Chapter 357 – Visiting Tanatsu

*** Alzi ***

"Dears," Nanoka says. "While this is very cute, I think it is time to get up. Isda is waking up."

Something is tickling my nose and won't let me ignore Nanoka's words. But it's too nice, sleeping in Mommy's arms. Her body has to be mine forever now.

"Come on, dear," Mommy says. "We have responsibilities to attend to."

"Ok, Mommy," I say. Obviously, it's one of Nanoka's tails flicking my nose. She's still naked, sitting on the edge of the bed while watching the door. I don't know if Isda is really about to wake up; she's still sleeping and doesn't look any different than before. But I roll off to the side to let Mommy get up. And then there's a knock on the door.

"Champion Alzi. Fertility has asked us to hold your wife, Isda. Are you ready to move her?" a Priestess asks.

"Ok," I say.

The Priestess walks in and freezes, her eyes glancing around at the naked women, but mostly focusing on me and Nanoka. I probably should've gotten dressed before letting them in.

"I'll come back in a minute," the Priestess says. She turns on her heels and closes the door again.

"I'm surprised she didn't continue," Nanoka says. "She's already slept with you. I didn't know I was still that scary. Shall we get dressed?"

"Who knows? Maybe Fertility said something," I say. I hop down off the bed and hold out a hand to help my Mommy get up. Nanoka has folded our dresses and put them on the table for us, so I just need to clean our bodies a bit first, and then we can start putting them on. Nanoka, however, just flashes her robes back onto her body, then watches us with a soft smile.

I don't have any clothing for Isda. Mommy is the closest in size to her, but I don't have any extra clothing for her either. Not that Mommy's clothing would fit Isda with the differences in wings and body. Hopefully, Isda's maid is on the way with some clothing."Is Isda's maid coming?" I ask.

"Yes," Nanoka says. "She didn't want to ask for any more favors, so she is coming by carriage. She also had to get some things ready for her Lady's stay. I'm happy you chose to save Isda. I know she's caused you pain, but she's probably the most remorseful of your wives. She's been praying to you every day so far, fighting through the pain. She wants to worship you. To be a useful member of the family. So I'm happy she'll get the chance. I know this isn't what you wanted to do. But she is a sweet girl, and it was nice to feel some desire for this old woman. You're a kind woman, Alzi. I'm sorry I didn't check in on Isda and fix all of this. It's a great failing that I will make up for, no matter how long I have to work to do it."

"Isda has always fallen just short of doing the right thing," I say. "I hope Fertility is able to help her. And you are still a beautiful woman, Nanoka. PRIESTESS!"

The door swings open, and a head pops in this time to make sure everyone is decent. "Sorry for intruding the first time," the Priestess says. "I'll take Isda down below. Is there anything I should know?" She moves over to the bed, right as Isda starts to stir.

"Her maid is coming," I say. "Make sure the maid knows the rules. Don't bend them for her. Tell her I told you this, and that it is so her Lady can join my family completely."

"I'm sorry, Azli! I've hurt you over and over. I can't do it. Every time I get close to supporting you, Sex breaks me. She won't let me help you until you start planning on making the world burn," Isda says. "I'm sorry. Just let me die. Let me stop hurting you." She doesn't even know where she is, yet she's apologizing.

"I get that. Are you willing to stay in Fertility's temple?"

"Yes. I won't fight. If I do, you have the right to kill me or restrain me completely. Do what is needed to protect the family, Alzi. I want to stop being a burden."

The Priestess starts to check on Isda. She begins with Isda's head, which is kind of funny since Isda was talking. Then she continued down to her breasts, and finally froze over Isda's womb. "Champion. Are you sure about this?"

"Yes?" I say. I haven't checked how many I gave her. But Isda's an angel, so she should be able to take more. Right? It's not like the eight she just had almost killed her or something.

"Very well," the Priestess says. "We aren't exactly healers in this temple, but we can do a lot for a difficult pregnancy. Entrust Isda to us. She'll be unburdened by Sex and free to serve the family as she wishes."

"Thank you," Isda says. "Thank you."

The Priestess scoops up the angel and walks out. I probably should've asked how many kids I gave Isda, but I can ask Fertility or check myself later if I want.

"I should go heal some of the soldiers," I say. "I didn't use a lot of mana, thanks to all of my Skills."

"This may be a stupid thing for me to say. And if it is, I'm sorry," Nanoka says. "But you should visit Tanatsu. She would likely be willing to fight for you if you healed her wife. I don't know if it is possible to do so, but she would appreciate you coming by. I'll go with you to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. The little girl is about as strong as me, which means her lover will die if she fights me, so you'll be safe. And we can grab Nakuma and Yuki to make sure. That is, if you are ok with visiting her."

