Munetsuchi

[Apollymi]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52624518753_26bd63feb7_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2obfq1R)

Munetsuchi, 'A lake without heat', is a sky island in Chaldea which counts as an empire. It is run by a Empress who claims a direct link to Celestia. In truth, she is one of many discarded demigods who has the power to enforce her will. This place is one of magical aptitude full of mythological creatures and wonder. It is a utopia run by logic and level-headedness.

Within the enchanting realm of Munetsuchi, traditional Japanese buildings stand as architectural marvels, seamlessly blending with the natural surroundings. Elegant wooden structures adorned with intricate carvings and graceful curves reflect the refined craftsmanship of its builders. Delicate paper shoji screens invite soft rays of sunlight to filter through, casting a warm and soothing glow upon tatami-covered floors. Pagoda roofs with upturned corners reach towards the heavens, a symbol of spiritual connection and harmony. The air carries the faint echoes of laughter and conversation from bustling teahouses and merchant stalls, where the vibrant tapestry of daily life unfolds. Lanterns gently sway, illuminating narrow cobblestone streets lined with wooden storefronts, their facades displaying exquisite artwork and calligraphy. Munetsuchi's architectural tapestry weaves a story of tradition, history, and the timeless elegance of a bygone era.

[Bloodedge]

Unable to make it to Isabella, Charlemagne's attempt at a real-looking assault was for naught. Luckily for him, she was just rude enough to assault him anyway. He couldn't miss the look on Father An's face, though. That man looked so much younger than he did minutes, days, even years ago. Worse yet, he was still regressing in age and progressing in musculature. Was that the strange feeling Charlemagne had moments ago? Was the Holy Father using his energy to sustain himself? Whatever he was seeing, there wasn't much time to consider it.

Isabella was on the offensive in a way he knew would be quite painful. That blade of hers whipped about and summoned the wind. It was with great ease that a weakened Charlemagne was blasted away, resist though he might. Ah, but he wasn't the only one affected. A spaced-out Astolfo and an innocent Anais seemed caught in the backlash. All three were thrown against a wall which wouldn't survive. While crashing through, Charlemagne only had physical and mental pain as company. Something was very wrong with his body and soul. He'd even been betrayed at least twice in one event, on the day of his wedding even. He may have had the answer to a thousand-year old mystery, but there was no point to that now. It was even possible that he wouldn't survive the fall, as he wouldn't be landing anywhere on Aincrad after Isabella's attack.

Well... at least two of his most trusted were falling with him. Hopefully, they could survive and maybe bury his mangled body after the landing. . .

Broad daylight in the sky above Munetsuchi, there appeared to be three falling stars. Sadly, it was but the beautiful visual applied to three people descending from a hellish scene. Charlemagne of the Holy Templar Order of Aincrad had ended his wedding and coronation as Holy Emperor with quite a bang. Well... bang was one word for it. In truth, any 'bang' to be noted was the one which sent him rocketing out of the floating fortress alongside two of his comrades.

Astolfo, the pink-haired male in a skirt, would not be useful at all. He'd been drained almost dry by that damn succubus of an executioner, and hardly even knew where he was. In fact, he almost seemed to be enjoying the fall. He was trailing behind Charlemagne a bit. Obviously, he'd be no help... but perhaps Charlemagne was in luck. It seemed he'd soon be landing in a lake at terminal velocity. How lucky Charlemagne was that he'd be buried at sea without any effort.

[Apollymi]

Those falling stars would shine with quite a bit more vigor than normal. Among the three falling was a Elafia by the name of Anais. She'd not know this would happen. She'd been enjoying a rather emotional wedding and then suddenly the tides had changed. Charles was being called some sort of traitor against the Holy Father. The Holy Father had decided to take on his form and then suddenly, she Charles and Astolfo were falling due to the mechanizations of isabella Valentine. Strangely, Anais didn't think she was truly meant to be harmed in this endeavor, only included. After all, she was pretty certain if their comrade Ivy actually wanted her dead, she'd have been sliced to ribbons long before she'd gone tumbling out the side of Aincrad. Ah, yes but there was no time to consider this... they were falling. And while they were approaching a large body of water, they were still falling way too fast.

She pulled her hands together, almost as if in prayer, but she wasn't praying. She was creating and protecting small candle flames. And blowing them out into the air. One for herself, one for Charles and one for Astolfo. They came into being in the form of large white stags and though they couldn't naturally fly, their movements placed them beneath the falling group. They were solid enough to slow their descent, so that while they'd hit the water hard, it wouldn't end any of their lives. They wouldn't last a terribly long amount of time either, just long enough to drag them towards the nearest shore for their own safety. How strange it must have looked for three creatures of incandscent flames to descend beneath the surface of the water... only to emerge a short while later as if they were normal creatures grazing.

[Bloodedge]

Irrespective of how he felt, Charlemagne would not be dying just yet. Due to the intervention of Anais ensured that all three falling members of their group would have a slowed descent. Rather than being crushed on the surface and buried in the depths, Charlemagne was taking a dip from the back of a magical stag. Lovely. Or... could all things only be the opposite now? Charlemagne couldn't even be satisfied with the quick thinking of Anais; he was rather busy breaking apart at the seams... both figuratively and literally. By the time he was brought to shore, Charlemagne looked like some glitchy program. Various spasms across his body had individual parts fading in and out of reality, all in a very painful way.

Meanwhile, there was a slender male figure watching the skies since before those 'falling stars' even descended. He appeared to be a nobleman with shoulder-length, pale blue, asymmetrical hair. He had pale skin, light purple eyes and a small mole under the left corner of his mouth. His attire consisted of a white collared coat with long flowing sleeves, dark blue lapels, and gold trimmings decorated with a number of embellishments worn over a light purple kimono and white pants. He also had black and golden armor on his right shoulder, white and purple gauntlets on both arms, black gloves, and a large golden rope around his neck. Some peculiar-looking blue gemstone hung around his right hip by a thick, golden rope.

What was this man doing as he watched? Well, he was sitting at a small restaurant, turned in his stool to face away from the bar. His right elbow rested atop the counter while his right arm lay over his lap, that hand holding a large cup of bubble tea. This was about the time he expected a certain someone to be passing by this very restaurant, but he seemed to simply be out for lunch with a companion. "They say falling stars seen in broad daylight are a sign of something else. This one is funny. Those don't look much like real stars at all," he said somewhat cryptically.

[Apollymi]

The group at large was dredged out of the water after falling from a great height. Of course, the first to recover enough to do anything was Anais the least compromised of the group. Immediately after catching her breath and expelling a large amount of water, the white stag she rode dropped her at the edge of the tree line. She needed to conserve energy so when she could walk hers was the first to disappear. She'd go on to set up an active barrier for the group, including Charles who seemed to be suffering quite a bit. She looked over his body as small flames began to flicker about, and arranged the barrier in such a way as to stabilize his condition. "Stay with me, Charlie. It's going to be really difficult if you don't try and hold yourself together!" she explained. Of course, she was mostly uninjured and the strength of this particular version of her power, would also allow Astolfo to quickly regain himself. With another hand on deck, Anais could properly figure out if she as capable of treating Charles, but as she sat at his side, she was certain of one thing. She'd never seen an injury like the one which was plaguing him now. The hit from Ivy was one thing... but his shattered look was something else completely.

At the same time, at that little stall, there was another person. Well, person was a loose definition. She had fair skin, purple eyes, thigh-length muted pink hair, that was tied at the bottom. Also tucked into those strands were furry pink ears pointed downward, though pierced so they didn't hide. The overly ornate earrings she wore, were globe-like purple gems surrounded in gold with an almost eerie glow to them. She was wearing a stylized version of a shrine priestess's outfit with a short skirt that showed long legs tucked into a stool. She had on an ornate headpiece to go along with the rather notable ensemble. "Umu! A falling star whose light never dims, would make for a real-page turner... I find myself dreadfully curious~" came a statement almost flirtatious as a piece of fried tofu was passed between her lips. She'd looked over her own shoulder at the falling light, knowing exactly what it was.

Just the same passing this pair by was a different sort of person altogether. A girl with long purple haired tied up in a neat bun adorned by flowers. She wore a white kimono also decorated by the common fare of flowers. A young maiden with an obi of red and eyes which were a uniquely clear shade of blue. She walked with her face tucked behind a fan, but still, she couldn't help her newest habit of people watching and then... she was rather suddenly distracted by the falling stars. Those didn't feel like stars and they also didn't look like them. And then she'd heard the conversation between these two people at the food stall, she'd found herself paused nearby to hear out everything they had to say. Her own curiosity causing her to eavesdrop just a bit.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne was... probably dying. He had no knowledge of what dying felt like, but he assumed this was probably it. In the past 24 hours, he had his first several experiences feeling his own mana without consciously channeling it. Here and now though, he wished it was something impossible to feel. He was breaking apart on a spiritual level, and he could feel every single crack as it expanded. Anais came to offer healing and stability, but what was it all for? Ah, mostly his back which had been damaged when he was blasted through a fortified wall. That would have helped him physically, but he couldn't even feel it over everything else. "Ana..." Charlemagne groaned after she spoke to him. "This is trying," he finished. Whatever this occurrence was, it was not something Anais's ability would help him with. Astolfo was starting to regain some sense of self, but he wouldn't be very helpful to the situation either. . .

Ah, but help was in the works back at the city. Two people who were a bit eclectic even for this place were enjoying a conversation with much purpose. The fox-eared woman expressed her curiosity in an interesting tone. "Lady Guuji, curious? It sounds almost like you're about to have another weird and wonderful idea. I'm on board as always, of course," he said between sips of tea. Their conversation was surely being heard by a very specific individual... as it should have been. Those 'stars' were special; they required attention. Knowing the proper attention had been acquired, the blue-haired man stood. He'd be walking slowly, 'coincidentally' past that purple-haired girl while speaking. "Sometimes, what appears at first to be nothing but a passing breeze can ultimately be that which alters the course of events... Fufu~" By the time these words were spoken, he'd stopped right in front of the listener. He'd be looking straight at her, offering the very cup of bubble tea he'd been drinking from. There was... something special about that tea, whether anyone took note of it or not. For starters, it had a flavor profile that couldn't be found in this country ─ maybe in this world as of yet. Beyond that, it boasted the strange ability of regulating mana flow in the most interesting way. If that girl took and drank the tea, she'd find her mana streaming throughout her body like pure water, even offering a sense of coolness as a result. "You know... If you throw fallen flowers onto the stove, the searing heat infuses them with one final spark of vitality, and for a brief moment, they radiate a more glorious glow than the flames themselves... it was a short life they lived, but it was by no means a wasted one."

[Apollymi]

Anais most recently being called, Ana, was being told by her leader that he was indeed trying. She could easily do something about the nature of his physical wounds but holding his soul together wasn't something she could really do herself. Perhaps fixing up his body would help, at the very least it would give what was left of his mana and soul something to cling to as far as shape was concerned. Even so, she knew that this was quite the potential problem. "Shit." she whispered only to cover her own mouth quickly after. "Oops, don't tell anyone about that," she mentioned quickly. "I'll do everything I can... just don't give up okay?" she said earnestly. She felt like she'd be letting the entire group down if Charles died on her watch, but unknown to her... help was technically on the way.

It seemed the curiosity of fox-eared woman was something of interest to the blue haired man. He claimed to be onboard her random inclinations as he always would be. She grinned and turned to begin walking with him, her dish of choice complete she found herself at his side. "Weird? Wonderful? I don't know you what you mean... I only meant that boredom of the tired tropes would be lifted with literal stars falling from the sky. Sometimes the truth is more interesting than fiction~" she mused seeming to have an idea or two of what she wished to do, but no immediate need to express it.

Even so, they stopped right in front of a purple haired girl, an offering of tea was made along with some rather cryptic words. She wasn't quite sure what they meant, but somehow looking at this man's face, she felt nothing wrong with trying the food he offered. A few sips and a flavor she'd never tasted before danced across her tongue. Beyond that, the sensation of her mana seemed to cool her entire body down immediately. She didn't even have the grace to look embarrassed about the fact that she'd obviously been caught snooping on this pair of people. "Oiishi!~" she chimed after tasting the drink offered to her. It was so strange, but very good... she definitely wished for more of it. What was more, an even more cryptic message would be shared. "Are?" she questioned as if confused. Her brows furrowed and then she looked on. Perhaps she should go out and do something... she'd been unsure but... now that she was actively feeling the mana in her body and the mana in her atmosphere something felt... wrong. The girl in the white kimono would scurry off after a quick bow. "Arigatou Gouzaimasu, Onii-san! Onee-san!" she said addressing both of these people. Hm, strange, she'd not even spoken directly to the fox woman before doing that. After she was out of earshot the fox woman couldn't help but be amused. "Ara ara, to be so young and full of energy~ I do wonder if we should find someone to keep track of the tales for posterity~" she mused gently.

[Bloodedge]

Things were truly in a bad way. How did Charlemagne know this? It wasn't the pain in every fiber of his being, the betrayal, the other betrayal, or all of those things happening on his wedding day. Really, it was the fact that Anais, of all people, swore. Life really was going to shit, wasn't it? "Ugh, no... it's that bad?" he asked the universe. Terrible as this situation was, he wouldn't stop trying to hold himself together. The number of promises he had to keep were piling up, and he didn't plan on breaking any of them. Maybe he could just keep stable long enough to let this all blow over?

Sadly, that wouldn't be the case. He'd have to wait until another event reached its conclusion, which it seemed to be doing rapidly. A brief exchange was made with the purple-haired girl, resulting in her experiencing an apparently delicious blend of tea. Interestingly enough, she thanked the pair she'd been eavesdropping on, even though she only interacted with the male. Clever girl, the man thought. Moving on, the male would leave her with that tea and a cryptic message. His female comrade had some words to offer about the departing girl, and something else about keeping track of tales. "Oya~? Why would you want to do that?" he asked, almost as if legitimately confused. Just then however, he sported a sly grin. "You were just talking about stories. Why don't we do that? We'll write a 'story' for everyone to read. A good one ─ something... timeless. Sound good?"

[Apollymi]

Anais was watching over the lad and wanted to be honest with him. She'd continue her work and keep them all relatively safe, but still explain the situation as much as she could, preferably without the swears. "I... uh... well... honestly, I can fix your body up for the most part, but I can sense your mana and I can only stabilize it... I can't explain what is happening here, but I am sure we all know you wouldn't have done anything like that," she said about the 'murder' of the holy father. Of course, it looked kind of bad in the moment, but she was certain she wasn't the only person who believed it. "It'll be okay, eventually..." she said trying to be reassuring. But they were definitely going to need help, an expert and maybe an army to clear Charles name. After hearing about Ivy's research into Jeanne d'Arc, she wondered if Charles was being made into the next big bad of the Templar Order.

While this happened, the girl in the white kimono was walking almost unconsciously towards the direction of the falling stars. It wasn't as if she'd get in trouble for investigating something. Her curiosity was always encouraged. It wouldn't be much to figure out where the lights had gone or even to track down anything else. And... if anything bad happened she could always run off home or call for one of her parents. Besides, stars falling had to be worth looking into, right? Yes and with that decision made, she went along with her cup of tea in hand crossing a long bridge to get to the tree line, where she found a strange amount of warmth. She looked to the water source, and there was no more shining light there, instead only steps and drag marks from the water's edge. Oddly enough, she'd not found anyone else investigating yet, maybe she'd be lucky!

In the meantime, the fox woman and blue haired male seemed to be shifting gears quite a bit. The initial shock on his face and question surrounding her desires made her brow raise. Only a few seconds after, he was speaking once again. Actually about what she wanted to do. A pout crossed those little lips and a devious light came to her eyes. "Oh? Are you teasing me now? The nerve of you..." she almost scoffed. Of course, there was nothing she wanted to do more than what she suggested. "Still a story that is timeless, requires a good setting... this place is ripe with inspiration, shall we?" she asked in a manner most teasing. It seemed she'd gotten over her initial problem and was more than willing to move on to the destination of choice. A large sakura tree in the distance near some gently rolling falls. "There seems about right~" she said while slipping her other arm around his and squeezing herself into his person.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne could confirm that at least two people believed his innocence. Isabella made that blatantly clear during their exchange in Aincrad. Now, Anais was doing much the same in direct words. She admitted to being incapable of repairing him, sadly enough. Well, he couldn't be very surprised by that. Anais was an incredible healer, but there was something truly unnatural about his current ailment. "Ngh! No surprise there. This sucks!" he groaned. Random areas of his body were convulsing and fading repeatedly, seemingly to no end.

Meanwhile, Astolfo was rising on the back of a magical stag. "Ahh! I feel like I just had a long nap! Jan, you... huh?" Apparently, he truly had no idea where he'd been during the coronation and all that accompanied it. Astolfo looked down and around, completely confused with neither knowledge nor concern for any oddities. "Huh. I wasn't expecting to be anywhere different. Teleporting Astolfo, go!" he chanted, immediately finding some amusement all by himself.

The purple-haired girl's search began while those she recently interacted with started one of a different variety. The 'story' they would write was going to be one for the ages. "Well I wonder what kind of inspiration you're getting from here," said the male. Following the woman's cue, it seemed their destination would be a particular sakura tree by a waterfall. He'd walk that way without question, knowing it would be interesting regardless of venue. What would they really be doing, though? "A tree? With all the corners and rooftops around here, I'm slightly surprised. What could you have planned with a tree?"

[Apollymi]

Two people on his side was more than most could expect given he'd been seen 'murdering' the Holy Father. Of course, many of Charles group were skeptical of people at large, so most of them were likely to side with caution before jumping to conclusions anyway. "I figure it does... I'd try to numb it but... that might not work too well," she explained. "I wouldn't want to you to fall apart," she said meekly. Of course, it was a time like this that Astolfo finally came to again. "Eh? Astolfo you're awake again. Good. We are in deep sh...! Oops. Trouble... right word," she said. Though she was a reasonable healer, she still didn't really know what to do about this man's fluctuating mana. The best she could do, is hope they'd landed in a place that wasn't aligned with Aincrad in anyway, so they could have a safe place to investigate Charles safety and recuperate. Just the same the girl with the blue eyes had made her way into the forest clearing and though it was protected slipping past the flames by not presenting herself as a threat with her mana was rather easy for her to do. She was enveloped by the warmth of it, and found herself petting the stag flame creature Astolfo was atop, while sipping from her cup, like a tourist seeing something for the first time. "Oh? It was people. That's interesting. But... that doesn't explain why you fell from so high up. Nee-chan you seem distressed," the girl said innocently as if she didn't understand the urgency that Anais spoke with.

Just the same, a certain fox-lady was leading the way to a scenic view she wished to use as inspiration. "Something a bit more holistic and natural..." she mused as she turned around and leaned against the tree, she faced the man in question but a single leg of hers lifted a foot falling out of its shoe, all... unseen by any but the one intended to witness it. "Rooftops and dark alleys are good for tales of scamps and espionage. But what about the tale of an artist who sees all in brush strokes and shining light. Umu, in the land of falling stars, a rather simple story could be told, and executed on the perfect backdrop~" she mused. That lifted foot would come to rest over his man's left shoulder. That short kimono she wore was lifting ever so slightly giving a small peek at what she wore, or rather didn't underneath.

[Bloodedge]

"Heh. That makes two of us. I'll take the not falling apart option, thanks," said Charlemagne. He could at least attempt to keep spirits high ─ both his own and others. Of course, Astolfo needed no such thing. The pink-haired male came to in full Astolfo fashion. Anais spoke to the lad, mentioning how much trouble they were in. He kept posing atop the stag as if charging into battle. Astolfo was having a rather good time, but surprisingly... "Aren't we always? Don't worry about it! Just because some old guy went and messed our king up, doesn't mean we should let ourselves fall apart over it. He's still here, so we just need to get back up and punch that old goat in his face!" he announced. Typical Astolfo, thought Charlemagne.

Charlemagne counted himself, Anais and Astolfo. With just those three and the guaranteed Isabella onboard in Aincrad, they could definitely accomplish something whenever he recovered... if he recovered. That number was off, though... how? Himself, Anais, Astolfo... and some random young woman? "Who's tha─AGH!" Reeling, Charlemagne failed to complete a sentence. That seemed to be a common occurrence for him lately, but he loathed this reason above all others. Still, who was this random girl?

Those who goaded that girl into investigating were already approaching the sakura tree that would soon be... disrespected? Blessed? Something; it was a subjective matter. The woman of the pair alluded to the literary value of rooftops and alleyways compared to the current choice. "What's wrong with scamps and espionage? I really enjoy a bit of espionage, and..." The male paused as a bared foot upon his female companion rose, its ankle planting itself atop his shoulder. Her legs hardly knew coverage, and apparently neither did anything between them at present. His eyes trailed down to really take in her lack of undergarments, and then he finished speaking. "You're nothing if not a scamp yourself. Now, what's this about brush strokes?" Just then, his left hand cupped over the top of her lifted ankle, rubbing its way down that leg. His other hand utilized the time to loosen his trousers ─ an act that would soon enough result in the sudden flopping of his half-erect manhood into his own hand. "I didn't bring any brushes, and you didn't warn me to. This is the closest I've got."

[Apollymi]

A small chuckle escaped Anais. At least there were still jokes, it would probably feel really bad if this was as tense as it felt within her own body. Speaking of feelings and knowledge of current events, Astolfo seemed to be pretty well versed on the current showings of information. He claimed that not much needed to be done, that it was simply matter of punching the old man. The claim that they were always in trouble was also pretty true, "I mean yeah, we are always into something. But it usually isn't the higher ups that are causing us problems," she said seeming to understand in a base way what was going on here. What she didn't understand was the girl, who'd just spoken and seemed to be watching everything going on in the manner of an observer. "I am distressed, this is terrible, but how... did you get in here?!" she exclaimed. She'd set up their protective barrier first, she knew that she'd done this... Even Charles managed to stumble over words to try and find out about the extra girl who was here. "How did I get in? I walked in... the feelings here say you wanted to keep out those with bad intentions who would do harm. I have no intentions so I could walk in," she explained as she walked around the white stag. It would seem there was a lot of intention placed in Anais magic she'd have to be on the look out about that in the future. "Who am I... Tohsaka Sakura, though you definitely wouldn't have asked me that if you were from here. Hm, I've never seen robes like those before either," she said before sipping out of her cup once more. She looked down at Charles seeming to be assessing his current form and though she'd never seen a condition like his, she was certain how to get the function of his mana closer to normal. "Also, he needs mana. Mana would stabilize his form. He's needs a lot of it, but I assume you used up a lot of yours protecting this place and softening your descent," the girl who'd introduced herself as Sakura said.

Meanwhile she scene by the tree seemed to be evolving quite a bit. Whatever was about to happen under the cover of these sakura petals, it would be something of great purpose. Ah, whatever the case, there was a certain lingering gaze, as that leg came to rest against the man's shoulder. It was cupped and eyes were transfixed on the bare undercarriage of this fox woman for several moments longer than was probably necessary. Such a sight even managed to stop a sentence, for just a moment. "Ara ara... that one took a while to complete. I don't think it makes me a scamp though~" she chimed seeming to take quite a bit of amusement from the moment. "Brushes strokes are for creating a perfect picture... I'm sure we've had this conversation before~", she teased taking in the sight of half-mast bare manhood, she reached down to touch as well, her hips shifting slightly as the space between her legs gained a bit of moisture at the thoughts she was having alone. "This is exactly the kind of brush I was thinking of, if we're painting today. Do make sure it gets stirred up well, A-ya-to~"

[Bloodedge]

The Twelve Peers were always into some sort of trouble. True, the higher-ups were typically not to blame for it... but Astolfo was a man who lacked reason. "Hush! It was always the higher-ups' fault! Even that broken vase! Especially that broken vase!" he insisted just before some random girl made her presence known in the group. Astolfo was as shocked as everyone else here, but he was already on a tangent. "See! Also their fault!" he added.

Apparently, this girl was not one they needed to look out for. Or was she? Charlemagne wasn't sure what to think about anyone anymore. Father An was trustworthy, and he made this happen. Ganelon was loyal, and he announced Charlemagne's alleged treason without a second thought. Whatever her intentions were, a name was given. Tohsaka Sakura... sounded familiar for some reason, though Charlemagne couldn't place why. "Toh... sa─aAah!" Again, the pain of shattering struck him. It was said that he needed mana ─ lots of it. That was the sort of solution he'd have expected of Angelica. On the other hand, it did sound right. If Angelica were around, he could be fixed easily. Maybe this place had enough food to stabilize him? That is, assuming he could even eat. . .

Without hesitation, the fox woman pointed out the pause taken by the male. "It was for dramatic effect," he said frankly. As for his lack of a brush, she claimed the substitute he offered was actually just what she had in mind. Oh, how very convenient. "Is it? Well it is relatively all-purpose. We'll see if it paints the right picture," said the man apparently named Ayato. With the woman's hand upon his tool, he closed a great deal of space between them. Their lips would meet briefly once, then again before he spoke once more. "But I thought we were writing. You may be taking 'a picture says a thousand words' a little too literally, Lady Guuji. What's the actual plan?"

[Apollymi]

Astolfo was full of random words and even more random understanding of the world around him. He claimed that the higher ups were to blame for many things, including the breaking of a vase. That being said his logic was far from sound most of the time, and as such Anais was confused. "I would assume any broken vase was one of you guys," she explained of her stance. Little did she know that probably didn't even matter. Instead she was left with the knowledge that there was a new, seemingly friendly person among their ranks who could bypass her barrier and was watching and drinking tea like a tourist. "This girl seems native, and Japanese. Did we land in a Japan? That'd be pretty nice," said Anais, she'd not seen anything like her homeland in quite a while, it would be good. "Japan? I don't know what that is, this is Munetsuchi..." she explained of the place they were currently. Of course, that was likely the most Japanese sounding name to be heard by this group in quite a while. "Should I give him my mana? It is flowing pretty nicely right now..." she stated seeming to have figured that if the other girl didn't have a lot, she could easily give quite a bit with no problem. In fact she was soon leaned over Charles face as if she intended to kiss him.

While awkwardness developed in a different group, Ayato and Lady Guuji. were getting into position to fornicate against a tree. That was the truth of the matter, but there was a certain build up happening between them that seemed to make it rather interesting. There was a playfulness in how they spoke to each other, countering each slip of the tongue with another. The pause had been for dramatic effect, well it was dramatic at least. They would see if his all-purpose brush painted the proper picture. "I'm sure it has all the necessary skills~" she seemed to be fine with this extended metaphor. Their lips met briefly then again before more speech came. In the meantime, she was asked what the actual plan was, her brows came together in curiosity. "I thought this plan was clear enough. And a picture is worth a thousand words... nothing can be taken too seriously, or everything can..." she mused with his manhood so much closer in her hands she found herself rubbing it against the entrance of her nether, wetting the tip as if it was to be dipped in ink before actually painting a picture. "You're going to stir the paint, so to speak, then... we're going to use this gorgeous backdrop to make something interesting... it should be more than enough to leave an artist to record all the pictures we won't be painting today~" she mused as she lined the pair of them up, properly moving her hands towards his hips as if to help him sink further into her depths.

[Bloodedge]

In truth, a specific broken vase in the past was entirely Astolfo's fault. That wasn't the point! Even if he'd been the one to break it while no one of major importance was around, it was someone else's fault. "It was the Father's fault!" he blurted out. Now, onto the girl who invaded the protective barrier. She was friendly, yet strange. She spoke frankly, yet with a certain kindness. Astolfo approved of her presence. Moreover, all three could agree that she seemed Japanese... and so did the name of their current location. "Kore wa nihondesu," said Astolfo. If Charlemagne could have managed it, he'd have been nodding or verbalizing his agreement. Alas, he couldn't do either. If mana was to help him though, he'd take any he could get. Ah... but it seemed Sakura had a very specific method in mind. With her already leaning over him, he had to manage something. "Ngh! Wait! I just got married!" he strained. Surely this girl was more normal than his wife. A perfectly normal, functional human girl would understand basic boundaries... right?

Speaking of boundaries, some were soon to be torn down... if they ever existed at all. The 'Lady Guuji' as she was called, was presently sandwiched between a tree and Ayato, both parties casually flirting with their genitals on display in broad daylight. That probably wasn't good. Yes, it would be best for them to show respect to the surrounding area by putting their privates away. Ayato had this thought, and one could assume the woman did as well... since she'd begun urging his lower half closer to her own. "Ah, stirring the paint. Why didn't I think of that? I was thinking of action painting," he joked. Nevertheless, the proverbial brush would be dipped in the closest thing to paint nearby. Of course, the thing closest to paint happened to be the fluids of a certain fox woman's loins. She did have plenty to spare; she could afford to wet his brush a bit. And so, he'd have a hefty dip. "Fufu~. A bit tight for a palette, isn't it? You'll start losing brushes in it if you keep using this~"

[Apollymi]

It was the Father's fault. A great number of things fell into that category presently, even if Anais didn't know all of those things. At the very least, Isabella expected that the Father was responsible for whatever nefarious thing she'd been researching. They saw he was responsible for the fall of Charlemagne and the theft of his name and youth. Ah... there was something else they were about to find out... he'd stolen. Before that though, the words that left Astolfo's face, seemed ones that Sakura recognized well, the sentence structure was right at least. "Oh? You know the language of the land, well... at least one of the versions of it. Sou ka, Kaa-sama will be interested in this," she thought absently. Still there was something to be done before she introduced this group of people to her mother. Charles was literally falling apart his mana not holding him together, so she aimed to fix it with her own. As Sakura leaned down to give this lad the mana she was sure his body needed, he made a strained plea. He'd recently gotten married, he wanted to wait. That didn't make sense, for several reasons... confusion spread across this girl's face as she leaned back to study this boy's face. "What does marriage have to do with anything? And if you got married today then something is really strange, because you don't feel married..." she stated clearly, as if she had some acute knowledge of such things. All the while Anais seemed to be confused as well. "He's definitely married. We watched the ceremony. I saw the rings form... I cried. I always cry at weddings!" she explained of the situation which only made it more confusing for Sakura.

Just the same the pair against the sakura tree were seemingly becoming more discrete over time. Their bodies were drawn together as they started their picture making process. "Action painting? A style like that deserves its own venue~" she mused seeming to have turned Action Painting into a very specific kind of activity in her own mind. Ah, well that didn't really matter. Soon enough that gentle wetting would become a fuller plunge directly into her undercarriage. His commentary about the tight squeeze would be met by a purposeful squeeze of those same muscles as she rocked her hips encouraging his movements. "Umu!♥~ I think a tight fit is good. And if it doesn't work... obviously, I'll just have to keep using this one~" she claimed as if it was perfectly reasonable. Oh... this little act would take them far she was certain of this.

[Bloodedge]

Various languages were confirmed for this land, one of which was Japanese. Hearing that, Astolfo perked up even more. "Version? Are we in mashup land?! I'm getting mainland clothes!" the lad said excitedly. With that, he hopped off the stag, catching his skirt before it blew up. Charlemagne always had something to say after all, and now wasn't a time to make their leader start whining about something again. Besides... he'd soon have something else to moan about, it seemed. From the looks of things, the situation was about to take a rather scandalous turn. That was Astolfo's favorite! Charlemagne was lying under a woman he'd just met, minutes after his wedding, about to be tongued-down! Astolfo was absolutely giddy! "Oh, yes! Mana transfer!" he chanted.

Upon pointing out his married state, Charlemagne was countered in the oddest way. What did being married have to do with it? Oh. Another strange woman had fallen into his lap today. Alright. Furthermore, she claimed he didn't 'feel' married. That simply wasn't possible; he even had the spirit ring of... nothing? He tried to produce it to show proof, but much to his chagrin, nothing happened. Well... something happened. That small effort was enough to cause ethereal cracks all over Charlemagne's body. "ACK!" he yelled. That was a stupid idea. He shouldn't be saying any more, so of course... it was Astolfo's solemn duty to speak for him! "He was married right before we fell here, but don't let that stop you! He'll really appreciate it if you really get in there!" Astolfo encouraged, even offering a thumbs-up to the purple-haired lass.

[Apollymi]

Mainland clothes. This was what Astolfo wanted, meanwhile Anais got a bit caught up in the moment seeming to have caught onto the infectiousness of the situation. "Clothes, no... food yes! It'll taste like home!~" she seemed really excited by that notion. "Clothes and food... those are easy," Sakura mentioned as if there was no reason to do anything else. Ah, but there was a problem, the pink haired lad encouraged her to perform the mana transfer, but the man himself didn't seem to want one. According to everyone in this group, including the man himself, he'd been married earlier this day. "Oh, sounds like the ceremony was pretty. I haven't seen a wedding directly yet," Sakura stated as if this was a perfectly normal conversation. It seemed that trying to show his ring had made it obvious that this man no longer had the ring he thought he should. The use of his mana also caused him to have a problem which brought cracks along his person.

"Sou ka... I don't know what happened with that. You'd have to ask Kaa-sama. But..." she didn't go to kiss Charles just yet... it would be bad to try and force mana into him if he didn't want to take it from her. Acceptance even of her more neutral mana would make it work a bit better. Instead she held a hand over his body and the hand he'd tried to produce the ring on, produced a red thread instead. It seemed to be going off into the long distance, but it was a rather vibrant shade of red. "Hm, this is connected to someone, I assume the wife of yours... it's still bright so it's alright. I won't mess with it, but you should try and accept this, so that you won't break apart while we're moving," she explained calmly. She'd been given the thumbs up by the lad, and the young woman with him was causally looking away as if she was trying to respect some form of privacy. This only made Sakura wonder where they'd come from that they had such strange notions about sharing mana. Still she was leaned over him, fully willing to press their lips together and share it with him. But she wouldn't force it upon him... no she'd leave just a bit of space and let him take it for himself... that seemed like a much better way to let this lad live. Of course, if he did this she'd sink in freely giving but that was simply her nature.

[Bloodedge]

Food was what Anais wanted from this region. Pointless! They could get food anywhere, anytime even. Real, authentic mainland clothes were nearly impossible to locate in Astolfo's experience. "Blah! You don't want food! You want a qipao!" he suggested to Anais, both of his brows wiggling wildly and suggestively. More importantly, there was a kiss about to happen between Charlemagne and this random girl. Kisses led to deeper kisses, and deeper kisses led to... exactly the sort of scandal Astolfo lived for!

Alas, it was not to be just yet. Sakura decided she wouldn't be pressing the issue while Charlemagne resisted. How very boring. Regarding his marriage or lack thereof though, she showed the young man a thread still linked presumably to Angelica. As long as there was something, Charlemagne could rest easy. He'd have to look into the finer details of this situation, but... to do that, he'd have to make it out of the current predicament. Could he do that? Thinking about it, he'd probably never hear the end of it from Angelica if his healthy return was halted by refusing a simple kiss. He still didn't understand why she (and apparently some others) were so casual about these things, but... it was for a purpose, right?

Fine. As long as it was just that, Charlemagne could be accepting of the mana transfer. This Sakura woman wasn't nearly as pushy as the Holy Princess. Perhaps it would have been better if she was, though. Astolfo would agree to that, and so would Charlemagne's body. Why the latter? Well... after that last stunt, even the attempt to lift his head a single centimeter only caused another crack in his person. Moving would not work for him. He managed only a grunt as the back of his head hit the ground.

[Apollymi]

Food was what Anais wanted from the region, and that was what she was planning on getting. Ah, but there was a mention of the qipao. She had one of those when she was back home, obviously a long one, but it would be rather flattering for her current figure. "Hm, I'd probably look pretty good in one of those... wait a minute! Food that tastes like home, no more weird overseas food. Rice, pickled veggies, maybe sushi! There's water here!" she seemed really excited about things in the moment, especially with at least a partial solution to Charles falling apart.

Much to Sakura's understanding the lad seemed to calm down when acknowledging that his tie to whoever it was to was still intact. Sakura wasn't as pushy as Angelica but still she would have pushed the limits a bit more. Charles went to move and she took it as permission and pressed bent down even as his head fell back. "You could have just said you consented... I wouldn't have let you hurt yourself..." she stated, as she went on to press their lips together. It was gentle enough but it would eventually grow in its point. As she aimed to share mana, she'd eventually aim to slip her tongue between his lips and give as much as she possibly could. Her mana was already flowing and it was practically like she was salivating as she aimed to give him a rather deep kiss, for several moments before checking on his physical progress. All the while Anais kept her eyes gently averted, she didn't want to gaze upon something she shouldn't see for everyone else's sake. Just the same Sakura didn't seem to care either way whether they watched or not, she was only trying to help. If he managed something closer to stability they could move on and head towards the place she lived so her mother could figure out what was wrong with this lad.

[Bloodedge]

Strangely, the reserved Anais seemed to be entertaining the idea of a qipao. Astolfo took that information and logged it away for later usage. He'd put her in the most sensual qipao to ever exist in a heartbeat, all to see how things turned out. For some reason, Anais remained more interested in the idea of local cuisine. Astolfo wasn't against this; he was just more interested in the potential fun factor. "You're focusing on the wrong thing! I'm tired of wearing uniforms all the time!" he countered, even as he was currently wearing a skirt ─ one which he'd been wearing during an event he was expected to wear official templar robes to.

Meanwhile, Charlemagne's consent to a mana transfer by kiss was not going as well as expected. He tried to move, but couldn't. Sakura claimed he could have voiced his consent, but that was just as likely to go sour. Luckily, she went on to take matters into her own hands. Soft lips were pressed against his own. Ah, it was all normal and almost platonic... until it wasn't. Charlemagne felt the mana flowing into his body from the moment Sakura's tongue invaded his mouth. It was so very wet, so very... lewd in nature. He hadn't even kissed his wife so sexually when they were having literal sex! The scene overall was so sensual to look at, Astolfo was grabbing onto Anais's head, aiming to turn it forward and peel open her eyes. Everyone should be watching something this hot!

Despite the cracks in his very soul, Charlemagne's eyes widened to their limit. Was it at least repairing him? Well... no. It seemed he was stabilizing for a few moments, but that stabilization became an almost total shattering of his being toward the kiss's end. He couldn't even scream this time. At the very least, there was one positive. The additional influx of mana was making him shatter more. On the other hand, it was giving him a bit more to work with as far as repeatedly breaking himself was concerned. Overall, one could consider it a net positive... sort of.

[Apollymi]

"You never wear your uniform to start with!" this was Anais's comeback. An absolute truth. But soon enough she was dealing with an entirely different problem. While Charles and Sakura kissed to give him more mana, it seemed like he was stabilizing for just a moment as the kiss evolved into something rather invasive. Yes, that was the word Anais would have used for that, but as someone who wasn't even sure what gender of being she'd enjoy, she definitely wasn't going to put a great amount of detail into watching this exchange. But...

Astolfo.

That lad was something else entirely, with almost inhuman logic. He aimed to turn her head and peel open her closing eyes. Now she was watching and her own face was blushing because why was she watching this? Why was he watching this? What happened to privacy and human decency? Ah, it seemed that Charles and Anais could at least agree on the lines of decency for the most part. At the same time, Sakura pulled away having noticed the many changes to Charles physical form and his new breaking. "That isn't right..." she murmured as she pulled her tongue back into her own mouth. She seemed to be tasting a bit of him in that exchange, though she'd given him a decent amount of mana, it seemed to only give his breaking form more to work with, instead of fixing the cracks in his person. "I don't understand... mana should fix this. It has to be a deeper problem..." she stated knowing she couldn't ease this part of his pain. "He tastes like three people, that's a bit odd, considering his reaction to the idea of kissing..." she stated seeming to give it a bit more thought. "Kaa-sama should be able to help. He has enough mana to work with that moving him shouldn't cause him to disappear. Can you use a fire horse to move him?" she asked of Anais. Traumatized though she was and suddenly feeling strangely attracted to the girl in this situation she seemed to gather herself rather quickly. "Uh... it's not a horse, it's a deer. Like a white hart... you know what it doesn't matter. Yes, we can use that, help me get Charlie onto the horse. Shit I mean deer," she said to Astolfo, obviously fully flustered enough for another swear to slip past her lips. At the same time she looked at Sakura who continued observing Charles frame as if confused by his very existence. At the very least a bit of extra help couldn't hurt.

[Bloodedge]

"Eh? Oh, I guess you're right," Astolfo said as if Anais had produced a totally new truth. What would his response be? Of course it only made sense for him to reach down, taking his skirt by the edge with the apparent intention of peeling it up slowly. One hand would suffice, and he was already putting forth the effort of making Anais watch things. Why shouldn't he add one more? "Give me half of yours, and take this half of mine. You want to anyway, right? Right? I feel you not looking away from that hot stuff over there~" he teased.

While Anais was being tormented to some extent, Charlemagne was in a similar... maybe worse situation. Once more, he found his problem was the amount of personal enjoyment he got out of something. For the duration of a kiss, the pain of shattering didn't register to him. It hadn't gone away at all, but it wasn't a problem at the time. Why? Well, maybe that was something to worry about later... or never address it again. Yeah, that was a better idea. Since it didn't work, he'd have to be brought to Sakura's mother. Why she was looking at him the way she was during that mention, he didn't know. Was it that bad? It was probably that bad. She said something about feeling like three people, which there was no reason for unless... Father An had done more than he thought. Maybe that had something to do with why he'd stabbed the Holy Father without even knowing he'd done so. It did all seem to be part of the old man's plan, after all. . .

[Apollymi]

Half. Astolfo wanted half of Anais's uniform. "Absolutely not. Do not lift your skirt sir!" she exclaimed. Of course, she found herself drawing away from this lad by a great deal. This was why they'd all agreed not to get involved with each other's craziness. That being said Astolfo was the type to pull you into his recklessness without thinking much about it. "I haven't even decided yet, stop confusing me~" she said running off. Of course, this was only because she'd been given the reprieve she needed. That reprieve mostly surrounded moving Charles to the back of her white hart and dispelling the barrier. As far as she could tell they were mostly safe in this place and they were about to meet someone else so it was probably for the best not to seem hostile at all.

Sakura for her part in this seemed relatively confused, but would still lead the group along across the large bridge and towards a huge structure. It looked like an oldstyle temple of sorts and the walkway leading it up it was under several torii gates. That being said it was several stories high and seemed to be the centerpiece of this particular place. Munetsuchi it seemed had something of a royal disposition. In fact as they entered doors opened by various means including magical and people simply moving them. Several people they came across seemed to be bowing and moving out of the way as they approached the center most chamber of the palace. A conversation could be heard as they approached. "You don't understand, to learn about a magic from the person who created it... that was something I didn't expect. I understood it, but it had so many extra details involved. Besides I got confirmation of another of my theories~" mentioned the rather feminine voice. By the time they walked in they saw something strange.

A slender woman was sat atop an ornate throne. Her hair was dark enough to be considered black and her eyes were a startling shade of blue. Just the same she wore something that appeared to be wisps of cloth instead of any specific amount of clothing. She had a great deal of skin showing and it was obvious that she wasn't wearing underwear. Just the same Sakura approached as if this was a perfectly normal situation. "Kaa-sama! The falling stars were people... and I can't figure out how to fix one of them!" she explained the situation. "Hoh?"

[Bloodedge]

Anais always managed to be both boring and entertaining at the same time. Her innocence itself was boring, yet the way she reacted to deviance was one of the most entertaining things Astolfo had ever seen. He thought that if he could corrupt her, he'd have a rather good time of it overall. "Boooo~ live a little! Today's the perfect day to decide. Look, even Charles is getting into something new! Besides... I see you watching~" he teased further. If he had to hazard a guess, Astolfo would assume Anais enjoyed watching Sakura's approach to their leader. Nothing else happening could have reddened her face so efficiently. He had a plan now... but now wasn't the time to execute it. Now was the time to move Charlemagne to this unknown girl's mother.

Onward they went, up a long path and into a place of obvious royalty in this area. Past numerous doors closed in different ways, a conversation seemed to be reaching its climax. With that slender woman was a man with extremely long hair, dark primarily with white streaks and a teal undertone. Between his robes, long, claw-like nails and the three specifically placed jewels on his forehead, he looked to have modeled his visage after a phoenix. The truth was even more pointed than that. While that woman stretched across her throne, he stretched across her body. Those long nails were tracing her jawline, his face mere centimeters from her own. It looked like something could start at any given moment. "We don't understand. Our magic is innate. We suppose that one may be one of the origins we hail from. But what theory?" Just as the man spoke, Sakura and her crew of unknowns arrived. The girl immediately spewed two facts: that some falling stars were people, and that she couldn't find a way to fix one? Ridiculous. "Sakura. We've told you, there is nothing you cannot do. Use everything at your disposal."

[Apollymi]

"I wasn't looking until you forced my head that way! And I live plenty, shut up!" that was Anais final retort. She lived plenty, she was just starting to understand things herself, she didn't need Astolfo confusing her. Besides all that, she was certain there was a base amount of confusion applied to everything happening right now. She might not have been physically falling apart but she could have understood it from an emotional standpoint given the rollercoaster that Charles had already been through this day. Though she'd heard from tales of the women's circle that men were dogs most of the time, she imagined Charles being a pretty honest individual and she'd even watched him try and resist life-saving measures for the sake of propriety. She didn't imagine this as an easy going new experience for the man.

While she thought this over they were lead to an obvious palace. Within there was a woman stretched out atop a throne which was more like a raised dais. And strangely atop her was a man who seemed rather like a peacock and a phoenix had a baby and it was a person. They seemed like they were mere seconds away from starting exactly the sort of act which should not be witnessed and then they suddenly had visitors. "Oh well it's about a..." she paused, Sakura seemed rather distressed and she turned her head gently towards their visitors. Sakura for her part, heard the words of the man and would address him with similar respect that she did of the woman she called her mother. "Chichi-ue, I know but this is different," at the same time, the woman sat up a bit straighter and looked at the man known as Charles cracking apart and gained light in her eyes as if she was excited. "Iie, I think this is something new for Sakura and me too! Technically it would only be a theory on what to do about it. After all, his core looks like an egg that was dropped and had all of its insides fall out." she claimed looking over, seemingly excited just by the appearance of this lad. Just then she began wiggling from under her husband because obviously this situation was fascinating. At the same time Anais bowed. "Sorry for the interruption," Anais managed.

[Bloodedge]

"Ehhh~? It's not like I made your eyes stay in the same direction! You could have still looked away, but you didn't~♥" The more Anais spoke, the more Astolfo became sure his train of thought was a good one. Anais would be in for quite the hefty surprise at some point. When? Even Astolfo didn't know the answer, and it was his plan! They'd all be surprised soon enough~

Speaking of surprises, a 'normal' conversation between spouses was fated to encounter a sudden interruption. Sakura had both parties' attention from the onset of her arrival, at least. Oh Well. This little invasion wouldn't be enough to stop the male's advances... until Miwa, the black-haired goddess herself, decided to shift and focus her attention. "Hmph. Different, it is not. You need not be so reserved. We don't think you've exhausted all options with this... boy," the male said. He'd been watching the group through the corner of his eye, moving to erect his posture only when forced to do so by the woman's movement. He didn't seem too pleased about the shift, but alas... she seemed excited about that broken lad's conundrum. He was not, but this interruption could only last so long.

Well, that wasn't true. They'd be interrupted again by a tall, blonde male with long ears and a black ensemble covered in green belts. His hands were clasped behind his back, his posture flawless and his expression curious. "Oya? Has our little petal been making friends? I expected to interrupt a different sort of excitement when I arrived," he said, looking toward the male at the throne. "It's a bit early for Qin, isn't it? Ara... I suppose there are things of greater importance here. What's this I hear about a core?"

[Apollymi]

Astolfo was right. After catching a glance she couldn't really look away. Still she had no intention of saying anything about that. She already had enough on her plate to deal with, she didn't want to add anything else to her potential problem. No, she had too much to deal with, and now they were in front of a king and queen maybe and talking about the issues of Charles. She didn't like the way that sounded.

According to the man addressed as honorably as one could address their father, Sakura was being reserved and hadn't exhausted all options she was capable of. This was true to an extent, she was capable of providing the lad more mana, since his was leaking out and breaking his body but he didn't seem to want that. "I did give him some mana, but when I did... he fractured more. The quality of his being didn't negatively react to me, and he wasn't rejecting me. He tastes of a trio of mana sources, his own... a goddess and a god... but he also can't talk right now. Everything he tries seems to break his body more, but I feel like he wouldn't merely die if he broke apart," Sakura expressed her understanding of the situation based solely on her observations of his mana and what she got out of him a moment ago. First the black haired goddess looked at the bowed girl who'd offered an apology. "Aren't you an uncommonly polite child. No matter, if you happened to witness the majesty of a goddess you should watch and learn something... but I am more interested in finding out what happened here..." she said. "Goddess??" there was abject confusion on the fact of Anais. But it would be put aside for a while.

And then there was a new entry into the room, a tall elf who was quite frankly a gorgeous man. It seemed that he was known by all in the room, and acting rather familiar, there were even pet names. "Tou-chan, these are the stars that fell from the sky a bit ago... Kaa-sama was saying his core his broken. I was trying to help, but the problem became complex," she said clearly. All the while Anais was staring at this new man and her confusion was only growing in several directions and none of them were good. Miwa would begin speaking again, as she casually walked circles around Charles body. "We all know how he is, I was just going to shift the schedule around a bit... but this is strange. This lad's core is broken so far that he barely has anything of himself left. I am actually surprised... and you were right Saku-chan~" she said giving an approving look to her daughter. "If he shatters and can't bring himself back together, he won't die, he'll cease to exist. Death would be much more pleasant, she's a very nice girl," she explained. "But I should be able to..." she stared at the lad and began writing a magical formula. One which she'd use to create a form of status around Charles. It would stop the flow of his mana, stop the movements of his individual pieces and make it so he'd be capable of physical movements but not that which required the use of his magic circuits or anything related to his core. Basically it'd make him live like a broken human. He'd probably still experience something of an emptiness in his chest, but he should at least be capable of communication. "Can you talk now? Tell me how this happened..." Miwa said seeming to leave no options.

[Bloodedge]

Sakura went on to explain the situation to her parents. She'd done what she could, but to no avail. Both members of Charlemagne's group could attest to that after seeing it first-hand. Upon hearing her explanation though, the male of that pair seemed slightly displeased. She was so far beyond this nonsense; she could have at least tried a few other options. Ah, but there was more. That boy she spoke of had the feel of three individuals, two of whom were divine. That was interesting. "A goddess, a god, and a pitiful human boy? That is an unusual combination," he said while floating from the throne toward Sakura and the others. At this point, he was simply following Miwa to the group's location... albeit with a special interest in Sakura's decisions. "Now tell us what made you decide to save a mutt like that."

Of course, even five people wasn't enough for a meeting in this place. Another male whom Sakura addressed as her father appeared, much to the chagrin of the one called Qin. "Ailen. You will address us properly," the dark-haired male demanded. Ah, but the other man seemed to be paying him no mind. From the moment he arrived, most of his attention was solely for Sakura. He listened intently as she spoke of stars that were in fact people ─ said people being the ones standing with them now. Well... two of three were standing, at least. The other one apparently had a broken core, according to Miwa. Immediately, the man called Ailen fell into deep, deep thought. Those who knew him could surely expect many words to fall from his mouth as a result. "A broken core? Well I do wonder how he's even with us. Hmm. You neither confirmed nor denied friendship, though. Why? Perhaps you're not sure. Perhaps the truth is more than that. Is he your lover? No, he seems a bit immature for that. Besides, that girl has the eyes of someone who's recently taken an experimental love potion. Is it her? Are they all your lovers? You know, I've been waiting for the day this would come. I'm curious to know a few things about some new mixtures, so if they would be willing to try─... no, that is in bad taste. That boy is one wrong movement away from being erased; you should deal with that first. Afterwards, though... no. Still in bad taste. I'll have to gather some information before any of that is worth entertaining."

Regardless of a rather long tirade from Ailen, Miwa went about trying something on the broken lad Charlemagne. He didn't know what was happening, but some magical writing created a veil around his person. It sank in, and though it didn't seem to be merging with him or anything, he could easily feel its effects. Rather... he stopped feeling the pain of exploding 100% of the time. "I..." Charlemagne stammered. A bit of movement could be managed, it seemed. He hazarded standing up for the first time since the fall. It took several moments to do so, even causing an ethereal fracture in his leg for a moment, but lo... he was up. "Augh! That's still unpleasant! But... a thousand times better. Thanks, all of you," he said. He had no shortage of gratitude toward Miwa, Sakura, Anais and even Astolfo. He'd have even bowed to the group if he thought it wouldn't snap him somewhere else. Regardless, an explanation was requested. "I... was at my wedding, in the Holy Templar Order's headquarters. I'd just been coronated as Holy Emperor when... ngh! I somehow stabbed the Holy Father himself. Nobody imagined that. I didn't do it, but my body did somehow. He... he grabbed my arm; that's when I felt drained in some way. It didn't become all that breaking until after we fell and landed here. I can't remember much else. Honestly, I'm kind of stuck on the whole 'he's supposed to be un-existing' thing. By the way, uh... can we not? I can still hear you guys."

[Apollymi]

Sakura was now receiving the third degree from her parents, and Anais sympathized. She was once used to having her own decisions questioned in such a way, so she had a strong feeling of connection to Sakura. The first man addressed as father by Sakura would have Miwa answer him first but only to nudge him into a more open way of thinking. "Very unusual, but pitiful is only his present state, Qin-sa. Humans are beings of infinite potential with no true leaning in the three original directions. He could be anything, for all we know he could be quite impressive when he is whole," Miwa stated. Sakura took the time of her mother talking to clear her thoughts, and then she answered. "I was just observing some interesting people around the shops," she said as her code for eavesdropping on people who were quite in love with each other. "During it, I gained an interest in what had fallen from the sky and I became curious enough to investigate. After stumbling upon them... I felt that they both loved him and I knew his state was one which would lead to no simple death, so I decided to help. But... I couldn't... it's still interesting to me. Besides, the thread that connects him to the goddess is as strong like the one that connects you to Kaa-sama... so I want to see what is at the other end," she clarified.

At the same time the recently identified Ailen was questioning in the scientific manner. This was why he was a member of this harem, though his tangent was quite odd it was also normal. "I do not know if I count as a friend," was Sakura's honest answer to her next father's ramblings. "She is quite confused, she does not know yet how her interests align, but she likes you quite a bit..." she said to her father while gesturing loosely at Anais. Then she pointed to Astolfo and considered him for a moment. "He likes most people and most people like him, but I feel like that is also complex," she said. "And the one who is shattering is principled enough that he thought to turn down even a simple mana transfer because he was married, but I still don't understand what that has to do with anything," she said of Charles.

All the words traveling around the room entered Miwa's mind. She was taking mental notes for later. But she did indeed manage to stop Charles constant breaking state, temporary though the fix was. The lad's own tale was something rather interesting. He had been getting married, crowned as Holy Emperor, then been framed for stabbing someone and had fallen during the commotion. He'd also had his core broken and mostly stolen at the same time. Such a thing was pretty interesting from both the prospective of drama and magic. He also claimed he didn't want to hear them discussing his lack of future existence. To that bit Miwa had only one thing to say. "Not telling you will not change it. It would be wise to remember that your existence and not your life is at state while we discuss ways in which to potentially fix you..." she explained just as clearly as Sakura spoke. Ah, well oddities had to come from somewhere, but just as easily as she said that her mind moved on and she began walking around him again. "Still, it sounds like you had contact with someone who wanted to use your human potential for something..." she was talking aloud, bouncing ideas off her two present husbands. "So, we have established a title, but you fell from above so that alone isn't enough. Ah, it could have been just to steal your wife, but it would have been easier to do that if they hadn't let you get married. So no... the person in question wanted you for something, but what? What about you was special enough to make your existence something worth erasing through absorption at that. What was your identity needed for?" as she pondered this question she remembered something else and turned to face Anais.

"Yes, I am a goddess that is the truth of my existence, if you have questions you may ask... I won't have the uneducated wandering around in my empire," she said, though the words themselves weren't exactly soft, Anais still felt like she was just talking to a tough teacher back home. "Well, it's just that we were taught that there is only one god. God who did all the things, and that any other gods are false, or evil or demons," she explained, still confusion on her visage. "Still, you don't seem to be any of those things, so now I just have questions..." she expressed she couldn't make heads or tails of this day. "But... Charlie is way more important than my curiosities," she said while bowing. She knew it wasn't possible for her to fix Charles himself so she could set aside all the breaking of her mind until there was a real solution to his issue.

[Bloodedge]

"Your words change nothing," said the man called Qin to the goddess. "He was left in this state, and could do nothing about it despite being so much. We question why Sakura would spare more than a passing glance at such mediocrity," he continued. Meanwhile, Ailen's attention was being divided between Sakura's speech and that of Qin. He was one who delved deeper into things considered mundane by the other male, whether he personally cared or not. Sakura could not call herself the boy's friend. The girl was confused, but had an interest in Ailen himself. The boy in a skirt was fond of all, and all were fond of him. The broken one, however, held what he interpreted to be human values that were beaten into the species ages ago. "Still no friends. One day. To meet another goddess would be good for you, though. Hmm. Maybe the five of you could blossom into something incredible together. That's a rather interesting dynamic. The foolish yet resolute, the confused yet longing, the free-spirited, a presumably dominating force, and you to fill all necessary niches and act as adhesive to the group. Though one being confused is not at all conducive to the balance of manas. If it's me she's taken an interest in, I do have an elixir that could alter my own mana to allow an experiment for better understanding. . ."

Ailen was rambling again, eventually mumbling words only he could make out. He'd begun pacing to and fro, occasionally stopping by one of the others to look at them directly. "Hmm. Perhaps─" he said upon reaching Anais and Astolfo. More incoherent mumbles continued as he took in their visages very closely, inspecting them as a unit and as individuals.

All the while, Charlemagne was addressing and being addressed by Miwa directly. She was quite blunt about the way she approached things, much to his dismay. "Yeah sure, knowing is good and all that. But... we already know about the not existing thing! Less of the me exploding, more of the fixing please!" he blurted out. Miwa continued her musings. There was plenty of information to sort through. The idea of stealing his wife was raised, which would make sense of his nonexistent magical wedding band presently. "Gross. He's her dad," Charlemagne commented in the midst of Miwa's speech. What could Father An have wanted him for? Rather, why would he want his identity? That was a proper question. Charlemagne didn't think himself special in any way. He wasn't worth an identity theft, especially by the person who gave him that identity. Actually... "Wait. He did say something about... I dunno, a necessary sacrifice? I'm not sure about all the identity stuff; I'm just a guy. He's the one who set up the wedding, and the one who gave me the title and everything that came with it. Why would it be an identity theft thing?"

In addition to all the other hullabaloo, Anais had her earlier concern addressed by the goddess. In response, she spoke of what she was taught about divinities... or rather, the 'singular' divinity being preached about. Astolfo, relaxed as ever, saw the time fit for a random truth. "That's what they were teaching? Geez, I'm glad I never paid attention! There were loads of gods back in the day. I think I met a couple when I was... uh... traveling! Gods get into some crazy stuff!"

[Apollymi]

The apparent question on the table for Sakura despite her mother's words to one of her fathers, was why she chose to look longer. "Hm, I don't know, sentimentality, curiosity... probably curiosity," she seemed somewhat more certain. It was interesting, seeing someone with two people around them who seemed to care so much about his well-being while they weren't physically invested in each other. The ramblings of her second father were heard by Sakura and made the lass' brows furrow. At the same time, Anais heard those words as well and her face reddened again. "It was just a passing thought. I hadn't seen so many pretty men before... I mean I know a couple of good looking ones but not many who count as pretty. Think nothing of it!" she said with her head bowed. Miwa was quite curious about how these children were being taught to deal with anything when they were so prone to embarrassment, but no matter. That would be something they grew out of, or eventually considered a plus by whoever they ended up matched with.

Moving on it seemed Charles was rather quickly gaining enough of himself that he didn't want to consider his non-existence. "Saku-chan seems interested enough, I wouldn't let her lose something before she is certain of it..." she clarified her reason for helping in this moment. "Well aside from the fact that I find it interesting and feel the need to fix the gaps in all of your educations..." Miwa mentioned. Her other statements of conjecture were responded to by Charles directly one of them being about the theft of his wife, in which moment he mentioned that the girl was child to the man who'd stolen his identity. "Hm, I initially thought that you may have been overreacting, but a father-daughter relationship isn't something that just works. I mean it has before, but that was a very specific case, and would in the case of a goddess involve said goddess accepting or even initiating such a relationship of her own accord. It would require an individual to be truly deranged..." she stated. "Brother and Sister, Uncle and Niece, Aunt and Nephew... these are fine... I suppose same gender relationships also work but not directly up to Father and Daughter. Mother/Child exchange is technically always possible, but most grow out of the need of such a thing..." she explained in the moment as she continued thinking about it. Something about this situation didn't add up though.

Miwa assumed a Creator was responsible for this problem of Charles. It wasn't completely unheard of for gods to decide human lives needed to be sacrificed but it was odd the amount that went into this. The planning of it, made it seem almost necessary. "You ask good questions. Identity theft was my first thought because, I think the person who stole your identity is an old male Creator. And taking an identity in this sort of way could simply be a means of gaining access to something he couldn't naturally use. For example, there is a holy sword which won't allow itself to be lifted by the unworthy, but if you stole the identity of someone worthy, you could use it..." she said. "Considering how little of you is left, I don't think he intended to do the nice thing and steal just your core and give you your wife as a prize. No, it was likely his intention to absorb all of you and leave nothing of your original self. Taking everything he'd bestowed on you unto himself... including his daughter who'd already accepted you so wouldn't know to reject him?" her last thought was one way it could have gone. But Charles had said everything about him was given by this man. "Uh...huh, so what did you get on your coronation, besides your wife?" she asked, specifically concerned with magical items.

At the same time Anais was being directly observed by this elf man and hearing the words spoken by Astolfo. "Wait, you knew about the other gods? I really don't get it... why bother telling everyone there is only one god if people know about new ones. Our oaths swear we will uphold that information as truth, if it is not the truth we're spreading lies and that's wrong!" she stated clearly. Miwa turned to face this girl in the moment and her head tilted. "It's all connected isn't it? It seems like it is..."

[Bloodedge]

Curiosity. Sakura blamed curiosity. He did believe that answer, though that belief came with some nuances. He believed that she thought it was more accurate than saying sentimentality. Perhaps another layer of truth would come of it, or perhaps not. "If you insist," was all he said. There were enough things in question at present. That girl with antlers, for example, was a point of curiosity for Ailen ─ as was the skirt-wearing lad to a slightly lesser extent. Even as the former tried redirecting, she only created more confusion. "Pretty men? But you are of the forest. Hmm. Your standards must be quite high. I wonder the criteria for attractiveness. Are we seeing something purely physical, or does this one have the higher sense to be attracted to mana as well? This has some merit. My concoctions would be better for clarifying things," he said, much to Astolfo's satisfaction. "Oooh, I know! There are plenty of ways to find the answer to... whatever you're talking about~" said the lad who proceeded to nudge Anais from behind, seeming to plan on pushing her toward the taller male.

Charlemagne continued to discuss the goings-on with Miwa. She was very quick on the uptake and moving forward from everything spoken with rather solid thoughts. A few explanations were coming as well, such as the way intrafamilial relationships functioned in this world. He did suppose with everything being about mana instead of genetics in this world, there were bound to be some caveats that allowed something his world considered taboo. Considering the things he learned about mana earlier, he could even understand how a mother/child exchange occurred, based on the act of breastfeeding in infancy. "That... all sounds weird to me, but alright," he conceded.

Apparently, his questions were good ones. How strange; he fully expected to be called an idiot for not understanding the logic of divine beings in this world. She used a word he wasn't familiar with in the given context. Creator, she called the man who stole part of him. "Creator? Is that like a primordial or something?" he wondered. That holy sword Miwa spoke of was one he knew well, belonging to the one he could still accurately call his sovereign. He had no such thing, though. In fact, he hardly owned a single thing before today. Thinking ahead however, Miwa wondered what he received during the coronation ─ apart from his wife. "Uh, well... what was it? I got this sword, the Holy Grail of Aincrad, and uh... the crown, I guess," he listed.

Meanwhile, Astolfo was shoving away at Anais from behind, using his own backside to do so. Her ignorance of the gods was no surprise, though the reason was odd. Oh well! "Of course I knew! I knew some of them really well! Whatever though. I figured everybody knew the 'one god' thing was stupid. What were we doing any of it for anyway? Wait... I don't care; never mind!"

[Apollymi]

Sakura was let off the hook by her father after explaining this was a matter of her curiosity. Though he seemed to only take it at face value in the moment. Anais on the other hand was not let off the hook at all. Ailen seemed content to question her further about the nature of her interest in pretty men. His words and references were strange enough and she took them potentially in the way they weren't meant. "I mean... I was born in the forest but I was an orphan, I was found and raised by the church. I don't think my standards are exceedingly high. I think certain people are attractive, but this is very different..." she said accidently answering this man's questions. "Wait a minute, no. We're not doing this..." she murmured fighting against Astolfo pushing against her. He was ever the instigator and she didn't sign up for this. What was more she began poking the pink haired lad to keep him from doing too much.

At the same time, Charles was having his education expanded upon, and he seemed to take the information pretty well, even if it was rather foreign in nature. "I suppose it would sound strange to humans. Since they don't actively create their offspring, having them with people too closely related to them, could cause problems, especially if they don't have a lot of mana to work with," she said seeming to have some understanding of the slight taboo nature of the relationships even if she didn't see them herself as such. Moving on from this point her use of the term Creator made Charles ask her another question, her eyes lit up at his curiosity. She was staring to like this boy, "Another good question. Primordial would make this entity sound more important than they are. But technically the term isn't wrong as a descrption. Creator is a term from a previous time that refers to the earliest point in this world's existence. A Creator was one of three types of soul which held great power in the previous world. The official triumvirate, was Gods of Creation who could create at their will. Gods of Destruction, who could destroy at their will... and Great Sprits who embodied chaos and concepts, and could do whatever they wished within the bounds of their capabilities or concepts. For the sake of avoiding extra questions, the human equivalent sat in the middle of this triangle and they were called Heroes. They grew into their leanings and didn't have natural ones..." she said seeming to share the information she'd learned recently with a huge grin on her face. "I just met one of those old Destroyers the other day. It was exciting information~" she proclaimed seemingly happy.

Moving right along, Charles had to answer a question, what he'd received and when thinking about it he listed the items he'd been given and one of them stuck out. It would be to this that Miwa had but a simple thing to say. "Oh? And what were you told about Holy Grails to make you think one was given to you?" she asked of the lad. That was the sticking point. It wasn't reasonable at all... she knew a lot about grails, and she knew that they were complex magical items. Of course, the sadness of Anais wasn't missing at all, and though Astolfo shared words they didn't help her reconcile what she'd been doing. "Of course I didn't know, I was raised by the Chruch. I've never even met another me type of person at all... and apparently I've been lying and convincing people to join our cause earnestly and it's a lie! There are bigger questions here, because if the good stuff is lie, what bad stuff are they lying about?" she asked directly. Even though she was saddened and outraged, Miwa had a bit to say. "That is also a good question, skepticism in his early stages feels a bit like anger, but keep at it... you'll get to the truth."

[Bloodedge]

"An orphan in the forest? That's the most nonsensical thing I've heard in weeks. We of the forest care for our own. All children are our children. I would surmise that you were just... the only one left," Ailen said. He knew very few negative things happened in Druid homelands, except... when others with ill intent made their way in. Perhaps this girl was the remnant of a more recent annihilation attempt? No. Based on the other events surrounding this group, one could assume her existence as an orphan was somehow connected to everything else. Time would tell, as always. . .

First however, there was Astolfo and his pushiness. He'd begun bumping Anais from behind, only to receive a series of pokes. Surely Anais thought that would deter him. Instead, the result would be just the opposite. "Eh?! Are you trying to stop me? Astolfooooo... thrust!" The time had come for his super-secret ultimate attack. Anais tried to halt his actions, but what she'd acquire instead was a shift in purpose. He'd been bumping her with his own backside previously. In response to her poking assault, Astolfo turned on his heel to bump her with his pelvis instead.

Meanwhile, it seemed Charlemagne had managed yet another reasonable question. In his own mind, there were no such things falling from his mouth. Miwa seemed highly intelligent, though, so her affirmation certainly counted for something. She explained to him what Creators were, and furthermore what the original soul types identified as. Based on Angelica and others he knew from the distant past, Charlemagne could assume Gods of Creation were more likened to the Gods of Celestia. Great Spirits were a total mystery that he couldn't imagine at all, but Gods of Destruction... sounded familiar. "That sounds... like demons," he mumbled. The human equivalent she spoke of was also very familiar. Even in the modern era, there were Heroes. Charlemagne assumed they were somehow different, given Miwa's specification, but perhaps they were connected somehow? Well, no matter. The more important thing at present, according to Miwa herself, was apparently the Holy Grail he'd been given. What was he told about it to make him think it was given? "Well uh... not a lot, honestly. The one I got was the main Holy Grail of Aincrad. There are a bunch of them, but only mine and one other were big and ornate. The other one was Jeanne d'Arc's before... oh, right." An interruption in Charlemagne's speech occurred suddenly when he recalled one important thing. The other two needed to know about that as soon as possible, but... not just yet. "Anyway, the one I got was considered the main one of Aincrad. It had to be either the Father's, or... Angelica's, by that logic ─ unless I'm missing something? Your question makes me think I'm missing a lot."

[Apollymi]

The idea that Anais was the only child left was something that hit her ears wrong. Oh... she didn't remember much about her childhood. It'd been assumed she was traumatized by being alone in the forest until she came to Aincrad. In fact, her general quiet nature and disdain for bright lights had led her to wandering around with candles. It'd taken quite a while for her to grow into certain things, including speaking with people in general. "I was alone when I was found... I was brought to Aincrad's orphanage with a bunch of other kids close to my age..." she said thinking about it. Ah, but she'd been casually fending off Astolfo, her guard was down and she had been poking away, but the Astolfo thrust wasn't something she was prepared for... and she went stumbling forward as a result of his nonsense. All the while Sakura was watching, was this a friendly interaction? Was this the kind of closeness friends had?

Her questions would go unasked as Charles and her mother continued conversing to get to the bottom of his missing self and his problems. His mention of 'Destroyers' sounding like demons made a smile come to the goddess' face. "Very good. Demon is how this world recognizes the former Gods of Destruction and their offspring... some of them even seem to prefer it as a term. The one I met was not evil as the term demon seems to imply in this world. He simply enjoys his work," she mused moving right along. She'd posed a question to Charles and in return she was given information. He wasn't told much, but that he got the main one. That there were two ornate grails in Aincrad and one belonged to Jeanne d'Arc. He also said something else, which caused a hang-up in the thought processes of Miwa. "Excuse me? Did you say a bunch... did you say someone has collected a bunch of Holy Grails?!" she seemed for the first time to show something besides her general interested demeanor. No... that wasn't right. That was wrong so wrong. Words were spoken many of them and at least one wrong thing was making more sense. "The Father's? Did he call himself that... did he use that term?" she asked afterwards. Well her mind was jumping around quite a bit and she was already becoming more sure of a certain thing. "You are missing quite a lot, but I doubt it is your fault... well unless you willfully chose ignorance. Though it is quite clear the lot of you are also being deceived on multiple levels about a lot of things..." she said carefully. There were many problems, many holes in her knowledge base, and several that would need filling. "My thought processes might be hard for you to follow, you should continue asking questions that I might clarify what I think. And Ai-chan... the forest girl will need comforting. Solo-kun is always absent when he could be used for exposition," she said seeming to understand that she was going to say something disturbing in the near future.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen had no concern to offer for the strange interaction between Anais and Astolfo. To him, it was just a thing that was happening; it neither aided nor impeded his musings. "Hmm. Alone, you say," he repeated. For one of her ilk to be alone in childhood, at least without having a very specific reason, nothing normal could have been the case. Weirder still was the mention of her being gathered along with other children in her age group. That didn't really happen unless a specific age-range was being targeted for something. The higher-ups of Munetsuchi all knew one thing, and it would come to light soon enough. Ailen noted the conversation about Holy Grails between Miwa and Charlemagne, mentally linking their discussion with his own. The only thing to halt his process was Anais being bumped to the point of stumbling, which happened to be in his direction. It took nothing to reach out and prevent the girl from falling by catching her, and that... was exactly what Astolfo had planned ─ the pelvic thrust into her backside being a lovely bonus on his part. Whatever the case, Ailen continued talking even as he caught the young lass. "And how old were you when this occurred?"

Gods of Destruction were indeed the creatures now called Demons. Some even wore the new moniker as a badge, strangely enough. Stranger still, was the fact that not all of demon kind were evil. Well... maybe that wasn't so odd after all. There was the hidden truth of Olivier and her demonic powers, which never registered as evil to Charlemagne. Father An perpetuating another false truth couldn't even be a real surprise at this point.

Speaking of the Father, Miwa questioned the specifics of his title. Charlemagne was taken aback briefly, wondering how the title wasn't natural. "Well, yeah. He's called the Holy Father. He called everyone children and all that jazz, but I doubt I'm the only one who figured that was normal papal behavior─" he stated. Ah, but there was another thing Miwa took special issue with. She had already brought into question his mention of Holy Grails. "Oh, and yeah. There are dozens of grails in Aincrad. Groups are sent out to collect a new grail almost every decade. For the longest time, they've been spread across churches and stuff. So... if I'm supposed to be asking questions, I guess the first would be... the thing you skipped over. You said I thought one was given to me, so... it wasn't? If that's the case, what are you saying happened instead?"

[Apollymi]

Alone. Yes, Anais had a memory of being quite alone, and quite small in the forest where she was happened upon by Knight of the Holy Templar Order. That was the truth of the matter, though, she couldn't say her memory of this time period in her life was particularly clear. "Yes, alone... I don't know how long I had been alone..." she stated honestly. Of course, remembering such things would be opening a strange door and she didn't have time for that. In the present moment, she was busy warding off Astolfo and in the process nearly falling on her own face. Much to her chagrin, instead of just falling she was caught midfall by the very attractive father, of their most recent acquaintance. "Ah... gommenasai," she mumbled quickly, her face practically aflame for several reasons not the least of which was the random sensation of Astolfo's manhood against her backside. Oops, being in a Japanese place was bringing out her initial understanding of language. At the same time, she was being asked how old she was when she was brought together with the group she'd known in the orphanage. She had to give it a bit of thought, it was quite a while ago for her life, "Um... six or seven? I don't have a lot of memories from that time... it was a long time ago after all," she said still not quite completely caught up to the situation at hand.

Perhaps Charles was counting his chickens a bit early on his lack of surprise. He stated that he thought it normal for 'Father An' to refer to himself in such a way and Miwa simply shook her head. "The importance of words and titles in this world is far too high for that to be coincidental. In places where beings like me are worshipped those who commune with us, are called 'elders' , 'chosen', 'vestal virgins', 'sacred prostitutes', 'oracles', 'prophets', 'priests' and 'priestesses'," she started her explanation. "Father in this world refers to 'The Father of the Anunnaki, the Father of the Gods, Anu. There is power in such a title, to spread it is to spread his influence," she said to be perfectly clear. "Which puts us one step closer to an answer," she finished up, Keeping a bit to herself just for now. She was already about to ruin one life, ruining another in the same breath was probably not a good thing.

After that brief explanation a set of dual questions left the mouth of this lad. Both of them were very good. If this situation was less grotesque she definitely would have been tickled pink by this lad's very existence. Actually, she could be that and disgusted by what she'd figured out so far at the same time. Yes, she'd be both. "Aren't those very good questions to ask," she said knowing he could work his way through it with a bit of guidance. So guidance by way of information is what she would provide. "No the Grail you have, wasn't given to you. Grails cannot be given, they must be earned due to their nature. If a 'Holy Grail' belongs to you, you earned it through merit and there is no other way, whether that merit was combat in a Holy Grail War, beating the holder of a Holy Grail or completing some other type of thing that the grail would have spawned around, it is yours. If your 'Holy Father' is the god, that was the little g sort in case you were wondering, I think he is, he is incapable of having his own grail and of fully utilizing any one he gets his hands on. Gods who were gods near the beginning of this world, are incapable of using the full power of grails. They cannot enter the white room nor speak to the Nexus. The Holy Grail won't even spawn near me. What is more disturbing is the idea that he has been collecting them for any amount of time because of what 'Holy Grails' are in truth," she stated unsure of if she should continue speaking past this point.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen doubted the girl had been alone for a very long time. A pilgrimage of some sort would have left her in such a way, but he couldn't imagine her still being within the forest. Not hearing of anyone coming to her defense when she was approached by strangers was the most disturbing thing. Even the more pompous druidic sects among elfkind were more caring than that. The actions of Astolfo were interestingly helpful, since it placed Anais in direct contact with Ailen. He held the girl against his torso with no regard to her flustered apology. Living with Miwa in the palace of Munetsuchi, one naturally acquired a certain knack for feeling mana through contact. Anais was very clothed, so with his arms hooked around her, there weren't many options. Ah, but one hand could rise up to rub one of the deerlike ears poking through her hood. It was a gentle caress that allowed his own mana to trickle just slightly into the flesh, as if to allow touching the soul within. "Six or seven, you say. Hmm. Traces of high nobility. A gentle soul with a thousand possibilities and the purity of Aegiess. Such an impossible combination. The few times such a thing has shown itself, it has done so in response to a need, but to be born with it is nigh impossible. I understand. Such beauty is sure to be coveted by all who see what the naked eye cannot. It is enamoring," he rambled.

