The Forest Lullaby

The Whistling Woods. Rumored as a forest that produces a mythical sound akin to a whistle, it is said those who hear it are lulled into a state of comfort and relaxation. They say winds that blow through the winding trees and lush branches produces these alluring sounds.

The truth of the matter is these sounds are produced not by wind. No, those harmonic tunes that drew people of all races were sung by one individual.

Nicknamed the ‘Ugly Siren,’ she’s a ‘Harpy’ whose melodies brought life to what was once a nondescript forest used by merchants for safe passage.

As for how this ‘Harpy’ got her nickname, we must go back before she embraced her talents.

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“Hurry, my children! Seek shelter in the forest before the storm hits!”

Thirteen years ago, a single mother Harpy, named Jannete, brought her three children of ages two, three, and four with her to learn how to hunt for prey.

Jannete’s husband abruptly died two years after their third daughter’s birth due to health concerns. As much as Jannete wanted to grieve her husband’s death, she now had to care for her three daughters. To prepare for the worst-case scenario, Jannete takes her daughters with her to go hunting.

During their hunt, an unprecedented storm forced Jannete to end their hunt prematurely.

“Momma!” Taking shelter at Whistling Woods before it got its name, Jannete used her wings to calm her children down by hugging them.

“There, there. Momma’s here.” The howling winds have already made their way to the forest, blowing loose leaves and branches.

Combined with the complex structure of the trees, branches, and leaves around them, the howling sounds produced by these winds foreshadow the wrath that is to come.

Yet, despite these terrifying sounds, Jannete’s ears picked up a peculiar sound nearby.

“…wah…aahh…*Chirp*”

“Ah…what’s that sound?” How Jannete could’ve perceived such minuscule sound under the howling winds produced by the oncoming storm was beyond logic. She could tell it was a child in need. Her motherly instincts kicked in. She had to find where the sound was coming from.

Jannete knew she had to find who it was that was crying out. That’s when she spotted a larger, thicker tree than any she’d seen around the forest nearby. The tree had a hollowed-out hole big enough to shelter her kids in.

“Chio, follow momma, okay?” Speaking to her eldest four-year-old, Jannete carries the two younger siblings, Jiji and Hina, in her talons.

“Okay, momma.” Following Jannete, they huddle together once inside the hollow opening in the big tree Jannete led them to.

“I’ll be right back, Chio. Make sure you keep your younger sisters close.”

“Momma, be careful.” Assuring Chio with a gentle smile, Jannete kissed Chio on the forehead before heading out to search for the source of the crying child.

Approaching with a thunderous roar, the winds produced by the impending storm made it harder for Jannete to fly. It was only thanks to her quick reflexes and experience that she managed to stay stable and avoid flying branches.

And to make matters worse, the downpour accompanying the storm limited visibility. The combination of rain and howling winds made keeping Jannete’s eyes open even harder.

“WAAHH!!!”

Despite the increasing sound of thunder, wind, and rain, Jannete could still make out the crying child. These cries were quite distinct. The sound was sharp, just like the ones produced by Harpies. But, they also carried a mystic tone so unique it distinguished itself from the noises that would’ve otherwise drowned it out.

It was tough. But Jannete’s motherly drive was tougher. Her perseverance pays off once she spots the crying child.

“There!” The child couldn’t have been older than seven years. Covered in mud, it was hard for Jannete to see if the child was hurt or not. Fearing the worst, Jannete hurried and landed next to the child. “Little one, what’re you doing here by yourself?!” Jannete didn’t notice since the child was facing away from her, so the moment the child turned to her, Jannete’s eyes widened with shock.

“Honey, your wings…” Jannete already suspected she was a Harpy of sorts based on the cries from earlier. However, what she didn’t expect was the injuries the child sustained and the extent of said injury. The child’s wings were stripped of their feathers, leaving her incapable of flight.

“Wah…my wings…I…” Whimpering between her words, Jannete had no time to listen to the child’s explanation after a tree next to them collapsed, nearly hitting them.

“Come here, little one. I’ll take you somewhere safe!” With her talons, Jannete carried the whimpering child back to the hollow tree where her other children awaited.

“Momma!” Greeted by Chio, Jannete pats her eldest on the head for a job well done.

“Thank you for keeping your sister’s safe, Chio.” Chio hadn’t noticed the crying child Harpy Jannete brought with her until Jannete held the child close to comfort her.

