"Hey, Old Man. You've been talking a lot with the thirteenth head witch. How's that goin'?"

They'd reached the Pirate King of the Caribbean's Island. The witch Miss Molly had seen them coming in and had met Michael, demanding his time and attention. He'd had nothing better to do and wanted to check in on the status of things so had let her natter on while he sat and tried to start relaxing.

Michael barely turned a look on his subordinate that had asked. He was nicely warm and fuzzy - "in his cups" was the typical phrase - having shooed Miss Molly off some time ago. "Been interesting to delve into the depths of a representative personality of an NPC in this place."

He lifted his mug to his lips and swallowed down another swig of his alcoholic drink. It wasn't bad, actually. Just like being able to finally spend his coin on himself for a self-indulgence was nice tonight.

The person interrupting him hadn't gone away, so Michael decided to tack on, "Still pretty shallow compared to what I prefer." The comment made his lips twist down. He didn't like what it had brought up, even if it was still distant because of the buzz.

The person becoming an irritant glanced up at a movement from somewhere behind Michael - who didn't care about what it might have been. He'd staked out a single table at one of the taverns on the Pirate King's island and made sure everyone understood it was officer's night.

The irritant gave a nod. "Are you really drunk?" It was asked as if the person couldn't believe Michael had decided to take a night off.

For an answer Michael tiredly lay his head down on his arms, draping himself over the table. "Don't wake me up in the morning, Maryann. I've got the day off," he muttered as his eyes slipped closed on their own. That was punctuated by slight snores shortly after.

"Really?" OciferJeff complained at Reed and MasterChiefS7, who were also pleasantly in their cups two tables back from Michael. "How're we supposed to carry him back to his bed?"

They both shrugged, not caring. Michael really needed the break. Reed wasn't about to let a sanity check make the man think of things and people he should be forgetting. "Like anyone's gonna to do anything? If the King decides to take a nap on a table in a tavern on his island, he's gonna take a nap. If you're gonna care who dies for wakin' him up, you're gonna take responsibility for settin' the watch."

OciferJeff opted to not care. That tavern became theirs for the duration of the nap. They did recompense the owner a little, but they didn't make a fanfare of it. They just left extra coin on the table when Michael rose from his seat hours later and followed him out.

It was likely going to take him a few more days to finish recovering. They wondered if he'd try out all the taverns in town. Then he'd know what his favorites were at least and maybe he'd be ready to get back to work in time.

Reed and MasterChiefS7 didn't mind of course. They were senior officers. As long as it was "officer's night", they got the vacation too.

-:-:-:-:-

The door to Log Horizon's guild hall opened, letting in the new-but-becoming-familiar smells of Akiba. MeowLi looked up to see who had come. She immediately jumped up and ran to the door. "Hahaue! Chichiue!" Her arms were around them and they were holding her as well.

Naotsugu shuffled his way into the room behind them and closed the door. "Hey, hey, now. Let a guy in!" he complained at the same time as he laughed at her. He walked on into the room to greet her siblings for the first time. "Welcome to Akiba and Log Horizon," he said in his friendly way. "I'm Naotsugu."

"Ah!" MeowLi turned around, suddenly releasing her parents. "Miru, you're in his spot."

Naotsugu laughed again. "Well, you're welcome to it for now, but she's right. I do tend to camp out there. You'll learn the patterns eventually." He rubbed his chin. "I think we'll have to bring out more chairs again." He looked over his shoulder to the older two felinoids. "Either of you brave enough to sit in Shiroe's chair until he gets back?"

Purrcy laughed while Nyanta chuckled. "Of course we are," Purrcy lightly scolded Naotsugu. "We've been sitting in higher seats for years. It's just a chair until he gets home. Then he can have it back."

"Right. Well, we'll see about -" he stopped because two more chairs had shown up in the seating area.

"We brought our own," Purrcy patted him on the back of his shoulder. "We knew we'd need more seating, too. We'll take our usual spots. There's already a few chairs missing people now anyway.

Meiki had already moved to her favorite chair that had just appeared, curling up her legs under her with a relieved sigh. "I might want to go adventure," she said, "but I really wish I could take my chair with me."

MeowLi rolled her eyes. "Did you bring the wardrobes?" she asked her mother.

"Of course," Purrcy answered.

"Then you should purrobably come put everything away now." She let her ears be stern and scolding.

Purrcy gave her a soft smile, but MeowLi was sure Purrcy winked at Nyanta as she followed her daughter to the bedroom. Nyanta settled into his chair. Miru had politely moved to the other extra chair they'd brought so Naotsugu could take his position on the couch.

MeowLi knew she was in Isuzu's chair, but for the time she'd been there she'd only seen Isuzu in a completely different city, so it hadn't mattered. They rotated through seats anyway, what with all the boarders. She opened the door to her - their - bedroom and let her mother in.

