Let's start the new year with some flooooooff.
Guest Reviews;
Alexis- Had to Google Translate, so fair warning. Anyways, thanks! The constant jealousy and in-fighting that seems to come with a lot of harem stories is something I personally dislike, so I try to avoid it like the plague. Part of why I include the yuri elements (aside from it being sexy) is that I like the idea of at least some of the women in the harem learning to find each other attractive, if they didn't already. In this case, bisexuality is the norm for most of the harem.
TheB- Indeed, and having a neat base also adds a safe location for even more fluff to occur, everyone wins
godzillafan1- It is indeed a harem, and well, I think you'll figure out where Shu'ni stands by the end of the chapter ;)
Beta: Zaru (thanks as always)
The one who actually lived in the strange little world they'd found themselves in was currently passed out in Haruhiro's arms. And so naturally everyone's head swivelled towards the only one with any hope of making sense of what had just happened.
Like how the sky had cracked and un-cracked itself.
That felt significant, somehow.
Seeing the quintet of expectant gazes directed her way, Iormu lifted an arm towards her face, chuckling into the back of one dainty scaled hand.
"Ufufu~ while your faith in me is certainly flattering," Iormu said after her coil-rustling laughter had died down, "there's little benefit to me offering theories when the woman with answers should be waking up before long."
That was about as reassuring as expected, and so she continued on with a kind smile.
"But what I can tell you is that the danger has passed." Iormu's smile widened a bit at the relief displayed with varying levels of subtlety. "After all, the pact has been made, the master of these lands has laid his claim."
Heads swivelled once more, and Haruhiro stiffened as the girls all stared at him.
"... Oh, yeah, I did that." He agreed, after a moment.
Iormu sighed into her hand.
"While your willingness to help is as endearing as ever, and the haste was understandable, given the circumstances. But please Haruhiro, for my peace of mind if nothing else, before you agree to any more pacts with any more otherworldly entities, consult me first?"
Centorea's ponytail whipped through the air as she turned back to Iormu in alarm, and Haruhiro winced.
"... Did I… do something bad?"
He wasn't the only one relieved when Iormu's smile returned, the Jormungand shaking her head slowly.
"If I had believed there to be any danger, I would not have remained silent." Iormu calmly explained. "But you don't have to take my word for it."
A slim, claw-tipped finger extended gracefully, directing Haruhiro's attention towards the otherworldly maid sleeping in his arms.
"Why don't you look at her expression, and then tell me?"
Shu'ni, a joyful smile illuminating her lovely visage, gave a happy murmur and nestled more deeply into Haruhiro's arms.
"... Yeah, I don't regret that at all." Haruhiro admitted after a moment.
No one had the heart to object.
Deciding that they should probably bring the slumbering Shu'ni inside, but not feeling particularly comfortable with trying to wander the massive mansion, the party, led by Tio, made their way to the roomy, but cozy lounge that Shu'ni had guided her and Haruhiro to before.
He laid the maid down on the couch while Yukio pulled a soft, warm looking blanket from a nearby cabinet.
Inured, or perhaps at least braced for further… oddities, given the situation, no one was particularly surprised that the quiet snow maiden had found what she was looking for in the very first place she checked.
Intending to withdraw and let Shu'ni sleep, the plan was immediately curtailed the moment Haruhiro drew away from her.
Shu'ni's good cheer had vanished in an instant, a nervous ripple passing through her supple form as a fearful whimper slipped out from between her soft, full lips.
Her distress vanished in an instant when Haruhiro took her hand in his own, and that was that.
As Haruhiro offered the women a helpless shrug, Tio soundlessly brought over a padded stool for him to sit on beside the couch, facing the others as the other girls rearranged the furniture as delicately as possible to allow them to all sit near each other.
Despite the fact that, even with the larger bodies of most of the girls, the lounge still had ample space for them to spread out, the group naturally gravitated close together.
Centorea sat on the carpet, beside the armrest of Shu'ni's impromptu bed, which put her right beside Haruhiro.
A fact she took full advantage of by happily claiming his free hand and leaning gently against her Master.
Tio, having slipped out of the room with Iormu, returned some fifteen minutes later, and the absence of the bandages was the last missing piece, the one lingering knot of tension immediately occupying the minds of the part.
Smiling brightly to further enforce that all was well, Tio's attention soon turned to how soft and warm the carpet looked, and she eagerly plopped down onto it across from the couch, stretching out her long legs with a pleased grin.
A mischievous little twinkle in her eyes, Tio then slowly leaned back, and would have ended up lying on the floor had Rachnera's lap not been in the way. The sultry Arachne had seated herself with her upper body facing towards the fireplace, though still a healthy distance away from the merry blaze, since it was just a little warm for her tastes.
The Arachne arched a thin eyebrow as Tio grinned cheekily up at her, before offering a careless shrug and a tiny smile in response.
… Almost of their own accord, slim talons began to expertly comb their way through the Crusader's river of golden blonde hair.
Yukio had put both Centorea and Haruhiro between herself and the fireplace, but had found all the 'warmth' she could ever want- Yukio's ephemeral weight was leaning back against Haruhiro's legs, her own folded to the side, the hem of her yukata parting to offer an enticing glimpse of shapely, pale blue thigh.
Iormu, drained though she was from erasing any trace of Tio's wounds, had then busied herself with dealing with the Arachne silk bandages upon both of Centorea's arms. At the lovely Knight's quiet request, the bandages were not removed until after the healing was done- everyone pretended not to notice Rachnera's guilty expression, nor the reassuring smile Centorea offered her.
All but the minor scrapes and bruises dealt with by the Jormungand's prodigious talents at the healing arts, Iormu at last allowed herself to relax.
Reclining herself in a position that could have been considered to have been the farthest away from the rest of the group, Iormu had rested her horned head against the warm, dark brown brick surrounding the fireplace, a contented sigh rippling through her body as she settled in.
That being said, as Iormu's wide hips led into over thirty feet of snake-tail, it could also be said that she was 'sitting' beside everyone, her tail affectionately encircling the group at large. She was quite pleased when the tip of her tail- which had ended up by Yukio- found itself gently resting across the snow-maiden's lap, a cool, delicate hand lightly stroking the smooth purple scales.
It was only a matter of time, in the end.
A sigh of relief here, a muffled yawn there.
Slowly, the stress and panic inflicted upon them by a forest full of starving beasts began to bleed away, before being cast away entirely in the favor of a blissful, dreamless sleep.
Her kind did not dream.
… That did not mean they were incapable of hallucinating, and thus the being who referred to herself as 'Shu'ni' felt perfectly justified in doubting her senses.
She was surrounded by peacefully sleeping people.
She was surrounded by people.
That meant there were people.
There, in the manor.
… With her.
Shu'ni clamped a hand over her mouth to muffle the strange sound that burst unbidden from her lips, only to be distracted from the realization of a nearly abandoned dream by the most curious of things.
… One of her hands was… restricted? No, not restricted.
Held, in a grip so firm, yet so gentle.
… Her Master. Her Master was holding her hand.
Her kind did not dream, but if she could, she would have prayed with all her heart to never have to wake up.
… Surely no one would fault her.
Surely, just a teensy, tiny bit of presumptuousness could be excused?
… His hand was so very warm, after all.
With a careful wiggle and squiggle, Shu'ni rolled onto her side, slipping her free hand around to tenderly cradle her master's hand between both her own. With infinite care and patience, she drew it up against her chest, curling around it as much as the dimensions of the couch would allow, careful not to bump the Yuki-Onna with her 'knees'.
Sighing in content, Shu'ni closed her eyes, and, for the first time in all those long years of unchanging silence, when she drifted off to sleep, she drifted off with a sense of hope and anticipation in her heart, directed towards the world she'd see when she awoke once more.
Unaware that her happiness had not gone unnoticed.
As clear and blue as the endless sky on a warm spring morning, a single eye had cracked itself open.