“Momma, who’s that?” The child did not hesitate Jannete’s embrace. If anything, she sought her motherly warmth more than any of her children did.

“I don’t know. What’s your name, sweety? What about your parents? They must be nearby, right?” Instead of answering, the child reinforces her desire for warmth and hugs Jannete tighter. “Oh my…could it be you don’t know it? Or maybe you’ve forgotten?” Aside from what she said out loud, Jannete feared this child wasn’t alone due to choice. Maybe her parents were killed, or they abandoned her?

“I forgot…” Short and straight to the point, Chio felt empathy after hearing the child’s quivering voice.

“I see. Well then, why don’t I give you a name? What about…Lushia…” Given a new name by Jannete, Lushia nods before burying her face deep in Jannete’s bosom. “I’ll take that as a yes…” Rallying the rest of her daughters to huddle together, they wait in the sturdy tree until the storm subsides as Lushia becomes part of their family.

Once the storm settled, Jannete settled on making the tree they took shelter in their new home after seeing it had barely been affected.

With a bit of help from other harpies who later heard of the forest and the sturdy trees around it, The woods, which would have eventually been called the Whistling Woods, was turned into a small village named ‘Fustasha village’ for travelers and harpies looking for homes.

The village population was less than fifty, so the residents practically knew one another. And of all its residents, none garnered attention more than Lushia.

Avoided by the other children due to her somber demeanor, Lushia felt hurt being treated differently from the others. But, deep down, she can’t blame them for doing so.

As long as Lushia’s adoptive mother, Jannete, and her three step-siblings care about her, that’s all that mattered.

To help Lushia fit in, Jannete had a villager fashion a shirt for Jannete. The arms and sleeves were made out of her sister’s molted feathers. While it does help her look part of Jannete’s family biologically, Lushia’s vibrant purple hair stood out compared to her sister’s, whose hair was a shade of brunette and blonde.

Be that as it may, these feathers only served to help her fit in. No matter how much time passed, Lushia’s feathers never seemed to grow. Concerned for her adoptive daughter’s well-being, Jannete brought up the possibility of taking her to a doctor to see what was wrong with her wings.

Lushia would respond in this manner with little deviation.

“I-I’m good, mother. Really, I don’t mind if my feathers never grow.”

“But sweetie, don’t you want to fly above the trees someday?”

“There’s plenty to see on land. Please, Mother, I swear I’m fine.”

Whenever it was brought up, Lushia would brandish a smile, never seeming bothered she couldn’t fly.

A mother knows best. And Jannete knew behind Lushia’s smile was something dark. No harpy would choose to abstain from flying. She already knew what kind of Harpy Lushia was, but out of respect for her past, Jannete wanted to wait until Lushia was comfortable enough to tell her.

So she waited and waited. A mother’s patience is strong, but Jannete felt her patience waning. At some point, she felt the urge to put her talon down and use her authority as Lushia’s mother to tell her the truth. Whenever the opportunity presented itself, she’d stop herself.

Even after six long years, Jannete hadn’t forced Lushia to tell her.

“Aww…you still can’t fly, big sis Lushia?” Jiji, the youngest of Jannete’s biological daughters, turned eight recently. Clingy, Jiji would always demand attention from her older sisters, Hina and Chio, who found her annoying after a while.

Lushia was the only one of her siblings patient enough to deal with her. And Lushia found comfort in Jiji’s clinginess to her.

“I’m sorry, Jiji. I don’t think my wings will ever grow feathers.”

“Nuh-uh! I know they’ll grow someday! Your hair’s color is so pretty! I bet your feathers will be just as pretty!” Jiji had just learned to fly on her thanks to Jannete’s tutelage. Before she could fly, Jiji would walk with Lushia, hence Lushia’s attachment to Jiji.

“Aww, thanks, Jiji. But it’s alright. I have feathers made from yours, Hina’s, and Chio’s. And your feathers are just as pretty.” With a reassuring smile, Lushia tried to convince Jiji to join Hina and Chio. “Go on and join Hina and Chio.” Hesitant, Jiji didn’t want to let go of Lushia. That’s when Jannete steps in. Patting Jiji on her head before getting on one knee to speak to Jiji eye to eye.

“Come now, Jiji. If you want to get better at flying, you have to stretch your wings more. Lushia will be here by the time you get back. So follow your sisters, alright?”

