"Now, what is going on here? Found a few more girls already? My but you do work fast~"

The unexpected voice behind me causes me to leap forward, I almost trip over my fallen weapon. But manage to recollect myself about halfway through the second question. Then during the statement of me working fast, I realize who it was and turn around. "Gods, Ahnya, you scared me." I pout, then wave a hand at her. "How'd you even know to come here? I mean, I have some more stuff to tell you now, I guess."

"Well, I noticed that enchantment moving rather quickly for some reason for a while, then shortly after that something caused the spatial magic signature of it to go, indistinct briefly. So I figured I should investigate." She looks around, taking in the mix of guilty and relieved expressions of the other women, then her eyes settle on the Guandao. Specifically the lingering blood on the blade.

Figuring she'd grasp the general situation fastest that way, I share my recent screens with her. "There was a guy with some weird stuff going on. Mostly a Unique Skill called Lust? Also, I gained new native skills? Think I figured out another thing Ennui does too." I target the leftover blood on the blade and ground with Monster Conversion. The blood disappears, but isn't enough to add even a single point to my count.

"Lust based Unique. Oh." Her lips form a bitter flat line. "Yes. That sort of thing, happens. From time to time. I'm sure it's better for everyone that he is, dealt with." She clears her throat softly, then looks to the other women. "If any of you need help, traveling back to your respective homes, getting in contact with health professionals, immediate healing, or simply a safe place to stay for a while, I would be happy to provide my assistance." With no immediate response from any of them, her attention moves back to me. She places a hand on my head, lightly gripping my skull. "As for you. Why, didn't you use your bell as soon as you realized something was wrong? You clearly at least had the idea to run away. Though I will need some more, details."

"I don't know. That's like, a new thing still. I guess, I didn't think of it. Didn't even think of my secret art till I was already pinned by the tan one." I try to push her hand away, but it doesn't budge. "Besides, I'm not gonna use it every time I'm in trouble. Gotta be able to take care of myself."

Ahnya takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly. She leans down, releases my head, and suddenly hugs me. "Aww, I know that. But you'll eventually run into trouble you can't handle or get away from. I just hope you can judge well enough if you do need help when that happens. This, situation seems like you should have." When she releases me, she magics up a stone bench by the side of the path before sitting down and patting the space next to herself. "Now, from the beginning, if you would. Feel free to hide any secret things you don't want to explain to them, but I do need some details."

I join her on the bench before she pulls me against her side. "S-sure. Hmm. I came into town thinking about checking out the quest board at the guild, then uh. . . I dropped my crepe? I dropped my crepe!" I groan and headbutt Ahnya's side. "Sorry. Um. I helped this old baker lady who lives in town with a few chores. She gave me a crepe for helping. Which is uhh."

Ahnya giggles. "I am well aware of what a crepe is. I imagine it wasn't a chocolate filled crepe. Fruit? Probably a mix of a few kinds of berries with cream?"

"Yeah. Something like that. Anyway. I was, eating it while walking to the guild. Then those girls and this, tall blond man were in front of the building. Flirting or something. They all had like, a faint mist hanging around their heads. It looked, black and pink? Not like black with some pink. Just, both? Entirely. At the same time. Which doesn't even make sense to me." I shake my head. "I stared a bit, unsure what to make of it. Then the guy noticed me and started posing and, I guess, trying to use his Lust skill on me. Which, looked like pink and black tentacles coming out of him to reach for me? I avoided those a few times, then ran away. After that, he sent the other girls after me. I went into stealth and attacked the tan lady when she came around this corner, and tried to fight since I didn't think I could outrun them for long."

"From a quick glance at their levels and stat ratings, I imagine the only one you could have kept away from is the human woman. Though if you managed to get into stealth, they, shouldn't have found you again? Guess you were more in the mind of fighting back than running though. Then again, the High Elf girl is a Light Mage, so she could probably have gotten lucky with dispelling the shadows you would most likely have hidden in."

