On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Treyvon James, Fenrir, Akio’s Territory, the Boundary, Tokyo

“Quit looking at us like you’re chewing on shit.” Aliyah grumbled at the Goblin, who had a wary expression on his face, his dirty yellow eyes darting left and right, betraying his nerves. “You came to the mansion, so you’ve got to have made up your mind, yeah? Shit, your companion, he ain’t worried, is he?”

“Aliyah, calm it.” Trey warned. They were on the Tree terrace, mostly alone apart from a few scattered Fae on breaks. They had observed the trainees working hard here to learn elements and basic Skills, which did make Trey feel a little guilty they were slacking off, especially as they had the invite to the far more luxurious training opportunities of the mansion, but, just like his sister, his gut told him this was important.

“He’s obviously wrestling with something major. So don’t make it harder for him, okay?”

Aliyah just snorted in response and continued drinking her liquor. Treyvon was grateful for Luciana, who was keeping quiet but observing everything, including the body language of the two Fae in front of them. Sure, Fae didn’t have all the human mannerisms and tells, but… they had enough, and Luciana was smart, and had picked up on the behaviour of the Fae more than any of them, being as she spent so much time mingling with them in her Adamant training.

“I never did get your name, despite us having talked a few times…” Trey tried to break the ice, and the Goblin frowned.

“We do not share our names carelessly. Old habits… still linger. You can call me Goblin, or Wanderer… or give me a name of your own choosing. It matters little.”

“As for me…” the slender, fragile-looking Dwarf smiled, though there was en edge to it, a slight hostility, that none of them would miss, being as they were trained Private Military Contractors… no, a private army now…

“You can call me… Laternenflammedieinderdunkelheitbrennt. But as that is… quite the mouthful, you can call me Darkflame.”

“That reminds me of… German…” Aliyah, who despite her argumentative and brusque nature, was actually talented with languages, remarked. “Quite the mouthful. But Darkflame… think much of yourself, do you? Sounds like some sort of cheap cartoon supervillain. Or… what do they call them here in Japan? Chūnibyō.”

“A villain?” the strange Dwarf chuckled. “Yes, sometimes we were indeed wicked, though… mostly just pranks…”

“Really?” the Goblin, who Treyvon decided to go with Wanderer, as he suggested, snorted, taking a sip of his own sweet liquor. “You Kobolds used to collapse mines and poison the air. Hardly pranks.”

So he’s a Kobold, huh? Not a Dwarf? But… His sister and Luciana also were confused, and Aliyah spoke up with her usual lack of decorum.

“Kobold? You ain’t like those others. Those barking dogs. Don’t get me wrong, I ain’t got a problem with them, they do good work and don’t cause trouble for anyone, but… they’re damn timid.”

“No. I would not be.” Darkflame agreed. “As for their… timidity…” He rolled the word around his mouth as if tasting it, and his sour expression meant he didn’t enjoy it. Chewing on shit, like Aliyah suggested earlier. She does have quite the turn of phrase. She needs to fix her language if she’s ever hoping to find a woman who’s her type…

“…of course they are fearful. Persecution is the lot in life of the Kobolds. Now little more than grubbing dogs in dirt. Not… miners, like we were born to be.”

“You seem to be rather unlike them?” Luciana asked pointedly. “Of course, having seen many Fae now, I know that you can be distinto, different. After all, compare Shaeula to her brother and sister, yes?”

“The princess…” Wanderer muttered. “…before, she was derided as petty, crude and foolish. But now… she has changed.”

“Much as I hate to say it, and don’t get me wrong, she’s still a cold bitch if you cross her…” Aliyah shrugged. “…she’s grown up, I guess as much as an of you weird bastards do? And that’s down to Akio. He’s a… stabilising influence, to an extent. Fuck me, though if he asked, those crazy bitches would tear down the world for him. So… yeah.” She folded her arms, pensive. “Anyway, you never answered Luciana. I’m curious as to why you seem so… human-like?”

“That is a… personal… question, human.” The Kobold scoffed. “I am High, not easily swayed by the polluting degradation of lies and malicious doubts. But so few of us are thus…” He glanced at Wanderer, eyes inscrutable. “…If you must cast blame, look to yourselves.”

“Us?” Treyvon asked, frowning. “We didn’t even know you existed up until recently.”

“Oh, quite.” The High Kobold agreed. “You did not know, but… the work was done, as we miners might say. The mine is already dry, and the miners… well, when the mine is barren, what use are we?”

“I hate this riddle shit. You get what he’s going on about?” Aliyah asked Wanderer, who held his silence for a while, before nodding slowly, seemingly making up his mind.

“Yes. It is… similar… to what has afflicted us. And the slow decline of the Seelie Court. Though… ice melts and perhaps there is a sun, as well as the moon…”

“That ain’t clear, that’s just another fucking riddle.” Aliyah cursed. “Get to the point.”

“Is it not simple?” Darkflame brought out a strangely burning lantern, violet, red and other colours within the fires. “There are untold millions of you humans, and… our world is often seen as but a dream. Some dreams become nightmares. It is all.”

“Adherence.” Luciana spoke up, pursing her lips, troubled. Treyvon wasn’t interested in women, but he could appreciate them when they were attractive, and at this moment, Luciana certainly was. No wonder Shaeula wanted her in Adamant. My sis is right, she can be a dangerous woman, that princess.

“Claro, it is clear to me now. I have taken the lessons.” She smiled at the two of them. “I know you two study as well, but the lectures for the Adamant members are… special. We are extraordinario.” She was prideful, but such pride made her shine, and for a moment, Treyvon felt proud too, that one of their own was making such a leap forward in her career. It’s our dream to rise to the top, to show that us poor unfortunates, born in slums and ghettos, or with shitty parents, or none at all… can make it. Then he reasserted his own will, and judging by the fire in his sister’s eyes, she was the same way. But we’re no different. We are Fenrir now. I like it, because it’s still a wolf, just… the king of all wolves!

“If I is what I think… the malicia, the conspirar, it is simply impossible for me to believe. But then…” Luciana shrugged. “I have seen much that defies belief, ever since that night in Las Vegas.”

“Don’t keep me hanging, girl.” Aliyah grumbled. “What do you mean?”

“It is simple. The sorry state of these… Kobolds, Goblins too… it is an attack.” Luciana declared, and Darkflame waved his lantern, nodding.

“Yes, you are indeed a clever one. Malice and conspiracy indeed. And it was masterfully done. So careful that few noticed until it was too late. Perhaps one did…” He frowned. “…but embracing corruption to fight corruption is a razor’s edge to walk, and… I fear the air in that mine was more poisoned than the outside.”

“Shouldn’t you be telling this to Akio or your princess?” Treyvon asked, and Wanderer shook his head.

“It is far too late. For most. Thousands of years have passed for us. And the world has changed. But…” he paused, and Darkflame waved the lantern almost hypnotically, leaving streaks of pretty flame behind which faded to sparks, as he spoke in a sing-song fashion.

“No, my pessimistic friend. It is never too late, while you still hold the will to fight. Besides, a great change is upon us, and… you still have your hope, yes? The last treasure of the First?”

