SK4 - Chapter 14 - The First Maidens

[Author Note - This is a redone chapter, it was airing on Scribble/Royalroad and I decided to redo it sooner rather than later. Someone had pointed out to me that the scene was a bit too weird with having it take place at the kid's orphanage and restaurant, and I realized that I must have forced it a bit and it was a bit offputting. They also gave me a pretty decent idea of how to change it, so I am thankful as I think it's a good concept for Seraphara's Maidens, to make a place for him called the Hero's Sanctum. The primary changes are in the second half of the chapter, and it did cause it to become a little longer, but I think it's much better as a result. Enjoy! Still should have a chapter coming out tomorrow.]

He took two girls’ arms once more, and they began walking to the next location. As they walked across the city again, the girls cycled who held his arms. Nick enjoyed just being near any priestess of Seraphara because of their pure souls. They provided a warm, familiar, and reassuring presence to him.

Because not every soul was so clean and pure. Most people’s souls were invaded by small amounts of darkness, from hatred and greed to other negative emotions, their souls tainted by their many actions in life. Each person he met had some level of it, and was a reminder that underneath any happy smile could be someone truly wicked, a ball of hatred and evil tainted by their many terrible actions. 

Souls like that made him queasy to his stomach just getting near them, even when they were not quite so bad and simply a shade of gray. Many people were merely opportunists; their greed, lust, and hatred were only acted on if the right moment presented itself–when they could get away with it. Their sins or capacity to sin could be felt from further away than ever now, with the power of his soul and his Trait’s enhancements.

So his wives and the Priestesses of Seraphara, adherents and children, were often a reminder that there were plenty of people full of good in them. They were people who wouldn’t turn to commit horrible acts, even at a great detriment to themselves. People who would rather die than harm a child, or people who would work hard or stand up for another and did. People who were worth protecting and fighting for. Just being in their presence helped him relax but also drove him to be stronger and better as an Ordeal Owner. 

It was during the day, but as they walked through the Shadowvale district, the sky darkened, and it was as if the sun had shifted into a bright full moon instead. It was a strange effect, but interesting. There were not many people in the streets, but Nick could feel the many people within their homes.

There were numerous ramshackle homes, the street filled with housing not all that different from how bad some areas of Silverbrook were. But there were some new homes being worked on, and it did appear many of the people of Shadowvale were chipping in and working together. There were hundreds of them.

He knew that most of them were either hunters or people that barely got by, few having true trades or professions. Perhaps now they’d have a better chance at making something of themselves, no longer limited by Blackthorne.

Marissa pointed over to some larger constructions in the distance, “Elrash had a few brothels and drug dens, but we’ve converted them into inns and bars. For now, they’re also temporary housing. Then we have plenty of buildings in need of being rebuilt, only barely less effort than starting from scratch. Given that extracting resources for so many of our efforts in Frosthaven is a bottleneck of its own, we have decided to rebuild and upgrade where we could.” 

Veronica added, “A lot of these homes were empty from the Conquest, so now some people from Silverbrook have moved in temporarily. We now have everyone housed, although those working on the roads to Silverbrook would be without one if they came home suddenly. With just a few more of those apartments built, we’ll be ready for them.”

That was good news for Nick. For a while, many of the people from Silverbrook had been staying out in tents, much like those who worked on the roads. “How are the people of Shadowvale actually doing?”

Marissa replied, “Some are doing great! Many are finding work and finding their place here. The Adventurers Guild has the many hunters finding work, and Turon granted the best of them Climbing slots, filling in spots of your Town Guard and monsterfolk parties so they work together. Many of the people join us at the soup kitchen or are enjoying the assistance of our Helping Hands! Veronica has spent much of her free time here since they arrived, but she’s been busy in Frosthaven doing the same from the beginning.”

He turned to look at her. “Veronica, really? I didn’t know that.”

Veronica blushed, nodding. “Yes, it seems I’m a bit of a handywoman. Good with a hammer and wrench! I have a knack for it, and I’ve always been strong, for a girl. It’s why I felt like I should be the one to protect the other girls and became a Paladin. Do you…mind it?” She looked at him worriedly before looking away, embarrassed.

