(Author’s note: This chapter brings up characters that exist in a previous fic I’ve written. While not needed, context for the characters can be found in this series.
https://touchfluffytail.org/story/riches-and-spoils-that-decay-with-time/)
Previous Chapter:(https://touchfluffytail.org/story/an-arrival-of-a-rival-ch-22/)
Chapter 23
A day away from the girls, for the girls.
“Hey, so you must be Faulkner. Trisha called me ahead of time. Welcome to my shop.” After Christmas, as Trisha suggested, Faulkner drove almost an hour to Kendra’s shop in January. Faulkner was stunned at the selection of rings displayed on the glass counter. In addition to rings, Kendra had an assortment of jewelry, including bracelets, earrings, necklaces, brooches, and more.
“Yes, that’s me. This is quite an impressive shop you have here, Kendra. I can see why Trisha recommended you.” Looking over at the glass counter, Faulkner wanted to assess the quality of Kendra’s rings more closely. He doesn’t exactly have an eye for craftsmanship, but even he could tell at a glance that a lot of labor and love went into making them.
“Is that the only thing she told you?” Throwing Faulkner a knowing stare, he chuckled before staring back.
“Well, she also mentioned you were the ring bearer for her wedding ceremony. I thought you were hired help at first.”
“Heh, well, at least you’re honest. I have a general idea of what you’re looking for. But maybe you could give me a bit more to work with when making the engagement and wedding rings for your two lovers.” Faulkner raised his right eyebrow in question.
“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”
“It’s simple really. I want you to summarize what your two lovers are like. Their habits, hobbies, personalities, and likes and dislikes. It helps me visualize how to specifically carve their gemstones and the design of the rings themselves.”
“Whoa…you need to know all of that?” Upon questioning Kendra, she pulls a toy hammer from her utility belt. Jumping on top of her display, she bonks Faulkner on the forehead. “Gah! What was that for?” Rubbing his head lightly, Kendra scoffed at Faulkner before putting her toy hammer back on her belt.
“Oh, quit whining, you little baby. Besides, you should have no trouble describing your lovers to me. If you do, then you shouldn’t marry them…” Kendra gave Faulkner a judgmental stare, daring him to argue otherwise.
“Fine. I guess I’ll start with Karika then…” Suddenly, Kendra holds out her right hand, telling Faulkner to stop.
“Wait!“ Walking over to the store’s front entrance, she locks the door and flips the sign that says ‘Open’ to ‘Busy with Client.’ “Come with me for a sec…”
“Huh? Why should…”
“Shut up and follow me…” Fearing another bonk from Kendra’s toy hammer, Faulkner followed her to a room in the back. Serving as her office space, the room was relatively small, with her office desk, a computer, and miscellaneous objects in the left corner of the room. On the right was a mini fridge with a microwave above. In the middle was an adjustable swivel chair, a stool, and a small but tall round table.
“Go on. Take a seat by that stool there. I take customers here to get comfortable.” Sifting through the crap Kendra has on her desk, she pulls out a notebook and pen. The title written on the notebook read ‘Customer details.’ Opening her fridge, Kendra pulls out two cheesecakes in clear plastic containers and two bottled sweet tea.
“Here, take one of each.” Taking the cake and tea gratefully, Faulkner places them on his side of the table.
“Oh, thank you.” Kendra got on her adjustable swivel chair, raising its height until she was on the same level as Faulkner before setting her stuff down on her side. She opens the notebook and flips through several pages of past customers before reaching an empty page.
“Alright. All set. You said you wanted to start with Karika. She’s the High Orc, right? Remember, I want you to be as descriptive as possible. You can even tell me how you two fuck if you feel comfortable telling me.”
“Yeah…I don’t think I’ll go into that detail…” Faulkner opened the cheesecake container and took a bite out of it with the plastic fork provided inside. He let out a satisfied hum at the sweet taste. “Karika…she’s abrasive if I had to describe her in one word.”
“Abrasive?”
“Yes. She’s rough around the edges initially. When I first met her, Karika was as aggressive as could be. Basically, your stereotypical High Orc. She even attacked me like one when we were outside of TMRC.” Taking notes of what Faulkner was saying, Kendra was quietly munching on her cheesecake, only letting out a slight squeal in delight before she resumed writing.
“After a certain incident under a bridge…”
“You two fucked…” Stopping mid-sentence, I made a mental note to smack Trisha on the head later before continuing.
“…we started dating after that incident. Soon after, Karika’s demeanor changed somewhat. She became more clingy and showed signs of vulnerability that only Reiza and I know.”
“Like…”
“Well…Karika doesn’t like to be alone. She’s afraid of being alone for long periods of time. She won’t admit it, but she loves being around people. She cares fiercely for her friends and loves to take the role of a leader, even if she’s not good at it at times.”
“Hmm. Not unexpected. High Orcs are naturally inclined to take leadership roles. What do you guys do for fun?”
“Well, Karika’s an active gal, so she exercises daily. She’ll always find something to do to stay active for at least an hour a day, whether jogging or lifting weights. Other than that, she enjoys playing video games. She collects plushies as a hobby since being surrounded by them makes her happy. She wants to learn to cook, but Karika isn’t very good at it.”
“Alright. Any idea what Karika’s sense of fashion is like?”
“She mostly likes to wear comfortable and practical clothes for physical activities. I’ve never seen her wear heels, and getting her to wear a dress is next to impossible. The sole exception is the pink ribbon headband I gave her.”
“That’s right. I heard Trisha mention that. It’s the one part of her ensemble that never changes, correct?”
“Yeah. I bought it for her birthday when we started dating. I didn’t think she’d take to it as much as she did.” Kendra found Faulkner’s comment amusing as she chuckled at him.
“Man, no matter how often I review people, I never get tired of hearing guys underestimating a woman’s heart. Of course she’d take to it. It’s a gift from the person she loves.” Faulkner’s cheek took a deep shade of red, something Kendra simply laughed off. “Alright. Now, give me some basic character traits to work with. Like, is she a tsundere? Is she afraid to show affection publicly, or does she throw decency out the window?”
“Well, she is a tsundere in a way. But she’s not afraid to publicly show her love for me, especially if she notices others eyeing me. As I mentioned, Karika likes to take on leadership roles, so she’s overprotective of people she considers friends and family. Other than that, she can get meek when feeling amorous if I seize the moment. What else…” Kendra quietly takes notes while Faulkner crosses his arms, wondering if there is anything else to note about Karika’s personality.
“Um… can’t think of anything else…”
“Okay…what about Karika’s relationship with Reiza? Karika’s sharing you with Reiza, right? You say Karika’s clingy and overtly protective of you, yet she’s willing to share her lover with another person. What’s their dynamic like?”
“Oh…well. Of all the people Karika’s protective of, I’d say Reiza is at the top of her priority list?”
“Even above you?”
“Yes. Mostly because Karika knows I can take care of myself. That’s not to say Reiza can’t, but after a certain incident, Karika can’t help but worry about Reiza. They always butt heads both figuratively and literally whenever they have an argument, but I know deep down they care for one another. Karika considers Reiza like her younger sister. And Reiza doesn’t seem to mind it, even though she often jokes she’s the older of the two.” Kendra finished her cheesecake and chucked the plastic container into a trash can.
“Huh. Karika’s overprotective of you, but willing to share you with Reiza. The two must be hella close.” With a slight blush on Faulkner’s face, Kendra saw there was more to their relationship than just sharing Faulkner between them. “Oh…ohohoho…that’s even better! I’m glad I asked you about that. That’ll be a VERY important detail when making their ring.” A glint of mischief in Kendra’s eyes made Faulkner worry, but he shook those thoughts aside. “One more thing. What kind of gemstone do you want for Karika’s ring?”
“Ah, that’s right. I never even told you. I was thinking of a pearl as a gemstone. But not just any pearl. I want one that has a natural pink color to it.” Kendra raised her right brow, taken by surprise at Faulkner’s choice.
“A pink pearl. I take it you’re looking for gemstones native to Faelinth, not Earth.”
“Yeah. Otherwise, I would’ve gone to a regular ring shop and gotten a synthetically colored pink pear.”
“Alright. I get’cha. If that’s the case, you’re probably looking for a merrow’s pearl.” Faulkner’s eyes narrowed before crossing his arms.
“Merrow’s pearl? Are you talking about the pink-haired mermaid subspecies of the same name? They’re mermaids, aren’t they?”
“Yes, they’re mermaids. But they can imbue objects of interest with their magical power. For example, their hats can be imbued with the power to let their lovers breathe water, right? They can do the same for other objects.”
“Hold on. I thought it was Poseidon and the Sea bishops who serve her who give those hats to newborn Merrows?”
“Ah, you’ve done your research. I guess it makes sense, given your profession. In a way, you’re right. But the source of the magical power used to keep the hat’s effects working comes from the mother, in other words, the Merrow.”
“Ohhh…” Faulkner didn’t know that detail about Merrows. He made a mental note of it before Kendra continued.
“Merrows who bless objects typically take on a pink or reddish sheen depending on the intensity and volume of magic they use. Objects they bless with magic sell well since pink and red are often associated with love.”
“I take it they’re not cheap?”
“It depends on the color. A light pink color isn’t much compared to light red. Aside from color, items blessed by Merrows can grant their wearers some of their abilities. And that depends on both the color and the merrow that blesses it. For example, a light pink pearl can allow its wearer to breathe underwater, just like their hats. Ones that are light red can do that and grant someone the ability to use water element magic.”
“Interesting. As practical as some of those abilities are, I’m looking more for color than effect. A light pink pearl’s what I’m after.”
“You’re in luck then. I happen to have those types of pearls on hand. I got them from Miss Reiss, who got them from a friend of her daughter’s friend.”
“Ah…uh…” Faulkner tried to make sense of what Kendra had just told him. She smiled, seeing the confusion on his face, before waving her tiny hands in front of him.
“You can think about that later. I think I have everything I need to know about Karika. Now, it’s Reiza’s turn. She’s a Pyrow, right?”
“Yeah. Reiza’s a bit of a brat. That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think about her. When I first met her, she attended TMRC during the Fall semester. She acted just like I expected her for her race.”