“Mmmrr… they won’t leave me behind again, right?”

“Mommy will make sure they don’t. I’ll even go with you to tell them. Does that sound good to you, Jiji?”

“Yeah!” Lushia watches them take flight before waving goodbye to them. A part of Lushia wants to take to the skies again. Yes, she knew what it was like to fly into the sky.

“Chio, Hina. Make sure you watch your speed. And please, slow down so your sister Jiji can catch up.”

“Aww, I just got used to diving. I want to practice with Chio some more.” Hina was the brash one of her siblings. She took more to her late father’s personality than she did Jannetes. Hina was apprehensive of Lushia but slowly accepted her as part of the family. Even so, she occasionally singles out Lushia due to being adopted, much to Jannete’s dismay.

“Don’t be like that, Hina. We’ll have plenty of chances to practice later. You gotta learn to be more considerate.” Chio was much more like Jannete, sharing her gentle, patient nature. As the eldest of Jannete’s biological daughters, Chio got along with Lushia well. She tries to get Lushia to open up about her wings, just like Jannete.

“Ugh…fine!”

“Thank you. Chio, make sure you keep an eye on Hina and Jiji. And Hina, don’t be mean to Jiji. Trust me, I’ll know if you do.”

“…” Watching them from above, Lushia instinctively spreads her wings out. Before she could make the feeble attempt to flap them, memories of her past freeze her in place.

Glimpses of what looked like a beach covered in sharp rocks near a cliff flash in her mind. Images of soldiers brandishing weapons.

“Listen to Mommy. I need you to stay with Daddy, alright? Make sure you don’t make a single noise. I’ll be right back, I promise.” Hiding behind one of the large rocks around the beach, Lushia’s biological mother, a Siren named Gizel, instructs Lushia to stay quiet while she draws the soldier’s attention.

“Gizzel. Please, you don’t have to do this…”

“I have to, Rigurd. I love you so much. Take care of…” Lushia couldn’t make out the last of Gizzel’s words. The following memories she saw were of the soldiers leaving. One had a blood-stained sword as they congratulated one another on a job well done.

Lushia’s visions began to flash forward. One was a brief glimpse of Gizzel’s talons on top of a pool of blood. Next is the image of Rigurd praying at a tombstone.

To cope with what had happened, Lushia would comfort herself by singing a tune Gizzel sang.

“Stop! Stop singing! Do you want those soldiers to find us?! Huh?” But she couldn’t even do that without Rigurd reprimanding her. “Do you hear me?! Huh? Lyco-“

“Lushia?” Lushia had remained frozen the whole time she was having a flashback. Naturally, Jannete saw and rushed to Lushia.

“Ah…mother?” Jannete held her quivering daughter in her wings. This wasn’t the first time she saw Jannete like this.

However, Jannete could tell today was the worst episode Lushia’s had yet.

“What’s wrong, sweetie? You’re shaking quite a lot. And your eyes. Did you recall something-“ Pulling away from Jannete’s embrace, Lushia took a few steps back.

“I-I’m fine! Don’t worry about me, mother.” Leaving before Jannete could say her piece, Lushia fled from the scene. But not before leaving behind something colorful on the ground.

“Hmm…this is…”

.

..

…

“No, of all times, why did they have to grow back?” Hiding somewhere in the forest, Lushia took off her shirt to ‘fix’ a recurring issue she’s been having.

“You know, I had a feeling this is why your feathers haven’t grown. Or rather…they have been.” Taking her by surprise, Lushia turns around and sees Jannete.

“M-mother?! H-how do you know this place?”

“Lushia, I’m your mother. There’s no place you can hide in that I can’t find. But forget about that. There’s a more important matter we need to discuss…” Seeing her chance to talk to Lushia privately, Jannete shows what Lushia dropped earlier to her. “This purple feather. I’ve only seen these vibrant colors on a certain species of Harpies.” Left with little choice but to comply, Lushia had to tell her mother the truth.

“You’re a Siren, aren’t you?” The color of Lushia’s hair was a dead giveaway, but Jannete never pointed it out until Lushia was ready to say so herself. That was what Jannete wanted. But, after seeing Lushia’s naked wings and the bloodied tips of Lushia’s feathers, Jannete knew she couldn’t wait any longer.

“Yes…”

“Why are you forcibly plucking your wings, Lushia? Don’t you want to fly?”