As the maid went still once more, long lashes fluttered as that eye closed, and a knowing smile spread across soft pink lips before their owner once more returned to slumber, content that all would be well when she awoke once more.
"No. Absolutely not." Haruhiro denied.
"Aww, why not~?" Rachnera teasingly purred back. "You don't want to be surrounded by beautiful women wearing nothing but steam and hot water?"
"Baths are supposed to be relaxing." Haruhiro stubbornly shook his head. "I'm not the kind of cool character that can unwind while surrounded by naked and gorgeous on all sides."
… But his silver tongue was developing nicely, Rachnera decided. The compliment had been a flattering and totally natural part of his reply.
So she supposed she could stop teasing him, just for that.
Sure, none of them really liked the idea of not being able to visually confirm one another's presence, but she wasn't the only one to have figured out they could trust Shu'ni implicitly, just from the way she gazed at Haru.
"Okay, okay, next time, then." Rachnera allowed with a chuckle.
"I'll work myself up to it." Haruhiro agreed as he walked away with a wave of his hand. Shu'ni, having just returned from preparing the bath, gave them a short bow and followed out after him.
"..."
A quick glance around the room confirmed that no, she was far from the only woman who watched him leave with warm cheeks and dreamy eyes.
"I'll look forward to it, then." Someone, or perhaps several someones whispered in his wake.
Wearing nothing but a bed sheet-sized towel that strained at her bust and teased the tops of her thick thighs, with slow, hesitant steps Tio made her way towards one of the tall bathhouse mirrors.
The same one where she and Haruhiro had washed one another's backs the last time she'd been in the bathing room.
As she stood in front of the mirror, she turned her back towards it, gathering up her long blonde hair and draping it over her front.
Her eyes met Iormu's who had just slithered into the room at the back of the group, and Tio gave an apologetic, guilty wince. With a shake of her wavy amethyst hair, Iormu smiled kindly, silently conveying that no harm was done.
Tio sucked in her breath, and let the towel fall around her ankles as her head ever so slowly, ever so fearfully twisted so that she could look over her shoulder.
There, reflected in the mirror was her subtly toned and vibrantly tanned back, leading down to what she personally felt was a rather cute butt.
… With not a scrape, bruise or scar in sight, not from claw nor fist nor fang.
Tio shakily let out the breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
Vaguely, she heard the quiet rustle of scales approaching as her vision blurred and a tiny sniffle made her cheeks scrunch up.
Another, louder sniffle was followed by another, and another as her cheeks quivered and her body shook.
Relief washing away insecurity as she sunk to her knees, Tio burst into tears and turned back around to throw her upper body into Iormu's waiting arms.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Tio sobbed helplessly as Iormu gently embraced her.
"You are most welcome, Tionishia." Iormu soothingly whispered back. "There, there… let it all out."
As she gently stroked the back of the sobbing ogress, Iormu let out a tiny exhale.
Tio, it was likely, understood that not a single one of them would judge her, look at her differently had her back remained scarred and disfigured by her many wounds.
That offered sadly little in the way of allowing her to be content with her body being left in such a state.
She was also well aware that the girl hadn't doubted her own abilities, hadn't doubted her for a moment when Iormu assured her that not even the slightest blemish remained.
There were simply certain things that one needed to see with their own eyes to believe, especially when it weighed upon one's mind.
If this was what was required for Tio's peace of mind, far from faulting her for it, Iormu would have encouraged it herself.
Now that she could be rid of her own concerns, Iormu allowed herself to feel pride for a job well done as the other girls crowded around, affectionately hemming in the still crying Tio.
Tio truly was quite the lovely young woman, and doing her part in preserving the softness of that silky tan skin was a deed worth praising indeed.
… While she was thinking of it, it had been centuries since she'd been surrounded by gorgeous, naked young women.
Perhaps it was about time she savored the experience, even if (for now), she would keep her coils to herself.
She could be patient.
While the girls were comforting Tio, Haruhiro was being led up the bedroom he didn't know he had, up on the second floor.
He hadn't really known what to do with himself, and while he had had many, many questions to ask of Shu'ni, he knew the others were probably curious as well, so he didn't want to make Shu'ni explain things twice just because of his own impatience.
One of the few things he had faith in about himself were his instincts, and the only time he'd felt like he was in danger was when the girls wanted him to bath with all of them.
Shu'ni had seemed content just to quietly wait on him in case he might need anything, and, more grasping at straws than anything else, Haruhiro had asked her where she had put his now clean and washed cloak and armor, so that he could find them later.
Shu'ni had immediately, but delicately protested him fetching such things himself when he had a servant, but had grudgingly relented at his raised eyebrow, informing him that there was a coat room, an armory, both currently empty.
In that this particular instance, however, she'd simply stored them in his bedroom.
This had led to a quietly delighted maid escorting him up to the second floor where the master bedroom was located, along with the bedrooms of the rest of the party.
The door to the master bedroom was wooden, painted a dark, dusky red. The door was large enough that Haruhiro wondered if it was made for a human at all… any of the girls could comfortably walk through it.
Speaking of walking comfortably, his bedroom was just big enough that any one of the girls could move around in it without bumping into anything.
It would take some getting used to, but it stopped a safe distance before the point of being 'too big'. Despite the fanciful images the term 'master bedroom' invoked, it wasn't a particularly lavish room, sure, everything was clearly well made, but not to the point where he'd feel nervous about breaking anything.
If he even could.
… Something about even the bed came across as… sturdy. Not to mention the bed was huge, way more space than any single person could need.
Wandering slowly about the room and looking at this or that, Haruhiro missed entirely the knowing twinkle in Shu'ni's eyes.
It didn't take long for him to be drawn to the two doors leading off of it- one led to a small walk-in closet where his gear hung from an armor rack, and the other led to a surprisingly roomy bathroom.
The furniture was made either of darkly painted wood or a dusky blue stone of some kind, the floor covered in rich red carpet. Just like the mansion halls, the darker color tone made an otherwise spacious room seem cozy and safe.
… It would have been hard for him to put into words, but the room felt… safe.
Secure, somehow.
He turned slowly to meet the gaze of Shu'ni, whose own full-moon eyes watched him carefully with equal parts nervousness and hope.
"This is the first bedroom of my own I've had, since coming to Grimgar." Haruhiro quietly admitted. "It's nice to the point where I'm kind of worried I'm gonna end up spoiled."
"Then, does that mean it meets your approval, Master?" Shu'ni asked politely.
"Yeah, it does." Haruhiro nodded. "Thanks a lot, Shu'ni."
A slow shiver went through the maid's body as her eyes drifted shut. When they opened once more, they glowed fondly as a smile illuminated her fine-featured face.
"You are too kind, Master."
"Are all the bedrooms on this floor?" He'd been a little surprised to note that the mansion seemed to be only two stories high… but each floor was bigger than the volunteer housing he'd stayed in upon first coming to Grimgar, and he had yet to see the end of either floor.
"The servants quarters are on the lower floor, and the loft could be used as a bedroom, if desired, but otherwise yes." Shu'ni explained. "... Actually, Master, there is something in that regard I wished to speak to you about…"
Shu'ni trailed off hesitantly.
"Hm? What is it?"
"It's just that… I am… perhaps a bit unfamiliar with the other races of Grimgar." Shu'ni admitted, looking ashamed of herself. "Thus I am uncertain as to what… 'amenities' your companions may require in their own personal rooms, once they've chosen them."
"Oh, I gotcha." Haruhiro nodded. "They wouldn't mind if you just asked them, you know?"
Shu'ni flushed, hips wriggling as she looked at him pleadingly.
"-But I can at least help you get started." Haruhiro allowed with a wry smile. "First off, depending on how much room it has, that loft might be perfect for Rachnera, since she likes high, out of the way places. Also, Centorea doesn't use a bed to begin with."
