Setting Off on a Journey

It is the next morning and I was yet again raddled by night terrors overnight as per the new usual. Vi helped me as usual and now she is sleeping soundly in the bed. I get up and do my usual routine. Our routine is pretty much the same, I do a workout and Vi comes alive near the end and I give her a good morning kiss. She groggily says while stretching, "Let's get food and get on the road as soon as we can so we can make good time. There is a village about one and a half days away on horseback that I want to be our first stop on our journey. Though knowing us it will probably take a bit longer if we are going to be awakening wildlife on the way. Maria and Carlos are currently getting our horses set up for the journey." I get up and ask Sir Brody outside if he can summon our breakfast while Vi continues to get acclimated to being awake. 

I go back in the room with Vi and lay in bed next to her. She groggily turns to me and latches onto me and hugs me while groaning sleepily. Wrapping her arms and legs around me and saying, "Let me stay like this until the food comes." I nod and give her an mmmhmmm. That reminds me of Nat and how she used to do it all the time. I miss her a lot. She was a great friend and there for me when I needed her. I sigh reminiscing and Vi says instantly with a tone of sleepy worry in her voice as her eyes are still closed latched onto me, "What is wrong? I thought you would be overjoyed for today." I shake my head even though she can't see it out of reflex and respond, "Oh no. You are right that I CAN NOT WAIT to get out of this castle. That isn't it. I just was thinking of Nat and how I miss her. I miss Sir Stirling too." Vi sighs too at the mention of our old friends and her loyal retainers that lost their lives loyally in her service, "Yea I miss them too. They were really good people." We lay there reminiscing and then we hear a knock at the door with our breakfast and the smell awakens Sid and Ash. We eat quickly then head out to the horses saying our goodbyes to Sir Brody on the way.

I am fully packed and ready to go. Sid is in Ash's shadow at the moment and Ash is on my shoulder. We arrive to see Carlos and Maria making sure the horses are taken care of with food and water. They are fully saddled and ready to go. I approach Em and ask, "How are you doing today, Em?" while petting her on the face. She says after a neigh, "I am ready!" I reply after a light chuckle at her enthusiasm, "Wait not quite." I heal her to give her her daily power up and she prances in excitement with the overflow of energy and then spawns some plant life around like flowers and stuff from the rush of magic energy. Em says with her emerald eyes sparkling, "I really like this feeling. Thank you!" As she continues her happy prance a little while longer. I giggle and continue to pet her while she continues to do her happy feet. Vi then asks everyone, "Are we ready to head out?" King Juan approaches with a stern yet lovingly father-like voice, "Not without giving your father a kiss you are not." 

Vi sighs in defeat and goes over to kiss her father on the cheek. He then says with a warm smile with sad eyes, "Much better. I hope you have a safe journey. Do you have enough money on you? Do you need any more? I can give you mo–" Vi puts her finger to her father's lips and says, "We have plenty, we shouldn't ever have to worry about money at least for a while, daddy." He cries happy tears, "That is exactly what I needed to hear right now. Thank you for calling me daddy again. I love you, sweet heart. If you guys ever need anything else just come on back for anything." Vi kisses him one more time on the cheek then we hop on our horses and head out with King Juan waving goodbye behind us. 

As we are trotting along, Carlos is nodding off. I mean I don't blame him he was on nights and just had to switch to days. That is a huge adjustment. Reminds me of my first life that was a struggle on certain jobs. I ask him really empathizing with his struggle right now, "Hey Carlos, I don't know if it will help your sleepy situation, but maybe a 'heal' might help relieve some of your exhaustion. Would you like me to try casting it to see if it helps?" He shrugs and yawns and says in a tired voice, "Sounds like it is worth a try at least." I trot up next to his horse and place a hand on him and think 'HEAL'. His dark circles didn't really go away but he seems a little perked up and says, "I am still exhausted, but it doesn't feel like my eyes are going to shut on me now at least. Thanks." I give him a mmhmmm and go back to traveling and thinking. If I start to despair, would Em be able to help me? Or would my magic be drained like with prince pervert? I'll keep the photosynthesis thing to myself for now. I am not sure I can talk about it yet to ANY earth magic user. Even if they are a woman and a horse. She wouldn't torture me like prince pervert I don't think. It doesn't seem to be in her potential which makes me feel safe right now to be honest but the thought is still dancing in the back of my head.

 Horses are powerful and a well placed stomp can be fatal. Just imagining a hostile earth magic horse trying to stomp on smaller body parts as a form of torture for photosynthesis also turns my stomach. Knowing this is not in Em's nature I calm my spiraling thoughts since wildlife don't act like humans do. I reach down and pet her and ask, "How are you holding up, Em?" Em responds as she trots along at the same pace, "I am doing great. I could probably gallop all day with the power boost you gave me." I chuckle, "The other horses would definitely get tired quickly if we tried to keep up that pace." I ask the other horses, "How are you guys doing, does anyone need a water break?" Sir Maria replies not realizing I was talking to the horses, "No I am fine right now. Thank you." Carlos also says the same. None of the horses respond. I think they forgot I can understand them. I then ask the horses specifically, "What about you, Comet, Sapphire and Ruby?" They shake their heads and say no. I continued, "Make sure to let us know if you need a break, something to eat or something to drink ok?" They all say they can pick up the pace. I then tell Vi and she nods and we start galloping. 