Purrcy looked around and gave a nod. After a bit of consideration two wardrobes and two dressers appeared on the short far wall, completely filling it up. MeowLi's parent's bed appeared on the floor closest to the door and her own bed was moved to the side to be closer to the wardrobes.

Purrcy's eyes turned to the window to look a moment at the few items MeowLi had set there to enjoy. "Pretty," Purrcy commented kindly, then turned for the door. She pet MeowLi's head. "It's good to be with you again. I'm glad you've been learning good things and having fun."

MeowLi followed her out. "It will be good to have you all here again," she said.

"Yes, for a bit, then ...I wonder?" Purrcy mused.

"What's that mean?" MeowLi was a bit put out.

"You've grown up, MeowLi, and your siblings are ready to do the same." They reached the common area and everyone was looking at Purrcy, curious at their conversation. Purrcy headed for her chair next to Nyanta's. MeowLi sat back in her seat again. Tetorō was next to Naotsugu where Tetorō always was.

"Not yet, but soon enough, you'll all be ready to move on and become the adults you are. All children do. I'd let you go now, even, except there is too much to learn about Akiba, Theldesia, and Adventurers first. In that order."

Setsubou frowned. "Why that order? Won't we be learning about Adventurers just living here?"

"Well, yes, but...," Purrcy's ears turned, then she sighed. "Well, for all I know you're all excited about finally being with the Adventurers, learning about them isn't so essential when they're going to disappear. Learning how to get along with the People of the Land will be more important. Even MeowLi hasn't been serious about her studies there, yet." MeowLi blinked, a bit surprised to have that pointed out.

"But I don't really want to go there, yet," Purrcy sighed again. "It's still too fuzzy. They're going to be hard to pin down, those Adventurers, for the next month or so, while they're busy practicing for the World Tree. Then they'll be all gone for the entire time they're defeating that dungeon and bosses. After that, I don't know, but we all know they want to go home if they win in there."

Nyanta took her hand in his and held it warmly. "So, first we help mew understand Akiba, then the People of the Land who live here, and then we see about taking mew out into the zones to explore. If mew can learn to fend for meowrselves in the zones, then mew are free to be adults and go where mew wish to go, do what mew wish to do, and become the best mew mew can become.

"If some Adventurers stay, mew can then learn to walk with Adventurers. Do purractice while we're here. The guild has experience now in helping with that." Tetorō and Naotsugu both grinned. MeowLi grimaced. Her dad did like to tease, even if it was so dry.

Meiki was frowning. She'd wanted to be able to spend more time with Adventurers than that. MeowLi could only give an internal shrug. They couldn't change the plans and timing of Adventurers and Inari. They had a destiny to meet and Inari would set the time like it had set the place.

"Have you recovered from your initial shock?" Purrcy asked the other three children. They gave her nods. "Good, then it's lesson time."

Purrcy's golden eyes raked the children. "I want to allow you to explore Akiba when you're prepared to, but the fact you are our children complicates the matter. Your current restriction is that you can't leave this building until we've figured out what to do about Ains.

"Only while in this house can we speak of our relationship at all until Shiroe has approved public knowledge of it. Only this building is protected by spells that prevent the other Adventurers from spying on us." Her sharp look pinned them all again.

Purrcy sighed. "Keeping your parentage a secret is going to be difficult generally. Not only does the whole university know, and thus not know to keep their mouths shut, but Ains already suspects and is upset about it."

Now she was looking at Naotsugu and Tetorō, with a glance at Nyanta. "I can go and fix Ains' memories and emotions so he stays a bit calmer than he was today. My least favorite, that one.

"I can put up warning spells on all of them and fight Ains and his Hackers every time they decide to get nasty. Irritating at best. Or Nyanta and I can go confront him and let him get it out of his system early. We might still have to deal with sneak attacks every time he gets another idea he can try, but I would think it would calm him down best."

"You could just lock him up," Tetorō muttered. His arms were folded and he wasn't too happy. Purrcy's eyewhiskers lifted at him. "He's just been irritating. His Programmer keeps going up levels just lobbing things at the guild hall, trying to get past my defenses. It's getting old. They kicked Ains off the council for kidnapping MeowLi, as a second infraction against the law on his part."

Nyanta's eye whiskers went up at that and he got a bit dangerous, although it looked like he would have done the same. MeowLi's siblings looked at her in surprise and concern. Her ear twitched with discomfort.

Purrcy sighed and closed her eyes to think, then looked at Naotsugu. "I suppose another option would be to talk to him and offer to help him move someplace he can stand to live, except Tokyo was his home, too."

