“Liita and Bress, I'm leaving you two in charge until I or Jaden say otherwise. Grimalkin may speak for me in my absence and Sable pretty much is his own person but also speaks for no one else. Lilly is not dead but it may be awhile before she is able to grace us with her presence. I'd like for you to get everyone set up in the south meadow for now. In the case of any emergency besides the destruction of the pavilion, the pavilion center area is the meeting spot. Not that this place is that big but little details like these can save precious seconds. Please do not dig anything up and be as nature friendly as possible. Your group's use of the pavilion's washroom is one hour after light sky till 1 hour before dark sky. During dark sky hours there are three portable relief houses set up at the southern edge of south meadow. I'll leave it to the two of you to figure out division of use outside that.

“Our estimated time of arrival is six days realm side. If rations or any other supplies are going to be an issue for anyone you got one hour to find out. Make me a list and I'll do my best to get it filled. The very last thing I want to deal with is trying to find food on the way because the delay will cause more issues. I'll meet you in the pavilion center. Oh, and Liita, this may be a bit forward but here is Grimalkin's old battle suit. You guys are the same size and it should fit well. There's even an enchantment to regulate temperature in there. Do you have a weapon preference?” Wren wasted no time getting things squared away.

Liita, shook from her admiration of the knockoff TSSR suit said, “A spear, of course, and a back strap shield if possible.”

Wren took a few seconds before he said, “Done and done. Make me proud sold-er, runner!”

Liita gave a crisp salute before walking off with Bress, who was loving her new vision correcting glasses and clipboard.

Lilly's gonna roast me for taking the time to make glasses instead of just fixing her vision but damn if Bress doesn't make a sexy looking secretary...Yeah, yeah. So she's not down for D. It's just looking.

An uncertain Grimalkin said, “Bro-Birdy, would it be too selfish of me to say that I'd like to reserve your, um, attentions until we have...you know, for the first time?”

Right... Asshole, strike one.

Wren, looking and feeling properly ashamed of himself said, “Flower viewing, even with no intent to smell or pluck is pretty nasty of me to do before our special night. Just remind me when the time comes, how you'd like me to make it up to you. I don't have the training to stop my eyes and little man from responding to something they like but I was serious when I told you that outside of Jaden and Lilly in necessity, I'd not be intimate with another if it would hurt you.”

Grimalkin smiled before replying, “Your happiness is mine, Birdy. All I need is a place at your side but for this small time I want to allow myself more.”

Quit being so damn cute before I lose my shit! Still got stuff to do, little man.

Wren double timed to the grove to speak with Jaden. Seeing him so down in the dumps made Wren realize the lug was going to need some serious 'comfort' soon and without Lilly around, Wren was in serious trouble.

Wren said, “I got Lilly's right hand besties working on organizing and gathering a list of needed supplies. On that note I deputized Liita as a runner for this temporarily extended family. Here in an hour I'm going to go collect the list and see how Liita's doing. I wondered if you would be up to seeing the requests filled. I don't even know where to begin asking since we were holed up inside Suncave our whole stay.”

Jaden looked at Wren with hollow eyes and said, “Who will watch over Lilly?”

Wren said, “I will if it doesn't bother you that Little Gray will be with me.”

Jaden looked at Grimalkin. For only a slight moment it looked like his lips might curl into a snarl before he stopped in confusion and rose from where he was sitting by tree Lilly to smell Grimalkin.

After a few experimental sniffs Jaden wore a ghost of a smile as he said, “It seems Lilly was right. I should have appreciated that more.”

Seeing that Jaden had found a new way to torture himself, Wren had enough.

“Jaden, Lilly isn't a 'was', she 'is'. It's about time you get some solid proof... Lilly~ I'm not going to let Little Gray take pictures, so if you want to save any precious pervy memories you better hurry up and get what you're doing done or you're going to miss a looot~ of really good things,” Wren taunted as he nuzzled into Jaden's chest for a half-second to illustrate his point.

Wren shot the slightly sour looking Grimalkin an apologetic glance before the ground trembled ever so slightly. The entire root system and trunk thickness expanded just enough to be noticed by the naked eye.