“Heh, racist.” Kendra joked before flipping to a new page to write details about Reiza.
“A-anyway. Reiza made quite the entrance when she first arrived. Practically antagonizing everyone around her. The girls weren’t too privy to her. And she quickly found out her flirtatious methods wouldn’t work on me. She caused trouble on her first day of school by antagonizing Karika…” Faulkner sighed, remembering the incident as if it had happened yesterday.
“You sound annoyed, but you can’t hide that dumb smirk on your face. From the looks of it, I’d guess that’s more of a pleasant memory…”
“Heh. Maybe. Anyway. Reiza was determined to get a rise out of Karika. So their rivalry started from there. Reiza’s attempts mostly ended in failure. It wasn’t until she caught Karika off-guard that she got the upper hand…” Faulkner was waiting for Kendra to interrupt him again, thinking Trisha had told Kendra more about Reiza and Karika to her.
“Okay…what did she do?” However, Kendra was oblivious and stared at Faulkner with anticipation.
“Oh…uh…well…” The faint red blush on Faulkner’s cheeks only stoked Kendra’s curiosity more as she leaned closer. “Long story short, I called Reiza to stay after her second day of class to let her know she’d be following the same curriculum as the other girls. When I finished telling her what she needed to know, Reiza brazenly opened her top, flashing me with her chest.” Writing it down without a second thought, Kendra tried to look stoic, but her facade quickly broke as she chuckled soon after.
“W-well. You really do have a penchant for getting girls to jump your bones before committing to a relationship, don’t you?”
“Shut up! I’m not done yet! Anyway…it wasn’t my first rodeo being flashed, as some girls in my class had already tried that tactic. But of course, Karika had GREAT timing and came when Reiza had her chest out. Before I could explain everything, Reiza pulled my face to her chest. I pushed Reiza off me shortly after. But to prove a point, Karika opened her shirt and pulled my face to her chest next. I grabbed Karika’s tail to get her to let go after that, and after Reiza made fun of Karika for yelping when I grabbed her tail, the two butt heads for the first time.”
“Oh yeah…I remember Karika and Reiza doing that shit during Trisha’s wedding at some point. I think it was when Trisha threw her bouquet. That was a sight…” Remembering the event clearly in his head, Faulkner chuckled sarcastically as he was the one who got them to stop.
“Uh-huh. I smacked both of them in the head for that. I punished Karika and Reiza by having them stay after class to help clean the cafeteria courtyard and dishes in TMRC. But not before the rest of the class was there to see Karika and Reiza with their tits out. And because I handed my shirt to Karika after she broke hers, everyone saw me with only my undershirt and assumed I was…”
“Jumping their bones, got it.” Repeating herself, Kendra couldn’t help but smile as she wrote the details of Faulkner’s story down in her notebook. Faulkner simply sighed in resignation before continuing.
“Ugh…their sisterly bond apparently started from there. They were privy to the details. But suffice it to say, Karika and Reiza had a bonding moment that day. And soon, Karika got comfortable with sharing me with Reiza.”
“Huh. That’s sweet. Alright. What does Reiza do for fun?”
“Hmm. Well, Reiza also likes to play video games. And she’s actually good at it. She also collects various hoodies, is fashion savvy, and favors bold, bright colors instead of dull ones. Reiza’s also picked up cooking as a hobby.”
“Interesting. I can’t say I expected cooking to be Reiza’s hobby. Also, regarding Reiza’s taste in fashion, I noticed the black ribbon hair tie she wore during the wedding. I take it that’s something you gave Reiza?”
“Yeah. It was my Christmas gift to her. Or, it was meant to be. I prematurely gave it to her when we shopped at Magicia Mall. Like Karika, Reiza always wears it no matter what clothes she has on.”
“Aww…that’s so cute! Man, you’re such a stud! Are you sure you’re only planning on marrying those two? What about the other girls in your class?”
“What?! The ones I’m teaching now, or the ones that graduated?”
“Both…” Kendra had a lot of fun poking at Faulkner. This is one of her few interviews where she threw her usual professional attitude out the window.
“No! God, no. Karika and Reiza are already a handful to deal with. I can’t imagine having any more lovers in my life. It’d make things complicated.”
“True. Jealousy can stem from spending too much time with one lover, which can lead to disaster in a relationship with more than one person. Thankfully, Karika’s a High Orc. Their way of thinking works well with someone who wants a harem. Right. Now, what about character traits? From what I gather, she’s a tsundere like Karika, but in a different way.”
“Kind of. Reiza has no problem showing affection in public, but she sometimes tries to act tough or indifferent when shown affection. That’s especially the case when it comes to receiving affection from Karika. Reiza’s not used to receiving affection since she gets all flustered. It stems from her not having emotional connections with others before meeting Karika and me.” Having watched Meredith’s trial on TV, Kendra had some context behind Reiza’s behavior. With a solemn sigh, Kendra wrote down those details before continuing.
“I only know what I saw from the trial that got aired on TV. You don’t have to give me more details if you don’t want to.”
“It’s alright. I’m sure the story covered why Meredith did what she did to Reiza, but they didn’t cover their relationship beforehand. Reiza moved to Earth when she was thirteen. She only had Meredith to look up to, so naturally, she had the same mindset and mentality Meredith had for a long time.”
“Ah, so she’s been here for a long time, huh? When did she enroll in TMRC?”
“When she was 19. As far as I know, Reiza started fooling around when she was sixteen. It’s not unheard of for high school kids to do stuff like that, after all. Through her admission, she had fun at first, but after a while, she unconsciously sought out an emotional connection, something she didn’t get until she was with Karika and me.”
“I see. I’m glad she’s with you two. Who knows what could’ve happened if Reiza hadn’t met you two?” Paired with a genuine smile, Kendra wrote the last of what she needed to know about Reiza before moving on. “Okay. Now, as for the gem piece. I heard you wanted an Amber gem for her wedding ring, right?”
“Yeah. I’ve looked into Amber rings and saw they’re not the best material to make a ring. But I heard that the ones in Faelinth can be forged in a way that makes them as valuable as typical gemstones.” Kendra scoffs at Faulkner. Not because he was wrong, but because he had undermined its value.
“Not just as valuable. More. The Amber you’re referring to comes from Elder Dryad trees. The sap they produce polymerizes over time and hardens. The difference here is that the purity, glow, hardness, and magical properties these sap carry with them as they transform into Amber depend entirely on the Dryad. And because of that, I’m sorry to say that I don’t have those particular Amber gemstones in my shop.” Faulkner wasn’t too surprised to hear that, but he scowled slightly nonetheless.
“If you bring me some Amber, no matter what kind, I can use alchemic magic to make it as resilient as any other gemstone. It won’t have that unnatural luster and sheen as Amber made from Dryads.” Kendra could see the dissatisfaction on Faulkner’s face. He shook his head before crossing his arms in thought.
“No. Reiza’s worth more to me than some cheap sap that comes from Earth. No matter how shiny and beautiful you make it, its underlying imperfections will bother me. Do you know someone who could possibly have Elder Dryad Amber?” It was Kendra’s turn to put her arms on her small, barely registerable chest as she hummed in thought.
“Hmm…there might be one person I know.”
“Who, Miss Reiss?” Of all the people Faulkner knows, Miss Reiss is the only one he could think of who has access to something as rare as an Elder Dryad Amber.
“Good guess, but no. I doubt Miss Reiss has those in her stock.”
“Why not? With Miss Reiss being a Gyoubu Danuki, I figured she’d have just about everything.”
“You’re forgetting one crucial detail, Faulkner. Yes, Miss Reiss is a Gyoubu Danuki who specializes in commerce. They won’t keep things in stock that aren’t lucrative. Elder Dryad Amber isn’t exactly in high demand. So, I doubt she’d have it. And if she does, a sample weighing fifty carats can cost more than most of my jewelry stock. I doubt you have THAT much cash on you.” Faulkner’s face paled when Kendra mentioned how much the Ancient Dryad Amber would cost.
“Anyway, the person I was referring to is Cassy.” Tilting his head, Faulkner felt like he’d heard that name before.
“Who?”
“Ah, right. Her full name is Welhemia Cassangranda Von Vilhiem. She’s a Wight of royal descent.” Faulkner’s eyes widened as he remembered her name being mentioned before.
“Oh. That woman. She owns a massive mansion in a park, right?”
“I wouldn’t call that a park. It used to be a cemetery. The tombstones are still there, but Cassy turned the whole place into her front and back yard with her massive wealth. Considering how long she’s lived and her royal blood, she probably has access to rare gems and such that even Reiss wouldn’t have. Here…” Ripping a piece of paper from her notebook, Kendra wrote the address to Cassy’s mansion before handing it to Faulkner.
“What’s this? Welhemia’s address?”
“Yup. She’ll likely have what you’re looking for. So go to her. I’ll call her on your way there and explain the situation to her.”
“Hold on. I’ve heard Welhemia’s a generous woman, but I doubt she’d give something as valuable as an Elder Dryad Amber.” Kendra wasn’t surprised at all by Faulkner’s reaction. Rather, she expected it and gave him a sly smile.
“Heh. You’d be surprised. Welhemia’s incredibly generous. Heck, some of the rings I have in this shop came from her. She gave them to me for free. Something about a dead woman having no need for worldly possessions or something like that? Make sure you show up at her mansion, Faulkner. Cuz I’m calling her as soon as you leave.” Given little choice, he sighed deeply before shaking his head.
“Ugh…fine.”
“Good. I think I know enough about Karika and Reiza now. I should be able to make ring designs based on how you described them.”
“Great, then we’re done with this part, right?” Faulkner was about to get up, but Kendra leaned forward on the table, thrusting her right palm in front of him to get him to stop.
“Nuh-uh! Sit back down, Faulkner. We’re not done yet?” Though Faulkner raised his right brow in confusion, he sat back down.
“What? I told you everything about Karika and Reiza, didn’t I?”
“Dumbass, I still need to know about the person getting them the rings too! Ergo, you.”
“Me?! Why?!” Raising her brow, Kendra threw her hands up and shook her head.
