Chapter 24: The Bonds that Bind

I trudged into my house, feeling like I'd been put through the wringer after the intense day with Guardian Rhinehardt. The call with my wives had been brief and unsatisfying, and I wished nothing more than to hold each on my arms but they were still on the campus, dutifully attending their classes. I'd decided to skip my last class, figuring I'd earned a break after the emotional rollercoaster I'd been on. As I stepped through the door, the familiar scent of home hit me, but something felt off. I found Gloria, Ashani, and Nikky waiting for me, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Where's Mary?" I asked, immediately noticing the absence of the timid drow elf. It was unlike her not to be at the door, ready to attend to my needs the moment I arrived. Despite being uncomfortable with her subservience, I found it's lack a little jarring.

Ashani's golden eyes followed me as I moved further into the house. "She's on the computer in the front room," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty that made me uneasy.

I made my way to the front room, expecting to find Mary relaxing, maybe browsing the internet or playing a game. Instead, the sight that greeted me was far from relaxing. Mary was hunched over a high-end mechanical keyboard, her slender ebony fingers flying across the keys at a speed that seemed impossible for any human – or elf, for that matter. The room was bathed in the eerie glow of multiple screens, each displaying a dizzying array of code and diagrams that made my head spin just looking at them.

"I'm terribly sorry I wasn't there to greet you at the door, Master," Mary said without looking up, her piercing red eyes fixed on the screens before her. The rapid-fire clicking of the keys never faltered as she spoke. "I'm in the middle of strengthening our cyber defenses around the home and vehicles."

I stood there, mouth slightly agape, trying to process what I was seeing. This was a side of Mary I'd never witnessed before, and it both impressed and unnerved me. What the hell had happened while I was out?

"Is something wrong?" I asked, a knot forming in my stomach.

Mary's fingers paused for a moment. "I was able to observe most of your interaction with Guardian Derrick through unsecured drones, public surveillance, and his home AI, which I... accessed. I'm concerned and taking what I consider to be necessary precautions to protect you, Master."

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling a mix of appreciation and unease. "I appreciate your efforts, Mary, but is it really necessary? I thought I handled everything pretty well. Derrick didn't seem suspicious of me anymore."

Mary's fingers flew across the keyboard again, and suddenly, a recording began playing through the speakers.

"This is Guardian Rhinehardt. I need to speak with someone at the resurrection retreat in Utah," Derrick's voice came through clearly.

"Protector Karl speaking. How can I assist you, Guardian?" The voice that responded made my blood run cold. I remembered all too well how much Karl disliked me.

"I need details on the body Carpenter Brody was put into after his resurrection," Derrick said, his tone businesslike.

"Of course, sir. Let me verify your clearance... One moment, please." There was a brief pause before Karl's voice returned. "You're cleared, Guardian. I see you've taken command of that fucking Carpenter Brody. If you ask me, he should've been recycled. Wasting a perfectly good body on such a low-ranking Knight..."

"Protector Karl," Derrick interrupted, his voice stern. "You're only two ranks above Brody. Now, the information on his new body?"

"My apologies, Guardian," Karl's tone became respectful again. "That information can't be sent over open lines. I'll encrypt it and send it to you digitally. If I may ask, has Brody done something wrong?"

"There are a couple of things that don't make sense," Derrick replied carefully. "I'll know more after reviewing the file."

"Is there anything else I can do for you, Guardian?"

There was a moment of silence before Derrick asked, "Have there been any more resurrections?"

Karl's voice became somber. "No, sir. Brody was the very last one. No other Knights were successfully resurrected, which is... odd, considering how many we lost in Wyoming and around the Gulf of Mexico."

"The world has lost many heroes," Derrick said solemnly. "Let's hope they're enjoying paradise in the afterlife. That'll be all, Karl."

The recording ended, leaving me speechless. My mind raced, trying to figure out what I'd done to make Derrick suspicious. What was in that file?

"Mary," I finally managed, "were you able to get that file Derrick requested?"

I watched Mary's fingers fly across the keyboard, her white hair a stark contrast against her ebony skin. "It's my next priority after shoring up our defenses, Master," she assured me, her red eyes never leaving the screen.

"Damn, you lucked out with this one," Nikky's voice cut through the room, making me jump. I spun around to find her leaning against the doorframe, looking annoyingly casual. That trademark smirk of hers played on her lips, and I felt a twinge of irritation. "She's got skills. Too bad you're such a terrible spy, though."

My patience, already stretched thin by the day's events, snapped like an overworked rubber band. "I know Mary is amazing," I bit out, my voice harsher than I intended. "I just wish she wasn't my slave. And of course I'm a terrible spy! I didn't sign up for any of this crap." I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the frustration build in my chest. "I know I'm a terrible liar. It doesn't come naturally to me like it probably does to you, Red."

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I'd crossed a line. Nikky's smirk vanished faster than a snowball in hell, replaced by a flash of hurt that cut me to the quick. She tried to mask it with indifference, but I'd seen it. I'd caused it. My stomach twisted with guilt as I opened my mouth to apologize, but Nikky was already turning on her heel, walking away before I could get a word out.

"Shit," I muttered, dragging my hand through my hair again. I could feel a headache building behind my eyes, a dull throbbing that matched the ache in my chest.

Charlotte's mocking laughter echoed in my mind, clear as a bell and twice as annoying. "Oh, Bobby boy, you really stepped in it this time, didn't you? And here I thought you were supposed to be the nice one."

I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to snap back at the succubus sharing my headspace. This day was going from bad to worse, and I had no one to blame but myself. I'd let my frustration get the better of me, and now I'd hurt Nikky. The guilt sat heavy in my stomach, a leaden weight that threatened to drag me down.

"Shut up," I muttered under my breath. I knew I'd screwed up with Nikky, and I didn't need the peanut gallery in my head pointing it out.

As I turned to go after Nikky, Ashani entered the room in her human form, blocking my path. I had to crane my neck to look up at her face – she was easily over half a foot taller than me. Her well-built frame made me feel small in comparison, which was saying something considering I'm no slouch at just over six feet tall myself. Her mocha skin seemed to glow in the dim light of the room, and her long black hair cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall.

"What do you need, Ashani?" I asked, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. I was still reeling from my encounter with Nikky, and the last thing I needed was another complication.

Ashani's golden eyes met mine, her gaze intense and unwavering. "I've been considering your suggestion, Bobby. If you can reinstate my status, I will ensure my tribe stands with us against Ardin."

"Alright," I said, my interest piqued despite my earlier irritation. The prospect of having a tribe of Nagini on our side against Ardin was too good to pass up. "What do we need to do to clear your name? Perform a rite of passage? Murder your uncle? Stand on one foot while juggling plates? Complete a gauntlet? Wrestle a kraken?"

I couldn't help but let my imagination run wild. After all the crazy shit I'd been through lately, none of those options seemed particularly far-fetched.

Ashani gave me a look that made me feel like I'd just suggested we paint ourselves blue and dance naked under the full moon. Her thick eyebrows furrowed, and her full lips pursed in a way that somehow managed to be both regal and adorably confused. "What foolishness are you speaking of? We will simply present ourselves before my uncle. You will state that I am untainted, and that will be the end of it."

I couldn't help but laugh. The sound escaped me before I could stop it, echoing off the walls of the room. "You really think it'll be that easy?" I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. Sometimes I forgot just how sheltered Ashani's life as a princess had been. The real world rarely worked out so neatly, especially when it came to magical creatures and their complex social structures.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Ashani's naivety was reaching new heights, and I found myself struggling not to laugh out loud at her ridiculous assertions. Her chest puffed out even further, if that was possible, and I had to force my eyes back up to her face. It wasn't easy, given how her already impressive bust seemed to have doubled in size.

"Of course," she declared with a haughty air that would have put most royalty to shame. "I am a princess. They will listen."

I couldn't help but snort. "Uh, hate to break it to you, Your Highness, but they didn't exactly roll out the red carpet for you before when they exiled you," I pointed out, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice and failing miserably. "What makes you think they'll suddenly start taking your word as gospel now?"

Ashani looked at me like I was the dumbest person she'd ever met. "You will be there as a witness," she said, her tone suggesting she was explaining something painfully obvious to a particularly slow child. "They will have to believe us."

I felt my eyebrows climbing higher on my forehead. The more Ashani spoke, the more I realized just how sheltered and naive she really was. It was like watching a kitten try to take on a pack of wolves – adorable, but ultimately doomed to failure.

"And why would they trust me?" I asked, genuinely curious about her thought process. "I'm technically a Knight and a human. In their eyes, I'm probably about as trustworthy as a fox in a henhouse. They have absolutely no reason to believe anything I say."

Ashani's brow furrowed, creating a little crease between her eyebrows that I might have found cute if I wasn't so exasperated. "I trust you, and I'm a princess," she said, as if that settled everything. "So my tribe should trust you as well."

I shook my head, realizing I wasn't going to get through to this entitled princess. It was like trying to explain quantum physics to a goldfish – utterly pointless and likely to give me a headache.

"Master," Mary's soft voice cut through my thoughts, providing a welcome distraction from Ashani's royal delusions. "I've done what I can to secure our systems. The computer is currently decrypting the file on your body."

Before I could even begin to process that information or thank Mary for her efforts, Gloria marched into the room like a woman on a mission. She was dragging a very reluctant-looking Nikky behind her, and I braced myself for whatever new drama was about to unfold.

"You," Gloria said, pointing at Nikky with all the authority of a drill sergeant, "apologize to Bobby. Now."

I blinked, caught completely off guard. "Wait, what?" I said, feeling like I'd missed a crucial part of the conversation. "I should be the one apologizing to Nikky. I was the one who-"

Gloria cut me off with a wave of her hand that brooked no argument. "Nikky," she said, her tone leaving no room for debate, "explain."

I turned to look at Nikky, curious despite myself. Her face was as red as her fiery hair, and I couldn't tell if she was embarrassed, angry, or some volatile combination of the two. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, reminding me of a fish out of water, before finally managing to speak.

"I... I'm sorry for intentionally pushing your buttons, Bobby," she said, the words sounding like they were being forcibly extracted. "I shouldn't have done that."

I blinked again, feeling like I'd stepped into some bizarre alternate reality where nothing made sense anymore. My head was spinning, trying to process the rapid-fire changes in the room's atmosphere. One minute we're all at each other's throats, the next we're apologizing, and now... this. I cleared my throat, fumbling for words like a teenager asking for his first date.

"I... well, I'm sorry too," I managed to get out, my voice sounding strangely hollow in the tense silence. "I went too far. I shouldn't judge you when I barely know you." The words felt inadequate, but they were all I had.

Gloria nodded, her piercing blue eyes seeming to look right through me. She appeared satisfied with our awkward exchange of apologies, and I felt a moment of relief. But that relief was short-lived as she turned to Ashani, her voice taking on a more businesslike tone.

"Ashani, we need to discuss-"

"To you," Ashani interrupted, her chin lifting in a gesture of defiance that made me want to groan, "I am 'Princess' Ashani."

Damn it, I thought. Really? Now? I could feel the temperature in the room plummet, and it wasn't just my imagination. Gloria's blue eyes flared with an intensity that made my skin prickle. Suddenly, the air around us felt thick, heavy with an overwhelming presence of power that made it hard to breathe. I'd felt this before, but never quite so potent. It was like standing in the eye of a storm, knowing that any second, all hell could break loose.

"You," Gloria said, her voice low and dangerous, each word dripping with barely contained fury, "need to learn that you are not currently a princess. I will address you as I see fit."

I watched Ashani, half-expecting her to crumble under Gloria's intense stare. But I had to hand it to her - the princess was doing her damnedest to keep up her regal act. Still, I could see right through it. Her jaw clenched so tight I thought her teeth might crack, her shoulders tensed ever so slightly, and there was a flicker of uncertainty in those golden eyes of hers. It was like watching a house of cards trying to stand in a hurricane.

But she didn't back down. I had to admire her guts, even if I thought she was being monumentally stupid. It was like watching two apex predators sizing each other up, neither willing to show even a hint of weakness. The air in the room felt so thick with tension I could have cut it with a knife. I found myself holding my breath, my heart pounding in my chest like it was trying to break free.

Part of me wanted to step in, to say something - anything - to break this standoff. But I knew better. This was between Ashani and Gloria, and interfering would only make things worse. So I stood there, feeling about as useful as tits on a bull, as the seconds ticked by in agonizing silence.

I watched as Ashani's lips parted slightly, as if she was about to speak. I tensed, wondering what she could possibly say that wouldn't end with Gloria turning her into a smear on the carpet. But no words came out. I could almost see the gears turning in her head, trying to come up with a response that wouldn't completely trash her pride. But in the end, she just stood there, meeting Gloria's gaze with a stubborn determination that was both admirable and, in my opinion, a little bit suicidal.

The silence stretched on, becoming almost a tangible thing. I found myself wondering how long this could possibly last, and what the hell would happen when it finally broke. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife, and I could feel sweat beginning to bead on my forehead.

