When we finally arrived back at the residence, Seraphina was waiting in the sitting room with another woman. Her back was turned, but I knew the figure instantly: Aria Devanthes.

  Seraphina smiled when she saw us enter, though Aria remained still, wrapped in a simple bathrobe, shoulders tense. She looked different than before, worn, fragile, but trying to hold herself together.

  I came closer, knelt beside her, and she didn’t flinch. The tears came anyway. I pulled her gently into my arms, and she collapsed against me, sobbing harder. I held her, whispering, “Are you better?”

  She nodded through her tears but couldn’t speak. When she finally regained herself, she lifted red, swollen eyes toward me. “Thank you.”

  “David,” Seraphina said softly from the couch, “we need to figure out a way to get Richard and Ben.”

  “I’m already working on it,” I told her. “We’ll go north as planned, but after that… we’ll bring them home.”

  Aria’s trembling voice broke through. “Promise?”

  “You have my word,” I said. “I’ll get your sons back.”

  “Sweetie,” Seraphina’s voice cut in, sharper now, “that’s not the problem. It’s not her sons… It’s our sons.”

  I blinked. “Our?”

  “Yes.” Seraphina’s smile was mischievous, but her eyes were knowing. “The gods have been meddling again. Say hello to your fourth wife.”

  Aria looked up, startled, then glanced at Seraphina, then at me. My heart pounded. Beneath her messy hair, I saw a faint smile, hesitant but genuine. I brushed the strands back so I could see it clearly, then wrapped her in a proper embrace.

  Someday, I’ll find out why these Gods are doing this to me. But, now… “When?” I asked.

  “Today,” Aria whispered. “When the healer was checking me, she asked if my husband would be glad to see me better. I tried to tell her I don’t have a husband, but…” She faltered. “That’s when I noticed for the first time that at the top of the status orb, it said you. David. My husband.”

  “Status orb? What’s that?” I had to ask.

  “Oh,” Seraphina realized. “It’s a… well, an orb that the healers use to see your health and status. It’s very limited on what it can show beyond that.” I wonder how it works? Does it work remotely, or does it require in-person contact? Hmmm. There was something about marriage. Did I hear that correctly? Aria’s married? Nice, we should help her get home…

  “Normally we’d go to a church, have the blessing, the vows, the ceremony…” Aria said, voice shaking. “But…”

  I stared, utterly floored. Who’s she married to? Realizing that now, I have four wives and two sons…

  “The gods favor David,” Seraphina cut in smoothly. “And they like to… what was that, David? Oh yes, throw curve balls.”

  “You all knew this?” Aria asked, stunned.

  Marlena hugged her. “Welcome to the family.”

  Allira followed, steady and direct. “Welcome.”

  When we sat again, Aria took the place at my right. She folded her hands in her lap, stiff with uncertainty. I reached over, laid my hand over hers. She trembled, then slowly returned my grip.

  “I know this feels too fast. I’m still trying to process it,” I told her. “But you’re family now. Ask me anything. I’ll try to find the answer.”

  Silence lingered until she finally whispered, “David… may I see your status panel?”

  “Of course. Any of you can see it, anytime.” I let it shimmer into being above her lap.

  [David Allen Robertson]

  Race: Human 4 (evolved)

  Status: Married

  ? Seraphina Robertson

  ? Allira Robertson

  ? Marlena Robertson

  ? Aria Robertson

  Betrothed

  ? Theresa Theron

  Title: Earl of Brakenreach

  Master of Tower 6

  Demon Slayer (Cataclysm)

  Master of Tower 1

  Age: 20

  Class: Engineer Lvl 32

  Strength: 50

  Intelligence: 30

  Wisdom: 37

  Agility: 40

  Charisma: 38

  HP: 875/875

  MP: 532/532

  SP: 225/225

  Skills:

  ? Blacksmithing - Lv. 33

  ? Structural Insight - Lv. 3

  ? Unarmed Combat - Lv. 15 (Aikido)

  ? Sword Fighting - Lv. 30

  ? Forge Mastery – Lv. 1

  ? Engineering Constructs – Lv. 1

  ? Arcane Integration – Lv. 5

  ? Mana Efficiency – Lv. 2

  ? Enhanced Diagnostics – Lv. 1

  Passive Traits

  ? Analyze - Lv. 10

  ? Perception - Lv. 5

  ? Fire Resistance - Lv. 5

  ? Language Arts - Lv. 2

  ? Pain Tolerance - Lv. 1

  ? Precision Forge

  ? Autonomous Calibration

  ? Enhanced Learning Curve

  ? Artisan’s Resolve

  ? Blade Sense

  ? Cognitive Multithreading

  Aria’s eyes scanned line after line, and tears welled again. “They were fools. I told them… fighting you would be a disaster.”