“Uh, because you’re getting rings too, stupid. Or at least I know Karika and Reiza will get you one.” Faulkner was about to interject, but Kendra did raise a valid point. He was so focused on getting Karika and Reiza the perfect rings that he forgot about his. “It’s traditional for the wives to get their husbands a ring from the same place he got theirs, you know?”
“Why do I feel that’s more of a sales pitch?” Kendra flashed Faulkner a smug grin before flipping a page in her notebook. “So…how much do you want to know?”
“As much as you’re willing to disclose.” Taking a long, deep breath, Faulkner closed his eyes.
“There isn’t much to talk about. I was born in a conservative family. My father, in particular, is the type who hates foreigners of any kind. Racist as he was, you could imagine what he was like when Monsters came. He got fired after harassing a Cyclops who was given his position and had better work credentials than he did.”
“Heh. I’m not unfamiliar with racism. Trust me. What about your mom?”
“My mother’s vendetta with Monsters has to do with her first love. He dumped her over a monster girl, and she got kicked out of the apartment they were living in after only a month they had been living together. My father met my mother soon after getting fired from his job. He worked as a garbage truck driver and found my mom sitting on a couch next to the trash bin with the rest of her stuff.”
“Oof. It always sucks to get dumped for someone else…” Kendra’s voice was laced with sympathy.
“Their mutual hatred for Monster led them to each other. Though I’m fairly certain they love each other regardless. Anyway, I was born about a year after they got together. When I was three, they instilled their beliefs in me, so I grew to hate and fear monsters for the majority of my youth.”
“Well, you’ve obviously changed, given you’re not only talking to a monster girl now but also planning on proposing to two of them.” Faulkner chuckled as he reminisced about how he had acted before high school.
“My view on Monsters changed in my senior year of high school when we had to pick a country in Faelinth to study its culture. I picked Zipangu. Through my research, I saw that Monsters weren’t the evil, despicable things my parents described them to be. I confronted my parents about it, and to say the least, we got into a heated argument that led me to leave the nest.”
“Interesting…” Kendra took notes on what Faulkner had disclosed so far, showing genuine interest in his story. “I take it you were by yourself for a few years after, right?”
“Yeah. I found a studio apartment I could afford and spent a few years working in fast food service to build up funds for college, where I took a four-year bachelor’s degree course to become an English teacher. Initially, I wanted to enroll as a standard English and Reading teacher for high school kids. But, no matter where I tried to apply, the schools were either not hiring or I wasn’t ‘experienced’ enough.”
“Oof, so you were rejected by all the places you’ve applied to, huh?”
“Yeah. I used to live further up here in Cali. I moved to the southern area after hearing about an opening for an English teaching position. But that was taken, too. And for two years, I gave up on looking. Still, it would be a massive waste if I stopped looking. So, when I heard about a job placement site, I thought it could refer me to several schools where I could teach. That’s where I met Trisha.” Kendra raised her brow, not realizing Trisha worked as a job placement employee.
“Huh? I thought Trisha worked at TMRC the whole time?”
“No. Trisha only got her position there after Lady Tama gave her the position when she had to return to Zipangu. Anyway, I got my job at TMRC, thanks to Trisha. And the rest is history…” Writing the last of his story, Kendra peeked at Faulkner in her notebook.
“Alright. What do you do for fun?”
“Uh…I don’t have any particular hobbies. I play video games and work out like most guys. I guess cooking counts since I’m good at it. And maybe reading a good book?”
“Booooring…” Kendra joked as she scoffed at Faulkner’s hobbies. “How’d you describe yourself personality-wise? I’m thinking you’re more like an Oreo cookie…”
“Huh?! Oreo cookie?” Faulkner cocked his head, trying to make heads and tails at what Kendra meant by that.
“You know, you have a crunchy exterior that’s rough like black. But inside, you’re sweet and pure like white.” Reading Faulkner surprisingly well, his cheeks turned red at how easily Kendra surmised his personality, even if she had a strange metaphor for it.
“That’s one way of putting it…” As Kendra chuckled to herself, she let out a satisfied hum before closing her notebook.
“Alright! I think I got everything I needed to know. Now, onto the gem crafting process.”
“Okay, is that really all of it?” Staring at Kendra, she rolled her eyes and smiled at him.
“Yes, that’s all the questions I have for you.” With a sigh of relief, Faulkner looked at the time on his wristwatch. He had spent nearly two hours with Kendra when he thought his visit would only last an hour at most.
“Good. I have questions about the ring designs. I have some ideas in mind already-” Interrupting Faulkner, Kendra held her right hand up again.
“Sorry! I have no interest in hearing your ideas.”
“…what do you mean?”
“Faulkner, who’s the ring smith here?”
“Uh…you, of course.” Kendra crossed her arms before nodding repeatedly.
“That’s right. I don’t need to listen to an opinion of someone who doesn’t know jack shit about ring smithing.”
“Ah…okay. Can you at least tell me what you have in mind regarding how you will forge the rings?” Thrusting her right hand forward, Kendra shook her head this time.
“Nope! Can’t do that either.” Denying Faulkner’s questions twice, his right eye twitched in irritation.
“Wh-why are you refusing that too?”
“Because a smith never lets their clients see their unfinished work. I have my pride to consider here.”
“Your pride?! I’m the one who’s going to pay you for the rings, remember? What does your pride have anything to do with this?” Slamming her tiny hands on the table, Kendra leaned forward and scowled at Faulkner.
“Excuse you, Faulkner! It has everything to do with it! Oh, and two things. One, you haven’t paid me yet. And two, I don’t have the Elder Dryad Amber yet! So I can’t even plan out a design without seeing the centerpiece of the rings first!” Backing away, Kendra made two excellent points before taking a deep breath to relax. “And speaking of the Elder Dryad Amber, I gave you Cassy’s address. Go there and ask for the Elder Dryad Amber. I’ll call her shortly so she knows to expect you. After that, I’ll start picking the perfect pearl for Karika’s ring.”
“Ugh…alright…” Kendra hopped off her chair and led Faulkner back to the store’s register counter. “So…do I come back here once I have the Elder Dryad Amber?”
“Yup, I’ll see you in about two or three hours, depending on how busy Cassy is. Now off with you.” Kendra unlocks the front entrance of her store before flipping the sign back to ‘Open,’ getting out of Faulkner’s way soon after.
“Right…” Faulkner was doubtful he’d get such a rare and expensive item like the Elder Dryad Amber that easily. Still, he trusted Kendra before leaving the store and getting in his car. When she saw him leave, Kendra pulled out her phone and dialed Cassy’s number. After the phone rang a few times, Cassy answered Kendra’s call.
“Hello? Huh? Yup. It’s me. Kendra. What? Oh, you figured out how to use a touch phone, huh? Congrats. Eh? Of course your ethereal hands won’t work on the screen! Touchscreens use capacitive tech that only works when it touches your skin. It’s either that or styluses made for them. You know, now that I think about it. How can your smartphone recognize your fingers? You’re undead. Never mind. Look, I referred someone to you. No, not like that. You see…”
____________________
“Well…here I am. Still…this place is huge…” Following his smartphone’s directions after entering Welhemia’s address, Faulkner had already seen the building several blocks away before he arrived at his destination. Even next to the giant sequoias, the mansion’s pointed roofs pierced above them. The mansion took up at least twenty-five thousand square feet of space in the large cemetery/park.
“I guess I just…walk in…” Driving to the parking lot provided by the park, Faulkner walked through the gated entrance before walking to the straight path to the mansion. Walking past several monster girls, the vibe Faulkner felt as he looked around the cemetery’s clean, lush greenery reminded him of Corelia Park.
“For a cemetery, this place has a lively feel to it.” Faulkner would occasionally spot people visiting and praying at different gravestones, paying respect to their lost loved ones. Right in the middle of the cemetery sat a large stone bridge. Below the bridge was a thirty-foot drop to a wash below. He walked for a few more minutes before passing another, smaller bridge over a canal, before the mansion’s front yard was visible.
“A-amazing…” Standing out from any mansion Faulkner had seen, this one was made of square stone. It looked more like a medieval castle than a mansion. The right and left side of the front yard was riddled with neatly trimmed hedges and flowers that seemed to form a maze. At the center stood a marble fountain with an angel pouring water out of a vase as its centerpiece. While the angel’s smile seemed more sinister than gracious, the meticulous craftsmanship put into the marble angel was hard to ignore.
“Hmm?” Looking past the fountain, he saw someone waving at him, standing at the large double-door entrance of the mansion. He couldn’t tell who it was, apart from her being purple.
“Hello! You’re Faulkner, right?!” Beckoning him closer, Faulkner approached the front of the mansion before he got a closer look at the person who called to him.
“Oh…you’re a Shoggoth. I don’t see abyssal-type monsters too often.” Technically part of the slime family, Shoggoths are amorphous beings that take the shape of maids. Her upper body was mostly solid as she molded her body into the shape of a maid’s attire. A horizontal line of bright, glowing yellow ‘eyes’ lined her neck down to her stomach. The lower skirt of her body was a wriggling mass of slime with yellow pupils, several mouths, and tentacles.
“Eh? So, I’m you’re first? The name’s Xera. And I’m one of the humble maids of our princess, er…I mean our queen Cassy’s mansion. We’ve been expecting you. I’ll lead you-” Stopping mid-sentence, Xera turned her attention to the sounds of someone screaming her name in the mansion.
“XERA!!! Dammit, woman!”
“Oh great…bird brain’s here…” Putting her hands on her hips, Xera let out a loud, exaggerated sigh before another maid came rushing inside the mansion. Unlike Xera, this maid was more human in appearance. While her maid outfit was simpler in design, the blue ribbon brooch above her chest was adorned with a green gem housed in a gold casing. Her light brown hair ran down to her chin with tufts of feathers poking out from her side burns next to her fluffy ears. A blue feather was pinned on the left side of her bonnet. Then, there were the feathers that lined her wrist and tail. A tall tale sign she’s a Kikimora.
“Aahh…ahh…” Taking a few seconds to catch her breath, the Kikimora stared daggers at Xera. “What the hell are you doing? I’m the one who’s supposed to greet Faulkner, not you.”