While this exchange was going on, Charlemagne was mentally preparing to hear more disturbing news for the day. The more Miwa spoke, the more ominous the conversation became. Sadly, she didn't seem the type to just blurt out the facts... though that was probably for the best. Too much heavy information at once definitely wouldn't be good for the brain at this point. She listed the normal forms of address for those who were worshipped as she was across the world. Father was called something that acknowledged one very specific individual: The Father of the Gods, Anu. Charlemagne's eyes widened. There was such an obvious thing, a simple puzzle he'd never even dreamed of connecting the pieces to. "Father... Ancelin," he muttered. Ancelin was the man's full name. Those who followed the Holy Father addressed him as Father An in an endearing fashion, but the whole of his name was French... meaning Little God. Thinking about it now, it was more than a little on the nose.

Moving on to the importance of his Holy Grail, Miwa refuted the idea that it was given to him. Rather, she explained that a Holy Grail couldn't have been given to him. In terms of earning something like the grail, he wasn't sure how it could have happened. "But I didn't do anything. The only accolade I've got under my belt was... the... Labyrinth..." He started hesitating toward the end, wondering if things could have really been that dark. Could this entire ordeal have been organized since so long ago? There was the rumored Grail of the Labyrinth, which could have been the very same one. If that were the case, the entire Labyrinth served the additional purpose of being a proving grounds for... Father An's sacrifices! "Merde!" Charlemagne whispered. "So you're telling me I was set up to be a sacrifice centuries ago. Alright. What's the next disturbing surprise then? What makes collecting grails so weird, and why would he get so many if he can't use them?"

[Apollymi]

Anais had been in a very compromised position when she was younger. And now, she was in one of a different sort. The man before her had indeed caught her as she would have fallen and her muttered apology and flushed face had done nothing to get him to let go of her. Most people wouldn't have remained touching her in such a way, but everyone in this particular palace seemed to have less boundaries than normal people. Right now, there was a certain touch of her ear which was nothing too great but very odd. Had someone ever actually touched her like this? Did she like it? Well, the answers on both accounts was yes, she found that touch comforting and relaxed in this man's arms as he prodded her being with his mana. He was speaking too, saying things which counted as making sense in her own mind. "Aegiess? I've heard that word but I don't know what it means," she said softly.

At the same time, Charles was coming to some dark conclusions. These were the sorts of conclusions which had to be reached, but couldn't just be given. If one gave someone information they weren't ready to process, it would end only in disbelief. If they came to the conclusion on their own with the pieces that they'd come across on their own, they gained wisdom. That was what Miwa strived for and that made sense given her own divine origins. Moving on a Labyrinth was mentioned, and Charles had apparently completed it. His conclusions were dark as ever but all roads were leading to this singular conclusion. Still he asked more questions at the end of his conclusions, a likable trait indeed. "To be technical any who completed that trial could have claimed the grail, and probably should have," she said. "There are a few disturbing surprises yet, but since you narrowed it down to those concerning the grail directly..." she stated seeming to think of the best way to phrase the information.

"Holy Grails, at their base level, are wish granting artifacts. They are spawned by the Nexus in the world in a form of infinite potential... that is to say, they are spawned into the world as children. It would be more accurate to call them the Children of the Nexus," she clarified. "They grow to maturity expend their natural energy to grant the wish of their holders, they change the world with all they are, in the form of a chalice. They can then be reborn through their holder, who would become their parent," she explained the truth of this situation. "But if only two of the ones present are ornate, it means that they did not grow to their maturity. But you wouldn't be able to tell completely what child would be a Child of the Nexus initially. You would have to be collecting them while they are in the form of children from everywhere they could potentially spawn... it would have started to become obvious by the time the child was around six or seven years old..." she clarified. Ah but he'd asked a two fold question, so she still had to answer the other half. "Even if you cannot use a grail, you can technically use it to grant wishes. But he wouldn't be able to fill a grail in the traditional way by communing with it. It would be necessary to use the others to fill whatever one he was trying to use actively. To keep using it, to do whatever thing he is trying to do, he'd need a constant supply of energy unbound by potential... so more grails... or to be more accurate more Children of the Nexus," she concluded. This explanation had been heard by all present. Sakura seemed to understand that dozens of children were not being born instead their bodies and souls were being used up as energy. Meanwhile the speech was heard by Anais who seemed to go ghostly pale, losing the strength in her legs and seemed to be softly mumbling... about her part in this, they were doing wrong. Everything surrounding Aincrad was wrong!

[Bloodedge]

Ailen had spoken a word in Elvish to describe Anais and her very unique situation. She claimed to have heard it before. Interesting, he thought. Regardless, she didn't know what it meant, prompting further explanation from the blonde male. "Aegiess is in the language of the elves. It is also called Patronus, Dul... all words that, in Common, mean Protector. It typically manifests similarly to light-attribute magecraft, but is more likened to an early magic at times. You may have seen it manifest as some form of guardian that is especially effective against those who seek to do you harm."

Apparently, it was very possible for Charlemagne to acquire a Holy Grail by completing the Labyrinth. Miwa insisted that anyone who could have completed said trial should have claimed it. That only made more sense as he considered the Labyrinth's history. "Well... the only person who cleared it alone besides me was Jeanne, and she already had a Holy Grail of her own. If it can only go to one person, then I really did win it ages ago," he clarified. Of course, that only made things even darker. Darker still would be the truth of Holy Grails ─ their existence as children from the Nexus who grew until they became wish-granting Artifacts. The thought of utilizing a dead child for power was somewhat... disgusting, but there was more. In becoming Holy Grails, those same children somehow became the children of grail-holders in the future. That was perhaps the strangest thing he'd ever heard, but he couldn't be too surprised about anything at this point.

The children who did not become Holy Grails in the 'natural' manner became the lesser grails. Charlemagne was still stuck on the idea of grail children becoming new lives through their owners. His right hand rose, and as if responding to his curiosity, the Holy Grail linked to him appeared within. It was still filled with the very same liquid it had when he received it: a golden nectar with a red and dark-silver, almost black substance swirling within it. "So this thing will become a child? And... used to be a child, who died to grant me a wish... who will also be reborn through me at some point. The smaller ones... you're saying are children who were hunted down and killed before they transformed naturally?" There were many questions, but few of them relevant. "Wait, why tell me that before saying something like... I dunno, like I could use my grail wish to fix whatever problem I'm dealing with? Or is there some reason I can't do that?"

[Apollymi]

Anais was receiving a lesson in language. What was this lesson, that her connection to a word, was something of a light based power, which when translated to common meant, Protector. At this Sakura seemed to look over, "Oh, like the fiery deer, you were summoning in the woods," she seemed to have a certain understanding. "Yes, it's a white hart... that explains its lack of effectiveness. Someone who isn't out to harm me can still approach me," she mentioned. Still that was a lot, there was far too much going on in this girl's head. She needed to decompress but she knew that making sure Charles didn't shatter was still a more pressing issue than her emotional discontent.

Jeanne d'Arc was one of the Grail winners from a Holy Grail War. It would make sense if she conquered a Labyrinth after such a thing took place that she wouldn't be at all affected or claimed by that grail. "Yes, that does make sense. You can only claim one, and after attaining the evolution presented by the Nexus you cannot attain it a second time," Miwa explained. Still there were many things said at this time by Miwa and many of them seemed to be swirling around in the mind of Charles. She'd given him the information and wondered what he'd make of it. A few points of clarification were necessary, still the lad seemed almost exceedingly capable. "I never said they die. I said they change the world with a wish and are reborn. As beings related to the Nexus I am presently able to hypothesize that death doesn't apply to them. Death is a gift created by the goddess of Death for this world, to avoid the negatives of growing too old without having the body, mana, or means to continue progressing. Death however isn't something applicable to those born before it was conceptualized. This can be hypothesized to apply the same way to beings that are not part of this world, like Children of the Nexus. That being said, being forced into the form of the cup, could count as an end to their physical existence, but that isn't the same thing. Again dying would be much more pleasant than not being able to continue their life cycle as intended," she clarified her thoughts. However she realized that saying they don't die didn't mean they weren't suffering, actually she was pretty sure they were, and when Charels produced his Holy Grail she was able to confirm it.

"Kaa-sama it's tainted," was the simple sentence spoken by Sakura. Miwa looked at her daughter who was approaching and gave her a gentle pat on the head. "Right you are Saku-chan! I'm glad you've been paying attention~" she mentioned. "Also very interesting that you noted that I didn't make that suggestion immediately after finding out you had one, and that was for multiple reasons. The first of which was I wasn't sure the state of your Holy Grail, and it does indeed seem to be tainted, cursed or some other type of negative aspect," she said while looking at the cup and its strange liquid contents. "The second reason is a bit complex but comes back to me figuring out exactly what is happening to you, but I may have enough information to figure it out now that I have the base background understanding of how you came to be in the situation you showed up in."

[Bloodedge]

"Fiery deer?" Ailen questioned when his daughter spoke up. Anais went on to specify that her manifestation of the blessing they discussed was the White Hart. Finally, Ailen released the girl's ear in shock. "Oh? To have the purest form as well, it's no wonder they thought you were a candidate. You are quite the interesting specimen," he mused. With that, Astolfo finally had additional words to share from behind Anais. "And more interesting from the other side~♥" the pink-haired lad said with an accompanying whistle.

Miwa confirmed that an individual could claim only one Holy Grail. He recalled something about that, either from one of the grail wielders or the journal of Jeanne; he couldn't recall which. If that were the case, the lesser grails of Aincrad had a chance of being owned by those who claimed them directly... or those who executed the children? No, it seemed 'execute' wasn't the right word, as Miwa debunked the idea of those children dying. While on the topic of death, she went on to explain why the concept even existed in this world ─ and presumably his original world as well. With all these separate pieces of information piled atop existing problems, Charlemagne was starting to have difficulty keeping everything straight. Too many lies had been spoken for the truths to be unveiled in a single day. "This is a lot. My head's starting to hurt," he admitted. Maybe that was just the same shattering sensation again? Well, it would only be worse if he tried figuring out which thing it was. He'd just take everything Miwa said as truth, so long as it fell inline with beliefs he had reason to harbor this day. Thus far, he had no reason to disbelieve anything she said, even if he decided to be incredibly skeptical.

Once Charlemagne showed his grail, Sakura immediately claimed it was tainted. Miwa confirmed her belief, then moved directly on to her omission of the grail as his solution. She seemed to have expected a tainted grail or something of the sort, and further needed to confirm whatever was going on with him. If she had enough information to figure out a better method, he'd be quite the satisfied man indeed. If nothing else, he'd be... anything but deleted. "So... is that to say you've got an idea for how I can start moving around without breaking apart? Because I've kinda just been standing here for fear of breaking apart. . ."

[Apollymi]

Anais had been realized, but this was mostly a thing of shock. Apparently, the manifestation of a White Hart was a rare thing and worthy of note. It seemed to be something worthy of compliment as well, even so Anais felt strangely knowing this information. Was she even worthy of something like her blessing while being associated with the cult like practices of Aincrad. How much had she let go by? How many bad things were her fault either by action or omission? It would be a while yet until she made peace with everything... But there was always something a bit more light-hearted. Unlike previous times in her life, where she might have completely shut down at some point, Astolfo was present and being very much himself. His compliment about her rear, "Astolfo why?!" she managed with a bright red face but... no shut down so one could suppose Astolfo was good for morale.

Speaking of, there was a certain amount of information overload. Charles was taking in too much information for a single day, figuring out how bad the entirety the 'Holy Father' and the organization he was connected to was, was likely way more taxing than anything should be. His constant shattering being was also something to be taken into account. "I know. I was trying to keep it from being too much at once..." she mused, knowing that many in his position would have broken mentally long before this moment. There was quite a bit of fortitude in this lad if nothing else. As for the nature of his physical self, it was the perfect time to give him a bit of a break. "I should ask first, have you heard a parable of a king or god, who was once tasked with deciding a dispute between two women over a single child? In his wisdom he presented the idea that he might cut the baby in half. His judgement was deemed good because he gave the baby not to the woman who didn't care if the baby got cut in half, but to the woman who was willing to give up the baby to spare its life... a decision of selfless love," she gave the story as an opener. A mental palate cleanse so that she could better explain to Charles and Sakura the state of his body and why what she was about to suggest was something which might be likely to work.

[Bloodedge]

While Anais went through a bit of mental turmoil, the ultimate savior Astolfo came to the rescue! He had always been the one to lift the mood with a few shenanigans, whether intentional or otherwise. Frankly, it was rare that Astolfo did such a thing on purpose; it was a matter of happenstance nearly every time. Such was simply his nature. Being asked simply 'why' was no rare occurrence, though. In this case, he had more than just an answer. "What? I was just looking at things from the brighter side! Get it? The brighter side!" he said, interestingly enough while reaching out to give Anais a cheeky pinch to... well, to the cheek of her rump.

All the while, the less joyous topics were still being addressed just a few meters away. Miwa said she'd been trying to prevent an overload of information. Others may have crumbled even sooner, but Charlemagne thought she'd failed to give anything less than too much. That was a matter of subjectivity best not discussed, though, much like many topics he'd considered in recent moments. Besides, Miwa had another topic for him to consider. She told him the gist of a story regarding a child divided into two parts over two bickering women. Nothing about that tale was familiar to Charlemagne, but he was made to wonder where it was all going. "I don't know it, but the choice makes sense. I wouldn't trust a mother who would let their kid be cut in half. Actually... where I come from, babies are taken away from parents who don't nurture their children enough. Gomen. I'm not sure how that all links up to this."

[Apollymi]

It seemed that regardless of circumstances Astolfo was just being himself. He was according to his own words looking at the brighter side, which given context and the pinch to Anais's rear meant he'd found her best kept secret that being the thickness of her own rear. Given her own understanding of physiology and her previous upbringing such a thing actually made her slightly self-conscious. "Of course I don't get it! I've spent enough of my life gently considering being fat, don't rub it in!" she claimed as she swatted and aimed to skittishly move away. She always would. Ah, but nothing could do a better job of easing the tension than Astolfo Antics.

At the same time, Miwa had used a bit of a break to try and make sure the lad was focused on the new problems. Still, Charles wasn't exactly familiar and as such didn't get where the conversation was going. That was a bit of a loss, still, he mentioned that he understood the decision overall, and that similar types of decisions would have been made where he comes from. "Ah, that's a shame, those things are always good introduction for tense topics," she mused, sounding a bit like a nerd who thought they needed an opener to explain their strange hobby. "Well how it links up is the opposite tale, what happens when you split the baby in half, which ties directly into what is happening with you." she explained. This part was quite dense but it was necessary. For her part in this Sakura had been quietly listening and observing the whole of this interaction and she realized already the issue. "That is to say in this world there was a god who was married to a goddess but produced offspring with someone not his wife. To hide the infidelity he decided to use an old magic to split the child's soul in two. He kept this knowledge from both women not wanting to explain the infidelity to his wife, and not wanting to tell the other woman he was taking her baby to give it to someone else," she explained the situation. "But since the baby hadn't been born yet, the nature of the split wasn't even, and this was also on purpose... one half was larger than the other, so that when the two pieces reached maturity the smaller side would physically and spiritually join the other. They'd be absorbed into their original self, leaving no trace of everything they'd become up to that point. They'd become that original existence..." she explained the situation and wondered if this was enough detail to make her point. "Are there points I need to clarify?"

[Bloodedge]

Anais had considered herself fat at some point in life. Astolfo had once grown up in the very same culture, so he knew where that line of thought came from. On the other hand, he knew the reality of it all. That not-so-well kept secret of hers was actually just a waste. "Blehh! There's no point thinking like that! Have you seen people here?! Everybody wants one of those!" he assured. Of course, there was a bit of bias on Astolfo's part in this matter. Some could attest to the fact that the small, feminine male could hospitalize anyone who didn't have enough meat on their backside. Ah, but that point stood for most who lived in this world, regardless of the specific reasons. "By the way, we landed at sea! We should do a beach episode while we're here!" he said further. Of course, he was casually keeping up the most random topics while weaving around the swatting of Anais ─ and of course sending a series of jabbing pokes toward her rear.

Miwa expressed dissatisfaction over Charlemagne's lack of familiarity. That tale was apparently one she considered important for broaching certain topics. Regardless, Charlemagne understood enough from the story that Miwa continued to the greater point. There was an opposing story related to the one she first mentioned, involving an unfaithful god who divided his bastard between mistress and wife. The two halves were fated to rejoin one another, or more specifically... the slightly smaller one would be consumed into the other. Charlemagne's primary issue with this was the order of things. It wasn't clear which half was larger, but there was no real positive to be found either way. "So one mother ends up childless in the end regardless? That's not the smartest solution," he mused. One more question passed Miwa's lips. She asked if there were any points in need of clarification. Thinking over it, Charlemagne couldn't come up with much. Just as the case had been since the conversation started, he was actively thinking more than he normally would. A few dots had been connected as a result of said thinking. "I don't think so. Are you telling me in a roundabout way that I'm some weird half-baby?"

[Apollymi]

Had she seen the people here? Yes, and that was exactly where her extra misgivings about her appearance came from. Yes, there were plenty of good-looking women who were a great deal more balanced in their physical appearance, she had no such balance. As such she felt out of place and underdeveloped even compared to a few of their direct peers. "Here is an entirely different problem. I stopped feeling fat and started feeling unimpressive in general. Leave me to wallow!" she complained. Oh well, the nature of being a girl in any world would always be complex, magic didn't make it any better. As for the suggestion of a beach visit while they were here she scoff. "There is no way I am going to a beach with you. You need adult supervision, and I don't mean me!" Anais was near her own mental breaking point, but at least she wasn't currently hung up on the tragedy of her childhood and her own misguided alliance with Aincrad. She was also managing to keep up with most of the conversation enough that she understood the gravity of Charles situation.

The musings of Charles about the smartness of the decision to split the baby in half and leave one mother without a child after the fact was something that Miwa agreed with. "Indeed. But I never said he was clever... in a time before wisdom was in the world, many short-sighted decisions were made. And even after wisdom was not heeded. It was quite a problem for her," she mentioned in a haphazard manner. Charles's understanding of the situation while quite simple was technically true. "Yes, actually that is what I am getting at. The part of you that was stolen is bigger than you are... so you shattering as your soul tries to rejoin, but when it does, you'll be fully absorbed into the bigger portion. That being the portion that belongs to the one who stole from you..." she mentioned in a haphazard way. "The good news in this situation is that the baby from the pervious story was partly me, and partly the Goddess of Wisdom Metis. Knowing this, I can say it is possible to become a big enough piece of your own existence that you won't be passively absorbed by someone else," she said going on to list some specific caveats. "In my case though, it was easier for me, because Metis was kind, she wasn't trying to absorb me. She changed her name and refused to let us harmonize to the point of becoming the same person," she explained of the situation. "But you... have the bigger half of you working against your existence, as such you need to make sure the remaining part of you becomes so big that it is no longer capable of being absorbed. It would also be best if you managed to anchor yourself to something that couldn't be touched or corrupted by the influence of the one that stole the other half of you," she finished up the explanation as if it made perfect sense. "Which brings me to my current understanding, the thing behind the core. The unknown thing... which has a name the Source. The other gods do not need cores, and our friendly demon spoke of waking the one in the death goddess so it should be possible to wake yours, since you like her basically have no core. And it would make you something greater than the previous self and better for it. Of course he spoke of it as if it would require a mana overload which might cause you to shatter completely," she completed her hypothesis and waited for any particular input. Perhaps someone might have something to say about it, but it would be Sakura's whose brain was alight. "If you throw fallen flowers onto the stove, the searing heat infuses them with one final spark of vitality, and for a brief moment, they radiate a more glorious glow than the flames themselves... it was a short life they lived, but it was by no means a wasted one."

[Bloodedge]

Always from one problem into the next. It seemed Anais couldn't just settle for a happy middle. In their original world, she thought herself fat. In this life, she thought she was underdeveloped. Wallowing wouldn't do her any good, nor was there any point in it. "What're you wallowing for?! Just put it out there! You know how many people prefer the bottom half to the top? A lot!" he insisted. To that, Aines had much to say. He hadn't released the girl still, but he considered it just as much her own fault for never moving away. "That is correct. A woman's breasts are important only for delivering mana. The quantity is not so important as the quality, especially for those who would rather enjoy the act of offering. As for a more equivalent exchange, neither of those physical features truly matter. Though receiving sufficient mana would naturally result in breast growth, I do also have an elixir capable of optimizing mana flow, which would naturally result in a natural expansion as opposed to the various magical means which do so artificially. If that is something you wish for, I would need only a small sample of your energy to customize the recipe, allowing for a special brew that achieves the desired size and streamlines your Magic Circuits to that standard with only a few doses. Hmm. On the other hand, the material cost of that concoction may have been overlooked in its conception. Comparatively, there are four people in this very room whose mana is sufficient enough to produce the same results with an intense enough transfer. I assume that number would be five if the boy over there became stable. On the other hand, some of those transfers may do more than you would like, and you don't yet seem capable enough to reduce yourself if someone goes overboard. These matters are so fickle. . ."

The god Miwa spoke of in her story was not reportedly a clever one. That much was clear from the story itself, Charlemagne thought. Whatever the case, he was on the right track in his most recent assumption. He'd been made into a case similar to that story, and he'd been made the smaller portion. Father An would actively absorb him if he didn't become whole somehow. On the positive side, that tale was not a fictional one. Miwa admitted to being one part of the divided infant goddess, which probably made her the first of multiple similar cases leading to Charlemagne. She and her other half managed to avoid combining. They were both goddesses, but with their wisdom, perhaps there was salvation for Charlemagne as well.

So then, how would Charlemagne become a full existence after being broken? How would he avoid being deleted by absorption when Father An certainly had over 90% of his Spiritual Core? Well, apparently there was something beyond the Core itself: the Source. To reach it, one had to experience mana overload; that didn't sound pleasant. Worse still, it was something that could outright shatter him. Surely there had to be a safer option, right? "Wait wait wait! This is starting to sound like laser eye surgery! I'm not so sure I like the idea of having bad eyesight fixed when there's a solid chance of going blind in the process!" That outburst was based on thoughts from a previous life, but it was the first thing entering Charlemagne's mind at the time. Sakura spoke up again to make some analogy about cooking flowers to make a pretty show. What? That sounded... "Worse! I can't even think of what that might mean, but it sounds so much worse! That one sounds like blowing me up and just being happy with the fact that everyone got a good fireworks show out of it! I've got a ton of promises to keep, and I'll be murdered a thousand times if I die before delivering on any of them!"

[Apollymi]

Strangely, Charles and Anais were living a similar life of dealing with two people who were being extraordinarily obtuse about the nature of their problems. Admittedly they both had two very different problems, but the fact remained. Astolfo said she shouldn't wallow, apparently more men preferred the bottom to the top, which while not unpleasant as a thought, wasn't at all the point. At the same time a huge rant came from the man known as Ailen, who she was still in the arms of but that was a matter of happenstance at present. Still she heard every word he spoke, including casual mentions of concoctions to gain her the physical assets she wanted, or receiving multiple mana transfers from any of about five people just to get the physique she might have wanted. Her brain overloaded and then her emotional immaturity resurfaced. It'd been quite a while since she snapped to the point of tears, but now she had them running down her face and she was saying just as many outrageous things as those spoken to her between sobs. "What?! I don't even understand. Why am I still being held by you? I mean I didn't move but it's crazy. I don't care how big they are or how small I was just explaining! I can't take all of this and I was sent here with them to protect Charlie and I am barely capable of doing anything. I've been involved in an evil cult that probably killed my family, I don't know why Ivy trusted me with this mission. And Astolfo is Astolfo'ing and I just can't do this tod-aaah--," and that was it. The lass was shedding tears and all events of the day had stacked and stacked until her emotional fortitude crumbled. And now she had her face buried in this man's chest, because she was an adult in tears and she was supposed to be a knight and soldier who protected people.

"Hm, that took a bit longer than I expected," was Miwa's thoughts about the emotional break of Anais. Moving on though, Charles expressed some disbelief in the form of a comparison that Miwa didn't truly understand. Well, the words themselves made sense, just the context seemed strange. Oh, that was unusual, she'd have to think that one over. "I am not sure I understand the context completely, but many things are risky. I should say I don't think it will destroy you. I just have no current observable proof," she explained of her own understanding. True enough, it was mostly theoretical but she understood enough of how magic worked to think it wouldn't end in the lad's death. Of course, the random words spoken by Sakura hit two different sets of ears very differently. Charles had an entire tirade about the potential of his burning up, but instead, Miwa seemed to excited. "That's... great. It's brilliant. It all makes sense, Saku-chan~" the woman said while happily squeezing her daughter into herself. "Iie, that wasn't me... Onii-san that gave me the tea said that to me... and I thought it applied to the situation," she mentioned. "Well that guy is a genius," Miwa menitoned. "He and Fox-Onee-san are by the sakura tree... doing something sexy. At least it felt that way," she said thinking about the feelings coming off the pair as they left her presence.

Ah, there was Charles now as well. Miwa looked at the lad and smiled. "That goddess of yours sounds interesting. It is probably for the best that I likely didn't meet her the other day... that demon seems to like feisty women," she said with a nod as casually as one mentioned anything. "I don't think it's worse, I think it's a metaphor not a physical thing that will happen. Also given that statement I'd also like to meet her," mentioned Sakura. She wouldn't have suggested anything that would harm him and she was sure the man who'd given her the tea wouldn't have suggested it either. "Anyway, that information seems to make the rest of the things click together. The way the magic works, having contact with higher order mana should jumpstart that which is hidden behind your core. If that happens your Source, as it is called will active making you a version of yourself that can't be absorbed, and likely making you a new core. Lesser versions of yourself burn up, but the you that is left is far greater than the initial spark that made you... does that clarify it for you?" asked Miwa. Of course there were a few more issues. No simple mana transfer would do this kind of sparking. He couldn't get away with something as simple as a kiss, he'd need a full exchange and likely one that could mostly purge the negative influence from him while leaving something bigger behind. Miwa for her understanding of this situation couldn't be part of it. And Sakura might not have quite been strong enough to do it as completely as it needed to be done. She might need a bit of a spark as well, but as a goddess couldn't possess the holy grail she should be able to purify it by drinking its contents. Yes that was the ultimate plan.

[Bloodedge]

After a few things said by Astolfo, and a ton of things mentioned by Ailen, something strange happened with Anais. To Ailen, her mana seemed rather shaky for a few moments. That eventually became something physically notable as moisture welled up and overflowed from her eyes. How very strange. Ah, but her breakdown was being explained as she sobbed. All this talk of breast size had simply piled atop her alleged inability to protect the broken lad, in addition to the fact that she'd unknowingly been part of a cult of sorts probably responsible for the death of her family. Ailen supposed any normal person should have been weeping, but he believed it was not conducive to development. If one had the freedom to cry, they had time to be productive. Of course, he was not a heartless elf at the end of it all. A young girl was sobbing against his chest, and his embrace firmed with a slow rub against the back of her head. "You seem to be quite troubled. Come with me. I have a solution," he said, seeming prepared to move already. If refusal was an option, it didn't seem to be much of one at all.

Two people weren't being given a lot of options, apparently. On Charlemagne's end, it seemed the only viable choice for Charlemagne's current predicament would be one that sounded very... experimental. He didn't like the sound of exploding. He didn't like the idea of being absorbed into Father An or any other vessel either. Of the two, exploding frankly sounded like the better option... though he would have liked it if either of these two presented an idea that was somehow less frightening. It wasn't helping that both Miwa and Sakura showed an interest in meeting Angelica, who herself had the energy of someone ready to act without thinking at a moment's notice. Oh well; it wasn't as if he had any bright ideas to work with.

From the sound of it all, Charlemagne could assume this entire process would work a specific way. He would need to suffer a mana overload in such a way as to awaken his Source, likely ridding him of that remnant Core and spawning a new one. If it didn't erase him first, it seemed like something that would make him much better. That would be nice. "I guess it makes sense? It still sounds like the chance of me blowing up is way too high, but it's not like I have a better idea... or the ability to do much of anything myself. So, what, I get magical shock therapy or something?"

[Apollymi]

Anais was having a minor breakdown. She'd probably be alright after a few moments of shed tears, and likely would have been content if she'd just be allowed to break as her mind wanted to. Strangely though, it seemed that Ailen was a fairly nice man, and he let her cry into him and what was more offered a rather firm embrace which she found rather comforting. The calm words from this man were that she seemed troubled and that he had a solution. It didn't seem like she was being given much of an option to come along and this man hadn't made her feel like he'd harm her in any way, so she saw little harm in joining him. Besides, she didn't even consider herself good for morale in the moment so there was no point in bringing the mood down for everyone. So off she slunk in tow of a tall elf man who apparently had something for her.

At the same time, Charles was coming to terms with the apparently experimental treatment he'd likely be receiving. According to the lad, he claimed it still sounded like he had a chance of blowing up, but he didn't have better idea. He went on to compare the potential to magical shock therapy. Non-magical shock therapy sounded terrible, but context alone said the potential was similar. "Hm, I don't know fully what non-magical shock therapy would entail, but the basic idea is a bit of outside force to make your Source begin behaving the way it should. It is a bit invasive, but I can't think of a better way to treat what potentially ails you. I'd actually liken it more to the creation of a wedge. The Anunnaki did that once, creating the Wedge of Heaven out of a mostly godly being to connect them with the lower realms. That didn't work out long term because the wedge decided that he didn't like the actions of some of the gods so he closed the link in a single direction," she said giving it a bit of thought. "In this case those, the wedge on this end would simply serve the purpose of making sure you couldn't be fully absorbed even if you came in contact with your life thief again. It seems you already have a small one, but a more substantial one will be needed to sustain the entirety of your new existence," she explaimed calmly. "But I think that can all be taken care of at once. Saku-chan... if you cleanse his holy grail, you can make that apparatus usable by him again, then you'd have enough mana to make sure he fully wakes up before he cracks," she stated clearly. Sakura gave it a bit of consideration. She could definitely cleanse his Holy Grail, and she could also definitely feed him enough mana afterwards if he was willing to accept it. She wanted wanted to know about the woman already tied to him, and she didn't mind offering herself for the purpose of making sure this man didn't have to live as a piece of another. "I'll do it." she said as if it was the simplest thing in the world, irrespective of the potential of her tying herself to Charles for any limited or extended amount of time.

[Bloodedge]

Anais didn't even attempt to avoid the situation. Excellent. Ailen considered this a major step in the right direction already. Speaking of stepping in the right direction, he led the way to a more suitable place for their discussion. Just beyond the room full of distracting presences, there was a tatami room with one of its mats at the rear wall shifted out of place. A long staircase was in the opening, leading down through darkness until a warm, seemingly natural light could be seen. Ailen would lead the girl through that dark corridor, but what was ahead? That lighting seemed to come from an underground grove. Greenery was plentiful, primarily coming from trees overgrown with moss ─ though the grove was not lacking in plentiful flowers of varying types. It seemed this place was designed to be an alchemist's natural workstation, featuring an abundance of filled bottles, phials spread across a few alchemy tables with all necessary equipment. "Here we are. So, you worry about your abilities and your involvement with a band of ne'er-do-wells, yes? I must ask if you have ever found yourself thinking negative thoughts about those people."

Two left, and five remained. Charlemagne received the rundown of a 'functional' plan to repair him, taking it all in stride even as he feared his own explosion. Something about hearing the word 'invasive' in reference to any process was always terrifying. At least he had a mental image of shock therapy in the non-magical sense; his assumption of the coming process could stem from that. Strange, however, was the talk of a wedge being placed in him. Based on context clues combined with mention of him having one already, Charlemagne figured Angelica functioned as something of the sort currently... but not enough of one. Was he to be permanently linked to someone else? That sounded like the most invasive thing of all! Maybe it was necessary only while he stabilized himself; these sorts always had some caveats like that worked in... right? "So whoever shocks the hell out of me is going to be connected to my Source or whatever... until I don't have to worry about being absorbed, right?" he questioned. So far, it seemed Sakura would be the one cleansing his tainted Holy Grail and repairing his broken soul. She seemed a bit young and innocent; he definitely didn't want to drag her into this ridiculous ordeal at all, if it could be avoided. "I mean... I'm all for having this grail purified, but linking yourself to me in any way right now is too much for me to ask of anyone. I'm finding my way back to Aincrad at some point, and I'm taking down Father An if it's the last thing I do! I can't drag someone else into that."

[Apollymi]

Anais found herself following Ailen where he was leading. Of course, she seemed to have no problem with what was happening, but there was an underlying reason for that, and it had to do with Instinct. Though she was skeptical at least a bit of new people, this man had given her no direct reason to doubt him. He didn't make the hairs on the back of her neck standup and he was a rather calming presence nearby her person. As such she walked along finding herself in a grove and alchemical lab of sorts. She looked around seeming stunned by the natural state of this place and also felt a bit more at peace. "Sugoi!" a slip of the tongue casual though it was. Here within a few moments of her arrival she was asked a question, was she worried about her abilities. "I am a bit yes. I don't think I am as suited to this as most... though I don't think I am bad," she mentioned. As for the second half of that question... "Some people within the overall organization make me feel uncomfortable, but I avoid them most times. The group I am in with Charlie doesn't generally give me those sorts of feelings... well except one person, but I avoid him too," she stated honestly. Such a line of questioning was strange, but she was sure it had merit, somewhere.

Charles went on to try and understand the situation as laid out by Miwa. He seemed to have the gist of it. "That seems to be the truth of it, but I should warn you that I do not know how long or strong such a connection will be. Sources are too unknown to this world, I don't have enough examples to go by yet," she explained the truth of the matter and why it was potentially truly invasive. As for Charles, it seemed it did want his grail cleansed and also wanted to be able to hunt down the one who'd wronged him, but didn't want to drag anyone else into it. Especially not one as a young as Sakura. "Well if you don't want it to be the last thing you do, then you'd want to establish a connection with someone more flexible whose powers still have potentials which are unknown and who doesn't already have an agenda. Besides Sakura is as unique as I am, not born and bound to Celestia her view of the world and life are a bit more flexible," said Miwa. "Besides, there is no better time to do something potentially irresponsible than when you're young and impressionable. Seeing the words goods and evils with your own eyes is the best way to determine where you stand in the grand scheme of things," she concluded. Sakura took in all the necessary information and came to a single conclusion. "I'll still do it. I don't think it is outside my abilities to sever our connection once everything is done, even without fully understanding this source, as Kaa-sama calls it. I want to meet the other goddess, so making sure you get back to her is something I will do of my own accord," said the girl, she seemed so very certain of this point.

[Bloodedge]

Upon reaching his workshop, Ailen immediately heard the astounded utterance of Anais. He paid little to no mind to it, deciding instead to let go of the girl and begin shuffling through various fluids and herbs. This was something done while she went about answering his questions. He'd have more to ask, but first and foremost was a test of her senses. Anais was not fully confident in her own abilities, and she did seem to have some small sense of the negatives in people around her. "Hmm. The sense to avoid those with ill intent is a wonderful start. Perhaps thistle branch. Holly would also do well," he murmured while sorting through the options on an alchemy table. "Do you consume any herbal mixtures that would affect cognitive functions or otherwise tamper with your mana?" he asked further.

Sadly, Miwa didn't have enough information about Sources to have any concrete conclusions about the coming bond. Problematic as that could be, there were still no other options present; he just didn't want an innocent bystander being involved in the living hell he was sure to walk into. Ah, but Miwa had something to say about that as well. True enough, approaching Father An would probably be the last thing he ever did without help. He could agree that an ideal aide would be someone flexible without an agenda that would be impeded by coming events. Like Miwa, Sakura was apparently unbound by Celestia or the ways of Celestials. Knowing Angelica was much the same, he figured he could use that kind of help... though it still didn't sit right with him. According to Miwa though, youth was the perfect time to be irresponsible, adventure, and learn the truth of the world. Sakura agreed with the added note that she had an interest in meeting Angelica. What was he to do?

As always, Charlemagne's final decision was made only when consulting his most trusted companions. Astolfo was the only one present, so it was the pink-haired lad he looked toward. In doing so, he saw the other male with one thumb pointed high, and a wide smile on his face. "Ching! I say go for it if she's got your back. Just do the usual and have her back if things go south. That looks like a lot of back to get, too, so you'll like it!" he said in usual Astolfo manner. Charlemagne sighed; he should have expected the response to go in that direction. Not needing to ask what Astolfo meant by 'back', he set his gaze on Sakura again. "Fine. I'll be counting on you, Tohsaka-... dono? Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" Charlemagne said, bowing as much as he could under the circumstances. "So do I just... give you the grail? I'm not sure how this works─"

[Apollymi]

Sometime after reaching this rather interesting place to look at, she was let go as the elf began to wonder about his workshop. He seemed to be taking strange notes and asking some rather invasive questions but they were no worse than what she would have expected visiting the doctor's office in her previous life. At the very least, she was here alone and not being asked something which would have made her blush to answer. That being said, she found his collection of various natural things curious, she wondered what he did which needed this sort of workshop. She would have assumed he was an Alchemist but that seemed to be a bit of an underestimation of his abilities. In answering his question she didn't need to do much thinking and instead watched both him and the things he looked at. "No, I definitely don't do anything like that. Even when we celebrate as a group and everyone drinks, I have juice..." she said. Ah some things about her previous life stuck with her just the same. No matter. "Is this whole workshop just for alchemy?" she asked strangely seeming to find it a bit odd, but once more she was led to believe that questioning things in this case wouldn't be the wrong thing to do, and she was always a bit curious.

After all was said and done, it seemed that Charles looked to his companion for advice. Interesting was the pink haired lad, who gave the sort of advice that quite honestly, Miwa thought this lad definitely needed to hear. Perhaps something had gone quite wrong in this lad's upbringing or perhaps he truly was just a shy and quite type, but Miwa knew the sort of connection that needed to be made and it wouldn't be made with shyness. Astolfo also seemed to realize it as he gave his encouragement with a few extra words. Strangely, Sakura seemed to understand the implications, "I don't think it's that big..." she mused about her own rear. Ah, Miwa knew this was going to be an interesting day, "Saku-chan, why don't you take the Zen Pavilion, it has a good atmosphere... run along. Come back when is Source is awake, I'd like to see it," said Miwa who was surely about to go nestle herself back into Qin as they had quite a few things left to do. "As for order, he drinks the grail, you sort it out after, that would be the best way to make sure he keeps what he needs as his connection to that," she said in a manner most encouraging. "Hai, Kaa-sama..." she murmured. As for Charles, well there was a matter which was being address and first and foremost she'd be leading him away to where her mother said they should go. "You know the language so you know you're being really formal... why?" she asked seeming to not understand this sort of approach to someone who in all likelihood should be seen as equivalent to her.

The Zen Pavilion was a bit like an open air garden. It had a huge sun roof with a large window and large potted trees with gentle white flowers floating around. The light that shown from overhead wasn't intense but seemed to show gently through the leaves and petals over head. And in the middle of the room was another large dais with another large throne like bed in the middle of it, with pristine white colored silk and fluffy padding.

[Bloodedge]

Continuing about his business of locating the proper ingredients, Ailen kept an open ear for all Anais would say. In total, he counted that she had little belief in herself, was aware of others' potential darkness, and did not partake of things that would affect her mana. "I see. Though drinking is not counted among these things, that is good information to have. Do know that most alcohols will not affect you negatively, if you do wish to partake. A glass or two of wine actually boosts the Spiritual Core's ability to metabolize incoming mana during transfers or consumption. Of course, that is only the case if said mana is not for the purpose of conceiving. That would almost be a surefire way to have something go awry," he explained needlessly. Already, he was preparing a pestle and mortar to begin a mixture, though Anais had a question to ask before his next one could be spoken. What an interesting little creature she was proving to be. "Curious about my work, are you? I don't mind. This is where I grow and store my primary ingredients. Alchemy is my passion and my study. Most of my time is spent here, but I suppose it is not exclusively for alchemy. With your sense, I'm sure you realize this place is suited to meditation and awakenings of the soul. I may also use it to test a few wand or stave crafts, tinker with organic puppets, or a number of other things."

Though he was an alchemist by choice, Ailen enjoyed a great deal of trades as options. Most involved herbs and the like, but that was a matter of his study and application. Here and now, he wouldn't just be making an elixir for Anais; he'd be constructing something else. First though, he needed more information. "Are you sexually active? If so, what is the frequency? If not, have you ever received a mana transfer of any sort? Where would your preferred receptacle for mana be? That is assuming you have an idea. If not, that will be fine; other information can tell me all I need to know."

After Astolfo's unnecessary commentary, Sakura was the first to speak. Oh. So she knew what he was talking about. How strange. "It's pretty meaty. What, am I the only one who thinks so?" he asked with a very pointed glance in Charlemagne's direction. No. No, he wasn't doing this. Charlemagne would have been shaking his head if he thought it reasonable, but instead he moved on with the conversation... much to Astolfo's obvious disappointment. "Booo, no fun!"

Moving on, Charlemagne was to drink from the tainted Holy Grail and have Sakura do something about the corruption he consumed. That sounded dangerous, but these people had done right by him thus far; he had little reason to distrust the process. Whatever this Zen Pavilion was, it sounded like the appropriate kind of place for purifying. He was starting to have a fair bit of hope moving forward. Ready to follow Sakura to this new location, he paused only to address her rather odd question. "Huh? Well I figured you're... you know... a princess-slash-goddess. I was just being respectful," he clarified sheepishly.

[Apollymi]

Lessons for the lot continued. It would seem that Anais would be informed about her intake habits not needing to be as meticulous as she thought. This man truly did have the general aspect of a doctor and claimed the same kind of health benefits she'd been familiar with in her previous life to enjoying a bit of alcohol should she decide to partake. The only real warning given was one about conceiving while intoxicated but as that was nothing she intended to do she didn't see it as a problem. Her two index fingers were tapping together as she gave it gentle consideration, "Duly noted, maybe I'll have one when all this is over as a celebration. I think I am starting to understand why Ivy and Livy claim that drink is a good way to end the day... it's been a really stressful time," she mused seeming to give it consideration. What was more, she soon received an answer to her curiosity. This place was his lab, but also a place for spiritual and magical awakenings. He used it not only to grow his main alchemical ingredients, but also to do magical experiments, create staves and wands, and tinker with organic puppets. "Sou ka, that's a vast array of interests, but they seem pretty interconnected. I am interested quite a bit and we don't have anyone doing things like this in our group. Well, I guess there is Olga but I don't find armoring so interesting as more organic crafts," she stated seeming to take a pretty reasonable interest in his work. Her obvious affinity towards more natural things making more sense as time went on.

Of course, her happy little conversation could only remain so for a certain amount of time. One of those blushing questions reared its ugly head. Well that was wrong, it was a series of very uncomfortable questions and she wasn't really prepared for it initially. In fact, her face immediately reddened as she silently thanked whatever gods were currently good and in existence that she was no longer a human child in high school with a parent sitting next to her, to make it even more awkward. "I'm not sexually active and I've never been given a mana transfer, that I'm aware of. I've never considered how I would prefer that to happen and now that I am saying all this aloud I am pretty sure I'm not mentally prepared to consider it either," she said. The movements of her face and hands making her sink into the shadow of her hood and try and cool off her burning face. Still, those little ears of hers were twitching, it was quite strange to consider these sorts of questions of course given her status in life it wasn't at all odd that she'd have trouble answering these questions.

Strangely, the conversation with Astolfo seemed to be one which was understood, Charles avoided speaking on the matter completely and it seemed to be quite the struggle in some way. Sakura didn't understand this either, but strangely Miwa would be the one to agree with Astolfo. "You're quite right, her body came out a bit more like my sisters'. I'm quite proud of that~" she said seeming to take a great deal of pride in the child she made, even in the oddest of ways. Moving right along, while they walked to the Zen Pavilion, Sakura herself chose to question Charles' use of formal language when addressing her and received a strange answer in return. She was a Princess and a Goddess so he thought to be respectful. He even seemed to be a bit embarrassed. "Sou ka, but you were Emperor in your own right and I am a goddess without a distinct authority. You are not a subject of my mother's so shouldn't that mean we should address each other as equals even while being polite?" she questioned in a manner most logical. She didn't really mind what she was called, she just found the extra formality odd. Upon reaching the Zen Pavilion she walked inside and if Charles followed the doors would close behind them. Shady but sunny, a large dais and even the places for them to lie and relax she'd approach it while slipping out of her sandals and keep walking forward until of course she took a seat on that throne like bed. She figured the lad should rest himself lest he experience any more physical problems as they worked to place his mana back within his form after the transfer took place.

[Bloodedge]

Despite her lack of experience with alcoholic beverages, Anais showed some interest in alcohol after the events of her day thus far. Ailen wasn't very surprised at all; hers was the sort of day people drank over more often than not. "If that is what you want, I can add a similar enough effect to the potion. It would only be the sensation, mind you; I cannot have it interfering with your mana directly," he explained. With that out of the way, his curiosity was sated as well. Anais was not sexually active, and had never received mana from another person... as far as she knew. She didn't want to delve too deep into where she would prefer receiving a mana transfer either, which was perfectly fine. As one who showed an interest in his works the way she did, he could easily allow a few additional leniencies based on their similarities alone. "Very well. I'll ask you this: If you were to receive power, would you prefer it course through you and meld into all that you are, have it blended with that of the provider in both directions, which would also grant them your existing power, or hold it within yourself to decide how it is allocated and applied at your discretion? If you will, please answer with your reason for the decision," he said while breaking from the current work. This stage was rather important for all he had planned today, but there was something else he could deem important as well. "It is understandable that you would find organic crafts more interesting. That much is in your very nature. Be warned that learning alchemy of this caliber is no small undertaking. However, if you earnestly wish to learn, I am willing to share my knowledge with you."

Something was wrong with so many people. In hearing Astolfo talk about her daughter's backside, Miwa seemed... proud. No, that wasn't it. She said she was proud! How did Charlemagne go a thousand years in this world without seeing this many strange people?! No, this was another thing he wouldn't be dealing with. He'd move on. He'd follow Sakura, hoping she was a less-jarring individual than the likes of her own mother and Angelica, and he'd... be questioned about his respectful speech. Well, at least there was some logic behind it. Sakura was a goddess in existence, but not in title. Her being a princess and him being an emperor should have shifted the direction of honorifics. With those two things being true and her being a higher-quality existence than himself, there should have been a more balanced arrangement between them. On the other hand, he couldn't see it the same way. "Iia, iia. I was crowned Holy Emperor of Aincrad, but I'm not too sure that's a real title. So... I'm just Charlemagne the Adventurer: a half-broken guy talking to the princess of a country I just fell into."

While disregarding any absence of honorifics toward Sakura, Charlemagne found himself in a room that boasted the most interesting lighting. Frankly, it looked the part of a sanctified room in some sort of utopia. Assuming that throne was where some form of ascension occurred, he tentatively seated himself beside Sakura, still holding that tainted grail. "So do I just... drink this?" he asked. Assuming that was the way to go, Charlemagne seemed ready to begin right away. If he wasn't halted or dissuaded, he'd be gulping down the grail's contents in a matter of seconds, taking into himself all of its power... and all of the corruption born of negative emotions alongside it.

[Apollymi]

There was a certain kind of familiarity developing between Ailen and Anais. The man seemed to be quite straight-forward in his own way. He spoke of the mixture he was concocting for her and claimed he could make it have a similar effect to alcohol without it affecting her mana, if it was something she wished to experience. "Iie, it isn't really necessary. I figure I'll be better off having a normal drink later with my friends and getting the full scope of the experience. Then it will be for victory so I won't always have a seemingly negative memory associated with the experience itself," she said. "Also why are you making something for me?" she asked seeming not to completely understand this man's desire to help her over a single tear stricken tantrum. Her words probably sounded childish to most, but she found it reasonable to not want to create negative associations with things she might come to like doing. Approaching new things should come with clear consciousness and minds.

Moving on from this and the embarrassment of the previous line of questioning, Anais was asked about how she would prefer to receive power in a hypothetical situation. She gave it a fair bit of consideration and then decided on the one which sounded fairest. "Given those options, I think I'd go with the one which allowed power to be mine but also allowed someone access to mine as well," she said carefully. "I don't think myself selfish enough to want power without having to give something in return. But I also do not think I am the type to know innately what to do with any random power I am given without any guidance. I think if it's about power, I'd prefer more balance and maybe I could learn something new in the exchange about my existing powers as well, at least potentially," she said not immediately equating this particular line of questioning to the same points she refused to answer earlier. Beyond this point, it was apparently in her nature to enjoy more organic crafts. Ailen expressed that learning of this type was difficult but he'd share his knowledge with her if she wished. "Really? That'd be great. I have always been a decent student and I wouldn't be interested if I wasn't willing to give it all I had to try," she stated seeming to understand the whole of things. Of course, she'd been a Japanese school girl in her previous life, so the idea of studying and reveiwing and doing well with information were well within her normal parameters.

Ah and then there was Charles, and the oddities he suffered in befriending people like Astolfo and falling into a place like Munetsuchi. The lad wouldn't get to know true peace of mind but that wasn't his fault. That was the fault of the world he grew up in, and his lack of socialization with the other parts of the world. Those were things that should have been fixed by his apparent adventuring lifestyle. "Hm, I suppose it is fair not to know if that title is real after the day you've had. Still you seem quite shocked by the people you meet as someone who made his living as an Adventurer," she stated seeming to find a contradiction in her understanding of Adventurers and the kind of man Charles was, "Regardless, I don't understand why you'd be so formal," she said seeming not to think too much of it.

As they settled into this particular place and aimed to begin the process of ridding Charles of his cursed goblet and restore his mana to what it should be... Sakura would look at the lad as he drank the contents of his Grail. There was one surefire way for her to completely make sure she got the mana necessary from him to clear it up and she'd be making that statement as he drank. "You should finish drinking it then take off your clothes. It will be easier to take the remaining mana from you that way..." she stated as she prepared herself. Given she'd already volunteered to do this she was ready and willing to accept. To let them harmonize her mouth was already salivating and she was once again ready to taste, though in a much less appropriate way than the first time. Luckily for Charles modesty there was no one here to watch.

[Bloodedge]

No. Anais didn't want a replication of alcohol's effects, all because she wanted the true experience with a positive memory associated with it. This, Ailen found to be a respectable decision that he wouldn't dream of questioning. "Understood," was all he said in response. In the meantime, he picked up some strange, neutral-colored mushroom and tossed it into the mortar. With the information he had, that and a bit of glowing salt would function as the potion's base. Ah, but Anais had another question for him. Why was he making something for her? That question was so very pointless. If he had only a single reason, that was more than enough. Too many individuals of all races got themselves caught up in excessive reasons for their actions, when they could spend the additional time acting. "You were upset. Because you were upset, you were crying. Because you were crying, I should comfort you. Comfort is not confined to a single moment in life, but expands into the future of that same life. In short, I am making something for you because it will provide comfort long-term. It is not a difficult conclusion to reach," he explained with great certainty.

She took the list of options for Ailen's hypothetical scenario, and she chose her preference. What she preferred was to share her power in return for the offering, though there was also a note of indecisiveness that implied a twofold answer. With such specifications, Ailen could gather that hers was not a choice of one, but instead two out of three. "I see. The mouth and vagina are typically favored by humans and those who associate heavily with them. I expected as much, but had to be sure," he mumbled. "Then perhaps poplar or ash..." he continued. Moving on from that, the idea of an apprenticeship was acknowledged as a pleasant idea by Anais. She had to be certain. As an elf, Ailen took such things very seriously. To his kind, an apprentice was more important than most family members. "All you have would be an understatement. If I am to teach what I know, it will not be to a student. In my homeland, we take a single apprentice. Take that title, and I will teach you everything I know until I can teach no more. It is one of the most meaningful bonds in this world. Some believe that an elven mentor passes himself into his apprentice, who themselves may only take another mentorship when they no longer have a source of learning... if they do not become mentor to another themselves."

Poor Charlemagne would never catch a break at this rate. Like Angelica, Sakura seemed to think her way of being was the more normal one here. Well-traveled as he was across two separate worlds, Charlemagne knew this to be false in both cases. Divine beings basically lived in a third world of their own, from his perspective. "You might be surprised about what the more common beliefs are. Either way, just consider me a regular guy. I'm not an emperor here regardless. You can just call me Charlemagne, Charles, Charlie, Chuck... whatever, really," he offered.

As Charlemagne drank from the grail, he immediately felt... nothing that could be considered holy. He felt depression, loathing both self and otherwise, and... unbridled fury that couldn't be explained. None of these emotions were his own, but they were making an active attempt to meld into any negativity he had. All Charlemagne felt about the events of this day so far, were suddenly on the rise. He understood now what the meaning of 'tainted' truly was. As a person, he was being corrupted from the very core of his being outward. Something had to be done about this. What? According to Sakura, it involved taking his clothes off. What? That didn't make any sense; it sounded like the same bullshit Angelica often said. Ah, no... that thought was darker than he would have ever meant it to be. "Tch! Can't you make it any easier? I almost fell apart ten times over on the way here. Why do I need my clothes off anyway? It's all random magical spirit junk regardless," he groaned.

[Apollymi]

Surprisingly to Anais her logic for how she wanted to experience alcohol for the first time was something respected by the man she was with. He seemed to not question many things at all though he was brimming full of information. Anais herself felt an inexplicable comfort around this man as if he was the most relaxing being she could have been anywhere near in her current predicament. When she asked him about why he was making her something, it came from a place of strange understanding. To give and receive gifts or comfort from perfect strangers wasn't something expected in either of the cultures she came from. But here this man was claiming that offering comfort to someone crying didn't have to be a momentary thing. He was making her something that would provide her comfort well past this moment and that the conclusion wasn't too difficult. Anais was astounded general shock spread across her face as she tried to get out a response, but it came out with a bit of a stutter, "Well, t-that's really nice and all but isn't it like too generous?!" she exclaimed. Ah, this girl had been raised strangely twice, but no matter.

At the same time, there was the matter they were discussing of Anais' answers to his questions and apparently he'd extrapolated some strange information from them. "Whaa?! You don't think that is a really huge leap to make based on that information alone? I mean, I figure you have a reason for it, but... I don't think I will ever be prepared for this," she murmured. Still, she didn't seem anywhere near as out of sorts as she had while crying. In fact, one could liken her present state of mind, to the same one she took when dealing directly with Astolfo. No matter, they were discussing now a potential apprenticeship which was made to sound like something of a long time life bond between two people according to his social norms. If Anais had to liken it to something it would be way more in-depth than the simplicity of the words implied. Passing ones knowledge along was supposedly a huge deal to Elves. "I am at least a little aware of that information, Fier and I have tea and chat sometimes, when I asked him he said society with elves was really different," she said thinking of the one elf in their group. "I am a bit hesitant, because it's in my nature to be skittish, but I also think it would be a good idea. Actually, it is more like instinct to make me think it could be the best idea ever..." she mused aloud seeming to think a few things through. "Ivy told me to trust me instincts so did a few of the others... so, yes. I am sure I would like to learn," she said having reached her own state of certainty.

While one member of the party was becoming certain, another was instead becoming way different. Charles apparently considered himself something completely normal and ordinary. "I don't think I would be, most things make sense in context...Charlemagne, Charles, Charlie or Chuck? That is a long list, but I am called many things by my fathers and my mother, I suppose I can understand. By preference I would prefer one of the shorter ones and in preference to fairness I think I should request you chose something less formal to call me, Char-kun would work for me," she decided not taking a single name from his provided list. Soon after he'd drank the contents of his cup and she could actively feel and witness the shifts in his mana. His temperament also came out a great deal darker than it had before. She observed this and seemed to be unsurprised by it. Still her large blue eyes seemed to be studying him, as she moved forward. Tentatively at first, "You are experiencing the negative emotions of the tainted Grail. It is normal given all you've been through for you to succumb to such feelings, even so... I cannot help you if you don't give me the mana. And its easier to take it from you with more direct contact. I am sure you understand this, so give it to me. It won't effect me the way it does you..." she said she was leaning into him again, willing to plunge her tongue into his mouth as she began trying to strip him of his clothing herself. She'd offer him the relief of a bit of her mana through this as she began to absorb the negative ones from him directly. It would be much easier to take them directly from the lad if she had more access to his mana. So while one hand made contact with the skin on he side of his face, her other moved about his clothing and trousers. If it worked out he'd begin to feel a bit of relief from his non-native negative emotions and the cooling relief of her own mana.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen's head tilted just slightly when he heard Anais' question. Too generous? He was quite certain he'd explained things concisely; there shouldn't have been such a question afterwards. Perhaps there was something more to it? He took a moment to think, figuring Anais thought he was inconveniencing himself. "It's no trouble to me. No, I find the effort-to-results ratio is even better here than if I had done anything else. Given your responses thus far, initiating intercourse would have taken few additional sentences spoken during the preparatory phase, and nearly an hour more of time just to sustain you only until that mana metabolized... at which point you would no longer notice its effects, so it would no longer bring you comfort unless I were to do it again. Choosing this method instead, I can provide you with something that will serve you for a lifetime or more. Though if you do want the other solution in addition, I assume there will be plenty of time. Sakura and that friend of yours will probably be at it for quite a while, from how I see things."

So casually did the people of Munetsuchi talk about things like sex, but such was the way of those who knew the truth. Outsiders were often tougher to deal with in what some here viewed to be normal conversation and exchanges, and it created some rather troublesome talks. For instance, Anais believed she would never be prepared for something. What could she have meant by that? Based on previous interactions with outsiders, it was either the information itself, or use of the parts he'd mentioned. Figuring out which was always difficult. "It's hardly a leap at all. Your answer says you prefer two of the three methods of receiving. The anus receives mana and gives nothing, being primarily useful for consuming mana that will only be used for raw power. If that was about the use of your mouth and vagina, however, I should instead say you are wrong. It should take only one quality exchange to make most people adjusted. In your case... maybe a few, but these things vary from time to time."

It seemed Anais was at least casually aware of elven society and its eccentricities compared to those she'd seen directly. Hesitant though she was, the guidance of another comrade resulted in a certain trust being placed in her own gut feeling. That, too, was useful information for Ailen. Actually, Ailen immediately reached out to grab a strand of thin chitin to set aside for later use. He picked a bit of nightshade fresh to add into the mixture. "Hmm. Basilisk Breath," he mumbled while pouring half a vial of the aforementioned poisonous liquid into a cup. "Chromus Slime," he added, separating a spoonful of some gelatinous substance. With those things set aside, he began grinding the dry ingredients into a fine powder. Using that time, he thought over Anais' acceptance of apprenticeship. "I will teach you. My knowledge should serve you well, but there is much to be taught. You may enjoy this recipe, for example. Given what you and your friends have gone through, I would say all of you could reap the benefits of it. Are you familiar with these ingredients?"

Sakura had been given the usual list of name options that most would call Charlemagne. Strangely, she chose to address him as something he'd never heard before: Char-kun. Of course, that came with the request of him addressing her less formally, which he supposed he could acquiesce to. After all, they'd be connected somehow after today's events, but then they'd likely never meet again after the bond was severed. "I guess that's fair. Tohsaka... -san?" he decided was a fair balance.

Following that exchange, Charlemagne took in the corrupted fluid of the grail. Its effects were felt quickly, and just as quickly noticed by Sakura. She expressed an understanding of the situation, but even if he managed to fight off its influence and react normally, there was a truth to his lack of dexterous mobility. Clothing removal would have required fine motor skills, which seemed to be a trigger for additional soul shattering. Besides, it wasn't as if he liked the idea of disrobing here and now anyway. Ah, but now was not a time of options. It seemed his earlier consent to purification was enough for Sakura, who soon enough would be found with her tongue in his mouth again. That much was to be expected, he supposed. That influx of mana nearly broke him before, but now it must have been useful for helping him move... right? Wrong. While he sat in shock, she started the process of disrobing him. The negativity did begin to waver almost immediately, but with it came a certain confusion. Why was she focusing on his trousers so much? She couldn't have really been that much like Angelica... right? Surely he wouldn't learn that two people were like this in the short span of two days!

[Apollymi]

Anais had those ears of hers twitch again. This man had a strange way of considering life, or maybe her way of considering it was a bit too... formal. Yes, that could make sense given the state of the world and the way she'd been raised twice. "All of you speak so freely of things we've been taught not to discuss. I really don't understand... I am grateful this isn't some strange complex thing I have to deal with alone, but I really don't understand how anyone manages to speak about such a thing so randomly," she said seeming to have gotten her thoughts together. "Shit I can't even decide if I like guys or girls and you just made the most open offer of something I've been raised to consider the sort of thing that only happens between married couples. What is more aren't you married, isn't that wrong, like won't you be a two-timer if you offer something like that?" she really didn't understand the social structure or dynamic of these people. Her friends often engaged in strange relationships with each other and others, but that made sense given they seemed comfortable with each other, she wasn't that comfortable but she didn't judge. Now, she wasn't judging either she was genuinely confused and didn't want to cause trouble for anyone else. "Oops, didn't mean to swear... today has been a really stressful day. I don't envy Charlie, he's probably freaking out enough as is. He did get married today, he'll feel bad about his actions even if they were necessary for his survival, that's the type of man he is," she murmured. Her emotional state was that of an exceedingly young person with too many conflicting ideals being presented at once.

The logical conclusion of the people who live in Munetsuchi was far beyond what was expected. He had a very reasonable way of explaining what he had to say. She could even say it made sense for the little context she had even so she was shocked into a reddened face once more. "I don't think my hold up is about the mana, it's about the sex. Those things have been taught to me as connected but markedly separate, so thinking about it in such a way just seems..." her thought drifted off. She didn't have a word to properly describe why talking about it was so weird, but maybe it was because she'd been raised to consider such a thing something to hide and keep away from others. "Shameful?" the word had an upward inflection as if she wasn't quite certain. At the same time more ingredients were being chosen, at least one of them was something she knew about, but not for any valid reason. He asked her what she understood and she'd explain her understanding but it was obviously far from complete. "I wouldn't eat Nightshade, I don't know what it does, but it doesn't hit my ear as something normally consumable. Basilisk anything usually has poisonous or paralytic properties... slime is usually used as a binding agent or solution I guess it depends on the type. I've never heard of that one though..." she stated. He claimed he would teach other and she gave the sorts of answers she had a brief understanding of. She was an adventurer by trade and as such she was familiar with a few substances.

While that happened it seemed that Sakura and Charles came to an agreement on how they would refer to each other. Tohsaka-san and Char-kun were such a miss-matched set of references, still as far as Sakura was concerned it was better than the overt amount of formality in his first choice of name for her. He thought little of himself... but she didn't understand such logic. Maybe he needed help with that too... it was a thought for later. Now she was busy, undoing his shirt, and his trousers. Yes, she'd free him from his underthings and he thought she might be like Angelica but she wasn't. Unlike Angelica the goddess raised in a tower away from others by a prude, Sakura was raised in a family of open communication and mana-transfers. She understood fully how they worked even if she'd never recieved one herself and she would freely finish the work she thought to do. She was already drawing the toxic mana from his grail into her person, through his mouth and he'd soon enough find her hand upon his manhood as she worked towards concentrating it there. It would be better if she received all the mana he had to offer directly... she'd take it into her mouth when it welled up properly. Since he'd given permission for the cleansing she saw nothing wrong with her behavior. She did not have human logic she had something else entirely to her nature. She'd break their kiss with a line of saliva between their mouths and explain the process for what that was worth. "Well, you feel the mana welling up enough that you can't hold it let me know... I'll take it into myself. You should be calm enough now to understand right?" she asked of him as if her actions were a perfectly normal set of things to be doing. All the while she figured she was about to understand a more direct mana-transfer for the first time.

[Bloodedge]

Complications were abundant for outsiders, as always. He didn't expect Anais to fully comprehend the methods they lived by in Munetsuchi, but it was still bothersome dealing with exactly how off-put people were by these things. At the very least, she expressed it as a matter of not understanding. That was a massive step up from others who thought them gross or otherwise unorthodox in a negative manner. This one could be taught. Ah, he knew she would be an excellent fit as his apprentice! "Your ignorance of the truth is so... refreshing. I've come to expect looks of disgust or refute, but you are genuinely confused. It's rather cute instead of being an annoyance, so thank you. Your understanding is born of misinformation, or a lack of information entirely. It is not that sex and mana transfers should be considered separate, but that humans have bred into the world a focus on sex as sex alone. Their lack of senses has removed all important things from the equation. Hypothetically speaking, If I were to offer you mana here and now, it would be a trusting exchange. I would be confiding in you, believing that you are worthy of receiving my very essence, while also accepting yours into me. Marriage is an arrangement of exclusivity in most cases, but those who understand the truth of exchanges may learn that life is not so simple. For example, your preference for men or women is hardly a thing that needs consideration. If you aren't specifically aiming to have a child, you can choose whichever you want ─ or even both, whenever you wish. In some rare cases, even procreation makes gender-matching inconsequential."

Ailen took pause, completing the grinding process and abandoning the alchemy table for a moment. Before anything else, he had to make sure Anais received proper explanations. Apparently, she thought he would be a 'two-timer' if they exchanged mana... because he was married? "That is foolish talk on two counts. A mana transfer is a perfectly reasonable thing to occur between two people who are important to each other. And no, I would be no such thing. Firstly, I am one of five husbands to the goddess of this land. Secondly, you will be my apprentice, and therefore a very important person. If Miwa were to accept you, that would be fine. If she did not, I would only have to ensure your mana did not transfer from you, through me, into her and the others. I suppose you could consider it more like sharing," he explained. Moving on to her understanding of the current ingredients, it seemed she would refrain from consuming nightshade above anything else. Others listed were mostly unfamiliar to the girl, but that was fine. She at least had the sense to know avoiding anything from a Basilisk was a good idea. "Very good. However, nightshade would do you no harm in reasonable doses. Basilisk Breath is an extract that paralyzes, so you are right to avoid it. The slime of a Chromus is indeed a binding agent, albeit with a very specific effect. Come here. I will share my knowledge with you of this, and of the truth behind mana exchanges."

A tongue to the maw was one way to silence Charlemagne's naysaying. It seemed Sakura would be one to learn that lesson, if only accidentally. As much as he thought this was foul play on his part, it was impossible to argue the benefits of receiving the purple-haired girl's kiss in the moment. Those divine offspring had to be something incomprehensible. Charlemagne's ailments were all but taken care of while saliva swapped between partly-opened mouths. Even that welling aggression was fading bit by bit. Alas, these developments did nothing for another issue. He could have believed nudity or a certain lack of clothing would be helpful to the coming process. He could have believed Sakura wasn't another weird girl who thought of sexual acts as just another casual thing. He would have believed all of that in time, if not for the fact that a removal of his trousers resulted in Sakura's hand upon his groin. Well... that gave him the answer for certain. She broke the kiss, and Charlemagne felt that trail of saliva as if it were a tractor beam pulling against his soul. That, however, was not the important thing here. "Huh, what?!" he questioned immediately. Sakura urged him to inform her of when he could no longer hold back the mana. It all sounded too familiar, and too... almost dirty. "C-c-c-chotto matte! I told you I was married! Look, I know you're all goddess-y and whatnot, but we normal people don't have the same views! I mean yeah, I got married as part of someone's weird plot to rip my soul out, but I went through with it because I wanted to be with Angelica! I can't go back and just admit to having relations with some random girl I just met on the day of our wedding; monogamy means something!"

[Apollymi]

Anais had expressed her lack of understanding the best way she knew how, and in so doing she wasn't chastised for her lack of understanding. It seemed that Ailen and the leaders of this empire in general dealt with a lot of nuanced controversy when dealing with outsiders. Strangely her reaction to the information he gave, didn't give her another negative or condescending response. He called her confusion and lack of understanding refreshing and cute? Anais's eyes widened and her face reddened. She was thanked simply for not being completely disgusted or refuting his lifestyle, she could only be shy about that sort of thing. "Iie, there is no need to thank me or anything. I have strange friends our group is weird but we have a rule about not getting into each other's personal business unless we want to be involved. I am actually confused and I just wanted to understand... I think given what you said it's a bit clearer now. But that is definitely what should be being taught to everyone, I know it isn't just me who doesn't know those things are supposed to be related or why," she said with certainty. She hoped Charles was coming to a better understanding over his time spent with Sakura. She'd feel bad if he was depressed about what was necessary to heal his person. As far as she understood Ailen, his life, with his goddess and her other husbands was simply more complex than the human and humanoid understanding of monogamy and exclusivity. She gained the understanding that what she liked or didn't wouldn't really effect her long term in life regardless of her goals and as such she seemed to lose a bit of tension in her shoulders. It was good to know, though still hard to believe.

What was more she received extra information. That mana transfers were normal between two people who were important to each other. The fact that they were sexual worked in tandem with the ideology of trusting the person you interacted with in such a way. "Sou ka," she murmured seeming to understanding that a bit better than she thought. The claim here was that if she was to be his apprentice she'd be important to him, and given that she would be offered mana that was part of their exchange. He claimed that his marriage was different and that if the goddess Miwa didn't accept her, he'd simply have to make sure the goddess didn't end up with mana from her in the exchange. They were sharing instead of the sort of exclusivity. "I see, that is a strangely open way for that to work... my original home had relationships like that, but they were very much outliers in common society. Still if it isn't a problem for the way you work, then I won't worry too much about it," she said having come to her own conclusions very easily given her friend group. Moving on from that, there were the ingredients and her understanding of them. She received praise and then more information. She'd commit it to memory. He claimed she should come to him and he'd give her the truth behind those ingredients and mana exchanges. She walked forward unsure of what would be happening but given he'd stopped what he was doing she expected something strange but nothing that made her fearful.

Speaking of people unprepared for things, Charles was going to have an experience. It seemed at least there was something to be said for the amount of comfort that someone like Sakura could offer him while bleeding him of the negative aspects of the Holy Grails influence. Even so, when this was done he seemed to be a bit caught up. This exchange was happening and Sakura was fine with it, but he had some additional problems. He said words which she understood which gave her a bit of pause. She unhanded him briefly so that he could get out what he had to say and what a strange set of sentences they were. She stared at him reiterating the point from earlier that he was married. He apparently understood her nature as a goddess, but claimed to not have the same views. He claimed that even though someone had tried to rip his soul out he truly wanted to be with Angelica, and as such the monogamy of their relationship meant something. "Tou-chan was right, outsiders are quite uninformed and mean in their ignorance," she mused as if it was a simple fact. "I told you when you told me that that you aren't married. The magical connection between you and your goddess is all mana. You won't make it back to help her, get remarried, or explain it to her if you don't finish the exchange..." she said not truly understanding the issue. "You won't be a different person, you'll cease to exist any more, no rebirth, no nothing... and then how will you get her back from the man who stole your identity?" she asked most seriously. "If you give me the mana you have in you, I can help you... I can finish the exchange and you can find your way back to her. She's a goddess and Kaa-sama said aside from the one most won't be difficult to reason with... I'll help with that too if you like, but your lack of understanding here isn't doing you or anyone else any good," she offered. "How about I give you the understanding of what exchanges actually are, maybe it will help you make a more informed decision," she said carefully.

[Bloodedge]

Uninformed though they were, Anais' group of comrades were an interesting bunch. Agreeing to keep their noses out of each other's business was quite smart. Such was the same logic one could apply to what they were discussing currently. "If that is your rule, you are all closer to understanding the truth than you may believe. Whether a transfer of mana or an act of debauchery, the thing called sex and all things related to it are things shared between involved parties. It is your business as a collective, and yours alone. In my homeland, we apply that mentality to our apprenticeships as well. To do otherwise is to invite confusion, and therefore strife, into a relationship of any type," he rambled.

With his explanation given, Anais seemed to have a much better understanding. She was more likely to comprehend the truth than the vast majority of outsiders he'd explained things to over the years. In fact, Anais even offered some insight as to why she thought the way she did. Her first home could not have been the forest she was born to in this life, so it was another lifetime that affected her at base. "Those few polygamous relationships could have been between those who knew the truth. Although... it is also possible they were nowhere near understanding; that is also likely. I understand your reservations regarding mana transfers, but I must not leave you uninformed. My apprentice must have a proper grasp of reality," he explained while the lass approached. Once Anais was within striking distance, he turned to fully face her. Ailen reached out to pull back the girl's hood and bare her face and hair, the latter of which would have his fingers lace through it as he grasped her head. Without further explanation, he leaned toward Anais' face. The exchange of knowledge and the exchange of mana were the same for elves, as the latter carried the former most efficiently through oral contact. In being a transfer, it was no simple peck on the lips either. No, Ailen's lips would soon press firmly against Anais' multiple times, in an intense enough manner that a smacking sound would occur at every temporary separation. Was that all? No; of course it wasn't. Bodily fluids were carriers of mana. As such, a wetted tongue would be invading Anais' mouth to molest her tongue for maximum efficiency. If there were any onlookers, they would likely say this all looked like an act of great passion before lovemaking. As Ailen explained though, there was hardly a difference at the base of it all. Any sexual connotation was inconsequential to Ailen as he delivered unto Anais his understanding of mana transfers, mana synergizing and harmonizing, and of course the memory of all ingredients he was currently utilizing for a potion.

Charlemagne wasn't coming to a better understanding at all. He was flustered, shocked and appalled. The most satisfaction he got was that Sakura released his manhood when he spoke. A sigh of relief would follow that. Alas, Sakura was too much like Angelica. She responded as if his reaction was the strange thing here, even saying he was ignorant for the outburst. Correct, he wasn't married in any sense that this world would consider official. Did that matter? Apparently not, but not for any reason he would have thought. In fact, he did not yet know why none of it mattered at all... but he was told by Sakura that all hope of return would be lost if he didn't let her finish. The truth of that matter was disturbing. He'd already drank the corruption, already felt it trying to consume him through his own negativity. If the existing problems didn't tear Charlemagne asunder, the corruption would definitely turn him into something he'd never want to be.

"Chikusho! I get it, I get it!" he yelled. He knew he could cease to exist. He knew all would be for naught if this process didn't proceed. Even so, it felt so very wrong based on everything he knew across two lives. If he could have cleared this with Angelica beforehand, surely she would have started yelling and insisting that he see it through. The fact that he couldn't do that was the worst thing. If he hadn't been taken in by Father An's plan, none of this would be happening. Everything was due to Charlemagne's own weakness. If he hadn't frozen during the ordeal, he could have found Angelica before making an escape into the Labyrinth or something. Everything was due to Ganelon's sudden betrayal. If he hadn't been so weak in the face of that draining, he could have at least fought back. . . Everything was due to Father An. He even took the main connection he had to Angelica. He was sick. He should be brought down. These thoughts appeared one after another, each devolving less into a blame on himself, and more onto others. Perhaps that should have been a good thing. It wasn't. Most of Charlemagne's latter thoughts were hateful, vengeful even. Those thoughts were not his own... yet they were. He was beginning to believe these methods would be worthwhile, if only to let him stand before Father An again. "I... want to kill him. Should I want to do that? I don't think I should, but I do. Oi... explain whatever you want about exchanges or whatever. If you're sure there's no other way, do what you have to. I'll figure out what to do about that when I'm not falling apart. But... if you're trying to get a rise out of that thing, good luck. I don't think I'll ever be into it enough for that to work."

[Apollymi]

After explaining the specifics of rule one in all but name, and it seemed that he understood the gist of their type of friendship. Of course, he relayed the information to his understanding of the truth of the world, and claimed that they were closer to such an understanding than they knew. Things related to sex and mana-transfers, basically all things personal that involved a specific set of parties, was between those involved. Anything else was to invite strife and confusion in already established relationships. "Alright, those kinds of rules are ones I live by already. I am fine with this..." she commented in general understanding of the situation. Of course there was something else completely coming her way in just a matter of moments and there was nothing that could have properly prepared her for it. He claimed that as his apprentice she was required to have a proper grip on reality regardless of her current reservations, though he did understand how she felt.

Well, his understanding aside she was soon given something strange. His rather direct and menacing approach. He pulled back her hood, exposing her face, and her tawny hair which could appear either blonde or light brown depending on the lighting. Beyond this her large blue green eyes widened as this man wrapped his hands up in her hair. He struck in a manner which surprised and completely disarmed the girl. What was she supposed to do? Three quick meetings of their lips happened before a rather wet tongue found its way into her mouth. But it wasn't just the tongue, no it was mana too. Now that she understood what it was she was looking for she could easily feel the exchange as it happened and it became odder still. It wasn't just mana flowing into her body, it was knowledge, of mana exchanges, of the synergy and harmony possible and happening actively within their exchange, of the way the world worked at base. It was tongue strokes delivering all the information he currently had on his ingredient list. Her own tongue simply couldn't remain still as the knowledge she was given gave her the impulse to seek the rest of the exchange. What did he get in return for this particular exchange? Well, the knowledge of her light based protective magic, and a bit of the information related to her home world as she integrated the other information he gave.