“I do! But…” Shrinking in hesitation, Lushia started shaking again. Her memories of her past were still holding her back. At her age, she’s able to piece together that her biological mother, Gizzel, died at the hands of soldiers. Then, there are her memories of her father, Rigurd, who’d yell at her every time she tried to sing.

“Please, I’m just worried about you, Lushia.” Lushia knows her Jannete speaks the truth. For the longest time, she wanted to tell her.

The reason why she kept her secret for so long…

“Mother…are Siren’s bad?”

“Huh?”

“Are our voices…irritating to listen to?”

“Lushia…goodness, no. What would give you that idea?”

“My father. He used to yell at me. After my first mother’s death, my father hated the sound of me singing.” Tearing up between her words, Lushia wipes her tears away with the tips of her naked wings. “I…I didn’t want my father to hate me, and I didn’t like to see the look on his face each time he heard me sing. It’s like each time I sang, he’d get all sad.”

“Oh, Lushia…” Running toward her, Jannete pulls Lushia’s face to her bosom. ‘She must’ve grown up thinking being a Siren was a curse. That explains why she denies being one. She’s even willing to mutilate herself to keep her appearance hidden. Even so…’

“Mom…are you going to hate me too?”

“No. I’d never hate you, Lushia.”

“But…I’m not even your real daughter…”

“Yes, yes you are. I don’t care if you’re my daughter by blood or not. I love you all the same. And so do your sisters.”

“Do they?”

“Yes. That should be obvious. You saw how tightly Jiji held onto you.”

“But…what about Hina…”

“Hina’s like that to all her siblings, not just you. She’s at that delicate, rebellious phase.”

“But, there’s also the…” With patience only a mother can possess, Jannete continued to listen to Lushia’s excuses, ready to counter them with facts.

“Lushia…do you remember two years ago when Jiji was six years old. She was full of energy and hated going to bed. She’d keep all of us up with her crying.” Lushia does indeed recall those times. Hina would cry from feeling stressed and annoyed at Jiji’s crying, while Chio would try to calm her siblings down with Jannete.

“Uh huh…”

“Do you remember who helped us calm her down?” Lushia knew where her mom was going with this. Rather than deny it, Lushia hugs Jannete tighter.

“…me…”

“Yes, it was you. When you sang that lullaby, everyone calmed down almost instantly. It put Jiji and Hana to sleep. It also helped Chio and me because your voice was so soothing. Listening to you sing was like getting a gentle massage in our souls.” Letting her emotions out, Lushia cried aloud.

“B-b-bu-but…” Seeing Lushia’s face covered in tears and a bit of snot, Jannete wipes them off with her wings, unbothered at getting them dirty. “Mother…your wings…”

“I can wash them later, silly. It’s more important to wipe your face clean. It’d be a shame to leave it dirty, considering how pretty you are.”

“Really?”

“Yes. A mother never lies when it comes to their kids, Lushia.” Having calmed down, Jannete looks Lushia in the eyes. “I don’t care if you’re a Siren or not. You’re my daughter, first and foremost. And as your mother, it hurts me to see you mutilating your wings. Can you promise me you’ll stop plucking your wing feathers?” In her mind, Lushia fought against her past trauma.

Was it really fine to be a Siren? To accept who she really is? Her father, Rigurd, told her off constantly whenever she tried to sing. Some kids would rebel or leave their parents if told not to do something. That could’ve been Lushia’s reasons for leaving.

But not Lushia. It was quite the opposite. She loves her father. Lushia remembers Rigurd as a gentle, loving soul. She recalled when Rigurd would have her perch on his back while helping her learn how to fly.

Lushia ran from home not because of her father’s ’abuse.’ She ran because she associated being a Siren as a bad omen. If she stayed with her father, Rigurd, she feared his life would be at risk.

Flying away while Rigurd was away, Lushia swore to hide her identity as a Siren as much as possible. That’s why she kept plucking her wing feathers. More than anything, she wanted to be something else other than a Siren.

And now, Jannete, her loving, adoptive mother, tells her it’s okay to be one.

In the internal battle between her guilt and Jannetes love…

“Okay…I promise…” In the end, Jannete’s love prevailed. With her mother’s love and her siblings’ support afterward, Lushia accepted herself.

The villagers, who already knew who Lushia was, accepted her with open arms, taking her by surprise.

