[ - Author's Note - ]

Well after He Who Knows No Failure discovering failure we will move onto what I promised; the long awaited date between James and Celestine... Honestly I forget when he pulled the 'you owe me' that it's been long enough.

He'll make good use of that 'you owe me', mind you.

We'll also get some other moments with Klaus, Miria and Cress, Maia and even a bit with Grave... but we all know what the main draw is here... so...

Let's get into it!

[ - Act IV - Chapter XIII: A Date With A Goddess - ]

She is the holiest of us all! She with the light that guides!
She is the loveliest of us all! She with the smile that warms!
She is the wisest of us all! She with the sight beyond ours!
She is the purest of us all! She with the untouched heart!

~She Is The Goddess, Poem written by Zelda Zelguard about Celestine Lucross. Reportedly Celestine didn't care much for it.

[-]

Over the course of the week since Qatil's death things happened. Yes, things will happen anyway but things of direct interest to me.

For starters as it became known I had survived and 'killed' Qatil there was a lot of awe and amazement; most of it reached me through rumors but allies would call me up and express gratitude that I survived and gratefulness that he was dead. Surprisingly I wound up with a gift from King Xerander of Balanar; his father and another notable noble under his command were both assassinated by He Who (Used To) Know No Failure; a single spell stone that was in a diamond/square shape that was one and a half inches wide side to side and a half inch thick. That might not sound like much but once you realized it was a grade one stone, and very high grade one stone that was a big deal.

Needless to say I wanted to use it and called up Lulu to ask about a new circlet to use; my plan was to swap out my current circlet I ended up getting (Through a series of events) from Aeris' father with a more powerful, protective one with this stone at it's center. I wanted to ask for a good smith to make it, thinking she'd be too busy to make it herself and that she wasn't much for jewel craft. I should have known better; she promised to forge it herself. Go figure.

Oh, and Vult called once he heard. He demanded we go drinking as celebration. Yeah.

Back to a minor point; the fact Dawn killed Qatil was hidden from most at my father's suggestion. He worried that Dawn couldn't handle that sort of attention yet and the idea I handled him solo would spook off anyone else wanting a piece of my head. Dawn, for her part, was fine with it although I promised to make the truth known someday.

Thankfully the commoner class didn't make a big deal of what happened, but mostly due to a lack of context; the average man on the street doesn't really know about as they don't usually worry about assassinations; lucky me as it was a respite. What they did know was an assassin came for me, he was supposed to be good but he wasn't good enough. That was fine by me, really.

That was much better as I stopped into Argon to see my new Corn Flakes kitchen being built; the foundations were finished (I opted to pay student's from my father's school to apply Earth magic to the problem and even oversaw them as they worked), posts placed and what would be the floor being built up. I looked to the man who was, along with some hired help, leading the project. "Well I'd say it's coming together already." I knew enough to say everything looked sturdy and well put together already despite being little more then a floor right now.

"Yeah, been a century and a half since I had so much leeway on how to build something." Said man let off, a dark elf who immigrated in from Garan after the war

(-)

Name: Pavel Oakmaker
Title: Conscript & Carpenter
Class: Solider/Woodworker
Level: 17
Alignment: Friendly
Reputation: 76
Status: Healthy, Eager, Thoughtful

Known Traits
[?]
[Basic Weapon Mastery] +7% Damage when using Daggers, Knives, Spears and Short Swords

[Can We Build It?] You can reinforce structures with whatever is available to you and make repairs quicker. +20% resistance to damage to all structures you work on.

Considered relaxed and easy going by some Pavel is, in reality, something of a rebel to the repressive norms of the kingdom of Garan. However with the Dark Kingdom undergoing reforms he's opted to find his fortunes elsewhere; namely in the growing County of Mungale.

(-)

I knew he arrived after the winter along with two others; another dark elf male who joined the town guard and his buddy's girlfriend, a high elf interestingly enough. Sure there's a story to how they met but I only knew of them at the moment. I nodded to him for a moment and smiled. "Glad to hear you're enjoying your work. Mind if I ask a question?" He tilted his head slightly and I took it as consent to ask. "What brings you to Mungale? I understand why some of the freed slaves would come here and avoid Garan, but you're from there, right?"

"Yeah, I was a conscript." Pavel said, moving a hand to rub the back of his head as he looked to me. "Never cared for it; it's why I joined the Ghosts of Arblade with my friend. Just... wanted the damn war over with, ya know?" I nodded, understanding that as he crossed his arms and chuckled, looking to the building he was... building. "And, well, once it was over I wanted to see more then Garan... And since this place was supposed to be booming I felt I could ply my trade here and then maybe see what kinda stuff you humans built over the years."

Well that was... curious but I could understand and appreciate that. "My two suggestions would be to visit Primus City and the Thorn territories ruled by eastern descended lords; the former boasts a lot of buildings from the Imperium and the later ones based on those from the far east." His eyes widened for a moment before giving a slightly roguish smile.

"Well, I keep that in mind then." He said as he chuckled. "I imagine I don't need to get a lord a souvenir though."

"I wouldn't refuse one; but better to bring one to your friend." I said with my own smile. "Regardless; my time isn't always my own so I'll leave this project in what seems to be able hands. Thanks for the hard work."

"Thanks for the good pay." He replied before I turned to head into town. I had to meet the mayor (And maybe pry her off me with a crowbar) and speak with Kara at the guild before heading home. I had a few last things before I called in an... I-O-U...

... Well, more like a U-O-I...

[-]

Home of Terson Awl
Outside of Skyguard City, High Kingdom of Ken

"Hmmm..." Klaus went off as he walked down the hall of his old friend's home. Sadly his body had yet to be found but if the pit dug for Amaru Zweimantel and Zillah Seitenlippe suggested anything he was likely buried in the wild in some forest, somewhere; finding his body was, sadly, likely not going to happen. As opposed to waste time searching for him he opted to go back to his home. Two Black Watch agents were trying to find what they could but he wanted to join in as well; he knew his friend well enough that he might have noticed something out of place that wasn't torn through by the intruder.

He was fairly sure he knew who the mastermind of this plot was; his father, Grave Levantine. That said while there was a lot of evidence around him and pointing vaguely in his direction there was nothing that outed him directly. He would admit, there was a possibility he was wrong... but he knew his father well; only Claudia knew him as well... but they were exposed to different sides of him.

Claudia knew him as the stern but fair and rigorous teacher; a leader of men who fought for far longer then most would to defend their kingdom and way of life. The man who sacrificed his well being for decades with the scars to prove his dedication. The stoic and grim general who was concerned with his men's well being and would do what he could to rescue those brave soldiers under his command. For all of his faults he was a great general and warrior.

Klaus however knew him as the abusive man who cared for physical might and prowess above all else; a man dismissive of intellectual pursuits, disdainful and reluctantly respectful of magic at best. He was no fool but in his mind the understanding of things like the natural world, foreign languages, physics that didn't involve the arcs of arrows or catapulted ammunition; if it wasn't about tactics or could be applied to tactics or combat he cared little for it. What little he did care for outside of war and warfare was the Kaiser era of the Imperium; a time of tyrants and iron fisted domination... and he did not take the era as a warning of such heavy handed rulership.

Claudia was not unaware of his dark side... but he feared his wife was unaware of how deep the darkness seeped into him. Truth be told he worried he didn't understand how deep it went...

Finally he entered the bedroom and began his search; like the rest of the house bookshelves dominated the walls... all save the one the bed's headrest pressed into. That wall was also shelves but didn't bear books; a few letters (Some he wrote to his friend) that were clearly turned over, knick-knacks and gifts he was given, the puzzle box he gained from someone else and more. Terson had few friends but there was a mutual treasuring of those friendships. Idly he picked up the puzzle box and smiled wistfully, turning it in his hand-

-and felt something within move and fall from one side to another; whatever was inside it was rather light and he knew Terson usually kept it empty... Curious... It was a cube, wooden and well made and looked like a large die; he imagine he could roll it in some game of chance. Examining he he soon realized that while it seemed seamless the sixth side slid... but something within blocked it from moving more then a hint. He could feel something else within; some mechanism that... rolled? Slid? Frowning in thought he turned it over more to examine the sides further. "Hmmm... Most die have the opposite sides equal seven... but the six is opposite of three and four is opposite of one..." He mused as he examined it further, turning it in his hands. "I wonder..."

