Mason eventually set the naked Rosa outside the pool, gave her a little water, then let her lay down to sleep. They would need to leave soon to make it back to Nassau before dark, but he couldn’t help but feel a dose of masculine pride having literally banged her unconscious. Maybe best to let her rest a little.

“The pool effects your civilians differently,” Thea explained, draping herself naked over his back. “She’ll gain power from this place, but the magic takes a toll.”

Mason frowned, then couldn’t help but fight the laugh that followed.

“I thought it was the sex.”

Thea laughed with him and started kissing his neck. “I’m sure that was part of it.”

Mason tried not to feel the creature’s body against his skin, doing his best to resist for the moment. It wasn’t exactly easy. Thea was like a Greek sex goddess—some composite of a hundred sculptures of Aphrodite turned into a living thing.

“Before you get any ideas,” he said, “I have questions.”

“Of course, druid,” Thea beamed.

“I’ve been having…dreams,” Mason said. “About the crone I met in the corrupted tree. About a giant and a chained old man. About a war between men, orcs, and…walking corpses. Does that make any sense to you?”

Thea frowned, which didn’t seem natural on her beautiful face. “Many druids dream of the past, and the future. That is not unusual. The giant and the chained man—this is another ancient—Chulin. When he grew too old and lost some of his power, he was captured by an old foe, the giant Cerebrex. Now the giant forces him to walk the forest in chains in punishment.”

Thea shuddered, and Mason tried not to imagine such a fate.

“Save him, druid,” Thea said, “and he would surely reward you with another blessing.”

“Where can I find him?” Mason decided he would save the man with or without reward. Such a monstrous thing happening in his woods…he wouldn’t stand for it.

Thea smiled like she could somehow read his thoughts.

“They’re always moving so it’s difficult to know. But Calypsa and I will speak to the trees and help you find him. Be wary, though, Cerebrex is very dangerous. Don’t make the same mistake your elder made, don’t face him alone.”

Drowsiness took him, and he closed his eyes just to rest for a moment before he heard Rosa calling his name.

“Mason!”

“What?” He wiped a little drool from his lips and pushed to his elbows. “What’s wrong?”

“I leveled twice!” Rosa was apparently putting her clothes back on as she stared into nothing, probably checking out her profile. He could relate. “And I gained a whole bunch of recipes for free! This place is amazing!”

Mason grinned and lay his head back down.

“Awesome. Anything useful?”

“Yes.” She dropped his clothes on his chest and sat down beside him, running a hand up his leg. “Now pay attention. I’ve got some choices and you should hear them. Civilians get new classes too and I need to pick.”

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“Uh huh.” Mason opened his eyes to find her still in a lacy bra, debating if he should unclip it.

“Focus,” she said, putting a hand to his chin. “Combat focus, or non-combat focus. That’s the choice.”

Mason was vaguely starting to realize this might be important. He sat up and slapped himself before Thea was coming over, fully dressed in her leaves and smiling as she brought a jug of water. Mason gulped most of it down and grinned at her.

“OK,” he said. “What are your choices?”

“Herbalist or Greenthumb. Either way I work with plants, but I think I either grow food and water that gives all kinds of miscellaneous boosts. Or I make things directly for combat.”

Mason raised a brow. “Like antidotes? Poisons?”

“Yeah. And ‘Fightbrews’, whatever those are. Some kind of temporary boosts.”

Mason didn’t much like the idea of carrying potions around, but Seul-ki’s boosts were insane, and if he could do something similar with potions…

“I don't want to tell you what to choose,” he said. “I know it was frightening watching me with that poison. You might be signing up for more of that with the combat class.”

Rosa frowned. “I want your opinion.”

Mason sighed, pretty sure she’d pick whatever he suggested. But maybe that was for the best. “Alright. Then it’s the combat class. They both sound good, but an edge in a fight can make all the difference. The players need all the help they can get.”

“OK. I chose.” Apparently Rosa wasn’t the type to waste any time, either. She frowned a little as her eyes looked like they were reading the air. “Doesn't look like there's much in the way of special recipes or anything from this grove. I kind of hoped there was.”

"That would be my sister's domain," Thea said from nearby. "I'm afraid I don't do the fighting. You'll have to come back when Calypsa returns."

Rosa looked at Mason and raised a brow. "I don't suppose we'd mind, would we?"

"We...would not." He cleared his throat as he saw Thea inching her way towards them. "But it's probably time to get back. My internal clock says it’s getting dark soon."

Thea made another signature pout as she turned away. "Have you cleared any more of the great trees, druid?"

"I...” Mason winced and started putting on his clothes. “Haven't had the time."

"You must hurry," she said, her voice getting more serious. "The longer they sit infested, the worse the rot becomes."

Mason shrugged helplessly as he felt the truth of that. He felt rather relaxed after the pool, and grove food, and orgasm...but Thea's words concerned him.

Was it time? Probably. Dealing with Nassau's major problems was likely going to take less effort than he'd anticipated because of Thea's gifts. First he'd go back to Nassau and burn a considerable amount of patron points...sorry Blake, he thought...then maybe he could go to the tree near the orc fortress. It made as much sense as anything.

But who to take? Rebecca was the first obvious choice. Maybe Phuong? Maybe Carl? He frowned slightly, still a little angry the Sanctuary man had abandoned his brother, even if he understood why. But he suspected a lot of the newer players would love a shot at the dungeons, too.

Of course the Grove trees seemed no joke...so maybe it was wise to take the A team...

"Your mind looks busy." Rosa said as she finished putting on her top. Mason blinked, reminding himself he was still in the aftercare moments with a girl who'd just recently been a virgin. Despite not seeming like one at all. He slid his hands around her back and kissed her, holding her in his arms.

"So what's better? The upgrades, or the sex?"

Rosa laughed and put her head against his chest. "Don't make me choose." Then she sighed and met his eyes. "What now? I mean...for us. What's it going to be like when we get back to Nassau?"

"Depends what you want."

"I want you," she said without hesitation, and Mason couldn't help but smile.

"Well...the hall is pretty big...I'm sure we could find you a room and..."

"I know I have to share you," Rosa interrupted. "I just don't want to share you. I mean...I want you alone." She looked like she was ready to stomp her foot. "I mean when it's you and me…I just want you and me."

"I get it." Mason held back the chuckle. "If that's what you want, we'll figure it out." He shrugged, thinking if everyone is calm and reasonable.

To be honest he wasn't quite sure, but maybe Haley could figure it all out. "Ready for another bumpy ride?" he grinned, and Rosa winced in memory.

"This time we take some breaks."

Mason laughed and knelt so she could climb on his back.

"See you soon, druid." Thea leaned against a particularly large mushroom and smiled as she waved with a devious wink.

Mason decided a return trip with Rosa to meet Calypsa should happen sooner rather than later. But for now he touched the wall, and the world vanished.