Munetsuchi

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!"

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.

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."

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.

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!"