Chapter 50 - Tale of the Outcast Warrior: Dragons, weirdness...and Kaori.

Tyler chuckled.

"We mighta told him how much of a little sister to Sera she is. Plus, well, we need the king to fully explain just WHAT happened out there."

She nodded and dropped the shutters as he used the blue coin again. HE also flipped one to Seline.

"For payment."

She flicked him with her tail as he used the projection to contact Ishtar. The king appeared, and Tyler spoke first.

"What's our phrase?"

The king sighed.

"Oh shit here we go. It is better to be feared then loved, if one cannot be both."

"Correct. At this point, BOTH of those work."

"Great. What will I be losing sleep over tonight?"

Tyler sighed.

"We had an encounter with a Fallen Dragon today."

They both jumped.

"A what?"

"Fallen Dragon? Tell me everything."

"We got a job to kill an adamantiose. Fun fight no issues. Well, as we were collecting the thing, Wulf found that one of it's spikes had punched a hole into a cave under us. So, we clean up, warn the nearby village. This is for you, Seline."

Tyler gave her the tube Yark had given him and she nodded.

"Thank you. I'll look it over after."

"Then we blew the cave open. Kaori, the crystal."

She showed them the recording of the blast, and they whistled.

"Wow, so THAT was what the dust cloud we saw was."

"we saw here in Term as well. I'll explain it to the public as a mere landslide."

"We have a better tale, as that cave had a denizen. Now, as the size and scale of the cave was made apparent, plus the design of it as well, I asked our ranger here about the legend of a deep road."

Wulf took the thread now.

"Lord, the cave was an unknown entrance into the Underdark."

The two leaders were awestruck.

"A new entrance,"

"Of that size?"

Tyler took it up now.

"Now, Wulf was explaining the things that could be down there, and he made mention of a Fallen Dragon. Yeah, I called Tempesta for that one, for if there's a chance an enemy dragon was down there we'd need some backup. Plus, the mess with the Raiser."

Ishtar gasped.

"You mean to say the Fallen Ones are AIDING this Raiser?"

"They Are, Ishtar. But, not yet. Now, after explaining my suspicions, I had an idea."

"I recorded the entire thing."

"I fucking LOVE you, Shadow!"

The king and Seline got to watch as Tyler roared his taunts into the cave, thus enraging the dragon inside into blindly charging straight into the waiting jaws of Tempesta. They then got to watch as the dragon king killed the thing after Tyler got a look into it's eye. Tyler chuckled as they looked at him in equal parts awe, equal parts fear as he'd enraged a dragon into suicide.

"Pissing off dragons isn't all that hard. Plus, well, it's a passion."

They sighed.

"Did you find the thing's trove?"

"We did. We split it with Tempesta and all, but we got half."

The king rubbed his beard.

"Anything good?"

"Ashy, your blade."

The dirty blonde smiled as she drew her Rune sword. Both natives stopped.

"Rune. I've seen living rune."

"Same here."

"Lillia's got an adamant shield."

The princess came forward and presented her shield to her beaming father.

"I trust you'll teach her?"

"Me and Lily will."

Seline looked at him now.

"Anything else?"

"A few bits of furniture. Yes, I know it's weird."

the fox lady smiled.

"Can you show us?"

"Sure."

He set the pieces out, and the king and fox gasped.

"a golden couch? Silver table? Royal chair?"

Tyler chuckled.

"We're placing them in the mansion. Throne's my new office chair."

Kaori looked at the two person lounge chair.

"That's for our bedroom."

Malico eyed the couch.

"I'd like the couch please."

Lily smiled as she saw the silver table.

"I'd like the table for me room."

They laughed as the furniture was divvied up. Once they'd seen the things he put them back in the pouch. Ishtar looked at him.

"What other priceless artifacts did you find?"

"I got a new spear, and Lily an Additite sword."

Lily drew her blade and the two were blown away again, and Tyler pulled his spear. Though, this time, the king's eyes flashed.

"I know that spear. It belonged to Erica's, me wife, ancestor Priscilla the lance. She was a gold path long ago, and her last resting place was lost to time."

Tyler looked at him.

"She was a gold path?"

"Indeed. Her mother was Vulpix herself. She was last seen transporting a gold spell to a dragon's meeting for safe keeping when she disappeared."

"Oh shit. That spell wasn't Dragon Surge was it?"

Ishtar looked at him.

"How do you know that name?"

"we found it, Ishtar. The scroll I mean."

The king became very serious.

"What did you do with it?"

"I gave it to Tempesta."

The king breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh thank the gods. Tempesta has the gold scroll at last. We can rest easier. Now, the spear's name was Heart Piercer. But, I think you have a different name."

"This? I think….I'll name it….Zankestu."

Ashy smiled widely.

"Wolf piercer of heaven. Beautiful."

The king smiled widely now.

"Indeed. Any other weapons lost to time?"

"Just this."

Tyler pulled the double bladed staff swords out and Ishtar's eyes went wide.

"Lionheart and Tigerclaw?"

Tyler looked at him now.

"Wait. Those names. Where'd you hear them?"

The king was smiling now.

"Those weapons belonged to a friend of ole Gruven's. Guy by the name of Alex. Said he named them after-"

"Warrior cats from a book series in our world, right?"

"Indeed. I see you know them."

"I do. Very well. So, it'll pain you to hear that Tigerclaw was the name of the evil cat in the books."

Ishtar laughed.

"I know. Alex would go on for hours about them. Appreciate the warning though."

"Sera wants me to teach her to wield it."

The king smiled widely.

"That fits her too well. Can YOU wield it?"

Tyler responded by spinning the weapon around in a blinding flurry of dancing lights as he smiled widely doing it. He spun the thing vertically as he twisted, and the blades came apart and he twirled them separately before reattaching them. HE got a round of applause as Ishtar got a strange look in his eye.

"Does the name Alex Yuto mean anything to you?"

Tyler laughed.

"Ole Al? yeah, I taught that rat bastard everything he knew on this weapon. Jackass. He up and vanished what? Five, six years ago? Wait, was he a tall lanky fuck with brown eyes, ginger hair, white pasty skin and a weirdly angular face?"

Ishtar sighed.

"It seems we have a mutual friend. You described him to a tee. I guess Warriors get plucked from different time periods as well."

"I'd say within maybe five years of each other. But, what gave it away?"

"You spun the thing in his style. Only far faster, stronger, and more skill. It was clear watching you were the master of it. He the student."

"What got him?"

"We never found out. All we found was his horse, torn apart from some attack and his body torn to high hell. We tried to hunt the thing that did it, but just could not find it."

"well, we got em. So, that bastard gets to rest easier now."

Ishtar sighed sadly.

"Indeed he does. He would also go on about this kid he knew in hie old world that would LOVE Lectis. Said that his own skill paled in comparison, and that if I ever met him to NOT piss em off. I see why now."

"Well, Alex, ya rat gingersnap. Nice to know you were spreadin the bad word everywhere you went."

They sighed as Tyler set the weapon aside. Then Ishtar spoke up now.

"Was that is?"

"Another vein of rune, more ores, the usual coin, gems, and the like. Oh, and Kaori got a new mythril vest."

She smiled as Tyler looked at the king.

"So you know, the dragons are digging holes everywhere. If anyone asks, tell em their hunting fallen dragons for sport."

"I will. Now, how are their lessons going?"

Tyler crossed his arms.

"Well, they had to be rescued from a hobgoblin camp on a raid I was not a part of."

The king looked at him.

"Umm, before I order your head on a pike, explain."

"I sent them with Wulf, Kaori, and Ashy to kill a hobgoblin camp without me as part of their solo training. From Wulf's description, they had a solid plan and were doing well. Then a hob fell the wrong way and it threw their plan off. So, they floundered and had to be rescued by the others."

Ishtar got it then.

"So, they didn't do the job ALONE, but just without YOU. The lessons learned?"

"They went in without a solid backup plan, so now they'll learn to make one, have a handy escape route for the same reason. Plus, they learned the more valuable lessons that sometimes we ALL need to be rescued sometimes, and that sometimes even the best laid plans get waylaid."

The experienced king and Seline were nodding sagely.

"Wisdom indeed. I'm relieved they did not go as alone as I thought."

"Indeed. They have learned great lessons there."

"They're not done yet. Their final exam for this course is to kill a full giant camp. Without ANY of us present besides Wulf to guide them to it."

Ishtar blinked.

"And just WHEN is this exam?"

"Not for a good long while. Right now, their limit is the hobgoblin camp. So, back to practicing."

The king shook his head.

"Harsh yet fair. When they get that far, they'll be strong enough to kill a few dozen giants with ease."

"That's the plan. I want them to be at least Lucy, our barbarian axe wielder's level by the start of the next wave. Right now, they're decent. And can even walk freely in the town here. But not yet up to snuff."

The girls nodded.

"We'll get strong Daddy."

"Yes. We will."

"Pff, I'll get stronger an him."

They got nods of approval. Tyler smiled now.

"I marked their task as a half-failure. As they both learned good lessons there, which is the whole point really, but ultimately failed to kill the camp alone."

Ishtar had a thought.

"When they succeed, what do you do for them?"

"I let them claim the job, coin, and whatever we find as they see fit. They've handled an orc camp of what was it, Wulf? 50 creatures?"

"75 orcs, and a twenty foot hill. We didn't have to lift a finger."

Tyler nodded as the king and Seline were awestruck>

"Ah. That's right. That they killed a bandit camp with minimal aid as ya know bandits. Next, I had the three of them, and Vixen our black mage kill a tomb guardian. Vixen's role was to id the thing for them to kill it. It was a minor Lich, so an easy kill for them. Now, they're rewards? They're picks of the hauls. We get the leftovers."

Ishtar smiled proudly.

"A mightily just system. Rewards effort with good loot, while supporting their failures to succeed the next time. How many creatures for the hob camp?"

"43. Plus them being bigger than them."

"I see. So, an obvious disadvantage right out the gate."

"That's how my training works. Once you get comfortable with the current level, I raise it above your head and let you work to get to it again."

Ishtar looked at Sera and Lillia.

"It's working."

"Sera caught a bounty by herself barehanded yesterday."

He laughed.

"What happened?"

"We walked into Mia's Tavern, and her daughter, Melly, who is Sera's other sister got shoved face first into a post by a man that slapped her ass as a bit of fun. Well, Sera marches right over and nearly kills him with a single PUNCH! She beat the piss outta him with her bare hands! It was awesome."

Sera smiled as she cracked her knuckles.

"Don't fuck with Melly."

Ishtar just looked at Tyler, both impressed with his daughter's fire, and appalled by her language. Tyler shrugged with a smile.

"Sera's MY sister too. Soo, yeah."

Sera giggled as Ishtar sighed.

"She's learning from the best and has become the worst."

They BOTH became indignant.

"Oi! I'm the WORST, and she's the BEST!"

"Daddy! Mean! I'm awesome! Tyler's the one that's the worst!"

They near in sync response made the king slump even further. Then Tyler had a thought.

"Hey, Kaori. Should we tell em?"

She looked at him, and smiled.

"Sure."

Tyler looked at the king.

"We found the Fireball's letter."

The king burst out laughing as Seline went a little pale. Tyler patted the sexy fox.

"We get it."

She breathed a sigh of relief as Ishtar looked at Kaori.

"See Miss? Your mother's just fine."