Nick smiled at her. “Nothin’ wrong with being a little bit of a tomboy, Veronica. You have a gift, and I think it’s great that you can help people in other ways from your many Sisters at the church. Being skilled at those things doesn’t take away from your appeal as a woman for me at all; it enhances it. Course, it doesn’t hurt that you’re so pretty, just like the other gals.”

Veronica blushed further, but her smile beamed at his response. It seemed she really had been concerned that he might not like a woman who did things known to be masculine, let alone the extra tone she had on her body. Perhaps she just hadn’t seen Fang with her shirt off to realize she had nothing to worry about.

They continued their walk once more, and it seemed they were heading back to Seraphara’s Cathedral. However, he realized something as Irene was hugging his arm once again.

“I notice you’ve been quiet much of this time, Irene. You don’t have much to share about what you’ve done here?”

Irene chuckled. “Noticed that, huh? Unfortunately, I have not spent much time outside the archives or the cathedral since I returned to the land of the living. My work there has just been too important and all-consuming. I love everything our people are doing, and I have kept mostly up to date with it–we girls love to gossip, even us scholars. I’m very proud of what they’ve all accomplished.”

“You liked doing charity work, didn’t you? Surely, you could find at least a little bit of time. I know you hardly need sleep anymore.”

“Of course–you’re right. I do miss it, and perhaps, hadn’t realized just how much. This walk has been enjoyable for several reasons, as it helped me discover I’ve been avoiding an important aspect of my life, in addition to showing our people’s hard work. I was hoping to take a break once we’ve added another archivist, but maybe there’s no need to wait. I can slow things down a little to enjoy.” She smiled at him. “I can always use the baby excuse to take a break, too.”

Nick thought that was almost the opposite as doing charity was work, but figured it was different when she enjoyed it so much. As for having a child, he was sure this topic would come up again soon.

Marissa said, “I remember when Irene was younger, she was no different from us. I had always admired her dedication, and it’s part of what drove me to want to do more, too.”

The other girls nodded, and Irene smiled at them. “You’ve become wonderful priestesses of Seraphara, you three. I’m so proud of all of you.”

They were nearing the cathedral now. “We also didn’t go over by the ex-Nagduros area, I see. Or the ex-Zura area. ”

Marissa asked, “Did you want to? We assumed you’d be most apprised of the orc’s situation–such a large percentage of their people are climbers or raiders that there’s not much to see there. I have heard that a few smaller groups of raiders have left, but no doubt Lothar has kept you up to date on that.”

Nick nodded at that. He had heard that information, the groups leaving under twenty men and women each to carry out their Honorable Raids near Silverbrook. But Lothar was still waiting to hear back from the scouts and perhaps the mercenaries to arrive before going on a much more major expedition of his own. 

Veronica added, “As for the ex-Zura area, it’s also more of the same. There was plenty of wood from clearing out the road to Silverbrook, so we’ve continued our same constructions and focus. Outside the larger attempt to be more inclusive of the other citizens of Frosthaven, little has changed in our community.”

Nick had compared the people of Zura to the Amish before, and their style of construction, religious focus, and simple clothing were the primary reasons for this. Stepping into their area was a lot like entering an Amish village, with simple homes and tradesman’s shops. The many farms and town homes were more on the outside of the main walled-in city, with the adherents often walking up the hill to come to church to study or worship. 

They arrived at the cathedral, and Nick was impressed that all three of the main buildings of it had grown. The clinic area, the orphanage, and the cathedral itself. The wings had grown especially, as that was where the gendered dorms were located. The number of priests, priestesses, and paladins now rivaled and exceeded their original numbers, and it was the same for the adherents among the refugees and migrants from Silverbrook.     

The orphanage and soup kitchen had nearly doubled in size, the building enhanced through their efforts and now having its own entrance entirely. There was even outdoor seating now, and Nick noticed an area for a much longer line available. As they walked inside the soup kitchen, he could see the difference immediately. 