“Oh, Joanne. It’d be rude to keep our guest waiting, right? I thought I’d be the better maid and greet him first since you took your sweet time getting all gussied up.” As Faulkner watched the scene unfold before him, there was something eerily familiar about this situation.
“You’re right. I should’ve been more prepared sooner. But you know, first impressions count just as much. I take the effort to look this good because if I saw a gellatonious blob like you pretending to be a maid, I’d be scared shitless. At least I don’t have to lie about my true appearance.” Striking a nerve on both sides, Xera and Joanne butt heads as they start to push back at one another.
“Man, you sure do suck at insults, bird brain! I guess that’s why you can’t remember any of your tasks after taking three steps!” Xera pushed Joanne down for a moment before Joanne pushed right back.
“Speak for yourself, your eldritch sludge! At least I don’t leave a disgusting slime trail wherever I go! Cleanup takes twice as long when you’re involved!” Reminded of two certain individuals in his life, Faulkner couldn’t help but chuckle, watching Joanne and Xera argue. When they heard him, they both turned to glare at him.
“Aahh…sorry. I didn’t mean to chuckle like that. It’s just that you two remind me of my lovers with how you two argue…” Staring at one another, Xera and Joanne composed themselves before bowing and speaking in unison.
“Our Queen expects you. Please, this way.” With Xera on his left and Joanne on his right, they open their arms, gesturing for Faulkner to follow them inside the mansion. Joanne and Xera walked ahead of Faulkner to lead him to the waiting room.
“Seeing it from the outside, I knew this place was big. But still…” Large Greek columns support the inside of the mansion. With five floors in total, a massive staircase led to the first floor, with two sets of stairs connecting each other on the upper floors. Each floor had several pillars with decorative ornaments ranging from priceless vases to pieces of art that made each floor feel unique and distinct.
Looking back at Faulkner, Xera and Joanne smiled together. They never tire of seeing guests slack-jawed whenever they visit Welhemia’s mansion for the first time. And though the mansion looked incredibly lavish with the occasional maid walking about to keep the place clean, there were also plenty of people Faulkner never would’ve expected to see there.
“I’ve heard Lady Welhemia takes in anyone with open arms in her mansion. But I didn’t think there’d be this many…” Aside from the maids, people and monsters were walking about. Most were dressed casually, often clashing with the mansion’s aesthetic.
“Indeed. Our queen is quite the fanciful woman. To her, it doesn’t matter what brought you here. She welcomes anyone into her mansion.” Joanne explained as she looked back at Faulkner. Most of the people and monsters living in Welhemia’s mansion were jobless. “While not required to stay in Welhemia’s mansion, most residents work voluntarily through chores like kitchen and janitorial duties.”
“That’s amazing. Also, Welhemia, does she let anyone in?” Faulkner raised his right brow as he followed Xera and Joanne to the second floor. Joanne was about to answer Faulkner when Xera suddenly interjected before she could.
“Anyone…” Xera replied, emphasizing by increasing the tone of her voice. “Cassy will even take former criminals to help them rehabilitate.”
“That’s very generous of her, but wouldn’t bringing former criminals be a risk to innocent people here?” Just as Faulkner doubts the safety of bringing former criminals into Welhemia’s mansion, he and the maids pass by a Red Oni. With twice the muscle as Trisha, she lugged a large club around while wearing a security guard’s uniform.
“Oh? What’s up, Xera, Joanne? Who’s this?”
“Hello, Akiko. He’s an honored guest with an appointment with Queen Welhemia.” Joanne presented Faulkner to Akiko with an open palm.
“Oh! Alright…” Passing by them, Akiko waved goodbye to Xera and Joanne before continuing her patrol.
“As you can see. Safety isn’t an issue.” Xera said, chiming in before they reached their destination. “Alright. We’re here.” Presented with a large double door, Xera went to the right side of the door while Joanne went to the left before opening the door for Faulkner.
“This is the guest room. We’ll have you wait here until our Queen’s ready to see you.” Unsurprisingly, the guest room was just as lavish as the decor in the main hall would suggest. A large panoramic window gave a beautiful view of the front yard. Thick, red, velvety window curtains provided privacy, accenting the black and red carpet flooring. In the middle of the room sat two sets of sofas and two couches, surrounding a small round table with a vase filled with various flowers. Above the table was a large crystal chandelier with mana crystals for natural, electricity-free lighting. Aside from some framed scenery paintings lining the walls, the room was empty.
“Even the guest room’s quite lavish, isn’t it?”
“That’s nothing. You should see Lady Welhemia’s bedroom. All style and substance.” Xera bragged about Welhemia’s room like it was hers, making Joanne groan in annoyance.
“While you wait, would you like anything, Faulkner? Some tea and snacks?” Joanne offered some refreshments, but Faulkner shook his head.
“N-no. I can’t possibly impose. I’m already asking Lady Welhemia such an unreasonable request as is.”
“Nonsense. I’ll bring you some right now.” Joanne casually brushed off Faulkner’s refusal before turning to Xera. “Come along now, you goopy freak. The less Faulkner has to see of you, the better his appetite will be.” Gritting her teeth, the mouths on the bottom of Xera’s skirt frowned as her eyes glowed in irritation.
“Please. At least I’m easy to talk to. Someone with your vile, two-tone personality is arguably uglier. Oh, forgive me. You’re a birdbrain. I forgot I should be using baby words so you can understand me…” Xera lashes back with an insult of her own. Her smug grin made Joanne clench her fist before she butt heads with Xera.
“Edlritch glob!” Joanne yelled as she pushed back against Xera.
“Feathery bitch!” Xera retorted as the two pushed each other repeatedly, hurling insults at one another, leaving Faulkner stumped on what to do next. Then, as if sensing Xera and Joanne’s spat, a third maid appeared between the two.
“Ahem!” Recognizing her voice, Xera and Joanne froze instantaneously before slowly turning their heads to the maid between them. As far as Faulkner could tell, this maid was human with black, graying hair. She wore a Victorian-style maid outfit with a bonnet on her head.
“Uh-oh…” As their voices synched, the third maid raised her hands, balled them into fists, and brought them down on Xera and Joanne’s heads, hitting them square on their heads. “OW!” They both held their heads in pain before the third maid put her hands on her hips.
“Ya’ll are loud as heck! Seriously! How long are you two idiots going to keep this stupid grudge with one another, huh?!” Faulkner’s eyes widened when he heard her speak. He certainly didn’t expect her to yell like that from a woman of her looks. She noticed Faulkner staring awestruck at her before she turned her attention to him.
“You’re our honored guest, Faulkner, right?”
“Y-yes…”
“I’m sorry if you had to deal with these two’s idiocy. Xera and Joanne are excellent maids on their own. But they’re like oil and water when they’re near each other. The name’s Dahlia. I’ll be the one to bring your refreshments.” With a quick bow, Dahlia turned her attention back to Xera and Joanne.
“Now then, Xera, Joanne. You’re both dismissed here. I’m dragging you both back to your stations!” Flashing Faulkner one last smile, Dahlia grabbed Xera and Joanne by the collar of their uniforms and dragged them out of the guest room before closing the doors behind her.
“Ah…o-okay…” Given little time to process what had happened, he turned his attention to the gorgeous front yard view through the panoramic window.
“Xera and Joanne, huh? Those two remind me of Karika and Reiza so much that, quite frankly, I almost wanted to yell at them for arguing…” Faulkner chuckled to himself before taking in the decorations in the guest room. He first noticed the paintings on the walls. Depicting locations in Faelinth, one of the paintings was of a castle looming over a vast field of greenery. Its walls are at least fifty meters tall. And the castle towers loomed over those walls by several meters.
Before he could look around some more, Faulkner heard the doors open. Walking into the guest room was a woman with pale skin and white hair, with the tips darkening into a light brown. Peering at him with her dull red eyes, she came wearing a casual yellow puffed shirt and blue jeans.
Based on her physical traits, Faulkner stood up and bowed to her.
“Th-that was fast. Hello, Queen Welhemia…” The woman who entered the guest room with him shook her head.
“Eh?! Ah. No, I’m not Welhemia…”
“You’re not? You’re a Wight, aren’t you?” Faulkner raised his head before she closed the doors behind her.
“I am. But I’m not Welhemia. Let me introduce myself.” Walking over to sit on the couch across from the one Faulkner sat on, she bowed to him before smiling. “My name’s Valery Vilhiem. I’m Cassy’s wife.” Faulkner’s eyes widened in surprise. He knew Welhemia was a married woman. But he didn’t think she was married to another woman.
“Wife? I can’t say I expected that…” Valery took Faulkner’s shock well, finding it amusing rather than getting offended.
“I can’t say I blame you. I’m still human, technically. The best way to describe it is I’m like a female version of an incubus.” Faulkner raised his right brow.
“What?! How’s that possible?! I thought human females turn into monsters when exposed to too much demonic energy?”
“That is the case, usually. However, I’ve recently undergone a hybrid procedure between scientific and magical surgery of sorts. It’s hard to explain, but the gist is that I’ve gone through a biological change that lets me become a ‘human’ in spirit, but a monster physically.” Faulkner was shocked that such treatment even existed. He really couldn’t grasp what Valery meant when she said she was a man’s spiritually.’
“H-how long has this technique been developed?!”
“Pretty recently. It’s still in the experimental phase. There’s no telling what’ll happen in the long run. The good news is that if something ‘wrong’ happens, the worst is that I’d simply turn into a monster. Cassy and I already have a solution for what to do if that happens. But for now, I’m essentially a woman who can generate spiritual energy and who’s immune to monsterization. Better yet, my body’s changed in a way that’ll help me keep up with Cassy’s…sex drive…” With a light pink blush, Valery scratched her right cheek with her right hand. Faulkner’s eyes widened upon noticing the ring on Valery’s ring finger.
“I see. Hey Valery. By the way, Valery. Your engagement ring’s a pearl?”
“Oh, this? Hehe. Yeah. Cassy gave it to me on our wedding day. She got it from a friend who lives in the Ryugujo kingdom in Faelinth. Why’d you ask?”