Gloria continued, her voice calm but underlaid with solid steel, "Ashani, I have known the pride of the Nagini people for a long time. They will not listen to Bobby unless he proves himself." Her eyes, those piercing orbs that seemed to look right through you, fixed on the Nagini princess with an intensity that made me grateful I wasn't on the receiving end.

"He has already proven himself by rescuing and freeing me," Ashani protested, her voice quivering but still defiant. I couldn't help but admire her stubbornness, even if it was misplaced. Her golden eyes flashed with a mix of emotions - pride, uncertainty, and something else I couldn't quite place.

I remembered the events in the gnoll cave a bit differently – Ashani had been the one to save my ass – but I decided not to rehash that argument again. The memory of that day still sent a shiver down my spine: the stench of the cave, the laughter of the gnolls, the burning pain of that poisoned blade. It wasn't something I was eager to relive.

"That's not enough," Gloria said firmly, pulling me back to the present. "The Nagini respect strength and honor above all else. Bobby will need to demonstrate both if he hopes to sway them."

"So what are you suggesting?" I asked, already dreading the answer. My stomach churned with a mix of anticipation and fear. Part of me wanted to just walk away from this whole mess, but I knew that wasn't an option. Not anymore.

Gloria's eyes gleamed with an almost predatory light. "A trial by combat."

"Oh, this should be fun," Charlotte chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe you can impress them with your stellar basketball skills. I'm sure that'll go over well with a warrior race."

"Shut up, Charlotte," I muttered again, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Sometimes having a succubus in your head was like having an annoying little sister who never went away.

Nikky raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into an amused smirk. "You know, talking to yourself isn't exactly a sign of mental stability."

"I'm not talking to myself," I snapped, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep up my neck. "I'm talking to the demon in my head." As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized how insane they sounded.

There was a moment of stunned silence before Nikky burst out laughing, her deep blue eyes twinkling with mirth. "Oh man, and here I thought my life was complicated. You've got a whole circus going on in there, don't you?"

I couldn't help but crack a smile, despite the gravity of the situation. "You have no idea. Wait until you meet the damned succubus… Uh, no offense, Gloria." I shot a quick glance at the powerful succubus, hoping I hadn't just royally screwed myself over.

"If we could focus," Gloria said, her tone sharp enough to cut through the momentary levity. "Bobby, are you prepared to face a trial by combat to prove yourself to the Nagini?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. I looked around the room, taking in the faces of my unlikely allies. Mary, loyal and concerned. Nikky, amused and intrigued. Ashani, proud but uncertain. And Gloria, powerful and expectant.

"Do I have a choice?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Gloria's smile was both reassuring and terrifying. "There's always a choice. But sometimes, the right choice is the hardest one."

I shook my head, thinking back to the gnoll cave once again. "Look, Ashani, I appreciate your confidence in me, but let's be real here. That Alpha gnoll wiped the floor with me. You're the one who took him down. How the hell am I supposed to impress a whole race of warrior snake-people when I couldn't even handle one overgrown hyena?"

Ashani's chest puffed out with pride for a moment before deflating as she realized what I was saying. "Well... I could teach you to fight," she offered, her voice lacking its usual haughty tone.

Nikky snorted. "Yeah, because we've got all the time in the world for Bobby to become a master warrior."

Gloria's eyes narrowed. "We don't know how much time we have," she said, her voice tight. "But every moment that passes, Ardin is likely killing more and more Lydenese."

The weight of her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt my shoulders slump as I made my way to the nearby couch and sat down heavily. The pressure of what we were facing seemed to press down on me from all sides. I looked around at the women in the room, but none of them moved to comfort me.

I took a deep breath, refusing to wallow in self-pity. This wasn't just about me anymore. "Alright," I said, looking back up at them. "Ashani, what kind of combat should I expect?"

Ashani opened her mouth, probably to argue that it wouldn't come to that, but Gloria cut her off. "Open your eyes, girl," she snapped. "Everything's not going to be all roses just because you wish it so."

Turning to me, Gloria continued, "It will depend on Ashani's uncle. It could be anything from first blood to death."

I swallowed hard. "Great," I muttered. Looking at Ashani, I asked, "How do you compare to others of your race?"

Ashani straightened up, her pride returning. "Most Nagini are tall, strong warriors," she said. "But I am a Royal Nagini. Therefore, I am taller, faster, and stronger."

"So, will I have to fight a royal or regular Nagini?" I asked.

Ashani's eyes flashed. "There are no 'regular' Nagini," she said indignantly. "But only my mother, my uncle, and I are Royal Nagini within the tribe."

An idea struck me. "Ashani, would you be willing to wrestle with me? Just so I can get an idea of where I stand skill-wise?"

Ashani looked uncertain for a moment before nodding. "I am willing to assist you, Bobby. But do not let your hands slip to where they shouldn't. Behave as a gentleman should."

I couldn't help but notice Ashani's prodigious chest again, thinking about what a large target they made. "Oh, Bobby," Charlotte's voice teased in my head. "Your eyes are wandering again. Careful now, or you might get more than you bargained for."

"We should probably do this in the gym," Nikky suggested. "It's got the most open area."

We all moved to the gym, and Ashani got into what she clearly thought was a proper fighting stance on two legs. She looked nervous, and I realized she wasn't used to fighting in human form.

"Actually, Ashani," I said, "I'll probably have to fight a Nagini in their snake form. Could you change?"

Ashani hesitated, and Gloria let out an exasperated sigh. "For heaven's sake, girl, just do it!"

Finally, Ashani transformed into her snake form. Her lower body elongated into a massive, muscular tail, covered in shimmering golden-brown scales. Her torso remained humanoid, but now sported six well-muscled arms. Her already impressive height grew even more, easily towering over me. Her golden eyes seemed to glow with an inner light, and her long, dark hair cascaded down her back.

"Thanks, Ashani," I said, getting into position. "I appreciate this."

"Remember, Bobby," Ashani said, her voice a mix of warning and nervousness, "behave as a gentleman should."

Nikky grinned. "Alright, lovebirds," she quipped. "Begin!"

Ashani moved with a speed that belied her size. Even with my upgraded agility, I was no match for her strength and grace. She darted forward, her six arms a blur of motion. I tried to dodge, but she easily caught me, wrapping two of her arms around my waist and lifting me off the ground.

I struggled, attempting to break free, but her grip was like iron. With her other arms, she effortlessly pinned my arms to my sides. I kicked out, trying to find purchase, but my feet met nothing but air.

In a fluid motion, Ashani coiled her tail around my legs, effectively immobilizing me. She brought her face close to mine, her golden eyes gleaming with triumph. "Do you yield?" she asked, her voice a low purr.

I could feel the heat radiating from her body, smell the exotic scent of her skin. It was intoxicating and terrifying all at once. "I yield," I managed to croak out.

Ashani released me, and I stumbled back, trying to catch my breath. The entire match had lasted less than thirty seconds.

"Well," Nikky said, breaking the silence, "that was... something."

Gloria nodded, her expression grim. "Now you see what you're up against, Bobby. The Nagini are not to be underestimated."

I ran a hand through my hair, my mind racing. "Yeah, I got that loud and clear. So, what now? How am I supposed to stand a chance against warriors like Ashani?"

"You could always try seducing them," Charlotte chimed in. "It would probably net you another level."

"Not helping, Charlotte," I muttered under my breath.

Ashani, still in her Nagini form, slithered closer to me. "I... I apologize if I was too rough, Bobby. Perhaps we could try again? I could show you some basic defensive moves."

I looked up at her, struck by the genuine concern in her eyes. It was a far cry from the haughty princess I'd first met. "Thanks, Ashani. I'd appreciate that."

As Ashani and I faced each other again, she began to explain the intricacies of Nagini combat. "Our fighting style is fluid and unpredictable," she said, her voice taking on a lecturing tone. "We use our multiple arms and powerful tail to overwhelm our opponents. Weapons are often involved, typically spears or swords."

"What about your venom?" I asked, eyeing her sharp fangs warily.

Ashani shook her head. "Biting is against the rules in formal combat. You need not worry about that."

Just then, Shayna walked in, drawn by the commotion. She froze at the sight of Ashani in her full Nagini form, her eyes widening with fear. I could see her struggling to control her reaction, her lips moving as she muttered something under her breath.

Elly poked her head in next. "What's going on here?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Mary, ever efficient, quickly explained the situation. "Master Bobby and Princess Ashani are practicing combat techniques to prepare for a potential trial with the Nagini tribe."

Nikky chimed in, her tone sardonic. "Yeah, and we're short on time, but fresh out of better ideas."

I felt Charlotte stirring in my mind. "Hey, Bobby," she said, her mental voice tinged with excitement. "How about you let me take a crack at it? I might be able to last a bit longer against her."

I hesitated, then turned to Ashani. "Would you be okay if Charlotte took control for a round? She thinks she might do better."

Ashani nodded, her golden eyes curious. "I am willing to test my skills against your demon companion."

With a sigh, I relinquished control to Charlotte. It was a strange sensation, like I was watching through a window as my body moved of its own accord.

Nikky grinned. "Round two, folks. Begin!"

Charlotte moved with more grace than I could ever manage, her movements fluid and precise. She dodged Ashani's first lunge, ducking under one of her arms and spinning away. But Ashani was relentless, her six arms a blur of motion as she pursued Charlotte across the gym floor.

For a moment, it seemed like Charlotte might actually have a chance. She weaved and bobbed, avoiding Ashani's grasp time and time again. But then Ashani's tail whipped out, catching Charlotte's ankle and sending her tumbling to the ground. In an instant, Ashani was on her, pinning her with four arms while the other two held her head still.

"Yield," Ashani demanded, her voice barely winded.

Charlotte, using my voice, gasped out, "I yield."

As Ashani released us, Elly spoke up. "If time is such a concern, why not use Bobby's mens mundi? Couldn't you train there?"

I shook my head as I regained control of my body. "My mind might learn the techniques, but my body wouldn't have the muscle memory."

Charlotte spoke through my mouth, startling everyone. "Actually, with my assistance, we could add the muscle memory along with the knowledge."

"How much time dilation could we get?" I asked, intrigued by the idea.

"If it's just Ashani joining us," Charlotte replied, "I could make a night last for a few days. But it'll wear me out."

Gloria, looking uncharacteristically hesitant, spoke up. "If I combine my mens mundi with Charlotte's, we can slow time exponentially."

Shayna's eyes narrowed. "You have a mens mundi too? What are you, really?"

Gloria regarded us all for a long moment before answering. "I am a powerful succubus," she said simply. Then, turning to Shayna and Elly, she added, "But you need not worry about your man. My heart belongs to another, and I have no interest in Bobby."

"She's more than just a powerful succubus," Charlotte admitted to me mentally. "But it's not my place to say more."

Shayna stepped forward, her jaw set. "I want to be in the mens mundi too. I could help give pointers."

"She's jealous," Charlotte whispered in my mind. "She wants to watch if anything happens between us."

Gloria's eyes flashed, and I got the feeling she knew Shayna's true motivations as well. "The more people within our shared mens mundi, the less time dilation we can achieve," she said firmly. "For the best chances, it will have to be just the four of us: Ashani, Bobby, Charlotte, and myself."

Shayna opened her mouth to argue, but Elly cut her off. "We want whatever will give our husband the best chance," she said, placing a calming hand on Shayna's arm. "Right, Shayna?"

Shayna's shoulders slumped slightly, but she nodded. "Right," she agreed reluctantly.

I looked around at the assembled group, feeling a mix of gratitude and trepidation. "So," I said, trying to inject some levity into my voice, "I guess it's time for a really intense nap, huh?"

Nikky snorted. "Only you could make magical time-dilated combat training sound like a lazy Sunday afternoon."

"It's a gift," I replied with a grin. Then, turning to Gloria and Ashani, I asked, "So, how do we want to do this?"

Gloria's expression turned serious. "Bobby, be prepared. This won't be easy, and it certainly won't be restful."

I nodded at Gloria's explanation, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination. "Alright, let's do this," I said, turning to my wives.

I walked over to Shayna and Elly, giving each of them a quick kiss before pulling them both into a tight hug. "I don't know how long I'll be under," I told them seriously, "but to you, it'll only feel like hours."

Leaning in close to Shayna, I whispered, "You don't have anything to be jealous about. I intend to spend all of my time training and getting stronger."

Shayna raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh? I didn't realize you'd gotten the mind reading skill... or did you level up again behind our backs?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "No new level-ups, I promise. I just love my incredible wives who are as perceptive as they are beautiful."

Elly rolled her eyes, but I could see the smile she was trying to hide. "Laying it on a bit thick there, aren't you?"

"Maybe," I admitted with a grin. "But I mean every word."

"Just don't forget about us while you're in there," Shayna said, her tone light but her eyes serious.

I regarded them for a moment, an idea forming. "Actually, would you be willing to let me fall asleep in your laps?"

Elly chuckled, but Shayna's eyes softened. "How would that even work?" she asked. "You only have one head, and we have two laps."

"You let him, Shayna," Elly offered, her voice gentle.