He moved to set it on the shelf with the first side facing up. Gently, then, he found he could move it so the second then the third sides were facing upwards. The rearrangement of the die meant he could follow up by turning it to the forth then fifth and then the sixth hearing a mechanize click with each turn... and this time the sixth side of the box slid open. Smiling he looked inside and found that small item that had gotten his attention in the first place; a sheet of paper folded into thirds then rolled and tied with a string. Undoing the string he would unroll and unfold the sheet to find...

A map of Eostia with small, red 'x's written in odd places... and black circles in others... and some of the circles had an 'x' set over them given the red drew over the black. "...Were you predicting something, my friend..? If so; what? What did you manage to work out most minds could not?"

[-]

I double checked everything and took a calming breath. Maybe I didn't need to bathe before this but it made me feel better to do so. I dressed well but not overly so to help project an aura of confidence.

That didn't change how nervous I was, even if I was ninety-nine percent sure of how it would all go; after all that one percent chance was still peeking up at me. But I swallowed that nervousness anyway and called up Celestine; she owed me a date, after all. The voxlux pinged for a bit, a normal amount when calling her but it seemed longer for some reason before she answered. "Oh, James. Good to see you once more; have you readied that report yet?"

In case your wondering; said report was on the mental battle with Qatil, namely how I countered his initial attack and held him off in the mindscape battle. I was a little... liberal on the truth (Summon Dragonzord wouldn't be understood by many) but it would be the basis on countering future psionic mages.

(Another bit of fallout was from that glitched looking Trait Qatil had; I reported it to Olivia who kicked it up to Ben. He wasn't sure if it was a system glitch, added in during the last batch of interference or something else but he'd get back to me if he found out.)

"That's coming along, yes." I said; it was mostly done really. "But I wasn't calling for anything official; it's a personal call." She blinked for a moment as I smiled... and trying to ignore the beating thing in my chest. "I'm calling in that 'you owe me' and inviting you out on a date Sunday." She blinked back at me before blushing and giggling softly.

"Oh... Well it's not like you haven't... mentioned it before... ... I'll admit, I've nothing to do on Sunday that cannot be postponed; may I presume you wish to begin in the afternoon?" She asked as she moved to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Would two be fine?" I asked as she nodded as I smiled back. "Good. Dress nice but don't be overly worried; I plan on using some Illusions to make it easier to avoid being mobbed; both for us and any escort you'll need. I've made some reservations at a nice little place in Lunae Flumen for us." Lunae Flumen, or Moon's River, was on the border of South Point and Halous and was a major trading hub with Armon nearby. With some work we could get in mostly under the radar and enjoy ourselves. "It'll be a good chance to fully discard our titles and positions for a day."

"I'd enjoy that, yes... Very well then; I imagine then I shall met you outside of Skyguard?" She asked as I nodded.

"Of course. Two o'clock then on Sunday. Can't wait to see you!" I said as she finally hung up and I sighed.

The one percent didn't happen... Lucky for me.

Now... to not screw up the date.

[-]

Aurum Forum City
Capital of the Federation of Rad
Number Seven Heaven Pub

"To another job well done!" Maia let off, lifting her mug up high with a grin. Around her table was her main subordinates in the Ruby Roses; Terra Reinclive, Esmerie Foreverte, Shara the Stoneheart and Conleth Jarnhjarta. The tables around hers bore other members of the Roses; all with their own drinks in hand. They had finished another job; this one to clear out a batch of former Legion from northern Rad that had been collecting together more Aberrant and even human bandits into a clan of troublemakers. That humans had joined them made them more problematic then usual; the men would handle in town trading and supplies as well as luring targets to ambush points and gain information of valuable or vulnerable targets... doubly so if women were involved.

Needless to say the Ruby Roses showed none of them mercy; doubly so the humans in their gang.

The Number Seven Heaven was a pub the Roses visited less commonly then others but it was always a treat; better drinks then the usual, better food then the average pub and approached outright classy... and sold Ice Cream which was a bonus. Polished, stained oak tables and chairs, well lit with spell glass in the ceiling showcased a cozy, warm atmosphere that accepted a degree of excitement and rowdiness. "Hear, hear!" Shana let off as she took a heavy swig of her drink; only Terra and Esmerie taking more measured, less deep drinks of their own mugs. "Ahhhh! Hey... Where's Renee and Megan?" She let off looking around to the other tables around them.

"Renee has a son to mind and Megan has some lover she wanted to spend time with." Terra replied calmly as she looked to their leader. "Not all of us have the freedom to just down ale every evening."

"Pfffft! Nothing fuels a girl like ale, why do you think I get so much of it?" Maia said with a chipper tone and grin as Terra sighed and shrugged. "Heh. On a more serious note though; how's your mom doing? I don't need the big details but you buried the hatchet at long last, yeah?"

"Yeah, some... perspective has helped..." Terra said with a sigh as she leaned back into her seat and it's thin but firm padding. "I was... kinda surprised how eager she was to make up for lost time... But yeah, we're good."

"Yeah... Good to hear..." Maia said wistfully which made Terra tilt her head questioningly at her; something that she waved off. She was glad not just for her and her mother but that she wasn't... for lack of a better term squandering her family.

Growing up as an orphan she didn't know a mother's touch or hear a father's word. She didn't know what it was like to peek over a counter as food was cooked or be given a stern lecture for mischief. That wasn't a knock to the matrons of her orphanage of course, they did their best to raise her right, or as right as they could with a rambunctious tomboy, but they... couldn't replace a husband and wife as parents; they couldn't be mother or father to her...

It made her... scared at the idea of having children of her own; could she raise a daughter or son right? What would happen if she shat out a kid and then died somehow? What would happen to her child then? Yet at the same time children was something she desired; she wanted a family... She wanted a husband, a man she could just... be with, support, be supported by and just enjoy life with... Naturally she knew the man she wanted that life with; her savior, Vult... There was a few small issues with that of course; he lived for combat and the thrill of battle and while she enjoyed both as well she also loved the moments of calm between, those times you made memories with friends.

He was also, to be blunt, rough about the edges and too lax on the discipline in his ranks and trended to be too cynical of the world around him. He needed a good woman to smooth out those rough edges, show him the beauty in life and the goodness in those around him and finally make sure his men stayed in line... and one of her biggest worries was... that she wasn't the sort of woman that could do that well enough... that she lacked the proper feminine touch to tame The Wild Wolf that was Vult.

More then once she'd been told she could marry into a noble house and she knew it was an option; she might have been an orphan of unknown stock but her status as a Shield Princess bore some worth to the wiser lords or even minor lords but she didn't think they'd get along that well; really the number of lords she knew and could stand was under thirty and those she might consider a romance with was under five... And one of those she could name that was allowed multiple wives and already had three engagements...

"Maia! I've found you once more!" And she frowned at that, knocked out of her brief introspection as a noble very interested in her arrived... despite her obvious lack of reciprocating that interest.

"Look, I'm glad you're excited Pichel-"

"Michel!"

"We're just trying to relax after work; kindly screw off." She said sternly as she drank from her mug. She could see eyes to her left and behind her; guessing that's where he was standing. When he entered, how he entered, with whom he entered she didn't know... She really didn't care either. "Anyway..." She carried on, looking to Conleth next. "What this I hear of you and Es-"

"Maia!"

"-merie been chasing after a couple of the local boys; how's that-"

"Maia!"

"-going for you so far?"

"Maia!" This time she responded with a dismissive wave of the hand towards the fat idiot as she awaited an answer.

"I'm just asking for Shana." Esmerie replied; they had dealt with Michel Pantielle enough to know when to ignore him. She looked to the dwarf of their group who rubbed the back of her head as the gargoyle skinned woman blushed enough to be noticeable.