We gallop for a while and come across a lake with many forms of wildlife within sight though many get spooked and run to the shadows out of sight when they see us. I signal to Vi and we all stop allowing our horses a moment to go to the water's edge to drink and submerge their legs a bit in the water a bit to cool off being careful not to get their saddles wet. I then ask Vi, "Is it ok if we let them take the saddles off a bit so they can fully cool off and enjoy the lake?" She nods and the horses hear my words and trot to us immediately in excitement so we can remove their saddles. While they are unsaddling the horses I start healing the wildlife, awakening their powers. I start with a few birds and then ask them to bring others nearby to me. They suggest I sing every few minutes as a guide for the smaller ones and those with poor sight that may get lost on the way that don't quite know where the lake is. Can I even sing now? I haven't sung since that night. There is only one song I think I can sing at this moment and that is "Rest in Peace" by Dorothy. Singing about the prince pervert as if he is dead to me. Crying tears of frustration. 

It is a little therapeutic for me and I am healing animals as they come with tears going down my face as I sing. This is difficult to do now. I stay there by the lake while they bring me a steady stream of different kinds of animals so I can awaken their powers. Now we have a line of a variety of wildlife waiting on me. Ash is on my shoulder and Sid is by my side while I do this. I asked them if they wanted to relax in the lake but they said they did initially to cool off and that they are good now and wanted to be with me. They heard me sing and wanted to be by my side to listen and be supportive. I didn't mind the company at all.

 I continued to heal animals until dusk so we just made camp here. The birds said all of the nearby local wildlife was able to come, they believe at least, so we should be good to continue our journey in the morning. They did a really good job at organizing the wildlife in that short amount of time. Granted there were several birds on search duty finding animals and telling them to go to the lake instead of just Ash like when we were doing it around the capital of Hedia. I relied on him a little too heavily there. I am actually a little glad he doesn't have magic now so I don't push him too hard. I am pretty hungry from all the magic I spent today though since I only used magic for maybe a little more than half the day it wasn't so bad. I would say I could eat a horse but we have four new friends who would not like that phrase. Especially with my current voracious appetite which would make that more of a threat than an exaggerated turn of phrase.

I get back to the others from where I was healing everybody which was a ways off around the perimeter of the lake and when I get back to camp Sir Maria is cooking while swatting away a hungry Sir Carlos trying to sneak food. Vi has set up her pretty large tent and there are two smaller ones for Sir Maria and Sir Carlos. From the looks of it nowhere near enough for my appetite and everyone else here. It would have been enough if I wasn't a fucking garbage disposal for food like I am now. I go over to Em, "Hey friend, could you do me a favor and spawn me a bunch of fruit to munch on? I am starving. I don't want to be responsible for depleting our supplies so I will try my best to supplement my diet with as much fruit as possible if that is ok." Em replies while neighing with a nod, "Too easy." and instantly there is a plethora of fruit around us. 

We both start chowing down and the other horses see the fruit and come to join us. Looks like Sid and Ash are waiting on actual food and I don't blame them one bit. This fruit is slapping right now and I am in heaven. This world has some weird fruits though they look similar to Earth's and taste similar and when I say apple they understand the one that tastes like an apple. Apples look a little weird in this world, but they look very similar. This translation ability is weird sometimes and sometimes it is hard to know whether something actually exists or not depending on how they understand my words because like with any translation there are some things that are hard to translate because sometimes there may not be an equivalent word. I just know this is going to cause a problem eventually. So far though my translation ability hasn't caused a communication issue and only helped. So that is good. 

Part of me wonders if I start talking in Spanish would my translation ability switch to Spanish as well and everyone's voices switch to Spanish? That is an experiment for another time. I am hungry. We sit here stuffing our faces with fruit when Sir Maria calls us over for food. I down mine almost instantly and Vi asks knowing my appetite, "Do you want more?" I reply holding my empty void of a stomach, "Well I obviously want more, but I want to make sure everyone else has their fill first. You know, since I am almost a bottomless pit when it comes to food." She giggles while still eating hers with that elegance of hers, "That is fair." I grab a handful of fruits from our stash we were munching on earlier and bring it to the fire and start stuffing my face while everyone else is enjoying their food. Frequently getting up to get more fruit. Sir Maria and Sir Carlos both are looking in amazement because they haven't seen me eat before. They haven't seen anything yet either which is so funny. I think about that first meal after my reawakening and I ate a BUNCH then. 

Once everyone has their fill including Sid and Ash, there are a few servings left in the pot so I down that pretty quickly and continue to eat fruit after that until I get full. Sir Maria says in amazement with her mouth wide open, "By the goddess. Where does it all go?" Vi laughs at Sir Maria's response, "I think I said the same thing or something similar when I first saw her eat after awakening her magic." I smile at the exchange now that I am not actively stuffing my face anymore and say, patting my stomach with an open palm, "To be honest I am not entirely sure, but it feels like it might be dissolving and getting absorbed directly into my magic core. Otherwise I would be dead now from a burst stomach." Sir Carlos says after pursing his lips slightly and leaning as if to non-verbally say 'makes sense', "Yea, if you were normal your stomach would have burst a long time ago." while laughing a bit. A few bugs are flying around us and Sir Carlos zaps them with precision. The lightning came directly from his body. So different from Avatar that is for sure. I could probably talk to bugs, but I have a feeling they would have to be right by my ear to hear them. I don't want to think about that because then that just makes me think we are just murderers or something killing these bugs. 