"Right, that happened. Well, after I hit the tan girl in the back of the head with the pommel, she went down for a few seconds, then the rabbit beastkin showed up. When the tan one called for light from the, wait, High Elf? Is that, important? Ehm. Anyway, I got behind the tan one again before she lit things up. Struck her side with the haft, then stabbed at the High Elf. The busty lady got her shield in the way, then the beastkin kicked me in the head, knocking me down long enough for the tan lady to grab me. After that I couldn't get away, the guy showed up. When he touched the bell on my collar, I got real mad and my Ennui flared out, looking like dark blue flames? Then he tried his Lust again, and my Ennui burned through it, back to him. He collapsed. And the other girls started to, uhh. Wake up? After that, they killed him, and I got rid of the evidence."

"Hmm. Your, energy sensing is very, visual isn't it? Most people just, vaguely feel it. Though there are always exceptions. I know one guy who claimed to be able to smell them. Little weird. But then, I can taste them, on top of feeling them. Sooo, eh." Ahnya scratches her cheek, then takes a book out of her bag. "I did find a dictionary. Though I feel like I have a decent idea already." She starts leafing through the book. "Lessee, e, e ,e, Ennui. 'A gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom' then a semicolon and the word depression. It's pronounced like 'Ahn-wee' wow I had that wrong. Hmm. . . Melancholia, 'Deep sadness or gloom; melancholy' or 'A mental condition marked by persistent depression or ill-founded fears'."

Ahnya clicks her tongue, then snaps the book closed. "Yeah, sounds about right. At least for the latest effect." She drops the book in her bag, then holds up three fingers. "So, to summarize. Ennui has three general effects, that we can place, could have more that are simply too subtle to notice, or harder to apply. Firstly, it is water aligned natural energy, so controlling or creating water. Secondly purification, which applies easiest to water, but clearly works on other things too. Thirdly, the despair effect. Which, inflicts that emotion on others, probably applies to you, to an extent as well, since you were recognized as being despair resistant. Seems it may be the hardest one to use. But because you were subjected to another emotional assault, you managed to return the favor. Which is to say, you got lucky. If you didn't have that, you would have been in trouble. At least until I showed up."

"Umm, wouldn't he have used it on you too?"

She giggles and pokes my nose. "I'm sure he would have tried. But unless he was close to my level, it wouldn't have worked, at all. Let alone fast enough to stop me from erasing him."

"Oh. Well no. He was only level ten. But he did manage to use it on that, High Elf. She's level fifteen." I glance towards the other girls, who are talking among themselves several meters away.

"I see. That's probably as high as he could reasonably well reach then. His control over her was probably weaker than the others too." She leans over, and wraps her arm around me. "That sort of thing drops off fast against stronger targets. Both in absolute terms, and relative terms. Basically even if he was the same level as me, he'd have had a hard time using it on me because I'm so strong overall. But even at low levels like the tens a few levels difference would make it difficult." She shakes her head. "Well. I'd rather not spend more time on him. Back to you and your Ennui, I get why you're weak to both Nether and Holy now. Or rather, how you are opposed to both."

"Nether, obviously doesn't do well with purification. Holy, I can imagine being weak to despair. Its identity is what it is. I, mm, can't explain that bit well, sort of ineffable. Basically, despair wears away at Holy's identity. I think the reason you are weak to the two, is that they both recognize your energy as a threat, so they lash out harder in the moment, before they are washed away. One way or another." She holds up a hand and sways it side to side. "That's how it seems to make sense, at any rate."

"Sounds complicated. But I guess all I need to know is that I can use them against undead, and whatever Holy monsters are. Guess I'll know em when I see em."

"Well, there are a lot of kinds, just like undead aren't the only Nether aligned monsters. I mean, the majority of strictly Nether, are. . . Bah, no need to get into all that. You'd get bored. As you said, you'll probably be able to tell." After that flippant turn, she looks over at the other women, who seem to have stopped talking among themselves and are staring our way as a group. "Ah. Done talking? Do you girls need anything?"

The High Elf walks forward a few paces. "Excuse me. Hello. I am Keiuri Svratha. My apologies if I am incorrect, but you are Ahnazeyha Bellgold, yes?"

Ahnya blinks, then tilts her head. "How? No, I suppose it makes sense that you would know. There aren't, exactly very many High Elves on the Isles of Origins. You look a bit similar to Mom, actually. A niece of hers perhaps? If so, you'd be my cousin, through marriage not blood."

