Joe’s thoughts wandered a bit, but soon found himself unable to really continue without waking her and didn’t feel comfortable waking her just to check if she was really lighter than expected. It wasn’t really that important, either, in the end, and Joe decided to put the matter to the side, turning to his mana practice. He knew he needed to be ready for the day, but his recovery was quite strong, and he wasn’t really worried as the room was still quite dark, the window showing a darkened night bright with the gas giant. He ended up spending what felt like three or four hours working his personal and system mana as well as the various mana points he had. And on the skills he’d determined to level up like magic heal.

The morning started about the same time when Kilniara stirred around the same time she normally did every morning. Joe saw her stirring and smiled. Her eyes drifted open and she smiled to see him staring back at her.

“Morning!”

“Morning, sleepy head.”

Kilniara grunted, “I’m quite awake and refreshed.”

Joe simply smiled and said nothing, shrugging slightly so as not to bobble her head on his shoulder.

They fell back into silence and then soon fell into their practice, although Joe was cautious not to push himself or his mana points too much. Despite that, they were able to enjoy a good hour or so of practice before a soft knock echoed from their door.

Joe looked up and then the realization of where they were returned to him, and he stood, finding the large room empty except for the two of them. He felt a blush come upon him as he realized they’d been in a room alone for the whole evening. He kept himself calm, but found himself a bit uptight with the realization and jumped to his feet rather quickly, a blush flashing across his cheeks rather quickly.

Kilniara seemed a bit taken aback when she saw him standing, but when she saw his blush, she began giggling, almost uncontrollably and Joe’s blush only flushed brighter.

“Stop,” Joe grumbled.

Kilniara only giggled more, and Joe felt a smile steel over his lips before he finally sighed and accepted the good natured ribbing.

“So, you want this?”

Kilniara seemed to be confused, still gasping in laughter but looking up at him, “Wha…?”

Joe leaped forward and immediately began tickling her and her laughter immediately changed to gasping rejection.

“No!... no… stop! No!”

Joe smiled as he stepped back, “Revenge is sweet!”

Kilniara fell back on the bed, still laughing slightly, but more panting in relieved gasps as she lay there. Joe looked down on her for a moment before sitting next to her at her head and dropping a hand to the side of her head, caressing her feathery head softly. Her gasps died out and the moment turned tender as she stared up at him. His head came down, and soon the two were lost in soft kisses until some knocks on the door broke them apart. Joe stood, and pulled Kilniara carefully to her feet.

“Let’s head out.”

Kilniara smiled and turned, her confident energy quickly turning slightly embarrassed as she walked to the corner and slipped her nightgown from her shoulders. Joe’s eyes widened rapidly then flickered to the right where a pile of clothing sat on a chair. O… K… Joe froze in uncertainty even as his thoughts wrestled with enjoying the sight and controlling himself out of respect for her. His sigh was a shuddering gasp but he wrenched himself around before her gown even drifted to the floor. It wasn’t quick enough, for the imagery of her beauty was ingrained in his mind as he gasped a couple more times before he was able to return his breathing to some semblance of normal.

The sound of whispering clothing and silky caresses across skin played over his thoughts in tympani thunder drowning out all his thoughts as every bit of his attention was on the beautiful woman behind him. He struggled but could not turn his thoughts away from her, and he jumped slightly when her arm slipped into his.

“Thank you,” Kilniara whispered softly, her head turned away shyly.

“For?”

Kilniara looked up at him, then smiled, confidence returning, “For giving me some privacy.”

Joe smiled back at her, releasing a shudder but nodded, “Once we're married, I’ll be watching you intently, every time you change!” Joe ended his statement with burning passion, eyes staring intently into hers.

Even as he spoke, the tension in the room returned and her face flushed brilliant red even as her delicate tiny scales flared into goose bumps across her arms, upper chest, and face. Her own breathing hitched but she simply stared up at him and smiled softly.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“I think… I would like that.”

Joe smiled brightly at that, then laughed, “I’ll wait. Don’t worry.”

The two then turned to the door and Joe opened it for her, allowing her through first before following. Kilniara led the way to an expansive dining area, the two boys already there enjoying a rather delicious and various spread of breakfast dishes, almost all rather unique and new for Joe. Seeing the food, his stomach quickly grumbled and he found himself following after Kilniara’s rapidly moving form.

All four sat at the table, enjoying their meal before a servant came in and spoke softly but firmly, easily heard over the noisy tableware and boisterous conversation.

“A guest wishes to join you. The Matriarch and First in Line for Matriarch asks to breakfast with you.”

Joe looked up, surprise catching him, but quickly swallowed his food even as he nodded and waved, beckoning to allow them in, but still added verbally as well.

“Please, let them in. It would be wonderful to enjoy an early morning meal!”

The maid bowed and turned back towards the door, “Announcing the Matriarch and First in Line for Matriarch.”

The maid moved to the side as the two Ulvan woman gracefully slid across the room, coming to the table and choosing a couple of the still dozen available seats around the absolutely massive dining table. The Matriarch greeted Joe warmly when she came in, then offered her greetings to Kilniara as well.

