Charles Patricius

For all that energy being released by Martha, all that power connecting her to a hot spring that didn't even exist before this meeting, and the end result of her transformation was... nothing. No. This change was far from nothing, closer in truth to... everything. Everything, that is, apart from physical aspects. It was always strange to see Spirits show no signs of their identity in physical form, but there was always something. Mugen glared into the woman's eyes. They appeared normal, but something was underneath the surface. Indeed, looking into her eyes was much like looking into the spring itself. Had it always been that way? No, that couldn't have been the case. "You look... the same, mostly. Just behind the eyes, though ─ that's where the good stuff is," he said. By now, she had to possess more than the proper quality for another transfer. Mugen had yet to stop flowing into the woman, even as he freed one of his own hands to reach forward. He'd take her breast in hand, squeezing flesh and stimulating the nipple. By his approximation, the floating woman should easily become a fountain by now.

Interestingly enough, Charlemagne was right about the magical mumbo jumbo this time. It was satisfying to hear confirmation that he'd probably never vomit again. As a former ordinary human, though, he was becoming disgusted by all those unnecessary limitations. "Huh. I'm surprised I thought of that. I always expect the answer to be way more ridiculous than whatever I assume," he admitted. A few steps had to be taken by the lad. He still needed his land legs back, and apparently... he needed to see how drastic a change had been made by Sakura. This couldn't be called a carriage anymore. "Hell of a change either way. How big is the carriage now? We could have a look at some stuff if you want anything explained. It probably came from our world, and... I need to walk off the vertigo."

The Sex Devil witnessed a great birth, but at the same time it was more of a physical anomaly. In truth, Martha had retained a certain aspect of herself one could call it a 'character flaw'. Still just behind the eyes he claimed that was where the good stuff was... and she'd not really changed either. Her eyes had always been a rather clear shade of blue, however if one looked in right now, they seemed to have an almost shimmering quality to them, like liquid was moving inside of them. She laughed at that... just a bit of good natured humor in a moment of intimacy. "Hehahaha!~ Of course I didn't change much. I put in almost three decades worth of hard human work in on this body. Three decades where people usually see a maximum of seven or eight. I'm not about to give it up, when I worked so hard on it," she said of her physical form. What was more, Mugen began to massage her breast which she found to be overly sensitive at the touch. They'd never felt quite this way before but still, it only only take a little stimulation to see liquid squirting from the peak in a rather free flowing way. She also didn't seem too surprised by anything maybe there was a reason for that too? After all, her mind did feel like it was suddenly working overtime.

While Martha was surprised about her current changes in life. Charles was surprised that he seemed to have some understanding of the human condition in the way that it made sense to higher order beings. "I think it is a pretty sound conclusion to come to. Besides, orgasm is referred to in Munetsuchi as the 'Spark of Wisdom'. In this case, the release from sex allowed you to use the information you recently gained to come to conclusions about the human condition," Sakura explained the nature of minds and their better functioning to Charles as she looked around. Still there were questions about her work which Sakura was more than happy to give answers to. "I didn't change the outside dimensions of this carriage. It would have made it too heavy to move regularly," she said with a nod. "It would be more accurate to say that the inside of this place is part of the Imaginary Number Space, and the carriage is the door or shell which opens into it," she clairified. As for the things she couldn't have identified. She'd soon be sanding and those dark tendrils would be wrapping around her putting her back in her little black dress. She looked around and pointed towards the kitchen there was something near here which she wanted to question directly. "Also what is vertigo?" she asked wanting to understand a bit better.

At the same time, Yume seemed to be finally wrapping up her creation of a new Avatar. It'd taken a while, and she'd had to pick up a few pieces from some of ther other Avatars but now she was sure she was about finished. She took note of how much time had passed and knew that she still had about half the time she'd told the group it would be before she needed to be here for the waking Yuuya. She'd also been given a specific bit of chastising earlier in the day, to avoid any misunderstandings she'd reach out to her mentor. 'Mugen-sama, I have something to show you and some questions if you have time~' she called for him as if lightly amused.