A lot of it was built with sleek efficiency in mind, with the many small tables and seats to enjoy soup as a small group and in a hurry before moving on. However, there were a few new sections for more cozy seating with booths and more on the outskirts, and even an area that swept around the side of the kitchen.

The children were busy with cooking, cleaning, and fulfilling orders, and even the kitchen in the back looked much larger. A few priestesses and adherents could be seen aiding the children in their efforts.

A group of teens came out to thank him and greeted him. Once again, he was surprised at how thankful they were and how happy they were to see him. After they walked away, Irene must have read his look because she responded to it.

“They’re thankful to you, Nicholas. Even if it is us who runs this place, they know that the infusion of essence and our ability to provide for them is largely thanks to you. It may also be related to …the other upgrades you’ve done.”

She was talking about the Heroic Path enhancement, which helped provide advantages that might inspire these children to become better people, more heroic. After greeting the ones he’s met and learning more about how things were going for them, they said their goodbyes to the many kids and adherents they saw. 

Chastity smiled as they entered the reception area. “They all work so hard, and they’re growing so well. We have new children joining us from Shadowvale now, so it’s taken some adjustment for them to cook another meal overnight.”

Nick asked her, “You spend a lot of time there, right, Chastity?”

Chastity nodded. “The most! I spend most of my time in the orphanage and clinic. I love children very much and helping those in need.”

Veronica added, “Marissa is similar in that, but she spends much more time teaching the kids and anyone else eager to learn.”

“That food smelled great. We have eating on our schedule, ladies?”

Veronica said, “We have a special meal we’ve been preparing for you, Nicholas. We’re ready to head there now, but I wanted to let you know the clinic has been expanded to include a larger wing for people’s mental health.”

“Really? I can see how that could be valuable, but are there that many in need of it?”

Chastity gave him a sad look. “Unfortunately. You see, we saved a lot of poor girls from those brothels, and there are many ex-slaves who have suffered. Those who need a little more help stay there in a safe place while they are seen by people trained to be therapists and counselors, happy to help people find their way. Then, Seraphara’s Compassion helps them slowly heal from their mental wounds.”

Nick had already seen the worst of them when he provided his Soul Mending. He just hadn’t realized that a building would need to be enhanced by the sheer number of them.

“I see. Those along with children are truly vulnerable and in need of compassion the most.”

They nodded at that, and then headed back through the cathedral and then inside the female dorm area–where no men were usually allowed.

Inside, it almost looked like a hotel hallway, with many doors for rooms. “Where are we going now? I won’t get smote here, right?”

Irene chuckled. “I don’t think Mother would do more than weigh down on anyone who wandered in with ill intent, allowing us to deal with them. As for you, you are a special guest.”

Many of the doors to the rooms were open, likely to let the air flow and allow visitation among each other. The rooms were very modest, barely much bigger than jail cells. Nearly every room looked the same, with a bookshelf, a comfortable reading spot containing a recliner or small sofa, and their simple cot. They really focused on the communal living and minimalist lifestyle.

At the end of the hallway was a closed door, which led to a large area. There were actually many tables and a bar-like area, almost like he was standing within a restaurant. Nick frowned as he took it all in. The tables were more like booths, but the padding and carved wood used was more lavish or luxurious than what he would expect within anything adherents of Seraphara would be using.   

There were a few women he recognized as priestesses sitting in the room, reading to themselves as they had a drink. They coquettishly waved at him, giggling to themselves. But the oddest thing was they were not wearing their habits. They were wearing cocktail or party dresses, which made them look rather fetching.

With that, he took in the place with a new light. “What’s this? It’s like a…cabaret club?”

Irene grinned. “Ah, you understood right away. Have you ever been, Hero?” 

Nick chuckled. “Nah, but they are depicted in media and stories often enough.” 

Marissa said, “We call it the Hero’s Sanctum. We were tearing down those brothels and releasing all those poor, forced girls inside. Terrible places. We tore out many of the fixtures as we converted them, but we figured…why not make use of some of it in a different way? So we refurbished some of their bar or club furniture and made this place…for you.” 