Wanderer hissed a breath, before nodding stiffly. “But… such a fragile hope…”

“Yet you and yours carried it, no? Frozen, protected… insulated, just as marshdamp cannot explode unless mixed with air and exposed to flame… there it lies, untainted, perfect. Yet so… vulnerable.”

“So, you’ve got a treasure you need help with?” Aliyah shrugged, tilting her head, beads jingling. “Makes sense. Akio’s fixed up those Regalia, ain’t he? But… I get it. We sympathise. I ain’t one to tell you not to be careful. You’re like us, the minority, the ones the strong kick aside, as if we’d dirty their shoes. You have a secret weapon, of course you want to keep it close. Just like we…” She glanced at Treyvon and Luciana, and they both agreed with gentle nods.

“…grew strong, trained hard, armed up and formed our own mercenary outfit…” She paused, as if expecting her brother to interject, but he let her talk. There’s no point worrying over terminology now. That time has passed.

“…and relied on ourselves. But… that ain’t always enough. We got our asses kicked going up against Akio and Shaeula. By all rights they should have killed us, or locked us up and threw away the keys, but… shit, they’re both soft-hearted. Even though I call her a cold bitch, she… was just pulling a mean, petty prank on me, because I annoyed her, and was overconfident. You know…”

Trey watched his sister talk sense with a mixture of pride and amusement. She’s never been an idiot, just hot-headed, but… even that’s cooling a bit recently. She’s even stopped backbiting at our boss. Maybe she’s finally matured. Though her figure matured years ago…

“…I think you can trust them. They won’t steal your treasure. I mean, he’s not the sort. He’s annoyingly honest to a fault, if you left him holding your purse, he’d give it back and wouldn’t even have dipped in for a few dollars. And in battle, I’d trust him with my life. Fuck me, I hate saying that, but it’s true. He’s still got a long way to go before he acts like a damn professional, but he’s getting better. Just… if I had a sister instead of a brother, I’d be on my damn guard. Trust him with my life, yeah, a woman… fuck no!”

At her bitter laughter, Wanderer seemed to shrink in on himself, and Treyvon had a strange feeling he knew what was about to happen. Way to say the wrong thing, it’s almost comforting…

“Huh? Why the gloomy face… huh, no, it isn’t…?” Aliyah clutched her head. “Your treasure, it’s a…”

“I think it best you show them. After all… your course is set. And… talk of his deeds today proves he can do what you wish…” Darkflame insisted, and after a moment, the Goblin nodded stiffly.

“There are no other choices. It is known. Now… follow me.”

What the hell are we getting ourselves into? Treyvon wondered idly as the three of them were led to a modest house. Inside were a number of other Goblins, who protested bitterly about their intrusion, but Wanderer silenced them with his anger. Soon, a small panel had been removed from the floor, and they found themselves in a small cellar, which had been turned into some sort of makeshift shrine, a block of what looked like ice, or perhaps frosted glass, placed on a central altar.

“Here. The Blood of the First. The last First.” Wanderer intoned, his voice heavy with emotion. “Our treasure, our hope. The last true Goblin. Even we, who remain… we have lost so much.”

“Just as the Kobolds. And many others…” Darkflame agreed. “…and not just us… though, those they call Yōkai, they seem to have been largely insulated from the curse. Though perhaps they have a different Woe to bear.”

“Fuck me.” Aliyah whistled. “You seeing this Trey, Luciana?”

“Of course. I have eyes.” Luciana retorted. “She is rather… adorable?”

“At least what you were worrying about shouldn’t happen…” Treyvon remarked, and his sister turned, punching him in the shoulder, which hurt.

“Shut it, Trey. How was I to know, yeah? But you ain’t wrong. He’s a bastard, but he ain’t a pervert. Of course… I still think I’ll be right in other ways.”

Treyvon understood what she meant, as he peered through the crystal… coffin, maybe? Inside, was a small, childlike goblin, with pale greenish-blue skin, and delicate features. She looked almost entirely human, apart from her skin tones, larger eyes, and two delicate small horns at her temples which pierced through her silver hair, which was longer than her body.

Glancing over at Wanderer, Trey’s gaze went to his head, and the Goblin merely covered his hornless forehead with his hands, seeming ashamed.

“They have horns no longer. Because… just as my poor kin are wretched yapping dogs, as you called them…”

“I didn’t say wretched…” Aliyah grumbled.

“…and some have even become lizards, poor creatures…” Darkflame ignored her. “…so too did the Goblins fall. Most to darkness, joining the Wild Hunt, the Unseelie, or forming their own unsavoury warbands… but… a few, a handful… well… do you wish to explain?”

“You cannot!” one Goblin, clearly more important than the others, cried. “Outsiders will ruin everything!”

“What more can be ruined?” Wanderer insisted. “Now be silent. It is too late. Unless you wish to silence them here? I doubt you can.”

“Too right!” Aliyah snorted. “I’d like to see you bastards try!”

“Peace!” Wanderer waved his hands. “You are here and have seen. It is now known. We… Goblins… were amongst the brightest and most mystical of the Fae, long ago. We were playful and mischievous yes, but also wise. The First Goblin was the source of our strength. There must always be a First, and we share the Blood of the First. But we are not as… enduring… as many Fae. Our lives, while longer than the humans, were short. And when the First vanished, one of the close Blood of the First would become the First. That continued, yet… the strife between human and Fae, human and creatures not human… escalated rapidly. And the change started… we were some of the first to notice it, though of course, I was not alive then.”

“It is known.” The previously silenced goblin muttered. “The tales passed down are clear…”

“Many Goblins changed, twisting, becoming ugly and violent, losing their horns. The Red Caps, they became. Cloaks and hats dyed with blood. That… might have been overlooked, as the humans and their cold iron were terrible. There was much hatred… but…”

“Soon, the Blood of the First began to diminish. And more and more of us descended into cruel anarchy. So when she made her move, intensifying the chaos… most of the Goblins sided with her, or had already turned bestial and foul.” The other Goblin sighed, and those around him bowed their heads. “There were only a handful remaining. They could feel the change. None of us could resist, but… for great Weal, one must sow Woe.”

“All is balanced, it is known!” the Goblins intoned piously.

“In exchange for their lives, and… a daughter, sealed away for… a future that may never come, the Woe was paid, and… the Weal was to protect those who were descended from her blood. She had a brother and another sister, but they too… were the Woe.” Wanderer sighed bitterly, voice full of grief. “But our Clan, from them… remained uncorrupted. Though… our horns are gone, and we lost our great power. Worse…”

“Is Weal And Woe not an evil technique?” Luciana asked. “Though I do not judge. Just as a gun, it kills in hands both fair and foul, Hyacinth, she can use it.”

“Yes. And… though it saved us, it was also a mistake.” Wanderer shook his head.

“Of course. It interfered with the curse, resonated with it. And now… even the long-lived Fae who remember the times before fifteen hundred years ago, as mortals reckon things… do not even remember you were anything but vile, twisted creatures who thirst for blood. Just… just as we Kobolds are but cowardly mutts…” Darkflame declared.