“See Jaden? She's trying so hard to return to us and you're moping around her, harshing the mellow. Let her play with her inner hippy in peace and be happy for her sake, if not your own. Fake it till you make it if you have to,” Wren offered.

Jaden tenderly hugged the tree and for a brief moment Wren got a scent of raisin oatmeal and fresh linen that made him distinctly think of Lilly.

Maybe I can't pick it up as well as Jaden but perhaps everybody, on a subconscious level, remembers the smell of a loved one.

Deciding to let Jaden enjoy his newfound peace of mind, Wren wandered around the outskirt of the woods with his arm around Grimalkin before heading back. Walking past the privacy curtain spot, Wren heard rhythmic grunting noises coming from inside as he noticed the woman from earlier, swimming in the pond. She still looked sad but she seemed to be enjoying herself so Wren left her be but she decided differently upon seeing him and came out of the water with a muted request for him to stay.

“What really happened? I was standing beside Rhui when he started shaking, then he stumbled a couple of times before running towards the woods. He had no reason to do that.” she asked.

Wren mulled it over for a second before replying, “If you want to know the truth, I'll tell you but you will swear yourself to secrecy. As the one who lost him you have the right to know but I will not have an uniformed panic from poorly shared information.”

The woman agreed.

Wren continued, “Your husband was possessed... There's no need to be alarmed. The threat was eliminated. I scanned everyone else and there is no sign. There might be more world-side and I will inform the proper persons to handle it. Since it would be best for everyone to stay put I didn't want people to start worrying about others world-side and making things more complicated. These people have chosen to leave and the concerns of those left behind are not concerns of theirs anymore. The heart doesn't work like that though and if there are many more delays there is a greater chance to get wrapped up in the unending problems of a new settlement. This is where I draw the line.”

The woman said with steely eyes, “He ceased to be the man I knew the moment he left my side. A part of me was afraid of that truth but now I accept. Sable was the one who ended the thing that took him?”

Wren replied, “Yes.”

She continued, “Then it seems I owe him a debt for collecting vengeance. I suppose I can start by saving him from the unending stamina of my Rhaul. He's always been a difficult one for my husband to 'comfort' but thus is the labor of love... If you've need of a tender for your manor, I've no pressing need to move on any longer.”

A thoughtful Wren replied, “I'll have to sleep on it but my manor is not constructed as of yet as my own realm is not completely stable. Time here is greatly increased so your life will pass much more quickly here than world-side. If I consider this then your need to consider is doubly so if you truly desire it. It would likely be a bit lonely from time to time. Uh, I'm sorry but I don't seem to remember your name.”

“Oh, of course. It's Jhessa. I was a bit of a recluse before I married my husband late. Rhaul was like a son to me before he wormed into my husband's bed and though I think fondly of him still, he's a man grown now. A bit of solitude is no frightful thing for me,” Jhessa said.

Wren, still having a few minutes to burn, decided to take a pre-employment physical of the woman. It shocked her a bit but once Wren explained she accepted.

She's led a good, healthy lifestyle. In to her late forties with an approximate ninety year expectancy. A bit of judicious healing and a wisp of LE and SE would get her right about in sync of what I did for Sable without playing mad scientist with her genetics... Screw it. Call it a consolation prize if I don't end up taking her offer. Besides, she's tough. Either that or she just wasn't that in to her husband but either way she seems eager to get some more 'comfort' from Sable. Juicing her up before sending her in for round two will be more efficient since deep healing and randiness seem to go hand in hand.

After the deep healing, Wren warned her to take precautions for fertility and to warn Sable the same. It seemed to be a waste of time as both her and Sable, who managed to buy himself a breather between grunt-fests, were both peaked by sudden interest in the possibility. After an embarrassing, for both parties, aside where Sable asked for a 'refill' from Wren and a solemn but grudging promise to 'comfort' Rhaul more later if he'd leave them for now, Sable and Jhessa got into a much more heated round of 'comforting' with ulterior motives. Wren would have considered that an irresponsible decision but looking through the lens of their culture, it was a 'practical' one.

