The next morning, the break of dawn woke up the sleeping couple. Lily was feeling a lot better, but she wasn't quite ready to train yet. It turned out that Mia had an idea how to spend their free time, however.

"While you were sleeping off that lightning bolt yesterday, I made some inquiries about a suitable priestess for the training you and I discussed," Mia said as they got dressed. Lily's face immediately turned red at the mention of their earlier discussion, but she motioned for Mia to continue.

"As you might imagine, all of the priestesses here at the temple would be overjoyed to engage in any sort of carnal activities with the Avatar of their patron goddess, so I couldn't just go around posting job adverts. Not unless I was prepared to use violence to beat back the onslaught, and somehow I think Dahlia wouldn't approve of me decimating her temple," Mia said with a smile. "Instead, I went to the Head Priestess, and asked for a recommendation. She was happy to help, and quickly came up with a few candidates for the job. All of them had similar skills to your own, and had managed to master them in a short time. We are going to interview the girls today, after breakfast. That is if you are comfortable with the whole notion?"

She cocked her head as she asked the question, and Lily once again couldn't believe that her girlfriend was asking her to get sexually involved with another girl.

Sure, the situation wasn't ordinary, with a literal goddess of love being involved, but it was still crazy.

Better get used to it, as I don't think things will get any less crazy from here, Lily thought to herself as she considered Mia's request.

"The whole thing is still a little weird to me, but improving my self control is certainly worth doing, especially in light of yesterday's events," Lily finally answered, trying to put a utilitarian spin on the whole notion. Mia's eyes lit up as she realized she had scored her first victory, and she quickly stood up, pulling Lily to her feet.

"Excellent, no time to waste then. I know an excellent establishment right next to the temple where we can have a nice breakfast before we get to work," Mia said as she led Lily outside. "The temple food isn't bad, but I still feel like I need to make up for yesterday."

I really need to learn how to say no to her and her damn smile, Lily thought as they exited the temple. And one day, I am sure I will. Just not today.

Mia wasn't lying about the excellent food, Lily thought as they returned to the temple, and entered the office where they would conduct the interviews. Her and Mia talked about it over their meal, with Mia insisting that Lily pick whoever she's most comfortable with. Lily was very glad that her normally assertive girlfriend was willing to take a step back on this.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

They sat behind the desk, and Lily picked up one of the files the Head Priestess prepared on the candidates she picked. It had their basic information, like age, and some notes about their training and skills.

As she skimmed the information, there was a knock on the door, and the first candidate walked in. The priestess introduced herself as Nila, and Lily picked up her file. She was a year younger than Lily, a recent arrival at the temple, and it showed in the way her voice trembled as the girls asked her questions about her training and ways of dealing with her skills' intensity.

That was the main thing Lily had decided on when discussing the interview process with Mia; she wasn't going to pick someone who was so awestruck by her presence to not be able to think clearly.

Which is a shame, because she seems like a sweet girl. Pretty too, Lily thought as the interview ended and the priestess left.

Then again, I don't think there are many ugly priestesses of Dahlia. I've never met one anyway.

The following several candidates were similarly disappointing; the candidates were either of the wrong age, or too nervous in Lily's presence. She was already beginning to lose hope that they would find a suitable candidate when the next girl walked in.

Her name was Clara, and she was a year older than Lily. She was originally a priestess in the capital, before transferring to Lundin. There was a subtle air of competence around her, and while she was respectful of Lily and her status, there was no trace of the nervousness too many of the others displayed. She spoke clearly as she explained her way of dealing with sensory overload her skill could cause. It involved distancing one's mind from their body using a technique similar to the one used for checking skills, which piqued Lily's interest further. It sounded like it would be possible to use the same technique to help deal with the loss of control caused by Invoke Divinity. Lily suspected that learning it wouldn't be easy, but it was the most promising solution she'd heard up to that point.

It helps that she's also gorgeous, Lily thought as she looked at the girl sitting in front of her. Her petite round face was framed with long blonde hair, and the robes she wore showed off her curves nicely. And boy does she have some curves, Lily thought as her eyes shifted down from the girl's face. Clara wasn't as tall as Lily, which only made her chest stand out more.

Mia might get jealous if I pick her, Lily thought with amusement as Clara left the office.

None of the following candidates stood out, so as they reached the end, Lily made her decision.

"I think I am going with Clara," she said to Mia as the final candidate left. "It sounded like her technique could help with Invoke Divinity too."

"Oh, are you sure that's the only reason you are picking her?" Mia asked with a smile.

"What other reason could I possibly have?" Lily answered, her expression pure as the driven snow.

"Maybe she has some other qualities you liked," Mia answered, motioning in front of her chest. "I can't compete with that."

"Oh, is someone jealous?" Lily asked with a teasing smile.

"It's easy for you to make fun of me, with your 'assets' I doubt you had to worry about such vain things," Mia said.

"I'll have you know I didn't always have those 'assets'. They came with the whole Avatar thing, when Dahlia made my new body," Lily explained.

"Ah, the goddess's gifts are truly amazing. How are we, the common folk, meant to compete with divinity," Mia said, feigning despair.

"Is anyone from that 'common folk' in the room with us now, Lady Moneybags?" Lily asked as she crossed over to Mia. The smaller girl started giggling as she raised her hands in the air.

"You got me, that was too much even for me," she managed to answer before Lily sat in her lap.

"Besides, your 'assets' aren't the reason why I fell in love with you," Lily said, grinning back at her girlfriend.

"And pray tell, what was the reason?" Mia inquired, as her hands started to roam Lily's body.

"Your huge tracts of land, of course," Lily whispered as she leaned in for a kiss.