Luckily, the food we brought in earlier to eat was cold, so it didn't get any colder. All of us sat down in my room at the table that was brought in and had a feast of fruit and steamed vegetables. Nina, my Nymph, sat in a chair pulled tight to mine, and she was almost sitting in my lap.
I was able to get her name out of her fairly quickly by simply asking her, but she didn't seem to respond to anyone else. Nina enjoyed the fruits, but she was constantly touching me. The day was long, but I was starting to get overly tired, a draining feeling.
'Stop letting her touch your bare skin so much, she takes a bit of your magic each time, and you have used most of it up today.' -Gripton.
The next time she tried to touch my bare arm, I stopped her shaking my head. Nina made a pouting face, and Alex, who sat beside Nina, laughed softly, covering her mouth.
The princess had grown more attached to me, so she was glued to my other side in the same fashion as Nina. Even after just evolving and living on what must have been a strict meat diet, Mishka ate two full leaves of fruit and veg. Small pieces dropped as she ate, and I couldn't help but clean her face off with a cloth Kadence handed me.
We all sat on one side, and Kadence talked with Kalita, while Kyra was sleeping on the table by Alex. We had pushed the table against the wall like a bar top so we would have some room to move around, which place me in the middle of it all. Finally, I finished eating my fill, but secretly missing meat, I retreated to my bed to lay back.
I knew one would follow, but soon, even the sleepy Kyra had awoken and crawled into my bed. After a bit, Alex, Kadence, and Kalita got up and put out the lights since the three were fast asleep. I slowly drifted off as girls let out cute little snores.
In the morning, Kyra was already gone, but Mishka and Nina were both nestled in close. Mishka's glittering chest was on one side, and the pale green peaks of Nina's chest were on the other. I decided to relax for a bit longer and see what the boss was up to.
'Been looking into your magic again.' -Gripton.
'Sometimes I'm not sure if I should be impressed with your timing or worry that no thought of mine is ever private.'
'Probably the latter.' -Gripton.
'Ugh, well, what did you find?'
'Somethings above monster evolution with your ability. What I've gleaned is that the same as humans, your bonds will help them get stronger. It's all exciting stuff, but lately, there have been some close calls.' -Gripton.
'Close calls? What do you mean?'
'With your left hand, like the Nymph bouncing up. Did you know Nymphs are grown from specially blessed areas? That means they are pure magic beings, if you were to touch her with your left hand by accident…' -Gripton.
'I get it, and I have been having the same thoughts. Have you had any luck yet?'
'Mmmm, a bit. This magic is extraordinary. Most magics have a task that it does, maybe a slight variation, but Nothing even close to the vast expanse of things this magic is capable of.' -Gripton.
'How don't you know about this magic?'
'Remember, caretaker.' -Gripton.
'Right, well spill what you do then.'
'After getting a microscope with a proper magnification, I found that each letter consists of microscopic information on the ability. Whoever thought this one up went wild. Anyways, in the C of MAGICAL, there is some stuff about being able to turn it off and on. This information might save you from wearing those gloves all the time.' -Gripton.
'Great! How do I do it?'
'Not sure yet.' -Gripton.
'Fffff, well, OK, anything else?'
'No, it's ridiculous. I can't ever save my spot! It's so tiny that any mark made would cover the half a book of writing! Maybe I'll take a day off and look at it. I need at least a day per letter to get anywhere. I just skipped around since I've stumbled onto this, but there has to a book worth of knowledge here.' -Gripton.
'Well, I will get by without you for a bit. Take a couple of days off and figure this out.'
'Don't be stupid while I'm gone, OK? Be careful on the way. I'm sure you already know that this world is filled with endless peril. And Try to make more friends than enemies.' -Gripton.
'HA! Fuck, I'll try, but if I run into more people like the Haertia, well, you know.'