“Greetings, Eccentric. It is good to see you. Your work yesterday was an incredible boon. Greetings, Kilniara. My daughter already sees you as sister.”

Kilniara blushed at that, and hid his head away, “Greetings, Matriarch.”

The Matriarch seemed to open her mouth to interject with Kilniria but Joe felt his eyebrow rise when he saw Gwenvair brushed a hand against her mother’s knee, stopping her from interjecting. Huh… guess the parent child relationship isn’t as strict or high power distance. Gwenvair can still talk or give advice to her parents, I guess. Joe turned his head away and hid his smile, but enjoyed seeing a parent child relationship that was so close.

Gwenvair turned to Kilniara and put a hand on her shoulder, leaning close to whisper softly near her ear and Kilniara’s blush faded, replaced by a giggle, and Joe decided to help the two girls out.

“So. What brings the Matriarch to our table this morning?”

The Matriarch turned to look at Joe and smiled softly, “Nothing of import. I only sought to thank you and join in the morning breakfast.”

Joe nodded, “The walls are still well defended?”

The Matriarch gave an actual smile at that, albeit a small one, “Yes. You work was of great impact yesterday.”

Joe smiled, “It was no big deal. I’m glad I was able to help in some small way.”

The Matriarch nodded at that but didn’t reply and Joe allowed the silence to return for a few moments, Kilniara and Gwenvair still speaking softly with each other but not enough to cover the comfortable silence that had settled over the table. Joe was not bothered by it, and the Matriarch seemed as unconcerned as she picked up her silverware and enjoyed her breakfast as well.

Garnedell and Zilnek, after stiffening a bit at the mention of the Matriarch’s plan to join them, quickly relaxed and returned to their meal and soon most were eating, all of them obviously quite hungry; especially the Matriarch. Joe felt his eyebrows rise once again when he saw how much she was eating, but then he glanced at his own table and realized he was on his third serving which was almost gone and he still felt a bit hungry. Huh… maybe not so unexpected.

Joe slowed with his fourth serving, focusing on fruits and more dessert like dishes before pushing his plate away to take deep breath. He’d been very surprised when he realized how much he had eaten and immediately slowed, but as he cautiously took stock of his stomach, he realized he didn’t feel any form of bloating or over eating, which was a bit concerning. He wasn’t sure exactly how much he could eat without being too much, but he was quite certain that he’d passed ‘comfortable’ a good plate ago. I still feel hungry? How am I eating this much? I can’t eat too much… gotta fight at the wall and don’t wanna puke half way through, but … Guess I’ll just pause? See how I feel in another ten or so minutes… hmm… what can … right! The slaves.

Joe pursed his lips in thought as he remembered the slaves from yesterday, a topic now available to pass the time while he paused in his eating. He glanced over to see the Matriarch and Gwenvair eating, but figured he could at least bring up the conversation. His anger had long since cooled, having lost it in the frenzied chaos of the fight and dampened it with an excellent rest the night before.

“So. If I could ask? What of the men at the bottom of the walls?”

Gwenvair tensed at that, glancing over at her mother, but the Matriarch glanced up and looked at Joe with graceful deliberateness, “Ah. Gwenvair spoke of your … concern.”

“I just seek understanding, if you would.”

The Matriarch put down her utensils before carefully cleaning her mouth, “My daughter mentioned you had… concerns. What would you wish to know?”

“What is their purpose?”

The Matriarch looked at Joe, some confusion laced with concern very subtly hidden beneath her face. She stopped for a moment, looking at Joe carefully then glanced at Gwenvair. Both said nothing, but the Matriarch looked back up at Joe. She seemed to be tense for a while, and Joe was careful to school himself, removing tension from his posture and calming his face. Need to calm them and let them explain themselves. With that thought, Joe immediately knew he had to do more than simply wait.

Joe shook his head and waved a hand, “Please. Be at peace. I didn’t want to … relax. I’m OK. I am just wishing to understand.”

The Matriarch seemed to deflate, tension fleeing her core and she settled into her chair a bit. Gwenvair actually smiled at that and her reaction was even more obvious than her mother, settling back into her seat to rest. She looked to her mother and smiled brightly and settled a hand on her mom’s shoulder and took over the conversation.

“You reacted quite… strongly.”

Joe nodded his head, “I … can explain after. And I will explain fully, but allow me to hold my silence as it may influence you. I am not wishing to entrap you, but wish to hear your thoughts without influence from me.”

The Matriarch stared at Joe for a while but didn’t seem mollified, still looking at Joe carefully. Gwenvair, however, squeezed her mom’s shoulder and calmed her but continued, taking over for her mom.

“The people at the bottom of the wall are slaves and guards, well… slaves and some butchers, skinners, and other crafters protected by the guards as they harvest, skin, and butcher the monsters and animals. The guards protect them as needed. They help claim the harvesting materials, specifically to claim any cores before beasts or monsters can claim them. That is honestly a very rare worry, but it is still wise to be concerned.”