Bugs have never approached me when I was trying to heal animals so maybe they don't have magic or maybe their voices can't reach my ears. I wasn't particularly fond of them in my first life. Actually, they creeped me out to be honest. Though they creeped me out I tried not to kill them as much as I could though with cockroaches though for instance I just had to kill them. Though bees on the other hand since they were endangered in my first life I actually kind of like those guys and saw them in a different light after the 'Save the bees' movement. Actually, they can be quite cute with their little bee butts sticking out of flowers. They do have a very important job. I have yet to see one in this world. I am sure they probably exist here or a pollinator equivalent. I would like to try and talk to one if I see one. Though if I can talk to them that will change how I see all insects in this world I will then have to try and save them by talking to them to get them to go somewhere else instead. I didn't even really have the chance to try talking to the bugs earlier since it was pretty sudden. I shake my head to stop thinking about things like that and get up and go to the tent and Vi follows me. 

When I go in and plop down on the mattress her father gave us she says, "I was so glad to hear you sing again today. I would have applauded after every performance but I was moved to tears by your pain and was just only able to listen while you bare your soul for everyone to hear. Everyone was silent in awe of your voice. Every time you sang it was more powerful than any song you sang before except that first one you ever sung to me. The one about your wife I also felt the pain in that song as well and my chest got tight. I must admit though it was an interesting choice of song for signaling people you are healing. I assume that is what the song was for right?" I nod and she lightly chuckles at the irony, "A song about death to an oppressor and overcoming. It was a very powerful song." I replied while getting under the comforter, "I loved this song, but it just hits me differently now. I don't necessarily wish death upon your brother, but I would most definitely not mourn his death. It would be a lie if I didn't fantasize about him dying terrible deaths like he attempted to do to me." I sigh, feeling surprisingly in control of my emotions talking about this and continue, "I guess I would just love to kill the part of him that still haunts me to this day. The part that still has a tight grip on my core." I say gripping my chest that remembers the ache and pain of the forced depletion of magic during photosynthesis. Like a phantom pain.

Vi sighs and replies while removing her clothes looking at me on the bed, "I don't know what I would feel if Julio were to actually die if I am being honest... How about we change the topic, were you able to heal everybody today? I forgot to ask earlier." I reply, relaying what my helpers told me, "The birds seem to think we did, so we should be good to head out tomorrow morning." Vi sighs in relief, "That is good. I don't mind camping but there is something about sleeping in an actual building with an actual bed." I chuckle a little bit at finally seeing her 'spoiled' side she identified as for so long, "You say that as if this bed is uncomfortable. When I was in the army we had cots that were basically like sleeping on planks of wood." Vi hisses while taking off her trousers, "Ew. That sounds awful. How did you cope?" I chuckle as I picture my battle buddies of the past groaning and hissing as well, "I actually didn't mind it that much. To make it easier I would pack an extra sleeping bag and sleep on top of one and be inside another." Vi then asks while raising an eyebrow inquisitively, "Sleeping bag?" I then say putting my fist under my chin as I lay there in bed trying to find the best words to describe it in a way she can understand, "It isn't an actual bag per say…Well I don't know, depending on your definition. It was a stuffed fabric that could enclose you all around and most had an opening for the head to stick through. We had many kinds of them in my first life but in the army we had basic generic ones. Think like this comforter but wrapped around you like a cocoon like this." I then with my head sticking out the top of the comforter grab it and do a barrel roll in the bed (obviously thinking 'Do a barrel roll, Fox.' from Star Fox 64 in my best inner Peppy voice), holding the comforter wrapping it around me. Vi then goes, "Ah. That sounds interesting. Though I think I would rather unwrap you instead" she then purrs. 

I then do a barrel roll the other way to unwrap myself and then Vi comes over now completely naked and pounces on the bed next to me and then starts kissing me. In between kisses she says, "Let me know if you need to stop." I shake my head, "I think I am ok that we are away from the castle." I pause to kiss and continue, "It was iffy there because of all that happened so it was hard to know whether or not I could handle it or not." I kiss her again and continue, "Being away from the castle and prince pervert I feel a lot safer." I kiss her again, "I feel safer with you." She straddles on top of me and kisses me tenderly on my neck while reaching around to grab the back of my defensive bikini top I was rocking today for her specifically today so she could untie it then take it off. I helped her a bit by lifting my back off the bed a tad. Once it was off she grabbed my breasts with a tender passion. 

She brings her mouth to mine and we kiss passionately. Our tongues dance with one another. I moan as she squeezes my breasts gently. She then pinches my nipples ever so slightly between her fingers then rubs them. My nipples harden in response. She then without thinking or caring latches on my neck and gives me a decent hickey. It is now I realize a simple heal spell would probably get rid of it. My inner monologue giggles at the thought. 