Sakura had observed much of this lad, and her words to him seemed to strike a nerve. This one in particular seemed to make him realize that arguing against the cleansing of his Grail and the fixing of his mana wouldn't work in his favor. Still, he seemed quite distressed. Of course, she realized the problems he was having and she knew that hse could just give him the information he said he'd want, so she would reserve that and try and pass it along in the manner he'd be more accustomed to. "If you feel that vengeful, I might not have taken enough of the grail's corruption from you. It seems as an energy to be the literal manifestation of negative emotions, fear, loathing of self, dejectedness, and then vengeance, the desire to strike back at that which has wronged you. I've been told such emotions in small doses are fairly normal, but if it feels odd to you that is probably why. What I observed of you before says those aren't natural to you, but if you've noticed you can resist for a time," she mentioned carefully. As for the state of his manhood that wasn't really a problem. "The exchange of mana is something that your body will acknowledge at its base, acts of sex or mana-transfer can be stirred with the knowledge of how to manipulate them. My natural existence as a goddess would make most people offer me mana even if they only acknowledged it as sexual attraction initially. My existence makes me attractive to others, it makes them want to give to me. It should be considered normal. For humans mana-attraction and harmony leads to sexual bonding and desire, but humans and outsiders seem to associate sex with just the act instead of understanding that is mana that starts the process. I could force it but, I'd rather not if it is avoidable. It works better if you give freely and willingly... it will also be easier for me to separate out the unnatural negatives from your base self," she explained. "I do not think such an exchange should require you to feel guilty or wrong in this case, you are doing everything you can to get back to the goddess you chose to be with, she wouldn't hold it against you... especially if you are honest about it. From what I have observed of others, it is lying about things that causes disharmony and confusion. Again, I have no problem helping you explain this when it is all over, I could even break our bond in front of your goddess if you think it will help your case at all," she explained gently enough, as she leaned in. She was being as gentle about this as she could. She was trying to help him understand before it was too late for him to make his informed decision.

[Bloodedge]

With an acceptance came progression. Ailen did warn Anais in a certain way what was to come. As their lips met, her surprise was more than obvious. Curious was the elf, though. What would she do from there? If she was so shocked, would she be fully taken aback and reject the notions so recently shared? No, it seemed she wouldn't. By the time a change of any sort came, it appeared Anais had fully accepted the transfer of knowledge and energy. The transfer of information was progressing smoothly ─ so smoothly that Anais' tongue became active as well. Ailen saw some of the strangest sights with his mind's eye. Whatever those were, he'd sort through them later; delivery was more important. Various clicks and slaps sounded between mouths as oral fluid continued being swabbed back and forth between his maw and Anais'. He had so much to show, so much to explain. Anais would see in first-person the learning process for Nightshade, Chromus Slime, Basilisk Breath and all associated parts, and so much more. She'd see a quick flash of every alchemical application he ever found for those ingredients. That may or may not have been a bit much to process in one sitting, but he did warn her that there was much to learn. Oh well. If one could learn everything at once, there would be no point to future lessons. Whether those would be equivalent to an intense make-out session or not... well, that would be discovered as time went on.

Meanwhile, Charlemagne was being given yet another informative lecture... or even two at once. His aggression wasn't truly his own; it was in large part due to the Holy Grail's corrupt liquid. If that was the cause, he could live with it... metaphorically speaking, at least. Still, he wondered why the Holy Grail became the way it was. Moving on, the other part of Sakura's lecture was about mana transfers and her nature as a divine being. He had come to partially understand most of that from interacting with Angelica for the past two days. The details were perhaps thought of as crucial, but he was becoming more and more stuck on his current goals. Charlemagne wanted nothing more than vengeance, even while conscious of the fact that he wasn't a vengeful person. Sakura seemed to believe her existence alone would be enough to get a rise out of him. If he thought too much about that, Charlemagne would start questioning his recent decisions... so he silenced that train of thought immediately. The most important thing here was to get rid of that grail's corruption, and return to his real reason for finding Aincrad again. "Listen, you're saying a lot, but I'm having the worst time processing any of it. I said do what you have to do. Don't even worry about me and my crap if there's no other way. I'll think about all that stuff later; I just need to get myself fixed!"

[Apollymi]

Anais was soon distracted, there was so much information flowing through her mind. She saw a strange elf woman in a large green hat, and instances of various ingredients being used in more ways than she understood. It was as if she was learning how to use all these things with her own hands, she was seeing so many images of a sharp eye'd teacher sharing her own information. It was strange but it was informative. She also saw various flashes of this man coming to his own conclusions about various uses of these same things. She was given both basics and expansion and in the same moment came to realize how studying under someone actually worked for Elves. Oh? That was it wasn't it. All the while it seemed as if a tongue was permanently aiming to reach the depths of her throat. How very strange, she couldn't really do anything but accept everything coming into her mind and try to compartmentalize it. She began treating those small images as flashcards, like she would have studied in high school. She tried not to concentrate on the fact that this man was making out with her to convey this information and tried more not to think about the fact that she was sharing her first kiss in such an intense and strange way. It was platonic, but also intimate, she understood it at her base, but it was still quite strange to be involved with. She supposed at the very least she'd have her studies to distract her from her human follies while she sorted through everything he offered her.

As one came to acceptance another did the same. Strangely, Charles had little to say about what she'd shared. He claimed that he couldn't yet process all that information and that she shouldn't worry about it. Instead he simply wished to have his mana cleansed that he might keep firm in his memory why he was aiming to go back to his former home the way he was. It was an admirable thing, his will to continue, as far as Sakura understood it. "Hai, onegaishimasu!" she murmured. Still, in the spirit of being friendly, she'd make sure the information she had was passed along to him so he had it to work with later. She continued to offer her own mana to quell the negative feelings and sought out the mana that was tainted with things that weren't innate to his nature. She'd take it all into herself as she aimed to cleanse his body by the meeting of their mouths. He didn't think his body would work, but as their mouths began to meet again with her wet tongue forced into his maw and moving about as if she intended to taste the entirety of his being... her hand came up to his chest. She began to draw it downward ever so slowly, seeming to stop at certain points as she aimed to manipulate the remaining mana in his body. She began moving it towards his core and what was more towards his manhood. If she succeeded in this, by the time her hand made it to his groin in their intense make-out session, she'd find stiffness she could work with for the purpose of their continued mana transfer. Her own desire to help him, thus she'd spur along his own release, so that she might eventually swallow it along with the rest of his negativity. All the while she was pulling mana into her body and separating it into parts. Her chest would be gently swelling as she aimed all purified mana there and all tainted mana towards her core for further cleansing and use. Such a transfer was a strange thing for even Sakura to experience but it wouldn't stop her from acting. She did not come with normal human hold ups.

[Bloodedge]

It seemed Anais was receiving all necessary information; however, there were some caveats and confirmations necessary in these exchanges. Ailen had not given a transfer of knowledge like this in quite some time, given Miwa's existing understanding of things. When was the last time his purpose in exchange was alchemy alone? It had been ages. In fact, perhaps Anais would even see for herself the last person to exchange with him in such a way. He knew it to be his mentor, as he'd never taken an apprentice prior to this day.

Even when the act of tongue-wrestling was not done for solely sexual purposes, there was an eventual need to break. Ailen didn't intend to have a very long one, but he'd use those brief moments to allow reprieve for Anais' spiritual palate, so to speak. "If the transfer is too much, say so," he commented before his tongue was thrashing against hers once more. For something not so sexual, it seemed very... purposeful. Ah, but that was what Ailen meant to convey earlier. In fact, one would find that he was consciously avoiding the advancement of a typical mana transfer, despite any physical reactions that were always certain to... arise. Natural developments or not, Ailen was a respecter of wishes.

Of the three visitors to Munetsuchi, two were presently having their mouths tongue-punched by someone they met mere minutes ago. Sakura took Charlemagne's insistence to progress by first kissing him again. Well, that was at least something he'd come to expect from this one. He even needed the relaxation that came as a result: the gentle reprieve from all that building negativity. He didn't seem to be reciprocating very much, yet there was one thing he couldn't avoid. Sakura's hand moved down his torso and acted as a magnet for his mana, shifting it to precisely where she wished it to be. Of course, the desired location was his manhood... because where else would she want it? With that sort of ability, surely she could have moved it all into his mouth or something, right? Whatever the case was, he couldn't argue with it much as the response of mana became mentally conflated with physical desire for normal humans. As well, there was an influx of strange understanding in Charlemagne's mind. Physically, he felt there was certainly something desirable on the way. Spiritually and mentally, he was beginning to feel there was some merit to all Angelica, and now Sakura, explained to him. Why did this suddenly feel so normal? He'd understand fully soon enough, maybe even before that throbbing phallus of his subsided... or maybe after.

[Apollymi]

Anais was receiving an immense amount of information. Of course, she didn't see a problem with anything happening even as her throat was being basically assaulted by another person's tongue she was gaining knowledge. Not just of alchemical ingredients, but of mana transfers and what they meant, how they worked and the depth of exchanges. Those done in this case between Master and Apprentice weren't things to be considered the same way that she was taught. The ideals of things like virginity and chastity were simply false. These weren't necessary to her understanding of life in this world. Oh? How interesting, it was like all the morals she'd been given in two lives didn't need to be considered. If she needed knowledge she could get it here. She could come to understanding the difference between exclusivity in a relationship and the exchange of knowledge, it was a rather open amount of information to receive. Strangely, she was pulled away from as she was organizing her thoughts, a brief intermission took place in which the elf who was her mentor mentioned, that she should let him know if it was too much. It went without saying that Anais was flustered, but it wasn't an unpleasant experience it was a lot but not too much. "Iie," she murmured only to have him place his tongue back into her mouth. It was quite an experience as she realized he was just kissing her and his body had come to experience what she knew previously to be shameful arousal. No, that wasn't it, this was the natural response to the situation she was in as it developed, what was more, she experienced a wetness beginning to pool between her legs. Ah, it wasn't just knowledge of mana and its purposes, but also the act of sex as a whole. Oh...

Ah, as Anais learned the ways of the world by virtue of experience, Charles was given a very interesting amount of information and mana manipulation. There wasn't much reciprication on his part, but given the situation Sakura didn't expect it. No... she was a goddess by her nature and she knew her body would allow itself to function as long as she wished it to. She could only hope the lad was able to handle everything happening to him in the moment, she'd been reserving the more extreme measures to be laid out overtime only when needed. As for his thoughts on why she moved it down, there was a reason, the natural movement of mana was similar to that of digestion or the movement of blood. It had a starting point and a spreading point, to move it in the opposite direction would disrupt the flow and impede the process. Besides, it would all likely move back up to his upper body when he reached the proper conclusion. As such Sakura would continue, she'd handle him with care, beginning to stoke his manhood after the proper amount of mana reached it. He didn't fully understand yet, but maybe he would. She'd continue her work feeling the build up of mana and whenever it reached it's maximum there was a very specific task she'd undertake. She had to take the rest of this mana and to do so she'd allow the expulsion of what remained of the mana she was moving into her mouth. She'd bend herself to accept it and continue the methods she had for making sure every ounce of the evil his grail possessed left his body and entered her own. Strangely the only thing that would leave her body would be goodness, but that would require him to take it directly from her body. Specifically she'd feed it to him in the way of parent and child, from her breasts. At least that was her plan as she began the process of subduing the evil of his cup.

[Bloodedge]

Indeed, the relationship Anais had as a student with her mentor was not to be considered the same as she and others would expect. Just the same, it was not to be considered some scandalous thing, nor in the same way as friendships or intimate relationships of varying levels. An apprenticeship was an all-consuming thing where, in many cases notable in elf society and some others, two participants became everything to each other. The master would be the student's lifeblood, their enabler, the one who made them the most they could be. At the same time, the student would be the master's legacy, their cause for continued study, and even the reason they lived and grew up to the point of taking said student. Such was how it had always been for elves, and how Ailen viewed the current arrangement. He would be Anais' living dissertation, and in exchange would make her his magnum opus.

During their brief intermission, Anais refuted the idea that their exchange was becoming too much. Ailen's hands had shifted slightly, giving his palms a feel of the girl's cheeks. There was a warmth upon them that wouldn't have been found in most exchanges with other elves. Fluster? Yes, the manner of her response seemed to support that idea. No matter; he'd take the girl at her word. Any other time it became necessary to breathe properly, he'd have something else to say amidst broken trails of saliva. "General background then," he heaved into the girl's face. "Ready?" he asked, fully prepared to reinsert his tongue and impart knowledge not related to mana transfers or that particular potion ─ knowledge of all plants and other ingredients within this very grove. Of course, he questioned her readiness because it was quite a lot of information to share. In his understanding, it would take many revisits to the current exchange alone for someone to grasp everything about these ingredients. His intention was only to prevent a baseline, that Anais could begin her own experimentation in an informed manner. This exchange, however, was considered dangerous. Ailen was an elf with a vast array of knowledge to share about most things, and this was a rather extensive list of things. If Anais retained even some of the things he shared, she was once again proving herself as a perfect choice. A guarantee would have been a different method of transference to deliver the 'feeling' in addition to knowledge, but that was a matter he chose to leave in Anais' hands. How studious was she? Time would tell, but all who learned would be left to do so mostly at their own pace. Such was Ailen's way.

Meanwhile, Charlemagne was left wondering if this entire world was just some pervert's dream scenario. All the way down to the base functionality of everything here, there was something sexual. Well, whatever. He supposed it would just be his fate to make-out with some random young goddess while simultaneously receiving a handjob. Actually, Charlemagne hardly realized it, but his tongue was starting to move against Sakura's. If he forgot about everything else, he'd say this was all a very pleasant experience. Sakura's hand met him with a gentle touch that surprisingly managed a lot in terms of providing sensation. Perhaps this would have worked without all the magical mumbo jumbo? No, his mental hang-ups wouldn't have allowed that. Though, if it managed to start... he could see it finishing/ Why was he thinking that way? He shouldn't have been thinking that way. It seemed now that the aggression was tapering off, he was suffering the effects of being in a goddess' presence. Charlemagne's eyes closed not even to shut himself away, but because he was starting to enter a state of ─ albeit undesired ─ bliss. More mana was welling up in his groin than ever before. His manhood felt ready to physically burst constantly, and there was even more of a similar sensation building within. That strange pulse was back as well. Why? He'd been under the assumption that it was a very Angelica-exclusive feeling previously. Was it a goddess effect, or... was there something else to it? Charlemagne dreaded the latter as an idea, but as he looked at Sakura now, he couldn't completely discredit it. How very bothersome.

[Apollymi]

Student/Advisor relationships were very different in the world Anais originally came from. Even so, she could accept that the two of them had some kind of almost symbiotic connection now as people who were moving towards similar goals. She was aiming to learn the depths of a new craft and trying to learn how to make something better, and he was trying to impart all he knew for similar purposes. She could accept this information as he gave it and try to work with everything. Apparently what was up next was general background knowledge, when asked if she was ready, a simple murmuring would happen. "Hai," she agreed and soon after she was drowning. Unlike her earlier bits of information she was being impractically bombarded with all the information she could ever really want. Everything in this lab, every plant and all its uses, every animal part and every discovered use, not just in physical description as words. Her body went almost limp as she tried to process it. Her earlier mental creation of various flash cards wasn't something she'd be able to do with this type of information. All she could do to absorb it a bit. To remember things like names and early uses but even those were being buried by information within her mind. She had to relax, this was a lot to take in. There was also the hands on her overly warm face which did nothing for her present state of embarrassment.

Moving on from that point, there was Charles dealing with all the things in his own head concerning his feelings and Sakura not truly understanding his hang-ups. This much made sense given her up bringing, just the same she continued to do what she would. That deep kiss and the movements her hands against his manhood were done specifically with the idea of taking darkness into herself and feeding him back that which belonged to him. The constant pulse of his mana was something that Sakura felt and could easily match with her movements, that kiss of hers deepened as she explored. She was stroking away ready to receive the rest of his mana. What she was taking out of his upper body wasn't the most of it. A more direct burst was what she was expecting and she'd have to break their kiss to make this happen. Actually one of her hands moved, to his family jewels as she would work on the rest and she'd pull away. "You can relax, I can sort through the rest if you allow it to flow more freely," she said letting him know that he should expend himself. Of course, if he did as she asked her mouth would move to accept the explusion which she'd swallow and finish filtering. All the while she'd begin lowering her kimono a bit to free her ever expanding breasts. Well, it was technically the least invasive way she could give him back the mana he expended.

[Bloodedge]

This particular offering of knowledge was a hefty one, but Ailen had confidence in Anais' ability to retain more than a reasonable amount. He did have a few minor concerns, though. Some would experience a sense of overloading from such quantity. Ailen believed Anais was far too accepting of new information for that, he thought. As for the transfer itself, the physical aspect was steadily building. The heat of Anais' face was a more pleasant development than it should have been. Ailen's hands were busying themselves gently caressing her face. Was it some part of the process to better transfer information? No, of course it wasn't; it was just more natural progression in the exchange. Once more, there was a very slight parting of lips. "How do you feel? This is a far rougher and more dangerous way of sharing so much. If this is your physical limit though, it is the only way. I trust you to get something from it," he said. Before any opportunity to retort came about, the lip-smacking returned with a vengeance. With so much to learn, Anais would have to find the time to respond herself.

Speaking of finding time for responses, Charlemagne hardly had any since Sakura first leaned into him. She was steadily stroking his tool in the most tantalizing way, and just as steadily consuming him by mouth. When the latter ceased, Sakura made it clear that she meant to consume him from somewhere else. How... lewd. What she specifically said was something about sorting through the remainder, provided he let it flow freely. Interestingly enough, that was very easy to interpret. "That's such a weird way of putting that!" he exclaimed. Just then however, he realized what that secondary feeling was. It was somewhat masked by all the mana-related madness, but once he got past that, it was something very familiar: the feeling of pending ejaculation. How had he missed it before? "Ah─! If you're still waiting on that warning, this is it!" he blurted out. So sudden was the realization of what was happening, and just as suddenly, he'd be spewing what had the look of normal ejaculate from his tip. Sure, the quantity was a bit excessive for what he understood of human production, but it didn't look any different. What Sakura with her senses were sure to pick up from it, however... it was a darkness that had no place in this world.

[Apollymi]

That very intense kiss was continuing to happen. As far as Anais was concerned she never really had time to consider the physical sensation of it, mostly because she was mentally still trying to process a lot of information. She was accepting of it, and figured if she needed to recall it, she'd be able to with a few moments of valid thought towards the subject in question, like being asked trivia. Whatever the case, soon enough the kiss was broken again, if only for more words to be spoken by her teacher. He continued to caress her face, in a way which likely made this seem a lot less professional as an exchange, but she also didn't mind this at all. He conferred that this was a bit of a dangerous way to give so much information she could see that, he asked how she felt and claimed to trust her to receive all he had to offer. She didn't immediately get a change to offer, as lip smacking continued. She supposed it would be strange not to answer, so between those instances of lips meeting, she managed a few short answers. "I'm fine really..." she managed quickly before their lips were together again. "I'm compartmentalizing..." she claimed. "It's only a little embarrassing," once more. "I'm managing I think..." she offered at last. That was mostly a complete thought. Her brain was still functioning.

While Anais had to figure out how to deal with the new intimate teacher student relationship she had, Charles had to deal with the problems of his mana cleansing. Ah, in this case, Sakura shared words with him, which he understood, but claimed were weird. She managed to look at him as if slightly confused. "But you understood," she mused as if it was the most sensible reason to speak in such a way. Granted she also didn't see those sentences as lewd, she had no reason to suspect anything else. Ah, having separated their mouths, she recieved just one more warning as the pooling of mana in Charles body was expended through his phallus. Of course, she moved her mouth to catch all that was expelled, closing it gently over the tip for just a second or two to make sure all ended up where it needed to. Even while she removed it, she left her mouth open after the initial swallow just in case there were any residual spurts of mana to be given. All the while her face seemed to redden though not innately for the reasons one might think. Here was an echo of power in her chest in the same moment, as if something had just manifested within her person. Sakura knew his grail was tainted but this feeling was like the purity of evil condensing within her person. Even as she separated the purest pieces from the dark, it seemed to be condensing near the core of her being.

When she looked up and made eye contact with Charles, little hints of red had entered her once purely blue eyes. "Oh? That's what that's like... it's a lot of power to take mana this way," she mused as if she'd simply learned something new. But nothing else about her speech pattern had changed. "Hm, this taint is its own entity... that's strange. It tastes spicy..." she murmured seeming not to think about it too much. Now her chest was being exposed, she moved up again. She moved in such a way as to force her now exposed chest into Charles's face. "Char-kun, you have to take back the purified mana. I have condensed it all here. And I'll do this once more to make sure you don't have any residual darkness left..." she murmured as she placed a hand back on his groin. There was a nipple hanging directly over his mouth as well. Her entire chest pulsed with pure mana, waiting to be taken. She was making an offering of purified mana back to the lad, he should have no problem pulling on it for himself. All while she continued to try and compress the evil she'd consumed.

[Bloodedge]

Anais did indeed find time to response. Between small breaks that appeared here and there, her words were offered bit by bit. To hear that she was compartmentalizing was good; that meant she was retaining something. He couldn't fathom why she considered it embarrassing, though. Why was that? Well... the best way to find out was asking in this case. As such, Ailen spoke again the next time an opportunity presented itself. "It's only us here. You're doing exceptionally well, especially for a beginner. Don't be embarrassed," he said, each sentence spaced with another meeting of lips or lash of tongue. The intensity seemed to only grow by the moment. Ailen wouldn't release the girl until all information he planned to deliver was given, and there was much left for the first lesson. Soon enough, one of his hands had left her face. That same arm wrapped itself around Anais' midsection and held her tightly against his fore. Once more, he seemed to completely disregard his own physical signs of arousal, even as it pressed against the girl. Mostly, his maneuver to keep them closer to each other was one that took advantage of his height. Tongues dancing inside Anais' mouth while his own was higher, there was the addition of gravity to the saliva from his tongue to hers. The flood of knowledge would only become more powerful until it reached its end.

That very same statement could be applied to a lot of things. For example, Charlemagne experienced a flood of sorts that only intensified until its end. What would have been a spillage of seed became something sucked directly into Sakura's mouth. More and more, he was seeing the ridiculousness of divinities in this world. What was with magical things being connected to sex acts? She was definitely taking the corruption from his body, as Charlemagne himself could confirm by feeling... but it was heavily overshadowed by the lad feeling as if her intention was to pleasure him. 'Just the tip' should have been fine... but it wasn't. So much sensitivity in such a place only resulted in those additional spurts Sakura stayed behind for feeling more natural. In clearing it all, Sakura seemed so very nonchalant. She spoke casually about the type of energy she'd taken, and Charlemagne's eyes finally reopened. Ah... he probably shouldn't have done that. In doing so, his first sight was the bared chest of Sakura hanging right over his face. "... Eh?" he muttered immediately. She wasn't so voluptuous before, was she? Maybe she had one of those easily-concealed figures. No, that wasn't right. Her kimono couldn't have covered those without some sort of wrap underneath, and he saw no signs of something like that! Why were they in his face? Why did he feel inclined to suck them? Why was her hand on his crotch again?! Well, that last one had an answer given by Sakura herself. Actually... so did the earlier questions. He remembered speaking with Angelica about mana transfers and how the act of giving was done by women. Oh. So he was meant to suck it out directly after all. Charlemagne winced upon realizing this, but in the end, his mouth was slowly opening just to close around Sakura's nearest nipple. With that, he'd begin to inhale and... remember not to be surprised by the thought of a breastfeeding non-mother. . .

[Apollymi]

Even as Anais became more comfortable with the exchange between herself and her teacher, she seemed to be maintaining her rather embarrassed expression. Between the heat in her face from the exchange itself and her forcing her brain to conform to the idea that this wasn't nearly as bad as she thought it was, embarrassment was all she could feel. She wasn't doing anything wrong, she was learning in the way taught by elves, and she was even being complimented. Ailen seemed to be trying his best to help her and also seemed pleased with her developments, so why? Why did the words he spoke as question and encouragement hit her ears so strangely? Her ears flapped atop her head, and she couldn't even manage being properly stunned. There was a wet tongue and smacking lips but between those she managed to explain herself maybe. "I know," she paused as more knowledge flowed into her mind. "We're alone..." she said as she tried to catch her breath. "It isn't meant to be..." she said gently. "But it still sounds so lewd..." she finally managed. "That's what's embarrassing," she managed the whole thought eventually even as she kept breaking up the knowledge. She had no problem accepting it. She even knew that the root cause of her embarrassment had to do with her prudish and lacking upbringing. She knew it was her own mind's fault for finding shame where there was meant to be none, but that didn't do well for balancing her out. Still she felt the shift of his arm around her body. His fore pressed against her in its entirety. She knew by his earlier lesson that this exchange could have been made sexually for her better understanding, but she also understood that this meant she wasn't considered unattractive in the moment. It was a strange set of things to realize, while her mind was being filled with a deep knowledge of Alchemical Ingredients.

Sakura seemed to have surprised Charles again. Even so, there wasn't much time to waste thinking about his problems with their current level of exchange. Strangely he didn't have much argument left in his soul, and did what was asked of him after only the gently explanation. Sucking upon her nipple would allow him to take mana directly from her person, which would most notably have a flavor similar to sakura infused sweet sake. Well that didn't really matter. It was a strange sensation but now Sakura was experiencing something else. She could feel a strange amount of power pooling in her body. On her skin red lines seeming like exasperated versions of her own mana circuits were making an appearance as he sucked away at the remaining untainted energy in her body. As he did this her hair also seemed to be losing color from roots to tips it was becoming more of a silvery lilac color instead of the rich purple it had been. And that redness in her eyes seemed to be spreading across them. "You can suck harder it isn't a problem for me..." she stated pretty clearly. Though she felt no different she knew the negative emotions of that dark energy would want to encompass her. She found herself wondering what this power was trying to do when it had nothing to cling to.

[Bloodedge]

More short breaks were utilized by Anais for the purpose of speaking. She knew they were alone, yet still she was embarrassed. Something shouldn't be... what? Something sounded lewd. Ah, that explained the embarrassment quite simply. The behavior of virgins was quite different to others, regardless of whether they understood the truth or not. Though he could understand this fully, Ailen had one thing to clear up regarding the apparent 'lewdness' of his words and actions. "You should understand by now," he said softly. "It is meant to be," he added. "I am offering you myself." Still, words were only shared with each taken breath. This kiss would not be properly ended until the transfer was complete, as determined by Anais' own mind... or her will. "The lesson contains whatever you wish to take from it," Ailen continued. "Knowledge," he said. "Power," he threw in. "Desire," he included. "I am your mentor. Take from me what you like. Knowledge is yours to seek as you see fit." Those final words came with open eyes that stared directly into Anais' pupils. The hand that had not yet left her face slid down then, his forefinger curling under her chin as his tongue hung its way into her mouth yet again.

Charlemagne was beginning to receive the Holy Grail's pure mana. It had traveled through himself into Sakura, and would now be reentering his body in its purest form. There was a bit of his old self in it, making it all feel as natural as drinking clear water. There was also enough of Sakura's essence in it to grant it flavor and and additional sensation. What was that? Oh... that liquid mana exiting her breast tasted like her namesake. Those goddesses were strange, but it seemed they had a strong sense for symbolism. Angelica had the aura of an angel, if one could imagine such a thing being physically manifested. As he drank from Sakura, he felt a hint of something resembling intoxication while that refreshing drink washed down his throat. All the while, Sakura was changing physically. Strange, red markings were spreading across her flesh. That very obvious sheen of her hair was disappearing until it all turned nearly white. Her eyes were also becoming red, and something about her attitude seemed to shift. He could suck harder, she said. Strange; Sakura didn't seem that type before. Whatever the case, he couldn't argue at this point. Charlemagne had become like a desert camel led to an oasis. Common sense said sucking harder would let him drink more, so it was only natural that he acquiesce. Ah, he even managed a bit of movement. One hand rose to grasp her bosom from beneath, allowing him to keep it steady throughout the transfer moving forward.

[Apollymi]

Was Anais doing something odd? Probably. But that wouldn't change the fact that she managed to express herself as clearly as possible. According to her mentor, she should understand by now something important. His words were meant to be... lewd?! No, that wasn't quite it. More lips pressing together, more tongue in her mouth and his explanation became more clear. His mentorship of her, wasn't simply for the sake of teaching her Alchemy. She was able to study any variety of subjects under him and take from him any lessons she wished. Knowledge was hers to seek, whether it concerned power, desire or anything other thing he understood. This sort of learning seemed like the sort of thing that would make someone into a pervert. But that meant her mentor was more like a life-coach with benefits, independent study and sex practice? Hm, there was something about it that made sense. Having already spent about three hundred years in this world, she found herself lacking the ability to truly resist. Seek knowledge as she wished? Well... it wasn't like she had to explain it to anyone... Ailen's hand was on her chin, his tongue dangling its way into her mouth. Maybe she didn't need all the information today, but... she could take a bit more. Her own tongue wandered up moving as she'd already gained understanding of this muscles usage. "Hai, shishou!" she gave her understanding with just those two words. And relaxed further into his body, her arms wrapping around him as she willingly accepted more of this lesson. She wasn't quite done yet.

At the same time, Sakura was having purified mana leave her body and the active consciousness of the tainted mana that remained seemed to be trying its best to claw its way out of her body. She heard its voice whispering in her head, demanding she acquiesce and do what it wished, but Sakura wasn't the type to submit to anything like that. Still the power she felt crawling along her previously unoccupied mana circuits was far from the worst thing she ever felt. What was more, Charles took her at her word and drank from her breast with more vigor. Ah... that felt nice, like a release of pressure as she held back the tide of the corruption with her own form. Even with the work she was doing, those red lines were working their way around her form up her back and eventually even creeping along the side of her face. Whenever Charles was done, taking the most of his mana, and he spilled again from the movement of her hand against his loins, she would take that last bit as well. She would take that into herself as well. The whole entity in her body was full of fear and self-loathing but Sakura didn't know such feelings, she couldn't be manipulated by them. The container that she was could definitely hold this corruption but... she'd need to do something with it eventually. Was getting his mana back enough to keep Charles' body from falling apart. Had his core reformed and his source been sparked. She'd be staring at him all the while, accessing him to make sure. "Don't hold back... I have to make sure I have all of the corruption so it doesn't taint you..." she murmured against the side of his face. Her unoccupied hand rubbed the top of his head, in a manner most comforting, even as her physical form seemed to change to accomodate the darkness now centralized within her.

[Bloodedge]

Surprise, surprise. Ailen's most recent explanation of things garnered a surprisingly affirmative response from Anais. She'd been so tentative and even fearful this entire time. After a bit of additional consideration, however, Ailen was able to feel tension leave the girl's body. It was interesting to think that his first and only apprentice was such an innocent person. For hundreds, even thousands of years, he'd been sought after by much of elf society for his vast array of knowledge. It didn't even take a day of knowing Anais for him to decide she was worthy... and lo, she was beginning to understand herself. Maybe that wasn't the case. Maybe she wanted something else as she matched his embrace. No matter the case, Anais was proving far more proactive than she'd been in any moment thus far. With her initiative, Ailen took a cue. That hand which had been looped around her midsection found its place gripping her opposing hip. While she sought further knowledge, or whatever else she was looking for, it was his privilege to enable her. His other hand shifted back to her cheek, rubbing almost passionately as their lips began separating only by exhales traveling directly into Anais' open mouth.

Sakura's physical changes were confusing, yet acceptable. It wasn't like Charlemagne could find an explanation for it if he tried, so he didn't try at all. Besides, he was busy. That mana was pouring more rapidly into his mouth to be swallowed upon every inhale. That alone would have been enough to keep him occupied, but Sakura was also still tugging away at his manhood. She had something to say as well. He wasn't to hold back, eh? That was difficult to do anyway; it didn't really need saying. She claimed to be making sure there was no remaining corruption in him. Was that the truth of it all? He didn't feel any, but he supposed additional checks never hurt anything. Besides... it all felt too good to deny wholeheartedly. Even if he wanted to reject these advances, he couldn't do so from a point of lacking desire anymore. No, Charlemagne's body could never lie even if his mind told it what to want and what to reject. His very soul, or what remained of it, couldn't reject something like Sakura. Even though he was still very much fragmented, this exchange could be the last thing he ever did... and it wouldn't be a bad way to go in reality. As such, he let himself relax while absorbing the absolute purity pouring into his mouth. In relaxing his body, his tool pulsed. A few spastic hip jerks later, and he was sure to begin spraying a much 'cleaner' spurt of 'creative' fluid into the air and... probably all over Sakura's moving hand, or whatever else was around.

[Apollymi]

The affirmative response and the relaxation of Anais's body was met by further comfort from her mentor. In truth, she was willing to explore quite a bit with the understanding that she wouldn't have to explain it to anyone, but she was willing to learn her limits bit by bit. As a hand found its way to her hip, she seemed to be a bit uneasy. No that wasn't right, as she actively sought his tongue with her arms wrapped around him her knees seemed to weaken and her thighs seemed to rub together a bit. There was something about this which was strangely arousing. Of course, she'd been given the knowledge already that saliva transferred knowledge and acclimated mana, but the gentle wetness pooling in her breeches wasn't something that she fully expected until it was happening. She found herself seeking a gentle sensation which involved tightening those muscles incidentally as their oral exploration continued. Their mouths only separated a bit as they continued but she didn't feel any immediate need to speak... there was still quite a bit going on in her body and mind that she had to relate back to information she'd already been given. That was fine though, he seemed to be rather accepting of her figuring this sort of thing out on her own.

Moving right along Sakura was busy stroking Charles manhood again and allowing him to feed himself directly from her person. She was soon rewarded for her efforts with a spew of his fluids without any residual traces of the evil within it. She could tell this simply by feel but since her breasts had now shrunk back to their still massive but more standard size she sat up. When she released his manhood she gently brought her hand to her face her tongue tracing a sample of those fluids as she checked them more directly for residual dark energy. "Hm, that's much better... it isn't spicy anymore... tastes more like almonds..." she mused. Yes that was much much better. Stability had returned to Charles, but he wasn't quite finished yet. There was no creation of new core nor an awakening of anything unseen before. Ah... perhaps the first two were just necessary for stability and now they were to find out how to make him into a proper person. Such a connection would also definitely tie them together while she figured out what to do about the influence of the darkness which had crawled up her legs. "Char-kun... it's time for your awakening and mine... I hope you're ready," she mused. As a goddess she didn't require any extra stimulation, but strangely she didn't feel like this would be a bad experience regardless. As she shifted her form, she'd soon be straddling Charles's exposed manhood hovering above it. She found herself taking in the lad's visage, but this wouldn't stop what would eventually be her descent upon his manhood.

[Bloodedge]

Arousal tended to be inevitable in any transfer of mana lasting longer than a few moments. In the case of Ailen and Anais, the 'lectures' offered by the former were sure to be long. As such, both parties would be doomed to the same fate regardless. Ah, but that was also natural. In any form of mana transfer, the body and soul would always understand the easier path to success. Some would call it the Call of Creation. Others might refer to it as the seeking of truth, among other similar titles. It remained unclear what Anais wished to gain from this meeting. She agreed to accept Ailen's knowledge, but the movements he found her making were wholly unnecessary. Speech had come to a stop between them as well. Ailen knew his own reason for this; what was hers? The next time he got a chance, Ailen would be asking. "You're fidgeting," he said, once more returning to her mouth. "What's the matter?"

Charlemagne spewed himself all over Sakura's hand. Of course he did; he couldn't free himself from her chest in time to give any warnings. In typical strange goddess fashion though, she seemed completely unfazed. No, it was so much more than that. Her hand stopped moving over his groin, moving instead to her own mouth where she... licked his seed from it. No. No, no, no. She had to know what that looked like, right? Regardless of her reason, that was an act of seduction. It wasn't solely the flow of mana which kept him hard as steel thereafter. He couldn't even keep his mouth over her nipple during the shock of it all. "I-I... that was... um..." Well, that was all very interesting. What more was there? Apparently he tasted like almonds. Noted. Moving on. The purification had been done, and the time had come for his awakening as well as Sakura's. Now she was speaking his language! "Yosh! I'm ready!" he said, assuming the next phase would be something more normal. Oh, how wrong he was. . .

Shortly after speaking of the next phase, Sakura moved. Charlemagne assumed she would be preparing for a nonsexual arrangement, but she instead threw a leg over his lower body. She didn't even hesitate before getting into prime mounting position, which Charlemagne was now very familiar with. Needless to say, he was surprised once more. "Wait, so you mean─aaAah~!" Silenced again. Charlemagne could feel a warmth against his groin that far exceeded the touch of a hand. That, too, was something he now understood. She was descending, and he was... somehow failing to say anything that would stop it. Did things really have to go this far?

[Apollymi]

Anais found herself diving into a certain amount of this form of arousal, but she'd never physically experienced it before. In her life in this world, upon the discovery of her specific type of protection, she'd been told that she had to retain purity to retain power. She was encouraged to deny pleasures of the flesh which weren't in general a problem for her because she didn't speak to very many people nor feel very many things. She knew from her 'tutoring' that such a thing was nothing to fear about her power, but even when knowing what arousal was like in theory experiencing it in first person was... odd. Thus her legs and thighs seemed to fidget quite a bit and such movements didn't go unnoticed. No, Ailen commented upon them between moments of their kissing. "I... feel strange," she stated at first. "I know what it is, from the explanations in my head, but it's different to experience the sensation of it, after only witnessing it before..." she stated as their lips came back together. "It's difficult to feel and reconcile as I try to unlearn 300 years of forced shame and modesty," she answered honestly before their lips were brought together again. Ah, she felt like she had to get all her sentences out pretty fast, almost like it she'd have her mouth occupied more than anything else. How much would she adjust this day? Well, she supposed when she found her stopping point it would be obvious to her.

Sakura apparently had no problem shocking Charles into speechlessness. She told him of the taste of his mana, and of the purity it now possessed and he seemed fine with it. What was more, he seemed to be quite done with the more senseless parts of his arguments against the things happening here, until of course, she began to lower herself onto his manhood. He'd agreed already but by the time she was lowering herself he seemed to be thinking something else. Ah, but that was a sound of pleasure and happening she sank into his lap and her internal walls closed around him. She stare into his face from here and begin slowing moving her hips at pace. Everything she'd been told about mana transfers said they were to be shared experiences. Charles's mana and her own mixed well, so they should be able to reach the ultimate truth simulatenously while his new core formed and his source woke. Still her mouth wasn't occupied so she had no problem speaking even as those now blood red eyes seemed to be taking him in. "Of course this is what I meant, Char-kun. There would be no strength to the bond without a true transfer, and there can be no creation of a core without the act of creation... as they say, besides I might need the truth to figure out what to do about this corruption I am holding within me," she said to quote some of the previous generation, all the while she explained her motivation. She could always think of something to do, but there were many options even while this nagging self-loathing and fearful evil tried to eat away at her. Those red lines on her skin were exceedingly sensitive and where they made contact with Charles's body she could feel little jolts of a stinging or rather a tingling sensation. Just like the one she was getting as the fore of her sex made contact with his pelvis. How interesting.

[Bloodedge]

The amount Anais would adjust was something to be learned by both parties. Her stopping point would also be learned by both herself and Ailen, as his was nonexistent due to various circumstances. Apparently, she felt strange. She was experiencing something that had been transferred into her mind as theory, having no previous knowledge of the sensation itself. That made perfect sense. 300 years was quite some time for one who seemed as mentally young as she, so it also made sense that she'd not immediately unlearned her habits. All things took time. Speaking of time, he'd take a few additional moments between lip meetings to give a fuller explanation of things. "Ah. I understand," said Ailen. "That is the cost of restraint. As with all things, there are prices for overindulgence as well as underutilization. Am I still right to assume this is the most you desire from the physical aspect of exchange? The next step would synchronize your Spiritual Core to better adjust the physical sensations of your new knowledge."

Ailen said quite a bit, but that didn't change much. The moment his lips stopped flapping, they were smacking against his apprentice's once more without hesitation. Unlike her, he was no stranger to the arousal that came from these meetings; his mentor had gotten him adjusted to such things many centuries ago. Ah, but his was also a case that was less important. If he was not physically sated by sharing knowledge, it only meant he'd have to go through the veritable hell of getting Qin out of the way to meet with Miwa. That didn't have the highest chance of working, but a chance was a chance. Anais however... well, hers was a situation he was not privy to, so he could not assume ─ nor could he do anything more than guide.

In the meantime, Charlemagne's outburst resulted in total failure. Perhaps it wasn't failure, though. Some might call it a great success instead, and perhaps Charlemagne fell into that hypothetical group. Whether he did or not, there was no undoing one fact: he had now begun the act of fornication with a relative stranger. Sakura lowered herself onto his tool, which she proceeded to clamp the hell out of in a way he imagined only those goddesses could manage. Charlemagne had always been a pretty talkative guy; Angelica and Sakura had become the two capable of silencing him very efficiently. "Transfer? Can you even call it that?! It's like you're trying to crush me─" he groaned. Even so, there was no way to interpret anything resembling displeasure in his visage. He did seem disgusted with himself for this, but his hands were moving about as if they wished to take hold of Sakura. To think, she hadn't even started moving properly. What would that be like? Though he believed he shouldn't have been, Charlemagne was undoubtedly excited to find out. Such a filthy piece of garbage he was inside.

[Apollymi]

After she managed to explain herself, Anais was a bit surprised to find her mentor giving a bit more advice. Well, he'd said his job was guiding her, so she supposed extra advice when she was confused, regardless of the subject that confused her, was likely well within the bounds of his offerings. What was he saying... her current lack of reconciliation was the cost she paid for her restraint. She hadn't understood when denying herself for so long that it would mean not understanding her own physical needs and desires. He made the assertion that the next step was one which would help her better rationalize her physical sensations and wondered if this was still the stopping point for her. She took a moment or two to consider. There was no real danger in extra exploration, no one could question her. In this case it wasn't a thing which was considered naughty by anyone present so maybe a single step forward wouldn't be so bad. Her body seemed to want something more from this exchange, and that among other things was included as part of her instinct. She had trusted her instincts and they'd not led her astray so far in life... so why would now be the time to let teachings she knew to be false take precedence over how she felt? "If I am going by feeling, this isn't the most that I want..." she stated honestly. "I don't know how far is far enough to become overindulgence though..." she offered honestly. She needed a bit more clarity before she was sure, but she was almost certain she wanted her body to stop aching. It was hard to concentrate.

While Anais took baby steps towards debauchery and understanding, Sakura seemed to dive headlong into a shallow pool gaining understanding with her body in a single moment. She sank into Charles' lap and had him respond to her words by speaking of the rather forceful grip her body had placed upon his. She looked down at him studying his face for a few moments and came to a single conclusion. "You say that but..." she paused gently as she placed a hand covered in those same read markings upon his chest. "You like it, Char-kun..." she mentioned as she used her hand as a point of leverage. "You can hold me or touch me... if you like. I don't mind the contact will help us both~" she said almost teasingly, though it was the truth. She began to lower and raise her body on his shaft. She didn't remove him from her core, but instead allowed a gentle shift of him within her folds. Each rise was met with relaxation and each lower with a gentle rock and clench internally. This wasn't something she thought about, but instead was something cause by a jolt of sensation as her pearl made contact with skin and she received the briefest jolt of sensation. It was nice, she began to understand as pressure pooled in her loins that she should be working to relieve hers as her hips moved to achieve release from Charles. "Do you need something specific to help you too? Or is it fine if I do this?" she asked as her hips moved in the slow rhythm that allowed her to chase the pleasantries she felt in her loins.

[Bloodedge]

Some consideration would be given by Anais. As the apprentice, it was very important that decisions be her own. His was a duty of care, a privilege to be the baseline to ensure informed decisions. She didn't seem to be wrestling very much with the thought. When lips next parted, Anais expressed that this oral transfer was not the most she desired... in terms of feeling. Proving herself once again to be his ideal apprentice, she further noted a certain lack of understanding. She didn't know what counted as overindulgence. Making a note of that was good ─ excellent even. "It's good to be wary. The limits are also yours to determine. Here; I'll give you all the information you need." With that said, Ailen tightened his grip again. Just the same, he was right back to kissing the girl deeply for the sake of delivering a second course of mana transfer-related knowledge. Anais would be getting all the specifics. She'd know that connecting their genitals would allow her to utilize their power as a pair. She'd know that receiving the purer form of his mana orally would allow her to digest his power and knowledge in a way that made it her own. She'd know that receiving it anally would allow her use of his mana in a more unfiltered form. She'd even know how to give pure or mixed mana from her own body. Perhaps most importantly, Anais would learn that the thing called orgasm was, in truth, an awakening of wisdom... which was achievable via any form of mana transfer for those who knew the truth. All of this information was streamed directly into the girl's mind through their kiss. When the transfer was complete, it was not Ailen who separated them. The time seemed right for Anais to make her informed decision.

Final decisions were taken out of Charlemagne's hands at that time. It felt as if he was being betrayed once more today, and by his own body and soul to boot. He spoke of crushing, and Sakura responded with a hand pressed into his chest. He liked it. He understood that, and so did Sakura. Still, she didn't have to say so aloud. "You didn't have to say it─" he said tentatively. Charlemagne was already giving thought to what a steaming pile of trash he was; he didn't need the extra proof. Sakura's next words were about the contact he obviously felt like making. Apparently, a bit of extra contact would help both of them. Did he need that sort of justification? Well, yes. Obviously a filthy pervert such as him needed to have an excuse lined-up, right? Right. With that acceptance, those lifted hands found Sakura's hips as if reliving a memory. There were brief flashes of the time spent with Angelica passing through his mind, and it seemed Sakura's existence was trying to overwrite those memories. Well... he couldn't let that happen. He held firm to those memories even while Sakura made herself more and more his focal point by rising and falling upon his member. She spoke as if the entire mana transfer ordeal was something new to her, but this all felt so much more... experienced. Did he need anything else to help him along? Absolutely not? "Huh?! What do you mean anything else? I can hardly manage with what you're doing!" he admitted in a state of fluster.

[Apollymi]

More praise was coming Anais's way. She was apparently right to be wary. Beyond that point it was acceptable that she figure out what her limits where. In response to the curiosity she posited to her mentor, she was gripped a bit tighter and their mouths joined together more forcefully. She was given the rest of the information about mana-transfers and the true understanding of them. She came to understand how best to digest the information she would be given and how to seek knowledge given the sensation known as orgasm. She'd come to know that any method could give her the sensation she sought as long as she understood what was really happening. That was interesting to know. Strangely with the extra she could easily mark off one. Much to her own chagrin what Ailen had mentioned before was quite true. She wasn't interested in receiving mana anally as she didn't just want power with no exchange. The kiss they were experiencing in its deepest form was something which allowed her to acclimate to his incoming mana, and as such she felt it was most likely she could easily digest the information given through oral contact. In the moment, she was a bit certain she wasn't quite ready for true sexual contact, but maybe a taste and the spark of wisdom as the euphemism in her head stated, would be fine. When she broke contact with his mouth she was stunned just a little but managed to speak. "That clears it up a bit..." she murmured. "Shishou, I'm most ready to receive the rest of my lesson here..." she mentioned, pointing to her own rather wet mouth. As the other had passively found itself traveling down the man's sides towards his waistline. The younger lass had dropped to her knees in a position she found oddly comfortable for various reasons not the least of which was her previous life.

In the meantime Sakura was beginning her ride atop Charles in truth. The young man's tentativeness and skittishness around the subjects of sex were strange to the now white haired goddess. Why? She was raised in Munetsuchi, she had six parents and all things natural and related to sex and mana transfers weren't things of shame here. As such she seemed to find his almost squirming demeanor around the whole thing to be cute. Hm, maybe this eventuality was why she'd bothered to stop in the first place, to seek out the falling stars? She found herself desiring his strange reactions and softness. What a weird thing to realize. It was as if the dark power resting in her body latched onto that idea, and made a slightly wicked grin spread across her face, and gave her eyes a strange light much less dead than it had been previously. What did she mean? He could hardly manage? She knew these kinds of sentences but not with this kind of tone... she'd answer his curiosity with marked movements as if testing something specific. "I could go faster..." her hips shifted quickly up, down and in circles. "Or slower..." the grinding and gentle rise which left her own hips shifting gently forwards and backwards. "I could come closer..." she said leaning in, brushing his face with her breasts and kissing his forehead. "Or back..." she mused seeming to find strange enjoyment as she leaned away exposing the whole of her form with her hand above her head. Red lines stretching and melding. It seemed that she'd been found out, but unlike Charles, the slightly negative emotion that could be used in her body, was metabolizing the power trying to prod it, not able to take her over as she had no issue using such a feeling. "You could just tell me what you like, or I could do what I like and wait for you to like it too~" she mused seeming to think it would work the way she said. The almost alien way she spoke of things would only serve to puncutate the amount of clutching her core was doing at this lad, and having found the rhythm her hips enjoyed she began chasing the sensation in her body a drop of pressure at a time as she searched for it to release. As for what she liked? Well, she took his right hand from her hip and lifted it to her mouth. She sucked his thumb before she'd aim to lower his hand gently to the space between her folds. She placed it at the apex of her sex and with the extra lubrication she'd rock herself against it causing a jolt of sensation which Charles would feel even through his rod as she rode him towards bliss.

[Bloodedge]

And so, there was further contemplation on the part of Anais. She had all the information she needed, provided nothing slipped through the proverbial cracks during transfer. The decision was hers alone, so he'd patiently await whatever she came up with. Of course he did so while maintaining a kiss full of fervor, seeming to honestly believe that couldn't be an influencer to the decision at all. In fact, it wasn't. When Anais's choice was made, she spoke of it in a roundabout way while pointing to her mouth. He'd seen those who let their bodies take influence; their choices were very different. It seemed many humans believed applying their mouths to another's genitals was not at all rewarding to the one who would receive mana. There had to be some sort of penetration at the lower body for any satisfaction to be received. Knowing that was the general belief, hearing that Anais sought to consume knowledge by way of mouth was a shocking relief. "Oh? You've chosen one of the most effective methods. How interesting," he said while watching the lass casually drop to her knees, even having a hand hover around his waistline. "I'm pleasantly surprised. So many misinterpret the practical use of this method, choosing to apply their ignorant preconceptions and shun the idea."

Sakura seemed to have become a very different person in the last few moments. That soft-spoken yet almost alien girl was starting to remind him of... someone like Olivier. Anything he had to say, probably didn't matter in the long-run. Besides, he was already caught between her folds, already doing precisely what he'd been trying to avoid for some time now. Worse still, he was enjoying the experience... and would only enjoy more as time passed. He wasn't the only one either. A twisted grin had appeared on Sakura's face in the wake of his last speech, and then... the end of Charlemagne began officially. Much to his dismay, confusion and unknown pleasure, Sakura had a whole host of options for things she could do. She moved her hips with rapidity and purpose, listing a faster pace as an option. She slowed down to a literal grind, listing a slower pace as an option. She leaned forward to kiss his forehead, gently assaulting his face with her bosom. That, too was an option. Sakura even leaned back to reveal the full length of her body from hips to head, and indeed, that was an option given as well. Every one of those things left her grasping his manhood in a very different way. Charlemagne may or may not have been aware, but the mana in his groin was getting one hell of a workout. Charlemagne himself couldn't tell left from right after a few moments, and he was expected to make decisions? Not happening! "Tha... that's not even fair! I couldn't pick one thing if I wanted to!" he said. Oh, things would only get worse from there. He had no idea what would happen when Sakura took hold of his hand. Was she going to put it somewhere else on her body, like her breasts? No, that would be too simple. Instead, the girl took his thumb into her mouth in the most seductive gesture he'd ever seen anywhere, ever. Oh... and that was just preparatory. After wetting that thumb, she moved it down her own body until Charlemagne experienced another familiar sensation: that of the female genitalia. "Oh. Uh. That's... really forward! Were you just hiding this kind of shit before?! You're definitely not that curious weird girl I met earlier!"

[Apollymi]

Anais hadn't missed any information and in addition to the information she now had about the way this world worked. She had the original knowledge of her previous world. Without any desire or likelihood of going back to that place, she easily fell into her new life, even with its hardships. Beyond that point though, there was the matter of her falling to her knees before her teacher. She was sitting rather comfortably and looking up at him with that rather intense blush still on her face. Though she'd made clear what she wished to do, this was still a very embarrassing situation for her. Whatever the case, her choice was called interesting and beyond that point it was claimed that the method she was choosing was the most effective. "Hai, I came to that conclusion based on the information provided..." she mentioned seeming a bit sheepish. There was the claim that many misunderstood the nature of this sort of exchange and Anais could also understand this. "I have more information than the social norms to go off of, but I do understand how those misconceptions get passed around, especially when one considers a combination of factors, lack of mana sense, social hypocrisy, scummy people, inequitable and naïve relationships..." she explained as that hand of hers hovered over Ailen's groin. She'd have to get him out of his trousers to get the knowledge she wanted but it seemed rude to remove someone else's clothes. "Shishou, could you..." she found herself struggling to think of how to phrase her desire for aid in this moment. "Help." That was the right word, but with her blushing face and her gaze fixed upward it was one of those things she said and she felt would have been lewd regardless of the words she chose.

While Anais struggled with norms, Charles was having his idea of those shattered by a great deal. Various slight shifts in positions were taken by Sakura and with each one something different occurred within her depths. After experiencing all forms of this kind of movement, Charles made the claim that it was unfair and that he couldn't chose. The movements of Sakura's hips became a bit more steady afterwards as she looked down at the man and studied his face. "Oh? So you like them all? I didn't know if I expected that... " she said. Ah, Sakura was still rather alien but that didn't mean anything about the base of her personality hand changed. No, she was just metabolizing desire and using it the way a person did when experimenting. Still there was the last one she did for herself, which caused her an extreme amount of pleasure, and as such she would continue to move against that thumb, knowing full well she'd shocked the lad under her, but not being entirely sure why. Luckily enough he'd speak and it would clear up a few things. "It's not forward, you couldn't choose so I did something I thought I might enjoy. I saw it once and it seemed like fun... I was right," she stated as she kept up her own movements her body gently pulsing around his tool as she drew closer and closer to her sexual apex. "I wasn't hiding anything... it only makes sense to seek knowledge of what you enjoy when it comes to sex and mana-transfers. You will be completing them often for various reasons, so you might as well know what it is you like about it. And what the person you're interacting with likes about it... knowledge shouldn't be wasted," Sakura said. Her own movements continued and as if she planned to demonstrate the usefulness, she shifted her arms above her head, lengthening her spine as she rocked against Charles thumb and his lap. His tool rattled around within her and his thumb with its pressure seemed to push further and further....

[Bloodedge]

Ailen explained the status quo, and Anais understood. An apprentice who could view topics of controversy from an objective angle was precisely what any mentor from his homeland wanted. Ailen had barely even entertained the idea of taking an apprentice in his long life, but now he fully understood why such apprentices were considered ideal. All knowledge he could share, could be utilized without bias or undue judgment. This one would truly take the greatest riches of knowledge, and turn it all into true wealth. "An astute observation. I believe I'm feeling a hint of pride already," he admitted. Now then, the girl on her knees was having some difficulty with something. That happened to be the moment he was meant to shine. Her struggle, however, was with asking for his assistance... in releasing himself? Ah, there were still those reprehensions. Oh well. Nobody could ask for everything, and the way she asked was somewhat comical. "Fufu~. It would be no issue if you did it yourself. I should have you know this is an unorthodox approach. But, if it is what you'd prefer..." Some statements didn't require finishing. By the time Ailen gave up on speech, he was loosing the belt at his waist. A few seemingly-excessive buckles later, and those form-fitting trousers were being tugged down from the top. Having already received a certain firmness, his manhood appeared to be forced down beneath those tight breeches. About half of his shaft was made visible with a bit of tugging, and suddenly... Ailen realized there was another point of unorthodoxy. "Oh? Strange. I've become so used to having them off by this point. I seem to have made a mistake in my wardrobe for this sort of exchange," he said. This sort of difficulty was far from expected when he dressed himself.

If Charlemagne wished for one thing, it was Sakura's silence. Of course he had nothing against her voice, or her as an individual, but she continued saying things that caused additional embarrassment and self-loathing. Even so, she said nothing wrong. He did like every one of those options. He liked them all far more than he should have, which was... at all. "Yeah, I think that makes two of us..." the lad mused as his gaze shifted to one side. It was probably for the best if he didn't look or think too hard. Sakura was making him feel enough already; the additional bits were unnecessary. That last little maneuver was also uncalled for... sort of. Sakura admitted to choosing something for herself. Despite everything he thought about ongoing sexual acts with a relative stranger, she was doing something for the sake of repairing his broken soul. If she wanted something out of it, it was only right that he let her have it. "Well I guess... this is supposed to help me and all," he surmised.

Other things said by Sakura made sense as well, even if Charlemagne still disagreed with the act itself. He did find himself wanting to know more about what the hell he was doing, but that was yesterday when dealing with Angelica. If she could even look him in the eye after hearing about all this, perhaps he could come away with some new developments. "So what else is something you..." Mid-sentence, Charlemagne's eyes wandered toward Sakura once more. He shouldn't have done that. In that single moment, he witnessed not a new position, but something else entirely. The marked goddess had her arms raised. That alone should have been something simple and easily-ignored, but it wasn't. He could take in the full sight of her, and it was somehow more appealing. Was it simply the raised arms? No, it had to be some other effect caused by that. Perhaps it was the jutting of her breasts, or the candid curve of her spine... or the easy view of that spread to her hips? Maybe it was all of that and everything between. Ah, his sentence hadn't reached its end yet, huh? "... want─"

[Apollymi]

Anais was already finding speaking with her mentor to be a rewarding experience. Sexual experience and strangeness aside, she received a strange amount of gratification from having her voice heard and her thoughts understood. Perhaps that was simply a left over thought from a long time prior to this one. But whatever the case, she couldn't help but seem a bit sheepish knowing that her observation was 'astute'. The idea that this man might have felt some pride in her thoughts already was something which was way more than she could have expected. Moving on from that, there was her plea for her help and her remaining reprehensions which weren't really problematic for the pair of them. He chuckled at her strange plea and claimed that it was unorthodox for her to ask for such help. He made mention that she could do it herself. "Noted," she murmured. Still there were complexities here, like the number of buckles attached to this man's waist and then the tightness of his pants. "See, I don't think this is the sort of thing one attempts without some foreknowledge," the lass said seemingly still a bit shy about the whole of it. Even so she tugged at her own tights which looked very thick but were very stretchy and as such managed to accomplish a form fitting look without its negatives. "Wiggle room or stretchy material..." she murmured. This had been a truth she understood even before this world no matter she was preparing for a new sight and a new lesson and there was something to be said for that.

At the same time Charles was dealing with his own internal problems. Though he'd told Sakura not to worry about him, his words didn't have the sort of enthusiam she'd have expected of anyone who got to bed a goddess. Well, he did have one of his own, but he still seemed to very uptight about the entire situation. It was a strange thing to her, though the antics of outsiders had been explained to her a bit, and she knew many had hang-ups related to sex and relationships that it was simply impossible for her to understand. "Hm, that is strange..." she thought. This lad had sex before this very moment, his lack of knowledge of himself was strange to her. Perhaps she would eventually find out why, but the lad was so shy she felt he might not answer if she asked him directly. "It is supposed to help, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun. It would probably be easier if it was, positive emotions make mana flow..." she stated as she continued her ride. Closer and closer she inched towards an orgasm caused by her own movements. Her recent change in positioning seemed to lead Charles to speechlessness when he'd been questioning what she wanted out of this ordeal. "You mean from the sex?" she questioned as if there was another option. There was, but she also didn't equate the sex with just the act, but she assumed he was taking the more human approach when asking that question. "I've seen lots of things, a few of them are applicable from this position. Of that list, you could move more..." she said giving it a bit of thought. It wasn't difficult as a thought that she might reach climax from this position, but when she'd seen such a thing, it'd been a bit more intimate, he seemed uninterested in that part with her, so she figured it'd be more like the more carnal versions of similar acts she'd seen... That involved both parties moving, seemingly in a rush or something of the sort.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen had no shortage of pride toward this new apprentice of his. Upon mentioning it, Anais seemed to take the words strangely. He couldn't attribute any negative emotion to her physical reaction. If anything, she just seemed more skittish. Ah... that must have been embarrassment or something else that removed one's ability to react properly. She'd get used to that sort of thing eventually. First, she needed to receive his knowledge and whatever else she sought to gain from him. Before that, he had to free his damnable trouser snake! "Khaor bren!" he murmured while fidgeting away. While he busied himself, Ailen witnessed a strange movement by Anais. She was reaching for her own pants, not to remove them as one would initially think, but to showcase their expansiveness. Perhaps he could have used something like that. "I will consider it an investment if this is the form of lecture you're choosing. I can't well run into this situation every time," he griped. "If I could just..." In a few moments, Ailen managed something at last! He hadn't managed to pull his trousers down as much as he'd like, but he pulled them just low enough to let his full shaft spring forth at full mast. "Ah!" he shouted victoriously. Luckily enough, he even managed to narrowly avoid accidentally jabbing Anais in the face with the reveal of his full length.

Not all things could be avoided, sadly... or happily? Charlemagne couldn't tell which of those two things was more accurate. He wanted nothing to do with this interaction between Sakura and himself, but oh did he want it to keep going all the same. That visual alone had him furiously throbbing within the lass. His own body was keen on spiting him, apparently. It must have been in league with Sakura, who insisted that all they did today should be fun even while being helpful. It would allegedly even be easier if they enjoyed themselves. That wasn't something Charlemagne wanted, though it also wasn't something he could stop. He'd go on to have the best worst time of his thousand-year life. "I can't just have fun! I mean... I might be. But it's not because I want to! You're just... well..."

Poor, poor Charles. He didn't know right from left, right from wrong, or sex from mana transfer. Sakura wasn't guiding in any truly helpful way either. Angelica would have addressed the entire ordeal as a mana transfer, but when asked what she wanted, Sakura asked if it was to be from the sex. She was no less eclectic than Angelica, but she was sure speaking in more 'normal' terms. How was he to take this? All things considered, everything was probably the same regardless. "Not how I expected you to word it, but... yes?" he said with an upward inflection. As for her answer, there were numerous unspoken things. All she mentioned aloud was the idea that he could move more. Right... that was normal, wasn't it? "Oh. Is that all?" Maybe moving his own hips should have been the start for Charlemagne. Thinking it was better late than never, he tentatively began thrusting upwards into the goddess's undercarriage. There was little to his movement, albeit for multiple reasons including his own lack of longevity. That fact had a grip of his groin more intense than even Sakura could manage... probably.

[Apollymi]

Ah, it seemed Anais was in to witness a great struggle. Her mentor was busy trying to remove himself from his pants, all the while she saw half of his length as he struggled. A muttering occurred in a language she didn't truly recognize but she was certain it was about his pants. He seemed to see her gesture and understand her mention of stretchy material for his breeches. Of course, he took it under advisement as the idea that she might enjoy this kind of lecture. In the moment Anais was certain her face couldn't have gotten any redder, but she felt more heat, even as it encroached upon the back of her neck. "I would likely try a few but this seems like the way I'd be most prepared for," she said of her understanding of the kind of 'lecture' she wished to receive. Ah, and then there was success, after only a bit more struggle and then Anais realized that it was truly about half the man's length which was left to emerge. She saw it first hand and it surprised her just a tad. Now she was looking at it, and couldn't really look away. She had enough information in her head to know how it would work but it still didn't seem like it should. Besides all that even with him being as tall as he was, this seemed quite extreme. "No wonder that seemed like such a struggle... I definitely couldn't have managed that on my own," she commented while still staring. Yes, Anais was quite certain she would have smacked herself in the face with it if she'd been the one to free it, and that would have only served to knock her unconscious in her embarrassment. Ah yes, she knew that limits existed in the minds of those who had them, even so was this really going to fit in her mouth? It seemed almost impossible.

At the same time, Sakura heard out a strange declaration from Charles. He couldn't have fun, but he might be... but he didn't want to but somehow it was her fault. Sakura wasn't sure how she was meant to interpret those sentences, perhaps she ask her parents when all this was done. It didn't innately make sense to her what he was saying at all. But just the same, she felt she was right to avoid the extra intimacy since it seemed he had so many problems with it. She kept moving her hips only to give his words some strange consideration. It would likely be better to break their established bond soon after they did what he needed to do, he was obviously very conflicted over it. Though he told her not to worry over it, she'd only been postponing her thoughts on the matter so that they could properly fix his body and soul. "You seem really confused by this..." she stated in that strangely empty way she spoke of things, even while her body took advantage of him.

Speaking of advantages, she managed to get at least a reasonable answer out of him, but apparently the way she'd spoken had surprised him in some way. She really felt this was strange considering how much he was ignoring the intimacy of this act. But he seemed to comply with her wish, thrusting up into her person. With each movement like this she fell onto his manhood repeatedly. It gained its own rhythm and this ride became a cooperative action for the first time since they'd started it. Well, that wasn't true, when they were kissing he'd been moving back but that seemed almost unconscious. "That's good, I think I can do this~" she chimed. Repeated thrust would nudge her closer and closer to the end of her rope. "Also its fine. Touch how you want, do what you want, you don't have to hold back... I won't either," she said as the shaking of her hips continued at their current pace and her grip on him as this ride continued until she reached the end of her rope. When that happened, she slammed this lad home within her, seemed to draw him as far into her core as she could manage him and clamping down upon him with an unconscious vigor that would make it seem as if she wanted to milk him for all the mana he'd consumed from her. At the same time, her own would wash over his physical form trickling into his mind, body and soul...

[Bloodedge]

The choice Anais made was not a matter of finality, according to the girl herself. It was her claim that she'd probably delve into other methods in time, but that this was the method she was most prepared for. That could only be a matter of understanding, considering what he knew of outsiders thus far. She selected a transfer that would allow her to make the most use of knowledge, and perhaps mana depending on the chosen purpose. Now, all he had to do was free himself of those wretched trousers! Once he managed that, Anais had something else to say ─ something that didn't make much sense to the elf. Realistically, she would have had an easier time releasing him than he did. "I don't understand. You have the point of leverage; I believe it would have been much easier from your end," he said, not knowing why she even thought there would be an issue.

Charlemagne seemed confused. Of course he was! His morals demanded that he not enjoy any of this, but he couldn't even pretend that was the way things played out. Entering Sakura may have been the greatest thing he'd ever done, and that was... disgusting. However, Charlemagne was still a kind individual. "Well... it's not you or anything. I just never felt anything like this before. I can't stop feeling wrong about it," he admitted. Regardless, there was no undoing what had already begun. He'd be doing his best to move on mentally until this whole ordeal was over, and it would all start with his initial conscious movements. Sakura responded to him physically, moving herself to create a harmonious dance of debauchery. This was ridiculous. It was terrible. It was incredible.

By the time Sakura achieved what she had been moving toward personally, Charlemagne barely had an ounce of resistance left. That moment of slamming and clamping sent him rocketing toward the edge, and yet... he was already fighting against the conclusion. Why? Well, there was a reason for that. Whatever the reason for his resistance was, that 'milking' Sakura aimed for would not occur in its entirety. There remained a spillage of seed which didn't nearly match the quantity of the previous two, even though it certainly should have. While Charlemagne shot that smaller amount of his essence into the girl, there was even a notable wince brought about by his hesitation. It seemed he almost managed to fend off ejaculation entirely, managing only half. Why did he do that? Time would tell. At the same time though, his left hand took the cue of her more recent words, taking hold of her right breast. He may have been resisting a bit, but it appeared he wasn't quite done either. . .

[Apollymi]

There was a shocking bit of misunderstanding taking place between Anais and her mentor. In fact, it could be said it was a difference between expectation and experience. Ailen questioned Anais based on the idea that she would have had the leverage to help him get out of his pant. At the same time Anais didn't need to understand the physics to stick with her initial assessment. "Iie, shishou. It wasn't about leverage it is..." she was blushing, again. Finally managing to draw her eye away look just a tad sheepish. "It was a comment about size. Well, I don't know... I don't have a lot to go by. I haven't been out looking for them or anything but the ones I've seen aren't nearly so much," Anais mentioned in her perfectly soft tone. The poor girl might die if she spent too much time thinking about all this and beyond that she was now having a different sort of problem, which was knowing that she was taking this into herself which was a bit scary even while understanding how it was supposed to work.

At the same time, a bit of honesty came from Charles, this wasn't about Sakura, or rather his weirdness around this situation wasn't her fault in anyway. According to the lad, he'd never felt anything like this before but he couldn't stop feeling wrong about it. It was an oddly honest confession and one which made Sakura look at him with sympathy. She couldn't understand his plight but she supposed his confusion made a bit more sense. As such she reached forward resting a hand on his chest and giving it a few gentle pats in the way one would comfort another. Of course, there were a couple of ways she would have thought to do this otherwise, but figured that one would be most appreciated because of the lack of expansive contact to further confuse him. She had this thought even while struggling to figure out what do with the concentrated evil in her body and dealing with her own strange circumstances.

Speaking of strange, there was the matter of their continued sex. Sakura got to feel something quite enlightening. Actually her brain was sparking rapidly and all those muscles in her form just released initially causing her body to halt atop Charles for a few seconds. There was an almost magical light in her eyes as she gave it a bit of extra thought. "Oh? Is that what that's like... I understand now why Kaa-sama has five husbands," she murmured seeming to come to a great deal of understanding. She received a jolt of mana straight to her brain, in addition to the relaxing sensation of her body and loins and the heat. There was something missing but she figured that was due to Charles' inability to give her the sort of intimacy she'd witnessed in others. Ah, but maybe that wasn't exactly the case. She'd not done the lad in as completely as she thougth she would. And he'd be found grabbing onto her chest with one had as her core clutched him. He seemed to be pretty active now, so perhaps he'd finally decided what he wanted to do. She wouldn't interfere with his development. She leaned forward a bit giving him more of her squishy breast to hold in his hand and gained a strange amount of leverage while her hand rested upon his chest. Which she would use to move only her hips. Up and down but also round and round in circles, with her knees lifted for better views and leverage. The tightness of her didn't really recede either, so she continued clutching at him while paying close attention. Since he liked so many things, she shift her own form to give him a better view. Speed up her ride to give him more sensations and help him along.

[Bloodedge]

Anais claimed her inability would have been linked not to leverage, but to size. What size? Surely it shouldn't have been the size of his member... but it was. Without having many examples, she presumed that his was larger than the norm. It sounded as if her other examples were simply subpar. "Congeniality bias. I suppose I failed to give you that information. The mass of a male's penis is directly correlated to his mana, just as a woman's breasts are. There are of course some differentials determined by personality, or in some cases even conscious decisions, but that is the general rule of thumb. It could be said that if mine is larger than others you've seen, it is because my ability to provide mana is greater. That is all," he explained. With that however, he thought it was necessary to deliver the knowledge properly. Anais luckily hadn't started anything yet, so Ailen bent at the waist to meet her lips again. This exchange of knowledge would be a less lengthy one, albeit with no shortage of tongue to inform Anais of their... biological mana-delivering apparatuses, so to speak.

Meanwhile, Charlemagne admitted to his most recent dark secret. There was no use trying to hide his own enjoyment in Sakura's presence. Even if he did, she'd probably realize it herself. She proved her strangeness once more, though. Upon hearing his truth, Sakura reached out to offer a comforting pat to Charlemagne's chest. It was such an innocent gesture, he could do naught but cave to it. That, he couldn't keep himself from. Luckily, the same couldn't be said about ejaculation... which he still managed to partially hold back.

It seemed orgasm was a new sensation for the former purple-haired girl. In experiencing it for the first time, she understood why her mother had five husbands. That did make perfect sense, except... "Five what now?" Charlemagne questioned. He did notice her calling that one man chichiue and the other tou-chan, so it was easy to assume there was some sort of stepfather scenario at play. Hearing that the goddess Miwa had five active husbands, he couldn't make heads or tails of anything anymore. "That's so excessive! I can't eve─ahhh~" Suddenly, Charlemagne had more important things to deal with. Sakura had already leaned forward to make his left hand's grip even more satisfying... while also applying an even more ridiculous grip to his tool. "... I think I just stopped caring," he said. As he looked at Sakura in this new position of hers, and as he felt the alteration of her internal walls, he gained a certain understanding. Surely there was at least a reason five separate men would tolerate the divided attention of one woman, especially if it was the kind of stock that created one like this. He'd wait in line for this. He'd draw lots for this. He'd make an appointment for this. He'd even almost forget his entire purpose for this. Even so, there was still one question in mind. "Wait. This is new for you. How are you... so... umm..." Once more, the truth was embarrassing. Admitting what he thought was embarrassing. Alas, he'd already started speaking. He may as well finish, right? "So... good?"

[Apollymi]

Anais made it through her comment about the manhood of her mentor without passing out, which she counted as a win to her credit. What would come next, as seemed to come anytime she expressed confusion or embarrassment, was a bit of a mini-lecture about the nature of physical forms and their connection to the ability to confer mana. Well, that bit was a bit of a downer if she was being honest. "Sou ka..." she said seeming to gain some understanding. "Welp, there goes flat is justice," she murmured, even while it was explained that there were a few caveats to the information she'd been given. Of course, the lecture when it was given wasn't just words... no soon enough Ailen was leaning over the small girl bent at a ridiculous angle to reach other. It was interesting to see him leaning towards her in such a way, even so, she opened her mouth to accept the coming tongue and once again begin fidgeting. The information she was given in greater detail made her reconsider her pouting a few moments prior. She It wasn't as simple as the verbal lesson had implied. Those who didn't initially show signs of being able to convey mana, could be made to do so overtime, or could become anything they liked. Those who were in the middle were quite flexible and could always decide what they wished to do. And those more voluptuous by their natures were just naturally able to give mana with ease. That seemed like part of the defining factors. Besides that there was apparently an innate ability in many to compress their physical forms even when they had more outrageous figures for various reasons.

Much to Sakura's satisfaction, Charles seemed to accept the comfort she offered while she continued on her journey. After she found herself speaking about the nature of her orgasm and understanding her mother's life choices, it seemed Charles found it rather strange. He claimed initially that five was excessive, firstly seeming not to understand. "Five husbands... " she repeated not understanding what was odd about this. Well, perhaps it was another one of those strange human notions, he had mentioned monogamy earlier as if exclusivity and monogamy were used interchangeably in his own mind. As she shifted her ride and gave him more to hold on to, her hands on his chest were used as leverage and she seemed to be stirring herself towards another ascent. Even so, it wouldn't stop her from answering him even as one of her hands found its way to the apex of her sex and began to tease it. What she was doing was very clear, but the why was probably off. Still each flicker of her finger would send a jolt into her sex to be felt even as her movements became less drastic physically. What was more, Charles chose to question her goodness... "I'm a child of wisdom..." she said almost as if that should explain it, but she figured the humans who were being taught to believe in one god, wouldn't understand what it meant to be born of one in truth. "Using observed knowledge is something I can do innately," she clarified. That was to say this was a practical exercise for something she already understood. "Is that not how you think to try new things?" she asked seeming to not understand how other people accomplished things at all, but content to hear about it. "Actually a new idea based on an old idea is always pretty good..." she said aloud seeming to be rather dangerously close to the edge, and a breakthrough.

[Bloodedge]

Flat is justice. Ailen felt as if he'd heard that statement before for some reason. Simultaneously, he felt as if he'd never heard it until this moment. One might wonder what that was all about, but it wasn't something Anais harped on for very long. Well... perhaps that had something to do with her occupied mouth. Just the same, whatever it was could have been cleared up by the full breadth of knowledge he offered. She could do well with knowing that this world had those who gave and utilized, those who were more akin to blank canvases who could fill themselves with the mana of others, and those who were perfectly between the other two. Ailen had once been the lattermost option himself, only becoming what he was now after years upon years of spiritual and mental growth. Their lips and tongues separated by Ailen's machinations eventually, and the snap of a saliva trail heralded his final comment on the matter. "There. I hope that fills in any holes left behind by my mediocre explanation," he said while straightening his posture.

Five husbands was a lot of husbands. If Miwa happened to be like an experienced version of Sakura, however, Charlemagne officially considered himself surprised by how criminally low that number was. How did Sakura not have five husbands already? How did Miwa stop at five? He may never learn the truth, but surely both had many, many suitors, right? "I thought five was a lot. Now I think it's not enough. You should have fifty. Yeah... fifty sounds right," he mused. Given how he felt, Charlemagne was sure any living man could be completely satisfied with one-fiftieth of what he now felt. According to Sakura, she was a 'child of wisdom' as well. That must have been some way of saying which goddess her mother was. She would certainly never run out of ideas with that being the case. "Huh. That makes sense. You must have a lot of answers," he said as if continuing his own train of thought aloud.

In all the madness and life-ruining, Sakura reached her own womanhood with one hand. Her movements became a bit more streamline as she teased herself. Interestingly enough, that side-effect gave Charlemagne just a bit of reprieve. On the other hand, she said something about new ideas that were based on old ones. Something about that sounded... markedly dangerous. "Why do I feel like I should be worried about you saying that?" the lad wondered. Charlemagne was already barely holding on to reality; he dreaded the thought of being exposed to anything more ridiculous than the raw ability Sakura continued unveiling.

