Chapter 12: Rejoining the group.

As I made my way back to the group, I pulled up my skill. I need a rifle that allows rapid fire, so I started building an HK416 A5. I wasn't a fan of the AK, as I find it highly overrated. I added everything needed for the HK416 A5 with a Holosight, handgrip, sling, flashlight, laser, and a suppressor.

As I pressed create, it ended up being 1,500 mana points. I had 3,480 mana points now, but even then. That was pricey, as I moved to make the magazines and a mesh ammo carrier with mag pouches. The vest could hold six magazines total, with one in the HK416 A5, giving me seven. Each carrying 30 rounds of 5.56, that's a total of 210 rounds of ammo.

Before I made the ammo, everything else cost me an extra 150 mana. Which wasn't too bad, leaving me with 1,830 mana. I chose to make Lightning 5.56 the Lightning round because it dealt the most overall damage. I was only able to make enough for six magazines, but even then. If those guys gave chase. I felt better prepared.

Rearming my lever-action with the standard rounds of 45-70 I had left over, and put up the HK416 A5. As I wanted to save that for when I needed it, it would be my ace in the hole. I got up from my seat and began to walk again. I still wore the mesh vest as it didn't add much weight, so all I had to do was pull out the HK416 A5 if needed.

It was about an hour walk by the time I made it back, and Liliana saw me. "John!" She yelled out as she and her friends ran over, hugging me. Mrs. Watson watched on, confused as to how these women knew me.

"I can't believe you survived." Said the black woman I had met in the bedroom. "I never got your name," I said, making her smile.

"I am Tiara Jackson." She said, making the other women introduce themselves.

"I am Ha-eun Lee." The asian woman who had kissed me said.

"Sophia Taylor." Said the blonde-haired woman.

"Daiane Alvares." Said a tanned-skinned woman who didn't say a word the whole time I was in that room. She had a thick accent that sounded South American, maybe Brazilian?

"But how did you survive, is the most important thing I want to know," Tiara said, looking at me as I shrugged.

"I don't know, all that I remember was when I hit the water, it knocked the air out of me, and my vision started to go in and out. If it weren't for that life jacket, I would have been dead for sure." I answered honestly.

Mrs. Watson walked up as she spoke. "I am glad you are safe, Colt." She said with a smile, and I smiled back. "I am happy, you are hurt also, Mrs. Watson," I replied to her as a cough came from behind.

Arwen started to speak. "I think we need to find a place to camp for the night, before we head deeper into the forest on our way back to the Empire." She said.

"Yes, please lead the way. I don't want to camp on the beach; they didn't give chase. But I don't like the openness of this area." I replied as Liliana spoke up.

"Why are we going into the forest? I am sure that people are looking for us, John." She said, making me tilt my head. Does she not realize we are in a different world?

I take it they still hear me as English, even though my words still translate into the Elvish tongue. "Liliana, do you still think we are on Earth?" I asked, making the women look at each other. I pulled out a revolver and loaded a lightning round as I pointed it at a rock and fired.

Slamming into a boulder like lightning, making the women gasp. Maybe they were too distracted to realize the fire rounds while running. "I have a special ability that allows me to make firearms, and this morning I was able to learn how to make magic rounds. Liliana, there isn't a way to go back home, at least, I don't know of it yet." I said, looking at Arwen, who shook her head and spoke to me.

"There hasn't been a case of someone coming to this world and going back, at least not one written down." She said, making me sigh as I spoke again.

"She told me, there hasn't been a case of people returning home. I have made a deal with the Elves to give you a place to live within their Empire. As you ladies, safety is important to me." I said, looking at Mrs. Watson and Liliana, both of whom knew what the hidden meaning of my words was.

Since they were older, they knew I had feelings for them, as a man wouldn't go out of his way to make a deal for people's safety unless they held some place in his heart. Liliana looked at Mrs. Watson, who had a look of a struggle going on inside her mind.

"Okay, we will follow you," Liliana said, unable to deny what I had shown her and trusting this man, who was willing to kill to protect her. Her friends all thought the same, nodding as Mrs. Watson sighed. The other women also chose to follow as they didn't want to be left here.

"Lead the way, Arwen. I will bring up the rear, making sure no one is following us." I said, making the Elve nod as she turned to Mrs. Watson and spoke.

"Please walk with me, as you have the ring that allows my kind to speak to your kind. It would be best to have you close by in case I need to give orders." Mrs. Watson looked at me before looking at Arwen and nodded.

As the Elves led the women into the forest, I brought up the end. Liliana and her friends stayed at the back, speaking to me. "How can you talk to them? I can't believe I would meet an Elve in my lifetime." Sophia said, making me smirk.

"I won the favor of their Goddess," I said, showing my hand, and they looked at the rainbow-like tattoo.

"There are Goddesses here?" Asked Tiara.

"A hundred of them from what I got from Arwen," I said, turning around to look back and make sure nothing was out of place. "John, do you love me?" A voice said from behind me, making me stop for a moment and turn around to see Liliana, who had a kind smile on her face.

"Love? I don't know, all I know is I don't want you, your friends, and Mrs. Watson to be hurt in this world. I already lost someone I was close to." I said, looking at her, making Liliana and her friends smile gently. They could tell the feelings were more than just friends, but that was a good enough answer for them.

"Tonight, we will take care of you as payment for doing so much for us," Liliana said with a seductive smile, making me smile as I replied.

"Then I am looking forward to it," I said as we started walking once more. We made it to a small clearing after two hours, as Arwen stopped to speak.

"We will rest here tonight." She said, walking towards me as she spoke. "Do you mind going on a hunt? We will need some food. We Elves have enough food for ourselves, but for them we don't have enough." She said, pointing at the ladies.

"Sure, I don't mind. Hunting isn't hard for me. Please keep them safe till I get back." I spoke. Arwen nodded and smiled as she bowed. "We will make sure that those you care about don't get hurt."

The women noticed that the elves held me in high regard, making them want to get closer to me, and I don't mind that. It's nature that makes women want to come under the protection of a strong and capable man. It's how mankind has survived since before written history.

I walked over to Mrs. Watson, standing in front of her as she tilted her head. I leaned in and kissed her. I wasn't going to leave any doubt in her mind about how I felt about her. Mrs. Watson was shocked, but she didn't bring herself to push me away as I slowly pulled my mouth away and spoke. "I want to talk to you when I get back, Mrs. Watson," I said, making her blush and nod.

Turning as I walked into the forest, leaving the girls that I went to school with in shock. They never knew the quiet kid was so manly. Now, they had a stronger drive to get closer to me.