*SLAM*

Jeff's head became very intimate with the hard wood of a bench in his carriage when the vehicle hit a hole in the road. The black haired teen laying on the blankets of the floor winced as the stinging pain intruded upon his sleep.

"My apologies milord, it was the lesser of two evils. Hope there is nothing too bad" called the driver apologetically.

"Its quite alright, just be a little slower about it next time." Jeff called back rubbing his head further. Checking his hand he was just glad that there was no blood on his palm. A few seconds and a loud curse resounded from the carriage behind his. If memory serves him well, it was the carriage of Ryan. That miserable cur would be gone just as soon as Jeff could be rid of him.

The once in a blue moon miracle of a scion level talent was the dearest dream of all mothers the world over and a walking hell to all who had to live through their tyranny. Scions the world over were regarded as the pinnacle of power, which was the only reason Ryan had been tolerated up to this point. Fortunately, Jeff's brother Andrew was not one of the more malevolent humans of this world, and the redhead mostly kept himself to a decent standard despite having the same gift as Ryan. Although standards can vary.

He got up and looked out the carriage window, taking in the fresh morning day. The bright morning sun and cool morning breeze swept over his nudity, thankfully the huge carriage doors only showed him from his chest up. Looking to his right he saw a few women being escorted away from Ryan's and Andrews carriages.

'Quite the burden my brother and Ryan carry' Jeff thought exasperatedly to himself as some new women were brought into the carriages from a new set of horses. As scion level mages, more importantly as male mages, it was a matter of dire societal importance, that they spread their seed as far as possible. An importance so severe that the Magical Progression Front even officially supports making this duty a matter of law. A similar pressure was put on male caster level mages like Jeff as well but not to such an extreme degree. Personally he found the thought of having a bunch of children he would never have any interaction with heart wrenching.

As he was scolding his traveling companions and the wider whole of society for their degenerate ways, a pair of soft hands came up behind him and grabbed the stem and balls of his loins. The accompanying pair of breasts pressed against his back added to the of buzz of excitement sent up his spine. A soft pair of lips kissed his back before coming up to whisper in his ear.

"You better not be trying to show off my goods" A slightly affectionate squeeze left Jeff biting his lip. He turned his head and gave a deep kiss to a soft pair of pink lips belonging to the love of his life. The object of his love was his 32 year old former wet nurse, turned assistant. She was a taller woman coming up short to Jeff's 5'10 by only an inch. Her hair was a red so dark it would be called black if not for the faint red outline in her hair. She was a good looking woman with a mole on the left side of her nose and far corner of her eye, which had the faintest hint of lines. A few of these beauty marks were also along her neck, which Jeff was now affectionately kissing.

She looked into his oceanic eyes and brought him back down onto the floor of the carriage. Pressing herself into his chest she kept her gaze in his eyes soaking up all the love he would giver her as he poured his heart out into her amber eyes.

"Honey, I know you may not like the methods but it is needed to ensure our races survival." Annie said with an odd mix of sweetness and academic rigor, having obviously seen his face when the exchange of women happened.

Jeff sighed, mentally of course.

Over the course of years he came to know Annie as a member of the Magical Progression Front which was something that would occasionally bring them into conflict. She wasn't a kinda, sort of believer that never really cares about anything but the corresponding title and prestige, but she was not a die hard fanatic either. She was a member for the simple logic that the Front represented.

"Babe, I... well as long as they all consent" Jeff conceded while idly pinching the small pink nipple of Annie's left breast, making her lightly moan. She swatted his groping palm, giving a hand wave towards the driver.

"I think its a little late for that" Jeff teased.

"Excuse me? It may be too late for Andrew and Ryan with all their whooping but we have kept it on the down low." Annie huffed. That was true, despite their mutual best efforts they did manage to keep quiet. Which was perhaps more due to their near year of practice more than anything else.

Annie then adopted a serious face, and started collecting their clothes.

"Remember when we get to the academy we need to start setting you up with the local service." Annie said handing Jeff his underwear.

"Can't it wait? I want to look around the academy first, the Diamond academy is said to have an amazing assortment of amenities, from a 24 hour restaurant to a huge pool, I even heard they had a meal delivery operation so we could eat in our rooms, it would be like going out on a date." Jeff said while giving Annie's two soft mounds a good squeeze, wanting to appreciate his two favorite objects in the whole wide world before the vile piece of cotton cloth did its abominable deed.

Annie smiled indulgently. "Maybe, but our duty is too our people. I will do my duty as will you".

She said as she donned her bra, leaving Jeff's world a more faded and darker place. He sighed and put on the rest of his clothes. Annie was concerned about the effects their relationship would have if it got in the way of Jeff siring children or establishing political ties through marriage. She made it clear to Jeff she would chew Yook root while they played, which was a universal birth control that made all women, of every species, unable to conceive for a few days after.

"That duty better come with a ring. I expect we will be busy expanding the human population after my 18th birthday." Jeff said, his voice clearly not allowing any disagreement. The age of consent was 16 for girls and 15 for boys in Palantia. Which was pretty conservative as the mainland rules were 16 for girls and whenever he could start making babies, for boys of casting level potential and above. But the age to get married was still 18 for both lands.

Jeff was referencing a promise Annie made to him a several months ago. In a fit of passion she said she would marry him if he was still interested after his 18th birthday. What she did not expect was for him to still bring it up on occasion to reaffirm he intended to hold her to that promise, and a man who brought up marriage after sex was serious in his intentions.

Her heart was overjoyed but her mind was running itself ragged with the endless scenarios surrounding such a wedding. After all a man of his talent and future should be given to some one of political background and good breeding stock, not a 30 plus peasant woman who was his wet nurse. It would be a scandal for the ages, but when she looked over at Jeff as he put on his shirt, her heart was buzzing with excitement at his aims.