Shu'ni had already produced a notebook and quill, jotting down notes as her intent gaze flitted between him and the page.
Haruhiro chuckled, thinking to himself that this was a far cry from when they hadn't even known where they were going to sleep on a given night.
"Hmm… well, weren't Rachnée's kinda the same?"
"Indeed, Tionishia, but while Rachnera is not one to run long distances as readily, she does do quite a bit of leaping and wall-crawling."
"Oh yeah, I guess that makes sense, I bet being super bouncy would make that hard!"
"I would assume so, though it is just my theory."
Content with the offered explanation, Tio gave an empathetic nod.
"... If you are quite finished, I admit I'm growing rather embarrassed by the scrutiny." Centorea murmured in protest, long ears drooping and cheeks flushed from more than just the warm water she was submerged to up to the breasts.
"Well you shouldn't be, cuz they're super amazing!" Tio reassured her, guilelessly increasing the Centaur's fluster, rather than reducing it.
That was, perhaps, due to the 'they' Tio had been referring to; Centorea's boobs.
In terms of breast size, Centorea was middle of the pack (something she was more than content with, she'd always been a bit self-conscious of her size), but Tio had noted with some interest that her fellow blonde's breasts seemed to be just a little less buoyant.
The vast majority of her vast cleavage was still floating above the water, of course, it was just that Tio had noticed Centorea's tits sat a little lower in said water.
Iormu had suggested that it was a difference in species; Centaurs routinely moved at speeds greater than women of many other races were even capable of, and so having comparatively heavier breasts should, in theory, lead to less bouncing, and less strain on the upper body.
Rachnera had been similar- though she'd already left the water, and currently only had her pedipalps dipped in- which supported Iormu's theory, except…
"Perhaps there is some truth to what you say, but I would not have such trouble aiming a lance if my… bosom was so convenient." Centorea countered, though more than anything she was surprised that she had somehow gotten involved in the conversation.
"Do you really?" Tio asked curiously. "You don't seem to have any trouble stabbing 'em with your sword when you're charging around… actually, you having trouble aiming period is kind of hard to imagine."
Yukio, seated beside Centorea (also with only her legs in the water, unsurprisingly), nodded in agreement, trying in vain to imagine such a thing.
"Armor provides a lot of support, for one. Also, my sword is much shorter, and far lighter than any lance." Centorea pointed out. "Not to mention, in terms of the fighting arts, swordplay has always been my best. I've merely adapted a few lance techniques to my sword."
"Hmm, you know, I've never actually seen a Centaur with a lance." Rachnera admitted. "Well, I've only ever seen the smaller breeds of Centaur before I met you, but they carried bows, and some kind of curved sword, not lances."
"A scimitar, I imagine." Centorea suggested. "It's generally considered the signature blade of our small-breed kindred, as the scimitar is better suited to the hit and run tactics they prefer. Whereas the middle-weights, or 'coursers' such as myself are better suited to more prolonged, head-to-head engagements, and thus have come to favor more general purpose, double-edged blades."
"Y'know, when I've seen humans swinging around swords like those, they usually use two hands." Rachnera mentioned with a sly smile. "The way you swing your sword around sometimes I wonder if it's hollow."
Centorea flushed.
"W-well it is true that I am… strong for a centaur woman." She admitted. "I-I do worry a bit though… I've lost a bit of weight, and my stomach seems to be a bit… harder, than before."
Yukio, who was the closest at hand, accurately recognized this as 'Centorea questioning her femininity' and immediately moved into damage control.
Centorea stiffened in surprise as a cool hand dipped into the water and laid itself against her stomach.
"Not much... squish but still very soft." Yukio dutifully reported as her hand wandered a little bit. It kind of made her imagine steel wrapped in warm silk- the lines of Centorea's abdominal muscles formed a shape that somewhat made her imagine an '11', or perhaps a capital 'H'.
Then it occurred to her that she was feeling up Centorea's abs, and that the bathhouse was very warm.
Her hand withdrew rapidly, pale blue cheeks flushed with more than one kind of heat.
"A-ah… pardon me, Cerea-san." Yukio whispered bashfully, ducking her head to shield her expression behind her bangs, but peering out from behind them in Centorea's direction.
"N-no, that is quite alright." the flustered Centorea murmured back.
"Someone's gotten bolder lately, haven't they?" Rachnera nudged Yukio with a playful grin. "Good for you, Yukio."
It took Yukio a moment to realize that the Arachne was praising her, and when she did, she offered a shy nod in return.
"It was the same way for Cerea too, wasn't it?" Tio innocently pointed out.
Cerea and Yukio looked at Tio, and then each other, trying to figure out what they'd shared in common.
As their gazes fell towards their own reflection in the still water, naturally, it did not take long for their thoughts to drift towards Haruhiro, and as if to follow suit, their fingertips drifted towards their lips.
"... Oh." Centorea whispered.
"... Mm." Yukio confirmed.
"Indeed, when Haru and I kissed, it…" Centorea trailed off.
"It made a little more sense." Yukio finished, Centorea nodding firmly in agreement.
"What did?" Iormu quietly prompted, her cheek cradled in one hand and a warm, knowing smile upon her lips.
Centorea and Yukio turned and met each other's eyes, nodded once, and turned to Iormu to answer in unison.
"Everything."
It would have been hard for either of them to elaborate any further, but had they'd been asked, they would have both admitted to feelinging like like they'd said everything that needed to be said.
That, and they were busy being glomped by an excitedly giggling Tio who 'couldn't believe they'd gotten even cuter'.
Master had returned to the lounge after freshening up in his own private bathroom.
Admittedly, she had been somewhat concerned as to why his... companions (perhaps more than companions, but it was not her place to assume, even if it was readily apparent how they all cherished one another) were still in the baths, but Master was unconcerned so it must have been fine.
As he told her, the 'girls liked to take their time'. She herself enjoyed a good long soak as well, was it perhaps due to her gender, rather than her race?
It could be both, or simply due to her own… 'wants', one of the few she had that did not pertain to the obvious.
… It was not as if she had ever met another of her kind, but it would give her something to ponder, at the least.
But, more importantly, a most dreadful and wondrous task had been laid out before her.
Now that fatigue had been driven away by a long nap and a good soak, it was only a matter of time before the appetites of the Master and Misses (Mrs?) caught up with them.
… She assumed. Master was human, and thus would clearly require sustenance sooner rather than later, but did the others?
… She would have to be impertinent and inquire as to any 'dietary preferences' she should keep in mind. The pantry was as well stocked as she had seen in decades, now that the mansion had reclaimed its proper function, but…
It had conventional ingredients, food that a human would eat. At least two of their number were only a half-mortal at best, what was she to do if their needs were more… esoteric in nature?
And so with as much subtlety and care as she could manage, she made her inquiries of her Master.
… Thank the stars, she could prepare a conventional meal for them.
… If her luck held, all those years of waiting and hoping would pay off…
Countless decades of cooking and eating meals she did not need…
Wishing with all her might that one day, she would be blessed enough to make them for someone who did.
Like the stirring of a great beast, a thunderous sound echoed through the once cozy halls.
"... I'm soooo hungry~" Tio, the source of the primeval rumble, moaned piteously.
"I-Indeed, I too am rather famished, it seems to have snuck up on me during all the excitement." Centorea confessed, feeling a little ashamed for hoping that Tio's rumbling stomach may have drowned out the sound of her own.
With quiet sympathy, Yukio reached up and patted her on the shoulder, dashing her hopes and sending the last of her dignity into an inglorious retreat.
Suppressing a chuckle at the antics of the younger women, Iormu decided to take mercy and hint towards the enticing scent her senses had caught wind of.
Rachnera had noticed it too, to little surprise, and, right on cue, Shu'ni flowed around a corner, coming to a halt before them with a small bow.
"I've come to inform you that dinner is ready, if I may escort you to the dining hall?" She requested politely.
