DAY 649

Kahlia sits in her organic throne in the middle of a meadow, petting the goddess sitting in her lap as if she were a cat. "Martial expertise isn't really my thing, but they do put on quite a show, don't you think?"

Taina's enjoyment of both the show and the petting is clear in her tone. "I'll say! Even if I wasn't into watching two people with swords go at it, the fact that Xenia's doing it topless would definitely have my attention. How did you talk her into doing that?"

"Oh, all of this was her idea, actually. And I'll admit, it's actually been paying off. Xenia gave the man a six month time limit to improve, and here it is only two months later and he's actually able to land blows even with her in this state!"

The Goddess of Love blinks at that statement, pulling her attention away from the half-naked combatants across the meadow. "Wait, it was actually that bad? All she had to do was take her shirt off and your Paragon couldn't land a hit? I mean...I ain't shallow enough to criticize someone for their looks, but I got more up top than Xenia does and I'm half her size!"

"For all his faults, Bill is at least an admirer of the female form in all of its wonderful variations, I'll give him that. It is what landed him in my sights, after all."

"I guess you never really actually needed someone good with a sword all that much...oh, huh, guess the show's over. Well, At least Xenia's keeping her shirt off..."

As the two goddesses watch, Xenia and Bill make their way over to their side of the field. Both are shirtless, with Xenia wearing a pair of rough pants and Bill in his battle kilt, and both of their torsos show the marks of their battle. With the false bodies granted to them in this pocket realm neither of them felt a need to hold back, and blood drips from deep cuts on each of their chests and arms. At least, until Kahlia waves a hand and the wounds begin to fade away once more. Once the pair have reached comfortable speaking distance, Xenia bows.

"Thanks for the healing, your divineness. Also, thanks again for letting us train here. Burning my avatar time back home for this would've really sucked, especially if I lost it the first time this meatslab here managed a hit."

The meatslab isn't sure whether or not that's a compliment, but he's in a good enough mood to decide to take it as one. "For sure, Lady K! This has actually been pretty fun - I haven't had anyone this good to spar with for...well, a really damn long time, that's for sure!"

Kahlia grants them a gracious smile. "I'm pleased to have been able to aid you in your self-improvement. And although I'm no expert with a blade myself, I would say that your improvement is indeed obvious even to me. So I must thank you, Xenia, for helping to shake the rust off of my Paragon."

"Hey, anytime. Getting to walk around under the sun is a nice break once in a while, too, so it's hardly been a burden. If it's not a problem, I wouldn't mind coming up with reasons to keep coming here more often. Here's hoping we won't actually need to call Bill for help safeguarding the core anytime soon, though."

Bill frowns as he gets the impression that their sparring may be at an end. "Wait, are you saying my training arc is over? I'd been working with this dead enchanter dude to try and record my music, so I could play it while we fight and I could do a real montage, yeah? 'It's the eye of the tiger and the thrill of the fight'! It was gonna take another month or so to finish, though! Agggh!"

Xenia snorts at the man's despair. "And here I thought you were gonna be upset that you might not be seeing more of my tits."

The over-muscled man quickly puts on a faux-zen look. "I have...overcome the need to spend my time observing mammaries. Firm curves and luscious nipples no longer have hold over my mind."

The reincarnator gives Bill a disbelieving stare. "...The fight's over. You can stare again if you want."

"Oh, thank Kahlia." Bill's head quickly turns back in her direction and he shakes his head in appreciation. "I'm gonna miss you girls."

"Hey, you aren't missing anything yet. I did offer you a bet, or did you actually forget?"

Bill tilts his head. "Uh, you said I had to beat you, right? I mean, we've had a lot of draws, and I've won some spars here and there, but I'm pretty sure your score's still way over mine."

"If you're counting from the start, sure. But taking out the draws, you won four out of seven of our bouts today and I'm calling that sufficient progress." Xenia grins. "Besides, I put together something special for you that's waiting back at the Lounge, and I'd hate for it to go to waste."

The blue-haired man's eyes grow wide, and he looks back towards his patron goddess. "Ah, divine Kahlia, if it pleases you, may we be pardoned from your presence? It seems we have, ah...other business to attend to. Urgent matters."

Kahlia gives her Paragon a knowing grin and nods. "By all means, Bill of the Blue Hair. I hope you enjoy your...surprise. You too, Xenia."

The pair make their exits and portal away to Worthy Dungeon, and Taina gives Kahlia a disappointed look. "Ah, we're gonna miss out on the surprise she set up? I bet it was something good."

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The Goddess of Fertility chuckles as she begins casting a scrying spell. "Taina, do you think anything happens in my favorite dungeon that I cannot witness? I don't think we'll be missing much. Although if you have other business to attend to yourself..."

"Nope! I'm staying right here..."

The two don't arrive in the dungeon together, although that may just be because for Xenia, 'returning' is more along the lines of 'waking up' than actually going somewhere. A waitress in the lounge directs Bill to a private room however, and the man doesn't hesitate to make his way over. As he hops into a portal ring his spirits soar to find himself in the dungeon's legendary VIP suite, with its massive heart-shaped bed, hot tub, and numerous other amenities. When Xenia's avatar appears next to him in all of her monochrome glory, the elation in Bill's expression is easy to see.