The two women shared a look, and I could see the love between them. "Thank you," Shayna said softly, reaching out to squeeze Elly's hand.

"If all the sappy stuff is over," Nikky called out, "we should probably get started sooner rather than later."

Shayna shot Nikky a glare, but I noticed Elly eyeing the other woman with interest. I decided it wasn't worth mentioning, but I couldn't help thinking that my love life really wasn't within my control anymore.

"Oh, come on," Charlotte's voice echoed in my head, laughter in her tone. "You've got it better than most. Are you really complaining?"

I didn't have an honest answer to that.

Shayna sat down on the gym floor, patting her thigh invitingly. I leaned down, planting a tender kiss on her plump lips before resting my head in her lap. Nearby, Ashani curled up on her coils while Gloria took a meditation pose.

"We are not to be disturbed unless it's an emergency," Gloria stated firmly. "We'll be waking up tomorrow morning at the latest."

I shifted, trying to get comfortable and wondering if I'd be stiff in the morning after lying there all night. I was about to suggest moving to a bedroom when Gloria cast a spell, and everything went dark.

 

 

I became aware of standing on a wooden platform made of bamboo, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. Across from me stood Ashani in her snake form, a simple wrap covering her prodigious breasts. I looked around, but there was no sign of Gloria or Charlotte.

Squaring my shoulders, I turned to Ashani. "Should we get started?"

Ashani nodded, though she looked a little uncertain about being left alone. After a moment, she straightened up. "Yes, I will do my best to train you in the time that we have." She paused, looking me over. "Your posture is good. Have you had training before?"

"I received some martial arts training when I was younger," I admitted. "But I never had a chance to practice against anyone or anything like you."

Ashani's cheeks darkened slightly, and she looked flustered. "I... I'm not sure how to take that."

Realizing my wording might have been off, I quickly added, "What I mean is, you're the greatest fighter I've ever had the opportunity to challenge myself against."

Her expression softened at that, though she still seemed a bit shy. "Thank you. Shall we begin?"

And so, our training began.

The first few rounds were brutal. Ashani's six arms and powerful tail made her an overwhelming opponent. She'd catch me before I could even react, pinning me to the ground or wrapping me up in her coils.

"You must anticipate," she'd say, helping me up. "Watch my movements, look for patterns."

As time passed - though it was hard to tell how much in this strange mental space - I started to improve. My reflexes got sharper, my movements more fluid. I began to see the subtle shifts in Ashani's body language that telegraphed her attacks.

"Better," she'd nod approvingly as I dodged one of her lunges. "But not good enough."

We sparred for what felt like days, taking breaks only when absolutely necessary. Each time we resumed, I felt a little faster, a little stronger. I started to last longer against her onslaught, even managing to land a few hits of my own.

"You're learning," Ashani said, a hint of pride in her voice. "But remember, in a real fight, your opponent won't hold back."

She demonstrated this by suddenly increasing her speed and strength, catching me off guard. I found myself pinned once again, but this time, I managed to wriggle free, using a technique she'd taught me earlier.

"Excellent!" she exclaimed, her golden eyes shining with excitement. "Now, let's see if you can do that again."

As our training continued, I began to feel more confident in my abilities. I was nowhere near Ashani's level, but I was no longer the easy target I'd been at the start.

"You've improved greatly," Ashani said during one of our breaks. "But there's still much to learn. Are you ready to continue?"

I nodded, wiping sweat from my brow. "Always ready. Let's go."

And so we pressed on, the mental landscape around us shifting and changing as we moved through different scenarios and terrains. Through it all, Ashani remained a patient but demanding teacher, pushing me to my limits and beyond. Without the need for food or sleep, we trained for hours on end. The only reason for our break was for Ashani to impart some wisdom or technique, and a few mental breaks to keep us sane.

As we prepared for another round, I couldn't help but wonder how much time had passed in the real world. But there was no time to dwell on it - Ashani was already moving, and I had to be ready.

 

* * *

I woke up with a start, my mind foggy and disoriented. The hard floor beneath me felt unfamiliar, and for a moment, I couldn't remember where I was. As my senses slowly returned, I realized I was lying on the gym floor, a soft pillow under my head and a warm blanket draped over me. On either side, I felt the comforting presence of my wives.

Despite what should have been a full night's rest, my body ached, muscles stiff and sore as if I'd run a marathon. I blinked, trying to clear the haze from my vision, memories of the mens mundi slowly trickling back.

"Charlotte," I thought, "how long were we in there?"

Her mental voice came back, barely a whisper and heavy with exhaustion. "A few months. Now leave me alone, I'm exhausted."

I was about to ask her more when I noticed a figure in the doorway. Mary, silent as a ghost, glided into the room with a steaming cup of coffee. She helped me to my feet without making a sound, somehow managing not to disturb Shayna, Elly, Ashani, or Gloria.

As we made our way to the kitchen, the aroma of freshly cooked breakfast filled the air. Mary guided me to a chair where a plate was already waiting.

"Thank you, Mary," I said, my voice still rough from sleep. "How did you know I was awake?"

Mary's red eyes met mine, a hint of a smile on her ebony face. "The slave bond, Master. It keeps me informed of all your needs, moods, and desires so that I can take the best care of you."

I felt a twinge of discomfort at her words. The idea of someone having constant access to my thoughts and feelings felt invasive, and I couldn't help but worry about the burden it placed on Mary.

Before I could voice my concerns, Mary spoke again, her voice soft but sure. "I can sense your worry, Master. Please, don't be concerned. You're a much better master than any I've had before. I can feel your desire for my happiness, your reluctance to cause pain or suffering. I couldn't be happier belonging to you."

I understood what she was saying, but the idea of ownership still didn't sit right with me. I opened my mouth to tell her I'd prefer her to be free, but before I could get the words out, Mary leaned in and kissed me.

My mind, still fuzzy from the long sleep and apparent months of training, took a moment to catch up. It wasn't until I felt her tongue slip into my mouth that reality crashed in. I was about to pull back when I heard a familiar voice.

"I thought you were going to wait until you'd freed Mary from her slavery before taking her to bed," Elly said, her tone more amused than accusatory.

I jerked away from Mary, my face burning. "Elly, I... it's not... we weren't..." I stammered, moving to embrace my wife.

Mary, her face flushed but eyes shining, spoke up. "It was me, Mistress Elly. I kissed Master, not because it was something he desired, but because it was something I truly wanted to do." She lowered her eyes, her voice growing softer. "Knowing that my master wants me to be happy, I hope he won't be angry with me for doing something that made me happy."

Then, so quietly I almost missed it, she added, "If master wishes to punish me, I will accept any spankings he feels are justified."

Before I could process that statement, Ashani stumbled into the kitchen in her human form, making a beeline for the abandoned plate of food on the table.

"That food was for Master," Mary said, already moving to prepare another plate. "But I can get you another one, Princess Ashani."

I chuckled, waving Mary off. "Let her have it, Mary. She's certainly earned it after the last few months."

Elly's eyebrows shot up. "The last few months? How long were you and Ashani in the shared mens mundi?"

I shrugged, still enjoying the feeling of Elly in my arms. "I'm not sure of the exact time, but Charlotte mentioned something about a few months before she passed out in my head."

Elly looked at me, a mix of concern and curiosity in her eyes. "Do you think you're ready?"

Before I could answer, Ashani spoke up, her mouth full of food. "Bobby is a fast learner," she said after swallowing. "He truly knows how to use his body to his advantage now."

"I knew you'd end up fucking her," Shayna grumbled as she entered the kitchen, clearly misinterpreting Ashani's words.

I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "It's not like that, Shayna. We were training, that's all."

Mary silently handed Shayna a mug of coffee, which she accepted with a grunt of thanks.

"It's true," Ashani said, her golden eyes serious. "Bobby has become quite skilled in combat. His progress was... impressive."

Shayna looked skeptical, but as she sipped her coffee, her expression softened slightly. "So, you really just trained for months? In one night?"

I nodded, still trying to wrap my head around it myself. "It's hard to explain. Time moves differently in the mens mundi. It felt like months to us, but I'm guessing out here, barely any time passed at all."

"And what exactly did this training entail?" Elly asked, her curiosity evident.

I launched into an explanation of the grueling sessions with Ashani, describing the various techniques and scenarios we'd worked through. As I spoke, I could see the skepticism in Shayna's eyes slowly giving way to understanding.

"It was not easy," Ashani added, her voice carrying a note of pride. "But Bobby proved to be a worthy student."

"Far enough to face your uncle?" Elly asked, concern creeping into her voice.

Ashani hesitated, her eyes meeting mine. "It... it is hard to say. My uncle is a formidable warrior, even by Nagini standards. But Bobby's skills have improved greatly. With some luck and strategy, he may stand a chance. However, it may be that he will face one of our champions, as my uncle may think that fighting a human is beneath him."

I felt a knot form in my stomach at her words. The reality of what I was about to face suddenly felt very real.

"Maybe we should reconsider this," Shayna said, her earlier irritation replaced by worry. "There has to be another way to help Ashani without putting Bobby in danger."

I shook my head, my resolve firming. "No, we've come too far to back out now. Ashani needs our help, and this might be our best chance to gain allies against Ardin. I don't think we have the time to deliberate."

"But at what cost?" Elly asked softly, her hand finding mine.

I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I know it's risky, but I have to try. We need all the help we can get, and if there's a chance I can prove myself to the Nagini, we have to take it."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the situation settling over us.

I watched as Mary gracefully brought three plates of food to the table, balancing them on her arms with an ease that would make professional waiters jealous. The aroma wafting from the plates made my mouth water, reminding me just how hungry I was after our intense training session in the mens mundi.

As Mary set the plates down, Gloria stumbled into the kitchen, looking like she'd been hit by a truck. Her usual poise was gone, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion that seemed to weigh her down. She wobbled over to the table, her eyes fixed on one of the plates of food. Leaning in, she took a deep whiff, savoring the delicious scents.

"Mmm," she mumbled, her eyes half-closed. "You were in there for exactly three months, two weeks, four days, seventeen hours, and thirty-six minutes."

I blinked, surprised by her precision. "That's... oddly specific. How can you be so sure?"

Gloria just waved a hand dismissively, too tired to explain further. As she slumped into a chair, my fingers found their way to the pendant around my neck. I remembered the way Gloria had reacted to it before, when we discovered she was once a goddess. What was her history with it? And why did the Pillar of Light think it was so important?

Feeling a surge of boldness, I pulled the pendant out from under my shirt. Gloria's head snapped towards me so fast I thought she might get whiplash, her eyes locked onto the pendant like a bloodhound on a scent.

"Gloria," I said, my voice steadier than I felt, "what's the deal with this pendant? What's its significance?"

Gloria's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought she might refuse to answer. "It's in the past," she said, her voice tight. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"Bullshit," Shayna called out, her eyes flashing. I nodded in agreement, backing up my wife.

Gloria's face darkened for a moment, anger flashing in her eyes. But just as quickly, it faded, replaced by a bone-deep weariness. She looked around the room, regarding each of us in turn before letting out a heavy sigh. She took a big bite of food, chewing slowly as she gathered her thoughts.

After swallowing, Gloria spoke, her voice low and serious. "What I'm about to tell you, only those I most trust know."

"If we're supposed to save the world together," I pointed out, "then we have to trust and rely on each other."

Gloria nodded, a sad smile playing on her lips. "You're right, of course. Very well. I was once known as Aphrodite, before becoming Venus to the Romans. When Christianity began to spread and violently fight any that didn't follow their dogma, I fled down to what is Egypt today, and there... I met a young man named Ardin."

As Gloria delved into her history, I found myself hanging on every word. At some point during her tale, Nikky joined us, sliding into a seat and helping herself to some food. But none of us really noticed, too engrossed in Gloria's story.

When she finally finished, tears stained Gloria's cheeks, and she looked emotionally wrung out. A heavy silence fell over the room as we all tried to process what we'd just heard.

Elly was the first to break the silence. "Gloria," she said softly, "none of that was your fault. You did what you thought was best for the man you loved. Not even the goddess of love could know what Ardin would become."

"Yeah," Shayna chimed in, her voice filled with righteous anger. "Ardin's the one who chose to become a zealot. You can't blame yourself for his choices."

I nodded in agreement, but a nagging question still gnawed at me. "Gloria," I said hesitantly, "about the pendant... Does me having it mean that I'm descended from Ardin?" I paused, remembering what I knew about its abilities. "I know it blocks others from reading my mind, but does it have any other significance?"

Gloria shook her head. "I don't know if you're related to Ardin, but I doubt it. The power of the pendant only works under two conditions: If it is gifted by someone who loves the recipient, or if the recipient dies and it's picked up by someone new. If gifted, it gains power from stronger levels of love. Most of that power is lost if the bearer dies before gifting it to an heir."

"Ooh, mysterious," Nikky piped up, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Does it have any other nifty abilities besides blocking mind reading?"

Gloria looked around the room, her gaze lingering on each of the women before finally meeting my eyes. "You're not going to like it," she said, her voice heavy, "but you need to hear the whole explanation before getting upset."

