The hard part about deciding who got to go to Celestea was deciding who to make stay behind. Virtually everyone wanted a home in the big new city that was magically protected from the sinister forces of evil in the world.

Otto greeted me when I arrived in Kalliville. “Welcome, Melvin. I have gathered together those who lost their homes when Celestea fell. I would like to move the orphanage there as well. I think it would be nice to make a school in the capital where all of the children displaced by the plague can thrive.”

“What about this other group?” I asked, pointing to a large crowd that had gathered.

He looked where I was pointing and groaned. “They are all, well, just a little excited. You see, other than you arriving and saving us, this is the most excitement we have seen in a long time. Everybody wants to see the castle reborn from the ashes. Empress Kalliphae is a true phoenix.”

I laughed when I considered how Kalli came into Gaia; naked and on fire. It was sort of poetic that her birthright was also reclaimed from the ashes. Laughing, I said, “Sorry, Otto, there were no flames when the castle rebuilt itself.”

“Bah!” Otto snorted. “All of that is just theatrics. Like it or not, the two of you and your friends saved us.”

To emphasize his statement, people around us slowly began clapping. I looked around and realized that I was the center of attention. Kalli giggled in my head. It looks like you’re popular, Mel.

The heat I felt in my cheeks surely meant I was blushing.

You mean embarrassed. I sorta wish you were here to take the focus off of me now.

She laughed nervously and replied. No thank you. You can do all of the public acceptance of gratitude. I think I had enough embarrassment when I showed up naked. And stop thinking about that!

I was forced to clamp my hand over my mouth as I realized I had chuckled out loud. Closing my eyes, I let Kalli show me around the castle while I tried to tune out the applause which was starting to become raucous cheering.

It turned out that Kalli had returned to the castle to look around. The interior was massive with long winding stairs that led to multiple levels and towers. Inside the castle walls was an outdoor courtyard that could easily house a football field.

Once again walking with conviction, Kalli discovered what I could only describe as the Queen’s Suite. Rather than just being a single room, it consisted of a series of interconnected rooms like a small house.

A smile spread across my face as Kalli entered a room containing a large in-ground tub that looked like a small swimming pool. A mischievous smile spread across her lips and she said, If you behave yourself, maybe I’ll join you in there when you get back.

After that, I was eager to be done as soon as possible. We agreed to transport only those who immediately needed to be in Celestea. Those whose houses were destroyed when Celestea fell, the elderly, and children with no families were among the first group. I also transported Wendy and Crypian to the castle as well.

When I returned with the final group, Esha and Boombrix approached me. “My lord, I know this place was home to humans in the past but will non-humans be allowed to live in Celestea? I would like to extend the offer to all of the races. If this is to become the capital of your empire, I am sure that everyone will want to be represented.”

I nodded at the two of them. “I agree. I want Celestea to be the first free city on Gaia where every race can live in harmony.”

With tears in her eyes, Boombrix hugged my leg and said, “Boombrix an equal with humans? Can it truly be so?”

Awkwardly patting her on the head, I replied. “I don’t see any reason why not. You all fought to liberate this land.”

Esha also approached and I braced myself for the stinkiest hug ever but she stopped short and announced, “My lord. Can you please return me to The City Under the Mountain? I wish to tell my people about this in person.”

“Okay,” I replied. “Boom, is there anywhere you would like to go?”

She nodded at me from her perch on my leg. “Yes. Boombrix would like to go see her sisters at the march.”

As predicted, I didn’t get back until well after dark. Kalli was waiting in the Queen’s Suite. She yelped when I appeared right next to her in the room with the hot tub. Really, Melvin? Don’t surprise me like that. Try using the front door next time.

You know I can teleport straight to you. It beats walking through the castle. So, did you decide to take a bath? Is that why we’re in here?

She grinned at me and scrunched up her face in concentration. I watched in shock as her dress reformed itself into a light blue swimsuit. Glancing back at me seductively, she stuck her toe in the water. Wow, it’s hot. So, are you coming?

I looked at the steam rising from the tub and decided that it must be heated by whatever magic caused the castle to reform. The problem was that I didn’t have anything to wear. Kalli made it very clear that it was a swimsuit type of occasion, so going naked was out of the question. I supposed that I could go in my underwear. That might work.

You know. Having magical swimwear is cheating.

Kalli settled into the water with a satisfied sigh and stuck her tongue out at me. Says who? Hurry up and get in.

She was taunting me. I took off my shirt and saw the artifact clinging to my chest like a bulletproof vest made entirely out of mana. I glared at it. Why didn’t it like to behave for me the way that Kalli’s did? It did save my life but somehow this was more important.

How do you do that? You know, changing your dress into something else?

Kalli looked down at her swimsuit and then back up at me with a coy smile on her face. It’s cute, huh? I used to just focus on it and wish for it to be something but since you taught me I can add more detail by applying mana.

That was something I had done before; feeding the artifact mana. Not only was the artifact made of mana but it also had no issues at all sucking the lifeforce out of me when it felt the need to reinforce itself.

