"Good morning Kitty." Phoenix smiled mischievously the moment I opened my eyes.

Just the usual morning... well, almost as usual. If you ignore the fact that a certain elf next to me was completely naked. Our blanket did cover the particular part of his body, yet somehow that made it even worse. It was just at the edge where it could slip at any moment.

All my sleepiness vaporized almost in an instant.

The bastard.

His posture, the way he looked at me, his scent... everything was clearly arranged to seduce me. Worst yet, I was probably the one to blame it was so effective.

Our mana bond might be a far cry when compared to the soul link I shared with Tristan, but it still allowed Phoenix to tap into my secrets when nearby. It was almost as if I was personally teaching him all the tricks how to ignite my desires.

I glared at Phoenix in a blaming manner but he only smiled in return, his lips then parted and the tongue slowly traced from one side to another. The gaze of a predator has promised me a wild adventure and... I couldn't help but audibly gulp in anticipation.

The bastard.

I slowly edged away on the bed, trying to look the part of an unwilling victim but, I was probably not doing a very good job as Phoenix smiled even wider and then with a gesture of his hand a gust of wind dragged me back and into his embrace. With my wind manipulation at the same level, I could have easily stopped his little trick, but... he looked so delicious.

Our lips have touched and I could feel all my defenses melting away.

Still, it wasn't my style to let the others get an upper hand so easily and in one swift movement I wrestled my way on top of him. Phoenix didn't mind though and his hands simply started to wander their way up my thighs and stopped at the hips... where he proceeded pulling down my underwear.

"You... " I caught both of his hands and pinned them on the bed. "I should start calling you Horny Wizard."

But even as I complained I was already checking my link with Tristan, if it's really safe then a round or two wasn't that...

The very next moment I leaped away with a shriek.

Phoenix followed me with his eyes as I landed outside the bed, then probably guessed the reason for my behavior and just dropped back on the bed, "Well, I guess that means no morning exercise for today either."

"Yeah..." was all I managed.

That was... close!

As I said, my bond with Tristan was very different from the one I shared with Phoenix. The later was merely a connection of mana, a trick that allows for some dedicated mages to combine their spell and even when used as intended we had to be as close as possible for it to display its full potential. The soul link with Tristan was on an entirely different level though. If my bond with the dungeon is anything to go by then it was a connection that couldn't be severed even if one of us ended up in the realm that literally had no connection to this world whatsoever.

The bond by itself was hardly an issue, just like Tristan did yesterday I could even use it to pinpoint his exact location and teleport there with unparalleled precision... even if he was on another side of the planet... or completely different planet for that matter. No, the problem was with the way our thoughts leaked to one another... wanted we that or not.

And it was not just some vague thoughts that slipped through the bond as it was the case with Phoenix.

The 'leak' was usually one-sided, either my thoughts have slipped to the little dragon... or the complete opposite, rarely both at the same time. Unless one of us intentionally roused the connection to check the state as I just did earlier. The flow normally has shifted every twenty or so minutes, but it was not set in stone and sometimes could last for hours. There was also a calm period, where neither of us was aware about the actions of the other, but that one was completely random and I was unable to predict it even once.

Thanks to a bond like this I had to be very careful when alone with Phoenix. I can only imagine the shock my shared experience would have caused if I was just a bit less cautious just now. This was much worse than being caught red-handed in the act by a family member.

Luckily Tristan was still sleepy now and it was actually my act of checking the bond that stirred him from the sleep. Still, this was getting... quite inconvenient. I am just a normal girl and Phoenix lately was getting even harder to resist.

I glared at Phoenix once again as it was all his fault but was forced to avert my gaze almost immediately... he was no longer trying to seduce me, but... there wasn't even a blanket now to cover his body. Just you wait, I will get you for teasing me like this once the flow has shifted.

Mmm... actually as long as my thoughts don't match my actions a tiny bit of revenge was not entirely impossible even now.

I pulled back my underwear, which thanks to a certain naughty elf and my jump earlier was nearly at the knees. But I did that slowly, very slowly, with a deliberate movement of the tail in the mix. My hands gently traced over the rest of my body, as if to cover myself in embarrassment... and yet fully emphasizing all the curves in the process.

My surface thoughts were completely innocent though... try to catch the rascals that feed Tristan in secret, take a bath, grab something to eat, chat with the Council and then win the Tournament... I was merely planning the schedule for the day.

My figure, from Phoenix's current angle, by now should have completely overlapped with the image I glimpsed in his dreams. I might have been unconsciously teaching him how to seduce me, but so did he... a groan of frustration escaped from the bed and I couldn't help but smile in triumph... if I have to suffer it's only fair that I am not alone.

