'What was that noise?'

4th Litordae, 25th day of the month of Semens (Sem), the 3672nd year of Salvation's Landing

Reglin was left standing in front of the table, wondering just what in the Gods just happened. Tabitha had been practically panting and, out of nowhere, she was gone, bolted like a frightened hare. The shocking nature snapped Reglin out of his aura viewing and left his pants tented with arousal, almost painfully so.

Sounds of slippered feet moving at a quickened pace could be heard if one were to pay particular attention, and Reglin was as he tried to muddle through this situation. The footsteps got quieter until he could no longer make them out, so he started to move toward the office door.

Before getting to the door though, another sound came from the library. A loud bang coming from the direction of the hallway door, he thought. ‘What in the hell is going on? Did she hear something I didn’t?’ Reglin began to worry about Tabitha and started to head out of the office when she came striding back inside.

“Come with me… And bring the scroll.” She looked quite a bit more composed as she walked past the table, heading to the back of the office, toward the office interior.

In all the years that he trained with Tabitha; she had never brought him back there. He had always figured it was some sort of archives. Was that the case? Reglin turned and grabbed the scroll and followed her through the door.

And now he was in Tabitha’s living quarters… Reglin was stunned momentarily, pausing to take it all in. The room was large, as one would expect for a Royal advisor, being about twenty feet wide, by thirty feet long, though there was a large cut in directly to his left that he would venture to guess took up ten feet squared.

If he had to sum up the room quickly, Reglin would say ‘Warm, wooden, books, and homey’. The palace walls were stone, but in here they were covered with darkened, aged wood, floor to ceiling. It gave it a feel of a cabin. On the northern wall, centered, was a large, stone fireplace eight to ten feet wide. To the right and to the left were giant stained-glass windows six feet wide and fifteen feet tall, taking up half the height of the thirty feet tall. There were oil-burning lamps along the walls periodically, but the room had a dark, but comfortable ambience.

Reglin realized that it was a bathing room that but into the room on the southwest corner, causing the west wall to only be twenty feet long. On the west wall were bookshelves going almost all the way up the wall and the requisite library ladder to reach those high books. Near the fireplace, tucked along the northwest corner, there was a small round table with a very comfortable-looking padded leatherbound chair next to it. It looked like the kind of seat that you could sink into. And Reglin would be willing to bet that many nights Tabitha snuggled into with a book, reading by lamplight with the fire burning. The image in his head of that felt warm and inviting. Something that we envied her for and wished he might experience.

On the east wall, centered on it, was a very large bed, covered in rugs and furs of all kinds of varieties. The rest of the wall were, quite literally closets that went up ten feet. Above the wardrobes were five ornate tapestries depicting various scenes that Reglin would have to study more to recognize.

Reglin scanned it all one more time real fast. East wall, bed and clothes. North wall, Fireplace and windows. West wall, books and lounging. And then her turned around to face the entry to the bathing room on the south side. Tabitha stood there, looking calm and collected with her hands folded in front of her and looking right at Reglin, “Welcome to my quarters, Reglin.” She smiled softly.

Reglin could not help return with his own smile that came from just a true sense of happiness, “This is amazing! I always thought this was place for, I don’t know, Royal decrees and the like. Kept for posterity.”

Tabitha gave her cute, tiny snort of amusement that he was getting used to hearing, “No, those go elsewhere… This is where I relax and am able to rest.” She paused and looked upward in thought, “I’ve lived here for quite some time and I believe I can count on my fingers I have invited in here. Of course, the staff have permission, but of those I have invited? Less than ten, easily.”

Brows shot up and eyes wide at that, Reglin was surprised that she was so reclusive in her domicile, “I have always wondered, Tabitha, just how long have you lived here in this palace. I thought it might be rude to ask, and you can tell if it is. And if it is, I apologize.” Reglin’s mouth just ran as fast it could to amend what he now thought might be a crass question.

It apparently was not such a social faux pas as he worried though, with Tabitha only giving a restrained giggle, “It is not something I guard so protectively, but not something I choose to advertise either. I’m truly surprised it has taken you this long to broach the subject. But to answer you, I have lived in this palace since it’s raising, having helped in its construction even.” Her smile widened, “So many more questions, I know… But like the subject earlier we discussed, think on it and formulate your questions wisely. We have time. But you have more learning to do tonight.” And an adorable blush crept into cheeks.