Though I haven't used 'HEAL' on myself since that day we sparred. She rubs my nipples with a little more intensity to bring me back into the moment from my mental bunny trail and I moan. When she is done with the hickey, she takes her mouth down to my nipples to suck on them while giving the other boob attention with her hands and then alternating after a while. I then say, "This feels great, but I would rather be touching you right now." Vi releases my nipple from her mouth and says, "Don't get me wrong. I love it when you touch me, but I want to make you feel good, too." I replied feeling bad for Vi as if I am a failure of a concubine, "I am sorry. I still don't feel quite ready to be touched like that yet. Though now it is more I am scared I might accidentally start fighting you in a flashback or something and I would never want to hurt you like that." I say as I avert my gaze feeling ashamed, though I know in my mind there is no reason for me to be ashamed my heart still tortures me with this emotion just the same. Vi takes her hand and turns my face so I face hers as she looks at me with such compassion filled blue eyes and then kisses me on the lips again. 

It is here I do the flip over to get on top of her and then I pin her arms above her head. She purrs and I kiss her and with my other hand I explore her body that I know so well now. I grind her again like she likes and she says after a sexy moan, "Oh! I want you to use something on me instead of your fingers." I let go of her wrists temporarily and she reaches over to her bag next to the bed without getting up while I pause what I am doing so she can get whatever it is. She pulls out a cucumber or this world's version of a cucumber. Though slightly different in appearance, it still screams 'NATURE DILDO'. I grab it and put it to the side and continue to grind and prepare her though she does seem pretty wet already. I just like to make sure and it also adds to the teasing bit for anticipation. 

I ask her while I grind, "Do you need oil for the cucumber?" She shakes her head, "I should be ok without it. You do a great job of getting me going." she purrs as she pulls me in for another kiss. I continue to grind on her while holding her arms above then take my other hand and place it between my leg and between her legs rubbing on her lower entrance. Feeling the twitches in anticipation. Vi moans with pleasure, "I am ready. I need it now." I grab the cucumber and before I go to put it in I get some of her juices and use it as natural lube for the cucumber. Once it is pretty lubricated with her juices, I gently press it at her lower lips pushing it slowly into her so she can adjust. By this point I am not holding her wrists because I had to let go to lube the cucumber with her own juices since she said no oil.

 Once she has adjusted to the cucumber I start pumping and with my other hand I grab one of her breasts a tad roughly like she likes and she moans loudly in pleasure in response. I continue to pump harder and faster slowly as we go on. She has made it known that hard is more than ok on several different occasions. When I start going harder she starts moaning and yelling in pleasure, "Yes! Goddess! Yes! Right there! Right there!" I keep increasing intensity while taking my other hand and bringing it to the hood of her clit so I can swirl a finger there for added stimulation. A few moments of this and she arches her back in pleasure screaming in ecstasy wave after wave. I continue to pump our nature dildo while swirling around her hood until her orgasms finally come to a stop. 

Then I remove the nature dildo and hold it while contemplating on purifying it or being 'nasty' and eating it as is. I table that thought and go up to cuddle her while she catches her breath. Instead of getting up to get water she cheats and summons water with her magic and opens up and pours it directly into her own mouth. This is my first time seeing her do this and it is exactly the kind of thing I would do if I had her kind of magic. I chuckled at the thought and she breathily said in a very sexy tone, "What?" I reply, "Oh, it is nothing. I was just thinking to myself I would probably use magic to quench my thirst too in a situation like this if I had your magic." She chuckles, "I feel that way with your light magic. Specifically, your purify spell. I LOVE that spell. It is so versatile. Clean a room, body, clothes, and purify corpses which would most probably work on undead as well since they are basically the same thing." 

I smile thinking how I love that spell as well, "Yea it is my favorite spell, too. I just love how I don't need to wash myself anymore. That is amazing. Saves so much time… Here let me go ahead and do the thing real quick." I purify her and myself and she says while wearing that sexy smirk of hers, "I love it when you use your magic on me. It is like I feel your love. I feel the goddess's love too. It is a weird feeling, but I love it. Though it only lasts a brief moment while your magic is activated then it disappears." This is probably the first time getting so much information about how my magic feels. I reply, "Hmph. I think you might be the first person to give me feedback like that. Most people comment on their own feelings that blossom from my powers when I heal and awaken them. You are loved by me and the goddess so that may be just for you that you feel that way. I would have to get more data… Actually, now that I am thinking about it, let me do that right now."

 It is now I decided I am going to be 'nasty' and eat the cucumber real quickly since I am now a voracious eater. Vi purrs while biting her lip in that sexy manner of hers, "Oh, I LOVE that. We are going to have to do this more often." Vi does a sexy purr like moan while I put my top back on , "I am actually kind of curious now, too. Let me know what they say." Once I get my top on I walk out the tent to a now blushing Sir Carlos. I approach and ask him, "Sir Carlos, quick question. What did you feel when I healed you earlier?" Sir Carlos replies, "Hmm. Well, it was definitely warm and I felt love. It wasn't long enough to get more than that." He averts his eyes as if embarrassed to look at me right now. It is almost cute.