"Dinner!?" Tio exclaimed excitedly.
"Y-yes?" Shu'ni hesitantly replied, clearly unsure of how to deal with all that Tio-excitement.
Tio straightened up, closed her eyes for a moment, and took a long, slow nod before turning back to the rest of them with a grave expression.
"Sorry, everyone, but Shu'ni is my favorite person now."
No one had the heart to blame her, even though Shu'ni was rather baffled (in a good way) by the sudden shift.
"Hey Rachnée?"
"Yes, Tio?"
"I think I'm dreaming, so pinch me."
"Hmm, actually~"
"Eep! R-Rachnée! I said pinch me not spank me!"
"I'm not gonna pinch you when I have knives for fingers, but I mean, come on girl. Have you seen your butt?"
"... Yeah okay, it is pretty great. Also, it looks like I'm not dreaming after all."
"I-Is something the matter?" Shu'ni hesitantly cut in, interrupting… whatever that was.
Flirting, perhaps?
"Nope!" Tio twirled to assure her. "This looks super great and smells soooo good, so thanks a bunch, Shu'ni!"
"Ah, you are most kind." Shu'ni smiled politely. "Please, take a seat everyone."
Not needing any further prompting, the party members filed into the spacious dining room, centered around a long, sturdy looking table of dark brown wood.
The table was only a bit taller than a typical coffee table, arranged with a combination of long, soft cushions, and a pair of small, padded stools, one at the head of the table, and one to the left.
It was obvious who the stools were for, the table was at the perfect height for the larger liminal girls in the party to seat themselves using just the cushions.
… What little they could see of said table, that was, its surfaces covered with all manner of trays and platters stacked high.
Steaming, bloody cuts of lightly seasoned beef, warm loaves of dark brown bed, several large bowls of leafy green salads, as well as various smaller trays laden with cheeses, vegetables and sliced sausage.
"Do pardon me, I did not wish to make anything too specific until I better understood your tastes." Shu'ni explained. "But I hope this will suffice for tonight, and please, let me know if there are any dishes you prefer."
"... Does that mean we can eat now?" Tio asked, trying not to drool.
"... No offense because this smells amazing, but where did you even get all this?" Rachnera asked with one eyebrow raised. "I haven't exactly seen any farms around here."
"Aside from the produce and select seasonings, which came from the greenhouse behind the mansion, which I will show you during the tour, the rest of it came from the pantry." Shu'ni dutifully replied.
"... The pantry, huh? How do you stock the pantry if you haven't been able to leave?"
"The pantry stocks itself. My former master placed a great deal of importance on good meals, and thus devoted no small amount of time to ensuring that ingredients were always well provided."
Rachnera, along with the rest of the party, turned slowly towards Iormu.
"... Matter creation is not all that complex, in terms of 'raw materials'. Yukio does it all the time with her powers." Iormu pointed out.
"So hear me out, what if we ate and then asked questions?" Tio suggested, a note of pleading in her voice.
Rolling her eyes, Centorea turned to Haru, sitting to her left at the head of the table.
Haruhiro, finished chewing and nodded once.
"I know it looks good but it tastes even better." He admitted, quirking an eyebrow at the way everyone was staring at him.
With one exception, who had silently followed Haruhiro's lead.
"... It is very warm." Yukio murmured softly, a tiny smile, bemused smile upon her lips as she stared curiously at the plate in front of her, one without any heated contents at all.
Noting Shu'ni's puzzled head tilt, Centorea, seated across from the ice maiden prompted;
"Warm how, Yukio?"
"It was made with the hope that the diners would enjoy and be happy." Yukio quietly asserted. "All the best meals are made that way."
Tio, who had been at the end of her restraint anyways, was next, the cut of beef landing on her plate with just enough time for a bite-sized chunk to be sliced away before the fork was in her mouth.
Everyone watched in barely concealed fascination as the bright-eyed girl chewed once, twice, before her expression seemed to melt, a cheek cupping her hand as a blissful hum filled the air.
"It's soooo good!" The Ogress moaned in delight.
"... But there's something still missing, isn't there, Haru?" Centorea smiled fondly, recognizing what his speculative look meant, and where it was directed.
"Yeah, there is." Haruhiro distractedly agreed, not looking her way.
To Shu'ni it felt like something was constricting her chest… and yet the way those soft hazel eyes stared at her…
She could not call it an unpleasant feeling.
Her immediate desire to interject as unobtrusively as possible, to correct her mistake as quickly as possible went unanswered as she stared back in silence.
Haruhiro slowly rose from his seat and walked over to her, taking her hand in the quiet that followed.
Yukio and Tio both shuffled further down the table, leaving an empty space to sit between the ice maiden and where Haruhiro had been sitting.
Wordlessly prompting her with a slight press against the top of the shoulder, Haruhiro seated the timidly hunched Shu'ni at the table with everyone else.
Eyes as pale and round as the full moon blinked slowly, once, twice as Haruhiro sat back down beside her and smiled, and said the words that not only Shu'ni, but every soul in the room would hold close to their hearts.
For the rest of their lives.
"Now it... it feels like home."
Dinner took them hours, in the end.
Not because of hunger, though there was plenty of that both displayed and satisfied, but because of happiness, of an everyday sort of bliss that they were loath to see end.
Eventually though, calm had led to pondering, and pondering led to questions that they supposed may as well be answered.
They helped Shu'ni bring the dishes into the kitchen, a task that required little help as the maid, less hesitant to conceal her more otherworldly characteristics, had merely sprouted inky black tendrils from beneath the large white bow on her back.
This afforded her as many 'hands' as the rest of the party combined, a fact she took full advantage of.
She had only hesitantly acquiesced to the party's desire to help her clean up- and had adamantly drawn the line at dishwashing- though she did allow Yukio to help dry.
Now, having convened in the lounge once more with tea the otherworldly maid had deftly brewed during clean up, it was time to address the topics Iormu could privately admit that she was rather eager to learn.
Namely, who Shu'ni was, and the nature of the Twilight Mansion and the pocket-dimension using said mansion (and now Haruhiro) as its center.
The little details, such as they were.
Shu'ni seated across from them, took a dainty sip of her tea and set it into her lap.
"Now, Master and Misses, there is much to discuss, so please, don't hold back your curiosity, unless you'd prefer I begin?"
Naturally, all gazes fell to Haruhiro, and naturally, he handled it as he always did.
Awkwardly.
"Well… could you tell us a little bit more about yourself?" Haruhiro began, once he'd unfrozen and shaken off the desire to make himself smaller.
"Myself?" Shu'ni parroted in confusion, one slim finger pointed back towards herself.
Haruhiro nodded.
"I don't know a lot about Grimgar, or the people in it, to be honest. So I can't say I recognize your… species?" He hoped that wasn't rude, how were you supposed to ask that question politely?
"Oh… well, I am…" Shu'ni hesitated, before answering as delicately as possible. "... Not one?"
"Not one of what?" Haruhiro asked in confusion.
"One of the races of Grimgar." Shu'ni elaborated. "At least, that is what my original master told me, and it is true that my race does not naturally exist within Grimgar to the best of his knowledge."
"Well, Haru wasn't born on Grimgar either, so you've got something in common!" Tio reminded.
"... oh." Shu'ni murmured. "I suppose that is the case."
The flush on her cheeks suggested that the reason for her hesitance was probably something adorable, the girls concluded as one.
Coughing in order to clear her throat (a gesture with no anatomical relevance whatsoever), Shu'ni continued on.
"My kind are known as the 'Shoggoth', you see." Shu'ni told them. "And while I have never met another of my kind, I myself am rather…" her dress rippled- "versatile."
As they watched, her dress began to wriggle and flow, expanding along the floor like a puddle of ink. Gooey tendrils made themselves know, like serpents creating the waves, rising up in the form of dark, squiggly tentacles.