Naotsugu gave a nod. "He might take it. But really, I'm going to have to agree with Tetorō. The simplest would be to help him forget, and maybe a few choice members of his guild. Then they could continue to live here contentedly, rather than outcast and upset wherever else. They have tried hard here other than that odd snit he's got where you're concerned."

Purrcy pondered on that. "We'd have to take that option to the council then, because if he forgets why he's so angry, he's going to remember he's supposed to be on the Round Table."

Tetorō and Nyanta slumped at that. "It really isn't a simple solution," Purrcy purred a comforting purr at them. "That's why it's my least favorite. It also takes a part of a person away from them, that really is their right to have and hold. We learn from each experience, each choice we make. We are made up of those times and choices. To take one from the past away takes away a piece of who we are.

"I'd far rather talk to him directly first. He did fine after we had the discussion after he had his Programmer attack us. We do have to talk to him or he'll just pound on us, I do know that. If it turns into war between the two guilds, that's very bad, because then I do get to really become the bad girl." She was frowning now.

Tetorō nodded. "I know," he sighed, then ran his hand through his hair. "Let me set it up with Crusty and Rieze. The council may have preferences in the setting and who's there, and Rieze handles him best, other than Crusty."

Purrcy gave a nod. "Then, at least until that meeting is over, you four are to not leave this building again without me knowing about it, and at least one member of Log Horizon present with you. An Adventurer can let the rest of us know by chat you're in trouble faster than you can run and hide or escape back here. Particularly if he sends his Hackers against you. They don't have to leave their guild hall to affect you outside the walls of this one."

"I do think we need to depressurize for the rest of the day," Purrcy was addressing Tetorō again. "Schedule it for tomorrow, or the following day at the latest. Meiki and Miru won't be able to stay put after that."

Purrcy removed the picture hanging in the air and changed topics. "Have you taken them on the tour of the hall yet?"

"No. We're just back ourselves from them trying to get their senses calmed down from all the noise and minutia of the outside world," Tetorō answered. "One overwhelming thing at a time, really."

Purrcy was pleased enough with that. "MeowLi, do you know which rooms are still available?" MeowLi thought it through, then nodded. "Then when you give them the tour, please show them which rooms are available. It is time for each of you to move out of the nest. Just putting everything in that one room made me claustrophobic.

"Two girls and two boys to a room, or if you can't stand to be with anyone, one for yourself each is fine. Living in the guild hall together is enough closeness, and if you do get lonely there are lots of beds to sleep in as cat, if you're willing to be cuddled and to purr."

MeowLi stiffened. "Even me?"

"Even you. We'll let Chichiue have his tatami floor back. But if you need to spend the night a few nights until you know we're home, that's fine." Purrcy was firm.

MeowLi slumped in her chair, but couldn't be surprised. It had been very small in there once her mother had put the things in it. Even she'd felt like her space was being intruded upon. She'd lived in her own bedroom now for a long time anyway. She'd probably take to it best at this point.

"Alright, then," Purrcy said with some finality. "I need couch time with Naotsugu. Tetorō go keep Nyanta company in the kitchen. MeowLi, take your siblings on the tour and let them know which rooms they can choose from. The roof is safe enough if Meiki and Miru need to get some outside air once that's done."

Purrcy was medium-sized cat on the floor pacing firmly over to the couch. She climbed up and curled up next to Naotsugu, on the opposite side from Tetorō. Naotsugu smiled down at her and started petting her. She purred softly.

Nyanta smiled at them, then rose to his feet. His ears turned kindly at MeowLi. "Shall I come with mew on the tour so mew can show me meowr kitchen?"

MeowLi looked at him wide-eyed, then shook her head. "Purrhaps we should start there so we can leave you and Tetorō to your relaxation while we do the rest of it." Everyone agreed with that plan.

-:-:-:-:-

"Was it as overwhelming to enter the non-linear Gate of Time, MeowLi?" Miru asked once the tour was done and the four siblings were all up in the tree above the Log Horizon roof on various branches as cats.

"Yes, it was," MeowLi answered. "And just as different from either the linear Gate of Time or here, too. I lived through it twice." She shivered slightly.

"Do mew know how long mew were in the non-linear Gate of Time?" Setsubou asked.

"Not technically, no," MeowLi said. "It was very long, though. I often feel as old as Hahaue claims to be. Chichiue wanted to understand the Gate of Time as much as possible so he stayed a long time, knowing he could leave whenever he wanted and only arrive three days later than he entered from.

"When it was Izanagi, my First time to see him, we had to wait for Hahaue to get where she was supposed to be. I haven't had the time to ask her yet how long that took on this side." MeowLi set her chin down on her forelegs a bit morosely "Because I walked it backwards, I watched Izanagi leave the Gate of Time, but my own path kept going so that I met Chichiue the second time.