  “Don’t blame yourself,” Seraphina said, taking her other hand. “They ignored your counsel. The future is what matters now.”

  “I lost everything,” Aria said, voice breaking. “My husband’s family cast me out. They tried to make me a slave… I have nothing.”

  “You have us,” I said firmly. “Your place with them is over, but now you are part of this family.”

  I turned slightly. “Allyson, is Misty still with the Valens?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Have her ask Celestina or Ranulf about absorbing Sinthurk and Virelles’ assets.”

  “Already proceeding, Master,” Allyson replied. “There was resistance, but the royal decree forced it through. Ranulf advises moving the assets into your own account. It will be simpler.”

  “Yes, if that is simpler. But, that can wait for now. Something else is more urgent.”

  “Ready, Master.”

  “There are two boys who need to be found and watched from a distance until we return.” I turned to Aria. “Where are your sons?”

  “In the main house in the family manor,” she whispered. “Second floor. Their bedrooms are at the back.” Tears streamed down again.

  “Allyson, have Ranulf find them tomorrow quietly. We need to know where they are. Use whatever is necessary.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  I rose, went to my workshop, and returned with a length of cord. Sitting beside Aria, I took her hand.

  “He keeps promising to tie me up, but I’m still waiting…” Seraphina said. Aria stiffened until Seraphina showed her own ring with a gentle smile. Slowly, Aria relaxed.

  _____________________

  I opened my eyes to find Aria lying beside me, her dark hair spilling over the pillow. She smiled as soon as she saw me stir.

  “Good morning,” I said.

  “Good morning,” she replied softly.

  I pushed up on an elbow and noticed we were alone. “Where is everyone?”

  “They rose early. They’re getting ready for church,” she said. Then I remembered that today was the day Seraphina and I would go to the church to receive the blessing for having a child. What a concept.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  I lay back down beside her, close enough to feel her warmth. “And you stayed?”

  “I wanted to wait until you woke,” she admitted.

  “Thank you. So… what now?” I grinned.

  Her blush deepened. “Well, we could get up and have breakfast… or something else.”

  “Breakfast does sound good,” I teased, leaning closer until her breasts pressed against my chest.

  “But you’re my husband now,” she whispered, lips brushing mine, “and I haven’t felt a husband’s touch in a very long time. Do you know what that means?”

  “I guess… no breakfast?” I teased.

  Her laugh trembled against my mouth before she kissed me again, slower this time, deeper, her tongue just grazing mine as her hand slid along my chest. I pulled her closer, feeling the curve of her body press to mine, the warmth of her skin.

  Her breath quickened as she shifted, pushing me gently back against the pillows. She straddled me, her black hair falling like a curtain between us, her lips tracing down my jaw, over my neck, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. My hands roamed instinctively to her hips, feeling the tremor of need there, her body moving with a rhythm that spoke louder than words. I let her guide us, surrendering to the hunger in her touch.

  We emerged from the bedroom some time later, appropriately dressed for church. The three other women were waiting, and their smiles told me they had heard more than I would have liked.

  “David, you’re getting louder,” Seraphina teased, raising an eyebrow. “Were you mooing?”

  I smirked. “You know, Seraphina, sometimes I get these terrible leg cramps and…”

  Aria turned red enough to match a fire mage’s robe. I leaned toward her and whispered, “Don’t worry. They always do this. You’ll get used to it, and the best part, you get to do it to them.”

  Everyone was nearly ready when I remembered one last thing. “Ah. I almost forgot…” I turned back to Aria, took her left hand, and slid a band onto her ring finger.

  She froze, staring down at it. The others cheered and swarmed her in a hug, while Aria held her hand aloft to catch the light. At first, she thought it was silver, until the shimmer betrayed it.

  Her breath caught. “Is this… mithril?”

  “Yes,” Marlena answered, smiling. She lifted her hand, and Seraphina and Allira did the same, showing their matching rings.

  “Who uses mithril for wedding rings?” Aria asked in disbelief.

  All three wives turned and, in perfect unison, pointed at me.