Veronica added, “We figured…you needed a place where you could meet with us priestesses where it was more…freeing, less stifling, and more private. We girls can come here, let our hair down, and read a book…and if you show up, we can attend to you and help you relax. Then, you can get to know us a little better. See if you want to make one of us…one of your Maidens. Only girls interested and ready to become yours will come here. And, since it’s past all our rooms…if we see you enter, we can get ready and then come join you.” She smiled.

Nick thought about it and understood this was a much better icebreaker. He did not really like how it would be challenging to find more girls interested–it was like he would need to ask around before he approached them.

It wasn’t like all the priestesses wanted to, or were ready to, become his wives. But now, it was like they gave him his own hunting ground, as he would know each girl in here had met the prerequisite of at least forming their Concept Fragments, making them valid marriage targets with Seraphara’s lessened requirements.

“My own private cabaret club, then? I like it.”  

“That’s right. For now, we’ll be your dates, but next time you come, you can call any girl you see over, and they’ll attend to you.”

The five of them loaded into the semi-circular booth, with Nick in the center with two girls on his right and left. Plates and cutlery were already set out, with napkin tents on top.

The two girls reading had set down their books, and came over to pour some wine for them with smiles. “We’ll have your food right out, Milord. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Nick felt the girl’s soft bodies pressed up against him. “Cozy. I like it.” 

Irene said, “We were hoping in addition to the food, we could enjoy each other for a bit first.”

It was Chastity and Veronica who flanked his immediate sides, with Irene and Marissa on the other sides of them. Chastity had grabbed his hand and placed it on her thigh, and Veronica did the same for his other hand and leaned closer to him.

Nick chuckled. “Oh? I think I like the sound of that. You girls have been swishing your hips in front of me for a while now. I never thought you girls would be teasing me like that.”

Marissa pouted. “It’s not teasing when you can touch whenever and wherever you like.”

Chastity added, “You know we’re already yours, Hero.”

His soul core thrummed at that, and he leaned in and kissed Chastity first. She melted into the kiss, her body leaning back into his, and her hands began to roam his firm body. He could feel her need, her desire through the pace she tried to seek his tongue. Veronica’s hands were roaming his body too, and he could see how eager she was to have her own moment with him.

Chastity was rather wild, rubbing her body against his as the kiss deepened. He could feel she was already getting riled up in their private area, so he pulled back before some clothes came off–they still needed to eat, after all. Switching to Veronica, Chastity gave a pitying whine as he left her.

Veronica was much more chaste, but it didn’t take long for her kiss to deepen. The girl was more than a little excited, even if inexperienced. It was easy to feel the depths of her emotions, the pleading of her expression as they kissed. His hands roamed her firm body, enjoying the differences. She still had a large chest and soft rear, but he could certainly feel her more muscular undertones in her thighs or stomach.

Marissa and Irene then swapped places with Veronica and Chastity, and Nick continued with Marissa first. The woman was older, and somehow, even needier. She had been watching the other girls, it appeared, and she kissed him with nearly as much fervor as Chastity. Melting into his arms, she seemed to have an almost thankful look on her smiling face.

Still, it was a little eerie how much they all looked alike. Especially with their faces so close and their lips pressed against his, their blue eyes having similar yet different intensities. 

Irene was the most chaste of the bunch, but she too had a strange intensity. Each kiss was slow and full of tenderness, as if every one was meant to transmit her gratitude to him.  

Their soft hands even rubbed and groped his erection, his desire for these girls reaching the maximum. He knew the only reason his body responded at all was because these girls were already his, his very soul knowing that creating that pact was merely a formality. A formality that he would have to complete to truly continue, but one he had full intentions of doing. 

Nick noted, “You girls seem to be getting pretty worked up.”

Irene smirked. “You too, Hero. Are you surprised? I know your wives all get worked up rather easily around you.”

Nick snorted. “That might be true, but it feels a little…off. I’d expect you nuns to be much more…chaste.” He looked at Chastity, especially. That girl felt like she was about to mount him in the booth.

Chastity blushed and looked away. “You’re right. You see, Hero, we’ve been a little…naughty.”