[Apollymi]

In their current exchange of saliva, Anais became privy to a certain bit of information. The words spoken by her mentor seemed to be like summaries or introductions to topics. They couldn't just be taken at face value completely. It was only when she gained the information flowing directly into her body from his, that she came to fully grasp the subjects he shared with her. She began to wonder if this was by design, or if the habit of not being able to regurgitate facts was based on knowing if they truly needed to they would share the answers directly. Whichever was the case, the kiss most recently initiated was broken by Ailen at his own leisure, but only after Anais had a full understanding of the situation concerning body types, mana disposition, and their effects on each other. "H-hai!" she managed after a second or two of being stunned. "It wasn't that the explanation was mediocre it just seemed more like an introduction than a detailed explanation. It made me wonder if that was on purpose or if it was a side-effect of receiving most of ones learning through more direct means..." she expressed her curiosity mostly because it seemed like the best time to do so. If she couldn't ask her mentor questions as they approached her mind, it likely didn't bode well for their long term relationship. Besides, things striking her curiosity wasn't new to her, but having the potential to have her big questions legitimately answered was something new and exclusive to Ailen.

Sakura and Charles on the other hand were sharing physical bodies and interactions along with a few more pleasant word exchanges. Why? Well apparently he'd initially thought five as a number of husband was excessive, but something about dealing with Sakura made him believe that the girl deserved fifty husbands. As far as the once purple haired girl was concerned that was way too many, but this was because she already understood the nature of her parents relationship. "Are? You think pretty highly of me. I wasn't expecting that..." she stated, managing to look a bit sheepish with a gentle red tint creeping up her face. Still she could move on from that and clarify while sitting aside what he said as a bit of encouragement. "Quality over quantity. Fifty would be too many different types of mana to diffuse and integrate. Five is a pretty reasonable number, but they were added one at a time until she reached the harmony," she explained in terms of mana again, but the truth was still present. Actually, now that Sakura was thinking about it, prime numbers would be easiest to balance. Three, five, seven, nine... that would likely be the order of added extras to gain the proper balance around a single individual. Ah but that didn't matter right now, no she was busy having more thoughts, more ideas. It seemed that Charles had become acclimated enough to Sakura to understand the danger in letting her imagination run wild but she only smiled at him, it was part menacing and part sweet. "Char-kun, you should move harder... I think we'll both enjoy it. If you exert yourself as much as you can..." she said. As if to encourage this act those knees of hers opened, giving the full view of the center of her body and allowing him to see the lass beginning to bounce more steadily. In and out of person he would slide, being clinched and slickened all the way through the motions. Just the same she watched him and strangely seemed to expect he'd comply with her wishes eventually. Then they could both reach proper enlightenment.

[Bloodedge]

Ever the curious child was the one called Anais. Frankly, Ailen could only become more elated by her line of questioning. It was these small curiosities which could make one student stand out from others. Even if Ailen was standing there with his cock hanging out, his purpose was instructing. Anais questioned something that had not been brought up in a very, very long time, so it was with great satisfaction that he answered. "Your mind is an interesting place. I remember the days of theorizing on the same topic. The true answer is... I don't know. On a larger scale, perhaps people did once lose their ability to explain things verbally. More immediately however, it was my mentor who discovered the use of both methods. Where most elves once solely taught using transfers, verbal explanation helps build understanding by promoting active thinking. Conversely, sharing only verbally is how knowledge becomes mistaken. If you tell a story a hundred times, are you telling the same story? The likeliest answer is no; memories are altered by the passage of time, mentality in the moment of recollection, and even misconceptions at the time of forming. Tell a story a thousand times and it may be ingrained enough for you to never mistake it again, but what of the time spent getting there? How many have been misinformed, even starting from the very first time that story was told? No... even before that. You could have been wrong before the first story. So, my mentor and I tend to agree that both methods are ideal. The student receives the knowledge just as the master did, but also receives the master's personalized take. Growth seems to occur rapidly as a result of mixing methods; even other elves have started conversing with their mentors and apprentices in more recent centuries."

Polygamy had some caveats included... apparently. Charlemagne was to believe five was normal, but fifty was excessive. At least there was an explanation given as to why such a difference existed. Blending mana was something included in the teachings of monogamy, so he supposed there was much merit in the idea of quantity being terrible. How one managed five, he still didn't know... but Charlemagne did have a different, and apparently wrong starting point in his understanding. Maybe the Sakura situation wouldn't be so bad after all. Angelica had never transferred mana to another before him, excluding the expected parent-to-child transfers one could assume she experienced ages ago. He'd never really swapped mana either, so perhaps one inclusion of a foreign mana was not so big a deal.

Wait, why was he thinking like that?! Stupid. It was almost like he was trying to justify polygamy for himself while his own affair target was bounding in his lap. Ah, she was shifting again as well. Charlemagne soon had an even better full view of the girl's fore while she urged him to move harder, doing the same herself. Of course, it felt only natural that he do so immediately. The moment he started, however, was the same moment that missing half of an expulsion found its way. Still, Charlemagne remained firm and mobile; this was no longer something new. Sakura was proving herself to be something of a... temptress? That thought reminded him of that crazy old man who called him Father. Multiple things from that man's strange speech pattern were starting to connect and make sense. Some mentions of "Father" had been quite mixed-up between Charlemagne and Father An, but... An had taken the bulk of Charlemagne's soul into himself. Was that old man clairvoyant? Maybe. If he was, so many things were so much clearer. Father is not big Father, Geoffroy once said. Charlemagne's primary issue now was that Father An was more Charlemagne than Charlemagne himself was. Moreover, he was told to... find "Temptress" in addition to "Wife". How strange. Wife would have been Angelica, but she was addressed as an entirely different entity. Perhaps then, it had something to do with his current missing connection? Perhaps the positive of this encounter would help the world in a manner outweighing any potential negatives he faced alone? "Wait. Something's wrong. I... I think I need you...?" he muttered almost unconsciously, seeming confused by the revelation and how he'd reached it at all.

[Apollymi]

Curious was one way to describe Anais. She was a person with many wide and varied interests. And given this she had a long list of questions usually concerning those interests. That being said, it was fairly easy to continue the conversation she was having or express her curiosities in a space where they would be addressed. Case in point, Ailen easy began responding to her most recent curiosity. In so doing he even commented on the nature of her mind. More and more, she felt comfortable in this man's presence, and now she felt pleased that her line of questioning wasn't tedious. It was often the case when she asked teachers more critical questions she was met with distate for not simply accepting what she was told, or accidentally poking holes in their pre-established logic. No such thing occurred now, in fact she was given the answer of someone who didn't really know either. Still he theorizied and in so doing allowed her to continue thinking about the subject. "Oh? Well... that makes sense. Information communicated many times can get muddled at various points of contact. What may or may not be true by the time it reaches you is always up for debate. It's also a bit odd to give information away when you haven't yourself considered why it is stated the way it is. And regurgitating things as facts without the ability to discuss or question will stifle creativity so it makes sense that combining methods seems to work. Critical thinking is a developed skill..." she mentioned seeming to accept those words. At least the method was being used more often so she could hope her peers would develop at closer to her own pace. It would be nice to meet people who learned in more obtuse ways eventually. Just the same her eyes were sparkling and she realized that she'd gone off on a bit of a tangent. They probably shouldn't have allowed that to happen so much considering she was supposed to be receiving lessons of a more general nature currently. She began tapping her index fingers together in a manner most shy while looking up at him... "Shishou, should I be well... doing this while we talk then?" she asked seeming to not be completely clear on what could potentially be in bad taste.

While the two rather nerdy individuals seemed to be moving back towards a track more concerned with their 'knowledge sharing' endeavors, Charles and Sakura were busy gaining a new understanding of their own bodies. While Charles was going through quite the strange argument with himself, Sakura was busy applying theory to practice as they worked together to fix the problem of Charles' current existence. Just the same another explosion of Sakura's happened but it was as Charles finished off his recently withheld one. HIs explosion within her loins made her quiver internally. "Aah!~" it was such a happy little sound that escaped her lips. What was more she seemed to come to an understanding of something else entirely. She used magic within her core and pieced together a vessel to hold the darkness she was concentrating within her core. And it would appear as a dark light over her left hand. Whatever the case it wasn't immediately done, she found herself looking at Charles, as he claimed he needed her. "Need me?" she seemed to question that as a statement. "Are you certain?" she asked having inferred quite a bit about the entirety of Charles's situation based on his actions and the darkness that had previously clung to him from his grail. She assumed he wanted nothing to do with her aside from fixing his situation, but the idea of needing someone was more complex. Hm... "Sit up a bit, you can explain while we harmonize," she said. If Charles sat up as instructed she would find herself in his lap in the same position with her legs wrapped around his person. Her hips grinding slowly as she awaited his explanation, that purple light in her hand seeming to be having its form shaped by her thoughts as little tendrils of darkness were fed into it.

[Bloodedge]

A lovely little chat was occurring between mentor and apprentice, much to the former's satisfaction. Anais proved to be quizzical enough to reach the stars in a metaphorical sense. Just the same, she seemed to think well enough on her own that she worked through some important issues on her own. Her view on critical thinking was much like his own; many people could do better in life by reaching the same conclusion. "I believe you're right. It is a learned skill, and it is also a taught skill. Sadly, it seems I don't have much to teach you in that regard. Maybe a small amount remains to be taught," he surmised. Once that topic was addressed by both parties, the sheepish nature of Anais reared its head again. Those forefingers of hers were tapping away at each other while she stumbled her way through a question. Should she be doing something while they talked? Ah, right; he'd nearly forgotten during the discussion. "Ah yes, I almost let it slip my mind. Rare is it that I can have these conversations with anyone besides my wife. The pacing of your education can only be determined by you. If you would like to begin, you are free to do so. What you see before you can be treated as a tool of learning to be used at your leisure. Think of it as a book containing everything I've learned. You may open it and read it as you wish."

Munetsuchi was teaching several people several things about the world's workings. Anais and Charlemagne would both leave with a wealth of knowledge this day, though Charlemagne's was fated to be a bit... different. His revelation was not yet complete, but Sakura brought his spoken words into question while doing something very unidentifiable with her own mana. Did he need her? The short answer was yes. The long answer involved him not being entirely sure why. When asked if he was sure, there was only one answer to be given. "I think?" he said. Another instruction came from the lass thereafter. She urged him to sit up, which he did only to have her legs wrap around his midsection. Their torsos were parallel, creating a sense of intimacy Charlemagne hadn't expected, didn't want, but... couldn't reject once it came about. That grinding motion of her hips felt a bit different as well, and Charlemagne's arms naturally fell around Sakura's body much like her legs had hooked around his own. Something about this was absolutely magical... and not purely in the literal sense. Whatever the case, he had some thinking to do. He let his brain simmer for a moment, and then something else came to mind: those odd visions he had one day prior to his coronation. "I feel like I do. I think... you're the Temptress someone warned me about yesterday. Say, you didn't happen to have any weird dreams lately, did you?"

[Apollymi]

The chat between mentor and student was indeed one which pleased both parties. It'd been quite a while since Anais had her curiosities answered in such a pleasant way. Actually well over three hundred years by her own count. Her last happy experience questioning someone in a teacher's place, had to do with her math and science teacher while she was in middle school. That woman enjoyed chatting with her so much she ate lunch in her classroom... to ask questions on things that interested her from her lessons. But upon getting older a certain amount of conformity in thought was expected. Refreshing was the whole of their conversations. "Probably more than a small amount. I am sure there are some nuances that have escaped me about a lot of things..." she said willing to use her knowledge but never assuming she knew everything about anything, even things she was familiar with. But, this wasn't just about things she was familiar with, this was also about things most alien to her. Technically the physical aspect of her relationship with her teacher. She was still quite skittish about bringing it up, but figured that would either fade with time, or it would be something that she dealt with regardless. Either way, she was now told to treat his tool as one for her learning and that her learning was to be taken at the pace she decided to take it. "Sou ka..." she murmured. First thing to happen after would be a tentative lick, deciding that she didn't mind this soon after she gave a bit of a shrug. "Shitsureishimasu." If one thing could be said about Anais she had impeccable manners in addition to her other positive traits. She understood this type of mana transfer already so she carefully began the process of moving his rather massive length into her mouth at the pace she felt most comfortable with. Her lips closing around the tip of him while her tongue casually wet his girth.

While one began the process of learning in the most distinct way, Charles had taken up a bit of learning in a different way. Sakura had made the demand that he move quite a bit and when he did it left them in a rather intimate position. Though she was quite certain Charles wasn't seeking intimacy with her, such a bonding was usually important for the sake of making sure all mana taken in and given was harmonized properly. One could liken it to sleeping buried within someone, but she thought to keep him active so he didn't have any residual hard feelings about it. Still, he wanted to talk and so she'd allow him to do so. While his arms were found wrapped around her, as if this closeness was actually something he sought. Her own would easily be found resting on his shoulders as her hips continued on their path. He claimed to think he was certain and as such she'd hear out what he had to say. He made a reference to someone calling someone a 'Temptress' and asked her if she'd had any strange dreams. "Oh? That's odd, I am sure the only way I count as a temptress is if someone thinks such a thing as forbidden knowledge exists..." she said. Even so, that wasn't judgmental at all. It was simply an understanding as for weird dreams she gave a shrug which placed her chest bouncing against his even as she tightened the grip of her legs. "I don't know what would count as weird. I have dreams that don't always make sense in current context all the time," she murmured against the lad. "Kaa-sama says that divinities often come with mild forms of clairvoyance, most of those are most easily seen in the young especially as dreams. But what is seen in those could be past, present or future, it mostly depends on the type of divinity. I don't have a type yet, so I am never sure what I am seeing," she clarified. "My most recent dream that I can recall was a big star, and a little star, a big pillar a small pillar, and a gate..." she said. Strangely she thought nothing of it, all the while the shape in her hand was coming together, and would likely look rather familiar as it became whole. Just the same, the darkness at her core seemed to be leaking out directly into the form.

[Bloodedge]

Even when he assured the girl of her own capacity, Anais expressed doubt. She believed herself to be a bit more full of learning opportunities than he thought. That was basically the perfect response, Ailen thought. "You are correct, but that is precisely what I mean. The fact that you think the way you do, means I can hardly do anything to make your mind work any harder. In my opinion, you may be a perfect vessel for knowledge. I'm over the moon, honestly," he commented. Moments later, Anais made the decision of whether she'd progress the mana transfer while they spoke or not. It all began with a single, sheepish lick, followed by a shrug and an overly-polite request for excusal. With that, Anais took his tip between her lips and applied a moistened tongue to him. How interesting. She still thought politeness was necessary for this? That would still take time, Ailen surmised. Oh well; it was rather cute how innocent she still managed to be. "Interesting. There are thousands who would have attacked it the moment they had the chance. Your thirst for knowledge doesn't even begin to outweigh your sense of propriety."

Meanwhile, Charlemagne was in the middle of a desperate attempt to put the pieces together. There was almost no doubt in his mind that Sakura was the aforementioned temptress. Upon hearing about that title however, she believed it possible only if one believed in forbidden knowledge. That... was another can of worms Charlemagne wouldn't dare unpack. "I'm not even going to ask," he said immediately. With that shrug of Sakura's, he felt her breasts rubbing against his torso. Naturally, his eyes were drawn down in that very moment. Did he need a visual distraction? Well, no, but he once again wouldn't be found arguing. What were the other details though? There had to be something to bring everything together in his mind. It was honestly rather hard, what with all the physical and visual distractions literally sitting in his lap. Lo, the answer to his question about dreams would bring much insight. Sakura confirmed his suspicions about clairvoyant dreams, and went on to explain a very familiar one she had recently. "What?" Charlemagne questioned, surprised by how similar her dream sounded. "Stars, pillars and a gate? Were you... walking away from someone?" he asked further.

[Apollymi]

Anais might have had the strangest amount of appreciation for this man. He appreciated her particular brand of curiosity and the understanding of her brain. He made the commentary that he couldn't make her mind work any more and called her potentially the perfect vessel for knowledge. Ah, well that was high praise wasn't it. She began to think if she had this sort of praise normally she would have been an even better student. Though, if anyone had tried to answer her questions in this world, she likely would have figured out much earlier she was part of a cult. Yes, best to just appreciate the compliment with a blushing face and sheepish look. Then there was the matter of her actual 'education' which came with her usual amount of politeness. It seemed this was noteworthy as well, given the commentary. A brief break when it was taken would have her comment upon this. "I know it's not really, but it would feel really rude to me..." she managed before she took more of him into her mouth. In performing this action and getting more comfortable, she came to understand how people managed to do this. She didn't feel guilty about it, and found it much less stressful than she would have found anything else. In truth her sense of propriety was rooted in something strange, and she'd attack that at some other time. Here and now she'd deal with the manhood before her, and a tentative hand would join the fray when she considered that it likely wasn't yet possible for her to get the whole of him into her mouth. She took it to a level of comfort, and worked the shaft with the wetness provided by her mouth.

While one person discovered their seuxality, two others seemed to become comfortable in their own. Sakura's current level of closeness, was something that allowed her to feel the mana within Charles body. He didn't get as much from her after taking the whole from her chest. She'd have to figure out how her mother managed to achieve balanced transfers with her fathers so often. "That is fine. Knowledge should be sought, not forced," she said seeming to have heard that enough of hers. Of course, that was about all she would say about things like that. She kept up her work forcing the darkness into the form she was creating while she continued those gentle grinding motions in Charles lap. She was almost done with it, she could feel the most of the darkness leaving her form, though the marks and strangeness retained, the color at the tips of her hair was returning just a little. His question about her dream made her believe they might have shared one, but his question was odd. "Iie, there was no movement from me. The way I saw it, the little pillar was in the middle and had to remain there... the little star and myself were equally distant around the pillar. A bit like a scale really..." she mused seeming to have no reason to think more about than it being a dream. Whether it needed interpreting or not, she'd had many strange dreams in her life, so it wasn't odd to her to not know the meaning of something until after the fact. "Almost... almost..." what was she chanting about?

[Bloodedge]

Rudeness or lack thereof aside, Ailen took no issue with Anais's approach. She was entitled to approach matters of learning however she deemed fit. His was the honor of helping her along, whatever the chosen method may be. It just so happened that Anais chose a method he was very much accustomed to. Ah, but what more was there? "I understand. I will not fault you for your beliefs," Ailen commented. Now, with the girl's mouth and hand both worked their way around his wood, Ailen seemed to reach a minimum relaxation quota rather quickly. This exchange may have been primarily a thing of learning, but as he said previously, it could never be solely that. The people of Munetsuchi understood this well. He was freely offering this girl his knowledge and energy, but he'd also ensure both parties' enjoyment to the best of his own ability. Whatever it was being called, there would always remain the aspect of sex. "Mmm, that's quite good for a first. I'm learning that inexperience can be utilized in a way that makes it shine, as opposed to being a hindrance. I wasn't expecting to learn from you this way," he mused. All the while, Anais would surely be receiving an additional form of praise ─ this one in the form of a certain pulse occurring between her lips.

Speaking of pulsing, the cursed sensation of Charlemagne's was returning full-swing. Sakura wasn't doing nearly as much as she had been moments prior, but that didn't seem to matter. Whatever her purpose was in suggesting this more intimate position, he felt more at peace than ever before. It wasn't even an issue that he could shatter at a moment's notice. Little did he know, the 'harmonizing' Sakura previously mentioned had a stronger effect on him than he could have imagined... even if he had a single clue what she meant by it. No matter; more important was the thought that her dream was definitely connected to his own. "Like a scale. . ." Charlemagne muttered. He was sure now that there was a connection. Geoffroy's speech was one thing, but that dream came to him in a moment of clarity long before any prophecies from another. His soul must have been reaching out to Sakura for quite some time now. Oh... there was more weight to that than he realized. "Ah! Tosaka!" he exclaimed almost randomly. Whatever Sakura was chanting about, he neither knew nor cared. Fuller realization had struck the lad, and with it came a bit more understanding. "It was you! I was the little pillar! You were the silhouette I was reaching for, but you and Angie were always the same distance from me! I couldn't pass the gate. I went toward you for help, but the farther I got from Angie, the farther you went from me. I had to... what was it...?"

[Apollymi]

Anais wouldn't be faulted for her strange amount of propriety. That was good, it would be really odd trying to explain that she'd spent two lifetimes being extremely conservative. She was a fairly freethinking individual, but environment counted for a lot more than it was usually given credit for. Moving right along, her working of the man's shaft along with the movements of her tongue seemed to be doing a bit of work. Enough that visible relaxation seemed to be reached by Ailen and beyond that he had words to share. Apparently, this wasn't a bad attempt for a first timer and beyond that it seemed that he'd learned something. Her thoughts on this were rather simple and would be shared after a somewhat interesting pulse occurred against her lips. "Hm? Well, necessity is the mother of invention..." she said. She'd gone about this method knowing that it wouldn't work for her to try and accept such a thing to the back of her throat. Given this, she could give a different kind of experience to what she'd seen, but still gain the knowledge of related sensations she sought. Yes, all was fair, even so, as she became more comfortable, she'd begin applying suction with her jaws, being rather careful of her teeth as she had enough knowledge to know that would be a negative in such cases. If she was willing to violate rule one, she would have asked Janessa how she managed such a thing with legitimate fangs, but that was just a passing thought. Strangely, this sort of sensation while not physically stimulating for her, did nothing to discourage her from feeling a bit heated. She could feel her lips plumping and even that warmth still present between her legs. It was such a strange thing to know this random connection between sex and knowledge...

At the same time, knowledge was being shared as Sakura expelled the evil she'd concentrated while harmonizing her own mana to Charles's. At this point, the only darkness that would remain within her, was that which bonded with her on a deeper level. Desire was something she understood, even while not understanding other things. It made sense that it bonded with her and couldn't be expelled by the time of the harmonizing. No matter, the worst of it was being crushed into the shape she thought would make it easiest to handle and that would keep it from spilling into the world in a negative way. She was almost done with this act when an excited utterance escaped Charles. He called her Tosaka... which was less formal than he'd been addressing her before. A step in the right direction if she understood friendship properly. Apparently his current understanding of his dream led him to believe that Sakura had been in it. Well, dreams were easier to interpret when you knew all the pieces that much made sense but he couldn't seem to make sense of the last of it. "Hm? Well, if the end of the dream wasn't clear, it could be filled in with logical reasoning if you know all the pieces involved... Even if you don't if you know enough about another situation you could draw a logical comparison," she mentioned as if it was the most logical thing. And... as the rocking of her hips reached fever pitch that goblet came together in her hand. "Got it!" she mused bringing her hand to her fore. In that hand was a blacked goblet in a familiar shape, only instead of the holiness of its counterpart, it seemed to have an almost sinister energy. "Look, I kept the most of it from seeping in or spilling out. I have to show Kaa-sama!" she said seemingly rather proud of herself.

Unbeknownst to Sakura, looking through the girl's eyes, was a pair very similar in color. And then, reaching through her hand, and across time and space was a comforting warmth, steeped in both light and darkness. It was such a calming energy, it was similar to being hugged by her mother when she was much smaller. Sakura couldn't have explained the feeling but felt like she'd definitely gain approval. What was more, a certain almost locking seemed to occur, as her form and eyes seemed to settle. Hm, was that magic? Had something changed? She was unsure. Still she looked up as if she expected to see something in particular and it felt almost as if lips were touching her forehead, but just as quickly as the sensation happened... it was gone. But whatever that was, it'd definitely touched her and something about her powers had most definitely changed because of it.

[Bloodedge]

Anais spoke of necessity and how it beget invention. Once again, she was right. It remained interesting that she would apply such logic to the act of fellatio, but it was obvious that she didn't fully believe in her own ability. Of course she could have inhaled the entire thing without any effort, as all could in this situation; however, he could not fault her other method at all. "While it is not so much a necessity, I understand the development from one who believes it is. You may find your ability surprising. Nevertheless, if I were to be frank, I would say keeping to your own methods is interesting in its own way," he said, fully meaning every word for numerous reasons. A certain carefulness was shown by Anais as she began sucking upon his member. Strangely, Ailen's posture was one expressing curiosity, interest even. One hand rested upon his hip while the other pressed against his chin. He was watching Anais with maximum intent even while she actively serviced his groin. There was no reason a mentor couldn't remain studious as well. . .

Everything was falling into place for Charlemagne. One of those dreamlike states he'd been in revealed the name of one shadow. The other remained a blur, though he had an assumption or two about why it was getting in his way... and why Sakura saw it as a large pillar while he was a smaller version of the same structure. "I think... I had to..." He was almost there. There were no new developments that were massive in nature, so he could at least manage to keep on a steady train of thought. He'd once come to a conclusion about the female figure in that first dream; it was one he never got the chance to properly act on. What if he could now?

Sakura had something else to bring up, involving that energy she'd been fiddling with for some time now. She showed its complete form, which had the look of a Holy Grail... albeit black in color. She didn't look very different even though the apparent corruption she'd taken in had been channeled into a physical object. 'Temptress knows Devil, and... Devil will know Nexus?' he recalled mentally. Fully delving into his own thoughts, Charlemagne figured it was time for a potentially rash decision. He looked past that Dark Grail into Sakura's face. He cupped that face with both hands, aiming to pull it into his own until their lips met. Somewhere within this unexpected turn of events, there was purpose. He had to find it, if nothing else.

[Apollymi]

While Anais used a hand to stroke Ailen and her mouth to suck and lubricate the man seemed to have something to say. He made the claim that she might be surprised by what she was capable of, but he also had nothing negative to say about her current methods. It seemed that her own methods were interesting enough that the man was studying her very closely. Anais found herself looking up at him as he looked down at her... something about that inquisitive look was strangely attractive in her mind. Actually her own face blushed harder at the thought. That was a strange thing to realize, whatever the case, it definitely made it easier to get into the activity she was currently undertaking. The strokes became more comfortable, her mouth became more wet and he could find his length traveling further and further into her mouth. It was no conscious effort to take him further into her mouth she was simply finding herself more interested in the activity over time. Well the overalls in this case, would be her stimulating this man into releasing his essence, as such he'd have to get a base amount of enjoyment out of it, still he'd already mentioned being fine with her methods so, she went on to have a good time with the combination she'd come up with for general purposes.

It would seem that Charles was busy trying to work his way through his previous clairvoyant dream. He made some kind of assessment and Sakura showed off her dark grail with a huge bit of happiness on her face. He had to do something and she'd one one of the other things besides the sex that she'd wished to do. As such she could put a bit more concentration into the work being done by Charles. He was looking past her grail and into her face, and then both his hands were cupping her face. How strange, he was soon leaning in as if he aimed for a kiss. "Char-kun?" she questioned lightly as their lips were brought together. She was pretty sure he wasn't interested in this sort of intimacy, but he'd been the one to start it so perhaps she was wrong in her assertion? If that was the case, then she'd submit to the coming kiss. Her lips pressed against his and her hips stopped moving gently. Her arms would be found around him soon enough that cup at the side after she had it fall from her hands. Strangely enough, that wasn't a problem either.

[Bloodedge]

For some reason or another, Anais had a strange reaction to something unknown. He'd been observing her intently enough to realize that when she met his gaze, Anais seemed even more flustered. Why? Whatever the reason, the movements of her mouth and hand became more consistent right away. Ailen would have to ponder this phenomenon a bit more, or perhaps even present Anais with a question about it. If he chose the latter though, it would have to be later ─ much later. He may have said her methods were interesting, but the truth was much greater than that. Anais was succeeding at pleasing him physically, which was something he expected of only the literal goddess, Miwa. Ailen could always make himself ready for an exchange of mana or knowledge. With this sort of ingenuity on the table, he imagined the singular act of sex was something worthwhile as well. Even while carrying on with her methods, Anais was getting closer and closer to the expected norm... yet she didn't abandon her ways to do so. How very... "Mm~ Interesting."

The Dark Grail constructed by Sakura was something of a sign to Charlemagne. With its opposing nature as a corrupt item, he could attribute it to devils. As such, he could solidify in his mind that Sakura was the one called Temptress. She would know the Devil, which would somehow apparently form a link to the Nexus. The Nexus was what he needed to reach some way or another, and drinking from the Holy Grail alone didn't get him there. Maybe he could go through Sakura and follow the path from there? She seemed curious or even confused, but never did she shy away from the coming kiss. Of course she wouldn't. Even though Charlemagne didn't specifically seek intimacy, even though he seemed to accept it wholly by the time their lips met. Even Sakura's arms wrapped around him again, even as her hips stopped moving, and even as he felt that blackened grail hit his back during its descent, he easily sank into the moment. He was holding on to the girl's back with both hands, feeling her skin against his own. Something was out there in the ether; he'd find it soon enough.

Meanwhile, the man called Qin finally seemed ready to take advantage of the time without too many interruptions. The pink-haired brat was still hanging around, but he didn't seem like too much of a bother without the others. As such, he was casually sitting atop that bedlike throne of Miwa's in an open-legged and frankly provocative pose, one long-nailed finger beckoning the woman toward him. The plan before any others arrived had been very clear. Now that the riffraff was gone, he could take advantage of the moment.

[Apollymi]

Anais's reaction to the face of her mentor wasn't something she would have been able to explain to him. Actually, it was probably for the best that she wasn't asked about it. Her ability to continue the task she was undertaking had quite a bit to do with the fact that she was managing to be rather calm about this exchange. Moreover she was finding looking up into his face while her mouth, tongue and hands moved around his girth to be a rather interesting set of sensations. She was fairly certain she hadn't considered that she might like this sort of thing, and that was something else she now knew. Firmness, movement, and tongue motions all seemed fairly continuous. He even had words to share, which caused her left brow to raise almost in question. She didn't know how she managed to be interesting while doing this. He was definitely married and the goddess didn't seem to be the type to think about things the way humans did, so he likely experienced something far better than her inexperienced self could have offered. She'd allow that thought to settle but didn't mind, it wasn't as if she was the type to abandon any part of her studies, even this. Given the multiple sets of movements she was able to even manage to give her jaws a break while he remained in her mouth. Her hand traveled more of his length, while her tongue moved against the tip, this was done mostly to give her cheeks a break but she didn't have to lose anything to go about it this way. Strange was this decision but it wouldn't take a moment to get back to what she'd been doing.

Sakura was soon experiencing something very different. Whatever conclusions Charles had made, he was seeking a kiss most intimate and seemed to fall into it, after he pressed their lips together. It remained chaste for a time, but as Sakura's hips were no longer moving other things started to instead. Her tongue traced his lips aiming to gain entry into his mouth knowing that a bit of extra transfer between them would likely help the lad stabilize even more. Their harmony was to be reached and as far as she knew he hadn't yet formed his new core, nor his 'Source' and as such she still had more work to do to ensure she did all she was meant to. Perhaps this kind of intimacy would help? She didn't know but if she got where she was going a slow movement of tongues would be encouraged and she wouldn't deny liking such a thing as her nether pulsed around him. Yes... this was fine for whatever reason. She understood a little more as this was happening.

At the same time, the throne room had died down and only one remained. Unlike many others, Miwa didn't care if the pink haired boy remained to be witness to whatever was happening in the throne room. Still, after all that had happened, she looked over to the rather flamboyant male and found him sitting rather provocatively. Of course, he knew today wasn't his day, but that hadn't stopped him from asserting himself. To be fair, Miwa was a bit of a sucker for the more forceful attitudes that happened from a few of her men, so... she found herself easily walking towards that beckoning claw. "You know the others are going to be upset at you for skipping, Qin-sa~" she mentioned as she stood between his legs. She was leaning into his face, her blue eyes seeking something, but she didn't question his desire at all. Those little strips of cloth barely counted as clothing and being as she was... she would likely be flashing the lad below. Not that it mattered. If one of her husbands wished for her and didn't mind the flack he'd be handed, she could always make a bit of room for them. It wasn't like she ever got truly tired or anything like that... and it wasn't like she was making anything important... the mana could be left to mix for a bit.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen found himself curious about his new apprentice's immediate future. What more would she do to surprise him? Nothing thus far even seemed intentional, but the purpose was served regardless. She had his interest and his undivided attention. Soon enough, she'd have something else of his as well. Ah, but first, Anais did indeed have something new. She removed him from her mouth seemingly to speak, yet no words came. Was she... resting? No, that wasn't quite the case. Anais's hand continued moving, and her tongue repeatedly met the tip of his rod even though it no longer rested in her mouth. "Oh goodness. Is this some new idea? It seems quite a bit more intimate," he commented. All the while, it seemed he was experiencing a certain shrinkage of scrotum. Its occurrence was slower than he'd become used to, yet also beginning much sooner than normal. How very unusual.

Charlemagne fell completely into an intimate exchange, with Sakura reciprocating easily. Maybe it was something she wanted from the beginning. Was it something he wanted from the beginning? The truth was... no, but also yes. The sensation of Sakura's protruding tongue resulted in a gentle parting of Charlemagne's lips. Strangely, he didn't wait for her intrusion. He chose instead to let loose his own tongue to meet hers at the door it knocked upon. The new Core, the Source, all of those other things were unimportant to the lad. He had to find a way to connect with the Nexus. If Sakura was the supposed method of transport, he'd find it through her. Besides... they were already mid-coitus anyway.

Speaking of those who were mid-coitus, Astolfo had the absolute pleasure of watching those who were soon to be so. Qin watched the approach of his wife, knowing completely how upset some others would be over his actions. Why should he care, though? "That is no concern of ours. We desire your touch today, so we shall have it," he said bluntly. In the meantime, Astolfo had a very interesting view of the goddess's undercarriage beneath a flap of cloth just barely out of place. Ah, but Astolfo wasn't the only one with that view ─ nor was he the only one staring a hole into... well, into Miwa's holes. Another man with very long, black, red-tipped hair styled into a loose mullet was walking into the throne room. He wore an oriental-styled black tailcoat with red clothed insides and gray trousers. His tailcoat was toil-patterned with gold and dark blue colors, joined by a black belt alongside a styled metal decoration on his left thigh. He also wore a black glove on his right hand. Bandages could be seen around his right arm, right thigh, and on his left hand, the latter of which he was actively re-wrapping during his approach. What approach? Well, he seemed to belong here well enough that he was walking directly up to Miwa's rear... where he would proceed to slap her on the arse with a freshly-wrapped hand. "Ara~? Are we out of turn again?" he questioned. His eyes were narrow, and an eerie smile was upon his face. The voice he spoke with was a deep one, though it was almost inhumanly smooth. Having made his presence known by first slapping the ass of the local goddess, he proceeded to snatch her by the hips with both hands. He'd continue while pulling her back until she pressed against his own lap. "Da─rin~♥ If you're going against the order you claim to hold so dear, stop wasting your time. I don't mind if you skip ahead to me. Neither do you, right?"

[Apollymi]

Ailen was being treated to the inexperienced workings of a formerly human mind. The tongue she allowed to play at the tip of his phallus while she waited for the sensation in her jaw to return was seemingly noted as a thing of intimacy. Was that intimate? Well she supposed she was using her tongue in a fashion that most would have used to kiss. That being said it had already been within her mouth and seemed to be working effectively for what she intended. She rounded his tip with her tongue thinking of how to reply. "It seemed like a good idea..." she mentioned seeming to not really explain how she came to the conclusion but deciding the use of her mouth in this moment needed to be more focused. Jaws were all but rested now, so she gave another delicate swirl around the hole of him as she opened her mouth a bit to accept him back into her mouth while her tongue traced the underside of his phallus. She'd get back to her work, but her hand hadn't stopped moving either. She knew this was going to be something that went into her mouth, she was preparing herself mentally for something that likely wouldn't taste good, given what men's locker rooms and the corners of hallways they used to masturbate in smelled like. But her own knowledge said it wouldn't be much so she could deal with that... maybe it'd be ignorable.

Ah, while someone was about to learn about taste, the gentle kiss and exploration seemed to be taking place between Charles and Sakura. Surprisingly to the young goddess, her tongue wasn't simply allowed to enter Charles mouth, he met her protruding tongue instead and they exchanged saliva in the open air between their mouths. Sakura exhaled panted little breaths as her core seemed to close in around his rod with purpose even without her hips moving at all. It was quite the strange experience but she found herself enjoying it, even as her hands were found in the lad's hair as she seemed to be trying to merge with him at an even greater frequency. She was harmonizing their mana in a constant cycle through where they connected as if to synchronize them to the same frequency.

And then there was the throne room. Miwa's flirty little conversation was one thing. She'd teased Qin a little about skipping in the order but she would have still used him to test out her new knowledge. "Alright then... " there was a pause in her statement as a firm hand met her rear. "Eeep!~ Muu-chan!♥~" she seemed to know it was him without even turning to see him. Was it tone of voice? That firm hand against her rear, or the feeling of that almost foreign energy? Well probably a lot of things. Even as he pulled her against his lap by her hips she didn't really argue the point with him. Actually, this kind of forceful approach was something she'd come to enjoy from him. "Well, it isn't exactly like that... there was a bit of an emergency after I went missing yesterday, some people fell out of the sky today... and Ailen is comforting one of them," she said about the strange order to their day and why the man who was supposed to be present wasn't here now. Ah, but he wanted to skip in line if she was skipping around. "Muu-chan you've had me more recently than anyone else... I do try and keep the order. You guys are the ones making it difficult," she stated. Still, she hadn't said no. Actually if she was being honest, it was really hard for her to say no to this particular man...

[Bloodedge]

"Did it? Well, I agree," Ailen said with certainty. If his opinion on the matter was worth anything, he'd certainly call it the best of ideas. Even his experiences with Miwa dictated that slowing things down from time to time was better for everyone. Now though, he wondered how much the goddess herself knew about these techniques. They'd have to discuss such things... eventually. For now, he was content to feel. Anais was back to inhaling his phallus soon enough, still stroking away at it with that hand. Ailen's breathing deepened over time. The satisfaction he felt now was far beyond anything he expected of any non-Miwa individual. "Ahh~. I take it you're ready? I'm surprisingly close," he admitted. If Anais continued her methods, she'd soon be... potentially quite surprised. That smell she knew of was nonexistent here. Whatever flavor she expected was nonexistent here. That miniscule quantity she anticipated was nonexistent here. When Ailen ejaculated, it would be something great in quantity, which both smelled and tasted of... honey.

Anais would be receiving a taste of something new. In the meantime, Charlemagne could taste only that familiar bouquet of cherry wine, with a strange aftertaste of... almond? That part was weird, but the original and familiar flavor was more noticeable. Sakura's breath passing into his open mouth was like inhaling a vapor for added effect. His own breath was drawn as he went about clutching at the lass in an almost desperate fashion. Before he even knew it, Charlemagne was going at her mouth as if answering a thirst. It was difficult to remember his purpose in all this. The more their mana danced, the closer Charlemagne drew to losing himself entirely. It was exactly that sort of danger he meant to avoid earlier in their interaction. Now, it was more like a gamble he had to take. Huffing, heaving, rubbing his fingerprints firmly into her back, Charlemagne remained on this uncharacteristic offensive path. Sadly, it seemed he might have been hastening the process of fragmenting his own soul in doing so.

A firm slap, and Miwa knew exactly who she was now dealing with. That innocent little tryst with Qin was inconsequential; she'd surely much rather have a more entertaining experience. Muu-chan, she called the man who pulled her into himself. "Muu-chan? Iia," he said, his lips close enough to Miwa's ear to brush against it with every word. "Use the one you save for when no one else is around. Our little guest might be curious, and Zheng-chin looks like he needs to know," he added. Miwa spoke of the ongoing situation, and would surely follow-up with some excuse that may counter his placement in the 'rotation'. Knowing that was sure to come, he prepared to retort immediately. What words would he offer? None, initially. Alas, by the time Miwa spoke of difficulty and trying to keep the established order, she'd be dealing with his covered meat rod as it slowly, yet firmly grinded against her backside. "Oh hush. I don't hear you saying no. It'd be less difficult if you just said yes."

Having his bounty of the afternoon literally snatched away, Qin seemed to be in a rather foul mood. That red-eyed cur had such an annoying habit of overstepping his bounds. Qin had half a mind to put the rabble in its place. "Mugen. Are you stepping on our toes today? We have killed for less," he said, a mighty air of intimidation spreading throughout the throne room. Sadly, that aura was soon dispelled... or rather, replaced as Mugetsu's blood-red gaze briefly fell upon Qin. When he spoke though, it was once more to Miwa. "Da─rin. I'm hearing a lot of birds chirping, but not the name I came to hear. Fix it for me~♥"

[Apollymi]

Anais was rewarded with confirmation that her idea had been a good one. Well, it was good not to fail at achieving ones goals and beyond that, being able to achieve pleasing someone who knew what they were looking for had to be considered a kind of win. Actually, it was more than that, as Ailen found himself back in her mouth he claimed to be quite close to the eventual ejaculation. She looked up at the man and seemed to accept that if he was ready she was too, she'd been a bit prepared but the expulsion that would happen would fill her cheeks with its volume. She felt it slide down her throat a bit and her eyes widened. She had a minor coughing fit which left her tilting back her head to swallow. Then she had another problem, there were sensations filling her mind to go along with all the general information she learned but she couldn't really think about that presently because she had a problem. She was confused again, and confusion seemed to happen to her a lot but this was something entirely different. As she tried to recover she was still coughing a little but managed to voice her absolute confusion. "I...ugh... don't... understand," she managed. Now her tongue was flickering over the roof of her mouth. "Why does it taste like...good? I didn't expect that, it's honey?! Yes... I recognize that I wasn't prepared for that. Smell from my memories says that isn't right... what is this world?" there was so much confusion. She didn't hate it. "Ah... and the sensations...so many sensations," she found herself shivering slightly. Still, she'd done what she intended and now she was simply red-faced, embarrassed and confused as to how she'd gotten to this point.

Charles soul seemed to be fragmenting, just the same, Sakura could taste a bit of herself and Charles together on her tongue. That taste by itself worked rather well together and she was fine with the mix, but that being said she also knew what was happening. Fragmenting wasn't exactly what was occurring with Charles, he was breaking but if all his pieces actually broke he should come back together around the new sensation. She kissed him deeply urging him to continue. If only he would let the rest go he could actually achieve something great. It was a hard thing to communicate, even so she melted into him. She allowed him to feel her, not just physically but spiritually, she left herself open for his exploration and explored him the same, that movement of mana was the pair of them truly getting to know each other, really forming a bond.

In the meantime Miwa was being tortured. Well that wasn't entirely true, she was having a good time, now pressed up against one of her husbands, she was explaining the situation but even she knew that much like Qin there was no real arguments to be placed here. They were both technically trying to infringe on another person's day, so it wasn't really a matter of fairness, still his request to be called something else, specifically what she called him when they were alone was one which made Miwa's blue eyes widen. "You're just trying to stir-up trouble... I don't want you lot fighting all the time. Which is why you should stick to your schedules, all of you..." she mused. Still once he was an option, he was one she'd take, he was quite right about that. The others were much more flexible about time and rotation, but Qin alone was always a bit more ego driven. But there was no real stopping it... and with Qin being the way he was this was going to happen huh? There was no real denying it and with his covered but stiffening manhood against her rear, Miwa had started to feel a bit antsy herself. "Anata!♥~ You aren't supposed to tease like this... and you know how Qin-sa is," she murmured. Ah, but she'd still said it, mostly to try and get him to stop rubbing himself against her backside halfway because the sensation alone seemed to draw it out of her. It was quite difficult dealing with a man with such a firm personality. Even so, she couldn't deny liking his bossy nature.

[Bloodedge]

Once he spilled his essence into her mouth, Ailen witnessed something else new. Anais entered a coughing fit the likes of which he'd never seen during a mana transfer. She was indeed new to this, but she seemed comfortable enough to be ready... and she'd even been warned. Why would she cough? That part was not explained at all by Anais, though she did prattle on about its flavor and her confusion surrounding it. "Honey, you say? Hmm. Yes, that is normal. That has been the comparison for at least 2,000 years now," he mused as if nothing was amiss. In truth, everything Anais spoke of was totally normal. His seed had always smelled and tasted of honey. On the other hand, Anais's expectations were that it would taste... bad? That made no sense. "This is the natural way. If it tasted bad to you, you would hate it. Hmm. I didn't assume I had to explain that part of mana transfers. That may be my failure as your mentor; sumimasen. If you would allow me, I can explain... but I don't fully understand your confusion," he said.

Charlemagne was inching closer and closer to breaking apart spiritually. Sakura was content to urge him forward into that very event, whether he realized it or not. Well... he didn't realize it. They were already deep into a make-out session brought about by his own decision; that was taking precedence over nearly everything at the moment. Charlemagne had decided Sakura was a necessity for his near future. What he didn't know, was what he had to do to reach the Nexus. He didn't know the journey was not something he could survive while being so broken, nor did he know the pieces were currently chipping away. He did know that if Angelica rejected him for his actions, this damn temptress Sakura would be someone worth chasing. Wait... no. That wasn't right, was it? Maybe it really was. Why was he starting to feel so attached?

Qin was not a fan of the other male's interruption. He had a plan for the day ─ it didn't include Mugen at all. Sadly for him, Mugen had a long list of plans that only involved Miwa and himself. She thought it was best they all stick to the schedule, as she didn't want all the infighting. How ludicrous. "Give it a rest, Little Lady. If I stuck to some stupid schedule, when would you find time for an impromptu nap throughout the week? Nobody else here is trying to fold you like origami. Start treating your body right," said Mugen. He proceeded to blow gently into the goddess's ear, slipping one hand into her hair as well. No matter what she and/or Qin thought, there would be no escaping his advances today. Ah, and there it was. A bit of grinding was all it took to have Miwa letting that favored name of his slip. Upon hearing it, Mugen relished... and Qin showed disgust. "What?! This is buffoonery. We refuse to entertain this nonsense. Have at it, if you are going to be so desperate in the middle of court," he said while rising from the throne. Meanwhile, Mugen hadn't stopped rubbing himself against Miwa at all. In fact, he would only continue so long as he knew Miwa wanted to stop him. That was but a surface desire; he'd peel it away until the true urges erupted from underneath. Well... something would erupt in the end regardless, he decided.

[Apollymi]

Why did Anais cough, well because it was way more than she expected and some of it slipped down her throat before she was ready. She recovered easily enough but it was definitely something she'd commit to memory to avoid the same thing happening again. Overall, she'd call that experience a pleasant one if only a bit confusing for what she had going on in her own brain. According to Ailen for over two thousand years he'd been told that he tasted of honey and it smelled the same. That was a bit odd. "I don't think I was prepared for that to be normal," she murmured seeming to give it a bit of consideration. Even so, Ailen was apologetic about her confusion and claimed he didn't give her that information, she managed to look up at him sheepishly. "Iia, it isn't like that.. I had certain expectations from Sex Ed, so it was just surprising in practice... Like I was told originally it'd be like a tablespoon of fluid and it'd likely be bitter and have a more mucus-like consistency. The fact that it was none of those things as unexpected so it came about a bit like drinking too fast... But it wasn't an unpleasant experience or anything like that," she mentioned sheepishly. "You can explain anything you like Shisho, and you don't have to apologize or anything like that," the girl stated seeming to fully accept the experience for what it was and be happy about the pleasant surprises.

Meanwhile Charles was falling into the depths with Sakura. The girl had no problem with what she was doing, and seemed fine to join Charles on the way through his destruction and rebirth. Whatever strange feelings he maintained, she was willing to allow him those as she discovered the interest of bonding with someone in the way which led to this closer connection. She was kissing him, her tongue playing with his, her body shifting gently against his, and eventually her hips started moving again. She was slow grinding against him, her body not rising or falling but more or less rocking or scooting direct against his. Each time she did this there was a pulse within her loins which had her core tighten around him and sent a jolt of sensation right up her spine. She was approaching another great flourish, but she could tell it was going to be great, given their current closeness. Would she come up with something else? Would she be able to provide him more mana to help along this new core creation? Would she do something else? She didn't know but all potentials were exciting.

At the same time, the throne room and the throne itself had become a hotbed of contention. Miwa was told to give it a rest, that the infighting wasn't a problem and that Mugen as he was called, planned to fold her like origami so she could take naps. He was truly the one of her men so willing to tax her form physically, and she was willing to bend a great deal to accomodate him. Even now, Qin seemed cross but let the other man take his turn. 'Ugh, I'm going to have to make up for that later...' she thought to herself. She never wanted anyone in her harem feeling left out, and Qin was a hard one to keep in line. No matter, she'd take care of him later. That breath which went into her ear made her shiver and the hand in her hair seemed to make her knees weak. She really wouldn't say no to this man. "It's been so long and you're still so problematic..." she almost moaned, as he rubbed against her rear. She couldn't even properly chastise him because she knew she was about to give in. "I planned to test my new knowledge today, but I can't really do it, if you keep it up like that... but I'm sure you'll like it... if you let up a bit~" she teased gently. They were moving right along, knowing that Qin would be something she apologized for later, she'd take to enjoying the man with her now and deal with that afterwards. Maybe she could shift around some of the others and make sure Qin got his uninterrupted turn. All the while, she was thinking of a position she witnessed from the goddess of death and figured her husband might enjoy witnessing it to, given his likeness to that demon she'd come across.

[Bloodedge]

In the wake of her recovery, Anais began an explanation. She mentioned something called... Sex Ed. Figuring that out was simple enough; she'd taken some sort of course on sexual education. The purpose, however, was missing to him. Whatever purpose the course had, it misinformed her. A tablespoon of fluid that tasted bitter and felt of mucus? That sounded absolutely repulsive from multiple perspectives. "Disgusting," he blurted out. Anais didn't find the current experience unpleasant, as she shouldn't have for this apprenticeship to work out. Once she said he could explain anything he liked, he gathered his thoughts. "No, I must apologize. I'm not used to being the mentor. That was something I should have explained earlier. As for these things you expected, they are signs. Receiving mana orally can be used as a test. The flavor, the texture, the scent are all things that tell you all you need to know about the transfer. If its quantity is insufficient, you will obviously not get much from it; either plan for more plentiful transfers, or accept dissatisfaction. If its flavor and texture are not markedly enjoyable for you, it simply means you are naturally incompatible. That should be a warning to avoid taking it into another orifice, lest you have a very tough time metabolizing it. Remember... an oral transfer allows you to begin making incoming mana your own from the beginning, allowing the mana within your own saliva to meld with it. It is the simplest way to receive, and the reason it is the best for delivering massive amounts of information through this form of transfer. The knowledge I gave you just now ─ it feels like your own experience, doesn't it?"

After a matter of moments spent rubbing tongue against tongue, Sakura began moving her lower body again. She was back to grinding, which provided no sensation resembling a thrust, but gave Charlemagne the unique feeling of... how would he describe it? One way, there was a moist rubbing sensation against his tip. The other way, there was a similar, yet more textured rubbing against the whole underside of his rod. That sudden tightening added to the mix was squeezing the life out of him... or something else. As it started, one of his arms passed through Sakura's body. That... probably wasn't good, but instead of expressing concern or signs of pain, Charlemagne continued. He did halt briefly, if only to speak around Sakura's tongue. "I'm not sure what's happening," he said.

In the meantime, another male seemed very sure about a lot of things. Qin was making his way out, leaving Mugen with only one thing to say. "Fly away, Little Peacock~," he chimed. According to Miwa, he remained problematic after being around for so long... yet she was reacting to his antics as if she found them appealing. "Bad choice of words. What do you really mean?" he wondered aloud. That hand in her hair had a firm grip for just a moment, but it seemed Miwa had an idea that involved its removal. She had some new knowledge to share. Based on the way that information was delivered, Mugen assumed it was knowledge of a more deviant nature. She even assured him that he would like it, so there were very few options in the end. "Ara~? Well you know how much I like seeing you try something new. You should have brought it up sooner." With that said, Mugen let loose the goddess's hair only to slap the exposed side of her rear with that same hand. He didn't seem very keen on moving away at all. Of course, he also had no clue what sort of 'knowledge' she'd be testing out today. Maybe he'd have a spark of inspiration from it?

[Apollymi]

Anais was offered an additional lecture to go along with her most recent understanding. She continued to sit where she was seemingly interested. After giving her commentary about the difference between the expectations she had and the reality of her mana transfer, she heard an utterance of disgusting. Of course, she agreed and after saying all that she had came to the conclusion that it being disgusting was likely one of the main reasons that humans thought the act more indecent and attributed it to the behavior of wanton women and men. Hm, but what else was she offered to round out her world view? A full understanding of mana transfers taken orally. Apparently, the taste and amount were matters of power being given and compatibility. To find out something was incompatible orally meant to understand that one would have problems metabolizing mana. What was more, enjoying taste, quantity and texture were signs of reasonable mana transfer. That all made sense. Along with that explanation was another apology. "That was definitely more in line with my own experience, actually having that experience for myself makes it pretty obvious why the social dynamics of dealing with outsiders can be very difficult for you. Between the teachings, lack of mana sense, and the pre-existing social constructs you'd have a pretty hard time convincing the general human populations that these acts aren't just for the sake of perversion," she said. With all that out of the way she seemed rather pleased. "Thanks for clearing it up," she offered innocently. The amount of sexualization this girl was willing to compartmentalize was rather high, she had very likely boxed up whatever strange feelings she had about the sexual aspects to try and consider it as openly as possible.

Meanwhile as Charles and Sakura kissed he lad seemed to be losing more and more of himself. Strangely, none of that seemed to stop him from carrying on, and as such Sakura didn't worry too much about it either. Their tongues dancing between their mouths would eventually leave Charles the room to talk, even as Sakura began to move once more. This new form of movement seemed the sort that she took on almost unconscously. She began seeking sensation as she plunged into intimacy in this way. Of course, this didn't stop her from hearing what Charles had to say, nor from seeming to interpret it based on something else, she'd heard somewhere else, maybe. Well, not exactly that... "Harmony..." she explained as if that one word would be enough to explain everything. They were reaching together for the same kind of goal, and in so doing their mana, their heartbeats and even their very souls were being aligned. There was a certain expectancy within Sakura that when the moment of truth was reached it would be by the pair of them simultaneously. Charles was breaking apart, but he'd been doing that the whole time, eventually... all of the breaks would amount to something and before that they needed to know each other... in the truest sense possible. In the meantime Sakura's body began calling out to Charles with squeezes and lubrication and eventually even that vibrating sensation and she'd expect an answer.

At the same time Miwa, was dealing with a strangeness. At least one of her husbands, seemed to be a bit more aggressive than the other ones seen this day. Where as Qin had been a bit pompous and Ailen was obviously laid back and studious, this one was... different. And tht difference made Miwa swoon in a specific kind of way. "You don't have to be so mean you know?" she stated but she'd still not done anything about it. She mostly let the men handle their disputes between themselves, but she knew this one to be particularly rowdy and thus was at least inclined to speak on it. As for the statements she actually mean by calling him 'problematic' she was quite clear. "You're quite aggressive, and a bit rude... I don't hate that about you though~" she mentioned. She was the titular goddess of the area, it wasn't often that anyone approached her with anything less than the utmost care and respect. This one, had his own way of being and she felt the desire to bend around him a bit more than normal. Speaking of bending he let go of hair and slapped her rear again, bringing another little squeal of delight from betwixt her lips. It would be soon after this that the goddess took on a pose she'd seen performed the previous day. Her legs separated into an almost sideways split leaving her rear up in the air she bent at the waist resting upon her elbows a large arch in her spine. "Hm... I don't think this is something I can do for long, but the little death goddess got a rise out of an old destroyer like this so I figured it could work~" she mused. Besides that she was sure bent like this she'd likely feel every inch offered her throughout her entire being. It'd be marvelous.

[Bloodedge]

Clearing up these little matters was one of the primary jobs Ailen took on as a mentor. Anais offered thanks, but none of that was necessary. Ailen had also gained knowledge via their conversation; he now had a bit more insight regarding problems beyond Munetsuchi. "That confusion is wide-spread ─ more so than it should be. Either way, the same logic applies to all things. Disliking the taste of food and drink means neither your body nor mana require what it has to offer. Meanwhile, eating your favorite food will offer you more than anything else that could ever enter your mouth. Well, almost anything else," he clarified. There was much to learn, much to theorize, and even more to test in this world. Ailen had taken on a student after many long years, yet he remained studious as ever. Ah, and speaking of remaining studious... "So, have you learned? You didn't appear to reach the normal awakening from that exchange, so I imagine the brew will still be helpful unless you would like to continue the lecture for full release."

Release. What an interesting choice of words Ailen had, as it was spoken in unison with Charlemagne thinking of something similar. He was beginning to let go of everything he held dear regarding himself. Regrettably, it was even becoming harder and harder to keep focusing on Angelica. The longer he remained connected to Sakura, the more she became some all-encompassing thing, custom-made for the sole purpose of consuming his existence. She claimed harmony was happening. No, that wasn't it. Something else was going on, something... wrong. Charlemagne couldn't focus on it due to all the seemingly right things going on, and with that, he lost even more of himself. There was a certain quivering ─ nay, a vibration ─ reverberating through his groin. Its point of origin was undoubtedly Sakura, and indeed... that call would soon be answered. "Something's not right," he said. Just at the end however, all the air vacated his lungs. Why? Well, it probably had something to do with a great deal of fluid vacating his testicles and sprinting full-tilt through his urethra. Charlemagne's body clenched, and his other hand phased through Sakura as well. Would this be how it all ended? Not yet, but possibly. . .

Of all the things she could have said, Miwa addressed the raven-haired man as mean. He was no such thing; the one called Qin was just lesser than he thought himself. Maybe he was aggressive, and maybe he was rude, but it could only be a problem for those who couldn't handle the approach. "You mean it turns you on," he said almost as if it were a question, though no inflection was present. Yes, Miwa was the singular goddess directly worshipped by this entire continent. Yes, that sort of title commanded respect. No, Mugen would not be giving it. Revered goddess or not, the way she caved to Mugen's approach told him it was something otherwise sorely needed ─ some missing excitement in a mundane life. He'd gladly show up to fix that. Just the same, he'd gladly observe the fall of her upper body as her arms reached the floor. That was one hell of a spread to her legs, and one hell of a way to present her ass. The only thing missing was something Mugen fixed right away: the moving of that single fabric strip to get it the hell out of his way! "Ho─ that's what you meant! I like it. You can't just pull a stunt like that and say you can't hold it, though. How much is 'not for long'?" Mugen offered a question, but he didn't seem to care much about the answer. He had already started rubbing and squeezing the goddess's backside like there was no tomorrow. By the time he finished speaking, he didn't even waste another moment. She thought he was rude? She'd see rude. The mana offering of a goddess was something few could ever be worthy of. It was called an offering precisely for that reason; one could never expect it to be offered. In Mugen's case... he'd take it. Only a breath away from his final spoken word, his face was buried in her posterior, his tongue pressing its way into a pit of moisture as he slurped away with reckless abandon.

[Apollymi]

Anais and her teacher continued on with their conversation. All the while he came to some rather accurate conclusions about the misinformation rampant in the world. There was a key factor missing from his understanding though, and it had mostly to do with the number of people from the other side of the world currently living on this one, with memories from their previous lives. Ah, but that was a hard logic to correct without an entire conversation. Instead, she focused on the important bits, the nature of food and taking things into oneself that they liked thus making it possible to receive the greatest benefit. "Hm, I suppose that makes a decent amount of sense," she said after giving it some heavy consideration. Still, her thoughts would only become more widespread as she was asked if she'd learned and he mentioned her not achieving release. Oh... her face reddened again and she found herself rather conveniently looking away. Of course she hadn't achieved such a feeling that way. Even if she could that'd be pretty lewd. It'd definitely be considered slutty behavior, beyond slutty even. Wait, no... she definitely shouldn't be thinking like that. This was a new world, with new rules and a new life. Still, that was one of those things that was deeply ingrained in her being. Probably because she was a girl through and through, and knew how such things were stigmatized. "I learned a lot more than I think should be possible. But... is it necessary that I achieve that?" she asked in a slightly roundabout way. All the while her mind was whirring. Actually if one could see it, it would be like watching sparks fly between her eyebrows. There was much thought happening in her head and none of it was being expressed. 'I really shouldn't do anything like that with my mouth. Even if it's possible that seems like a terrible thing to do. But I also can't jump the gun and have sex just to avoid it. Besides all of that it isn't as if I have to worry about him telling anyone, he said our relationship is between us. Ah, but that relationship is already taboo isn't it? I had it in my mouth... I'd already either be a slut or someone being taken advantage of!' by the end of her train of thought there were practically clouds in her eyes.

While Anais tried to work through what should and shouldn't be allowable by her own standards, Charles continued to break but dive headlong into Sakura. For her part in this Sakura seemed to be experiencing a specific kind of release with the lad buried inside of her. Of course, the spillage he offered her body was also something she felt and really enjoyed. Charles thought something was wrong as he spilled but Sakura didn't agree. "There isn't anything wrong... you have to let go Char-kun~" she murmured. Ah but that extra power currently flowing through her opened her mind up quite a bit, and she heard a whisper... something gentle offered to her by time and space. "Before Creation comes Destruction..." she seemed to think about it. That was a strange thing to have float through her head. She wondered where it came from... maybe she'd ask her mother about it when they were here. Just the same she offered back that expelled mana, kissing Charles deeply as that quivering of her insides died down to a gentle rumble.

At the same time, Miwa found herself being teased. A claim was made that she liked the attitude given to her by this particular husband and she couldn't really deny it. "Obviously," she murmured. Ah, but soon enough her body bent over at the waist and she showed off that new position she learned. She felt her dress being moved and heard the appreciation of her new position. She'd mentioned it couldn't be held but by the time the man was asking her how long she could hold it, he'd gone to do something that others might consider rude. His tongue was soon enough used to tease the woman's nether. Of course, it was a nice feeling but this wasn't something normally done without permission. Ah, but why would she bother with something like permission. She was rather content to let any of her husbands take from her, and int his case, he could take what he liked. "Anata♥!~ " she moaned in the moment seemingly pleased by this. "I'll try my best~" she mentioned of keeping this position as she struggled not to buckle from pleasure.

[Bloodedge]

Anais found sense in his explanation, albeit with one issue that remained unspoken. Before she offered him a question, Anais sported another sheet of crimson just under the skin of her face. She even looked away from him while asking if full release was necessary on her part. Immediately, Ailen seemed concerned and slightly curious. He bent at the waist again, opting for a much closer look at the girl's face ─ including a manual tilt of her chin for inspection's sake. "It isn't necessary, but it will grant you an open mind that would allow you to more easily utilize all knowledge you've gained. You might even find some immediate inspiration. As the old ways say, orgasm is the door to creation. I've had multiple new ideas from what you've just given me, actually, but... are you alright?" In the end, Ailen couldn't keep himself from inquiring about the girl's wellbeing. He would be found tilting her head left to right, inspecting it closely for any abnormalities beyond the redness. "You look unwell. I'm worried I've done too much. Please let me know if you're feeling overwhelmed; I wouldn't dare think of working my precious apprentice."

Sakura insisted nothing was wrong. Sure, nothing was wrong on her end. She appeared to be enjoying herself somehow. Before Creation comes Destruction, she said moments later. The true meaning of that could have been lost, but a braindead monkey could grasp the gist in the given context. She hadn't given him any reason to distrust her so far, despite his own lack of cooperation thus far. Why not? He may as well stop holding on so tightly to himself. If he had to let go, then let go, he would. In a few breaths, all of Charlemagne was beginning to disappear. His lips remained fully solid while Sakura offered him an oral transfer of mana, but even that area would begin to phase soon enough. Even while fading into a translucent and permeable state, Charlemagne's limbs were fragmenting. It was terribly painful, but keeping in contact with Sakura seemed to mediate that terrible feeling. Maybe that was the key? One could hope.

Meanwhile, Mugetsu was in the early stages of having the time of his life... for today, at least. Miwa had given him a magnificent point of leverage. The results of his approach showed themselves immediately, as was normally the case. With a reaction like that, Mugen expected that he could drink of her essence until he overflowed with mana. Maybe he would, if he wasn't keen to try something else in due time. Ah, but Miwa had to maintain her posture for that to work out. It seemed she was in danger of collapsing from his initial assault. What a shame; she should have known he was just beginning. Mugen was rather fond of the way Miwa addressed him. If he had his way, he'd hear it all the time. Actually... why couldn't he have his way? He was even interested in the idea of her failing to maintain posture. Thinking he could have things as he liked, he retracted his tongue for just a moment. "Ara~? One more time," Mugen said just before his tongue glided its way along her crevice from bud to opening. As if to provide additional incentive toward his own goals, Mugen found the goddess's backdoor with... his thumb. Well, plopping that right in would surely pose no issues, he believed.

[Apollymi]

Something interesting was on the horizon, or frightening. Rather, she was in for quite a rude set of awakenings and intrusive thoughts. She was looking away from her mentor, trying to get her thoughts back in order, while dealing with all the problems of her own mind and past. She was told a release wasn't necessary on her part, but that it might help. She was given a reason to believe the extra jolt or whatever would lead her to have more ideas. According to Ailen, he'd had quite a few from the orgasm she'd given him. 'I gave him happy thoughts with just that... maybe I'm kinda good at this...' the thought was intrusive. 'No. Slut thought. I shouldn't be thinking like that...' immediately corrected herself. But what was this? Her head was being turned and her face tilted up. She found her mentor staring into her face looking both concerned and curious and bent over at the waist doing a careful examination of her face. "EEeh?!" she almost squealed, and for just a second she wasn't a three hundred year old Elefia. No, she was instead a seventeen year old girl who had a very attractive man, very close to and staring into her face. "I'm fine. I'm fine...." she mentioned not knowing what to do but knowing in the same moment that she was definitely attracted to this man. What was more he was also really caring and she was making him worry about her. Somehow that made him more attractive! What was she supposed to do about this. 'I'm going to hell. I am sure of it. And I'm going to drag him down with me... I'm going to a slut filled hell I am sure of it...' she was spiraling out of control. "Shisho..." she managed finally her face warmer still... "You know you're really attractive right? I'm not really used to people talking to me very much, especially not like really attractive men. So, I'm kind of just really easily flustered. So, I'm sure nothing is really wrong with me or anything like that... and you definitely haven't overworked me," she was almost rambling. 'You could definitely overwork me! Shit! Where did that come from?! Slut! Going straight to hell!' she was almost certain she might faint, but she definitely didn't want to worry this man. "About the release, it's just kind of... foreign to me really. I'm not sure what to expect and I've never had one before so... yeah. That's it," she seemed to be ending a confession. What was she going to do with herself.

Sakura felt herself reeling and was feeding Charles a great deal of mana. Even so, his body seemed to be shattering and while it was strange she didn't seem at all worried. Of course, even so, she kissed him, bringing her tongue out of his mouth she'd speak a few words to him. "It's okay to be something different, Char-kun... you'll still be you. Maybe more you than before..." she murmured into him. Whatever he took from the strange things she said, Sakura was perceptive enough to know the man was struggling quite a lot. This world seemed to do quite a number to him, and after having someone else become him, he'd have to be content to be something else and as much of himself as possible. She relaxed further, she opened herself completely to Charles as they kissed. If he needed something to get lost and found in, Sakura could be that... she wasn't as tied down by craziness and she truly didn't mind.

While Sakura realized her place in the world, her mother, was getting rather intimate with one of her fathers. Right at the moment Miwa was experiencing a very strong sensation in her loins. Her husband was content to take his fill from her loins and she was rather content to let him. Of course, he wanted something in exchange for this sensation and it was... his preferred pet name. In fact, he demanded it once more with his tongue moving the full length of her folds and a thumb placed within her rectum. Oh... that was quite nice "AN-A-TA!♥~" Truly this man was something fairly different from the others. Such forceful behavior and a dominating attitude what was she to do but give him what he wanted? After all she was getting what she wanted, in the form of a quickly building release in her loins.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen continued checking his apprentice for anomalies, finding none that were very noteworthy. What could the problem have been? According to Anais herself, she was fine. Poppycock. She had the look of a person under duress, but ah, she went on to explain that. She started by asking if he knew of his own attractiveness. How silly. "I am married to a goddess. I like to think attractiveness is a prerequisite," he said calmly. Apparently though, Anais wasn't used to being spoken to by attractive people... or anyone for that matter. To that, Ailen could offer nothing but confusion. "How curious. You're such a stunning young woman, it surprises me that you don't have a lot of people vying for your attention. I sadly have no explanation for that, but at least you aren't overwhelmed. Ruining you would be the worst thing I ever did," he claimed. Ailen still hadn't released the girl's face. She was going on about her lack of experience with orgasms, not at all to his surprise. Fearing or shying away from the unknown was a very common thing. "I understand. Instinct is what makes us fear the unknown, even if we are told it is for our betterment. I would think no less of you if you decided to refrain. As I said, I am your mentor. Yours is the ultimate decision; understood?"

Charlemagne hardly existed at this point. He was falling apart and falling out of reality all at once. All the while, Sakura was encouraging the development. She had to know this was a frightening experience. In a matter of moments, he could cease to exist entirely; it even felt as if that would certainly happen. Sakura was open and still kissing him. Meanwhile, he was almost melding into her via that strange state of existence he'd entered. Strange as that was, and concerned as he was, Charlemagne was letting it happen. It may not have been what he imagined of being inside the girl, but... it was probably close enough by some weird goddess logic, right?

Once more, Mugen heard a call worth being excited for ─ and oh what a wonderful variant it was this time. So underestimated was the simple act of popping a finger or thumb in someone's arse, yet the results spoke for themselves. Perhaps that pink-haired lad that was still watching the ongoing shenanigans would learn that lesson? Whether he did or not, Mugen had progress to make. His other hand had moved in recent moments. Two fingers followed a line previously carved by his tongue to take residual fluid onto their prints, all while his tongue and opposite thumb each prodded away at a chosen hole. He had a few plans for this current position, and he intended to have them all fulfilled. They would find out together if Miwa lasted long enough. If she didn't, he'd have to come up with something extra-special on the spot.

[Apollymi]

Anais was still plagued by invasive thoughts even as she tried to reassure her mentor that he hadn't broken her in anyway. Maybe he had in actuality? No, she couldn't blame him for this... this was her becoming some sort of instant slut because she found a man attractive. Whatever the case, he claimed that his marriage to a goddess let him know he was attractive, she could only agree. "Good point, I've seen two of you and I understand that pretty is standard," she affirmed. "Still you are so nice about it, it was possible you didn't know..." she said, but that was a human fallacy thing, usually confirmed by men who knew they were good looking being a bit strange in her own experiences. Whatever the case she was being assaulted in her own mind by strange desires. He claimed she was 'stunning' and as such he didn't understand why people weren't vying for her attention. Was there steam coming off her head? Maybe? Her eyes were almost swirling, he thought her attractive? This beautiful man thought she was attractive?! Only a strange utterance could escape her lips as she tried to fight against the shock of that particular bit of information. 'Really? He's married to a goddess and he thinks I'm attractive... well I could... no!' she shut up her own mind and closed her eyes briefly. He was still holding her face, even though she'd explained her particular problem to him. Well, not entirely but at least the important bits. Though he was relieved he hadn't ruined her, her own mind said something different. 'Feel free to ruin me!' was her initially thought which required her to close her eyes again. 'Wait no. Definitely a slut thought! My shishou is so nice. Please stop...' she was crying to herself in her own mind. She definitely felt like she was thinking about taking advantage of his man. And he was so nice, but he also said he didn't mind. Hell, his last sentence seemed to imply that all choices were hers to make. He'd go along with that sort of exploration right. Her eyes were open again and traveling across his face. She felt strangely dominated, cared for, and... aroused? Yeah, that was probably it, what was she supposed to do about that? "H--hai!" she managed at the part about understanding. She was quite certain she shouldn't be staring, but she was sure if she closed her eyes, she'd definitely be assaulted by another set of invasive thoughts about this man. Actually, she was already having some weird thoughts and they'd first be evidenced by the tapping together of her index fingers. She always did that thing before she decided something, whether she was about to ask something, or do something was up for debate. Only a few days ago she'd considered she might want to take more interest in people... and here in Munetsuchi she'd basically started a strange apprenticeship, with sex and benefitis with a married man. Yeah, she was sure she was going to some kind of slutty hell.

While Anais struggled with her internal monologue Charles seemed to be letting his go. Sakura knew the lad was exploding within her arms, she could see it, feel it, everything. Even so, she felt this was the right way to go, he shouldn't disappear with all the mana and all the moments he'd been given he could continue, but what would it take for him to realize it? Sakura didn't fully understand the lad's motivations, but she knew he was trying to get back to his goddess... He seemed to be almost fizzling out and with her own feelings she wondered if he really understood what she'd said. "If you've accepted the destruction, you can create you..." A gentle pulse occurred within Sakura, it was the beat of her heart, the pulse of her mana, and in the depths... the darkness she'd taken from her dark cup. She offered fully her own body to help him... but if he gave up without trying to use it, he couldn't rebirth himself, he had things to do... so she meditated on the feeling. She harmonized...

And while that occurred, Miwa was busy having her life rearranged. This time fingers were added to the mix and her husband was busying himself by the mouth still. Her knees didn't buckle and she was ignoring the slight burning starting in her thighs as her loins gained slickness and that gentle pulsing sensation. Actually, only a few more movements of his tongue combined with the thumb in her rear would have the woman leaking all over the man's face and tongue as she reached a brilliant climax. All that tightness in her legs seemed to dissipate in the moment and she moaned her happiness while her hips shifted a little. Whatever he had planned for her, she'd gladly accept including the torturous teasing of his tongue.

[Bloodedge]

Poor Anais was in turmoil. Sadly, she could receive no real assistance from Ailen, as he couldn't possibly fathom the truth going on in her mind. She somehow thought it was possible that he didn't know about his own attractiveness. That was silly, but more silly still was the obvious lack of acknowledgement for her own appeal. "Fufu~. You mean the way you didn't know? Forgive me if I'm taking a leap, but you don't seem to have yourself on a high enough pedestal," he commented. Her eyes closed, her mind raced, her eyes closed again. The turmoil in her mind must have been ridiculous. When Anais's eyes opened again, she was staring at him. Well, that didn't register as very abnormal to him at all. She voiced an understanding that any decisions were hers to make, though in a very timid manner. Something was off about the girl's mana. In order to check for himself, Ailen rubbed a finger gently across her bottom lip. That same finger found itself between his own lips thereafter, his tongue rubbing against it. The results of his little test were... strange. "Hmm. It doesn't seem you're having any trouble metabolizing. I suppose I really was worried for the wrong reason. Though I wonder what that is. Sumimasen. If I have no need to worry, I have little choice but to be curious instead. This is all very new to me," he admitted casually.

Whatever went on at Charlemagne's end was something he couldn't grasp. Well... he couldn't grasp anything, really. Sakura claimed accepting destruction would allow him to create him. What the hell did that mean? He was accepting whatever was happening, but no progress was being made. He didn't know how to create. He wasn't giving up, but he had nothing to work with either. "And how am I supposed to do that? I don't have that kind of power!" he exclaimed, knowing nothing about how he should be moving forward.

A few more movements of Mugen's tongue and thumb would be precisely what Miwa got. Those two fingers would also continue gliding up and down, as if to wet themselves sufficiently for another purpose entirely. Said purpose was not met right away, of course... but Mugen had an edge. Over time, he made himself very aware of Miwa's mannerisms. Even before she became audible, he had signs to follow. Legs tensing a certain way, a certain throb against the tip of his tongue, a certain quiver of her anus around his thumb ─ these were the signs he'd been waiting for. Mugen's clothes all dispersed into shadowy wisps, baring his full, nigh flawlessly-muscled form, including a firm rod ready to strike at the perfect moment. Pleasure struck Miwa, and that was the exact moment he targeted. His thumb remained in her rectum, but his tongue left her. He erected his posture and swiftly delivered the brunt of his girth to her depths while his previous efforts stilled washed over her. In that same moment, his two moistened fingers were held out to the side.

[Apollymi]

Anais was falling apart, mentally. Physically, she was only experiencing the symptoms of arousal and embarrassment. She was also mentally being tortured by the ideas which had been ingrained in her mind for over three hundred years. As if this man fully intended to keep up the work of embarrassing her, he pointed out that she'd been unaware of her own attractiveness, letting her know that she didn't hold herself in a high enough esteem. "I... well. Maybe? I don't think badly of myself but I hadn't given it much consideration at all..." fell out of the girl's mouth as her fingers kept tapping. She was really trying not to do too much visualization here because the man before her was already consuming her thoughts. At least for a moment or two, she seemed to be doing a good job of holding her invasive thoughts at bay. No, actually she wasn't. This man had his finger tracing her bottom lip, and then he licked it afterwards. Making a claim to be testing her mana to be sure of her wellness, he managed to make it look sexual. No. That was wrong, she saw it as sexual. 'You can do that to me!~' her brain was running away from her again. At the same time, she seemed to be trying not to visualize it. She shut her eyes to keep out the image, but it didn't stop, instead her imagination seemed to go a bit wild with the idea, showing him making the same face and consideration after tasting her instead. Where did that thought come from?! Her mana being off was likely because of metabolizing but not in a negative way. Little did she know her strangely invasive thoughts were probably also something similar. It only became worse as her mentor admitted to curiosity and his newness in dealing with such a situation as her. 'Eh? That's so hot, and he's curious and all about... me?!' she thought as she opened her eyes again and biting her lip. "Curious is always okay. And I'm also like super new to this, but I think you're doing fine," she tried to be comforting. She tried not to let her mind wander. 'Good good, distract him... and keep my slut thoughts to my slut self, until I am cursed to slut hell...'

