.^^ the Williwaw ^^

— Rune —

I looked over, at the soft knock on the door, and paused. "Ah... Sir Devon. How nice of you to visit... and Squire Jalen, hello." I cleared my throat awkwardly.

She stepped in, and shooed Jalen, then glanced at Kuro. "And you might be, sir?"

"Ah, right, this is Lord Fa Kuro, the lord in charge of the Fort, at the moment, until it's completion." I introduced him swiftly.

He bowed, and smiled. "Hello! I am sorry for our state of undress, it is too hot in the forge for formal attire."

She raised an eyebrow slowly, looking over him critically. "I see..."

I cleared my throat again. "Lord Kuro, I hate to be rude-" they snorted in unison, and glanced at each other. I continued, glaring at both of them. "-but I think I need to speak to Sir Devon alone for a minute. Apologies."

He nodded. "Of course! I will... well... I hate to ask-"

"The baths are down one floor, you may make free use of them." I smiled.

He bowed. "Thank you." Then he left, and the sword stayed on the anvil, in its sheath.

I frowned, and picked it up. "He shouldn't have left this... we worked hard on it. Two days of constant smithing, thousands upon thousands of Runes worked into the core, spine, and blade... the amount of power in this Weapon shouldn't be underestimated."

Devon leaned against my desk, and I cringed, halting myself just barely from speaking sharply about it. She noticed, and hummed. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"I don't... I don't like when people sit on my tables and desks. It irks me." I sighed.

She chuckled, and moved to the chair. "Better?"

"Much." I nodded, and sat down on another chair.

She laughed, and nodded. "Well... earlier, I left before I could return your... Honesty. I'd like to do so, if you don't mind." She asked hesitantly.

I blinked. "Oh... well, if you'd like?"

"Alright... it's actually really simple. I'm something of a bawdy drunk. When I drink alcohol, I apparently become entirely unable to feel shame, or control my impulses." She chuckled softly, blushing a bit.

I nodded, not wanting to interrupt her, and curious to see where this went.

"And when I got to Sanctuary, after our... frankly it was a disaster, as far as dates go. I mean, we got our pilots killed, you summoned your side-woman to heal them, then you told me that you wanted to have multiple lovers, and I didn't know how to respond, freezing like a stupid deer in bright lights." She snorted disdainfully at her foolishness.

I grinned at the image, holding back a laugh by sheer force of will.

She sighed. "But then I went to Sanctuary, and talked to a friend, and figured out some things... and then drank until I couldn't remember myself. And Talja said you saw me at my worst, there, so there's no reason to explain that..."

I blinked. "I haven't seen you since the-... Expedition."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really? Huh... that lying little shit... well it's a bit embarrassing, but I suppose it's only fair... I apparently bothered your father, trying to get into your tower, and forgetting where it was. And while that was happening, I was apparently babbling some very embarrassing things, mostly about how I didn't mind multiple lovers, because I was woman enough for all of you... my biggest regret is that Jalen saw that part. I'm his Master, his Mentor, his Knight... he shouldn't see me acting a fool." She sighed deeply.

I widened my eyes, and nodded. "Well, I disagree. Seeing our role models as people, instead of infallible, omnipotent God's, is much more healthy. Gives us something real to live up to."

She hummed. "Maybe you're right... but I don't want to repeat that, so can we get back on track? I... I want something with you. Maybe not Kids and Marriage and Polyamorous Coitus, not just yet, but something. A romantic, sexual something. Does that make sense?" She asked, staring at me directly, even though she was blushing.

I smiled. "Yes. That makes perfect sense. Oh, and on the topic of total honesty, that man was Kuro, the one I told you about... he's cute, no? I'm not quite sure how sex with a man works, but I will find out... and I'm sure it'll be fun."

She laughed. "Alright... in That case, total honesty; I have wanted to have sex with Natva for a very long time, but she's always seemed... out of reach. And I was young, at the time I met her, I knew she wouldn't want me, wouldn't be attracted to a child. I suppose that's a good thing, of course."

I frowned. "That is a Good thing... and also incredibly fun to think about, you and Natva."

She grinned. "I know, right? Dear god's her thighs could crush me any day..."

I nodded seriously. "Yes, they are quite strong. Even my jaw aches after too long with her."

She giggled softly. "Oh you do service her? I was worried I'd have to teach you that particular trick."

I glanced up swiftly, at a shift of the curtain, and cleared my throat. "Come in? Listening at doors is very rude, you know!"

Natva entered with a flourish, holding Kuro by his collar. "Indeed... and I heard those comments, my dear, and I appreciate you keeping your thoughts on my thighs. Makes a woman feel special." She winked at Devon, and then held out Kuro. "I captured you a listener."

I released him, sighing, and straightened his clothes. "Natva, meet Lord Fa Kuro. Kuro, Lady Natva Drundomidon." I introduced them casually.