Nick chuckled. “Oh yeah? What’d you girls do? Forgo filing your forms, or maybe you delayed paying your tithes?” Nick picked up his drink and took a swig of the wine. 

Chastity frowned. “Huh? No, never. We’ve been practicing. Imagining when we finally became yours and playing with our kitties.”

Nick choked on his drink. “What?”

Irene chuckled. “That was cute, the shock on your face! You heard correctly. But as to why, it was in part because we wanted to make things even more enjoyable for you. Also, to build a small amount of darkness within us.”

Nick frowned and searched their soul cores. Certainly, they were very pure, like any of the priestesses at the cathedral. But there was in fact an undercurrent of perhaps unhealthy levels of…darkness building. Irene’s purity was perhaps the worst, making him give her another look. 

Nevertheless, it was actually something rather small in the big scheme of things. He could tell there was a part of it grounded in their love, a part of it that was pure. Having come to understand the darkness a lot better recently, he understood that just this amount was rather normal and hadn’t really seeped into their core to make it gray yet. Their efforts could eventually build into something bad and unhealthy and perhaps even malicious in time, but it was still early and hadn’t blended.

“I thought…you girls were all about your purity–your purity is part of Seraphara’s strength. Why would you do this?”

Irene smiled. “These girls did enjoy it very much while waiting for you, you know. But it’s largely so that you could benefit. As we become yours, you will draw this into you, and it will be purified by our coupling. It should help you both during the act and also into the future with your control. Actually, this is part of the reason that my Becca drains you so. Because she is so pure, her body itself draws out the darkness within you. Ah, our food is here.”

The girls moved off his lap just in time for the two girls to set down the plates. The food was delivered, and the smells of cooked steak filled his nose. It was a medium-rare sirloin steak, with a mushroom and onion gravy off to the side. There was also a pasta with a thick white sauce on it with mushrooms. Then, some char-roasted broccoli, salted and seasoned to perfection.

A shocking thing was the plate was large and full to the brim with large servings, and yet each of the girls was given the same thing as him. “I’m surprised you girls aren’t having some kind of salad or similar. This is a lot of food for you girls, besides.”

Veronica smiled. “Oh, no, this is normal for me anyway. But we need our essence, our energy for later. Making a child requires us to have as much as we can have, so each of these foods and the wine were planned to give us what we need for later.”

Irene chuckled. “Jasmine and Lumos helped make sure we had everything we’d need. You have your work cut out for you tonight, Hero.” She grinned at that and happily began cutting a slice of her steak. 

Nick arched his brow at that and took a bite of the meat as the other girls started to dig in. It melted in his mouth, the tender juices and herbs providing an excellent flavor to it. The essence in the meat was dense and full of vitality, and Nick felt it suffusing his body rapidly. 

“Damn, that’s great. Was it the kids who cooked this?”

Chastity said, “It was another priestess. There are many more that would love your attention besides us. I’ll point her out for you later.” 

The girls dug in with a gusto, somehow eating rapidly yet also full of poise and grace. He could tell they enjoyed all the food from their pleased sounds, and they also drank plenty of the essence-infused wine. Nick tried some steak with the supplied gravy concoction and felt it enhanced his steak and made it even more savory. 

He enjoyed his meal, and by the time he had finished his plate, he was stuffed. Thankfully, as a cultivator, that was a feeling that wouldn’t last for very long. His ascension to the second stratum wasn’t just strength, but his body evolving in many more complicated ways. His stomach and digestive tract were one of them. When he reached the third stratum, he wouldn’t truly need to eat–he could get everything he needed from essence in the air if it was dense enough. The angels like Irene were already at this level in the second Stratum.

When the dessert came out, a large, sharable ice cream sundae, the girls all took turns feeding him and then kissing him again. Knowing they had darkness within them and why it was there, he could feel the lust within both him and them only increase; he couldn’t wait to make them his.

Their cold lips and tongues sharing the sweet treat made both him and them even more eager, the delicious tastes and sensations and how their groping his body made him want to ravage them in the booth. For a moment, he thought two of the girls were about to go underneath the table, but with some deep breaths, they stopped themselves.