"Stay alert during the Tournament," I then said as I approached the night table with the rest of my clothes. The moment my touch has reached the fabric the clothes leaped into action and started to cover my body, "there is a chance the enemy will use my absence to make a move."

Phoenix was silent for a moment, probably still dealing with the consequences of my teasing... although with our body manipulation probably hardly a challenge.

"Perhaps..." he eventually replied, then also raised on his feet and the clothes resting on his side of the bed jumped to dress him in a similar manner, "I still think that I should stay with you during the meeting. If there is anyone that is in danger it would be you."

"Oh, please, I am a big girl, I can take care of myself," I replied and started to brush my hair while checking myself at the mirror, "There is no reason for both of us to risk getting disqualified. Besides, you are probably the only one who could deal with someone at Harbingers level..."

Phoenix chuckled in response, "We are at the heart of an empire, I would be more surprised if the number of people who can match us in power are only a few."

"That's... unlikely." I dragged the last word with some doubt.

Be it a war or a friendly spar the rule number one was and will always be to 'never underestimate your opponent'. Was I letting my newfound power getting into my head?

Perhaps.

Then again, it was hard to treat everyone as your archnemesis when most of them could be literally dealt with a flick from my pinky... some even without limit break.

"Anyway, my concern is our party members not some random strangers at the scene. The Fireball alone probably could deal with everyone at the city but that doesn't mean..."

"Fireball?" Phoenix asked surprised then chuckled almost immediately, "Ah, yes, the spirit of knowledge... you probably should avoid calling it that before it has turned into a habit."

That was... probably very wise advice.

"Anyway, even if there are some hidden experts at the Tournament I don't think they would go out of their way just to help our friends. Darson probably could put a decent fight even against someone at Harbingers level, but... that's only if he was given the chance to summon his formida. What about the rest?"

With the modern weapons in their possession, our party members did had an edge, but... it's not like the guns made them invincible and how many of them would be still alive at the battle with someone fully aware what the firearms are capable of was an entirely different question.

If worse came to pass Tia could at least get away with her shadow step... knowing her though it was very unlikely she would do so just to save her own hide.

"Fine," Phoenix sighed in defeat, "but make sure to contact me immediately if there is an emergency."

"Yes, Daddy."

Phoenix looked at me for a moment then shook his head.

*

The exalt from yesterday was already waiting outside when we left the room, as did two templars assigned as my guards. It was a bit annoying to have them follow me all around again, but I guess I have only myself to blame. This is exactly why you normally hide your true strength... well, maybe not exactly for this reason but it would be definitely at the top three in my list.

"Good morning, miss." greeted me exalt.

By now I learned that his name was Edgard, but as it was very likely I will never see him again I saw no reason to stop with 'that exalt guy from yesterday'.

"We will leave in less than an hour," the guy continued, "so if there are still some preparations left unfinished now would be a good time to start. Oh, and I have also received a word that you might be a space-time mage. I would strongly recommend then to leave everything stored in your Garden at the Temple as neither weapons nor spatial storage bags will be allowed when entering the Hall. The guards at the entrance should be able to safeguard a few things even if you do, but if the amount is too big..."

Garden?

Ah, he probably meant my pocket dimension. Quite an unusual name for the space. Then again, in this world's language 'Garden' did sound almost identical to the word 'Room', and since Pocket Dimension was once called 'White Room', it was probably inevitable it got shortened just to 'Room'... and then even completely replaced by a similar sounding word.

Anyway, I better start searching for a place to store all the things I have in my catbit, as for the things in my... garden... no, I think I will just stick with pocket dimension. It just does't sound right. Anyway, there should be no issue with my pocket dimension as it was still out of juice.

Hmm, should at least mention that?

"No access?" the exalt slightly frowned as I explained the issue at hand.

I nodded my head and then looked at the orb in my hand, the same orb I got from Sei back then, and while I had no chance to confirm an army of golems was really inside but... if it was really a thing then the creation of a devil was probably under the category of weapons.

Should I just leave it with Phoenix?

This was definitely not something I wanted to leave at the temple. The Silver Sword Order might be our allies now, but there was no telling if the orb suddenly wouldn't go 'missing'.

Given the nature of golems and the general attitude of the Order in regards to slavery, even if the Goddess herself let it slide I wouldn't be surprised if others wanted to destroy it.

Well, to be honest, most of all I just wanted to see if I could get away with carrying it to the meeting. Just the look on their face would be priceless if the Council tried something funny and I then summoned an army of death and stone. Eventually, I decided that it wasn't worth the risk though. There might be some enchantments that could detect the nature of the orb and I then would be really in a tight spot.

I tossed the orb to Phoenix and he stored it in a pocket he created by altering his clothes. Even with his pocket dimension working without an issue it was physically impossible to store the orb there.