 I continue my poll and go around asking those who have felt my magic. Everyone of them say the same thing. I go back to report to Vi and say as I crawl back into bed with her, "So what I found out is that everyone feels warm and love when they feel my magic. Though they said it was too quick to get more information from that. I think since you have felt my magic more than anyone else you have had more of a chance to study how it feels." Vi shrugs and says, "That does sound like that may be the case. I guess we can collect more data as we go. Especially from Em since she will be getting magic from you everyday." I reply, getting in position at her side, "Yep, she will definitely be a good source of information on that inquiry." I plop back down in bed beside her and stroke her arms with my fingertips and ask, "How are you doing? I know you didn't leave home much before because of your princess duties in the castle and the capital. You must be getting homesick." Vi sighs while she looks like she is examining her own mental health and says after a moment's contemplation, "I think I am ok. I know I will miss my father, Juanito and Brody. I'll be sure to write to them occasionally as we go along so they can get updates." 

I reply, while stroking her arms, "Oh, speaking of long distance communication. Was the Magical Research Society ever able to come up with a magiphone prototype?" She shakes her head, "Apparently they need a dark magic user proficient in space magic for the research." I ask only knowing of one dark magic user, "Does Sid count?" She shakes her head, "He apparently is a shadow user not spatial/abyssal user and just like wind has storm, water also has ice, earth has growth/potential, and fire has lightning, dark has space/the abyss. Depending on who you talk to it could be referred to as spatial while others refer to it as abyssal but they are referring to the same type of magic. It just depends on who you talk to." I replied, "Ahhh. That makes sense. I wonder if we could find one. Though convincing them to come back with us might take a delicate touch." Vi replies, "Probably." We stayed there cuddling while chit chatting and ended up falling asleep cuddling.

The next morning I wake up and go out the tent to see Sir Maria doing some exercises. She is swinging her sword in a kata sort of way where everything was meant to be that way as part of a martial art. Without disturbing her I do my own workout in a different area. When I came back to camp I hit myself with a purify spell to clean myself off. Sir Maria sees that while she is sitting there wiping sweat and is amazed I have a purify spell, too. I ask her since she is looking on with such a look on her face, "Do you want me to use my purify spell on you too?" She excitedly says, "Hell yea!" I go over and purify her and she giggles in fascination and she is touching her skin, "Wow, I don't think my skin or hair have ever been this soft before. That is so crazy. Thanks! That is a huge time saver!" I smile and agree, "I know right? It is my favorite spell. It is so handy." Sir Maria sighs a little dejectedly, "Wish my magic was more handy…" she pouts a little bit.

 I interject immediately in intervention, "Your magic IS handy. I only witnessed it once, but the way you adeptly lifted that heavy bed with your magic and just maneuvered it with ease was extraordinary. I could not have done that with my magic or ability. Only you could." She replies, "Well I sometimes feel inadequate when compared to others. I can't use storm magic but I can manipulate air flow a little and slice targets with blades of wind. Though that takes a lot more out of me than just controlling air flow." I think of all of the children I have awakened and how they were so free and creative with their magical expression, "I don't know you well enough to know this for sure, but you may need to get in touch with your inner child. When I was healing the capital Lilia and seeing all of the children who awakened their magic using their base instinct and creativity. When I saw them use magic, I knew in my heart that that was exactly what the goddesses had in mind when they created this world." Sir Maria swirls a little ball of constantly moving air in her hand, "Instinct and creativity huh…" She trails off while staring at the ball of air she summoned. 

It looks like she may be having trouble coming up with ideas which I completely understand. Like writer's block but with magic instead. I suggest as a way to help, "You ride Ruby right? You can use your magic to supplement Ruby's magic. It might be a good idea to practice fighting with him. It might give you some ideas. I can help you two communicate during your training sessions so it can be easier to get in a fighting groove without me." Sir Maria says lightly bonking her own head, "I sometimes forget you can talk to animals. Though this is the most I have actually spent time with you awake. I always worked when you were asleep so we never got a chance to really learn about each other. I just knew that you were the princess's concubine and once your magic awakened I knew of your deeds in Lilia, but that was about it. That and little things in passing from other staff. I am glad we finally got an opportunity to be able to spend time like this. I want to learn more about you. Sorry that sounds almost too selfish of someone in my position." As she says that last part she gets that dejected look again gazing to the side.

I replied while waving my hand in a swiping motion, "Pssssh. You are acting like I am in a better position. Even if I were hypothetically, I don't care about that. I come from another world where I was a 'commoner'. It was a free society that was peaceful. Don't get me wrong, it had its share of problems." Sir Maria replies wearing a face of intrigue, "So far it sounds like an amazing place. What kind of problems could it have?" 

I reply, "Well we lived in a world that was so comfortable with being entertained, they were ok with being manipulated by those with money and power. People with statuses didn't rule the world but those with wealth. Though we were free to do what we wanted, many were manipulated all because they didn't care as long as they had their shows and other forms of entertainment. The powerful jam down the people's throats to get them to ignore what they want them to ignore." I then go in detail to describe Epstein's island and how the aftermath, his 'suicide' how the people in power swept everything under the rug and they used viral shows to get the people's mind off of the fact that there were very powerful people were abusing minors. Completely not reporting any news on the matter while only promoting those shows. Sir Maria replies after sighing, "Guess every world has their problems." 