I felt my stomach drop, a sense of dread washing over me. Was I going to get some form of love cancer or something? As it turned out, I was close, but not in the way I feared. It was much worse.

I felt like I'd been sucker-punched, the air knocked clean out of my lungs. Gloria's words echoed in my head, each syllable another blow to my gut. My mind reeled, struggling to process the implications of what she'd just revealed.

"What?" I bellowed, leaping to my feet so fast my chair toppled backward with a resounding crash. "Are you saying I've been brainwashing people?" The words tasted like bile in my mouth, a mixture of anger and revulsion churning in my stomach. I couldn't believe it. Didn't want to believe it. "How could you ever make such a thing?"

My hand flew to the pendant, fingers curling around the cool metal. I was ready to yank it off, to hurl it across the room, to smash it into a million pieces. But before I could, a small yet surprisingly strong hand clamped around my wrist, halting my motion. I glanced down, shocked to see it was Mary who'd stopped me.

"Master," she said, her voice barely above a whisper but carrying a steel I'd never heard from her before. "Please listen to everything Gloria has to say."

I gaped at her, momentarily stunned. Mary, my timid, soft-spoken maid, was actually defying me? The shock of it was enough to make me pause, to force myself to take a deep breath. My heart was still pounding, adrenaline coursing through my veins, but I managed to rein in my emotions. Just barely.

"Fine," I growled through clenched teeth, my jaw so tight it ached. "I'm listening."

I saw relief flood Gloria's eyes, softening her features. She took a steadying breath before continuing. "It doesn't brainwash anyone," she explained, her tone gentle but firm. "And it doesn't make people fall in love with you. What it does is attract those who are compatible towards the bearer. Not just compatible in gender, but also in temperament."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "Gloria, can you explain more about how this pendant works? I'm still not sure I understand."

Gloria nodded, her expression softening. "Of course, Bobby. The pendant doesn't force attraction where there is none. It simply... enhances the natural compatibility between people. If someone isn't compatible with you, the pendant won't affect them at all. But if they are compatible, it makes that connection easier to recognize and pursue. It's like... opening a door, not pushing someone through it."

I mulled over her words, still feeling uneasy but less panicked than before. Elly spoke up, her voice thoughtful.

"That actually makes sense," she said. "Think about Joey and Tina. Tina's a lesbian, so she's not attracted to men at all. The pendant wouldn't change that. And Joey, well, he's gay, so he might be attracted to you, Bobby, but since you're not gay, it doesn't pull him in either."

I nodded slowly, feeling a bit better about the whole situation. "Yeah, okay. I guess that does make sense."

Shayna chimed in, her eyes bright with understanding. "And that kind of explains Serina and Jennifer too. They were probably already attracted to you, but the pendant just... amplified that, I guess?"

Elly's face lit up, and I felt my heart sink a little as she said, "Oh! That means those two would probably be compatible to join a harem centered on Bobby!"

At the word 'harem,' I started spluttering. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on a second. I don't want a harem! That's not... I mean, I can't..."

Nikky's laugh cut through my protests. "Oh, man," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Hate to break it to you, but that ship is already pretty close to sailing. Look around you."

I glared at her. "I'm not sleeping with all of them! Just my wives."

"Two wives," Nikky pointed out, grinning. "Technically, that's already the start of a harem."

Before I could argue further, Gloria cut in. "I feel I should remind everyone that I won't be sleeping with anyone. My man is out there, and once I've completed this mission for Sonia, I'm returning to him."

I turned to Gloria, a question nagging at me. "Why would you ever give something like this to your husband? Did you want him sleeping around?"

Gloria's face was utterly serious as she replied, "Yes, I did."

I blinked, taken aback by her blunt response. She continued, her voice filled with passion.

"Ardin was so tied to his damned religion. I wanted him to see that there was so much more to the world than those stuffy practices. As a goddess of love, I understood that love isn't something to be limited the way Christianity - or rather, the men who claimed to be holy and righteous - demanded it should be. I wanted Ardin to experience all the love he could. I even cranked up his libido to make it easier for him to be open to sleeping with other women. Of course, in Ardin's case, I misjudged a few things and it didn't turn out the way I hoped it would."

She paused, her eyes distant even as her voice firmed with annoyance. "Humanity wasn't designed to be monogamous. It was religion and greedy men who wanted to pass their property down to only their offspring that changed society to view polyamory as evil."

As Gloria finished her tirade, I noticed many of the women nodding in agreement, especially Elly. A heartbreaking thought occurred to me, and I turned to face my taller wife.

"Elly," I said hesitantly, "do you... do you want to sleep with other men? Since you're so excited about hooking me up with other women?"

Elly looked at me like I'd just asked if the sky was green before bursting into laughter. "Oh, Bobby," she said, shaking her head. "Have you forgotten? I was a lesbian before the spell on First Knight made me attracted to you. Only you. I'm more than happy to bring as many women as I can to your bed, but your dick is the only one for me."

I felt my face flush, realizing I should have figured that out on my own. Turning to Shayna, I opened my mouth to ask, but she beat me to it.

"Before you ask," she said, rolling her eyes, "your dick is the only one I'm interested in as well."

"Maybe the spell changed you," I suggested, still feeling uncertain. "I mean, look at Elly. She's still interested in me even though she used to only like women."

Elly jumped in, her voice firm. "That's because I know you, Bobby. I had your file memorized. I knew from the start that we were compatible emotionally, if not sexually. And even after your mother removed the spell, I found I was still attracted to you. I honestly desire you, not just for your personality, but also your body and the way you make me feel."

"But that's probably because of the pendant!" I protested.

Elly's eyes flashed, and suddenly she was right in front of me, rising on her toes to get in my face. "Now you listen here, Bobby Brody," she said, her voice low and intense. "I love you, and you're just going to have to deal with it."

I opened my mouth to argue further, but before I could get a word out, Elly grabbed the back of my head and pulled me into a passionate kiss. By the time she pulled back, I'd completely forgotten what I was going to say.

Nikky's voice broke through my daze. "Damn, can I get a kiss like that from you, Elly?"

I turned to see Elly smirking at Nikky. She bit her bottom lip, considering for a moment, then shrugged. But instead of going to Nikky, she walked over to Shayna and gave her an equally passionate kiss.

As I watched my wives kiss, a thought occurred to me: Why the hell was I even arguing about this in the first place?

 

* * *

1123 AD

Ardin grunted as he thrust into the nameless woman beneath him. Ardin's eyes gleamed with a mixture of carnal satisfaction and disdain as he regarded the woman beneath him. Her dark almond eyes reflected a combination of pleasure and amusement, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist as she matched his forceful rhythm. A part of him recognized the sinful nature of his actions, yet he found himself unable to resist the overwhelming urge that had consumed him for years. His insatiable appetite had only grown stronger with time, driving him to seek release with increasing frequency. At least, he reasoned, he had the wisdom to confine his indulgences to those he deemed unworthy of salvation; he would never compromise the virtue of a true Christian woman.

His pleasure was abruptly shattered by a hesitant knock at the door of his modest, dilapidated dwelling. Without breaking his stride, he called out for the visitor to enter. A youthful Knight, barely past the cusp of manhood, cautiously peered inside. The young man's voice quavered as he spoke, "M-my apologies, Lord Ardin. We've discovered something that requires your immediate attention."

Ardin exhaled sharply in irritation but maintained his current activity. "What is it?" he demanded, his tone laced with impatience.

The young Knight's response was tinged with a mixture of reverence and trepidation. "I-it's a succubus, my lord. We believe we've captured one."

This revelation was sufficient to halt Ardin's actions. He disengaged from the woman and began to dress himself, displaying no concern for his state of undress in front of the young Knight. As he exited the hut, he issued a curt order to the Knights stationed outside, his tone leaving no room for debate. "Dispose of her."

Ardin followed the young Knight, his mind already shifting to the prospect of finding another woman to satisfy his relentless desires. Perhaps he should have waited to have the woman in his hut disposed of, but it was too late now. The hunger within him, a constant companion since his transformation, gnawed at his insides, demanding to be sated.

The thought of a captured succubus intrigued him, stirring a complex mixture of emotions within his battle-hardened soul. He pondered the implications of such a creature's presence, his steps quickening as he anticipated the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. Memories of Venita, his estranged wife, flickered through his mind, but he pushed them aside with practiced ease. This was not the time for sentimentality.

They arrived at another hut, and Ardin could sense the power of the being inside. The air around the structure seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly energy, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Two guards stood outside, and they straightened at his approach, their faces a mixture of awe and fear. "Two more Knights guard her inside, Lord Ardin," one of them reported, his voice quavering slightly.

"What makes you think it's a succubus?" Ardin asked, his tone sharp and demanding. He had encountered many magical creatures over the last few decades, and he knew better than to trust appearances alone. His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the guards, searching for any sign of deception or bewitchment.

The guards hesitated for a moment before one of them answered, his words tumbling out in a rush, "Her unearthly beauty, my lord. And the way she... looks at us." The guard's face flushed, and he averted his gaze, clearly embarrassed by the effect the creature had on him. "It's like she can see into our souls, my lord. And her form... it's like nothing I've ever seen before."

Ardin nodded, his senses heightened as he detected an energy unlike any he had encountered before. It was not the familiar aura of Venita, his estranged wife, but something far more sinister and alluring. The power emanating from within the hut pulsed with a dark, seductive rhythm that both intrigued and unsettled him. Ardin pushed aside the flood of memories threatening to overwhelm him, memories of a life long past and a love turned to bitter ashes. He steeled himself, drawing upon decades of experience and the hardened resolve that had made him the formidable leader of the Paladonic Knights.

With a deep, steadying breath, Ardin reached for the door, his fingers brushing against the rough wood. He hesitated for a fraction of a second, sensing that whatever awaited him inside could irrevocably change the course of his mission. Then, with a swift, decisive motion, he pushed the door open and stepped into the dimly lit interior.

The sight that greeted him was both captivating and unsettling. His eyes were immediately drawn to the figure reclining on a luxurious pile of furs, her presence commanding the small space. She was a vision of exotic beauty, her midnight black skin gleaming in the flickering candlelight. A stark white fur was draped artfully over her shoulders, contrasting sharply with her ebony skin and the deep crimson silk that clung to her curves like a second skin. Her eyes, glowing like embers in the dim light, sparkled with a mixture of mischief and ancient wisdom. Cascading around her pointed ears, her hair fell in loose waves of purest white, reminiscent of freshly fallen snow.

Ardin's gaze raked over her form, his decades of experience with magical creatures allowing him to catalog her features with clinical precision. Yet, despite his vast knowledge, he found himself unable to immediately place her race. The combination of her striking appearance and the palpable aura of power surrounding her was unlike anything he had encountered in his long life.

"What is this creature?" Ardin asked his Knights, his voice low and controlled, betraying none of the curiosity and wariness warring within him. He addressed his Knights, but his eyes never left the enigmatic figure before him.

The woman's laughter filled the small hut, rich and warm like honey, yet with an underlying edge that hinted at hidden dangers. "A Drow elf, handsome," she purred, her voice a melody that seemed to caress his very soul. "And you are?"

Ardin narrowed his eyes, recognizing the name of her race but wary of her casual demeanor. The Drow were known for their cunning and cruelty, and he had no illusions about the potential threat she posed. "Paladonic Knights," he stated, his voice hard and unyielding. "Do you know what we do to your kind?"

"Oh, I know," she responded, her voice a silky purr that seemed at odds with the gravity of his implied threat. She ran her fingertips along her body in a deliberately provocative manner, her eyes never leaving Ardin's face. "But I also know things that will help you in your mission."

Despite himself, Ardin felt a spark of interest ignite within him. He had dedicated his existence to eradicating magical creatures, yet here was one offering assistance. The irony was not lost on him, nor was the potential value of such an alliance. Still, he remained cautious, all too aware of the duplicitous nature of her kind.

"Why would you help us?" he asked, his voice betraying nothing of the curiosity burning within him.

The Drow elf's smile widened, her red lips curving in a knowing way that suggested she held secrets beyond his wildest imaginings. "Because I believe we can help each other, Ardin," she replied, her use of his name a clear indication that she knew far more about him than she should. "I can assist you in wiping out many of the other races."

Ardin felt a chill run down his spine at her words, even as a part of him thrilled at the possibilities her offer presented. He knew he stood at a crossroads, and that his next decision would shape the future of his crusade against the creatures of the adversary. The air in the hut seemed to thicken with tension as he considered his response, the fate of countless beings hanging in the balance.

Ardin studied the Drow elf for a long moment, his keen eyes taking in every detail of her exotic features. The air in the hut seemed to crackle with tension as he considered her offer, his gaze briefly flicking to the two Knight guards standing at attention inside. Their faces remained impassive, but Ardin could sense their unease at the presence of this dark-skinned beauty.

"What do you want in return?" he asked, his voice low and measured. He had not survived this long by being naive or trusting, especially when it came to beings of magic.

The Drow elf's smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth that contrasted sharply with her ebony skin. Her scarlet eyes, bold and challenging, locked onto Ardin's with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. There was power there, ancient and alluring, and Ardin found himself both drawn to it and wary of its potential.