Marissa said, “Mmm…since it’s private here, we could just go under and take care of our lord…but it’s better if we move our worship of him to the special room. He’ll gain a lot more that way.”

Nick frowned a little in confusion at that but finished his dessert. The other girls nodded and polished off what was left of their food.

Finishing the decadent dessert, Irene wiped her delicate lips with her napkin. “My my, Hero. That was just delicious in many more ways than just one, was it not? We’re a little stuffed, but as you can feel…we’re outright eager to be stuffed further in another way. Shall we go?”

Nick’s soul thrummed with even more desire. Something about these Maidens wanting him so badly really drove his body wild, but perhaps it was something else entirely. The idea he was going to finally create his first set of Heirs had him more than a little excited too.

He nodded, and they filed out of the booth, and he said goodbye to the two priestesses, thanking them with a kiss on their cheeks and a promise to see them again some other time. 

They then started to head out of the cabaret, but rather than heading out the main entrance, they took the path toward the library area. He was a little surprised. 

Nick frowned. “We’re going inside here? I thought…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but he thought they intended to consummate becoming his maidens now, with how they were talking. 

Irene replied, “We could go to a more private location like my home, but I thought it best we head to the new room here. That way, you can benefit the most from the special environment. You don’t mind, do you, Hero?”

His frown only became deeper from that statement. “Inside? Isn’t the goddess like…aware of everything that goes on inside the cathedral?”

Irene grinned, and her breaths started to become heavier as she walked over to him and leaned in. She said sultrily, nearly whispering in his ear, “You don’t have to list more advantages, Hero. I’m already excited.”

Nick swallowed. What was with her? He supposed this must be some of her weirdness, left over from her torturous time with the Bishop. His heart went out to her for the terrible things she probably witnessed; his plans were truly disgusting.

Back in the main area, the essence within seemed to embrace him. It was a warm feeling, much like when he returned to his city. They continued into the main worship and learning area, and they were greeted by numerous priestesses and adherents as they walked through it.

Marissa giggled. “I can see you’re reluctant, our dear Hero. Seraphara will not mind. Can you not feel it? The essence is so welcoming ever since you walked in.”

Nick did feel that, but could it really be because the goddess herself knew what was about to happen? He supposed the gossip within these walls was probably getting pretty ridiculous at this point.

Veronica added, “You’re our Ordained Lord, and we intend to commit an act of worship and aid you in your honorable Quest. While it’s a little unorthodox, the benefits to you should be very real, increasing the safety of her beloved adherents, clergy, and everyone else in Frosthaven. I do believe she wants to aid you just as much as we do. Did her quest not explicitly say so?” 

Nick still felt a little weird about it, but he could tell how important this was to them. They had gone through strange lengths for it to benefit him in some way. “Alright, if you girls are down, then I am.” 

As they continued to walk, Nick decided to change the topic a little from the weirdness. “Once I reach the third Stratum, did you want me to help reach the twentieth floor with you? After you’ve all recovered from having my children, that is.”

Marissa replied, “That’s up to you. Milord–this is your city, and if you desire us to move on, we will do everything in our power to follow your will. But we’re okay with taking another year or two if time permits. It helps us spend more time becoming one with the essence, progressing our Purity, Wisdom, and Compassion to have a more stable Ascension. This can actually save time in the third stratum, as less time will be required to correct any imperfections.”

That made some sense to Nick. Only Irene had Middle Mastery with her mother’s Concepts, and for most not at her level of talent or those that helped him in his Path of Kings Ordeal, it would take them months or years to work their way up to that. As his wives with Essence Sharing, he would likely actually help them with that.

They entered into the library, with multiple levels covered in bookshelves and filled with books. More girls were stopping what they were doing and smiling, waving at Nick, and giggling as they continued, Irene and Marissa leading them through the building. 

“So, plenty of time to raise my Heirs, is it? It does seem as if it fits well with your desires.”

