The infirmity was packed when Azura arrived. Over a dozen cultivators had experienced some type of injury. Most were relatively minor. A broken bone or deep lacerations that would heal with the aid of the kin’s mana. The one Azura was looking at wasn’t one of those. A squirrel-kin lay dead on the table, his chest had several gaping holes in it like he was gored by an enraged boar. There was nothing to be done for that one. She turned to the one next to him.

She was a dog-kin, although how much longer that would be true, was still to be seen. She’d been hit by an eldritch bolt. Signs of the change were present with small tentacles sprouting from her chest. Yet, it was different than when mages were infected. A blast from an Eldritch Lord should have caused wide spread changes over just a few minutes. This effect was limited to her chest. At least the kin was unconscious, thanks to her fellow cultivators knocking her out when the changes began. Azura hoped it stayed that way. Waking up to find tentacles growing on your boobs wouldn’t be a fun experience.

“Can you do anything?” Her mother asked as the rest of her staff saw to the others. Most were simply bandaged and told to take it easy. Others in critical conditions were given a few drops of a healing potion. The drops were not because they were stingy, although her mother totally was, it was because such potions used the imbiber’s mana to restore their flesh. Each drop taken could consume weeks of cultivation. So the bare minimum was used. Such potions wouldn’t work on Azura at all.

“I’ll try,” Azura said. She focused inward to her core bringing out a piece of solid ki. A crimson star appeared on her finger, slightly warping reality. As always she was momentarily transfix by the contradiction of the crystalized ki. Simultaneously it was so dense and potent that she'd expected it to fill an entire room, yet it was smaller than a grain of sand. The small size of the ki was fortunate as she forced it into the unconscious kin.

Immediately Azura’s senses came alive as the kin’s blood responded to her ki. She felt it flowing through the kin like it was her own. She also felt it’s… confusion. Yes, that was the best way to describe it. The kin’s blood was confused by the changes going on. So was Azura until she noticed that the kin’s mana pool was still inverted. There was a pressure emitting from it forcing the mana into the kin’s body. That pressure was also slowing the eldritch energy leaving the changes only skin deep so far. The eldritch energy however was working its way deeper reaching towards her mana pool.

Azura grimaced. She could fix this, but it would cost her. With no choice, Azura pulled a portion of her liquid ki into the kin using her solid ki as an anchor. Immediately she set to work neutralizing the eldritch energy. Unlike when she restored her own body the ki she used to heal others was consumed, gone forever. Her blood attunement wasn’t meant for healing and it cost her dearly. It took some time and a second portion of ki to remove all the corruption. Sweat was plastered to Azura’s face when she finally finished.

“Will she be okay?” Coralline asked.

“She’ll be fine,” Azura answered then looked down at the tentacles. The changes already made were going to have to be solved the old fashioned way.

“Cut away the tentacles and let her body heal naturally,” Azura said as her mother hugged her.

“You did great.”

“Thanks… It just took more ki than I liked.”

Coralline pulled back, studying her daughter. “How much have you lost?”

Azura sighed as she swayed slightly. “I’m down to what I had when we fought at Fortunia. I can’t keep this up.” She looked into her mother’s eyes, identical to her own. “It’s time for the others to advance. I’ll go find them and…”

“No,” Coralline said sharply getting a confused look from her. “Err, I mean, no I can send someone to find them. You young lady, need some serious rest.”

Azura was about to argue but couldn’t muster up the energy. That alone proved that her mother was right. “Alright. Tell them to have all their mana unexhausted and to mentally prepare as much as possible. Perhaps mediate or something…” Azura trailed off yawning loudly. She yelped when her mother slapped her on the butt.

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“Off to bed!”

“Fine,” Azura muttered staggering away. Surely one of these days her mother would stop picking on her. It would happen right after the mages accepted kin as equals the world over.

The news spread like wildfire through Azura’s Rest. It was finally time. Four cultivators were ready to advance. Gwen couldn’t keep a smug grin off her face as she went home to her small alcove.

“Mom! Guess what?” Gwen said excitedly. Her mother, Gretchen, yawned as she got out of her bed an empty wine bottle rolling on the ground.