"Sweet, you're treating me to the VIP experience? Well...I guess it is only fair. I'm kind of a big deal, after all. Not bad as far as surprises go."

Xenia - fully clothed again, at least for the moment - rolls her eyes. "Hey, this is just me paying out on the challenge. Your surprise is gonna be here in a minute."

"Ooh? Is it - "

The reincarnator lightly shoves him on the shoulder. "Don't ruin it by guessing, just go and take a seat on the bed, will ya?"

"Got it!" The warrior quickly does as asked, while Xenia takes advantage of her physical form to step over to a corner cabinet and begin pouring herself a drink. There's a few awkward moments of silence, but just before Bill is about to speak up again the 'surprise' arrives. Specifically, in the form of a succubus and an elf.

The first arrival is red-skinned and golden-eyed like most of her kind, although her wings are hidden away at the moment. Her outfit reveals surprisingly little however, being a full-length robe that seems more interested in showing off the owner's wealth rather than her body. The green and white fabric is gilded with golden threads, and silver jewelry graces her neck, ears and horns. She arrives with a drink of her own, having apparently ordered a glass of wine in the inn.

The woman who follows shares a few similarities, although they're outdone by the contrasts. She also wears quite a few fancy accessories, but her outfit is entirely different beyond that small detail. Like Xenia she wears a short-sleeved shirt and pants, but unlike Xenia both are so tight that the others in the room can see every curve and fold of her skin. The shirt is also far more revealing than the demon's robe, with the cleavage almost meeting the shirt's midriff cutoff in the middle. Her golden blonde hair also contrasts sharply with the demon's raven locks, and her emerald eyes have a sparkle of their own.

Bill's reaction to both is the same however, as his jaw drops. It takes him so long to find his tongue as a matter of fact that the succubus does it for him. "My, my, Rosealyne. It seems as if spending a century dead has stolen our husband's ability to speak."

The elf scoffs. "Tch, that would like, so explain why he hasn't swung by in all this time! To think he's been spending all this time chasing bunny tail here, when he's got perfectly good tail waiting for him at home! Suppose I can only half blame him, though. I mean, those rabbit boys on the stage out there...hrnnf."

"Dalore! Rosealyne! What're you doin' here!? I thought you were, like, hundreds of miles from here!"

"Typically, yes." The succubus tilts her head towards Xenia, still standing in the corner of the room with a grin on her face. "Fortunately, the owner of this fine establishment saw fit to send us a message via our granddaughter, Sable, about your little visits here. The first time we heard about your little 'return from the dead' trick, we believed it was only in relation to the dungeon here being under dire threat. But apparently you've been coming here now and then to...blow off steam, is it?"

Bill gets back up to his feet, his hands in a pleading gesture. "Hey, ladies, I would've loved to meet you, stop by for a visit! But I can only visit the dungeon itself, you know? And only for limited times! Getting a letter to you'd be way too slow for a dinner date, yeah?"

Rosealyne raises an eyebrow. "And like, you didn't think to arrange one ahead of time? Cause you're just so busy? As if! Just like our Bill - never happy with what he's got, always gotta be chasing for more!"

"Hey, it's not like that! I talked to Sable myself, you know, and it sounds like you two have been mad busy. And I wanna thank you for that, too, cause it sounds like you two have been taking great care of the kids."

Dalore clears her throat before beginning an accountant's recital. "Indeed, 'the kids'. Specifically, nine still-living children, thirty-three grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren, and as of this year, two great-great-grandchildren. All of whom are kept in necessities and comforts thanks to the very hard work of one demon and, occasionally, the assistance of one elf."

The elf crosses her arms. "Tch! I do my share, you know! Someone's got to keep up with the Old Continent investments and like, you know how some of them feel about demons over there. Total prigs, you know?"

"And I can't think of anyone better suited to manage it all than you two!" Bill gives them his most charming smile, although it cracks slightly as he looks over in Xenia's direction. "You know, ah, Xen...this wasn't exactly what I had in mind when you said you had a little surprise. I mean. Not entirely sure how this ies-tay into the allenge-chay, you dig?"

Xenia's grin turns devious. "What challenge was that? Oh, you mean the one where you could barely raise a sword if someone flashed their tits at you, so I had to ply you with offers of my own body just to get you to live up to your legend? That challenge?"

Dalore gasps and raises a hand to her lips. "Bill! Have you been attempting to add a dungeon to your harem, behind our backs!?"

Rosealyne joins in. "You know we agreed on, like, no newbies joining in unless we voted on it, yeah? The haremocracy, don't forget it!"

"Ladies, no! It - it was her idea! And it's got nothing to do with the harem!" The man growls and his teeth are bared as he turns back to Xenia. "Xen - on one hand, thanks for helping to set this up, I love getting to see my girls again. But you owe me one, cause this has been one hell of a bait and switch, yeah?"

Xenia chuckles as she shakes her head. "Who said anything about a switch? Can't blame me for wanting to bust your balls a little before we do...other things to them."

Bill blinks in confusion before turning back to his still-living wives. "You mean..."

The demon steps before and runs a finger down his chest. "Don't get us wrong. We do wish we'd gotten to see you sooner. But now that you're here..."

The elf steps next to her and traces Bill's biceps with her hand. "And given that we do, like, totally owe the dungeon one for setting this up..."

The two join together for their next words. "...How about you get yourself back on that bed?"

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