I see. A sad story, but… why now? “So, you think it’s time to wake her up?” Treyvon asked. “I get it, this isn’t a bad place, and those here don’t treat you like you are monsters, but…”

“If it is the Woe, then waking her…” Luciana, who seemed to know more about the technique, likely from her Adamant coaching, frowned. “…el peligro. It seems dangerous.”

“We have little choice. So few are left.” Wanderer shook his head. “And all are gathering here. If this place falls… then we Goblins are finished anyway. We shall be monsters in truth, for our fallen cousins will be all that remain. The Blood of the First is in us, and we are the true Goblins. We would wake her, and… hope she can endure the backlash from breaking Woe. Because… in this place…”

“They would see a miracle. I would see it.” Blackflame laughed. “Hope is the greatest miracle of all.”

“Miracles, huh?” Aliyah snorted. “Well, he brought a dusty old sword, mirror and stone to life, I can’t see this being impossible.” She then paused. “There’s a couple of problems though…”

“What are they?” Wanderer seemed panicked, and Aliyah shrugged.

“The obvious one is, she’s a girl, right? I mean yeah, she looks like a kid, so… you’re not going to tell me she’s like… four hundred years old or something, are you?”

“No. She was young, immature and… thus the least corrupted of the Blood of the First.” The other Goblin insisted. “A child!”

“Oh. That’s a relief.” Aliyah let out a sigh. “So he probably won’t sink his claws into her that way. But… you all claim to be her family, yeah?”

At their nods, she let out a gale of laughter. “In that case, better get used to calling Akio brother. She’s a frail, pitiful looking girl, I can see the outcome already. As for the second problem…” She rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop a smirk crossing her lips. “…you’ll be pissing off Shaeula. She’s been bragging today’s her birthday, and now you want to take up her precious time…”

At that, Treyvon had to laugh helplessly. Meeting Luciana’s eyes, he bent double, cackling, while she merely shrugged, unconcerned. My sister’s still holding a grudge, despite saying she doesn’t. Guess she hasn’t matured that much after all. But… that’s somehow comforting. Shit…

When he got his laughter under control, he once more glanced down at the sleeping figure. The First Goblin, huh? Seems on odd superstition, but… I may not understand everything, but… I know what’s been mentioned here is important. Maybe Luciana will get that promotion after all, bringing news of this…

***

As Tsukiko excused herself, wrapped in a thin lounging gown, after hurriedly wiping her face and rinsing out her mouth, I watched her go, unable to tear my eyes from her long, slender legs and pert bottom, barely hidden by the silk she wore.

“She seems quite-quite regretful.” Shaeula observed, amused. “She could easily have stayed.”

“She could.” Eri agreed. “But… her first time is important to her. I get it. She has her heart set on this Gassan shrine for it. It’s only a few days away. But…” She seemed troubled, so I raised an eyebrow, enquiring, and she flushed, struggling to say it. She glanced at Shiro helplessly, who was lying beside her on the bed, naked, carelessly showing me everything.

“I think what Eri wants to say is Tsuki is damn lewd. A virgin who gives you a blowjob and paizuri with such vigour… it’s unusual. She certainly did gulp down your cum like it was a delicacy, even if her face gave away she didn’t much care for the taste.”

“I do not-not see why.” Shaeula licked her lips. “It is quite-quite delicious!”

“Uh… I don’t mean to be rude, but… it’s not really.” Hinata giggled. She exchanged glances with Motoko and Natsumi, who nodded slowly.

“But… it’s your taste, Akio, so… even though it’s not delicious, it’s very… addictive.” Hinata winked, and everyone agreed, laughing and discussing my sperm, which was a unique sort of hell for me. Hyacinth gazed at me, her silver-violet eyes consoling, and she quickly prepared drinks for everyone, though this time it was fruit juices or water, as we needed to rehydrate.

“That hits the spot. Thanks Hyacinth.” Shiro drained her goblet with a relaxed sigh. “Okay then… so, time for the main event. Just the nine of us.”

“I’m sorry, but even with my stats, I can’t do all nine of you.” I protested, only to get a withering glance from Shiro.

“Be a man, Aki! You’d fight a war for us, but you won’t fight a battle on the bed?”

“When you put it like that I do sound stupid. But honestly, I’ve gone four times already. Ether Healing is working, but… I’m not inexhaustible! But don’t worry, I can satisfy you all, even if I can’t fill you all up.”

“That’s the spirit!” Shiro laughed. “So… how about this? Aki has to make us cum, one after the other. But anyone who gets Aki to cum wins.” At her suggestion, all the girls agreed. Soon, the nine of them were lined up, naked, laughing and joking, the order decided, and this time, I was starting with Hinata.

“Going first isn’t an advantage here, is it?” she smiled ruefully, and Eri shrugged.

“That depends on how much faith you have in yourself, Hinata. But… even losing is sweet, isn’t it?”

“Yes, definitely.” Hinata agreed. “So…” She was lying on her back, ready for sex, and she gently opened her slit with her fingers, leaking a little love nectar already. “…Akio, let’s make love, and become one!”

I paused for a moment, and she giggled again. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I shook my head to clear my lingering doubts. “it’s just… well, seeing you all here on the bed, it seems impossible. Like a dream I’ll wake from.”

Hinata reached out and pinched me. Her finger stung a little, and all I felt was a gentle tap, but I appreciated her effort. Surreptitiously shaking her hand, she smiled. “It’s not a dream. It’s the fruit of all your efforts. No, our efforts.” At the nods from around her, her impish smile was teasing and warmed my heart. “Don’t forget, just as you chose us, we chose you. It’s mutual. And… it’s not just us, is it? Tsukiko, Kana… your Valkyries… Tan, of course.” She winked at Shiro. “…and there’s others too. Clumsy though some of them are. I’m not saying you have to accept everyone who likes you. I mean, you’re very likable!” Hinata winked cheekily again. “…but you’re making the effort to see and understand them, aren’t you?”

I nodded slowly. “Yeah. But I still have worries to solve. It’s like today… it’s Shaeula’s birthday, and… I want to make it special…”

“And you shall-shall indeed.” Shaeula promised. “If you are a truly great male, our male, you will not-not let these problems defeat you. But for now… what Hinata is trying to say is…”

“It’s not a dream. We’ve all earned it, through blood, sweat and tears.” Eri insisted. “Now… get on with it. I’m feeling rather… warm… waiting.” Eri was flushed, and she wasn’t the only one, so I gave in with a smile and a shrug.

“Well then… since it’s a fun game, I’ll try my hardest.” I promised, leaning in close. Hinata stuck out her tongue, and we kissed deeply and slowly, enjoying the moment, before I pressed my cock to her entrance. Her brown eyes were melting with pleasure, and as I slid inside, parting her, her kiss grew fiercer, and her insides were warm.

“You’re… one with me again!” Hinata’s slender arms snaked around my back, and I lifted her up, which drove my hard cock deeper, reaching her inner areas, making her gasp. “So deep… inside. I know why our parents, Hanafubuki, warns us against this. It’s… truly bliss!”