Her already inky hair lost some of its definition, oozing sluggishly as if covered by a layer of thick tar.
Despite her decidedly more… gooey nature, everything was perfectly contained- fitting for a maid to be as unobtrusive and neat as possible, even if she was… well, whatever a Shoggoth was.
At first, he couldn't make sense of it- pale slivers or jagged seams sprouting and vanishing here or there, along dress, tendril and apron.
The one of the 'slivers' winked at him, and Haruhiro came to realize that the amount of eyes and mouths Shu'ni had wasn't exactly fixed.
Or the colors and possibly involved, it would seem- the end of one tendril became a broom held lengthwise, indistinguishable from the typical wood and straw variety.
And then it all receded with a muted 'slurp', leaving Shu'ni in her usual, more subdued form- with her head bowed apologetically.
"Forgive me, Master Haru, for showing you something so unsightly." Her heart sank as no answer was given, of course he would find her unsettling-!
It felt like a physical blow when she lifted her main eyes just enough to meet her master's frown.
So focused was she on Haruhiro, she didn't notice the various displays of fond approval the other women were directing towards him.
"... Master? I-is something… is something wrong?"
"Nope, still cute." Haruhiro mildly corrected. "And you're not allowed to call yourself unsightly."
Shu'ni flinched, her head bowing even lower as she stammered out an apology before she'd even fully processed why her master was displeased with her.
"... Eh?"
Confusion took it upon itself to blatantly shove aside all of her distress as she repeated her Master's words back at herself.
"C-c-c-!" she managed.
Someone snickered.
"C-c-c-cute!?" A proper maid did not raise her voice, but Shu'ni was not feeling like a proper anything at that particular moment.
Haruhiro realized that once again he'd said something embarrassing and blurted back not-words, stammering and waving his hands about.
In a fitting response, his poor maid blushed and stammered right back, so many tentacles and other squiggly bits of her dress(?) flailing about in embarrassment that it looked like Shu'ni might have lost a few inches in height.
As the girls watched and tried to keep their giggles contained, Yukio calmly provided the straw that broke the camel's back, by giving voice to what they were all thinking.
"And then there were six."
The other four girls in the party would have nodded in agreement if they weren't busy laughing.
He'd said she was… c-c-c… oh stars, she couldn't even think that without getting flustered!
N-no, kind as he was, her Master must have misunderstood her nature, and even if it had made her more than a little… no, even if it had made her extremely happy, it would not be proper to mislead him so!
Shu'ni took a long, deep breath- something she didn't actually need to do, since she didn't breathe to begin with, but it served its purpose as a calming action- and tentatively tried once more.
"W-while I am deeply grateful for your words, Master, the truth is that my being c-c-cu… pleasing to the eye is only an illusion." Shu'ni tried to explain. "I am a shape-shifter, a formless being with no true shape of my own."
"So what you're saying is that you picked that form?" Haruhiro asked.
"Precisely." Shu'ni replied, relieved that her master understood her point, even if she hadn't wanted to make that point to begin with-
"So if you picked that form, and you like that form, then shouldn't it be fine for you to think of that as your real form?" Haruhiro pointed out. "I mean, making choices about your appearance is something everyone does, so as long as you're happy with it, does it really matter how many choices you made to get to that point?"
… That wasn't what she was getting at at all!
"E-even if I may have… well you see, as I was able to… 'observe' you and your surroundings, I was able to 'investigate'?" Shu'ni began. "A-and, y-you see, Master I may have…"
The Shoggoth maid's cheeks flushed a vivid purple, her supple body squirming in embarrassment.
" May have… m-made some small changes in the hope that you would… maybe-" her voice dropped to a tiny murmur, hiding her face partially behind a serving tray that she had not been holding seconds before- "l-like me more?"
Haruhiro wanted to respond, but his attention was stolen by a prickling at the back of his neck.
Looking back over his shoulder to the others, he found twinkling eyes, flushed cheeks and beaming smiles. The twitching hands were scary though, if she didn't tread carefully Shu'ni was about to get glomped, and glomped hard, and he was stuck in the middle.
"... W-well, you shouldn't force yourself." Haruhiro stammered, turning back to Shu'ni with a cramped and nervous smile.
"I'm not." Shu'ni shook her head, her voice the most resolute it had been since the conversation started. She would never need to 'force' herself to answer her Master's wishes, especially not one as kind as Haruhiro.
Haruhiro stared at her for a moment, eyes searching before relaxing with a smile.
"... Okay, that's fine then. As long as you're sure."
"... Is it… truly so simple… Master?" Shu'ni whispered, dropping her hands to reveal her puzzled expression to the fullest. "Is there truly nothing wrong if I appear the way I wish to be seen?"
"As long as you're happy." Haruhiro nodded firmly.
For a moment that seemed to stretch on and on, Shu'ni was completely, utterly still… the hand placed against her breast ceasing to rise and fall with the slow motions she'd trained herself in, ceasing to imitate breathing in and out for the first time in centuries.
Shu'ni tilted her head ever so slightly to the side, a reverent glow in her moonlit eyes and a breathtaking smile of gratitude upon her pale lips.
"... More so than I could ever put into words, Master."
Her dear, dear Master smiled back, and for Shu'ni, all was truly right in the world.
Then her Master seemed to have noticed other things, flushing in embarrassment and ducking his head, unable to meet her gaze any longer.
Far from being offended, the bashful motion brought about in Shu'ni a small glimmer of pride she could only describe as feminine.
But, one burning question about Shu'ni still remained, and it came as little surprise as to who took it upon herself to ask.
"So… if you changed because of Haru's 'preferences'," Rachnera probed with a smirk, "what kind of 'changes' did that entail?"
Shu'ni, having established what she wished for most- Haruhiro's approval- didn't even hesitate.
Haruhiro made a spluttering noise as, without the slightest hint of shame, Shu'ni used both hands to heft her ample breasts.
"I made these bigger, of course."
They decided to combine a tour of the mansion with Shu'ni's explanation of 'what' the Twilight Mansion was, and what Haruhiro becoming the 'master' of said mansion entailed.
So far, the first floor had revealed the armory (more of a 'display room' that had apparently repurposed itself), the coat room at the entryway, and, the largest room yet, a library that fascinated more than a few.
"The Twilight Mansion and its surroundings are composed of something the original master, and creator referred to as a 'pocket-dimension'," Shu'ni explained. " A small world of sorts, existing in the space between Grimgar and what lies beyond."
Iormu seemed to understand, but Shu'ni was rather grateful that the knowledgeable Jormungand was able to clarify for the others- Shu'ni herself could only repeat what she'd been told.
"Imagine our entire world as a continent." Iormu suggested. "If Grimgar is a continent, then using that comparison, the Twilight Mansion exists upon an island, correct?"
"... Yes, I do believe that is an apt comparison." Shu'ni nodded. "I am unsure how the analogy stands the test of time, but my former master told me that this dimension is closer in size to a town than a city."
"... It makes it sound small when you think of a whole world, but that's still a lot of space, especially for seven people." Tio observed.
"Indeed, and the mansion will grow to accommodate all of you more and more as time goes on." Shu'ni told them. "I imagine you've already noticed certain, smaller conveniences, but more blatant changes have been occurring. There's a wide, flat field past the garden that seems to offer little utility beyond open space, but given how active all of you are, perhaps there is some use?"
"It sounds ideal as a practice ground." Centorea suggested.
"Ah, I see, I see."
"Now, what I'm wondering, is how does this space maintain itself?" Iormu questioned. "It was obvious that it required Haruhiro's 'ownership' to stabilize, but it can't be drawing what it needs from him. There is simply no way for a single person, or even all of those gathered here to safely provide enough 'energy' to allow this dimension to retain form and function."
It was another part of the reason she had not objected to Haruhiro forming the pact. There was simply no way that any sort of 'price' exacted from him would be enough.
