The Journey Home

In the midst of a group of almost a dozen skilled guides, Ahsch found himself without much to do as they headed back to Savras. He and Kira were pointedly kept in the middle of the group, and Mahat and Ariin stayed close by, not eager to be apart from him. Michlas kept pace a stride behind and to the right of his ward, silently keeping an eye on her, as though expecting another troublesome misadventure from her at any moment.

Talking in the woods was strongly discouraged, so Ariin's presence by her twin's side was more of a comfort for herself and him than anything else, but Mahat could commune with her Master mentally. A fact that she took advantage of.

So, why did you not use Float and Spirit String to ride a couple of rocks up the cliff, Master?

Ahsch blinked at his familiar. I... didn't think of it, he admitted, blushing.

She smiled back at him mirthfully. Honestly, that's why I bring it up. At the time it would have been best for you to do so - right after your fall, when both of you were injured and **** - it wouldn't have been safe with the mana burn effect. And afterwards, with the group here already on their way, it was overall safer to wait and join us as you have. But it never came up as a plan in your mind. You have an awesome amount of magical power at your command, power that will only grow, but you can't simply brute-**** your way through. Careful consideration of the tools at your disposal is important, Master.

The hrafthi nodded. You're right, Mahat, he agreed. I've been thinking so much about making new spells and how honestly ridiculous my growth is that I didn't really think about what I could do with what I have.

His familiar sent her amusement over the bond. That's alright, Master. You are still young - even with all your years before reincarnating here - and magic is still new to you. You'll learn in time, which is why I brought it up.

Ahsch smiled appreciatively at her. Thank you, Mahat. I'm lucky to have you.

She beamed at his praise, and then glanced over her shoulder. Master, why are you so **** to take people for Dominant's Tithe?

That question got a bemused frown from the hrafthi. You share my mind, you should know the answer to that.

She gave him a small smile. Indulge me?

He sighed. _I guess, in short, it's because nobody should have that power over others, and I honestly don't want that power. The fact that I don’t completely override my thrall's free will now doesn't change the fact that the level of control I _do have is invasive and... I guess wrong.

You realize that while I have free will, I will always put you first, right?

Ahsch flinched. Yeah. I know. I guess...

Because I'm a familiar and was literally created this way, you're willing to put aside your moral objection to take some benefit? You're not overriding another person's personality and individuality, so it's fine? The teasing note in her mind reassured the mage that his familiar wasn't upset by the thoughts he _knew _she was quoting back at him from his own mind. _Keep in mind, I might be 'fanatically loyal' to you, but familiars are still our own individuals. I will never betray you, but if you become someone I cannot continue to serve, I can leave. I don't think you'll ever become that sort of person, but maybe that will help alleviate any misplaced guilt you feel. After all, familiars were created to be loyal, faithful servants of our masters. We take pleasure and satisfaction, get fulfillment out of being of service._

Ahsch managed a small smile. That does help, a little.

Good. Now, my question?

The mage sighed. I mean, we've covered the main bit: as far as I'm concerned, it's a major violation of people's free will and individuality, even as watered-down as Phashak has made it now. It's the sort of... control that's too easy to **** - that's abusive in and of itself!

So you refuse to take thralls because you don't want to take advantage of people, or **** the power being a Dominant Mage grants you?

That's about the size of it.

What if someone, knowing the price, wanted to serve you anyways?

Ahsch gave his familiar a sharp look. I'd laugh at the joke, but it's not funny.

Mahat returned his gaze with an even look of her own. No joke. I'm in you head, Master. I know your thoughts, even the ones you try to ignore yourself. I've head and seen your fantasies, and I also know the things you remember from Earth. Would you say that BDSM is abusive?

The hrafthi frowned. You know the answer to that.

Even total power exchange relationships? 24/7 Master/**** dynamics?

What's your point? Ahsch's mental voice was terse.

Just that, with consent and care, the control of Dominant's Tithe isn't abusive. It's not as manipulative as you think. She smirked a little, mischievous. And you can't lie to me that you didn't enjoy the power you had over that little bitch when you were 'experimenting' to 'see if she is compromised.'

Even in the dying light, Ahsch was sure his blish was obvious. Fantasies aren't reality. And I wouldn't argue if someone said I overstepped where Kira was concerned.