  _____________________

  The carriage dropped us off by the High Church of Eldros, the same massive stone building where we once witnessed Erica’s awakening. Without the festival crowds, its vastness felt even heavier, the vaulted ceilings disappearing into shadow, the pillars carved with runes that now shimmered like words I almost understood. The sharp scent of incense clung to the back of my throat as our footsteps echoed through the nave.

  A young priest intercepted us. “What is the purpose of your visit today?”

  “We seek the blessing to have a child,” Seraphina said.

  “All of you?” the priest asked.

  “No, just me,” she clarified.

  “And your husband?”

  “I’m right here,” I told him.

  He directed us to wait near a row of seats. I found myself staring up at the mural behind the altar: five towering figures looming across the wall, larger than life, larger than belief.

  “The middle one is Veira,” Seraphina whispered, following my gaze. “Then Khosa in armor. Pinea with the vines. Stellaria shrouded in shadow. And Silene, staff raised.”

  I memorized their faces. Which one had spoken to me before? Or had it been all of them?

  The priest returned, sweating. “I’m sorry, your request has been declined. The gods have spoken.”

  Beside me, I can hear Seraphina break into tears. Marlena tried to comfort her while Aria rubbed her shoulders.

  “Let me see the Bishop,” I said flatly.

  “The Bishop is… busy,” the priest stammered.

  “Busy?” I snapped. “No. He’s hiding. Send him out here and let him say it to my face.”

  More priests gathered. Guards shifted, polearms gleaming. I stood, keeping my voice just below a shout. “Gentlemen, you don’t want me angry. Call him out. Now.” I tried not to let my inner Bruce Banner out, but I want answers.

  Still, they hesitated until Allira moved up beside me. “Do you know who this man is?” she asked coldly.

  The priest shook his head.

  “The King’s future son-in-law,” she said. That landed like a hammer.

  One priest bolted for the back. The guards hesitated. Then, finally:

  “Stand down,” a voice rang from behind the altar. A tall man in white emerged, robes sweeping. The priests bowed, the guards stepped back. Bishop Varent at last crawled from his hole.

  “Earl Robertson,” he said, forced politeness dripping from his tone.

  “You must be Bishop Varent,” I replied smoothly. “The one in charge of this fine establishment. I think I saw you at my bride’s awakening, but perhaps we missed our introductions.”

  We exchanged the shallow pleasantries, and then I pressed: “Why were we declined?”

  “The gods said no.”

  “Which gods? Or all of them?” I asked, loud enough for the crowd gathering in the pews. “Is my wife not worthy of a child? Or do you believe I’m not?”

  “You,” he barked, pointing at me, “are unholy. Goddess Pinea deemed you unworthy. ”

  I smiled thinly. “There we are. The truth at last. Not her, but me. The unholy engineer.” So, Pinea. I will remember that name. She and I will have words.

  He spat scripture. “The blinding light of the engineers will bring destruction upon the world. None of your kind shall find heaven or hell. And you…” He pointed at me. “He brought that same blinding light to Vaelthorn.”

  The priests bowed their heads. The crowd gasped.

  “Interesting,” I said calmly. “You got some of it right. It’s interesting how much hate you can stir up with only half-truths. Yes, there was a blinding light in Vaelthorn. Yes, it killed everything caught in it. But those were demons. The portal closed. The invasion ended. My wives and I fought to save the Kingdom and this world. That’s what actually happened.”

  “Lies,” he hissed.

  “No,” I shot back. “Pure ignorance. Judgment based on hearsay. Ask the soldiers on the front lines who were there… The very ones we saved by ending the threat… You don’t know me… You’ve already judged me on the speculation of some centuries-old ramblings of my class. But tomorrow, we travel north to continue our fight against the demons. I will finish this quest that I was given.” I looked around at everyone, looking horrified at my words. But it didn’t bother me. This is all wrong. “You think I’m unholy? Climb down from that pulpit and come with us. See the truth for yourself, and then pass judgment. Until then, this is just all a pure sham.”

  That rattled him. His mouth opened, but no words came out. For just a moment, the great mural behind the altar seemed to glow brighter. Or maybe it was just my imagination, or was it?

  [DING]

  Suddenly, golden light flooded my vision.

  [Title Unlocked: Gods’ Blessing]

  “We leave at noon from the Mage’s airfield. If, by chance, Bishop, you believe that you are just and have the courage, be there. Otherwise, goodbye… Come, everyone,” I said, taking Seraphina’s hand and gently pulling her to her feet. “We’ve wasted enough of the Bishop’s time.”