The gap in his clothes then closed and whatever tiny chance was there for a pickpocket attempt was practically eliminated. One would have to cut the fabric to reach the orb and with the nature of our clothes, it was... easier said than done.

*

After a quick check on Tristan it was finally time for a bath.

With a loud splat, I jumped into the water and then surfaced from within with a smile. The smile hasn't lasted long though. I grazed with my hand over the surface, the steam from the heat was all over the place now, countless bubbles rising from the deeps. The water was clearly boiling, and yet... I could barely feel a thing.

It couldn't be helped.

With my heat resistance only one level away from maximum perhaps even lava now wouldn't feel that different. The fact that I could feel anything at all was only because of my body manipulation used to raise the sensitivity of my skin to the limits.

Yes, there seems the be always a price to pay for power, a price step too high if you ask me... I mean, what was the point of all this if I couldn't even enjoy the life?!

Although not all 'side effects' were limited just to discomfort.

My cold resistance, for example, basically prevents the heat from leaving the body, which could be... quite dangerous if taken to extremes. With my heat resistance and the ability to turn the heat into mana made it irrelevant for me, but... anyone else in my place could even die from this.

Was there anything else that could get me into trouble?

Almost everything actually... although my lightning resistance was probably the most worrisome in the list.

The heart, no... every single muscle fiber in the body and... well, all nerve cells in general would simply cease to work if the signals necessary for them to function couldn't even reach the destination.

Now that I think about it, at the level of my lightning resistance my reaction speed and agility should have already been affected quite severely. I looked deep within me and found that the reason I wasn't affected was most likely my mana. It was a part of every single living organism in this world and if functions of the said organisms were... hindered... would just take over and act as a proxy.

If that was the case perhaps even with my lightning resistance at the maximum, I would be in no danger whatsoever.

But... that was only as long as my mana has never dropped to zero.

Once my thoughts have reached there I recalled my first fight against the hellhound. Back then I was quite surprised when the beast even with the body full of bullets and my phantom tail pierced from head to tail was doing fine... and then the very same beast has turned into a pile of ash the instant I have drained all its mana.

Was I turning into something similar? I looked at my hand deep in thought.

It was... quite plausible.

The higher I raised my resistances the more was I reliant on the mana and... if I ever found myself in a situation where it was drained or somehow sealed... losing consciousness probably would be the least of my worries.

Mental resistance, petrification resistance, paralysis resistance, poison, I already had quite a few at the very top and there was no telling when it will bite me in the rear. I probably should at least avoid raising other resistances to the maximum.

And if my mana was now really essentially a second health bar... I should also find a way to increase my mana pool even higher.

*

When I finally left the temple the first thing to catch my attention was fog. With my enhanced sight, I could still see at least hundreds of meters deep, but... wasn't this perfect weather for an ambush?

Well, it was probably only me itching for a fight. I mean, it would be so nice if someone was stupid enough to attack us.

"Well, lookie here. Our princess has finally decided to bless us with her presence." a 'priestess' greeted me at the entrance.

Aurora's appearance was now back to normal, without any signs of pill alterations from yesterday. Zaos was also in the vicinity, busy talking with the knights just a bit further. There were seven of them and from the looks of it, the knights were sent by the Council to escort me to the meeting. If we also count the exalt that stayed at the Temple for the night, then my escort was turning into quite a crowd. Then there was me, a tail of two templars, a dragon... and one slightly overprotective elf. Although Phoenix was supposed only to say his goodbyes.

"Oh, I am sorry. Has my prince got tired of waiting?" I asked Aurora in reply and judging from her reaction my hint at her appearance that day was quite effective. "Now now, no need to give me that look. Caught the culprits behind the incident?"

Aurora chuckled in response, "With the way our side trembles at the mere thought of breaking the rules? Hardly. If we will have to waste the time with the warrants every single..."

"That's enough." Zaos who probably overheard us approached in hurried steps, "Please refrain from disclosing any vital information about the investigation without my permission."

"What information? Other than the name of that nobody..."

"Oh, for the love of..." Zaos placed a hand on his forehead and then slowly dragged over the face, "Just stay quiet... please."

I was now a bit curious what they found, but I guess it could wait. Zaos was right, after all, even the lack of information could tell a tale in the right hands.

"Try to avoid getting into a fight." Phoenix waved his hand.

Just ten steps after we finally started the journey I coaxed Tristan to let me sit on his head. The view... well, there wasn't much to see with the fog covering most of the city, I simply found it unacceptable when the kights and that exalt guy looked down on me from their mounts. It was... so much better when it was me that did that.

Ah, you poor little ants. Don't break your neck while trying to look at me up there! He he he.