By this point Vi is awake and out of bed a little grumpy, wiping the sleep from her eyes and pouting, "Where are my good morning kisses?!" I giggle at the display since she is being cute with her bed-head and say, "Coming, sorry I got distracted after my workout and got to talking." Vi grumpily with a little bit of sass and still a tad sleepy replied, "Well I need you to make it up to me." I get to her and I kiss her more tenderly and passionately than we normally would do for morning kisses since we usually do pecks on the lips in the morning. While we are making out, Vi takes her hands and grabs my butt. One hand per cheek and pulls me as close as she can to herself. She moans as she kisses me more tongues dancing together in our passionate morning embrace. Sir Carlos comes out of his tent and coughs and clears his throat so we take a hint while Sir Maria is giggling and Vi says while sleepily smirking, "Ok I can take a hint. I needed a little more this morning because I had a nightmare." Part of me wonders if it was an intentional cough or a surprise cough. With the way he was acting last night it probably was the latter. I couldn't see him as he was coughing because obviously I was preoccupied. 

I asked Vi while gazing into her eyes that were right in front of my face, "Do you want to talk about it?" She squeezes my butt which she still has within her grasp and replies, "In this nightmare, you were coughing blood and died in my arms. It was strange because you had purple eyes in this dream. I obviously know you have beautiful amber eyes. I wonder if that dream is supposed to mean something." I replied back, "That does sound strange. I can't imagine myself with purple eyes. That does remind me of a book I once read in my last life. I can't remember the name of the book though, but there was a character with purple eyes in it." Vi kisses me again then says, "Well regardless of what that nightmare may represent, I will need you to never leave me. I forbid you to die on me. I woke up in such a panic when you weren't by my side." I apologize while gently squeezing her, "I am sorry, Vi. I will make sure my face is the first you see every morning then." I say as I kiss her while we are still holding each other close.

We all eat breakfast and get ready to head out breaking down camp. Ruby and Sapphire are playing with their magic while we break down camp. Sapphire is ice skating right now? It is graceful yet really weird to watch. Never would have thought I would see a horse skate. Ruby is having fun dodging, trying to melt the ice remnants of what is left after Sapphire skates. Their playing is making for great magic practice for them. Just like with the children in Lilia. Embracing magic at its essence. The possibilities for magical innovation in this world are astronomical because everyone is different with how they think and especially how they feel. This is a nice little project world of the Goddesses. I will give them that. It sure has its flaws, but it was made with care. Made with love. As I think that my core burns with approval as if Goddess Aruna was agreeing with me and I smile because of the warm feeling inside. Having not felt this iron man chest in a long time. 

Sir Maria and Sir Carlos see my 'Iron man' chest and come running over. Sir Carlos is like a little kid bursting with excitement, "Is that your core? Is it weird if I ask if I can touch it?" Sir Maria says looking at Carlos like I can't believe this idiot thought the same thing as me, "For once I think we are of the same mind, Carlos." she says as her expression then changes and she chuckles a little bit. I reply looking down at my iron man chest, "Yea, sure it is ok. It is warm. Really warm." They both touch my core and their faces are like WOAAH DUDE THAT IS AWESOME if that was a facial expression. It is cool. As I think that my core continues to burn with approval and they felt it pulse and both said in sync, "Woah, what was that?!" I reply, giggling at the warm feeling, "I was just thinking about how I like my core and my core liked that thought." Sir Maria replies, still touching my chest, "I don't really think about my core much. To be honest I mainly forget it is there." Sir Carlos chimes in, "I totally get that. Just getting in the flow of magic and forgetting where it comes from. Being lost in the moment. I feel that way when I fight a lot. Being lost in the moment of using my magic." 

They both remove their hands. I reply looking down at the light coming from my chest, "Though my core does this, I too forget it exists sometimes. It only does this when I feel a certain way. When I don't, I get lost in the moment too. I don't think it is a bad thing. Actually I think getting lost in the moment sometimes is great and sometimes it can save your life. If you are distracted in a fight it could mean death. Being able to just focus on your magic is what it is about. Well, I think since I have yet to ask the Goddess. Being able to be free and innovative with magic and full of love. Getting lost in the moment does a lot of good depending on the situation." Sir Carlos laughs, "I was always told to stop getting lost in the moment and now you say I need to? Sounds like my kind of advice. I can do that easily." He continues laughing a bit almost maniacally and he opens his hand and several sparks go between his fingers. 

Sir Maria though makes a ball out of her wind in her hand again just looking at it. Staring at it as if it will give her answers of some sort. Sir Carlos finally notices the horses playing on the other side of the lake and he perks up and the sparks in his hand disappear in an instant, "I need Sapphire to do THAT with me on his back! That looks so fun! I can just think now about fighting together side by side in the future and it fires me up!" In his excitement he unintentionally lets off several sparks around his body from his magic. He looks like he just got a new toy. 

