I did not stop. That was wrong. I was wrong. And I am sorry."
She looked down at her hands, her anger seeming to deflate slightly into something more complicated. "I do not know what to think anymore. About any of this. About you."
"You do not have to think about anything right now. You can hate me if you want. I would understand that. But there is something else we need to discuss. Something important."
She looked up at me, wariness in her eyes. "What else could there possibly be?"
This was the difficult part. How did I tell her about the pregnancy without revealing much of the system? I needed to frame it as a possibility, a concern, not a certainty.
"When we were together this afternoon," I began carefully, "we did not exactly take precautions. And given how... intense things were, there is a real possibility that you might become pregnant. If you are not already."
Her face went pale, her hand unconsciously moving to her stomach. "Pregnant?"
"It is possible. Maybe even likely. I just thought you should be aware of that possibility, so you can prepare yourself. In case it happens."
She stared at me, her breathing quickening. "A child. I could be carrying your child. The child of the man who killed my father."
'She does not know for certain yet. Good. I can't reveal too much about the system. That information stays locked away, no matter what.'
"I know the timing is terrible," I said quietly. "I know this makes everything infinitely more complicated. But if it does turn out that way, I want you to know that I will take responsibility. As chief, as the father, I will make sure you and the child are provided for. Protected."
"Provided for?" She laughed bitterly. "You have destroyed everything I knew, and now you speak of providing for me?"
"I know it sounds hollow. But I mean it. Whatever happens between us, whatever you decide about me personally, I will not let you or a child suffer because of my actions."
She wrapped her arms around herself, looking suddenly very small and vulnerable despite her earlier fire. "I do not even know if I want your help. I do not know if I can stand to look at you without seeing my father's blood on your hands."
The words cut deep, but I could not argue with them. "That is fair. You do not have to decide anything tonight. About me, about any of this. You have time."
"Time," she repeated hollowly. "Yes. Time to figure out how to live in a world where my father is dead and his killer is my chief. Where I might be carrying that killer's child. So much time."
The sarcasm was sharp, but underneath it I could hear the fear, the uncertainty. She was drowning in circumstances beyond her control, just as I was.
"For what it is worth," I said, "I never wanted any of this. I woke up in this world yesterday with no memory of how I got here. I do not know why I am here or what I am supposed to do. All I know is that I want to try to do right by these people. By you. Even if you never forgive me."
She looked at me for a long moment, searching my face for something. Truth, maybe. Or lies. I was not sure which she wanted to find.
"I do not forgive you," she said finally. "I do not know if I ever can. But..." She hesitated. "But I do not think you are evil. I think you are a man who made choices to survive. That does not make those choices right. But it does not make you a monster either."
It was more than I deserved, and we both knew it.
"Thank you," I said quietly. "For hearing me out. I will leave you alone now. But if you need anything, anything at all, send word. The guards will find me."
I stood to leave, and as I reached the door, her voice stopped me.
"Axel."
I turned back.
"If I am pregnant," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "if there is a child... What then? What happens to us?"
'What does happen? I have no idea how to navigate this. No idea how to be a father, let alone a father to the child of a woman whose father I killed.'
"Then we figure it out together," I said, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt. "One day at a time. I will not abandon you. That much I can promise."
She nodded slowly, though whether she believed me or not, I could not tell. "One day at a time," she echoed. "I suppose that is all any of us can do now."
I left her hut and stepped back into the cool night air, my mind churning. The conversation had not gone as badly as it could have, but it was far from resolved. Novar was struggling, rightfully so, and I had no easy answers to give her.
The two guards watched me return to the chief's hut but said nothing. I nodded to them and went back inside, suddenly feeling the full weight of exhaustion settling over me.
I sat back down on the bed and pulled up the quest notifications again.
[Growing Legacy - Part 1: Announce Your Heir]
[Objectives:]
[Inform Novar of her pregnancy - STATUS: PARTIALLY COMPLETE]
[Make public announcement to tribe - NOT STARTED]
[Ensure Novar's health and safety - IN PROGRESS]
[Time Limit: 14 days]
'Partially complete. I told her it was possible, planted the seed of the idea. But I cannot announce anything publicly until she knows for certain. Or at least until enough time has passed that it seems reasonable for her to know.'
I closed the interface and lay back on the bed, staring up at the thatched roof. The food shortage. The grieving tribe. The funeral for Tovar. My tenuous position as a leader nobody really wanted.
I did what I could. I had spoken with Novar. I had tried to be honest without revealing too much about the system. I had offered support even knowing she might never accept it.
'One day at a time,' I thought, echoing her words. 'That is all I can do. One day at a time.'
Sleep took me eventually, pulling me down into dreams filled with spears and blood and the weight of a crown I never asked to wear.