"We read in the news article she might be headed this way."

Ishtar and Seline looked at each other.

"If Erica's headed this way,"

"Then she's heard Gru's dead."

they both looked at Tyler.

"RUN."

Tyler laughed and held Kaori.

"We'll wait right in the middle of the road for her."

"Together."

Ishtar smiled now.

"She is going to like you. AFTER she tries to kill you."

"Eh, I got Kaori. I'm set."

That got him a warm kiss and a hug as the others awww'd. Ishtar looked at him.

"Anything else I'm to lose sleep over?"

Tyler rubbed his chin.

"Fallen Dragons are common. Plus, now that the other dragons have an idea of what they're looking for now, the battles between dragons will pick up."

Ishtar sighed.

"I'll explain it to the people that the dragons got bored."

"And warn them about the new holes."

The king smiled at that.

"Not even. More we'll send in miners and see what's down there."

Tyler laughed.

"Nice to see your thinking like me for once!"

The king went white in the face.

"Oh shit."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

The king sighed.

"Was that it?"

"All I had this time."

The king looked to his girls.

"I'm happy you're learning well. Oh, and your mother's ship landed in Yalik this morning. Guess they got a good head wind behind them."

Tyler chuckled.

"I wonder if Leviathan helped a little?"

The others smiled at that. Sera and Lillia looked to their father.

"Will she come here?"

Ishtar sighed.

"She said as much as she wanted to lay Seline again, she wanted to go home to Term. So, sadly not."

They sighed as Tyler pated them.

"If it were THAT easy."

They hugged him as he looked at the king.

"We ourselves set out for Term in the morning."

The king smiled.

"with a one day buffer. We'll expect you."

"Make it a loud one."

The king got a most…..eager light in his eye.

"We will make SUCH a scene!"

"And those other bastards purple with envy."

"Damn straight!"

Sera's outburst made them all laugh. Ishtar sighed now.

"Well, sweetie, I have work to do. You do as well."

"Bye daddy!"

"Goodbye Father."

The image went dead and Seline looked at Tyler with a pointed gaze.

"So, me?"

"We'll unload, then I'll take you. Work before pleasure after all."

She smiled as she lifted the tube.

"I'll look it over."

"We'll get paid and bankrupt the bank."

That got a laugh as Tyler and Wulf headed for the guild as the girls went for the mansion. They walked in to the guild rowdy as ever.

"That took longer an usual!"

"What, nearly got yer ass beat by a turtle?"

Tyler chuckled.

"Did ya see the dust cloud?"

They went silent, as Verilica came over.

"We did, and I'd like to ask for what happened."

"For the news crystals?"

"Indeed."

"We'll cash in the bills, unload our loot and we'll talk, sound good?"

The feral imp nodded and she went back to her booth. Tyler laid out the bills. She looked them over.

"Okay, good kills all. Your total today is 373 gold, 230 silver, plus the titles of Guild Champion and Horse friend for the party."

"Thanks Verilica."

She smiled as they went for the exchange. Grilock just shook his small head.

"What now?"

"A mass of ore, fire wyrm, Gildhorn, Broadhorn, and I think that's it."

Tyler showed him the permit and they went to the scales. They unloaded and Grilock's eyes went as wide as they could go.

"By the gods, how is it your party finds such amazing loot like it were as easy as tripping on a rock?"

"We flip over every rock we find."

"Scary policy. For this, I can give you 1321 gold, 32 silver, 43 copper."

Wulf and Tyler whistled.

"Damn."

"Good deal."

Tyler took the money and they went to drop of the stone to the mason yard. The foreman laughed.

"Let's see what ya got today!"

The emptied the pouches, and he nodded.

"Not bad. I can give you 432 gold, 56 silver, 97 copper."

"Nice. Deal."

The last stop was the bank, and the poor dwarf, Orik nearly fainted as they placed the mass of gold, platinum, silver and copper on the slab. HE looked at them.

"Lads, what temple did you rob?"

"Found an unopened hole. Be amazed what you can find down there."

The dwarf laughed.

"Aye, that'll do it! I can give you 3215 gold, 65 silver, 99 copper."

"Holy shit."

"We need a bigger pouch."

That got a laugh as Tyler looked at the elf.

"I'll go do a conversion, you go play with Ashy."

"Jackass."

Tyler laughed as he walked over to Girplik and the gnome shook his head.

"How big this time?"

"Big."

The went in, and the gnome just gaped as he saw the numbers.

"What the did you find?"

"A Fallen Dragon trove. Scary bit? This be only HALF."

The gnome gulped.

"The other half?"

"we split with Tempesta for his aid in the kill."

The gnome started shaking as they got started with the coppers. Tyler dumped the coppers in and they got 718 silver, 90 copper. Tyler tilted his head as the gnome used magic to calculate the tax.

"144 sound good?"

The gnome blinked as the thing was still doing the math. Then it dinged.

"Wow. You're right. 144 is most fair."

That got him 574 silver, 90 copper. Tyler dumped the silver in next, and the amount was 348 gold, 89 silver. Tyler did the math as the gnome plugged numbers.

"I'll say, 70 flat."

The gnome watched the result come in.

"I agree. You have a scary mind for numbers, there."

"I did tutoring for Kaori a lot back in our old world as her and math just didn't click."

Tyler got his coins, and the total was 71,316 gold, 663 silver, 90 copper. Girplik saw the leftover silver and chuckled.

"If you convert the silver, it will only be 6 gold and not come with a tax."

"Why not?"

That got him 6 gold, 63 silver more. Tyler left the bank and headed back to the guild and his interview with Verilica. The imp was waiting for him and they went into the small room again and she pulled her interface up.

"Okay, Tyler the Outcast, do you know what caused that dust cloud that we all saw?"

"I do. Me and my party caused it as we sought to open up a newly discovered cave."

Verilica nodded as she wrote in the interface.

"Was there any reason other then exploration for such an act?"

"After we killed that Adamantiose, which by the way was a fun fight, Wulf our elven ranger discovered that one of it's spikes had punched a hole into the ground and into a unknown cave. Yeah, we hurried the hell up as the land we were standing on was hollow. We warned the nearby village as to the danger and the chief asked us to open it up properly and clear it for any nasty surprises."

He let the beautiful imp catch up and ask her next question.

"How did you open the cave?"

"we used my water spell and Kaori's lava to create a mini underwater volcanic eruption like we used in then battles here. The result was an area of land 400m across just dropping. Looked freakin awesome from our vantage."

"the entrance was 400m? that's a rather massive cave."

"It's an untouched entrance to the Underdark."

She gasped.

"The Underdark? Was there anything living in the cave?"

"A Fallen Dragon."

Verilica went white at the name.

"You've seen a fallen Dragon….and LIVED?"

"We called for some help from Tempesta himself. I guess the Color dragons have a particular hatred for the Fallen."

"How did you get the thing out of the cave? Especially with the Lord of Blue sitting right there?"

Tyler chuckled.

"I can taunt a pride demon into a blind rage with a few sentences and a well placed finger. I can piss off a dragon just the easier. I had even Tempesta nearly busting up laughing as I roared into the cave with my favorite of skills: royally getting under your skin."

"Your telling me, you taunted a dragon into such a blind rage, that it ran straight into the jaws and claws of Lord Blue?"

"Bragging more like, but yeah."

Verilica just sat back.

"You're insane."

"Well, thank heaven for that, cause otherwise this'd probably never work."

She shook her head,

"Use that one in the article."

She laughed.

"Just to piss off the other warriors?"

"Nah. Hey, Kazuma? In yo face! I saw a dragon battle I started!"

The imp was laughing hard as Tyler sent the long distance jab. She wiped a tear from her face as she asked her next question.

"Why did Lord Blue want o meet with the child Melly?"

"We might have been bragging about just how sweet and fun she is. That and she's Sera's sister got him curious. Big blue's got a fondness for kids, so he wanted to meet her. Plus, well, it's Melly!"

Verilica smiled fondly as she put the response in.

"I trust you saw yesterday's article?"

"I did."

"So, you're aware the Fireball is headed in this direction?"

"Oh, you mean Kaori's mother? Yeah."

Verilica sat back now.

"She's. her mother?"

"Her name's Erica, right? Golden blonde, green eyes, fierce temper and a busted sense of humor and speech?"

The imp was now a little nervous.

"Yeah, that's the Fireball. And you're in love with her daughter."

"And she's in love with me."

The Imp sighed.

"So, you must be aware of why she's coming?"

"She's heard Gru's dead."

The imp looked at him.

"Are you scared?"

HE laughed.

"I fight demons for fun, I've looked angry dragons in the eye, and on occasion have to fight for me life with an overly ferocious elf girl with a hammer. Am I scared of meeting the mother of the love of my life? Batshit terrified."

The imp burst out laughing at that one. Tyler just calmly waited until she recovered and sighed.

"When the Fireball meets the Outcast, well, it's either going to be the stuff of legends, nightmares, or both."

"Yeah. Kaori's fierce enough. Her mother? Yeesh."

Verilica wrote a few more lines before closing the thing.

"Thanks for this. The readers are going to enjoy it."

"Sure Verilica. I'm headed to see Seline now."

The imp smiled lewdly.

"I think I'll go pay Kaori a visit."

Tyler stole a kiss off her before he left the booth. HE walked into the spear and spotted Yoko in her own booth. HE smiled and walked over to make her night. The pretty raccoon girl smiled as he walked up.

"Tyler, come to bed me or get paid?"

"Just letting you know I'm taking YOU tonight."

She sighed happily.

"I'll look forward to you."

"Same here."

He left her with that and rode the lift to Seline's room. He found her waiting on her couch and as he walked in as she sighed happily.

"I saw you headed back to the guild after the bank."

They walked to her bedroom as he chuckled.

"Verilica wanted an interview on what the dust cloud was."

"Did you have her?"

They were naked and he pushed her onto the bed.

"Oh no my dear fox. I saved it ALL for you."

She shivered as he entered her slit.

"Oh, THANK you!"

She started bucking her hips as he thrust into her as Sallie and Sylvia watched in their spirit forms as he got his fill off his third favorite fox. The outcast filled her slit before she was flipped and her face in the pillow as she moaned from pleasure as it was fitted into her rear.

"I LOVE you!"

That got her a kiss from behind as they went at each other.

"I love you too."

They finished each other and laid together as they recovered. Him snuggling her warm fox fur with her head on his chest.

"So, what's next?"

He kissed her.

"I'll go unload the rest of our new treasures, file away the bills, and set the newest sets of compendiums for our monster collection."

She smiled as she looked at him.

"You sound more like a business owner then an adventurer."

"Love you too. My other plan was to get their requests for the mansion set up."

The fox lady smiled as Sallie and Sylvia took their shell forms to get wrapped up in her tails.

"What kinds of requests?"

"Ore and tools for Lily, spellcrafting for Vixen, some balcony chairs for Ashy, targets for Wulf, and that was it. "

The blue eyed fox lady smiled as she kissed him again.

"If you have the lists, I handle the requests for the purchases."

"You want another round?"

She licked her lips.

"Oh hell yeah."

HE mounted her again and away they went with their second time as Sallie and Sylvia got off the now bouncing bed.

"They sure do love it."

Sylvia nodded as she watched Tyler mounted the eager fox from behind.

"He loves her, sex, and is not shy with either."

Her sister spirit Sallie giggled.