“With those you love and are destined to be with.” Motoko insisted. “Otherwise it is just meaningless pleasure.”

“I know that!” Hinata insisted. “Though plenty of people do seek pleasure, that’s… not for us. We’re serious. All of us. And… perhaps some others are too. That doesn’t mean… ahn…”

I cut off her words by gently thrusting from below, scraping at her sensitive insides, as her walls closed around me. She was so light, and seemingly fragile, but the Hinata I knew now wasn’t a delicate helpless girl, but had her own Favour, her own sword, and had defended the Tengokusentou, her friends and family, to the bitter end.

“Oh… ahn… I’m trying… uh… to be serious!” Hinata protested as I began to thrust with a steadily rhythm. Her lips were damp with our saliva, and she was starting to sweat, a sweet, womanly scent.

“And I’m trying to win our game.” I teased, leaning in to swallow her words with my mouth. She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t resist another kiss, even as I continued to thrust. Realising if that continued she’d definitely lose, she began to rock up and down, and I started groping her breasts, which were warm and soft, my fingers sinking into her flesh.

“…I won’t… oh my… go down… easy.” Hinata insisted. “Before I forget… ahn… ahn… I mean… just… don’t close off… possibilities. Ahn… uh… we’re all… here for you, for… ahn… each other. Problems can be… uh… solved. Any problem but… ahn… you not loving them…”

I nodded, but continued to make love to Hinata as she rode me in front cowgirl style. Her pussy was constricting and wrapping my cock, and it was hard not to get carried away with the pleasure, but on feeling the gazes of the others, I resolved to do my best.

“Yeah…” I managed, my words breathy. “…I know. I like some of them. One I obviously don’t care for, but… even she’s putting in a lot of effort. One… let’s just say I can feel inevitability in that. But… that’s for another day. Right now…” I set all that aside, staring into Hinata’s eyes, making her flush. “…You are all that matters in my mind, Hinata!”

“Oh!” She let out a shy, embarrassed cry and flushed crimson, her pussy clamping my cock. She then shuddered, and hot liquid squirted across my leg.

“Did you cum?” I asked her, and she resolutely shook her head, moving her body faster.

“No, I was just… ahn… happy! Right now… you’re mine!”

“In that case…” I grinned, and as our tongues tangled together wetly, I shifted her position, my cock rubbing along her inner walls, stimulating her. She responded, shaking her ass faster too, increasing the friction as love nectars and precum foamed between us, lubricating her.

“It looks… ahn… like you… win!” Hinata gasped, before convulsing violently. I felt a hot weight in my belly too, but with an effort of willpower I held it within me, and continued to thrust, Hinata bouncing weakly as her orgasm continued. With one final kiss, she shuddered, eyes moist, before her arms around me tapped my back, signalling defeat.

“It’s… not the same, without your warmth inside me.” Hinata admitted, as I lowered her gently to the bed. I pulled free, and with a smile, gently licked at her damp pussy, tasting her nectars, cleaning her off. As I did that, she patted my head. “But that’s the beauty of life. There’s always another time.” Her breathing was back in her control, her stats allowing her to recover rapidly, and her brown eyes were twinkling mischievously. “Much as I’d love to go again…”

“It is not-not your turn!” Shaeula grinned. “No, next is me!”

Confidently, Shaeula scooted over, amber eyes predatory. She patted Hinata on her shoulder, before cheerfully grabbing my cock and giving it a few strokes with her small hand. “Still rock solid, and…” She bent down and licked my glans, her tongue smooth and sensual. “Twitching. Ready-ready to burst. I have a good-good feeling my first birthday treat is ready!”

“Go right ahead.” Hinata conceded, before smiling at me. “Just don’t go easy on her because it’s her birthday. It’s not like she won’t be getting plenty later!”

As Shaeula guided my cock to her pussy, sliding it slowly in, squeezing her butthole so as to contract the linked muscles of her pussy, tugging and stroking me with her insides, she grinned. “All too true, I fear-fear. I have many plans. But then, there is-is…”

“Shush!” Eri insisted. “That’s not for talking about now. Understand?”

Shaeula grinned. “My apologies. I did-did forget myself. But… your times will come-come. And there is some…” My cock slid completely inside her, and now she was fondling my balls, alternately stroking, squeezing softly, and tickling me. She bent down, her amber hair cascading across my chest, and bit my nipple lightly, rolling her tongue around it as she spoke. “…time in my schedule. Fortunately, we are still-still in Tokyo this day. Now…”

She finished playing with my nipples. “I could-could move, but… I wish-wish you to dominate me!” Shaeula winked, inflaming my passions, and still in her to the root, I tossed her to the bed, and gave her what she wanted. As she began to gasp and cry out in pleasure, wet slapping sounds resounded as I thrust deep inside her. She was smaller even than Hinata, and just as tight inside, but her technique was honed by more experience, and as I boldly made love to her, groping her small chest, licking her nipples, belly, neck and cheeks, kissing her lips until they stung, she shifted her position and tightened up at the right moments, as if to draw the cum out of me.

“I can feel-feel you twitching.” Shaeula grinned. “It can not-not… be long… ahn…”

A moan cut off her words, but I swallowed that with my own mouth, lips locked together, my tongue probing deep. She responded, and as we savoured each other’s flavour, I pushed deeper than ever, angling Shaeula upwards by sliding my free arm under her back. As I knocked on the entrance to her womb, she shuddered, saliva entering my mouth as her kiss became more desperate.

She mumbled something, the words swallowed up before I could hear them, but her eyes told me all I needed to know as I continued to thrust, tears of pleasure and joy streaming down her cheeks. I was near my limit as well but judging by the increasing heat of Shaeula’s small body, the scent of her sweat, I knew she was on the cusp of her own climax.

Feeling some satisfaction at the game, I pressed on, and as her nails raked my back as she tightened up still further, desperately working her lower body to alternately squeeze and stroke my engorged dick, I savoured the feel of her. My eyes met Hinata’s, and she snickered at me, obviously knowing what I was thinking, and I flushed, embarrassed, but also desperate to climax myself.

Yes, I was comparing you both. But… not in a judgemental way, you’re just… great in your own ways. Everyone’s unique. And… I love you all.

As if she could sense my thoughts, Hinata merely winked, and Shaeula let out a gasp of pleasure, now leaking a little drool from her lips, and her thighs and mine were soaked from her oozing nectars. “That-that… ahn… you… cheater!”

Her words were accompanied by a great, shuddering moan, and Shaeula’s back arched. Since we were kissing, our foreheads clashed, but neither of us felt it, as her pussy squeezed me tightly. A trickle of precum oozed out of me as my cock quivered, desperate to release, and Shaeula’s insides were twitching, awaiting the customary blast of semen, but I somehow held firm, and as Shaeula rocked against me, moaning in pleasure, amber eyes vacant, I thrust a few more times, each one a test of willpower for me.