I forgot about her. How did I get to a place where I have so many things to do that I forget about them? Normally, I just go where someone tells me to and fuck someone. "She saved Mommy," I say. "I can try to help her."

"Thank you," Nanoka says. "We can just pop over and see what is going on. If there is nothing for you to do, we can leave immediately. We need to leave the temple, and then I can move us there."

Why is she talking about defending me from her granddaughter? She seemed fine for the short time I met her. And then, saying we can just leave. How hurt is Tanatsu's lover?

Whatever. I'll figure it out soon. We filter out of the room and head towards the doors, but the High Priestess stops us this time.

"Sorry to stop you," the High Priestess says. "But we have something we need your input on. Fertility is quiet on the matter, and this is something you can direct us on without the Goddess's input. It will just take a few minutes, I promise."

"Ok?" I say.

It doesn't take long to find out what she was talking about. Sedriresa is asleep in a pew, and Elora has passed out by the altar.

Sedriresa stirs when we near them, but Elora remains asleep, even when I stand over her.

"What happened?" I ask.

"She came here and started to pray, Your highness," Sedriresa says. "She told me to do nothing. That she'll leave when she is ready."

"We just want to know if this is what you want or not," the High Priestess says. "We'll do what you tell us to."

"Just make sure her kid isn't hurt. Give her food when she wakes up. If she wants to pray to my Goddess for the rest of her life, let her," I say.

"Please, Your Highness."

"She'll be fine," I say. "I think. Fertility won't hurt my kid."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Sedriresa says. "I'm sorry we bothered you."

"I'll have food and water ready for her, Champion. I wish you the best. I hope your next visit can be for a celebration," the High Priestess says. "Maybe with some time to check on your kid."

"Maybe," I say. "I still don't get many choices these days."

"I understand. I'll pray for you to get some free time."

"Thanks," I say. Nanoka and Mommy don't say anything about my choice. Elora should be safe in Fertility's temple, so there shouldn't be any problems, and if there are, Elora can deal with them.

We take a few steps from Fertility's door and appear in a boring hallway.

"Tanatsu! You have visitors. Open the door," Nanoka says.

"What do you want?!" an Elf says, opening the door. "Sorry, I thought it was just grandma coming to harass me. Thank you for coming. I'm in the middle of something, so please excuse the mess."

"What?"

"Tanatsu is hiding herself," Nanoka says, stepping into the dark room. "She didn't want the Queen to know she's here, and now she needs to keep up the appearance for the assassins' guild. Not that she could truly hide from the Queen."

"You helped them try to kill Mai!"

"No," the elf says. "I just give them protection in exchange for some materials. I don't have anything to do with their operations, and I'm the one who gave Yuki the file on the assassinations. My position also helped me find out about and protect your Mother from the next attempt. I wouldn't let them kill Yuki's friends. It would cause me more problems for no reason."

Maybe she just framed the Ashmarks. But they ran, and the changeling was working for them. I just promised to check, anyway. I can spend a few minutes here and then leave. "Fine," I say.

Stepping inside, I regret my thoughts. Body parts, bodies, monsters, blood, runes, and everything that would tell you to run are on display.

"Nakuma should be here soon," Nanoka says. "With Yuki."

"You're bringing them here?" Tanatsu asks.

"Yes. My job is to protect my wife, and Nakuma will be useful for that. Now, explain what this disgusting mess is to Alzi, please. I hate seeing your work."

"My lover is too old. She doesn't have much mana and would've died a long time ago," Tanatsu says. "I've been forced to take life from others, and I've been working on the best way for a while now. Right now, it is bleeding them out and funneling it through runes to mix it correctly."

"You can do that?"

"Kind of. Enough that she hasn't died, but she lives in this box."

"So if I had a life I didn't care about, I could do better with my affinity?" I ask.

"Do you?"

"Yes, I have a worthless ant that can be used," I say.

And just on time, Nakuma and Yuki appear next to Nanoka. Perfect for what we need. They even brought my shadow!

"Alzi," Mommy says. "Are you sure you should be doing this?"

"Will you help me in the war?" I ask.

"I won't do anything overly risky," Tanatsu says. "I'll be a guard or an assassin. Nothing more. I'm not getting my love back, only to die myself. I'm not about to be your wife, or slave, or anything."

"Then I'm sure about this," I say. That's enough for me to have a bit of fun. Fuck the healers not letting us learn about everything that can be done with life mana.

"Fuck," Yuki says.