I opened my eyes to four hanging melons of the modest variety, but still very lovely melons, one pair of sparkling orange and the other light-green. I looked up into Mishka and Nina's faces, and they both had cute and confused looks on their faces. I smiled up at them, and they both backed off me, allowing me to get up and out of bed.
My clothes were starting to feel crusty, but I stretched out and went to look out the single window of the room. We had already begun to move, and like last time the wagon-house barely trembled.
I went and stuck my head out the door and called out for clothes, hoping someone could help me. Kyra came flying down the stairs at my voice.
"You need clothes? Kara can help! She is really good at sewing!"
"I will also need some new clothes for Nina and Mishka as well."
"YESH, SIR, GREAT MASTER!"
"You are way too cute, thanks, small one."
I ruffled Kyra's hair before turning back around and jumping back from Nina and The Princess. They were both directly behind me, and I was startled back. I heard Kyra laughing down the stairs. Damn girls.
They were both a head shorter than I was, and I patted their heads too, and we went up the stairs to the top deck. Kadence, Alex, Kalita, and Nuwari were sitting at the table eating fruit, so I led the sleepy girls to the table to eat, but Nina stayed glued to my arm while I when upfront to see Markeye and Tescelle.
"How are things going? Can we find any problems close that we need to worry about?"
"Nothing so far. I think you should take some time to relax." Markeye winked at me, and I smiled, looking down at Nina.
"What about you, Miss? What should we do today?"
Nina just looked up to me and then started to lick my arm. I sighed. Maybe Mishka or Kalita had an idea or something? Just then, The twin Spider-Kin Dave and Marley came over excitedly, asking if I would train with them and the Lizard-Kin.
"Sure, Let me get something to eat, and I will... I mean, we will join you!"
After I finished eating with the women, we cleared off the furniture on the top deck, and we lined up my six wives and forty-five Kin. Mesh stood at the front of us all and started leading the workout session. It took no time for all of us to break into a heavy sweat.
I made sure to put myself in the back row, you know, Inspecting forms of the girls. Each jumping jack left me dizzy, and the push-ups with their beautiful breasts pressing down into the deck were a visual blessing that made me sweat harder. All of this would have been great if Mesh wasn't such a slave driver.
Sweat poured from all of us, and now we all dripped of it. After finally finishing with Mesh's ninety-minute workout, the girls were piles of sensual steam and sweat. Nuwari brought us all water, and some younger girls brought fans to cool us down.
"Great Master, thank you for allowing us to have you train beside all of us. The warriors benefit greatly from your participation!"
Mesh had come over and stood over myself and the mess of sweating and panting women. Alex and Kalita were in the best shape, so they were back into their chairs first, but the rest of the girl used me for a pillow. Soon, we were all able to pull ourselves up, and we all sat around and picked at some fruit while talking.
"So, what is the plan when we get there?" Kalita asked.
"It really depends on the King. If he doesn't want to give up the lizardfolk and the people all feel the same way, well, I sure you know what that will mean."
"We will fight the entire city?" Kadence asked.
"It will not be much of a fight, no matter what magic they possess. You and Harmonie will be our trump card. That's why, after lunch, you and I will be going out to practice with Trem."
"Are you sure?" Kadence seemed worried now.
"Mmhm, I can't have you being scared of your own powers, and I'm the only one that can help you control it if it gets out of control. Trem will drop us off at that mountain far over there."
I pointed to a distant mountain far off to the north. It was in the general direction we were heading, and the lack of things to burn would be essential. Kadence looked at the mountain and then back at me, but then she looked beside me.
"What about her?"
I looked down are the Nymph beside me and smiled when she turned her face to me.
"We don't need to worry about her. Earlier, Nina shocked me by absorbing into me as she would do with Treestriding. Since I count as her tree, I guess it would be called Hydestriding now. Regardless of what stupid name I give it, Nina will be safe with me, so no need to worry."
"OK, then, let's go."
I could tell she was still nervous, so I took her hand and looked her in the eyes.
"You got this!"