"Ah, indeed. My mother is Kinzou, the younger half sister of Kinnarik, who wed into the royal family along with her bondmate Varthain. For umm, reasons."

"Yes, it was a bit political. But they do seem to be, quite invested in their mutual involvement. In fact, Father tends to get, most flirtatious with Dad, out of all of his spouses. He says he prefers women, but I tend to feel that he is more bisexual than he is willing to admit." Ahnya shrugs. "Well, that is neither here nor there. I am indeed Ahnazeyha. Though I would prefer you use the nickname Ahnya for the time being. Same to the rest of your, erm. Party? I guess you all might not have known each other beforehand. Hmm. Is who I am, important in this situation?"

Keiuri shakes her head. "I do not think so. I simply thought I recognized you from the description I was given. Ahem. I, am not overly affected by that man. I was, only under his sway for a couple hours before his death. And he had not, urgh, indulged. Losing control of myself and moving to his whims even briefly was quite unpleasant, but I believe I will be fine. If anything, almost being stabbed through the heart was more disturbing." She frowns, then bites her lip and looks at me. "Not that I blame you for fighting back as you did. It was, entirely understandable." Her gaze returns to Ahnya. "But, I could use, some assistance due to my own, negligence. I, underestimated the level of preparation I would require to become an Adventurer outside of the Village." Her cheeks redden slightly. "Simply put, I am broke. Lacking even sufficient funds to apply to the Guild."

Ahnya struggles to hold back a laugh. "How, pray tell, did you get this far before that became a problem?"

"I brought plenty of fruit with me, and was, taking my time to find a nice town to start adventuring from. I didn't realize how important coins were?" Keiuri shakes her head. "I think I can manage once I am officially an Adventurer. I discussed things with the others, we would like to form a party, as they are already Adventurers as well. They are more, street educated than I, but financially, we're all ill off. For them, it is no fault of their own. That man's greed was arguably worse than his Lust." She steps back to the rest of her group.

Ahnya nods. "Hardly surprising. So, first bit of aid I'll provide, a couple gold coins value in smaller coinage each. For the time being, I would recommend Keiuri listen to the rest of you on how to spend hers. Might be able to help you recover some personal belongings if you know where he pawned them off. Anything else?"

The human woman steps forward. "I, umm. G'morning Ma'am. I'm Cresla. There is, something I would, very much like. If you have uhh. . ." She steps in close to whisper in one of Ahnya's ears.

Ahnya grimaces, then nods vigorously. "Yes, of course. I'm sure I have something for that in my bag. Beyond that, are you okay?" She brings out her magic paper and searches something silently.

Cresla shakes her head. "Not really, no. But I will better myself to spite him."

"I can respect that." Ahnya tucks the paper away, then pulls out a small open topped box with six small bottles in it. "Here, enough for all of you, to use at your own discretion. If the other two would need, that, too." After Cresla takes the box and immediately drinks one of the potions, Ahnya tilts her head. "What was his name, anyway? You all seem to be, dancing around that. Which, I suppose makes sense? But feels weird."

Cresla shakes her head and backs away to the group behind her.

The rabbit beastkin and tan woman look at each other, then the tan woman shakes her head. The beastkin shrugs and steps forward. "There is only one thing he ever let us call him. I was with him longest and he never called himself anything other than 'Master'. Which isn't something we'd still wanna call him. But I'm fine. Not half as bad as my last boyfriend."

"Wow. That is a statement. Could you tell me the name of your last 'boyfriend'? Maybe a brief description and where I might find him? Cause I would like to drop a house sized rock on him. At several times the speed of sound."

"Ehe that sounds, pretty extreme. Thank you for the offer, but that isn't necessary. He's ummm, kinda already. Dead." The rabbit awkwardly looks to the side.

"Z'that so? Well, good for you. I imagine he deserved it." Ahnya nods, then looks to the last woman. "How bout you? Need anything?"

"Naah. I'm pissed a man weaker than me was using me as little more than a sex toy. But I can take that out on some monsters, or drunks in a bar later." She shrugs, then stretches her arms overhead. "Treen, by the way."