As Shaeula finally calmed down, I pulled free, my dick still hard as iron, covered in Shaeula’s juices. Shaeula moaned regretfully, but then, as life came back to her eyes, she snickered, her cheeks flushed. “I see-see. You are indeed strong-willed, Akio. Or perhaps I am just-just lacking?”

“Nope.” I kissed her lips softly, which quickly turned into another bout of fierce snogging, before Shaeula was satisfied. She then patted my balls regretfully, before eyeing my oozing dick, flicking her tongue over my glans just as Hinata had.

“Alas, you did not-not fill me up. But later you shall. And not-not just once!” she promised.

“It’s a deal.” I grinned. “As for you lacking, honestly, without my Resilience and Determination, both you and Hinata would be filled right now. Who knew I’d be using stats that way?” I shrugged self-deprecatingly. “Anyway…” I took a deep breath, calming myself. “You’ve both been sexy and great. I’m a lucky bastard.”

“Your Fortune is earned.” Shaeula promised, winking. “Now, Motoko, you should-should seize the moment!”

“I thank you.” Motoko was next, naked as the day she was born. I took my time to observe her as she sat beside me. She was slender, but her muscles were still well-defined, just that her training had also focused on retaining a womanly elegance, and I reached out and gently touched her arms and legs, feeling that steel under the silk. Her chest was modest, on the smaller side for my women, but still nicely shaped, but overall she had extremely charming proportions.

“I am curious…” Motoko asked as I inspected her body. “What are you doing?”

“Admiring.” I answered. “And honestly, I can sense you are troubled. And before you complain, Shaeula, I don’t need Lovers’ Link to tell that.” I shook my head. “After all, I’ve been observing you all closely, trying to understand you all better, ever since we met. Look, if it’s about the Favour…”

Motoko flinched, before facing the truth head on. “Yes, I am quite disappointed. But only because of the burden it places on you. Even though Natsumi and I failed now, we will succeed, I know that for certain, and… we have made other gains. The Favours are indeed a temporary crutch, as you have said. But when it is life or death, for us and those we must protect, to decline a weapon we could use is hubris. But I have no wish…”

I cut off her words with a kiss. She leaned in on me, her skin against mine, and I felt her need. When our lips parted, I pulled her into a comforting hug.

“Looks like Aki’s taking a break. Clever!” Shiro teased, but Eri shushed her.

“Enough. This is important.”

“I know…” Shiro pouted, and everyone else fell silent, leaving Motoko to me for a while.

“I guess even you struggle with it.” I asked, and Motoko’s brown eyes stared at me, uncomprehending, or at least pretending to be. “It was hard, wasn’t it? Killing? Seeing death? Those you knew?”

“I am a warrior…” Motoko began, but I didn’t miss the faint trembles in her body, as it was held against mine, no barrier between us.

“You are. And I love that about you.” I let the feelings through Lovers’ Link, this time intentional, and her skin heated up, and her legs twitched, her pussy slightly opening, a damp smell rising. “But… you’re also facing up to it for the first time. It’s definitely different. It shouldn’t be. Honestly, there’s not much difference between killing a Barghest and a human terrorist. Both are sapient, with their own thoughts, self and emotions. But… well, I guess that’s just how we are wired. Anyway…”

I leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Don’t worry about the adherence. You know I won’t lie to you. I can definitely manage. So… you and Natsumi, take your time, do it right, and when you do get the Favour, I’m going to use you both to the fullest. Just like… right now, I think I want to indulge in your body. I’m at my limit, I think. So…”

Motoko blinked, and a shy smile crossed her face. Pushing aside her hime-cut bangs, she leaned in, and this time our kiss was soft, almost languid. Yes, our tongues explored each other’s mouths, and we did twine them together playfully, but unlike the furious passion with Hinata and Shaeula, this was soft, gentle, elegant.

As I reassured her, I suddenly felt the weight of her on me, as she sat on my lap, my dick enveloped in her warmth, sliding in. My eyes widened, and she chuckled, even as she kissed me. Her body was flexible and strong, as she had proved earlier with her footjob, and using her strengths to her advantage, she began to ride me. While it was again the front cowgirl style the girls often favoured, with the way she was moving, doing most of the work, it was an entirely different experience, and her passion was transmitted to me, as well as her need for reassurance.

“You carry a burden too.” Motoko whispered. “Yet you support us. It is…” She paused, her movements causing her pleasure too, even as her pussy tried to wring me dry. “…reassuring, to have such a husband.” Her breathing was calm and even, her martial arts training allowing her to speak evenly, despite the waves of pleasure rippling through her body, tremors caused by my engorged cock rubbing at her deeper places.

“However…” She breathed in my ear, before gently licking and nibbling in it, making me shiver. The brief break I had taken to let my body calm down didn’t seem to be helping, and a boiling weight was rising within me, desperate to be unleashed. Sensing that, Motoko’s sinuous movements, twisting her body and her pussy so that every part of my cock was stimulated, only intensified.

“…I… Natsumi too, and even Hinata… we were taught that wives should be a quiet support to our husband, to soothe his cares, ease his burdens…”

“You don’t need to be quiet…” I responded, and she agreed, her eyes earnest.

“I very much appreciate that. Being able to voice my true feelings matters a great deal. And you never scorn us but listen and act upon our desires. But…” Her waist sped up now, and she herself was flushed and her pussy was twitching.

“…it still pains me to add to your cares. Yet… I know…” She bit my ear gently again, before planting a soft kiss on my cheek, even as her pussy tightened up, somehow almost seeming to be like a kiss on my glans, which tore a groan from my throat, and eyes bright, she did it again and again, varying the intensity. “…we are a partnership. So… lean on me more. Love me more! Be one with me!”

Now her lips took mine, and her kiss was no longer soft, but greedy, ferocious. She twisted her body, half of my cock sliding free, but she clamped down fiercely on my glans, and with a groan, I cried out, cumming hard, warm, stickly liquid shooting into Motoko’s pussy. She wasn’t satisfied with just that, though, and she slid downwards, fully engulfing my spurting member, and as she rocked up and down, milking me, her own orgasm hit, her grip on me tightening.

Let’s just… stay like this…

I held Motoko tight as she kissed me, eyes dreamy. Even as I continued to cum, so did she, but she never stopped sliding up and down my shaft, prolonging her own pleasure, as if she was craving it to drive away her fears. For what seemed like an age but was surely only seconds we melted together, only for her to finally release me, dyed pink in shame. She opened her mouth to speak, but I sealed it with my lips, another round of kisses ensuing, until we both collapsed on the bed.

“Motoko wins!” Shiro laughed. “But you didn’t go easy on her, did you Aki?”

At her accusation, I snorted, still holding Motoko. My dick slid free, followed by a drizzle of white, and Motoko let out a forlorn noise, which drove me to kiss her again. Even as I was doing that, Natsumi was there, cleaning off my dick with her mouth, keeping it hard. Oh yeah, it’s her turn next, isn’t it?