"That meant I didn't have the clue as to when the linear Gate of Time would occur. The drop into this world was very sudden, and frightening. I was very glad to see Hahaue when she came." Her head lifted suddenly and petulantly she complained, "Did you know that she came when we were only two weeks old? I always thought she would come shortly after she dropped me off.

"She scolded me for not thinking that she would understand from even the beginning how difficult that would be." MeowLi's head dropped back down again and she sighed slightly. "But, I guess it's true. Now that I've lived it two times, I also understand.

She looked at the rest of them. "How are you all doing?"

They all considered themselves. Meiki went first, as always. "I'm disappointed to learn we might not get to spend much time with Adventurers. I really wanted to adventure with them." Her head turned to look out over the tall leaning buildings around them. "Even exploring this city could take me a month." She raised her nose slightly to sniff at the air. "The wind calls me to see what I can see everywhere.

"I'll be okay with or without Adventurers in the zones, I think, since my training has prepared me for it as best it could. I would like to have some time to train with the Adventurers, though." She'd taken her university training at the Guardian school, having enough energy for it.

"I'll be just as happy to have my own room," Meiki added. "This place is small in comparison to home. I'd rather have a dorm room by myself if we have to be in a dorm here."

Miru snorted a laugh. He agreed with that. His own eyes were also taking in the top level of Akiba. It really was astounding, beyond his expectations. There really was no way to use words to describe it. Only experiencing it made it real.

Setsubou sighed. "I'll be glad to take it slow," he answered MeowLi. That wasn't surprising. "I've been worried about mew. I'm sorry it was so long for mew." MeowLi purred a little for him. It had only been a day for them. "Have they taken good care of mew?" he asked her.

"Yes," she answered. "They've been very kind and helped me. While Adventurers are different, that part hasn't been as hard for me. Like Nazuna-san said, they really are a lot like everyone else, as long as they're approached with respect. Since that's the best way to approach anyone, that isn't hard. I've only had to be on public display twice. The rest of the time I've gotten to relax."

That made them all perk up a little. They'd hardly ever been allowed to relax outside of the Temple of Creation. Her next words took some of that impact away, though. "Of course, no one was allowed to know who my parents were, so I didn't have that part. If they'll know now, then that might change."

Miru snorted a soft breath of disappointment at her. "Well," MeowLi admitted, "the Adventurers still might not care if we relaxed. Log Horizon will, however. I don't understand all of the politics of the city, and Log Horizon is small in comparison to a lot of the guilds. It's the smallest of the guilds on the Round Table, even. But when Lord Shiroe takes us out as a guild, everyone is very careful, just like the nurses would be careful with us, that we were properly presentable.

"I've been careful to not get too relaxed in public, but if I'm with guildmembers and they relax, then I relax that much." Her tail switched and her ears turned. "We went to a fashion show - where people wear new clothing styles to show them off - and we sat when everyone else stood.

"Lord Shiroe was addressed by all of the leaders of three Adventurer cities with greatest respect when the Adventurers got together for the Spring Festival. All of the People of the Land call him Archmage Shiroe and are almost afraid of him."

Her head turned to look in the distance. "It's a bit like how everyone would treat Hahaue. Some would try to face her as an equal, but none of them really could. I'm small enough in this guild to hide most of the time. I don't know what this change will bring."

The rest of them sighed. Even if the Adventurers weren't afraid to be angry with Purrcy, if their guildmaster was granted the same respect as she was in the Gate of Time it might not be much different for them regardless.

MeowLi's head came around to look sternly at Meiki, and then Miru. He blinked at her. "Don't think you can just get into trouble now, either. I've listened to the guild stories. Hahaue and Chichiue were the parents here and also the disciplinarians. If they haven't been any less for us, they will likely be worse here."

Miru's tail and ears drooped and he slouched into a sigh. He closed his eyes slowly, then looked into MeowLi's greens and took his turn to answer her. "And that's my worry. I want to escape the city as soon as possible, to get out from under that. If we get to, I'll move back to the dorm where I don't have to have scolding eyes watching me. I at least know how to get into trouble there without anyone knowing or bothering to scold me."

MeowLi rolled her eyes at him, but Miru was rather serious. "I'll still be proper in public. I don't need to get into that much trouble, but I really need to be able to relax and just be me." Meiki nodded agreement.

MeowLi hesitated, then said slowly, "Well...I would have to say that has been the greatest help to me. To be able to get away and learn that I could be strong. To be able to make my own mistakes and learn why I might have wanted to have listened to them to begin with. If you can't make your mistakes and learn it for yourself, then you can't grow purroperly.

"I don't think they'd deny any of us that," MeowLi said softly, looking away into space again. "I think they know that's just natural, just the path of life. It's why Hahaue said we should be thinking about it now regardless."

