--- Day 111 AD ---

I breathed deeply, shaking my hands to get my blood flowing.

I was currently in Tizzy's class, which was 'Beginners Physical Warfare', where she was apparently an Instructor, because all MPWS's were given classes to teach, as a mark of their station.

The man in front of me was well built, not bulky, but lean and well-muscled. He struck out swiftly, and my vision sharpened. I breathed out as I ducked, and then slammed my flattened palm into his chest.

The room shook imperceptibly, trembling with the tiny shockwave that rippled across his chest, and he stood still, his palm gently tapping my chest.

I blinked in shock as the energy was redirected, my sternum cracking, and I flew back, my own energy pushed into me.

I crashed to the ground, and bounced a total of three times, flipping uncontrollably and eventually slamming into the wall, shattering it in a spiderweb.

I stayed still for a second, confused, and peeled myself out of the wall, my bones healing and repositioning themselves.

I stood, cracking my neck, and looked at him. "Interesting." I said, then darted forward, faster than I had before.

I pushed out a gentle finger, touching his collarbone with absolutely no force. He flinched and attempted to redirect my energy again, which I realized was actually a form of natural magic, but there was nothing to redirect.

While he was confused, I stepped forward and folded my hand into a three-inch punch, tossing him back and into the wall, just as I had been.

When he didn't get up, Tizzy raised a hand, and I relaxed as the match was ended. Medics quickly healed him and led him off to the side.

She nodded. "Good job finding his weakness, But next time? Try not to break my walls." She motioned at the two walls.

I shrugged. "Sorry."

She nodded again. "I've actually got something I think will challenge you... Erie? Come on up." She said, smiling.

A giant of a man slowly lumbered over, his footsteps like tiny eruptions. I hummed, watching him closely. I smelled him, and stiffened.

'Shifter... And a big one... What are you?'

He glanced at me, and smiled widely, a giant friendly grin spreading across his face. "Hullo!" He said cheerfully.

I hummed. "Hmm... A cheerful Giant. What are you, friend?" I asked.

"A Crania." He smiled again.

'What the fuck is a Crania?!?' I narrowed my eyes. "And that is?" I asked.

He blinked and shrugged. "Me." He chuckled good naturedly.

Tizzy smirked. "This way you can't win through brute strength." She said.

"Hmm..." I nodded, and slowly removed my shirt, then my boots, my bare toes grinding the stone to sand under me, when they flexed.

He hummed and nodded, removing his jacket, which was almost as tall as me, dropping it to the side and then removing his boots.

I sighed softly and flexed my muscles one by one, stretching and readying myself. He simply cracked his neck and raised his hands in a ready boxing stance.

Tizzy threw her hand down, and my fist crashed into his stomach. He stumbled back a step, and my second knuckle cracked from the density of his body. It was like punching diamonds.

I jumped back, letting my hand heal, and then circled him warily. He hummed and watched me, rubbing his hand on his gut, where an indention in the shape of my fist was slowly healing.

Then he stomped one foot and darted forward, his giant weight almost completely nonexistent as his body moved forward faster than I believed he could possibly have ever moved.

I raised my arms in a guard, and his shoulder smashed through my forearms and then my ribs, and then slamming me through the already shattered wall, and into another room.

I lay on the ground, unable to move, and then my body started to realign. I stood, groaning. "Ow." I said, and he turned, surprised, as I shifted and launched myself at him.

I took him to the ground, and snarled, shifting human and pounding on him with all the savagery I could muster.

He threw me off of him, and I laughed savagely, standing. "Finally! A CHALLENGE!" I roared, and he stood slowly, shaking himself off.

"You're tough... Good." He laughed, and then his foot stomped, and he was in front of me again.

I was ready, and so I ducked, one hand on his shoulder and one on his hip, bracing and then pushing.

He flew through the opposite wall, his face shocked at the turn of events, and I followed, unrelenting.

My fists crashed into him repeatedly, thrashing his body in midair, so he couldn't set his feet again. Eventually, he manage to get a hand on me, and threw me away from him, landing on his back, and slowly righting himself.

I landed on my feet, and dug my hand into the ground to drag myself to a stop.