After all the goings-on between them this evening, for her to blush now made Reglin wonder what it was she had in mind. But he chose to trust her judgement and nodded, “I will do my best…”

The color in Tabitha’s cheeks deepened a bit more, but she just nodded, “All the…” she cleared her throat, “antics that took place earlier I now ask that you try your best to dismiss it for the time being. I meant it when I said I want you to experience this next lesson slowly, if not… innocently? I’m not certain that’s the right word for it, but yes. I would like you to turn come into this as if today had never happened. No aura reading. I don’t want you to feel awkward and fumble around, but I want you to know what it’s like for most people when they open these doors.”

Just like that, amazingly, a lump formed in his throat. She wanted him to experience the old trope of a first love. The stories that the girls spoke of with wonder. The stories that boys feigned no interest in but would listen to all the same. She wished that for him. It was a sweet sentiment, and one that meant a lot to Reglin. She knew that he held her up as his female fantasy and she wanted to provide him with it. And so, he closed his eyes and tried to clear it. He tried to think of all the nights out on the Marches and how he would imagine what it would be like to return to the capital as this war hero. And Tabitha would greet him as such, full of pride at his contributions and look on his with love and tenderness. He felt the scroll taken from his hand and Tabitha moving away momentarily before returning.

Opening his eyes and smiling at Tabitha warmly, Reglin decided to share the imaginative tale with her. Her own smile was warm as she tilted her head and listened to the fantasies of a naïve young man. After he concluded, Tabitha spoke, “You know, my dear, that is not so far off from reality… It is, in fact quite true in a number of ways…”

She walked toward him with deliberative steps, sway her hips in a bit or exaggeration. She looked at him with those hooded eyes that he thought was quite seductive. As she got close, her arms came up and around his neck and softly said, “Welcome home, Reglin… You have been missed terribly.” And pulled his head down to hers.

Their lips met lightly, and Reglin felt that he should not press, that there would be a better time for that. She kissed him softly, as though unsure if she should be doing it. In Reglin’s mind, it fell into role. As if to reinforce that, Tabitha withdrew her lips and continued to speak softly, “I have missed you terribly. I cursed the day you left but bless this day that I may see you again. There was so much I did not know then but know now. What was never said because I did not even know it was how I felt. You were so young. I knew you were special, to me especially. But I did not know just how…” the words and how she spoke them seemed as though from some theatre initially, but Reglin chose to see truth in those statements. Perhaps there were after all.

Reglin leaned down to kiss her softly once more, much in the same manner as their previous kiss, “I had to leave. I saw you every day and wanted to be more to you than a student. But I was a child, both in your eyes and in my own mind. I knew that and knew that it would remain that way unless I made the choice I did… I needed to find my way away from you in hopes that it would lead back to you.” Tabitha dropped her eyes and looked down, blushing in her cheeks. She heard the truth definitely in his words, if not a bit theatric on his own part.

She nodded softly and remained looking down, “Even in at such an age, you showed wisdom beyond your years. I would never have wanted you to do so. And if you had never done so, I would never be so joyous at seeing you here, in my apartments. I might never have realized just what you meant. For that, thank you.” She spoke, then looking up at him, “I have waited years for this night. I want it to be something memorable…” pulling Reglin’s head back down into a kiss, more forceful and impassioned.

That was all Reglin needed. The insistence. His own lips pressed with fervor before parting and sliding his tongue out to meet her own. They matched movements together, tongues intertwining. Reglin’s hand went around Tabitha’s waist and pulled her bodily to his own. The pressing of their forms together alone gave him a great sense of satisfaction, but his hands did not rest there as one slid up her back while the other descended to her shapely rear.

They continued like this for a few minutes maybe, Reglin wasn’t sure, before she pulled away just enough to speak again, “It has been a long day. A stressful one, I’m sure. Perhaps we could relax together first?” Turning and tilting her head toward the stone-walled bathing room.

Reglin could only smile and nod at the idea, a place his imagination had taken him numerous times through the years. He released his hold on Tabitha and gestured for her to lead the way.

Turning away but holding a hand to guide Reglin into the bath, Tabitha continued with the exaggerated motion in her hips to the viewing delight of Reglin.