Veronica nodded. “Of course. Each of us who wishes to become your Maidens has our own reasons, but we would all love to become mothers. And we would love to give this to you, to be the ones to aid you and be your strength. That it works well for our personal plans is just the cherry on the sundae. We’d be happy to do this either way; it is absolutely our pleasure.”

“That’s a strange way of putting it, but it’s true my other wives aren’t really ready for the time being. You too, Irene? You’re already a mother.”

Irene spoke with conviction. “Nothing would make any of us happier than being yours and bearing your child, Hero.”

“Nothing? Why?”

Irene smiled, “So many reasons, and it’s difficult to quantify which is the most important for me. If I serve a purpose, I am proud that I serve my mother’s will. But it fills me with great joy that I could serve yours, and receive your love as well as return it with my own. I want to be your sanctuary, to give you pleasure and happiness, and to be one of your many sources of strength as Veronica said.”

Marissa added, “I’m older than the rest, but I have been most prepared to become a mother for a while. I was getting desperate to establish my Concepts to earn the right to find a partner, and now I have finally achieved it. And I’m so happy it can be with you, Milord.” 

Chastity smiled at that. “Marissa is definitely the most excited to become a mother for the first time. She’s dreamed of it for much longer than any of us.”

They arrived in front of a door, and the girls let go of his arms and stepped in front of it and turned to him–the four girls lined up in front of him.

Veronica’s voice was full of emotion. “You rescued us all from the terrible darkness, granting us true salvation from evil and redemption from our failures. You are our Lord and Hero, and none other than you both deserves and is capable of accepting and reciprocating our love. Not only are you ordained by our goddess, but you have risked your life and have protected us from terrible dangers.” 

Marissa said, “None have protected and empowered us like you, and it means everything to us that we’re among the ones closest to you. All of us can’t help but dream of the happiness we’ll have at being yours, your light cast upon us and for us returning it to you. We want your affection, but we want to shower you in ours and bear your children. Both as a service to you, and also a personal desire of ours.” 

Chastity fiddled with her skirt, blushing heavily. “Yes, and…we’ve all been dreaming of this moment, where you’ll make that dream come true. Everything about you is so perfect; you make our hearts beat faster and our bodies heat up when you’re around us. And–”

Irene laughed and hugged Chastity from the side. “Don’t worry, Chastity. Take a breath and be calm for just a little longer. I’m sure you won’t have to wait much longer, right, Hero? While our feelings for you are perhaps the greatest among the clergy right now, we know there is a great number of them that all feel the same way. We all have a profound love for our hero and king, and are desperate to feel your love and affection first hand, and to return it to you. We want to serve as your loving Maidens.”

Nick’s soul core vibrated with desire for these excellent women–these Maidens. Did he love them? He wasn’t sure about that, but one thing was for certain: he wanted them to be his. He deeply desired them for their purity, but also their intelligence and gentle personalities, and yet the calm strength that lay underneath the surface. 

What wasn’t there to like? All four girls were incredibly loving, giving, devoted, and capable. In many ways, they were extremely similar to his wife, Rebecca, having matching values and upbringings. If he liked her, how couldn’t he like them? They instead had different hobbies and focus which set them apart as different women in his mind, but were also very similar thanks to their appearance. 

Marissa was focused on civic works and organization and also spent plenty of time in the orphanage and teaching children. Only Chastity spent more time on her charity efforts, healing people in need and helping in the orphanage and soup kitchen nearly more than anyone else. She had a deep love for children, and he knew she, like the others, would be a wonderful mother to his Heirs. 

Veronica had always been involved more in the Helping Hands aspect, and she cared deeply about protecting her community and friends, and it was for that reason she became a paladin. To put herself in front of her friends and take on the danger to protect them. She had the makings of a hero herself, and he was happy knowing someone like her was always going to be around Frosthaven. 

Irene had been focused on the Ancestral Archives recently since it was a task only she could accomplish, but she had a charitable spirit and cared deeply about granting people Seraphara’s compassion. She had suffered greatly due to the Bishop and Nick was her greatest hero that rescued her even more directly than the rest. The truth was, the woman was willing to do anything for him just like Jasmine, having a zealous fervor and desire to show her gratitude.

