Trying to deal with a Time Mage's overprotective mother is hard. So hard in fact, that I decided to bin the idea completely. I didn't have a parental figure growing up so I don't really know how to talk to them. Then again, even if I did, I still wouldn't know how to go about asking a mother to let her son form a contract with me?
No idea.
Poor Kieran is on his own.
I feel bad. There are a few things going on that I should get some kind of hold over, but I don't know what to say or how to go about them.
There's Princess Aura for example. That wasn't even a thing until Edwan opened his mouth and dumped another complicated situation in my lap unintentionally. Why is it that the only female elf in my city is royalty? Worse yet, royalty that was somehow enslaved and passed around a few undesirable masters.
How do I talk to her about that?
Exactly.
I have no idea.
Unlike Kieran, however, Aura is not grounded or alone and has a large support network of friends. Friends that she's made here in my city. Some are regular Tironians and others are dungeon humans. Either way, she's surrounded by people who care about her and make the Princess feel safe.
Which is good for her after what she went through and it means I don't actually have to say anything.
She deserves it.
I mean so do I, but all I actually want is a little peace and quiet. Some Abi time to just kick back and relax. Hence why I'm here.
Closing the book I'm reading, the light in my domain fades away save from the crackling fire beside me.
What do I do about these problems? And why are there always so many?
I've been in my domain for the better part of a day reading, under the guise of trying to figure out some answers. Having little to no luck though, I'm deciding to call it as I haven't had any startling revelations and nothing even slighty helpful has come to mind.
Even when I'm in my domain I can't relax these days. There are always that many things on my mind that I'm starting to think I'll never be able to rest properly again.
Exiting my personal space, I come face to face with the reason I fled in the first place. Time stops when I use Divinity's Domain and that made me question whether I actually need to contract Kieran or not. That was when I realised that time won't just stop in my own space, but it probably applys to all the Gods domains. That means I still can't use Time Magic anywhere in my dungeon, but it was still a revelation of sorts.
"I suppose so." The cause of more frustrations than one, Veris, begins jumping up and down in excitement. I'd been thinking about her request aswell why I was reading. She wants another building to create her own chain of Pleasure Parlours.
It isn't an unreasonable request and her first business hasn't had any problems yet, much to my surprise. I was sure that if something was going to go wrong somewhere in Varona, it would be there. Still, seeing as how I can't fault her, the Boss of my dungeon is getting her way once again.
I'm definitely too soft when it comes to Veris.
Thanking me profusely, Veris leaves with a smile and disappears to get up to Goddesses knows what. Actually, I know exactly what she's going to be doing. She's either going to be the giving end, or the receiving end, of a mutually-beneficial paddling with one of her clients.
I still can't believe people visit her and manage to keep their souls green.
Isn't it...
Nevermind. Let's forget that thought before it goes somewhere.
"Mom, it's time to work." I don't know when or how, but at some point Becca became the personal assistant I kept complaining about not having. Worst of all, I can't even slack off because I don't want to set a bad example for my daughter.
Damn their clever words. I was nice and content just skirting through before. Now it feels like the only breaks I get are at meal times and to sleep. I'd probably cry if I wasn't able to get in few sneaky trips to Divinity's Domain here and there.
It's great that I'm able to take time to consider my options. Even if I don't end up at a conclusion, getting to lay down and relax while mulling over my problems kills two birds with one arrow. Hopefully, they haven't realised what I'm doing yet. Everytime I close my eyes to think, another book is finished after a quick tea break in my Domain.
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Then again, it's not as if it'd matter if anyone did notice. Time stops inside my Domain, so it's not like I'm wasting any. The worst of it would be earful about neglect, or something like that.
Mentioning neglect, as I was so rightfully informed, it's work time.
It's been a week since I last saw Kieran. The same amount of time since I saw Edwan. He and the elves left Varona right after a harsh scolding from Aura. Poor elves. Although, he did kinda call her out in the middle of Ali's. Even if it was in elvish.
During the time they've been gone, my bond with Becca has only gotten stronger. Which is still unbelievable. The Oncoming Storm spends most of the day with me now and even attends the morning meetings. She's super helpful, I've gotta say. Sometimes she even brings up some good points and suggestions.
Although they're usually ones that I'm supposed to talk about myself, if I don't forget about them or manage to become distracted that is.