"Aye, I found a handsome enough lad and... seeing where it all leads." The shortest of their lot admitted with a nervous chuckle. "He is a sweetie of nothing else." Maia nodded, smiling as she lifted her mug up to her lips-

-only for a hand set on her forearm to force it down to the table as her eye twitched. "Maia... I am demanding your attentio-shuuuuun!" She of course would respond by letting her mug go, slipping her arm free and shoving him by the chest away, hard... with a strength bolstering Combat Art to drive the point home. She didn't want to look at him in the moment so she only had sound to announce the results of her shove; a yelp, a crashing sound and a groan that followed. She would later learn the crash was one of her girls shoving a chair into position for him to stumble over.

She then took the drink of ale she was almost denied by an idiot. "Well good to hear your finding a guy-"

"Maia!"

"-that isn't a fat idiot." She let off; hearing him scurry over. She knew this song and dance and was ready by lifting her hand up in a fist and held it out-

Smack!

-and let him slam into it and knock himself out as he rebounded to the floor. "Maaaiiiaaa..." She sighed deeply.

Couldn't she enjoy a day out without that dumb-ass interrupting her and souring her day?

[-]

"Gahhh! Byi nocce!" Michel let off as his carriage led him away from his attempt to m̶o̶l̶e̶s̶t̶, err, seduce Maia with his unyielding masculinity! Like in those books his mother read all the time but seemed embarrassed about! Honestly, what was going wrong? Persistence always worked in those books! Grab her by the tits until the nos became yeses; that's how it should be! And he was a rich lord; how dare she resist that!

"Sire, perhaps you should consider a change in tactics." He heard from the man dabbing at his nose with gauze as he sat in the vehicle, pouting with his arms crossed. Said man was an elderly butler; a tall man at six-three, lanky and dressed in a three piece, red suit with a Jacob's collar about the neck. He bore short, white hair and blue eyes, one covered by a monocle. Wrinkles across his face helped showcase his advanced age yet he moved with a casual and relaxed dexterity as he wiped up his young master's blood and tended to his nose.

"Shut up, Bennet!" Michel let off with a pout as he whimpered after the butler finally set his nose back into place before applying a healing spell, able to speak his words as they should be spoken. The pain was, overall, minor in the grand scheme of things. Once done Bennet would pick something up.

"As you wish, Sire. However perhaps you should set the chase for your affection to the side for a moment." Bennet said as he held up a spell paper letter, folded strangely into flatter then normal shape. "Your contact sent you a new letter; another one of your side jobs, I imagine."

"Let me see it!" He barked out as he snatched the sheet away, unfolding it and reading over it before snorting softly. "Seems we have business in Sual now..."

"I'll make arrangements to travel." Bennet said as he moved to sit across from his charge. "When would you wish to leave?"

"Tomorrow morning... ... Make sure to pack the cushions and blankets so I can nap once we start going."

"Of course, Sire."

[-]

Sunday finally rolled around. I opted to wear my Armor Weave outfit coupled with my circlet to the date; not because I expected trouble but because it was better to be ready then not for such. On that note I did bring one of my weapons; my Radiant Gemini. Once split into two it was easy enough to conceal by setting them at my thighs. Riri would pilot Enterprise to Skyguard as I made what few preparations I had left to make. Needless to say we'd arrive a hint early; ten minutes before two. In truth we slowed down a bit, otherwise we could have been twenty minutes early.

Needless to say Celestine was awaiting us early as well with four Dawn Templars in tow. I made a note that all of them bore shorter weapons; short swords, long knives and such. One even bore a dagger and a wand. Needless to say once we landed and the stairs were formed she was rising up to the deck of the Enterprise. I took her hand as she closed in and I wanted to give her kiss a cheek but wagons and carriages were passing by and I didn't want to spur too many rumors. "Cele, good to see you."

"Likewise." She said, taking a moment to curtsy at me in her little outfit; it was a white, sleeveless top with loose, detached sleeves. It only covered her breasts and three inches under them, with a golden colored tie under her breasts to help hold it in place and a set of white tights that hugged her legs snugly. Coupled with that was a golden colored thong that was over them that bore a built in belt with a small set of pouches at her left hip and a singular one at her right. Her feet were in golden colored sandals once more but they only wrapped up to her ankles. She even did up her hair into a long, singular braid; folded in half and bound together with a ribbon to pull her hair to waist length.

To put it lightly dayum she sexy! ... Sadly I wouldn't see it for all the date... oh well... Once she and her escort were aboard I gave a nod to Riri who took Enterprise up into the air. Only once we were in the air and I had led her over to a table I set up on the deck did I kiss her cheek. "I'm glad you agreed to this little... bit of fun." I said as I gestured to a series of six necklaces with small spell stones set to them; one blue, one white and four red. "These stones will have an Illusion spell set to them to hide our identities. It should allow us to have a day out without much worry; as long as our escort doesn't do anything to draw eyes."

"Not too worry; the girls I choose know the meaning of discreet." Celestine said before looking to the thing in the center; covered by a white cloth. "And this is?"

"Well I can't well ask out our good High Queen on a date without a gift of some sort, yes?" I said with a bit of a cheeky tone as I pinched the cloth with two fingers. "I present... the only flower that can outlive you." And then I pulled the cloth away and...

"Oh!" She let off, smiling at the small, spell stone plant. A little three inch wide, inch high, ruby pot, an eight inch, emerald stem with small little leaves on it and tiny bumps for 'thorns' and finally a nearly transparent, crystal colored rose that was three inches high and one wide. A small application of mana and the stem pulled from the pot as I, with a small flourish, handed it to her. "Well your ability to craft with spell stones is once more prov... oh!" She let off as she leaned in and gave it a long, deep whiff. "You made it smell... roses, lavender and... vanilla?"

"Good nose." I let off with a blink. Indeed, the scent was based on a cologne I trended to use. I wasn't using it today; I was wearing something more vanilla with a hint of cinnamon but still... "More over it does more then offer a smell when it's in it's pot... but that's better seen in a darkened room."

"Well now you have me curious." She said, setting the spell stone rose back into it's little pot. "I'm sure I'll enjoy it then as well; it is a beautiful gift." She said as she stepped into me and leaned up to kiss at my cheek before giving the Templars a look as they moved down below deck. "I assume we have some time until we arrive at Lunae Flumen so why don't you tell me at least a little of what you have planned."

"Oh, a little shopping, a little dinner and theater..." I began as I wrapped an arm around her waist, leading her towards the bow of the ship... before leaning in to whisper something into her ear. "...and taking you back to the captain's quarters to ravish you in the way you deserve." I injected as a means of both lightening the mood, exciting her and making my intentions clear.

Given that she nearly glowed red with her blush my intentions were clear as day.

[-]

After some catch up by the ship's bow we'd go down below deck for a light snack and some talk in the mess. As it turns out Qatil's death was a small headache for Celestine; she kept getting calls from various lords on if he was really dead or not. Her response was a 'yes' with some snippets of the interrogation as proof. I felt bad for her but Qatil being dead and gone would reduce headaches in the long run. For most of the flight I'd entertain her (And the Templars who sat at the opposite end of said mess) with a few songs on the flute Prim gifted me for Blessmas. Aside from song we mostly had small talk and would even go back up to the deck to watch the world, literally, go by.

Arriving at Lunae Flumen we would land some distance from the city, near a small hamlet where a carriage was awaiting us. Illusions donned we disembarked and boarded to head to the city; I had paid well for the rental and, more importantly, the discretion involved here. The driver knew who I was (A man with an airship? Yeah, how many of those are around this world right now?) but the identity of my date and escort was unknown to him; all he knew was we were under illusions, I was on a date with someone of some importance and he was paid to play taxi and keep his mouth shut, and paid well.

With that I opted to start our date proper in the market district... at a store that focused on wood carvings, copper and brass trinkets and pieces made from glass blowing. It wasn't a high end store, more mid-range really, but Cele's face lit up, reflected by the illusion.

In case you're wondering; the illusions made me look like a redheaded man, Celestine like a cyan haired half elf with clothing fit for minor nobility. Our escort, then, looked like a gambeson clad set of guards that bore metal breastplates, helms and guards set to the shins and forearms. In other words; we looked kinda rich but not overly important beyond that. We would look a bit out of place in a shop more geared towards middle class commoners but the guy behind the counter didn't seem to mind possible deep pockets walking in.

