In Loki's Honor Life 29 - Chapter 70 - Dreamy

Six months after the first expedition, the Dungeon City was finally up and running. After the "Training Device Project'' was completed and I put an end to so of my anxieties regarding the big gap of Fast-Growth points I had to grind, spread over a dozen Proficiencies, I finally could dedicate so brain-ti to Windere's developnt. More about the layout of Dungeon City and my Proficiencies later. A much juicier incident happened.

It all started with an impromptu lesson on XXI century sanitation and water managent. We were in our classroom back on the surface.

Using {Glassify} from [Alchemist] and my other Proficiencies, I made so crude microscopes with enchanted Light-magic image enhancing. It was enough to allow people to see the microbes as well as any precision device back on Earth.

"And these are the things responsible for causing disease. As Marisol can demonstrate, a {Cure Disease} spell kills them."

The [Priestess] of Zacheia shot her spell on the sample sewage we collected and the students could see the effect it had on the microbes.

"{Cure Disease} shouldn't have killed them if they weren't "pathogens" (in pure English). Mark this loan word. Now, let's wash the slides and sterilize them."

The students did as asked and we set the clean slides on a tray inside the autoclave. I took a batch of kefir-like fernted milk and gave each student a test tube.

"Now, we are preparing slides with a yogurt sample. You'll see microorganisms in the yogurt, just like the ones from sewage. They aren't the sa, though." After they did, Marisol went around and used the sa spell again. I handed her a Mana Pill, an improved and condensed version of a Mana Potion. "As you can see, {Cure Disease} had no effect on the yogurt microorganisms, and that's because they are not harmful. In fact, they are very beneficial as they fight against the bad ones inside your intestines."

I could see the spark of comprehension in Euric and Mirina's eyes. As people rank-up, their improved Attributes protect them from disease, but more than 95% of the people never get a rank-up in their first century of life. 210 million Exp is a lot when you seldomly gain it by the tens and twenties. A person needed to earn an average of 4,200 Exp per day to rank-up in a hundred years. That was the equivalent of killing seven level 4 al-Mi'raj every day without fault.

Forget about killing slis for 300 years.

Where was I? Yes, sanitation as a national developnt tool.

I gave each of the students an [Arcane Inscriber] and so cut Core and Gemstone slivers along with other materials. I taught them how to craft and enchant a "cheap" sterilization enchantnt. The blueprint was standardized and almost anyone with one of these inscribers could make one following simple instructions. The {Appraised} price of their creations was 2 silver coins, with one and a half being raw materials. With my talents I could do it with fewer materials, but only if one didn't add the cost of my labor. An [Enchanter] my Proficiency level didn't even consider any project whose profit was in the tens of gold coins.

All of us (myself included thanks to my teaching Abilities) picked a few points in both [Jeweler] and [Enchanter] but that wasn't a bad thing. The item was a loop of copper, with silver plating and gem slivers spread evenly around the loop. It required a daily (more depending on the use) MP charge but it could be done by anyone that had an MP pool. It fit inside any standard bucket, as the walls were slanted. This way people could get pure drinking water.

I then used Illusion magic to display so sewage treatnt and disposal options. We discussed the situation of downriver communities coping with the sewage from upstream towns, like Narmont, twenty kiloters down River Windere.

"That's why Windere is not dumping its sewage into the river. We are going to make sewers and a processing plant. We can turn so of it into fertilizer for our crops, but so will need to go sowhere else. And that's why we are dumping it into the Dungeon."

I changed the illusion to show a vertical shaft going kiloters deep into the Dungeon, where a bunch of hungry slis devoured the people's waste. From there, the very underground ecosystem would take care of keeping the monsters contained.

Mirina raised her hand, "What if any monster attempts to climb the chute? Or soone tries to use it as an entrance or exit to and from the Dungeon."

"Considering how deep it goes, anyone strong enough to do so will be a problem for common guards. And putting high-rank knights to guard a sewer entrance is foolishness," Euric completed.

"True. That's why I am going to rig the hole with dozens of traps, one of them will shadow warp whichever people fall down the chute back to the surface in a specially prepared jail. At this point, anything that gets through it could very well dig their own entrance, so it's moot."

The jail would mimic the arena enchantnt at the Academy.