Shu'ni looked at her in surprise, a clear glimmer of respect in her gaze.
"That is correct, Miss Iormu- all that the mansion 'requires' from Master Haru is 'acknowledgement'." Shu'ni began. "As I understand it, by belonging to someone 'from' Grimgar, this world becomes 'connected' to Grimgar, allowing it to synchronize with the leylines of your world in a harmonious fashion, thus sustaining itself without causing disruption."
"So then, the part of the forest that was all gross?" Tio interjected.
"Indeed, that was due to a faulty connection. The mansion was drawing the energy it needed from too small of an area." Shu'ni agreed regretfully. "I'm ashamed to admit that there was nothing I could do about that."
"Then the island analogy is even more fitting." Iormu speculated. "It's simply acting as an 'offshoot' of Grimgar, pretending to be an island that broke away from the mainland, and that is why it is easy to adapt to for those of us closer to the land, such as Yukio and myself."
She glanced to Yukio to confirm, and the ice maiden nodded. This place felt 'different' in a way that was difficult to describe, but not 'different' in a way that was any way unpleasant.
"And, am I correct in that he summoned you, in order to manage and care for this place, and see to his needs?"
"That is so. Regrettably, I know not where he may have summoned me from, my memories begin and end in these halls. But I suppose it is not inaccurate to think of me as a familiar of sorts."
"And a powerful one at that, no?" Shu'ni shrugged in response, not refuting but not really interested in that particular line of questioning. "Your master must have been truly extraordinary to have created such a place, and to have summoned one such as yourself to care for it. If I might ask, what was his name?"
Shu'ni smiled proudly, her good mood returning.
"So you do understand! Master Palamaon was quite skilled." Shu'ni caught herself, and blushed as her eyes darted briefly towards Haruhiro. "Though… though I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, I do believe my luck has greatly improved."
"Palamaon?" Iormu tilted her head quizzically. "Perhaps he was someone active during my time of slumber? I'm hard pressed to imagine a spellcaster with this level of ability-" she swept her hand towards their surroundings- "fading into obscurity. Has anyone else perhaps heard of him?"
"... My father may know, but I cannot say I have." Centorea replied, hand at her chin.
No one else seemed to recognize the name either, but rather than being disappointed, Shu'ni seemed quietly relieved.
"So you achieved your wish after all, Master Palamaon." Shu'ni whispered nostalgically. "It is true, this world was my master's magnum opus, his crowning achievement… but he had no wish for fame, nor recognition. He desired that, should this place be uncovered once more, that it would be left only to fate."
There was a trace of bitterness in her voice that almost passed by unnoticed.
If the discovery of 'this place' was left only to fate… then so was the future of Shu'ni herself.
But… fate had smiled upon her, hadn't it?
It seemed only natural that a certain question would follow.
"Hey, Shu'ni?" Tio piped up. "Earlier, you said that you were able to notice Haru because part of him isn't 'a part of Grimgar', what did you mean by that?"
Iormu looked at the maid in surprise, she herself had been unable to tell that Haruhiro was not native to Grimgar, despite that being something she should have easily been able to feel.
"... It is something I don't fully understand myself." Shu'ni admitted with a tiny frown. "Perhaps it is because I myself am no part of Grimgar that I am able to recognize it… but forgive me if this is overstepping, but I do feel as if there is the lingering touch of 'elsewhere' upon you, Master Haru."
"It's fine, I would have told you anyways, so maybe it has to do with me not being from Grimgar to begin with?"
Shu'ni looked at him in surprise.
"Yeah, I've only been in Grimgar for… just over two months now, I guess? There's a tower in Altana that periodically seems to spit out people like me- people with strange clothes, strange names, but no memory of who we are are how we got here in the first place."
"... I see. Forgive me if I have made you remember something unpleasant." It must have been strange, waking up in a new land, with no-
"Nah, it's cool. I wouldn't have gotten to meet all of you, otherwise." Haruhiro casually admitted.
It came as little surprise that she was far from the only one both relieved and delighted by his words.
It simply cemented the idea in her mind that soon the mansion (and herself) would also be in the service of several 'Mistresses' surrounding the 'Master'.
How wonderful.
Loveliness of those ideas aside, there was one other thing she perhaps should address.
"I also believe it may have something to do with your Mystic Eyes as well, Master Haru."
That brought everyone up short, much to her surprise.
"... Do you know what they are, Shu'ni?" Iormu asked intently. "I was aware that Haruhiro's powers could be attributed to Mystic Eyes, but it can be detrimental to give improper names to such power, so I have revealed none of my theories."
Haruhiro was completely still, staring at Shu'ni. He had barely heard Iormu speak.
… Did she know… finally, could she… could she tell him something about those… about his eyes?
"Y-yes? Master Palamaon was quite interested in the topic, as he was the possessor of Mystic Eyes himself… though his were the Mystic Eyes of Artifice."
"... Can you tell me anything about mine?" Haruhiro asked, trying, and failing to keep the note of desperation from his voice.
A single click of hoof brought Centorea's hand up to reassuringly rub his shoulder.
"Perhaps? His research on it was quite extensive, and I was often tasked with scribing for him." Shu'ni said. "And so of course I remember everything I have been told of the topic."
… The way she said it sounded so perfectly natural that the oddity of the statement almost passed them by.
"Everything?" Rachnera asked skeptically.
"Yes?" Shu'ni replied, her tone suggesting that she had yet to puzzle out what she was being asked.
Wasn't it natural to remember the words of your master? She could recite off by heart every single word that Haruhiro had told her, of course, so why wouldn't it be the same for her former master?
… It would be some time before Shu'ni discovered that no, not everyone could do that, and that Centorea and Yukio were both a little jealous that she could remember Haruhiro's every word.
Haruhiro blinked several times in shock.
He looked at Centorea beside him, just to verify his eyes were working properly- and she still had 'seams'. Shu'ni, on the other hand-
Her only 'seams' were a pair of small lines- like an 'x'... except the shape kept constantly moving throughout her body, drifting like it was on a current.
As his eyes followed its motions, it stopped suddenly, and Shu'ni nodded in understanding.
"You're able to see my core, aren't you, Master?" Haruhiro blinked at the certainty in her tone.
"I guess? I can normally see lines that look like 'seams' on a person, but you only have a tiny little patch that keeps moving around."
"My core is perhaps my true body- you could also think of it as all of my vital organs, contained in one place. As long as it is undamaged, I am quite difficult to harm." She didn't seem concerned in the least that Haruhiro could pick it out. "But when 'person' do you perhaps mean 'beings' in a more general sense? People, monsters, animals and the like? What about other living things, such as plants?"
"People, monsters, animals, no plants. I guess you can 'kill' trees and such, wonder what the difference is?"
"Perception, perhaps? While you can kill vegetation of any kind, perhaps it is that you do not tend to consciously think of plants as 'something you can harm'." Shu'ni suggested. "But it is quite interesting… normally, Mystic Eyes manifest in the pupil or the iris… it is quite uncommon for the sclera of the eye alone to shift."
"That was what gave me some difficulty as well, though it is possible that it is simply a characteristic unique to Haruhiro." Iormu admitted.
"Actually, that also makes them stand out, given Master Palamaon's research." Shu'ni said, giving Iormu an apologetic glance, which the Jormungand waved off, unbothered.
"So then you know what they are?" Haruhiro asked softly.
"Indeed, there are a few names for them." And here, Shu'ni hesitated.
There were many names, but not all of them were names she wished to share with Master Haru, impertinent though it may be to withhold information.
She doubted he'd appreciate knowing that his Mystic Eyes were sometimes referred to as 'The Butcher's Gaze', or 'Bathory'.
Come to think of it, she did not appreciate those epithets very much herself, imagining them applied to Haruhiro.