Yes, much better.

It probably would be even more satisfying if there was no restriction to fly, but then again, with the current weather conditions, it wasn't that much of a loss.

Anyway, was this just me or did Tristan got even bigger?

With most of the staff at the Temple feeding him in 'secret' he doesn't exactly lack the nutrients but still... his digestion system was quite something... even for a dragon. Normally there is always some waste left in the process, because no matter how efficient there are parts of the food our body simply can't process. Tristan on another hand has completely assimilated all the mass into his body.

I wasn't even sure there was any... 'exit' under his tail, and even if there was it was probably only for 'emergency'. As a girl, I was even a bit jealous. To have ass just for the looks...

Still sitting on Tristan's head in lotus pose I activated my transmutation and tried to look at his DNA through the sphere.

The keyword there is 'tried'.

Even if all I wanted to was to 'look', with his petrification resistance now at level six, my transmutation was completely helpless and I was unable to tell even the basic components of his scales, forget about something complicated like DNA structure. How Dahaal was able to change my body into a demon back then I had no idea. Wasn't my petrification resistance at that time at maximum?

Well, the guy was a fallen god, so I guess I shouldn't be that surprised. Also, this petrification resistance wasn't exactly transmutation resistance and while I couldn't tell the components of Tristan's scales as I am now, it might change with a few more levels.

All of sudden Tristan stopped and looked up into the sky, I on another hand was forced to use wind manipulation just to stay seated on his head as there wasn't even a saddle. Anyone else in my place probably would be already kissing the ground.

When I followed Tristan's gaze a massive tower entered my sight. The other six were also slightly visible in the distance but thanks to the fog were reduced to mere shadows.

"White Jade Tower," the exalt riding on his griffon also halted when noticed our stop, "Jandar's symbol of authority over the southeastern part of the Empire."

White Jade Tower?

From the books, I knew that almost all the towers represented color white. Winter, Dawn, Silver Moon, Diamond, Snow... the only exception was Eastern Garden, but even that one was probably a reference to the 'White Room'.

The White Jade Tower in front of us was connected to the main building with two 'skyways', one above another (the building itself, by the way, looked a bit similar to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasília). One skyway was just ten meters above the ground while the other was only partially visible and has 'sprouted' from the main building at the angle of 45-48 degrees and continued up towards the tower. With the fog in the air, it was simply impossible to see where the second skyway has connected to the tower but it was probably more than a few hundred meters above the ground.

I suspected the overall structure of all the towers connected to the central building on a bright day looked like a crown.

*

Eventually, we have reached some sort of gates, although the actual entrance to the main building was still a good stone throw away... well, a stone throw away with the average stats of adventurer so... quite far actually. The gate in question was a large bone-like structure and was probably a security checkpoint. There were no walls on either side of the gate and one probably could simply walk around if wanted, but... one more look with my mana perception active has revealed that perhaps it wouldn't be such a good idea. There was some sort of dome connected to the building invisible to the normal sight.

"So I guess she is the one," one of the guards at the gates stepped forward.

"Let's see... we have a dragon, Grand Master Templar with a whole lot of people and me acting as their guide," the exalt dismounted from his griffon and stepped forward, "What gave it away?"

The other guard next to the first chuckled and then looked at me as I jumped from Tristan's head as well, "I guess Edgard has already mentioned this, but I will repeat just in case. Any weapons or spatial storage tools will have to be left in our care. Everything will be returned on your way out. If you are a Space-Time Mage..."

"Yes, yes." I stepped closer, "Other than my little brother over there I have nothing that could be considered as a weapon."

Actually, with my metal manipulation, every single metal accessory in my possession was essentially a weapon. But since at the moment they were really just accessories... I was clean!

"~I AM NOT A LITTLE~" Tristan quickly added with a pout. "~I AM BIG. I AM DRAGON~"

"Of course you are. Anyway as for Space-Time Magic my pocket dimension is out of juice at the moment. I was told it wouldn't be a problem in that case... you can..."

My voice then trailed as I looked around.

"You don't have any pixies? How exactly do you plan to check I was telling the truth?"

The guard looked at me for a moment then grinned and gestured at the gates, "The enchantments will force everything out. If we were all of sudden buried under a mountain of rubble I have to warn you that you will be held responsible. Depending on the damage to the environment the fine can be..."

I have turned into a statue that very instant.

Force everything out?!

It would be already a disaster if all the mundane things I got stored in my pocket dimension were forced out, perhaps not at the level where it was Phoenix in my place casually walking through the gates, but... still quite dangerous.

No, the real problem was a certain gift I have received from Dahaal when we have parted. An attack of a god frozen in time. Now if that was released... let's just say Lodelia would need new capital.