"Alright, that's enough, call a tie, alright? Erie-"

I snarled and launched myself at the large man, set on destroying him. My mind blanked, and I shifted, my jaws searching for my target, and I was rewarded with a burst of blood and a cracked tooth on his iron hide.

He shifted into what I recognized as an Indian Rhinoceros, and his foot crashed down on my skull.

---

I opened my eyes slowly, groaning. "What the fuck just happened?" I grunted, holding my aching head.

"You shifted and tried to eat Erie, and he shifted and stomped on your head." Tizzy shrugged.

I hummed. "I see... I'd like to apologize to him, if he's still here..." I said, sitting up stiffly.

She nodded and pointed of to the side, where the giant of a man sat, his forearm bleeding heavily.

I limped over, and waved a hand, murmuring the blood-stitches spell. His blood stopped flowing as his skin stitched together in the shape of my Leopard's Jaws. He nodded his thanks. "Thank you." He said simply.

"My pleasure..." I said slowly. Then I slowly knelt, grunting at the pain in my head, then placed my knees on the ground, and my hands on my thighs, slowly bowing deeply.

"I apologize sincerely for my lack of control. 111 days is not enough to learn how to control a new half of my soul, it seems. I will train more diligently in the future, and then perhaps we will spar again, with more competitiveness, and less Savagery on my part. Please, accept my humble apology." I finished, bowing my head again.

He chuckled. "It's fine, I understand. You're an Old One, and also a Predator Beast. And no, 111 days is not enough to control a new half of your soul. I accept your apology, and your offer of another spar. We will see each other in the Physical Warfare Tournament." He nodded.

I nodded. "Thank you. My name is Lord Caleb Johnson, First of my Clan, and you, friend?"

"Erie Coppens, of the Coppens Clan, 22nd of my Clan. And I would be happy to call you Friend. Just don't bite me again, and we'll be great." He grinned easily.

I chuckled, relaxing. "Will do. I think I chipped a tooth on your hide, I won't do that again. I'm too smart not to learn from my mistakes." I laughed.

He laughed. "I bet." The bell rang, and he hummed. "Hey, there's a place us shifter men go on Jyardan's, if you're interested, I'd be happy to take you, and we could go have some fun."

"Fun?"

"College gets pretty stressful, you know? It's a place to let loose, and there's also beautiful women, so I'm sure you'll enjoy it." He laughed.

I smirked. "Indeed..."

Tizzy huffed. "Dammit, Caleb! If you bring back another, I swear I'll-"

I kissed her deeply, my hands gripping her thighs and raising her up a bit, then set her down to whistles and cheers. "Hmm?" I asked sarcastically.

She sighed and smacked my arm. "Not fair. And I was saying, Bring home another, and I swear I'll slap you." She huffed and walked away.

I lightly patted her ass as she walked away. "It'll be worth it, though."

"Three isn't enough?" She asked incredulously.

I laughed uproariously. "Enough?!? Never." I snickered.

"Why? Why do you have to have every beautiful woman you see?" She growled, frustrated.

"Dear, I'm a CAT. All that I see is mine." I said, giggling, and walked away.

--- 11:30 ---

"And so this is the place?" I asked Erie.

There were ten shifters in all, that were with us, and all were male. One was a Panther, and was studiously and intelligently staying away from me.

We were on a small island behind the college, which held only one large square building.

He nodded. "This is it. Let's go, boys!" He laughed and headed in through a swinging door.

I followed, and halted. "Oh my gods..." I breathed.

He laughed. "First time?!"

"Not even close... I just never thought I'd find one down here... Mmm, fuck, now I want that one..." I looked at a tall brown haired woman, who was mostly naked, dancing around a pole in the center of the room, one of 12 stages, and he smiled.

"I wouldn't try it. Many have. All have failed." He shrugged.

I huffed, observing her, and then nodded. Many signs added up. Small, feminine scratches on her hips and shoulders, a woman's scent on her, and many more. "That would be because she's a lesbian. I can tell. You'll never get anywhere with her because she just doesn't like dicks. So we're useless to her." I sighed and turned away, heading up the stairs slowly, finding what I was looking for, the lounge.