We fine-tuned the sewer projects, and Euric frantically wrote down all the notes. This would be a boon to Ekar and I wasn't going to withhold information to what was quickly becoming Windere's only ally in the region. I needed them to agree to let them cut their peninsula asunder to make my channel, though it would be beneficial to them (and everyone else) to kill the Sadian thousand-year-long chokehold on regional trade.

At the end of the lesson, I called Marisol to the front.

"Miss Marisol, thank you so much for your help today. A round of applause for our [Priestess], please. Praise to Zacheia."

I wasn't shy to give credit where credit was due. I found that I grew so weary and detached from these Divine struggles, and I was so eager to get Lorna back that their attempts to get killed felt like a Sunday show "villain-of-the-week" plot.

"I have a gift for you," I continued after the ovation. "It's nothing special, just sothing I did while I was experinting with so enchantnts."

I popped the easel right in front of her. It looked like an ordinary easel until you noticed that the screen was made of silk or the embedded slivers on the corners. The [Easel] gained several levels during these months as I took these tools with to level up (despite its bulk in a cramped Dungeon maze). It now would detach the canvas and weave a new one once the painting was finished, among other things such as improved learning rate as the others.

She looked at the canvas, touched one of the gems, and then her eyes went wide as sothing scared her. I could guess what happened.

"Haru, what the fuck is this? [Easel of Dreams]?"

"Did you see sothing on the canvas? A glimpse of sothing that touched your heartstrings?"

She bit her lower lip and stared at with puppy eyes, "Please tell you didn't see that too." She shivered and looked around. "Did ANY of you see anything?"

"No, we didn't Marisol. Only the user can see what the canvas showed them. But I guess you are now feeling an urge to paint it."

I noticed she arched her hips a bit, like soone clenching her thighs together. "I do. I must paint it. Bu-but I can't show it to anyone!" She trembled and stuttered.

"Is it that bad?" I asked her, then used {Silent Voice},

She silently nodded back.

I dispatched the boys out with an assignnt to help Euric finish his notes and project on sanitation. The seven girls, however, crowded Mirina's apartnt as we watched, behind the easel, Marisol paint. The half-Eleon [Priestess] asked us to pose for her.

"If you want to see my work, you'll need to help paint it!" Said the artist.

The mood was relaxed but excited. An invisible tension charged the air with so kind of static as Marisol asked us to pose this or that way, make faces. lania and Camilla went to town with the jokes and they were so giddy that the only thing we needed to do to send them rolling on the ground with fits of giggles was to poke their waists or any sensitive spot. Mirina and Jocelin were blushing hard. Especially when Marisol asked the [Queen] to sit next to the silk-folk woman side-by-side on the loveseat and lean in her arms, locking eyes with one another.

Then she asked Phyllis to wrap her tail around my waist, to wrap my tails around hers, and hold the tip in one hand while she grabbed my ear with the other.

If we'd earned a silver coin for each giggle, squeal, and sultry gasp the won made, we'd have funded the revival of Saegalla.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Three hours later, with several pauses for snacks and tea, Marisol revealed her work.

"Galbarar's Light," Mirina gasped and transford into a tomato. Not literally.

"Damn, I look so hot!" Camilla squealed.

"Oh, my. She's doing WHAT with her tails?" Phyllis disbelieved.

"More like where," Jocelin corrected. "Can they even do that?"

"Haru's tails are very stretchy," lania explained, then stole a glance my way, "Care to test?" She teased with her eyebrows wiggling as much as her tail wagged.

I was speechless. The amount of detail, the lighting, the lewdness of the scene, the way she perfectly captured the skin tones and sensuality of the beautiful won around us, the scenery…

I felt the back of my head get numb from all the overflowing emotions I got from the painting. Not to ntion I was terribly glad my level 154 Living Thread panties were up to the task of keeping the rest of my garnts safe from these sa "overflowing" emotions.

Her painting was at the sa ti gorgeous, subli, and very, very lewd. I had to keep my mouth shut or I'd agree with lania. We had to do that. I even had a bed that was exactly like the one depicted on the canvas.

"Doesn't this thing reveal the painter's dreams?" Phyllis asked.

Twelve eyes fell on . She was absolutely correct but I felt I had to shield a very bashful and ashad [Priestess]. I swallowed and summoned so strength to speak.