It is now I realized that I never asked Sir Maria to spar with me yet. We got so distracted with things that were happening that I just forgot to mention it. I turned to Sir Maria as I folded some blankets to go into storage, "Sir Maria, if it is cool with you, would you like to spar?" She replies while latching a box used to store a tent, "Sure." Vi cuts into our conversation, "Hold up! Before you start fighting, drink these elixirs for added defense. Don't want either of you accidentally killing one another." She says reaching into her bag pulling out two bottles. We oblige and drink the elixirs. When we finish drinking them, Sir Maria says, "I heard a tale of a magnificent blade you used in a sparring match. Can I see it?" I nod and pull out my light magic version of the Halo energy sword. It is pretty cool. My core burns hot with my Iron Man-like chest. When I see my weapons in physical form it makes me feel really great inside. This ability is really awesome. 

My core pulses again. Sir Maria says looking fired up, "Looks like you are ready. Let's go." I nod and then we start fighting. I am not a swordsman at all. Let me just say this now. I never really liked the idea of a long murder stick. I much prefer the more nonlethal ones like bo staffs or nunchucks. OH MY GODDESS. I have yet to summon nunchucks! This is most definitely NOT the fight for them though. A good weapon would actually be a set of sai's. Sai's are perfect for sword defense. I haven't used them in a long while though, so I would be hella rusty. I need to swing them around in practice a few times before trying to defend against an actual sword. I would probably lose a finger or two from being out of practice actively defending against a real sword.

 Sir Maria is outperforming me for obvious reasons so I decided to make a change in fight strategy after a few minutes of struggling. I summon a shield with my left hand and I jump back out of reach of her sword and shoot my finger gun at her with my right hand. She is adeptly using her wind to move quickly to dodge most of them but one gets through and she starts bleeding. She starts to get serious and she starts to send slices of wind at me. I am doing ok, at first. She was adeptly using the wind to change her positioning and that plus her wind slicing she managed to slice my right hand ALMOST completely off. If I wasn't wearing this defensive underwear, it would have gone straight through me. 

I think our elixirs may have run out or maybe her slices were just that strong. I scream in pain and Vi and Sir Carlos immediately run over. My knees feel immediately weak and I collapse to the ground still conscious. I'm gripping my forearm tight like a wimpy tourniquet as my hand dangles grotesquely in a swaying motion making me gag almost puking in response. Real tourniquets are brutally tight. I remember those in my army days we practiced putting them on our battle buddies in training and everyone got the opportunity to feel what it was like to have a tourniquet applied correctly. My brain is funny. I am in this much pain but I am still having a mental bunny trail. Vi brings my thoughts back to reality crying and frantic at the gory scene before her, clutching her chest tightly, "Holy shit, babe! Can you fix this?!" I nod and take a shaky breath, "I should be able to. Place my hand where it should be and hold it there." They grab my hand that is dangling from my forearm and place it on the smooth surface that is exposing skin, muscle, and everything in the forearm almost like an anatomy study tool or something. When it makes contact with my forearm I hiss in pain. 

I place my hand on the crease and think 'HEAL'. It heals back perfectly, but leaves a noticeable scar. Since it was a very smooth cut it was a very smooth scar. In a way it looks almost like a tattoo. One of those line tattoos specifically. A little reminder that I am very mortal and need to be careful in this very dangerously beautiful magical world. I can look at this scar and be reminded to take better care of myself while I am here so I can fulfill this mission for the goddess Aruna. 

Vi says after sighing in relief, "Thank the goddess that you were able to get your hand back on. I was terrified there for a minute." I say flexing my wrist to test the mobility and it feels a bit iffy, "I am going to have to take it easy with my hand for a few weeks to make sure. It is healed, but it is still weak where it was severed. It will need some time to rejuvenate. I guess that means no sparring for a few weeks. I do want to fight you again Sir Maria. It was still fun even with the trauma bit. A little added danger spice. Fighting is fun when fighting with friends. I never liked actually fighting in an actual fight for my safety. That feeling of urgency. Like one fuck up can mean you lose your life or worse. I hate those types of fights. My heart hurt in those fights very similarly to the feeling of tightening just nowhere near as painful." Sir Carlos chimes in with a fire in his eyes and clenching his fists, "I feel the opposite when it comes to real fights. I think there is nothing more exciting than putting it all on the line using all of your potential in a test of strength. It makes my core burn hot and strong." He holds his chest as his core burns hot with approval of the words he just said and he sparks a little bit. 

Sir Maria then says gazing to the side looking slightly dejected, "I think I understand, Zoe. I feel a similar apprehension but I even feel it sparring… Almost like I am missing something." Vi then chimes in, "I understand too, Zoe but for yet a different reason. In real fights it is hard for me to feel completely calm because of that added risk. I didn't understand until that night since I was never in my life put in a situation where I had to fight like that. I hated that feeling and I felt like I would tighten to death. Though I think that was mainly because you were taken from me, Zoe." She says as she starts crying again remembering that night. 

When she says that my brain shows a flashback and I tighten hard I groan in pain. I am still seated on the ground at this point from getting my hand sliced off having never got back up. I grip my chest. It hurts so bad thinking of that night.

 The pain. 

The despair. 