Ahnya laughs aloud at that. "Well Treen, that is a very Amazon mentality to have in this situation. Glad you aren't letting it bother you, but go easy on the drunks, okay? Still a crime if you take it too far."

"Yeah yeah. Don't suppose I can spar with Blue? She seems pretty strong."

Ahnya giggles. "Well, I think I'd like to lay claim to her for today. But if you stay in contact, I'm sure she'd be okay with that later. Actually, a thought I had. You four have a bit too much overlap with her party to just combine the two, but if your groups stick together and get some more people, you could join her when she gets around to forming a Private Guild." She looks down at me. "Not to be, presumptuous, but I definitely think you'll be going some high places as an Adventurer, eventually."

"I err, hadn't thought that much ahead, really. But I guess that's fine. Hmm, wait. What do you want me for the rest of the day for?"

"Weeeell, Mera's plan for your next date is in two days. Way I see it, I'd like to have a first date with you now, so it'll be your second date with both of us, and our first date with each other. Sounds fun that way, no?"

Treen grins broadly. "Ha, well I won't get in the way of that."

My face heats up slightly. "O-okay. Well what do you have in mind?"

Ahnya stands up and smirks. "Lunch and a play, I think. If, they're having a play in that amphitheater near the west edge of town. Hopefully they're doing, something. Oh, perhaps a stop by that bath house Mera mentioned? I'm sure you'd want a bath after this morning. Mmm, actually. Would the rest of you like to come along? I'll only be treating it as a date with Lil' Blue here. But it only seems right to extend an invitation. At least to the baths and lunch."

I'm wearing my blue dress with the green floral markings, with my hair braided instead of in a tail, as well as new green leather shoes, my collar, and a silver and moonstone bracelet Ahnya gave me during our date a couple days ago. She said it is as backup to the bell, but it isn't enchanted like the bell, so I can't imagine what she meant by that.

Mera is wearing her green and blue dress that matches mine, and a black choker, a bit similar to my collar, but thinner. Her look is crowned by a silver hair ornament in the shape of a flower, given to her by Ahnya.

Ahnya is wearing a red dress with gold trim and pink flower petal marks scattered across its surface. It isn't quite the same style as the dresses Mera and I are in, but thematically similar. Aside from that, she has a gold band around the base of her right ear. She isn't wearing anything around her neck, which she teasingly said is appropriate. That caused Mera to blush a bit, but. Didn't mean much to me?

Rin is also along with us, in full maid gear, carrying a wicker basket, rolled up blanket, and Ahnya's bag.

As we walk a particular feeling becomes more and more obvious to me. "Mm, Dungeon?"

"Well, yeah. The Rose Labyrinth has a flower garden around its entrance, which is a popular date spot." With Mera in the lead we approach a walled compound in the city. There is a man in Adventurer's Guild uniform manning a station near the gate, who Mera approaches. "Hello, just here for a date in the garden, as long as that is okay?"

"Certainly Ma'am. There's only a few groups in today. Avoid the entrance for safety. The pavilions are kept clear for VIPs or celebratory parties."

Ahnya smirks and holds a hand out to Rin, who passes her Rank badge to her. When Ahnya shows it to the Guild employee, he pales.

"Ehem. My apologies. Feel free to go wherever you please. Heck, have your picnic in the Dungeon's Core room if you like. Not like it could stop you."

"That much will not be necessary. That pavilion with red rose bushes woven around the pillars should do nicely." She glances towards Mera. "If that's okay with you, of course."

"That's great. I've never been in here, so I didn't have a specific spot planned."

"Enjoy your stay!" The Guild man calls out as we walk into the roughly hundred meter across space. With three pavilions, each focused on a specific flower, and a great many flower beds with a broad range of artful, and sometimes peculiar, arrangements. Aside from those its mostly grass and small wildflowers. Though at the center of the area is a thick rosebush hedge framing a stairway leading down.

Once we reach the rose pavilion, Rin spreads out the blanket on the thick grass under the roof. It's a bit unnatural how full and healthy the grass is, considering the limited amount of direct light it'd get. Then she pulls several cushions, and even a small low table out of Ahnya's bag before setting out plates on it.