"Look, the painting is a masterpiece. It is gorgeous and very, very valuable. I bet Marisol had her best intentions when painting it, but the [Easel of Dreams] has a mind of its own because it was enchanted with a bit of fairy magic. You all know how mischievous fairies can be."

Soone protested from inside my soul.

"I an, you all know I lived as a fairy once. That's where my silk-weaving powers co from. It is my fault. Once the [Easel] shows an artist a picture, there's a compulsion to paint it. Isn't it right, Marisol?"

She nodded, "Yes. Look, you are all beautiful, and I had this dream one day. Nobody controls their own dreams, isn't it right, Goddess?"

The ball was back on my court. "Right. I don't think the painting does us any injustice."

"No," Camilla agreed. "It does not. I too think it is very beautiful, but…"

"But…" Phyllis parroted the cat-kin.

"But nobody outside this room can ever see it," Jocelin said out loud what we all were thinking.

"But this bed… Its style is very peculiar. I think I've seen sothing like it on old paintings back ho," Mirina comnted, clearly trying to steer the conversation away from the jumbled ss of naked bodies depicted on the canvas.

"It was the height of noble furniture fashion in Perenneth a thousand years ago," I comnted, trying to help her. "I think I even have one that is exactly like this one in my item box."

The tension in the air rose tenfold at my statent.

"Is it that big?" lania pondered. "Do we all fit on it?"

I shrugged and gave up. "Only one way to find out."

A/N: Here is my final plea for so readers to navigate to the URL below. F.Y.I. the Academy is the Yznarian equivalent of College.

sgiphy/explore/cute-puppy-pictures

That's how all seven of us found ourselves naked on a giant bed from a thousand years ago. We hung the painting on the wall above the headboard. We didn't start to, for the lack of a better term, fuck each other. We were just talking about the painting and letting that accumulated tension slowly seep out through collective catharsis.

So groping and so violations of the Kin code of conduct happened, however. They demanded access to my tails and being the lecherous man I was inside, obliged. They even tried to pull a "Lady Godiva" by covering their bodies with the tails. I would've faltered if it weren't for the full ntal and spiritual {Pinnacle…} set of Perks.

"So, Haru," Marisol attacked to draw attention away from her painting, "You don't like n at all, do you?"

And she was very successful.

I shook my head ruefully, "No. Not at all. I see nothing, better, I feel nothing when I look at a man."

"Not even [Prince] Euric?" Camilla teased.

"Eww," I cringed in disgust, drawing a round of giggles at the [Prince]'s expense. "No. Not him, not any man at all."

"Don't worry, Camilla," Jocelin said, "History shows our founder and creator has a thing for cat-kin girls. Especially the frisky, mischievous ones." I winced. Jocelin held my shoulder and pulled closer, "Sorry, Haru! I didn't an to…"

Too close! Too close!

"It's fine!" I forced myself to stare into Jocelin's beady eyes to avoid looking sowhere else. "It's also true! Lorna was a frisky and mischievous girl. Camilla would look like a Vestal virgin next to her."

I didn't want to pull away from Jocelin, I didn't have the guts to close the distance between our lips.

"A 'what' virgin?" The cat-kin feigned offense and pinched my tail.

I retaliated, picking a section of her own tail in two of mine (with {Absolute Clinging} I could stick my tails to anything) and pulling it apart. She yowled and hissed. Jocelin moved away and I lost my opportunity.

"A Vestal virgin, it was an order of religious maidens back in my old world," I explained.

"We 'need' to know! In all your lives, you've never had any man?" Marisol pressured.

"Nope. In most of them, I died a virgin too."

"If you never touched a man, it is obvious you died a virgin," lania remarked as if I'd said a tautology.

"I an, without having sex with anyone, male or female," I rebutted.

For a mont, before they went back on the attack. Still rubbing her tail, Camilla growled as she joined in the bullying. "Well, considering the kind of things you craft late at night in your workshop. One would think you are quite the expert."

A sudden silence spread through the room. ntioning "that device" made everyone rember their self-study in soundproof wards.

"Have you used it?" lania joined.

I forced myself to deadpan. "Yes, of course," I said naturally.

Contested Charisma test won.

Naturally my ass. I was wishing to die inside. I had to fake my "naturality"

"Have you? I an..." Thank heaven Marisol wasn't as unabashedly harsh as I thought.