As they wandered back towards the pavilion Wren asked, “Little Gray, I thought your dad had a whole bunch of kids. Why does he seem to be so excited over the possibility of having another?”

Grimalkin looked at Wren oddly for a moment before he said, “Birdy, I'm the only one he knows is his. If he is successful in getting that woman with child, it would likely be the happiest day of his life as he would have a chance to help raise a new life outside the demands of his old one. We... Those who were part of the branches were denied many things. Any of the trappings of family were denied us save duty and loyalty to our house. The act of reproduction itself was punishment and reward.

“Until a trainee earned their name, even what you call masturbation is denied. Any trainee caught in the act of self pleasuring would be half neutered for first offense. Our existence was measured in obedience, potential and the realization of that potential. If any of those three failed to meet certain marks at certain times then that failure would be moved to 'other projects'.

“I was fortunate for having a minor gift. It allowed me to meet my father, who was needed to train me, and allowed me enough room for failure to be spared from 'other projects' on more than one occasion. Ultimately, this poor gift of mine earned me all I could have dreamed of and more I did not even know of to want. Is there anyone, I wonder, to gain so much happiness from failure?”

Wren said in all seriousness, “I can't speak about your life before you entered mine but it was your inner strength and earnestness that drew me to you. That is far from failure. But if you get me started on all the reasons I love you we'll be at it all day so let's save that for a better time.”

Grimalkin leaned a little more into Wren as he said, “It will be as you say.”

Fuck. It seems I'm just as sappy a bastard as they come. Old me, please save new me from becoming a parody of myself!

Wren was saved from further self embarrassment as he reached Liita and Bress in the pavilion center.

Wren jumped right into it as he said, “You guys got me a list? While you're at it tell me any other question comments or concerns because this is last chance before departure preparations begin.”

Liita and Bress shared a look before Bress began, “Here's the list but I don't hold much hope for food being easily obtainable. Even if there is, the exchange rate will be highly demanding. I was present when the first hunting report came in and other than small game, there was little sign of any else. Something had cleared out the surrounding forest. Fortunately the soil is rich and a geomancer from Deepwise will be able to supply a decent abundance of peanuts and beans before winter or we'd likely not be able to find meat or meat substitutes for trade at all.

“Many among us here are craftsmen and artisans without the tools necessary for their trade. Greater named ones will be able to fill the needs of a reduced populace and the call for artisans will not sound out for some time aside from those with good functionality as a part of their stock. Though I put some on the list there is little hope of finding goodly amounts of metal for replacements of most tools and it will be heavily regulated on who receives priority of such things.

“As for what you could easily use for trade in such a condition, roles of durable textile products would have the greatest trade power. Winter is a distance away but it will be the first above ground that any have seen and fear of it, in face of a lack of tools and materials to produce what's needed to endure, will raise its value drastically.

Any knowledge or materials to treat common illnesses will also be highly valued in sight of the vestibule of wellness no longer at anyone's disposal.”

Wren soaked in the information for a moment before he said, “Bress, you are an impressively insightful lady. Liita's lucky to have you!”

Liita only half jokingly responded, “Yes, I am and I'll defend that luck with all I have from your sticky fingers.”

Wren chuckled out, “You wrong me Liita, but stance noted. There's only one person on my mind right now and he's right here.” Wren reached out to squeeze Grimalkin's hand for a second before returning to business.

Wren spent a good half hour spitting out what he could on the list that wouldn't take too much EE to build and a few roles of cotton linen and canvas.

Bress looked at Wren and asked, “If you can do all this, why not food?”

Wren replied, “Two reasons. The first is lack of prefabricated models. I'm not going to go into details but not having them makes things more time consuming and less efficient. The second reason is the complexity of organic materials and the need to use rarer essences to ensure it has nutritional value. To put it in clearer terms, would you use your life force and borrow against your own soul for food when there are opportunities to acquire it through more mundane means? In a pinch I can and will but I'd like things not to get to that point.”

Working out the finer details took Wren a good half day between Bress and Jaden but they were ready buy nightfall realm-side. It was necessary for Jaden to be world-side for the realm to move with them which made logistics a little more complicated because the flying version of spectral transport could only hold around 300 pounds and Jaden was around 190. Basically Wren would come out of realm to charge it around every six hours world-side, eighteen realm-side on lowest dilation.