For three decades of her original life, Martha had worked toward perfecting her physical state. That said nothing for the millennium or so she spent honing that work on Alaya. There was every reason to decide, either consciously or otherwise, not to change something so near and dear to one's heart. "Well, congratulations. This is the sum of ascension if I've ever seen it. That attitude... it reminds me of another, but only slightly. You're something new. There hasn't been a Spirit born in a very long time. We're a regular pair of anomalies, you and me," he said lightheartedly. By Mugen's senses, he would no longer be able to dispel this hot spring. His signature remained on it in a way, but that was certain to happen regardless. Alas, it was no longer his to control. What was his, was that stream of milk spilling from Martha's breast. His own spillage slowed to a halt as Mugen leaned forward to drink of Martha's essence. This was precisely what he needed, but lo... some words were entering his mind. He expected to be called upon by Yume by now, but he'd gotten a bit... tied-up, so to speak. 'Ara? You should have something to show me by now, but what questions?' he asked to pass a few additional moments before making an appearance.

All the while, Charlemagne continued to learn about the 'new' space he was in. For a moment, it sounded as if Sakura had managed to make the carriage's interior dimensions larger than its exterior. It was a pop culture reference waiting to happen, but alas, it was not so true. In truth, the carriage had been made into a gateway that opened unto a special subspace. "No 'bigger on the inside' reference then, huh?" he asked rhetorically. Regardless, he started wobbling his way toward Sakura and whatever she planned to address in the kitchen. He thought it was a shame she'd gone back to that dress, though... it had its own high level of appeal as well. Charlemagne did nothing about his own clothing situation as he followed. "Vertigo is when you feel like everything around you is moving, but it's not. Kinda makes it hard to keep balance, but it's usually pretty easy to get over."

Ascension. That is what this particular kind of evolution was being called. Martha couldn't argue with it, she wouldn't have regardless, still... she was congratulated and so she'd acknowledge that while getting a feel for the changes in her body. "Arigatou!~ The Sex Devil is an anomaly too~ And being born is obviously not the easiest thing to manage," she said knowingly. Though she had no reason to know that, she felt that making a 'Spirit' in this world was much more difficult than it should be. Still there was the matter of that Sudachi flavored mana now pouring into his mouth for whatever thing he intended to take. Oddly enough, as Martha thought of it, she had a full understanding of 'Mana Transfers' as this world called them. Weird, she didn't remember having anything but the simplest understanding of those before. What was more, she felt infinitely relaxed, though a little moan escaped her lips as mana was drawn directly from her. At the same time, Yume was having her mentor answer her back in a rather direct manner, what were her questions? 'Well, I made a new friend and he's having some problems feeling comfortable with himself. He thinks he was a worthless person but I don't feel that's true, but on Gaia he had some physical anomalies which made it impossible for him to feel normal. I was wondering if they were connected to a lack of conversion from one world to the other... you know since he claimed stepping through his gateway fixed his problems,' she posited her own hypothesis.

Ah, and then there was Charles and Sakura. Sakura had many explanations which she freely offered and tried not to overwhelming. She was still learning after all. As for the lack of reference to the space of the carriage being 'bigger on the inside' she did have something to say... "I mean if you looked at the carriage from the outside and then stepped into it, you'd likely say it was bigger on the inside," she concluded, thinking it was a fairly accurate assertion regardless. Moving on she found herself within a kitchen with high countertops and shelves. Several small appliances on the counter tops and other such things. She pointed to a standing appliance with double doors and a large drawer at the bottom. "This, is one of them... It's cold inside," she murmured. "And this, I don't much get it either," she said pointing to her side where against the sink on the bottom there was a different door with that would open and be pulled out.

Two anomalies were locked in conversation at the end of their sexual encounter. Mugen had only a few more things to do with Martha. First and foremost, he had a hefty drink to enjoy. One inhale after another, he partook of the saint's milk and enhanced himself as a result. The future was bright; things once improbable were becoming simple matters each time he swallowed. Remaining buried in Martha's womb was certainly doing its part to help as well. Ah, but what of Yume and her questions? She spoke of a new companion and his problems as they appeared between worlds. 'Physical anomalies? Worthless? The list of potential reasons is endless. If going from Gaia to Alaya had something to do with fixing it, it's likely one of the mana-based reasons. I'd need to know a bit more,' he replied while drawing the last swig of mana he needed. The time had finally come to pull away from Martha, though he'd leave that part to her while holding up a single hand. "Hmm. Chopsticks, eh? Too easy," he said as a pair of pitch-black sticks began materializing in that elevated hand.