"Put it inside ? I did. I have no issues with penetration," I said still with a neutral expression. It was good to see the lewd [Priestess] embarrassed for a change. "I find it very pleasant. I just dislike n. And with a device like that, I really don't need to bother with the rest. I'd rather..."

I shut my mouth before I overshared. They didn't need to know I preferred a spirited lass over a handso bloke any day of the week. However, since all of them looked at either Jocelin or Mirina, I guess they already knew it.

"If you are done harassing , I have… Goddess business to attend to"

I made to stand up but both Marisol and lania held back.

"No, no, you're not getting away," Marisol went back on the offensive. "Who are you interested in, Haru?" Marisol shimmied closer.

"Not yet," I mumbled and tried to keep it to myself but my gaze wandered in Jocelin and Mirina's general direction. I worried they both got the wrong idea as the pair of gorgeous ladies blushed and looked away from .

Marisol stared at with a smug grin. She swiveled her eyes to one side then another before raising the smugness to eleven. I could hear her silently screaming, "What are you waiting for." Or maybe I was just overthinking things.

I was conflicted. In my mind, Lorna was returning soon. While I felt attracted to both of them, I was in that "shoulder demon, shoulder angel" kind of situation. I closed my eyes and felt myself tumble down a long flight of spiral stairs. It was as if my body was forever falling backward, without actually moving. My chest rose and fell quickly as my lungs failed . I only shook my head and returned to reality once I felt a hand brushing against my wrist.

"It's okay, Haru," Mirina's soothing and kind eyes carved deep into my soul. "Marisol, Camilla, lania, Phyllis, I think we had our fun today," She said, all queen-like. "Would you please leave the three of us alone?"

Marisol stood up and reached for the painting.

"Leave it there. It's mine," I claid and produced a bag of platinum coins. "Here's a hundred kingtal coins for your art, Marisol."

She raised an eyebrow. I could "see" Mirina mouthing "Just take it" behind my back. Marisol took the money and I stored the tantalizing painting. The four girls dressed up and left the bedroom. I was left alone with Jocelin and Mirina, the three of us naked.

"It's okay, Haru," Mirina repeated. "You don't need to mind them. Just so rude kids teasing people about things they don't have a clue about."

Jocelin sidled next to . She fidgeted before easily wrapping an arm around . My height betrayed , as the two were at least fifteen centiters taller. I wanted to lean against her, feel the texture of her satin skin but I froze instead.

"Calm down. You are between friends," Trinity told . No, Jocelin. Damn. Get your shit together.

Give a thousand conniving angry deities. Ten thousand scheming liches. I liked both of them. But when I thought about being in a relationship with them, I felt guilty. Jocelin pulled on her lap. She cradled my head against her bare shoulder and caressed my hair. Mirina slid over the sheets to hug from the other side.

"What is your desire, Haru?" The [Queen] of Windere asked.

But my reality was maddening. Everyone I t was gone. My past haunted . Soone once told , "For soone with your power, the world would lay down at your feet should you just ask." I had no idea who. Maybe I heard it in a dream. I couldn't think of it. That's why I made a point of staying far away from secular power. That's why I would raise a hundred kingdoms only to hand them out like I was an old lady handing out Halloween candy.

"The day that happens, that's when my journey ends," I replied. If I fell on the dark side, Jedi jokes apart, life would quickly lose its taste.

Wasn't it Arista's dilemma? She rejected her previous lives so deeply she didn't even consider herself ? Looking behind , to the past , would only rekindle the sorrow. Standing still was a waste of ti. The only path that didn't lead to madness was forward. Forward.

"What do you--" Jocelin was about to ask but Mirina shushed her.

I raised my head and looked closely at their faces. They were inches away from .

"Can I be greedy?" I asked both of them.

Mirina chuckled, "Asked the woman that stole my father's palace."

I brought my tails around their backs. Ten for each. Then I wrapped us in a cocoon made with stripes of colorful fur, the tips of a few hairs shedding a dim light. The {Snake Fortress} had just evolved.

I held Jocelin's and Mirina's chins. "I want you both."

I didn't want the world or anyone else at my feet. But the company of these two wonderful won by my side, however, brief might be our ti together on the large scale of the world. I would cherish them and share myself with them fully. If Lorna taught anything, was that the sorrow of loss could be tempered with mories of wonderful monts spent together.

So be it.