“Well, I’m also getting engagement rings for the two loves of my life. I’ve asked Kendra, a local ring smith, to use a pink pearl as the gemstone for one of the rings.”
“Ah, you’re talking about Kendra. I commissioned her to make Cassy’s engagement ring. I can vouch for her work.”
“That so? Did Kendra let you design the ring?” Shaking her head, Valery chuckled in empathy.
“Nope. I didn’t see the ring until she had finished it. She’s very particular about it. Still, I was amazed by how it turned out, so I have no complaints.”
“Oh, good. I thought I was the only person Kendra did that to.”
“Yeah. Kendra does that with all her customers.” Hearing the double doors open, Valery and Faulkner turned their attention to it as Dahlia returned with tea and snacks.
“Sorry if that took a bit, Faulkner. I had to scold Xera and Joanne for their behavior earlier…” Upon seeing Valery, Dahlia’s eyes widened in shock. She nearly dropped the serving tray carrying the tea and snacks before managing to straighten herself. “V-Valery! You’re alone…with…are you alright?” Faulkner tilted his head, confused at Dahlia’s reaction. Valery dismissed her with a casual wave.
“Don’t sweat it, Dahlia. I’m fine, really.”
“Eh…is there something wrong with Valery being here?” Understandably confused, Valery chuckled before beckoning Dahlia to bring the tea and snacks to the round table.
“It’s not a big deal. But for a while, I suffered from androphobia. In other words, I had a fear of men.” Valery expected Faulkner to be more surprised than he was. But he stayed calm and nodded instead.
“I see. I take it you’ve since overcome your fear, seeing as how you conversed with me for this long.”
“Kind of…” Setting down the tea kettle and two accompanying cups, Dahlia poured tea into each cup before moving them to Faulkner and Valery’s side. “My phobia of men kicks in if I’m with a group of men I don’t know. And while I can interact with one or two guys I don’t know well enough, I always keep my guard up around them. But if there’s anyone I trust nearby, like a friend, then I’m fine. Even in a large crowd of men.”
“Oh, that’s good. So, since it’s just me, you’re fine. Doubly so now that Dahlia’s here.” With a smile, Valery shook her head.
“No. I trusted you from the start, Faulkner. Anyone Kendra vouches for is fine in my book.” Hearing her trust in him, Faulkner smiled at Valery before nodding to Dahlia.
“Thank you, Dahlia.” Hearing the double doors open again, everyone turned to them. Coming in wearing a casual white t-shirt and jeans, the pale-skinned woman with long, gorgeous blonde hair and red eyes exuded regality unlike anything Faulkner had ever felt.
“Ah!” Having gained the ability to sense demonic energy more keenly, Faulkner could tell this woman was in a different class than Valery. It wasn’t imposing or anything like that. But it flooded the spacious guest room in no time. Not only that, but something about her presence felt familiar. Faulkner felt something similar with Tama Mitsuyuki. Perhaps their shared regality is the cause of this familiar sensation.
“Hey, there you are, Cassy. What kept you?” Valery casually called out to her lover, Welhemia. Dahlia seemed relatively calm as she simply bowed to Cassy.
“Sorry about that. I got held up finishing some last-minute paperwork. I see you’re here to greet Faulkner.” Besides her casual clothes, Welhemia’s tone and mannerisms were much more casual than Faulkner expected.
“Ah…yes. My name’s Faulkner Myers. It’s an honor to meet you.” Standing up, Faulkner was about to kneel before Welhemia stretched and waved her hands.
“Whoa there! There’s no need for that, Faulkner. Please.” Like Tama, Welhemia wasn’t one for formality and preferred casual greetings over lavish ones.
“Oh…I see…” Standing up, Welhemia smiled warmly at Faulkner before introducing herself.
“My name’s Welhemia Cassagranda Von Vilhiem. Please just call me Cassy.”
“Ugh…another one. Sheesh…I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that…” Faulkner whispered under his breath before smiling back at Cassy. “Nice to meet you, Cassy. I take it. Do you know why I’m here?”
“Yup. Have a seat, Faulkner.” Faulkner sat back on the couch while Cassy sat beside Valery before Dahlia approached her.
“My apologies, Cassy. I only brought two teacups intended for you and Faulkner. I didn’t realize Valery would be here too.”
“Oh, so am I a nuisance now, Dahlia?” Valery put her hands on her hips and puffed her cheeks jokingly before smiling.
“Of course not. I just didn’t expect you to be here.”
“Well, I wanted to meet Faulkner, so here I am.” It was unclear why Valery was interested in Faulkner. Before he could think of a reason, Cassy cleared her throat and waved her right hand at Dahlia, dismissing her apology.
“In any case, I don’t care about that, Dahlia. Valery and I can just share cups.”
“If you say so. I’ll be by the door if you need anything.” Dahlia bowed one last time to Faulkner, Cassy, and Valery before she moved next to the double doors. There, she stood straight and promptly before Faulkner turned his attention back to Cassy.
“Right. So, first, welcome to my mansion, Faulkner. Kendra’s already told me why you’re here. You’re searching for an Elder Dryad Amber, correct?”
“Yes. It’s for one of the two engagement rings I commissioned for Kendra. The other’s a pink pearl engagement ring like the one you got for Valery.” Cassy’s eyes lit up with excitement as she clasped her hands together with a shortcake in hand.
“Oh! You got a pearl engagement ring, too?! It’s a wonderful gem that represents wisdom, integrity, and loyalty.” While Cassy was happy for Faulkner, Faulkner’s face suddenly froze upon realizing something.
“Eh…a pearl represents what now?”
“Wisdom, integrity, and loyalty.” Scanning Faulkner’s face, it grew paler and paler until it matched Cassy and Valery’s skin tone. “What’s wrong?”
“I…just realized. Two of those three things don’t represent the person I’m giving the ring to very well.” Loyal? Absolutely. But, imagining Karika full of Wisdom and integrity? Not so much. Confused, Cassy tilts her head.
“It doesn’t?”
“No. Karika is the person I planned to give the pearl ring to. But given her personality, I don’t think a pearl would fit her. I originally picked out the pearl since I figured pink would complement her well.”
“Hmm…” Cassy crossed her arms and hummed in thought for a few seconds. “Ah! I know. Why not get her a Morganite gem?”
“Morganite?”
“It’s a beryl gemstone that comes in various shades of pink. The gemstone itself represents unconditional love, peace, and inner strength.” Pondering the characteristics Cassy described, Faulkner simply nodded.
“I see. Thanks for the suggestion, Cassy. I’ll have to ask Kendra to change the gemstone for Karika’s ring.” Finishing her shortcake, Cassy clapped her hands while her mouth was still full. She wiped her lips clean before responding.
“No problem, Faulkner. I’m glad I could help. Now then…” Without further delay, Cassy reached for her right jean pocket, pulling out a small black box. Opening it, she set it on the round table for Faulkner to see. “Here you go. This Elder Dryad Amber equates to twenty carats.”
“Aaahhh…” The amber’s surface had a certain sheen to it that differed from others Faulkner had seen. It was glass-like and perfectly transparent. Cut into an oval shape, the striking orange hue of the gem spoke of its purity.
“Unlike the Amber gems you’d find on Earth, these are much harder. They’re on par with sapphires and rubies in terms of hardness. It’s also highly resistant to water. As long as you’re not pressure washing them, it should be fine.” Faulkner picked up the amber, feeling it in his hand. The surface was smooth with no imperfections he could feel. Faulkner held it above him, shining the light from the chandelier above. He could see through the amber under its intense reddish-orange hue.
“I see. It’s perfect. How much do I pay you for it?”
“Hmm? Pay? There’s no need. I give it to you, free of charge.”
“WHAT?!” Faulkner was so surprised that he let go of his grip on the amber. Before it could fall on his face, Cassy extended her right arm as an ethereal, large hand grabbed the amber, preventing it from falling on top of his face.
“Whoa! That was close. Here. Hold out your hand.” Cassy lowered her arm. Her ethereal hand followed her arm’s movements before she gently dropped it on Faulkner’s hands.
“Th-thank you. But…I’ll have to repeat myself. What?! You’re just giving this to me?!” The utter confusion on Faulkner’s face went right through Cassy. As far as she’s concerned, there’s no reason why she wouldn’t give it to him for free.
“Of course. I don’t see why not?” Faulkner could hear Valery and Dahlia trying their best to stifle their laughter as they held their mouths close. For them, this isn’t the first time Cassy has done something like this.
“But! Isn’t this amber super rare?! How can you give something away this rare and expensive? It wouldn’t feel right for me just to take it.” The two were at an impasse. Faulkner was the type to never let a favor go unpaid. And Cassy, having more wealth than she could want, saw no issue helping someone in need. “Please. I know I don’t have the money to pay for this right away. But I promise I’ll work to pay you back, even if it-” Cutting Faulkner off, Cassy used her ethereal hand to close his mouth forcefully. She gave him a few seconds to calm down before smiling at him. Getting the message, Faulkner loosened up before Cassy took her ethereal hand off his mouth.
“Look, Faulkner. To be perfectly honest, I don’t need a reason to help someone in need. With all the riches I possess, the idea of hoarding it for myself when it can be used to help others bothers me. That’s why I opened up this mansion for all to visit and live in. That said, I understand not wanting to feel indebted, so consider this as my payment for helping the people of this mansion…”
“Huh? What do you mean? This is my first time here.” Valery and Cassy exchanged glances before they nodded to one another.
“Faulkner, does the name Cheryl ring any bells?” Even more confused than before, Faulkner scratched his head trying to figure out what one of his former students had to do with anything.
“Uh…yeah. That’s the name of one of my students who graduated last year. Cheryl’s a Barometz foreign exchange student from Switzerland. What does she have to do with anything?”
“Cheryl often visits here, you see…” Cassy interjected, giving Valery time to drink her tea. “She took the lessons she learned from you and applied them here for Monsters who can’t afford tuition at TMRC.” Faulkner’s eyes widened in surprise before slowly narrowing. He didn’t realize one of his students would take after him. His lips curled into a soft smile, feeling proud of himself. However, that did raise one question in his mind.