"I believe that what your eyes would qualify as, Master Haru, are the [Mystic Eyes of Execution]." Shu'ni intoned. "To sever the fate of the enemy before you- a gaze that foretells death."
Haruhiro's expression fell, and Shu'ni cringed, even if she had rightly anticipated his reaction (an 'understanding' of which was just a little bit gratifying).
"If it's supposed to be used on 'enemies' then why can I… why can I see all of you?" Haruhiro questioned bitterly, his gaze falling to the floor.
A second hand claimed his opposite shoulder, Centorea embracing him in a sort of side-hug, a silent and unobtrusive display of compassion and support.
"Because just as much as you are willing to fight to protect those you care about, you still fear hurting them, do you not?" Shu'ni offered a tender, but contrite smile before she continued on. "What is missing I believe, Master Haru, is trust. Trust in yourself, and the power you wield."
Shu'ni took a slow breath, her smile widening just a touch.
"And perhaps this is presumptuous of me, but I believe you have very gentle eyes, Master Haru." Shu'ni softly ventured, muffling a giggle at the stunned look she received. "And since there is power in a name, perhaps I might offer an alternative? For your Mystic Eyes, that is."
"... Yes please." Haruhiro managed.
"..." Shu'ni opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Tio's hands began to twitch and her eyes began to glitter as a violent blush spread across blue-gray cheeks, and Shu'ni began to squirm bashfully in place.
… She may not have been prepared to speak her favorite nickname aloud.
"T-the...w-well you see, please believe me when I say I did not come up with this nickname myself, you see… w-well…"
Her voice dropped so low that only Centorea could hear it, and tail swishing as she chuckled.
"Oh my, that is rather fitting."
"Well, don't just keep it to yourself!" Tio protested.
Centorea looked to Shu'ni with an understanding smile- the thoroughly embarrassed maid gave a hasty nod.
"[The Eyes of Twilight]." Centorea's clear, powerful voice declared. "And I must say, I find myself rather fond of that particular epithet."
The women breathed a collective sigh of relief as Haruhiro relaxed into Centorea's arms, a small, thoughtful smile upon his lips.
"And Shu'ni is most certainly correct, Haru." Centorea whispered fondly in his ear. "After all, that gentleness is one of the many reasons I fell in love with you. And if I may be so bold… I'm far from the only one who thinks that way."
It came as some surprise that the world outside the mansion did in fact have a 'night time'- Haruhiro wasn't really sure what he was supposed to do with the idea of 'thinking about it really hard' if the day or night cycle was too short for his preferences, though.
It had been kind of nice to sleep in a bed of his own, though, and his bed was ridiculously soft and cozy- if a little big.
Come to think of it, this was the first time he'd slept alone since meeting Centorea.
Which sounded a lot less innocent than it was.
… Probably.
No wait, the girls had figured out their feelings way before he had.
Well, anyways, it had been nice to have some alone time where he didn't have to worry about anyone.
But he was also wide awake now, and he didn't want to think about how long it might be until 'day time' unless the world decided he wanted to have morning arrive faster.
… His life was weird.
He hadn't particularly had a destination in mind, but perhaps he'd been curious, because he ended up in the first library he'd seen in Grimgar.
What he ended up reading was a book of fairytales- and he found himself so caught up in the story that he didn't even notice that apparently, Shu'ni had made the tea he'd been absentmindedly sipping until his cup was half empty.
The second woman to find him was a bit harder to miss, though.
Centorea deeply appreciated the carpet in the halls.
No matter how carefully she walked, the fact that she had iron-shod hooves and the floor was made of stone would have meant that walking quietly was a challenge at best.
… Though, less of a challenge than she'd grown to expect, perhaps Haru was rubbing off on her?
Speaking of Haru, it seems she wasn't the only one to have risen early. She hoped he'd slept well enough though- they'd had a busy few days.
Their last night had been crowned with the respective duos recounting what had occurred after they had been separated in the Shadow Forest.
And they had learned of Tio's curse, of [Titanomachy]... of the battle between her and Haru against the Great Ape and its pack.
There was more to the story of course- everyone could tell that Tio had yet to share all there was to know about the curse that plagued her.
But in due time- it had taken the gentle Ogress enough courage to make it to that point in the conversation, and the poor dear had burst into tears when it was clear that none of them saw any reason to fear her for her curse.
… Well, perhaps Centorea herself hadn't been the only one to take a greater interest in the secretive, bashful little glances that Tio kept shooting towards her own hand.
The one Haru had held throughout the entire conversation.
Centorea had had her suspicions that Tio was going to sleep well, but she wasn't the only one who had needed the rest.
Even Yukio and Iormu, despite their time in the forest being spent in a comparatively more peaceful fashion had spent a good deal of that worrying over the rest of their companions.
Though, on the topic of early risers, Centorea wasn't sure if Shu'ni counted, as the maid had claimed sleep was 'optional' on her part.
It was odd, though for him to have not noticed her approach in the least- though carpet was truly a wonderful thing, he must truly be absorbed in the book he was reading to not have reacted to her approach at all.
It made her rather curious, secondly, she had always found the way his brow furrowed and lips pursed when he was focussed to be charming, and thirdly she had never had the opportunity to sneak up on him.
Thus, Centorea Shianus decided to do something that she rarely attempted- tease Haruhiro.
… Later, when she mentioned the events of that morning, Rachnera would point out that it was less 'teasing' and more 'flirting'.
Stepping slowly and carefully, keeping her attention vague so as not to alert his senses, Centorea crept up behind Haruhiro, and the comfortable looking couch he was sitting at.
His seat was at the perfect height- and the back-rest only went to about the middle of his back.
And so Centorea leaned gently in, draping her arms gently over his shoulders and across his chest, careful not to bump his arms and make Haruhiro lose his page.
And, more importantly- to fill the space of where the back-rest didn't reach with her bosom, which was soft in its own way, she supposed.
Haruhiro stiffened, but thankfully, she did not seem to startle him over-much.
Leaning in close, revelling in the way her breasts seemed to contort and spread against his back- molding into the lean muscle there as she pressed in- and the way Haru shivered as her breath tickled his ear.
"Good morning, Haru." Centorea greeted, her voice an intimate, breathy whisper. "Did you sleep well?"
It was her turn to shiver as Haruhiro leaned back into her, from the corner of her eye, Centorea could see how his lips curled upwards at the edges.
"Yeah, didn't really sleep all that long but I feel great." Haruhiro murmured back, both loath to ruin the quiet intimacy of the library. "You?"
"Quite. Shu'ni seems to have known just what a Centaur woman needs to have a good night's rest, despite never having met one." Centorea revealed, a knowing smile upon her lips. "Isn't that just a fascinating coincidence?"
"It sure is." Haruhiro innocently replied.
"What's this you're reading, by the way?"
"Fairytales." And speaking of fascinating, the way his sleepy hazel eyes lit up in interest certainly qualified in her books. "This one's about a great white serpent who married a princess and turned into a handsome prince- it's kind of familiar, but given who we know I'm kinda tempted to ask Iormu if anything of it is true."
"Ufufu~ tis true, our dear serpent is like something out of a fairytale herself, isn't she?" Centorea quietly chuckled. "I do not mean to keep you from your reading, perhaps I may find a book of my own to enjoy, and sit with you, if you don't mind?"
"... I'd like that, yeah."
Letting her boldness carry her forth, as it so often did, Centorea carefully untangled herself from her precious Master- but not before planting a slow kiss on his cheek.
The library was well stocked, and had plenty of space for her to walk the rows- while she could most certainly take her time perusing the shelves, she wished to return to Haru's side sooner, rather than later.
After finding a suitable book, Centorea quietly clopped over to seat herself beside Haruhiro- he had moved to the end of the couch so that they could sit side by side- only for Haruhiro to stand up the moment she had seated herself.
Before she could ask any questions, he was in front of her and leaning in- Centorea sighed blissfully as their lips met in a long, tender kiss, wrapping her arms once again around Haruhiro's shoulders as she joyfully returned his affection.