"Wow, Seline. I didn't think you were that flexible!"

"She's very flexible, Sallie. She does odd exercises naked all the time just for this."

The green haired spirit watched as Seline got mounted from behind and twisted around to kiss her lover as he pounded her.

"Damn. She IS flexible. Oh, there's her cream."

Sylvia sighed.

"She likes getting made a mess, and he loves MAKING them a mess."

The two lovers dropped again, and she was under him again. The sexy fox smiled.

"Okay. I'm full."

He kissed her and they madeout for a little bit.

"Yes you are. I'll leave the lists on your desk."

She smiled.

"I'll send for the gold once the deliveries are made."

"And here I was worried I'd just have to pay you in cream."

She flicked him with her tails.

"Maybe next time."

"Sooo, got a question."

she rubbed her double D breasts.

"Oh?"

"I heard you do gem commissions as well."

She leered at him.

"I do. Another round?"

"Oh hell yeah."

And away they went yet again. The spirits sighed and shook their heads as the two lovers fully sated thir lust for each other.

"Tyler's got a massive appetite."

"And she loves feeding it."

The two didn't last as long before they were done, and she sighed.

"What were thinking?"

"I wanted a meat crystal for the box, a coin one for the mansion, some bigger pouches for our travels, and this onyx and opal I got polished for me desk."

She smiled as they got out of the bed to take a bath with the two spirits following them. Seline and Tyler got into the water and she placed a waterproof ledger on the rim as she did the math.

"How big for the meat crystal?"

"Maybe 25,000 pounds or however big it can go."

She smiled.

"I'd need a ruby for that level."

"What about an opal?"

"How many do you have?"

"Like 27 we can use."

She shook her head.

"Of course you do. An opal would get you 150,000 pounds of meat."

"I'll give you one opal for that."

She put the type in.

"That would cost 150 gold. I'll add it up afterwards."

"Fair. Next is a water pouch."

"Never have too little water. For that I'd recommend a sapphire."

"I got one the size of a watermelon."

"That will yield a pouch that holds 10000 gallons. Plus would purify it as well. Cost 50 gold."

"Coin pouch and crystal."

"Opals?"

"Yeah."

"For the crystal, it would hold 2,500,000 coins. That's maybe a tenth the yearly yield of the kingdom of Vernillion. The pouch would hold 150,000 coins."

"perfect."

"That will cost 350 gold for the pair."

"Next is s pouch just for more….sensitive items. Like the banneds."

"I'd recommend using a black gem."

"We have a few jets."

"Wow, those work perfectly. The pouch would hold 100,000 pounds of items, and would be the same size as a mere grapefruit."

"Malico can hide it well."

"She can. Thanks for the other day. We had fun."

"Love you too."

"The cost here is 85 gold. And it would only open with a fingerprint."

"I'll have it be mine or Malico's."

"wise."

"Next is a loot pouch."

"I'd say an opal, and it would hold maybe 250,000 pounds of loot."

"I'll give you two."

"That's another 500 gold."

"what's the total thus far?"

She did a little math.

"About 985 gold."

"Okay, next is a crystal for ore for Lily."

She smiled.

"A diamond will provide 150,000 tons of space for her."

"Damn. She'll love it."

"That will cost 100 gold."

"Next we need a fruit pouch."

"Emeralds work best."

"Got one two feet across."

"That will hold maybe 25,000 pounds of fruit. Cost is 95 gold."

"hmmm, a spice pouch."

"Clever man. I'd say...a topaz."

"I got a yellow topaz the size of your lovely breasts."

"Love you too. That will hold maybe 10,000 pounds. Cost is 35 gold."

Tyler crossed his arms now.

"What else is there? Oh! An arrow crystal!"

Seline laughed.

"Most parties have a good sized one. Rubies with hold ten thousand shafts. Cost is 5 gold."

"Spears?"

"Same."

Tyler thought for a moment.

"We need new pickaxes, but that's a town gimmick. Oh, Kaori will love this. Horse feed crystal."

"she will indeed. Another emerald. It will hold 2,000 pounds. Cost, 5 gold."

"next is a potion pouch."

"Smart. Another diamond and it will hold 900 potions. Cost is 25 gold."

"Next is....hmmm. I think I'm set now."

Seline smiled and crunched the numbers.

"The total is 1255 gold. Plus the gems in question."

They cleaned up and got dressed as they sat at her desk. He placed the gems and coin on the desk. He then pulled the Onyx and Opal he was keeping and she smiled.

"You said you wanted them polished, right?"

"Yeah. The opal was from the first lisk me, Kaori and Malico killed together. The Onyx I just like."

She waved her hand and the basketball sized opal went from mere rock to smooth sided ball with a flat bottom for placing. He smiled as he saw the way the light played across it's multi colored surface, and the Onyx was now a tall blunted arrowhead shape that glistened like wet rock in the light.

"Thanks Seline."

She kissed him.

"I love you too. The pouches and crystals will be ready in a few hours."

"Nifty. I'll go set the rest of the gear up."

She looked at the lists of requests.

"These will take maybe, 100 gold."

He placed the coins on the counter and she got a kiss as he left. Tyler returned to the mansion and went to Lily's smithy. He found the elf girl putting the finishing touches on a newly forged pickaxe and he smiled as he leaned on a post watching. HE then noticed the tool was a deep sea-green metal that seemed to be wet, and the wooden haft was made from a white wood he didn't recognize. HE smiled as she finished it.

"Enjoy the show?"

He patted her as he walked in.

"With a leading lady like YOU Lily, ya damn right I did."

She smiled as she hugged him.

"Love you too. That's your so you know."

HE lifted it and smiled.

"Damn Lily. It feels lighter then me other axe. I love it. Thanks."

He hugged her tightly as he added it to his pouch and took his old battered one out.

"Toss that un in the pile of reworks."

He did as requested and added her other roes to her piles, more then doubling their sizes respectively. He then took her silver table out,

"That can go here."

He placed it by her workbench, she placing her small chair in front of it and laying out various designs and sketches. As she sat at it, the table glowed, and shifted to better suit her needs, growing drawers on the sides, slots for tools, small catches to hold papers steady, and other slots for pencils.

"Of course its magical."

He hugged her before heading up to Malico's room. He found the door open and her naked on her couch resting. She started purring as he walked in.

"Come to pet me?"

HE smiled and closed the door.

"I got the time to make my favorite cat happy."

She pounced on him and hew as naked an instant later as he laid her on her bed and slid inside her tight slit, making her moan.

"I MISSED you!"

He kissed her as he bucked into her while stroking her sensitive tail, making her scream as he kissed her. She got her filling and blew her top before just laying together in her bed. He happily petting her soft fur.

"I love you Malico."

She was purring from satisfaction.

"I love you too, Tyler."

he kissed er as she smiled.

"So what was the REAL reason you wanted to see me?"

"Dropping off your couch."

She laughed and pointed to an open spot.

"There please."

He gave her succulent nipples a loving suckle as he got up.

"There too!"

He laughed and set her golden couch in the spot. She laid out on the red cloth cushions and it glowed again. The thing became big enough for two to lay side by side, had pillow like armrests, and could fold down like a futon. He chuckled as he saw it.

"Well, guess you don't need a bed, Malico."

She purred as the golden futon was now brightly polished and the red more like velvet.

"I love you too."

He dressed and left her on her new bed to go find Kaori. He found her in their bedroom at her vanity running a comb through her hair. She smiled as he came up behind her.

"Hey, Love. Need me?"

He kissed her.

"Always."

He hugged her as she sighed happily.

"We going out on more bills?"

"In a bit. More dropping off our newest furniture."

She got up and looked around.

"The chair I'd like to put here, by the window."

He set the two person lounge chair in the spot. It was a golden thing with white cushions and they sat in it with Sallie and Sylvia to test it out. Then it glowed. Kaori laughed as the thing became rounder at the back and stretched out more. Result? Plenty of cuddle room for both lovers or the whole family. Tyler also noted a slot for their viewing crystals and kissed Kaori.

"I think we got a new relax spot."

She nodded.

"I love it!"

"I love you."

Kaori stayed with the two spirits as he went to put his new throne in his office. He set the high backed chair on the other side of the desk for meetings or if Sera wanted to watch him work. He set the gold and silver chair down and sat in it. Sure enough, it glowed and got smaller to better fit his desk. The arm rests were raised a little and got a thick padding of black cushion, the back of the throne was crested with his and Kaori's Warrior's Insignia, and the sides of the regal seat had slots for bills. He shook his head as he set the newly finished bills out.

"We need to keep an eye out for more of these things."

He took the oracle from the corner, and placed his hand on the compendium maker and got another mass of books on the creatures they'd killed thus far. He placed them on the shelf before taking the bills and adding them to their completed bill file. He then took the Onyx arrowhead and sat it on the corner of his desk in a small slot for books. The opal ball he placed in a spot on the right. Next he took a blue communication coin and used his Magicite dagger to carve a small grove in the center of his desk before slotting it into the oaken wood. He had to tap it into place, but he was happy with the result. Next he took out the catalog crystal and walked to a large thus far unused room and set up mounts for skulls, Lily's figurine hutch, pedestals for stuffed creatures the party had killed, and a few racks for claws and bones. He then walked to another unused room on the ground floor and set racks for pole arms, mounts for swords, axes, bows, armor, and shield, cases for daggers, and other such things a fully fleshed trophy weapon room needed. The cost for both rooms? 5 gold. He would pay the gold when he got the reply for Yark from Seline. Tyler smiled as he went up to Sera's room to give his little sister her newest weapon. Her door was open and he tapped a knuckle as she was cleaning her sword. She smiled happily at him in the doorway.

"Brother! Need me or want to spoil me?"

"Wow, extortion much? You cute so I'll let it go."

She giggled fondly as he pulled her staffsword out.

"Just came to give this to you."

She smiled as she took the dual weapon and placed the two swords in a rack.

"I'll practice later."

"You need a hands on teacher to use it right, Sera. If you start spinning it without really knowing how you WILL lose an arm. I'm going to ask Lily to make us a pair of blanks without blades for the time being. Okay?"

She nodded, still smiling.

"kay!"

HE hugged her affectionately before heading to the kitchen to drop off the mountain of meat. He found Vixen making a sandwich inside and he stole a greeting kiss off her soft lips.

"How'd it go at the temple?"

She smiled as he added the several thousand pounds of meat to the enchanted box.

"I was hoping you'd go with me."

"Sure. We don't really spend a lot of time together. Plus we can get the next batch of bills."

She laughed.

"Never take a break."

"We will after the wave."

She ate her snack and they went off to the temple. The mage walking along with her hidden clicking heels and rattling buckles on her robe making him smile as they went. They were met by brother Mark outside the temple.

"Greetings White One, what brings you to the temple?"

"we need a weapon purified."

Mark bowed.

"Of course White master."

Tyler looked at Vixen bemused as they followed the monk.

"And yet it gets MORE racist sounding."

She laughed.

"They do it intentionally. As an inside joke to the Warriors as the founder of the White path of Purity sect was a Warrior."

"Wow. Well played."

They found Maxus as the father was casting a holy relief on a burn a small child had on her arm. She giggled and ran off once it was done. Maxus smiled as the pair approached.

"What brings you to the Light today?"

Tyler smiled.

"Wow, heard that line in my world from some REALLY creepy priests. Got an axe off a Blood Gigas and Vixen here says it needs to be purified."