While many of the numerous priestesses in Frosthaven’s love for him had come from a feeling of respect and admiration as their Lord and Hero, they had romanticized becoming a source of his strength. To be the ones to bring out and enhance the light within him. They desired to experience his love and light firsthand. To be among the ones he loved and trusted the most–his Ladies and Maidens.   

His eyes glowed white as he spoke the words of the Soul Pact. They were already his Followers, but now, they would become his wives. 

“Marissa, Veronica, Chastity, and Irene, Daughter and clergy of Seraphara, I offer you a Soul Pact. I offer you my protection as an Archaen Lord of Orion, granting you my essence and resources as your Archaen Husband. In return, you will become my Archaen Wives, adhering to Archaen Law and returning my love and affection with your own, and becoming a source of my strength.”

As always, they understood the meaning deep down in their being, about what becoming an Archaen Wife entailed for when they accepted. The four of them accepted the Pact, and the bright white light wrapped around them and their Soul Cores. 

Marissa, Veronica, and Chastity each became his first Half-Blooded Archaen Human wives, and he didn’t think much changed about their appearance. There was a certain brightness that now shone in their blue eyes, and of course, their mind and soul cores became one and linked to him. 

Aside from that, they remained much like before, visibly, anyway. A strange otherworldly air could be felt too, that somehow set them apart. Perhaps other cultivators would be able to tell that they were different from humans in some way, but only if they scanned them deeply. With how the girls excelled in covering and protecting themselves with their aura at all times, outside this moment or fighting, perhaps nobody would notice. 

Irene barely shifted as she became an Archaen Angel, aside from having the same, more otherworldly glow about her. Ultimately, she looked like a more mature version of Rebecca or the girls standing in front of him.

She smiled. “Wonderful, you just made us the happiest priestesses for all time by making us yours. Let’s go inside now and see if we can return the favor even a little bit before you make us mommies.” Irene then looked over to Chastity, whose whole neck was red with a deep blush at this point. “Though, some of us may just enjoy this even more than you. I can’t wait to see!” 

Irene fiddled with a tablet at the entrance, which Nick knew was injecting essence into the room from the Ordeal, powering their efforts. They could not use the room all day every day without a cost, and so this was what managed that expenditure.

Entering inside the room, it was a room with its walls covered with many ethereal mirrors. They did remind him of the special benefit he had gained, Seraphara’s Mirror of Wisdom and Truth, but he could tell the effect was a little different. It was like each mirror distorted the view a certain way, allowing him to see a different angle to the essence.

The girls each stirred their essence, and Irene said, “Go ahead and give it a try, Hero. It’s very helpful.” 

It reminded him of 3-D glasses or a magic eye poster. How, by filtering, enhancing, or combining different colors of light when looked at from different angles, it could produce different effects or textures from his two eyes’ perception.

The way the effect was lesser was that it was like he could only see the essence in a very partial way. As he stirred his Body Essence, he could only see it in a few of the mirrors at all. To get the whole picture, unlike the original special treasure, which showed it to him, he’d have to view each and every mirror, and perhaps more.  

There was a bed inside and several pieces of furniture that were very obvious sex furniture. A divan-like sofa with a sharp incline and another that had stirrups for a girl to place her feet. There were even a few mirrors on wheels, which made this room a little kinkier than he imagined should be here in Seraphara’s Cathedral. There was also a stand with plenty of food and wine, and Nick thought he even saw a few boxes meant for containing essence pills.

Irene giggled. “Hehe, these won’t normally be here, Hero. These are just for you. We’ll stow them and hide them away when you leave and bring them out whenever you wish to visit. After all, we wives of yours will love to give you our affection and also give you the tithed worship you deserve. Isn’t that right, ladies?”

Marissa, Veronica, and Chastity all smiled, their cheeks and necks becoming pink from the blush as they nodded. Their excitement was building, and Nick was wondering what he just got himself into. One thing was for sure: he was going to enjoy what happened here, but he wouldn’t be leaving until several girls were well on their way to becoming mothers.