As for final considerations to the woefully unprepared settlement he did a quick round to scan for possessed and say his farewells to the Grand Teacher. He got the old man to do a delivery for him to deliver a training manual among other odds and ends to ease some burdens on Rohna. Within the cache he sent to Rohna was a booklet on medicine and some other things that could be made with local flora that would suffice them through a winter without the vestibule or textiles.

Despite his stealthy leave taking he was still suckered into digging out a few emergency underground shelters and a sluice tunnel which Wren took with Jaden to escape anymore endless requests.

In a moment of genuine enjoyment, Jaden said, “It feels as if I am a child again, attempting to escape arms training or a particularly onerous chore. It is the thrill of innocent adventure and small daring.”

Wren smiled wryly as he said, “Our adventure is just beginning. If only all of them would be so innocent I would hold no complaints.”

Jaden nodded solemnly as they walked out into an untamed wilderness.

***

Troy walked down the crowded avenue. The vendors and various housewives bustling about the marketplace made for a pictorial scene as he began to play by the square's magnificent fountain. It had taken him all of two hours to start bustling for coin because the local guard had caught him doing it without a permit which led him for a merry round of resource liquidating, fine paying and a final round of bureaucratic runaround to get a busker's permit. It's not that he really needed money. His time with Ephyra had been rewarding in far more than knowledge. For all her vileness, she was generous when pleased, even more so was the generosity of Glaucous after her death. If he was crafty about it he could set up to live like a king but there was no fun in such a lifestyle and quite a bit of danger for a newcomer to be displaying wealth in a city that wasn't known for fair dealings.

As his effortless, almost halfhearted performance easily out shined the regulars performing around him, his crowd drew dense as he fished for his prey. Finally he saw the young man he was looking for... The boy in question was just into adulthood by the city's standard of 17 and he already had amassed a reputation for being a debauchee who lavished on beautiful performers who caught his eye. Despite or perhaps because his father took so many efforts to cover his son's indiscretions, especially if the performer in question was a comely boy or a girl who was growing a little thick around the middle by the time his attention waned, it was widespread knowledge that he was a 'poison apple' in the local community.

Lately things had changed a bit however, as the discarded lovers started turning up dead with no apparent reason. They would would be fine for a time, with a bit of extra coin in their pocket but a few days back into routine and they'd start to turn listless and dull in appearance before finally not waking up again. After a couple of weeks and three dead performers tied in previous romantic relations with the young man, he'd graduated from cautionary tale to outright warning. All Troy saw was a bit of possible fun and a lead to an entrenched possessed that had begun feeding to sustain it's host body.

For a moment he let the loneliness of his voluntary separation from his friends and his longing for the day of their reuniting, seep into his song of forbidden love before turning to more pleasant and hopefully pleasurable, near future endeavors.

***

It took him two days to finally work the dagger in is heart loose. The lynch pin to this whole cursed arrangement was finally taken by gravity to land next to the the item that he decided would become known as Dusk Diamond in the future. He was so very weak and it would still take time before he had enough recovered strength to begin the process of eating the curses.

Once that was done, he'd be neck deep in things to do and it would be up to fortune and skill if his son could climb high enough for him to reach down to raise the boy. He'd find a way to secret a message to his son's side and release as many SYSTEM restrictions as he could to help his son but that would be the end of a very short fostering. He didn't hold much hope for the bumbling fledgling. The boy had shown far too much readiness to forsake all to aid a friend and those were the kind of weaknesses that made up the bread and butter of a lesser god's arsenal. There would be many such beings standing in the boys way, to use him or take all they could.

Perhaps before he began his path to bloody revenge he would pay a visit to an old friend that owed him an oathed favor. Hated and reviled as he likely was, a debt was a debt. Once he recovered, such a small person's favor would not be of much help to him but to a boy stepping into a deadly crucible, it might be the difference between oblivion and survival. In spite of his original intentions for the unwitting Earthling he found himself hoping with all the goodness that remained in him, little as it was, that the boy... his son, would survive.