Our escort seemed a bit off-put by the... status of the shop but that ended as soon as they saw Celestine shuffle about to pick up whatever caught her eye; as a hint a lot caught her eye. I wasn't too worried about prices at the moment as after getting Mehdi to cough up the coins for my head I managed to crack over what was needed to become a platinumaire; that is to say someone with a personal wealth of over a thousand platinum. It was the equivalent of a millionaire, roughly but something to consider is that medieval societies had a lower standard of wealth so this put in me in the one percent; if on the lower end of that.

To be frank it still paled to my father's wealth; yes Mungale (And my father as it's Count) had just over six hundred plat (A number that was climbing to and soon over seven hundred) but that was just in liquid coin and didn't account for all of the assets within Mungale such as the manor, city walls and other owned buildings, watchtowers and County owned industries like the paper mills. In terms of wealth he boasted almost ten times what I had. As you might have guessed that 'one percent' was mostly Local Lords (Only a bare few fell short) but not limited to just them; some minor lords and some merchants also reached that level. Had the old fart Mandeville been Eostian he would have qualified.

(Out of curiosity I did some digging; he had about four times what I had in liquid money... Man had coin, had to give him that much.)

"Ohh, this is cute!" She let off as she picked up something; a glass bird that was colored with a yellow body and a light blue back, wings and top of the head. Two patterned lengths of white feathers moved from the eyes along the head like long eyebrows; it was a statuette of what was called the Geldale Finch, better known as the Eostian Finch. They were semi-common across central and southern Eostia; they were once common in the north as well but the Dread Field drove them from the northern borders.

(Side note; since the end of the war Eostian Finches have been spotted within the borders of Smol and Erogus and in the southern edges of Caul suggesting they were returning to the north. Within the year I imagine they'd be back in southern Garan as well.)

"Are you a fan of finches?" I asked her as she turned and smiled to me, cupping the glass bird in her hands; standing with it's wings tucked and head turned to the side to look upwards.

"Indeed. There were more before the war started and I enjoyed feeding them and hearing them sing." She said looking to it. "They were less common after it started and so were their songs... They've been making a comeback, though."

"Well; I suppose I have to treat you a bit." I said as her eyes widened a hint as I took a moment to look about and (Maybe abusing the menu ability I had to pause time to make a longer search then it seemed) I moved to the back of the store; she would follow and gasp as she saw what I saw. "And maybe a bit more."

The item in question was a painting; two and a half by one and a half feet with a wooden frame that was well carved, stained a light color and with no expensive materials. The image upon it was a simple, marble birdbath in what seemed like a garden; two trees on either side, some bushes framing the back of the image with some flowers in it and some flowers in the grass before it. Two finches, both Eostian, were bathing in the water, two standing on the edge of it, one flying and looking like it was about to land by the bath and two more at the foot of the bath. Price? Ten gold.

A pittance for what it would be worth to Celestine as I picked it up, turned it in my hand and held it by the frame. "I imagine this can find a place in your quarters somewhere."

The smile was so worth it.

[-]

Mungale Manor, County of Mungale
Near the Capital of Argon City
Training Room

Practice weapons clacked and tinged to one another as a man and child fought; clearly to any watching the man was doing so to teach the Catalan child. He was an older man; bald but with a gray, handlebar mustache that extended to the chin. Arduin Armstrong was, once upon a time, a lieutenant attached to the Dawnguard who retired to become a teacher of swordplay; from short swords and long swords to katanas and rapiers to Imperium era blades or exotic hook swords he knew almost any and all blades forged to a level of mastery. From single blades along or paired with other weapons and shields to two handed blades and even twinned weapons he could use any sort of fighting style and, more importantly, knew how to teach them. His fame rose, somewhat, as he was once the main fencing teacher of one James Noxdecus, now first living Champion of Eostia

"She has some natural talent; if she can build on it." Over seeing both of them and sat on a bench was Cress and Miria, the male being the first to speak. Miria nodded as he carried on. "She's got the balance and agility; she just needs to focus."

"I think it's less focus and more discipline..." Miria replied with a hum. "She likes the rapier and is focused on learning it, it's just... she's kind of a kid still..."

"Well, we all were once..." Cress replied with a sigh as he leaned back gently. "...I guess in some ways we still are." He mused, not noticing Miria jump slightly... nor that he had, without thinking of it, draped an arm around her shoulders. Despite that she said nothing nor showed any indication she minded as she leaned in slightly.

"True... Seems like so long ago, though, huh?" She said, sighing herself. "...Hey." Cress flinched softly at that before looking to her. "...I think we should be training hard too, don't you think?"

"...That Black Storm thing..?" Cress mused. James had, after the war, mentioned to them, their collective parents and a few other trusted things the facts of a plot against all of Eostia; the full details of what the threat was wasn't known beyond Celestine bore a vision and now held bits of scattered evidence... It made them both nervous to think that they ended one war yet another might be on the horizon.

They both knew it was something being kept mostly quiet and somewhat need-to-know to avoid panic and to avoid tipping the High Queen's hand to the agents in this 'storm'. As it stands they didn't know much of it; James likely knew more then they did and still didn't have all that was known by the authorities either in-spite of being the Champion of Eostia. "Yeah... I mean maybe it won't be as bad as the war... but it could also be worse..."

"Well we both have people to defend, don't we?" Cress quipped before leaning in and pecking her cheek making her blush. He blinked before blushing himself. "S-sorry, I wasn't thin-"

"It's fine." She replied, leaning to kiss his cheek in return and making them both blush deeper-

thwap!

"Eep!"

"You have to ignore distractions, young lady." They hear as the saw Miika rubbing at her rump with a pout; the two watching realizing she had noticed their short, chaste kisses...

More blushing followed.

[-]

"A question, M'lord." Celestine had dragged us into another shop on our way to our dinner and theater destination (Kinda like dinner and movie... except both at the same time); this one being a tailor shop. She was trying on a variety of dresses; as long as her necklace was on her identity would be hidden so I wasn't worried. In case you were wondering; the spell over her would recognize when her normal clothing was off, adjust accordingly and re-apply once she dressed in her original clothing. The Templar (Fran Bacon) carried on as I nodded. "Why bring her to such... pedestrian shops? Why not the more elegant shops she's accustomed to?"

"That's exactly why." I replied simply as she blinked back. "She's accustomed to those shops; and likely used to them making a big deal of her being around. She's not used to what can be found elsewhere and, as such, it's new and interesting to her. That's worth more then gold in it's own way, yeah?" She frowned in thought but nodded. "This isn't about wowing her; even I have my limits in that regard. It's about making memories and discoveries." She nodded before looking to the side as the change room opened and Celestine (In full illusion) came back out; a Chinese style dress in her arms (I can't recall the name of it, sadly. Cheg-something.) that was white and gold in color and moved to pay for it. "I arranged for you four to have two tables near ours so pick your dinner partner soon." I told her before walking back to my date. I would kiss her cheek once I reached her; she had paid for her dress already and had it in a small bag. "Ready?"

"As much as you are." She replied as I wrapped an arm around her waist. I knew she bought more then just the dress but didn't ask; she could show me when she wished... hopefully while wearing them! I smiled and we made idle chatter as I led her to our destination; The Good Duke's Theatron. It was something of a historic building; once there was an Imperium era theatron (Literally; viewing place) there that was used until the Brazen Empire. It was used as a place to rally support against Verlangen and so the place was reduced to rubble afterwards with only the foundation left over.

After the fall of the Brazen and the rise of Eostia it remained rubble for five hundred years until then Duke Haxron Bluewater (I don't know much of House Bluewater save they took over South Point from House Silversail for a few generations until Halberd Silversail retook the duchy) commissioned a theater rebuilt over the remaining foundation, naming it The First Whispers Theater. Upon the death of Haxron it's new owners renamed it The Good Duke's Theatron in his honor.

Upon arriving and giving my alias as the reservation name we would be led to our table (And our guard to tables to either side of us); passing a statue of a man in armor with a trimmed beard (I imagined it was Haxron and the brass plate confirmed it) walking up to the third floor and was seated in the front. To understand I need to explain the layout; it was a theater first and foremost with a stage in the back of the large room and all that you'd expect from that such as curtains, trap doors and such. Magical lights and sound amplification would help ensure the noises and voices carried to everyone.

