This is another new trick that I learned from Lin and I have gone back and added it to all my items. Although I haven't seen anyone else use dispel, it doesn't mean no one will. The locking was actually made by mages to prevent their enemies from secretly altering their enchantments.

As much as I use dispel, it just makes sense to take precautions against it as well. Especially since it is super easy to do and doesn't really take any time at all. Now that they are done, I call Albion over and have him return to normal size so that I can put them on him.

Then I explain to him what the enchantments will do and tell him to go slowly until he gets used to them. Albion shrinks back down and then immediately starts running around. Almost immediately he runs into a chair leg because he is going too fast to turn.

However, that doesn't discourage him and he keeps running around like crazy. Since all the enchantments seem to be working, I sit down and enter meditation. It has been a few days so I access my soul and work on moving the connection to Bones.

It doesn't move very far before it starts to hurt, but that was to be expected. This is the kind of thing that requires patience, which admittedly isn't my strong suite. However, I don't really have a choice, I don't want to damage my soul again.

When I open my eyes, Albion, Mulan, and Mushu are playing tag on the cat tree. It looks like Albion has mostly gotten used to the enchantments. Nala is still sound asleep and shows no signs of waking up anytime soon.

Lin is reading a book, so I close my eyes again to work on my core until the kids wear themselves out. Albion is actually the first to call it quits as he goes to the fire pit and curls up with Nala. Mulan and Mushu try to play for a few more minutes before they go and join him.

Once they are all curled up it only takes a few minutes for all of them to be fast asleep. It is nice that they put themselves to bed and neither Lin nor I had to do anything. I turn and give Lin a grin, when she notices it she puts down her book and we head to the bedroom.

In the morning, by the time I drag myself out of bed the kids are all awake, including Nala. Grabbing the food pouch from the floor, I head out into the main room to provide breakfast. Surprisingly, Lin wakes up and joins us before we are done eating breakfast.

Lin says "So, what are your plans for today?"

"I plan to do some work on my core. Other than that, I haven't decided yet. Why?"

Lin says "Just wondering if you had gotten bored and thought up an adventure yet."

"Nope. No boredom yet. I will let you know if I start to get bored. Or maybe I should lie and say that I'm bored to see what you come up with?"

Lin says "I just want to make sure you take me with you when you go adventuring."

"Sure, sure."

Lin just smiles at me and continues eating her breakfast, so I do the same. As soon the kids are done they run over and start playing on the cat tree, leaving us to finish eating in peace. When Lin finishes eating, she shapeshifts and shrinks to play with the kids.

I watch them play for a few minutes before I close my eyes and start working on my core. It is still easy to work with, it just takes longer to progress through each level. It is nothing like the first time I worked to get my core to rank up, but I'm not sure why.

Part of it is because I know what I am doing this time, but that doesn't explain all of it. I knew what I was doing when I was a sacred creature, yet it was never this easy. Now all I really have to do is circulate my energy through my core and it progresses.

It feels completely different than it did before my latest transformation. It makes me curious as to why I am different this time around and what may happen. That is part of the reason I am taking a break from adventuring right now.

This might be my last chance to really work on my core before getting back to the peninsula. Once I get back I am bound to be extremely busy dealing with politics and other crap. Who knows if I will have free time to work on my core or anything else.

Any free time I do get will probably be taken up by Lin, Myria, and maybe Brightfire. That and I owe my other kids lots of affection to make up for being gone so long. My main worry though is how I am going to deal with the empire, a war looks unavoidable.

However, a war would drain our strength and resources, making the war against the demons much harder. There are so many things that I have to deal with that I almost don't want to go back. Unfortunately, that really isn't an option, I have to go back and fight the demons.

*DING*

Core Upgrade Process: Complete!

Rank 7: HP +500, MP +500, Primary Stats +10!

I was so caught up in my thoughts that my core upgrading catches me completely by surprise. Deciding to take a break I open my eyes to find everyone eating lunch. More time has passed than I realized, it only felt like an hour or so to me.

Lin says "From the surge of power just now I take it you succeeded?"

"Yes, I increased my rank, but it is still not enough."

Lin says "Why the urgency?"

"I need to be ready for the war."

Lin says "I thought we still had a decent amount of time before the war with the demons?"

"We do, but there is likely to be a war against the humans first."

As Lin hands me some lunch I tell her about the empire and the current situation. I tell her what I know about the empire and my suspicions about the demons. That makes me wonder how Roddick is doing and if he came up with a spell to reveal demons.

If he has, with Lin's help we might be able to cast it over the entire empire. That would make it difficult for the demons to keep hiding and manipulating things. If Roddick hasn't figured out the spell by the time we get back, I will ask Lin to help with it.

With her knowledge of magic it shouldn't be too hard for her to figure it out. If she had more knowledge about demons she could probably figure out the spell all on her own. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about how demons disguise themselves currently.

Lin says "So, you want to get stronger for the war against the empire. Aren't you already strong enough? I doubt there are many creatures stronger than you."