Sometime during the night, Amy closed the door and climbed into Arthur's bed. He woke up with her snuggled against him with her head on his chest. She was still sleeping.
Arthur kept his eyes closed and tested if he could find Vex and the pages. Vex was sleeping, so he went to the pages and looked. He noticed that for some reason he was able to understand the words.
He started reading the pages and noticed that each page he finished seemed to disappear. The topics of the pages were very complex. It discussed using a framework to solidify, collect, and compress mana. He managed to get around thirty pages when he felt a movement on his chest.
"Morning love," whispered Arthur.
"Ummmmm morning," purred Amy as she nuzzled into his neck.
"Any plans for today?"
She blinked and yawned, "Nothing big as far as I know. Danistrae needs to rest, the magical hospital attempted healing and they said it didn't work on her gunshot wounds."
"I could try," offered the boyfriend.
"You could, if you could get her healed then we don't lose time waiting for her recovery."
"True, but today I have some things that I need to discuss with Shane. I want you to come with me to her office. We can do that after I attempt to heal Danistrae."
"I'm sure Dani would like you trying."
"Dani?"
"I kinda like the nickname and she didn't react negatively to it."
"Ok, but before we go to Dani. Shower," He grinned as he caressed down to pinch her butt.
Danistrae stayed in bed and had the covers up to her neck when the couple came in. She opened an eye, "No rest for the wounded, Your Highness?"
"Not exactly, I'm going to try to heal you but I'm going to try something different," Arthur said as he walked around the bed, surveying how much space he had to work with.
Valkyrie sat down a distance away to observe what he was doing.
Arthur began to release mana but instead of the usual green energy, there was a web-like construct forming around the wounded elf. The mana slowly concentrated within the web and there was strain on Arthur's face. The web started to pulse when Arthur uttered the words and the healing energy bombarded Danistrae so bright that everyone needed to close their eyes.
When the light faded, Arthur sat on the side of the bed with a sweat-drenched shirt. "That took a lot out of me, not just the mana but also my physical vitality. How are you feeling Dani?"
Danistrae sat up and leaned in. Arthur thought she wanted to say something and leaned in to listen, only to feel her hands around his neck and lock her lips with him.
The elf immediately let go but the act already happened and stammered quickly, "Sorry sorry I... I didn't mean that... I did... I mean I can feel the wounds are healed and I feel great... I'm sorry Arthur. I didn't mean to do that. Unless you liked it..." Danistrae's face flushed a deep red and looked in fear between Arthur and Valkyrie.
Valkyrie had a surprised look on his face. "Well my love, what do you think about this situation?"
Arthur stood up and backed away from the bed, confusion made him quiet as he tried to sort through his thoughts and feelings. "She kissed me, not the other way around."
Valkyrie pulled her beloved to sit on the arm of her chair. "Danistrae, what are your intentions for the leader of Camelot?"
Danistrae quickly knelt on the floor and kept her eyes on the floor, "I pledged my life to him and Camelot. I will accept any punishment for my infraction."
Arthur tried to say something but his girlfriend dug her nails into his hand warning him that she was not done.
"Dani, what was in your mind when you kissed Arthur?"
"I... I was admiring the web he created and didn't have high hopes for the healing spell. When the healing started it filled me with a deep and warm energy. I think I was overcome with emotion. I... didn't think I had any feelings for him. I gave my pledge because I wanted to serve him as an extension of the Shatterstorm. I admire what he seeks to accomplish. I... I truly didn't think I found anyone worthy of my companionship until just now," confessed the elf.
"Arthur, I accept her state of mind and heart. You do know that old kings and nobility used to have concubines. In our modern age, there is polyamorous relationships. If I allow it, would you accept her as your partner?"
Arthur looked at his woman, "You are asking someone who up until three weeks ago was a very big nerd and was not a ladies' man. And was unclassified nor ranked. I love you and will not betray what we have by dallying with someone else."
"That's not what I asked love. I am asking you to love me and have the capacity to love her."
"Amy, I would pose the same answer to you. Would you accept her as my partner? Would you accept her as possibly our partner?"
Amy looked up and kissed her man, "I thought you didn't understand. You are my king, I suggest but you decide."
"Dani, come closer in front of us," ordered Arthur, an order that the elf complied with while still on her knees and didn't dare to look up or speak.
"I won't force you to be my partner or Valkyrie's partner. Your pledge doesn't count as being with us. So I will pose this choice, will you bind yourself to us with your heart's choice? If you accept with your heart, kiss us."