Miru watched her, then looked away and nodded, satisfied. MeowLi glanced at him and added, teasing, "She'll still watch you anyway, and scold you if she thinks you need it."

Miru glared at MeowLi, but she refused to talk about it any more than that. Then he remembered Purrcy was a goddess with multiple aspects and sighed out a puff of air, rolled his own eyes, and dropped his head to his branch again. Of course she would watch them, just like Inari did. Regardless, they didn't intrude and he needed the freedom to just be for a while.

-:-:-:-:-

Shiroe's meeting with the Giants was finally over. Demikas had grumblingly agreed to host him in his own house he was building. Since he'd only been at it for five days, it was mostly holes in the ground and a few bare boards with the tent pitched next to it.

It was small, however, not giant. So the Giants couldn't participate in the conversation. Demikas was just as happy with that part, and he was quite sure that's why Shiroe had asked for it. The irritating Enchanter walked up inspecting the bare bones of the house as he inspected everything, already making Demikas bristle. He tried to hold it down.

"Do you think the companion village of Smalls will spring up around your house, or are you going to make them build it over there somewhere to let you have your peace?" Shiroe asked, waving a hand vaguely a random direction.

"Haven't decided, and no Small wants to move here," Demikas answered shortly.

"Not yet, anyway," Shiroe agreed mildly as his eyes finally turned to look at Demikas.

Demikas took a deep breath, trying to reach some level of politeness. He did need to start setting a better example for Emiline, if she was going to be able to get along with other people in this world. He wasn't quite prepared for the kind smile that appeared on Shiroe's face, for all it was small. It threw Demikas off. He blinked and turned his head away.

"Here, I've brought things for you," Shiroe said.

Demikas looked back, then took the envelope Shiroe was holding out to him, his brow furrowing a bit. He slipped his forefinger under the flap and opened it. By the time he'd pulled the letter out, there were two chairs in the middle of the open space of the house and Shiroe was sitting down.

Demikas scowled at Shiroe but he only gestured at the other chair. Demikas frowned, then took it. "Mind if I read it first?" he thought to ask at that point.

"Go ahead," Shiroe answered. "We all answer to Hahaue first." Demikas' eyebrow went up at that, and his eyes to his letter.

Demikas,

Like all of us you'll get your opportunity to decide whether to stay or go after the battle at the World Tree. I'm pretty confident you'll choose to stay. If you'll forgive such a presumption, then let me gift you a few things to help you going forward.

Demikas stopped and looked up at Shiroe. "You didn't write this did you?" he was a bit suspicious.

Shiroe shook his head. "Purrcy did. She asked me to get it to you, with a few things, although you'll have to pick up the rest in Susukino." Demikas gave a satisfied nod and kept reading.

It will be your job to raise Emiline as the first Adventurer reborn. The Inari will continue to watch her and you. You can continue to ignore them all you want, but if you get stuck, lost, confused, or need help with her, talk to them and they'll answer as they will. If you get lonely, contact me. I'll still be around as well.

Demikas blinked at that, but then she'd been changed so much by this place, perhaps she wouldn't even be able to go back home. He sighed just a little at that. He'd probably only contact her if he wanted to pet a cat, and he never had.

A little part of him scolded himself. If he ended up the only Adventurer he knew on Yamato, he would want to have someone to grouch at who understood, even if it was only once a year or so. He'd rather needed it a few times over the last thirteen, surprisingly. She likely wouldn't be a drinking buddy to grouch with, but she would understand that much.

Give Anna a hug and kiss from me and thank her again for putting up with two of you, and two of us. She's been very brave and done a yeoman's job. After the AIs are happy with the experiment, if you two want you'll likely be able to have more children. Let it grow on the both of you before you worry about it too much. The way to make it happen is to ask. If you don't, they'll let you alone to just enjoy your wife's companionship.

Demikas slumped back in his chair and breathed out a big sigh of relief. That had been one of those midnight conversation worries they'd had. The next one helped him even more.

They've blessed Anna. She didn't physically age while you were in the time-space. She'll still be with you long enough.

You'll probably be the experiment of how long they let the Adventurers live for, and how fast we'll age. They know you won't want to live long after she's gone, but you'll have Emiline and any other children to keep you company if it's longer than Anna lives for. I'll be here forever, so do call on me when you miss her too much.

His grip on the page tightened. For all he didn't want to be thinking that far out, because that was too sad, knowing it now meant he'd be able to be prepared for that down-the-road time.

Even you've grown up a lot, Demikas. Please, let yourself be the new, more grown-up you. You might find you can live with yourself now. Even you are worth it. Thanks for all your hard work. I'm very proud of you.