There was a series of seats before the stage where the bulk of the peasantry would go to watch the show for reasonably cheap prices. Snacks could also be bought or brought in as well for them. The second floor above them bore more expensive seats that more middle class people could buy tickets for with drinks and food provided; usually stews, bread and such. Then there was the third and fourth floors that were the expensive ones.

There was maybe a dozen tables set up close to the railing that could seat four; the seats on the same side of the table. There was a raised section behind those tables for another fifteen tables, set up in a likewise manner. I imagine that the top two floors, at half capacity, would pay for the entertainment for the week while the bottom two would give the owners some extra coin to save for a rainy day. We were seated, gave menus and told the play of the night would be 'The Three Rings of Power'; a tale of three heroes given three rings of magical power sent to vanquish a rising evil.

I've not seen nor read the story before but I doubted it was anything like Lord of the Rings. It was a fairly new one so I was fairly sure she never saw it before, something she confirmed as we browsed our menus. The food wasn't a match for the quality of, say, The Gilded Plate but it was still on the higher end of things. We would be given a spiced tomato soup for an appetizer and bread sticks to share. Celestine opted to order, interestingly enough, some hearty ribs with a baked potato, a small salad and a 'formaggio e carne avvolti', often called a 'formavvolti'... which was... interesting; it was more or less bread dough with a mix of shredded mozzarella and cheddar and layered with small slices of pepperoni before being wrapped and baked. Yes, it was more or less a small, wrapped up pizza or long pizza pop.

By contrast I opted for a steak, Imperium Salad, mashed potatoes and my own formavvolti. Once the waitress (In a micro miniskirt. Eostia and all) took our orders I looked to my date as I leaned into my seat. "I can't recall the last time I've been able to go to the theater; we don't have one in Argon... well, yet. I imagine with the current boom someone will want to build one soon.

(I was right; my father was in talks of having one constructed by having an abandoned building demolished and replaced with a theater. I approved of the idea... just not the proposed name; the Champion's Theater. Yup.)

"Indeed; you'll have to take me if one opens." She said, clasping her hands together. As we spoke you could see people starting to fill in the first floor close to the stage. For the record there were enchantments that would, for lack of a better them, allow us to see a better view of the stage with a projected 'screen' in the middle of the table. "Everyone needs a time to forget their worries and responsibilities; to set aside politics, lectures and debates to just enjoy, relax and be entertained. To end their troubles for a few, bare moments..."

"Oh yeah, don't we all..." I recalled in my old world how there was an unspoken then spoken rule about not talking about politics or religion in large family gatherings. The reason it had to be spoken was because of one of my uncles (An outspoken conservative type) would always get lectured by one of my cousins; a full blown feminist sort who was... well, you know the 'brightly dyed hair and angry' stereotype? She fit it like a glove and would rant about pay gap this, one percent that and on and on... Said uncle would, it turn, state his view quickly, clearly and then try and steer the conversation to something else only for her to try and hijack things...

Sadly she wasn't the worst; I had a grand aunt who was so religious that if you weren't wearing some sort of cross she'd try and push one on you... She was banned from such gatherings and said cousin was barred eventually as well... Some people...

"Well I didn't invite you on a date to talk about which Lord you want to club with blunt objects; I invited you so we can enjoy ourselves so..." I began with a smile. "What was the last thing to make you smile. Nothing to do with Qatil." I added in the last bit as that was a subject of conversation I wanted to sidestep as well.

"...Well that takes an easy answer away from me, doesn't it?" She said with a giggle. "Well in that case I imagine it would be one of my boys, Patrick, mastering his first healing spell. He found a squirrel that nests in a tree in the courtyard had gotten itself hurt; maybe hunted by a bird and escaping with a lame leg. He was rather excited and showed me a... seeming grateful if nervous squirrel." She let off as I chuckled; I could see one of those scamps showing it off to her as it looked about going 'Imma put up with this for a bit'.

"Did he try and make it a pet?" I asked.

"Of sorts; he returned it to it's tree but has started being nuts to befriend it in a more proper manner." She replied with a smile before looking to me. "But what about you? What was the last thing to give you a true smile?"

"Hmm, that's a good question..." I let off thinking for a long moment. "I mean there's a lot of little smiles to be had, but a big one?" I was still musing as our soup arrived and I took a spoonful of soup to mull over it. "Mmm... If I had to say it was seeing Dawn attach her own stone to her new rapier; she's gone from only being able to make crap enchantments to honestly solid ones. It kinda feels like she's been making strides in catching up and it's nice seeing it pay off."

"Indeed; teaching can be it's own joy, do you not agree?" She said before moving to enjoy her soup as well; a small basket of bread sticks set to our table by another waitress as we enjoyed the food on offer. Soon a bell could be heard as we turned out attention down to the stage and a well dressed man there.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome! Welcome to the Good Duke Theatron! As you know we will be presenting the Three Rings of Power to you and I, Harold Heraldman, am here as your host and narrator of today's story! Please do enjoy as we begin our tale! To our dinner guests your food will arrive at the first intermission! For everyone let me begin you the prologue of our tale!"

And thus did our entertainment begin.

[-]

Primus City, Nobility District
Dominion of Geofu
Levantine Manor
Office of Grave Levantine

"...I find this to be nearly unbelievable..." Grave let off with a frown before finally throwing the report to the table as he crossed his arms with huff. "Hurmph. How frustrating to have his death all but promised to us only for him to not only escape it alive but slay the very reaper sent to claim him."

"You gotta admit; it's damned impressive." Across from him wasn't his most loyal minion, Lorcan, but rather the man he had decided he could follow into the future, Vult. James Noxdecus had been ordered to write a report on the mental abilities he was forced to face. Sadly the fact was the only, known counter to such a mage required substantial mana reserves. It fairness even he knew about the lack of knowledge on the subject; even so the idea of a foe only mages could fight was... frustrating to say the least. "Don't tell you me you don't feel your blood rush at the idea of facing or trying to best him, eh?"

"Hurmph, I won't deny the thought of knocking Noxdecus into the dirt and burying him by my own hand isn't a pleasant thought." He said before giving Vult a stern look. "But even you know you have set aside pleasure for business... The man is a threat to us and a growing one..." He grumbled as he glared to the report, now on the desk before him. "...But it is, indeed, impressive..."

"Very impressive." Vult said with a growing grin. "What's the point of victory without a little challenge, eh?" He said with a grin. "That said; we can't be too cavalier about it. That ship of his is gonna be a real pain when it all kicks off."

"And whatever else he makes..." Grave huffed; the worst thing is while he wished Vult would take the subject more seriously he wasn't wrong; it was the hardest fights he remembered the fondest...

He was sure Noxdecus' fall would make for fond memories.

[-]

Dinner was served in the first intermission and it was rather good; it was fun seeing her enjoy ribs with her hands and licking the sauce off of them. Moreover it was a good show up to that point with the use of illusions to add to the flair. As it turns out the 'three heroes' of the story was a man and two women... who spent most of their time bickering for his attention which added some comedy to the performance.

By the dinner intermission the characters had escaped the villain's right hand before two women bonded together as the lone man used the fire and some tools to repair his sword. It was a simple, if fun, story. We were still eating as the second act started with the ladies buried the hatchet... and their fingers in each other.

Eostia.

Needless to say Celestine found the scene fascinating enough to pause eating (As did I) until our heroes got going once more on a quest to find the villain's weakness and we both started eating once more. Then they discovered said weakness with our lone, male hero vowing he'd use it to vanquish the overlord...

...only to find out his female companions decided to share him. Then and there. Yes, Eostia. So the play included live sex for everyone to watch.

(To be more clear not every play had live sex acts or anything too sexual; there were tragedies and comedies and more where sex wasn't present and some plays were criticized for jamming sex in pointlessly. Also plays for the... younger set lacked the boink-boink.)

Needless to say Cele was engrossed for that and I saw a hand sneak under the table and between her legs (And that our escort was... somewhat distracted... as was I, the gals were hot and I imagine they enjoyed the lead actor) and as the play ended and the applause rose, the actors and actresses stepped out for the final bow I found she rose to her feet a bit shakily as I pulled her to me; pecking her lips softly and quickly. "Ready to return to Enterprise?"

