[Item modified: Eabha's Vestments. Adaptable. Adds a percentage of highest physical statistic to all powers and spells. Minor defensive bonuses.]

Mason looked down to see he'd gained something like scales. They flowed from his waist to his neck, over his shoulders all the way down to his exposed Sleeves. They also went down his thighs, but stopped at his knees for something like a fur boot.

It looked like a version of what he’d seen in his dream. Not the same, but close enough to be familiar. It made him wonder if the dream had somehow manifested itself. Would it look different if he hadn’t dreamt it first?

Unfortunately, it wasn't much looser, but it did look fairly bad ass. It also felt like actual protection, though he wasn't sure how he felt about that. A vaguely insane part of him liked taking punishment, and didn’t trust armor to last long anyway.

This wasn't entirely irrational given his powers increased as he took punishment. On the other hand, he supposed it might be better if he had to actually encounter something slightly more difficult before the process started.

He wondered exactly what it meant about adding a percent of his 'physical statistic' to all powers and spells. Wouldn't that be happening already with his powers? Or was this going to just increase the power of everything that wasn't technically physical? He suspected however it exactly worked, it was definitely a good thing. He doubted he could ask Eve to explain the game mechanics.

"And now, for the final touch," Eve said with a grin. Mason gave her a skeptical brow, then felt something forming on the side of his head. He sighed and waited until Eve raised her hand, and mirrored glass formed like a disc. "Do you like it?"

Mason stepped forward to look at the tree avatar's handiwork, then pulled back with surprise.

Eve's 'final touch' was a helmet with ram's horns. Between these and the slightly green scales, the glowing green eyes, and hard, almost angry expression Mason tried immediately to lighten...he looked…well, a lot like Cerebus.

"The horns are mostly ornamental, so I wouldn't go ramming them into anything. That is, of course, unless you grow your own horns, then the helm will cover them or fall away. You can banish it altogether, of course, but you did ask for regal."

"I did." Mason said, holding up his arms as he scanned. He was already getting obscenely muscle-bound, but the thickness of the scales made him look...huge. He shook his head and thought about Becky. "Now I look like a damn superhero."

Or a supervillain, he thought, but didn't say. Try to smile, Mason, he told himself, it'll help.

Eve was grinning as she inspected her handiwork, running her hands over his body. Not that he felt it.

"I've outdone myself, Champion. Your sire may see you and change his armor." She laughed at the thought, but Mason didn't join her. My sire, he thought, never sure how to feel about these fictional gods that seemed to toy with him like a chess piece. But as time went on, he remained pleased he'd chosen Cerebus over Gaia.

Neither god could be fully 'trusted'. But Cerebus was a creature Mason at least felt he could understand. A kind of blunt object that smashed his enemies and laughed over their corpses. Or ignored them completely.

With Gaia...he still had no idea.

"It's incredible," he said, putting his hands on Eve's shoulders. "Thank you."

She smiled, then sighed, gesturing to the wall of her tree.

"You can enter the fey from anywhere in my home. But your settlement is that way. Go back to your busy, important life. But don't forget I am here, lonely and miserable without you."

Mason smiled and kissed Eve's forehead. She leaned in and breathed him in again with closed eyes, and he gave her a hug before heading for the wall.

"Be careful, Mason," she said, her tone a bit more serious. "We are all the playthings of the gods. But they have their sights on you."

He turned and met her eyes, taking that as seriously as she did. He'd already accepted the logic that if there were gods of nature, there would be others. And since the gods that were supposed to be 'on Mason's team' were already terrifying, what on earth might 'enemy' gods be like?

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

With a last smile and nod, Mason turned and walked into the fey

* * *

And nearly walked straight into Calypsa.

The flickering shadows of the 'wyrd' bathed her in pale light, and she wore her armor as usual. She looked him up and down with a surprised expression, then lowered herself in a bow.

"Druid. I wish to speak with you."

Mason didn't much trust the warrior nymph, though he didn't fear her either. He took a moment to glance around the fey, grinning as he saw many paths as clear as day. The stag’s blessing was showing its value already, and Mason had no concern whatsoever he could find his way home.

“Who exactly am I talking to?” he asked. “A nymph? A god?”

Calypsa shook her head without raising it.

“The goddess can speak through any of her daughters if she wishes. It wasn’t my…I am not her.”

Mason looked away, only half interested, not trusting the nymphs or really anything loyal to Gaia. The various sounds of the great forest were far clearer now, too. Though he suspected he might find his way now by sight. He took a deep breath and looked Calypsa up and down, making no attempt to hide his...mixed feelings.