“I’m happy to hear Cheryl’s helped the people here out, but why does she come here in the first place?” Filling her mouth with a cupcake, Cassy turned to Valery to explain the rest.
“Cheryl’s boyfriend lives here. He wanted to live on his own, but he couldn’t afford the rent in his apartment after he had to make a hard choice between focusing on college and work. He chose the former. He heard about this place soon after and asked to live here. He does manual labor for us in exchange for free housing.” While Cassy drank some tea, she glanced at Faulkner’s face, seeing how proud he was of Cheryl. She cracked a smile seeing that, further enforcing her decision.
“There you have it. Cheryl’s been a great help here. And to be honest, it wouldn’t have swayed my decision to give you that Elder Dryad Amber anyway. It’d just sit in my vault, gathering dust like many trinkets I have there.” Cassy left behind a majority of her wealth back in Faelinth at her old castle. It stands today protected by royal undead retainers who swore loyalty to her family ages ago. Whenever Cassy ran out of funds, she’d go back to Faelinth and retrieve some of her treasure before coming back to Earth. So far, she’s only had to do that once to fund the expansion of her mansion.
“I see. But please, if there’s anything, anything at all I can do to help you, let me know.” Faulkner wasn’t going to budge on this. Valery and Dahlia chuckled, having seen this scenario before with other people.
“Sure. We’ll give you a call when we need something.”
“Great. Here, I’ll give you my number.” Faulkner initially gestured to Cassy, but she quickly threw her hands forward and shook her head.
“Uh…I’m not very good with technology, dear. You’re better off exchanging contacts with Valery than me.”
“Oh. Alright…” Turning to Valery, the two exchanged phone numbers.
“Okay. I’ll give you a text when we need something from you. Now then, how about a tour of the mansion?” With his business concluded, Faulkner looked at the time on his phone. He had only spent an hour and a half in there.
“Sure. I expected to be here for another hour or so. I’d love a tour of the mansion.” Bubbling with excitement, Cassy was the first to stand. She clapped her hands together before looking over at Dahlia.
“Dahlia, I don’t have any immediate arrangements today, do I?”
“No, Cassy. You’re free to do as you like. If something does pop up, the maids and I can handle it.”
“Thank you.” Standing up with her, Valery holds Cassy’s right hand before the two look to Faulkner.
“Well then, Faulkner. Follow us. We’ve got so much to show you.” Following their lead, Faulkner followed them between Cassy and Valery, who were leading him, while Dahlia followed Faulkner from behind.
____________________
“Fuck…this line’s too damn long!” While Faulkner was gone, Karika and Reiza were outside of a local game store, waiting patiently in line to preorder an upcoming console coming in two months.
Dressed casually, Karika wore a sleeveless white shirt with a pink sports bra underneath. She wore matching short jeans that hugged her toned thighs along with white sneakers. Reiza, on the other hand, wore a black and white hoodie with nothing but a black lace bra beneath. As for her bottoms, she wore black chinos paired with flat top black heels.
“I told you we should’ve left earlier. But no, you had to bitch and moan about it being too early. You knew the preorders were starting today. You should’ve slept early.” Scolding Karika, Reiza sighed in annoyance as a line stretching past an adjacent store had already formed when they arrived.
“Okay, okay. I get it. Talking about it now isn’t going to change things. At least the line isn’t too bad…” Waiting in line, Karika and Reiza were on their phones, killing time when they weren’t talking to each other.
“By the way, do you know where Faulkner’s at, sis?”
“Nope. Faulkner just mentioned he’d be gone in the morning. So I got up early and made breakfast. You could’ve sent him off if you weren’t dozing like an idiot…” Reiza was busy scrolling through social media posts on her phone, absentmindedly following the line.
“Shut up, small tits. If Faulkner didn’t specify where he’s at, maybe he’s cheating on us?” Peering over the top of her phone, Reiza glared at Karika before raising her right brow.
“Seriously? You think Faulkner’s out there prancing around with other girls? Dumbass. He’s obviously doing something he doesn’t want us to see.”
“Exactly! Maybe he’s out on a date with one of the other girls in class?! Or maybe, it’s someone we don’t even know!” Without warning, Reiza swiftly karate-chopped Karika on the forehead. “Gah! What was that for, small tits?!”
“For overreacting, seriously. When I said Faulkner’s doing something behind our backs, it probably means he’s doing something for us. Like you know, a surprise gift or something.”
“Oh. But my birthday isn’t till May. And yours is further away than that.” While Karika pondered what Faulkner was up to, Reiza already had a faint idea of what it was. The question is whether or not she’ll confront him about it.
“You better not think about it too much, porky. Thinking’s not your strong suit…” A visible vein popped on Karika’s right temple before butting her forehead against Reiza’s.
“What was that?! You’ve been talking a lot of shit since this morning, small tits!” Unimpressed, Reiza smiled back before pushing back against Karika.
“Can you blame me? You’ve been spouting stupid shit this whole time…” The two garnered the attention of the people in line. Some pondered whether to call the police, while a few found their scuffle entertaining. Either way, they soon noticed the eyes on them before they relaxed.
“Fine. When we get home, we’ll settle this with a match. And I’m not talking about video games!” At first, Reiza didn’t know what Karika meant. It wasn’t until she saw the blush on Karika’s cheeks that she knew what Karika meant.
“Oh…heh. Alright. I’ve been meaning to try out something new anyway…” Choosing to settle their dispute later, they calmed down before waiting patiently in line.
____________________
*Ding*
“Hmm? You’re back already? That was quick.” It was three in the afternoon when Faulkner returned to Kendra’s shop. He returned with a tote bag filled with sweets and snacks that Cassy practically begged him to take.
“Yeah. Cassy took me on a tour of her mansion after a brief discussion over the Elder Dryad Amber.”
“Speaking of, you have it?” Setting the tote bag on the floor, Faulkner fished the small ring box where the Elder Dryad Amber was from his right jeans pocket.
“Right here.” Handing it over to Kendra, she wastes no time observing the amber through the light above her store.
“Oh hoh…so this is what the genuine article looks like. It’s already so lustrous. I wonder how much better it’ll be once I give it a good ole polish!” Kendra’s eyes were beaming with excitement. She could hardly contain herself before she locked the door to her store and rushed over to the back of her shop. She stopped just before opening the back door, turning to Faulkner. “Oh, Faulkner, follow me.”
“Sure…” Picking up the tote bag, Faulkner followed Kendra into her office. There, she set the Elder Dryad Amber on her office table.
“So…what was your impression of Cassy?”
“She was…interesting. Welhemia had this…presence to her. The only other person who gave off the same energy as she did that I know of was Tama Mitsuyuki.”
“Not surprising. She is of royal blood, after all. And Wights are among some of the strongest undead monsters around.” Sorting through her tools under her desk, Kendra pulled out four picks. Each one had two sharp tips on its ends.
“What’re those?”
“These are Moh’s hardness test kits. You know what the Moh scaling is, right?”
“Yeah. It’s the scale jewelers use to check the hardness level of gemstones.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen and held an Elder Dryad Amber, so I want to see if it really is as hard as a sapphire and ruby.”
“Where does the typical Amber fall in terms of hardness?” To answer Faulkner’s question, Kendra grabs one of the picks and holds the end with the number ‘2’ on it.
“Amber formed on Earth is typically two or two and a half on the Mohs scale of hardness. It’s the second weakest of the gems, right above talc.” Pointing the tip at the Elder Dryad Amber, Kendra applied steady pressure on it as she dragged the sharp tip on its surface. “Heh. Would you look at that…” After Kendra retracted the pick, the Elder Dryad Amber’s surface was as pristine as possible. Meanwhile, the tip of the pick she used had gotten damaged, dulled by the amber.
“The tip’s dulled out.”
“So it’s true. This stuff is harder than typical amber…” Out of curiosity, Kendra used the other picks one by one in ascending order. The Elder Dryad amber’s surface never scratched until she got to the pick with the number ‘9’. This time, the surface scratched just a tiny bit. “That confirms it.”
“Hey now. Shouldn’t you handle this with care? It’s a rare gemstone, isn’t it?”
“Relax. I’ll make sure to use a nice, untarnished chunk to make Reiza’s ring. Speaking of, do you know what size you want the gem to be?” Crossing his arms, Faulkner visualized the finished rings on Reiza’s fingers. Seeing Faulkner in thought, Kendra let out a frustrated sigh before fishing out a sample ring from her office drawers.
“Here! For reference, the average gemstone size for an engagement ring is about two and a half carats, like this one here.” Using a jade ring as an example, Faulkner examined its crystal-clear surface. The subtle, milky-white interior reveals the quality of the jade in the ring. “The gemstone’s about the size of my finger joints.”
“Right. Typical gemstone sizes for rings are around one to five carats. Five carats is already a lot, so something between one and five carats is preferred.”
“Hmm…then…I guess two and a half would do. I’ll leave it up to your discretion. While we’re on the subject, I wanted to bring up Karika’s ring real quick. Specifically, the gemstone I chose.” Faulkner hands the jade ring back to Kendra before she puts it away. Then, after mentioning Karika’s ring, she let out a frustrated sigh.
“Yeah. About that, are you sure you want to use a pearl? I tried to think of ideas for the ring, but none are coming to my head based on how you described Karika.”
“That’s just it. I was thinking of changing the gemstone. I was so focused on the color that I neglected to think about its symbolism.”
“Makes sense. I make it a policy not to question my client’s decisions when it comes to what they want, so I didn’t want to impose my opinion if you really settled on it. So, if you want to change it, what gemstone are you picking?”
“Welhemia suggested Morganite.” Closing her eyes, Kendra nods in agreement after brief deliberation.
“Morganite. Yeah, that’ll work just fine. It symbolically fits Karika. And I have plenty of choice gemstones to work with. Sit tight.” Propping off her chair, Kendra left her office for a few seconds. When she returned, she came back with a square glass display containing an assortment of morganite gemstones. Staring at each gemstone, there were six in total, each a different shade of pink.
“Whoa. They’re pretty.”