"A partnership," she purred, her melodious voice carrying hints of promise and danger. "Together, we can bring about the end of our mutual foes. Imagine the power we could wield, the order we could impose upon this chaotic world."

Ardin's mind raced with the possibilities her words presented. He knew nothing came for free in this world, least of all from a creature such as this. Yet he could not deny the pull he felt towards her, a mixture of curiosity, desire, and the tantalizing prospect of increased power. His body thrummed with an unsatisfied libido, a primal urge he had too-often suppressed in pursuit of his holy mission.

A needle of doubt wormed its way into Ardin's thoughts, piercing the veil of desire that threatened to cloud his judgment. With practiced precision, he scanned his body, employing what he firmly believed to be a God-given ability - a divine gift bestowed upon him to combat the insidious influences of magical creatures. He probed every fiber of his being and his surroundings, searching for even the faintest trace of enchantment.

As he delved deeper, Ardin felt the drow's power, an intoxicating aura that pulsed and swirled around her like a seductive perfume. It was alluring, yes, but also tightly controlled, a testament to her mastery over her own abilities. To his surprise and grudging admiration, he found that her power didn't touch him directly. There were no tendrils of magic worming their way into his mind, no subtle compulsions tugging at his will.

Expanding his awareness, Ardin's connection to the very earth beneath his bare feet revealed the state of his three fellow Knights. Their arousal mirrored his own, a primal response to the drow's otherworldly beauty and confident demeanor. He could sense their quickened heartbeats, the rush of blood through their veins, and the growing tightness in their loins. Yet, like him, they weren't under any magical influence. It was her raw, natural allure - the dangerous curve of her lips, the smoldering intensity in her crimson eyes, and the promise of dark pleasures in her every movement - that elicited such a visceral reaction from them all.

Ardin found himself both relieved and unsettled by this realization. On one hand, it meant they weren't being manipulated by sorcery, which would have demanded swift and merciless action. On the other, it forced him to confront the uncomfortable truth that he - a paragon of virtue and righteousness - could be so affected by a creature he considered an abomination. The conflict between his ingrained beliefs and his body's undeniable response only served to heighten the tension of the moment, leaving Ardin teetering on the edge of a decision that could alter the course of his life and mission forever.

For what seemed like an eternity, Ardin weighed his options. The potential benefits of such an alliance were immense, but so too were the risks. Finally, decision made, he spoke. "Very well," he said, his voice carrying the weight of command. "What is your name?"

The Drow elf's smile transformed into something more predatory, a look of triumph flickering in her crimson eyes. "Elara Darkstone," she replied, her voice low and seductive, sending tendrils of heat through Ardin's body. "But you may call me whatever pleases you, My Lord."

She stood and took a step closer, her lithe form moving with a grace that belied her deadly nature. The guards tensed, but Ardin held up a hand to stay them. Elara's scent, exotic and intoxicating, filled his nostrils as she leaned in close.

"And I look forward to working with you, Ardin," she whispered, her breath hot against his ear. "Together, we shall reshape this world in our image."

Ardin suppressed a shudder, both of anticipation and trepidation. He had set foot upon a new path, one that promised great power but also great peril. As he gazed into Elara's mesmerizing eyes, he wondered if he had made a pact with a valuable ally or a dangerous adversary. Only time would tell, and Ardin vowed to remain vigilant, even as his body yearned for the touch of this dark enchantress.

 

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From the Author:

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Ah, the holiday season! Sorry this one took a little longer to get out. I decided to try my hand at NaNoWriMo on a different story. But, hopefully this chapter is to your liking. Still many more to come.

Nikky

 

Ashani

 

Chapter 22: Mens Mundi Machinations

 

I felt like I’d been punched in the gut as we left the Roper residence. The Kindred Gladius hummed beneath us, its advanced safety features and comforting size a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside me. Elly and Shayna sat on either side of me, their silence a heavy shroud over the car's interior.

"I can't believe I just did that," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. The weight of what transpired inside that house pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. "It was wrong, so wrong. She's a married woman, and I... I did that."

Elly reached over and took my hand, her touch a small comfort amidst the storm of my guilt. "Bobby, what's done is done," she said softly. "We can't change the past."

I glanced at her, the streetlights outside casting a warm glow over her face. "But how can I live with myself, knowing I betrayed someone else's trust like that?"

"You're not a bad person," Shayna piped up from the other side, her tone firm. "You've always been kind and considerate. What happened tonight... it was out of character for you. I think we all got caught up in the moment."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Maybe, but that doesn't excuse my behavior. And Adam... I've never considered myself a bully, but tonight, I feel like I was the worst kind of tormentor."

Elly squeezed my hand again, her eyes filled with understanding. "Adam's been a thorn in our side for a while now. He's always trying to provoke you, to get a rise out of you."

Shayna chuckled darkly. "I have to admit, though, watching him squirm was incredibly satisfying. Especially after everything he's put us through."

I shot her a sharp look, and she held up her hands in mock surrender. "I'm not saying it was right, Bobby. Just that a small part of me enjoyed it."

"Me too," Elly admitted, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "It was... intense."

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "This isn't who I am. I don't want to be the kind of person who revels in someone else's humiliation."

Bobby, Charlotte's voice echoed in my mind, her tone surprisingly gentle. Adam had worse thoughts about Shayna and Elly while you were all chatting before dinner. If you knew the fantasies he entertained, you'd likely turn around for an encore performance… Or beat him to a pulp. He more than deserved what happened tonight.

A flash of anger surged through me, directed at Adam, but I quickly wrestled it under control. "That doesn't give me the right to…  Damn it, I fucked his mother right in front of him, while she taunted him. How did it even go that far?" I said aloud, my knuckles turning white on the steering wheel.

Shayna's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she studied me. "You know, I'm a little surprised you did that with a redhead, considering your... feelings towards them."

I opened my mouth to argue, to say that Milena wasn't a redhead, but then I stopped, the image of her fiery locks suddenly vivid in my mind. How had I not noticed that? My heart raced as I stumbled over my words, trying to come up with a reason, but only feeling more upset.

Charlotte sighed mentally, her presence a reluctant admission of guilt. I might have... influenced your perception a bit, she confessed. You still need to level up more, and I didn't want your... prejudices to get in the way of that.

My anger flared, this time aimed at the succubus sharing my body. "You messed with my mind, Charlotte!" I exclaimed, the car swerving slightly as my grip tightened on the wheel.

Bobby, I did it for your own good, she insisted, her mental voice firm. Your dislike of redheads is unreasonable and based on a single traumatic experience. You need to move past it.

I shook my head, frustration welling up within me. "That's not your decision to make, Charlotte. It's my life, my mind. You had no right."

Elly and Shayna exchanged worried glances, sensing the tension between me and the unseen passenger in my soul.

I gritted my teeth, trying to focus on the road while wrestling with my anger at Charlotte's manipulation. The tension in the car was palpable, and I could feel Shayna's eyes boring into me.

"What did she do?" Shayna demanded, her voice tight with barely contained fury. "I swear, if that succubus is messing with your head, Bobby..."

I sighed, knowing I had to explain. "Charlotte... she altered my perception. Made me not notice Milena's hair color."

Shayna's face contorted with rage. "She what?! How dare she manipulate you like that! I knew we couldn't trust her!"

Before I could respond, I felt a strange sensation, like my mouth was moving of its own accord. Charlotte's voice emerged from my lips, startling both me and my wives.

"Listen, I did it for Bobby's own good," Charlotte said, her tone defensive. "He needs to grow stronger, and if he gets hung up on something as stupid as the color of a woman's hair, he'll never get better. He needs to level up, and get over Megan. It's holding him back."

Elly, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "As much as I hate to admit it, Charlotte has a point. Bobby, you do need to get over your hangup about redheads. I understand that Megan hurt you, but that was one person, not all redheads."

I felt a surge of betrayal at Elly's words, but deep down, I knew she was right. Still, the violation of my mind was something I couldn't let slide.

"Charlotte," I said firmly, regaining control of my mouth. "I don't care about your reasons. You will never manipulate my mind again. I want your solemn vow on this."

There was a moment of silence before Charlotte's voice echoed in my head. I... I vow never to manipulate your mind again, Bobby. You have my word.

The rest of the drive home was tense and silent. As we pulled into the driveway, I felt a mix of relief and apprehension. On the one hand, it was good to be back home, but on the other hand, I still had to live with what I'd done at the Roper residence.

Mary greeted us at the door, her white hair gleaming in the porch light. "Welcome home," she said, her red eyes darting between us. "You have guests waiting in the living room. Also, I modified the AI in the Gladius as soon as it arrived. It won't be reporting anything suspicious back to the Knights."

I nodded, grateful for Mary's efficiency. I'd forgotten that the AI could be spying on us, and felt myself go a little cold with how careless we were on the ride home from Milena's home. Thank goodness I had someone like Mary looking out for us. "Thank you, Mary. Who are our guests?"

"Ashani and Gloria," Mary replied, leading us towards the living room. I felt my heat drop at those names. They could only be here for one reason.

As we entered, I saw Ashani in her human form, sprawled dramatically across the couch. Gloria stood by the window, her posture tense.

Ashani pouted as soon as she saw us. "Finally! We've been waiting for ages. Do you always keep your guests waiting like this?"

I bit back a retort, reminding myself that Ashani was a princess and probably unused to waiting for anyone. "I apologize for the delay. We had some… unexpected business to attend to."

Gloria turned from the window, her eyes sharp. "We don't have time for pleasantries. We need to discuss our mission to defeat Ardin. Any ideas on how to take down someone the gods couldn't put down?"

The gravity of our task hit me anew. How were we supposed to succeed where literal gods had failed?

Bobby, Charlotte's voice whispered in my mind. Remember, you've leveled up once already. We should discuss that with the others.

I cleared my throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Before we dive into strategy, there's something I need to share. According to Charlotte, I've... leveled up."

Mary glanced at me curiously, her eyes widening with interest. "Leveled up? What does that mean exactly?"

"I'm not entirely sure," I admitted. "Charlotte, care to explain?"

I felt the strange sensation again as Charlotte took control of my mouth, her voice emerging from my lips. It was disconcerting, but I allowed it, knowing she could explain the leveling system better than I could.

"Leveling up is a process of personal growth and power accumulation," Charlotte began, using my throat and mouth. "It requires Bobby to form connections with others, typically through intimate encounters. Each new experience or partner provides more substantial growth, while repeated interactions yield diminishing returns."

I watched as Mary's eyes widened with interest, while Ashani leaned forward, her curiosity piqued.

Charlotte continued, "Bobby's current stats are as follows: Strength 10, Constitution 10, Dexterity 9, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 8, Willpower 12, and Charisma 13. He's at level two, with two unallocated stat points."

As Charlotte relinquished control, I furrowed my brow. "Wait a minute," I interjected. "Why am I not at level three yet? After what happened with Mrs. Roper... I mean, that was pretty intense and unique."

I felt a mix of emotions as I thought about the encounter - guilt, shame, and a twinge of excitement I didn't want to acknowledge. It was confusing, to say the least.

Charlotte's voice echoed in my mind. You're close, Bobby, but not quite there yet.

"But why not?" I argued aloud, forgetting for a moment that the others couldn't hear Charlotte's side of the conversation. "That situation was beyond unusual. How is that not enough?"

I don't make the rules, Bobby, Charlotte replied, her mental voice tinged with frustration.

"But you literally created this system!" I exclaimed, drawing confused looks from the others. "You came up with it after the Pillar of Light gave you the idea."

Charlotte sighed mentally. While I might have created the system, I had to work within the Pillar of Light's parameters. Besides, too much growth too fast could literally damage you, Bobby.

I glanced around the room, noticing the varied reactions to our one-sided conversation. Shayna's face was a mask of concern and uncertainty, likely still processing what she'd heard on the way home. Elly, on the other hand, looked cautiously optimistic, her eyes darting between me and the others.

Mary, despite her obvious excitement, was trying to maintain a subdued demeanor in the background. Her red eyes, however, betrayed her keen interest in the conversation.

Gloria cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. "I've seen plenty of cases where individuals received power they weren't prepared for," she said, her voice grave. "It often ends in destruction - either they're driven to madness and get themselves killed, believing they're invincible, or they destroy everything they hold dear in pursuit of more power." She fixed me with a stern gaze. "I recommend caution, Bobby."

I nodded, understanding her point on an intellectual level. But emotionally, I felt a surge of frustration. "I get what you're saying," I said, trying to keep my voice level. "But we're up against Ardin here. Even the Pillars can't defeat him. How are we supposed to stand a chance if I don't get stronger, sooner rather than later?"

Gloria's expression softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. "It's not that the Pillars are incapable of defeating Ardin. They're limited in how they can exercise their power. As the Pillar of Darkness stated, they have to take into account balance and free will."

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of our task bearing down on me. "So what are we supposed to do? Just hope we get lucky? I have no intention of going out and screwing everything that moves, just to level up."