Viewing the carriage's interior from outside could give the illusion Charlemagne had been assuming. He'd say that was cool, but the loss of a legendary sci-fi reference was too jarring. "Well, knowing better, I wouldn't dare waste the reference like that. Don't get me wrong ─ it's still awesome," Charlemagne declared. Into the kitchen he went, by Sakura's lead. The primary item she pointed out was something he once couldn't imagine living without. The second, however, was always technically unnecessary even on Gaia. "Ah. That's a refrigerator. It's for keeping food cold so it lasts longer. Humans can have a lot of things go wrong if they eat things that haven't been held at proper temperature, or things that are rotten," he explained. Whether Sakura understood the greater purpose or not, Charlemagne would address the other object she pointed out. "That one... isn't such a necessity. It's a dishwasher. Literally all it does is wash dishes so we don't have to. Humans have a lot of lazy inventions."

More and more of Martha was taken from the 'top' of her new existence. It wasn't a loss so much as it was a bit of a pressure release. She relaxed as he drank from her body, she couldn't help but lightly squirm even as she was practically released from his grip. While he drank he carried on a conversation. According to Mugen, he needed more information but assumed the ailment of Yume's new friend was mana related. 'Mana-based? I suppose given the expressions of mana that could be true. He was quite portly and could never lose the weight, no matter what he did. According to him he also smelled bad, but... he doesn't smell like anything bad to me, but if that is a mana-related issue than I might not be able to sense it anymore given the evolution of my senses,' Yume gave information and allowed her own thought patterns to shift as well. 'I wonder if mana in high densities in a world without a way to understand it could also cause the surrounding outcast behavior. He is so kind but everyone around him treated him so badly,' she communicated. It was quite odd, but if mana was the problem she could see it. At the same time, Martha was freed by the bosom and began to shift herself off the Sex Devil's lap... though admittedly it was quite the undertaking. Chopsticks according to him were too easy. "You say that, but Japanese people are so hard to come by. Well, there is Jeanne and Queen Artoria, but no one has chopsticks..." she managed at the separation. She allpwed herself to float for just a second before righting herself and stretching her new body.

At the same time, Charles and Sakura were looking around this kitchen. According to him the reference he made wasn't one he would knowing exactly what she did, but he still thought her work awesome. She smiled, it was nice to have her efforts appreciated. She hoped everyone could enjoy the space she'd put together for them, while they traveled together, "Arigatou gouzaimasu~" she exclaimed seemingly pleased. Ah and what was more he had an explanation for the things she didn't know. A box of cold to keep food fresh longer, she understood that... though in a manner which was different. "A non-magical way to postpone mana decay in consumables. Actually, I understand why... it would be very bad to eat things with decayed mana in them, it'd likely count as some sort of poison," Sakura said seeming to understand enough based on her alchemical knowledge. No matter, there was also this thing which he claimed wasn't necessity but was something invented for lazier humans called a dishwasher. He claimed it's only purpose was washing dishes so that humans didn't have to, "Hm, well humans don't typically have people to take care of those kinds of things, so I suppose without magic such a device while not necessary is actually pretty innovative and time saving," she mused. Ah... she wondered if this was how humans in the non-magical world made due with what little time they had.