“Right? These are just samples. You seem really insistent on it being pink, so these are the different shades of pink morganite comes in.” Scanning each color carefully, Faulkner cupped his chin in deliberation.
“Hmm…I think I like this one best.” Faulkner points at the morganite with a peachy-pink coloration.
“Ah! Peachy Pink. Alright. I can work with that. I take it you want the gemstone to be the same size as Reiza’s?”
“Sure. Again, I leave it at your discretion.”
“Great!” Kendra set the glass box aside on her office table before looking back at Faulkner. “Now, there’s one more thing I’d like to address. Normally, I wouldn’t bring up payment until after I make the rings…”
“Huh? Why wait until AFTER the rings are made? What if your customer ditches you?” Kendra flashed Faulkner a smile before moving behind her desk. She pulls out a sheet of paper and flicks it across the table toward him.
“Two things. First, I have my customers sign this waiver. In a nutshell, it prevents my customers from walking out without paying if they’re satisfied with the ring. Second, while I consider myself an excellent ring smith, ultimately, the customer’s opinion is what matters. I know the phrase ‘The customer is always right’ gets tossed around often negatively, but when I hand a finished ring to my customers, the ring they carry on their fingers represents more than just my craft. It’s a symbol of their spouse’s love and an expression of the wearer’s being. If they’re not happy with the ring, then the fault lies with me. So I can’t in good faith charge them before I know they’re happy.”
“I see. That’s pretty thoughtful of you.”
“Eh. Nothing thoughtful about it. That said, my confidence isn’t unfounded since I’ve yet to have a single unsatisfied customer. Anyway, as I was saying about your payment. I was thinking since Cassy gave you this much of the Elder Dryad Amber, maybe we can settle a deal.” Faulkner raised his right brow, curious as to what Kendra was proposing.
“What kind of deal?”
“As I mentioned earlier, this is my first time seeing an Elder Dryad Amber in person. Now that I’ve seen how marvelous this gem looks like, I bet I could make bank having this on my shop and advertising it in my shop as a limited stock item.”
“Are you suggesting I just give you the rest of the Elder Dryad Amber?” Faulkner scowled at Kendra. She dismissed his glare with a flick of her hand.
“No, of course not! If you give me the rest of the Elder Dryad Amber, I’ll make Reiza, Karika, and even your engagement and wedding rings for free. The reason I’m offering is cuz I doubt anyone would buy the Elder Dryad Amber from you, given they’re low in demand.”
“True. But if they’re low in demand like you say they are, why are you willing to buy it off me?”
“Because low in demand doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable. You know how marketing goes. The moment I advertise this baby as a rare, limited stock gemstone, curious buyers will come flocking for the chance to get it!” From a business standpoint, Kendra made a point. While the demand for said item in the general populace can be detrimental, a simple form of advertising could change people’s perspective. Knowing the overall value of the Elder Dryad Amber, Faulkner was still losing out on money even after accounting for the costs of the gems and labor. However, after deliberating it for a brief moment, Faulkner nods and agrees to give it to Kendra.
“Fine. I don’t mind. To be honest, I’d feel better leaving it in your hands. I don’t feel like I deserve it after Welhemia gave me something that valuable for free.”
“Heh? You realize it’ll only tick her off if she heard you say that, right?”
“After getting to know her, yeah. But I’d like to follow her example. Even though she has all that wealth, she chooses to use it for her people rather than herself. I’m already saving plenty of cash by having you make the rings for free. That’s enough for me.”
“Wow…how humble of you…” Kendra teased before offering her right hand. “I’ll call you when I’m finished with the rings, alright? I promise to make them as stunning as you described those two.” Returning her smile with his own, Faulkner grabs Kendra’s small right hand to shake it.
“I’m counting on it.” After shaking hands, Kendra walked Faulkner back to the front of her store, unlocking the door. Watching him leave, Kendra thought of one more thing she could use the money she’ll make after acquiring the Elder Dryad Amber from Faulkner.
“Hmm…now that I think about it. I could use hired help to keep watch in my shop. The question is who? Maybe Nakoto knows someone?” Kendra had always manned her shop alone since she only makes rings per order. She rarely sold premade rings, so she hardly had more than two or three customers enter her shop at a time. But lately, her notoriety has garnered more customers. She had to hire at least one person to man the register while working in the back. The question was, who?
____________________
“Yes! We got the preorder! Now we just have to wait two months until the consoles release!” Having just returned home after securing the upcoming console’s preorder, Karika triumphantly held the receipt for the transaction before placing it on the living room coffee table.
“We got the console. And that’s great and all. But damn, did they really have to jack up the prices of the games another ten dollars?” Taking off her hoodie, Reiza gave two shits walking around with only her bra on. Reiza had no complaints about the price of the console. It was the game prices that got to her.
“Eh, it’s not that bad, is it? Wages are going up along with the price increase, so what’s the big deal?” Karika took a once-over at the receipt, raising her brow at what she considered a superficial price increase.
“I don’t have a job yet, Porky. I get allowances from Faulkner. Geez. I feel like a total sleaze. All I’m doing in this house is cooking and cleaning up. It’s not enough to pay for the shit Faulkner gives me.” Shaking her head, Reiza narrowed her gaze as she saw Karika prone and vulnerable. Karika was too busy staring at the receipt to notice her coming.
“Whoa! You cheating bitch! I didn’t think you’d strike first, small tits!” Reiza made her move and groped Karika from behind. Reiza pulled Karika’s sleeveless shirt up, taking it off and leaving only her pink sports bra to cover her chest.
“Victory favors the swift, porky! I won’t give you a chance to relax.” Wasting no time, Karika felt a strange, tingling warmth in her chest. Looking down, she saw bright orange flames erupt from Reiza’s hands.
“Ch-cheater! You’re using magic! This isn’t…AAAHhhh!!” Moaning loudly, Karika was already drooling in delight as her nipples poked through her pink sports bra. Her legs shook from the onslaught of pleasure, turning to jelly in moments.
“Hey now. Don’t go collapsing on me already, porky. At least get comfy on the couch before you start cumming.” Corralling Karika toward the living room couch, Reiza had Karika sit on top of her from behind. “Oof! You’re heavy. Your back’s so hard and toned. But your ass is so soft and squishy…” Moving her right hand down to Karika’s asscheek, she gives it a firm squeeze, making Karika gasp in embarrassment at having her squishy butt fondled.
“Th-they’re not fat!” Gritting her teeth, Karika tries to muster the strength to resist Reiza’s flames. Enveloping her chest and butt, the warm, pleasant sensation coursing through her felt like a raging inferno of carnal desires. Against anyone else, Karika would easily overpower it. But against someone she loves, the pleasures they shower her body with are too powerful for her to resist. Soon enough, Karika’s ears drooped submissively. Her hard expression of defiance turned into something soft and needy.
“Sis! Enough! You’re going to break my mind…” Mewling softly, the way Karika’s voice cracked as she pleaded Reiza to ease up only worked to rouse Reiza’s arousal.
“Fuck…you’re so adorable, sis. I love hearing you moan like a bitch. It makes me want to tease you more…” Naturally, Karika wasn’t completely defenseless. With how close and intimate they were, Reiza had full contact with Karika’s sweat. Her scent quickly fills Reiza’s senses, heightening the pleasure she felt from the simple touch of Karika’s hot, sweaty body.
“Sis…more…touch me more…” Begging for Reiza’s touch, she unclasped the sports bra on Karika’s chest, freeing her chocolatey breasts. Reiza pinches Karika’s stiff, pink nipples, tugging them forward. “UWAAHH!!!” Karika arched her back in delight as she threw her head back with her tongue lolling out.
“Hey…remember what I said earlier? About wanting to try something new?” Karika couldn’t see it from behind, but Reiza had a devious grin on her lips before she brought her tail within Karika’s line of view. Orange flames engulfed the tip of her tail before Reiza traced it along Karika’s crotch.
“Ooooohhh!!!” Karika bucked her hip upward the moment Reiza’s tip made contact. The gentle heat sent a warm wave of pleasure coursing through Karika’s body. Emboldened by Karika’s response, Reiza moved her left hand down to Karika’s jeans, undoing the buttons on her waistband before pulling the zipper down, exposing Karika’s pink panties.
“You’re so wet already. And that’s just from me playing with your tits. I wonder how much you’ll squirm and squirt when I move to your pussy next?” Having practiced using her tail, Reiza pulled Karika’s panties to the side, exposing her sopping wet pussy lips. “Damn…they’re so puffy and soft…” Reiza cupped Karika’s crotch, squishing her puffed up pussy lips before dragging her fingertips meticulously along her slit.
“HNNNGGGG!!!” Reiza drank every second of Karika’s raptured face. Reiza hadn’t even dipped her fingers inside, yet the love juices oozing from Karika’s pussy had already coated her fingers in thick, sticky strands of pussy juices. Reiza leaned up, whispering into Karika’s left ear.
“So…porky. Are you ready?” Using her fingers, Reiza split Karika’s pussy slit open. Using the tip of her tail, she teases Karika’s clit, rubbing it ever so softly before Reiza curls it inward, pushing it past Karika’s pussy lips as Reiza’s tail disappears inside Karika’s vagina.
“SHIT!!!” Karika shuddered as Reiza’s invading tail poured mind-melting warmth into her vagina. She nearly came, feeling Reiza’s tail squirm inside her.
“A-aww…what’s the matter…p-porky?! Is it too much for you?” Pumping her tail in and out of Karika in slow, deliberate movements, she refused to cum right away from Reiza’s assault. Karika’s tail had wound and squeezed Reiza’s waist as she gritted her teeth in an attempt to endure.
“Sh-shut up! I’m not so pathetic that I’d cum…from something like this…” Karika turned her head to Reiza from behind, wanting to flash her a smug smile. There, Karika’s eyes widened as she noticed something. Karika quickly turned her head back to face forward so Reiza wouldn’t see the knowing smile on her face.
“Oh yeah? You’ve suddenly gotten quiet, Porky. Don’t tell me it’s taking all your effort just to ho-AAAAAHH!!!” The flames on Reiza’s horns suddenly intensified briefly, flaring out in a burst of reddish black before steadily shrinking.