Ashani, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, spoke up. "Perhaps we should focus on strategy rather than raw power," she suggested, her voice carrying a hint of royal authority. "After all, even the mightiest warrior can fall to a well-laid trap."

Elly nodded in agreement. "Ashani's right. We need to be smart about this. Bobby, your increased abilities are an asset, but they can't be our only plan."

I saw Ashani open her mouth to say something, but I looked at Shayna, who had remained silent throughout the discussion before the princess could speak. "What do you think, Shayna?"

She met my gaze, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions. "I... I don't know, Bobby. This whole situation is so far beyond anything I ever imagined. Part of me is terrified of what you might become if you keep... leveling up. But another part knows we need every advantage we can get against Ardin."

Her words hit me hard, reminding me of the delicate balance we were trying to maintain. I was changing, becoming something more than human, and it scared me more than it excited me.

Mary, seeming to sense the tension in the room, stepped forward. "If I may," she said softly, "perhaps we could approach this from a different angle. Bobby's growth is important, yes, but so is the growth of the team as a whole. We each have unique skills and abilities. Maybe we should focus on how to combine them effectively."

I felt a surge of gratitude towards Mary. Her suggestion made sense and seemed to ease some of the tension in the room.

Gloria nodded approvingly. "That's a wise suggestion. We need to play to our strengths and cover each other's weaknesses."

"Okay," I said, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Let's break this down. What do we know about Ardin? What are his strengths and weaknesses?"

I watched as Elly's brow furrowed, her eyes distant as if trying to recall something important. "Can we hear the prophecy again?" she asked suddenly, her voice breaking the tense silence that had fallen over the room.

Charlotte took control of my mouth, her voice, using my vocal cords, recited the prophecy with perfect clarity:

-

From ancient times, a legend stirs,

The First of Knights, now fallen low,

His sacred vows to ash and burrs,

A god of vengeance, wrath to sow.

-

Against him stands the Knight's Son bold,

A soul thrice-risen, destiny-bound,

To face the one from tales of old,

Whose rage now shakes the very ground.

-

The First, once pure, now tainted dark,

His righteousness a twisted thing,

Seeks to unmake the Pillars' mark,

And chaos to creation bring.

-

The Knight's Son, born of hope and strife,

Must walk the line 'tween light and shade,

To save or end the First Knight's life,

And stem the tide of ruin made.

-

Through trials fierce and battles grim,

The Son must forge a path anew,

His strength tested, his future dim,

Yet to his sacred purpose true.

-

When hope seems lost, the thrice-born soul

Shall shine with power long foretold,

To make the broken cosmos whole,

Or let the fires of chaos hold.

-

In final clash of new and old,

The Knight's Son faces his cruel test,

Will order reign or darkness bold?

The fate of all hangs on this quest.

-

As Charlotte continued, I noticed Shayna's face contort with discomfort. When the recitation finished, she muttered under her breath, "I hate when she does that to my husband."

Charlotte continued, "I understand, Shayna, but it's the only way I can communicate with everyone outside of my mens mundi. Unless you'd prefer I transform Bobby's body into my form, but then he'd have to speak out of my mouth."

"Absolutely not," I said firmly, voicing my thoughts. The idea of my body morphing into Charlotte's form sent a shiver down my spine.

Shayna's face paled, her discomfort evident. "That's... that's even worse," she stammered.

Gloria cleared her throat, drawing our attention. "We could use my mens mundi if it's that big of a deal," she offered, her tone neutral.

Ashani, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, piped up. "What's a mens mundi?"

Gloria turned to the Nagini princess, her explanation concise. "It's a shared mental space, almost like a dream world. The owner has complete control over the environment, and time moves differently there."

I watched as Shayna's face twisted with indecision. She glanced at Elly, a silent conversation passing between them.

Elly spoke up, her voice gentle. "Shayna, remember what you promised? About giving Charlotte more of a chance?"

Shayna's jaw clenched, her internal struggle visible. Finally, she let out a long sigh. "Fine," she said, her voice tight. "We'll use Charlotte's mens mundi." She turned to Gloria, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, Gloria, it's just-"

Gloria held up a hand, cutting her off. "I understand," she said, her voice calm. "I'm a newcomer here. I'll need to earn your trust."

Ashani stretched languidly on the couch, her human form still managing to look regal even in such a casual pose. "Well, this is all very interesting," she drawled, "but I'm not even remotely tired. I don't believe I could fall asleep anytime soon."

I couldn't help but agree with Ashani, but also knew that Charlotte could pull me into her mens mundi with ease, regardless. Hell, she'd even done it while she stayed away and cleaned the kitchen after my disastrous attempt at making dinner for my wives.

A devilish grin spread across Gloria's face. She waved her hand, and suddenly, Ashani slumped over on the couch, fast asleep.

"Falling asleep won't be a problem," Gloria said, her tone matter-of-fact.

I stared at Ashani's sleeping form, then back at Gloria, a mix of awe and unease settling in my stomach. "That's... impressive," I managed to say, trying to keep my voice steady. "And a little terrifying."

Elly moved closer to Ashani, checking her pulse. "She's okay, right?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Gloria nodded. "Of course. She's just sleeping. She'll wake up feeling refreshed."

I felt Charlotte's presence stir within me. We should get started, she urged mentally. The sooner we enter my mens mundi, the more time we'll have to strategize.

"Alright," I said, addressing the room. "Charlotte says we should get started."

I watched as Gloria took charge, her voice calm but authoritative. "Alright, everyone, get comfortable. We'll be entering Charlotte's mens mundi soon."

Shayna and Elly moved closer, each taking one of my hands. Their touch was reassuring, grounding me in the midst of this surreal situation. Gloria, to my surprise, sat next to the sleeping Ashani on the couch, even going so far as to place the Nagini princess's legs over her own.

My eyes fell on Mary, who stood uncertainly near the edge of the room. Her red eyes darted between us, a mix of curiosity and hesitation in her gaze.

"Mary," I said, my voice gentle, "you don't have to participate if you don't want to. This quest could be dangerous, and I don't want to put you in harm's way."

Mary's posture straightened, her eyes meeting mine with an intensity that took me aback. "Master Bobby," she said, her voice filled with conviction, "my loyalties lie with you. I will do all within my power to keep you safe." The emotion in her voice was palpable, and I could see the devotion written clearly across her face.

Elly leaned in close, her breath tickling my ear as she whispered, "I think the maid has a crush on you, Bobby." Her tone was teasing, but I felt a wave of discomfort wash over me at the idea.

Shayna, not to be left out, whispered from my other side, "She is hot, but it would be inappropriate to do anything while she's a slave."

I nodded, agreeing with Shayna. "Exactly," I whispered back. "I have no intention of taking advantage of an enslaved Drow elf."

Mary, who had been standing silently, suddenly spoke up. "Master Bobby, I am at your disposal in ANY way you deem fit," she said, her voice steady but with an undercurrent of... something I couldn't quite place. "I just want to ensure that I'm not overstepping my bounds."

I felt a twinge of guilt at her words. "Mary," I said firmly, "while technically you're bound by our magical contract, I cannot and will not treat you as a slave. Ever."

Mary's cheeks darkened, and I wondered if she was blushing. She muttered something under her breath, so quietly that even with my enhanced hearing, I wasn't sure I heard her correctly. Did she say, "I'd be okay with it if you did"?

Before I could ponder it further, Mary moved, curling up in a ball on the floor in front of me and my wives. The gesture was so unexpected, so... vulnerable, that I felt my heart constrict.

It's like a loyal dog, curling up to protect its owner, Charlotte's voice echoed in my mind. I bristled at the analogy, not liking the implication.

That's not funny, Charlotte, I thought back. She's a person, not a pet.

Before I could voice my displeasure aloud, Gloria raised her hand. "Everyone ready?" she asked, her eyes scanning the room.

I barely had time to nod before a wave of drowsiness washed over me. My eyelids grew heavy, and the world around me began to blur. The last thing I saw was Mary's red eyes, watching me intently as consciousness slipped away.

As the darkness enveloped me, I felt a strange sensation, as if I was falling and floating at the same time. Colors swirled in the void, coalescing into shapes and forms. Slowly, a new environment materialized around us.

We found ourselves in what looked like a luxurious hotel conference suite. Plush carpets covered the floor, and ornate furniture adorned the spacious room. A large window offered a view of a starry night sky, though I knew it wasn't real. At least it wasn't her usual display of hanging red silk curtains and lush pillows strewn about.

"Welcome to my mens mundi," Charlotte's voice rang out, no longer confined to my mind. I turned to see her standing near the window, her succubus form on full display. Her reddish skin gleamed in the soft light, her bat-like wings folded neatly behind her back.

Shayna tensed beside me, her grip on my hand tightening. I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, silently reminding her of her promise to give Charlotte a chance.

Elly, on my other side, looked around with wide-eyed curiosity. "This is amazing," she breathed, taking in the opulent surroundings.

Gloria rose from the room's couch, sliding Ashani's massive tail off her and waking her. The Nagini princess was now in her snakelike form as she blinked in confusion, her six arms stretching languidly as she took in her new surroundings.

"What... where are we?" Ashani asked, her voice still thick with sleep.

"We're in Charlotte's mens mundi," Gloria explained patiently. "Remember? We discussed this before you fell asleep."

Ashani's slitted-pupil eyes narrowed. "Before you put me to sleep, you mean," she grumbled, but there was no real heat in her words.

My attention was drawn to Mary, who was no longer curled up on the floor. Instead, she stood rigidly near the door, her red eyes darting around the room as if searching for potential threats.

"Mary," I called out softly, "you can relax. We're safe here."

Mary's posture softened slightly, but she remained alert. "Of course, Master Bobby," she said, her voice steady. "But I will remain vigilant, just in case."

Charlotte clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Now that we're all here," she said, her tail swishing behind her, "let's get down to business. We need to discuss our strategy for dealing with Ardin."

I watched as Gloria shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting around the opulent room. Despite her unease, there was something about her that drew my attention. A presence, an aura of power that seemed both familiar and foreign. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I decided to keep my observations to myself for now.

Elly broke the silence, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I've been thinking about the prophecy," she began, her voice hesitant. "The part about a 'thrice-risen soul' confuses me. Bobby was..." She trailed off, catching herself as she remembered that the Knights' ability to resurrect wasn't common knowledge.

Gloria jumped in, her voice steady despite her apparent discomfort. "Sonia recently informed me about that particular... capability." She glanced at me, a flicker of something unreadable passing across her face.

Ashani's tail lashed angrily, her human upper body tensing. "Fucking Knights," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "They don't even have the courage to die properly!"

I felt a twinge of defensiveness rise in my chest. "If I hadn't been reborn," I pointed out, trying to keep my voice level, "I wouldn't have been there to help free you from those gnolls."

Ashani's face fell, her anger deflating slightly. "You're... different," she mumbled, not quite meeting my eyes. "You don't count as one of those... bastards."

Elly pressed on, her curiosity apparently outweighing her caution. "But Bobby's only risen once," she said, her eyes darting between Gloria and Charlotte. "Does that mean he has to... die two more times?"

I felt my stomach lurch at the thought. Dying once had been bad enough. The idea of going through that twice more was almost unbearable. And hadn't Sonia, the Pillar of Light, informed me that being resurrected was no longer a possibility?

Charlotte's voice cut through my rising panic. "Actually," she said, her spade tail swishing thoughtfully, "at this point, Bobby and I share not only a body but a soul as well. Since I've been resurrected twice, that should count for all three."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Sharing a body with Charlotte was one thing, but our souls? The implications made my head spin. Would I never be free of her?

Before I could voice my concerns, Shayna's hand tightened around mine. "Bobby," she said, her voice low and intense, "you'd better not go off and die ever again. I mean it."

I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry, babe. I plan on sticking around for a long, long time."

Shayna's eyes narrowed, clearly not appreciating my attempt at being light hearted. But before she could say anything more, Ashani spoke up.

"What do we actually know about our target?" the Nagini princess asked, her voice sharp with impatience.

Gloria straightened, that strange presence about her seeming to intensify. "Ardin," she began, her voice taking on an almost lyrical quality, "was once a devout man. A true believer in his faith, unwavering in his convictions." Her eyes grew distant, as if seeing into the past. "But something changed him. Twisted his righteousness into something dark and vengeful."

I listened, fascinated and horrified in equal measure. The way Gloria spoke, it was almost as if she knew Ardin personally.

Elly's voice cut through my thoughts. "But if the Pillars couldn't properly contain Ardin," she said, her tone worried, "how are we supposed to?"

Shayna nodded in agreement. "I mean, I'm good at what I do, but taking down a being with godlike powers? That's a bit outside my skillset."

I looked around at our ragtag group – a succubus, a Nagini princess, two women raised by Knights, a mysterious woman with an unexplained aura of power, and a dark elf maid. And me, caught in the middle of it all. How were we supposed to stand against a fallen god?

I watched as Gloria's expression turned somber, her eyes distant as if lost in memories. "If there was a way to reach the loving man Ardin once was, we might be able to stop his rampage," she said, her voice tinged with regret. "However, after Ardin's heart was broken... I don't know if there's anything left of him. He went on to form the..."