At the same time Sakura seemed to be almost done. The addition of Charles's most recent mana, kicked her own metabolism into hyperdrive. Those reddened eyes of hers gained a bit more light and there was something of a slight shift in the way she sat. The disappearing Charles was a problem, but it was also not. He according to his own words couldn't make him self. He didn't know how... a look of sheer curiosity passed Sakura's face in that moment as she gave that statement a bit of thought. "How? That's an odd question," she murmured. She seemed to be almost quizzical but nothing in her openness changed. She'd allowed this lad to sink into her, but he didn't seem to be taking anything from her nor did he have the inclination to do so. That darkness that was left in her, seemed to be seeping in a bit more, and as such would begin to taint him. "I told you already you could be what you wanted, but perhaps you'd understand it better if I said do as you desire. Feel what you want from the depths of yourself... truly feel it with as many senses as you can, and do it as you envision it. Not because it's good or right, feel everything because you want to... because you desire it," she said, her body clenched, her tongue flickered over his lips she'd have squeezed him softly as their bodies melded together. "And don't worry, no matter what you choose. I'm here for you, take what you need from me, give me anything you don't..." she said softly, almost as if that darkness in her body was reaching out to the man he was willing to be touched, used, accepted. Such was the desire of that power and all things connected to that empty space. It was a hard thing to explain, creation to someone who didn't understand everything they could do.

While Sakura tried to explain to Charles how to get himself to restart, Miwa was having her brain rewritten. She'd experienced pleasure which had her knees buckling, but it would only get worse. Mugen removed his fingers from her depths, he eventually stood to sling his rod into her depths even int his position, even while she was feeling the rush of an orgasm. Actually, especially while she was feeling an orgasm. Her canal was squeezing down upon a massive girth as it was nigh forced into her. It was an overwhelming sensation. Miwa was sure she was seeing stars. Her tongue was hanging out, and stars seemed to be dancing behind her blue eyes. Would she ever really like this the same way with anyone else? Probably not, still... she kept her body upright, feeling this man reach into the depths of her soul from that angle.

[Bloodedge]

Good for Anais; she at least wasn't just putting herself down. Negligence to oneself was also something to avoid, but it was a thousand times better than outright self-loathing. Ailen could leave it at that... somewhat. "Hmm. I can't call that a failure on your part. You've avoided becoming prideful to a fault, even though you are so reserved. I'd call it a perfect balance, but... it wouldn't hurt to believe in yourself a bit more. You really are a special sort," he said. The moment he realized the blessing Anais carried from a young age, he could have said as much. With all their time spent in his workshop, he was only made more certain. Regardless, they were both new to this situation. That much didn't need saying in terms of the facts, but it remained enlightening nonetheless. It seemed they could both rest a bit easier. "You're right," he said, erecting his posture and once again ignoring the fact that his manhood was still freely swinging in the air. "That's refreshing to hear. I suppose we both have a lot of learning to do. There are plenty of things I'm sure you will be teaching me on a regular basis. So... yoroshiku onegaishimasu, Anais-sensei," he concluded with a smile that appeared only half-joking.

How was an odd question. To that, Charlemagne wondered... how? Nothing made sense. More of an explanation was needed, and lo, he had it soon enough. It wasn't so much a matter of becoming what he wanted; it was a matter of doing as he wished. Could he do that? Normally, he would think it impossible. Charlemagne had always been an advocate of enjoying one's life as they saw fit, though he also resigned himself to ensuring that for others before himself. So, what was his desire? For some reason or another, he was giving it some earnest thought. She gave some preemptive reassurance about his decision, insisting that she'd be there to give what he needed and take what he didn't, regardless of the choice. How comforting. As that corruption found its way back into Charlemagne with Sakura as its medium, he found a bit more solidity in his physical form. What to do? What did he want? If Charlemagne had one selfish wish, he'd take a bit of that happy life for himself. He deserved it, right? After all he'd been through over the last two days alone, of course he did! "What I desire, huh..." he mused. There was definitely a list of things he wanted, whether he knew the reason or not at present. First... he'd have to take a bit. Sakura's breast would find itself sucked into Charlemagne's mouth posthaste as he aimed to take in a hefty swig of mana.

Speaking of taking things in, Miwa was proving herself capable of doing so, as she'd done time and time again. That squeeze Mugen felt just after his entry was magical... literally and metaphorically. He took a moment to bask in the sensation, of course while forcing a pulse or twelve through her canal. If Mugen had his way, Miwa would fail to feel the same with any of her other options. There was a minor war for dominance among some of her husbands. Qin, who recently left the room, was one who dominated by force... but Mugen was a different sort of entity. His very soul demanded domination by show of power ─ of absolute overwhelming might. "Still standing, huh? I like it," he commented. How long would that last, though? He supposed they'd find out together, some time after his pelvis began knocking against the goddess's backside again, again, and yet again.

[Apollymi]

This young girl had blurted out the way she considered herself, if only to try and stop the overly nice things falling from her teacher's face. Imagine her absolute dismay and happiness when he continued to give her compliments. He claimed that her understanding of self was closer to perfect balance because she managed not to be prideful while not self-deprecating. He claimed she was a special sort and she could believe in herself a bit more. 'He's really so nice! I can't take advantage of him and get him sent to slut hell with me,' she thought absently. "A-arigatou gouzaimasu..." she managed most timidly. Of course, that wouldn't really change very quickly even so... she seemed to feel quite a bit better. Maybe now she could finally silence that strange set of thoughts she'd been battling with for the last few moments. Finally, the man drew away from her face, he straightened his posture and she made sure not to spend too much time staring at his manhood. Apparently her words about how well he was doing were well received. So much so he seemed to have something else good to say. All of it ended when the man claimed to look forward to working with her, and having her teach him things too... he called her Anais-sensei?! She found herself staring at the man with a look of abject shock and a large thump though her chest which she was pretty sure meant her heart had just exploded. This was marked by the abject reddening of her face and yet another of those invasive thoughts. 'Sensei?! Why'd he say that... he could be teaching me something instead... wait. No. Not that. Stop slutting up the shishou!' Her thoughts were swirling in her mind. "I doubt I have much I could teach you... but onegaishimasu, Shisou..." she managed to answer sheepishly. Her eyes were closed again. Oh right her hood was down, she couldn't just sink into her own shadows. Her poor brain was burning, and her body wasn't too far behind. And now that she wasn't looking again she was imagining things she definitely shouldn't, maybe it was something she could actually consider. 'Well, if you're going to slut hell... you might want to find out why~' Why was she teasing herself in her own mind.

Sakura gave as much of an answer as it was possible for her to give. She didn't figure explaining mechanically to a human how to create would work, especially not one under duress. So, she opted to explain the feeling of it, which she now fully understood as she'd recently been feeling quite a lot. Ah, and would soon to be feeling more. Sakura wasn't sure if her meaning would have been completely understood, but lo, Charles would soon be found taking actions of his own accord. It seemed he was becoming more solid as he took mana directly from the girl's breast after coming to whatever conclusion. It was a nice sensation for Sakura who found her loins almost pulsing from the sensation. She'd give what he wanted and be a bit more passive about receiving, but it wouldn't stop her from semi-actively participating. "Yes, whatever that is... " she murmured into the lad with a small moan escaping her lips. Ah, what would he do with the mana he took? How would he be forming his self? She found it interesting to consider and couldn't wait to observe it.

As for the throne room, a certain amount of domination was taking place. The overwhelming might forced directly into Miwa's body was something which she'd come to expect from this particular man. Even so, the powerful pulses she felt from his rod after he'd fully asserted himself, made her swoon. He claimed to like it, after basking in the satisfaction of his entry, and even commented on her still standing body. "I'm glad you like it Anata~ I did say I'd try my best~" she chimed seemingly happy to accept the praise, and what was next. He rather furiously started pummeling her sex and her own body began to rock with extra sensation. Even so, she quite enjoyed this amount of roughness as she felt as if each forward movement would go through her at her current angle. "Aaah!~" how long could she actually last with her legs spread like this? Well that was up for debate, even so, the goddess would eventually prove her own stamina and begin meeting those thrust with minor movements of her hips. She'd be feeling this sensation in her body forever, she was sure... but certainly it'd be worth the burn in her hips and thighs later to feel the rapidly building orgasm she had coming.

[Bloodedge]

More unnecessary thanks came Ailen's way. This time, he merely nodded and moved on. There remained many things to question, such as Anais's repeated blushing and all the times she closed her eyes. Something was amiss with her mentally, even though she was perfectly fine in the physical and spiritual senses. "Still happening, hm? There should be some way to deal with that," he mused while looking around the workshop. There was still a concoction in the works for calming her mind and spirit, but he was beginning to wonder if it would be strong enough at this point. "Maybe nothing here will have enough potency, now that you're in this state. That's strange. You've gone so far, I fear I won't be able to get the job done," he mused. While he considered the functionality of his potion, Anais expressed doubt in the idea of her teaching him much. He took a moment to glance in her direction, seeming wholly in disbelief. "Nonsense. Until you know everything I know and more, my duty is incomplete. I must teach you everything about everything, to the limits of my own knowledge. Learning from you is only a natural part of progression, and in this case, I'm sure it will be sooner rather than later. Mine is a duty of guiding you to a greatness I alone cannot attain."

Charlemagne's slightly more proactive approach proved worthwhile immediately. Sakura seemed pleased, even as he inhaled mana from her to the point of having it pour into his own body. To the informed and aware, it would seem as if his core was filling with darkness again... but also completing the sphere it once was in the process. What was his desire? Well, Charlemagne decided he wanted a taste of happiness for himself, for once. If he could take that from Sakura and she was providing, he'd take it. Of course, what that meant in reality may or may not have been Charlemagne's intention; he couldn't tell either way. Whatever the case, the decision led to Sakura penetrating him on a spiritual level, down to the Core and even further beyond. He had the strangest swirling sensation in his chest for reasons he'd never understand. Was this the answer? Maybe it was, or maybe it was just the feeling of that mana spiraling its way through him.

Miwa did say she'd try her best. For the goddess herself to say such a thing, Mugen believed he was in for a very interesting day. He'd be in for a very interesting several days if things went his way. The presentation of Miwa's backside was perfection incarnate. The way she felt within was something even he'd never experienced ─ almost as if she'd done something to shrink her own entrance from the inside. "Sugoi, sugoi!" the male chanted while thrusting that thumb deeper into her arse. Every sound Miwa made in this position was elevated just a bit beyond the norm. Here in Munetsuchi, any words spoken by the goddess Miwa were considered by most to be unquestionable wisdom. Perhaps her moans should be treated the same? "This might be the best knowledge you've ever come up with. Though I do still like that other thing~♥"

[Apollymi]

They could have moved on, Ailen could have ignored the shiftiness of his apprentice. He could have let her fight with herself internally until she managed to get her hormones and invasive thoughts under control, but no. No, today he seemed to be realizing exactly how many problems she was having in her mind despite her body and spirit being in perfect working order. Anais wasn't completely obtuse either, she realized he managed to still be worried about her, and was apparently observant enough to have figured out her particular tells. 'Waah! He's paying so much attention to me!! I'm here having slutty thoughts and he's still just trying to help me~' her mind was almost crying as she realized this truth. She seemed a bit shocked by it, in actuality. He claimed he thought he may not be able to get the job done and her mind let something slip from between her lips before she could stop herself. "You can definitely get the job done," and soon after she covered her own mouth. Oh, poor young Anais, she probably could have gotten away with it being just a passing comment if she didn't react to saying it. "Ignore that... I didn't say that... it was in my head where it belonged," she said hurriedly willing to let that slide right under the radar. 'Goddamnit brain, please stop!' she was still arguing with herself. Maybe just maybe if she got away with that one, she'd actually be able to quiet her own brain. At the same time, he claimed that his job was to guide her to the heights he couldn't reach alone. "That's so earnest!" she exclaimed. Never in her life had Anais been so entranced by a teacher. She found herself rather earnestly wanting to live up to expectations, if only her previous schooling had left her with such a zest for learning.

At the same time, Charles finally seemed to be looking for happiness for himself. Sakura for her part in this, was getting something she desired, which seemed to please her to no end. And just the same she was observing the lad's mana and his progress. She understood what was happening with him, and figured she observe both magically and physically. It seemed that he was content to absorb some of the dark power that Sakura had absorbed herself, even so she seemed nothing but amused. She'd continue their connection and leave herself passively able to be taken. She hadn't let go of him, but she was now studying his face and body. How interesting that he'd come to some conclusion, she wondered if he'd share what he was thinking, she was curious after all.

This particular position left Miwa feeling as if she was being stretched both internally and externally. Even so, she received praise from her husband which was something which made her happy. He was always so aggressive, but she did say answering to an aggressive man had its own benefits. Here and now she was experiencing those benefits as a constant pounding sensation and a thumb shoved further up her rear. She was dangerously close to climax and would reach it as his pounding and her own meeting of his thrusts continued. "Well, as long as you like it~" she mused, as fluid leaked extra from her loins and her hips and knees buckled gently under the pressure of her release. "Though, I can't take full credit... I did see this somewhere else first~" she explained. Always willing was Miwa to share credit. Knowing how to use things she saw was her special skill, making them better or suited to her own use was another. But the original idea would always be linked back to those who earned it, in this case the goddess of death deserved full credit for this potential development. The innocent were full of ingenuity, though she likely wasn't very innocent anymore.

[Bloodedge]

In opposition to his shared opinion, Anais claimed he could definitely get the job done. She had little reason to harbor such belief in him, but since she did... it was only right that he work at it. "Then I─" Ailen hesitated to respond, seeing the immediate covering of Anais's mouth. Why would she do that? Well, he'd soon hear for himself. For some unknown reason, she wanted to keep that sentence in her head. Why she thought that, he didn't know. "You're more than free to share your opinions with me, you know? This relationship doesn't have to be one of facts; we can freely share our thoughts, beliefs, or anything with one another. Take that as you wish. Now, how is your metabolizing going? Are you sorted enough to function, or are you in need of something else? Don't hesitate to let me know any requirements you have."

Charlemagne's development was taking the strangest turns. That Spiritual Core fragment was spreading thin into the spherical state. It shouldn't have worked under normal circumstances, but the extra bolstering made it possible. Alas, it was not something that would take full form and hold itself. It was being held together by something else, something deeper and strangely connected. Charlemagne had the strangest sensation deep within. There was something that almost felt physical there, and there was little more to be done about it. He didn't feel the thirst for more mana, so Sakura's bosom would be abandoned. Something more, though ─ what? He was about to... burst? Yes, that seemed right. It was that same earlier feeling of exploding, but more like the moments before breaking through a barricade of some sort. . .

For Miwa's knowledge, she diverted the credit for her current 'knowledge'. In Mugen's opinion, it didn't matter if the idea came from somewhere else. "Who cares? I'm guessing you make it better anyway," Mugen commented. Whether that was objective or subjective didn't matter to him either, as they were one and the same within his realm of concern. This moment was all about discovering a new trick. With Mugen being the one to test it out, he'd find everything he needed to know. He'd seek its usefulness, its versatility, and especially its longevity. From the male's angle, the latter seemed indefinite. There was little Mugen had to do besides rock his hips back and forth, but it seemed something that would put Miwa through the proverbial ringer in time. Well... that was what he always sought anyway.

[Apollymi]

Oh? Even Anais fumbling and drawing strange attention to herself didn't seem to draw any unwarranted attention from her mentor. The man seemed to be semi-oblivious to himself or rather he seemed to have n oidea the problems his existence were posing to the once teen girl in his care. No, instead she was told, she could share anything she liked with him. That their relationship wasn't one of facts but instead was one which could share anything. 'That's so nice! I can't deserve having this man look after me...' she had that thought and found herself staring at her mentor. Ah and then the invasive thoughts returned as well, 'You can take me as you wish! Wait. No. Quiet!' she was still having an interesting time fighting with her internal voice. "Ano, that's a lot. I don't mind... if you're sure. I'm prone to excessive and wayward thoughts and inquiries..." she commented as a thing she'd heard in both of her childhoods. As for her metabolizing mana she gave it a bit of consideration. Actually to check it she took a deep breath, relaxed and whistled a little tune, feeling the feedback of within her ears. "I think I am fine. I feel fine, pitch is still good..." she said thinking about it for a few seconds. She was asked if she was in need of something else. She was to let him know if she had any requirements. Anais didn't have requirements, she did have a curiosity. 'Do it! If you're going to slut hell anyway, might as well have fun getting there...' Why was her mind like this? Oh well, maybe she should consider it an instinct based thing? It was her internal voice trying to throw her under the bus after all. "I don't have any requirements, but..." ah, there was a bit. "I do have a remaining curiosity. Could you help me with that release I didn't have. I want to know what it's like," she managed most skittishly. Having said it, her face was rather red, but it she'd gotten it out, so maybe it wasn't so bad. Or maybe she'd faint and wouldn't have to deal with it. Perhaps it was fine.

Charles developments were something Sakura was observing directly. Just the same he seemed to be done taking mana from her but she was still pleased. Ah, his mana was feeling pretty strong at this point, and there was something of an echo behind it. Something strange that Sakura had never directly felt before... how interesting. Just the same there was an almost welling bit of mana, she wondered if she was about to be treated to the return of the man once taken from her? Oh... that would be pretty interesting even if it wasn't the case, she'd still have a bit of fun.

While Sakura seemed content to observe and receive and be... whatever it was that Charles needed. Miwa was being tortured in the most beautiful way. Her husband seemed to enjoy her current position, enough that he wasn't bothered about the details. "Better is subjective, but, one does have to make their own adjustments," Miwa mused about her current position. Ah, she'd survived two flourishes, how many more did she have before her legs gave out? Well, she promised to try so she continued to hold out. Her hips were now shifting against her husband's thrusts. She seemed to be enjoying the amount of aggression he was so content to hand out and what was more he was enjoying it. That indeed was the best part of the situation over all, for Miwa as well. She wouldn't regret giving her husband this particular position to work.

[Bloodedge]

Excessive and wayward thoughts and inquiries. Anais presented this information about herself as if others considered it negative. The uneducated had such bothersome opinions at times, Ailen thought. "Those are desirous traits, not reprehensible ones. Excessive thinking and questioning can only become negatives if they keep you from taking action... or if you never gain the knowledge you need. Remember this: Knowledge is neither a gift, nor a privilege. It is a tool most important, and one must never neglect any they have acquired. All information has its purpose. . ." With that said, Ailen briefly set his gaze upon the incomplete potion again. He still wondered if it would be potent enough in the end, but after a small test of her own, Anais determined her own wellness. She continued saying she was fine, so he could hardly do more than believe her word. So then, what of her requirements before moving on? She had none, apparently. Ah... but there was one thing. Anais was curious about the thing called orgasm; she wished to understand the experience for herself. Curious as always, Ailen wondered about a few small details. "Hmm. Seeking knowledge for the sake of curiosity alone is sometimes the most satisfying. This should be an excellent study for you. Alright. What will be your preferred method?"

Charlemagne wasn't moving. Well... his body wasn't moving. Inside, there was a different story entirely. That spiraling sensation become one which reached out to Sakura, seeming hellbent on pulling parts of her very soul into its pattern. Strangely, there was another occurrence Charlemagne was unaware of. That little thread stretching from him into the sky, severed, its remnants becoming wrapped in the spiral as well. From that moment forward, the spiral would compress itself more and more, until... it burst. A wave overcame the Zen Pavilion and carried on for meters, kilometers even. Souls all over would be stricken by a sense of calming as Charlemagne radiated an ambient golden glow. Ah, but that glow would quickly recede, becoming something a fair bit darker in color. That would cause a second, less-explosive wave which reeked of... desire.

Of course Miwa would bring up subjectivity. Oh well; he didn't care about that either. She was still holding out, to her credit. With her taking on some movements of her own, the fun could truly begin for both sides. Mugen's senses were open to every little shift in mana, which also happened to inform him of the pink-haired lad's peeled eyelids. They were being watched intently by one who absorbed much information from the exchange, and then... that calming wave spread. Mugen was in strong opposition to such a thing on a spiritual level, but what of the second, duller pulse? Well, he was obviously a desirous individual. The second wave left him grinning and slamming his hips into Miwa's backside as if he meant to tip her over each time. Just the same, the observant Astolfo was standing off to the side, lifting his skirt and taking hold of his own unnaturally-girthy rod. The younger male was getting riled-up quickly; he had to do something about it.

[Apollymi]

Anais was beyond suffering. She'd managed to keep her thoughts to herself for the most part, and luckily enough for her... her mentor wasn't exactly pressing any of the issues she was having mentally. No, he was instead taking issue with how she'd had her curiosities described. Of course, in being like this she was made pleased by his statements. It was nice knowing her curiosities wouldn't be a hinderance at all. And she'd remember the things he had to say about them likely forever. "Hai, I'll keep that in mind!" she seemed fairly excited about that entire thing. And then the conversation moved on. Anais was a teen girl in her own head, but she somehow managed to ask a semi-direct question. In doing this, she had more direct but comforting words given to her. Strangely, a pulse of feeling seemed to hit her, first completely calming and peaceful and then a pulse which seemed to cause an arousing sensation as well. "Eh? That feels like Charlie, but also... not. I guess he's alright then, that's a relief. But..." she seemed to recognize that sensation for what it was and made another decision. "Yep, going right into the rule one box." All of this while she was considering how she wanted to experience her orgasm. And that strange feeling seemed to only made her give consideration to something specific. She'd basically been encouraged to look for what she wanted, she could experience it as she wanted. There were at least a few ways she knew she could experience it, at least two she was completely against for her own mental safety, but that feeling seemed to make her think about it a bit too long. She found her eyes tracing over her sensei and catching on to him at various instances as he considered her options. Her fingers began tapping together again, but she seemed to have a thought. "Um, could you do it with your tongue?" she asked that question and then seemed kind of surprised by it having popped up as a thought in her head, only to have it fall out of her mouth. Yes, her face turned red immediately again... she should die in slutty hell right now. Yes, yes she should.

Meanwhile, Sakura witnessed the creation of something new. In telling Charles to do what he wished, to do what he desired. He took from her a piece of her darkness and locked up what was left of his thread. Sakura saw that happening and wondered why that was part of his choice, but as usual, her face and demeanor were free of judgement. What was more, she was connected to him, and experienced the pulse of his new existence. That burst truly was something beautiful to watch, she'd have to make sure to thank the nice man who'd told her about it later. Until then she felt those two different sorts of sensations, one calming and then one... familiar warmth which made her loins twitch happily. "Hm? Char-kun..." she was steadily waiting to see what came of this burst and what else he wanted to do.

Meanwhile, Miwa was being destroyed. All the while, the married couple was being watched by the pink haired lad from the group who'd been left behind. Miwa couldn't split her attention currently, but her own feelings of the mana all around told her, that everyone of importance nearby was having an interesting experience presently or had one recently. No matter, that fast moving beat against her bottom seemed to only get rougher as a rather sudden influx of feeling happened. Miwa's whole body seemed to relax and then rather suddenly the feeling that pulsed out was something more akin to pure desire. "Ara? I've never felt that before... I'll have to check on it later, but it seems like she managed all on her own~" she mused about her daughter's progress. In truth she was happy for the girl, and a bit jealous she hadn't gotten to witness it. Still, upon seeing such a thing, she'd likely be able to fully figure out these things called Sources, especially with a whole in use one existing nearby. That was a thought which was almost exciting as the current sex... almost. But nothing could take precedence over Mugen pounding away at her, to her next climax which had her core gripping him with intensity as extra fluids leaked out of her person. "Aaah!~"

[Bloodedge]

"Please do," Ailen said about remembering his message. If nothing else, he considered it a solid rule of thumb for all knowledge. If she could remember that, she could go far in this world ─ or any world for that matter. Oh? Just as he was thinking it over, a very strange sensation spread across Munetsuchi. Ailen felt both as well. He was well enough at peace already, so the first had no effect on the elf. The second showed its effects in the simple form of a throb or two in his manhood. Ailen had always been good enough at practicing self-restraint, and he certainly wasn't going to throw himself at his apprentice. Knowing what both feelings in those waves were, he wondered only if Anais suffered at all from their effects. Ah, she knew the root of them as well; that was a pleasant start. "It was. It seems he's evolved into something quite new to the world. That will be an interesting study as well," he commented. Now then, Anais's method of choice was still a matter of curiosity. She took a few moments to make the decision, and once she did... she asked if he could make it work with his tongue. How strange. "Hmm? I see. That is normally not a request, but an offering. You would be sharing your mana and knowledge with me, so you needn't make it sound like something I am doing for you instead. I should be honored," he rambled, delivering unto Anais another truth of this world. What she probably considered a shameful request, many others viewed as the ultimate gift one could give.

Speaking of gifts, Charlemagne had been given one by Sakura, in a roundabout way. Her methods were rather queer, even unacceptable by some perspectives. Nevertheless, the pain was all gone, not just something he could ignore in favor of their contact. He was stable. He was himself, but... something entirely different? Yes, he couldn't really say he'd gone back to the same. That secondary wave had spread out to many others, but for Charlemagne, it had become more the standard. Whatever the case, Sakura was waiting for something. What? He didn't know. He did know, however, that her appeal hadn't gone anywhere ─ it may have even intensified. Feeling that momentary shift of pressure between her folds, he felt one thing was necessary. "You're not done yet, right?" he surmised. By that feeling, he could assume that was the case.

Those waves were felt by all ─ even Miwa. Interestingly enough, she decided to comment on it from a scholarly perspective. Mugen heard her excitement for their daughter's development, and though there was plenty of reason to be thrilled, he didn't seem the same. In actuality, Mugen just expected nothing less of the girl. "Ho?" he muttered. In that very moment, the thumb in Miwa's backdoor thrusted deep, until it could no longer be pushed forward. It clenched, it dug in, and it even twirled about inside. "Don't go telling me that's where your brain is right now. Is that your way of saying I'm not doing enough?" he asked, though not at all legitimately wondering such. Just as his thumb had done, he buried his tool deep within her loins, even entering her womb and twisting about only after said entry. Obviously, she had to be taught a lesson; this happened to be the best way he thought to do so.

[Apollymi]

An interesting dynamic was developing between this mentor and his apprentice. Even so, Anais found herself experiencing the new sensation of Charles and his current upgrade to existence. "Hm, definitely new. It hits my ears at a deeper pitch than he did when he was crowned Holy Emperor..." she said giving a bit of thought to way that was. It'd likely be interesting, but she'd have to be very careful if she decided to question him, after all, she didn't want to open herself up to any undue questioning, which she was quite certain would be coming eventually. Beyond this there was Anais' request which apparently hit the ears of her mentor strangely. He claimed that wasn't normally a request and shouldn't be treated as a favor done for her, but instead a gift done for him. "Eh?!" she said aloud at first, but her brain said something different immediately. 'Well he didn't say no!~' she really needed her brain to stop teasing her. "Wait wait wait... No, I get it. It's one of those outside differences between human logic and reality, isn't it? Like it's an offering of mana, instead of a service as it would be seen by humans, but I'm sure I'd want it that way for the sensation. This difference in understanding is really contradictory," she murmured. "But I would still want it that way. Even if I thought of it as an offering, I'd make it for you," she concluded. Ah, that desire had leaked in and created something akin to a slightly more honest version of the girl still sitting in the floor. To be honest, she wouldn't mind doing a lot of things with her mentor, but... she figured she'd take her curiosities in small doses and work out her understanding over time.

At the same time, Charles seemed to complete himself in truth the pulses he'd created seemed to spread quite far from himself. Even so, Sakura could only be pleased by his development. She was quite certain this was the thing her mother had been explaining. She could see and feel the differences in the quality of his existence. As such she was pleased she'd succeeded in keeping him alive. Soon after, he had something to say, asking her about her being done. "Hm? Well, I've done what I intended..." she mused. "But I did say I'd accept whatever you came up with... and more isn't something I'd say no to~" she said with a strange amount of desire in her body. "But then what do you want, I've chosen a lot now..." she stated as if she was willing to give the lad control over their positioning and the like if they were to continue.

Ah, and the acknowledgement of the goings on of her lands seemed to set off Miwa's husband. Despite the renewed aggression he had to offer her, she knew he was just as pleased about their daughter's progress. Actually, given his personality she was sure even without knowing what she was attempting to do, he would have believed her capable of it. Obviously Miwa did as well or she would have done it herself. Technically, she'd let her do it, even while she wanted to see the results for herself, and in return she was now receiving a gift. That thumb in her rear became more buried and actively moved about tickling her from within. At the same time, her husband found his way to her absolute end and knocked the wind from her lungs. Her tongue flew out of her mouth and she could barely manage to recover considering the stars dotting her visit. "Anata!♥~ This is such an overreaction~" she mused as she felt her knees and legs wobble. "If you do it like this... I won't be able to stay like this..." she seemed to be moaning her words as her womb shivered and her core did as well. She was certain she was achieving the greatest of orgasms between shock and roughness, but that was no problem for her. Maybe by the time this was over, she'd barely manage to care.

[Bloodedge]

It came as no surprise that Anais registered a very different sensation from that previously-broken boy in her company. What Ailen felt now, was not something that belonged in this world. He'd seen all sorts between gods, demons, mythical creatures and the like, and this was none of them. Miwa was the closest to such an entity, but even she didn't have that unfamiliar undertone to the way she felt. Well, he'd surely find out more about that later. For now, he had a student to teach the ways of... well, it seemed he'd be teaching the pleasures of sex and the sensation of clarity that came along with orgasm. Before that, however, there was the matter of Anais's understanding. She seemed to grasp the point quite well. "It is precisely that. Those who know nothing of the truth, can seek only the physical pleasure. In that regard, I will admit that it makes sense to flip things around that way. In the same way I would be asking for your mana, it would instead be you asking to feel satisfied. Though, some may understand the purpose of both. Those things are not considered very separate here in Munetsuchi, nor do I personally believe we should consider them separate. You may think otherwise; that would be fine. However..." There wasn't much more to say. According to Anais, she would even offer mana to him. That was unconventional in terms of the teacher-student relationship, but it didn't seem they would be following every norm anyway. "Is that so? Well, that is unorthodox, albeit pleasing. I consider it an honor either way. So... shall we? I have nothing here but workbenches and trees. If it is a more intimate arrangement you wish for, we will have to go upstairs," he explained. Regardless of her answer, Ailen had one hand extended to offer the girl a lift.

Sakura had done all she wanted; she'd ensured Charlemagne's wellbeing. On the other hand, she remained open to what he desired, and she wouldn't turn down the idea of continuing. He was solid again. With that being the case, Charlemagne was able to sling an arm around Sakura's lower back once more. He'd use that as leverage to lift and turn the girl, placing her on that strange bed while he took to standing. Of course, that little maneuver also separated their lower bodies. Sakura would be laid next to that fallen Dark Grail while he stood and thought. Even while he wasn't literally inside the girl... his mind hadn't changed. "You. I don't know why, but that's what I want now. But... if I'm being honest, I also still don't know what I'm doing. I just got my first practice last night," he admitted.

Apparently, Mugen was overreacting. Based on the sudden volume increase and squirming of Miwa, he would argue that he was previously holding back too much. "Is it?" he questioned. Even from behind the goddess, he could hear her facial expression through her words. Everything came out in a bit of a lisp, as if the tongue had been knocked out of her mouth. Great success. "Are you trying to say you don't like it? You don't like this?" he asked further, his thumb and hips both moving more furiously in the moment. Miwa claimed she couldn't keep holding on if he kept up his antics, and with that... he'd keep up his antics. "Is that supposed to be a deterrent? You're the bigshot queen around here. Doesn't that mean you're supposed to tell me outright when you want me to stop doing something?" he spoke further. All the while, Astolfo was outright molesting his own meat rod. He couldn't pull his eyes away from everything happening by the throne, nor did he really want to. "This is the hottest thing ever!" he thought aloud.

[Apollymi]

Charles's current existence was truly a thing of curiosity. Anais had a few ideas about it, as she had experienced this world as a game first and figured he might have received some kind of special or unique unlock which was possible. Regardless, she'd expressed her mental processes and their ability to actually work when she'd shared her thoughts concerning the difference between the perception of oral sex one way or the other. Given her teacher's follow up lesson, she'd indeed gained the right kind of thoughts about the situation. Apparently Munetsuchi wasn't the sort of place where a difference was established one way or the other between sex and mana offerings and she was allowed to consider it her own way if she liked. "Hm, that makes reasonable sense... I'll keep it in mind," she mentioned. Even beyond that she'd been quite earnest in the idea of offering mana to her mentor, if he wanted to take it from her. Technically, it only seemed fair when considering their arrangement. According to him that was unorthodox but they were likely going to take such a course regardless. "Well, individualized experiences aren't necessarily going to be orthodox regardless... so I'm fine with it~" she said. Now she was looking up at the man from her spot on the floor and at an extended hand which she reached up to take. She used him for a bit of leverage to get to her feet, not that it was difficult and only managed to blush a little. "Arigatou gouzaimasu," she said about being helped up. "Hm, intimate, that's probably more normal as a thought to me. We can do that..." she mentioned seeming to have forgotten her normal way of moving around. Her hood was still down and she seemed to be relatively comfortable in this man's presence and a tiny bit excited.

Speaking of excitement and changes. Sakura soon had her position shifted after Charles wrapped his arms around her. He placed her back against the futon and withdrew from her core to stand in front of her. A gentle twitch occurred when this happened and she sat up a bit seeming to watch as he paced. She'd promised him she'd accept what he wished for, and according to the lad himself he wanted her. This was fine to her, and beyond that he claimed as a matter of honesty he wished to continue but he didn't have much experience with doing so at all. "Well, I just had my first go of it today. My reassurances may not count for much but I still had fun so there is that~" she teased just a little. "But if you want to know more things... I could give you a bit more knowledge and you could choose based on that... I don't mind trying new things and its for the best if you figure out what you like or what to try and learn in an active way..." she murmured. Her legs were working so she stood soon as well. She came closer, taking note that he was a bit taller than she was... Still she stood before him and motioned down to her own lips. If he accepted he'd receive a deep kiss full of the girl's observations of sexual positions. Perhaps there was one he'd like and he was free to try it as he liked, she was keen to see what interested him, having a good idea that she'd enjoy it regardless.

Where did she get such an idea? Well, the wreckage her mother was currently experiencing at the hands of her father, wasn't entirely new aside from the position chosen. No... that woman seemed to like all manner of sexual activites from intimate and passive, to rough and passionate and all things in between. Up for the moment Miwa was experiencing the super passionate somewhat bullying way her husband Mugen chose to deal with her. His actions were punctuated by words which questioned what she was doing. If she didn't like it. How she should be firmer if she wanted him to stop. Ah, that definitely wasn't going to happen. For one very specific reason. "I never said stop! I love it! Don't stop, Anata!♥~" well, there was nothing she could do, between the deep plunges and an the molestation of her rear, her body exploded in its flourish. Her knees buckled and her hips met the last of his thrusts as if she intended to let him puncture her womb. Ah... she'd lost her vision for a second... she couldn't breathe, she couldn't think... It was great!

[Bloodedge]

Once more, Anais proved that her understanding was in-line with his Ailen's own beliefs. Individual experience was a path paved toward wisdom. For studious types like them, orthodoxy was akin to ignorance. These were things Ailen believed. "Well-said. I favor that opinion," he asserted while pulling gently to help Anais into a standing position. What of her choice? As opposed to a workbench or tree trunk, Anais decided to gain her experience in a more intimate setting. With that, Ailen kept hold of her hand while leading upstairs. There wasn't much of a trip at all to reach his bedroom, which itself was full of greenery and a strange, seemingly natural overhead light. They would enter a grove with a large, circular bed at its center. The bed featured a canopy of roots with vine curtains, and it seemed dense trees and stones formed the walls. Against a wall primarily formed by stones, there was even a small waterfall over a pool the size of a medium hot spring. "Here we are," he said nonchalantly. "Hopefully the bed suits you."

Meanwhile, Charlemagne was receiving Sakura's counter point. His first experience was the night before, but hers was just today, with his inexperienced self. While that was fair, she obviously had far better instincts than he ever would. It should have been obvious to all who was in charge of their connection mere minutes ago. "Well... you're definitely way better at it than I am either way. I think that should say a lot," Charlemagne said sheepishly. Sakura approached him then, offering... her lips? One would assume that to be a start, but it was instead an offer for knowledge somehow. There was merit to that, if he recalled correctly. She could impart her own understanding via some magical method. Obviously, she didn't know him well enough. "Eh? I mean, it's not like I don't know anything at all. I'm just... not sure what I'd be any good at, or what would work for you. If you've got it all in your head, don't you have a favorite or something?"

Astolfo was busy flapping away under his own skirt, but it seemed he couldn't even match the tempo of what he watched. With both parties moving, there was an almost mesmerizing visual occurring next to the throne. Perhaps it was the sound-effects. That goddess's voice resonated throughout the throne room, creating a powerful harmony alongside all that constant slamming. Such was the music Mugen danced to... if repeated hip-thrusting could be considered dancing. Ah, Miwa had some honesty to offer. She never said she wanted him to stop. Of course she didn't; why would she? Don't stop, she continued; that was more like it. "That's more like it. Onegaishimasu, Da─rin," Mugen replied. Of course he wouldn't be stopping right away, but upon feeling the gush of liquid mana pouring out around his girth, Mugen chose his perfect stopping point. Once more, he seemed to target her orgasm as the moment of evolution. She moved as if she wanted her womb punctured, so he'd lunge once more as if he wanted the same. With that, of course, her womb would be filled not only with his flesh. Someone would have to be cleaning the throne room today, as Mugen unleashed a burst of his own seed, not having a care for restraint. No, he'd pump the goddess until their combined fluids spewed out from her canal, onto himself, onto the floor, even splashing back onto Miwa's legs and backside from the sheer velocity of expulsion. He did always have a thing for marking territory in a more literal sense than most. . .

[Apollymi]

Anais found that she and Ailen agreed on a great many things. Most times if they had opinions they shared some piece of them in common. Strange as it was, Anais appreciated the fact that she could find someone so similar to herself to share her random thoughts and learning experiences with. This was mostly way closer to her speed for enjoying things. Well, aside from her heart pounding in her own chest as Ailen kept hold her her hand as she made clear her preference for setting. Upon doing so she was lead up stairs by the hand to something that registered in her mind as a bedroom, but it was definitely something else. "Sugoi!" she murmured. This place had a strangely natural feel, it was so woodsy while being functional. As far as bedrooms were concerned this might be the best one she'd ever seen. It was lush and felt peaceful, the space itself seemed to sing in perfect harmony. "I might be jealous, this place is great~" she hummed happily. "I need to make sure I get a better bedroom out of our next living arrangement..." she concluded. Obviously she didn't know enough about how to decorate. That being said, she wasn't important enough in Aincrad to receive good lodgings until Charles had picked them all up.

At the same time, Sakura was left staring at Charles as he claimed she was way better at sex than he was, even though she was newer to it as an experience. She was a fairly firm believer that knowledge could enable most things to carry on as they liked. She'd offered him such and he seemed to truly register it for what it was, but it wasn't what he was looking for? How strange. His words implied that he wanted to have sex, but he didn't want the knowledge in a direct sense. He claimed not to know what he could be good at... but also claimed that she should have favorites since she knew more. He seemed almost sheepish and in seeing his face like that she smiled at him in a way which might have been considered almost predatory. "Kawaii~" she mused as popped up on her toes pressing her lips against his platonically for just a moment. "It is odd you have knowledge but not the drive to decide... there is no harm in trying anything, but if you'd rather I pick something... I can do that too," she stated with the utmost calm, after breaking that little kiss. She walked back towards the bed seeming to crawl into it, she remained on her knees placing her rear into the air and her stomach and chest against the futon. They'd spent quite a while in close contact for intimacy so she waved her hips in the air while reaching between her legs to separate her folds for him to see. "Does this work for you, Char-kun?" she asked as she peeked over her shoulder. A deep arch in her back, her hips up in the air, her folds separated... Sakura presented herself to be taken and desired it herself.

Moving on, a climax was being reached, and it seemed that it wouldn't just be one. At the point where Miwa caved and said everything she wanted to say and that Mugen wanted to hear, the man in question was plowing away at her insides. It was far deeper than it needed to be, far more aggressive but she also absolutely adored it. Even so, his own finish was coming in full announced with that pet name he enjoyed calling her and she enjoyed hearing. Ah, there was a symphony in the throne room, punctuated by a spill of fluids which reached the core of Miwa's being and made her seize around him holding him in even as the excess spilled all around them and her own body lost all tension. All that residual mana spilled out everywhere and covered the back of Miwa's legs, filled her womb and even seemed to be tingling against her senses. A final outcry had her leaning her form against that throne like bend and falling into face first never actually managing to lift herself up fully as her legs twitched and her womb convulsed. Surely, he wouldn't abandon her to any strange feelings and would remain buried inside her for at least a little while until she got her life together. "Anata~ Daisuki♥~"

[Bloodedge]

Once they set foot in his bedroom, Anais expressed an immediate appreciation of the scenery. He supposed there was no need to worry about whether this space was good enough or not. She even expressed a desire to have a better bedroom for 'their' next living arrangement. Without the specific context, Ailen assumed her reference was for the two of them. Well, it wasn't abnormal to think of mentor and apprentice having a living arrangement, so he didn't think strangely about it even with a misconception. "That would be easy to arrange," he commented while continuing to lead toward the bed. If unimpeded, he would have Anais lie upon a magical moss which boasted a gentle, yet constant healing effect that went well beyond physical wellness. Even mana recovery was amplified greatly for one who made contact with it. Once she was in place, he'd take a knee at the bed's edge. Before anything else, he had to free the lass of those armored heels; work was to begin immediately for that purpose. Gracefully, he'd unfasten one and pull it from her foot. The same would occur with the other, but it was no silent effort. "Are you relaxed? I would like to make this the most pleasant experience possible for you. Let me know if you need anything."

Meanwhile, Charlemagne was in danger. Sakura latched on to the way he reacted, but the way she did it was... just slightly unnerving, and a little erotic. She assured him that there would be no issues with them trying anything out. She didn't know how quickly his mind began to race. Speaking of his mind racing, it was soon to do so. Sakura was fine with making a choice for them ─ a choice that involved her crawling onto the bed, lowering her upper body, and using her own fingers, she showed him a gateway to hell itself. Could penises explode? His felt like it would explode as he stared brazenly into Sakura's undercarriage. Well, if that was going to happen, it may as well happen while he had the whole of it buried within her... right? With that thought consuming him, Charlemagne inched forward. "You might be the literal Devil. Yeah... I think that more than works." With that said, Charlemagne reached out. He'd have a hand grasping each side of her rear for leverage while his hips moved forward. Even as roughly Sakura was moving before, even though he had only just extricated himself moments ago, there was such a snug fit from the moment entry was attempted. That tightness was heavenly, however; he already couldn't get enough of it. As such, in he went, deeper and deeper with no obvious intention of stopping.

Great success indeed. Mugen managed to bring Miwa to a point of collapse. She fell forward onto Munetsuchi's throne, and he remained buried within her. It was only natural that he pause to let her relax for a few moments. It was only natural that Miwa be allowed some reprieve in the wake of orgasm, especially after having an experience that seemed doubled. It was natural for Miwa to expect as much... but if she actually did, she was very wrong. While she leaned against the bedlike throne, Mugen finally made use of those moistened fingers. She'd lost so much of her own mana through the groin, so he'd been holding a bit to return to her. How would he do so? Orally. Those two fingers would find themselves entering her open mouth and hooking her cheek. In the meantime, Mugen removed the thumb from her ass and used that hand to lift one of those limp legs. He'd lift it high to achieve even deeper penetration. Suddenly, the throne room would sound rather... wet. Well, that was also only natural, considering Mugen immediately began pummeling the goddess's depths and slapping himself against her undercarriage even after all that spillage.

[Apollymi]

Anais was looking around this room practically mesmerized. She couldn't remember a time that being indoors felt so comfortable. Of course her words were slightly misunderstood, she was still pretty interested in the idea of having a new quarters she could enjoy. "Hm? I don't know about that... but if you say so, I'll rely on you when the time comes~" she mused. She was directed towards the bed and found herself easily sinking into it. Actually, that was wrong, she laid back and had to avoid a rather childish reaction. "Ah~ Hm, this place feels like it's really good for you. I probably like it too much... I kinda forgot about this part," she thought. Her own room in Aincrad wasn't a place she stayed often. While she was busy enjoying the feeling of moss beneath her hands she found the man before her gracefully lowering himself and... unsnapping her boot. He slid it off her foot and she found herself looking at him from her current position. He was also talking to her... "I don't think I've ever been so relaxed. This place is great, I don't just mean the room either. The stress of my descent aside, this whole country feels really nice, it has a good vibration," she said happily. "You'll be the first to know... Shishou~," While she laid upon this bed and stayed in this man's company, she'd almost begun to question why she liked adventuring at all... well, probably because she didn't like being inside of Aincrad. Well, it was also a fun activity for her and her friends.

Charles was indeed in danger, but it didn't matter. Sakura would offer the man no physical harm, only whatever mental strain he had it in himself to feel about her various choices in activity. That being said, her choice in position seemed to elicit a strange response from Charles, he claimed she might be the actual Devil but this did work for him. "Are? I can't be the literal Devil, Char-kun..." she mused. Perhaps he'd learn his lesson eventually. Either he'd chose to do something or he'd get something he wasn't expecting and have to deal with it when it happened. Sakura wasn't even consciously doing such a thing, but she had a lot more experience watching sex than he did, and as such she had a lot of things floating around in her head. Regardless, the lad was soon pushing forward into her body and from this angle it felt quite a bit different. Even Sakura, with her normal disposition seemed to be moaning just a little. She was managing to stay still, but... given her position she didn't really have to. She'd bask in this tight entry though peeking over her shoulder to take a look at Charles from this new angle. She determined this was good to see and her core seemed to tighten just a bit.

An for Miwa it seemed that her torture was nowhere near complete. She knew her most recent husband didn't possess a modicum of restraint. In truth, that was one of his best qualities in cases such as this. Any normal person would have taken a break, would have stopped taken a break, taken a nap. No. He wouldn't do any such thing, two fingers once buried in her sex were soon hooked into the side of her mouth. One of those dangling legs of hers was positioned upwards and then, the plunge began anew. A wet and sloppy sound began to emerge around the throne room. She would have metabolized all the mana she'd taken without such a thing happening, but... sudden clamping of her core around his tool was surely a sign that she didn't mind. Even as a gentle hiccup ensued, she was only moaning just the same. This man always felt like he was going to be the end of her, like he wouldn't feel satisfaction unless she was absolutely useless after they were done. Oh well, that was fine. "ANATA♥!~"

[Bloodedge]

"I would hope so. It is my privilege as your mentor to be of use whenever possible. If you come to me for anything, I would only consider it a pleasure to offer my services," Ailen explained in truth. Mentorship was a very important thing to those who practiced as the elves did. To be useful to one's apprentice was to have purpose, and to have purpose was to be a worthwhile entity. Moving on from matters of décor and assistance, he had quite a few articles to rid Anais of. Apparently, that was to be done while she continued admiring the room they were in... and the qualities of his bed. While working off the girl's second boot, Ailen shared what information he had. "Relaxation and healing are this room's purposes. My chamber is one of recuperation. I believe our goddess would say my area of expertise is... well, I suppose I couldn't say," he mused. Moving on again, he placed that second boot right next to the first. He'd reach up from there, finding the top of those stretchy leggings Anais was drawing attention to earlier. If he was to offer a service, those were the most important things to go. Ah, but being in such close contact with Anais's lower body made Ailen realize quite a few things. As such, he had more to say while working those leggings down her form. "Hmm. It appears your lack of beastly legs has created something of a flaw in your mana flow. So much flows down through the legs, you're overworking yourself in a way you may never even feel. . ."

Sakura could claim she wasn't the literal Devil all she wanted; that made it no less true in Charlemagne's mind. One thing was certain: she could never argue against being a temptress. "Well you're something regardless. I guess that's something I should just accept at this point," he commented. All the while, his gaze was fixed... until his periphery took in the turn of Sakura's head. Why was there so much additional appeal to that over-the-shoulder look? That couldn't have been normal, right? Yes, it had to be another effect of some sort. In his attempt to move on from such things mentally, Charlemagne found himself suffering a more... stressful initial thrust. Sakura was tightening for some reason, as if he needed that extra stimulation. "Hn... do you really need to go the extra mile here? I'm not gonn─ah... be much good to anyone if you keep doing stuff like that─" he pleaded. If insertion was going to be this bad, he couldn't imagine how things would be if he tried thrusting at all.

Elsewhere, there was one who refused to do anything but thrust: Mugen. True enough, he could only consider his efforts worthwhile if the payout was a goddess in need of physical recuperation. One might even believe he was the reason Ailen's room was designed to current specifications. Maybe he actually was? Regardless, his purpose was what it always had been. He'd have the time of his life with the goddess's body, and ensure that she understood why he was addressed differently from the other four. "Ho. Not giving up yet, huh? I might be getting rusty," he commented. "You'll have to help me get back into shape~"

[Apollymi]

According to Ailen it was his privilege to be of use to Anais. He claimed he wished to be of use to her whenever possible and that was one of his main missions as her mentor. It was such an earnest thing to say, Anais was quite moved by it, so much so that she felt an inconsistent beat in her own heart. It was against her own nature to abuse anyone, that being said, it would also seem wrong to her, not to make use of someone who wanted to and was capable of contributing. "Hai," she managed, ah, she was a bit embarrassed again. Well it would fade eventually or it wouldn't because she was being stripped and that would definitely make this whole thing strange. According to Ailen this room had the rest and relaxation as its main purposes. He had started trying to think of what his goddess would say he was good for but couldn't figure it out, as a part of his musings. Anais gave it a bit of thought, spa day would be how this seemed but more than that he wasn't just looking after any one aspect of someone's needs. "Caretaking, that's what I'd say given the information I have to work with. Of course, that could be presumptuous, I wouldn't want to get smote or anything, for trying to figure out the innerworkings of a divine beings mind~" she said in a half-joking manner. Ah but there were many things that could be talked about and that was only one of them. All the while she was mostly speaking so she wouldn't think about the fact that under those specifically chosen leggings, she had on a tiny pair of white panties. Yes, she was reserved enough to still wear underwear and to still feel embarrassed because someone was seeing them, but she could mentally work past that. Ailen was helping without knowing by having something to say about... her legs? Hm, she supposed she picked the more human physical appearance, knowing it would be a minor demerit. Of course, she didn't know that she'd end up inhabiting her body and having to deal with it. Even growing into the body she'd experienced a problem or two. "Oh? Well, I didn't think of it as overwork. Nor did I think that it was a mana based issue. I did trip a lot as a kid and had a bit of trouble mastering my preferred method of combat while training. Our Armorer, Olga noticed and came back with those boots. She doesn't talk much but she said they'd help my balance... they did, and I got better at moving. Didn't fix the vertigo on the lower floors though," Anais said musing. What would this leg based issue get her.

"Something?" That was a curious way of referring to Sakura. She wasn't sure what it was he thought she was, but she had no problems with it regardless. Life for her was very simple right now, and she could easily do many things. It appeared that she wasn't the only one enjoying the visual of her looking over her shoulder at the lad. That was good. Her ability to notice such things made the situation she was in all the more amusing. That gentle tightening of her nether seemed to cause Charles some sort of issue. He asked if she needed to go the extra mile, he even claimed he wouldn't be much use if she continued. There was a look on Sakura's face in she seemed to be studying the lad just a bit. "Oh? I am not doing anything extra..." she commented absently. "And you can be of use as long as you want to, this is simply how it works. If you want to continue offering you can do it until it kills you, technically. So allow yourself to feel whatever and just keep going..." she mused as if it was a completely reasonable thing to say. "If you won't move I will~" she mentioned as she started to shift her hips forward, with every intention of going about half Charles, length before she moved herself back against him again. She'd do this slowly at first, as if it was merely a test run. And it was... she liked that sensation and Charles would find himself being ordered about again rather quickly if he remained too passive.

Meanwhile Miwa was hearing some strange words. Her husband seemed to think she hadn't given up yet, and that he was getting rusty. That definitely wasn't something that made sense in the mind of Miwa. "I mean I'll help, but you seem to be misunderstanding the situation a bit~" she muttered around his fingers. Ah, she was started to metabolize a bit better. This particular husband was always a bit harder to use in a direct way, even so... she always seemed to like it. A little spice in her normally sweet selections was exactly what she needed. Besides, if he had his way, she'd likely be napping by the time everyone else returned. Instead of thinking about it too much, she concentrated on the sensation in her loins as she felt the first signs of her next flourish. This man would end her with his antics one day. But it'd definitely be worth it.

[Bloodedge]

Anais would refer to the purpose of his chamber as caretaking, apparently. He could understand that. Of course, he had something similar to say initially, but that surely would have been in bad taste. "I suppose that is as accurate as it gets, really. And I don't think anyone is going to smite you for saying that. She's nto even the smiting sort," he joked along. Down went Anais's leggings, but there was another layer to be found. Upon seeing those plain white undergarments, he thought them strange... though perhaps for reasons that didn't match the cause of Anais's embarrassment. Whatever the reason for that extra layer, he'd get around to it after working his way up instead. There was little purpose in partial nudity; Ailen intended to carefully peel away armor and clothing from the girl's top half as well. As such, Anais would find herself losing one plate after another, and one article after another as well. Such would continue until he had nothing left to deal with but her undergarments. Meanwhile, he would be addressing the issue of her legs. "The boots were an excellent idea. However, it seems the way your body wants to move is impacting your overall flow of mana. There is so much traveling through your legs all the way to your feet, I feel it would be a disservice to you if I didn't deal with that first."

According to Sakura, she'd done nothing extra. In Charlemagne's opinion, that was a load of crap. Just the same, it sounded completely unreasonable that he could "be of use" as long as he wanted to. He wanted to argue against that, but considering recent history, the facts all fell inline perfectly. No argument would be coming from Charlemagne after all, it seemed. He could even feel the truth of it all in his soul. Actually... he could feel a lot of things he'd never felt before, with no idea what any of them were. Speaking of feeling... Sakura was very quick to deliver on a threat of moving if he wasn't going to. By the time he registered what had been said, Sakura's internal walls were already rubbing against him via her forward shift. Charlemagne nearly lost himself in that, but then there was the return stroke. The slowness of her movements seemed to only make things worse. With slowness came more time for Charlemagne to feel every little speck of flesh and mana enveloping him. It wasn't even a conscious effort when his own hips began moving at a similar pace that was agonizing, but oh so satisfying as well. "Hn... you know, it's not fair to give a threat like that when you're already moving."

Mugen hadn't misunderstood a thing. Well, maybe it was true that he hadn't gotten rusty at all, but he certainly hadn't achieved some of the goals he thought easily possible. Of course, there were many other ways to achieve the desired results. It wasn't as if he wouldn't achieve them eventually anyway; it was all just a matter of time. Ah, but why wouldn't he hasten things a bit? Seeing those signs in Miwa again, Mugen decided it was time for change. His fingers withdrew from her mouth, and that lifted leg had more pressure applied to it from underneath. He'd go about turning the goddess around, flipping her onto her back. Moreover, since her legs were so useless, he'd find a use for them. Surely Miwa would have no issues with him using both of her legs as leverage, even at the cost of them being pinned against her own upper body. After all they'd done already, what was a bit more penetration paired with a tighter squeeze?

[Apollymi]

According to Ailen, Miwa wasn't the smiting type. Beyond that her assumption about his nature was not wrong according the man. A bit of joking banter did wonders for the girl's ability to concentrate as she was being stripped of clothing. She realized of course, that she could have gotten naked herself but somehow this felt more intimate than she knew something could. As an aside, she didn't actually mind it at all... well aside from her own embarrassment. "Oh? That's a relief, it'd turn into a really awkward day otherwise~" she mused seeming to find some form of comfort as long as she didn't think too hard about the coloration of her face. Strangely, as her other layers were pulled away she wasn't wearing the matching piece to her undergarments. Why? Well, flat was justice and she'd never really felt inclined to wear bras much at all to begin with. Her little corset worn atop a frilly shirt was almost exclusively for decoration as there was nothing of real substance she needed to hold up. Though she admittedly had about a normal person's handful worth of breast to work with so she was far from truly flat-chested. Regardless she find herself in just her underwear, manaing not to feel too strangely about it. Whatever the case, it seemed Olga had a good idea in providing her with the boots she wore, but the long term problem still needed addressing. He wouldn't be letting it go, and Anais had already mostly relinquished herself to his care, she felt no desire to stop him. "I understand. I'll leave myself in your care, Shishou," she said timidly. It was still odd for someone to be looking after her with such a high level of devotion, but she couldn't really say no to the attention.

Sakura's first movements were unhindered by Charles though nothing about what he had to say after nor his immediate reaction implied he didn't like it. That little maneuver was something Sakura enjoyed directly and Charles beginning to move himself at similar pace made the lass continue to move as well. Actually, it could be said that it started a chain reaction of motion that would leave both of them, dancing in a way. "Are? That wasn't a threat, Char-kun. It was an example..." she said as if it made perfect sense. "Fairness had nothing to do with it," she finished seeming to be amused by the notion. Whatever the case, there would be this continued meeting of hips, but by Sakura's own feelings it would begin to speed up. She was looking to find out what she liked about this position, as such the slower strokes would eventually become a bit faster, until she found a speed she enjoyed. And once she did, she'd be flexing her hips in constant rhythm to keep it up.

Meanwhile, Miwa was being taken advantage of. Well, in a more physical sense she was being moved. As she neared climax and reached it, her husband decided on a positional change. This one would leave Miwa's legs against her chest as he used her body for leverage. This sort of bend always caused such a tight squeeze. She felt like she was being collapsed. She lost her breath even as the sensation of him entering her, stirred her inside a great deal. An almost hiccup escaped from between her lips and she couldn't even formulate words initially given the sudden shift in pressure within her body. Still, the additional fluids leaking from her core and the gentle redness on her face, implied that she wasn't adverse to this particular amount of 'folding' as it were.

[Bloodedge]

Indeed, being stricken by the divines would produce a rather awkward situation. Ailen imagined reincarnation would involve a memory ingrained on the soul as a result, and what an interesting trip to the underworld it would be as well. "Indeed. Though, you may be underestimating this relationship. Even if she decided to do something of that nature, you would have nothing to fear. You've become my apprentice, and are therefore afforded the same luxuries as myself. That will be the case no matter where you go, if my name holds any weight at all," he said modestly, knowing that if Anais ever found herself in the company of elves, she'd probably be treated like a goddess in her own right. That would only become a matter of importance if the situation arose, though. More important was the removal of... perhaps more articles than Ailen himself wore. It was a time-consuming endeavor he took upon himself, but all would be worthwhile in the end. Soon enough, only those white undergarments remained while Ailen hovered over the girl's body from all he'd done above. Anais decided to leave herself in his care; he'd take that in stride. "Very well. I'll do all I can," he said.

While he still hovered around Anais's upper body, Ailen figured a few tests were worthwhile. One hand took hold of her underwear around the time his head lowered to her chest. She was fairly underdeveloped by human standards, though not as lacking as she made herself sound. The first test would be one of ability. Gently did his lips close around the girl's nipple, and just as gently did he suck it into his mouth. A single flick of tongue occurred at that time, all to see if Anais was truly the type he theorized. In the meantime, he was steadily pulling those undergarments down her legs.

Both Sakura and Charlemagne himself were moving, but there remained a looming sense of danger for the latter. Why? He wasn't sure. Maybe everything was too... good? After the time he'd been through, having negative karma wouldn't even be surprising to the lad. On the other hand, there was no real negative to be taken from this ordeal. Perhaps then, it should all be viewed as accumulated positive karma instead? No matter; he didn't have much room to think about such things regardless. Sakura was beginning to hasten her own movements, which essentially meant Charlemagne wouldn't be able to think very clearly at all moving forward. His brain was fried in a matter of moments. Between the feeling and the sights, his own thrusting began to fall off a bit. He really wasn't made for this type of sensory overload. . .

Meanwhile, Mugen was treated to a melody most pleasant. He did always enjoy origami. This particular piece, namely Miwa, had quite a few bonuses. Her red face, the length of her legs on display at either side of her head, and all those delectable sounds were a combination that spurned Mugen into action without fail. He'd be doing himself a disservice if he didn't ensure all of Munetsuchi could hear its goddess's moans and all the flesh-slapping, air-shaking slams into the apex of Creation as they viewed it. Ah, and since she didn't have words to offer, he would find use for her mouth as well ─ using his own mouth and protruding tongue, of course.

[Apollymi]

Ailen apparently agreed about the potential pitfalls of a crossed divine, but claimed that Anais might be underestimating the weight their current relationship held. According to the man himself, she would be given the same luxuries as Ailen himself and similar consideration as long as his name carried weight, literally anywhere. That was a strange thing to think about. She was sure very few people could claim to be connected to anyone with that much influence behind them. "Oh? I like not having to worry, but when you say it like that it sounds like you're super famous... " the girl mused. His modesty aside, she was quite sure anyone who managed to bond themselves to a goddess of reasonable standing should be considered a standout in their own right. Of course, this was the lass currently making assumptions about the multi-god system that may or may not apply but she had media to go off of, which made her believe her thoughts were properly correlated. Still, she couldn't help but be proud of herself for managing not to freak out about being stripped mostly naked in front of her mentor. She figured this sort of thing might eventually become normal for them, so she was actively trying to get used to it as an idea. Of course, it helped that he was quite appealing in all ways she could think of wanting. Ah... and such appeal was making an appearance.

Anais wasn't at all used to being given sexual attention. As such the man hovering above her made her imagination go into hyperdrive. And then, he began to move down her body. She might have found herself feeling more than a bit abashed being so close, but it was only going to get more intense. His head lowered, and her panties were being pulled down, but long before he made his way to her sex, a pitstop would occur around her chest. A single nipple would find itself in his mouth, being sucked and licked in a way which sent sensation straight from that point and into her loins. She was sure those things weren't meant to be connected, but the flow of mana seemed apt to move towards the point of the connection made. Ailen would find himself with the tiniest trickle of ripe persimmon flavored mana to taste from such an action. All the while Anais became distinctly aware of the temperature of her own body, and wondered if she was going to be alright. Beyond that thought a relaxation and willingness to see through that which she'd requested, actually her body seemed to be learning as quickly as her brain tended to, though she hadn't made a sound aside from inhaling, she should remember to breathe.

At the same time, Charles and Sakura seemed to be having a pretty good time. Though as the latter sped up her actions, the former seemed to be suffering a bit. A casual glance over her shoulder left the young woman quite sure of herself and as such another one of those unnerving and devious smiles crossed her face. Why? Well, if he was being distracted she had no problem taking over to chase the sensation she sought for herself. Actually she'd find a speed closer to rapid tapping and back herself against Charles' rod as if she was using him. All the while little pulses pushed her closer and closer to the edge of climax until, upon one particular moment when she backed herself against him and felt the spill of her mana and the tightening of her core around his rod. It was delightful from this angle and made her stop her movements briefly as she moaned and appreciated the sensation.

Just the same Miwa was moaning uncontrollably. Being tossed around and forced to bend in such a way was invigorating for the strangest reasons. Since she'd not been speaking her husband decided to place his tongue within her mouth. She'd meet that intruder hungrily as they kissed and she would fully accept being folded. She enjoyed looking at her legs propped up on her husband's shoulders. She liked seeing his face as he worked both their bodies to maximum efficiency. What was more, feeling him slam into the end of her core was something which made her nearly convulse as each time such a meeting occurred she was given shock to go along with her other sensations. Of course, given such a mixture of sensations she'd find it easy to reach climax this way as well, but aside from her body's reaction there would be no real tells. She'd continue the kisses and folding from position to position until her body and mind no longer worked if it made him happy.

[Bloodedge]

There was no way for Ailen to avoid making himself sound famous. If one were to ask about the elven scholars, he was among the most famous in history. Perhaps Anais would eventually make that discovery for herself. Whether she did or didn't, here and now was a different and more imperative matter. Ailen didn't even have a verbal response to the girl's comment; he was busy. Upon inserting her nipple into his mouth, Ailen was surprised to receive a hint of mana in liquid form. Persimmon? Yes, he knew that one well enough for its alchemical applications. Perhaps even the ripe flavor was tied to her production being a very... very recent possibility. There was such a small amount, he believed that was a realistic assumption to make. Still, given alchemical uses... there was sense in the development as well. He sought a bit more while pulling Anais's undergarments down to her ankles. During this exchange, a few of those perfect green leaves in the room were beginning to turn red. Ailen moved on without making a note of the changes. Once Anais's undergarments were fully removed, he pulled away from her torso and reclaimed his original position. He'd first be found massaging her feet from tip to heel. A gentle flow of his own mana through his fingertips would put additional pressure against hers, starting its movement toward its proper location.

If Charlemagne needed one thing, it was for Sakura to stop looking over her shoulder. Something about that visual took all remaining sense from his mind. Even worse, she eventually started being used as a tool for the girl's pacing desires. If he gave it proper consideration, he would be sure that counted as some form of abuse. Ah, but he couldn't even think that way, could he? No. He could do little but enjoy being a literal object for the young goddess's pleasure, until a certain spike occurred during the sudden clench brought about by orgasm. In that moment, Charlemagne nearly lost his own ability to retain stability. He'd have been pushed over the edge right then and there, but Sakura stopped moving just in time to avoid that fate. Maybe he was satisfied by that, or maybe he was a bit disappointed. Whatever he was, he'd been all but winded. Buckling, Charlemagne had to brace himself with a hand on the small of Sakura's back. How rude. He didn't mean to do so, but... it was too late now. "Ah! Sumimasen! I just... I might need a minute," he blabbered.

Miwa was a creature once known as a Goddess of Creation. As such, surely she'd never have issue with being given plenty of fuel for creating more and more. Mugen had no qualms with providing. He'd done so once today, and he'd now do so again as the mixing of saliva occurred between their mouths, primarily within hers. Of course, he supposed it also counted that the previous deposit of fluids was being repeatedly pushed deeper into her womb, if only just a bit. Perhaps she'd benefit from even more? They'd find out together. One of the reasons Mugen could be considered at the top of whatever food chain Miwa's group of husbands was viewed as, was a natural compatibility between Miwa and himself. It seemed habitual at times that he'd spill his seed at just the right moment to line-up with the 'spark of wisdom' as they called it. Once she climbed the proverbial hill to reach a state of enlightenment, he'd be there at the apex as well... all to douse her in a wave of raw power to make use of inspiration. Ah, but there was another difference ─ the one in which he continued doing so well beyond the point of that power being received.

[Apollymi]

Anais was more than a bit surprised, the trickle of mana from her nipple was sought. That is to say, it wasn't immediately released, instead the man finished removing her undergarments and the view around them seemed to be changing at least a little. A couple of the leaves she could see became the bright red of early autumn. It was quite interesting to see, and she likely would have had questions if her body could function at all. But no... that wouldn't be happening immediately. A gentle sigh escaped her lips as the elf with her descended once more, strangely back to where he'd started at her feet. He'd made the claim he'd do his best for her leg based issue, of course... she'd not known what he'd meant by that but would soon find herself experiencing the sensation of his mana traveling through her feet. Actually, it was a pleasant sensation and seemed to make her body relax even more. 'I'm definitely taking advantage of this man... I don't know why I think that... but I am sure this is great~' the girl found herself thinking as a small moan escaped the space of her lips as she remembered how to breathe rather suddenly. This man was going to be terrible for her psyche, but she could say her feet felt nice.

Whatever Charles needed, Sakura would likely give, except... to stop looking. It was in her nature to observe, and in doing so she could figure out many things about their current interaction. For instance, though he'd said nothing, she knew Charles had very much enjoyed when she'd taken over the pacing of their particular movements. He'd not been putting in much effort himself, but that didn't matter to her in anyway. She'd managed to reach climax and it had been glorious. Still, the lad was content to hold back, seeming both pleased and unhappy about his own lack of flourish. It was kind of cute to see him so conflicted. Her stopped movement also let her feel the placement of his hand on her lower back as he braced himself. It was a nice touch but for some reason he apologized. Her head tilted slightly to the side as she considered that. "Iie, apologies are unnecessary. If you want to hold me a specific way you can... if you want to use me to brace yourself... you can, between us these things are acceptable, maybe even preferable..." she explained. At this point, she'd let this lad use her soul as a crutch as he rebuilt himself, what was a bit of extra physical contact after that? Besides, if his hands were moving then he was doing something he desired, which was also good to Sakura. She shifted her hips a little from left to right as if to goad him, he claimed to need a minute but she knew he'd be alright...

At the same time, Miwa was being fed an extreme amount of mana. While she'd never turn down the fuel she needed, this particular man who shared her... always seemed interested in going overboard. Even so, she could always benefit, who knew what kind of ideas she'd allowed to fully develop since this particular session started. She'd finished her understanding of several things, figured out a few things, and even hypothesized about the creation of greater beings and thus her onw ascension. Things had flowed back into her mind, like the issues of her land being at ground level and even the problem with her husband seeming so content to go overboard. Well, that last part wasn't a problem so much as it was something she was content to tackle. Actually this moment had her overflowing in new ideas, her body tingling and convulsing with way more power than it needed and she was... happy.

[Bloodedge]

There were no additional words shared between Ailen and his apprentice, but there was no silence in the room either. Anais's breathing had become audible. No... it wasn't simply breathing. She was moaning audibly, and he'd only just started applying a bit of physical and spiritual pressure to her feet. Surely this was a sorely-needed treatment. "You like this?" he questioned. That certainly seemed to be the case, so he lingered around her soles for a few moments longer than necessary. He needed no additional time to create the effect he sought, but Ailen would not short his precious student on satisfaction of any sort. Alas, he could only linger for so long. If he did, there was a danger of her legs' mana circuits bursting. So, how would he avoid that? Easily. Once sufficient pressure had been built in the circuits at her feet, Ailen's hands moved to her hips. He would need to open the mana circuits closest to her core if he was to properly get the cycle moving again. A few pressure points in the hips were necessary before he shifted down to her thighs, where he'd go back to rubbing up, each stroke starting just a bit lower than the previous.

Meanwhile, Charlemagne continued to have the best and worst time of his life. He was well past the point of sinning himself to hell. Now, he was content to accept whatever fate awaited him, while desiring something... rather greedy deep inside. As for his accidental bracing against Sakura's lower back, it was apparently nothing of issue. In fact, Sakura's words implied that she may have enjoyed that form of contact. How... strange. Maybe he interpreted that wrong. No, that didn't seem to be the case. Sakura immediately began swaying her rear from side to side. What an interesting effect that created, causing his tool to move within her as if wedging. Charlemagne was sure he could feel his own heartbeat in his stomach ─ or even in his testicles. 'Right. Temptress. Definitely Temptress,' he thought. Using that leverage afforded by his extended arm, the lad was able to piston his hips anew. A thrusting which started with a bit of side-to-side movement caused by Sakura was beyond expectation. One stroke had him angled to the left, another to the right, and so on. No complaint could be presented to something so strange and new. Actually, none of his complaints were truly warranted from the beginning. "You know... you really don't make it very clear what you're in this for."

Mugen going overboard was something Miwa always seemed content to enable. Even if she didn't, he wouldn't change. Ah, but that wasn't necessary. Since she continued feeding into his mannerisms, he'd continue feeding mana into her body. There was always something so satisfying about being able to do so with someone who wouldn't eventually pop from overfilling. She'd never be physically overwhelmed, so he could enjoy working toward physical exhaustion instead. How many sparks of inspiration had Miwa been through thus far? He wouldn't know, nor did the count matter to him. No, he knew they were flowing through her head, so he'd continue letting that fuel flow into her loins... frequently. "Da─rin~♥ You've gone mute again. I guess that means you're still thinking~" the black-haired male said, hinting at his intention to continue pumping liquid mana into her. He'd be sure that if Miwa didn't actively absorb his 'offering' with enough focus, each of his thrusts would eventually cause a spurt of their combined fluids to spew from her body. Did she truly have more power than she needed? No; that was nonsense. If one were to ask Mugen, he'd say she only had enough when her physical self didn't know how to respond to it.

[Apollymi]

The lack of speech shared between mentor and apprentice wasn't something which was commented upon. It was likely for the best, considering Anais would have been pretty embarrassed if she could have considered it over how good the sensations in the soles of her feet felt. Of course, that light noise of her own voice breathing and moaning would be lightly interrupted by Ailen as he questioned if she liked this particular attention. "Hai!~" she murmured happily. Ah, it was just a leg massage. People were normally naked during massages, and he wasn't drawing attention to it. 'I can't go to slut hell for a massage,' she thought firmly. Only to have her invasive internal voice return for a moment. 'Unless you get a happy ending~' Oh no. She was definitely getting a happy ending... she was going to slut hell! In fact that thought coincided with the movement up her legs towards her hips. Pressure points were released and her body relaxed more. "Ah, worth it~" she mused. That last bit probably didn't make sense in context but it didn't matter. She was certain a leg massage should be on her regular self-care regimen. Everyone could appreciate something like this and she couldn't appreciate it more if she tried. She'd also fully accepted the idea of going to slut hell, for something that wasn't even sexual yet, just because it felt good, she was apparently that human.

A bit of teasing movement on Sakura's part, seemed to make Charles act of his own accord. He pivoted quite a bit when he restarted his movements. He even seemed to be hitting different spots within her core given his angling. He continued to use her as leverage as he did this and her body reacted to these different movements. Different strokes seemed to cause her to pulse, twitch or even her breath to catch just a little. There was nothing wrong with this lad's hand being placed there, and also nothing wrong with his movements. She quite enjoyed them, his hips moving in such a way made her grin just a little as she accepted the movements. They could definitely cause another flourish. Ah, but he had something to say... she didn't make it clear what she was in this for? "I am acting in the pursuit of my own desires. Whatever they are in a moment or over time... that's all. It's fun, goading you into things. But it is also fun... taking advantage of your inaction. Reaching the truth is also fun, so all these things are worth doing~" she said the last with a little moan. "I think you're interesting to watch too... so there is that," she said as if it was a simple fact of life. It was to be considered an exercise in fun, she was sating her own curiosity, she was learning to manage her desires... she had several reasons for doing things and none of them were bad by her own account, so why wouldn't she do them.

All the while, Miwa's brain was a series of answered questions, of completed theories, of magical understanding. Every thrust that filled her, seemed to be answering her own questions, ones she'd stopped thinking about, ones she'd abandoned because she didn't have the brain power, ones that had only just sprouted and now needed nurturing. Her habits were clear to her husbands, Mugen in particular was content to tease her as she used up all he gave her. "My brain is on fire~ But it's fine I want more!~" she seemed to be amused by her own words. Of course she'd remain thinking, but like with all things, even as she reached climax multiple times and used multiple loads deposited within herself, eventually her consumption would slow. She wouldn't pop from taking in too much, but she could also have the mana slip away from her a bit. When it did, it would slosh back against his active body, she'd still be moaning the entire time and another climax would be reached regardless as she happily moaned his pet name, "Anata♥~"

[Bloodedge]

So long as Anais found enjoyment from the experience, Ailen could consider it effort well-spent. A single utterance gave him all the answer he required. "Good. Let me know if anything feels strange or extreme," he said while continuing to apply pressure and movement to her thighs. He didn't linger for too long in one spot this time, needing only to expand her mana circuits to allow an easier flow. Once he reached the knees, he'd press only on either side of each cap before her shins were addressed. From there, Ailen repeated the same movements previously used on the girl's thighs, for the same purpose. She wouldn't ─ or shouldn't ─ be feeling any massive changes just yet. All of that was tied into the final experience, which he hadn't even started on yet.

Charlemagne wondered what Sakura sought. With his weight actively pressing into her back, she gave an answer that was somehow both simple and complex. Self-fulfillment from moment to moment was the brunt of it. Of course, she also had to point out that it was fun to take advantage of his hesitation... because why wouldn't that be the case? "Well you didn't have to put it like that..." he mumbled. There was also the note that he was interesting to watch, which was a whole additional thought process he'd suffer to work through. What was so interesting? He'd hardly even done anything, except... well, he'd be doing something quite soon. That lost tingle was quick to return, and quick to build again. That incessant pulsing reared its head several times in a matter of seconds, ending only with a single throb that sprayed his evolved essence into the young goddess who claimed only to be seeking fun and knowledge. Well... perhaps that counted as fun. If Charlemagne were to be honest, he'd say the moment was fun for him... though still a bit more long-winded than he thought reasonable.

More, said Miwa. If her brain was on fire, he was doing something right. Of course it could easily be said that he was doing a bit too much, but what was the point of marriage if not a little overindulgence? Mugen obviously didn't care if a few milliliters, or even liters of his mana were wasted against his own flesh, the throne and the floor. After all, what better thing could he waste it on? Nothing. The same could even be said of the observing pink-haired lad ─ the same one that could currently be seen spilling his own load across the throne room. As much of a scamp as he was, though, that rocket of a shot may have gone a bit too far. Oh yes, a small amount was undoubtedly headed toward the throne itself. Was that some sort of heresy or sacrilege, especially considering the goddess currently inhabited said throne? Maybe, but... Astolfo wasn't very big on sense.

