The dwarf druid Adalheid, 68, and half-orc barbarian Mahja, 28

Mahja awoke after a fitful night of sleep in her own guest room in the royal palace. It was disturbingly quiet, sleeping in a separate space from her party, from Caelan. She couldn’t hear them breathe and snore, the sounds reminding her that they were all safe and warm, where she could protect them. Logically, she knew that everyone was safe, and they had been for the past month. But the half-orc still found it hard to get used to. She was grateful for Princey--Princess Emilie’s-- hospitality, and could admit that her apartment was luxurious, but would be glad to leave Askania behind once the city was finally rebuilt.

After washing up and getting dressed, she looked at herself in the mirror that had been provided for her. Maybe Askania wasn’t so bad, she thought, gazing at the clear reflection before her. The mirror accommodated her body completely, even though she was taller than most humans. Her hide armor and furs showed off her muscular body and raw strength, and her long black hair was tied back in its usual practical braid. Orcs, even half-orcs, were uncommon in most cities of Ocowyth. And yet, she supposed that her new status as a hero of the realm made commoners and nobles ignore or even lust after her olive green skin, and the curves that she possessed despite her muscles. She snorted at the thought. There was only one man she would ever allow to lust after her.

Mahja finally stepped out into the hallway, to eat in the Great Hall and then join her party for the meeting--even though her main task was what came after. She left her trusty axe behind, out of deference to Emilie’s hospitality, and what she and Caelan had told them about Ocowyth’s nobility and especially Askania. She didn’t quite understand it--back home, among the Red Esker Tribe, it was improper not to carry a weapon, and carrying a masterwork, such as her own battle axe, was even more respectable.

As she walked down the hall, seeing the sunlight stream in through the small windows, she saw a familiar sight. Adalheid, one of her oldest and dearest friends.

Adalheid Sternhilt, like any dwarf, could appreciate beautiful stone buildings, even if very few human craftsmen could ever match the masons of her mountainous homeland. When she reached out with her druidic magic to the stones that made up the castle, she could sense all the inhabitants, even the rats and birds that made their homes in dark corners and forgotten crevices, and especially the tiny fungi and molds that would soon be scrubbed away when a servant did their duty. Only one such inhabitant drew her particular attention, and she watched over him in the dark before anyone else in the castle awakened. As he stirred when dawn broke, she realized now was the time for her to prepare for the day as well.

She first brushed out her long orange-brown hair, and then retied it into a loose braid. She would put it up into her preferred twin buns after she finished washing herself in preparation for the day ahead. It would not do for anyone to look down their nose at her, think her filthy for her association with earth and spores--even after she’d cleansed Askania of demonic taint with her dark-magic-absorbing mushrooms after Caelan slew Asmodea, and guarded all the civilians with walls of earth and stone. And it would be good to remind them of her powers, which she would use after today’s meeting to rebuild the city.

With that in mind, she dressed herself for the day ahead in clean, green druidic robes and her dwarven jewelry, and arranged her hair into its usual twin buns. She gave herself an appraisal in the mirror, turning around to make sure she was presentable at any angle. It was not just the meeting that she was worried about. Were her breasts too small? Was her ass too big? Was any of that why Caelan had always seen her as a friend and ally, and never as a woman? Why didn't he see her like he saw Mahja?

After smoothing out a few flyaway strands of hair, she stepped out into the hall, only to come face to face with someone she would have to see eventually, but she hoped not first thing in the morning. Mahja.

Mahja gave Adalheid a warm greeting smile, but it wasn’t returned. For the next several moments, the two women stared at each other in silence as Mahja’s smile fell.

“Morning, Ad-alheid,” said Mahja. She’d almost used the nickname Addy, but she could sense that her friend was not happy. “Did you sleep okay?”

“Well enough, I suppose,” said Adalheid. “Now come. We have an important meeting today and I will not tarry on your account.”

Mahja knew Adalheid could be brisk at times, but she’d always gotten along with the druid. “What’s wrong? I can help, you know.”