Following her into the ten by ten foot room, Reglin saw that is was a simple stone-wall bathing room dominated by a giant stone-and-mortar bathing basin set into the floor that ran the length of the western wall and was four feet wide. Otherwise, the room contained a wash basin and a commode. There were also four oil lanterns lit, playing shadows all long the walls as the two of them moved within.

Tabitha stopped and let go of Reglin’s hand, bringing her hands arms in front, “May I be bold enough to ask you to unbutton my garb?” asking with an innocence that struck a chord with him. He knew she must have had partners in her life, given how long she’s already admitted to being alive. But she managed to make it feel like she was sharing something new with him.

And so, he stepped up behind her and, with shaking hands, began unbuttoning her dress from the top down. Twelve buttons later, he then had access to her to her petticoats and undid the four buttons of the black undergarment. Reglin had only seen white ones before, but a Magistricia could probably attain whatever she desired truthfully. Taking hold of both garments, Reglin pulled them wide and off at the same time as Tabitha rolled her shoulders forward for the necessary slack. Dropping down with the dresses so that she could step out of it, Reglin suddenly realized that he had Tabitha’s ass mere inches from his face, covered only by her smallclothes. It was as he imagined it, if not better. Ignorance tends to make someone vague in their imagination. But Tabitha’s entire lower body was small, but surprisingly muscular. Long legs with subtle lines of muscle definition that led up to very satisfyingly lady-like hips that flared out a bit, promoting the pear-shaped bottom. That took him off guard slightly, just because he really had never seen her do anything physically strenuous. But there was not any excess to her of note.

As Tabitha stepped out of the garments, Reglin’s hands were already grabbing at her hips and pulling her back to him. He could smell her excitement. Or, at least that's what he assumed it was. He had heard enough bawdy banter in the field to hear about a 'woman's aroma' and this must be it. He could not resist kissing the flesh exposed to him near her smallclothes. The shudder she gave was one of those subtle ones that he had been able to provoke whenever his lips touched her. He looked up to see her arms were covered in goose-flesh and she said quietly while stepping out of his grasp, “Patience please. We have waited so long, let’s enjoy these moments because they never come again… At least, for you and I.” and she turned around and stood before him with her nether region covered by the linen smallclothes and her breasts still retained by leather breastband that looked to be extremely snug.

Without hesitating, Tabitha reached up and undid the fasteners of the band, releasing her breasts to be seen. And a sight for Reglin, indeed. They were in fact, larger than one would imagine, the band suppressing them significantly. If he were to compare, he would say they looked the size a large citrusy orange from the south. The areolas were tiny, but her nipples were hardened nubs, pronounced in their length. And it took all his restraint to not rush forward to paw and kiss the lovely mounds.

Tabitha could obviously see the strain in Reglin’s face. Like putting out a thighbone for the dog and telling him to sit. She smiled mischievously but favored him by not teasing too much. She hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her smallclothes and bent at her waist, pulling them down to her ankles. The motion caused a very pleasing to the eye pendulum motion to her breasts as she was doubled over. But she was quick to stand and step out of the undergarment.

There, she stood proud in front of Reglin, hands to her sides to let him take her in. She knew this meant so much to him. Her pubic mound was covered in what looked like soft, curly brown hairs that were obviously wet that obscured his view of her lady parts. She glanced down at herself and tsked, “Reglin, forgive me. This is how most women will appear disrobed…”

Reglin interrupted her, “I sincerely doubt that, Love. You are breathtaking.” His eyes widened, trying to take her all in.

“No, fool!” She said playfully, but her cheeks did color from Reglin’s words, “I mean here…” she gestured to her fuzzy pubic area, “This is the norm here in Polivandria. But I have never liked to display myself like this for a lover.” Looking down at the area once more, “Love, you made it look like a drowned rat down there. I have to do something about that, for my sanity…”

She ran a hand over the area, slowly, in a way that caused more bloodflow into Reglin below the waist. But he noticed that wherever her hand passed was now clean of the pubic hair. In a matter of moments, Tabitha’s mound was smooth as could be. And Reglin just stood there, mouth agape, “Gods…”

Blushed creeped in her cheeks again, “I wanted to show you what you would normally see, my dear. I have not had reason to pay particular attention to this region outside of hygiene, for quite a time.” Her hand had moved back to her mound, obscuring it from direct sight, “Now, let’s take care of you…” And she stepped forward to him.