[Apollymi]

Anais would take more than a little enjoyment from having her legs rubbed upon in such a way. If she was being honest, the intensity of this feeling seemed almost connected to her loins, but that wasn't really something she wanted to consider. Especially not given the moisture seemingly pooling at the apex of her thighs. There was nothing remotely sexual about what was happening, but still she found herself rather interested in it. The movements of Ailen's hands around her legs, seemingly to allow him to come in contact with all parts of them was delightful for lack of a better term. "I'll let you know but... it only feels nice," she found herself murmuring sheepishly. Ah, she probably shouldn't be sexualizing a man who was only here to help her, even so those intimate touches along her legs and thighs were having a strange effect on the redness of the girl's face. It was okay, she could bear it, and the wetness between her legs and even her teacher touching her so intimately. She had no idea what his overall plan was, but she'd probably let him rub on her legs all day if he wanted to.

At the same time Sakura was given another strange reaction from Charles. Whenever confronted by certain sentiments the lad seemed to become incapable of honesty. She found that amazing. He wasn't lying so much as he was simply avoiding any connection to whatever was directly uttered before. Did he really not understand why she found him interesting when he did things like that? "Well, how else would I say it?" she questioned him. It was seemingly innocent but in truth she wondered if he actually had an answer or not. Whatever the case, she'd soon be silenced by something new and interesting. An incoming flourish from Charles with his newly evolved mana found itself within her at a more than reasonable quantity. "Ooh?!~" she seemed excited by the sensation as it mixed within her core. "Doesn't that feel nice..." she murmured as her body seemed to tighten around him, not willing to let him go after he'd provided her with a new sensation.

At the same time, Miwa found herself having a great amount of her husband's mana wasted upon his offering. As he was one to go overboard regardless, she found herself indulging even as her thoughts seemed to move away directly from the purposes of expanding her wisdom. it seemed of course, that the lad who'd been watching for quite a while, eventually found himself making an offering, just a bit made its way towards the throne, quite nearby where the goddess was currently being folded over and reamed for no apparent reason. Even so, she took note seeming to be amused by it, if nothing else. "Oh? How earnest... this one almost reminds me of Wu-chan..." she murmured but her attention couldn't be divided that long. No... instead she'd be dealing directly with the man who'd decided her legs needed to near blend into her torso as she demanded more and more from him.

[Bloodedge]

A bit of positive reinforcement would always go a long way. In this case, it was all Ailen needed to continue without any unnecessary adjustments. Speaking of adjustments, it was soon time to move onward. After ensuring each of the mana circuits throughout Anais's legs were addressed properly, a few additional touches of her shins would let him feel its flow. He'd then apply pressure at the ankles, then knees, then hips to open the proper channels and allow said flow its necessary movements throughout the limbs. "There we are. At this point, your legs should feel quite relaxed if I've done this correctly. Once we've completed the next step, you should have an additional experience to enjoy," he explained briefly. With that said, Ailen finally put forth the effort to separate Anais's legs. After so much time spent focusing on her legs, it was high time to focus fully on the space between. His eyes locked on, and his face moved inward. It seemed she already sported the glisten of arousal, which created the perfect opportunity for Ailen to taste of persimmon within seconds of reaching her undercarriage. Gently did his tongue press against her folds, prodding and shifting from one side to another for the sake of separation.

How else would Sakura phrase that statement? Well, answering that wouldn't really work. Charlemagne frankly believed she could have gone without saying it at all. She knew what was happening. He knew what was happening. He knew that she knew what was happening. No further acknowledgement was needed beyond those facts. In fact, it seemed acknowledgement would end there anyway, as Charlemagne suffered immediate uselessness caused by ejaculation. He was immobile partially because he was winded... and partially because he couldn't pull back even if he wanted to. Something was strange about that last part. Sakura had a mighty grip of his tool, leaving Charlemagne feeling like some knotted dog for reasons he couldn't understand. Why such power? He was almost beyond questioning it. "Uh. I um... Am I supposed to be stuck?" he wondered.

Meanwhile, Astolfo seemed all too pleased about his own recent spillage. He may have missed the queen/goddess and her current husband of choice, but that was a level of dastardly he could save for another experience later. Currently, he would be found sitting on the throne room floor, fully relaxed. It didn't seem those two would be stopping their madness anytime soon, so perhaps he'd even start again at some point. It wasn't like he had anything else to do while his companions were off doing whatever. Beyond all that, whatever a Wu-chan was, apparently its existence was the sort that caused Astolfo's similarities to bring no negatives his way. Somewhere in a tree outside the palace, there was a powerful sneeze occurring. . .

[Apollymi]

All too soon, the rubbing against her legs came to an end. She felt quite relaxed from the waist down and more than that was pleased by the experience. According to Ailen, she should feel relaxed if he'd done it right and there would be something extra after the next step? He'd soon be spreading those legs she could barely feel and that was a bit odd, but she wasn't going to immediately comment on that. "Hm, I'm definitely relaxed but Shishou what..." ah, she'd had a question. Whatever it was though was a bit lost to her. Why? Because there was a tongue now rather gently prodding at her folds and when it did this, her mind erased everything she'd wanted to say for the next few moments. 'Why did I choose this?!' she questioned herself, even so she could do nothing but like the sensation even with just this first motion. Everything in her person told her it was a bit dangerous... not to her physically, but to her sanity. This was a step towards slut hell... but not one she'd regret taking. Ah but there was something, what would Ailen be receiving as knowledge from this girl? Well, that which was innate to her current understanding, starting first with her form of candlelight related magic, and the protective qualities provided by her connection to the White Hart.

All the same Sakura found it interesting that Charles had nothing to say about changing the way she spoke. She figured he wouldn't know what to do when confronted but it was still amusing in the moment. Whatever the case, she'd been enjoying the feeling of her release. Both of them were lightly winded and Sakura was relaxing her hands stretching out in front of her as she heard the lad's question. It was such a strange question, at the other end of his connecting line was a goddess... did he truly not know what it meant to seek such things with one? "Stuck? Well... that is debatable. You aren't stuck so much as it is nature to remain within to help along acts of creation. No matter what you intend to do with the mana you gain from such an expulsion it needs time to integrate both ways. It is part of bond strengthening, and ensures better quality works," she mused. Ah, once again she seemed to have switched how her explanation worked. From straight sex to acts of creation... well... she'd been taught they were essentially the same thing, with only intimacy being the difference between different acts. To try and create to make the next best thing, was the will of life in general...

Astolfo could continue to watch, even though he'd reached his own form of satisfaction. Beyond that mighty sneeze there were a few more folds to be made. Obviously, someone like Miwa would have to become a pinwheel or a throwing-star or something of that nature to complete the act of being 'folded' as her husband so gently put it.

[Bloodedge]

Anais had something to say. Alas, it seemed she lost her train of thought. Ailen could have been shocked by that turn of events once upon a time, but it wasn't his first time seeing it. Actually, he'd even previously experienced such a thing first-hand. In the elf male's opinion, a loss of thought process in the earliest stages of a transfer was a sign of an excellent experience from the start. Perhaps he was wrong about that, though; more study would be required. Ah... he had a chance to collect another example here. What else would he be collecting? Well, it seemed Anais had some information to share with him. In a matter of moments, a first-hand understanding of her unique power structure flowed through his mind. The ancient magic that inhabited her was understood by him in a way only hosts would normally know. What wonderful knowledge! Many would assume Ailen had no use for information about the White Hart. Those people would be very wrong, as he was its host's mentor. If he reached even a single conclusion Anais herself hadn't come to about her power, it would become some of the most useful knowledge in his brain. Moreover, it was knowledge that answered simple curiosity! What better information could there be? To think, all he had to do was literally lick such valuable knowledge from between her legs. Beyond all else, this had become something mutually beneficial immediately.

And now 'stuck' was debatable. No it wasn't. Charlemagne was sure he couldn't move back if he tried. Even if it was some spiritual mumbo jumbo, the same could be said. Whatever the case, this unusual phenomenon was explained as an instinct that fell under the umbrella of creation. The mana between them had to be transferred without fail, and kept within for quality assurance. Once again, Charlemagne found himself in a world made for some pervert's dream. Oh? Actually, he was finding himself in a different world entirely. Without him realizing, a golden light had consumed both himself and Sakura, taking them in their current position into a blank, white space. "You know that stuff doesn't make sense to someone like me... right?" he was already asking. Much to his surprise, the voice that answered would be a masculine one. . .

"Whether she does or not, I do," a man said from several meters away. Ahead of the pair in this otherwise blank realm, there was a simple cushioned chair. Atop that chair sat a tall, middle-aged man with mid-length hair white as the space around them. He had all the presence of something far beyond divinities as this world knew them, but he wore plain trousers, a half-buttoned shirt and a red trench coat as if he were an ordinary human. Even his facial hair was a bit scruffy, albeit perfectly suited to his facial features in some strange way. "Ugh, geez. I'm not even sure I can blame the same people for this one. I still might; I dunno. Say, what do you think? Is this sort of mentality the gods' fault?" the man asked, his colorless eyes focused on Sakura.

[Apollymi]

Losing track of ones thoughts because of a new or overwhelming sensation wasn't even anything to be surprised by. In actuality, Anais couldn't help but feel something given the casual licking of her folds. What was more, she was sharing rather intimate knowledge of her own power, she was sure at the very least her mentor was interested in it, given his earlier ramblings. That made the whole of this situation seem a bit fairer. Perhaps she'd question him about it and see what else she could find to do with it. Until that time, she'd enjoy the sensations being provided between her legs. She'd also give with the knowledge of the white hart that protected her, her own understanding of sound and vibration and how she used her mana to sense the world. It would likely make the rest of her choices easier to understand. Whatever the case, this was definitely something beneficial for both of them. Anais managed to be fairly aroused enough that the muscles in her legs had taken to gentle twitching in addition to the remaining slickness of her sex.

As Charles seemed to be thinking over their 'stuck' situation. Sakura took in the shift of their current position. She was a bit surprised by it, but more curious than anything else. Of course, Charles had something to say, and Sakura was about to reply only to hear a male voice sitting across from them in the white room. Ah, her mom and dad had talked about this. How interesting. She was surprised, what was more she would be Answering Charles while happily remaining combined with him. "Why wouldn't it? Even animals understand it, are uneducated humans less than animals?" Sakura asked seemingly curious and in a manner which was very similar to something Angelica had once said about a different strange human trait.

At the same time, there was an answer about it from this man sitting across from them. Sakura looked in his direction and took in his features. Something about him seemed familiar and not at all. He was definitely some form of divinity, and reminded her of one of her fathers at least. What was more, he had a question for her. Should the gods be blamed for the lack of education in this world. Sakura gave it some thought before answering, seemingly content to remain the way she was, even in this white space. "O...." A pause happened as Sakura decided how to address this man. "Ojii-sama, Objectively, I haven't met all of them so I can't say. But I can take Kaa-sama's opinion into account. She seems to think well of the Mother, the Death Goddess, The God of the Trees and the other half of the Wisdom Goddess," she said seeming to give it great consideration. "The people who live in Kaa-sama's country don't believe as such, so I am forced to conclude it is whatever god he's been falsely worshipping as the one true god and/or one of the stupid ones," she concluded. Still she took in the sights seeming to be thinking about this place and what being here meant.

[Bloodedge]

Ah, a bit of spastic leg behavior. It seemed Ailen was on the right track in terms of offering what he intended. Anais seemed at peace enough; he could comfortably indulge himself a little. Finding its way properly between her folds, Ailen's tongue slid its way up and down that delectable pocket of flesh. In doing so, his mind was flooded. He saw the development of magical abilities not as a matter of pure imagination, but as a science. That was strange. He'd seen many forms of magecraft take a scientific approach, as some logic was required. Anais, however, wielded a form of true magic that needed no such thing. Perhaps there was merit to further study? What could the results of that unusual combination be? Whatever they were, he imagined there was potential for true greatness. More. He'd need to achieve clarity in future ─ a spark of inspiration to apply his own creativity to some ideas. Before that, he'd ensure a more efficient transfer in both directions. His tongue could almost drip with Anais's juices and his own saliva combined, but he'd mostly be reapplying it to its original source via gentle, yet firm strokes that repeatedly ended right against the nub found higher in the crevice he explored.

Upon pointing out the lack of sense such things made to him, Charlemagne was confronted with a very familiar notion. Sakura ranked humans unfavorably against even animals ─ a step beyond something mentioned multiple times by Angelica. "Geez, at least she put us on the same level," he mumbled softly. The time of answering her properly would not come. In the following moments, Charlemagne would experience another shock... again... again. Where were they? Their positioning hadn't changed at all, but they were in... a white room? Had he successfully found the Nexus through this connection? Wait, who was this man? Why was he watching them? They were both so naked! "Uhh..." Charlemagne muttered nervously while trying to free himself from Sakura, only to fail and meet the elevated hand of the other male. It seemed his answers would come as well, but not before an exchange with Sakura.

"Ojii-sama?" was the man's first question. He seemed almost mockingly disappointed in the form of address Sakura chose for him, yet he was ever so quick to move on. Sakura hadn't met many of the so-called gods in this world, but she was willing to rely on her mother's wisdom. That was good. The Mother, the Death Goddess, and the God of the Trees? Laughable names, all of them. Upon hearing 'the other half of the Wisdom Goddess' however, there was a hiccup in his jovial demeanor. Ah, and it would only devolve further into a somewhat parental disappointment when she referred to some gods as... stupid ones. There was a sigh prior to any further speech. "Well you can't just go around batting a hundred all the time, right? Honestly though, I can't even blame them completely. Some things contribute, but... look, what I'm trying to say is every creature has its flaws. You'll see a lot of humans in the future. They'll shine so brightly, you'll find yourself almost blinded a lot of times. They still have their flaws and their ignorance to things that are common knowledge to you. The same could be said of gods. I'd like it to be the job of special people like you guys, the ones who fit between what you call gods and what you call humans, to bridge the gap a bit. Everybody's living in the same world, right? There's no need for separation when everybody could have an awesome time together. Nobody's got that right before now. Those kids ─ those 'gods' shouldn't be worshipped the way some of them want to be. They should be properly appreciated for the role they play, but there are way too many of them to take things to that level. That just makes cults. Cults aren't groovy."

[Apollymi]

The difference between magic and science was about understanding. Of course, Anais was the type of person who didn't understand magic as just magic, but she came from a world of science, it as easier for her to understand and develop by that method. Of course, she gave this man full access to her understanding of sound waves, light waves, and their influence on force specifically around herself. In exchange for that sort of thing, she received a repeated lashing of that tongue, up and down her crevice. It was something strange. Those muscles jumping in her legs and a gentle fluttering within her loins. It would almost seem as if pressure was building every time his tongue lashed against the apex of her sex. She understood it was quite a sensitive spot, one which seemed to blank her mind every time it was touched so directly. Ah... that explained quite a bit didn't it? This likely had something to do with why it was called the truth. Maybe, just maybe... Anais would be experiencing it soon. To be honest this mentor of hers, was doing a very good job. It was almost impossible to stay properly still, harder still to be quiet. Actually, she was moaning quite a bit as her teeth held her bottom lip. Why? Why did it feel so good?

Charles huffiness about Sakura's commentary seemed to make the lass look back towards him as if giving his words a bit of consideration. One of her fathers was a monkey, another was a phoenix. Both were at the pinnacle of things they did, she didn't see animals as innately lesser. Perhaps she should clarify. "I only meant the non-sentient kind, Chichiue and Papa are both animals and they understand already too..." she said, as if this would make one feel better. It probably wouldn't but her understanding of these sorts of things was a bit skewed. Moving on...

Sakura's chosen address for the man sitting in front of them didn't create the kind of response she would have expected. As such she found herself looking at the man a bit longer. How would she choose to address him then? "Ojii-chan?" she asked curiously. This man was definitely older than her, probably older than most everything, given his calling of the gods as 'children' he likely didn't like having his age confirmed. Her mother was like that a bit. It seemed that what this voice wanted, was for everyone to work together. To make up for the faults of each other and to be viewed with the proper amount of care and compassion. "Sou ka, Ojii-chan... I don't think anyone is upset about a lack of perfection. Figuring out how to get stuff right is the fun part... if one asks Kaa-sama. I understand what you mean by the words, but I don't really get it, things aren't separate here, not in that way. I am still figuring stuff out, but I'll try and be helpful," she offered. That was about the best Sakura could do. Now she understood completely that 'worship' was a potential problem. "Appreciation and worship could be used interchangeably by some, what is the difference that makes it not groovy?"

[Bloodedge]

As time passed in the room of Ailen, it seemed autumn was setting in. Leaves already reddened had become orange, while more and more green became red. Eventually, the reason for this change would be made clear. At least five rooms within Munetsuchi were linked to the individual they belonged to on a spiritual level. The room Anais currently offered her mana within was connected to Ailen. As his mana was affected by hers, the room became affected as well. Ah, but there were many details unspoken since the moment they entered. One such thing was the truth about Ailen's opening of the girl's mana circuits. He had only opened up the proper channels, but without use, they would close again. Anais wouldn't need to use them actively right away, though. Given the timing, achieving the orgasm she sought would benefit the girl threefold. She would gain the understanding she wanted, she would achieve the spark of wisdom, and beyond all that... she would simultaneously feel the rush of mana through those recently-opened circuits in one big, explosive moment. Ailen was waiting to see how she found the experience. Through his continued efforts, perhaps he would see soon enough. . .

Ah, so Sakura only meant humans were beneath the most common of beasts, not necessarily creatures of higher existence like... apparently two of her five fathers. Charlemagne's expression became devoid of emotion; only a mix of curiosity and silent judgment remained. "Only worse than wild boars and stuff then. Nice," he said blandly.

Moving on, the strange man was addressed in a slightly different manner. The change of an honorific still seemed a bit formal to him, but he could accept it with only slight reluctance. He seemed quite fond of this girl despite them never meeting one another; she could realistically call him whatever she liked. In the meantime, he'd be around for a bit to explain a few things she was obviously missing. For one, she said things weren't separate 'here', presumably meaning her homeland. "That's because your mother isn't like that. She didn't grow with the others, so she got the benefit of being around the mortal races. The others got themselves stuck in Celestia and never got it together. You know they started thinking the worship of mortals was how they became powerful? How'd it come to that?!" He was about to start a tangent of sorts, but managed to catch himself before going too far. There were more important matters to address, like the difference between appreciation and worship. Those things should never have become interchangeable anywhere. "They shouldn't be. Accept the 'gods' for what they really are: Creators. They only seem infallible to mortals because there's a thousand-meter gap between them. Your dad and I thought of a way to fix that for the next generation. Cups like that one inside you were made to create actual divine forces in the world ─ gods people can really believe in. Just look at Kazuhiko over there. When he shows divine abilities, there will be people who can say they've seen how he got there. That's the difference between appreciation and worship: proof of merit. This world doesn't need a bunch of gods; it needs people like him coming together to keep everybody in order. People like him need people like you. You figured as much by now, right? Is this who you're connecting yourself to for the long haul?"

[Apollymi]

This room's connection to Ailen's mana and thus the mana he was receiving was something very interesting indeed. Of course, Anais couldn't currently spare the brain power she had working to give it much consideration. No, right at the moment she was too busy experiencing a set of tinging sensations. Her flesh goosed, nipples peaked, and her arousal seemed to reach a certain maximum. With each lick of her loins something seemed to be building along with those sensations a pressure she couldn't rightly explain but then... like a thread, it snapped. That tingling sensation spread upwards towards her head and downwards towards her toes in a burst of mana which left her feeling energized and bristling. That little extra flood between her legs was something she'd not noticed. Something else she'd missed was the thickening of her thighs by virtue of those circuits finally working the way they should. it was such an overwhelming feeling. Her brain, her body, her mana... all of it seemed to be in sync for just one moment. All of the things she'd learned, had crystalized in her mind, all of the things that had happened negatively seemed to melt away and the feeling in her legs was astounding. "Aah♥!~ Shishou?!" she seemed to be sitting up just a bit. All the clarity in the world seemed to have sparked in her brain in the moment. "Ah..a-Am I alive?" she asked that first and foremost, slightly timidly. That kind of feeling seemed like the sort of thing that should kill you.

Just the same, Charles didn't seem to appreciate the connection made by Sakura between humans and less sentient creatures. His response didn't make a great deal of sense. Sakura found herself studying his face, it seemed to be quite apathetic considering his words. "Huh? Your face and your words don't match up..." she commented as if it was a simple matter of curiosity. Well, something like sarcasm would be mostly lost upon this girl initially. What wouldn't be lost though, was the conversation she was having with this man in the white room. He had quite a lot to say about quite a few things. He seemed to dislike the idea that Celestials were busy conflating worship and appreciation, and didn't have any idea where they'd come to the conclusion that worship made them powerful. Sakura gave it some consideration. To be fair to Celestials, if they only had a bit of information to go on, it would likely be that the gods that had temples could move about as they pleased. It would be simple to conclude that having followers made one stronger if that was the case. "Tou-chan would call it 'Congeniality Bias' the wider group saw that a group was more powerful and that they had temples and came to assume that more powerful gods were being worshipped. Thus making worship seem like the thing to seek," she said as if this was the most logical conclusion to come to. Ah, but there was more. Apparently the problems of human conviction and their understanding of gods, was rooted in the disparity of power. This man and her father had come up with a way to fix that, the Chalices. Which let her know which father he was mentioning. "Otou-sama and you..." she murmured. And there was still more, someone like Charles was mentioned as a person who had won over others by merit instead of just by being an existence. "Sou ka, Kazuhiko is a much better name..." she said smiling about it. As for her choice and being attached to the lad she also gave it consideration. "I said I'd help him do what he wanted and I intend to do that. The people he came with... seem to really believe in him... and I find that interesting so I understand 'merit' in this case," she mused. Sakura was a strange one, she figured she could still break herself away from Charles if need be, he still didn't seem like he was interested in being permanently attached to her in anyway. And she wouldn't truly understand the reason for that... for quite some time.

[Bloodedge]

Virgins were such interesting creatures. It took little effort on Ailen's part to produce the desired results for his apprentice. Once said results were achieved however, the effects began showing immediately. The quality of Anais's mana became sweeter still; its flow was surely in order. If he needed more proof than that which poured directly onto his tongue, there was always the feeling of her thighs closing in on his head. That wouldn't have been an unexpected thing, but... it wasn't happening. No, the truth was that her thighs had enlarged. If nothing else, at least her bottom half's lack of development was simply the fault of ineffective mana flow. "Hmm~?" he mumbled curiously. Only one additional lap was allowed to consume additional mana, as Anais's shifting body put her loins just out of his existing reach. One could assume she was done. Though... asking if she was alive may have been a strange occurrence. "I would assume more 'alive' than you were before. You became even sweeter to taste in those last few moments. Do you feel otherwise? It wasn't my intention to displease," he said, assuming the potential for her question to be something negative.

Meanwhile, Sakura was failing to understand basic sarcasm, much to Charlemagne's disappointment. What was even the point if she didn't get what he really meant? "Uh... just forget it," he said. Besides, there were much more concerning things happening. He was definitely linked by the groin to a girl he'd just met, and now there was some seemingly divine entity watching them... being naked and fornicating! Obviously, that was only an issue to him, albeit less of one than it should have been. Strange. . .

Sakura's assumptions about the gods and their development was a clever one. Sadly, it wasn't quite right. "That's a good effort. I can't blame you for thinking that, but it's not all there. Divine power comes from dominion over concepts. The Great Spirits dictated that a long, long time ago. The more you fill your role, the stronger you are. Think of your mother. She's governing Arcane Wisdom. As long as she keeps doing that, and the more people know it's her domain, she'll keep getting stronger and stronger. They just... went completely in the wrong direction. Take my advice, will you? In the future, don't use fear to strengthen yourself. Your dominion should naturally be over something you embody, so just... have some fun, yeah?" he said. Strangely, he seemed to have knowledge. When he spoke to Sakura, he did so as if he knew she would become a goddess capable of standing on her own. In fact, he did. He also knew a great deal more about Sakura, and Charlemagne as well. While the latter seemed taken aback by his original name and Sakura's strange acceptance of it, the white-haired man received his answer... almost. "Good on you, understanding what I meant about merit. You didn't tell me the important stuff though. What do you want? I see you two with your journey ahead, saving people and righting wrongs. What then? Your compatibility is high, and you're both here in the Nexus. I've only ever had people come here solo or as a connected pair. You're pretty 'connected' now. Is it permanent?"

[Apollymi]

Anais was certain this particular interaction was one which pinned her soul straight to the depths of slut hell. The only thing that may have been worse, was the potential for her mentor to have felt that he might not have done a good enough job. Her face, had already reddened, given the mention of sweetness and liveliness. She couldn't have helped the way she reacted even if she tried. That final lap at her loins might have stunned her brain extra considering the way she finished. Even so, it was confirmed that she was alive. "I thought I might have died for a second there... that feeling might be too good. I really don't understand how anyone gets anything done when you could just feel like that..." she said, seeming to think about it a bit more. "I mean... Shishou, it was great and you definitely didn't displease or anything like that..." she said quickly. "I feel amazing. I could think really clearly for a moment there, and my body felt really light and tingly. It was like ASMR but like full body," she rambled just a little with a light twitch in her thighs as she considered what more could feel like. Now she as just trying to keep herself from being embarrassed and thinking too much about that great feeling, but... her mentor's face was still relatively close to her thighs, and she was now looking down at him and that was an interesting visual. One which also reddened her face, what was she supposed to do with that. How would one ever be enough.

Ah at the same time, Charles didn't seem to like whatever it was Sakura didn't get about the difference between his words and his expression. Hm, maybe this was another one of those strange joking or emotional states that she didn't get. She'd have to observe more and see if it made sense in a different context.

Speaking of observations it seemed her assertion about the gods and their problematic natures was close, but not as close as she would have liked. According to the man sitting in front of them, divinities gained power by doing their jobs. Having control over concepts and fulfilling the roles dictated by them. Her own mother was used as an example of this, Goddess of Arcane Wisdom was known as such throughout the land. This made her more powerful than someone not completing their roles. She was asked to take his advice, to not use fear, but instead just act within her dominion and have fun. "Sou ka... that clears it up a bit. I understand. I can agree to your advice, I'll just have fun with whatever concept I end up embodying," she mentioned as if it was pretty reasonable. She could easily say she was simply doing what she wanted most of the time, and as such she seemed about as relaxed as she could. Still, as calm as she seemed this man seemed content to further question her. Rather, he claimed she didn't answer his question, which was true, and asked her what she wanted. "Oh? You know that is a bit complicated as a question to ask right, Ojii-chan?" she asked almost rhetorically. Still, she had no reason to avoid answering him really, that same alien emptiness was present in her eyes, even with their current reddened color. Still she gave it a bit of thought, he was obviously clairvoyant and saw some of their journey if not all of it before now. Asking Sakura what she wanted, seemed strange, considering she'd already pretty much agreed to letting Charles be the one to decide how deeply they'd end up connected. She hadn't considered before this moment that what she wanted might have mattered. She acted of her own accord for the most part, and generally went with whatever she felt the strongest in the moment. Her curiosity led her to investigating Charles in the first place, she liked watching him... and she wanted to see. Not specifically just him, but what other people saw in him and what he saw in other people. Such things weren't the type of things that could be observed in singular instances, and even if she broke their connection so that he could remarry his goddess, she probably wouldn't want to be separated before she got to know the other girl. She'd only known him this day, but her curiosity was piqued, given what she'd observed already. "If that choice was mine, it would be permanent. It's what I want," she concluded.

[Bloodedge]

Apparently, Anais believed she died because everything felt too good. Ah, that clarified things a bit. Ailen could mentally heave a sigh of relief; disappointing his apprentice on the first day would have been devastating. So long as she wasn't displeased, he could be satisfied. His face was still fairly damp, so a few moments were taken to clean up the residue. Of course he wouldn't be wasting it, choosing instead to drink it like the rest. While doing so, he mulled over Anais's understanding of what happened. "I'm pleased you enjoyed the experience. It is my hope that any enlightenment and experience you've gained will serve you well in the future. Also..." He paused there, completing the process of clearing his face. "ASMR. What was it... autonomous sensory meridian response? Such a strange study, but I came to understand it somewhat from the knowledge I received from you. Your powers are truly magical in nature, but you apply them with a scientific approach. The potential for such a thing is unlimited with magic's ability to function by imagination alone. I will be thinking about it for quite some time to come. When I next have my own spark of wisdom, I may have some wonderful advice to give based on my own life experiences. It is certainly worth much consideration," he mused.

Meanwhile, the unidentified man was asking some very strange things. Charlemagne heard a fair amount about this world's gods and their bad approaches to holding their positions, and then... everything became a little weird. He gave Sakura some advice, then asked if her connection to Charlemagne would be a permanent one. Using context clues, the lad figured he didn't mean their physical link. No. No, he didn't. The connection he spoke of sounded more like marriage the way Angelica and her father would speak of it. Stranger still, Sakura's contemplation led to her deciding she wanted permanence. How was that a thing to say? They'd only just met. Either way, it seemed Charlemagne's opinion was irrelevant. By the time he opened his mouth, the other male was already speaking. "Well, you heard the girl! You two are basically married now," he said. "I─wha─huh?! Hang on, I'm already married!" Charlemagne rebutted. Oh no, there couldn't be any of that. "Yeah yeah, already married even though you're not married right now. Look, I don't like to do this, but... hurry it up, yeah? You're basically my son now. You preside over Order. I already know you like the idea. Deep down, you want this even though you still want the other one. I'm gonna intervene just this once and tell you there's no fairy tale ending. My advice was for both of you. You can only accept what's in front of you. You can only take what's in front of you. You can only do anything about what's right in front of you. That'll make more sense later... but just follow along for me, alright? Besides, you're not the type who will leave a pregnant girl by herself to deal with your kid."

Once those final words were spoken, Charlemagne stopped... everything. He stopped thinking, he stopped breathing ─ even his heartbeat stopped for a moment. What? Did that happen? He was under the impression that goddess types couldn't even do that unless they wanted to! "A... A what now?!"

[Apollymi]

Anais wouldn't know it, but her mentor had been quite worried about giving her a bad experience. In the meantime, Anais didn't know if it was possible for this man to disappoint her or anyone else at all. In truth, she was quite sure he wasn't displeasing in the least but a different problem might appear some time in the future. Well... that was a thought for a different time. "Hai, I'll make sure to put it to good use..." she mused about her experience. Of course, she hadn't yet realized that she had received experience for her, minor sexual encounter, but that was something for her to think of later. Right now... Ailen was speaking on ASMR? She looked at him with a raised brow as he explained it's definition and his understanding of it. Anais was shocked, she wasn't sure that information would make any real sense to anyone besides herself and maybe a few others who came from where she did. "Oh? Does magic truly work by pure imagination? it's odd, ASMR is one of those weird things, that technically can't be scientifically proven because not enough people have the same experience... it isn't something easily quantified because emotional responses to audio and visual stimuli can't be accurately measured. Anything you come up with about it, would be interesting and likely helpful so I'll look forward to it. I'll also consider more imaginative uses for my magic... I hadn't considered that there was no real cap on what it was capable of," she mused. All the while her eyes were drawn to this man cleaning his face. Oh? This was going to be another of those things she needed to avoid lest, she have one of those throbbing feelings occur at the center of her thighs. Ah... this is why sex was sinful wasn't it? Once you did it, once you fully understood it... it just plagued you forever. No matter, she'd do something else, like look around the room taking in the change to the look and atmosphere with a huge smile spreading across her face. "Woah? I love autumn... I wonder why it changed," she mused. Was it set to a specific timing? Or was it mana controlled? Or was it something else entirely?

Sakura spent a long time in contemplation to come to her conclusion. This man's answer afterwards, gave her the realization that he did indeed say what he said simply to be invasive. Well, it wasn't as if she was unused to adults asserting themselves into the situation of her life. Several of the adults in her life had done something similar just a few hours prior to this when she'd dragged this lad home. Charles immediate response was that he was already married which was something Sakura had come to expect. In truth, this exact line of thinking was something which she aimed to avoid for the most part. This lad had an overt focus on his ideals and while she didn't understand them she wasn't the type to impose herself where she was unwanted. Strangely, the lad himself hadn't said he didn't want her, it was as if he was content to make everything so much more complicated than it needed to be, even while having obvious examples of how it could work out, being paraded before his very eyes. Whatever the case, the words of this man were rather ominous, as he claimed they were basically married, Sakura had been avoiding telling him that information given how distraught he seemed to be about what a marriage was versus how he perceived it. There was important information to be taken in though, like the fact that Charles presided over Order as a concept. "Huh? Of all the things said to you... the creation of children causes you that much pause?" was Sakura's question. She had a look of pure curiosity on her face, not that she confirmed or denied a pregnancy, their marriage or anything like that.

[Bloodedge]

"I expect nothing less," Ailen said regarding Anais's use of knowledge. She'd surely do something excellent with it, even if excellence was determined only in terms of leisure quality. It didn't matter what she chose, though. Knowledge utilized could never be considered wasted in Ailen's opinion. Speaking of used knowledge, there was this strange ASMR phenomenon he learned of from Anais. She explained it in greater detail, delving into how it affected all people differently and had not been properly explained by science as a result. Ailen already had some insight on that. "That makes sense. From what I see, the studies you speak of make no mention of the spirit. Remember that all mana flows differently. Texture, density, affinity, circuit patterns, and so on. There are far too many aspects for any two people to share the exact same mana signature. Say this ASMR thing affects the soul by interacting with the body's senses. Surely that would explain the different effects, no? If we think about it this way, I'm sure we can reach several easy conclusions about how it can be better utilized," he explained. In a matter of moments, Anais was commenting on the room and its autumn-like visuals which recently appeared. That was an easy explanation. "It changed because of you. More specifically, because I've been metabolizing your mana since we entered. Each member of the Myouou has a room connected to our primary Spiritual Core. As we change, so too does our room. Your mana is most attuned to this season, so assimilating with it produces this effect here."

In another realm, the strangest discussion continued. Charlemagne obviously heard what was said. He obviously knew what was meant. He had to be one of the humans with this issue, didn't he? "A pregnant girl! You know... one with a baby in progress? A bun in the oven? You mixed up the Bisquick, now there's pancake batter on the griddle? You're not gonna go skipping breakfast; it's the most important meal of the day," the man explained. As for why the alleged pregnancy was the biggest deal for him, Charlemagne could only stammer for a moment. Eventually, something coherent would emerge. "Well yeah?! Why wouldn't that be the biggest deal?! I don't even know what the Power of Order or whatever is, nor do I know why you basically just said we could be married! Now there's a baby out of nowhere!" he babbled. With a sigh, the other male spoke again. "See? That's why I decided to skip the middle this time. Anyway, you two already know you've got to stick together. Now you both know it can be permanent. Kazuhiko, before you ask... yes, that counted as a confession. I know it, she knows it, you know it. So, questions? It's not often you get to have an audience with a god among gods, you know? Take advantage."

[Apollymi]

According to Ailen he expected nothing less than Anais putting her new knowledge to good use. She of course, felt the tiniest tinge of pride. It was nice to have her mentor believe in her, no matter the context. Moving on from that point, there was quite a bit to be said about ASMR and its probable links to this world. According to Ailen none of the studies he saw referenced the spirit. Of course they didn't, they came from a world that didn't know magic. So... perhaps ASMR affected the spirit instead of physical loci directly? Mana was a different sort of medium to things more easily measured, like general matter. Anais's eyes widened and seemed to shine with a vibrant and excited light. She could always feel that sensation in certain instances, but she also knew she could hear pitch perfect tunes and had an emotional attachment to music. In this world, her mana and was reactive to sounds and created both light and sound as a matter of her connection to the White Hart. "Oh?! That is great! Shishou there are so many potential ways for me to use that now... not just for searching or protection but for attacks and counters and passive defense!" She was very excited and her mind had started moving quite fast. But there was still something else, her gentle wondering about the room had gotten her an interesting response and a term she knew, strangely not just from what was within her head. "Myouou? Hm, that's a pretty sensible term for the harem of the Wisdom Goddess. It seems to have a few implications..." she mused seeming to give consideration to possibilities of a group sharing a set of titles where all had a specialized field of expertise. Ah, she could put that aside for now, this place looking like what her mana was attuned to because he was he was metabolizing her mana was interesting as a thought. "Hm, I would have thought I just liked autumn now I am wondering which came first... do I like it because it is part of my spirit? Or is it part of my spirit because I like it?" The druids had a way of addressing such philosophical questions, and she'd know it already if she'd been raised in the forest.

There were many things being said in this white room, that Sakura didn't really understand. Rather it should be said that she didn't have the base knowledge to understand all of this man's references and inside jokes. "I don't know what Bisquick or pancakes are..." she mused seeming to find the reference strange but extrapolating what was being discussed by the other uses of pregnancy in the mix. Of course, Charles went on to explain why he thought the bit about the baby was so important and this again prompted curiosity from Sakura, she turned to look at the lad again with those almost deadpan eyes seemingly confused. "The baby came from the sex. I thought that part was as clear as something could be... Kaa-sama is going to explode when she finds out that non-children don't know how babies are made..." she said seeming to be quite literal in her understanding of things. She also managed not to answer the question of why she was fine with permanence, maybe she would be called on that?He definitely wasn't putting in favor in the idea that human and those raised by them, where somehow lower than animals. What was more, apparently this man decided that he simply wished to speed along the process of Charles and Sakura potentially being a couple, but cutting out some of the obvious misunderstandings created by Charles hang-ups and ignorance. He even went on to point out that Charles own words counted as a confession, Sakura remembered finding it odd, but she was willing to give him time to take it back. Between that moment and their shared dream... she knew she should remain near him, at least until he got to his goddess. As for the questions, it seemed that he was taking a few because he was a god among gods, "Kaa-sama gave us a lecture about the three kinds of souls that existed before... but she didn't go into detail about Great Spirits nor what they are now. I want to know that... Also did you see the thing I made, what do you think about it?" she asked with the first hint of excitement in her eyes.

[Bloodedge]

Anais considered the logic he offered. He had no concrete evidence, thinking purely in speculation, but it seemed the most reasonable explanation based on how a lack of spiritual knowledge usually impacted mortal understanding. She claimed this was great, that she saw great potential in the development. Ah, the spark of wisdom was perhaps paying dividends. "Oh? You seem to be moving more quickly than me. Good. I was wondering how much it would affect you," he mused with a hand held under his chin. When Anais spoke of the title he gave himself and four others, she seemed to reach a conclusion about why they were called such. "If I'm in-tune with you as I think I am, I'll say you're right. The Go Myouou are the foremost holders of wisdom in Munetsuchi beneath the goddess herself. I am known as the Fusei Myouou," he mentioned. Moving on to the room they were in, Anais had a curiosity that linked back to her druidic origins. Being of similar origins himself, Ailen immediately recalled the old teachings. "Do you choose the path you tread upon, or does it choose you? The answer is the Truth, an understanding of reality itself. I remember teaching Sakura that one. It's something you would have eventually been tested on, in one of the forests."

Sakura didn't know what Bisquick and pancakes were. One of those was no surprise, and the other could simply be explained by a lack of travel. "You'll see pancakes one day. Bisquick is a Gaia thing you'll probably never see on Alaya," the man declared. Meanwhile, Charlemagne was halfway to losing his mind. Why was there a baby? According to Sakura, it came from the sex. Well, he wasn't that much of an idiot! "Of course it came from that! I'm not a moron! I thought you were able to choose whether that happened or something! Why can a human just randomly impregnate a goddess?!" he wondered. "I'm gonna stop you right there. You stopped being completely human a long time ago. Once you drank the grail, you became equivalent to a 'god'," the older male clarified. More clarification would need to be given, this time to Sakura about the 'three' souls. The way she spoke was already wrong; there were only three in the oldest times he could remember. "Four. The Great Spirits are beyond time, space and even everything we understand. Next came the Gods of Creation and the Gods of Destruction. When it was just us, we viewed the Great Spirits as gods. Between Creators and Destroyers, we made the original humans: Heroes. You two are among the closest to what they once were."

While he spoke, the man used both of his forefingers and thumbs to create the image of a triangle. From that triangle came a magical materialization whose top point was silver, while the bottom two points were one black and one white. A golden sphere appeared in the triangle's center before his explanation continued. "Here's the beauty of Heroes, and still the potential of humankind: they're right in the middle of the first three. They could go from the center into any direction they want, or even spread out in multiple directions. Isn't that awesome?" he asked rhetorically. Ah, and there was one more important thing. Sakura mentioned a thing she'd made, wondering what he thought about it. The moment she brought that up, he seemed quite excited. "Are you kidding me? You made the Void version of a Holy Grail all by yourself! When I see that dad of yours again, the first thing I'm bringing up is how he needed my help to do something you managed with an idea and an evil spirit! That thing was bad ass!" he rambled, calming just moments after. "Careful, though. You'll be fine with that spirit, but it's a ticking timebomb for your friend there. He's too much Void for a god that isn't finished yet. If he sits with that imbalance for too long, he'll end up just like the one before him... or worse."

[Apollymi]

Anais was experiencing an increase in her own brain function. "I feel like I am thinking pretty quickly... I am also pretty relaxed, so I figure it has some pretty good benefits..." she mused. Ah, but there was more, she found herself watching her mentors mannerisms and enjoying it for reasons that had nothing to do with her own scholarly fascination. Of course, she could mostly ignore it, but that'd become quite difficult if she spent too much time looking towards him. Still, his use of a title which seemed to encompass him, gave light to a specific idea. Mostly, what he presided over as a husband of Miwa. "Nature... huh? I could see that, given the amount of nature based information I have in my head after that first bit... that makes a decent amount of sense. Also the theme here..." she said swirling her fingers around. Actually, if she had to think about it more, she could say it was the case, that the Goddess of Arcane Wisdom was making up for the missing assets in her understanding by taking husbands who had the missing information. It was at least sensible as an idea. Beside that, according to Ailen the question she'd posed was a philosophical one posed by druids to their young. It's teaching seemed to encompass the Truth and the reality of the world. "Hm, that is worth some consideration," she said seemingly comfortable. She was technically much more comfortable sitting around naked in this man's presence than her mind would have let her be even a few hours ago. Perhaps, this was a part of that spark of wisdom, or perhaps it was something else entirely. Regardless they'd have to move about eventually, but she'd wait around on it not sure how her legs would react to sudden movements.

Moving on, Sakura was in the white room with Charles, gaining an education on strange things. Like Gaia, Alaya and Bisquick. Apparently the lass might eventually find out what pancakes were, but before she'd ever think about that very hard, there was the matter of Charles's reaction. Apparently, he didn't think himself capable of making a baby with her, and was given the idea that a goddess would be able to choose. It was close to the truth but not the entirety of it, but it seemed that the man within had the right answer. "Sou ka, so you can't sense yourself... or rather you have no idea what you're actually capable of," she said softly. How could someone have others have so much faith in them, without having any within themselves. it was the strangest problem she'd ever seen. Regardless, her other questions were being answered as well. The return of Heroes through humankind was part of this venture, and they were the golden light between the triangle of the other kinds of beings. That gave her a bit of context to work with, and let her know that her mother had basically created her as a creator leaning Hero. "That makes sense... I like it." she explained of the thing she was seeing.

Then there was the big deal, and in it, Sakura got to see pure excitement from another Creator. This was something she looked forward to... she was told her creation was badass. She was praised for her ingenuity and ability which made her eyes sparkle with happiness. "Waaa... best reaction. Ojii-chan's cool!~" she mused seemingly pleased by the entirety of the situation. It was good for her to find out her father hadn't managed it on his own, and happier still was she to find out it was impressive. Ah, but there was something else, she had to be careful with it, Charles was a bit less balanced than he should be and could turn out badly with too much exposure to the sort of evil she'd trapped in it. "Hai, I'll be careful.. I did realize that already... but tipping the scales requires another piece, right?" she asked giving a playful wink. Admittedly, she'd gone on to interpret that dream they shared within a few moments of realizing what or rather who all the pieces aligned to. She still wasn't clear on what to do about the big pillar, but she knew what was needed to make Charles as whole as he could be.

[Bloodedge]

Relaxed body, busy mind and smooth-flowing mana were the ideal signs of wisdom's spark. Anais claiming she felt those things informed Ailen of a successful climb up the proverbial mountain of knowledge. Now that she knew this feeling, she could take flight. "You're developing quickly. I had high hopes, and you are far from disappointing me," he commented. With that said, Ailen finally stood. Anais's clothes were neatly placed right next to the bed, and his own were left just as askew as they'd been in the workshop. Why had he done nothing about his own state? Well, there was no point. Had he been dealing with someone else, this would only have been the beginning of the day and session. Still contemplative in posture, Ailen took note of the girl's lack of a druidic journey. "Hmm. As your mentor, I could easily guide you along the path as well; it would be no issue. I also have the start of some ideas about your abilities, though I'm afraid I can only complete them once my own mind has been opened. With that being the case, I can only be fully useful to your development later. The forests' teachings, however, can be given at any time," he said. Of course, he knew there were ways of solving all of those problems quickly. He also knew Anais had been experiencing a strange overload of emotions since their first moments, so he wouldn't be making any pushes to speak of.

Of course Charlemagne had no idea what he was capable of! He'd only just been told he was some sort of god as of the last few minutes. How was he supposed to know what that entailed? What the hell was the Power of Order?! "Am I even supposed to know what I'm capable of? I apparently just became something I didn't even know still existed until yesterday!" he exclaimed. Again, the other male chimed in. "What's the fun in knowing what you're capable of? Get out there and find out for yourself; that's how you make it exciting," he said. Upon hearing Sakura, he chuckled. She understood how things would end here, even if Charlemagne was none the wiser. "You get it. The other one will get it too."

Ah, there were a few oter bits of information still missing. He'd brought these two here for multiple reasons, not the least of which was pointing them in the right direction. "Oh, by the way... That study earlier was a good idea. If it'll help everything along, I'll be God. There aren't any Gods of Creation around who can get it right on their own, so I guess it's my turn to step back in. Besides all that, I'm putting a new thing in the world: the Champion Type. Sounds good, right? Champion of the Labyrinth, Champion Type? I think it's pretty radical."

[Apollymi]

Ailen wasn't disappointed in his apprentice and in exchange his apprentice wasn't disappointed in him either. In fact, one could say Anais was far too pleased by her mentor, still she managed to be a little bit sheepish about the apparent greatness of her developments. "Well, I'm glad you're not disappointed," she mused gently. She couldn't really help that sort of reaction. She was still a bit modest, but maybe she'd grow out of that... but not too soon. No right now she was looking at a collection of her clothes neatly arranged at the end of the bed. She slid closer to the edge considering redressing. While doing this she found a bag attached to one of her belts. She reached into it pulling out a different pair of underwear. She looked at them and frowned... 'Janessa doesn't get to pack my emergency bag ever again...' she thought as she looked at a pair of underwear which were barely underwear. They were mostly lace but at least in the same style that she usually wore and black in color. "If you think it will be helpful I wouldn't mind learning it. I also think you are plenty useful to my development already, though if a spark of wisdom would be helpful I don't mind helping with that either," she confirmed happily. Well, that might have been a bit too honest. Of course, she had no issue with the idea of helping him gain the spark of wisdom, but that seemed like a bit of a slippery slope for her, considering what was going on with her already. She switched out the robe she'd been wearing for a hooded cloak in more neutral color, she was quite done with looking and dressing like a Templar.

According to Charles he'd only even become something other than a human a single day prior to this one. Still, it was a bit odd he wasn't more motivated to test his own limits but perhaps that was simply his nature. Of course, the girl in this situation seemed to think it was a bit different whatever the case, it seemed like it would be interesting to watch develop. Beyond that the man within the white box seemed to think Sakura understood what was going on, which only confirmed her thoughts about everything else. "Kaa-sama could likely give you a general understanding in the magical sense... though I find it strange that you didn't realize your own ascension it probably says a lot about you, that you didn't," she said seeming to have settled her curiosities just a bit. Beyond this there was a different matter, which happened to be the creation of something like a type called Champion. "Oh? That does sound pretty cool~" said Sakura about type of Champion. Apparently Charles had done some interesting things in his life, even if he did seem pretty timid for a person.

[Bloodedge]

Now that they were done, Anais shifted to the bed's edge where her things could be found. She reached for a bag, which Ailen recognized as a magical Item Box that had become quite popular in recent times. That had to cost a fair amount. Regardless, she took from the pouch a new pair of undergarments that looked quite different compared to what she was wearing before. Ailen bent at the waist, viewing the new article very closely for a more thorough inspection. "Hmm? Interesting. This piece is very different. Is it for show? I've seen something like this worn in place of trousers or a dress," he said. As for the matter of developing Anais's power, she claimed herself willing to aide him in achieving wisdom's spark once more. His gaze had been focused on those undergarments, but soon shifted to the girl's face. That was somewhat unexpected. "Is that so? It would be in bad taste of me to request something so selfish when it is I who serves your needs. If you were so willing, though, I'm sure I can come up with another lecture to offer in the meantime. Perhaps the druidic teachings?"

According to Sakura, her mother could offer some insight to the young man. Surely her way of explaining things would be a bit more... human idiot-friendly than her daughter's methods. Charlemagne had so much information to unpack. He almost felt as if his head could explode at any minute. Alaya? Was that the name of this planet? What was the Power of Order? How could he just show up one day and marry a queen/goddess's daughter? Why didn't he have an issue with that last thing? "Yes, you'll find out, easily, and because you're compatible," the strange man said. Charlemagne paused once more. Was that man capable of reading his mind? "Yes," was the answer. "Oh, and you get an upgrade. Class Up: Paladin! Yeah, I think that sounds pretty cool," the man said further as another light encompassed Charlemagne. "Welcome to the cool kids' club. Charlemagne, the King of Faith. Tohsaka Sakura, Queen of Passion. That one might not be my title to give, but... maybe it is? Whatever. You'll all be a bit different to those who came before," he continued, a particular glance being sent Sakura's way as he spoke. "So, what do we think? Those titles good enough? I probably won't be able to do this so directly for a while, so you'll only see me like this once more... in the near future. That'll be a special occasion. Think carefully, and ask any remaining questions you've got now."

[Apollymi]

Anais had been a bit distracted. In her own mind she was cursing the existence of Aincrad's Executioner. Instead of getting to do that, Anais was soon confronted with her mentor being bent over once more and giving a vigorous amount of study to those new panties she now had in her hands. Her face reddened immediately. She wasn't expecting this much interest, but given what the goddess of this country wore, she doubted anyone had seen such things before. "For show? No... well, yes... well..." she murmured with her gaze shifting away. "It's a bit complicated. Underwear come in a lot of different styles and materials so you can match them according to your needs. I wouldn't have picked these but Ness packed my bag most recently so she probably thought they were cute. I haven't worn any like these, but they're still my size in a cut I like so it shouldn't be unappealing. It is pretty common to choose them based on visual appeal and for people to show them off in intimate settings, or to like tease someone they're interested in or to surprise them with them... I am certain there are more reasons than that with recent experiences taken into account," she sped through the conversation quickly while suddenly becoming timid again. Most of that information and understanding came from ecchi scenes in light novels and anime, but she was certain they had roots in reality. This was an amount of scrutiny of her undergarments she wasn't expecting. Janessa had definitely done something terrible, or great depending on how they were received. This was beyond embarrassing, but also opened some strange doors for Anais to consider walking through, her blushing face aside. 'Janessa, why would you do this?' she questioned. But given her mentor's interest, it probably wasn't a bad thing. 'He could definitely peel those off, with his teeth!~' where did that invasive and slutty thought come from? Ignoring the fact that she'd recently claimed to help him with his next spark of wisdom... that idea didn't actually seem too far off the mark. Moving on from the talks of panties he claimed he would be in bad taste to ask for such a thing, but also noted that if she was willing he'd give the lecture on druidic teachings while he aimed for wisdom once more. "I don't think it'd be selfish. I am certain it's still more to my benefit than anything else. And I am interested in the druidic teachings so I'd be fine if that were my next lesson..." she managed. Though she'd been inclined to put her clothes back on, it seemed like it may be something she should wait on for a moment or two.

Within the white room, it was obvious that Charles had many questions and most of them were concerned with his current life and state of being. It would appear by this moment that this man in the room was capable of reading minds, but it was also possible he was just capable of reading Charles. Soon though, Sakura was given a title she didn't have before, Queen of Passion? "Hm? That can mean a lot of things... if you weren't the one who was supposed to give it to me, will I be meeting someone else?" she seemed mildly interested. The comment about them being different was heard by Sakura and she made eye contact with the man and understood what he was getting at. It was obvious by his earlier speeches that the norm was not going to be normal for them but that was fine. "Champion, Paladin, King of Faith..." Sakura seemed to be thinking those over, she liked them... that was all. "I don't think I have any more questions..." she mused, ah, and now was about the time, she stretched and pushed forward unsheathing Charles in the process and coming to stand beside him instead. Naked as the day she was born with absolutely no shame.

[Bloodedge]

They weren't for show. They were for show. Which was it? It was... complicated. Anais explained that undergarments came in a variety of forms, which people used for a variety of purposes. These in particular were planted in her storage by a companion, yet they were not the sort Anais would normally choose to wear. What strange friends she had. "I see. Well, fear not. Compared to what you had before, I think these might suit you well and make a powerful statement. This one has a great deal of personality. I don't see any physical or magical benefits, but it would be an impressive fashion statement. Though I believe you are the type who could pull off a great many things," he admitted, looking no less contemplative than he'd been before. Now that everything had been presumably cleared-up, Ailen erected his posture again. It seemed he'd be experiencing the spark of wisdom a second time today. Well, it was originally meant to be his day with the goddess, so he'd already accounted for multiple mental stimulants. Receiving a couple from his new apprentice would only strengthen their connection more, which he considered highly important. "I'm afraid we must disagree. Though I can offer you valuable knowledge, at its core, it remains an exchange meant to cover my current lack of acuity. You are the student; you shouldn't be required to make up for my shortcomings. I will make a stronger effort in future. Sumanai."

In truth, Sakura had opened a door no mortal could have ever conceptualized alone. Once upon a time, King Solomon had communed with the Nexus to speak with this man, and from their meeting came the Holy Grail and its related system in the world. By creating the Dark Grail, Sakura effectively allowed the opposite to be possible. "Maybe you will. If they aren't too busy, or if she's as clever as she's always been... I'm sure you'll get there," he said affirmatively.

Names and explanations had been given. Sakura removed herself from Charlemagne's groin while the latter tried to keep his mind from melting. If nothing else, having his rod exposed before some random stranger had him covering up with both hands... as he should have. "Oh. Right. Can't have that, can we? With a busy future like yours, you're gonna need the right equipment. Have fun~" What this man said would not be explained. Instead, he'd send the pair back to the Zen Pavilion. What had he been talking about, though? Well... perhaps it had something to do with the opening of Charlemagne's mana pathways, particularly around the groin to physically turn him into the divine being he was becoming spiritually. He'd definitely be needing that in the future. . .

[Apollymi]

Anais made her way through a rather embarrassing explanation of undergarments, and in exchange she got... a rather smooth and affirming reply. Ailen claimed to understand what she was getting and thought that she'd look nice in the undergarments chosen for her. He apparently had faith in her to pull off many things, including those particular articles of clothing. Whether or not she'd use them to make a statement, Anais felt oddly confident after hearing a statement like that. She wondered if her mentor knew what it meant to be so encouraging. He seemed to say such things more often than not, but maybe she just had a strange amount of reaction to it. "Shishou... arigatougouzaimasu..." she murmured with a blush present on her face and still a tiny timid. Whatever the case, there was the matter of the impending spark of wisdom that Anais would offer the man as part of their continued growth together as mentor and apprentice. But their first disagreement would be taking place at this point. He seemed to find this necessity some sort of shortcoming or rather faililng on his part as her mentor even with the offer of knowledge on the table. "Well, if you're really sure you feel that way about it, I won't argue. I still don't think you should be so hard on yourself but, gambareyo!" she said offering him luck in his aim to become the type of mentor he wished to be. She wouldn't fault him for wanting to better himself in the role he aimed to play, she did much the same and thus she understood that he was holding himself to a higher standard. Even so... she'd been given quite a bit of permission to use this man as she wished, and decide in the moment it was a good time to strike... So strike she did. A much less tentative lick to the tip of his member followed her encouraging words. She'd carry on while sitting towards the edge of his bed, which was oddly comfortable, but still allowed her a great deal of freedom. Having placed her items down beside her, she let her tongue swirl gently where it made contact before allowing the man to find a decent portion of his manhood within the warmth of her mouth and being treated once more to a gentle caress of her hand.

According to the man within the Nexus, Sakura might be meeting someone in the future. Someone who was clever, and apparently a bit busy but connected to the Void. How interesting. That sort of thing definitely counted as 'Forbidden Knowledge' she wondered then if her father would be proud of her. "Hai, I'll look forward to it~" she mused seemingly pleased. Ah, and after separating herself from Charles they were bid farewell, but not without some strangeness occurring. Apparently, Charles' divine form didn't come with the kind of appendage that this god thought was necessary. Of course, Sakura realized this but had achieved the spark of wisdom regardless and thus decided it was likely something that would grow or change with time. But no... she found herself looking towards the lad with the same amount of interest she seemed to have always. They were told to have fun, but she wondered if Charles would truly understand what having fun would mean. "Sou... ka," Sakura murmured. They'd returned to the Zen Pavilion and it was as they'd left it...

[Bloodedge]

Ailen wasn't sure why his words were received the way they repeatedly were by Anais. Even so, it seemed a positive enough reaction. Perhaps he'd learn in time what this mysterious effect was? Miwa never reacted that way, but she was a goddess and could be considered an exception to most mortal logic. His mentor never showed the same reactions either, but she was... always a strange one. Either Anais was strange and worth studying, or she was more normal and he was... severely lacking in casual interactions with women. Maybe it was even a bit of both? Whichever he found true in time, it would be an interesting study. She was interesting regardless, particularly with her insistence that he be less hard on himself. That surely couldn't happen, lest he fall short as a mentor. Ailen had to keep himself ready to offer information, even in situations like the present. Anais behaved more proactively than before in bringing her tongue to his manhood. She inched closer in doing so, and once again made use of her hand. Soon enough, her mouth encased the tip and beyond. Ailen took a moment to consider how much bolder her approach had become in such a short time. Had something awakened within her after that last spark? Curious or not, there was work to do. She'd have to learn about the Truth... and how the wanderer did choose their path, but so too did the path choose the wanderer. Everything in this world was cyclical, from the simplest truth to the most complex mysteries. Such was the knowledge Ailen would be imparting over this particular exchange.

Elsewhere, Charlemagne was appearing in the room he'd been in before that strange meeting. Of course he was no longer buried in Sakura's loins due to her own movements, but he still loomed over that same bed. He needed to decompress somehow. Where could he even start with all those things he'd been told? "I don't even think it'll all fit," he said absently. Retaining all that information would be tough enough without having to sort through it. He supposed there was one major thing worth bringing up while Sakura was present. "I finally saw the Nexus. So that was the closest thing to a real 'one' god, huh? Did he just... did he just marry us? And did you just accept that?"

[Apollymi]

Ailen's theories about Anais's reactions and his own lack of socialization were both true. Of course, Anais was in fact a school girl, so the kind of attention he offered was bound to make her feel differently from moment to moment. At the same time, Anais was indeed changing the way she dealt with him and being more proactive in her capacities as his apprentice, but that was an active learning exercise. She personally preferred to put new information into practice when she could. He'd told her previously that she should think of his tool as a device for her own learning to be used as she pleased. Given this, she'd not approached as timidly as she had the first time. She'd gotten more than reasonably good reactions from her first attempt at this same activity, so she'd take it more comfortably and only add things in as evolution seemed to demand it. Ah, in fact that same kind of ingenuity would be shown as she went about her work. A hand, her tongue, and jaws were all in use, even so she was being pretty progressive with the depth this man was finding within her mouth. If her own limits were determined specifically by her mind, there was no reason not to test that a bit. The hand moved further and further back as her face moved further and further forward. Eventually, Ailen's manhood would be found nestled in the back of the girl's throat as she swallowed excess moisture and applied pressure with her jaws. 'Why can I actually do this? Is it slutty? Should I care?' she found herself wondering about her current understanding, but after testing the limit her own rhythm returned and he'd slowly sink out of her throat while she flicked her tongue along the bottom of his shaft from base to tip. Given the information in her head, this was much easier to do than it likely should be... but she couldn't or rather wouldn't just leave him buried within the back of her throat all the time. That seemed like it would get boring at some point and likely wouldn't be conducive to making sure she received the knowledge he had. Just the same she had no problem with what she was doing and thought to mix her different techniques.

Meanwhile in the Zen Garden, Sakura was atop a bed with Charles still looming atop it. She was staring down his form as he spoke, not truly taking in his dismay. As such she easily misinterpreted the words he was saying and answered according to her own thoughts instead of his intentions. Those thoughts, were surrounding his new manhood and as such could sound both like an answer and like something else. "I am sure it will fit anywhere it is accepted," yes... that was a logical thing to say. According to Charles soon after he finally saw the Nexus and it was the closest thing to the 'one' god, he'd been told about. Beyond that... there was the matter of their marriage and Sakura agreeing to it. "Yes, the Nexus appears to be a god above gods thus the highest we could have access to. He also seems to be the parent of the previous generation of gods," she confirmed. "Our marriage is something that was confirmed by the Nexus but technically took place before then, when you stopped actively rejecting me... marriage in this case isn't defined as strictly as you may think," she mentioned in the plain way she generally spoke. Of course many others likely would have felt slighted by the knowledge that they were used in such a way without the person on the other side trying to accept them as fully as they were being accepted. "My agreement isn't something that is likely to make sense... as it defies human logic. I also technically accepted it as an option when I brought you to Kaa-sama," she explained. This much was also true, her offering to help knowing they could end up bound to each other also defied human logic, their mana compatibility and a few other factors made it a good choice for Sakura, but she also saw the truth of how this worked out, Charles, was not so clear minded.

[Bloodedge]

This time around, Ailen had a little less freedom to be completely contemplative. Frankly, he was consumed instead by one interesting development after another. Anais had already taken a small leap; he was certain she'd gone a bit farther than before when taking him into her mouth. Starting with similar movements to her earlier attempt, she soon shifted her hand closer to his base to allow herself more room. Soon, this resulted in a feeling she didn't manage to deliver before. The moment Ailen felt the girl's throat convulse around him, his tool responded with throbbing. He was staring down into her face, appearing surprised, interested and very titillated. "Dear me. You... mm," he paused, having an issue or two speaking while her tongue moved along the full length of his shaft. Something caught between a sigh and a moan passed his lips. In its wake, the elf cleared his throat. "Ahem. You're developing quickly. I'll have to be careful, lest I forget to include the lecture. . ." he commented.

Sakura said something could fit wherever it was accepted. That didn't make much sense, but... she was the daughter of a wisdom goddess. Was she saying he could retain everything, so long as he wanted to? That's how he interpreted her words. Something was odd about her tone when saying it, though. Where was she looking? Oh... he'd try not to think about that too much, managing only a pink tinting of his own face. "So the Nexus is the grandfather god, a hipster, and is taking the role of a true god for his kids who can't get it right? Got it. Alright... and we're married in the weirdest way I can't even understand. Why can't marriages be normal around me?" he wondered aloud. Sakura had apparently even agreed to forging their connection shortly after they met. Things really didn't become less strange at all for Charlemagne recently, but Sakura's reasoning being in defiance of humanity's way of thinking was no true shock at this point. "You know what? I expect it to be against human logic at this point. I'm not all human now anyway, right? I may as well get used to all the crazy stuff. Go on; hit me with it."

[Apollymi]

The difference between Ailen's first experience and his second was something that Anais took notice of. In general she had no reason to completely understand it was her own advancement that caused this difference. Of course, getting him to the back of her throat and swallowing, she felt the throb from his manhood. Her earlier experience let her know that this was an enjoyable sensation, and as she ejected the man from the depths of her throat she received actual words from him once more. Though they were admittedly less free flowing than they'd been before. 'Did he moan? Am I good at this? Is doing this sort of thing to men how you go to slut hell? Do I care if I don't get the information?' she asked herself several questions, but just the same was pleased by her own advancements as well. Regardless of how she felt about it, she'd managed to create hiccups in the speech of a man who was wed to a goddess. That was obviously a moral or skill based victory at least. Her tongue after having been dragged all the way along the back of his shaft would be found at his tip while her hand contributed to gilding along his length. "You can give the lecture whenever you're ready... I don't mind this more active form of learning," she mused gently. Of course, this could be taken several ways but was mostly about her ability to learn how to handle his manhood in addition to her lectures, basically her interpersonal development.

Moving on, Charles and Sakura were having a discussion. Though Sakura hadn't meant to imply he could keep whatever information he wanted in his head, it was technically the truth. As long as one wasn't shunned by wisdom completely, keeping information in your head. She couldn't help but notice that little blush on his face though, so perhaps he did understand what she actually meant, at least subconsciously. A little smirk crossed her face as she looked at him seeming to find it interesting. His words about the Nexus mostly made sense, only one didn't have enough context. "I don't know what a hipster is... but the rest makes sense. Also not all of his children if I am filling in logic correctly... whoever is in the Void is good at what they do," she stated with a firm nod. As for her remaining and human defying logic in accepting their marriage and his weird marriages. She could comment on much of it. "Marriage was originally a uniquely human thing according to Kaa-sama. Connections like that are supposedly forged to make it easier for humans to process each others mana and facilitate creation. God and Goddesses do not need to do it because creation is their main purpose, but doing so allows for the creations to go to greater heights," she explained why marriages likely weren't easy around him and why it seemed so weird. As for her personal choice which he apparently wished to understand she began talking again finally shifting her eyes up to his face so that she could convey what she meant. "When I saw you fall from the sky I had a mild curiosity about falling stars. I went to investigate and found a girl trying her best to protect you, a guy trying his best to keep you in good spirits and you trying to protect their hearts. It was beyond my understanding and it made me curious, not just about you falling from the sky but about how you three ended up in such a position. Why do they care? Why do you? I did not understand fully but I wished to see, so I offered to help and when I did, you said things that didn't make sense to me. Perservation of life is a basic animal instinct and you were willing to fight me on it, based solely on the idea of infidelity that didn't technically exist for you at the time. If I watched you more, I might understand. And Kaa-sama says when you find something that interests you and that you can connect to, forge the bonds... bonds can be broken, but if you never make them you won't know. Thus... I made it."

[Bloodedge]

Anais had a very functional ─ and in Ailen's uninformed opinion, unique ─ way of approaching oral mana transfers. Even with her understanding of abilities, she still made use of something many would assume was a crutch. Ah, but it was more than that ─ Ailen would call it more of a weapon instead. Her mouth retreated all the way to his tip, but her hand took over the work along his shaft immediately afterwards. She wasn't allowing him much of a break, was she? Moreover, her words carried multiple implications. One might wonder how much she concerned herself with the acquisition of knowledge in what should have been an exchange. "Well, if I forget, then this won't have been a very fair exchange. It's already a selfish indulgence on my part; you should at least benefit from it," he declared. It seemed both parties had some hang-up about taking advantage of the other person. . .

There it was again... that dangerous smirk. Why? What could the reason be this time? Actually, Charlemagne could make a few assumptions, starting with the heat felt in his own face. Oh well; maybe he could move on. There was a lot to unpack either way... and Sakura was keen to do a lot of unpacking herself. She spoke of marriage and its human origin. Strangely, her explanation of mana processing made perfect sense when piled atop everything else Charlemagne learned in recent days. To say divinities had no firm need of marriage due to creation being part of their souls. So then, this 'marriage' was not quite what he thought of one, but was instead more akin to the link he previously formed with Angelica at the ceremony's end? That seemed a solid assumption. Somehow, it was even more intense than legal binding. "So just kind of... super magic married. Got it," he said with a heavy sigh.

Moving on, there was Sakura's explanation about her agreement. It all sounded like answering curiosity. In fact, her explanation included curiosity as a primary motivator. From the sound of things, she was willing to be 'married' to him because it would get her the answers she sought. Such ridiculousness the girl was willing to go through. Charlemagne himself didn't have the answers she sought, and indeed he shared her lack of understanding as to why people like Anais and Astolfo followed him. His confusion still wasn't coming to an end very soon. "But you said it was something you wanted to be permanent. Why would you do that? You met me like... today!"

[Apollymi]

This world was missing something and it was strangely going to get it through the virgin Anais. The thing that Anais offered Ailen was simply human ingenuity. How she acted was based solely on how she understood her interactions with the physical realm. In this case, she had, because of previous mana transfers, all the understanding of physiology she needed to interact directly with Ailen's manhood. Beyond that, she had a strange desire to do so, and as such she'd continue doing what she was. Her own methods hadn't been shunned so she wouldn't bother doing anything but what she'd been doing already. As such, while he spoke, she allowed her tongue to gently prod his tip alternating the action with lavishing strokes and swirls around its entirety. They both seemed to want this entire situation to be fair, his forgetfulness, would apparently not count as fair to him. Anais was certain this was strange, but he wasn't trying to take advantage of her, which was commendable. "Hai, Shishou, just make sure you don't forget then~" she added. She didn't think she was experiencing any level of being shortchanged, though she supposed she also considered this a bit differently to start with. Regardless, she'd go back to work rather easily after speaking that swirling motion of her tongue taking her further and further up his shaft and towards his base. 'I shouldn't like that he could forget. I don't want to be taken advantage of, at the same time... I kind of enjoy the idea of being distracting... that's probably a slut thought isn't it? It's slutty if I'm not here to learn something. Learning slut behavior counts as learning though, right?'

Moving on, Charles took the explanation of marriage very strangely. Sakura expected this, but it was another of those things that mostly defied human logic. He had enough of that remaining that several things would likely be difficult. She'd already decided not to go too far explaining things to him, as it would be more work than the results would be worth. Super married was about all he needed to understand. Moreover, there was something else that required consideration. Charles wanted to know why Sakura would vote for something permanent when they'd only just met each other this day. He'd not answered any of her questions, and she took that to mean he didn't have the answers, so... she spoke again. "Well, I don't consider time the say way you do. If you don't have the answers I am seeking and couldn't figure it out, I'd need to be around long term to figure it out myself... permanence would allow that. A day, a decade, a millennia. these measures of time are all very different but also all mean nothing when you are not limited by mortality. I don't require time to determine I like something, in the same way I don't need it to determine I dislike something... " she explained as if that was a perfectly reasonable way to consider it.

[Bloodedge]

To keep the fairness, Ailen simply had to ensure he didn't forget. Such was the solution offered by Anais, whose tongue seemed content to send him into forgetfulness each time it wasn't being used to speak. "I'm afraid your words and actions are in opposition of each other. I'll try my best," he said. At the current rate, he estimated a very high chance of failure, measuring at least 30% being conservative. Something about Anais's approach seemed to tip over the edge of learning, and even intimacy. It seemed... fun? Ailen would call it fun from his current angle. Whatever it was for Anais, the study of her development would be more than worthwhile... provided he managed to focus on that part. . .

Ah, focus ─ the thing Charlemagne kept failing to have in any way he would have wanted. Every time something was further explained to him, it became more outlandish instead of less. Sakura agreed to permanence as one who viewed time differently. She also didn't require time to determine her like or dislike of something. Well, that one made sense with all that magical understanding as a factor. "I feel like a millennium should be viewed as a long time regardless, but... I guess I've known Angie for that long without us really getting to know each other at all," he said, knowing there were things about that woman which confused him even now. Charlemagne would make a decision with these things in mind. He'd work on removing his usual perspective on things, and he'd further try and remove logic from situations involving gods and goddesses. Little did he know, doing so would have a greater effect than one like Charlemagne could anticipate. "You know, speaking of Angie... I tried talking her out of marriage too. So, I'll give up while I'm ahead. I've got too much other stuff to deal with anyway, like that..." His statement paused there as he meant to acknowledge a specific thing. There had been a throbbing in his chest that traveled directly to his groin, where it became a more physical sensation. In looking for a way to throw blame, Charlemagne found himself seeing... what? "WHOSE DICK IS THIS?!" he shouted immediately. Whatever that thing hanging between his legs was, it didn't belong to him at all! Any semblance of sense was officially gone from the world. Was this evolution? That thing looked unwieldly!

[Apollymi]

Anais had did her best as an encouraging apprentice and offered her mentor a proper solution to his fairness conundrum, only to be told that her actions and words didn't align. Was this true? Yes, she definitely found some sort of fun in pushing the limits against Ailen, even though he was only trying to help her. If she'd ever felt like explaining, she would have blamed the slutty voice in the back of her mind which egged her on during such activities. He'd try his best? Good... that would make him the perfect test subject for her strange new learning experiences. She looked up at him, her visage mostly innocent, yet... those motions were happening once again, as her hand came closer and closer to resting against him, her nose inched more and more forward. He'd find himself resting in her throat her tongue still curling beneath his girth while saliva built up in her mouth to be swallowed. She committed that action a couple of times, while her tongue seemed apt to explore only to begin the process of removal after determining that such a hold was truly something she was just capable of. 'He's trying his best, maybe I'll think of something to make it worthwhile?' she gave it a bit of thought while her hand returned to its movements.

Moving on, Charles seemed to think a thousand years was a long time, even if you lived forever. He was right, but also wrong. "For how long would the thousand matter, how many thousands have to pass, before they start feeling like minutes? And then there is the rest, what about quality, what does a thousand years mean if you accomplish nothing? These are the reason I don't consider time in a normal fashion. For me time is a series of questions and answers, of curiosities and progress," she murmured. "It is also likely that your goddess knows more about you... than you realize about her... especially if you were human for most of the time you knew her..." she summarized as an idea. Of course, it seemed that soon after this Charles seemed to give up on the idea of arguing about the marriage overall. Apparently, Angie, as he called her, had also fought him on the matter and she'd obviously won. "I like her more every time she's mentioned," Sakura concluded. Oh? What was this, Charles finally noticed the change to his physical appearance and it seemed to bring out of him a strange reaction. Sakura watched with furrowed brow and heard a reference for manhood that she wouldn't have expected specifically from this individual. "Eh? Are you alright? That was a bit of a vulgar word choice from you..." she murmured as if simply an observer. "I am surprised you didn't notice before, but you've already admitted to not really understanding yourself," she concluded. "Also it's yours... size in men is a measure of ease of offering mana and usually a sign of quality," she explained his physiology as she was sure he didn't understand. "There are a few more minor things to understand about that but it's a lot to be added on to your present confusion levels," she spoke with some understanding while her eyes had shifted back to his manhood. She wasn't quite mesmerized but by her own understanding this size was much closer to what she was used to seeing in Munetsuchi. Obviously, you could have fun with any size as long as you were willing to to make it work, but... she imagined this would be an easy and good experience for all involved parties.

[Bloodedge]

There was no foreseeable end to Anais's developments. Ailen took particular note of the saliva buildup in her mouth as she took him into her throat once more. For the sake of progress, he'd mark that as a positive. The application of saliva could only enhance the transfer of mana in both directions. Beyond that, it would make the transfer of knowledge into Anais's mind much easier. It would have been the perfect time to focus on delivering a bit of knowledge, but... the struggle was obvious once Anais's tongue and throat were moving against him in unison. "Hn," Ailen muttered just briefly. The moment of alternating techniques was a wonderful, dangerous thing. For one who bedded a goddess at least once a week on average, Ailen was surprised to encounter such a struggle. Ah, he'd missed a prime opportunity; what a failure.

Charlemagne couldn't share the same opinion as Sakura on this particular matter. She did have a point about the span of a thousand years, but part of her response was most of his counterpoint. "I can't say you're wrong, but I can't say you're right. Even if you've lived for a million years, a thousand could still have a lot of great memories. If you don't manage to get anything done, a thousand years could be an example of a long rut. That's what I think is important: strong memories. I've been around for over a thousand years now, and I still remember quite a few years feeling really long. I guess that doesn't mean much to you either, huh? You're probably two-million years old or something by now," he said, waving a hand over his head. Regardless, there were far more important things. Charlemagne wouldn't even justify Sakura's mention of liking Angelica for the strangest reasons. No, he was far more concerned with that log of meat between his legs. "No I'm not alright! What is this?!" he exclaimed. He, too, was surprised he didn't notice before; why wasn't there an obvious weight difference? Sakura confirmed it was his, stating that size was a matter of mana-transferring ability and quality. Alright... that made more sense than most things she said. Luckily, she didn't go into more detail and further overload his simple mind. "Okay. Okay. I can understand that. It makes sense, right? I just went through a few different ascensions, so this is... normal. Thanks for not throwing too much at me all at once. Let me guess; there's some magical way this thing still works? Or did I just become someone who can only do it with a goddess? I mean... it's not like I want to go for any non-goddesses anyway. I think I'll draw a firm line at two for the rest of time─"

[Apollymi]

Anais's development was a strange one indeed. On the one hand, there was the slutty voice in her head encouraging her to do anything to satisfy her baser needs, and on the other side, she was utilizing new knowledge and putting to the test various uses of her powers and abilities. After thinking about it, and finding her teacher to be quite speechless for the duration, she wondered if she was succeeding. Perhaps, he wouldn't feel too bad about potentially missing her lecture if she learned something else in the meantime. While she was doing this, she found herself considering the sensation she knew to be orgasm. She thought of it as ASMR but heightened, and it made her wonder if sound waves could trigger it. Well, sound needed to travel though something and they'd hypothesized that spiritual mediums were the reason that ASMR couldn't be tracked scientifically. Maybe it was truly a magical thing... with her senses open and her already having digested some of Ailen's mana, she knew the kind of pitch it had already. If she matched it with a specific kind of harmony, she might be able to create the effect she desired. Well... there was no reason she couldn't try it... so her withdrawal of his manhood ceased, and once again he'd find himself moving towards the back of her throat. Once he was there her mouth filled with liquid and when she swallowed this time, she hummed at a pitch which created a harmony with the sound his mana seemed to make for her, about a half-step lower in key as she understood it. Such a feeling she allowed for a few seconds while studying this man's face and wondering what sort of response she'd get. 'Maybe he'll skip that lecture and you'll know you're good at it~' her internal slut voice was aiming her straight for slut hell.