I also knew that it could change its shape because it had transformed on several occasions when my life was in danger. Now I just needed to convince it to protect the family jewels. If I could convince the armor that my junk was in imminent danger then perhaps the armor would cover it.

Looking down at myself, I wondered what that would even look like. There was also the matter of that stupid pregnancy prophecy. There was zero chance whatsoever of my groin coming under attack from Kalli. At least not for a couple of years.

Hiding behind a decorative pot that covered my lower half, I shucked my clothes until all I had on was the artifact and the ring that wouldn’t come off. I pushed mana into it, which the armor gladly consumed. Then, doing as Kalli instructed, I willed it to transform into swim trunks. Nothing happened.

After focusing so hard that I started to feel dizzy, I leaned against the pot to catch my breath. In my frustration, I must have spoken my thought through mate chat.

Gird my loins you lousy piece of garbage.

Kalli huffed and splashed some water at me which was surprisingly hot. Gird them yourself. What are you doing over there? Hurry up and get in. It’s not like I haven’t seen it before.

No way! I’m not going to be the only one naked. That would be too weird.

She sniffed at me. Is that what this is about?

Then, sinking into the water until she was submerged up to her eyes, she added, Fine. Now get in.

Under the water, like she was, it was impossible to tell if she had taken the swimsuit off. Feeling a surprising amount of pressure, I gave up on the armor and decided to just go for it.

Close your eyes!

She giggled but complied. Honestly, I really have seen it before. I don’t know why you’re being all bashful now.

After waving my hands around to test her, I quickly jumped into the bath. Water splashed everywhere including on Kalli. She spluttered at me, spitting out water in my face. I laughed and splashed her again, enjoying just being a kid for once.

We were so focused on our water fight that I almost didn’t notice but subtle movement outside of the pool suddenly caught my eye.

Hold on Kalli. Look at that.

I was rewarded by getting dunked, Kalli’s chest pressing on the top of my head as she pushed me under the water. When she let me up, she laughed. Nice try mister. There are no timeouts in war.

Taking a moment to catch my breath, I pointed just outside of the water.

Look! Look at the water.

We both sat there in the tub, watching the water that had splashed out of the pool slowly make its way back as though it were alive. Kalli turned to look at me. Wow. Do you think it’s magic or something?

I grinned at her, finally starting to enjoy the feeling of my first bath in what felt like an eternity.

I think this whole place is magic. Think about it. This bath was just sitting here waiting for us with the water that was just hot enough. It makes sense that the water would stay in the tub.

Kalli sat back at well, sighing contentedly. I suppose you’re right. I wonder what else the castle can do.

Her comment caused me to laugh, thinking about a living candelabra singing ‘Be Our Guest’. Deciding to have some fun, I allowed my mana to leak out into the water. Kalli raised an eyebrow at me and asked, What are you doing, Melvin?

I knew she was suspicious because she didn’t use my nickname. Choosing to answer her with my most mischievous smile, I changed the element of the mana to wind and infused it into the water around Kalli.

She gasped and jumped to her feet as the water bubbled around her. Then, realizing she was flashing me, she quickly sat back down. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?

After forcing my eyeballs back into their sockets, I did my best to look innocent.

I just turned on the air jets. Doesn’t it feel good?

Kalli, who was blushing, didn’t look as pleased as I had hoped she would. A little warning would have been nice.

She got into it after a while, sighing happily as the air bubbles massaged her. I decided to say something before trying anything else.

Do you want to try ice?

She got a skeptical look on her face. Won’t that be freezing? I don’t want to turn into an icicle.

I shook my head.

Just trust me.

In the end, she let me do it. Rather than making all of the water around her ice-cold, I made a tiny ball of ice water and gently ran it up and down her body. Kalli started making all kinds of noises as her skin went from hot to cold and then back to hot again. I repeated the process over and over until she told me she had enough. Mel, try something else.

I played around with various ideas for different elements to try. Lightning was out of the question as I didn’t want to drop a magical toaster in the bathtub. Earth was out as well because we were trying to get clean, not dirtier. The bathwater was already piping hot and even though Kalli was heatproof, I didn’t want to make it even hotter.

That left non-traditional elements. Since I was a light type by default, I decided to see what would happen if I infused the water with my natural element. The effect was surprising. Kalli gasped and said, Mel, this feels very good. You should have started with this one.

My mana caused the water to glow with a light that seemed to shine from everywhere, reflected through the water as though the source was somehow the water itself. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought that the light existed to censor our nudity.

However, it was so much more than just the way it looked. Somehow, the healing properties of my mana transferred to the water and invigorated us. I could feel the fatigue melting off of both of us as we lounged in the tub. Kalli cooed at me and said, I think this is even better than your massages. The water is hitting all of me at once. I could fall asleep in here.

The thought of Kalli never wanting a massage again made me sad.

But I like giving you massages.

She grunted, her voice sounding far off as though she were in a dream. Don’t worry. I will never turn down one of your massages.

In a stroke of brilliance, I made a suggestion.

What would happen if I gave you a massage while we take a bath?

She just blinked at me as she turned the idea over in her mind. I think that would make me pregnant!