  The crowd parted as we walked to the doors.

  _____________________

  Back home, Seraphina sat overwhelmed with disappointment, her tears soaking into my tunic as I held her. I knelt before her and gently took off her boots. She didn’t resist as I started to rub her feet.

  “So,” I said gently, “what plans should we have made for a baby, if they did say yes?”

  The others stared at me as if I’d lost my mind.

  “They said no,” Aria reminded me.

  “No means no, David,” Marlena added.

  “Then how would we know if it had been yes?” I asked, moving to her other foot.

  “It’s simple,” Aria explained. “On the mother’s status panel, it shows blessed until it changes to pregnant. That’s what happened with me.”

  “Oh. Call me stupid,” I grinned.

  “Why are you grinning, David?” Marlena asked, narrowing her eyes.

  “Because I think our Seraphina ought to check her status panel.”

  Seraphina froze. “You’re scaring me.”

  I smiled. “I think you’ll be writing a letter to your father soon.”

  With trembling fingers, she pulled up her status panel. And there it was. Blessed.

  Her transformation was instant. “Ladies, help me out of this dress. And get those clothes off of him.”

  I blinked. “What?”

  “David,” she growled, “if you are not naked by the time we reach the bedroom, I will be tearing your clothes off myself.”

  Aria’s eyes widened. “The blessing doesn’t last long. She’s right.”

  “Master, come quickly. You still can escape,” Allyson chimed in, tugging at my shirt. I swear that she was smiling as she was helping Aria with my shirt’s buttons.

  A heartbeat later, Seraphina was already bare, dragging me bodily into the bedroom.

  “David,” Seraphina growled, already pulling me inside, “last chance, clothes off. Now.”

  “I liked it better when demons were the only ones threatening my life,” I muttered, but there wasn’t a chance in hell I was resisting.

  Allira was grinning as she closed the door behind us.

  _____________________

  I returned to the sofa after straightening myself out, pulling the next book from the Magescript series. Somewhere in here was the section on mana storage, I was sure of it.

  “So we have a little one on the way?” Aria asked as she settled beside me.

  “Yes,” I admitted.

  “Congratulations,” she said gently.

  “You know how many times she checked her status panel?” I smirked. “I lost count. When it finally changed, she squeaked right in my ear. That woman can wear me out.”

  “Just wait for our turn,” Aria said with a wink.

  I raised a brow at her. “I thought you said you were too old?”

  “Well, since you’re twice my age, I suppose I can’t really feel too old,” she teased, ruffling my hair.

  I laughed softly. “I love you all. The details will work themselves out. But Seraphina did say when we married that she’d be the one to have my first child.”

  “The next months will bring a lot of changes for us,” Aria murmured.

  The bedroom door swung open, and a disheveled Seraphina wandered out. Her bathrobe hung loosely and was untied, slipping open as she crossed the room in a daze. She didn’t even notice. She plopped into the empty space beside me and leaned against me with a weary sigh.

  “I reached out for you, David, and you weren’t there…” she mumbled.

  “You were snoring so peacefully, sweetheart, I didn’t want to wake you. I’ll always be here for you.” I stroked her hair as she closed her eyes and drifted back into sleep against my shoulder.

  “Allyson,” I said softly, “assign a maid to keep close to Seraphina. Don’t hover, but be there if she needs anything.”

  “Yes, Master. Rachel, the maid Lady Seraphina favors in the kitchen, will be ideal,” Allyson replied.

  Almost at once, Rachel appeared from the hall with a folded blanket. Without a word, she draped it gently across Seraphina’s shoulders and lap, covering what her robe left bare. The faintest smile flickered across Seraphina’s face, though she never opened her eyes.

  Aria’s lips parted slightly as she watched. Her eyes lingered on Seraphina’s open robe, the careless exhaustion written across her face, yet no one judged her for it. Instead, she was instantly cared for, protected, and covered with quiet dignity. Aria let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. This was different. This was… safe.

  “Perfect. In the later months, we can assign another, but for now, Rachel will do.” I nodded as the maid settled nearby, quietly attentive.

  “I wish I’d had someone like you when I carried my two boys,” Aria said, shaking her head with a wistful smile. “Maid service… imagine.”

  “Well,” I said, glancing at her sidelong, “when you go through this, you’ll expect no less.”