Charles could not agree or disagree with Sakura. He had his own philosophies around time, and give his words Sakura could at least understand them. Ah... they made a reasonable amount of sense, well except for his supposition about her age. Sakura gave it some consideration and then shrugged. "I don't know about ruts, the flow of my life is something I determine for myself, so anything that interests me is something I follow. I am not that old, in truth Kaa-sama is one of the oldest from this world and she is only twelve or thirteen thousand. My own conceptualization only began about a thousand years ago and I was only finished a short while ago... " she explained of her own age, in not so many words but also enough that something strange could be assumed about her age.

Beyond this point, Charles finally realized his manhood existed in its current size. He claimed to understand it, and apparently thought well of Sakura not overloading him with information about it. "Magic is the basis of everything. Everything can work by it, as far as sex is concerned, any girl or woman could receive you. As far as goddesses are concerned, we are born to create and thus know by the time we are ready that we are capable of accepting anything we wish to in any orifice we wish to receive it, given the different forms of mana transfer," she explained rather clinically. Of course, she wasn't at all abashed or shy and knew of this size manhood as being pretty normal. "Humans apparently require acknowledgement of it as a possibility to believe they can do it. They have to surprass any natural or mental limits they've placed upon themselves but they can accept as well," she mused. This also explained the way people interacted with Astolfo not that she had any reason to know about that lad's surprising girth.

[Bloodedge]

Would Ailen be skipping the lecture? Not if he had anything to say about it. Though a few opportunities had been missed already, but he would be sure to deliver the lecture in bulk, at the very end if at no other time before. He could at least manage that much without suffering critical failure. Well... that was his firm belief in the face of Anais's evolution, at least. What could even cause any changes? Surely nothing, except... something magical and unexplained in any proper manner across two worlds. If there was one thing that could blow Ailen's mind, it was the development of something new and unexpected in the middle of someone's second or third mana transfer. When he next entered her throat, Ailen felt the most unusual vibration through the entirety of his groin. No, it was far more than that. His manhood was the focal point, but it traveled through his soul, reverberating back through his shaft in the form of... a release he hadn't been expecting. A gasp escaped him his eyes widened, his body even shook as the sudden action of Anais caused an almost immediate spillage directly into her throat. What could he even say about this turn of events? Well, whatever he could say, it wasn't as if he could comment immediately regardless. On top of everything else, any chance of providing that lecture was officially lost... but what would come of it instead?

Sakura wasn't that old. Alright, he didn't expect her to actually be so ancient anyway. On the other hand, something was strange about her comment. What exactly was 'a short while ago' supposed to mean? Beginning a thousand years ago would make her roughly the same age as him, but Charlemagne wondered what her true age as a conscious entity was. "So, wait, exactly how old are you?" he questioned. That didn't make too much of a difference, though. At least Charlemagne could say nothing thus far was more ridiculous than his sudden change in anatomy. It seemed goddesses were naturally inclined to receive such a thing, much to his expectation ─ though even humans could do so if they believed. That sounded about right for general magic mumbo jumbo. "Alright, nothing else surprising. Using the bathroom is going to be wei─... wait," he paused, remembering an earlier conversation had with Angelica. "I don't need to do that anymore, huh? So this is just like... purely some mana-transferring apparatus now. That might take some getting used to, but no more going in the woods mid-adventure for me. Sweet. . ."

[Apollymi]

This minor scientific endeavor reaped rewards for Anais, first and foremost in the form of mana. A bit of vibration had mana spilling down her throat, her eyes widened in surprise. 'Wait, I actually did it!' she seemed to be very excited about this, and she was. From the perspective of trying to accomplish a strange goal, with only her own magic and making it happen with only her own knowledge and bit of theory to work with, she'd done well. There was also the look on Ailen's face which she appreciated quite a bit. Strangely, this didn't contain any knowledge. Nothing came from it at all, just the sweet taste of honey and the power associated with metabolizing another's essence. 'Wait, I really did it? I just did a totally slutty thing, just because...I'm going to slut hell aren't I?' she thought secondly. Of course, to actually swallow it, she'd commit the action with the man still in her throat, only to begin backing away after her mouth was clear. She didn't choke this time, and seemed to be rather pleased despite the oddity of the situation. Then she looked a bit sheepish, that reddened face returned and she would soon be found rubbing the back of her head. "I didn't know that would work... but I know that ASMR's effectiveness is definitely magical in nature..." she commented. She was still ignoring being naked, and also thinking about the other uses of what she'd discovered for sex and mana transfers. If she could trick his body's response based on his manhood being the thing she used as a trigger, she could likely make some people respond interestingly to any interaction to her magic or weapon.

At the same time, Sakura's age was questioned in a more direct way after their most recent conversation. Sakura gave it a bit of thought and began counting on her fingers. Why she was doing this, would be unknown for a few seconds only for her to speak on her age, "As humans would understand it I am seven... months old," she said as if this was perfectly logical. Though this was something different. In seven months, Sakura had grown to maturity from childhood. Most of that growth had taken place in the last 48 hours but that didn't need explaining in the moment. Beyond this point, there was something else, Charles realizing he no longer had normal human amounts of urges. "Yes, it's basically only for the transfer of mana. It is rather convenient... I've never had to go but human's seem to spend a lot of their lives going to the bathroom, from what I have observed," she said, hinting at her odd habits of watching people doing things for extended periods of time.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen was going to need a minute. At the rate he was going, he'd need five or ten for that matter. That vibration brought about his end more succinctly than most experiences across his very long life. He'd been expecting interest, perhaps even an eventual match for his former mentor, but never did he anticipate a comparison to the wisdom goddess herself. That particular application of magic was almost unrivaled in terms of achieving results with flair. "Haah... hah..." he heaved. Ailen would be found clutching his chest as if feeling for his own heartbeat. In truth, he was focusing on the sensation of his Spiritual Core. Damned be the fact that a lecture had been lost; this was a development for the ages! "That... that was astounding! I wasn't expecting to be used for a test, but there are many reasons I'm glad you decided to do just that. Aya... I failed to teach you anything. My mind is racing, and my body feels so strange. Haah~" Ailen still struggled to stabilize his lungs and legs. Choosing one over the other, he turned and sat upon the bed next to Anais. Ah, there was a potential large negative to this exchange. The lecture was lost for the time being, but so too was the purpose of wisdom's spark in Ailen. Anais seemed to have reached a viable conclusion by herself, simply by testing something on him. "So, we know magic is the missing link. Surely you could do many things with that, though I believe you've already found the most effective method. If you altered the application even slightly, the sky is the limit. . ."

Another thing Charlemagne was fated to learn this day, was that Sakura... whom he'd recently gotten to know very well in a specific manner... was born into this magical world only seven months ago. He hesitated. He blinked. He swallowed a massive lump in his throat, and he sighed. Why did these strange things keep happening around him? "Seven. Months," he repeated. "Somehow fully grown, and even more of a MILF than my History teacher," he mumbled thereafter. Oh well; there wasn't much to be done about his original world's laws and sensibilities. Charlemagne did decide he'd work on abandoning logic when more magical knowhow was on the proverbial table. Besides, he had reason to be excited about something finally. Not wasting time and energy on bathroom trips was a boon not to be underestimated. "Going to the bathroom is something people normally do at least half a dozen times every day. It can be at very inconvenient times, too. I know it might be a dumb thing to get excited over, but... I think I'm owed something by now. I'm still coming to terms with everything else."

[Apollymi]

Heavy breathing and clutching his chest, was he alright? Ah, yes. He was fine. Ailen's follow-up words implied that he was both, winded and pleased. He claimed he didn't expect to be used for a test, but he was happy to be put to that particular use. He gave a few mentions of things going on with himself, but also lamented not teaching her anything. That wasn't really a problem for the now blushing Anais who managed to seem both pleased and exceedingly shy in the face of this particular form of praise. "Hai, I wasn't sure it would work that way. The length of the effect may be longer given how directly it was delivered and my pre-existing knowledge of your mana," she said giving a fair bit of consideration to how he managed to feel it for so long past the initial release. Of course, he went on to sit beside her and she managed to be both calm and a bit wary, she wasn't sure why she was both those things, but she assumed it was fine. He had more information to share, claiming that this form of the magic was probably its strongest use, but that she might be able to alter the application and get something else out of it. "Hm, yes I was considering that... I wonder if I could use my other abilities like a tuning fork, or a catalyst to learn the pitch of others and then use magic or a tool to spread and amplify the effect. That would probably make it more flexible for general use..." she murmured seeming to give it a great deal of consideration. 'Though for you Shishou, the original method will remain~' she mused. 'Oops, slut thought... true thought, but still a slut thought...' she gave herself a firm understanding of her mentality. She was strangely spending a lot of time naked for someone who was so easily embarrassed, but she still didn't really feel strangely in this man's presence, aside from her wandering thoughts.

Meanwhile, Sakura explained her actual age to Charles and he seemed to take it much better than he had half the things he'd been told today. He was surprised about her growth but there was an easy explanation for that... though there was also something else. "I don't know what MILF is..." she commented first. "But my body was originally that of a small child, closer to human childhood age of 7 by my approximation. Kaa-sama didn't create me with a specific purpose in mind so my body's growth wasn't specified. I grew to this size after being exposed to other goddesses," she explained. Yes, all was reasonable, but it didn't really matter, though she'd hoped to get a few more piggy back rides in from one of her father's before she reached adulthood. According to Charles, bathroom trips were quite numerous in the lives of humans, and Sakura while she never had to deal with them, could at least understand that it was something he'd cling to as a happiness. "Sou ka, that is reasonable. I think today might have been quite a big day for you too... so it's okay if you're still working through it," she offered sympathetically, still as accepting as she had been the entirety of the day.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen felt it necessary to stabilize himself, but it seemed there was nothing to actually stabilize. Nothing was amiss with his flow of mana; it was simply vibrating in a manner that almost replicated a tickling sensation. This lingering feeling was very new and interesting to deal with. Anais made it clear that these lasting effects were likely due to her existing understanding of his mana, which further explained the functionality of the technique. "Sou ka. It is certainly powerful. I don't think I've ever felt anything like it. Excellent work," he said, still making an effort to calm himself, lest he develop a similar internal voice to Anais. He was a teacher, after all. His job was to teach, and he had already failed one lecture. Perhaps he could salvage it some other way? He did have a spark of wisdom; he could at least think of something. "Hmm. If you became more in-tune with your animal side, there could be many ways. Your kind have a very keen sense of smell. You could learn to differentiate the scent of opposing mana signatures. In fact, even your ears and body could do the trick if your own mana pulsed outward to feel everything it ricochets off. As for a catalyst... I think I have an idea," he rambled. Pausing there, Ailen thought back to the failure of moments ago. There were several ways he could have avoided that in hindsight. "But I must think of something else as well. My failure to deliver the lecture is unacceptable. I must take responsibility for that," he added.

One thing Charlemagne could make sense of was how Sakura grew at a rapid pace. She claimed to have been exposed to other goddesses, an act which facilitated her development into the current form, and that was one of the mots easily-believable things Charlemagne heard... among all the ridiculousness, at least. It came as no surprise that she didn't know what a MILF was. Of course, she also wouldn't be finding out from him. "You're uh... gonna have to ask someone else about that one," he said. No way was he going to explain that. He would, however, take the victory of never using the restroom again. Somehow, that was enough to have Charlemagne heaving a sigh of relief over all the nonsense of the past 48 hours. "So, that apparently god guy said something about me being full of Void stuff? I'm not sure how I feel about being connected to demon stuff, but... there's no point in worrying about it too much. Am I stable now though? I can't tell if I'm still in danger of exploding or not─"

[Apollymi]

Anais would find herself congratulated on the work she'd done developing her new technique. Of course, she accepted this praise softly, "Arigatou gouzaimasu..." she murmured. It was interesting, she went off the rails quite a bit in other aspects of her learning and it wasn't generally appreciated. She was rather happy her own practice hadn't really caused any problems for her and the developing relationship between her and her mentor. Of course, he went on to explain some potential uses for her particular power, upon hearing them, she gave it a fair bit of consideration. "Hm, well... given my pre-existing abilities, I'd say an auditory based skill would likely be best. I understand most things by sound and I am a bard so it'd likely be helpful for my continued development. Actually, it sounds a bit like echolocation... that could be super useful..." she mused. Actually, sounds also played a pretty big role in her instinct based skill, perhaps whenever she leveled next she could put some effort into evolving some skills. She should take a look at her skills list and figure out which ones should be adjusted. "Status Open," a simple command would open a floating magical screen before the nude young woman which held all the information about her. She was mostly going to use this to check her progress towards her next level where she'd be able to make edits to her skills, but there was something else to deal with first. Ailen was feeling quite out of sorts about failing to deliver the lecture he'd meant to, he wished to take responsibility for it. 'He's too good!' the girl mused in her own head. He was truly trying to avoid taking advantage of her and she was being a bit of a bad student. "Shishou, that part isn't your fault. I definitely could have warned you... I even considered it briefly but decided against it in favor of potentially less biased results. So really, don't feel too bad about it... I did understand the possibility of causing the failure of the lesson. I simply decided it was worth the potential loss in this case... sumimasen..." she managed, seemingly truly apologetic. She didn't want him feeling bad for her choosing to act on her excessive and invasive thoughts, especially when the outcome was exactly what she wanted.

There were no extra questions from Charles concerning the rapid growth of Sakura. Instead, he seemed content to not answer her curiosity about the use of the term MILF. Strange, he was being rather evasive about it, she looked at him in open curiosity as he skipped over it claiming she'd have to ask someone else. She found it odd that he didn't want to explain, but given how firm he seemed about it she wouldn't push... granted he would be forced to deal with not telling her at some other time, that was simply the way these sorts of things worked. "Hai," that was all she had to say about it. He should probably worry, but... whatever. No, instead, he was taking his momentary victory about things like bathroom breaks. And then going on to question Void influence in himself. Though he claimed not to worry about it, he seemed a bit less relaxed about it than he could be. "You are heavily influenced by the Void, but that is probably because I am connected to it directly, and you used me to rebuild yourself," she said as a matter of her own understanding. "You seem stable enough to me. Your physical form at least isn't anything to worry about. But... your emotional state is something to keep an eye on..." Sakura said seeming to give it a fair bit of thought. She knew the lad would need the other goddess to keep him from falling too far in any direction. "Also demon isn't a problem, so long as you don't allow such a connection to influence you to do evil. Anyone can be evil... which I am sure you understand better than most," she commented absently. Somewhere... in the darkness, a pair of glowing red eyes with white slit pupils was staring across at this pair of individuals. Hm, this girl truly was quite clever, perhaps she should take a bit of a page from a certain book and create a similar space for them to speak. A room of infinite darkness, lit in a casual but eerie manner. A place strangely warm and inviting, a place which seemed to pull at both these individuals as it'd been trying to do when they'd suddenly disappeared.

[Bloodedge]

According to Anais, something auditory would be best for her current setup of abilities. Ailen understood this well. One would always prefer the idea of keeping with an existing theme to avoid overcomplicating things; he was much the same. "I think that would be a wise decision. If you base it on something you already have a deep understanding of, it should cause you little to no issue when included. As my apprentice, you'll have an ever-expanding repertoire. You would do well to convert as many things as possible into whatever you're most comfortable with," he explained. In the meantime, Anais chose to access her status, presumably to utilize the experience she so recently obtained in bulk. Prior to looking, however, she addressed his concern over the failed lecture. It had apparently been a choice of hers to distract him. A calculated risk resulted in loss of knowledge, but it seemed there was a replacement of different knowledge instead. "Oh? So you were experimenting, were you? Interesting. Well, you did manage to do something I never thought possible. I haven't felt so overwhelmed since... either my very first experience, or my first meeting with my wife. Really, excellent work. You'll make anyone very happy to share their mana with you."

Luckily for Charlemagne, Sakura decided to drop the whole MILF thing. That was good, but why did it feel dangerous? Maybe it was nothing to worry about; he'd been having that feeling repeatedly today anyway. As for the Void influence, it had much to do with his physical reconstruction with Sakura as a base. She had taken that white-haired, corrupt form, and he linked himself to her afterwards. That made sense as well. Physically, he was indeed fine. Mentally, he'd have to be careful? Very well. He'd go forward attempting to keep himself from snapping emotionally, not thinking it would be much of an issue. "I like to believe I'm pretty good at keeping a level head. Well... I say that before I fly off the handle about something. Can I trust you to keep me in check? I know I've asked a lot of you already, but I'd also hate to put too much on the others," he said. True enough, he knew all things could be evil. Father An had been the ultimate symbol of holy power, and he proved himself evil in the end. Just the same, he now had confirmation of multiple demon-like power sources used for good. With these things in mind, he wouldn't be judging much else. "Yeah... I think I understand that pretty well now. I think my Skill evolved, too. Some sort of adjustment for all this new information has it working a little... differently. I can feel something evil inside you, but it's not coming from you as a person. Liv must be the same now. . ."

[Apollymi]

Anais received more advice as she prepared to think about how to use her new found knowledge and the advancement of her magical abilities. She would be receiving much from him in the future and figuring out how to use it within her own themes and likeness would be most useful. "Hai, I'll make sure to convert everything into forms I find comfortable for use~" Anais confirmed. What an interesting girl, this one was turning out to be. What more could she have done? Well, she managed a reasonable explanation which would keep the elf in her presence for blaming himself for their incomplete lesson. It seemed he was not upset at her for the liberties she'd taken in this case, and he seemed only interested that she'd decided upon such an experiment. What was more, he made the claim that she'd surprised him in a way that compared either to his first experience ever, or his first experience with his goddess wife. She was commended for her efforts. And well... praised in a way she hadn't expected. Ailen claimed anyone would be happy to share their mana with her, given those things. Surprise crossed Anais' face, and then it burned one of the brightest shades of red which aimed to challenge that of the leaves and the like. 'Yosh, we're showing out like goddesses and hot elf MILFs... definitely going to slut hell~' her internal monologue wouldn't let her off the hook. She'd immediately cut her eyes away but only after realizing the sincerity of his statements. "Arigatou gouzaimasu... Shishou," she murmured as she turned her gaze back towards her status. "WHAAA! Where fuck did five levels come from?!" she seemed to be eyeing her stats, and found that she had gained some five levels over the course of this day. HOW? "Ooops, gomennasai. I was just shocked, I didn't mean to swear... I just," she was suddenly flustered in ways that she didn't expect to be today.

In the meantime, Sakura had dropped her quest to find out information and was instead being asked to undertake a strange task. Charles, asked the lass to keep him in check emotionally? That was odd, she didn't expect that she would be asked to do such a thing. "You want me to do that? It seemed like the sort of thing you might want of someone you were closer to. I can be trusted to do it, if you wish to trust me..." she said in her apathetic way. Perhaps she was strange, but she still wasn't sure if she counted as this lad's friend, and it seemed an oddly intimate request for someone who couldn't be called close to him. As for the rest, it seemed that there were others in Charles friends who had similar connections to the Void. Liv, whoever that was, had a connection to evil that reminded him of Sakura. "Yes, it was quite aggressive initially. I trapped the most of it in my Dark Grail? Yes, I might like that name..." she said looking towards the cup. In turning her eyes towards it again, she felt as if a hand was laid against her upper back encouraging her to step forward so she would take a few steps towards it. Actually she walked all the way over and picked it up. That warm feeling continued and she found herself holding the cup and exerting her mana on it. In so doing a pool of darkness seemed to spawn beneath her and she smiled given its working ability. "I think I'm going to meet someone else now... wanna come, Char-kun?" she asked holding her unoccupied hand out to the lad. If he took said hand, he and she would find themselves in that infinite dark room facing a very interesting woman.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen nodded in response to the girl's affirmation. She'd be an interesting one to teach. In fact, she proved moment by moment her worthiness of receiving all knowledge he had. Ailen rarely even entertained the idea of taking an apprentice, knowing any he had would need to meet certain requirements. Anais seemed to fit most, even giving him no reason to believe she'd fail at the final hurdles. Moreover, she surprised the living hell out of him with her ingenuity. Ah, but she surprised more than the elf; she seemed to shock herself as well. After a short silence, there was a short, swearing outburst about five levels. Five? That number sounded small to Ailen, but he supposed their transfers were of a simpler variety. "Only five?" he wondered, scooting closer to the lass until their bodies were touching. In such close proximity, Ailen wrapped an arm around the elafia girl's torso, seemingly for the purpose of keeping close enough to view her status from a similar perspective. "Sou ka. I didn't realize your level was so high initially. I suppose five makes sense, considering. And don't worry about the swearing; I'm not that sort of elf," he added. "Were you expecting less experience?"

Charlemagne could easily place his mental stability in Sakura's hand, considering how she single-handedly took care of his physical and spiritual fortitude the day they met. Beyond that, there was a very firm reason he could trust her, despite Sakura's own disbelief in him doing so. "Well... after everything else that happened today, why shouldn't I? Who's closer to me than you right now?" he asked semi-rhetorically. With a hand to his own chest, Charlemagne took a moment of silence before continuing. "You know, if I stop for a minute... I can feel it. Right here. That's you, isn't it? Yeah. I trust you," he stated with a certainty unseen in the lad previously. There was also that hint of evil deep within Sakura, most of which she mentioned locking away in the more officially-named Dark Grail, but he wasn't too worried about that in her hands either. In fact, Charlemagne found himself watching curiously as she moved toward the item in question. Some dark pool spread from her location, and lo... she invited Charlemagne into it. Why not? He'd already been randomly dragged into the room of God; one could only assume this one led to the Void itself. Would he meet the lord of demons? Maybe. It was worth a shot, at the very least. "Even if I wanted to say it was a bad idea, it's not like I'll let you go alone ─ not after I put myself in your care. I'll go," he said, reaching out to take the lass's hand and... apparently be taken to a newfound location within the Void. . .

[Apollymi]

Anais... had been experiencing all manner of invasive thoughts this day, and they sadly wouldn't be ending any time soon. As she settled into her shock about her present leveling conundrum, her mentor settled in beside her. Well, beside was a bit of a loose term. He scooted in rather close, an arm thrown around her person as he aimed to see her status while she looked at it. The redness of Anais's face might never go away at this point. She could also hear the constant echo of her own heartbeat within her ears, it was literally pounding. Why was he so far in her personal space? Why was he so comfortable doing it? Why did she... like it? 'Hoh? He could be ours ya' know. He's so close he probably wouldn't think anything of you taking a few liberties!~' What the hell was with this internal voice? Her internal monologue was getting way out of control, and what about her mentor? How often would he invade her personal space like this, while thinking nothing of it? "Only five? Shishou, I haven't seen five levels at once since the first week I was Olga's Squire.... it's quite abnormal," she stated. "Besides, I didn't do anything that should have given me experience, why would I have..." a pause happened as she finished processing information. She got the experience from their interaction. Gaining his knowledge through sexual activity and the sexual activity itself. His level was likely way higher than her own... so, "WHY?! Why does it work that way? Who decided this works this way...." she seemed to be strangely surprised by the knowledge. But she would be. If learning from her mentor would be raising her level... well, a lot of people would be privy to her activities, maybe. Well, she was a bard, she could probably just not explain her level gain but what about her friends? How many of them would notice... what kind of attention would she garner, what would happen if their resident battle maniac figured out she was approaching his skill level?! Oh well, at least she didn't have to worry too much about swearing in front of her mentor.

Meanwhile Charles was posing a semi-rhetorical question to Sakura and she in turn was taking a moment to think it over. She supposed she was a large part of this man now, and though she didn't necessarily equate the things he was mentioning she couldn't refute them. "I was only doing what I thought was right at the time. This doesn't necessarily equate to a trusting relationship... and yes, I am part of you, but that doesn't mean you have to trust me," she said seeming to find it odd this set of equations. Perhaps humans considered things differently. Ah, and she was soon to be shown how far this trust extended. In fact, she found herself standing in a pool of darkness getting ready to sink once more out of this reality. But as held out her hand to Charles, even if he thought it might have been a bad idea, he seemed content to go along. "Don't worry, that Ojii-chan seems to like her. I'm sure she can't be bad," mentioned Sakura. Once they were within that warm and inviting dark space, a pair of red glowing eyes greeted them, as the rest of a rather buxom blonde woman appeared along with it. She seemed to be taking steps forward and for the initiated she seemed to be dressed as a nun but missing several important pieces. But for others, she would appear completely covered in black and white cloth, especially around her breasts and torso. Upon her head a habit and veil but those white slit pupils seemed to pulse just a little. "Hello, little ones. I'm happy to see you both..." she greeted the pair. Such made Sakura smile. "Yeah, she's definitely fine. You gave me the hug right, Onee-sama?" she asked seeming to have connected this woman back to the feeling she got immediately after creating her cup. "Oh my goodness, is that what you'll call me? I did see it, but it still feels interesting~ " she mused, seeming to find the way the girl referred to her to be fun. "Of course, you deserved to feel rewarded for doing something so very good. It's a great creation... I plan to use it. Mostly to help allow my youngest daughter to enjoy her life a little more, but also to help the rest of you deal with the more evil individuals leaking through now," she said seeming to share pretty freely.

[Bloodedge]

Anais's promiscuous mind was not at all wrong. Ailen wouldn't have thought anything of several liberties being taken, as he did not consider them liberties at all. Alas, that was neither here nor there. It seemed quite some time had passed since Anais saw so many levels. With her lack of mana transfer before today, she had to be growing at a very steady rate. That steadiness would henceforth be challenged by Ailen's existence as a mentor, as the difference between their levels was quite sizeable. "I would assume you've never felled a very strong opponent, or taken in a vast array of knowledge at once. Status," he said, holding out his free hand and summoning a visual of his own parameters and abilities beside Anais's. Strangely though, his active Skills labeled Gamma, Delta and Omega were encrypted on the display, hidden from sight via means he'd yet to share with Anais. His level, however, was visible; 90 was the number shown. "You've taken my mana into yourself, which is just shy of the highest possible tier. In addition, the knowledge I gave you earlier was of the entire workshop containing my most-used ingredients. By all means, recalling that information would label you a seasoned expert alchemist in the eyes of most. In short, there are multiple reasons our time together has contributed to five levels. I'm actually a little surprised it wasn't seven. . ."

Sakura didn't believe in a relationship of trust between them, but once more, Charlemagne disagreed. It wasn't specifically because she was connected to him that he trusted her; it was everything associated with the connection. "Iie, it's not just that. You didn't have to help me out at all. You could have let me die without lifting a finger, and it wouldn't have made you a difference. You took corruption into yourself when you didn't have to. You also said you were in this for the long haul. Even if it's just to sate your own curiosities, I can't turn my back on someone who helped me out. Besides..." Charlemagne paused there. Of course, he hadn't forgotten about the whole pregnancy thing. He definitely wasn't going to leave some helpless bastard out there in the world if he could prevent it. Even a goddess could benefit from the aide of a partner in child-rearing, right? Charlemagne would hope so.

Upon entering that dark pool, they found themselves in a world filled with darkness ─ much to Charlemagne's expectation after the previous experience. Ah, but this location also had an unknown figure within it... or was it an unknown? Charlemagne gazed upon a scantily-clad nun of sorts, thinking for some reason that she was the most familiar individual he'd ever seen. Damned be the fact that she was a visual enigma the likes of which this world couldn't withstand. The more he looked, the less he could even think of looking away. After a few moments, a single tear fled from his left eye, trailing down his face with haste. Charlemagne didn't know why this occurred, but he felt... strangely looking at this woman. "Who are you to me?" he wondered. Surely there was some connection between them, right? Some memory long lost had to be there, somewhere.

[Apollymi]

Anais would avoid letting her internal voice get in the way of her normal developments, even though, it was contributing greatly to her progress. Here and now, Ailen seemed content to remain rather close while also questioning the life experience of the young Elafia. "Until Fier, I was the newest member to the group... I wasn't around when everyone was fighting in wars or going on big adventures," she explained of her situation. It gave context to how out of place she felt being tossed out into this one instead of it being one of the others. Technically this could count as Anais's first big adventure without one of the others being around for her to lean on. Strangely, Ailen showed his own status, and it was rather interesting to look at. The most interesting thing, being his level which was far higher than any in their group, even the stronger members were only about eighty in level. "Sugoi! You're really amazing, Shishou~" she murmured. Still, there were things she couldn't see... she wouldn't pry as everyone was entitled to their privacy but she did comment in a strange way... "Hm, the only person I've seen with anything redacted before is Ness... and that's just her race..." she mused, no more no less. She supposed, given everything she knew about their difference in level a bit of extra made sense. But according to Ailen she was basically an expert Alchemist after receiving knowledge from him, he'd have expected more growth... "Really, am I actually already an expert?" she gave it a bit of consideration. Choosing to think to the ingredients she could list and know their uses of, she thought of what he'd been doing before and immediately understood the workings of that potion. "Sou ka... I guess I do understand completely what you were trying to do with those ingredients, and I understand a lot of other things too... learning stuff this way is so... cool!~" she exclaimed her eyes sparkling. This truly might be one of the best things she'd ever undertaken. 'And now there would definitely be time to figure out all the extra credit stuff~' her mind was a terrible place.

At the same time, Charles was explaining the amount of faith placed in Sakura to keep him on the straight and narrow. He seemed to equate her actions to things that went beyond the simple necessities of right and wrong. Her willingness to go about it for the long haul also seemed to contribute to this trust he claimed to have. Sakura may not have completely understood, but she supposed in this case, her actions equated to a merit, determined by Charles. "Sou ka, if you say so... I'll believe you. Though I find it strange, I suppose it is the sort of thing that can't be measured empirically," she mused. Whether she would need him to raise their future off-spring or not, the scantily clad nun was definitely something worth drawing their attention away for. Charles's response to her, was something noted by Sakura and she watched as the lad shed a tear. The woman with her large red eyes seemed to be looking at the lad intently, that was such an emotional response, she found herself approaching just a little, to answer his question but also to comfort him, he seemed to need it. "To you, little one, I should be no one... but the one who tried to steal your life, used to call me his wife so I suppose he left behind a bit more of himself than he meant to. Well, he definitely did. I suppose it should be taken as the world forcing the change he refused to make..." she mused as she reached for his face to wipe away his tears. "I'm surprised. That you can see me without it causing you pain, means you're definitely not aimed down the same path..." she stated as if this made sense. Of course, she'd seen quite a bit since coming to the Void, so she was aware of Charles and all he did.

[Bloodedge]

For Anais to be lacking in the experience of adventuring, she had a decent enough level prior to their exchange. She'd certainly be an asset to any party moving forward, even if all she took with her was one additional lecture Ailen had planned. "You say that so solemnly, but you really shouldn't. Don't underestimate the abilities you had even when first landing in Munetsuchi. I count myself among those who believe potential energy is superior to kinetic energy. Potential blossoms when needed, and when it does..." Ailen's sentence did not end, simply because it didn't have to. While he spoke, there was a twisted vine growing across the floor, reaching just in front of Anais and himself. With those final words, a bud at the end of said vine bloomed rapidly into five elongated white petals, creating something of a star-like appearance. That single flower had multiples joining it along the vine's length. With that, Ailen thought nothing else needed saying. Every one of those flowers boasted a magical glow, radiating energy through the nearby air. By then, Ailen heard himself being called amazing for his status. "Subjectively, perhaps. But I am just an alchemist," he rebutted. As for the redacted information in his status similar to her peer's race, he could at least explain why it was the case for him. "Take no offense. Those three Skills are hidden because they follow principles that must never become common knowledge. I will teach you those principles one day, but you must be ready... and they cannot be passed on via the same lectures I've given you already."

Happily enough, Anais seemed very satisfied with the current method of learning upon discovering her own current knowledge. She even understood the potion he'd been making, which she seemingly had no further use for now. Perhaps though, she'd find use in a tool he found inspiration for in her status overview. "It's a marvelous and mysterious thing, isn't it? Now... this sconce you use for your abilities; are you able to produce them as a self-sustaining thing? I may have use of one, if so," he stated.

Something was very strange about that devil woman. Charlemagne was almost certain he had some sort of connection to her, even though he'd never seen her in his life. No... there was a hint of familiarity regardless, though it was a much deeper connection he felt beyond that. Apparently, that sense came from Father An, who was once married to this woman. Ah... she must have been The Mother. Mother? There was something mentioned about a Mother by that crazy old man. Could it have been her? No... that didn't seem wrong, but it didn't seem right either. Either way, the woman claimed seeing her was not causing him pain as it should have if he followed the path of An. He wasn't in any physical pain, but he wouldn't say he felt no pain at all. "This is pain. I feel like I did something, and I don't even know what it was. I don't even think I want to know, honestly. I'll take the victory of being enough myself to stay separate from Father An─"

[Apollymi]

Anais had technically outed herself as feeling a bit unsuited to the task she'd undertaken. Of course, her mentor in his own way sought to help her by reinforcing a certain line of thinking. This was done with words pointing out that she shouldn't feel bad about her inexperience, and then a specific example. The example? A vine which grew until a flower bloomed upon it. It was an interesting looking thing, and she found herself mesmerized by it. "Sugoi! Arigatou... Shishou," the girl said. Strangely she felt better, but that didn't stop those shy reactions. 'He's sweet!~' apparently her inner monologue wasn't strictly plagued by its horniness. Moving on from this her mentor apparently thought he was... just an alchemist and was only amazing from a subjective perspective. "Huh? I wonder if you believe that... or if you are just being modest. Though I don't think elves has modesty as a base characteristic," she said seemingly in thought. "Wait that one might be a bit racist, gomen..." she said quickly. "Still, I don't think it's a matter of subjectivity. You can be both... amazing and an alchemist," she said firmly. Anais was quite an odd girl but she believed this man was as amazing as she thought he was, regardless of how he felt about it. No matter. They could easily continue on, according to him, his missing skills were hidden because they weren't the sort of thing that could be common knowledge. It was interesting to get an explanation for it, but it wasn't as if she was asking for such a thing. "Iia, it isn't like that. I wouldn't take offense to something like that... everyone's entitled to their privacy. But still thank you for explaining it to me... " she said softly.

Truly, Anais could have been more excited about the way her particular form of learning was going. Though it was a bit embarrassing considering the very aggressive voice of her internal monologue, she wasn't having a bad time learning and keeping information. Regardless, it didn't seem to be a problem at all for their interactions and she was asked about the nature of her powers. He asked about the catalysts she used for her flame based magic and she found herself giving a shrug. "Yes, I can just make them..." she mused as she opened her right hand and produced around her fingers a tiny candle holder and then a little standing flame which was the protective magic associated with the white stag. "What do you want to do with it?" she asked interested as always...

Moving on from that, Sakura was watching the interaction between Charles and the Devil Nun Lady. The latter seemed surprised that Charles wasn't in pain from being in her presence, Charles on the other hand said he was indeed in pain. That he thought he'd done something and he wasn't even sure what it was, and didn't really want to know. Sakura gave it consideration and concluded that if this woman was indeed the mother of the gods, then the father of the gods had lied to her repeatedly and caused her great torment since this world began. Then he'd gone on to try and erase her from history by brainwashing the masses into not believing in other gods. Whatever this lad said, the woman seemed to be quite taken with it as a statement and tilted his face to look at him more directly. "Aww, my sweet boy, such a precious sentiment~" she mused in a manner almost similar to the way An referred to all children as his children. "It is definitely a victory. You needn't feel bad for something you didn't actually do... I won't give you those details if you don't wish to have them. Just know that you are succeeding in being different enough, even just by having the decency to empathize," she mused seeming find this boy's emotional state quite interesting.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen nodded when thanked for his reference. No such thing was needed; he spoke only when he felt the need, and only what he viewed as truth. Anais was one in possession of nigh-limitless potential, to such an extent that even he could only help her realize a portion of it. If nothing else, he could at least guide her to prosperity in this world of magic. Of course, he was just a simple alchemist. Anais questioned his modesty, if elves had such a thing. Was that a racist assumption? Well, yes and no. Ailen chuckled over the thought of modest and immodest elves before speaking. "Racist, no. It is a widely-known stereotype which is... also typically true. I am truly just an alchemist, though. If I'm so amazing, it is not my merit alone. I am only the result of my master's teachings, her master before, their master... and you as well. You, my magnum opus, will be amazing. By then, I will be only a shadow cast by the light you radiate," he explained, summarizing a somewhat personal belief of apprenticeships.

Anais could indeed create stable candelabras; she did so with little to no prompting. As for what Ailen wanted to do with it, he'd been planning something since their very first discussion. "Ah, excellent. It's time I grant you something no druid should be without. I dabble in wandsmithing, you see. As you are a Saber, I think this will be neither wand nor stave, but... wisdom works through me now. I will need your sword," he said. Reaching out to the candle, Ailen materialized an arcane ring around it. The object floated away from Anais as if by telekinesis. If produced as requested, her sword would receive the same treatment. "Some of my methods were labeled long ago as Forbidden Knowledge. While I can't teach you those principles yet, I can show you a small example."

Charlemagne's emotional turmoil was met with comforting by the strange nun. A precious sentiment, she called it. Keeping his face turned forward, she assured the lad that no negativity need be associated with that phantom remorse, even going so far as to reiterate the positive of his differing mindset. It seemed Father An had become a lost cause long, long ago. Charlemagne couldn't know all the reasons why, but surely he'd discover the truth in time regardless. Of course, looking at this woman still produced a host of emotions he didn't really want to unpack at the moment. 'Forgive me mommy, for I have sinned,' was one intrusive thought flowing repeatedly through his mind. Looking her way was probably not for the best, though it wasn't as if he could avert his gaze presently. Perhaps he could divert? "So uh... the Void..." he muttered. Sadly, there was no greater point; he'd only said the first thing in his mind which didn't involve perversion or something of the sort.

[Apollymi]

Ah, a minor detour would be taking place in this conversation. As Ailen pointed out that Anais's statements about elves while not racist were based on stereotypes which were widely known and mostly... true. Well, at least he was self-aware. If nothing else, Anais would give credit for that, even if she managed to suppress a little giggle herself after hearing the chuckle of her mentor. Moving on from that, a certain philosophy was shared with the girl, about how this man thought himself only as amazing as all the merit of those who put into his being. The line of mentors that led to him and finished with how he thought of Anais. He according to his own words saw her as his greatest work, something which would reach the height of brightness which could cast shadow over even him. "Hm, I understand how we got here. And when you explain it that way I feel really motivated. I'll do my best, Shishou!~" Anais was an earnest girl, and performed well when she understood what her goals were. Her goal here was simply to become the best she could be, with the ability to pursue that as she wished, it was far better than her previous life had been.

With this in mind, she had produced one of her magical sconces for the man and she found it going into a magical circle. That was interesting, but Ailen was explaining. He claimed to be giving her something a druid couldn't be without and knew that she was a Saber by class so a wand or stave was out of the question but he thought something else might be useful for her instead. And for it he needed her sword. She held out her hand in front of her producing her equipped weapon. A rapier thin bladed with a slightly more ornate than normal handle, and she'd soon find it within a magical circle as well. "Woah! Really?!" the girl was as attentive as ever. Eyes peeled for whatever it was she was about to witness. Still, she hadn't noticed her own nudity nor was she concerned about anything other than whatever she was about to witness. The idea of Forbidden Knowledge was strange to her. There were government secrets, things normal people didn't need to know, or even things that people shouldn't look up... but that kind of just made it more interesting didn't it?

Meanwhile, even while being comforted Charles was experiencing intrusive thoughts. Poor lad, would not know how very interesting these higher tier existences were until a moment like this. "I don't think you've done anything in your entire life that requires forgiveness... those things you think are sins are no such thing. Just an old man projecting his misdeeds onto others..." she said to words that hadn't been spoken. Ah, but that was a pretty easy thing to deal with as well. "I've been this way since I was a young goddess... it's a natural power of mine~" she stated in an almost amused fashion. As for what was spoken aloud she gave a casual shrug. "The Void. A vast and mostly empty space, where Mystery resides..." she said calmly. Sakura nodded seeming to understand. Mystery was a thing the world didn't understand anymore. This was at least part of the Forbidden Knowledge. This was interesting, she had to absorb all this informaiton.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen's explanation was received as well as he'd hoped it would be. It was but the truth of apprenticeship as he knew it, even more specifically the requirement that came alongside taking an apprentice. Ailen could only be considered fulfilling his task when Anais became more than he had ever been. "I'm sure you will. I will be doing my best to make it an easy journey for you. In the end, you will be the most respected alchemist in the world, as the elves see it at least," he mused. Moving on, the addition of Anais's sword to the mix was just what Ailen needed. He took a look at the candle, easily understanding its construction based on what he already knew of Anais. The sword, however, was not a construct of her soul. "Silver? I suppose it works as a safe, rudimentary conductor. The craftsman of this should have taken the risk. Your ability to improvise would allow you to use far more fickle materials than this, even for half the effort," he said. Multiple arrays appeared within those arcane circles he conjured, becoming the seldom-seen transmutation circles instead.

Anais's candle and sword both unraveled down to the very code which constructed them, each line branching out from the circles. At that point, various other circles appeared around the room. The largest of them seemed focused on the rocks surrounding the waterfall. Each circle produced code lines moving toward Ailen's outstretched hand as he focused on the candle and sword... or rather, things that were once a candle and sword. Those two would find themselves combined into one transmutation circle as he proceeded. "Alchemy is not so finite as brewing potions and the like. In its entirety, alchemy is the act of manipulating and altering matter itself. Through alchemy, we extrapolate the effects of everything we touch. We decompose, we reconstruct, and we repurpose. If performed skillfully, one can even create gold from lead. And, with enough experience and understanding... we can even enter the territory of gods," he explained. In that moment, Anais's sword materialized from coding in Ailen's hand. She would find it a bit more ornate than the previous variant. Silver which previously constructed its blade now functioned as a candelabra in the shape of a rapier handle. The candle itself ran through the rainguard, even entering the base of a flawless white blade, too pure and white to even be called ivory. Ailen believed this weapon would be far more suited to Anais on a spiritual level.

Within the Void, Charlemagne was having his inner musings read... again. After the previous experience, one would think he'd have the sense to control his mind. Ah, but no... he couldn't do that. Suddenly, the male's face was painted crimson. This woman luckily hadn't mentioned the whole of his thought process, even though she acknowledged it fully in spirit. "Uh... alright, yeah. So you can..." He was prepared to ask if she was actually reading his mind, but the woman beat him to that just as the male had done earlier. This time, clarity was given in a more direct manner. "So all of you can just read minds then, huh?" he concluded. For some reason, he had a minor understanding of a thing called Mystery residing in the Void. Perhaps that was a callback to what he knew of demons, or perhaps it was something else entirely. Frankly, Charlemagne was having a difficult time keeping his own memories separate from Father An's. It seemed the longer he looked at this woman, the more he had to consciously determine what thoughts and feelings were his own.

[Apollymi]

Apparently, the end result of Anais's journey would be her becoming the most respected alchemist in the world. Well, according to him that was by Elf standard, but Elf standard was probably considered one of the highest standards that existed in the world in general. "Sou ka, that sounds like a lot. Still, I'm glad you'll be helping me..." the girl mused. This wasn't the type of adventure she'd want to undertake alone. Nor was it something she'd even considered during her playthrough of this world as a game. Perhaps this was the important part, doing something different and growing beyond her original limits. Ah, and now he seemed to be looking at the things she'd given him. Analyzing them, her own magic hadn't had any comment, that was to be expected, she did give him a full explanation of how her magic worked earlier. Beyond that... there was the sword she used, it was silver, he claimed other materials might have been better. "Silver is one of the better metals to work with for humans in general. Not many human craftsmen can handle it well... not to mention the issues with getting your hands on more magically inclined materials..." she commented. Just the same her eyes were locked on the changes in the circles. What did it mean? Why were so many popping up?

Well apparently she was about to see... Alchemy wasn't strictly about brewing potions. In this case, it seemed that Alchemy went from the realm of high fantasy into the realm of science fiction. Oh, well that made a great deal more sense. "That is science," she stated her own understanding. Of course, science fiction concepts would be considered forbidden knowledge in a world that was run by magic. It would be way too easy to use the imagination to make that sort of thing work without the general rules known about them. Still, Anais got to watch the creation of her new weapon by a method that was so fascination. "Ooh?!~ It's cool!~" she mused, not about the weapon specifically but about the entire process. The weapon was soon looked at for some very specific reasons. It seemed all the things that had gone into it originally were still there... but the blade itself seemed quite different. Ah, that must have been what came out of the rocks. The weapon looked much more ornate and had a feeling that seemed a bit more familiar to Anais overall.

Meanwhile Charles was coming to a strange conclusion. All of these type of gods could read minds... that likely wasn't true. "I don't think it is the case that all of us can read minds. All of us can read things we are meant to. My original form of Creation encompassed many things... reading minds, communicating directly into them, seeing the future, these were skills innate to my person... I gave up the future sight for a while, but the rest never stopped being used by me. Some of my children display other things, like the ability to read emotions, or hearts or intentions...." she explained of that particular difference. In observing the whole of this situation, Sakura realized that Charles seemed to be a bit odd during his questioning of the woman here. Sakura reached out to touch him knowing that it might help him a bit, given the amount of comfort one could receive from touch. "Oh? The children of wisdom are all so interesting~" mused the nun. Of course this gained Sakura's attention. "Children?" she asked. "Oh? You haven't met yet... well, that is interesting," she mused once more. She motioned Sakura a bit closer and once she was close enough she pressed her lips against the girl's forehead. Doing so would give her a gift. "Have that... I can't name you since Dad did it already, but... you can have that. Consider it a gift for you and your mother. I never considered wisdom separate in the first place. All children were my children," she mused. Sakura opened her eyes, and the redness had seemed to have gained a bit of extra depth, and her clairvoyance seemed to have evolved a bit. Presently those red eyes had become, 'Goddess Eyes'. "Really? No questions or clarifications?"

[Bloodedge]

"Of course. I have a duty of care. Regardless of the fact that I took it upon myself, I will perform my duty to the best of my ability," Ailen assured. One could only hope his best was sufficient. Thus far, that seemed to be the case... whenever he wasn't being distracted out of providing lectures. If something like that was his future, however, it would surely be a long relationship with no sense of monotony. Regardless, he had a present for the lass. That sword was not nearly as simplistic a material as silver, or even things like gold and platinum. The 'wand' of it was hidden within its blade, which itself was among the greatest magical conductors in existence. "I have for you a tool that will serve you almost as well as knowledge. Never let it leave your side. The more you adjust to it, the more it will adjust to you," he stated. Of course, there was more to explain. "The blade is Orichalcum. Most believe it is a physically powerful ore that is difficult to work with. In truth, it is the creation of gods such as Miwa. This, coming from this room, is a construct of her and myself. You should be easily acclimated to it through your connection to me."

According to the nun, not all gods could read minds. Well, Charlemagne didn't think that of all gods. The two he'd seen today, including one who willingly took the identity of the 'one' God, however... were obviously a different story. "God read my mind in the Nexus. That's two for two so far, assuming you're like... Dark God or something," he mused. Charlemagne sighed as more information to process entered his mind. When this was all over, he would definitely be taking a mental health break from everything, everywhere. He gave this much consideration while the nun and Sakura were speaking, finding at least a bit of peace from the latter's simple touch. In time, he'd hold onto enough of his own opinions to manage. So then, were there questions? Charlemagne had them in spades without even knowing where to start. That, however, was often the case in these moments. "I have about ten thousand questions, and I can't even single out one. I've been having a bunch of stuff thrown right into my head for the past two days. So... one question: do you have any way I can compartmentalize before I even think of asking for more stuff?"

[Apollymi]

A duty of care. This is what Ailen claimed to have when it came to Anais and her development. It seemed like such a noble cause, though he had indeed taken it unto himself, Anais felt as if her mentor was truly one who wished to help her in any way possible. Whatever the case, she was certain the best of his abilities would be some interesting things to see. 'You can definitely take care of me to the best of your abilities!~' oh, it was back. That voice of hers which was almost vulgar in her own head which seemed to only be thinking about sex. "Hai, I look forward to it," she said seeming to think their relationship would only become more interesting over time. Speaking of interesting, she was soon being presented this new weapon of hers. Now that her mind had started working again his words registered in her head in a strange way, 'He can have that tool adjust us any time~' Anais needed to quiet her brain at some point. Perhaps eventually there would be something that could keep her mind from wandering so far just from simple moments of speech? "Hai, I'll keep it with me... besides I kind of want to," she mused. It was strange but she felt almost attracted to the weapon. Ah, an explanation, Orichalcum was quite the rare material but what she and other humans thought it was, was not at all what it was... huh. That was interesting. She'd have to share some of that at least, it would definitely be of help to Olga. "Huh, I didn't know that one... I am very sure this is a misunderstood material. Still, it's a lot... and it feels nice, like I'm sure it could do anything I think of..." she said holding it out in front of herself. "Arigatou Gouzaimasu, Shishou," she thanked the man for his contribution to her future.

Meanwhile, the nun was called, 'Dark God' that was close enough to the truth to make her laugh. "Hehe~, I suppose that is close enough to the truth." Beyond this she'd asked if they had questions but it seemed Charles was suffering just a bit. That didn't make much sense, as he claimed he couldn't keep track of the things going on well enough to know where to begin to question things. His power the one he'd taken from Anu was the power of Order. Ah... perhaps what was left of his humanity was getting in his way? "If you want to compartmentalize you can. Your self is something you can control... how you wish to organize your mind and the information within it, isn't being impeded by anything but your own limits. Close your eyes... take a deep breath," she said. Still so close she was able to run her hand over the lad's eyes gently. She was quite reminded of her early conversations with her son, about his powers. She had quite a bit of experience talking her children through their powers and the developments and problems between. "Now... clear your mind. See the way you would want to organize the things in your head. Are they little boxes? Are the books? Are they branches of a tree budding into leaves... whatever form you are most comfortable with see that... and place all the information in those. Take your time... there is no rush, find the way that works best for you..." she talked the lad through potentially figuring out how to organize his own mind. She wasn't sure what he'd chose, but she'd given examples that he might find good. She spoke calmly, warmly with her nature as 'mother' seemingly leaking into every word. Comforting was what she was going for, giving acceptance and freedom, much like Sakura had provided while he rebuilt himself. Sakura for her part in this, realized that her mind organized her thoughts as threads... but she hadn't had to think about that. She felt strangely knowing that the lad with her had been struggling with something innate to her form.

[Bloodedge]

Without being privy to Anais's mental rebuttals, he had only her verbal confirmation to work with. From that, he could surmise that Anais was... "Thrilled to learn. That's good. There is a long future ahead of you. It will ideally be a fun experience, but it may also surely be strenuous at times. Some future lectures alone may consume entire days and require much effort to take in. Then, there is still the experience of putting learned things into practice to consider..." the elf rambled. Once Anais took up her new sword, receiving the explanation of its primary material, Ailen reached out to run a hand gently along the blade. His other arm hadn't left Anais, but keeping that position seemed even more important now than it had been when viewing statuses. "Perhaps not anything... but nearly. With your magical catalyst inside, its position is perfect to utilize Orichalcum's innate abilities. Destructive power has its limitations, but I don't think you'll see that as an issue. After all, you are more attuned to creating. Just think of it as a staff that can also be used as a sharp melee weapon. Oh, and... a name," he added.

'Dark God' seemed about accurate enough for this woman. It seemed a bit rude to call her a devil or demon; that all sounded a bit derogatory to Charlemagne. Whether it was or wasn't in truth ─ well, that was another matter entirely. The nun laughed, though. For some reason, Charlemagne found that moment so very calming. It felt as if something had been set right, even if only temporarily. She even had some advice to give him in response to his latest question. Charlemagne's mind was something he could compartmentalize so long as he had the will to do so. Instructed to close his eyes and breathe deeply, he did precisely that. Clearing his mind took a bit, but he placed a bit of faith in the nun. Bit by bit, he decided to put all his worries away until later. Now, how did he think to organize all the things in his head? Boxes didn't work for him. Books were too much clutter. Branches and leaves would require too much focus to determine which was what. Overall, Charlemagne would be standing there with his eyes closed for a few minutes before deciding... trading cards were the ideal method of compartmentalization. Each card would have information about a certain person or thing. As a single example, the woman speaking to him was assigned a card with all he knew about her thus far in its text; that card would be sorted into a deck assigned to the Void itself. In the end, he had only a few loose cards with no deck to call home. A card dedicated to Sakura could be counted among those. "Alright. I don't know where everything is going, but it's mostly sorted. That was super helpful; thanks a ton. So... my main question: what do you do? What's the real purpose of demons, the Void and all that stuff?"

[Apollymi]

Anais's mental rebuttals would remain deep in her subconscious, except for the few times they managed to slip past her innate mental defenses. Right now, they were at a somewhat controlled level, until of course, the man started talking again. This time about the thrill of learning and strenuous lessons. 'Cram school has a whole different meaning in this world!~' Ah, never would it cease. Anais was managing to suffer secondhand embarrassment from things her brain was thinking about the excitement of the situation, 'You'll be worth the experience, Shishou!~' she mused internally. "I'll do my best..." she managed quite red in the face. If her brain would stop being so direct, she'd likely stop blushing, but to her own dismay her mind wouldn't let her off the hook. Ah, it was okay, they were moving on... well sort of. Right at the moment he was still resting with one arm around her torso while the other was gently running a hand along her blade. Of course, she thought this closeness might not have been necessary, but she also didn't hate it at all. Boundaries were disappearing by the moment and she knew it. It seemed nearly anything, would be what this weapon was capable of, not everything. The girl managed to look just a little pouty, a puff in her cheek would give light to a slightly childish response. "Shishou... let me dream," she mused in a semi-joking manner. Of course, there was the matter of the name of this creation and she found herself giving it a reasonable bit of thought. "I have to choose a good name this time... it deserves something good," she mused. She was still a knight under Charlemagne, she was protective, imaginative, and her form of light was gentle and flickering like a candle. The name she chose should encompass those things and everything such a thing could do. A wand which could also be melee range cutting device was many things. In her mind a quote about pens and swords... in her heart a gentle lone white flame. "Lumen Calamum... yeah I like that, what do you think Shishou?" she asked. The choice in name was many things, but it amounted to... 'Candlelight Quill or Light Pen' something that could create magically and that illuminated the mysteries of pages, something that could guide with wisdom or be sharp and witty. It could even be used to compose, draw, or just to write... all aspects she would have considered were tucked into such a simple name. Yes. All things that fit her general theme.

While Anais awaited thoughts about her named new tool, there was the matter of Charles. It seemed to Sakura he was missing quite a few of his base functions in thought and body, but the woman in the black room was content to talk him through them. She gave him the kind of advice that Sakura herself had given when figuring out he didn't just understand the natural way to do things. She sounded quite soothing too... it reminded Sakura of having her head rubbed by her mother while having things explained to her. Yes... that was quite right. And after a few moments it seemed Charles was capable of doing exactly what he set out to do. He even thanked the woman for her help at the end of it all. She smiled and patted his head the way a doting parent would. "I am happy to help little one, I am glad you found use in such a simple thing..." she mused. Ah, but now he had questions. What did she do? What was the point of demons, the Void and all this stuff? "Those are many questions. Let's start at the beginning then, hm?" she asked. "The Void is the place Mystery resides. One could consider it, a dumping ground of things that cannot exist in the world as it currently is and it is where abandoned things to until they are found again. It is a place that lacks the logic of the world," she explained in a general sort of way. "Demons are the off-spring of the former Gods of Destruction. Many carry the destructive aspects meant to balance the creative aspects most often seen in the world. Things are meant to be balanced... creation and destruction exist in a cycle," she explained in a simplified manner. "Demons and Destroyers were never meant to be excluded forever, creation run rampant can be problematic," she clarified. "Oh there is a visual which explains it rather well..." she said producing in an open palm the symbol of Yin and Yang. In light there is darkness and in darkness light, swirled together to look a bit like a tomoe. "As for what I am, I was once simply a Goddess of Creation, the one who made the world you inhabit and who birthed the Anunnaki... now I think I would most aptly be called the Queen of the Void and a Demon God... a harmonious balance of my own creative and destructive aspects." she clarified of herself.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen merely clarified to the girl, but upon responding, she did so in a huff. She wanted to dream, did she? Well... that was good. "By all means, dream away. Doing so will only help you. Keep in mind, while you may not be able to do everything, you can get rather close. I only mean to say you should remember to apply that ingenuity when necessary," he said, raising a hand to gently tap the girl's forehead. "You may find that some things won't work as well the way you originally imagined them, so be willing to try other methods," he concluded. Anais then went on to consider a name for her new weapon. What she came up with was quite fitting for multiple purposes, though her question was entirely unnecessary. "I think Lumen Calamum is an excellent name... but my opinion is irrelevant. The one whose opinion matters is right there in your hand," he said with special attention drawn toward the sword itself.

Charlemagne's mind was functioning not at maximum capacity, but close enough that he could function as normal. He even took the time to sort through a few additional things mentally, making sure everything was stable enough to remain in place. Another deep breath was taken and exhaled as a sigh. It seemed he'd be alright for the time being. Perhaps that hand atop his head even managed to bolster Charlemagne's ability to balance? It felt like it did, but maybe he was just imagining things. Regardless, he'd be receiving a long explanation of the Void and its inhabitants. Gods, as he knew them, were simply the creative side that remained in the world when Mystery no longer had a place in it. He'd heard talk of Mystery before, once or twice. The nun went into detail about a necessary balance between creation and destruction, exemplifying Yin and Yang as a visual in doing so. That, too, was a thing he knew well. Charlemagne had already come to realize both sides of the equation had good and evil within, but surprisingly... it was this woman who birthed the world and somehow became a creature of destruction afterwards. "Huh. So I've been sent out to cull Demonoids so many times... basically because Father An's a racist, I'm guessing. Some of them definitely needed to be taken down, but now that I think about it... that wasn't the case for every one. Ugh. For what it's all been worth, I'd have preferred working for the Void instead─"

[Apollymi]

The pouty behavior of Anais was acknowledged and allowed? Yes. He claimed she could dream all she wanted to, but that she shouldn't forget to use ingenuity or flexibility when needed. All of this came with a gentle tap to her forehead, which made her eyes widen and her heart skip a beat. This man was strangely good at being in an intimate relationship with her, which seemed to be both platonic and romantic and a bunch of other things all at once. "Hai, I understand, Shishou..." ah, she was blushing and seeming a bit sheepish again. If this man was good for one thing, it was keeping this girl out of her normal wits. Moving on from this her question concerning the name of her weapon was apparently unnecessary. She should apparently be directing it to the sword? "Of course... I am going to replace one strange habit with another," she murmured, knowing that she had a habit of talking to her favorite instrument when she was in the previous world. Talking to a sword/wand or whatever was likely less odd in this world, but that didn't mean she'd be changing her personality in general. "No offense meant of course, Lumen Calamum... do you like it? I could think of something else... I'd hate to call you something you don't like..." she mentioned seeming to be watching and listening rather hard. Ah... a gentle glow began burning on that white blade and a flickering sound like a cackling flame occurred. Nothing destructive happened and there was nothing she could misinterpret. "Alright. Chose a good name... that could have been really awkward," she murmured thinking of a scene from a movie where terrible things happened in inanimate objects were dissatisfied. And with that she seemed pleased to have done all of this.

In the meantime, there was the speech being given to Charles and Sakura. Of course, at the end of it there was some sort summary. He claimed to understand that there was some large prejudice held by Father An against Demonoids. He claimed that he understood some were doing bad things, but that some were not and as such he would have preferred working with the Void instead, as that group seemed less outright wrong. "Well, the simple answer is yes." A smirk crossed the face of the nun as she considered his words. "The one you call Father An, is or was... the God of Order. His order made it so that the Destroyers, Demons and Demonoids read as evil to the world. They are against the will of creation, but those ideals are extreme. Also... his dislike of them and anything you've done in the past because of it, doesn't have anything to do with me. This form I have... is only a couple of days old by now I think. For me it's been a very busy day," she said with unnerving calm. "My existence here is also recent enough that I cannot say how good or bad of a time you would have had trying to work within the Void. It was nothingness filled with broken things until I stretched a bit. But not to worry, you're connected to it now through her..." she explained. "Some of those who are trying to get through, truly just want to enjoy life in the material world. Of course, some have taken it personally that they are excluded and wish to dominate, but like everyone they can be judged on an individual basis. It is why the newest beginning for the truly evil ones will be in the form of those... Dark Grails," she explained, giving a smile to Sakura. "I am still the goddess of beginnings. They won't be allowed to run rampant nor will I let them fill the Underworld and make more work for my baby girl. She's honeymooning after all~" she mentioned seeming pleased by the developments. Sakura gave a gentle nod, and placed again against Charles's back seeming to want to comfort him as well. This was a lot to take in, but knowing would help him make better decisions. Sakura herself was simply pleased her creation was going to be put to such good use.

[Bloodedge]

Anais seemed to think interacting with her new weapon was strange. He couldn't fault her for that, as it was just another matter of misunderstanding. Many didn't know the true functionality of souls in this world ─ including those who originated here. For his apprentice's sake, Ailen would gladly offer a proper explanation. "You may find it strange, but it isn't as if you must have repeated discussion with a sword. All things have souls, though. Your new sword could have whatever name you please, but as with people, you can only expect it to act within its existence... which is very much determined by the name," he stated. Regardless, it seemed the name Anais chose was accepted fully by the Orichalcum blade. Such a rare thing it was to see a tool take so easily, but he supposed it was already partially acclimated to her, and vice-versa. "Interesting. I suppose you won't be needing to train with it before using it as your own. Good; that is the ideal situation. Now, what of your mental state? I would have assumed you were no longer in need of the potion, but your demeanor does keep returning to what it once was. I'll leave that decision to you."

Speaking of decisions, Charlemagne was still questioning his own choice to work under Father An. That man was once the God of Order, a name implying the very power Charlemagne apparently possessed now. It made sense that demons, or Destroyers as they were called, were innately against someone like that. The antithesis of order was always chaos, however... one needed the other to exist. Just as light needed darkness and good needed evil, one would never have existed without the other to enable it. "I'm not really getting how the racist part came up, but I never get that anyway. Just another sin for the Holy Father," Charlemagne mused. Whether he'd been working under the Void or not, surely anything would have been a better option than what he'd done, and who he'd done it for. Even if this woman had entered the Void only a few days before, switching sides just then would have been perfect timing. Ah, to dream of a better past. Pointless though it was, Charlemagne found himself entertaining the fantasy for a few moments. Whatever the case, he'd have to make some changes moving forward. Perhaps... he'd reclaim his place as Holy Emperor, but go about it properly. Father An's removal was obviously a necessity. If he took the reins with all this new information though, he could pass along the right message. Demons were not to be hated automatically, and powers deemed holy were not to be revered automatically either. All Charlemagne had to do was win against Father An, and... willingly take the position he tried to throw away. That was a terrible thought, but one he thought himself capable of bringing to fruition. How strange that was; Charlemagne believed he was officially well-suited to a position of power, even if only for a few specific purposes. "I think I know what I have to do now," he said upon finding a previously-unknown resolve deep within.

[Apollymi]

Another lesson was coming Anais's way. According to Ailen, she wouldn't need to speak to her weapon repeatedly, but it was a thing with a soul and thus needed to be attuned to her to do what she wished it to do. This of course, included it taking on a name which would allow it to do the things she had in mind. "Hai hai, names are important... and no one wants to answer to something embarrassing, childish or limiting... even weapons..." she processed. She had no problem making sure her weapon liked its name. And here in the moment it seemed it agreed. It really was relieving to not have it reject it and it meant that she wouldn't have to spend a ridiculous amount of time getting used to it either. This was comforting. So, now what? Well, it seemed Ailen was content to question the girl about her mental state. Well, that was fine. Thinking about it, she doubted she needed his potion to calm her nerves, though she was still interested in seeing it made, it likely wouldn't do what it was supposed to for her demeanor because it wasn't a simple matter of her nerves. In truth unless that potion would quiet the voice of her internal monologue she'd likely be periodically redfaced regardless. It was probably better for her to skip that part. Her sword would disappear in the moment as it was equipped properly and she'd explain. "I am fine, Shishou. I did admit to being really easy to fluster in the first place," she murmured once more seeming to have gone a bit shy. "It will come and go... I am still really interested in the potion though. I'd like to see it made..." she said aloud. In the moment she reached over for those black lace undergarments and went to slide them up her legs. She was content to ignore her own nudity for the most part, but wasn't quite so comfortable that she'd walk around in someone else's space completely naked. Ah, but now she was having a problem. As she went to slide these little stretchy panties up her legs, she found them hitching at around her thighs. What was this? These weren't her thighs, her thighs were thin, long a bit depressing. These thighs were large, curvy, soft things that belonged on someone with a much better general shape than she had. "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS? WHOSE THIGHS ARE THESE?!" Yep, all that composure was right out the window. She was still human enough after all...

As Charles talked with this nun he seemed to gain information from what she said. The only thing he didn't get, was how Father An ended up blanketly hating every thing that could have been related to destruction. A sigh came from the nun, she had no answers either. "To be honest, I am his twin, we shared a great deal of our lives together and I have no idea where he developed that sentiment. I am married to the Destroyer now and I have found the ability to hate even things I've created by their own actions, but not just every or anyone I've met without foundation," she stated honestly. Proof of course, that she didn't believe herself infallible by any means. Moving on from this, a great deal of thought came from Charles before he announced that he knew what he needed to do. Ah, such resolve form this one, made someone like this nun exceedingly proud. "Oh? They grow up so fast~" she teased gently. "I do like such a thing from you... so here, just one more thing before you go..." she mused. She moved forward and wrapped her arms around the lad. Her intention to give him a hug. One which would end in him buried against her form, feeling the warmth and comfort of mother to child and something else. It was the sort of feeling which woudl connect to him down to the level of his soul... something which would be tangible to him... she'd also say one more thing. "When everything feels like it's too much. When you're drowning and you feel you have no way out, remember this feeling and know something important," she mused aloud. But in his mind a gentle and teasing whisper. 'Mommy loves you!~' she said that to both of these children, her hand resting upon the top of Sakura's head, which gave her a similar feeling of warmth. Of course it would... she was the one connected to the Void, but she also didn't truly need the help, Sakura understood that by the time the chat with Charles started properly.

[Bloodedge]

With Anais understanding the usefulness of names even in weapons, there was a great deal of time saved. "It's good that you follow along so easily. It seems no lecture will be required to explain the necessity," he stated. Of course, there remained a possibility of some missing bits and pieces. If nothing else, he would probably add the specifics to another lecture down the line. What he allegedly wouldn't have to do in the near future, was complete that potion from earlier... though despite insisting she was fine, Anais expressed interest in the potion's creation. "If that's the case, then perhaps you'd like to assist me in finishing it? That is something to be expected of you for your live application of new knowledge, so it would be beneficial to start now."

It seemed Anais was all but ready to depart from the bedroom. She took up those undergarments and... immediately struggled to get them very far past her knees. Ailen was not surprised after looking at the tiny garment and knowing of her growth, yet Anais herself lost her wit over the realization. Ah. Ailen came to realize something. "My apologies. It seemed that was missed in the earlier teaching. Your body is your own. What you see now is the result of higher-functioning mana circuits and pathways, in addition to the upgrade to your mana from the transfer. Your body before was in a state of stagnation. From now onward, you should see even more growth, including around the bust as I realized when drawing energy from you earlier."

There was no shortage of disturbing information for Charlemagne today. The Father and The Mother were twins. That was a bit 'ancient Greek' for his taste, but he could move past it. Whatever the case, he knew the path he had to walk. It was going to be difficult, it was going to be annoying, and it may not even be worthwhile for him personally in the end... but it would be for the best, he thought. Before he even finished formulating a plan, there were arms surrounding him. That couldn't be all, though; it never could be. He was engulfed by arms and by those barely-covered mountains jutting from the woman's chest. He should have been taken aback, embarrassed, or even something else ─ but no, he felt only comfort. She instructed him to remember this moment when everything went south, adding a whispered statement that he heard only in his mind. Charlemagne could feel a gentle darkness flowing through his soul like a slow-moving river, engulfing and penetrating the sphere that was his Source. A certain emptiness he didn't even realize he had before had been filled, in a way. What was this? He couldn't be sure, but he knew it was something... good.

[Apollymi]

According to Ailen it was good that she seemed to catch on so quickly. In truth, Anais would say that anyone who couldn't figure out the importance of things like names in a fantasy world probably needed adult supervision. "The general point of such things wouldn't be lost on me, if you feel the need to specify later though I'd be fine with that as well..." she girl said seeming to have confessed to wanting to know greater details when he thought they'd be necessary. Beyond this point and right before she noticed the growth of her thighs, it was asked of her if she'd like to help him in finishing that potion she'd seen. She had at least a little understanding of it already so a bit of practical practice would be worth it. That being said she was in the middle of a major freak out, so it would be put to the side as a thought initially. Ah, in Ailen's case he went on to explain this, seeming to think it was missing from her earlier lessons. It might have been, but she also could have been told this and still wouldn't have thought it applied to her. After the explanation she calmed down and took a deep breath. "Alright, it's fine. Not your fault... you could have told me that if you wanted to and I still would have freaked out... magical world puberty kick-started by mana transfers. I get that. It makes sense... I may actually get bigger boobs out of this so I'll have to put bra shopping on my list too," she quietly. Yes, she worked her way through it. She'd freaked out but it was fine. She could still get dressed. She'd slide those black lace panties up her thighs to leave them resting on her hips, having stood, she looked down her own body with purpose. She supposed it didn't look bad, though she did have a gentle bit of squeezing taking place along her hips and bottom. She could seen her own pale skin through the lace and knew it was definitely a Janessa choice, but it didn't look bad from this angle. Ah, and he'd asked her about helping with the potion. "Oh... and yes, I'd really like to help you finish that potion," she mused. 'Does he think these look nice?' one of those wayward thoughts crept in as she turned barefoot in front of the bed as if she was still inspecting them herself.

At the same time, it seemed that they would be leaving the Void soon. This room and its welcoming was very different. "Are you happy now?" asked Sakura, this woman had been through a lot of even half the stories about her life were to be believed. She wondered if she'd managed to find something worthwhile in her new marriage at least. "Yes, of course, and you all will be as well... tough journeys and hard decisions are a part of life, but don't let it stop you from experiencing it. And don't let starting over discourage you, new beginnings are the best part~" this was the final advice of the warm motherly figure in the darkness before the pair were dropped back where they had been, leaving Charles still feeling like he'd gotten a nice warm hug. Sakura on the other hand could still feel a warm hand atop her forehead and those red eyes of hers seemed to have gained an almost liquid quality as she opened them. What was more... those shadows at her feet hadn't disappeared at all... they seemed to be moving with her instead.

[Bloodedge]

Indeed, Ailen would include the missing segments of that information at a later time. He nodded upon hearing Anais's confirmation of this, thinking he knew just what to include it with. While he considered this, his offer was... skimmed over briefly. Understandable though it was, Anais decided to continue going on about the state of her body. Well, at least she didn't seem to have a problem with it. That would have been detrimental to her future, as she'd be certain to see many changes. Ah, but there was one problem. . . "It's good to accept it now, rather than later. By my approximation, your final state of being will be even more fleshed-out than the image Miwa presents," he added. "But... bra shopping? Whatever would you need to do that for?" he wondered beyond all else. Moving on though, Anais managed to don those undergarments, and Ailen observed curiously. He could see the flesh of her hips through their design; it was an interesting fashion choice overall. "Hmm. Curious," the elf mumbled. Whatever the case, the important matter of that potion came up again. Anais was interested in helping him finish it, so he stood up and readied himself mentally. Of course, Ailen hadn't done a thing in terms of putting his manhood away... but he didn't do that on the way to the bedroom either. "Very well; we should be on our way then."

In the final moments of their time in the Void, Sakura asked the mother goddess/demon about her happiness. It seemed she was content with current life, which put Charlemagne at ease in a way he couldn't explain. Of course, he knew he'd done nothing to wrong this woman... yet that sensation of guilt caused by someone else's spiritual memories remained. "I'm glad you're better off now. I know I don't have anything to do with it, but I can still feel it inside. Though... I don't think your ex-husband feels the same. There's a part in here that feels uh... possessive? Entitled? Angry? Maybe all of those, and something else. Either way, I'll keep that with me. Maybe I can help set things right for all of us," Charlemagne said in his final moments within the Void. Once they were sent off, he stood alone next to Sakura in the Zen Pavilion. Something strange was happening; that pool of darkness remained in a more active form than before. Naturally, he was curious. "Eh? Is there more going on now?" he wondered.

[Apollymi]

A minor freak out had occurred on Anais's part. And much like she'd mentioned before, she'd managed to calm herself down within just a few moments. She was prone to fluster, and outburst but she wasn't completely unreasonable. Of course, there was something else. According to Ailen, Anais would likely end up with a figure more filled out than the one presented by the goddess of wisdom. That sentence produced a whole host of questions. "Wait? Presents? Like she's controlling it?!" she asked. "Wait, wait... box that... later questions," she mused. Ah, being more than that was somewhat a scary prospect. Well, after her last life she'd be happy to at least look her own age but that seemed like quite a lot, the goddess of wisdom was far from seeming small. She had a good medium is premium vibe going on. And beyond that Ailen seemed to have a strange curiosity about bra shopping. That was weird, she found herself looking at him, with as much curiosity as he was checking out her hips in those rather skimpy undergarments. 'I'll take that as a yes, buy more!~' she chimed within her own mind. Oh yes, the evasive thoughts returned with a vengeance. "Do you not understand why because you don't know what a bra is, or do you not understand why because I don't understand something about magical world physics?" she asked seeming to have come to a strange conclusion. Thinking about it, she'd seen a few bras around but they seemed to be purely decoration. Regardless, having decided she probably looked okay, she finished dressing though a little bit of a hop was required to get back into her pants she dressed with a normal amount of vigor and soon had a hood to tuck her face back into and boots on her feet. "Hai, Shishou..." she'd accompany him easily after placing her boots back on and only give a minor bit of thought to the sensation of her thighs touching each other.

Before they left the Void, Charles had something to share, words with the nun who seemed to look at the lad with an intensity that would have set most people's skin to crawl. Oh? He was happy she was happy? She believed him, but he could still feel the emotions possessed by Anu, all of them made sense given her twin's personality and the freshness of her liberation. Still, what she didn't expect was Charles claiming he might try and set it right for everyone. Her eyes widened and a small smile crept onto her lips. "What a sweet boy. I wouldn't have minded one like you as my second son..." she mused. Some things couldn't change, but somethings could. This lad was such a nice boy. Whatever issues remained with Anu, she didn't really care, she was far beyond wasting her time thinking about that man and his follies, still these children would be worth keeping an eye on.

Speaking of keeping an eye on someone. After they returned to the Zen Pavilion, Charles took note of the swirling mass of darkness beneath the feet of Sakura. She looked at Charles asking if something else was going to happen and shook her head no. "Iie, this belongs to me. My magic has been pretty formless until now, but I figured out while we were in the Void that it was partly because the world's current order doesn't like the element I use," she stated with a nod. "This is the form it's taken since I absorbed the evil of your grail... but, I think it is a bit autonomous," she explained as tendrils of darkness crept up her body and solidified into solid black clothing in the form of a short dress. "You seem pretty emotionally stable right at the moment. Did you decide something?" she asked seeming to wonder what was going through the lad's mind. The tendrils also kept moving wrapping about her legs and seeming be waiting for something.

[Bloodedge]

Ailen's mouth was open, ready to answer the girl's question about Miwa. Alas, she was speaking again by the time he'd prepared even a single utterance. It seemed she didn't want to delve into such things right away. Instead, she wished to address his question about bra shopping. Frankly, he thought it would be silly under the right circumstances. Perhaps she had a very specific reason, but his question was for the sake of finding said reason. "I am familiar with them as a piece of clothing. However, I truly wonder why you would want any. If it is for visual purposes such as those undergarments, I understand the desire completely. To call it a need, on the other hand, seems asinine. Of course, I am in support of the idea if they are made in the same fashion as... those," he added, paying special attention once more to that black lace. He'd have to mention that sort of thing to his wife; surely he and a few others would find joy in it. He'd keep that in mind for the future, but for now, Anais was seemingly dressed enough to move on. Out he'd go then, making his way back to the workshop where an unfinished potion lay waiting. "So, can you recall enough to figure out what's missing? Are there any changes or additions you would make to the mix?"