"Returning me to my home already?" She said, breathlessly yet clearly disappointed.

"Who said the date was done?"

[-]

Celestine looked like a shy, nervous schoolgirl as I carried her (Bridal style) into the captain's quarters of the Enterprise. I had made my intentions clear and if she wanted to remain the virginal goddess reborn she would need to remain out of that room. She offered me no resistance; not even a token little 'slow down' or 'maybe we should wait'; our illusions were off and once through the threshold with the door shut, locked and magically locked, I set her on her feet, clapped my hands upon that magnificent booty as I kissed her deep and hard, walking her back towards the bed as I pushed her pants over her ass to grip her more directly.

I only let go because her hands moved from my neck to my clothing; stripping them off, pushing things off until my shirt hit the floor, followed by her own soon after. Mind I was walking her backwards as we did this and once close enough to the bed I opted to grab her pants, yank them down panties and all (Getting a gasp from her) and yank, tripping her to land on the bed with a yelp.

Pants stripped off and tossed behind me (It would land on the floor with a plat) as I crawled over her; almost diving into another kiss with my hands reaching out to claim her bosom; one breast to a palm. She reached down to undo my pants but I opted to not focus on that; pleasuring those tits of legend was my main focus right now. I, of course, pinch her nipples as quick as I could. Once my pants were lose she pushed them down but before she could grab at anything I pulled back, making me get a pout from her. It didn't last long; once on my feet and off the bed I pushed them off. As she watched she undid her hair a bit; it stayed in it's braid but fell to it's full length.

Needless to say I was well and truly hard as I walked around to the side of the bed this time; rather then wait a blushing Cele turned and crawled over to me. "I've had a great many curiosities about all of this..." She said as I chuckled and reached out to cup her cheek.

"Everyone does." I replied; I had planned to be the first to deliver oral but I wasn't going to end her curiosities and I gave a soft groan as she gripped my cock softly with both hands. She gave my cock a nervous look but for the moment was just looking and stroking me as I looked down to her eyes with green orbs looking back. When her lips finally moved to it she started with a slow, tentative lick on the tip; like a virginal schoolgirl having her first time and acting so timid before the school's stud... Despite 'virginal' being the only part of that one could apply here.

I set a hand to the back of her head and gave a light pull; not enough to force her, just enough to encourage her and she needed little. She parted her lips and gave entrance of my cock into her waiting mouth; gently rocking into her as I cupped her cheek, groaning as I felt her tongue press to my dick's underside. I had to wonder what spurred her on; the horniness caused by the play, a millennium and more of celibacy, a desire for me in specific or a mixture of the above... I assumed a mixture with the first driving the rest to the forefront. In the end it didn't matter; I wasn't letting her leave until she couldn't move from the fucking.

I was going to try and make up for her thousand year dry spell in one night...

I rocked my hips slowly and gently, enjoying her mouth as she sucked on me and tightly making me groan out; I had to wonder if she practiced sucking on something before because this wasn't fully virgin levels but not quite experienced either. I pressed in deeper but not to the back of her throat; that seemed a bit much for her first time, but my intent was to be the one in control for tonight. To be sure I'd be more then up for equals in bed next time but tonight I was in the driver's seat tonight. I would plunge in deeper for a moment before slipping myself out, cupping her chin and lifting it until she rose on her knees high enough that I could kiss her firmly. I set my hand to her sex, cupping it for a moment before moving to two fingers to rub her slit; soaked and dripping already...

Her hand went back to my cock but it was shaky and not as smooth as before, more so as I pressed two fingers up into her and getting a hard gasp as her other arm wrapped about my neck, quivering into me. My thumb found her clit and rubbing on it firmly as I broke the kiss to move to the lobe of her pointed ear, suckling on her there for a long moment as my other hand moved to her sex; my thumb moved off her clit to rub at her with two fingers as my other hand pushed two up into her sex as I started to finger her, and not gently. In fact I was more or less fucking her with my fingers as my other hand worked her clit; the result was a full body shudder that lasted as I worked her over. "J-James... slow down, I'll... Ahhhh!"

"That's the point, my dear Celestine." I whispered to her ear as I felt her tense up. "I'm going to fuck you like I own you. I am going to pin you down and have my wicked way with your body tonight." I let off as she shivered all the harder for a moment. "I'm going to fuck you... I'll fuck you like I bought you." Another shivered as her head turned, lustful green eyes looking to me as she bit her lip. "I'll use you like my little toy and cum in you; you'll taste my cum. I'll spank that gorgeous, plump ass of yours and treat you how I please because until the morn comes you're not my High Queen; you're my fuck hole." I gave off in a harsher tone as her sex clenched, her back arching as she cried out loudly as her sex squirted onto my digits firmly as I smirked a bit. Normally I didn't go so hard into the 'rough, harsh, demanding lover' but I thought she'd get off on it...

I was right as I kept going with my fingering and clit grinding until she pushed back to escape; landing on her back, legs splayed and shivering before her back arched and her hips lifted off, giving one last squirt of her pussy before she collapsed panting onto the bed. I grinned and moved onto the bed, grabbing her by the knee and turning her to be more central onto the sheets as I moved between her legs...

[-]

"There."

"You guys are really doing this?" Riri gave an annoyed look as the four Dawn Templars gathered by the back of the ship's deck; they used a rope to lower one of their own with a voxlux down to the balcony of the Captain's Quarters with the help of an invisibility spell, hid the thing before returning up to join the others to spy upon her Master and their High Queen enjoying their first night together. That was annoying enough and she would have interrupted them save for two things; four highly trained Templars were too much for her to handle by herself... and they had already ambushed her, bound her on a seat (At least ensuring she was comfortable and not going to chafe) to keep her from warning her master.

"It's for the queen's own good!" One of them let off... a line of drool leaking from her lips. "We're her bodyguards so we have to be sure nothing will... harm her."

"Right!" The second said. "And we need to be sure of Noxdecus'... character."

"You're a bunch of perverts." Riri let off with an annoyed, half lidded glare as the four huddled around a voxlux.

"Part of the job!" The first let off as she narrowed her eyes further at them.

"... ...At least bring it closer so I can watch too..."

[-]

I more or less dropped my cock on top of Cele's bare pussy; making her gasp and look down as her panting finally slowed from her earlier climax. I held her by the back of her knees and pressed them to her chest and either side of her heavy breasts as I moved in a bit closer. I felt my balls softly rest on her sex as I held myself over her; showing how far I could (And would) reach into her before I started to rock my hips back and forth, see-sawing along her clit and slit as she shivered; a fearful yet excited look on her face. "James..." She let off as I looked to her green eyes, smiling back to her as she licked her lips. "...I am yours... ...do with me as you please..."

Under other circumstances I would have came from just that... But tonight I was too focused on plowing fertile fields...

I pulled my hips back until I could lower my tip to her sex. I pressed to her and rocked my hips once more, prodding her with my cock head as I worked to spread her lower lips without moving my hands down to help line up; not so easy given she was thousand year virgin tight but I was wedging in bit by bit. Finally I got lined up correctly as my head spread her enough to jam inside. A part of me wanted to go full conquest mode and drive in deep and to the hilt but I was trying to make her first time as memorable as I could and that would be a bit much. Maybe next time; for now I needed to remember that age aside she was a virgin and I had to be gentle.

For now.

Instead I fed her my dick half inch by half inch; that had it's own appeal as it made her feel it all bit by bit as I pressed in. She shivered under me and mewled as I kept going bit by bit... and paused as I hit something... her hymen... I knew she never had sex before but I imagine she was active enough at some point to break it... Oh well... Instead I rocked my hips in a short motion, trying to loosen her up a little more as I leaned over for a moment and kissed her lips for a moment. "Are you ready?" I asked as she nodded once, breathlessly while blushing as I pulled back a couple of inches before pressing in quick and hard. She gave a soft wince and whimper but otherwise showed no real hint of pain; more discomfort. I wouldn't see it then but a little blood would come out as it started but not overly much; partly because I used a Minor Heal to both heal her sex and ease her discomfort. That done I sank in deeper and deeper a little quicker until I finally hit balls deep into her.