The triplets are getting closer to their evolution thanks to Randy's efforts in the Colliseum. All the other Dragons have already reached level 40 and are just waiting to evolve. I just need to make sure the Coliseum is free before I go ahead and start evolving Oblivion Dragons.
The thought alone causes my Core worry. Doing it all at once would probably lead to the end of Varona since that specific tier of Dragon seems to do what they want. I'm hoping that it was just Becca's personality and that Sis is right.
Either way, the Ringmaster suggested doing one Dragon at a time. That way we can focus solely on them and their training. I'm definitely not against that idea, but I still feel kinda bad for those that will have to wait longer.
Still, it's a good idea and it even gives me peace of mind. Way to go Randy. As soon as the triplets are ready, we'll set that plan in motion and I'll find out if Sis is full of bubbles or not.
The wall surrounding Varona is still exactly the same as it was last week. Roughly 40% complete. I've been spending almost all my DP unlocking copious amounts of land and would like to say it was due to world domination, or something on those lines. The truth is... I'm kinda lost.
I was following Edwan's directions, or at least what I remember of them, but having never been this far west I've completely lost my bearings. That said, it doesn't stop me from going out and purchasing more land with Becca as the two of us make a day of it.
The triplets are too busy with training to come, or even work, as Randy is pushing them hard. Much to Amber's dissatisfaction. The little glutton has been racking in those hours at Ali's and was rather upset about having to trade all you can eat for all you can kill. Violet and Blondie complain less. There are still complaints, but both combined don't surpass Amber's.
Still, another day is over and another shitload of land has been acquired. I'm really starting to amass some ground space now. I mean, I don't even know where I am, but I own all of it. Believe it or not, it's really easy to get sidetracked and think 'I'll just finish off that forest before we move on.'
At least I don't have to come back for it, right?
Becca wasn't that impressed with my notion, but I thought it was a sound argument. After all, I do own the forest now. Not to mention the small elven community that lives there now contributes to my daily DP. It wasn't the elven capital though, which was a bit of a bummer. I thought I'd gotten lucky when I saw that first elf, but no joy. I'll have to face the music soon and ask Aura.
I'll give it another week though, just in case I manage to find it myself. In fairness, it shouldn't be this hard to miss. It is a capital city after all. It should be big and glamorous, but in a natural sort of way because they're elves.
Either way, that's another two hundred thousand points worth of land added to my ever-growing portfolio. Without adding in variables, such as traveling merchants or monsters that live on my lands, I'm rolling in points. My daily income has surpassed a quarter of a million and that's after You and Me's allowances.
Speaking of subsystem B, You has already altered every single one of the adventuring floors in my dungeon and is currently in Orad. The city that I spent most of my first life in only has the one dungeon that I made myself. Full of Goblins, You will probably be finished redesigning it by the end of the day. The fact that alterations cost nothing to perform means she has been saving most of the DP I give to her on a daily basis.
Me, on the other hand, blows through his like there's no tomorrow. It's strange to be honest. Me only has to populate the forest around Varona whereas You is in charge of the whole dungeon. Then again, the lower floor monsters are all created by the auto spawners I placed. That means You doesn't have to use her points on them either.
Hmm.
Realistically, I don't even think You needs an allowance. Her five thousand could be spent on five more sections of land. Which might not sound like a lot, but over the space of a year that's more than fifteen hundred plots in total.
Whatever, I suppose there's no rush. Not on the world domination front anyway. My sit down with the Elf King is a different story tough. There's only three weeks to go until we're supposed to meet and I'm nowhere nearer to knowing where their city is now than I was when Edwan gave me directions.
Did he even even say it west?
Why did he have to tell me? If he'd have told Becca instead, we'd be there by now. Then again, she had only just gone through her evolution so she was still adjusting. Hell, I'm still adjusting to her now. She's so different.
Porting myself and Becca to Ali's, we meet up with some tired-looking triplets for dinner. Blondie and Violet complain about the strength of Golems that Randy has been putting them up against while Becca tells them about all the places we visited today. Myself and Amber say nothing. Choosing to eat instead of making small talk.
I'm drained.
Even with my secret domain visits, I feel shattered. It's always the same after a spending spree though. I'm sure Me said that Dungeon Points are akin to my stamina or something like that. Which is probably the reason why I'm so tired all the time.
It's nothing a nice sleep and nightly replenish won't fix though.
I wonder if I'll see Kieran tomorrow?