Chapter 9

Training continued over the next few days, and I was starting to find my rhythm. Evie was guiding me through water magic, while Ravenna made sure I didn't burn down any building while I practiced with fire. 

Vae mostly commented from the sidelines, offering sarcastic remarks whenever I made a mistake.

Then, a royal summon arrived. We were to come to the palace immediately.

We arrived at the palace and were quickly ushered into the council chamber, but unlike last time, it wasn't crowded.

Only the queen and one new woman waited for us.

She was standing beside Lyshara, her hands folded in front of her. The golden cat-like ears atop her head twitched slightly, and her tail swayed gently behind her. She was tall, mature, and undeniably elegant, her pristine white robes embroidered with gold.

As soon as her gaze landed on me, I saw her golden eyes widening. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

Then, as if catching herself, she quickly composed her expression and bowed slightly.

"Lady Ayra. It is an honor."

I blinked. "Uh, the honor is mine?"

The queen gestured for us to sit and then took her own seat before gesturing toward the woman.

"Ladies, this is Prioress Mara."

I glanced back at the cat woman, Mara. She inclined her head again.

Lyshara continued. "There are three main religions followed in this country. One of them, the Yevari Faith, is descended from the ancient religion that first foretold the prophecy of your arrival."

That got my attention. 

The queen folded her hands on the table. "I spoke with the nuns and monks of all three faiths. However, only the Yevari believed the truth about your summoning and arrival. The others were either skeptical or unwilling to take action."

Mara finally spoke. "As a scholar of the Yevari scriptures, I have studied the prophecy for many years. And now, before me, stands the very being it spoke of."

I suddenly felt very self-conscious. "I, uh... well, I'm here."

Lyshara chuckled. "Indeed, you are." Then, her expression turned serious. "Now, onto the reason I called you here."

She glanced at Mara, who took a slow breath, her fluffy ears twitching once before she spoke. "The imbalance in mana is not just a political or magical crisis, it is a spiritual one as well. The Yevari scriptures state that when the world begins to lose its harmony, a being shall be sent to restore it."

I already knew the basics of this, but I had a feeling she wasn't just reciting scripture for the sake of it.

"The Yevari have always believed in the importance of spiritual unity," she continued. "And... in certain cases, it is written that those devoted to the faith may set aside personal vows for the sake of a higher cause."

Her blush deepened slightly, but she maintained her composure.

I raised an eyebrow. "And by 'personal vows,' you mean...?"

She gulped, her grip tightening on her robes. "Celibacy."

I blinked. "Wait... you mean..."

Queen Lyshara leaned back in her chair, watching Mara closely. "Yes. As you know, Lady Ayra, I know your essence is vital for restoring balance to the land. But for mana to spread, women must be willing to receive it." Mara swallowed, visibly nervous now. "Many of the nuns in our temple were hesitant. They have spent their entire lives in abstinence. But I cannot ask them to do something I am unwilling to do myself."

She took another deep breath, steadying herself.

"That is why I will be the first."

My brain simply refused to process what she had just said.

She lifted her chin, trying to maintain her dignity despite the deep blush dusting her cheeks.

"I am ready to lay with you, my lady."

I felt Ravenna shift beside me. When I glanced at her, she looked entirely too amused. Evie had turned an alarming shade of pink, avoiding eye contact. Vae just smirked.

Mara was visibly trembling now, her cat ears twitching as if they wanted to fold down in embarrassment but, despite her clear nerves, Mara kept her posture straight. "It is a sacred duty. If I am to ask my sisters to follow, then I must prove that this is not a burden, nor a sin, but a blessing."

She paused. Then, quietly, she added, "Though, I must confess... I am nervous."

I gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay, I was nervous too."

"I am simply... unfamiliar with such things."

Then, Ravenna purred teasingly.. "Oh, don't worry. Ayra's an excellent lover. You won't regret even a second you spend with her in bed."

Mara's ears flattened against her head, and her entire face turned red.

Vae tried to control her laugh. Evie blushed and looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. The Queen too smiled at Ravenna's remark.

I sighed, rubbing my temples.

This mission was turning out to be far more interesting than I had imagined. 

"So," I said, leaning back slightly. "Where exactly will these dual cultivation sessions happen?"

The queen tilted her head, considering for a moment before offering, "I can arrange a chamber for you in the palace, if you'd like?"

Before I could respond, Ravenna spoke up. "That's a generous offer, Your Majesty, but I think it would be better if we did it at my place instead."

The queen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why is that?"

Ravenna glanced at me before explaining. "First, There are a lot of men in the palace. Second, Once word gets out about why these women are coming here, rumors will spread fast. Some of them might feel uncomfortable coming to the palace under those circumstances. Others may hesitate to lay with Lady Ayra out of shame or fear of being judged." She folded her arms. "If we have them come to my place instead, we can control the flow of information better. It'll give them more privacy and prevent unnecessary scrutiny."

The queen nodded. "That is… quite worrisome. I hadn't thought about it that way." She looked Ravenna in the eye and gave a small, approving smile. "Then do as you believe is right. I trust you with all my heart."

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