Chapter 75 Compliment.

Chapter 75: 75 Compliment.

"No! Actually, no. I mean... Not yet." She groaned, but I went on. "I won’t say we have the most chaste of friendships, alright? We haven’t had sex yet, though. But... we’re definitely supposed to. There’s some kind of ritual thing we’re waiting for, involving the full moon, and—look, it’s complicated."

To my surprise, she actually looked pleased by this information. A small, smug smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "So you haven’t sealed the deal with any of them?"

"Not technically, no."

"Interesting." She tucked this away with visible satisfaction. "I’ll remember that."

I wasn’t sure what she meant by that, but it probably wasn’t anything good for my safety. "Can we table the relationship discussion for now? I think the more pressing issue is figuring out how your abilities actually work."

She raised an eyebrow. "My abilities?"

"The System gave you to me as a steed. There has to be more to it than just the ears, tail, hooves, and badonkadonk. You’re part of my combat class, which means you’re integrated into the same System the rest of us are. We need to understand what you can do."

"Oh, so now I’m just a vehicle to you? A horse to be ridden?"

"That’s not what I—"

"Relax, dickhead. I’m fucking with you." She stood up, stretching her arms over her head in a way that made her new curves very awesome to look at.

Whatever the transformation had done to her, it had been generous in certain departments.

Her chest strained against the Pizza Dude uniform in ways that uniform had never been designed for. "Fine. Let’s go figure out what kind of magic pony I am. But if you try anything weird, I’m kicking you in the penis. And these hooves can do some serious damage now."

"Noted." I cringed at the thought.

I led her out through the back door, across the yard, and toward the open field where the portals usually manifested.

The night air had that Autumn bite to it, and the new privacy fence blocked any view from the road. We were alone out here.

"This is where the magic happens," I explained. "Per se. Every night, a portal opens and spits something out. I kill it, get experience points, and sometimes level up. Seemed like an appropriate place to test things out."

"Great. Monster field. Sounds safe and happy."

I closed my eyes and focused on the System interface, specifically on Clementine. This was new territory. I’d never tried to analyze another person through my connection to the System before. At first nothing happened. I just stood there like an idiot with my eyes closed while she made impatient noises.

"Is something supposed to be happening, or—"

"Give me a second, Clematis."

"...At least you’re getting closer."

I focused on the bond I could feel between us. There was something there. Faint but present. It was like a thread connecting me to her that hadn’t existed before my Cavalier class activated. I pulled on it mentally, requesting information.

A blue translucent window flickered into existence:

[ ERROR: INSUFFICIENT BOND STRENGTH ]

"Well, that’s frickin’ annoying," I muttered.

"What?"

"The System’s being a difficult bitch. Hang on."

I tried different mental commands. View Steed. Analyze Mount. Check Horse Stats. Each attempt either failed or produced the same error message. Finally, in frustration, I just thought: Show me what she can do.

The window changed:

[ CLEMENTINE KIM - ↓↓↓

Faithful Steed to Grey Coleman.

Summon Level: 1 Bond Strength: 12% ↑

SKILLS:

• Transform (Unlocked)

• Shared Senses (Locked — Requires Bond Strength 25%)

• Spirit Charge (Locked — Requires Bond Strength 50%)

• Transcendent Gallop (Locked — Requires Bond Strength 75%) ]

"Got it," I said, opening my eyes. "You’ve got a stats page now."

"I have a stats page." She said this blankly, like I’d just told her she had a suspicious mole on her sexy big ol’ horsey butt. "What does it say?"

I relayed the information. Her expression grew increasingly dubious as I listed her skills.

"Transform?" she repeated. "Transform into what?"

"I’m guessing... a horse. A full horse."

"Oh, hell no."

"It’s the only skill you have unlocked right now. The others require us to strengthen our bond somehow."

"And how exactly do we do that?"

I honestly didn’t know. "Probably spending time together? Working as a team? The System isn’t always forthcoming with details. It’s kind of an asshole that way."

She crossed her arms and glared at me. "So your master plan is to turn me into a horse."

"Just to test the ability. I want to understand how this works."

"And then what? You’re going to ride me?"

"Not if you don’t want me to. I just think we should know what we’re dealing with."

Clementine went quiet. Moonlight caught her pale pearlescent skin and glossy black hair. Her tail swished behind her in agitation, keeping its own restless rhythm.

"Fine," she said. "Do it. But if I end up stuck as a horse forever, I’m killing myself, coming back as a ghost, and haunting your ass."

"Fair enough."

I focused on the Transform skill and mentally activated it, directing the command at Clementine.

The change was instantaneous and honestly kind of beautiful. One moment she was standing there in her Pizza Dude uniform, looking pissed.

The next, a wave of silvery light washed over her and her form flowed like water. Her body stretched, shifted, and rearranged itself. Where Clementine the horse-girl had stood, there was now a full-sized horse.

Not just any horse. She was stunning.

She had a pure white coat that glowed in the moonlight, a mane and tail of lustrous black that cascaded like silk. Her eyes remained the same dark color they’d always been, but now they held an unmistakably annoyed gleam.

What the fuck. Her voice sounded in my head. I can hear myself thinking at you. This is so weird.

"Can you hear me?" I asked out loud.

Obviously, dipshit. I just said I could hear myself thinking at you. Keep up.

Even as a horse, she was charming.

"Whoa, this is cool," I chuckled. "Think something else."

You’re gay.

"Am not. Anyway, how do you feel? Can you move okay?"

She took a few experimental steps, her hooves pressing into the grass carefully and deliberately. It’s... actually not bad? My body knows what to do even though my brain doesn’t. Like muscle memory I never earned.

She tossed her head, sending her black mane rippling. I can’t believe I’m a fucking horse right now. This is the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to me, and I once walked in on my roommate having sex with a guy in a full Goofy costume.

"A Goofy costume?"

Don’t ask. Point is, this is weirder.

I approached her slowly, not wanting to spook her. She watched me with those intelligent eyes, ears flicking forward and back.

"You’re beautiful like this," I said, and immediately felt stupid.

Wow, great, my asshole of a crush thinks I’m prettier as a horse. That’s not disappointing at all. But there was something almost flustered in her mental voice. You’re such a fucking weirdo.

"I meant it as a compliment."