"Make it quick."

"I have displeased you," she said. She opened her mouth as if struggling to find the words, then dropped down to her knees and lowered her head. "I am older than my sister. I knew the ancient druids. I saw their...weaknesses. When they abandoned us..." she trailed off. "I have defended my sisters for so long. Have been strong so long."

She shook her head, then looked up and met his eyes. Mason was legitimately surprised when he saw a little wetness.

"I judged you by the deeds of others. I have been cold, and distant, because...I was afraid. Because..."

Mason stepped forward and knelt down to match the nymph, genuinely touched by the display of emotion. Though his paranoia flared.

Was she trying to manipulate him? Likely. She was also really screwing with his belief that she was something like a sex robot. In fact this whole 'fictional' world was screwing with him, constantly blurring and twisting his notion of what was reality, what was alive or sentient, and what that meant.

Calypsa shrugged as a tear leaked down her cheek.

"I have never been good with words."

"That makes two of us.” Mason shrugged. “It's alright. You don't owe me any apologies. I know what it's like...to be strong. To look after others. What it does to you."

Calypsa actually smiled with her teeth, and Mason realized he'd maybe never seen that before. He was reminded how stunning she was.

"Perhaps we are not so different," she said, then rubbed her hands on her thighs in a nervous gesture. "But...I wish to...I mean, I wanted to ask...a favor."

Mason winced, trying not to listen to the side of him that shouted ‘you see!’, and never trust Gaia or her daughters. But he pushed down the impulse and tried to listen, to be soft and trusting until he was at least given a reason. Calypsa took a breath and met his eyes again.

"Thea wishes to remain. But I...would like to settle in the great tree. That is, in your great tree. If you would permit me."

"In..." Mason felt his eyes go a little wide. "Oh."

He supposed, since the Nexus, it was no sapling anymore. It couldn't hurt to have a nymph in the settlement. Especially yet another warrior capable of defending it.

On the other hand, Mason already had too many women in his life. He'd probably have to eventually explain Calypsa to his new bride, or well...who knew what complications he might encounter.

But Calypsa looked genuine, and vulnerable. She looked human, for the first time since he'd met her. The idea of saying no to her now was a bit difficult, and probably didn't make much sense. Even if he couldn’t exactly trust her, she wasn’t his enemy, either.

"I would defend it to the death," Calypsa said, her tone serious. "My magic is not as powerful as Thea's, but still I can help it grow, and I will serve you loyally. If you wish some kind of..."

"Of course you're welcome," Mason said, putting his hands on Calypsa's arms. "But you'll be safe in Nassau. You shouldn't need to defend anything. I think it's time someone protected you for awhile."

The nymph's usually expressionless face cracked as she fought a sob. She practically rammed into Mason's chest, shaking as she squeezed. He smiled and put his arms around her, wondering how the hell he was going to walk back to his women with yet another beautiful female…something, at his side.

"I...don't suppose...you can, um, just…go straight to the great tree? From the fey, I mean? Without needing to go into the settlement?"

"Of course," Calypsa sniffled and wiped at her nose as she pulled back. "Do you have hidden enemies in the settlement? Am I to help you kill them? With surprise?"

"Ah. No." Mason tried to smile. "But…for now…you'll be...my little secret. If that's alright."

"Of course, druid," she said, looking again like the soldier she was. "I am yours to command."

Mason tried not to get turned on. Then he saw his patron window flashing and flicked it open with surprise. Apparently he had just gained Calypsa officially as a follower, and though his bar was so filled he couldn't see anything, it was clear it had given him another boost to points and maybe options.

It was a good reminder he had a lot to do in the settlement before the next phase and the beacons activated, and not a hell of a lot of time. Hopefully the civilians and players had taken his request of recommendations seriously. Because when he got home he intended to spend…a ridiculous amount of points.

He helped Calypsa to her feet, giving her another long, gentle hug in the strangeness of the fey. When he pulled away she smiled, almost shyly, the sight just as stunning as before.

"I could get used to that," Mason said with a grin. "You looking…happy."

"Yes," said the nymph, looking up into his eyes. "I would like to get used to it, too."

"Come on." He took her hand, eyes moving down the many paths he now knew led towards Nassau. It was like he could see it in the distance, or at least familiar ground enough to know where it actually was. Though he could still hear the songs, too, if he listened.

He saw a few strange creatures watching and was reminded he still had a date with a certain trickster. Maybe Calypsa could help with that. The idea of surprising the little bastard brought a smile to Mason’s face. But it could wait.

"Let's go home."