Chapter 334 – War Must Never Have Children

"Is this a smart idea?" I ask, back in a carriage rolling through the capital. The Queen gave me one of hers, or at least one with the royal insignia on it, to use, letting us move quickly through the city.

"I'll watch over you," Syro says. "With me and Sarania here, you'll be fine."

"War will be happy with you," Sarania says. "You've started one war already, and you're starting up another. She'll like you. Ask for help with staying in the war. We are counting on Fertility and my Mother to find a way to end Nature. The Phoenixes will be in charge of stopping the Dragons. War will love us asking her to help us keep the war going. I don't think anyone has asked her for that in years."

I would question the sanity of anyone who did ask her to keep a war going. "Am I insane?" I ask.

"No, you definitely have some issues with your mind, but I wouldn't call you insane," Sarania says.

"I would agree," Syro says. "Sorry, I did dig a little into your mind to check. You don't have the same thoughts as an insane person would. But I didn't do any more than check that, I swear."

"I asked for it," I say. Maybe you don't need to be insane. What we want makes sense and isn't just some request for more blood. But, of course, who would think that what they want is insane?

"Why can't I just spend time with my kids?" I groan. All my kids are so cute. A flying kitty will be so interesting to watch grow up. Mai and the baby were sleeping when we checked on them after the execution, so I haven't gotten a real chance to hold her yet. Kelly says they're both healthy, and I did give them a quick kiss to confirm it.

I need to find something else to do with the Edeozia wives. I don't need more kids from them, as I can have plenty of kids with those I love. Ignoring them seems like a waste, but it may be the best thing to do. I could have Azula crawl around for me every once in a while for fun. I could even give her some stupid saying that she has to repeat every time she wakes up, and call it done with that? But more kids would be nice.

It would've been nice if they had just killed her during the war, so I wouldn't have to figure it all out now. I wasn't around her enough to really hate her like the brothel owners, and she wasn't fully in charge, but she let it happen, but I don't know. I wanted to be a healer, not spend my time deciding against whom and how I need to dish out my revenge.

"Here," the driver calls back, saving me from my thoughts.

Sarania shuffles out of the Carriage and helps me down, Syro coming out behind me. Shyla forced me into a new dress; my new classes grew my breasts out enough that she was worried I would pop out of the other one. I'll have to consider what to choose as my final size soon, I think. Maybe I can just match some of the Queens, perhaps go a size bigger for my image, and to compete with my womb. I still haven't gotten more than a few days' break between each pregnancy.

"Ready, my Mistress?" Sarania asks.

"Oh, yes," I say. The temple is clearly well funded, even if it's on the smaller side. Golden shields, statues of women in armor, and even paintings of battlefields cover the War Goddess's temple walls. It's not as large as the others, but I'm guessing no Queendom would allow the War Goddess's temple to lack funds, just in case they have to go to war. I doubt the Goddesses like only getting attention when we mortals need something. I think that is part of Fertility's issues with everyone.

A bit petty, since with Fertility's goal of increasing the Goddesses, we won't have time for them all unless we need something from them.

"We can turn back if you don't want to go, my Mistress," Sarania says. "You seem distracted."

"No, I have to give this a chance. Fertility needs time to fulfill her promise of a terrible end for some of my true enemies," I say. I hope she uses the brothel owners well. "I need the help."

"Then, shall we?" Syra says.

"Yes."

"You should open the door yourself without mana," Syro says. "Show commitment, and it should help your image with the Goddesses. She enjoys a show of power and likes more personal fights rather than ones with a lot of mana."

"I can try," I say, starting up the steps. Shyla also skipped the giant heels for this, trying to get me in something that would be fitting for some pit fights or something. I wasn't sure what she was talking about, but it seems to be some kind of wrestling match style of fighting. Not the best for looking like a whore, but it'll do for a meeting with the Goddess of War.

The temple door is metal and massive, so I'm not sure how anyone but warriors are supposed to open this stupid thing without mana, but I try anyway. I put my whole body into it, and it doesn't budge at all. While I do feel that is a sign I should turn around, I put a bit of mana into the door and pry it open. I slip inside and find the normal pews missing. Instead, the main chamber is filled with small Hunting Grounds tables. Clashes of metal ring out from the side rooms. A Priestess dressed similarly to me steps out from behind a door and walks over.

"Hello, Champion Alzi," the Priestess says. "How may I help you?"

"I just want to pray and get some guidance from the Goddess," I say. Has the Queen shared that we'll be going to war again so soon?