-Purrcy, Caretaker of Theldesia and Hahaue of Adventurers

Demikas closed his eyes, keeping his head bowed, until he'd recovered. "Does she do that to everyone?" he asked, a bit rough around the edges.

Shiroe gave a smile again as he looked down at his hands lightly clasped on his knee crossed over on top of the other one. "Yes. It's why we named her Hahaue to begin with. Words of wisdom to clear the path, a hand at your back to give you the push you need, scolding to remind you you're only human, and praise to comfort the weary heart." His eyes went up to Demikas. "I don't even need to read it to know, I've seen it and had it happen so often."

Demikas took another deep breath and put the letter in his list. Shiroe shifted to lean forward a little. "I've things to teach you. If you watched Isuzu teach Emiline, you've seen some of them. Intent puts things into and takes things out of our lists. But it has to be intent with full visualization or things don't work quite right. Practice it and it will be second nature. Chat works the same way.

"You were a guildmaster. Have you still got your guildmaster's quest store's list?" Demikas nodded. "We're only telling this to guildmasters, since anyone can become a guildmaster and it's a bit OP." Demikas' interest was piqued by that.

A rather large box appeared between them on the ground. It was addressed to Emiline. "Purrcy had Woodstock's people re-create the cardboard box in lots of different sizes. They make the lists recursive. Adventurer lists can now hold up to nine hundred ninety-nine items, with a maximum recursion of four deep. Guildmaster's lists recurse down eight, which makes them equivalent to limitless."

Demikas' eyes went very wide. He wasn't about to do the math, so he'd take Shiroe's word at it. "She says you'll need it for when you go pick up the things she has waiting for you in the bank." Demikas swallowed. "Shopping District 8 carries the boxes. I have no idea how many you're going to need, but here's how to do it."

Demikas sat quietly for the whole lecture, glad it was brief enough. "What kind of stuff is it?" he asked when the lecture was done.

"She says you'll have to build the house this time. I have no idea, but I'd think it's everything to fill one," Shiroe admitted.

Demikas blinked, then sat back in disbelief. "Why's she giving me so much? Just because?"

Shiroe shook his head. "Maybe it's the drop, maybe because she wants to. I don't know, Demikas, but I do know that she has a tender caring heart. If she wants to gift a son, what's a son to do but take it and be grateful?" He sighed a bit sorrowfully, "And in the end, it may be because she can't give her own children the things she wishes she could give them."

"The ones she and Nyanta had? Why not?" Demikas was confused.

Shiroe shook his head. "No. The ones Theldesia and the AIs have stolen her from on Earth."

Demikas felt the blood drain from his head. She'd said she'd be here on Theldesia forever, in the letter. He'd quite hate being stolen from Emiline and Anna at this point. He looked down and gave a nod. If she'd adopted a rough Adventurer like him, and wanted to remember her Earth children by gifting him what she could, he'd not complain too strenuously. Not until he decided if he wanted anything specifically or not, anyway.

"I'd almost rather wait until the house is done before heading back to Susukino, then," he grumbled a little.

Shiroe smiled, understanding. "Yes, but if you make the house too small for all the stuff, you'll have to build on."

Demikas looked up at him in surprise, then groaned a little. "That's true. Fine. Are you going back that way when you leave tomorrow?"

Shiroe shook his head. "We'll go by gryphon. We're already going to be two days too late for everyone down there, even though we were promised until Friday for our vacation. They got dropped out of the Gate of Time into Akiba this afternoon. Timing was a bit difficult since even Inari wasn't sure how that was going to fall."

Demikas nodded thoughtfully. "Well, it's not much time, but even still..." He put his chin in his hand and mused on it a little longer, then sighed and looked Shiroe in the eye. "Anna's unhappy here. The Giants worry her, but she's got it enough into her head they're trying hard. She really wants People of the Land around. Emiline's learned too well from me for Anna's sensibilities.

"Anna needs to see what cultured Adventurers live like, rather than what the rough frontier up here has taught her. Emiline needs other kids her own age around, and learning we couldn't give her. There's enough People of the Land in Akiba to satisfy Anna, too, I think. They can go visit at Maihama if she really wants more while we're all at the World Tree.

"Will you take them both with you when you go, and let them stay with you?" He was a bit surprised that asking it wasn't as hard as he'd thought it would be.

Shiroe didn't answer right away, only giving a blink. Demikas waited. He hadn't really wanted a fast answer, since that would have made him suspicious, but he didn't want to wait so long he got worried. It was good the pause was only the normal length of time it took any strategist to fit things into their plans.

"We've got the room, and are already letting out rooms. The current going rate is one hundred gold per week per room. That includes meals eaten in-house. We've got a good mix of People of the Land and Adventurer students as boarders. Do you have a list of courses you want for sure, or shall we just test her and put her where she needs the next lessons?"