The Father sighed sadly.

"A truly tragic fate, the Gigas. Place the weapon in the light, miss."

Vixen did as requested and the Father used his spell.

"Holy Purity."

The double headed axe burst into white flames as a mass of black mist was burned away by the cleansing light. As Tyler watched he had a thought.

"Huh. There's an idea."

The temple replied en mass.

"Oh shit here we go."

Tyler laughed.

"Nice to see that's a thing now."

Maxus looked over as the axe was burned.

"What's the newest gem that's surfaced?"

"You have any cleansing spells? Like ones like Purity we CAN cast?"

Maxus burst out laughing as Vixen retrieved the now safe axe.

"we have two. The more powerful one is just a step down from Holy Purity and is called Cleansing Light. The other is not as strong but accomplishes the same task. Called Holy Cleanse."

"I'll take one of each."

"Very well. That plus the purifying is 4 gold."

"Thanks Maxus."

The Father said farewell as Tyler paid and left with Vixen.

"So, is that axe worth anything?"

She smiled as she hefted it. It was solid gold with a gem encrusted haft.

"It's a gilded Axe. A rare artifact really. I'm keeping it as I love the design."

"Great. A lady with ANOTHER axe to grind."

She laughed as she kissed him.

"Love you too."

They walked into the guild and headed for the board. Tyler smiled as he saw Whisper the were tiger looking at the bills. He snuck up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder, only as she turned around he moved the same direction, and when she finally DID see him, he was holding her upper tunic on a finger.

"Hiya Whisper. Miss me?"

She laughed and kissed him hard.

"Such a bold man! Stealing a lady's clothes as a greeting!"

"I didn't steal anything."

She blinked, and looked down to see her shirt had been replaced as she'd been tongue deep. That got him another kiss.

"You're good."

"Still waiting Whisper."

She smiled as she ran a finger over his chest.

"Well, I got a job. So, you're going to KEEP waiting."

He kissed her again, and she felt something get slid into her belt.

"Well. Have fun."

She walked off, and saw she now had a bright blue dagger in her belt. She looked back and smiled.

"I WILL claim you some day."

"I've already claimed you, so, I'll be patient."

She laughed and walked out as the other guild members chuckled.

"Whisper be in love mates."

"Never thought I'd life to see the day."

"Wasn't that the line you said to the girl AFTER you paid her?"

They lost it as Vixen smiled at him.

"You do have a way with the ladies."

HE kissed her, and she got a taste of Whisper as well.

"Just the real beauties."

They then looked to the still plastered board. Tyler smiled as he pulled one down.

"Got another Durandal. Reward this time is 10 gold."

Vixen had one as well.

"Got one for a cave."

"A cave?"

Tyler walked over to read the fine print.

"Wanted: Adventurers to clear a cave on the outskirts of my home. Reward is whatever you find inside the cave. Sounds like a rather nice change of pace."

"these are the usual kinds of jobs most adventurers start off with."

"Seems risky to me. Least with an orc or bandit camp you know what you're walking into. Then again that's just me."

She smiled at that as he pulled another one down.

"Got another Cursed Wall. Reward is 25 gold."

Vixen looked at it.

"That's kinda strange how we've found two Cursed walls, two golems, and an earth elemental in three days."

"Maybe the summoning of those demons brought unintended others?"

Vixen shrugged.

"It fits at least. Or it's just because the wave is in 16 days."

"we'll say both. Least for us we get a decent payday again."

They had three bills now and were looking for a forth. Tyler spotted a larger poster and took it down.

"Wanted. Slaying of a Diadore. What's a Diadore?"

Vixen tilted her pretty head.

"If I recall right, a twin headed tyrant."

"Reward is 100 gold. Must be a tough one."

Brook was on duty now and came over to explain.

"It is tough. That one has an update as strictly guild avenger. As such, the reward is 150 gold, plus a skill."

"Wow. Dibs. Okay. We'll get a few more."

Vixen pull one down.

"Hey, got one near Yark's village."

"Nifty. Whats the creature?"

"It's another Durandal. They're pretty common actually. Reward is 10 gold."

"Nifty."

Tyler spotted another poster.

"Wanted. Slaying of a Fell Falcon. Reward is 50 gold."

Tyler frowned.

"Vixen?"

She shrugged.

"I know the name, but no clue what it is exactly."

"Wulf will show up in 3..2....1….. hey Wulf."

There was a startled gasp of shock from the ranger that made the duo laugh. Tyler chuckled as he looked at the white faced elf.

"Called it."

The elf just sighed.

"Perception. Okay. What have you found thus far?"

"Two Durandals, another Cursed Wall, a Diadore, and a request to clear a cave."

Wulf looked the bills over, and chuckled as he saw the Diadore.

"Been a few years since I've seen such a beast."

Tyler looked at it.

"Vixen said it's a twin headed tyrant."

"That's exactly what it is. Two heads and a lot bigger."

"Sounds fun. Now, I found one for a Fell Falcon."

Wulf whistled as he saw the poster.

"That's an outsider if I've ever seen one. They usually live far to the west on the border of Erolagard and then Gnome Fiefdom of Gnomeland."

"Gnomeland? Seriously?"

"Everyone says that when they first hear of it. So it's a bird the size of the Adamantiose, with a 100 foot wingspan, 9 foot beak, 3 foot talons, and loves all things shiny."

Brook spoke up now.

"That has the guild avenger label as well, as it's killed the last fifteen adventurers that have gone after it. The reward is now 100 gold with a pair of skills."

"Thanks Brook."

"Got one for a Plains Wraith."

Tyler looked at the mage.

"That like a tiger?"

Wulf chuckled.

"Good guess actually. It's maybe the size of Lucy's horse, and the length of the table in our dining hall."

"Cat?"

"It is. The pelts are usually used for bedrolls, claws knives, teeth same and the meat is quite tasty."

Vixen looked at the bill.

"reward is 9 gold."

Tyler crossed his arms now.

"Okay, we got bills for a Fell Falcon, a cave dive, anther Cursed Wall, a pair of Durandals, a Plains Wraith, and a Diadore. Let's get one more big one and two smaller and we'll call it."

The two nodded, and Vixen pulled a bill down.

"Got one for another Hook wraith. Reward is 25 gold."

Brook smiled.

"That one has a stipulation. Beak and talons be presented for payment."

"That works."

"Got one for a den of Plains crawlers."

"They are?"

"Giant spiders. Maybe 6 feet across and 9 long? A good den holds 15 creatures. Reward is 5 gold."

"Cave?"

"Yup."

"Okay. Time to test the girls mettle against the creepy crawlies."

That got a laugh as Vixen pulled another bill down.

"Wanted: Slaying of a Titan. Reward is 12 gold."

"A titan?"

"Think the Durandal but bigger, longer and four legs."

"Well, that does it. We got our kills set up. I'll go set the map before getting Seline's reply to Yark."

"we'll go rest a bit more."

Tyler took the stack of bills to his office and set them on the peg board. He then opened the map and placed their locations on it. He shook his head at the sheer number of small black dots now pockmarking the landscape from the dragon's search.

"There are going to be some VERY happy miners now."

HE looked to the first, and chuckled as he saw it was the size of a copper coin on the map. He looked up at the sound of footsteps to see Sera walking in.

"we got a fresh set?"

"On the board."

She walked over humming happily when she noticed the plains crawler bill.

"Spiders?"

He looked at the now shaking girl.

"Yup. We got a den to clean out."

She looked at him with huge blue eyes.

"Please don't make me fight them! I'm scared of spiders!"

Tyler patted her head.

"Then you need to get over this fear Sera."

She looked like she was about to cry when Kaori came in.

"Why is she about to cry?"

"We got a spider den to clean out."

The blonde sighed.

"Of course we do."

She walked over and patted Sera as well.

"Are you scared?"

She nodded.

"I'm scared of spiders. Have been since I got bit."

"well, Sera, you have to get over it. You're an adventurer in a Warrior party. We'll have to fight things that even scare HIM at some point."

Tyler smiled.

"We all have things we're scared of. For me, it's making Kaori or Lily angry."

sera giggled inspite of herself.

"Teehee!"

Tyler then hugged her.

"But, when it comes to monsters? Plant your feet and face the fear."

She was still shaking but nodded.

"I'll try."

"Just wait, sera. Something tells me he'll have us fight slimes next."

"Ew."

Her disgusted reaction made the pair laugh at the cuteness. Kaori sighed before looking at him.

"Seline sent a runner looking for you."

He got up.

"I'll go see the fox then."

He left the girls to the bills as he headed to the spear. Roxette waved him towards the lift with a smile and he waved at Yoko as he went. Seline was sitting at her desk with the pouches and crystals as he walked out of the lift. She smiled as her tails started waving happily.

"I got your order here."

He kissed her lovingly before setting the catalog crystal out. She shook her red haired head.

"Two birds one visit."

"I'd bed you too, but we got bills."

She smiled lewdly.

"I got Malico, Vixen and lily coming to visit me."

"Lily wins that boob off."

That got a laugh. Tyler placed the gold for the new furniture for the mansion on her desk as he took the pouches and crystals. She then placed a long tube in his hand.

"That's for Yark."

"Sure. We're headed that way ourselves."

They kissed a little more as he fondly stroked her soft fox tail.

"Love you Seline!"

he left the sexy lady sighing happily with her tails dancing behind her. Tyler put the crystals away in the mansion before heading to the office. There he found the party looking over the bills waiting for him. He gave Lily her new ore crystal, Malico the dangerous item pouch, Ashy the arrow crystal, Vixen the potion pouch, he took the new coin pouch and put their fortune in it before setting half their entire coin in the crystal and sealing it inside the drawer he kept the scroll Minus had given him. Wulf chuckled.

"We have nearly the yearly yield of Vernillion and we're just sitting on it."

Tyler chuckled.

"Strange is it not?"

Tyler looked to the peg board.

"we'll head right to Yark's village first, and work from there."

Wulf tapped the crawler bill.

"This one will be a nasty one. I'd suggest using your flames to burn the webbing away."

Vixen had some input.

"I'd like to request I get the venom of the bugs, as me and Serafina can make some truly nasty poison from it."

"Sure ladies. We got what we need?"

They nodded.

"Mount up."

The party went for their stables, and Tyler passed Kaori the horse feed crystal, earning him a warm kiss.

"Love you too, Kaori."

They rode for Yark's village as they had a Durandal to kill there as well. They made great time and found the village still with armed militia at the small gate as Tyler and his party rode up. Yark came out and Tyler passed him the tube.

"Here, Yark. Seline says hi."

The man laughed as he looked at the scroll.

"The lady's sending us men and guards to properly mine that tunnel. Thankee kindly Outcast. You're always welcome here."

"Sure thing Yark. Just watch out for more dips in the ground."

"Aye lad, take care!"

The party then moved to kill the Durandal. Tyler smiled as he pulled his bow.

"This one will be, Sera, Ashy, Wulf, and, Malico."

The named moved off with bows ready. They found the hippo on stilts as it ground it's weird shaped head on a large rock. It turned to face them with a rumble, and Tyler aimed for the open mouth as the others all drew their strings back. The volley was fired, and the charging beast dropped with arrows in it's mouth. Tyler patted Sera as the party took the entire animal again.

"Next is...wow, that Hook Wraith."

Tyler looked at the map.