Gloria paused, her gaze shifting to Charlotte. The succubus nodded, a silent understanding passing between them. With a wave of her hand, Charlotte conjured a door out of thin air. My jaw dropped as Nikky, my mom's renter, strolled through it as casually as if she was entering our living room.

"What the hell?" I blurted out, my heart racing. Everyone except Gloria and Charlotte tensed, clearly as shocked as I was.

Nikky's mischievous smile spread across her face as she took in our stunned expressions. "Well, well, well," she drawled, her eyes twinkling. "Looks like quite the party you've got going on here, Bobby." She wagged her finger at me playfully. "You really should talk to Susan more often, you know. She was getting worried and sent me to check up on you."

Panic seized me as I realized how much Nikky was able to see. Charlotte was in her succubus form, Ashani was in her Nagini form, and not as obvious, but Mary's pointed ears slightly poked out from her white hair. My mind raced, trying to come up with plausible excuses. "Nikky, I can explain," I stammered. "This isn't... We were just..."

Nikky's laughter cut me off. "Relax, kiddo," she said, grinning. "I walked into your house and found you all passed out in the living room. Figured it must have been one hell of a party." She gestured around at the opulent surroundings. "Next thing I know, I'm walking into this fancy imaginary hotel conference room. Gotta say, your subconscious has good taste."

Mary's voice piped up, trembling slightly. "But... but the house doors were locked," she said, her red eyes wide with confusion and fear. "How did you get in?"

Nikky's attention snapped to Mary, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Holy shit, is that a drow elf?" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her feet. "This is amazing! Awesome! Incredible!" She rushed towards Mary, her enthusiasm overwhelming. "I can't believe it! Not all the elves are dead!"

Mary let out a small yelp and darted behind me, using my body as a shield against Nikky's exuberance. I felt a twinge of protectiveness as I placed a hand on Mary's shoulder, trying to reassure her.

Nikky skidded to a halt, a shrewd gleam entering her eyes as she took in the scene. "Well, well," she said, her tone teasing. "Looks like someone's building quite the harem, Bobby." She affected a mock pout. "And to think, you so thoroughly rejected my advances when you came to visit your mother after getting married. I'm hurt."

I felt my face heat up. "I'm not trying to build a harem," I protested, acutely aware of Mary still pressed against my back and my wives' eyes on me. "I'm more than happy with what I have."

"Bobby isn't building a bigger harem..." Charlotte's voice chimed in, a hint of amusement in her tone.

"...yet," Shayna finished, surprising me. The two women regarded each other, Charlotte's face alight with joy and hope, while Shayna's expression remained cautious but open.

Elly wrapped an arm around Shayna's waist, giving her an encouraging squeeze. "I'm proud of you," she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear.

Gloria cleared her throat, her authoritative presence drawing everyone's attention. "Nikky," she said, her tone chiding, "you're late."

I blinked, confusion washing over me. "Late?" I echoed. "What do you mean, late?"

Gloria turned to me, her expression serious. "Nikky is the last member of our party," she explained. "She's a—"

"Close family friend," Nikky cut in smoothly, flashing a winning smile. "I was asked to assist with your little... adventure."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Oh, wonderful," I drawled, sarcasm dripping from every word. "One more person along for this insane ride. And why, pray tell, do they all have to be attractive women? Is this some kind of cosmic joke?"

Gloria's response was as blunt as it was unexpected. "I appreciate the compliment," she said, her tone matter-of-fact, "but my heart belongs to another man."

I felt my face flush, embarrassed by my outburst. "I... that's not what I meant," I stammered, trying to backpedal.

Ashani's tail lashed, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed Nikky. "And just what skills do you bring to this... party?" she asked, her tone dripping with skepticism.

Nikky's grin widened, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, honey," she purred, "I'm full of surprises."

I groaned internally, wondering how I'd ended up in this situation. A succubus sharing my body, two wives, a Nagini princess, a mysterious woman with hidden depths, a drow elf maid, and now my mom's flirtatious renter. This "quest" was shaping up to be more complicated than I could have ever imagined.

I stood there, my mind racing as I pieced together the puzzle before me. The way Gloria spoke of Nikky, the casual acceptance of our bizarre group, my mother's history of protecting magical creatures... It all clicked into place.

"You're not human!" I blurted out, pointing at Nikky.

Nikky's sultry laugh filled the room, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She gave me a non-committal shrug, her expression seeming to say 'maybe, maybe not.' The secretive smile playing on her lips only added to the mystery.

"Well, well," Ashani hissed, her tail swishing behind her. "Looks like our little group just got more interesting."

Shayna stepped forward, her brow furrowed. "If you're not human, what are you?" she asked Nikky directly.

Nikky's grin widened. "Now, now," she purred. "A lady never reveals all her secrets on the first date."

Shayna rolled her eyes. "This isn't a date," she muttered.

Mary, still partially hidden behind me, peeked out. "Is... is she dangerous?" she whispered, her red eyes wide with concern.

I placed a reassuring hand on Mary's shoulder. "I don't think so," I said softly. "My mom trusts her, and that counts for something."

Gloria cleared her throat, drawing our attention. "Nikky's exact nature isn't important right now," she said firmly. "What matters is that she's here to help us deal with Ardin."

"Can we please get back on track?" I pleaded, trying to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand, as though I wasn't the last one to go off on a tangent. "We were discussing Ardin and how to stop him."

Charlotte nodded, her expression growing serious. "Bobby's right," she said, her tail swishing behind her. "We need to focus on the task at hand."

Elly stepped forward, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Gloria," she said, her voice hesitant, "you were saying something about Ardin forming... something. What was it?"

Gloria's eyes met mine, a weight in her gaze that made me shiver. "Ardin," she said slowly, "went on to form the Paladonic Knights."

The room fell silent as the implications of her words sank in. I felt as if the floor had dropped out from under me. The very organization I'd been inducted into, the one my father had been a part of, had been founded by the man we were now tasked with stopping.

"Well, shit," I muttered, summing up the collective mood of the room.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of our situation settling on my shoulders. "Alright, let's summarize what we're up against," I began, my voice steady despite the churning in my gut. "Ardin, once a devout man, is now a fallen god with a vendetta. He's powerful, vengeful, and apparently the founder of the Paladonic Knights. He's broken out of whatever containment the Pillars had him in, and now we're tasked with stopping him." I turned to Gloria, raising an eyebrow. "Did I miss anything?"

Gloria nodded, her eyes distant. "There's one more crucial detail," she added softly. "Ardin's power deals with knowing things. I'm not sure how it works, but he usually knows more than he should."

"Oh yeah... That too," I muttered, feeling a headache coming on. "Because why not make this even more impossible?"

I looked around the room, mentally evaluating each woman and their potential contributions to our mission. My gaze lingered on Elly and Shayna, worry gnawing at me. They were both pregnant with my children, a fact that filled me with both joy and terror given our current situation. Elly's intelligence could be invaluable, and I remembered how easily she had tossed me to the ground. As for Shayna, her cheerleading skills might not seem immediately useful, but I had a feeling her athletic prowess could come in handy.

Gloria remained an enigma, but the powerful aura surrounding her hinted at hidden strengths. Mary, our drow elf maid, had already proven herself capable and cunning. I shuddered slightly, remembering what she'd done to her previous master.

My eyes fell on Nikky, and I couldn't help but smirk. She struck me as more of a trickster than a fighter, but I hoped her mischievous nature would be an asset in unexpected ways.

Charlotte, of course, was a constant presence in my mind. A succubus sharing my body and soul... It was still hard to wrap my head around. Despite our differences, I knew she had my best interests at heart. Her confession of love for me still left me conflicted, but now wasn't the time to dwell on that.

Finally, my gaze settled on Ashani. I'd seen her fight the gnoll alpha, and her strength was undeniable. But there was also an air of pampered royalty about her that made me wonder how she'd fare in a prolonged conflict. As I studied her snake half, a question popped into my mind.

"Ashani," I asked, "are you poisonous?"

Ashani's eyes narrowed, and I could see a flicker of amusement mixed with exasperation. "First of all," she said, her voice dripping with barely contained disdain, "the correct term is venomous, not poisonous. Poison is ingested or absorbed, venom is injected." She paused, clearly enjoying the chance to educate me. "But to answer your question, yes, in my Nagini form, I can inject a very deadly toxin if I choose. However," she added, her nose wrinkling slightly, "I prefer not to bite things. I'd rather use my strength and arms than rely on my venom. The taste it leaves in my mouth is... unpleasant."

I nodded, filing away that information for later. "Good to know," I said, trying not to dwell on the image of Ashani's fangs.

Gloria cleared her throat, drawing my attention. "Bobby," she said, her voice curious, "Charlotte mentioned something about you 'leveling up' earlier. Can you explain more about that?"

Before I could respond, Charlotte's voice echoed excitedly in the room. "Oh yes!" she exclaimed. "Bobby, remember you have unallocated stat points, and you can choose a new ability now!"

I groaned internally. "Abilities?" I asked hesitantly, already dreading the answer.

Charlotte's grin was worrying as she began listing options. "Well, you could choose 'Silver Tongue,' which would enhance your persuasive abilities in... intimate situations. Or perhaps 'Tantric Touch,' allowing you to channel sexual energy for various effects. Oh! And there's 'Pheromone Cloud,' which would make you irresistible to those around you for short periods."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. "Charlotte," I said, trying to keep my voice level, "how exactly are any of those supposed to help us defeat a being with godlike powers?"

"Well," Charlotte replied, her tone matter-of-fact, "the more connections you make, the stronger you become. And these abilities would certainly help you make... connections."

I looked around the room, suddenly very aware of the women surrounding me. They all regarded me with varying degrees of disgust, curiosity, and in Nikky's case, intrigue.

"Charlotte…" I began, hoping I didn't sound as annoyed with her as I felt. "Please tell me I have more options than that. Something to make me a better fighter, or more resistant, rather than something to manipulate those around me. You should know how I feel about manipulation by now."

I watched as Charlotte's excitement visibly deflated, her tail drooping and her wings sagging. Before she could respond, Nikky piped up with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Oh, I don't know," she purred, her voice dripping with suggestion. "Some of those abilities sound pretty useful to me. Especially that 'Pheromone Cloud.' I bet that could come in handy in all sorts of... situations."

I regarded Nikky for a moment, wondering if she had some secret kink she wasn't sharing. But I didn't dare ask, especially not with everyone else around. Instead, I turned back to Charlotte, who seemed to have recovered a bit.

"Alright, alright," Charlotte said, her voice a mix of resignation and determination. "I've got some other options that might be more your speed, Bobby. How about 'Phantasmal Fabrication'? It lets you create convincing illusions. Or 'Cerebral Invasion,' which allows you to read surface thoughts and potentially plant suggestions. There's also 'Psychokinetic Manipulation,' giving you the power to move objects with your mind."

I mulled over these new options, considering how they might work with my unallocated stat points. Each ability sounded potentially useful, but I needed to think strategically.

"What do you all think?" I asked, looking around at the group.

Elly stepped forward, her brow furrowed in concentration. "The illusion ability could be incredibly versatile," she said thoughtfully. "It might help us avoid confrontations altogether in some cases."

"I'm not too sure how well illusions would work against Ardin," Gloria said. "Like I said, he seems to know more than he should, and he might be able to see right through any illusions you can conjure."

"Oh," Charlotte seemed even more depressed. "I figured that way Bobby could create an illusion of me, and even make it talk so that I wouldn't have to use his mouth anymore."

Shayna let out a sour grunt. "Yeah, that would be nice… But being able to read minds? That's a major invasion of privacy," she added. "Even if we're up against someone as crafty as Ardin sounds, I don't like it."

"Besides," I chimed in, facing my inner succubus, "You already know how I feel about reading people's minds. If I really needed it, I could just ask you to do it."

"But you'd be skipping the middle man!" Charlotte argued. "And I'm telling you, if you knew half of what Adam was daydreaming, you'd either go back to his house and cave his skull in, or ravish Melina right on his bed and make him sleep in the wet spot."

"Wait, what?!" Shayna demanded, her hands balling into fists as she prepared for a battle. "What was that degenerate thinking?"

"Nothing!" I shot out, trying to defuse a situation before it could get us further off track. When Shayna turned her cold blue eyes on me, I almost regretted cutting in. "It's probably just Adam being Adam. Besides, I'm not saying it's right, but all men have fantasies about any attractive woman they see. We can't help it. Most of us know better than to ever consider acting on those fantasies, however."

"Oh really?" Nikky asked in a syrupy sweet tone. "Then I'm curious what fantasies you've had about me?"

"Or me!" Ashani added herself with a tone that seemed a little too hopeful.

"Ladies!" I tried once again to get things back on track. "Now is not the time to discuss—"

Charlotte cut in before I could finish, facing the confident redhead. "When he said any attractive women, he meant that he finds attractive. You don't fall into that category."

Ouch! I thought, wondering where that catty attitude had come from. Sure, I wasn't very particular to redheads, and I wasn't overly fond of Nikky, but she didn't deserve that.

