Chapter 359 – Check in on Others

"I'll have to test some things out," I say. "I haven't done much with my mana before, but I'll work on this." I would love to keep the gate free, but it's hard to keep him alive with so much missing. I'll have to learn how to scrape away down to the gates quickly. And then I need to figure out a way to keep my Shadow alive through this. I want her to live knowing that her dumbass ant was sacrificed and that she's unable to say anything about it.

"Very well," Tanatsu says. "Thank you for helping. We can wait now that we have some promise that it'll get fixed. It's more hope than we've had in a long time."

"I've been looking for something to use this ant for. I'm happy it'll help another have their love around," I say. Then I start to cover the ant's gate. I have to decide if it is better to keep him here or if I can do something with him if I take him with us.

"My Mistress," Sarania says. "You should leave him here. You won't be able to test on him in the castle. Too many eyes there. We also need to test your daughters and see if they are willing to help you. They would be useful to help hide the act, as with them nearby, the other Goddesses won't be able to see the unholy work. It isn't like the ant's pain is your problem, and Tanatsu can do some research on him as well."

"I can hold any supplies you need," Tanatsu. "The guild can't say no to me after all their mistakes. I'm the one keeping this afloat, so I just have to act like a loyal guard. I'll keep the ant safe."

"Thank you," I say. "I should get to the army and help them a bit." And then I really should just have Space make Nakuma a Champion. I'll need Nakuma and Nanoka to be able to teleport around, it seems, unless the Kitsune Queen comes to see me about it first. I'm so tired of moving around. Everyone can just come to me now. Having a second body isn't enough. I don't want to hold just one kid at a time. Not when I have two sets of arms to hold them. Or show my love to my true wives. I have better things to do than travel.

"To the castle," Nanoka says, holding her arms out. Everyone gathers up, my Shadow takes a second, but joins us, and Nanoka takes us out of the strange room.

*** Tanatsu ***

Hope. Finally, I have hope to end my wait to truly be with my love.

"Is this right?" my love asks.

"It's the life of an ant," I say. "Someone who has no value. How could this not be right? Alzi wants to do this, and I'm not hurting her. She wants to learn how, and she wants to help us. How could this be anything but right? We'll be together. Finally, we can have our true life together. And Alzi did warn that you'll likely get pregnant."

She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. She must be tired. I've had her out of the enclosure for too long. Soon, I won't have to part from her ever again like this.

"A child would be nice. We can bring about a life the right way," she says. "Thank you for your devotion, dear."

"I love you. Anything. I would do anything for you."

"You've proven that. Maybe Love would make you her Champion."

"No, I don't need a Goddess to declare that I have love for you," I say. "Sorry, but you need to rest. Soon, we'll be together."

"Very well."

*** Isda ***

Sex must've forced me awake or something. I'm too weak to move, too sore to want to move, and too stupid to want anything. The only time I've helped my wife was the first night we met. At least, I hope I did. I hope I gave her a sliver of happiness then. But after that, I was too scared to truly help her. To be the wife I want to be.

"You're awake," my maid says. Ivizea. I've given her such a terrible life. "My Lady, how are you feeling? We have so much to do. We have to thank Alzi for her great mercy."

I can move my mouth, but my throat is too dry to manage anything but a groan. So that's all I respond with.

"Give me a moment, I will be back with water. Just stay calm, my Lady," Ivizea says. "Everything will be fine. I'll be back with water and soup."

I have to free myself from Sex. Fertility was right to scare me off from pursuing Alzi. I just wish she had gone further. Why didn't she force me to step down? She had to have known how this would end. If I weren't the one to talk to Alzi that first night, we could've done so much better. We missed making a good first impression, but the second act could've been the right act. All because of me.

"My Lady. I've brought some food and water. A Priestess also wishes to talk to you."

So Alzi did leave me in Fertility's temple. Good. Maybe I can really stop hurting her, locked up here.

It takes an agonizing few minutes to get the water and food down my throat, but I feel much better when my maid is done feeding me. Good enough to talk. But I'm sure it will be mostly listening for now.

"Are you ready to talk, angel?" the High Priestess says.

"Yes," I whisper. It still comes out scratchy, but at least it's a word.

