Double Trouble

Ahsch was somewhat surprised that he could sense her arrive this time.

With a sigh, he finished the paragraph he was on, slipped the bookmark between the pages, then closed the copy of the space magic grimoire he had borrowed from the royal library. He’d never enjoyed research, before he’d become Ahsch, but given the right motivation and enough interest, even something as dry as magical theory on the mechanics of the interaction between Mana and space could captivate him.

Apparently, not enough for his growing bond sense to miss the arrival of a calamity-in-waiting.

Avery, just thought you should know, we have a visitor.

There was a moment of silence. Why do I get the feeling that I will not appreciate this visitor?

Ahsch smirked as he exited his office and headed for the garden balcony. Probably because I brought it up. And because it’s Phashim. He hesitated for a moment as he felt the wave of protective wrath that swept through Daydreamweave. No, you do not get to make a suicide-run at a Mystical Calamity, he added. Then he paused. Especially not when Rwnil seems to be getting involved as well.

Avery’s rage also paused. Given the Tower hasn’t exploded yet, she mused slowly, I’m going to assume that’s… good?

Pray for me, was Ahsch’s answer.

There was a snort. Yes, I’ll pray to you for you, that makes perfect sense.

Ahsch paused outside the door to the garden, taking a few deep breaths to steady himself. Dealing with one of the absurdly-powerful beings on their own was bad enough, but given the personalities at play, he was more than a little concerned that he could sense his mentor and the dragon standing together on the balcony. My kingdom for a fucking repreive, he growled to himself.

You don’t have a kingdom, Mahat pointed out helpfully.

And you don’t have access to your own orgasms, he shot back. Behave. The giggling he got in response informed him that his familiar would be doing no such thing.

Contrary to the presence of two cataclysmically-powerful beings in one place, the garden was as peaceful as ever as Ahsch entered and slowly walked through. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking, but he was pretty sure that sense had actually grown after the transplant of several flowers from the Temple that Elui had determined would survive well enough outside the Mana-rich environment produced by the Ley Spring, and that were of little interest as a resource. The largest was a small tree, likely still a sapling, which had been placed out on the balcony, and it was in front of that tree that Rwnil and Phashim were standing, the dragon inspecting the plant with an almost bored fascination.

“I should commend you on bringing yourself here, boy,” Ahsch’s mentor said as he emerged onto the balcony. “Your little dragon friend here was just telling me about how you didn’t notice her under her rather simple disguise the last time she visited.”

Ahsch winced. He’d kept that tidbit from his mentor out of embarrassment, but should have known Phashim would be keen to gloat. “Progress _has _been slow, but steady,” he said in his defense. “And maybe dying had something to do with it.”

“Mmm, yes, dying,” Phashim spoke up, turning to give Ahsch a once-over as she frowned. “Neither you nor Mother deigned to let me in on your little reincarnation trick, and she even allowed me the…” she cut herself off suddenly, her glare turning venomous for a moment. “Regardless, if I am to observe you properly, then I should know more about you, godling.”

Ahsh wasn’t sure which surprised him more: the clear _concern _that had filled Phashim’s emotions before she reasserted her self-control, the fact that she literally just wanted to talk, or that when she called him ‘godling’ she did it out of some sort of respect. He caught the smallest of smirks that touched Rwnil’s lips, but only managed to nod mutely as he processed through what he’d just learned about Phashim in all of 10 seconds.

So Ahsch explained his Boons and the Innate Magic he had taken, as well as his immortality and Life Resistance - he doubted that a Mystical Calamity would struggle much to find a way around it, regardless of if she knew about it or not. Then, tentatively, he asked a question of his own as the dragon thought. “Do you know anything about… well, making an afterlife? Or a… let’s say ‘demi-world?’”

Phashim raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m not obligated to _help _you, godling,” she said.

Ahsch raised an eyebrow in return, a slight smile touching his face. “Yet you are regardless, aren’t you? Or what else are your ‘tests’ for?” He hesitated over what he wanted to say for a second, then let it out. “Aside from getting all worked up and excited.”

Phashim stared blankly at him in surprise, while Rwnil started laughing uproariously. The laughter quickly ended when Ahsch slammed into the wall behind him, Phashim’s clawed hand around his throat as she pressed in close to him, heat radiating from her body. “Mock me at your own peril, godling,” she hissed.

Ahsch smirked wider, his body unharmed, his breath unimpeded. “If you need a good romp in the sack, I’m sure you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn’t be willing to fuck you,” he said, Life Resistance allowing him to completely ignore the pressure around his throat. “Though you might have to ask nicely.” The flash of lust that boiled through her emotions made Ahsch chuckle. “How long has it been, Phashim? Days?” The hard glint that went through her eyes let him know he was underestimating it by a long shot. “Years?” he tried again. Her eye twitched. “So, I’m guessing not decades either, but centuries then.” There was a shift in her gaze, and emotions, that confirmed it. “I suppose the real question is, ‘what really gets a Mystical Calamity off?’” he continued, affecting a bored tone. “Just off the top of my head, breeding, domming, pain, displays of power…” there was a frustration that simmered in her emotions, and her tail lashed behind her. “Hmm… close but not quite…” Then he paused, and he could feel the smugness seep into his expression. “No, those are all accurate… but turned on you, isn’t it? You want someone who will breed you, who can dominate you, who can truly discipline and punish you, who can overpower…”

“Enough.”

Ahsch’s mouth, tongue, and throat locked for a moment. He relaxed into his smugness instead. “So, about spacial magic and making worlds…” he prompted.

“Next time,” she growled, dropping him without preamble and turning to fling herself off the balcony, quickly winging away into the sky.

As Ahsch picked himself up off the ground, he found Rwnil giving him a mixed look that clearly communicated, ‘you are a fucking idiot,’ despite how impressed and… proud she was?

“You must either be a bigger imbecile than I thought, or have a death wish,” she said.

Ahsch shrugged. “She won’t hurt me, I’m certain of that much.”

Ahsch, why is Mahat laughing like a fucking psychopath? Avery demanded, prompting his familiar to share her laughter directly with Ahsch and in Daydreamweave.