"Then sit anywhere, we aren't expecting many women for a bit. There are rumors that a special guest may be coming to the next tournament, so the women are being extra careful with their prep," the Priestess says, motioning to the tables behind her. "A bit sad, but it'll be exciting when they all come out to play, fully prepared."

"I see," I say. "Special guest?"

"Yes, I'm told I shouldn't share the details yet," the Priestess says. "Oh, you may not know the game I'm talking about. No, I don't mean you don't know the game, but that I'm talking about a board game. As you can hear, we do have some training facilities, but our Goddess doesn't watch over individual fights, but wars. We can't have those being waged in the temple, so we have to settle for games. The next tournament is Hunting Grounds."

Did Elora sign me up to be the special guest? But then why wouldn't the Priestess say they are all preparing to impress me? Elora wouldn't be stupid enough to tell them to hide it from me unless the Priestess doesn't know who I am. But Goddesses have hinted about me before, so I doubt she doesn't know who I am. Wait, she called me by name. Am I going insane?

Just pray, Alzi. "Thank you. I didn't know the temple hosted those here. I may have to stop by and see how they go," I say. "I've heard the nobles have a different version that they play, compared to what I'm used to, so it would be cool to watch all the extra effects they play with."

"Yes, we only allow the most complicated variations here. I hope the Goddess is able to help you," the Priestess says, giving a mini bow and backing away.

I step towards the nearest table and sit down. I take a deep breath, hope the Goddess doesn't just whisk me away, close my eyes, and pray.

"Do you want to see me, or not?" a voice booms out.

"Yes," I stutter, looking around in the darkness.

"That doesn't answer my Question," the voice says.

I can see my body again, well, my breasts, hands, legs, and whatnot, and then a grass field forms around me. With my body back, I look up and find a giant, muscular, barely armored Goddess standing a few paces away. She must be ten feet tall at least, maybe even twelve, one hand on her hip, the other on the pommel of a massive sword. She doesn't tilt her head to look down at me, no, only her eyes move, her head facing straight forward.

"I am glad you can tell. Are you here to continue your collection of little tattoos?" the Goddess of War asks, standing still, like a statue.

"No, I don't really plan to get the tattoos; they just kind of happen," I say.

"Then are you looking to get me pregnant?"

"Your form is perfect, like all the Goddesses, and the muscles are tempting, but no."

"Then no," the Goddess says, turning around.

Then why hasn't she kicked me out yet? "Um, well, a war is about to start and..."

"I said no," the Goddess says, pulling her sword out of its sheath.

"Please, I just wish for the upcoming war to last longer. I'm not asking for you to let me win it or something. Is it still a no?"

"Keep it going? You're here to ask me to prolong a war?"

"Yes, I wish to ask the Goddess of War to make a massive war last longer. Is that something I can negotiate for?"

War stabs her sword into the soft earth below her. I don't know why she would do that rather than just put it back in its sheath, but it did look cool. And did I mention her massive muscles?

Wait, does she want to get pregnant?

"It seems we are both unsure about each other," War says. "Both of us fear what the other will bring to them. Kind of exciting, isn't it? Wanting to speak to the other, yet having every part of your being trying to stop it. I've never had that before. Not before your damn Goddess came up with such a brilliant plan. Think about what I could do if I had some help."

The Goddess of War, getting help? I think a few people would rather that not happen. "How would you get help?"

"Well, the obvious way is by having a few Goddesses going around to stir up trouble. That always works. Hurt the pride of the Queens down below, and they'll fight over the stupidest things. And then you have the more practical Goddesses like the Goddess of swords or maybe a favorite of yours, a Goddess of Muscles. Help encourage women to learn how to fight, and they'll want to use those skills, and what better place is there for that than war? Maybe I can learn to enjoy the little fights better if I have a Goddess of Battles or something to watch them with. But as you know, it's hard to fight while pregnant. So, limit the number of them, and then there's the raising of the children. I'm not stupid. I've seen how the kids turn out with bad parenting, and what parent could be worse than the Goddess of War? As I said, I'm not stupid. I know I'll struggle to raise children properly, and sure, that could start some wars, but that won't lead to a stable temple. But that in itself could be a war between Goddesses, and this upcoming war is oh so nice. I knew you would trigger a massive war down there the second you got sold to that brothel. I thought it might be a civil war, but it's a war between Nature and Justice, and Fertility and Sea. So much better than I could have ever dreamed of. I even had an appetizer with the war with Edeozia, ending with a Queen losing her head and everything. It's a little sad that you're making it work out between you and the ice elves, but I'll live. There's still Sex that I can count on."

"Um, ok. What do we do now?" I ask. "I clearly can't give you a kid after that speech. Even if you're beautiful."