'Portly ─ he was fat? Kuhuhu! That makes it all easy to figure out,' Mugen said. An overweight human with magical ability had a single issue. Most times, it could all be linked to an inability to process mana, creating something of a retention problem. Even the smell had an explanation, especially with Yume confirming that she couldn't smell a thing now that the lad's physical problems were fixed. 'Too much mana for the body. If it has no outlet, it swells from within, goes stagnant and... well, I'm sure you've seen what happens to an old piece of meat, or perhaps... a beached whale.' That was Mugen's answer, plain and simple. Had the boy Kaguya spoke of not transferred to this world, he may have exploded eventually. No matter; it seemed that was a non-issue now anyway. Mugen would continue addressing Martha and her... apparent difficulty finding chopsticks. "The Hoshimi clan, the entire group you are currently traveling with, the king of the world, most of the people you'll meet over the next two years on this side alone... all Japanese. There are at least three Japan equivalents within spitting distance. Humans and their tunnel vision," he mused. In the next moment, Mugen held out a pair of chopsticks that were rather difficult to make even for him. They were adamantine, but sported traces of mithril forming dancing dragons. Once Martha freed herself, they were offered. "There. I even managed to work in something I haven't seen in ages."

Charlemagne was also learning of mana decay and the like due to Sakura's understanding of refrigerators. "That's a mana thing too then, huh? I actually get it," the lad harped. Surprisingly, Sakura had nothing negative to say about the dishwasher they were discussing. He figured refrigeration would be seen as a necessity, but the latter item was... strange to hear addressed positively. "Well, it's definitely that: convenience. Most developments in technology on our world are like that. What humans can't do with magic, they find a way to do with science. Right next to dishwashers is stuff like washing machines, dryers, hair dryers... all sorts of stuff," he rambled. "I'm guessing that sort of thing is here as well. Ooh, you made technology with magic! Is there a massage bed with memory foam? Or a rice cooker?!"

The laugher of Mugen and his less delicate method of speech made only a small smirk come to the face of Yume as she heard out his explanation. 'Yare yare, and I'm supposed to be the insensitive impulsive one~' she mused gently. Ah, but it was definitely a mana-based problem. According to Mugen, mana within the body with no outlet caused a retention problem, it goes stagnant and begins to smell and could cause someone to be fat because they can't be rid of it in a consistent manner. 'Sou ka, I guess that explains the difference between him now and him previously. Even now he's never casted a spell and I doubt he's using his mana...' she thought. Actually such a disorder might have explained more than just his problems. Yume became lost in thought, when considering the death of her mother as a 'heart condition' which was unexplainable. The idea that she was a diviner and with her body shape and output meant that she likely couldn't circulate her own mana as efficiently as she'd have needed to on Gaia. Her mother probably died a death of mana related causes... Ah but it wasn't just her mother either, 'Am I right to think that sort of thing can work in reverse too? Like a body not having enough mana to grow or sustain itself?' she asked for added clarification. At the same time, Martha was having explained to her the number of Japanese people she'd actually find on this planet. The list included some names and references that she knew and some speech about the future, "Well, the king of the world hardly counts, he's gone native~" she complained lightly. "Still, my travels haven't taken me to a lot of those places yet. I guess I have something to look forward to..." she mentioned. And her chopsticks. These were made of interesting materials one's she'd never seen before which seemed to radiate a certain power. She held them in her hands after taking them from the Sex Devil and grinned. "I haven't seen something this good in a while... and the little dragons remind me of something I've seen..." she said thoughtfully. Still they were quite great. "Arigatou gouzaimasu~" she accepted her gift an began twisting water out of her hair so she could put it up and out of her way.

"All things consumed are consumed for mana content," she said with a nod. Allowing him to have this information didn't harm anyone and he didn't seem confused about it. Sakura was also learning quite a bit, about convenience and why humans made the kinds of innovations they did on Gaia. With shorter lives and no magical ability they found ways to do things done easily with magic, it was commendable if nothing else. "Washing machine, Dryer... those are in that... laundry room. It was an odd one but I wonder if the comforts of home are always just in the backs of your minds..." she said while pointing to a door which would lead to the laundry. Moving on there were other things mentioned with enough excitement that they hit Sakura's senses as desires. That bed in particular sounded very specific and she held up a hand and pointed off in the distance. "That bed you just mentioned, I put it in our room... I don't really understand but I don't mind. Rice Cooker... might be one of those things by the look of it. Is it another convenience thing? I have been making assumptions given the name..." she asked seeming to find it odd.