Mera stares, stunned a moment. "Well, that doesn't exactly match the feeling of a picnic, but I guess it's convenient." The seating arrangement ends up with Mera and Ahnya across from each other, and me across from Rin.

Rin places sandwiches on each plate. Toasted firm bread, crunchy bacon, and fresh crisp vegetables. Though the bacon for her own sandwich is clearly a bit undercooked. Once everyone is done with their sandwiches she passes out warm damp towels for us to wipe our hands, as well as forks. Then she brings out a small blue cake.

Ahnya leans over towards me with a grin. "It's chocolate~ Not hot, like the lava cake. But I'll still feed you a piece if you like~"

Mera snaps my way. "I wanna do that!"

"N-no. That's fine. I'll do it myself. If you're both trying to, we'll end up dropping cake on my dress or something."

They both sigh, though Mera has a slight smile on her face. Then Rin passes out slices. Once she's gone around the table, rather than a piece of cake, she places a large piece of smoked fish on her plate. When Mera stares, Rin just shrugs. "Sweets don't do it for me."

Once I'm done with my cake, I see Ahnya flash a predatory grin my way, before she leans over, taps my bell lightly, beckons me closer, then closes the distance to lick the side of my mouth. "Mmm, the sweetest bit of frosting~"

I can feel the eyes on me, so I glance towards Mera. She looks conflicted, but after a moment she smiles. She smears a bit of frosting on her lips with her finger, wipes her hand on the towel, then stalks around the table. She pauses just out of Ahnya's reach with a quirked eyebrow.

"Hmm? Oh. Am I meant to choose whether to steal that kiss for myself, or let Blue have it? Quite tempting either way~" After a moment's consideration, Ahnya shoos Mera my way. "Go on, I think Aradain likes chocolate even more than I do. Though, if you can arrange an angle where I'd have a nice view, that would be appreciated~"

Mera hums softly, then slides next to me and leads me to turn my face towards her with a finger under my chin. She pauses with a few centimeters between us, staring into my eyes.

"Really? This is kinda. . ." By the sound of it, the other girls find my hesitation, amusing. "Fine. Just uhh. Do I?" I sigh, then lean in to press my lips against Mera's. After a moment I pull back.

Before I can try to taste the frosting, Mera places a hand on my back and pulls me back to her lips. Her kiss is far firmer than the tentative peck I gave her. Her arms squeeze around me, then she moans against my mouth in a way that sends shivers down my spine. I gasp, and her tongue slips into my mouth. It brushes against my front teeth a moment before moving down to poke at my own tongue.

The lingering hint of chocolate is barely noticeable compared to Mera's reaction when my tongue pushes back against hers. Her excited squeal leaves me tensed up before her eager lips and tongue cause me to melt in her grasp. Some time later, she draws back, licking her own lips lasciviously. "Mmhmm hmm. There. Now I've caught up~"

I manage a confused grumble, and a blush.

Ahnya wiggles then leans towards us. "Nope, you just pulled waaay ahead in kissing. She made a couple cute sounds, then pulled away when I kissed her. Certainly didn't get into kissing back. Charming, sure. But not, that~"

"Oh, hmmm. We'll, have to fix that sometime. But I suppose there's no reason to act smug about kissing, considering our other plans for the evening." Mera smiles, then presses her lips into a flat line. "Ehem. Rin, could you fetch my harp? I would like to, hurry things along at this point, and the date would feel incomplete without." Mera pecks my lips, eliciting a squeak from me, then stands up and returns to her seat before wiping her hands and face on her towel.

A moment later Rin passes Mera the harp I gave her for her birthday. She glances towards me with a questioning look.

"Umm?" I blink at her a few times, then lick my lips. I don't find a hint of chocolate flavor on them, but certainly can't complain. "Oh." I snag my towel to dab my face, and sit up attentively.

Mera smiles, then plucks a soft, high note on the harp. "I don't have a proper song in mind, nor the talent to sing and play at the same time. But an airy tune in a forbidden flower garden sounds romantic, no?" Rather than waiting on any response, she closes her eyes halfway and sets her fingers to dancing gently over the strings.