Demikas pondered on that a bit. The price was rather low, really, to compare it to an inn that fed the overnight guests. "I guess I'd be happy with whatever you think she's ready for. I know the Academy doesn't have school in the same sense as what we'd have at home. Just so she gets filled out a little better than we could handle until now, and practice living with peers and other people than just her parents," his face went to a wry grimace.

Shiroe gave an understanding nod. "Right. We can handle that. I think Anna will fit in okay, as well." His sharp eyes looked at Demikas. "Purrcy and Nyanta will be there, Purrcy and their children while we're in the dungeon. They won't be alone."

Demikas liked that. "Anna really liked Purrcy, for all she was so strict with us. I think Anna will like having an ally to call on when Emiline wants to get out of hand, too." Shiroe chuckled briefly.

"Will you be okay without them up here with you?" Shiroe asked.

Demikas shrugged. "I'll miss them, but I don't mind getting the house ready without them. I'll come down and visit with them before we head into the dungeon, then bring them back up here after it's over, most likely." He frowned just a little. "Do you think others will stay? Enough to keep the school going? I don't imagine it will be too much longer until that point?"

Shiroe pushed up his glasses, sitting back in his chair, and sighed. He looked up into the tree tops, then said. "I guess not. I'd say at most six months, with most of those months having us in the dungeon. If that long." Demikas nodded. That's what he'd figured, too.

"Honestly, a lot of of us have reached the point where a month vacation would be good, but then one month in the dungeon and done. We've gotten rather tired. Three years is plenty long enough, and three months on Earth more than enough of a vacation for anyone. We'd like to be home."

Demikas could see that Shiroe was feeling the weariness of carrying everyone this long. It was his own fault, for wanting to, but still. He'd been trying hard for everyone. Demikas kept his mouth shut to respect that much. "Well, I think Emiline will need more schooling than that much, but the six months might be just enough."

Shiroe shook his head. "As one of the drops of the Gate of Time quest Nyanta and Purrcy just finished, one of the universities from there came with them. They're just as different as the Adventurers are from the People of the Land, but she can get as many years of education as she needs from them. We'll focus her on Adventurer lessons when we get in, so she's at least got those under her belt before we head for the World Tree. Then Anna can pick what further lessons she'd like her to get from the university."

Demikas blinked. That was a simple solution. "Okay. Great." He rubbed his hands together. "Ah, is Emiline going to pass as an Adventurer?"

Shiroe shook his head. "No. We'll pass her off as a new Hero for now, until she gets her levels up higher. If we aren't able to get her levels up high enough, that will be sufficient. The People of the Land will welcome her with that label. They're rather depressed they're all gone. Hearing we've found one and are helping to train her will go a long way for relations generally."

Demikas scowled slightly. "Might go to her head real fast, too."

Shiroe shrugged slightly. "We're pretty good at deflating heads in our house."

Demikas stared at him, then had to laugh. "I'll kill you three some day for that, myself. But I'll thank you for it in her case. I can't do it." He wrinkled his nose. "I've already spoiled her too much. She already doesn't listen to me."

Shiroe's smile was kind again. "That's okay, Demikas. You're allowed to spoil your own daughter. We'll help her get used to reality. I'm sure it's better for you to have two people who love you in your life."

Demikas blushed, then sighed at Shiroe. "Shut up."

Shiroe only smiled the small smile Demikas would love to wipe off his face for him, so smug and knowing. He looked away. He'd never be able to wipe it off, ever. Shiroe was that good at what he did.

-:-:-:-:-

"Dad, why would this person I don't even know give me these things?" Emiline asked, confused and wide-eyed.

Demikas looked away and shrugged. "I don't know. It's not like you didn't already come with things in your list, since you did." He sighed a little. "I suppose she could be considered your benefactor, or perhaps godmother, or maybe your grandmother." He was muttering by the end of that list of possibilities. He was rather confused as well, honestly.

Purrcy had gifted Emiline several Adventurer outfits. Some of the items had bonuses to them, too. There were a few items that would help her as she struggled to get going, both in new friendships or relationships, and in battles, but none of really high level. They'd be good for her levels now.

Some items were rather mundane - school supplies, a small folding table and folding chair that could be used for camping or for studying - that sort of thing. Demikas could only shake his head. The blanket, pillow, and pajamas were likely useful as well. A bed or futon didn't fit in the box, so he wasn't too surprised to not see one of those.

He had been a little surprised to see a small bag of gold: "To get you started when you get to Akiba." He could only figure Purrcy had overheard his and Anna's plans from early on. He bounced the bag of gold in his hand. "It's not like I can't provide for you," he scowled. He had more gold he'd not bothered to spend than most people he knew.