She blinked, and grabbed him again, kissing his cheeks. "Oh! Oh I'm sorry little one! Oh you are cute!!! Oh Rune said you were, and he always tells the truth about these things, but he didn't do you justice, did he? You're just a treat, aren't you?!?" She giggled, squeezing his butt casually.

I sighed, covering my face. "Sorry, Kuro, she's overly affectionate."

He didn't answer, having covered his face to hide the bright blush on his alabaster cheeks.

Devon hummed, and pulled Kuro into her lap. "So... this Sharing thing... is it just a web, or you get us and we get you, no mingling? Because he really is cute."

I laughed. "Mingling is both encouraged and requested... but only once he agrees, and you agree. I wouldn't dream of doing anything you all weren't comfortable with. And Kuro... I'm not sure how much of that you heard, but considering you haven't bathed yet, I'd say all of it?"

He nodded, his face still covered.

"Good, saves me from doing it twice or three times... do you want to be a part of my little harem, Kuro? You can say no, but I have a feeling you do." I chuckled.

He nodded slowly, and peeked through his fingers, showing his charcoal grey-black eyes. "Uhm... but, just one thing?"

"Yes?"

"I do have to get back to work, so..." he shrugged helplessly.

I blinked. "Oh, yes, so do I, don't I? Lots to do... well, we can reconvene when all of us aren't busy... or have little dates, however you wish to do this. I find working alongside someone very much an intimate situation, more so than a date, but I also understand that some people prefer dates. I mean, I like going pretty places and showing people amazing things, but I think that's just my own arrogant Ego, seeing as I'm showing off my home, basically saying 'look! This thing is part of my home, and therefore a part of me!'... I'm like a dragon, I think, showing off my Hoard." I hummed.

Devon laughed. "And BriarFang was right. You do talk too much."

I laughed, shaking my head. "I guess you're both right."

I sensed an increase in Duncan's heart rate, and hummed, walking up the stairs quickly, my armor appearing on my frame.

Devon growled softly at the image of Jalen tickling Duncan's nose with a feather. "Jalen..." she warned.

I walked over, and hummed. "He's actually waking up... Kuro, could you share with him a small jolt of energy?"

He nodded, and rubbed his hands together, gently touching Duncan's stomach, just under his ribcage.

The knight leapt to his feet with a roar, and promptly ran into Devon, crashing backwards like she was a Wall. She raised an eyebrow. "I see you've managed to not die, after casting magic you knew you shouldn't have... good. Your father will have Choice Words for you."

He grinned easily, his breathing normalizing. "But hey, I saved the princess, eh? What kind of knight would I be, otherwise?"

She sighed, rubbing her temples. "True... speaking of, let's go take him to her, then send him home to recover the rest of the way. He needs contact with Forenzian Soil. It has a recuperative effect on those bound to it." She said calmly.

"Alright, sounds like a plan... Natva, would you like a mirror home?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I have found the one in the library, actually, and so I am fine, but I would like to see the new Sanctuary. It intrigues me, and it is one of the original reasons for my visit."

I nodded, and picked Kuro up, while Jalen held Duncan, and Devon grabbed Natva, smiling devilishly. "Going down?" I asked sarcastically, and leapt out the window, laughing happily. The Tower had been moved over top of the new Sanctuary, for this purpose, as I skated in wide circles down towards the crease in the canopy.

Kuro laughed, after his initial scream, and Natva gasped, somewhere above me. "This is amazing!!! How did you do this?!? Some new magic?!? Teach me right now Rune!" She growled sternly.

I laughed again. "It's not a spell! It's an enchanted item, one of only four pairs in existence, and we have them! Technically, Kuro, your sister has the fourth, Duncan's pair, with his armor. Which I'll add to the long list things I have to make." I glared at him, as Jalen circled next to us.

He grinned bashfully. "Sorry, again."

We broke through the canopy, and everyone gasped, even me, at the beautiful Western Imperial structure, the outside nearly complete, that had replaced the small cottage that crossed the river, at the top of the waterfall.

We landed on a new walkway, and I grinned. "Your People really know their stuff... I'm impressed. I didn't think it would be nearly finished already!"

Kuro smiled. "When the Emperor demands something impossible, we discover how to make it possible."

"Indeed... one last thing?" I held out the Williwaw. "Don't ever leave your weapon unattended, Kuro... bad things could happen." I raised an eyebrow.

He blushed, and sighed, accepting it slowly. "It was meant to be my gift to you, you know."

I blinked. "I thought the same. Odd."

He nodded, and laced it onto my belt. "Well, that's decided, then. I thought it first. I win." He grinned victoriously.

I hummed. "Fine... Well, let's go, then. To the Princess!" I laughed, and leapt again, carrying Kuro over the edge and skating down through the air to the lower tiers, where I could see a large amount of magic, likely the princess's bodyguards.

The others joined me swiftly, and I landed carefully, making it as graceful as possible, and pouring some cleansing water on myself and Kuro both, as well as the others as they landed, then approaching the princess and Shiro, who were speaking to Mèng Dian quietly about his responsibilities, making sure the Hunter's cleared the contracts that the Emperor set for them with both efficiency and speed.