He sat next to me. "Lesbian? I don't know that word."

"Lilly Licker, Honey Love?" I gave him replacements, and understanding dawned on him visibly.

"Ooooh! That makes sense... Damn." He sighed. "She's such a beautiful woman, to."

I shrugged. "C'est la vie. Move on. I'm guessing the bartender is her lover." I said after some observation. The bartenders hands matched the marks on the dancing woman. So either they had sex on a regular basis, or she was really clumsy and liked grabbing the woman randomly. The second is not likely.

The shifters had spread across the room, quickly filling in the gaps of the other adult shifters already crowded in, and I smiled, watching the women dance slowly and quickly, depending on the men's moods. The music was a light beat at the back of the room, from a medium sized drum.

I smiled again and nodded. "No place like home... Say, Erie, is this rare here?"

He hummed. "Well, I only know of about three, in the city. They're usually shifter joints."

I nodded. "I see. I have a few in my city, Nexus. All I need are the girls... Are they prostitutes, Slaves, or paid workers?" I asked, curious.

He hummed. "I believe they're Slaves, but I'm not sure. Best to ask one of them, or the bartender, yeah?" He shrugged.

I nodded and stood, walking down the stairs and over to the bar. I sat down, and the bartender walked up. "You're new... What'll you have?"

"Information, and a Tankard of Æfè." I said, sliding a Frei across the bar.

She snatched it before anyone could see, and tucked it into her pocket. She started making me a drink, and spoke again. "Sure. What do you want to know?" She asked.

"The girls. Are they prostitutes, slaves, or paid workers?" I asked.

She blinked. "Slaves, but they're treated very well. Especially when they bring in good money." She shrugged.

"I see... And you?"

"I'm the owner." She laughed.

I blinked. "Hmm. I didn't expect that... How much would I have to pay you to buy the place from you?"

"You couldn't possibly afford it." She waved a hand dismissively.

"Oh? My name is Caleb Johnson. Name your price." I said dryly.

She hummed. "The place, all the girls, an ye island as well?"

"Yes. Though, I'd keep you on, as a paid worker, the Bartender. I'm a busy man, I can't be here all the time." I shrugged.

She blinked, and then thought about it deeply. "Well... Considering all the investments I've put in... 10 Koi, would be my starting-"

"Done." I said. "I'll have your money tomorrow morning. Be up bright and early, and make sure your girls are all present." I smiled.

"Just like that?"

"Yes." I said, and walked away, grinning. 'Looks like I've found another lucrative business! Yay.'

--- Day 112 AD, Jyardan, 08:00 ---

I hummed, nodding, walking through the room filled with women, stopping in front of the bartender. "Amusing... You've amassed quite the collection, Friend... Here." I tossed her a small bag, filled with 15 Koi. "Ten is for you, the rest is for the acquisition of more girls. I have several establishments that require the same type of women as you acquire." I explained.

She nodded. "The Nexus. Yes, I've Heard of you, and that place. There's rumors that you're trying to take over the empire."

"Quash those rumors. I have no such plans. I'm simply building a multi-faceted business. One that will benefit the Empire. Especially now that I'm marrying the princess... Hmph." I sighed, and cracked my neck.

She blinked. "Oh... Well, I'll get those girls. How many?"

"2000 should work for now." I said simply. "Is 5 Koi enough?"

She blinked slowly. "No. It's usually a Frei for the best girls. One Koi gets you 100. You've given me enough for 500." She said, obviously confused.

I nodded, and hummed. "Then start with 500, and I'll get you another 20 Koi for the rest and anything they want. I understand they won't have much business at first, so just take care of them well, don't mistreat any of them, ever." I said the last sternly.

She nodded. "I'd never. I'll get in touch with the Flesh Market. You want the ones who sold themselves, yes? Stealing women into the trade is a Black Market-"

"No. Stick to the White Market. I'm working on something that requires my reputation to remain spotless." I waved her sentence off, and then looked around. "Anyway, yes. Get that done. I'll a range transport to Nexus." I said, then began walking out.

"That's... That's it? You're a very odd man, if you don't mind me saying." She called after my retreating back.

I paused, and grinned over my shoulder at her. "It suits me to be so."