Once again back where his transformation began, Charlemagne was taken aback by the darkness which... apparently belonged to Sakura. Once more, he was having something explained to him. She owned that darkness since absorbing it from his grail, through him even. She claimed it took the current form, or lack thereof, because the world's existing order had no place for her power. How ridiculous. Charlemagne had seen one outlandish thing after another in the past 48 hours alone, so to think there was no way for a proper manifestation of something was almost ludicrous. "That's not cool at all. I can get it not being understood and all. I mean... Mystery is kind of the name and all. Something like a 'Hollow' attribute should be easy to consider, though, shouldn't it?" he theorized. Little did Charlemagne know, he was the majority owner of the concept called Order. The simple act of firmly believing something should work, in his case, would amount to some level of influence over the world and its existing rules. As for his emotional stability and any decisions he'd come to, there was a bit to say. "I did. I have to find Aincrad, help everyone, take down Father An, and clear my name. Before I do that, though... there's another name I've been trying to clear lately. I'm Father An's second sacrifice. I still have to do something about the first before I do anything for myself."

[Apollymi]

Ailen was stopped from talking by Anais's convergence of thoughts. Of course, he went on to explain his point about undergarments. Apparently, he completely understood what a bra was but didn't understand shopping. He could agree to it however if it was to get pieces that matched the underwear she wore. Ah, well that made sense she supposed, "Huh? It's a magical thing isn't it. I haven't actually heard anyone complaining about stiff shoulders or anything," she mused. Ah, but Ailen had said more than just that he'd agree with the decision for shopping if it was for matching pieces. 'Yosh! He likes it!~' she yelled internally. Oh, something else though, "Shishou, they'd have to match. I'd probably be annoyed by them otherwise. Material matching is also good for general purposes... so probably still going shopping," she stated. Yes, she'd definitely be getting bras to match her underwear if only because there were some strange potentials in her future. Ah, whatever the case was... they were now back to their potion making. She'd moved along with him and found herself looking at the table. Dry Ingredients were in a mortar, there was a small amount of Chromus Slime and other such liquids. "The Basilisk Chitin isn't in either of these things..." she said looking at the table for a bit longer. Was there anything she'd add? Her eyes closed for just a second and her ears seemed to twitch just a little she opened her eyes and pointed to small almost juniper like berries. "Sopophorous Beans... you could use a bit of that," she said giving it a bit more thought in looking at that particular ingredient card in her head. "Hm, just the juice though... would calm wayward thoughts like putting someone to sleep, but getting enough juice out of them would be hard since they are bouncy when poked. Crushed? Like Garlic... that might work," she said seeming to have thought it through to some extent.

Meanwhile, there was a conversation happening between Sakura and Charles. She was explaining the way her magic worked and Charles seemed to think it was uncool that she couldn't just use it. The extent of his understanding of his ability was low, but that didn't matter much considering what his magic actually was. The misunderstood 5th Imaginary Element was subsequently named 'Hollow' and when it was the shadow beneath her feet shifted just a bit flattening before it seemed to grow again. Sakura observed this with wide eyes. "Sugoi! Status." she mused, she pulled up that vision in front of herself and saw the changes to her status caused by this lad's singular set of words. Not saying much else, but she listened to something she'd not known. Charles wanted to help someone else out, the first victim of Father An's problematic nature. "Oh? Do you know where they are?" she asked seeming to be fine with the idea of helping someone as a matter of sheer adventure.

[Bloodedge]

Whatever Anais thought about the functionality of women's breasts, Ailen hadn't a clue. She had something to say about shoulder stiffness and the like, which he also never heard as a complaint from any woman... unless said woman had an annoying set of armor, or something of the sort. "I'm not sure how that would relate. If you have the time later, please explain," he said as they moved toward the workshop. If Anais intended to shop for clothing articles, he knew a few excellent places to recommend ─ assuming they remained operational in the land of elves. She'd probably have no interest in that, though. What she did have a clear interest in, was the potion she meant to help with. Anais arrived at the workbench to mention Basilisk Chitin being missing. "Basilisk Breath. You may be thinking of Chromus Chitin," he corrected. As for her recommendation, she suggested Sopophorous Bean juice, which was a very powerful ingredient in its own right. "Hmm. Even the juice alone causes a loss of memory when drank directly. If mixed directly into the Chromus Slime though, it could be used to enhance cognitive functions including memory. In the right amount, it could indeed calm those wayward thoughts you mention by creating a point of... hyper-fixation, perhaps? Though that may depend on one's most potent thoughts after drinking the final product," he rambled. "It is worth a try. I last used Sopophorous Bean juice in the Draught of Living Death, but it has been decades since I last experimented with it. Would you like the honors?"

After sharing his opinion, Charlemagne heard an excited utterance from Sakura. He didn't know why, but she immediately viewed her own status while that shadow behaved somewhat strangely. Why was she doing that? Maybe she had an idea of some sort about how to use her powers. Completely unaware of his own influence, Charlemagne moved on without issue. He had a desire to right the wrongs done to Jeanne d'Arc. Sakura wondered if he knew where his target was. Though he hadn't a clue, he did know where to start the search. "It's been a long time. Assuming she's reincarnated already, I at least know where I can go to be pointed in the right direction. Though... with what I know now, I don't expect the warmest welcome from some people. Are you still interested in coming along?"

[Apollymi]

Ah, there were several things which didn't make sense to Ailen. He didn't get the relation between wearing bras and shoulder stiffness. In his saying of this sentence Anais realized there was something she should likely confess to, and that was being from the non-magical world. If she was being honest, a relationship of trust shouldn't include such a large secrets, besides all of that he already had 'forbidden' knowledge in his memory. Though she didn't know the full potentials of sharing such things, she figured it would help her prefacing certain things if he understood the basics of it. "Hai... that will take a bit of a long explanation though I might have a confession to make," she stated. Ah, whatever the case, it seemed she'd confused two names while speaking. She gave it a moment of extra thought and confirmed the things she'd mixed up in her head. She'd been corrected about it, but that didn't seem to discourage her. "Hm, I did. Why did I do that..." she wondered. They were definitely listed in her head the right way... perhaps it was an aftereffect of her random thoughts? Or maybe... she thought about it a little longer and realized when thinking that his tongue had been really far down her throat in the moment she'd absorbed that information. The sensation alone had distracted her quite a bit so that one had settled a bit weirdly when she'd reached for it in her mind. Perhaps it would be best if she checked on such things in her mind better. Beyond that there was the extra. Apparently her suggestion wasn't a bad one overall... instead it was simply something that Ailen hadn't experimented with in quite some time. He thought in the right doses it might have the effect of enhancing a memory and quieting internal voices but by giving them a fixation. "Hm, hyper-fixation might be a bit weird for me, but... memory enhancement doesn't sound like a bad potential. I'll do it, but about how much should I add?" she asked for advice by virtue of not wanting her internal monologue to potentially become her only monologue. Regardless, she found herself using a small knife on this table to crush one of the beans she'd removed inside of a small container which could be used to collect a reasonable amount of juice which seemed like it should be measured in drops.

At the same time, Sakura was coming to realize exactly how powerful someone like Charles was. He'd likely need a great deal of explanation to avoid changing things too much for other people. Or maybe to make sure he did it strictly as a matter of purpose. She'd bring that up shortly, or figure out a way to, right at the moment Charles spoke of finding a person who'd reincarnated and not receiving a warm welcome. "Of course, I'm interested in going where you're going," Sakura mentioned seemingly pleased. "Whether or not you get a good reception when you arrive, I should probably go along anyway, since you left me in charge of your emotional well-being," she said sounding like a person with a very real responsibility and sense of care. Beyond that there were other things to talk about in addition to that. "Before that though... I think you unconsciously used your power and gave my imaginary element a place in this world... arigatou gouzaimasu," she said pointing to her own status. She said that as if it wasn't surprising but she always seemed to be the type to say whatever. A little experimentation was pretty normal in life.

[Bloodedge]

A confession? There were very few reasons Anais could have to say something like that. Combined with the alleged long explanation of breast-related shoulder ailments, and considering a few of the strange things he learned from Anais's subconscious, he could make a few inferences. "Hmm. I see," he said, seeming to simply accept the fact that she had some deep secret to share. More imperative was the work at hand, starting with the correction of a small mistake. Anais wondered why she mixed those different things up, but Ailen didn't appear too bothered about it. "It is only natural. You took in a lot of information even for someone used to that form of transfer. As I said before, many things are likely to go missing. A little mix-up or two is certainly nothing to worry about," he assured. The reason in Anais's head would remain a mystery to the elf, for better or for worse. Either way, he seemed primarily concerned with the new ingredients being suggested. How much should Anais be adding after successfully juicing that bean? He didn't know for sure, though he had a few ideas. "Given the amount of Chromus Slime we have, let's see... one drop may have every effect reversed. Two may be ideal, as I fear three could accidentally create a nigh-omnipotent short-term memory while sacrificing long-term retention. Of course, that is only a theory. What do you think?" he wondered.

Charlemagne knew Sakura likely still intended to join the journey ahead; however, he did not expect the exact response she gave. According to the young goddess, she was interested in going wherever he did. It was strange how easily she was willing to abandon the life she knew for a random adventure. Of course, Charlemagne had once been in the same situation, making the same choice... and he was far more than a few months old. There Sakura was, a relative infant who rocketed her way into physical and mental maturity, taking on the responsibility of his mental wellness. Taking a major role in the adventure as well was more than anyone could ask of her, but she'd do it anyway. "That's really cool of you. Thanks," said Charlemagne, who didn't even know what more could be said in response. He had half a mind to enter mental overload again, though it would take a lot more to accomplish that at this point. Well... that wasn't really true. Sakura pointed out her status, claiming he unconsciously made it possible for her power to work. What? He thought she was doing that herself! "I did what with whose what now?! Wait wait wait, what makes you think I could do that? Is that Order? Are you telling me I can make an accidental law of reality with an opinion?! I don't want that!"

[Apollymi]

Giving information to clever people was a bit of a problem. Anais realized what she said could have been taken in several different directions, but also knew her mentor wouldn't think oddly of her for saying things the way she did. She'd become quite certain of his goodness as an individual since meeting him. Meanwhile, her own brain was making her question her goodness as a person at every turn. Whatever the case, she was able to abandon thoughts of her otherworld upbringing and explanations for a few moments while she worked. According to Ailen, she had nothing to worry about over a little mix up or two of words, given she'd taken in so much information. It wasn't unusual for things to go missing. "I suppose that is pretty true, it was a lot..." she mused thinking back all the information about this collection of materials running through her head. Even so, she trusted herself to figure out ways to keep all this information straight within her mind. Still there was the matter of bean juice and its potential effectiveness. "Can't go too few for obvious reasons," she reasoned. "Two might be best for safety reasons..." she gave it a bit more consideration. "Three might have a draw back, but it would mostly depend on how someone reacts individually to stimuli they are already dealing with," she said. "If you are already a bit overworked the third might bring your fast moving thoughts into focus for you... or rather speed up your memory formation to accept the faster moving thought process. I suppose the three would require the addition of something else make that work..." she said. Actually that sounded a bit more like what she was dealing with... she considered with that information that it might be more like studying for a test with a little amount of time to work with. You have to find a way to trigger your own memory recall, but if you can manage it... you will know what you need to. If the speed of your thoughts and the speed of your memory formation were the same... it might not cost anything extra to make it work.

Meanwhile, Sakura and Charles were coming to some kind of agreement. She expressed her desire to stick with the lad through his adventures, even when he might not be welcomed and he in turn thanked her for being cool? "I don't know what I've done that might be cool, nor do I know why I am being thanked. But I will accept it as one of those things I might understand later..." she stated seeming to not really understand what she'd done fully. She was always acting on her own understanding and doing whatever she felt most right. Currently within that dark circle she found the movements of the shadows to be something she could control more finitely than before with the addition of Charles's naming and power. Strangely the lad seemed to be a bit frightened of the power he possessed. She'd explained what he'd done, she was very certain it was him... "You named the power and made it fit. Of this I am certain," she said giving thought to the rest. "I am certain order can be considered like rules from everything said about it," she said. "Kaa-sama might be able to explain it a bit better, you might not have full control over reality but it seems you are at least capable of making changes to things. It should probably be considered true magic, so it doesn't have to work within the logic of the world," she concluded.

[Bloodedge]

"Indeed. Most exchanges would only be a day of information, a session of personal study, or perhaps a few weeks or months in some cases. What you took in that first session was closer to a human lifetime," Ailen explained. He had much information to share, from his own learnings to those of his predecessors. Some corners had to be cut in the end. To his satisfaction, Anais quickly proved her ability to take those larger deposits of knowledge. She even showed herself capable of regurgitating a decent amount here in practice, going so far as to hypothesize the potential good of three bean juice drops in the potion. "If you don't intend to drink it, either should make a functional potion. If you do still want to drink it, well... any unwanted side-effects are easily taken care of. Actually, as a calming potion at its base, you should be able to put only the necessary amount of liquid into it. The worst that would come of it with less of the binding agent included would be... hmm. I'd say the muscle relaxant would be a bit closer to paralysis. Alternatively, you could add the Basilisk Breath along with that juice to find the perfect balance early. Your options are plentiful. Much of alchemy is the order by which you do things. You may have fun experimenting with the same ingredients in different orders one day; it is amazing what one can find out."

Charlemagne had only recently stabilized himself, only to suffer an immediate dump of information he didn't want. What was someone like him supposed to do with the power to establish rules? Well, rules were one thing, but rules of reality were a very different monster to tackle. He could name people and things all day with no complaints other than the mana cost of doing so. Naming conceptual powers that didn't exist was ridiculous. On the other hand, it was pretty cool having a way to make impossible things possible. "Ugh! I need to at least find out how I can not accidentally do stuff like that. Do you know how many random opinions I speak on a regular basis? Nobody should... wait, no. I'm not going to say that. I don't know what will make another thing happen. I'm really gonna need your mom to help out on this one," he said, trying to be very careful about everything spoken.

And so, Charlemagne began a desperate grasp at clothing to situate himself before moving on. One strange issue he found in doing so was a prominent erection that he still barely understood. That thing had no reason to exist; he wasn't even thinking about sex! Ah, but it was doing enough thinking for both of them. Charlemagne was struggling his way through the simple act of donning pants past that monstrous thing, and it was probably for the best that he was being held up. Why? Well, the goddess he sought was still being made busy. Had he been able to depart immediately, he would have first met the sound of clapping, or even slamming... followed by the visual of Miwa dangling backwards over the throne, clothes torn apart and legs pushed toward the floor as Mugen continued having his way from a squatted position above. It also probably wouldn't have helped his mental stability to take note of the sea of white that had leaked out into a multitude of splotches and puddles, whether around the throne or on the involved parties. . .

[Apollymi]

Ailen stated that her normal study wouldn't have been as intense as her most recent session. A personal study day, or even just a few weeks or months worth of information. What she'd taken in during her first go was the entirety of a human lifetime. "Oh? That's a lot more than I can outwardly rationalize. I won't take it too easy, but I feel like that's at least a little justification for getting a few words mixed-up in my head..." she mused just a little. As they moved on the matter of her potion. Apparently, if she wasn't going to drink it, it'd make a pretty decent potion regardless. Apparently another thing to consider would be the order of adding ingredients, according to her mentor, doing so in a specific order might change the effects or effectiveness of the potion. His thoughts about this one was adding Basilisk's Breath and the bean juice at the same time to find their balance and avoid the particular negative drawbacks of the potion. "Sou ka, I can work with that..." she said. Ah, so how would she do it? Well, the Chromus slime would have added to it in alternating drops, Basilisk's Breath and Sopophorous Bean Juice. She'd gently stir after each dropped addition until her ears reacted to an almost inaudible chime. Yes, that would be about right. Afterwards the liquid ingredients would be added to the dry until the proper consistency was reached. She had that information in her head too. Once she was done, a singular vial of liquid remained. "Hm, I don't think I need to drink it for the sake of calming myself, but I think it'd like to keep it just the same... how did I do, Shishou?" the girl asked. She'd taken a bit of liberty to do this thing, but she wasn't upset in seeing it become something.

Charles on the other hand was having a very bad reaction to being able to use his own power. Sakura looked at the lad as he rushed about aiming to get dressed and griping over how often he might accidentally name something or change a rule based on his ability to rename conceptual things. She gave it a bit of consideration. "It is odd to me. I think the way I am having been this way my whole life so far, if I discovered I could do something so interesting I'd be excited about it," she said thoughtfully. "But I do understand this seems to fall outside of your normal understanding of yourself, Kaa-sama would be able to help..." she gave as a comforting notion. "Though... given your general aversion to sexual things you might want to prepare yourself. As a person who isn't used to that sort of thing, she's probably with Chichiue so they are probably doing something you may find startling," she gave that warning as the person responsible for his emotional status. "Not to worry though, she'd still be able to answer your questions," she said as she watched him struggle with his pants. "If you think actively about not wanting to make any more offerings... it should return to its more flexible state. That is mostly observational information but it seems to work," she offered a bit of physical guidance.

Meanwhile, Miwa had been... folded. This time she was dangling with blood rushing to her brain and spilt mana all around her person. Such an offering was always overwhelming but it was also the sort of thing she'd never turned down. Even now with her feet dangling near her head and her clothing ripped to literal shreds she seemed to be enjoying herself rather thoroughly. Just the same she couldn't even formulate a single sentence, her mind had all but been completely fragmented. Ah, that was fine too though... even wisdom needed a bit of a reset every now and again. And that constant slapping was being met by her body's natural reaction to tightened and hold and inflate. In fact her form had gained quite a bit of thickness as she'd been unable to fully shape herself at this moment, she was looking quite a bit closer to goddess normal.

[Bloodedge]

"More than a little, I'd say," Ailen added. With his vast array of knowledge, his apprentice was expected to be capable of retaining as much. Most of his important lectures would be as thorough as what Anais already received, if not far more in-depth. All those elves seeking an apprenticeship with him had no idea the difference in his knowledge, and what they would have been expecting. Perhaps some would have suffered mental shutdown if he had actually taught them even a single thing.

Anais, however, was excelling just as she needed to. Drop by drop, she concocted the liquid portion of the special calming potion until she was satisfied enough to finish the whole process. There was no explosion, no fizzle, but also no notable loss of vibrancy to the ingredients once mixed. She wanted an opinion on how she did? Ailen didn't even need to appraise it magically to know it would function as intended, though he did have a more detailed look to find out the specifics. "Interesting. It is a very vibrant blend, which is always a good sign for potions. It was going to be a Rare Potion from the beginning, based on ingredients alone. But... your addition has brought it just into the territory of Very Rare. It would easily fetch the an Ouban and six Koban in the right place. The market would demand nothing less, though actually selling it would depend on potential consumers in the area," he rambled once again. "By my calculations, you should expect this sort of quality to be the norm for now. Even with me jumpstarting the potion with a list of ingredients, you've made roughly a 280% improvement to its quality. Excellent work."

In truth, there was a part of Charlemagne that could be considered excited for these developments. The whole 'Power of Order' thing was pretty cool if he thought about it properly, but it could only be so exciting when such great potential for accidents remained. "Yeah yeah, I'll be excited once I'm not able to randomly change the laws of the world!" he replied. Sakura went on to mention his apparent aversion to sexual things, warning him against discovering the resident goddess and that strange man-phoenix doing something unsultry. Interestingly enough, he couldn't be worried about that right now. "I think I've done enough today that I won't be too bothered. If I could just..." Still, he struggled with a basic pair of trousers. Sakura had some advice to give ─ advice which made the lad stop hopping around wildly. He stopped entirely, trying to think as she instructed. Right. He didn't have use for an erection. He didn't want to make use of it, so it should go away. Sadly... the effort to will it away was more than he signed up for. Surely he didn't wonder what it would be like to test this new thing out immediately, right? Right! Maybe. . .

[Apollymi]

Ailen was doing a great job of being encouraging. Anais could likely float around knowing that it wasn't just her own wayward and excessive thoughts that had her confusing words. Taking in even a human lifetime's worth of information was actually a pretty grand undertaking. As such, she wouldn't fault herself for being a bit confused from time to time. At the same time, she'd likely take a bit of care in speaking for a while just to make sure she didn't slip too much. Regardless Anais got all the way through making her potion and when she asked her mentor's opinion she received one. It looked good, it had a high rarity and he used a monetary understanding she didn't get. But overall it didn't sound like she'd done bad her first. Her work quality was 280% efficacy. "Oh? That sounds pretty good. I don't know what that amount of money means, but it sounds like if I had to buy it I wouldn't be able to afford it myself," she said with a small frown. Then again, she'd spent five years saving for a Magic Bag so that wasn't really hardcore. "Still, I'm pretty happy, arigatou gouzaimasu~" she seemed to be very happy with her own progress.

At the same time, Charles claimed that he would be excited when he wasn't capable of accidentally using his powers. "Hm, I suppose I understand. You do seem to want to be a bit more responsible about things..." mentioned Sakura. Still, there was the matter of the lad getting dressed and the information he was given about the potentials for her parents to be otherwise engaged when they arrived. He claimed that he wouldn't be too bothered given he wanted or needed answers, but he still couldn't get into his pants. Ah, and what was this, he seemed to have tried just a bit, Sakura continued to watch only to have an unnerving smirk cross her face. "Of course if you wanted to use it... you could just say so... " she teased gently. That little pool of darkness seemed content to pull at her clothes ever so gently. Well, she was responsible for his well-being, but the longer they took the more likely they wouldn't walk in on something that could potentially harm the lad's psyche.

[Bloodedge]

Ah, there was a lack of familiarity with Munetsuchi's currency. Ailen had nearly forgotten, but this group fell from somewhere above, having never been in this empire before. From what he knew of other places, he could produce a roundabout explanation of monetary value. It was likely that Anais could afford it, if her magic pouch was indicative of her fundage. "In most places, a single Koban is roughly equivalent to one gold. An Ouban is worth ten Koban, so you could essentially say the value is sixteen Koban for simplicity's sake," the elf explained. Alchemy was an easy way to become rich in many places. Just the same, purchasing potions of higher quality was the cause of poverty in adventurers across the world. Anais would soon be saving her group a large quantity of money with her current skills. "Your first potion was a success. I can't graduate you from the beginner phase just yet, though. For that, you'll have to invent a potion of your own with the knowledge you've gained. I'm excited to see what you come up with," he said. A single hand found itself gently atop Anais's head. Ailen then turned around, seeming content with the day's work thus far. "Shall we return then? Unless there is something else you'd like to learn or experiment with, I do believe you've officially surpassed all expectation."

Charlemagne did indeed have a desire to be responsible. If he accidentally did something that negatively impacted anyone else, he'd never let it go until repairs were made. Sakura seemed to understand, so he didn't have to go on any sort of tirade about that. Alas, he had bigger issues to deal with. His own groin wasn't cooperating with his desires, and after only a few moments, that frightening expression of Sakura's was back with a vengeance. The moment he saw it, there was a notable throb to his groin. Of course she'd have something nearly disturbing to say. If he wanted to use it, he could say so? Was everyone reading his mind today? That wasn't even a thought Charlemagne was sure he'd been having. Now though, there was no real arguing with it. "You make it sound so much easier than it really is. The Japan I came from a thousand years ago was a very different version than this; we didn't think it was acceptable to just jump into sexual things on a whim─"

[Apollymi]

Munetsuchi's currency was explained in a way which made sense to Anais. Of course, she was quite used to having to convert various forms of coin into the kinds she had to use within Aincrad and so she had a pretty reasonable idea of the amount of money they were talking about afterwards. Even so, it was astounding and she found herself wondering if maybe she'd become an underpaid wage worker while living within the floating country. "I might have been living in poverty now that I think about it. That potion would have taken me the better part of a year to save up for..." she murmured. She was surely better off not being a random soldier or adventurer given how little she was making. Not that she was bothered by the idea of material wealth, she was just as likely to give away what she had to help someone else out but that didn't change the facts of the case. Whatever was going on in her mind about her monetary situation, she did at least make her first potion successfully. She received for this great acolade, a gentle pat atop her head, which made her face blush but she still appreciated it. Hearing that she'd not be graduated until she came up with something of her own filled her with slight anxiety and a bit of excitement. "Hai, Shishou... I don't know what I'll come up with... but I'll do my best," she confirmed. It was like a term paper. In order to get through the beginner course she had to prove she understood the material. She could work with that... perhaps she'd spend some time shuffling through her new memories and seeing if she had a base for anything she or her friends would find particularly useful and make it her first official project? Whatever the case, he asked if she wished to move on from this point. "Hai, we can go back now. I've done a lot more today than I ever really expected to... I should have the sense to stop before my luck runs out," she concluded. She gave her body a gentle stretch and looked at her acquired potion. She could count her victories today. New weapon, new vocation, new friends, new mentor, Charles wasn't dead and she hadn't let her group down. Yes... given she'd woken up today thinking she'd just go to a wedding, she hadn't done too bad.

Moving on from this point, Charles and Sakura were having an interesting moment. She offered him a way to mentally deal with his erection and in failing that partciular attempt casually found herself teasing his inaction with his newfound tool. Of course, she wasn't doing it simply for the sake of bothering him about his hangups and misgivings, she simply found it odd that he'd be so rude to himself all the time. Ah, he claimed where he'd been from it didn't work to be so open sexually, that didn't make much sense to someone like Sakura. "That sounds... incredibly boring if I am being honest. And it also leaves open the question of how one bonds with the one they are bound to if sex is such a taboo topic," she said seemingly curious about how such a society actually worked. "It isn't as I have had a lot of sex to work with as it wasn't something I was actively seeking. But to ignore a base desire when you can sate it and have it be good for you seems like an unnecessary complication. Sex and mana transfers have so many benefits and I am not saying one should throw themselves at every single person they see, but I've seen nothing but positive benefits from indulging in mutually beneficial relationships that involve sex," she said as if it made all the sense in the world. "We are already bound to each other, and the mental clarity and relaxation that come from reaching the truth are healthy for mind, body and spirit..." she explained. If this lad was to leave her in charge of his emotional well-being, she'd be in charge of all of it. That included his sex-life, whether he understood that or not, it did have quite a lot to do with his emotional stability. "So... do you want to try it out?"

[Bloodedge]

The line of 'poverty' was not quite the same to elves like Ailen. Where he grew up, an elf in poverty was an elf with no knowledge. Of course, the possession of valuable information was at times more useful than all the world's money. Gold and the like remained useful, but those who had knowledge could essentially ignore having it. "In my homeland, that amount would be thrown away casually for such a potion. Even here, the amount an adventurer would pay for a single vial is very high, provided it is a thing of quality such as this. A Legendary Potion would cost at least 50 Ouban, or its equivalent no matter where you go. Though something of Legendary quality could help the most common adventurer tackle an A-Rank quest... or an unexpecting kingdom, depending on the purpose," he declared. Alchemy was never to be underestimated as a Trade Skill. Just as blacksmiths could make swords beyond their wielders, just as armorers could make gear much the same, a capable enough alchemist could empower, enable, and even revive those who should otherwise stray from whatever quest they undertook. Anais would undoubtedly be an alchemist of such standing, probably starting from her very first unique concoction. "It's fine if you don't know now. There is no rush, so have fun experimenting at your leisure if you like. No matter what you make or when you make it, I'm sure it will be interesting," he assured. With that, he took Anais's acceptance of terms and extended a hand. He'd be leading the way to the throne room, where Anais would ─ perhaps regrettably ─ witness the tail-end of a very interesting show. One might even hear something along the lines of: "Oya? Da─rin, you look ready to pop. Oh well. I'm sure you can handle one more," from the very man who'd been jackhammering his way down into a goddess's undercarriage for quite some time now.

In the meantime, Charlemagne had to deal with his original understanding of life being called... boring. Of course, he'd be lying if he said her words made no sense. Something like sex with one's significant other was still the norm, but... there were caveats to everything. "Yeah, I get that. The thing is, connections weren't formed so easily there either. We're bound to each other now, but where I'm from, that sort of thing takes weeks, months, even years ─ and our lifespans were less than a century back then too. I know, this is more normal here; I get that now. This isn't the first time I'll be saying habits aren't broken overnight. I can't even think about all the other stuff right now..." he mused. With a sigh, Charlemagne steeled himself to do something he still considered sinful. There was no arguing with his inner self; the lad's soul screamed its desire using his own body as a megaphone. "Fine. If I can't think it away, I may as well do something with it," he said in the end. Finally, Charlemagne had come to such a conclusion without much fuss.

[Apollymi]

There were many differences between the lives of elves and the lives of regular people. Just as people from the world Anais was from originally had very different values. According to Ailen the amount of money which was most of the girl's year, would have been spent frivolously by elves for a potion of reasonable quality because of all the things it could be capable of. "That all sounds like a lot. I mean I know that potions are useful, I am sure everyone does..." she murmured. She wasn't going to mention that it was hard to argue elves not being snobs when certain things were mentioned. She was willing to set aside any strange prejudices given the goodness of her mentor. Moving on, she was apparently free to experiment with her lessons at her leisure to produce her first potion. "Hai," she said softly. She wasn't sure she'd live up to any strange expectations, but she'd still try her best. That was all she'd ever do. Given this she found herself accepted an extended hand and as they returned to the throne room. Ah... a lot had changed since she was last here. Her eyes and ears were being assaulted by visuals and sounds she couldn't well stop from entering her brain. Ah, she could have closed her eyes, but that definitely wasn't something that was going to happen. Soft murmuring began to happen as her brain processed way too much information. "A pet name?" that was the first thought. 'Shishou is basically a pet name you get away with calling your mentor aloud in front of everyone~' her brain wasn't going to stop. "Pretty isn't the pre-requisite," she said deciding the man currently pummeling this land's goddess was not... pretty. 'He's fucking hot! Shishou's a bit more our speed though~' she thought. "She actually does control it, I guess that answers that question," she continued. 'Well be like that one day, maybe we can get Shishou to show us what that's like~' her internal voice mused. "I don't think I'm old enough to be witnessing this..." she finally finished. 'We're definitely old enough to do it though!~' Anais's internal monologue was going to get her sent straight to the underworld. "It has a nice harmony though," yeah, her brain wasn't going to be able to continue handling this. 'Straight to slut hell!♥~ Keep watch we might learn something!~'

While Anais's brain broke, for verbal things, Miwa had all but collapsed. She was well beyond her general cares, even as her body and mind were stretched beyond their normal capacity. "Anata!♥~ One more sounds great!~" of course she thought that. She was in full overload. But that wasn't really a problem either. She'd meant what she said any who bore witness should take the opportunity to learn something, she would have if it was her watching. Moving on her internal walls were collapsing in on this man as he penetrated her deepest reaches and stuffed her in a way most others couldn't fathom.

And while one goddess got stuffed another seemed to be passively inviting someone else to do the same. Charles, claimed that things were more complicated and that bindings like the one they currently have normally took a great deal of time. Sakura was passively aware of that, given she'd been taught humans didn't normally experience mana thus didn't initially understand their attractions. "If you reach the truth, you'll be able to think more clearly. You know that already right? We've done it a few times now~" Sakura teased. "You don't have to change all at once, just bit by bit," she said as if she was gently amused. He seemed to make that decision much faster than normal. That little dark pool beneath her pulled away her clothes in pieces as she held her arms open for the lad. "I do wonder, Char-kun... would it be too much to ask what you want to do this time?" she asked in a teasing manner.

[Bloodedge]

Upon reaching the throne room, Ailen didn't seem surprised at all to see... the fifth Myouou, Mugen. Today was meant to be his own, but Qin saw fit to wedge his way into an off rotation. Sadly for Qin, doing that sort of thing was Mugen's forte, and he was only more likely to do it when the cycle had already gone awry. "Ah. I seem to have let myself become too distracted to realize. Sumanai," he said, assuming his apprentice would be experiencing some issues. Instead, Anais seemed contemplative. She took many pauses, saying many unrelated things between them. Only one thing she said truly made sense. She didn't think herself old enough to witness the goings-on. Well, that was objectively wrong. In truth, what she saw was considered by many to be the ultimate study. The masses of Munetsuchi would occasionally gather in the hope of seeing something like this, though perhaps not with the most dangerous Myouou participating. "Actually, even children come to see things like this. When the Kimmotsu Myouou is involved, most are too afraid to approach... but you should be fine. It seems we arrived at the end. This pose seems rather effective, actually," he mused.

True enough, there was little time left in the session atop the throne. Miwa had only just agreed to one final stretch, her body almost demanding it after verbalization. Mugen seemed to be having the time of his life as his rod swelled within the goddess, pulsing furiously in its final moments of activity. "Good to hear. I'll make it special, just for you~♥" he stated. What did the male mean? Well, he'd obviously be plunging to the absolute limit to fully wedge himself in her body. In doing as much though, he swelled further, until the proverbial geyser exploded. He didn't plan to leave an ounce of breathing room within her, so once more, the flow of mana would not end quickly at all. Mugen anticipated a great deal of waste yet again, and indeed he thrived on the idea of it.

Meanwhile, Charlemagne's manhood was also pulsing. His eyelids were peeled more and more with every passing moment. Sakura's mention of the 'truth' was fine and all, but that pool of darkness rising to peel away her clothes was far more worth his attention. Even those strange red lines along a curvaceous figure were worth more than a glance. Overall, Charlemagne's mental state was taken out of the equation entirely. He found himself stepping forward without much prompting or conscious thought at all, eyes bouncing up and down the young goddess's form. "I uh... I guess it probably sounds really plain, but what if you just lie on your back? I... don't know if I'm good for any ideas much better than that. If you've got something better in mind, I'm all ears. Honestly I'm having a hard time getting past the whole tentacle-grabby thing─"

[Apollymi]

An apology was issued as Anais's young brain tried to make sense of the debauchery it was witnessing before her. Her mentor had let himself become so distracted he'd not realized this was happening. No, that wasn't really right. "This isn't anyone's fault, Shishou..." she murmured, her bright eyes unable to look away. She definitely wouldn't be accepting any apology for having to see this. Her mind wasn't ready for it, but she also found it impossible to look away. Ailen made the claim that children in this land came to witness such acts. Well, that made a bit of sense, in a land where knowledge was passed along and stigmas against sexual activity didn't exist maturity had to be measured differently. "Children are older than me here..." she stated as an absolute fact. 'We're young we have plenty of time to learn!~' Anais's internal voice was quite loud. "Kimmotsu? Yeah... I could see that," she stated. The idea of forbidden was written all over this man's existence. She could hear it in the sound of his voice. It strangely made her skin crawl but not necessarily in a bad way. "That is something..." Anais murmured. 'It's something great. Get him to do it... he's interested~' her mind stated. The effectiveness of such a position was likely to be lost on Anais. She could make inferences but her brain deciding it was something she should aim for may have been close to her breaking point.

At the same time, Miwa seemed to be nearing some great point of enlightenment. Actually with her head in this position and her husband pummeling away at her from above mana had a pretty free flow from her core down or rather up to her brain. It was like supercharging someone's brain. "Hai!~" she chimed. Of course, that swelling was something she felt in the depths of her very soul and her own body pulsed to accept it. This man was well past her womb buried so far. Ah, all of that wouldn't be sitting within her, it was exploding from her soul out across him and in her own depths. Of course, this was everything and her entire body convulsed and then relaxed. Ah... yes, everything was fine.

And then there was Sakura. It was very obvious to her that he was taking in the full view of her. Ah, he was distracted by her physical form now. He was actually appreciating it instead of simply trying to avoid it. Oh he'd even decided what he wanted. He claimed it to be plain but he wanted her on her back? "Oh? Well... even things you might think are plain have their uses. I think it's fine. You even decided it on your own~" she said giving him an ample amount of praise. Of course, those tentacles which moved about her body later settled into the shadow at her feet and she took the steps towards that futon once more, she'd lay down with her arms open and her legs spread wide apart. He wanted her on her back, she'd make adjustments as needed to see how far that new tool of his reached. "Come on, Char-kun~" she offered the lad full access to her form yet again. So inviting was the lass known as Sakura, she couldn't help but invite this lad to explore fully that which he'd previously denied himself.

[Bloodedge]

"You're free to say that, but I do have a duty of care," Ailen reiterated. His was the responsibility of being aware, keeping track of things that may put his apprentice in harm's way... whether physically or emotionally. Luckily, she didn't seem to be experiencing any turmoil. The more Ailen thought about it, the more it seemed she was actually studying the ongoing events. "Well, take in any information that suits you. All knowledge has its use, so retain anything you find interesting," he said nonchalantly. Whether Anais had any intentions with the sort of knowledge she could gain here or not, was her prerogative. If it became relevant to him at some point, he'd let it be so. Otherwise... it truly made no difference to the elf. Ah, but he would certainly be keeping this visual in mind for his own purposes. With a recent mental activation of his own, Ailen had a few thoughts in mind. "Actually, I believe there are some ways to modify this... something more suited to my style and purpose. Hmm. . ."

Ailen certainly would not be taking the same approach as Mugen, who would soon be seen buried and spilling mana seemingly by the liter. Perhaps that was accurate, or perhaps it wasn't; Mugen obviously didn't care the exact amount he wasted. Even in slowly retracting himself from the goddess, it hadn't come to an end. His full length emerged, resulting in a downpour just over the throne's edge where Miwa resided. All the while, Mugen came closer to relaxation... and enlightenment. His eyes glowed a deep shade of crimson, and his mana pulsed outward across all of Munetsuchi. One might believe he was marking his territory in a way, as he always ended sessions with such a bang. It was as if he meant for everyone to feel his final moments, none more than Miwa herself, but all nonetheless. "Kuhuhuhu! Ahh, that's it~♥" he moaned into the open air. Down went his gaze to look over Miwa once more. At the same time, one final exhale signaled the end of all the mana pouring from his body ─ both physical and non. "Ho? Those things I felt earlier are moving again. One is here."

Charlemagne was once again not in control of his forward movement. This time however, it didn't feel like he was outside his own body while moving. He was undoubtedly conscious, fully aware of his every movement and decision. It wasn't that he inched toward Sakura subconsciously ─ it was just that he did so in response to instinct. "Well, if you think it's fine..." he chimed. Once Sakura was in place, he hesitated. There were no second thoughts entering his mind, but that very open and very exposed visual demanded additional attention. Charlemagne gulped audibly. His trousers hit the floor just before he stepped out of them completely, leaning into the open space provided by Sakura. Much to his surprise, he hadn't even fully gotten into position before his tool was rubbing itself against her womanhood. Ah, this truly would take some adjustment on his part. It was his intention to embrace the lass before anything happened, yet that initial sensation forced his halted movement again. "Aa─! Whoops. I uh... didn't think that would happen."

[Apollymi]

Duty of Care. This was a statement made by Ailen whenever he had the thought that there was some sort of danger present to Anais. He took his role as her mentor rather seriously, as if she wasn't basically an adult who could or would do random things of her own accord. "Care seems to mean a lot in this context, Shishou..." she mused as if it wasn't something she could fully conceptualize. 'You can care for us, Shishou. Care all you like♥~' Anais was starting to be afraid of her internal voice. If it ever spilled over, she'd have to explain a lot about her thought processes. Right now though, there wasn't anything wrong with her. No... she was more or less just watching with wide eyes as two people copulated in the middle of a public space without shame. She was also told to keep what she wanted of this information. All knowledge had its uses. 'Yeah, we'll use it just for you~' Quiet. That is all Anais wanted a few moments of quiet in her brain. "I don't think I'll have trouble retaining anything. I'm pretty sure it's burned in..." Anais claimed honestly. But what was this? Ailen claimed to be using this information for himself for later. Any sane person would have assumed he meant for his wife, but in the moment, a sideways glance came of those almost glowing blue green eyes. 'WE GOT HIM! TEST IT ON US SHISHOU!♥~' Anais couldn't even close her eyes to escape...

Miwa was forced to feel a strange way. As her husband finally seemed to finish, a great pulse was left. Not just that spillage of seed but also a tinge of feeling. It could be more rightly stated that there was a pulse which she felt at her center of her being, and it manifested in the form of a tattoo on her womb. It could be seen and would likely be for a while as she metabolized this mana, in the form of something like a heart-shaped arcane circle, in red and black. It was gently pulsing as that exhale of power occurred. "Aaah♥!~" she moaned seemingly pleased by the experience. Anais was far too close for her own liking, the pulse of power hit her senses strangely. She felt herself almost weakening at the knees. She wasn't sure what that felt like, but she wasn't sure if it was a liked sensation or not. "Why does it sound and feel like that?" she wondered.

Charles was always so reluctant. In these moments where he finally was ready to do something, Sakura could do nothing but appreciate his earnestness. She took the position he wished her to have, and waited for him to join her. He could be seen appreciating her form, and unlike many... she felt nothing like shyness, instead she was happy to be appraised. Whatever the case, soon after, he was trying to join her. Apparently, he wished to embrace her, but the increased size of his manhood had the lad, rubbing himself against her womanhood before ever reached the level of closeness he wished for. "I expected it, but..." she shifted her hips slightly seeming to invite into her already moist folds. "The only method of attaining what you wish is to move forward~" she teased gently. Stopping wouldn't help. No the best way to find the limit was to push it. Besides it wasn't as if Sakura herself wasn't fully ready to receive him. Those redlines along her skin seemed to pulse, and she could even feel those tentacles along her back, as they were still technically in her shadow just closer than they'd been before.

[Bloodedge]

Master and apprentice would both be watching. Ailen hadn't looked away from that scene at the throne once, though he noted the random shift in gaze toward himself. What could that have been for? Did Anais think he did not still learn and grow? Perhaps there was something else to it; perhaps she simply looked because he was talking. Either way, he could agree that this was a scene difficult to forget. Ailen himself would never be as purposely wasteful as Mugen, but he could see the knowledge-based merit of how Miwa was positioned and penetrated. As the raven-haired male removed himself and continued spilling his seed over the goddess's person, Ailen had a keen eye for her undercarriage. "It's like turning a person into a chalice, then filling it to the brim. It will be even easier than normal to retain all of that. Well... everything he isn't just slinging all over the place," he surmised. As for that sensation erupting from Mugen in the wake of it all, there were few possible explanations. "In this world, someone like that is the epitome of taboo. That is what it means to sense a demon: that feeling of nothingness and everything all at once. It is much like the gods we know here, but encompassing everything we were never meant to know. That is Forbidden Knowledge."

It seemed Miwa had nothing to say about her apparent visitor just yet. With the appearance of that seal over her pelvis, Mugen knew precisely why. Good. If she had the ability to be of use to anyone in the aftermath of their session, they wouldn't really be in the aftermath at all. In her current state of apparent wordlessness, it could be said that Mugen's job was officially done. "I guess I'm not getting rusty after all. Time for an intermission then," the male said as if his work for the day hadn't properly ended yet. Actually, he'd probably be right back to it at least once more this day. Miwa showing her true proportions as a Creator was not something to be wasted. For now though, he'd take a few steps toward the visitors, naked as the day he was born, baring full stiffness of groin and... well, everything else as well, really. That pink-haired boy had been sitting on the floor transfixed for some time now, still doing naught but staring even now. Maybe he learned something. If not, it seemed someone did. Mugen would be primarily approaching the girl with antlers, those glowing eyes scanning her form briefly. "Looks like prey. Smells like you, Ai-kun," he mused. One hand reached out with intentions of grabbing this girl's chin, tilting it left, right, then up. "Cute little thing. What brings you here?"

Meanwhile, Charlemagne paused not because he wanted to. He didn't pause because he was having second thoughts or anything like that. He paused because the raw feeling of rubbing against Sakura unexpectedly was just about overwhelming. Sakura was shifting and pretty directly inviting him in. Well, it wasn't as if he planned to do anything else. "I know. It just felt like a lot," he mused sheepishly. Forward he went, adjusting his position to do as he intended when first approaching. In doing so, it seemed penetration could not be avoided earlier than planned. Just getting to a point of hovering over Sakura's body resulted in wedging himself between her folds. He was sighing contention through the whole process of embracing the lass, as he was simultaneously squeezing his way into her undercarriage. The tightness was almost too much to bear before any change occurred. This time, his movements were a fair bit slower. Extreme as it was, Charlemagne was surprised to realize he was managing to enter with relative ease. That amount of friction still didn't make much sense. . .

[Apollymi]

Master and apprentice, were both thinking but they were on slightly different paths. Well, it could be said that Anais was dealing with something else in her mind whenever her invasive inner voice was quiet for more than a few seconds. 'So, I think there is something wrong with the world's understanding of sex. Everything says this sort of thing is bad, this kind of aggression is supposed to be undignified. But this is a goddess and she seems happy. I have tried some kind of sexual activity twice today and I wasn't upset about either form for any reason. I can assume I would like the normal form of sex as well so... Someone lied,' there was a logical fallacy somewhere. All this spillage said sex wasn't for Creation. All those teachings she'd been given before said, sex for pure enjoyment was bad, but... it also made it sound like it wouldn't be an enjoyable thing. Anais had lived before, and understood it was supposed to be at least a little fun, but maybe not shared or talked about. Now she was wondering if not talking about it was supposed to be a form of keeping everyone in the dark. Maybe no one would question the kind of sex they were having, if no one else talked about it. No one would discover they were unhappy if they didn't know about the options? The words that Ailen shared weren't lost upon the girl, "Like pulling the plug on a drain with a full sink on top of it. Everything funneled down, makes reasonable sense," she said seeming to understand without any knowledge of why such a thing was necessary. Whatever the case, what she was feeling was apparently a demon. "I've felt and heard demons before. He has to be very unique because that doesn't feel the way I'd expect it to. Well... I suppose it is a bit closer to something like Liv but, no... it's more overwhelming than that," she said she was sure she could be knocked over by such a feeling really easily.

Too bad the goddess was currently indisposed. She wasn't really moving. Though her body had relaxed it would seem that she was without words to share regardless of her current audience. That was fine, Mugen was apt to act. He descended the dais, he approached in full nudity. He, stood before Anais. It took everything in the girl's person not to back away. Well, that wasn't entirely it, she was still glued to her spot. "Literally a prey animal and I am sure everyone looks like prey to you..." she murmured, oh she didn't acknowledge smelling like Ailen. The reason for that was, she wasn't going to address it, her mentor was an integral part of her life, she didn't have to explain herself to anyone. That was the truth. Though admittedly if she'd been any more scared that one might have stayed in her head. Actually things spilling out of her head would continue, as her natural reactions to attention would get the best of her. This man reached for her face tilted and looked the her. He called her a cute little thing and questioned her being in this place. 'Waaah! He thinks we're cute! We're definitely cute!~' Anais's internal monologue really needed to stop talking, it was going to run her life. In the meantime she'd answer his question, though she wasn't really certain why he chose her as his target and the fact that her face was currently the shade of a tomato was something she was choosing to ignore. "I fell from the sky today, after a wedding... and the groom was nearly erased by a creepy cult god old guy... Thank you for having us," she explained of her current point in life, but ever polite she still managed to be one of the most reasonable people anyone could interact with.

At the same time, Charles, was sinking into Sakura's form. She was feeling a strange pulse and decided in the moment that it was good that they deviated a bit. "I mean it is a lot but it's welcome~ she mused seeming to enjoy his encroaching upon her. Ah, and so he sank in, there was a great deal of tension and even beyond that a pleasant slick feeling. To be filled in such a way was very interesting, she understood now her mother's preferences. That little shift had him headed for her depths she had to make sure he lept pushing forward. Bit by bit her legs slipped around his person and began to lock. She planned to pull him in and make sure he reached his final destination. Ah, what kind of fun or sensational feeling would come from an explosion so deep within? Well, Sakura was keen to find out.

[Bloodedge]

What an interesting little analogy Anais had. Indeed, what she surmised was the method by which he found goodness in Mugen's choice. Based on their usual sessions however, he imagined Miwa would be processing that deposit for quite some time. From the look alone, it could easily be said there was no breathing room in her canal at all. Metabolizing all that was deep within would only allow the rest to fill the newly-created space. Frankly, he'd call Mugen a genius for execution alone. "Brilliant, really," he commented absently. Regarding Anais's previous experiences with demons, she claimed Mugen had to be unique, or even more overwhelming than what she knew before. Naturally, there was one massive reason for that. "It sounds like you've never sensed a true demon before. Influence is one thing, but it only appears in a way the world can accept it. Something like him is said to appear only once every millennium... maybe. Think of it in terms of tasting something salty, then experiencing the taste of a raw salt cube. Similarities can be drawn, but they never truly compare. Meet the salt cube," he explained.

As Mugen approached, the girl he targeted did not retreat as her baser instincts may have dictated. Wonderful; Mugen had a positive first impression of her based on that. "Iia. I don't believe in 'prey animals' or any of that nonsense. If herbivores are prey, what do you call the plants?" the black-haired male inquired. It seemed he was even expecting an answer, as if quizzing this random girl who fell from the sky. "Not everyone looks like prey to me. Not the way prey really works, anyway. Only the interesting ones look like prey. You... maybe that one over there in the near future... that boy Sakura is about to make an absolute mess of. That's the good prey," he stated. Moving on to why she'd come here, Anais claimed she fell from the sky. Well, Mugen knew that much; he'd felt them approaching from above. That answer was slightly disappointing, though he quirked a brow when she addressed him so politely. "I should explain. Currently, he is picking your brain. When asking what brings you here, he means to ask what brings you to your current quality of existence," Ailen interjected with a heavy sigh.

Sakura was continuously expressing her availability and general acceptance of strange things. In this case, Charlemagne could at least consider it more normal; that overwhelming sensation was very welcome for him as well. Just the same, closing the space between their bodies was beyond anything he could have hoped for. Such simplicity he sought, only to experience the most complex payout he'd ever known. As he delved deeper into Sakura's core, he wondered when he'd be stopped. Wasn't there some sort of natural barrier he should avoid reaching? Perhaps he was best off ignoring sexual education from another world 1,000+ years ago, lest he be too surprised to find out a goddess's interior was endless or some nonsense like that. Whatever the case, Sakura's legs were ensnaring him in such a way as to prevent any halting or withdrawal. At any point of assuming progress should soon stop, Charlemagne felt that locking sensation. He wore the surprise of this decision on his face. Even with magical mumbo jumbo, wasn't the girl a bit small for this sort of thing?

[Apollymi]

Apparently the thing Mugen had done to Miwa was brilliant. Anais supposed if there was a reason to stuff the goddess like pastry this was a rather concise way to do it, so she wouldn't argue with it. Moving on, another rather colorful metaphor was being given, this time to explain the difference between the quality of Mugen's existence as an assault on her senses. "Hm, that is really clear. And I suppose the ones I've sensed before are more like flavor enhances instead of just being the flavor. That's a good one. Logging it away," she said seeming to be pleased by the knowledge she'd just taken in and the rather firm way she could remember it. Ah, but Salt-sama was now addressing Anais rather directly her lightly flippant reply had gotten a question posed to her. She gave it only a minor bit of a thought before answering. "Well, if my original answer is the base, then plants are food," she said because it was the most logical. "Though it sounds like you have a different definition," she mused. There was a certain inquisitiveness present in Anais as she tried to wrap her head around a seemingly new concept. She was ever curious and even in a seemingly stressful situation she was willing and ready to put her anxiety aside so she could lock in some new information. Ah and he went on to pontificate, claiming that Anais and Charles were both potential good prey to him, and maybe Astolfo too. Weird, perhaps he was thinking of prey in a different way... 'Congratulations Charlie... or condolences?' Ah so her internal monologue wasn't always going to be a scary thing. As she took note of his apparent wrecking coming at the hands of the purple haired girl they'd met in the woods. Granted, Anais couldn't be surprised by that information after spending any amount of time in this country. Moving on from that Anais's brows furrowed, apparently the question previously posed by this very naked man was about her nature as an existence and not how she literally came to be in this place. "I don't know if I find that more or less weird than just asking what I am..." she said giving it consideration. "No, not weird, a bit invasive..." she concluded. "I assume then you mean to inquire about the White Hart? It has been part of me for most of my memory... I'm its protector and it's mine. I think the rest of me is pretty self-explanatory." Anais concluded her statement wondering how she'd ended up in such a place. And thought that even though she felt like she was being interrogated during a college interview, she somehow didn't feel nearly as nervous as encountering certain individuals within Aincrad.

At the same time, Charles was sinking into Sakura's depths. She was enjoying the sensation and locked him into place with her legs. This likely seemed strange to the lad, and yes he'd met the ends of her body. Well, she was quite small as Charles thought, but her body wasn't so meager a place to be inside. Even so, even he sank in completely he would meet that spongy barrier at the end of her person, which wasn't something a normal human would have been capable of. Beyond that it sent a little jolt of sensation straight into Sakura's brain, making those glowing red lines on her body seem to brighten in color. "Eh, Char-kun, you can go further now, it'll be great for us~" she mused. Seeming to find the idea fun. With her body filled she'd loose her legs a bit to give him a bit of wiggle room, so that he could draw back and push forward. She'd help control the pacing with her legs as her arms rose to rest on his shoulders.

[Bloodedge]

"Glad to be of service," said Ailen upon having his analogy received properly. Explaining true demonhood to those who knew only of the afflicted was never a simple matter. This time around, even Mugen seemed satisfied with what the elf came up with. Ah, but would he be satisfied by the girl's answers? Time would tell. She called plants 'food' as if to differentiate them from prey. Misinformed. Truly, their definitions differed... but only one could be truly accurate. "If plants are food, then plants are prey. Prey is sustenance. You see it, you acknowledge it as food, and you take it to better yourself... yes?" he asked, this time in rhetoric. Ailen had previously heard this sort of speech from Mugen before, though now that he had a bit more context, he was once again seeing the genius of demonkind. "Ah, I understand it now. What makes it true that plants are not the ultimate predator? Of all things that live, the plant's source of sustenance ─ its prey ─ is the sun, the sky and the earth itself. Very insightful rhetoric. I'm quite disappointed to only be realizing what you meant now," Ailen said in reference to an earlier matching of wits. "There's much more to it than that. Maybe this little sprout can figure it out first?" wondered Mugen.

Ailen was the one to explain the demon's meaning to his apprentice, only for her to find his question strange... or even invasive. She mentioned the White Hart, which to Mugen just seemed like some thing resting alongside her Spiritual Core. It was interesting, but not yet outstanding. "You're both doing a bad job, girl. You're not protecting it, and it's not protecting you. Ai-chin should have taught you more than that by now," he uttered. "How'd you grow so backwards? I remember the Grell Srayit being a lot bigger than this. You should be a perfect vessel, so why are you both so small?"

Meanwhile, that stopping point Charlemagne had been thinking of was finally found. Once he made contact with that sponge-like wall of flesh, Sakura wasn't the only one receiving a jolt to the brain. Actually, it may have even partially been her experience that triggered his own. Whatever it was, something shot through his shaft, traveled straight to his Source and brain, then rocketed its way back through the groin. His breath hitched, and his body convulsed just briefly. Beyond that unusual occurrence, Sakura was claiming he could now go further. What? "Huh?! Isn't this supposed to be th─eaha~!" Ah, a throb he wasn't expecting only made things worse for Charlemagne. Fully discovering an embrace he'd been aiming for all along, he experienced a natural, albeit slight retreat from the girl's interior. Even minor movements were extreme. Even if only in his own perspective, Charlemagne certainly didn't need so much extra coverage. He could feel spaces he didn't even know existed; it was far too much. "End! The end!" he finally managed.

[Apollymi]

Ailen was truly just happy to be of use to Anais. Anais herself thought this a bit strange, but also oddly encouraging. Her friends were affirming, but she was quite fond of having adult supervision. Moving on, there was indeed a separate definition for prey from this black haired demon. He said prey was sustenance. His ideations about predation were interesting. In this case, and applied to her current understanding of things it was strange. Ah, but Salt-sama seemed to be someone that Ailen looked up to, 'Aww, Salt-sama is Shishou's senpai,' she thought about the situation. Elves were known to be strange seekers of knowledge, so obviously the man with forbidden knowledge would be a hot commodity. Ailen's musings about something likely said by this demon in the past was rather interesting. It implied that it was something he'd been thinking about for a while, knowing the truth and lack of even thought about infallibility made Ailen a very likeable teacher. Nothing worse than someone who couldn't be wrong being in charge of someone else. "Active predation requires intent..." she mused a piece of a thought. Given his definition, this man had decided that predating herself, Chuck and maybe Astolfo might have been worth it to feed him in some way. The implication odd, but she'd give it some thorough consideration before she gave an answer.

Instead of that, she took her mind down a different path. After answering the man's question she was given a strange assessment. Both she, and the spirit that inhabited her form were doing a bad job. He claimed Ailen should have taught her that by now... and maybe he had. But there was a lot of things in her head already and it could be assumed that he didn't mean that as directly as her brain took it. According to this individual she'd grown backwards and he wanted to know how. "Hm, that word hits my ears weird... box it. Not currently important..." she thought to herself. "You think I grew backwards, given what it is like here... I am considered spiritually and physically underdeveloped," she said. There were many things to consider about how she'd ended up this way, but they all led back to the same place and a rather simple bit of understanding. If she took both the practice of taking mana and spiritual development into the same hat, she could figure out why both she and the spirit in her form weren't very large. "Aincrad is terrible..." she muttered. "Not just the ritual child sacrifice, that was unknown or even the weird vertigo. Spiritual development isn't understood or it is and it is being purposefully stifled. It's taught wrong. People like me were told that purity in all forms was necessary to keep our power or grow it. Nature and gods related to it are marked as evil, sinful to worship or even look into while serving the one true god," she said thinking about it logically. "So, it's small and I'm small because I don't take in any mana and it's powers can't grow because my body can't handle it... that sounds closer to right than wrong," she said. That felt like writing a term paper, still she felt both satisfied and annoyed by that information. 'Malnourished, misinformed, and almost a ritual sacrifice, yep back to the doom flags with a vengeance.' she thought only to have her other voice return at the same moment. 'Well, at least Shishou's a great meal~'

Further and further back Charles found himself. By the time he hit that squishy end, Sakura was pleased beyond reason. And he was even struggling to end a sentence. That was interesting, she watched his face from so close that she managed to be more than a bit enthused by his hiccup. He thought that was supposed to be the end, but she had something to say about that... "It's more like the beginning but I'm sure you've realized it by now~" she teased the lad as he withdrew a bit. He'd found is way towards her depths and she in turn had found a sensation her body didn't fully know how to deal with. It was pleasant, and something she sought more of. So, she'd easily find her hips shifting in time with his, to force him against that end of her as much as possible. She'd allow it to continue on... all the while her body seemed to be progressing towards a specific end which would be reached with a bit more friction applied.

[Bloodedge]

Mugen remained silent for quite some time. He wanted to hear everything this girl had to say. Of course he still had a hold of her chin, and he was still staring her in the face with the occasional glance over her full form. While he did so, Anais said something about active predation requiring intent. Mugen seemed neither pleased nor displeased by that response. "Not a bad leap. Not the point, but not bad," he replied.

As for Anais's smallness, her first assumption was that she was both physically and spiritually underdeveloped. "That's not true. You could be in seconds," he said quickly, choosing to process her additional words before any sort of explanation was given. In this one, he could feel something. There was a desirous darkness buried deep inside a shroud of bright light. The blame for her state of being was given to Aincrad. Given her explanation, Mugen could agree the conclusion was more right than wrong. It still wasn't fully there, but he supposed some blame could be cast upon her target. "Maybe. It shouldn't grow without you, nor you without it. What's the best way to protect something? The answer is subjective, but it's the answer you reach that determines how you grow. After all... not everyone can do this." Mugen shifted that hand upon Anais's chin, sliding it up the side of her face just enough for his middle finger to tap her temple. There was a very miniscule pulse of mana, and suddenly...

Armor and clothing were shredded to bits, banished from Anais's form. She'd then be launched by an additional pulse, strangely timed with the beat of her heart, her back thrown against the wall. In that same moment, Mugen was upon the girl, lifting her left leg and plunging the whole of his girth into her undercarriage. Just as she'd seen him do before, he'd soon be pumping her with mana ─ for each rough thrust, a deposit. She'd find both herself and the 'protector' she spoke of filling out quite nicely as every deposit facilitated their growth to proper form. Actually, none of that was happening in reality. Words spoken would be heard by others, but all Anais saw and felt would specifically be the result of that small touch of mana sent straight to her brain. Ah, but one thing might be true; there was a decent chance that her body would grow, at least for a matter of minutes. "So? Is this the development you expected?"

On the topic of expectation, Charlemagne had none left. Everything he expected these last few days had been tossed aside by random magical mechanics, including the current confirmation that the 'end' was more like... the beginning. Of course it was. Either way, this was an act he decided upon, so he'd see it through in whatever weird way it happened. Frankly, he was somewhat enjoying the lack of realism to it all. Thrusts surprisingly occurred in a very natural-feeling manner, and with Sakura doing her part to have him knock against the limit of her depths, he was finding that shocking pulse returning time and time again. "I ah─... alright. I get it. This is weird, but I like it," he admitted. Moreover, Charlemagne was beginning to notice what she meant by 'beginning' a few moments before. Each time he reached the end, there was a more noticeable secondary penetration point at his tip. He felt as if he should be rooting himself there. Was he some sort of dog now? Well, if that was to be the case... he imagined it would be the greatest sensation he ever knew. Perhaps he should try it on purpose?

[Apollymi]

Anais was being generally informed about her thoughts. It was difficult for her, reading this man who was still holding her face hostage. Did people in other places really have no concept of personal space? He was really far too close to her for her own liking, but she was also not truly fighting against the contact, it was a strange thing to realize. Her internal monologue had finally stopped, so she could at least breathe slightly easier, until of course another question was posed for her. She'd spilled the beans and had logged away his thought that she could be in seconds. That didn't sound right, or rather it sounded dangerous, 'I don't think I like the idea of that Salt-sama,' she thought. 'Well, let's not be too hasty. It could be fun~' Anais had contradictory internal monologues and now she really wanted to close her eyes and quiet the voice. What was the best way to protect something? The answer was apparently subjective, but she'd not be given much time to think about it... "Hm?" She almost to to question something, Almost.

The grip on her face changed and a gentle tap and pulse of mana had things changing rather rapidly for Anais. She found herself naked, and that was horrifically sudden. "C---chooo chottomate kudasai!" well... that was about all she got out. Her nudity wasn't even the worst thing to happen at this point. Instead she found herself being strangely manipulated and entered. This was way too much! Why was this happening, why did it feel weird? Yes, weird was the first thought, how was she supposed to fight something like this? She was breathing fine and then rather suddenly something was forcing itself into her person, her body was filling and everything was changing and there was no time to adjust or even think. 'Definitely not our speed, but... could be worse~' "Shut up!" ah, that snap was real for Anais, and strangely it wasn't even aimed at Mugen. She didn't like the idea that her internal voice had gone so far left, she was trying to deal with a lot as her body seemed to adjust to a feeling her mind wasn't properly prepared for. What was more her consciousness was very much against this kind of thing... it was so wrong. She needed it to stop. Ah what was this? This man was talking to her as he assaulted her, was this the development she expected. "Absolutely not! This isn't even a development ─ this shouldn't be..." Yeah, this was wholly inappropriate. Too many things going wrong, and Anais wasn't exactly the hallmark for emotional stability. Actually, she was more upset at herself in this moment because she wasn't fighting, but she definitely felt as if climax was approaching. It was too much to sort though, too many senses distracted... it was all too much.

Just as one person had their world destroyed, another's was growing. Sakura got to watch from beneath Charles as he came to understand her words. It was... amazing as a sight to take in. He seemed so genuinely confused and then he wasn't. That tight fit he'd already been experiencing, only seemed to become more so as he pummeled away at the entrance to her womb. She could feel his push forward, knock by glorious knock and what was more, he admitted to liking it. "If you like it... push harder~" she mentioned her hips currently had the angle necessary to allow him to reach a greater depth. Eventually he would find himself quite far, and maybe just maybe he'd make that final push. Sakura was quite interested in finding out if he would.

[Bloodedge]

Anais had no answer to the initial question. Well... it could at least be said that she didn't verbalize a response. That was fine; his more direct actions were to make a point... and perhaps entertain himself in the process. Anais wasn't the only one seeing and feeling things no one else nearby could. What she experienced, he also experienced through a temporary connection. Mugen was a holder of Forbidden Knowledge, after all. Such knowledge happened to include an understanding of mana transfer beyond the supposed norm. Whenever he desired, Mugen had the knowhow to awaken his own consciousness wherever his mana was. Some would consider it connected to a method of teleportation, and in truth, it may have been. Whatever the case, his perspective was also within Anais's 'dream' of sorts.

Speaking of the scene occurring out of sight for most, the very first moments had the girl very politely, yet hurriedly requesting that he take pause. No such thing would happen. There would be no avoiding the 'reality' of him stretching her folds apart with a forceful thrust, even as she shouted at... someone who obviously wasn't speaking outside of her head. "Ho? Arguing with yourself instead of me right now is your plan of action? At that rate, just listen to the part that likes it," he said. Meanwhile, Ailen was sighing and watching impatiently, both inside the dream and in reality. The moment Anais first shouted, he knew exactly what Mugen was doing. This had the potential to become something for him to deal with later. Soon enough, others would be seeing the same growth Anais might be feeling ─ the full growth of her body toward its more voluptuous state. Maybe she shouldn't have bothered getting dressed today? Regardless, she'd at least be able to experience it in the depths of her own soul, sans the annoyance of clothing. "This is a development. This is what it means to grow by taking in mana. Take a look at your 'protector' and yourself now," he said. Words were being spoken so closely to Anais's face, his plum-stained breath crept out against nose and mouth alike. Of course, he still kept her face fixed as well, albeit now with only the forefinger and thumb of a hand that happened to be upon her neck. All the while, he continued pumping her insides full of mana, though he was barely moving at all. "This is something only a few people can do. Not having this is why you're so small, right? It's the most obvious fix, but it's not what you want? Kuhuhu! Well, I guess small works for some~"

Sakura said the strangest, most unexpected things. As she proceeded to squeeze the ever-living hell out of his tool, she urged him to push harder if the recently-mentioned sensation was one he liked. Normally, his first thought would be about how ridiculous that suggestion was. Here and now, however, he could do no such thing. The idea of pushing a bit harder was appealing well beyond how it registered mentally. He didn't have much room to argue with himself either, as the positioning of Sakura's lower body allowed him much easier access. She insisted upon a harder push, and he'd do just that. Oh, and what a push it was. With one more thrust, Charlemagne did indeed find himself wedged tip-first in a second resting place hidden deep within a moist canal. Strange was the fact that he could do this now. Stranger still was the realization that he had a bit more to give. "Ah~! A-alright, that's way different. Am I stuck again? I don't think I can pull back from where I am now," he stated. Strangely, Charlemagne's words belied a panic that wouldn't show past the absolute satisfaction in his visage. After all, why would he want to retreat from this?

[Apollymi]

This dream of Anais's was actually nightmare fuel, technically made worse by the fact that she was having trouble separating fact and fiction. What was more, there was a lot happening here that she wasn't okay with. The random assault on her person, her weird brain agreeing to it. This man knowing her argument started in her own mind and had relatively little to do with him. "Deal with things within your own control first," she mentioned knowing full well that arguing with someone already buried in her person wasn't likely to go well. Ah well, there wasn't any arguing with him, not really considering how hastily this entire situation had unfolded. Her body was definitely stretching, well that wasn't right, she was filling out and that was a weird thing to experience. This was especially true when she considered never being very large to start with. Ah and to her own senses she was rather 'big' but that was kind of unnecessary. "Yeah, okay, development maybe, but to what end? It isn't really useful to me to be like this in a moment when I'm not sure yet what to do with it... on either front actually. Randomly get bigger and have to deal with a bunch of stuff i I don't really want to... though being small didn't exactly discourage you either so I don't really get it," she managed to get those sentences out without as much panic. That was part of her internal answer, she was technically hiding in plain sight by not being too much in a world where that was standard, it wasn't a purposeful choice, but a combination of her physiology and power that made this happen. But her mind wasn't processing the way she would have liked, she was a bit distracted actively trying not to think about enjoying being spilled into in such a way. This man smelled like plums, no that wasn't right, that wasn't something she wanted to think about given she knew how one came to smell like someone else now. Luckily her mind was even willing to give her a break now. 'We could just enjoy and grow...you don't have to be so difficult about it. Do what we want~' That voice in her head was less abrasive but still intrusive, well at least it was making sense. But even without the panic she wasn't sure she liked this man taking advantage of her body like this, nor did she like it growing at random when she wasn't prepared for it. Stretchy fabric of her pants aside, the rest would be bursting at the seams.

Poor Anais was having a rough time, but... Charles and Sakura were having a good time. Charles pushed forward with only a little more prodding from her. In so doing he pushed past the barrier and she found relief. She exhaled just a bit and knew that there was still more to enjoy. "Ah~" Actually, she couldn't help but wiggle her hips just a bit. Charles wondered if he was stuck again, and she found it in herself to smile before her reply. Of course, this smile was likely just as unnerving as all her other ones had been in situations like this. "Well, you aren't stuck... you'd have to work a bit to get out though..." she mused seeming to find it entertainig. "On the other hand, it'd be easier to withdraw if you went forward more first~" she said as if it was just a suggestion. In the meantime she prepared herself for one of the most interesting sensations she'd ever experienced to become constant.

[Bloodedge]

For one who was obviously Ailen's apprentice, Anais was only living up to some of Mugen's expectations. It may have been a good idea for him to avoid this approach for a bit longer, but... where would the fun be in that? Apparently, she argued with herself because that path was more within her control. True though it was, she hadn't done a thing to go against him still. She did, however, have much to say regarding her current developments. "To what end? That's the question I'm asking you. You're thinking a lot about how this shouldn't be happening. Think better," he urged. Whether Anais liked this assault, hated it, or something between ─ and regardless of what she tried telling herself ─ she was not yet behaving as she should be. Whether she liked it or not, being Ailen's apprentice meant she would eventually encroach upon Mugen's territory: Forbidden Knowledge. Perhaps Ailen could prepare her for that eventuality, but Mugen would involve himself regardless. Besides... now that their consciousnesses existed on the same spiritual plane for a time, he could actually hear that voice Anais had been arguing with. "Two are talking. Shouldn't there be three?" he asked. This girl had the makings of greatness in her. That voice in her head was one he could really get along with, which she seemed to shun repeatedly. Moreover, missing was the voice of her alleged protector. Ah, but that wasn't too important at the moment. Now, Mugen's constant pumping was being accompanied by thrusting. Some sort of development would occur one way or another. "Too much, or not enough? What kind of thinking are we doing today? Ai-chin picked you, so you should be smart~"

Charlemagne wasn't stuck, but he was stuck. Difficulty getting out was exactly what he was worried about. On the other hand, if he could never remove himself, it wouldn't be too bad an end. How strange; this wasn't the first time he thought in such a way. Putting that aside, that devilish smirk was upon Sakura's face again. According to her, withdrawing would be easier if he first delved deeper. What? Was her vagina supposed to be some sort of Chinese finger trap?! Well, those were always fun. In considering this, Charlemagne was subconsciously doing just as Sakura suggested once more. He found himself lodged deeper without issue, and easily able to withdraw at least a bit. Alas, his glans would not cooperate by dislodging itself from her womb. The result was quite the tugging sensation, which harmonized with the walls closing around his shaft to create quite an unexpected medley of bliss. If only he'd known the full truth of Creation, Charlemagne would have done these things more consciously. He seemed to get there in the end regardless. . .

[Apollymi]

Ah, there was a strange thing occurring here. Whatever things Mugen thought Anais should be living up to, she was busy being tormented and as such she was having her own problems. Strange indeed that this man was asking no, urging her to think better while doing something that she registered as traumatizing her. "That message is full of conflicting principles. You are telling me to think better while traumatizing me... those things don't line up," she stated knowing he likely didn't fully register all the problems she currently had with his activities. 'It's only really trauma if you allow it to be,' Anais's internal voice had a valid point but it wasn't enough. She was a 17 year old girl in her own head, and was still prone to her own emotional instability, violating all things she understood, even if she understood them a bit better now, wasn't going to contribute to her healthy understanding of anything. It was taking a great deal for the girl to box her trauma and continue answering questions. Anais wasn't yet familiar enough with any of this current walk of her life to be thinking about it in such an abstract way. Besides that her body was reacting in ways she wouldn't have logically wanted so she was having to compartmentalize just to avoid another traumatic break in her psyche today. Though long term it likely wouldn't work, she was trying to avoid having a major freak out in front of people twice today. Still as she held her own body at bay she heard another question, there were two voices shouldn't there be three?

"Well the other one didn't even start until today... my internal monologue was just me until I..." she paused her speech and there was a certain throbbing within her own loins again. "Wait wait wait... " The truth of this day was the slut hell sending secondary voice in her head didn't start until she entered this palace. It simply didn't exist in any moments prior to landing in Munetsuchi. More than that... he'd been hinting at hearing her extra thoughts this entire time and she hadn't noticed. "Ugh, it's both. I am thinking too much and too little... and that's on me," she managed quietly. Doing what her internal voice wanted was something that worked out in her favor in general, and there was the other stuff. Unanswered questions, "Right, unanswered questions... this option really work because it isn't the only reason I'm small..." she came to this conclusion and that nagging throbbing sensation in her core seemed to be reaching fever pitch, but she technically wasn't in need of anything to express herself. "I'm small because I don't have everything I need... though I could grow spiritually or physically as I am, that wouldn't necessarily be better... regardless of the physical implications," she concluded. "Still doesn't explain why you can hear that voice, I mean there are a few implications but..." she gave pause. Was it related to Forbidden Knowledge? Was he a mind-reader in general? Was it something else? Her nature was something strange, but she truly wasn't currently being protected, but perhaps it was because she was ignoring her own thoughts too much. Her extra voice wanted her to do sexual things, she'd been taught her own life were wrong aside from a very specific circumstance. Obviously, that was no longer part of her mindset... but she still refused acceptance of that as it clashed with her sense of propriety. She also wasn't rude enough to impose on anyone else which was likely the reason she'd been approached several times today by people who simply didn't read to her as 'enemy' even though they weren't necessarily within the scale of her comfort. Well, then she was left with a different thought, what was the best way to protect something? There was the assumption that her protector wasn't protecting her, but what if it was? She'd been using its powers within some pretty specific confines, but it wasn't a truly active or ingrained part of her being, and what if its conscious absence was its protection. It couldn't be existing the way it wished to, or was used to, so perhaps... that was her current problem. It didn't have what it needed and her own avoidant nature made it avoid as well. And all of those thoughts came flowing through as that physical eventuality she'd been avoiding took place, as her loins clutched and slickened because it was natural and what that other voice in her head wanted. And in that moment she understood something else as well...

Meanwhile Charles seemed to be having a better time of figuring something out. He was moving without conscious effort and in doing so would find himself swimming around within Sakura's womb. Such a feeling was near electric for Sakura as well. The girl found herself moaning and twitching as Charles nearly managed a withdrawal after pushing forward. Her wall kept tightening periodically around his shaft and she neared climax with each successive push. When it finally happened it would be as if a dam broke and her own mana would flow easily towards him and her mind would open as well. Those new eyes of hers settled and she saw the face of the other goddess she wanted to meet, with blonde and blue curls. She also understood a great many things and tightened her grip on Charles seemingly content to keep him close and hold him to herself as she experienced a rolling orgasm.

[Bloodedge]

"It isn't," Mugen replied. Anais may have believed there was conflict in his words and actions, but it was not the truth. Her internal voice was making far more sense. "At this rate, you're the one I should be talking to. You should give me your take," he said to the second one, which apparently started its existence only today. Well, that made sense to Mugen. It was possible that part of her latched onto him, either by proximity or by her more direct connection to Ailen and therefore Mugen himself. After mentioning the 'birth' of her other voice, Anais seemed to be reaching a conclusion of some sort. She was thinking too much, and she was thinking too little? Wonderful. Mugen's lips curled into a confident grin; he believed she was on the right track at last.

Moving on to the unanswered matters, Anais surmised that a lack of mana intake was not the only reason for her stature. Good. She didn't have all she needed, so growing spiritually and physically wouldn't be better? Almost good. Anais was teetering on the answer he'd been fishing for, never quite reaching it but never moving too far away either. Instead of stepping over the threshold, she wondered aloud why he could hear that voice. That was easy. "Because that voice is closer to me than you can ever realize. It's that opposing consciousness that appears to tell you the other side isn't something you really want to ignore. Nothing is black or white," he explained, strangely giving the first real answer thus far. His major point was still missing, so of course... he'd make an effort to create more difficulty. Anais would soon enough find both of her legs lifted, Mugen and the wall being the only supporters of her weight as the former slammed against her undercarriage. "Don't go silent on me now. You haven't stopped thinking, have you? What about the other one?" he wondered in the meantime.

Charlemagne was feeling unusually positive about a sexual experience that went beyond his sense of reason. Between the new and unexpected sensation of entering the womb, and the internal and external grip-tightening on Sakura's part, there were enough different things assaulting his senses to remove all wayward thoughts from his mind every thrust. Adding in the slickness of Sakura's climax only gave him more to work with. Charlemagne found himself with a great deal more stamina; that incessant tingle hadn't even started yet. Strange as that was, it proved advantageous as the latest developments within Sakura's womanhood offered him more ease of movement. His hips would piston with no resistance, hastening his movements by proxy. Charlemagne hadn't expected to be the one producing any sort of wet, slapping noises throughout the process of sexual activity, but now... he could hear it, echoing into his ear like a drumbeat to fuel its own repetition. And so, repeat he did.