Yui says "Ash is right. We are just talking theories right now. There is nothing to test yet."

Core says "A ritual to gather and condense mana is fairly easy. The trick would be focusing that into a body and somehow making it form a core."

"Hm, I wonder if it would work on me."

Yui says "Ash, you already have a core."

"Right, but this body is that of a mana beast, it is a natural core. We are talking about an artificial core. If we could find a way to give me a second core I might get my magic back!"

Yui says "More likely the two cores would try to merge and kill you in the process!"

Core says "I agree with Yui. No creature has ever had two cores!"

"That you know of!"

Yui says "This is getting ahead of ourselves. We don't even know if it is possible to make an artificial core."

"Actually, we do. I've done it before when making items. In fact, Blitz has a core."

Yui says "Are you confident that you could do it inside another living body?"

"Yeah, I'm sure I can do it. The problem is, I have no idea how much pain might be involved for the person."

Myria says "Only one way to find out. Let's do it!"

"It doesn't need to be you, I'm sure one of the guards or Kitara would volunteer."

Myria says "No! I want to be the first!"

"Why? Being the first carries the highest level of risk!"

Myria says "I know that, but I need to do this! Please, Ash, let me try!"

Seeing the look of determination in her eyes I can't help but stop arguing. She really wants this, no matter the risk, and I have to respect her decision. As soon as I give up, Yui and Core start planning for the experiment.

They figure out the ritual in a few minutes, but prepping a room for it will take a bit of time. So we set the time of the experiment for tomorrow after breakfast. Myria looks excited yet nervous, which is understandable since there is no way to know if it will really work.

"Myria, are you really sure about this?"

Myria says "Yes, there is no way you are going to talk me out of it!"

"Alright, I won't try. If you are sure then I won't try to stop you. I will do everything I can to keep you alive."

Myria says "I know you will, Ash."

Yui says "Now that that's out of the way we should talk details. Core and I have already figured out which ritual to use to gather the mana. I have also chosen the room we will use. Now what else do we need?"

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"Can the two of you make the ritual purify the mana as it gathers it? That would save me a step."

Core says "That shouldn't be a problem."

Yui says "Anything else?"

"Just make sure the mana is gathered at a point above the body, not inside it. Other than that, no, everything else I will have to do manually."

Yui says "Alright, we will be ready."

Myria says "I am going to go rejoin the others."

"Okay, see you at dinner."

Myria leaves quickly, she probably wants some time alone to think about things. No matter what she says, she has to be worried about what might go wrong. I know I am worried, if something does happen to her it will be my fault.

However, this experiment is important, it will determine the future of the beastmen. I would prefer it if it was someone else being the test subject, but she wants this. I just hope that if something goes wrong and she dies that I am able to resurrect her.

Kechara says "Dad, are you worried?"

"Yes, a little."

Asuna says "Dad likes Myria!"

"Yes, Myria has been with me a long time. It is my responsibility to protect her. Yet now, because of me, she is risking her life."

Kechara says "Myria chose to risk her life. We heard her say it herself."

Yui says "Ash, Kechara is right, Myria made her own decision. You are only responsible for coming up with the idea. She made a choice knowing full well the danger involved."

Core says "I know you are having second thoughts, but if you take this away from her she will never forgive you."

"I know, I know!"

Asuna says "Is Myria going to be our mommy?"

"No! Who taught you to have such a smart mouth?"

Asuna says "Kechara!"

Kechara says "I did not!"

With a giggle Asuna takes off running, with Kechara in close pursuit and I can't help but laugh. As I am watching them chase each other around all I can do is picture them doing this kind of thing while tiny. I just can't wait until I can watch them playing with their little brothers like this.

As Asuna is being chased she freezes the floor and then makes a sharp turn. Kechara is not able to keep her footing and goes sliding into a wall, with a loud crash. Asuna stops and laughs at her sister, only to get grabbed by Kechara's tail.

When Kechara uses her tail to drag Asuna close, Asuna attacks with her tails. It is at this point that I realize Asuna now has five tails, which she uses to tickle Kechara. Once Kechara is laughing, Asuna manages to escape from Kechara's tail and tackles her.

It quickly becomes a wrestling match between the two of them, which is highly entertaining. Asuna is only about a third of Kechara's size, but she is using her tails to make up the difference. I am surprised to see that all five are prehensile and she can use them independently of each other.

This gives her a much wider range and variety of attacks to counter Kechara's size. Kechara is obviously holding back to make things even, she is far stronger than Asuna. They are having a ton of fun, and so am I just watching them, until Yui speaks up.

Yui says "Remember the rule! If you break it, you fix it!"

This causes both of them to freeze, just as they were about to roll into the line of chairs. From the looks on their faces I am guessing that this has been an issue in the past. It is interesting that Yui said 'fix it', I can just imagine the two of them trying to fix something.

Asuna says "Nothing broke!"

Kechara says "We were being careful!"

Yui says "This time."

"Have they been causing you problems?"

Asuna says "No! We've been good!"

Kechara says "We have had a few accidents."

Yui says "It's nothing major."

Core says "Just kids being kids. Except they are very large kids."

"Do I need to replace anything?"

Yui says "No, it was nothing major. After a few hours trying to put a table back together they learned their lesson."

Core says "Now they mostly keep their antics to the room Yui made for them. Or outside."

"They are probably just over excited because I am here. It is my fault for being gone so long."

Kechara says "It's okay, daddy, we know you had things you had to do."

"Core, how long can the barrier hold without Kechara around?"

Core says "A month, maybe two. Why?"

"Because, at some point I want to take Kechara and Asuna with me to see some of the world."