  She tilted her head. “Wait… when, not if?”

  “You did hint there might be a chance,” I whispered, chuckling softly so as not to wake Seraphina.

  _____________________

  “What are you doing, David? Shouldn’t you be with Seraphina? ” Allira called, pausing her drill with Erica mid-step.

  “Testing. Seraphina is now back in bed, sleeping, so I want to take a few moments to test this. Anyway, Rachael is with her,” I said, checking the lever of this new item.

  I shouldered the device in the lobby, aimed at the far target, and squeezed the trigger ever so slightly. Blue light erupted around the barrel, igniting glyphs as it raced down its length. A sharp crack answered two quick snaps that echoed off the stone. I cycled the lever, felt the mechanism click smoothly, aimed again, and fired. Snap. Another neat hole appeared next to where the first had been.

  I walked up to the armor plate. Two black-rimmed holes stared back through the target paper, edges singed where the projectiles had burned through.

  [DING]

  [New Skill Unlocked: Kinetic Weaponry – Level 1]

  You have successfully integrated physical and magical energy to propel a projectile weapon beyond conventional limits.

  You are the first in the world to combine Engineering and Mana Circuits in a weaponized form.

  Effects:

  ?Accuracy with kinetic-based weapons increased by 10%.

  ?Mana cost and recoil reduced by 15%.

  ?Unlocks: Calibration, Stability Field, and Overcharge Shot.

  A new skill. Interesting. Kinetic Weaponry, a mana-powered weapon. The first of its kind? Had other engineers never thought of this before? Fascinating.

  “That’s not an excuse to be here…” But she paused when she finally took a look at the target. ’But, that’s impressive…” Allira said, voice flat with reluctant approval. “What is that?”

  “Something I just made.” I handed her the rifle. “It’s called a rifle. I fought with myself while making this. Whether I wanted to create it or not. Ultimately, our safety won out. This device, if misused, can be deadly. To add a little more safety to it, I made it for the maids to use.”

  “All the maids?” she asked, incredulous.

  “Well, a few of the maids to start,” I corrected as we walked back toward my test area. “I’m thinking of a small squad. Long-range support on demand.” I handed the weapon to Allira.

  Allira mimicked my grip and method, pulled the trigger, and nothing happened. She frowned and handed it back. I passed the rifle to Allyson. She followed my steps, and the mechanism cracked true.

  “Why?” Erica asked.

  “I tuned it to use their cores,” I said. “Otherwise, it’s a fancy club. I didn’t want this technology leaking into everyone’s hands, but I do want us to be safe. This safeguard ties the weapon to our people.” I smiled as Allyson handed the rifle back. “Could it be bypassed? Sure. Anything can. I just hope not for a very long time.”

  “It worked for you, too?” Allira asked, curious.

  “It did,” I said. “I found that Allyson and I share a lot in common in how we interface with devices, so it was easy for me to make this work for her as well.”

  Allira’s expression sharpened as she appraised the weapon. “This changes tactics. Long-range teams will now be a reality. Archers are good, but this… this is different.”

  “In my old world,” I said, “we used similar weapons to take down high-value targets. These have an effective range of about a thousand yards, enough to stop something before the front line has to engage.” I tapped a nearby combat golem. “The golems still handle the heavy lifting, but these could thin the enemy ranks before contact. I have some ideas, that the big guys could use also, but that is only on paper as of now…”

  “There’s a drawback,” I admitted. “Each rifle holds twenty shots and draws on the user’s own resources. I’m only making ten of them to start.” I turned to Allyson. “How did it feel when you shot it? Did it pull a lot from you?”

  “Yes, Master. I felt the drain, but the tower replenished me quickly,” she answered.

  “See? Limitations. I wonder if I can integrate a small storage device into the rifle and use the user’s core only as a trigger. That might cut down on the drain.” I pulled out my notebook and jotted down some ideas.

  Allira watched me, amused. “There he goes making a problem and solving it two minutes later. You’ve got to love him.” Erica looked confused by our banter.

  “This one’s nearly perfect for the trip north, just tighten the lever here,” I said to her, as her eyes flashed as the command queued up. “What’s left to get ready for our trip?”

  “Provisions have been loaded,” Allyson replied. “Just final boarding remains.”

  “Good… good…” I stretched and stifled a yawn. “That means I get to sleep in.”

  “You always sleep in, David,” Allira said dryly from across the room. “Now go back and make sure Seraphina is okay.”