We’re friends, Mahja wanted to add, but she thought better of it.

“Nothing is wrong,” said Adalheid coolly. Instead of continuing the conversation, she turned around and began walking quickly toward the Great Hall.

Mahja, however, managed to catch up quickly, her long strides allowing her to cover more ground in each step, until she was walking side by side with Adalheid. She slowed down, keeping pace with the dwarf, who did not react. “Did someone say something to you yesterday?

“No,” said Adalheid, without even looking at Mahja. The dwarf stared straight ahead as she walked.

“Is this about Caelan?” asked Mahja.

At the mention of his name, Adalheid wheeled around to face the half-orc with surprising speed. She did not get the chance to reply to Mahja, because in that instant, everything changed.

Two beams of sunlight from the windows hit them, and Mahja and Adalheid disappeared from the castle hall. They did not know what was happening or where they were being sent, until they both rematerialized in front of a magnificent manor house. They were not alone, however. There were twenty identical women dressed as maids, a pink-haired, pink-skinned woman that seemed oddly familiar, and most surprisingly of all, Caelan himself.

For the moment, Adalheid and Mahja’s dispute was postponed. They needed to be on their guard in this strange new realm they’d been suddenly transported to.

“And these are the first members of Caelan’s harem, two of his oldest friends and party members!” said Ginelia in a cheerful, musical voice. “The amazonian half-orc is Mahja, barbarian of the Red Esker tribe! And the fine-assed dwarf maiden is Adalheid Sternhilt! As you might imagine, they have a long history with the master, and that’s what makes them perfect for the harem! ”

Adalheid and Mahja, for once, were united in their shock, when they realized that not only were they witnessing the goddess of lust and **** herself in corporeal form--even though she had chosen a human form rather than that of a dwarf or an orc--she had declared them to be members of Caelan’s harem. The tiefling man himself was in front of them, with a look of equal shock on his own features. However, on his pale gray cheeks, there was a faint but visible blush.

“Caelan, what the fuck is going on?!” shouted Mahja, her features twisted in fury. The shock had given way to anger. What was this about a harem?

Adalheid just looked at Ginelia, then at Caelan, unsure what to make of the situation. “Should we…kneel? Pay respects?” she finally said, to no one in particular. For now, she would ignore the situation of being in a harem.

“Since I am here in my capacity as a Harem Hotel host, you don’t need to kneel. Though you would be wise to show respect,” said Ginelia primly.

“Mahja, Adalheid, it’s not what you think,” said Caelan. “I didn’t ask for you to be in my harem, or on this show at all! Ginelia, why did you bring them here? They’re my party members! My friends! I can’t--”

It was not Ginelia, but Sassafras, who responded to Caelan’s plea by interrupting him. “Please be quiet, all of you, until her ladyship has gathered all of the initial contestants. She will answer all of your questions then.”

Her voice was calm and polite, even when raised and coming from twenty mouths at once. It may as well have been a sergeant’s shout, for how quickly it stunned Caelan, Mahja, and Adalheid. Caelan listened to Sassafras, out of respect, the desire to hear Ginelia out, and the feeling that the maid was more than she seemed. Adalheid, meanwhile, could sense the raw power and single will that governed the twenty identical bodies. The maid was definitely not a mortal spellcaster. Perhaps a powerful demigod? She too subsided, looking at Sassafras warily.

Mahja stared daggers at the maids for a few moments, then relented. “Fine, I’ll hear you out,” said Mahja stonily. “For now.”

Unbeknownst to Mahja, and Adalheid, they were under the influence of a subtle, but powerful suggestion spell, to listen to Ginelia’s introduction of the show before doing anything rash. It was why Mahja had merely shouted, and why Adalheid had observed instead of casting a spell. Sassafras had cast the spell after watching Caelan almost attack the camera when he first saw it.

“That is all I ask. Now, milady, you may continue introducing the contestants.”

“Thanks, Sassafras! Now, the next two contestants should be arriving in 3..2..”