Keeping her promise, Lushia’s naked wings finally regrown their vibrant, purple colors a year later. Before that, however, she had already garnered the nickname ‘The ugly Siren’ due to her melodic voice but plain brown and blonde-colored feathers.

Tourists, Travelers, and new tenants alike found the melodies sung by Lushia irresistible. Eventually, the forest would get its name based on Lushia’s voice, which sounded like whispers as one approached the forest.

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“The Whistling Woods.” Thirteen years after Jannete took Lushia in, a traveler desperate for answers made it to the rumored woods after getting tips from several sources telling him what he was looking for was there.

As for what it was, it didn’t take long for him to find…or rather, hear what he was looking for.

It was dark out, but thankfully, a stretch of road had since been paved through the forest with the help of merchants that frequent the forest, making getting there easy. It also helps the forest was ‘glowing.’ He could see several harpies flying above the forest. Some were flying for fun, but a few wore lightweight soldier gear.

Said soldiers have already spotted the traveler approaching the forest. Based on the traveler’s attire, they didn’t see him as a threat and continued their patrols through the forest.

“That voice…” Listening to the whistling voice echoing through the woods, he follows the melody until he finds a village up the trees. Each tree housed bridges and stairs leading to different buildings built into the trees. Small stands were built around the trunks of some trees next to the paved road for vendors to sell all kinds of goods.

Lights made of mana-infused crystals lined the bridges, giving the forest a star-like glow in the night.

And what stood above all those lights was Lushia.

Proudly displaying her vibrant purple feathers, she still wore the shirt fashioned from her sister’s molted feathers to show her respect and love for them.

There are spectators huddled together near the bridges and buildings, swinging in tandem to the rhythm of Lushia’s voice.

“…my god…that’s her…” Taking a deep breath, the traveler calls out a name unfamiliar to all but one.

“LLLLYYYYYCCCOOOORRRRRIIIISSSS!!!!!!”

The man’s voice, loud and desperate, reached the skies, causing Lushia to pause her performance.

“IT’S ME!!! YOU’RE FATHER! RRRRIIIIGGGGUUUURRRRDDDD!!!!!!” Looking down at the man who claims to be her father, Lushia descends the web of bridges to meet the man who called her ‘name.’

“It…it can’t be…” Aside from his overgrown beard, Lushia instantly recognized the man who calls himself her father.

“F-father…” Joining Lushia, Jannete, Chio, Hina, and Jiji were shocked to see Lushia’s biological father. “Father, is that really you?” Without hesitation, Rigurd ran to Lushia and hugged her. Immediately, tears came pouring from his eyes.

“I-I was so worried! Wh-why did you run away?!?!” Naturally, Lushia was overcome with emotions. She was convinced she caused Rigurd’s suffering by being around. Yet here he was, shedding tears of joy.

“I…I thought by running away…you’d get to live in peace.”

“What gave you that idea?! I made a promise to Gizzel, your mother! I promised her I’d protect you with my life. How could I possibly live in peace when you ran away?! Day and night, I’d pray you’d still be alive.”

“Lycoris is her name?” While Lushia and Rigurd were talking, Chio couldn’t help but wonder if Lushia had always known her old name. Otherwise, Lushia wouldn’t have responded to being called Lycoris.

“Shh…let them have their moment, Chio.” Jannete chose to stay quiet. At least until ‘Lycoris’ and Rigurd made up.

“I see…I had no idea. I’m sorry, Father.”

“It’s alright, Lycoris. I’m just glad you’re safe and well.” Hugging it out, Lycoris, or Lushia as her adoptive family calls her, turns to Jannete.

“Father, these kind people took me in when I ran away. This person here is Jannete, my adoptive mother. And next to her are my three younger adoptive sisters, Chio, Hina, and Jiji. They’re my family.” As Lushia introduced them to Rigurd, Jannete and Chio bowed, Hina simply waved, and Jiji hid behind Hina. Rigurd, in turn, bows to Jannete.

“Jannete, is it? Thank you for looking after my daughter. Words alone cannot describe how grateful I am.”

“Oh no. Please, there’s no need for that. If anything, I owe Lushia.”

“Lushia?” It was Rigurd’s first time hearing Lycoris called by the name given to her by Jannete. He could tell from his daughter’s smile she was content with her name.