True, and I'm not going to say you overstepped - as far as I'm concerned, she had it coming, and you didn't do any harm. But you don't hate the idea as much as you like to say - and think - you do. The mage hated that she was right. And, total control over your thralls' orgasms aside, the mental effects of Dominant's Tithe as it is now can essentially be reached with thorough enough gaslighting, and I know that while you may not have the biggest kink for that, you aren't against it as long as it's consensual.

He let out a sigh. You can stop being right at any time.

Mahat smirked. But it's so much fun, Master!

The hrafthi let out a quiet chuckle. Alright, fine, you win. I'll try to be more open about using Dominant's Tithe. I have, what, almost twenty thralls I can have?

Counting Kira and myself, more like nineteen. Given the delays in your casting that I've noticed, I'd say you can take seventeen more, and you'll probably be able to have a total of twenty in a few months at most.

That sounds about right. I guess I just need to think about who might be open to those restrictions.

You should ask Ariin, his familiar said without missing a beat.

Ahsch almost tripped in shock. "What?" he exclaimed far too loudly. The others all turned to look at him, and he smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Mahat just shared some surprising news," he said in a much quieter voice. What the fuck are you playing at? he demanded.

Nothing, Master. You should speak to your sister when we get home. I'm sure you'll find what she has to say on the subject... intriguing.

The hells does that mean? But Mahat just giggled in his mind and carried on walking, only sending her emotions to tease him when he continued to try and get answers.

After a few minutes of futile questioning, the mage sighed and just carried on walking, now far more eager to return home and find out what Mahat meant, and what Ariin could have to say.

Unfortunately, when they got back to Sarvas, the whole group first went to the adventurers' guild to file a report about the incident. It was mostly answering questions and filling out forms, and since nobody had died or suffered mutilating injuries, neither Kira nor Michlas had anything they could really complain about - at least, not unless Kira wanted to bring up the whole thrall situation.

Ahsch had managed to talk to her briefly before they'd arrived, and asked if she had wanted to file a complaint about it. He didn't know if the Dominant's Tithe bond could be severed, let alone if a bond formed by a _goddess _could, but he was willing to bring it to the guild if she wanted to.

After a tense moment of thought, Kira had declined, saying that messing with a goddess's work sounded like a good way to piss said goddess off, and if being bound to Ahsch was the price she had to pay to survive the encounter, then so be it - hopefully, if and when they met Phashak again, they could ask about severing it.

So the incident was filed as an accident without permanent harm coming to anyone, the mystery of the Canyon to be discussed and reviewed at a later date, and after an examination by the healers - during which they commended Kira's regeneration, but found that Accelerated Stitch hadn't quite healed Ahsch's shoulder properly, requiring him to undo the healing and let a competent healer with a better regenerative spell do some work - they had been released. By that point night had fallen, and the hrafthi was eager to get home only to rest his weary body.

But that was also not to be, as the moment Ahsch the five got home the other dozen members of the family swarmed Ahsch, relieved that the eldest child and only son was alive and well. After a few minutes of that, the hrafthi was dragged to the main dining room, where a meal of his and Ariin's favorite foods, two pies, and some gifts were waiting for the eldest twins. It was still their birthday, after all.

The party, such as it was, ended up being a fairly subdued affair, as everyone was somewhat drained from the stress of the day. They all agreed that the twins would open their gifts the next day, and it was only an extra hour and a half after getting home that Ahsch, Ariin, and Mahat finally retired to their room.

Stripping off the rest of his clothes, the boy flopped onto the bed, and was quickly joined by his equally-nude sister and familiar, who snuggled up on either side of him, Ariin under his left arm, and Mahat under the right.

Master, his familiar silently prompted him.

I'm tired, Ahsch could hear the whining tone in his mind, as he sighed, and looked down at his twin. "Mahat said that you... had something to say about my Mana Generation Method?"

Ariin froze briefly, then nodded, propping herself up on one arm. "Not... not just about Dominant's Tithe, brother."

The mage shot his familiar a glare, but before he could reprimand her, his sister, grabbed his arm. "No, don't blame Mahat. She didn't tell me, only... confirmed things."

Ahsch frowned. "What do you mean?"

The girl swallowed, then took a deep breath while staring at his chest. "I mean that I already knew about Dominant's Tithe... and your Boons. About your weird '15-across-the-board' for your magical, uh, stats, and about the... erotic nature of all of it." She finally lifted her gaze and met his eyes.