The most powerful woman in Eostia, if not the world, mewled on my cock and shivered as she looked at me from where she laid. The look, if I had to summarize it, was submissive, lustful and needy. God was it hot... It wasn't just the lust or submission that was the real aphrodisiac for me; it was the trust.

She knew everything I said was done to spur on her imagination and lust. She let her legs be spread and submitted to me because she knew I wouldn't harm her (Save the sexual sort with popping her cherry and the planned spanking and hair pulling, but that was different), wouldn't demean her (Well, outside of the aforementioned spurring) or abuse her. That level of trust was enough to make me want to pleasure her more. With my balls on her ass I moved my knees beside her hips, gently transitioned into a mating press as she shivered under me.

I then fucked her.

I started to rocked my hips up and down into her; starting with slow, shallow thrusts into her to ease her into sex. She gasped and shivered under me, arms moving around my neck, eyes locked to mine as I gauged her level of comfort. Satisfied that she was comfortable enough I started to pick up speed, my thrusts becoming longer and longer with each one as I groaned over her; she was tight as one would expect but it wasn't just that; it was the velvety feel and heat on my cock that made that tightness all the better. "Fuck..." I breathed out as I groaned once more as I started to add more force into my thrusting. "Cele... You ready for me to really fuck you?" I let off with a bit of a cocky grin.

"Yes! Gods yes!" She let off as I grinned a bit wider... and plowed down into her. The gasps she gave turned to yelps, then a howl, then a long, throaty moan as I fucked her; and I mean fucked. Hips smacking down into her once virgin pussy, putting weight and force down into each thrust. I was ramming into her womb as I looked into her eyes before her head snapped back as she gave off another long, hard howl as I kept going. I would do my best to be an unrelenting machine as I rammed with more and more force. If someone stumbled into the room in that moment I would not blame someone for thinking I was raping her. Honestly with how hard I was going it felt like I was raping her...

And it felt good...

She came first and before me as she clenched on my cock while I groaned and fought the urge to cum as I slammed down as fast as I could to further and heighten her climax as she set her hands to my shoulders and pushed to make me stop; I didn't, at least not right away. I gave her maybe a minute before finally pulling free and moving off as she gasped and rolled over to quiver, her sex giving another squirt as she panted fast and hard on the bed and her front as I moved off the bed and to a spot at the desk nearby. Soon I slid two vials from behind two books (Offset with the upper one hiding the spine of the other and over the vials) and quickly downed them. One was meant for stamina and one to help keep myself harder longer.

When I said I was going to fuck her I meant all fucking night.

Once I hid the empty vials I moved back to the bed and to her, grabbing her once more to pull her closer. I made her kneel up at the end of the bed, even as her chest stayed on it, ass facing me. As I lined up as she moved to all fours she gasped as I pressed in once more; not hard but faster then before. Her hair fell to one side of her, leaving her plush backside on display and as I bottomed out I gave her a crisp, firm smack to one cheek to earn a yelp before I rammed in fully. I would reach over and around to grip her by the elbows, pulling her arms back, adjusting my grip and starting to rut her once more; starting with a more mild level of force before starting to really ram into her once more; her ass jiggling with each slap of my pelvis to her rump. "Ahhh, fuck you are so tight!" I let off as I hammered her sex without any real mercy now, all but trying to beat her pussy into submission.

"Ahhhh! Is... is this the-ahhh!-power of dick!?" She let off, as if in awe of the feelings rushing through her; both physical, emotional and instinctual. A long, loooong lifetime of celibacy had come to an end and she was feeling everything all at once; likely every fantasy, desire and sexual want was flowing through her like a torrent and overwhelming her as much as I tried to do so with her physically through cock alone... and by the looks of it I was, so far, pulling it off.

I pulled her back a bit more to make her arc slightly and I could see from around her body her breasts were rocking back and forth rather strongly; not a surprise as I was being anything but gentle in the moment. If anything it made me crash my hips into her all the harder to make those booba swing under the High Queen's body. Oh yeah; I hadn't focused on them yet but I would plant my dick between those tits before the night was done...

"Fuck!" I let off; despite myself my endurance had limits and in that moment my balls squeezed on themselves as I shot a heavy load of cum up into her as I slammed in and held myself as she howled once more; I felt a splash on my groin as her pussy clamped down as she climaxed with me... and once more this was only the beginning. I took a moment to recover before wrapping my arms around her waist and yanked her up, earning a yelp, and carried her to the dresser as she squirmed. I bent her over it (Still inside of her), Cele setting her hands on the wood as I kept myself in her and gave her another smack on the ass as she glanced upwards-

-and saw her own sexy, flushed face in a mirror with myself behind her as I gave her ass another smack on the other cheek, then one more... and another... okay, I gave her maybe a baker's dozen worth of smacks on her rump before reaching out to grip a handful of those golden locks and rammed back into her, starting to fuck her once more but now forcing her to look at her own face by pulling her hair back a bit as it turned slutty and lustful, or rather more so. With my grip I pulled her head back gently and slowly as I fucked her good and hard; no longer overly worried about being gentle as her eyes rolled back as she panted as I worked her body. "Ahhhh! You're breaking me!"

"That's, ahh, half the fun, right?" I replied teasingly, giving her ass another smack with my free hand before moving to wrap it around her to cup one of those heavy, lovely tits and squeezed firmly before seeking a nipple to pinch on. Thanks to the mirror I could see the breast not in my grip swing freely as she looked into the mirror, her lips parted to draw more air with her pants as she moaned and mewled. Our eyes met in the reflective glass as I shuddered more and groaned over her. We held the mutual gaze as she shivered more and more before she shuddered unto my cock once more; crying under the effects of another climax...

I didn't stop fucking her, even as the howls of pleasure rose more and more...

[-]

"...That's a hell of a first time..."

"Y-yeah..." Riri let off to one of the Templars as she saw her master go to town on fucking Celestine; honestly if the shoe was on the other foot she would do so. She was well aware how much he planned to make her first time unforgettable and 'make up for lost time'...

Given how all four of the Templars were now openly fingering themselves (With one nice enough to free one of her arms to do the same) she'd say 'mission accomplished'.

Luckily they weren't recording this...

...

...even if she kinda wanted a copy...

[-]

I gave her a moment to breathe as I pulled out of Celestine but only a moment as I pulled her back towards the bed and all but slammed her to it (More of a controlled throw, really) before climbing over her torso. By the time she was looking up to me I planted my dick firmly between her tits and had her hands in mine. "Push them together and rock them." I told her, setting her hands to her own breasts as I started to rock my hips slowly. She quickly got the idea and pressed her bosom together and squashing my cock in them; like a hot dog that was moving. I was large enough that, despite her sizable tits, my cock was brushing her lips without my pelvis hitting her underboob. She gazed down to my cock as if fascinated by it; entranced... which, yeah, can happen. By now I must have seen a hundred pair of bare tits and yet hers were still amazing to look at; doubly so with my cock between them rubbing up and down. She gave off a soft mewl; the friction of my motions likely giving her some pleasure but no where what her sex was giving her...

...I'll get back to that later, not to worry...

As for my own hands, I set them over her head to better brace myself and rock my hips into her lovely, lovely titties. She wasn't looking to my face but the 'eye' of my one-eyed monster with such intensity I thought she'd ask my dick to marry her.

...

Maybe after seeing Aeris' sexual awakening maybe I shouldn't be that surprised...

My own panting picked up as I watched her face, my own resistance to the ongoing pleasure about to break and once it did I was aimed right at Celestine's face; thus once I came and came hard my cock spurted directly onto her face with my hot, white cream splashing onto cheeks and nose. She was quick enough to shut her eyes before getting something, somewhere she shouldn't... Damn...

A good glob hit her directly on the forehead as I was left panting under her, lifting my hips from her breasts as I took a second to recover... and as I took a quick breather she leaned her head up to catch my cock on her lips, suckling strongly on it as I groaned over her...

Needy little elf...