Once I separated from Motoko, our lips damp, I grinned at Shiro, trying to provoke her. “Me? Cheat? I’m hurt. Motoko was simply that sexy. The way she was using her pussy I’ve never quite felt it before. Though the movements…”

“Natsumi, that… was mine!” Motoko pouted, and Natsumi cheerily licked up the last of the semen and nectar on my dick, keeping me rock hard despite my ejaculation. She then flicked my glans with her tongue, winking at us both.

“Sorry, well, you can clean up after me then! But… you two were looking very much like lovers, and I wanted Akio to stay hard.” Natsumi was built similarly to Motoko, in that she had muscles under her skin but was still slender, except her ass and breasts were larger. Perfectly balanced still, for her size, but whereas Motoko was slender, Natsumi tended more towards the buxom, though nobody could ever call her overweight. “There’s no time to relax. After all… we’re waiting!”

Natsumi’s words made me chuckle, and I glanced at Motoko, who was now using my arm as a pillow. “Don’t worry. You’re cute, Natsumi. I’d never fail to get it up for you.”

As she flushed, Shiro tutted. “Damn, such a smooth line. Okay, so sure, Motoko, good job, but… yeah, you were moving like a snake there. But it seems a bit familiar…”

“Indeed.” Motoko agreed. “It was… Tsumura Arts. Instead of using footwork and arm movements, I wondered if I could instead use my womanly parts to perform some of the moves. It was flawed, but…”

“But it was certainly something. You squeezed my cock in places I hadn’t ever really been touched during sex before.” I reassured her. “So… it was impossible not to spurt. Sorry Shiro, it’s just Motoko’s deserved victory!”

“I’m not a sore loser. You just wait until my turn!” Shiro promised, and Natsumi, who was going next, smiled warmly at Motoko.

“You just rest there. I’ll do all the work.” Just like in the blowjob game, she presented her ass to me, though this time my cock slid slowly into her pussy, which felt a little cooler than Motoko’s, but still was tight and clung to me like a teasing hand. Natsumi opened her mouth, making a little moan of embarrassment and pleasure, before grinning. “But in exchange for letting you have a few loving minutes with Akio… you can instruct me on what you did. After all… you’re my teacher, Motoko. If these are Tsumura Sex Arts… I want to know them too!”

Ignoring a ribald joke from Shiro about how the males of the Tsumura house in the past might have given a different meaning to ‘spear fighting’ which made Shaeula snicker and Eri roll her eyes, Motoko agreed. “I shall instruct you. But… just as your body is different to mine, you will have to find your own variation. But… the pussy is controlled by muscles. And… we practitioners of Tsumura Arts train our muscles to perform to perfection!”

With those bold words, Natsumi began to rock back and forth, my cock plunging into her pussy with each bounce. With my free hand I alternated stroking Motoko’s damp hair and groping Natsumi’s ass, and soon, as Motoko’s instructions started bearing fruit, I was struggling not to cum yet again…

Damn, there’s still five more after Natsumi… I’m going to look like a wrinkled prune…

***

“Deeper, harder, faster, fuck me! Oh yes!” Shiro was babbling as I slammed her from behind. My torso slapped against her ass, my cock buried to the root in her pussy, droplets of her juices scattering. I was holding her damp silver hair with my free hand, while my other aggressively groped her large breasts.

“Don’t worry, I am, and I will!” I insisted. Our sex was far rougher than usual, a change of pace, and Shiro seemed to really be getting into it. I wondered if she had an ulterior motive, or was just feeling playful, but the intensity of my pistoning thrusts, and her own desperate jerking, was beyond what we normally did. In fact, her bottom was red, and several handprints were visible, where she’d insisted I spank her.

Natsumi was a real challenge. In the end, I didn’t cum inside her, but it was a close-run thing. She learns quickly, and Motoko is a good teacher. After that… Eri had milked me dry, her pussy changing shape and texture almost at will, and it had a supernatural tightness. Her control over Shifting Cat had definitely increased since her horrific training to master Split Thoughts, and she used it to the fullest. As she pulled free from me, opening her pussy with her fingers, she’d shown off the dripping strings of my semen triumphantly, only to flush in embarrassment as Shaeula attempted to lick them off, batting her away, irritated.

Damn, that was cute. It reminds me of the first time we were all together, as a threesome…

Asha had taken it slow and relaxed, giving me a welcome break. Even now she was watching languidly, hand on her belly. We didn’t think that sex would affect our children in the womb, or what passed as her womb as a Fae, but I respected Asha’s desire to procreate, to make up for the sins she committed in taking lives by bringing new life into the world, so I gently made love to her in the missionary position, guiding her to a soft, comforting ending.

Daiyu had then taken her turn, and that had quickly led to another eruption. She had mastered the art of using her Qi to stimulate my pleasure points, and as she hadn’t orgasmed by the time she wrung me out, I felt compelled to try again, and this time she waited until she was cumming herself to trigger another explosion, so technically, Daiyu had won twice, but Shiro had called a foul, so Daiyu graciously accepted her defeat without complaint, instead merely seeming happy she had indulged in me.

Damn, they are all too good for me. No, enough of that. Let me instead say… they all encourage me to be better, to be worthy of them.

“Hey, mind on me, Aki!” Shiro protested, as my cock pierced her to the root once more. I cheekily gave her a slap on her ass, which made her twitch and gasp, and tugging on her hair, it was like I was riding a wild, aggressive horse.

“My cock’s in you.” I retorted happily, and Shiro chuckled.

“No shit. Fuck me, sometimes a little of the rough stuff works… Aimi sure does have some… interesting BL stuff…. Guys with long hair getting ridden like this, and even strangled. Wonder what her boyfriend thinks of her taste…”

“Now who’s thinking of someone else?” I chuckled, as we continued to fuck aggressively. Hinata was watching with sparkling eyes, curious as this was unlike any of the sex we’d had. Shaeula seemed to be curious too, but then, she was a bottomless well of lust, at least when it came to me. “I doubt she’d tell him. It’s a little… off-putting.”

“Sure, sure.” Shiro gasped, her body trembling as her pussy simply gushed fluid. The sheets below were soaked, and her asshole was twitching, as if hungry for my dick. Instead, I slid a couple of fingers in, and started stimulating her from both holes.

“Shit, that’s… cheating, Aki!” she accused, and I merely sped up my fingers and thrusts, much to her embarrassed delight.

“Nope, your ass was clearly inviting me in.” I teased.

“Fuck. Shit. Well… you must… be nearly at your limit too, Aki?” she questioned me as she tried to mimic the twisting moves Motoko and Natsumi had displayed, though to not much effect. Not that she needs it. I’m screwing Shiro, the girl I always secretly yearned for but didn’t have the courage to admit it to anyone, least of all myself. Since she decided she wanted to try a bit more… experimental… sex, being as she was oddly competitive, I had no reason to deny her. Plus she’s a natural show-off at heart.

“Well, why’s it… guys don’t like it when girls fantasise about BL? I mean, you love a bit of Yuri, don’t you? Two lilies blooming together? Girls in love? Well, so long as you get to join in afterwards…” She was keeping her composure, but her voice was trembling as I continued to bully her insides with my dick and fingers. She was leaking so much that it was almost as if she had peed herself, but that was just making it easier for my cock to reach her deepest, most sensitive places, and I could feel her insides greedily trembling, her womb ready to receive my cum.