"Wow, this time the things are centered around Yark's village."

Wulf chuckled.

"This is good habitat for a lot of different creatures. Should see TopLeaf's selection during a busy season."

"If the staging ground gets moved to Cragspire, we will get to see it."

Ashy snorted.

"We all know it's going to. Tropes, remember?"

He chuckled as they rode to the spot. This one having made it's den in a large clearing with a cave that tunneled into a large rock face. Tyler smiled.

"We'll use the same crew as arrows worked well last time"

They nodded and hopped to it. Tyler took point with his bow up. The others in a semi circle behind him as he gave a yell.

"Hey! Feather head!"

The thing came racing out angrily hooting as the arrows pierced it's heart with enough force to lar it out flat on it's back. The party joined them to collect the beak and talons as Tyler and Lily explored the cave. Tyler scanning the place with his detection as Lily prospected behind him.

"Got a hollow here."

Tyler smiled.

"Vixen!"

The mage came in and she smiled.

"Found another tomb?"

"Maybe. But, better to outfox them."

She kissed him for that one. He tore the slab aside and she chuckled.

"Yup. Another tomb."

Tyler looked at the room.

"Cursed?"

"No. This is a clean burial."

"I'll take it then. Come to think of it, I've never really cleaned a tomb solo before."

The mage smiled as he walked in.

"So, a test for YOU?"

"Yup. Can't very well ask the girls to do something I can't do myself, right?"

She nodded sagely.

"No you cannot."

Tyler drew his new spear and tore the lid clean off as before leaping back. The thing was clearly female from the rotting cleavage.

"Didn't need to see that."

HE stabbed the thing in the eye with the spear using his lower body strength, and split the head cleanly. The thing rattled as it kept rising.

"Plan B!"

Tyler jumped back and thrust into the thing's ribcage. He pierced it's heart as it was about o rise from the coffin and it flopped back inside with a clack of bones. He chuckled.

"I guess I AM a lady killer!"

Vixen laughed heartedly before speaking.

"That was a greater Lich. That one needed both skull split and heart pierced."

Tyler put the spear up.

"Kinda fun to go one on one from time to time. I'll try to kill a giant camp solo next."

The mage came in to aid in looting as he lifted another spear from the coffin.

"Wow. Great minds I guess."

He looked at the white metal, and as he held it the thing started glowing with his white and blue paths.

"Nifty, pure Magicite."

Tyler put the spear in his pouch and collected the coins. Walking away with 250 gold, 750 silver, 15 copper, plus a few sapphires, another opal, and a rather large bit of obsidian. He then used prospect on the walls, and found more gold, silver, copper and a rather large vein of pure Watercite. Lily came in next.

"Got clay, granite, Diorite, andesite, some good red sandstone, and even a bit of marble."

"We'll take the marble for the mansion."

Lily smiled.

"We can use it to decorate the garden with some of our best kills. Oh, and I've got the first batch of figurines for the hutch ready."

"I love you, Lily!"

He patted her as he dug the ores and minerals from the walls of the cave while The others looted the cave. They walked away from the cave with an extra 50 gold, 354 silver, 12 copper. Tyler had split the party's coin in half between the mansion and what they roamed with. So, the mansion had 34,982 gold, 11 silver, 90 copper. The party had the remaining 34,981 gold and no other coins. Tyler didn't like the idea of just roaming around with nearly a hundred thousand gold on them, despite them being as capable as they were. Seemed a good way to tempt fate. So, the split. The party's total coin now was 35,281 gold, 1104 silver, 27 copper. The party's next kill was the cave job. The party found the small farm without issue and Tyler showed the bill to the farmer.

"To think I just wanted some peace of mind by posting the bill, and I got the Outcasts themselves doing the job!"

Tyler laughed as they found the ten foot entrance. Tyler and his team dropped down the 5 foot drop without issue. Lucy finding the cave a little TOO small for her 7 foot frame and opted as lookout. Tyler pulled Oblivion and Oathkeeper and led the way with Serafina as they explored the subterranean world. Lily prospecting as they went. The cave was maybe 8 feet high, 12 wide and seemed to be an old underwater river that dried up at some point from how smooth the dirt underfoot was and the abundance of roots overhead.

"Lily, if we find ore, I'll ice my ice to shore up the cave. I'm getting some serious cave-in vibes here."

Lily and Serafina were on the same wavelength.

"I'm feeling that way as well."

"Most I've found is mere clay and some low quality tin. We'll take it, but ya know."

They smiled as they came to a dead end. Tyler used his detection, and found a hollow.

"Okay, there's a cavity behind that pile of rocks. Your call. There's a chance it's blocked the river, and a single hole will release the river."

Serafina and Lily walked over to get a closer look.

"Look at the dirt. I'd say it's NOT the river on the other side."

Serafina placed her hand on the stone.

"I agree. If there was water on the other side, such loosely packed stone would be washed away."

Ashy came up now. The outdoorsy dirty blonde took a look at the rubble.

"I'm on your side in this. The rocks are too loose. Plus, I can see through some smaller holes."

"Open it?"

The three girls nodded.

"We think it's safe."

"Get back then."

The girls did, and he used Lily's hammer to smash the pile with rock smash. The pile was blown inward, revealing a larger chamber. Tyler walked in blades ready. This chamber was solid stone, and dropped another ten feet below the hole they'd made. The ceiling was now a good 17 feet above them, and the entire room was maybe thirty across. Tyler looked at Ashy.

"Boss room?"

"Boss room."

Tyler jumped in first, as he was strongest. HE landed and the room lit up with fires around the rim of the chamber.

"Wow, been a while since we found a demon chamber."

There was a burst of evil laughter as a ten foot demon dropped to the floor across from the Outcast. This one was white with black hooves, black wings, and black horns atop it's wolf's head.

"It has been far too long since I've had such willing prey."

Tyler tilted his head.

"And just what the hell are you?"

The thing pulled a flaming whip as Tyler thought it over.

"A Wolf Balor? What's the name…..Lupus Balor!"

The thing cackled.

"How amusing. A mere human knowing of the lower realms."

"Must suck to know your only redeeming quality is a good doggy style fuck. I mean you a bitch an all, but still."

The thing had a single vein bulge comically on it's forehead. Tyler just swapped his short swords for Gliepnir.

"So, if you wanna howl at a moon, I got one. As you can KISS MY. ASS."

The thing roared in enraged fury, and went to lunge at this most infuriating of mortals, only Tyler, now well versed in killing demonkind, had moved as the thing threw it's head back roaring. It looked to see Tyler flying through the air with a most gleeful smile as he impaled the thing through the chest.

"Gotchya bitch."

The thing bellowed in defiance of death as it's chamber shattered like glass. Tyler was now standing on smooth white stone with a black circle carved into the floor as the demon burned out of existence. He took the 5 foot white horn and flipped it.

"Nice. Clear!"

The rest of the party hopped down and Vixen burned the circle away. Lily prospected the white stone and whistled.

"What we got?"

"An old Pure Marble mine. We got maybe 15 tons of good stone here."

"Axes out!"

The party laughed as they went to extracting the beautiful white decorative stone from the cave. Once the white rock was collected, Tyler used his detection on the now grey walls.

"Got another hollow feeling behind that slab to your right Sera."

She nodded as he tore it aside to reveal a small tomb. Vixen shook her head as she saw it.

"We found a Halfling tomb."

"Halfling?"

"Another race of people that life in Lectis. They're small in number and stature."

"Sera, lily, and Lillia kill it. Vixen and I will observe."

The girls nodded as Tyler and Vixen leaned on the entrance. Lily threw the lid and dodged the first shot. The rotting creature sat up and Tyler chuckled as it was smaller then Lily. The elven girl used her Additite shield to pin the thing as Sera hit it in the head with an enhanced shaft, as Lillia did as well. The skull split, and it fell back dead. Tyler looked at Vixen.

"Well?"

She smiled.

"Mere Draugr. Well done though ladies."

They smiled as Lily pulled the thing's weapon up.

"Hey, it used a Magicite anti shield sword."

She was holding a mini sickle shaped sword, and Tyler smiled at her.

"Guess you got another blank."

She put it in her loot pouch as Sera and Lillia came with the coins.

"It only had a 100 gold, and 50 silver."

"Not bad ladies. Coin's coin in the end."

The cave now safe they climbed back to the tunnel and headed back to the entrance. They found Lucy patiently waiting with the farmer as they climbed out. Tyler took the horn out and looked at the sky.

"We found an underground demon chamber."

The farmer was confused until Tempesta was seen flying towards them. The poor farmer dropped to his knees as the blue dragon landed before the party. Tyler chuckled as the blue looked at him.

"I see you didn't call me."

"Lucy couldn't fit in the hole. Plus by the time we found it, we were deep underground maybe, fifteen minutes that way."

Tyler pointed towards a small forest. The dragon nodded.

"I see. An underground battle in its entirety. Was it slow?"

"Painful. It was a Lupus Balor."

The dragon blinked.

"That's a rare demon. Even IN the lower realms. Well done."

"I pissed it off in what? Three sentences?"

The dragon laughed. Then he became serious.

"Was it one of that?"

"No. Way it spoke made it seem it had been there for a very long time. Vixen ruined its circle, so she'd have a better idea."

The mage stepped forward.

"It is true Lord Blue. The circle was ancient indeed. Maybe thirty thousand years. Plus, the methods used were insultingly crude and poorly implemented. My opinion? Some idiot apprentice dabbled in something they really shouldn't have."

The dragon sighed now.

"Idiots and magic."

"A most terrifying combination."

The dragon gave them the twenty scales as the farmer was just awestruck by his first close up look at a high dragon. Tyler added the scales as Tempesta looked at the cave entrance.

"why'd you go down there in the first place?"

Tyler shrugged and held up the bill.

"We took the job as a change of pace and build experience doing different jobs. We even got one to clean out a den of Plains Crawlers."

Tempesta blinked at that.

"Plains crawlers? Those nasty spiders?"

"Haven't killed any yet, so we need the practice."

Tempesta snorted.

"Furiosa HATES them things. So, my advice? Let her know you torched a den."

"Now I know what color flame to use. Nifty."

The dragon spread his wings.

"I'll get back to the hunt."

"If you find anymore of the furniture, can we have it?"

He snorted so hard he blew smoke.

"You and those batshit questions. Sure."

"Later big blue!"

The dragon flew off as Tyler patted the farmer.

"So, now you've seen Tempesta up close."

HE just shook his head.

"I just wanted a cave cleared. Now I've met the Outcasts and seen Tempesta in the scales! Is the cave safe?"

"It is. But I'd fill it in as there is no escape for rainwater in it."

The man nodded.

"Thankee kindly. I'll get right on that."

Tyler and his party said goodbye before riding off to their next kill.

"Let's see. Closest one is...ha. The Crawlers."

Sera shivered as they moved into a stretch of woodland.

"I'll do my best."

she got pats from the others as wulf had then stop the horses.

"These things are just plain nasty."

"Nice pun."

The elf chuckled.

"I got a few every now and then."

"Ya know somethin? I can turn that into a hilarious dirty joke, but I'll leave the dirty to the blonde over there."

The party just looked at him. Kaori was a little impressed.

"Damn, Tyler. That one was pretty good actually."

Tyler shrugged as he pulled Oblivion and Oathkeeper.