"What about me, Bobby?" Ashani asked, and I struggled to hold back a groan. When I turned to face her, she was back in her human form, and though she stood taller than me, and was well-muscled, she was also very naked. "Am I not attractive to you?"

"Enough!" Gloria's voice shook the very air with its power and authority, that left a vacuum in its passing, pulling all of our attention to the woman. There was no way to ignore the compulsion to look. All of us were affected, though Charlotte seemed the most stressed by that single word. Had it stressed her mens mundi? "None of that matters right now. Does anyone else have any input on his ability options?"

Mary, still partially hidden behind me, spoke up softly. "If I may, Master Bobby," she said, her red eyes wide, "the ability to move objects could be very useful in both combat and stealth situations."

I winced slightly at Mary's use of "Master" but decided now wasn't the time to address it. "Those are all good points," I said, nodding to each of them. I felt the weight of their eyes on me, expectant, and squared my shoulders as I looked between them.

As I pondered my options, I noticed Ashani's tail lashing back and forth, her face a mask of boredom and frustration. She must have transformed back after Gloria's shout.

"Is something wrong, Ashani?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She let out an exasperated hiss. "All this talk of 'leveling up' and abilities... it's so tedious," she grumbled. "I don't understand the appeal of these video games you humans are so obsessed with." Her eyes narrowed as she continued, "If I hadn't been falsely accused of being sullied and expelled from my tribe, I could have brought real power to this fight. My people are warriors, not... whatever this is."

I made a mental note of Ashani's comment about her tribe, filing it away for later. But right now, I needed to focus on the task at hand.

I weighed my options carefully, considering the words of those around me. The ability to create illusions could be useful, but as Gloria pointed out, it might not work against Ardin. Mind reading felt too invasive, and I wasn't comfortable with that level of intrusion. Finally, I made my decision.

"I think I'm going to go with Psychokinetic Manipulation," I announced, looking around the room. "Being able to move objects with my mind could be incredibly versatile in both combat and stealth situations, just like Mary said."

Charlotte's voice piped up, a hint of disappointment coloring her tone. "Are you sure you don't want one of the first options? The 'Silver Tongue' ability could be really useful for gathering information or manipulating situations to our advantage."

Before I could respond, Shayna let out a derisive snort. "Oh please," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're just trying to get more action for yourself."

Charlotte bristled at the accusation. "I'm trying to help Bobby get stronger, faster," she retorted. "The more connections he makes, the more powerful he becomes. It's not just about our pleasure."

"Enough," I said firmly, cutting off their bickering. "My decision is final. I'm choosing Psychokinetic Manipulation."

Nikky's eyes lit up at my declaration, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Ooh, telekinesis could be fun to play around with," she purred, giving me a suggestive wink. "I can think of all sorts of... interesting applications."

I felt my cheeks heat up at her implication but chose to ignore it. Instead, I turned to Mary, who was practically vibrating with excitement.

"Thank you for your input, Mary," I said softly. "Your suggestion was really helpful."

Mary's red eyes widened, and for a moment, it looked like she was about to throw herself at me. But at the last second, she caught herself, pulling back with a visible effort. "I'm... I'm glad I could be of assistance, Master," she mumbled, her dark cheeks flushing a deep purple.

I noticed her aborted action and felt a pang of sympathy. Mentally, I reminded myself that I wasn't willing to do anything with her as long as she was bound by her slave contract. It wouldn't be right, no matter how much she might want it.

Charlotte's voice sullen as she spoke up again. "What about your two free stat points?" she asked. "I recommend putting them in charisma. It could help with social situations and maybe even boost the effectiveness of your abilities."

I rolled my eyes but caught sight of Shayna opening her mouth, no doubt to make another snarky comment at Charlotte's expense. Quickly, I made my decision. "I'll put one point into dexterity to get it up to 10, and one point into intelligence," I said. "I figure that'll help me with my new skill."

Charlotte sighed. "Your intelligence stat won't really help you with Psychokinetic Manipulation," she explained. "It's your willpower that will affect that."

I nodded, remembering that my willpower was already at 12, which Charlotte had mentioned was above the normal human theoretical cap of 10. "I'll stick with my decision," I said firmly. "Especially the dexterity." A plan was starting to form in my mind, involving Ashani's tribe and potentially gaining allies for our fight against Ardin, but I kept the details to myself for now.

"Alright," Charlotte conceded. "Are you ready to learn your new skill and allocate your stat points?"

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's do this."

Suddenly, a warm sensation began to spread through my body, starting from my core and radiating outward. It felt like liquid sunlight was flowing through my veins, heating me from the inside out. My skin tingled pleasantly, and I could feel every nerve ending coming alive with sensation.

As the warmth reached my brain, it was like a fog lifting. My thoughts became clearer, sharper, and I could feel new neural pathways forming. The concept of psychokinesis unfolded in my mind like a blooming flower, each petal revealing new possibilities and applications of the skill.

At the same time, I felt a surge of energy in my muscles. My body felt lighter, more responsive, as if I could dance on the edge of a razor without losing my balance. The increase in dexterity was subtle but unmistakable.

The sensations built to a crescendo, and for a moment, it felt like every atom in my body was vibrating in perfect harmony. A wave of pleasure washed over me, not quite sexual but deeply satisfying on a primal level. I let out a soft gasp as the feeling peaked, then slowly ebbed away, leaving me feeling invigorated and more alive than ever.

As I came back to myself, I realized I was breathing heavily, my body covered in a light sheen of sweat. I blinked, looking around at the others in the room, suddenly very aware of their presence.

Nikky's eyes were fixed on me, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Well," she said, her gaze dropping pointedly to my groin, "looks like someone enjoyed that little power-up. Maybe those 'connections' aren't so bad after all, hm?"

I felt my face flush hot with embarrassment, but before I could respond, Gloria cleared her throat loudly. "Now that that's settled," she said, her tone brooking no argument, "we need to focus on our next steps. Bobby, you mentioned you had a plan forming?"

I nodded, grateful for the change of subject. "Yeah, I was thinking we might want to look into Ashani's situation with her tribe," I began, glancing at the nagini. "If we can clear her name and maybe even get some allies from her people, it could be a big help against Ardin."

Ashani's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed suspiciously. "And how exactly do you propose to do that?" she asked, her tail twitching nervously. "My tribe cast me out, believing me to be... defiled. They won't listen to outsiders, especially not humans."

"We'll figure something out," I said confidently, even though I wasn't entirely sure how we'd pull it off. "For now, let's focus on gathering more information about Ardin and his movements. We need to be prepared for anything."

 

 

 

* * *

1084 A.D.

In an instant, Ardin saw through to the true Venita. Or rather, to the vile creature that’d deceived him, sending him on a perilous journey that tested his faith, when he should have been at home to protect his family.

Only his family was also a lie. Despite his uncanny ability to see truths and know things that should have been beyond him, Ardin struggled to understand the truth of his reality.

As the wicked pagan goddess held him, Ardin’s mind was overwhelmed by images and impressions that were beyond a regular mortal to comprehend. He was no longer a regular mortal, but still close enough that he struggled to parse the onslaught of information.

With a supreme effort of will, Ardin focused his mind on what he could. Venita held a physical form that itself held in a powerful being. She wasn’t human, and he knew this wasn’t her true body. He sorted through her last two weeks and wanted to throw up.

She was the proprietor of this den of inequity. It was bad enough that his wife owned and managed a business, but that it was this particular endeavor was disgusting. The amount of sin that occurred within these walls hourly was enough to make any pious man weep and beg for redemption. How could his sweet, loving, Christian wife allow herself to sink so low? But that wasn’t the worst thing.

She’d lain with another man the day before he’d arrived. He saw everything in her memories. The man was wealthy, politically connected, and she’d not wanted to do it, but had to, to keep her unholy business unmolested. He saw through the last fortnight, and knew that she’d had many offers, but turned down all but that one. He saw her reasoning and reluctance to accept the liaison, but was also unable to not witness the deed, and the act she'd pretended to get the man off as quickly as possible.

He felt a physical revulsion at her touch and wanted to release the small amount of food in his stomach, but managed to hold it in. Over the last few years, he’d learned how to pretend. Many were disgusted at the sight of him, and despite his abilities, he’d trained himself on keeping his thoughts and emotions bottled up. A necessary habit formed from living amongst the two-faced and corrupt humans who professed to be humble Christians, but behind closed doors, acted with lustful, greedy hearts.

“I’m here, now,” he managed to say through a throat that barely wanted to cooperate. “We can… we can be together again.” That lie roiled his stomach, but somehow he managed to get the words out. His mind raced, as he worked to come up with some way to flee this retched place.

“You’ve… been changed,” she said, after a bit of hesitation, pulling away to look at him. He knew what she saw, but for once, didn’t try to hide anything. His body was gaunt, but strong. His hair was long, almost falling to the middle of his back. But the biggest change since the last time she’d seen him was his lack of eyes. Smooth skin now covered the area his eyes once held, though that was no detriment to him.

“I’ve…” Ardin thought of how much to tell her, before firming his resolve. “I met some people you knew in your old life. When I returned to our village to find it destroyed, the man was angry and did this to me.” Ardin touched the smooth skin over his eye sockets and shook his head.

“I’m so sorry,” Venita wailed, and he knew she meant it, but her sorrow couldn’t reach his broken heart. “I didn’t think any of them would still be around. I hoped you would be able to get the fruit and return to us. I hoped… But none of that matters, now. We’re together again.”

Her mention of the fruit reminded him that he still had one remaining bite left on it. Despite having taken two bites already, the fruit had remained healthy and unspoiled. The crazy thing had actually healed over, and merely shrunk in size after each bit to look whole, if diminished. In a panic, he sent out his thoughts, looking for it, and found it safe among his meager belongings. He didn’t trust this woman, this charlatan that'd masqueraded as a pious God-fearing woman, and intended to get as far away from her as he possibly could.

How much of their marriage was an act like with that politician? How much had she pretended to love him, all the while lying to him about who and what she was? Unfortunately, his abilities didn't reach that far into the past.

He knew it was a sin, but he had to lie to her a bit more. She was already a being of power, and if she ate another bite of that fruit, who knew what it would do to her.

“That fruit is the only reason I’m still alive,” his voice came out thick with emotion, as he recalled the pain of being blasted with the lightning. “After I was hit with the power of that old man, I ate the last of the fruit. I was healed by the grace of God, but my eyes…” He couldn’t tell her about his abilities.

“That doesn’t matter, now,” Venita told him, and he knew she meant it. Her love and concern for him were like daggers in his chest. In a way, they hurt more than when that pagan god had tried to kill him. He couldn’t be with such an unclean woman, much less one that thought of herself as a pagan god. “We’re together again, and nothing will pull us apart ever again.”

He knew that a part of him was being hypocritical. He’d broken nearly every commandment in an attempt to get back to her, including infidelity, but her betrayal went way before that. She’d pretended to be a virgin on their wedding night, something that he sincerely doubted, now knowing that she was a pagan goddess of love and beauty.

“Nothing,” he told her. In his heart, he meant it as all that was left of their relationship and marriage, though he knew she would take it as a reply to her sincerity. “I’m feeling tired. I think I need some more rest. Will… Will you still be here when I wake up?”

She regarded him for a moment, her eyes inscrutable, before she offered a wide smile. “I will be right outside. Just say my name and I’ll be back in here as fast as possible, my love.”

Ardin nodded, then pulled away to rest. He wasn’t tired—another lie, but what was one more?—but needed to be alone with his thoughts. Physical contact with her was still overwhelming, and he needed to plan his exit. He knew it hurt her, but he was unable to return the words of affection as she got up and left the room.

He waited for Eothan to quietly check on him one more time, while pretending to sleep, before getting up.

He pulled out the ambrosia, looking at the strange, mystical fruit one last time, before popping it into his mouth and moving for the window.

He was high up, a fall that would kill or cripple most mortals, but he was no longer entirely mortal. With the last bite still whole in his mouth, Ardin glanced back one last time.

Goodbye, Venita, or Aphrodite, or whoever you really are, Ardin thought as his heart broke for the last time. I pray to God that we never meet again.

Without any further hesitation, Ardin climbed out the window and allowed himself to fall. His legs buckled when he hit the solid ground outside, and someone screamed. He felt his bones poking out of his shins, and the pain was tremendous, but he ignored it all. The fruit had broken open in his mouth and he quickly chewed and swallowed, feeling his body become whole once more as new strength and vigor suffused him.

Getting back to his feet, Ardin rushed from the gathering crowd. Behind him, he heard a familiar voice shouting.

“Ardin? Wait, my love, please come back!”

In the early evening light, the man who’d once been Ardin vanished amidst the bustling streets. The fisherman from a small village on the coast of the Northern Sea was dead. In his place, raced a grown man, filled with righteous power, intent on doing God’s work and punishing the wicked.

Especially those who didn’t follow His commandments, or worse, weren’t even human.

Well, looks like I'm able to keep this approximate pace. Let me know if you feel the quality is dipping, or what you think!

Ashani

Nikky