“It’s got its moments…” I admitted. “But honestly…” I pulled my fingers out of her, wringing a pleasured moan from her, and slapped her ass a couple of times, before sliding the fingers to her clit, rubbing it, making her shudder.

“Now that’s… got to be… cheating…” She could no longer keep her composure, but I didn’t let up, instead, finishing my thought.

“…but I’m a jealous man, you know. So… right now, all I’m concerned with is you.”

“Shit.” Shiro let out a long, damp moan. “Somehow those words make me as hot as your damn cock.”

“Oh? Challenge accepted!” I hoisted her up, and now my manhood was piercing her from below, she gaped, losing herself for a moment. I quickly sealed her mouth with a kiss, and as she responded, obsidian eyes slightly vacant, I continued stroking her clit even as I stabbed her with my dick, and moments later, she finally gave in, her orgasm shaking her whole body.

She let out inarticulate noises, but her tongue tangled with mine, and I continued to thrust until her body finally relaxed, and our lips parted, a bridge of saliva linking us. For a moment Shiro looked lost in the pleasure, before her eyes sparked back into life. She kissed me again, our teeth clashing, before she was finally satisfied, though her lips curved into a teasing smile.

“Damn it, Aki. How the hell can you resist pouring it inside me, Shirohime? I’d say you were playing for the other team, except…” She waved an arm weakly, gesturing to the scene of chaos atop Shaeula’s massive bed, the many exhausted girls, still stained with love nectar and in some cases my cum.

“You did tell me to try my hardest not to lose.” I pointed out, my dick sliding out from her, glistening wetly. With a grimace, Shiro slid down and buried my shaft in her mouth, licking and sucking it clean with rather more vigour than was necessary, so I gently tapped her ass, and she winked, sucking for another few seconds before letting me go.

“Can’t blame a girl for trying. Anyway… looks like you’re last Hyacinth. I imagine you’ll have an easy win. He’s desperately holding on.” She bent down, sucking at my glans, teasing it with her tongue, tasting precum. “Yeah, he’s ready to blow. If I could have just held on a little more, but… Aki, you bully! Toying with my clit like that!”

“You loved it. You asked for it rough.” I retorted, and she shrugged, smirking as I was unable to keep my eyes off her large, beautiful tits as they bounced, nipples still hard.

“Yeah. Not every time, I quite like loving, slow sex too, but… a bit of excitement isn’t bad either. Anyway…” She lay down, only to glance at the absolute state of her thighs. “…shit, looks like I’ve done an Eri and pissed myself. I didn’t though, I’m just all hot and bothered…”

“I don’t find that funny!” Eri pouted, and as they went into a back and forth, I turned to Hyacinth, who was waiting for me naked. Here in the Astral her breasts were noticeably smaller by a cup size, perhaps two. She was still big, on the bigger side for my women, certainly, but for some reason, her Material body the Throne granted her was incredibly stacked.

“If yooou stare at me like that, Akio…” She shifted her legs restlessly, and I could smell she was already damp, her faint, grassy, almost citrussy love nectar staining the sheets below her. Her nipples were as hard as Shiro’s, and her silver-violet eyes were fixed on my manhood. There was a faint blush darkening her deathly pale, slightly grey skin, and she still looked too fragile, her arms and legs thin, even if she had filled out since I first released her from the box she was imprisoned in.

“…then I shall burn with lust fooor you. It is unbecoming of a maid, but… as a mistress…” She titled her head quizzically. “I think it is only proooper?”

I quickly pulled her into a hug. “Very proper. You’re our maid because that’s what you want to be, what you take joy in, but… I hope you take pleasure in being mine as well?”

“Ooof course. Hyacinth now knows the sweetness of looove. But…” She paused, before shaking her head, her eyes flashing silver for a moment. “Nooo. In this moment…” She presented herself to me, dripping pussy oozing. “…all I wish is fooor you to be happy. Because then Hyacinth is happy. My chest burns, and… my head feels clear. For a moooment.”

Yeah, Hyacinth’s improving, but… just like Haru, you don’t get over such ordeals quickly. Maybe you never do. And Hyacinth… what she’s suffered… I’ve only heard hints and… it was truly terrible. But…

I wrapped Hyacinth in a hug. “Since you are last…” My tone was kind. “…how about we have some gentle, slow sex, like I did with Asha? We can relax, soak in each other… it’s not about winning or losing, just… being happy.”

At Hyacinth’s nod, I gently slid my cock into her welcoming pussy. Hyacinth’s eyes widened, purple light shining, and she pulled my head into her bosom. “There, there. Hyacinth’s booody is for you. Be calm, like a child, and let nooot the cares of the world poison you.” She was speaking in a soft, almost humming voice as we had sex, her arms comforting as they stroked my head. I returned the favour, playing with her long black hair which was streaked with vivid greens and purples, marvelling at the beauty of it. Yes, Hyacinth is beautiful. Frightening, but also adorable…

“Happiness… is fleeting, so… enjoooy the now.” she crooned, though her pale skin was darkening, a faint flush spreading from her belly up to her breasts, then her arms and face. I licked and sucked at her nipple, as if I was the child she was calling me, and her smile was strange. Pure, honest, yet also so very sad.

“No. Happiness is something… we fight for.” I stopped letting her pamper me, instead, speeding up my thrusts. “I was wrong. What you need right now is to feel my love… as a man.” Everyone was watching in supportive silence as I pulled Hyacinth close, speeding up my languid thrusts, adjusting the angle to seek out her pleasurable spots. I had experience, so knew where to look, and soon Hyacinth’s solemn, composed expression had twisted into a passionate, ecstatic one, and I liked it more than her kind yet melancholy smile of a moment ago.

“You… are Hyacinth.” I insisted, feeling the orgasm which I had barely held in while fucking Shiro rise within me. “A bit crazy, sometimes frightening, but always kind and loyal.” I kissed her puffy lips, forcing in my tongue, and she responded, her kissing aggressive, our tongues twisted together like mating snakes. Even as we kissed I continued to scoop out her insides with my cock, liquid scattering. I went for her pussy and breasts with my hands, rubbing and pinching her nipples and clit, every gesture one to heat up her body. Indeed, now her slightly grey skin had a rich, ruddy tone, and her eyes were sparkling with desire. Seeing that made my desire rise, and my dick trembled, as though a line of molten lead was racing up towards the head.

“It is fine. Let it ooout! I will always warm your bed, my master, my Akiooo!” Hyacinth promised.

“Yes. And if any misfortune tries to stop you…” I whispered so quietly so only she could hear. “…tries to take you away, I’ll smash it. Because… I gave you a name, and… I gave you my heart too.”

Hyacinth tightened up, feeling the genuine emotion through Lovers’ Link, as I could feel hers. After all, she was a Pledged One, just like Shaeula. I hated that Class, hated the thought of my death dooming them. If they died and killed me… well, that wasn’t an issue, as if they were slain, that meant I had already perished, as I’d stand in front of anything, be it that damn golden-eyed toad, or a Tribulation, or even a God, to prevent that.