"Eh. I got a gem too ya know. I mean, I got YOU Kaori!"

She glowed at that as Wulf just sighed.

"Silver tongued bastard."

The party walked along the woodland floor cautiously with Sera up front with Tyler, as this was part of her training as well. The trees became more web encrusted as they neared the den, and Tyler sighed.

"I see why Furiosa hates these things."

Wulf chuckled.

"Lady Green hates those that ruin her forests."

They found the den after ten minutes of walking. The thing was coated in pure white webs to the point Tyler had to use his fire breath to burn it away. Once the entire entrance was opened up, the party drew weapons. The hole was 10 feet tall and eleven wide.

"Lily, watch yourself in there. Sera stay close."

They nodded and moved in. Tyler using his flames to burn the webbing before them as they went.

"No prospecting until the last thing dies."

"Got it."

They moved deeper inside as Tyler used both his detection and flames to clear the way.

"Got movement."

The way was blocked by a thick patch of webbing. Tyler burned it away and they were confronted by the sight of 15 giant spiders looking at them. Sera fired her bow and killed one with a shot to the face. She had another arrow ready as her training kicked in and she was on autopilot. Tyler moved and set two on fire as the party charged the bugs. Sera stayed in the entrance with Ashy as the two girls fired arrows into the pack. The fight lasted all of five minutes with the last creature falling with a metallic squeal. Sera walked over and kicked one of the things.

"Fuck you."

She got pats as Vixen got to extracting venom as Tyler and Lily prospected. The rest of the party searching for other loot. Wulf was looking at the abdomens of the things.

"We can get some good spider silk from these things. It's great for making clothing for women, lines for fishing, bowstrings, and lace."

Tyler smiled.

"Wulf, I got an idea."

The ranger picked right up on it.

"On it."

Ashy and Kaori looked at each other.

"what did they just come up with Ashy?"

"I have no idea Kaori."

"We shall find out right?"

"Oh we shall."

The work went quickly and the party walked out with fifteen vials of spider venom, and a ball of spider silk ten feet across. The walls were clean of ore for once and so they just left the things to rot. Once in an area of open sky, Tyler looked at the sky.

"Hey, Furiosa. Heard you hate the Spider kind."

The green dragon soared in laughing as she landed.

"I heard from Tempesta you were hunting the things."

"We torched their den."

She bared her fangs.

"I'll amend our deal."

"Sure."

"On top of goblin piles, I'll reward you with scales for every den torched."

"Sweet. I hate spiders."

She laughed and placed ten scales on the ground.

"Thanks Furiosa!"

She chuckled and flew off as the party mounted back up.

"Okay, next kill is…..that other Durandal."

The party rode out to the kill site. The is one being in a dried river bed of all places. The thing fell easily to the party's arrows and was collected. Tyler smiled as he saw the next closest kill.

"Heads up. We're killing a Fell Falcon."

The party nodded and put multiple arrows to strings as Wulf led them towards a small mountain range the bird was said to be residing. They left their horses under the cover of a large overhang of rock and moved towards the mounds of rock. Tyler had his four shafts enhanced with ChainShot, Piercing Teardrop, Icy Punch, which tripled the impact of an arrow, and one that was coated in a nasty paralyzing agent the party had been sitting on. As they neared the face, there was a loud cry from above as the massive Falcon dove from a high peak. In appearance it was just a peregrine Falcon the size of a small jet liner. Tyler noted a massive nest at the base of the cliff it had dove off and smiled.

"We either got breakfast or a payday!"

That got a laugh as they aimed bows. The thing was diving at Tyler with talons outstretched, and as it passed the point of no return on the dive, they fired their bows and Lucy threw her spear. The bird grew several dozen shafts out of it's feathery chest and Tyler's paralytic arrow did it's job as the beast slammed into the ground with a pained squawk. Tyler was on it a moment later stabbing it in the neck with Gliepnir thus killing it. The party dusted themselves off and got to plucking the bird as Tyler and Ashy looked over the 50 feet nest. Tyler smiled as he saw three foot eggs in the thing.

"Hey, Wulf! We can eat the eggs rights right?"

The elf laughed.

"They're a royal delicacy!"

"Nice!"

Tyler collected the eggs as Ashy came up with a small pile of coins.

"we got 60 gold, 150 silver and about 50 copper."

"Wow. Wasn't expecting much but that bits it. Good eyes Ashy."

He added them to the pouch. The bird was collected as a whole due to most of it being useful to some degree, and tyler took the skull for the trophy room which got a few laughs. As they rode to the Cursed Wall, Tyler had a thought.

"Hey, Kaori. I got an idea."

She rode up.

"Oh shit here we go. What is it?"

"When we go through the dark forest, lets visit the Lisk clearing. For old times sake."

She and Malico smiled.

"I love that idea!"

"Me too! The bones will still be there since we're the only ones dumb enough to actually try an use em for anything!"

Tyler smiled at the thought.

"If the skull is there, we'll take it as our FIRST trophy. Oh, and we're stopping at the spot we killed the wyvern."

The girls smiled.

"A trip down our first adventures."

"Plus a night at our first campsite."

"It will feel so weird doing this, but a good weird."

"Yeah. We got Lily now!"

They laughed hard at that. The Cursed Wall was found carving a path by a river south of Raylik, and this time Tyler just cast Holy Sanctity and was done with it. They were able to mine several tons of Blood Sandstone, more Blood Platinum, gold and another Pure Magicite vein. Tyler was loving the idea of just outright hunting the beasts of the land, and so were Sallie and Sylvia as they sat in front of him in spirit form on his horse.

"Next is…..the Titan. Should be amusing."

They laughed as Wulf led them to the spot. They felt the ground shake even BEFORE seeing the thing. Then the party crested a rise and Tyler got his first good look at the thing. It was maybe 30 feet tall, walked on all fours on legs three feet thick, was weirdly camel shaped, and had a hippo head. Tyler looked at Ashy and Kaori incredulously.

"Am I going crazy or we seen this movie?"

"Luke. I. am you father."

"We're fighting walking At-Ats now. Fucking perfect."

The party looked at them.

"A movie from our world."

"ah."

Tyler looked at the think's knee joints.

"Sera, Lily, keep back. Arrows only for you. Lillia too. Thistle, Lucy, we'll try to take a leg out."

They nodded and dismounted. Tyler drawing Gliepnir. The others would fire arrows over their backs as they chopped it down to size. Tyler had a cut enhancement on his blade as the beast roared with a low bellow that reminded Tyler of a ship's horn. The melee fighters followed him in a line as he reached the thing's leg as it tried to step.

"Rock smash!"

Tyler's blade cut deep into the 4 foot thick ankle of the beast. Lucy was right there with her own rock smash, and Thistle finished the trifecta attack. The result was the foot being fully severed and the thing starting to topple.

"MOVE!"

Tyler pulled them under the falling beast as he'd anticipated the way it'd fall: forward as it missed it's step and landed on it's face with an earth shaking thud. The spot they had taken shelter under was propped up by the hind legs and was a ten foot spot like a bridge. Tyler looked to his two friends.

"You two good?"

Lucy nodded.

"Aye lad, was mighty quick thinking."

Thistle was chuckling as she looked at the beast above them.

"Indeed. The thing fell most oddly."

They walked out from under it to find the party pulling blades from it's neck. Kaori and Ashy just looked at the thing.

"It even FELL like one too."

"Weird, right?"

Tyler looked at the things face down ass up posture.

"We'll tip it over before we butcher it."

The party nodded and took the position on the other side as Tyler took a deep breath and set his strength against the side of the animal. HE was standing on a rather conveniently place slab of rock and pushed with all his strength. The stone under him cracked as the dead animal fell over with the creaking one would expect from trees. It hit the dirt with a heavy thud, and when he moved from his spot, the imprints of his boots were visible in the solid stone. Even the treads were visible. HE dropped from the effort and drank a quick stamina potion before getting back up. The hardworking party got to the task of butchering the massive animal. In the end they were able to take nearly everything from the carcass, and tyler looked at the ten foot skull.

"I kinda wanna make a trophy outta this but not sure how."

Wulf tapped a knuckle on the steel-like bones.

"Could always make it so it's like an archway people have to walk through to enter the mansion. Its certainly tall enough."

"That works!"

The party laughed as he put the massive skull into the trophy pouch. The thing using magic to store the massive object in such a tiny package. Tyler looked at the bills now.

"Okay. The Durandals, Fell Falcon, Hook Wraith, Titan are dead. The spiders toast and cave clean. All that's left is the Plains Wraith, and the Diadore."

Malico perked up.

"Can I get the pelt from the Wraith? I can make a really nice blanket with it."

"Sure Kittycat!"

She purred as they went to kill the Diadore. Tyler had his spear this time as a challenge for himself. They found the T-rex like tracks and followed them as they moved along. They heard the dual roar and Tyler chuckled.

"I love that sound."

They chuckled as the ground started to shake. They'd left their horses maybe a hundred meters back, an were on foot when the beast attacked. It came tearing out of a patch of woodland bellowing it's challenge. The thing was 35 feet tall, 50 long, with a pair of 6 foot heads. The thing was a deep orange like the fruit with a pair of black stripes on the twin heads that moved independently of each other. They party moved around the dual heads as the thing missed it's lunge. Tyler thrust with his spear and the mythril head punched deep into the thing's shoulder. It recoiled with a snarl of pain, only for and arrow from Sera's bow to pierce it's hide on it's other side and hit it's heart. Tyler tore his spear free and the thing fell with a thud. Tyler walked over and gave Sera a warm pat, getting a happy bawl from the ever-cheerful girl.

"Good kill Sera."

The party took the entire animal before setting out for their last kill. As they rode, Kaori came up beside Tyler.

"Is this our last bill for the day?"

Tyler looked at the sky and noted the sun was maybe 5 hours from setting.

"We'll see how we all feel when we get back."

She nodded.

"The horses need to rest for a while."

"Okay, YOU give the word when we can go out if they want."

She smiled as Wulf led them to a small patch of grassland with rocks and single trees everywhere.

"We'll have to track it a little."

"Kaori, Ashy and Wulf lead. Best trackers in the party."

They smiled as they dropped down. Tyler had the party split in case the thing came for their horses.

"Lucy, Malico and Serafina stay with Lillia with the horses. We're dealing with a tiger."

They nodded and Lillia got on Lucy's horse as he was the tallest for a vantage point. Tyler took the others to go kill the cat. The hunters cut a trail quickly enough and followed the plate sized paw prints in the soft dirt towards a small patch of large stones.

"Watch your asses."

Sera and Lily were placed in the center of the party as they ran along the matted down grass and prints. The trackers found the cat lounging on a large rock sunning itself. Tyler smiled as he saw it was just a massive tiger with two tails. He pulled his spear as the cat leapt to it's paws with a thunderous roar. It was about to bolt when a well-aimed arrow from Sera's bow took it in the mouth with an enhanced piercer. The cat dropped dead with the feathered flights sticking out of it's muzzle.

"Damn Sera. Nice shot."

She giggled as he called the rest of the party. They took one look at the tiger that had swallowed an arrow and patted Sera as well.

"Scary."

The animal was skinned with the teeth, claws, and even the eyes collected. Malico was purring as she got her tiger pelt.

"The tent is going to be SOOOOOO comfy!"

Tyler hugged his favorite kittycat.

"It already IS comfy, Malico. We got a kittycat like you in it!"