Feeling absolutely disgusting. 

I hear his laughter, his voice, feel remnants of his gross touch, the feeling of vines. THE VINES. Being unable to move while being completely powerless. Feeling the pain. Everything is flooding my mind. Wanting to die. 

Vi comes rushing over and holds me while she is still crying, "Fuck! I am sorry, Zoe! Say your magic words!" I then started repeatedly saying my magic words 'I love me' a few minutes until the tightening episode faded. Vi held me the whole time like always. The whole time she was apologizing and crying as she held me while I was saying my magic words. When I recover and can stop saying my magic words I say while gently squeezing her as we are still embracing one another, "Stop apologizing. It isn't your fault. The person behind these pains is your brother not you. The scars he left on my soul will stay with me the rest of my life. You have no control over when I will have an episode. Though you ARE the reason these episodes don't kill me. I am pretty sure I would have tightened to death by now if it wasn't for you telling me to say my words. During these episodes I am flooded with the same feelings I felt that night. My mind can only think of despair, helplessness, self-hate, and wanting to die when my core tightens. If you didn't say that to me EVERY time, I would have kept going down that mental spiral and died on many occasions by now. You have no reason to apologize to me. Actually if anything is needed, it is me saying thank you. Thank you for always being there for me, Vi." 

She continues to hold me tightly while shedding a few tears, "You don't need to thank me. Helping you is a form of self preservation. When you are hurting, I hurt. I love you so much." I replied, still shedding a few tears of my own, "I love you, too." We pull back just enough to kiss, but she is still holding me. Ash and Sid come in for a family moment since they were also really worried about the whole thing. After our family moment we went back to finish breaking down camp and get ready to go. I haven't healed Em yet so I wait until after she is saddled so her grown out hair is less likely to get caught in it. She has been healed twice now and her hair has grown both times. Her hair is very long and will get longer. After this next growth we will most definitely have to give her a haircut. The bright side is I definitely know I can summon scissors with my light magic. I can't summon clippers because I don't understand the mechanics inside of them that make them buzz. I can feel that if I did that I could though. If I could, I could get a fresh fade for myself. Fades don't POP here in this world like they did on earth since they don't have clippers here. I could probably talk about the concept of clippers to Vi to see if she might have a magical idea on how to implement a version in this world. My brain continues to go on a bunny trail as we travel to the next town.

We arrive at dusk in this town. Comet uses his light magic to light our way as we come into town so we can see better. He has different levels of light and he is using a brightness that won't blind pedestrians. His eyes light up like that one cart from Mario Kart 8 that is a teddy bear that has headlights for eyes. We are pretty hungry so we are looking for food. We finally come up to a restaurant/diner place and we tie up our horses outside. Em summons them some fruit to chow down on. Some people are curious about the glowing horse and the horse with lights for eyes, but are a little too scared to approach too close since they obviously know magic. 

We go inside and take a seat and order. I haven't used much magic today so I am not as hungry but I still eat a cartoonishly large amount of food that baffles everyone inside the diner. Didn't break any records though. Ash and Sid eat as well. Once Sid is done he hops in Ash's shadow since some people were a little apprehensive he didn't want to cause trouble sensing the tense atmosphere. After we eat we ask the locals if there was a way we could get everyone together in one place so I can heal everyone to awaken their magic. The locals seemed excited but said that the only way is to ring the town bell. To ring the bell means it needs to go through the mayor. They told us that they live in a house on the hill. We will not barge in on them at this hour though so we decide to go to the local inn to find a few rooms.

The next morning after breakfast we head straight to the mayor's house. Upon arrival we knock and a lovely older lady opens the door, "How can I help you?" I then reply, "I can help your town awaken their magic with my own magic and I would like to talk with the mayor to organize the people for efficiency purposes." She then replies opening her arms to convey nonverbally I am right here, "You found them. I am the mayor, they call me Nell. That sounds wonderful! Please come in and sit and tell me the details." I then go in and tell her about my 'heal' spell and how it also awakens magic. She then says after hearing all of the details, "I am an old lady and have still yet to awaken my magic. Would you be able to awaken mine?" I nod, "Of course I can, you can be my first one here in this town." I then go over to her and then think 'HEAL'. She flourishes with energy and some water flies around with the rush of the awakening of her magic. She starts laughing and her face lights up as if years were added to her life, "I thought it was never going to be possible to awaken my magic and I just accepted that. Thank you so much. I will definitely assist you in any way I can. Let me organize the town for you. Go to the square and I will raise the town meeting signal to bring everyone together for you." 

We heal everyone in town by mid-afternoon thanks to the mayor organizing everyone. I am pretty hungry by this point and the town is also redecorated with fruit and flower filled vines here as well from children and adults alike playing with their magic. Some wind magic users are getting flower petals that the earth magic users summon and making them dance in the wind and it is very beautiful. They treated us to a feast which was my kind of reward and I ate my fill. I feel like I am becoming more like Luffy in that regard. Will save a whole nation and almost die for a feast. Though I obviously don't do what I do for the reward, it is still nice to get some kind of compensation for service. At this point they couldn't care less about the animals in our party and everyone was having a great time. We stayed here one more night and continued our journey the next day.