The princess glanced up, and saw Duncan, smiling brightly and flinging herself into his surprised embrace. "You're awake! How wonderful!!! Are you alright?" She asked, poking his chest in a curious perusal.

I smiled. "He's fine, so long as he doesn't die of embarrassment, princess."

She grinned and nodded, kissing his cheek swiftly. "That's alright, he'll get used to it, won't you?"

He stammered for a few seconds, and then cleared his throat. "If you want, sure..."

"Good! It's settled, then! Now, thank you, Rune, for your help in waking him, but now there's more work to be done. Do you have an idea of what you will do?" She asked me.

"Things to do? Hmm... well, I've got to collect the opals that you've mined, for my work on the caves... layer them over the roof of each of the caves, in order to create a sort of skylight, which I will enchant to give off sunlight... that'll be good for crops, even under the canopy... and then mirrors along the back of each cave, creating a doubled space, so that they can build homes and crops, both in each cave..." I sat down at a desk that someone had placed next to the main building.

I began drawing out my plans, examining each cave, and marking down how much opal I would need for each skylight and planar mirror, like the College with its interior ecosystem, but much smaller, and with little to no need for its own sunlight, as it will have a massive wall of windows into the cave, shining brightly already.

Once that was finished, I worked on the next, much much bigger cave, hidden under the waterfall, to prevent intrusion. That would be the one where the Mèng Clan and I worked together to create new Flyer's.

I spread it out like a factory, about fifty acres of land, with the same fake sunlight as the others, but spread out a little softer, so my eyes didn't have to hurt, constantly. The entrance and exit both were big enough for even a Cargo Transport, the biggest version of Flyer, and would spit the flyers out through the bottom of the waterfall, under where BriarFang exited.

To get in as a human, you'd need to get through the waterfall somehow, which basically meant you needed a Flyer to take you in, because climbing up a waterfall, even only 50 feet, was ridiculously difficult.

I nodded, and stood, handing my basic blueprints to one of the master builders, and he hummed. "Is this possible, this expansion... for the Main House?" He pointed at the massive structure.

I shook my head. "It would have to be entirely sealed, with nothing inside. Entirely Hollow... but if it was, yes, I could make a very large space, inside, with several gardens to create the proper amount of oxygen, and to stimulate good meditation."

He hummed, nodding. "It will be done." He began shouting orders, left and right, and people stared at him for a moment, before scrambling to do as he said.

I hummed, and opened a portal to Johann, for assistance, reluctantly.

He looked up from his work, attaching a shoulder to his Construct. "Ahh, Son... how are you?"

"Doing Well, actually. But I need your... assistance." I sighed.

He laughed. "Ahh, I know that feeling! What needs doing?" He stepped through the portal, and gazed around, then down at my plans. "Ahh! That looks rather interesting! What requires my help?"

"None of that, it's the new project I was just handed. They want me to make that its own pocket, like the college." I pointed at the massive building.

When I looked at it closer, I realized it wasn't nearly as massive as it had originally looked, seeing as it was nearly flat, and though it stood four stories, it was only about 200x20, for four stories... 16,000 square feet, nope, it was still massive.

He hummed. "If it was sealed, and hollow, with the fire opals to assist, I think it would be possible. Simply fill the opals with power, one by one, and pour them in, melting them to make them fit the form of the building perfectly... I used Black Onyx to make the Spires, but this will be smaller. Easier."

"Unless I do as I did with my bag, and layer it with Runes, first... yes, thank you, that helped immensely." I grinned, and walked to a nearby unoccupied forge, pulling mithril from my bag, and forging long strips, panels, to be layered over the interior. He began working alongside me, ordering the other smiths to begin working mithril into sheets for my work. My own pace outstripped all of them, but I just focused on my work, and hammered out the panels uniformly.

Soon, we had enough for the floor, and two of the walls, before someone tapped my shoulder.

I looked. "Yes?"

The small westerner held out a scroll. "A message from Lord Fa?"

I nodded, looking up at the dark sky and realizing I'd been working all day. I unrolled it, and hummed. 'Rune, the Emperor wishes a favor, a Contract if you will, in return for a sum of money, as well as- as much as it annoys me to write it, with our relationship just starting,- my hand in marriage. Yay! Though, to be fair, I believe I'm to be something of a concubine. It's a good offer, but difficult. The contract is that he wants you to assist Knight-Captain Roland in making a bid to become King of the Northern Archipelago. Sounds simple, but it really isn't. So just think about it. It's a lot of money, but I know you don't care about that... but Roland would be a good King. Send your reply, soon."

I snorted, and penned a quick reply. 'I don't want to get involved in politics any further than I am... but I agree, Roland would be a good King. Tell your father I will do something, but I make no guarantees. Also, come for tea, tomorrow? I'll open a Mirror to wherever you are, if you send a reply fast enough.' I rolled up the reply, and handed it to the courier, who bowed and ran off quickly.

I shook my head, and went back to work, already planning how to make Roland a King.