She kissed him for that before they mounted up and rode back to Raylik. The horses were stabled and Tyler brought the bills with Wulf for payment. Brook was still in the booth and she smiled as they laid the bills out.

"Okay. Confirmed. Your total today is 346 gold and the skills Double shot, which adds an extra arrow when fired, Aerial Detection, which is used for hunting birds and relies on perception, and Fast flight which doubles the speed of an arrow shot."

Tyler took the coin and they headed to the exchange. Grilock was waiting for them as he'd heard they'd taken another batch of bills.

"Well, what rare beasts did you fell today?"

"Fell Falcon, Diadore, more ores, a Titan, another pair of Durandals, and a Plains Wraith."

Grilock blinked.

"Those aren't as exotic as I was expecting, but good finds nonetheless."

The men unloaded and the gnome nodded.

"Okay, I can give you 564 gold, 64 silver and 13 copper."

"Good deal."

They got their money and headed for the mason yard. The foreman just waved them at the scales.

"Ah, let's see what ya got this time."

The men dumped the stone and clay into the forty foot scales that reminded Tyler of industrial dumpsters and the red bearded man nodded.

"More normal for once. I can give you 354 gold, 62 silver and 5 copper."

"Deal. Now I've a question."

"oh shit here we go."

"Wow. If I wanted something carved from marble, do I come to you?"

"Aye lad. If you bring the stone and the design it costs less and is done quicker. Have ya a project in mind?"

"Looking to decorate our garden with statues of our best kills."

The man busted out laughing hard at that one.

"A true Warrior's Decoration and no mistake!"

Tyler took the money as Wulf held up the pouch with the spider silk.

"I've a friend that does enchanted ladies wear. Wanna pay a visit?"

Tyler smiled.

"like I said, Wulf. We spoil our girls RIGHT."

The two men headed to the ranger's hookup and Tyler chuckled when they found the shop behind Twink's magic shop.

"I need to explore more."

The elf laughed as they walked into the clothing shop and the lady behind the counter spotted them. Tyler blinked as he saw her, as her skin was a deep blue, her eyes red with a golden slit iris, long flowing red hair, massive flopping breasts barely contained in a white strapless gown and no finned ears or fingers. HE walked over as she greeted the ranger.

"Wulfy! It's been decades!"

She had a warm voice that had a hint of seductiveness and Tyler chuckled.

"Wow, Wulf. Didn't tell me your friend was a half Succubus half mermaid."

The lady gasped in shock.

"The Outcast himself? In MY store?"

Tyler smiled kindly at the lady.

"Nice to meet you miss."

She relaxed at his friendly tone and looked at him more closely.

"My, the stories didn't say you were a handsome lad. What a nice surprise. As to your guess? You're right, and I must say I'm impressed you knew."

"The undercurrent of seductiveness in your voice reminded me of the last succubus I dealt with. Kinda hard to forget when she tried to hit me with her spell."

Wulf blinked at him.

"right. Willpower."

"Actually, Kaori snapped me outta it."

The lady laughed.

"I've heard the miss is a fierce one. Nice to see the rumors be true. Now, my name's Sylica. What brings you two men to me store?"

Tyler placed the large ball of spider silk on the counter.

"I'm looking to spoil Kaori a little. Wulf? I guess Ashy?"

"Do you WANT me to kill you?"

Sylica smiled widely.

"I can make them some new enchanted clothes that fit perfectly. Styles?"

Tyler's eyes flashed with inspiration.

"Can I borrow a piece of paper, a pencil, and the colors sky blue, pure white, and fire red?"

The lady had seen his eyes flash and handed him the items as Wulf just looked at him.

"What the hell?"

"Watch Wulfy."

Tyler spent no less then ten minutes at the piece of paper before smiling widely.

"Perfect."

He got up and placed the image on the counter. Wulf and Sylica both stared. Tyler had drawn a strapless dress that would hang to Kaori's ankles with a long slit up the side for both movement and leg with a pair of white gloves for her arms that would end at her elbows. The thing was belted around the middle with a sash of red that would hold her Katana and Wakizashi, with a small ring enchanted to replace her dress with her battle attire with a mere tap or word. The dress was a deep blue that would make her golden blonde hair pop like sunlight, with a ripple of fire wrapping around her body like a protective barrier. On her breast over her heart was his insignia in the pure white. Upon her feet would be a pair of simple, white, one inch heels. Tyler was smiling as he finished explaining his vision to the stunned pair.

"So, think you can do it?"

The lady just broke out into a wide, happy smile.

"Lad, I just need a decent gem for the ring."

"Wooould a diamond work?"

Wulf and the lady gasped, before smiling widely.

"It would. But, my advice as I've lived through several sets of waves? Wait until AFTER you beat them for a diamond ring."

"Eh. FINE. Let's see, her favorite was….ah, I remember, Ruby!"

Sylica smiled.

"That will work perfectly."

Tyler put a stone the size of a softball on the counter and she shook her head.

"I heard from ole Tolic quality matters."

"If you'd like, I got one three feet across."

"That would just lead to waste material. No, this will make the enchantment work perfectly."

Wulf just looked at him.

"You've ben planning this one for a while now. Haven't you?"

"Years, Wulf. Years."

The ranger drew a simple shirt and pants for Ashy, as the dirty blonde was a more simple soul that preferred use over flare. Sylica looked at Tyler's design and smiled.

"For a true masterpiece, 3 gold."

He put 10 on the counter.

"I'm looking for master work."

She nodded approvingly.

"Now THAT'S a man. I'll have this ready in four hours."

Tyler smiled hard now.

"I can't WAIT to see her mind go boom."

Wulf just shook his head again.

"I still can't win. I'm gonna catch up with Sylica here, you go do whatever."

"Have fun you two."

The two laughed.

"She only likes women!"

"An beauties at that!"

"Oh. An I'll have Malico pay a visit."

She laughed as he left.

"I love me a busty cat!"

Tyler headed back to the mansion to unload the stuff they were keeping, and laughed as he set the titan skull outside the front door. He set it in such a way you'd have to walk through it to get inside, and since it was so big it wasn't an issue. Next he headed to Lily's smithy for her ore and ivory. She was hard at work on the Falchion he'd seen her working on yesterday, and waited until she set it in the forge again before bothering her.

"Got your ore Lily."

She smiled as she drank some water and waved him to her piles. He dumped the ore out and gave her the ivory when he had a thought.

"Hey, Lily. You wouldn't happen to be able to carve marble, would you?"

That got a smile.

"I can. Which was why I said we can use it."

Tyler placed the pouch with the 15 tons of marble on her silver desk.

"Well, I can't Wait to see what you can do with it."

She gave him another pouch as well.

"That's got the first batch of figurines."

"Love you too."

He left her to her work and went to the party trophy room. The new furniture had been delivered and now he put the Tyrant, Diadore, Fell Falcon, and Ice lisk skulls on the pedestals before going to the rotunda style hutch and started placing the figurines of those the party had slain inside. Orcs, Oricah, goblins, which even the mere sight of the figurines was enough the enrage him, giants, the lisks, Dragel, Liches, draugr, bears, various beasts and birds, and the demons thus far were all placed inside the thing. Each figurine made with exacting detail and skill. Tyler emptied the first batch and shook his head as the large hutch wasn't even a quarter full of the things. We're going to have SUCH a collection by the time we're done. He then headed to his office to put the bills away and add the newest set of books to the compendium. He sat down and put the bills in the file as he placed his hand in the Oracle interface. He got another set and placed them on the shelf.

"Still working?"

He looked over to see Kaori walking in.

"Yeah. Just finished unloading the skulls and books."

She hugged him as they kissed.

"You know you CAN take a break every now and then, right?"

He smiled as he held her now.

"I know. I like being busy though. Plus with the first wave coming up, kinda feel like I need to go just that much harder."

She kissed him again.

"Well, I got todays news crystal when you're ready to look at it."

HE held her tightly.

"We'll look at it before I head to Yoko's."

She smiled.

"I'm joining Malico, Lily and Vixen as they invade Seline's room."

"Should invite Verilica."

She gasped.

"Oh my gods, that's a great idea!"

HE kissed her warmly.

"Well, I'll finish up in here."

"The horses need to rest for the rest of the day. They're tired too."

"As my LOVER wishes."

she shivered hard.

"Oh I LOVE it when you do that."

He let her go as he sat back down and took out the map. He set it in the small grooves and was looking at it as he planned the route to Term. He traced a finger from Raylik to the Dark Forest,

"Okay, we were going at a light pace as we went the first time due to Lillia and Sera never having traveled like that. It took us maybe, two days for the full trip. Now, I'm certain we can do it in one."

He smiled as he saw the Dark forest. Be great to see juniper and Slyvien again. Then he followed the road the nobility took to Term, and found it did indeed merge just outside Malico's village. It is going nice to see Myuki again. Love me a cute kitten. Happy with the route, he put the map in his pouch and went to find Kaori. She was in their room sitting on the white lounge chair looking at her HUD when he walked in. She smiled as he sat beside her.

"Missed you."

He kissed her as they settled.

"Love you."

She passed him the crystal and they looked at it together.

"Today in Vernillion. Well, it's official. The Outcast is insane. As most of the nearby region saw, earlier today a massive dust cloud was seen near the small hamlet of Loggervile, prompting worries over a massive landslide or collapse. Well, reader, I sat down with Tyler the Outcast as the cloud was HIS party's doing. These are his words and mine.

"Okay, Tyler the Outcast, do you know what caused that dust cloud that we all saw?"

"I do. Me and my party caused it as we sought to open up a newly discovered cave."

"Was there any reason other then exploration for such an act?"

"After we killed that Adamantiose, which by the way was a fun fight, Wulf our elven ranger discovered that one of it's spikes had punched a hole into the ground and into a unknown cave. Yeah, we hurried the hell up as the land we were standing on was hollow. We warned the nearby village as to the danger and the chief asked us to open it up properly and clear it for any nasty surprises."

"How did you open the cave?"

"we used my water spell and Kaori's lava to create a mini underwater volcanic eruption like we used in then battles here. The result was an area of land 400m across just dropping. Looked freakin awesome from our vantage."

"the entrance was 400m? that's a rather massive cave."

"It's an untouched entrance to the Underdark."

The Underdark. That long forgotten highway of tunnels that crisscross the land in hundreds of directions for thousands of miles. Tyler and his party had stumbled upon an untouched entrance purely by chance. And after fighting an Adamantiose no less! Reader, the outcasts are true legends if fighting such a beast is a bit of mere FUN. Yet the true insanity of the Outcast was yet to be seen, as when questioned on whether anything lived in the cave, his casual, matter0of0fact reply made my blood run cold.

"Was there anything living in the cave?"

"A Fallen Dragon."

"You've seen a fallen Dragon….and LIVED?"

"We called for some help from Tempesta himself. I guess the Color dragons have a particular hatred for the Fallen."

"How did you get the thing out of the cave? Especially with the Lord of Blue sitting right there?"

"I can taunt a pride demon into a blind rage with a few sentences and a well placed finger. I can piss off a dragon just the easier. I had even Tempesta nearly busting up laughing as I roared into the cave with my favorite of skills: royally getting under your skin."

"Your telling me, you taunted a dragon into such a blind rage, that it ran straight into the jaws and claws of Lord Blue?"

"Bragging more like, but yeah."