They were both left breathless by the time he was done kissing her, but it only got better from there- when Haruhiro seated himself, it was upon her back, facing away and leaning gently into her in what, from that moment on, would become Centorea's favorite reading posture.
Feeling loved and at peace, Centorea picked up her book, and the quiet rustling of pages began anew.
"We should go soon, we shouldn't give Centorea's parents a chance to worry about her." Haruhiro began, after breakfast. "Well, I say that, but I don't actually know how to leave, or more importantly get back here, so we should probably get that established. Shu'ni?"
Shu'ni muffled a chuckle behind her hand.
"Coming and going is much the same, all you require is the key."
"Which is where...?"
"Why, you've had it with you all along, and no, Master Haru, I am not just saying that."
As Haruhiro gave her a quizzical look, Shu'ni made a circular motion around her neck with one hand.
Mimicking her, he found a cord around his own neck that definitely maybe hadn't been there a second ago.
Pulling on it, he found a fair-sized key compromised of some dark, inky crystal hanging from the cord in question- an ornate piece of work with no straight lines or hard angles, just twisting lines and loops ending in sharp points, like slim coils and tentacles tightly intertwined.
"... Okay, so the key is all well and good, but how's it work?"
"Why not try that door over there?" Shu'ni offered with a mysterious smile, pointing to the closed kitchen door.
Rising to his feet as the party watched in undisguised curiosity, Haruhiro stepped over the door and attempted to fit the key into the lock- with a feeling of something flowing and shifting beneath his hand, the key that should have been too large slotted itself into the door, and turned with a soundless twist.
When he opened the door, however- it shifted as it swung open, twisting from dark wood to the black iron of the manor gates- opening up to the front walkway of the manor grounds.
"... Eh?" Haruhiro looked back over his shoulder to find that yes, he was still in the dining room.
Shu'ni began to giggle.
"Any door will do, Master Haru, and if there is no door to be found, I'm sure Miss Yukio will be able to improvise? The mansion will always stand ready to welcome its master's return."
"It's a dimensional link- not all that dissimilar from leyline travel, I believe." Iormu speculated, and Shu'ni nodded in confirmation. "In other words, we'll be able to return here from anywhere in the world we might be. Is it only Haruhiro who is able to do so?"
"For now." Shu'ni admitted. "The mansion is still recovering its function, but in time, anyone Master Haru wishes to permit entry should be able to travel back and forth. Though, I suppose I should mention that having established a physical connection with the master of the house will hasten the process." She added with a wink, and several sets of shimmering eyes turned Haruhiro's way.
"... Errr… yeah, well anyways, Shu'ni, are you coming with us? I don't really like the idea of leaving you here alone."
Shu'ni beamed at him in response, but to his surprise, slowly shook her head.
"That would be inadvisable for now, Master Haru, though I do deeply appreciate the offer." Shu'ni replied. "One of the necessities required for the mansion to fully return to its proper function is that someone remains here. The mansion must be a place where 'someone lives' at all times, otherwise, the possibility exists that it may attempt to establish itself on Grimgar in an attempt to affirm its existence, if it does not simply cease to exist. The former case would be far more ruinous, it could appear anywhere upon a Grimgar leyline, with no regard to what or who may be there at the time."
"... yeah, that sounds pretty bad." Tio summarized.
"Indeed, but given time, the mansion will stabilize and the risk will vanish." Shu'ni offered. "Until then, all that is required is in place, though I do hope you will continue to return here and spend the night, Master Haru and friends. If it is… not too much to ask, at least once every full cycle of seasons, if you would be so kind?"
"... So you're hoping we'll at least show up once a year?" Rachnera asked skeptically.
"A-ah f-forgive me, I did not mean to sound greedy," Shu'ni hastened to correct, entirely misunderstanding the Arachne. "Eh-? P-pardon me Miss Tio, while I do appreciate the contact, I do not understand the purpose?"
Tio had crossed the distance in an instant, and was hugging Shu'ni tightly while staring insistently at the rest of the party.
"We're spending the night here every chance we get, right?"
"Yep, that's what I was thinking." Haruhiro readily agreed. "I mean, camping's fun and all sometimes, but we can even do that here if we really want."
The poor Shoggoth looked so happy she might faint.
"Well, now that that's out of the way, I have a question for you, Shu'ni." Haruhiro began.
"Yes, Master Haru?" Shu'ni began as Tio released her (but remained hovering just in case snuggles became necessary once again).
"When things are stable enough for you to be able to leave, is there anything you want to do, outside in Grimgar? It can be anything at all."
Shu'ni blinked in shock, and went completely still for a long while.
Gradually, a slow, shy smile grew across her face.
"Then, Master Haru, one day… one day, I would like to see the stars."
Promises and temporary goodbyes made and treated with equal importance, the party left down the shaded path once more, waving to the maid that stood alone amongst the shadows of the doorstep.
And though she waved back, her solitary figure seemed far from lonely- Shu'ni was confident in their return, after all.
Packs laden down with rations and supplies that the maid had quietly prepared for them during the night, as the party continued on, it was Iormu and Yukio who noticed it first- a shifting in the air, a feeling down in their very bones that they were once more walking upon the world that had given them life.
The towering trees of the Shadow Forest loomed high above- Haruhiro was just grateful they hadn't wound up amidst the scene of utter carnage he and Tio had left behind- no one needed to see that, and any gear of Tio's that they might recover, with the possible exception of her mace- would likely be damned beyond repair.
But at least she wasn't unarmed- Tio had taken a liking to the club she'd won over the Great Ape's dead body.
Shu'ni had made good on her word- the break in the treeline, the end of the forest took less than five minutes to reach.
They had been wary of any more Red Apes prowling about the woods, and so it was understandable that they were caught just a little off guard to encounter their first Ape outside of the forest, a big brute that came barrelling over the crest of a low, rolling hill.
Centorea had just registered that the Red Ape was fleeing, rather than charging when the pounding of hooves reached her ears.
Cresting the hill and illuminated by the rising sun, an armored figure in slim, gleaming plate came thundering over the hill. At the waist, a loincloth of heavy leather plating was worn over a long, flowing black skirt- from which a set of four galloping hooves emerged.
The Red Ape had crossed half the distance to them when the gallant figure succeeded in running the beast down, skewering it so expertly that the corpse was left pinned to the dirt where it fell, the charging knight releasing the weapon and continuing on without breaking stride.
That the figure could be anything but a woman never crossed their mind- the impressive curve of the breastplate and the deceptively dainty nature of the hoof-tipped legs were all too familiar to those gathered.
As the Centaur woman, the Centaur Knight cantered to a halt before them, she smoothly removed her polished helm, revealing golden blonde hair in a neat, severe bun. All but a trio of asymmetrical strands falling across her noble and beautiful features remained untamed, offering a playful and bewitching contrast that served only to heighten her loveliness.
So closely did the features match, the stern beauty before them could have been mistaken for Centorea's older sister, were it not for the first words from her glossy lips.
"I greet you, my daughter." The woman's clear voice rang proudly through the stunned silence, as she beckoned commandingly. "It has been too long. Now, come here at once, and let your mother have a good look at you."
'A wild MILF approaches'
Hehe
A lot of exposition this chapter, but I feel pretty confident that the liberal application of fluff seasoned with fan-service kept it from being too dry.
So as several of you rightly guessed, Shu'ni is a Shoggoth from Monster Girl Encyclopedia. Since there are no canon Shoggoth 'characters' I just made my own, and I'm pretty happy how she turned out.
Finally a name to Haru's spooky eyes, let me know what you think about that, and the mansion while you're at it.
Palamaon, by the way, is one of the names suggested for the father of Daedalus in Greek mythology. More of an Easter Egg for those of us with a fondness for Greek mythology, if anything.