“Silly Akio.” she whispered, equally as inaudibly. “It is a maid’s joooy to die for her master…”

“But it’s a wife’s joy to live with her husband.” I countered. “And that takes precedence. Because… nobody would be without you now. Least of all me.”

“I…” Silvery tears gleamed in her eyes, and suddenly she tightened up, her bare lower body moving up and down. “I wish to feel alive, to feel loooved!” Her desperation moved me, and together we tangled, just as our tongues had earlier. I was on top of her, my cock sliding in and out of her squelching pussy, my hands greedily grabbing her bottom, breasts, clit, sliding across her belly and back, caressing her face even as we kissed… as if to devour her all, I thrust, and she, as if to accept everything, threw her body into each piercing motion of my dick. Moments later, I erupted, pouring it inside her, and Hyacinth gasped, letting out a piercing cry as her body responded, her own orgasm rocking her.

For a moment I lost my thread of thought, so intense was the surge of emotion transmitted along with my cum, and I felt sure Lovers’ Link had grown between us. But that wasn’t important. What was important was reinforcing Hyacinth’s feelings that sex was about love, so I spent time kissing and caressing her gently, cooling her down, and soon we simply lay there, tangled together, me watching her fondly, while she giggled to herself, lips and pussy still soaked with drool and nectar.

Yeah. I’m exhausted, but… it’s a good kind of exhaustion. Loving someone isn’t easy. Loving nine, ten, sixteen, more… that’s beyond difficult. But… I’m going to rise to the challenge. No, I already have…

Stroking her head softly, I lay back, staring at everyone, watching their different reactions, jealous, wistful, happy, compassionate… Finally, my eyes met Shaeula’s, who grinned wickedly.

“So, it seems you win, Hyacinth. I am most-most pleased. You deserve Akio’s love-love inside you. But… rest quickly, and then make haste. For…” Her amber eyes sparkled mischievously. “I am claiming you for my own this-this day. And you have much-much to do to please me!”

***

We had barely been rested for ten minutes, before there was a knock on the door. Surprised, Shaeula asked who it was, only for the answer to come back that it was Quaela, her ratkin maid.

With that, Shaeula bade her enter, and I hurried to cover myself, but Hyacinth was still wrapped around me like a wrestler, and I wasn’t able to escape without exerting force, which I wasn’t going to do. The door opened, and she strode in, wearing her maid uniform. If she wasn’t covered in brownish-white fur, no doubt she’d be blushing, as her eyes were wide, taking in the scene atop the bed.

This does feel like sexual and workplace harassment. But then… the maids would be cleaning this up anyway.

Trying to hide my manhood as best I could with my legs, I apologised. “Sorry for the mess. But… it must be important, right? Since Shaeula gave orders not to disturb us?”

Eyes wide, Quaela was mumbling to herself. “Dad said if I didn’t want to be a Mortal Engineer, at least be a maid and attract his attention… was dad tyring to kill me? Does he hate me? I’d never survive this… I’m a maiden, this is…” She suddenly rebooted, realising she was spacing out, staring at the scene, and Shaeula’s eyes were warning her to hurry, so she curtsied, trembling.

“Oh sorry, forgive me, princess, consort.” She gathered her scattered thoughts, desperately staring straight ahead. “Yes, you have visitors. We thought to bid them wait, seeing as they are your acquaintances, most of them, but… when they said what they had brought…”

“Who-who is it?” Shaeula asked, and Quaela explained.

“A Goblin, and… a Kobold. A strange Kobold. Accompanied by your retainers…” She looked at me, though that made her tremble, considering my state of undress and the fact Hyacinth was touching me playfully while scowling at her. Oh yeah, the maids and other servants live in terror of her disapproval, don’t they?

“Huh, Aliyah, Treyvon and Luciana, you say?” I replied when she’d finished. “They were here at the mansion, weren’t they, training? And now…  a Goblin and a Kobold… well, we’ll be down as soon as we’ve washed up…”

With that, Quaela curtsied again and beat a hasty, relieved retreat. As the door shut, I turned to everyone. “So, what do you think?”

“Smells like trouble to me.” Eri shrugged. “Yet we’ll have to sort it. But…”

“Yes.” Shaeula pouted. “I am most-most irritated! This is my birthday! They had best not-not be bringing problems that take much time to solve!”

To console her, I pulled Shaeula close, and she and Hyacinth washed me in the shower, before I returned the favour, enjoying the sensation of playing with their damp hair and bodies. If I had more time, I’d have given everyone the same treatment. Oh well, next time.

Once we’d dressed ourselves, we went downstairs, to the dining room, where Aliyah was seated casually, one leg over the arm of her chair, idly sipping on some wine. Treyvon was beside her, seeming nervous, while Luciana, still in her Adamant uniform, which suited her really well, I thought, gave a crisp salute, hands in a diamond pose, which earned approving nods from Hinata, Shiro and Shaeula.

It was the other two guests that intrigued me. I had seen the Goblin before, in my Territory, though he wasn’t a figure of note, but beside him was a strange, Dwarf-like figure, just wiry and frail. My Eyes claimed he was a High Kobold and he had concealed a Lantern Of The Violet Darkness which was a very intriguing name, considering what the Red Caps carried. On seeing me, the High Kobold met my gaze boldly, without fear. But what really shocked me…

On the table was set a small block of frosted glass. My Eyes could penetrate it easily, but what they saw was shocking…

Aine [High Goblin] [Repository Of The First Bloodline] [Last Of The First] [Child Of Great Woe]

The small, childlike girl was sleeping, and other than her skin being green, not the sickly green, tending towards black, of the Red Caps, or even the deeper green of the Goblin in front of me, but a delicate, almost pastel shade, she might have passed for a pretty human girl. No, who am I kidding? The long silver hair wasn’t necessarily impossible, like Shiro, a few humans had strange, unearthly eye or hair colours, though we were talking one in a million or fewer for such as Shiro’s metallic silver locks. But… her closed eyes were larger than was ordinary. Not enough to be off-putting, but certainly enough to draw notice, and two slender horns, like an Oni’s, but far smaller, perhaps the size of a child’s thumb, jutted from her brow.

She doesn’t look like a Goblin, more like a… green Fairy, just… without wings?

As everyone froze, taking in the scene, Aliyah waving at me idly, as if to say this wasn’t her fault, I shook my head. Yeah, somehow I don’t think this is going to be a simple matter to resolve. Glancing at Shaeula, she shrugged, returning me a rueful grin. Looks like I’m not the only one who’s frustrated at our schedule getting screwed up again…

Moments later, the other group, led by Tsukiko, also filtered in, Quaela having fetched them too, and as I locked eyes with the Goblin, he seemed to shrink in on himself, before he gathered all his resolve and spoke. “Princess, and ruler of the land we Goblins now dwell. We implore you… listen to our tale, and… save our dwindling kind! Prove that you both truly have the strength, wisdom and charity to rule above all!”