"You're insane."

"Well, thank heaven for that, cause otherwise this'd probably never work."

The Outcast is out of his damned mind, readers of Lectis. Who would be so brash as to taunt a DRAGON? The Outcast was also able to bare witness to a battle of dragons with a front row seat. And he had this to say.

"Hey, Kazuma? In yo face! I saw a dragon battle I started!"

The theory of Kazuma the Kind and Tyler the Outcast being brothers stuck with each other seems to hold water now reader, if this jab was anything to go by. The Viscount of Dragul was quick to issue a reply.

"Kaori, since the odds are you're reading this beside him, or if you do read this, cooould you smack him for me please?"

The blonde did indeed smack Tyler as she was laughing hard at his cross Lectis taunt.

"You rat bastard! That was a dick move!"

"But freakin hilarious though!"

"Besides the point! Asshole!"

They were still laughing as they started reading again.

"Since the Lovely Kaori will most likely have smacked her lover by now, let me just say, atta girl! The Lord of Blue then made a most surprising of visits: Landing outside the gates of Raylik looking for a local girl by the name of Melly. The sweet girl holds a special place in the Outcast party's heart, and I asked Tyler about it. This is our conversation.

"Why did Lord Blue want o meet with the child Melly?"

"We might have been bragging about just how sweet and fun she is. That and she's Sera's sister got him curious. Big blue's got a fondness for kids, so he wanted to meet her. Plus, well, it's Melly!"

Sera Vin Vernillion, the royal princess, has taken Melly as her newest sister. And readers of Lectis? You do not know the meaning of the word 'cute' until you've seen those two girls playing together. Sera is as sweet as a girl can get, and Melly is just as kind. When they're together walking around town, you just can't help but smile at them. Tyler has taken a most brotherly affection to the girl as well, often spoiling her with gifts just because he can. If this is how he spoils his little sisters, then how must he spoil the one he loves most? Perhaps the Lady Kaori would know better?"

Kaori tilted her head now.

"Huh. Verilica's got a point there. You spoil the ever loving hell out of Melly, yet you've only gotten ME a ribbon."

Tyler smiled as he kissed her.

"I guess that means I need to step it up then."

She blinked.

"Oh shit. I know that look. What did you do?"

"I have no idea what you mean, Kaori. Shall we keep reading?"

"Jesus that just as scary now as it was then!"

Now effectively terrified, Kaori resumed reading with Tyler.

"Whatever Tyler may choose to do for the one that holds his heart, we can only assume it will be as overly outrageous as he himself is. Now, readers of Lectis, in our last article, we made mention of the Fireball last seen riding in the direction of Vernillion. The only reason for such a direction is her having heard of Gruven's death. I asked the Outcast about this. His response was unexpected.

"I trust you saw yesterday's article?"

"I did."

"So, you're aware the Fireball is headed in this direction?"

"Oh, you mean Kaori's mother? Yeah."

"She's. her mother?"

"Her name's Erica, right? Golden blonde, green eyes, fierce temper and a busted sense of humor and speech?"

"Yeah, that's the Fireball. And you're in love with her daughter."

"And she's in love with me."

"So, you must be aware of why she's coming?"

"She's heard Gru's dead."

"Are you scared?"

"I fight demons for fun, I've looked angry dragons in the eye, and on occasion have to fight for me life with an overly ferocious elf girl with a hammer. Am I scared of meeting the mother of the love of my life? Batshit terrified."

"When the Fireball meets the Outcast, well, it's either going to be the stuff of legends, nightmares, or both."

"Yeah. Kaori's fierce enough. Her mother? Yeesh."

Reader, The Fireball's daughter has come to Lectis. May the gods have mercy upon the rest of us. The Lady Kaori has the blood of one of the most powerful of red path mages in her veins, and since I know her personally, ALL of her mother's fire. The Outcast will have his most ferocious battle to date when he meets KAORI'S mother!"

Kaori looked at him. He then felt an icy chill.

"Did…..you not want me to tell?"

She just burst out laughing at his expression of OH FUCK. HE just sat there with a hammering heart rate as she recovered. Then she kissed him and he deflated from the breath of relief.

"I'm not mad. I'm happy you did it like this, as a outright fuck you to my father. Thank you."

"Oh thank you Kaori's not mad."

She kissed him then before they returned to reading.

"The Fireball was sighted again this morning astride her white steed riding east towards Vernillion. Knowing her pace of travel? Ya got a week to live Outcast! Use it well! Queen Willow of the Elven Queendom made a statement regarding the Outcasts description of her most fierce daughter, Lily.

"Ahh, it seems me girl's teachin him well. Ya best remember she knows how to use that hammer lad!"

Lily keeps him in line when Kaori's not around, Willow. Let the guild assure you of that. King Ishtar has made a statement regarding the newly discovered tunnel.

"The dragons are now searching for more entrances to the Underdark. For the first time in centuries, they have the scent of Fallen Dragons in their noses, and as such seek to have a little fun hunting the black dragons for sport. If you see a dragon dive into a hole, RUN!"

Reader, we have a dragon hunt underway in Vernillion. The wave is in 16 days, the Outcast has a week to live, and the Fireball has a daughter. An eventful day in Vernillion."

Tyler sighed as he closed the HUD and looked at Kaori.

"How much ya wanna bet she crashes the ball?"

That got a laugh.

"Wow, nice to see you're still rigging bets."

Tyler hugged her tightly.

"I love you, Kaori."

She smiled and settled against him.

"I love you too, Tyler."

Sallie and Sylvia giggled from the doorway.

"And we love our spirits!"

"Our girls too!"

The two girls came over and joined the lovers on the chair and got a warm hug.

"Daddy, a runner was at the door saying your order is ready!"

"I'll be right back Kaori."

She sighed.

"Still working? Relax for once!"

He kissed her hard.

"I was with YOU. Relaxed as I can get."

She shivered as he headed off the Sylica's shop. Wulf passed him in the doorway and the men high fived as they passed.

"She's going to LOSE it!"

"She is too!"

Tyler walked to the seamstress's shop and walked in. The lady was smiling as he entered.

"Lad, this was a true masterwork."

He took the small velvet box and looked inside to see the ruby ring.

"She's going to love it."

He place another 10 gold on the counter and she nodded approvingly.

"Nice to see a man that understands the workings of the world."

He chuckled and left as he was now in a hurry to see Kaori's reaction. He walked into the mansion and up to their room. She was sitting on the chair playing with the two spirits when he walked in. She looked up smiling as he closed the door.

"Want me?"

He smiled widely as he pulled her to her feet.

"Close your eyes, and hold out your right hand."

She gasped, and closed her eyes and held out her shaking hand. Tyler took the ring out of the box, and slid it onto her ring finger.

"You can look now."

She looked and gasped as she saw the glittering gemstone on the band of gold.

"It's beautiful!"

"Tap it."

She blinked, and did as requested. She tapped a finger on the gem and she was encased in heatless, roiling fire for a moment. Then it was out and she was clad in her new dress. She gasped at the beautiful gown and he held her mirror up so she could twirl in it. Her hair was made to pop like pure gold against the blue of the dress, and when she spun it looked like she was wearing the ocean with a ring of fire burning around her. She had tears in her green eyes as she saw it. HE was smiling as well.

"Everything landed exactly as I wanted it too."

She looked at the ring and saw it was till on her finger, and she tapped it again. She was encased in the fire again, and was redressed in her light shirt and pants she wore around the mansion. Then she was kissing him hard as they fell to the bed.

"Thank you."

"I love you."

it was all he had to say as they kissed and held each other. She then laid beside him with her newly adorned hand on his chest in his own.

"It's enchanted to never come off unless you or I remove it, and it's nearly unbreakable."

She hugged him.

"I'll give it to Sallie to hold onto."

HE looked at the green haired spirit, and she giggled.

"It's allowed! Since we're attached to you like we are, and NO those attachments can NOT be severed by any force, we can hold small items for you."

"Love you too girls."

Kaori just looked at her new ring.

"Was this one of YOUR designs?"

"It was. Glad to know I still got it."

She kissed him.

"I love you. And, I'll LET Yoko have you tonight, as I kinda promised Seline my last night before hand."

"We got a long time Kaori. We'll get plenty of chances to sleep together in our HOME."

She smiled.

"We will. Even AFTER you meet my mom."

"Yeeah, that's gonna be a good bit o fun!"

She snuggled up against him.

"I'm surprised it wasn't a diamond."

"I'll save THAT one for a more…..spectacular occasion."

she shivered again.

"I'll let it go. Thank you."

He kissed his love softly.

"I love you."

She sidled over into his arms, as he chuckled.

"What?"

"Malico is going to LOSE it when she sees your new dress and bling."

Kaori smiled.

"I'll go show off!"

"I will...dunno. Maybe look at bills?"

The blonde beauty just kissed her never ceasing lover.

"Go sit in the tower. We furnished it too."

"That's a great idea."

He walked out as Kaori went to go show off her new bling and dress to the ladies as he climbed up to the tower that over looked the entire town. The small room had been set up as a relaxing room with a couch facing a large window that looked out at the town, lounge chairs here an there, a coffee table with a slot for the view crystal, and since the windows were enchanted to look right through the five foot railings on the wraparound balcony, the tower had a nearly panoramic view of the town. Tyler laid on the couch with his feet on the thickly cushioned armrest as the sounds of awed reactions to Kaori's beautiful dress were heard. He smiled.

"I still got it."

He smiled as he looked at the roof of the tower, which was ALSO enchanted to show the sky like it wasn't even there. He watched as cloud and sky sharks drifted along on their paths to there and relaxed. He felt someone else near him, and he looked to see Sallie climbing the stairs with her usual happy smile.

"Hi, Daddy, mind if I join you?"

He smiled at the cute spirit and held out his arm.

"Sure, Green bean. C'mere."

She giggled and climbed up beside him on the couch.

"Mommy's new dress is beautiful, and the other ladies are jealous."

Tyler hugged her to him.

"Nice to see I still have it."

She settled down beside him and he wrapped an arm over her small waist.

"You should take a nap, I'll look out for you."

"Love you too, Sallie."

"I'll ALSO wake you when Yoko gets off work."

"There it is."

She giggled as he closed his eyes and drifted off with the spirit resting right beside him.

He woke to a poke from Sallie. He opened his eyes to see the smiling sprit looking at him.

"Get up, Yoko's about o get off work."

He hugged her tightly as he sat up on the couch. Sallie smiled as she winked back to spirit form as he headed back into the mansion. He was then cornered in the doorway by a foot tapping Lily. HE gulped.

"Um, Lily, hi."

She had an intense look in her red eyes.

"So you know? That dress is beautiful."

"She loves it."

"She does. And I want one too."

HE blinked.

"Um, okay, Lily. I did that for Kaori. You may want to be with me as much as you do, and that's fine, but that's HER gift."

Lily blinked now herself at his tone, and shook her head.

"I see. And I'm sorry for that. It wasn't right of me to try and steal her gift."

HE hugged her tightly.

"I love you too, Lily. And I'll see what I can do for you. But the enchanted dress thing is Kaori's."

She hugged him back.

"I understand."

He patted her as he then walked out the door. Soon as it shut, kaori came out of a door in the hall smiling.

"Pay up."

Lily just shook her small head as she now had to help clean the sheets after their pile wit5h Seline.

"Scary how you predicted that."