'Stone and timber is welcome, Alara. If you have extra people to cart it, I can spend more time on building the future haven. Underground Black may not continue in its present form, but your people will.' Aila spoke to her early the next morning.

'True, Master? You'll let us help?' Alara said excitedly. Aila chuckled.

'Calmly, little one. Discreetly too. I can handle what you throw at me, but large movements may alert the enemies. Continue to purify your people, and encourage the Magistrate to do the same. Get more of the collars made. Has Ivadra mastered the infusion?' She felt a voice rather then heard it.

'I have, Master. Why didn't you ask me?' Aila heard a slight whine in Ivadra's tone, and delved deeply into her mind. Alara chuckled as Ivadra stumbled and fell back into bed.

'Be good, Ivadra. Clean out Aros. I've already cleared out a few foreign spies, and sent their zombified remains after their friends. With Aros cleaned out, you'll have the time needed to keep Ava safe until Underground Black moves over here. Once the outer walls are up, send a few planners to the site.' She brushed through Ivadra's mind again, but with even more pressure, and caused her to squirm uncontrollably. 'Their homes should be planned properly, and once they are built, the soldiers can move their families here for safety.'

'I will let them know. They should be happy to know that you're not planning to abandon them.' Alara said.

'I'm doing this for you and your sister, Alara. If there are any disloyal ones, they better not come here. If they betray you for coins, I will feed them to a nest of baby river pythons!' Alara felt the burst of anger, and smiled.

'We know, Master. We know. Ava, you heard?' Alara asked.

'Most of it. Master, what about father?'

'Stone bears are on the border. If they come, their armies will die before they get here.'

'Thank you, Master.' Ava squirmed as she felt that gentle caress upon her senses. After all she had been through, whenever Aila touched her mind, she was happy. Her gentleness, and honest affection was obvious to her, and made her feel secure.

With the Seer and The Black One protecting her, its been the safest she's felt in her young life.

However, only Alara and Ivadra knew that Aila did all this by instinct, and not by design. The invasions into their mind were to read their intentions, but she had no idea how deeply she went in each time, or it's affect. She still didn't seem to know that the surge of power within their consciousness was transmitted as pleasure.

Aila had advanced well beyond their understanding of the cultivation realms, and didn't seem to assault any door, bottleneck, or border. She just gathered power with each blazing step, and continued to grow stronger and stronger.

They were not scared of her, but they were scared she would advance to the point that she would grow out of their reach.

 

* * *

 

"Listen up!" The Black Guards stood at attention. "Your squad leaders will talk about the full details, but Underground Black's Mistresses have acknowledged a true Master. This you all know. What you don't know is that the Master has allowed Underground Black to acquire building materials. Timbers and stone. This will be done discreetly. Questions?" No one spoke.

"Good. The leaders have all the details for this operation, and the reasons why. Leaders, I leave your squads in your hands now. Serve Underground Black well." Not long after the commander left, and gathered his own squad, the ones at the gate looked at their leader.

"Alright, I will tell you, but this is good news." The squad leader smiled. "Over the next few months, we'll discreetly deliver stone and timber to the manor. The Master will build a large compound, with tall outer walls, and..." He watched their faces. "homes for all the families that live in Underground Black." Their faces looked shocked.

"We're leaving?"

"The kingdom is in turmoil, and rebels have risen right inside the Capital. Aros won't be spared. The Master cares deeply about her people, has decided to take us from here, and move us there. Where no army or rebellion will ever reach. You understand that this option is only available to us because of the Black One and the Seer, right?" They looked at each other carefully.

"So, is Underground Black going to cease to exist?"

"No. It will just move. When you're guarding the gate, and your brothers are guarding the walls, what will you do if rebels attack Aros? How will you protect your families while protecting Underground Black?" The obvious now became evident.

"Has this happened before, leader?"

"Not to this extent. Teshele kingdom sent spies, scouts, and assistance to the rebels. They've done it for over a decade, and the Master gave a warning to them. However, that doesn't mean that the rebels will stop. That will make them desperate." Then they understood.

"And a desperate enemy is a dangerous one. Let us know when it's our turn to deliver goods, squad leader."

"Will do." That response was not typical. Some were more doubtful, while others were quite eager to begin. Those were the ones who watched the gate the day that Aila pinned that wicked maid to the pillar and had her tortured with the baby snake.