Dani rose slowly leaning into Valkyrie and softly kissed her. She felt the reciprocal response before she kissed Arthur. Arthur was stiff at first then slowly returned the kiss to accept her.
Valkyrie stood up and locked the door. They didn't come out until dinner. There was a contented smile on all their faces as they wreaked havoc on the food that was served.
During the desert, Arthur put a spoonful of chocolate ice cream in his mouth. "I guess we'll need to do what I wanted to do today, tomorrow." The two women giggled as they shared a slice of decadent molten lava cake.
Dani joined them in Arthur's room for the night.
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Arthur insisted on driving the black Ferarri with Valkyrie sitting in the passenger seat and Dani in the back. He drove conservatively when you compare his handling of the car versus the wild queen.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The two women stared at the building as they drove into the garage.
"Where are we?"
"This is where Shane's office is now that she is working for us."
The security guards bowed as they passed which surprised them. There were different people in the lobby and it looked like the hustle and bustle of a major company.
A woman in a suit approached and greeted them. She ushered them to an elevator that was designated for private use. The three entered and waited for the doors to close.
"Good morning Arthur. Please state where you want to go."
"I'm here to see Shane."
"Voice match confirmed. One moment please," said the elevator AI as the lift went down.
"We have a sub-basement?" asked Valkyrie.
"Five from last I know. Shane's on five."
The elevator opened up and there were more tables on the floor but they were suitably spaced away from Shane's desk. One of the men at the desk stood up and saluted before sitting back down. As they passed, the other people bowed or nodded in respect.
"Shane, I assume these are people from the Sentinel."
"Yes, boss they are."
"Is there a place we can talk a little more privately?"
"I knew you'd say that. Follow me," said the purple-haired cohort as she bounced to a wall and entered a code that opened a hidden sliding panel. The group walked through and it closed behind them.
The room was easily four times the size of the floor they had just left. Two tables were nearby with some chairs. "I haven't gotten around to furnishing this area, didn't know what to do with it yet."
Arthur looked around noting the high ceilings and the wide open space. He sat down and asked Shane, "Have you done anything in robotics? or magical animation of wooden statues or stone statues?"
"A little robotics, but nothing on the magical animation. Why?"
"I need you two to build two very sturdy prototype robots. I want to test a theory of mine. I will pass you a program that will act as a brain for the robots, but you need to program the movements and actions that the bodies can do. Also, the power source should be long-lasting and incorporate mana crystals with them. Maybe a canister that can be accessed to place more mana crystals when they are used up."
Shane taps her lips while listening, "This might take a while but I can certainly start the project up."
"Are you still able to keep an eye on GM news? I don't want to be left in the dark."
"They canned all consultants and kept the full-timers. There have been no major announcements but they did report two labyrinths with skeletons and zombies were found. They have been sending raiding parties to clear them out. It isn't a small grouping of undead but a moderate infestation."
"Keep an eye out for more of the news like that. I don't want us to get blindsided. As for the businesses above, how are they faring?"
"They are doing pretty well for their first day in the building. All the moving in was done through the loading dock and freight elevators. I've used our people to help the renters move the hard stuff in so they can get organized faster. The top five floors are ours and the topmost is yours to use as you please. I've also hired some pretty good security and some magical security. This is more secure than the Pentagon."
"So the security personnel are non-adventurers?"
"A bit of half and half. The adventurers are all rank C and above. The other half are military contractors that were unlucky to get the short end of the stick with Uncle Sam so we swooped in and had them sign a long-term contract."
Valkyrie stopped Shane and asked, "Business? What's the company called?"
"Well, I don't think Arthur wanted it to be so obvious. After I fielded some suggestions from the Sentinels, we ended up with Ouroborus Nebula Enterprises. The acronym would be O.N.E. The building signage on the side of the building will be completed by the end of the week."
"Make sure that the O.N.E is an umbrella corporation that oversees all the other companies that you've made. I want you to also look into medical and weapon companies."
"Medical is already on the list. Weapon companies?"
"Dani and Valkyrie ran into a group that I have you looking for the symbol of. They used bullets that caused the wounds to resist magical healing. I had to resort to an unconventional magical healing that was the equivalent of around ten times the normal strength and that's what healed her."
"Ten times... wait right here." Shane ran out of the mostly empty room and returned with one of those machines that she had used on him before when he was unconscious. He raised the shirt on his right arm that didn't have any tattoos. He didn't want to wake the giant by pricking it with a bunch of needles.
