"Father."

"You seem agitated." The old man said as he pulled the blanket around his shoulders. He hated this drafty castle now as his age caught up with him.

"The Magistrate of Aros sent a letter a week ago requesting advice. He sent another letter today, rushed to the point of injury." His father motioned to him, so the Silver King approached and gave him both letters. He read the first one, and frowned.

"Is he a fool? Someone who kills an Iron Tusked Boar, and a Stone Bear on their own, and he wants to engage them in combat 'to erase possible future troubles?' This would take all our strength!" He shook his head and read the second letter.

"He is a fool, and he's been warned." His father contemplated the situation. "Send word through a proper representative. Ask Underground Black...oh. Another letter." His son handed him the last one that he held back for just this occasion. He read it and closed his eyes.

"Purged death elements, destroyed a lich that threatened us for centuries, healed the Black One, and the Seer. Looks at her as a Master, and they are stronger then before." He pursed his lips. "To have those two monsters acknowledge her...yes. I was correct. Send a proper representative, not an arrogant one. Make a proper formal inquiry. Send gifts, should the information the person receives make that necessary. What would this person need, or want?" He looked at his son.

"Someone new to the area, repairing an abandoned manor, but needing little. Any peculiarities?" His father asked.

"One only. If you read the letter carefully, you'll notice you missed a line. She ate the metal core of a boar and did not explode." His father looked quickly at the letters, and thought for several minutes.

"Unheard of. No one can do that. Only someone with either the power to suppress the energy of the core, or someone who understands the nature of it, and I've never heard of either. Not even in the archives." He thought calmly. "Either notion is frightening, considering what that fool has already done." He nodded slowly. "Then that is a worthy gift. Beast Cores. Investigate what elements this 'being' has an affinity to."

"I'll send word to Aros, along with a team to question the citizens who have dealt with her. Gently, of course." The Silver King said.

"Yes, gently. We only need information, not trouble. And rein that fool in, or destroy his cultivation! If he angers a monster, who may just be our only defense against the beasts of the forest, then our kingdom will be swallowed up like the manor was a century ago." His father sighed.

"The mountains are a good defense against the stronger beasts, but some have found their way around, or through this obstacle." The Silver King's father closed his eyes. "In my father's day, there were only flame wolves, and their prey species. Now we have stone bears, giant boars, river pythons, and bloody bitch harpies!"

"You are correct, father. We need her more then we need a fool."

 

* * *

 

"Feeling better?" Aila said as she sat beside Nuri on the bed. She nodded slowly while Aila's hand gently touched her skin. Aila slid into the bed and snuggled in close.

"Master, do you need me..."

"Don't." Aila said. "I didn't buy you for sex, Nuri." She heard a soft murmur from the woman beside her. "I just wanted to be hugged a bit. Or hug a bit. I don't know what I feel." She said softly. She rubbed her cheek on Nuri's arm, while her hand rested on the woman's belly.

"Did you eat?"

"Yes, Master. It was really good too! Kaala made me some vegetables, bread, and cheese! The stew had lean meat, and no real fats. A little bit of fat, but nothing like we're used to." Aila smiled as Nuri seemed to be excited about the standard fare they prepared. Her hand glowed green, which caught Nuri's attention.

"Your body is still weak, but it will be good for you and your sister to get up and walk around. Take it slow until your muscles get stronger." Aila said softly, and rubbed her face on her arm again.

"Master, we may look alike, but we're not sisters. Nadya's parents took me in when I was three, but sold me and Nadya when we were five." Nuri said softly.

"You've looked after each other for years. I can sense affection for each other within your hearts. You are true sisters of the heart rather then of blood." Aila rolled out of the bed, reached down and pulled her to her feet as easily as one picks up a loaf of bread.

"My beautiful Nuri. You and your sister are quite important to me."

 

* * *

 

"Ellie, Elena, stay with them, and watch them carefully." Aila said softly. Ellie looked at her sister and was confused. Elena rolled her eyes.

"Ellie, she means to watch over them so they don't fall." Ellie made an 'o' with her mouth, then pouted.

"So mean. Elena Elena Elena." She grinned as she watched her sister shudder after their master walked away.

"I'll make you pay for that. Making me tremble like that in front of Master!" Ellie grinned, and took her sister's hand. She knew her sister wasn't angry, so she dragged her along until they got to Nuri's side.

Nuri blushed, but allowed the girl to take her hand, and guide her into the kitchen. After a few rounds of the house, Nuri was sweating, and pale. She saw Aila at the table she just made so everyone could eat together, and smiled.

"Guide me over to Master." She whispered to Elena. She tilted her head, but nodded. Soon, she sat down, but with her legs on either side of Aila. She put her massive breasts on Aila's shoulders, and allowed her body to fit in closer.

"Naughty girl." Aila said softly, and lightly gripped her thigh. "But I love your hugs, Nuri." She couldn't wait until the two of them got stronger.

She really wanted to sleep sandwiched between the both of them, just so she could feel loved by a mother. She really missed her mom.

It didn't hurt a bit that both women had ample assets that made her feel warm, much like how Elena and Ellie also made her feel warm with their kiss. Elena had a special desire to kiss her so deeply, she would lay across the bed so she was turned ninety degrees, while Ellie's busy hands went everywhere.

Aila found herself loving her girls quite deeply, but since she had no experience, she couldn't filter it, or put it into words yet.

 

* * *

 

"They've asked all over town." The guards cleared their faces of their amusement, and waited. A small group of men, in official robes that were not too elaborate, came to the gate of Underground Black. They held out an official's seal, which said they were tasked by the king to perform some duties.

"What could officials of the king want with us?" The guard said, a slight frown on his face.

"Nothing extreme. We only wish to know if you know of the woman who lives in the forest." The official asked.

"All within the city knows of her. Most also know she came here more then once." The guard said, which made the official nod, and smile.

"True, but this is Underground Black. We were unsure if you would tell us. Can you tell us if she exhibited any spirit affinities while she was here?" He asked.

"Three that we saw personally. Flame. Earth. Light. We do not know what she used inside, as we were on duty that day." The official nodded.

"Some claim to have seen water, and others dark and death!" He whispered.

"We can't say about those, sir. We can only say what we saw, as rumors and speculation is strictly prohibited within." The guard said firmly.

"We understand. We shall not bother the Black One, or the Seer." The official frowned a bit as he heard the movement of a metal rod. The gate was pushed open, and the official paled. Both The Seer and the Black One were on the other side. "So rumors are true." He whispered. The Black One smirked as the dark elements radiated out of her body. Even her sister had a sphere of light around herself.

"Official of the Silver King, we know what you seek. If you wish to know what elements our Master has an affinity to, it's easy enough for us to tell you." The official let out a slow breath.

"The king would be grateful for this information." He said and bowed.

"Then listen closely. All." The Seer smiled and turned away. The Black One, Ivadra, chuckled.

"All?" He asked, his face showed his confusion at the simple and succinct answer.

"No clarification is needed. All. Speak that to the Silver King. That is the only word the Seer offers. He can interpret it, seek guidance for it, or try to translate it, but the meaning will never change." The gate closed, while the official looked at his companion, and frowned.

"All?" He pondered for a minute before his companion's mouth could move.

"Sir, all of the elements! She means all of them!" The reason it took him so long to respond is that almost all cultivators had only one elemental affinity. The official felt faint.

"Bloody stones, what kind of monster has the Magistrate angered?"