"Alzi tripled the count from your last birth. Close to what would cause even her to burst, I would imagine. Fertility will use this to worm her way into you and change who you follow. You said you wish to worship Alzi. You understand what that requires, correct?"

"Yes."

"Very well. This will be painful for you, but we will offer you no help with the pain. The Goddess will only keep you and the children alive."

"Yes," I say. Not the right word, but the only one I can really give right now. An angel to Alzi should be able to handle a pregnancy of this size at least. I'll make sure Alzi is able to see me by the time these start to tear their way out of me.

You are my Goddess now, Alzi. It's the least I can do for you.

*** Mai ***

It's strange, seeing Alzi golden. And add in that happy smile. A true smile. Not the one she managed to find sometimes at the brothel. One that lacks the burdens of abuse. This one is free and full of joy as she helps her babies, and even my little kitten.

It warms my cold heart to see her holding our child. She sends me the biggest grin and praises me for making such a cute baby for her. I was so scared when I got pregnant. So much changed so quickly. But I was the only one to get the good things. Alzi was just dragged from bad situation to bad situation, while I got to live happily. As happy as you can while your love is still enslaved.

Now, we are together, and I can't wait for our next child to be born. I'm even thinking of curling up on Alzi's bed and risking another pregnancy. Sleeping with her, without the sex, would still be good, though. Her normal body doesn't have the joy this golden has. It's hard to say they are the same woman, but they have the same memories. I think this is what she would have been like if the Goddesses hadn't messed with her.

She isn't missing a single thing I love about her. She deserves this happiness.

I wouldn't know her if the Goddesses hadn't messed with Alzi, but that would be worth it. Even if it meant I died from my first pregnancy, an Alzi with just happiness in her life would be more than worth my own. But I am happy I get to be with her, and I now have a path to stay with her. To help make it so that both of her bodies can show pure joy to her kids.

"You're staring a lot," Alzi says. "Trying to play as a baby?"

"No," I chuckle. "I'm just happy. I love you."

"I love you, too," Alzi says. "Thank you for everything. I made it here because of you."

"I'm happy to help you, my love," I say. My work isn't done. I'll help you forever. "The babies are asleep. Should we get a bit of rest, too? Or maybe take a little bath? See if you're golden all the way through?"

"I'm bare all the way down," Alzi says. "But I wouldn't mind a bath. The only thing I miss from the brothel is bath time, getting to touch and feel your pretty body."

"Let's go have some fun," I say. I take her hand and drag her out of the nursery, my tail flicking around behind me. I'm sure it's tickling her, but she loves it. Alzi loves me, and I love her. Elora and her harem can see what it looks like to love a woman correctly. You could always tell which nobles didn't have a good understanding of love back at the brothel. Elora isn't the first to confuse it with fulfilling duty together. But she will be the last one who gets close to Alzi, thinking that.

*** Alzi, main body ***

My second body stumbles a bit when I get back to the manor, but I manage to stay on my feet well enough on the way to the bath. Mai's tail also isn't making it easy to focus on walking, something I have to consciously do now with my bodies. I hope that stops soon, but for now, I'll just have to promise to get back at her in the bath.

Nanoka put me, Sarania, and my Shadow in my bed. Yuki and Nakuma must have stayed with her, as I don't see them around. But I do see Shyla on her knees, prostrating at the foot of my bed.

Is this what she does when she isn't near me?

"Shyla?" I ask.

"Your Highness," Shyla says. "The Queen wishes to see you. It is about your role as a healer in the army."

"Good. That is what I want to do for a bit now. Where is the meeting?"

"In the main castle," Shyla says, getting up out of her strange position. "Do you wish to change before meeting her?"

"Yes. A simple green dress will do. I will heal someone before the day ends, or I'm going to be very unhappy."

"I'm sure the Queen wishes for you to start quickly as well, Your Highness," Shyla says.

Quickly, I'm in a green dress similar to the one I wore in the army. It should make the Queen understand that I just want to be a healer for a while. She had better not be mad about my leaving her daughter in the temple. It would be wrong of me to take Elora away from her prayers, especially to my patron Goddess.

With the dress and some simple heels on me, the four of us go outside and get into a carriage for the short trip.