Before long I find myself humming softly with each note, somehow finding the right tone at the right moment. But the pairing of low voice and loud instrument fills me with a faint wistful feeling.

During a lull in the music, Ahnya softly speaks. "So lovely you drew a special audience."

Mera starts, as if waking suddenly. "Hmm? I only see you three."

I hum a trio of notes before shaking my head. "She means the Dungeon Fairy."

The secretive presence in the thickest part of the rose bushes freezes.

"Is that so? Well, a bit more music wouldn't hurt then. You can actually sing instead of humming along, if you like?"

"I don't know what to sing. Can we just continue?"

Mera smiles, and starts plucking at the harp again. It takes her a moment to get back into the prior pace, and a bit longer for me to join in. By the time she slows to a stop again, the Fairy's presence is long gone.

Once Rin has packed away everything from our date, Mera leads the way to her house. She seems a bit nervous after inviting the three of us in.

"Mm, not as quaint as Lil' Blue's house. But still a little small perhaps."

Mera huffs. "There are four bedrooms and only three people living here. It's fine."

"Oh, I'm sure. I just meant that my ears are brushing the ceiling." Ahnya giggles, then wiggles her ears for emphasis. Our reactions are mixed, a snicker from me, a sigh and slight smile from Rin, and a groan from Mera. But her pride in the joke is clear.

"You're incorrigible." Mera shakes her head, then walks towards her room, beckoning the rest of us along. "Come on. Let's just, get started before you make another joke." Mera's room is spacious, her bed is twice the size of mine, and she has several other pieces of furniture. "Though I am hardly sure how to start. I've thought about this a lot, but. . ."

I sit in my usual seat, a cushy chair next to a small tea table. Though I sit upright, more attentive than my usual lax mood here.

"But you didn't know you'd have a big thirsty cat woman along for the ride? Probably haven't even put a whole lot of thought into how to use all the things she can make with her skill? Well, this is your show, so I'd be happy to follow your lead. But, a suggestion, if you don't mind. Make sure she knows what we're getting into, while Rin helps me get out of this dress."

"Right, that sounds like a fair start. Oh, but you don't need to hold back on my account. I get the feeling it'll be, a lot of fun, whatever you do." Mera walks over and squeezes onto the same chair as me. Nowadays, it's just big enough for both of us, if a bit of a squeeze. "Here we are Ara. The big day. Gods, it feels almost forbidden, the things I want to do with you. But that sort of, adds to the excitement."

"Right, for those umm, d-dildo things you were, excited or mad about?" My gaze drifts over to the cat women, currently struggling with a surprising amount of hidden lacing.

"Those and, so much more. Haah. You don't have to be afraid to say the word." The way she's cuddled up next to me goes beyond the tight confines of the chair. "Do you umm, get the idea of what we want to do with you here? The lewd, adult only kind of things?"

"Well, we had that basic sex ed class in school. So I, understand what a man and woman would do, together. Well enough, I think. Things along those lines, but a lil different for just girls?"

Her face looks as red as mine feels. "Mmmhm~" She places her hand on my thigh, lightly rubbing the fabric of my dress. "And you're, okay, doing that kind of thing with Ahnya and I?" She draws a sharp breath. "With Rin, watching, I guess."

"I think so. I uh, don't know. Rather." I take a deep breath. "Yes Mera, I would l-love to do lewd things with you and Ahnya."

Chaos_Sinner777

Fun fact, I originally intended Aradain's special energy to just be water and purification effects. But the word Ennui got stuck in my head as the name for it, so I added the despair effects in too.

Felt a little odd not detailing Ahnya and Aradain's first date, but didn't wanna do two dates in one chapter, soo eh.

Had meant for a sex scene in this chapter, would have hid it in a spoiler tag, but was running long. Long enough to be a chapter on its own, so next chapter is all lewd. Also, weird, but I feel more comfortable writing a sex scene, than a make out scene. Too much lewd RPing? Odd hang-up about mouths? Who can say.

Tried not to put anything too important in lewd scene, but for anyone who will skip it, I must say. Aradain doesn't have any body hair. Just regular hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Not so much as the tiny invisible hairs humans have most places, anywhere else. This is, important, but I shan't clarify why.