"Besides, 'they're your goods'. Or so a very reliable gossip monger has whispered in my ear. Are you sure you want me to 'do my duty'?" Jeff teased her as he sat on the bench of the carriage. Annie looked up from putting the blankets in the compartment under one of the benches. She then made her way to his side and swatted his arm.

"Who is this gossip monger? and why would she deign to talk to a worked up little pup like you?" She demanded with mock haughtiness.

"She's the most beautiful woman in the world and I don't know what I did in a previous life to earn having her in my life" Jeff said sincerely back.

It had its intended effect as the blush that came up over her face made her skin almost match the red fringe in her hair.

"Enough boy, lets get on to practicing your constructs." She scolded him, with her hands wringing together on her lap.

....

Several hours later the three carriage caravan eventually came to a stop at a roadside inn. Jeff and Annie got out and stretched their legs. Jeff was in a bright blue suit with gold embroidery while Annie wore a dress that had the chest piece similar to that of a butlers built for female preferences, with it all in black and a white undershirt.

Andrew got out and tied up his brown pants tight as he made his way towards them and Ryan came sauntering up as well. The look of satisfaction on their faces told of their joys last night. Jeff's red headed brother stretched then came up and punched Jeff in the shoulder. His quality red jacket hanging open revealing the white undershirt beneath.

"Come on, I'm starving. I wonder what they got in here for a conquering hero." Andrew said while walking into the inn with his hands behind his head, being 6'1 he had no problem looking down at his brother while he walked. Off by the carriages the last group of women left on horse back with two guards between the four of them.

"What could this pig sty possibly hold that be would worthy to grace the lips of people like us?" Ryan said. He was 17 years old and about 6 feet with shoulder length hair black as midnight. His sharp nose and sharp cheek bones lent him an almost elvish quality with his dark green eyes, at least in the face. His slightly portly frame and gaudy dress told of a lineage far removed from such a graceful bloodline. The black coat was embellished to such a ludicrous degree with not just trimmings but the imagery of lion heads and dragons to go along with it, that it seemed to be more gold than fabric.

'Us?' The two brothers seemed to ask each other with a quick sideways glance. This meh fellow to Andrew and walking bag of cancer to Jeff was coming along on their trip to the academy because their father forced them to allow his presence. Ryan's family was an up and coming house in the north east mountainous region and having them in the capitals political corner would do wonders for taming what was considered a dumping ground for the criminal and rejected of the Coalition.

When they got in the four of them were accompanied by 3 guards in knightly armor with long red capes and long swords at their hips. They sat at a table by a window on the right side of the dining area. Their breakfast was served communal style with large platters being placed in the middle with their contents being taken on a first come first serve basis.

"So why did we drag our asses all the way out here just for this academy?" Andrew asked his fellows at the table in between gulps of milk and pancake.

"Something about the skills of the academy head being exceptional in teaching students" Jeff replied while cutting into a thick sausage.

Annie snatched a biscuit from under the hand of Andrew and let a light smile of satisfaction play over her mouth. "Not just teaching, he is the genius who merged adventurer guilds and academies into one organization. Without his wisdom, so many promising talents would have died in quests before having any real skills. It's said he is an exotic fellow from some island nation near the mainland but few if any know what trail led him here." Andrew huffed and held out his mug to be refilled by the innkeeper himself, who was sweating so hard his palms and red lamb chops were glistening. The portly man then poured more milk in the wooden mug.

"Well what ever his background, his move to out here has me curious, I thought all the major academy's were out west? So why trek out here after going through the trouble of coming across the ocean?" Ryan asked in between a mouthful of biscuit.

"No one knows." Annie replied matter-of-factly.

"Well then how on earth can we trust hi-" At this moment Ryan threw his hand out for dramatic affect but ended up swatting the jug of milk out of the innkeepers hand and splashing a good deal on himself. A dread silence fell over the whole tavern, with the innkeepers wife clutching her serving pan nervously by a table off to the right.

The fury in Ryan's face gave him a near rose colored face. He turned and spat at the innkeeper. "You clod, I will have your miserable head for this. DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU HAVE OFFENDED? I-" Ryan had his scream stop mid spew by Jeff giving a loud cough.

"Ryan, I don't know what the social rules are in the north-east but this is an incident involving all of us. Do you presume to speak for all of us?" Jeff said motioning to his hand and Andrews hair, both of which had the white liquid in various quantities.

Ryan closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. "All right, would you suggest we do to this wretch?". The smile accompanying this question couldn't have been more forced if wires were used to keep it in place.

"We have eaten a lot of his food, a light whipping and gifting us this meal is enough." Jeff said evenly. Andrew nodded in agreement.

"Come we must get your clothes in order, lets all head out." Annie said, like a mother looking over her brood.

"I want to see the whipping." Ryan said, looking at the innkeeper with a mix of desire and spite.

Annie raised an eyebrow " We can arrange that if you don't mind smelling of turned milk when the next batch of women arrive, as well as riding on on horse back with the guard when he finishes. Our time is far too valuable to waste watching such sport. We may very well be late arriving to the academy already."

The brothers nodded in agreement and started getting ready to leave. Ryan sensing defeat decided to simply leave and head to the carriage to change and wash up while he could.

Jeff leaned over to his guard and whispered " Stay behind for 30 minutes. Take the innkeeper out back where no one would hear you and pay him for the food, then come back and meet us. I don't want anyone connected to Ryan reporting we slighted him or else he will get revenge on the poor man through other means."

The man was a long time denizen of the capital, so Jeff wasn't worried who this guard would obey of the two teens. The knight nodded and took the innkeeper out back with his crying wife following in short order.

Getting one last good stretch in, the members of the caravan got back into the groove of monotonous travel and got on their way to Diamond academy.