“Well, Mister Rigurd, we were in the middle of Lushia’s nightly concerts. Would you like to join us?” It’s been too long since Rigurd has heard his daughter sing. Lushia thought hearing her sing would bring bad memories, so she was about to abstain from continuing tonight’s performance.

“I’d love to, Miss Jannete.”

“Eh? F-father, are you sure?”

“Yes. It’s been far too long since I’ve last heard you sing. Just hearing the remnants of your voice on my way here sets my heart at ease.” With her father’s approval, Lushia couldn’t stop grinning before returning to her singing perch. Waiting for Rigurd to get comfortable next to Jannete and her siblings, Lushia looks at the spectators below.

Many were smiling. A few were in awe. A few others had their arms crossed in skepticism. Regardless of who listens to her, one thing is certain.

With a deep breath, the first, deep tone of Lushia’s voice sent chills down Rigurds spine. Her voice was as melodic and beautiful as her mother Gizzel’s when he first heard her sing. The memories he has of her made Rigurd tear up. Try as he might, he couldn’t stop whimpering out of respect for Lushia’s performance.

‘Gizzel…can you hear her from up there? Our daughter’s voice…she sings just as beautifully as you.’ Observant as she was, Jannete had misinterpreted Rigurd’s tears of happiness for sadness. In her attempts to calm him down, she wraps her wings around him for comfort.

“Ah, M-missus Jannete?!”

“It’s alright. I know it must be a lot to take in after what you’ve gone through.” While Rigurd was compelled to tell her otherwise, the comfort her tender embrace gave reminds him of his time with Gizzel. With that in mind, he took her kind gesture and hugged her back.

“Thank you…” Serenading those who hear her, Lushia’s voice reached beyond the forest’s borders, attracting more people to visit.

After her song, Rigurd was invited into Jannete’s household for dinner. There, Rigurd got to catch up with his daughter, now known as Lushia. He also got to know someone else more intimately as well…

____________________

“Mother, Father. I’m off.” Only six months after reuniting with his long-lost daughter did Rigurd have to deal with the biggest challenges a father has to overcome.

“Lushia! Remember your promise.”

“Yes…I’ll be back before midnight, I promise.”

“Don’t roll your eyes, missy. I’ve lost you once. I’m not losing you again.”

“Father!” The banter between the overprotective Rigurd and the grown-up Lushia was a regular sighting for people in the Whispering Woods. None saw their banter more than their family.

“Come on now, Rigurd. Lushia’s an adult now. Have some faith in her judgment.” Jannete often had to jump in as the mediator while Hina, Jiji, and Chio watched in amusement.

“I have full faith in her. I’m talking about her boyfriend!”

“Please, father. I swear Jazzy’s a good guy!” Lushia had recently fallen smitten with a traveler who offered his services as a bard. Naturally, they found much more in common than they realized and started dating.

“Yes, well. Just make sure you adhere to the agreed time, alright?” By all rights, Lushia could’ve just ignored her father or, to a greater extent, left the nest. Instead, she genuinely loves her family and cherishes every moment spent with them. So she takes their opinions seriously.

After some time, Jannete and Rigurd remarried each other after finding out they were an item.

“*Sigh* I will…” Pretending to get annoyed, Lushia kisses each of her family members on the cheek before flying off.

“You’re such a worrywart, Rigurd. She’ll be just fine.”

“Hmm…I know. I just…want to dote on her for lost time. She was so small when she first left. Now, she’s an adult…”

“Well, I can always reminisce and tell you what she was like when I brought her in. Wrapping her wings around Rigurd, Jannete brought her lips close to his right ear. “After that, we can get more…intimate with each other…” Jannete hadn’t felt the urge to find a husband for a long time due to her duties as a mother taking precedence. Now that her eldest daughter is twenty and her youngest fifteen, Jannete felt more amorous once Rigurd came into their lives. Now that her daughters are older, she could spend less time supervising them and have more time to tend to her personal needs.

“Ah…o-oh my…” Giving Rigurd bedroom eyes and speaking in a sultry tone, Rigurd felt his role as a husband…nay, as a man kick in. “What about Jiji, Hina, and Chio?”

“Chio’s teaching them how to fly, Rigurd. They’ll be gone till six in the afternoon. That gives us four hours.” Chastity be damned. Rigurd and Jannete headed straight to their bedroom, where eventually, they’d introduce the fifth member of their family.

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