Raising his hands to start undoing the strings, they were quickly slapped away by Tabitha, “Ah-ah!” followed quickly by “Let me take care of you…” and her hands began to work, undoing the fasteners on his vest and quickly pulling it off with Reglin shrugging to assist slightly. Untying the strings of his shirt next and pulling up on it from the waist, once again with small assistance from Reglin. At that point she paused, taking an opportunity to look at her soon-to-be lover. She run her hands over his shoulders and down his chest, “My… You are indeed something of an eyeful, I must say.” Reglin could see desire in Tabitha’s eyes, and there was nothing more stimulating than seeing someone they want so earnestly look at them in the same way.

Tabitha looked down at Reglin’s feet, which caused him to realize he needed to remove his boots, not something she could do for him easily. They were only calf-high boots, so Reglin twisted his legs up to himself one at a time and pulled them off, followed immediately by the stockings her wore.

“That’s better… Now…” Tabitha undid his wrapped leather belt and tossed it aside. Next, the drawstring, with which she wasted little time. Her tempo seemed to be increasing, perhaps not being as patient as she was hoping he would be. She did the same thing that Reglin did for her, except she was in front of him. So, instead of pulling down his pants and seeing his ass, she saw his fully engorged erection concealed by a linen loincloth, “And… then… there… was… one.” She said is a tantalizing manner, looking up with a smoky, hooded look. She took hold of the waistband and pulled down slowly, given resistance from the obvious obstacle in front of her. She knew her proximity, but she stayed where she was. And when the cloth finally released his manhood, she received a slap on her cheek. A low giggle came from her then.

Once Tabitha had pulled the undergarment to his ankles with his pants, hands came back up with her right hand moving instantly to take hold of him at the root, “Yes… this will be very nice, indeed. You have a fine cock, Reglin…” And she leaned in and gave it the lightest of kisses on the swollen head. It was large enough, he gathered. With her hand wrapped around it at the base, fingers and thumb were not able to touch. And it looked as though it would take most of her other hand to cover it completely.

Reglin remarked, “I’m sorry if the hair is not to your liking, Tabitha.” Realizing that the two of them looked a bit different now. He was not a hairy man, just a small amount on his chest and belly and very little on his arms and legs. But his pubic region was much like most, very bushy.

She rose up and made a dismissive gesture, “It does not bother me, dear. My own is only a vanity issue. But I can take care of it if you’d like. It is but a quick sweep of fire and **** mana. And it’s not as bad as it sounds…”

Reglin trusted her and was genuinely curious, so he gave her a nod. She looked him in the eyes and smiled seductively, “Okay then… give me but a moment.” Her hand moved back between his legs and she looked down. Reglin felt an initial heat, followed by a tingling sensation that continued as Tabitha’s hand moved slowly around the region. First above the member, then downward where she cupped his balls. The sensation intensified in the very sensitive area. After running her hands all about and under them, she moved and gripped his shaft softly, running her hand the length of it, “There… That should be good. If it needs a little more, I can do so later.” She let go of him and turn to the bath, “Come…” as she walked to the basin.

Reglin glanced down and, just like Tabitha, he was now completely smooth. 'The uses of mana, apparently...' he thought and looked up to follow Tabitha's petite, but very shapely ass, as she swayed her hips dramatically.

~This is knowledge for the Reader~

The Affection Multiplier

~Mana: 414 (+24) 438~

~Mana Channels: ~Labiae Passionii (Lips of Passion) free, ~ Corpu Vigorii (Vigorous Body) 100, ~ Uirtau Proelium (Martial Prowess) 100, ~Mensu Lucidae (Bright Mind) 100

~Tabitha~ Affectionae: 100 Erosii: 33 (+8) 41 Libidae: 78 (+16) 94
~Lim~ A: 26
~Boll~ A: 15
~Grahm~ A: 28
~Lina~ A: 29
~Asha~ A: 25 E: 2 L: 2
~Princess Katya~ A: -63
~Lady Wilmyna~ A: 1
~Princess Katya's Entourage~ A: (+11)