“What was that, small tits? You kinda choked in your own words when you suddenly moaned like a bitch!” Pushing her back more onto Reiza’s chest, Karika could feel Reiza’s nipples poking through her back from Reiza’s bra. Karika ground her back against Reiza’s chest.
“Wow. Maybe I should call you mediocre tits instead of small tits from now on? I can actually feel your tittes on my back.” Karika hummed in amusement, staring in delight as she figured out Reiza’s weakness. “Nah! Small tits rolls off the tongue better.” After Karika’s counterattack, Reiza had stopped moving her tail, keeping it limp inside Karika. Reiza was doing her best to push back. But it was too late.
“Ack! AAAhhhh!” Letting out a surprised yelp, Karika had unbuckled Reiza’s belt while she was distracted. Seizing her chance, Karika slipped her left hand under Reiza’s waistband and panties, fingering Reiza directly with her index and middle finger inside.
“I figured it out, small tits. You wanted me in this position. That way, I wouldn’t be able to see your face when you assault me from behind. Clever little bitch…” Widening her grin, Karika curled her fingers upward, using her thumb to rub Reiza’s clit, causing her to buck her hips up in ecstasy.
“OOHHhhh!!!”
“But not clever enough!” It was Karika’s turn to tease Reiza. Naturally, Reiza wasn’t going to sit there and take this one-sidedly.
“Tsk! Fine. Yo-you got me! But that just means I have to turn up the heat, don’t I?” Inside Karika’s vagina, Reiza resumed pumping her tail in and out of Karika, intensifying the pleasurable flames engulfing her tail while she was at it. Karika’s vaginal walls clenched around Reiza’s tail, moaning loudly from the heightened pleasure she felt.
“Fuck! H-how did you get so good with your tail?!”
“I’ve been…using my tail to masturbate. It was frustrating having Faulkner constantly aim for it to make me cum first whenever we fuck. So I thought I’d use my tail like a dildo to get used to it. Figured I’d get used to having my tail messed with if I fucked myself with it. But shit, Porky! How is your cunt this fucking tight?!”
“I have great abdominal muscles, small tits. You know that…” Clenching her stomach, Karika squeezed Reiza’s tail inside her pussy again, eliciting another moan from her.
“Aaahh…I…won’t lose to you…” Spurred by their refusal to lose, Karika and Reiza engaged in a battle of attrition. Reiza’s tail squirmed and pumped in and out of Karika’s pussy in tandem with flame magic to ignite Karika’s arousal.
“Tch! You’re relying too much on this magic bullshit, Reiza. It’s getting old…” Karika had acclimated to the pleasure Reiza’s flames engulfed her in. Moving her lips closer to Reiza’s, Karika nips at Reiza’s bottom lip before kissing her. “Mlaaahhh…I always prefer an up-and-close interaction…”
“And you don’t count this as one?” Kissing Karika back, their moans fill the living room, pouring their love and affection for one another. Reiza’s eyes widened suddenly. The flames on her horns flaring twice their size as Karika used her thumb to rub and pinch Reiza’s clit.
“See? You need to focus more on weak spots rather than rely on some weak pleasure magic…” Just as Karika thought she had the upper hand, she clenched her vaginal walls on instinct as the tip of Reiza’s tail pushed deeper inside Karika, poking at Karika’s cervix
“Duly noted, Porky.” As the two kept one-upping one another, their moans got softer, more feminine. What was once a contest turned into something more intimate. Much as they denied it, they weren’t interested in competing at all. Instead, they were focused on making one another feel as good as possible.
“Hey…small tits. Why don’t you turn around and face me, yeah? I want to see that cute face of yours…”
“What, I’m cute now? Sure. It’ll give me a better view of your face when you’re cumming your brains out…” Lifting herself off Reiza, Karika picks Reiza up, turning her around so that Reiza sits on her thighs.
“There. Isn’t that better?” Face to face, Karika went for Reiza’s bra, unclasping it before tossing it aside. “Hot damn. They really did get bigger, didn’t they?” Groping Reiza’s breasts, Karika leaned forward, taking Reiza’s right nipple into her mouth before sucking on it.
“Aaahhh…damnit. You’re good with your mouth, Porky. Almost as good as the shit that comes out of your mouth.” Annoyed by Reiza’s snarky retort, Karika nibbled lightly on Reiza’s nipple, pulling her head back slightly. “Ah!” Satisfied, Karika let go of Reiza’s nipple. Her tit jiggled from the pull before Karika chuckled at Reiza’s reaction.
“Fuck you. Following up a sincere compliment with smack talk? Way to ruin the moment…”
“My bad…” With a slight grin, Reiza leaned forward to kiss Karika, cupping the right side of her cheek while wrapping her left arm around Karika’s back, pulling herself closer to Karika.
Moving their hips in synch, Karika continued to finger Reiza, adding her ring finger inside, pumping them in and out of her pussy more vigorously. Reiza’s wings furled outward the same way a person’s fingers and toes would curl as they reach the peak of their orgasm.
“Aaaahhh…” Seeking to match the pleasure she felt, Reiza sped her pumping tail, curling the tip of her tail as she wriggled it inside Karika, making her tail straighten.
“Dammit. Too much. S-sis…I’m going to cum…”
“Me too. Let’s cum together…” Pouring their all into their kiss, they lick and sucked on each others tongue before reaching their peaks. Arching their backs together, Karika and Reiza came at the same time, squirting love juices on each other’s laps. The rest dripped onto their pants, soaking up the juices.
“Holy fuck…that was great…”
“Yeah. No shit…” Lying on top of Karika, Reiza pushed her face against Karika’s chest.
“Hey, watch it, small tits. I don’t need you goring the underside of my chin with your horns, yeah?”
“Sorry. It’s just real comfortable between your big titties…” Catching their breaths, Reiza curled into Karika’s body. “Thanks for putting up with my bullshit.”
“Huh? Where’s this coming from, small tits? You’re killing the vibe here…” At the back of her mind, Reiza wanted to tell Karika what was bothering her. But she figured she could save that for later.
“Nothin…I’ll talk about it later.”
“If you say so.” The two enjoyed the silence in the living room, matching one another’s breathing.
*Click*
Suddenly, they hear a familiar click. Turning to the front door, Faulkner had just returned home, bringing two boxes of pizza for tonight’s dinner and the tote bag full of sweets hanging on his right elbow.
“I’m home…uh…” Narrowing his eyes, Faulkner stared at Karika and Reiza on the couch. Half-naked with Karika’s musk in the air, he dismissed walking in on them and headed for the kitchen. “You two had fun while I was away?” Walking past them, Reiza got off Karika, pulling her hoodie and belt back on before following Faulkner.
“Uh…yeah. What about you?”
“Fine. It was just the usual hangout with Trisha. Every week she has to bitch and moan about parenthood before rubbing it in my face…” Faulkner was obviously lying, but his acting skills easily convinced Karika with his sullen tone and tired eyes. Reiza wasn’t as convinced, but she didn’t bother to pry. Though in the event Karika and Reiza do and ask Trisha, Faulkner had called her ahead of time before heading home, informing her of the lie.
“Oof. Sounds like a pain.”
“Tell me about it. And you two? You said you’d go out and nab the preorder for the upcoming console. Did you get it?”
“Yeah, we did. We got nervous at first since even after going there thirty minutes early, there was already a line two stores long. Thankfully, they still had enough for-” Cutting Reiza off mid-sentence, she and Faulkner turned to the living room after hearing Karika scream aloud.
“AAAAHHH!!! Crap!” Reiza and Faulker rushed to the living room to see what was up.
“What?! What happened?!”
“Sis…we got pussy juice all over the receipt…” Karika held the preorder receipt up. The paper had soaked up the squirt juices.
“Oh…we probably should’ve put that away somewhere safe as soon as we got home…”
“This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t suddenly groped me from behind. You should’ve moved me to the bedroom for that shit, small tits…” Left speechless by Karika’s accusations, veins bulged from Reiza’s right temple before she bumped her forehead against Karika’s.
“Huh?! My fault? Remind me, who was it that was facing the coffee table when they squirted like a bitch?” Pushing back against Reiza, the two snarled at one another, leaving Faulkner with his hands on his hips.
“Alright. That’s enough, you two. Clean yourselves up so we can eat. After that, clean the mess you two made on the couch and coffee table.” Turning to face Faulkner, they rolled their eyes, exaggerating annoyance before responding in sync.
“Fine…”
“And when you two are done with that…it’s…off to bed.”
“Huh? Why? It’s only six in the afternoon.” As Reiza asked why, she and Karika saw Faulkner’s face turning a bright shade of red. Their eyes drifted downward, noting the bulge that formed on his pants.
“Oh…heh…got you all excited, huh?” Standing upright, Karika made a point to tease Faulkner by cupping her breasts together.
“What’d you expect?! I came home to the two of you half-naked with the scent of sex in the air.” Reiza let out a soft chuckle, finding his honesty adorable.
“Okay. We’ll get on it. I can’t wait either, so let’s get this done quickly…”
“Fuck that! I’m not waiting after seeing his cock like that. We’ll fuck in the shower!”
“Hmm…you know what? That’s a good idea, Porky…” Bumping fists, Karika and Reiza turn their attention to Faulkner with lust in their eyes.
“B-but what about the pizzas?!” Right now, the pizza was the last thing on their minds before Karika picks Faulkner up, hoisting him over her left shoulder before giving his ass a spank. “Gah! Hey?!”
“We can nuke the pizza if it gets cold! Right now, I need that dick in me.” Following behind, Reiza had a smug grin as she leaned close to his face.
“She’s right. Since you’re in the mood, we should take care of that first…” With their lust reignited, Karika brought Faulkner to the bathroom upstairs in their bedroom to get ‘cleaned.’
(Next Chapter:https://touchfluffytail.org/story/an-arrival-of-a-rival-ch-24/)
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Alright Buster Brown, I’ll give you credit. At least you ain’t like Streggae, who loves to leave us hanging since last year!
Yeah, my bad. The delay on this is purely procrastination. I apologize for the wait. Next chapter should be out sooner. Thanks for readin.