To them, if she wasn't a god, she was really close to being that kind of existence.

 

* * *

 

"I thought it was under repair." A Black Guard said as they brought a small train of carts along the pre-planned route.

"Under repair? Everything here looks brand new." The other guard whispered. The stone looked clean, solid, and without any cracks. The windows were fully shuttered, and everything looked swept.

"There is even a new foundation." They examined the foundation, and it's layout. "It's an outer wall." They heard voices.

"Master! The bears say there is a large river python along the path!" A voice rang out.

"Don't bother him! That's the little guy who had the collar in Aros! He wants to help, so let him help!" The guards looked at each other.

"Stone bears and river pythons helping?" The first guard whispered.

"Maybe she is a god."

 

* * *

 

The caravan dropped off the supplies, and returned to the town, while Shaala and Kaala watched from one of the rooms on the upper floor. Their master had fixed the majority of the manor over the last week, and all the bedrooms were usable now.

"I don't trust them." Kaala said quietly.

"Master knows what she is doing, sister. I don't trust them either, but I trust Master." Shaala said, while Nuri walked up behind Kaala and set her massive breasts on her shoulders. Her thick arms enveloped Kaala, and soothed her.

Ever since their master gave Nuri the life core, she's acted more and more like a motherly figure, even if Shaala and Kaala were older then her.

"Master would never put us in danger. Either little snake will watch the manor from his pond, or she'll arrange something ahead of time." Kaala sighed as her body was enveloped by Nuri's soft body. Nuri had lost a lot of her extra bulk in a short period of time, her skin wasn't uncomfortably tight, and she now looked more balanced. Her lower body became more slender, while her upper body stayed pretty much the same. Her hugs became more tender, and more sought after.

"You're right." Kaala sighed and murmured. The accumulation of life elements within Nuri continued to grow, so as she radiated a little into the ones she hugged, they also felt better because of her hugs.

"Has Master brought you any more cores?" Kaala asked.

"It's odd. You received ten flame cores, while others only received one. I've also received ten life cores." Nuri said. "Nadya only received one light core."

"The flame cores were from rank one flame wolves." Elena said as she came up the stairs. "The rest came from rank two or rank three beasts. I think Master is fusing the cores together so that they become stronger, and can grow on their own."

'Correct.' The soft voice in all their minds made them quiet down. They murmured as her voice was filled with their elements, and only their element when within their mind. 'Rank one cores are smaller, and don't accumulate the elements as quickly. I didn't want to deprive you of the same growth as your sisters. Nuri, there is some wood shaping to do outside. Ellie, call little snake for Nuri so she has protection.' Her voice was strong within their minds, and made them squirm in response.

'Elena, take the bears on a patrol. Remember to give them orders, and not to stay around them long. Your earth core resonates with them, and may confuse the males.' Elena blinked.

'Oh! Is that why he attacked me like that? He went into a heat?' Elena then grimaced as Aila quickly rummaged through her memories.

'That sneak. If he tries it again, I'm going to turn him into a fur rug!' Aila didn't want her servants to regress backward due to their beast cores. She gave them the cores to help them to absorb the elements, not to create new demi tribes like the Cananes, and the Balask.

Aila wasn't sure why she knew this was possible, as on Earth it would require a lab, and a massive investment of resources, and it still wouldn't happen. The DNA was so incompatible, a stable cross species was near impossible. She was sure that if they could do it, they would find a way to turn it into a profitable weapon too.

'Master, does that mean that Nadya has a chance to be a harpy?' Ellie asked, but Aila could see a coy smile on her lips. 'I heard those harpies are called bloody bitch harpies in the human towns.'

'Hey! I can hear you!' Ellie giggled, which made Nadya murmur. 'Teasing me when I'm so nice to you. I hug you all the time, Ellie!'

'Maybe a little too much. She's getting spoiled.' Aila said.

'Master!' Ellie whined. 'I'll be good and not tease her.'

'You can tease, but don't be mean about it. Harpies have a motherly instinct, and sunbathe relentlessly. Their children are notoriously affectionate to their moms, and I think that's also why they eat their mates. They are too jealous, and don't like how affectionate they are with the father.' Aila sighed.

'Lots of different personalities, but as long as you all behave as sisters, I don't mind. Ellie, don't forget to call little snake over to protect Nuri. She's important to me, and to all of you.' Aila heard Nuri murmur.

'Thank you, Master.'