"Make sure you buy a bed to share with your mother and pay for your room and board first thing," he ordered Emiline. "I'll send gold down for you regularly so you can keep paying the bills. Your mother will oversee that, to make sure it's happening, too, since that's her responsibility. It's that she can't put gold into or out of the Guild Hall bank.

"If you're wise with your expenses now, in the end you'll have more wealth than you know what to do with. If you throw away gold now, you'll stay poor and be unable to work your way up, because you won't have the coin to buy the proper tools."

Emiline blinked at him. She frowned and her eyes went distant as she looked at her lists. "I've already got gold in my list, and it says I've got ...," she read off a number slowly, "banked."

Demikas blinked. "I wonder if you can actually access it though?" he wondered. Then he suddenly shook his head. "Be careful with what you do have, and don't touch the gold in your bank. I'll send your keep to Shiroe. I forgot. If they know you're Adventurer - and you'll have to admit it if you walk into the Guild Hall to make a deposit or withdrawal - they'll all know it."

Emiline pouted and scowled at him, putting a hand on her hip. "You mean I can't be an Adventurer like I am?"

Demikas paused, then softly said, "No. Not yet. The story is that you're a Hero of the Land until you can get your levels up high enough, or Shiroe can announce who your father is without making a complete uproar. Otherwise you stay here and crawl your way up, instead of get your faster training at the school and as Shiroe's apprentice." He watched her.

Emiline's frown didn't go away as she glared at the ground, trying to decide what she'd be willing to put up with. That's when Demikas understood why the clothes and items. He looked back into the box. "And don't use just anything from your list. Reach for these things first. These are all items that a Hero would have, at the proper levels for where you are. Most of the things in your list only a high level Adventurer would have. That will also have to stay quiet for now."

"For how long," Emiline's scowl had deepened.

Demikas faced her blandly. "Until the Adventurers go home. Three to six months."

Emiline froze. "That's all?" she cried.

"Yes," Demikas.

"How am I going to learn everything I need to learn in only that long? That's not even long enough to go up three levels, even if I am studying under another high level Enchanter!"

"Work hard," Demikas said, wishing he could be a little softer. Then he was confused. "Wait." He paced away then back.

He paused, uncomfortable, then cleared his throat and treated it like a chat. "Purrcy. If all Adventurers are supposed to go fight this next fight, and get to go home ...how does that fit in for Emiline and your four?" He put his hands on his hips, a bit annoyed. That could change things a lot - particularly if Emiline turned back into Indicus and decided to go home.

There was a sigh in his ear. "That's a catch-twenty-two, Demikas. The AIs already don't want to let any of us go home. I suspect they all didn't want to ever go back to Earth. It's highly likely all five are Adventurers we'd rather not have here on Theldesia at all, in the end, since I have a good guess as to who they each are.

"Personally, I think that if they're allowed to remember who they were and what they did on this planet, they won't go home and they'll continue to damage Theldesia like they did before. If it was up to me, I would definitely ship them home, regardless.

"I do know they aren't going to let my four go into the dungeon. I suppose if you and Shiroe think Emiline has learned enough to learn more on the descent, you could technically allow her to go with you, but then Shiroe would have to include her in his fine line and announce her as an Adventurer as well.

"I suggest you play it by ear, event by event, and talk to Shiroe before you act. That's the best I've got for you right now, sorry."

Demikas grumbled under his breath at her then let the "chat" go. "It will have to be enough. If things change later, maybe ...but even the Caretaker doesn't know." He was sympathetic to Emiline's unhappy disgust, but none of them could do anything about it.

Finally Emiline answered, "Well, fine. If I'm only going to get that short of a time to learn anything, then I guess I'll go and be a Hero for now. I just don't want to be only a Hero for the rest of my life," she pouted.

"I don't think you will," he answered her. "You are an Adventurer, so you'll get up high enough eventually, regardless. You just won't have the easy out you'll have for the next little while."

Emiline grumbled, not liking hard work regardless from even the gardening days. He couldn't let that bother him. Life was hard work. It was better to just accept that part and move on.

He made her show him how Isuzu had been teaching Emiline to put things into her list in the natural way until he thought he understood it for himself. Shiroe's brief sentence hadn't told him much at all.


Thank you to all my kind readers. I do hope that you and yours are doing well enough during this time of worry in our world.

Since some of you may have more time for reading, I wanted to let you know that I've updated my Patr(e)on website (JiryuRasen). I now post my TechnoMagus chapters early for my patrons - up to three weeks - depending on which level of donations are chosen.

I'm grateful I'm able to keep up with the writing during this time. I'm getting in two chapters written per week, so am doubling the time I'll be able to keep posting. The ideas for this final dungeon keep rolling forth. Please keep enjoying our journey with me! - RnO