I let her suckle for few moments but I didn't intend to let her dictate the pace or direction and soon I reached down to grab her arms as I stood and dragged her between my legs as she gave a yelp. Grabbing her legs I'd pull them up and hang them over her head; shoulders, neck and head to the bed, ass and sex up in the air over said head as I walked around her to set my feet by her head and set cock to pussy and went back in; this time hard into her. My hands gripped her rump as I started to hump her hard and, as I did, I slid one hand closer to the middle of her rump to set a thumb to her puckered little anus; pressing it in slowly and gently as my hips moved in a description that didn't match that.

"Ohhh, goddess! You're breaking meeeeeee!" She let off, her hands reaching out and grabbing my ankles as I worked her sex over and over, slamming into her and using my thumb, now planted deep into her ass, as a grip to rock into her harder. "You're breaking meeeeeeeeee!" She groaned out hard and loud, shivering and quivering as she gripped down harder on me as I slammed in as deeply as I could while I groaned back. Her anus took my thumb easier then I expected and I have to say I was quite surprised...

That's good... She came once more not long after; her right leg kicking up as she quivered under me and squeezed harder on my cock as I groaned out and pulled free. Her leg would kick twice more before calming down and quivering hard for a long, long moment before settling down for a long moment as she was left panting. I gave her a long moment to recover... before setting my cock tip back to her... this time to her elven asshole... "J-James, that's-ahhhh!" She let off as I pressed into her ass until I was nice and wedged in. I pressed in gently and slowly to let her adjust and, once I was three inches in I leaned over and moved to lift her up; grabbing her waist and flipping her so her back was to my chest. I then moved my arms under her legs, setting my hands to the back of her head as I pulled her into a Full Nelson. She squirmed a bit as I started to lower her further down my cock as she shuddered on me as I groaned deeply as her anus hugged me hard and firm. "Ahhhhhh! This is-oooooohhhh!"

Given this was her first anal experience I took my time and stayed slow and gentle, working my way into her bit by bit and little by little. I inched in, feeling every back of Eostia's most forbidden backdoor as I groaned into her pointed ear deeply while I stayed gentle and slow; I only started to move quicker after I was half in and sure she would be fine, groaning harder into her ear as I smiled at her, using my tongue to pull her ear to my lips to suckle on it and was rewarded with a gasp followed by a throaty moan.

I rocked up into her a little harder and soon her ass was pressed to my pelvis as it spanked her over and over, the both of us groaning out loud as I shuddered and rammed up into her. It would be me who came first this time, flooding up into her backdoor, before feeling her clench. Her sex squirted once more, matching my climax as I panted and then lifted her off me as I panted. Finally I knelt down and laid her on her side as I laid behind her; I set my cock to her sex and pressed into her once more and groaned as I fucked her once more as I lifted her upper leg by the thigh as I panted. Despite the potions I took earlier I was starting to flag but I had enough for one more...

Cuddling her from behind I rammed into her as she half rolled back into me, eyes looking back; glazed over, tongue hanging out as she moaned out loud and groaned as I plowed into her harder and harder. "Fuuuck Cele..." She moaned out in reply but said nothing; maybe she was in a state she couldn't reply as she arched back into me, eyes crossing as she moaned harder and harder. I was enjoying the velvet heat but finally, finally, we came once more; her giving off one hoarse howl and myself one, deep but tired groan as I pumped a few more globs up into her.

As I pulled out her sex squirted softly as she shook lightly and moaned, shivering and looked to the ceiling. It was clear, to me anyway, that she was done for the night... I chuckled and smiled, moving to cuddle her from behind; it was warm enough we could go without the blankets as I pulled her sleeping/blacked out form to me as I kissed her cheek one last time. "Good night, Cele... I hope I made your first time as special as I could..."

[Fucked List]

Celestine Lucross, Heavenly Reborn Shield Princess of Ken=100xp x 50 First Time Goddess Reborn Bonus=5000xp
+20% Hero of Eostia Bonus
Gain 6000xp Total

Achievement Unlocked: Worship the Goddess
Had sex with Celestine Lucross, the Goddess Reborn, Aspect of the Sage

[-]

Come the morning Celestine managed to, despite it all, wake up before me. Rather then shower and dress she stayed cuddled to me until I woke up and after that we... cuddled some more. We didn't say a word, not a peep... We just cuddled for the better part of the hour... at least until I had to use the bathroom...

Mother nature shall call...

After that we did wash; together in the shower... no more hanky panky yet, though. We did redress and moved to the mess for breakfast to a bunch of grinning Dawn Templars. I didn't much care; they knew I fucked her, I knew they knew I fucked her so I opted to ignore it... at least until Riri opted to say how they spied on us with a voxlux.

Celestine was not amused and opted to give her guard a firm lecture about privacy and not using her first time as fapping material; had they recorded anything I imagine she would have made a request to make a plank to walk them off of. They were annoyed with Riri but she was my maid and I made it clear that if they pulled anything on her I'd come for all four of them and when I did I'd get creative.

That I could make four Dawn Templars, the elite of the elite, look nervous and gulp was a clear indication that they didn't want to cross me.

Once back outside of Skyguard City there was an awaiting carriage as we landed. The Templars would carry Celestine's purchases and gifts for her (And avoid eye contact with both of us) away and I'd walk her down the steps before she turned to face me. "It was a wonderful day... I can't recall having as much fun as that; at least... at least not since the Mungale Fair."

"Well consider yourself invited to the next one." I said with a smile; given we were in public I had to mind myself... even so... "I'm tempted to give you a good-bye kiss, but public be public."

"Yes, best not to spread too many rumors." She said with a smile and a giggle before blushing hard. "And, well, you gave me far more last night... Honestly; if it wasn't for magic I'm not sure I could walk straight... or at all."

"You had a thousand years to make up for." I said with a cheeky grin. "Don't worry; next time won't be so dedicated to testing your hips durability."

"Thank you... On that note... It was worth the wait..." She said before moving to curtsy before smiling. "Farewell, my Champion."

"Farewell, my Queen." I replied as she turned to walk away... and paused to look over her shoulder.

"One last thing..." She said with a cheeky smile of her own... "You have a right to four more brides... keep one open for now..." She said before walking off. Why... why would she ask me thaaaaaaaaa...

Brain kicked in and worked out the answer... and I was the one left blushing...

...

...

...easy request to fulfill...

[-]

That Night
Celestine's Quarters
Skyguard City, Capital of Ken

Normally Celestine did not go to bed in the nude but in this case she made an exception... if only thoughts of last night had kept her mildly excited. Her new painting hung on a wall in the seating part of her quarters with her glass bird nearby on a shelf. The spell stone flower pot, however, was brought into the bedroom in which she slept in and set on her dresser where it would give her room a pleasant scent. Once inside the sheets of her bed she would set a hand on a small spell stone on her nightstand to turn the lights in the room off...

...and saw the small flower start to come alight and, to her surprise, set a strange... pattern to fill the room... It took her a moment and once she realized it she gasped aloud...

Dimly did her little stone flower projected stars, constellations and a night sky directly unto the walls and ceiling of her room. She giggled; 'Only him...' she'd think to herself, watching the false but beautiful night sky inside her own room until she fell asleep...

[ - Author's Note - ]

Whew...

That's got to be in the running for one of the longest sex scene's in the series... I think everyone was eagerly waiting for the flirting to pay off and here we are... In fact the length was, in part, that I wanted to make it worth the wait... I hope it was...

Needless to say her last comment was so close to a confession that it might as well have been... but that's for another time. I will say; she is my favorite of the Kuroinu girls. Most people seem to prefer Olga (And I see why) but Cele is my fave... and Maia is the most underrated... and we see her dealing with Michelle who... is up to things, it seems... Wonder what...

On another note; Klaus has made a small discovery and it'll be a little bit before we see how that pans out... Miria and Cress have a small moment with one another while Grave expresses his concerns to Vult... who's more excited then ever...

For now it's time to start transitioning to the end game of Act Four. Exactly how that'll pan out will take time; I have some idea of what to do, it's just about tying all the threads together in a way that makes sense. Of course that's the hard part, isn't it?

Well, guess that's my problem, eh?

I do hope you enjoyed it. As always leave a comment on what you liked, didn't like, think could have been done better and all of that jazz. I know I always say it but it does help. Next time... well, we'll see, won't we?

Until then!

~Eostian Scribe