'And you should know there's a reason you're my apprentice,' the demon countered. There were many things he and Yume could discuss, as there were apparently many topics floating around in her head of late. Curiosity was good. She was even thinking well beyond the matter initially brought up, forming comparisons to other things she'd seen out of the ordinary on Gaia. As always, her questions would have answers. 'Too much, not enough, or an issue with mana circuits. All of those things are possible,' he explained briefly. As for Martha, she would soon know many people who classified as Japanese in her original world. Just the same, she'd be very closely connected to a location similar in nature to Japan. "You'll have a lot to look forward to. Remember to soak it all in. Oh, and... I do hope you like this hot spring. You can't get rid of it now," said the demon as he elevated above the water. The surge of energy he felt was perfect for future goals. As Martha had gone above and beyond expectation, he'd offer her one more thing. "You're interesting. Give me a call if you feel the need. I might still be connected to your domain. Ta~" he offered along with a wave. Mugen was stepping away casually whilst his clothes returned. Soon enough, he'd be passing through the forest, easily capable of being sensed by those he allowed to feel him. In this case, he could be sensed by any who had a trace of him within them... for whatever their individual reasons may be.

All things consumed were for mana-related purposes. Charlemagne could understand that as well, especially after spending a millennium adventuring in a magical world. Nothing made the difference between a victorious battle and an unexpected failure like a hearty meal. Moving on, there was indeed a washer/dryer combo in a laundry room. Her assumed reason for those items made sense, and more importantly... there was a rice cooker. More importantly still, the bed he thought of was in a room he'd be sharing with Sakura. Well, that was confirmation that he wouldn't be getting very much sleep, but he couldn't complain about that at all. "Awesome! Those are the best beds ever! And, yeah, rice cookers are probably the best invention ever. Just fill it, set it, and forget it. Perfect rice every time. I'm guessing rice is as popular in Munetsuchi as it was in my Japan, so maybe you can see the convenience in that?"

'Yeah, our likeness is obvious even to me...' Yume mentioned. Of course, she wouldn't be arguing against their likeness she fully understood it already. What was more, he was more than willing to answer her various questions, including telling her the various ways that mana could take to malfunction in the non-magical world. 'Hai hai, I get it...' she said happily. In the meantime, Mugen seemed to be exiting the hot spring with the new power radiating off his person. Martha, apparently had a lot to look forward to according to the Sex Devil and he hoped she liked the hot spring, "Eh? Is it mine? Can I summon a hot spring cause that is oddly useful to me," she mused. Well, if she wanted to she would maybe a bit of time sorting through her skills would give her a reasonable idea of what this connection to a hot spring meant. At the very least, the Sex Devil was also connected to it, and offered himself up in a rather direct way. "Oh? I... didn't expect that... see you around~" she chimed as the demon disappeared. Oddly enough he didn't leave the area, and a certain elafia felt his appearance within the Dark Forest and shivered while being clamped onto her mentor. In her mind she had but a question. 'Are you... going on a date?' she asked of Yume directly. 'Yeah, you could say that... I see you're finally done torturing me with leg day~' she teased. 'Hai hai, have fun,' she mentioned. 'Yeah, keep up yours~' the other teased. Just the same that particular girl was soon standing. A small piece of paper appearing and unfolding into a small body which she blew magic on. She'd leave it sitting at the foot of Yuuya's bed as she went to take a walk, but also keep an eye on him.

Sakura was learning how humans considered things like dining and the fun of specific sorts of bedding. "Sou ka, I didn't understand what it was when I made it... there are a lot of things like that but if it works for you then I am glad I did it," she said seemingly pleased with her own work this day. Speaking of tools of convenience he asked about rice and explained the use of a rice cooker. The idea of making rice perfectly without having to know really how to do it was indeed a convenience. She could likely do it herself given her own understanding but they did eat it in Munetsuchi, "I have enjoyed rice quite a bit as a meal, Otou-chan does a lot of the cooking that I eat, but I wonder if he wouldn't find such a thing more convenient for expanding his ability to multitask while cooking," she said giving it some thought. "And it's definitely a staple in Munetsuchi, there are a lot of rice paddy fields around..." she confirmed for the lad, in case he had some desire for rice later.