When the machine was hooked up, all of them looked at the mana capacity and usage. Shane punched in a code and the machine started to measure.
Mana capacity was showing unknown. Mana usage showed minimally. Shane punched in another code and another test started to run. The screen changed and it looked like the first test he took with the bracelets.
"Are you taking another test?"
"Not exactly. The original test was to record what you can do. This test is something I made just for you. This tests your potential and tries to measure just how far you can go."
"AIMES, report when you have gotten the measurement."
"AIMES?"
"Artificial Intelligences Making Everything Simple."
"Reporting on Arthur Crown a.k.a Arthur of Camelot, leader of the GM registered group. Mana Capacity rank S. Mana potential is unreadable. Multiple life signs are detected."
"Multiple life signs?"
"Oh, I never got to tell you. I got a couple of hitchhikers. An elf and a giant."
"You mean the spirits are inside of you? An elf and a... a... wait a sec, did you say what I think you said?"
"Yup," Arthur grinned at the stunned scientist.
"I serve you so you better open up and share. I didn't give you all my assets so that I'll be in the dark."
"Don't worry, you'll know everything sooner or later. I do want you to work on the prototypes, I want to try to see if the hitchhikers can have their own bodies. I would like them to have something like the liquid robots from the movies so they can make their own appearances to match what they think, but if that's impossible then they have to be satisfied with regular robots."
"Tall orders boss, but we'll try to see what we can do. And I assume you want us to investigate how the bullets that make wounds resist healing are made and who made them?"
"You got it."
"Any other directive?"
"Keep a look out for potential allies. Build a stockpile of weapons both mundane and magical. And I guess the rest you have free rein in."
"Ok boss. You should head up to the penthouse. There are two documents I need you to sign. They are on your desk. One is for putting a law firm on retainer because we never know when we need a legal team to assist us. The other is the approval to release the funds to buy out a pharmaceutical company."
"You have been busy. Shane, I am reminding you to rest at a more normal human hour. Got it?"
She squirmed in her seat and sighed, "OK ok, I will do my best."
"I don't want you to burn out."
"Ok already!"
Valkyrie hooked her arm around Arthur's and Danistrae followed behind them acting as their bodyguard. "Let's go see your office love."
The three head up to the penthouse. He signed the lawyer document and then read the other one. He placed a call to the law firm and was transferred to one of the senior partners.
"Hello, My name is Arthur Crown of O.N.E. I noticed that your firm prepared the other contract that I am reading. Can you fix Article 21 part c to state that half of the funds will be released within 24 hours of signing and the other half to be released after 35 days?"
"Was there something wrong with the contract?"
"I don't like the wording that stated that the company I am buying has the right to reverse the decision within 30 days. Also add in that if a reversal was decided by the former owners of the company, I expect the return of all funds disbursed or they will open themselves up to a lawsuit for breach of contract."
"We can only do those changes if you are retaining us as your lawyers."
"Send someone to pick up the signed document. I am in my office at the penthouse."
"Ummm... Yes Sir, right away Sir."
Valkyrie smiled, "Not quite 18 and he acts like he has been in business for years."
Danistrae smiled back, "I think something is changing inside of him. It feels like he knows things that he normally doesn't."
"Hey stop talking about me like I'm not here. Part of my understanding of things is because of Kelrick. A lot of his memories and experiences are inside my head and I am slowly assimilating it."
They both gave the silent OH reaction.
Arthur pressed the intercom button on his desk phone that said secretary. A blonde lady in a classy suit and skirt knocked.
"Come in, what's your name?"
"Janice, Sir."
"Janice, make a copy of the lawyer document for our records. And give the original to a messenger that is coming up to pick it up from the firm."
"Yes Sir, will there be anything else?" She said as she leaned to pick up the folder, giving him a view of her charms.
"Yes, this is a workplace. Act like it is. I will forgive this infraction. The next time I see it, you will be heading to HR for an exit interview. Understood?"
"Yes Sir, It won't happen again," responded the embarrassed secretary who was thinking that she might be able to get benefits from a young boss.
Arthur waited til the door was closed before walking to the window and pulling the two women into his arms. They both lean onto his shoulder as they watch the view contentedly.
Things are moving at a fast pace but they know where their hearts and minds belong. They belong to each other. The two partners didn't fear that the young man would wander because he just showed that he wasn't ruled by lust.