“Shudup will ya,” Gretchen mumbled rubbing at her head. Her mother had always been a heavy drinker, their new lives at cultivators didn’t change that. She looked ruffled her black fur messy and she reeked. Her sleeping until afternoon wasn’t unexpected due to the night shift she worked, although the drinking afterwards didn’t help. She constantly used all her extra allotments on alcohol.

Gwen’s mood immediately darkened. In her excitement she’d forgotten what her mother was like. She debated on just leaving when Gretchen spoke.

“So, what were ye yappin about?” Her voice was thick and rough. Partly due to the drink, but it was also a dialect she had from back home… wherever that was. She never talked about it. All Gwen knew was that she was banished after she got pregnant.

“Er, tomorrow I’m going to advance to the liquid ki stage.” As if there was any doubt she wouldn’t succeed.

Her mother just looked at her and snorted. “Big fucking deal…” She reached under her bed pulling out another bottle. Grabbing the cork with her sharp teeth she pulled until the familiar pop could be heard. She spat out the cork taking a long swig.

“Why don’t you do something useful and get me another bottle.”

“Fuck you!” Gwen snarled. “Go get it yourself you worthless old hag!”

Gretchen snarled and swiped a backhand at her daughter. The blow was pathetic. Her mother had barely progressed as a cultivator. Gwen caught the blow and gave one back while simultaneously snatching the bottle away. She restrained herself, but she let enough strength through that her mother was sent crashing hard into her bed.

“YOU DON’T GET TO TOUCH ME! DIDN’T I MAKE THAT FUCKING CLEAR LAST TIME?!” Gwen shouted smashing the bottle against the earthen wall.

Instead of rousing to one of their standard epic fights,not uncommon for badger-kin, her mother just sobbed curling in on herself. Something had broken in her the day they were taken as slaves. In them both. Gwen still occasionally woke up in a panic convinced that she was restrained by a binding spell as the men took turns with her. The mages didn’t touch her mother. Instead they called her a beast, torturing her into obedience while they forced her to watch. She stilled remembered the filthy men saying how a half-kin was so close enough to human.

Gwen gave a low growl. She growled in both disgust at her mother and at the memories drudged up by the interaction. Part of her wanted to lay next to her mother giving what comfort she could. The larger, angrier part wouldn’t let her. Instead she stormed out. She needed to find something to kill… slowly… as it screamed.

Hamal was back at the warren, the den of the rat-kin, having his back slapped by his many family members at the news. Tallous embraced him swinging him around like a child. Hamal simply enjoyed the larger rat-kin excitement.

“I always knew you’d be great!” Tallous said. “Does mom know yet? I bet she does. She’s got her claws everywhere!”

“Of course,” A feminine voice. Tallous dropped Hamal who landed smoothly despite the weird angle he was released at.

“Mom,” Hamal said and then was caught off guard as his mother embraced him.

“I’m so proud of you! Of all of you!” Fatania said gesturing with a hand for them all to come closer. The rat-kin embraced. Their dark deeds making the need for light and love even more important.

“So it’s time then?” Elise asked as she sat next to Gerald in his forge.

“Yup,” Gerald said wishing he could think of something more meaningful to say. He’d closed up shop when Elise had come over after hearing the news so they could speak privately. He had too. Kin kept coming by to offer congratulations.

He just decided to ask about the weather when Elise pressed against him, her hands trailing through his chest fur. Gods below! He wasn’t ready for this!!! He looked down at the human girl who was so much smaller. How’d did she get so imposing all of a sudden!? Her cheeks were bright red as she strained upward kissing him. It was a bit awkward. Full kin had mouths that weren’t made for such activities, but they managed. Once they separated Elise was even more flushed as she leaned toward his ear.

“I want to touch your tail…” She whispered into his ear. Gerald’s mind went blank as he numbly followed her every lead.

The sounds that came from the forge matched the intensity of it’s usually bellows, although no hammer or anvil was in use. Snickering kin gave the place a wide berth as Elise eagerly followed in her father’s footsteps.

Tabatha didn’t have any family moments or sexual encounters. She just shouted in glee racing around. She bragged to anyone that would listen. Most gave her as much encouragement as she needed, just to get her to go away. None would do otherwise for fear of a head thwack. Only one kin seemed not the least bit jealous and was keenly interested in everything she had to say. The deer-kin Nicola, having just returned from Deepmere, paid close attention to every word.