In my workshop I set up a makeshift lab. I will need to consolidate my learning so far on magic and potion making to make any progress. The high quality potion I just acquired is key. The old mage who taught me all the basic magic structures, also taught me a skill to use magic to delve into and dismantle any object. It is similar to the magic used by healers at the start of the process to sense what is wrong with the patient, so the skill has wide application.

My old world knowledge on chemistry and atomic structure might help to some extent, but the world is made up of a lot more complexity than the basic building blocks themselves. Even if I knew the periodic table by heart I would still struggle to apply it using magic. I know parts of it and I am sure it will do me some good when designing basic magic, but magic potions are a completely different kettle of fish.

The best I can do it try to identify the ingredients used. Delving into the potion I sense the core ingredients; powdered mana cores, water and a blend of plant materials dissolved into the liquid. There is no non-soluble leftovers at the bottom of the potion, but pure fully dissolved liquid. The dissolved mana cores look to be of very high quality. Replicating that would be costly. I want to make low cost health potions of at least a medium level of quality, similar to the effect of an advanced level regeneration skill.

One notable difference between a good magic health potion and the regeneration skill is the fact that the potion should help stabilize injuries, unlike the regeneration skill which relies heavily on efforts to stabilize the injury. Is the stabilization aspect influenced by the magic or the herb content? Either way I need to experiment with the herb content and the magic formation content separately and combined as either could cause the desired effect.

For the magic content I am relying on my limited experience and knowledge, from observing other potion makers and the basic structures taught to be by the old mage in the city. Neither are likely to give me a breakthrough. My best chance for a breakthrough is the herb content. The right combination and the optimal quantity. The expensive magic potion I acquired should prove its worth.

Having worked out a methodology for my research I map out the experiments I will need to run over the next few days to try out my hypothesis. At the end of the process I need to try to recuperate my expenses with what I can produce, before I start another series of experiments. Could really do with a shop. Should ideally test the potions as well before I start selling them. Got to be some farmers around with injured animals.

In the evening I go to bed with my first wife Mari. The ranking order of my wives seems to have become more important to them as Pia joined us. I am happy to let them set the rankings so long as they don't mistreat anyone. As Mari sit naked on top of me I notice that she has gotten a bit rounder. Not the kind of rounding out that a healthy diet did her in the beginning. She was sickly skinny when I first met her, but fleshed out with a nice big bosom quickly.

Being overweight in this world is very rare. Too much healthy food and exercise. Mari works the fields around the house and do chores in the house every day, so it makes no sense that she is getting fat. Not that I am dumb enough to actually say it out loud, but it doesn't make sense. As I use Analyze, I get an obvious answer. "You are pregnant." I realize that I am holding a hand to her stomach while saying it, and the message could not be clearer. She must be a few months in to be visibly pregnant. Why did she not say anything? She should have known for some time.

"Wait, let me get the others." Before I can respond Mari runs out of the room as naked as the day she was born. She soon returns with my other wives. Pia is noticeably absent. As they all get onto my big bed I use analyze on all of them. Neither Lawra or Kira are pregnant, but Lynne is. "We should have known you would find out without us telling you." Lawra is sounding conspiratorial.

"So when did you first know that you were pregnant Mari?" Mari seems strangely reluctant but she confirms it has been just a couple of months since she realized. Makes sense, looks like Mari, with her slim waist shows pregnancy early. "And what about you Lynne?" Now everyone seems surprised. Lynne isn't showing at all. "Is this that skill of yours?" Kira's question hits the mark. Lynne quickly admits to having known for a month and a half.

"So that is why you guys thought is was best for Lynne to stay at home during our last hunting trip." No one responds but it is clear that I have hit the mark. "Why did you not tell me?" Why would my wives feel it appropriate to keep two pregnancies from me? "It isn't normal to tell the man until the baby arrives." Lynne is the one to answer. Surely most guys would realize that the girl is pregnant by the bump, though it can often not be visible until well into the second trimester.

"Do you know how long a human pregnancy lasts?" Strange question to ask. "Sure, about 9 months." The girls seem surprised by my answer. "Well, most guys don't, and girls don't tell them to protect themselves." Now it suddenly starts to make sense. If guys in this world do not know how long a pregnancy lasts, or that it has a fixed term, then girls who have had another guys baby can easily pass it off as their current boyfriend or husbands. I am reminded of Mara. Maybe her situation was not that uncommon.

"We suspected you would find out sooner than most men, but we kind of also wanted to wait and see if you could get Kira pregnant." Mari highlights another motive the girls had to keeping their secret. That explains a lot as well, but why not Lawra as well. As I look towards Lawra, she seems to guess what I am thinking. "I am not ready to be a mum yet. Anyone would agree with that." I guess that means that the girls are using some form of contraceptive if they want to delay getting pregnant.

"So, do you want kids? Do you like kids?" Lynne seems very insecure as she asks her question. "Yes and Yes, I just wish you had told me." While saying so, I grab Lynne in one arm and Mari under the other and give them both an affectionate squeeze. With that everyone seems happy, but all settle in for a squashed sleep in my bed.