Although, from what I am seeing, there are less beast bodies than human ones. It doesn't take long before I see several live beasts wandering around the city. I quickly scan them, but to my surprise they are not just soul beings, they are living.

Before this I thought all the doors led to soul realms, but it would seem that I was mistaken. That means I need to be a lot more careful when going through new doors. After all, if there are mortals then there might also be gods and goddesses.

The last thing I want is to run into a deity when I am nothing but a helpless soul. At my current strength even a deity's avatar could kill me with the flick of a finger. Not to mention, mortal realms might have dragons and other powerful beings.

Although, I wouldn't mind running into another dragon, as long as it was in the mood to talk. However, a dragon not in the mood to talk would be the end of me instantly. I think it would be far better for me to avoid the mortal planes and stick to the soul realms until my soul is stronger.

Instead of interacting with the beasts I leave the city and return to the gate. Then I head back to the desert world to see if the hive scorpions have gone away yet. When I find none near the gate I go ahead and build a body and start exploring.

This time I head towards the east, hopefully away from the hive's nest or wherever they come from. Of course, before I go anywhere I spread my mana out into my detection sphere. Then I go looking for the normal scorpions in the sand while hoping not to meet the hive.

12 Hell Scorpions defeated! 1200 Soul Exp gained!

Soul Coins +38

Recovered 19 Soul HP!

After a couple of hours of hunting I return to the gate and leave, but something is bothering me. In total I found three crystals, the first healed ten points, the second healed nine, and the last healed none. Does this mean that the remaining damage to my soul can't be healed?

This is disappointing, but not too surprising, I wasn't expecting it to be easy to replace the lost chunk of my soul. When I take a look at my own soul to verify, I find all the cracks are fully healed. Wanting to have a little fun I quickly create a soulscape and invite just Seronia.

Seronia says "What's up, Ash?"

"Can you do me a favor and check on my soul?"

Seronia says "Sure! Ah! What is this?! Your soul has healed! Not only are the cracks gone but your soul feels stronger! Ash, just what have you done?!"

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When Seronia sees me laughing at her reaction she proceeds to beat me up. She only stops when I finally agree to tell her everything I have done to my soul. So, I sit down with her and tell her what I have learned about the hall and the doors.

Seronia says "There really is such a thing? Entire planes only accessible by souls?!"

"That is my current understanding, yes. Keep in mind that I have only recently started exploring, so my knowledge is limited."

Seronia says "Understood. As you learn more please keep me informed. Anything I can learn about souls would be helpful since I can't explore this place myself."

"Just out of curiosity, why is that?"

Seronia says "Because deities don't have souls. We are complete beings, not like mortals who have separate pieces."

"Alright, I will tell you everything I learn."

Seronia says "You will continue to be careful, right?"

"As careful as I can be."

Seronia says "That is a little worrying! Then again, no matter what you are up to I have to worry about you. What's worse is now, thanks to you, I have to worry about my sister's curiosity as well!"

"I haven't done anything to Krenocia!"

Seronia says "Not directly maybe, but you seem to have infected her with your curiosity somehow!"

"Satisfying your own curiosity can be a very rewarding experience!"

Seronia says "Don't you dare try infecting me as well!"

At the look on Seronia's face I can't help myself and I burst out laughing. She gives me a dirty look but that only makes it worse because it just makes her look cuter. Then she suddenly gets up and moves to sit on my lap, that shuts me up.

In fact, when she sits on my lap I just freeze completely, not daring to move a muscle. When she sees how nervous I am it makes her smile, like a cat smiling at a canary. The problem is that I am supposed to be the cat, not the canary!

Seronia says "Why do you look so nervous? Isn't this why you invited me alone and not my sister??"

"N-no! I invited just you because it was going to be talk about souls! Your sister isn't as interested in this type of thing."

Seronia says "That's not true at all. She would find this hall of doors granting access to other planes fascinating! Or are you maybe scared of dealing with both of us at once after last time?!"

"Umm, err!"

Seronia laughs and says "So that's it! You don't want to deal with both of us at once! And here I was hoping you had chosen me for some alone time!"

It is hard to think with her sitting on my lap, and before I can think of a response she kisses me. At that point my brain completely shuts down and I just helplessly kiss her back. When Seronia stops kissing me and sees the look on my face she starts laughing.

After laughing for a minute she kisses me again and then disappears as she leaves the soulscape. I am not sure how long after she leaves it is before I regain my senses and end the soulscape. It wasn't as shocking this time since I was ready for it, in fact I enjoyed it way too much.

That is the scary part, if this keeps up I am not sure I will be able to say no if they make the same offer again. Even without them saying it, it is becoming really tempting just from thinking about it. Becoming a god and having the two of them as my wives, who wouldn't be tempted?

To avoid thinking about it any more I serve breakfast and then head to the construction site. While I am waiting for the sailors to show up I finish the decking and work on the frame of the higher decks. When the sailors show up I have them start work on planning the rigging needed for the sails.

Once they give me a general idea of what they need I start making the framework. These are the beams attached to the mast that the ropes will anchor to, I think they are called spars. When they are done and installed I leave the setting of the sails and the ropes to the sailors.