I keep that up for a while until all of them are pretty good at creating multiple defenses. Then, I sit them all down and start teaching them how to create and launch attacks. To start, I have them all create attacks and throw them at me until they get the hang of it.

  After that, I split them into pairs and have them practice attacking and defending against each other. I move from group to group, correcting mistakes and giving pointers where I can. I keep that going until I get a ping from Everburn, probably because my soul power is full.

  “Alright, I am out of time. Lin, I want you to teach everyone how to create a soulscape when you can. However, everyone needs to stay out of the hallway until I say you are ready.”

  Lin says “Alright, I can do that.”

  I give each of the kids a hug and each of my wives a kiss before they leave the soulscape. Once it is just me, I end the soulscape and open my eyes to see a wave of attacks already headed for me. I have to scramble to keep any of the attacks from reaching me, I really don’t want to know how bad they would hurt.

  Everburn doesn’t give me a chance to recover, he keeps me on the edge the entire time. No matter what I try, I just can’t get any space, I spend the entire training session on my back foot. Everburn keeps it that way right up until my soul power runs out and I collapse.

  *DING*

  Congratulations! Skill Mental Attack has progressed to level 6!

  Mental Attack

  Level: 6

  Wis +12

  You are adept at launching mental attacks.

  Congratulations! Skill Mental Defense has progressed to level 8!

  Mental Defense

  Level: 8

  Wis +24

  You are adept at defending your soul.

  Congratulations! Skill Mental Attack has progressed to level 7!

  Mental Attack

  Level: 7

  Wis +14

  You are adept at launching mental attacks.

  Everburn says “You did much better this time. You also lasted quite a bit longer. I think our training is just about done. You need actual combat to continue progressing in your skills.”

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  “I know that there is a limit to progress from training. Actually, I am surprised that my skills progressed as much as they did.”

  Everburn says “That is because of how much stronger I am than you. Training against a much stronger opponent allows a bit more progress than would normally happen. You could maybe get another level or two against me, but I need to go back to sleep.”

  “I’m sorry. Thank you for spending so much of your energy to train me.”

  Everburn says “Don’t worry about it. As long as no one attacks me, I will recover my energy soon enough. Although, it would be better if you wait at least a couple of months before visiting again.”

  “That’s fine. I have more than enough to keep me busy and I won’t need to visit in person next time. I will just visit your soulscape.”

  Everburn says “That will work.”

  “Alright, I will leave you to your sleep. Thank you again for all of your help!”

  Everburn chuckles, closes his eyes, and soon is fast asleep, so I quietly leave the cavern. I don’t bother returning to the surface, I just get far enough away that my gate won’t bother Everburn. Then I create a gate back to the castle, head through, and get tackled by Kechara.

  I laugh as I pet her and she fills me in on why she is the only one around the castle. She just got back from visiting the mountain, the other kids are off with my wives. Except for Asuna, who is actually off with Muyaun, learning more about herself.

  Kechara shrinks herself and wraps herself around my neck as I walk into the castle. She happily tells me about everything that has happened while I was gone, which was longer than I thought. I have actually been gone for just short of two weeks, I guess my exhausted sleep was longer than I thought.

  Luckily, not much has happened while I was away, but I do have a few things to do. I sit down to eat a meal with Kechara, but I don’t actually know what time it is, or what meal it should be. So, I go with my old default, pizza, it can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

  Kechara obviously doesn’t mind, she is just happy to have me all to herself for once. As we eat I use Divided Mind to check in with the others using the network. Everything has been running smoothly, there are only a few small things that need my attention.

  All of them are things that I can take care of just by talking to people through the network. So, half my mind works on that while the other half chats with Kechara about random things. Once we are done eating, I spend some time petting Kechara and run a scan through her body.

  It is something that I haven’t done in a long time, but I can see so much more now. The spell literally has threads going to every cell in her body and now I can actually see them. Not only that, but with a bit of study I can start to get an idea of what they are doing.

  The spell threads merge into a big rope as it leaves her body and the rope heads off towards the mountain. I can tell that if that rope were to break, Kechara’s body would simply fall apart. I don’t think that even with all my power, I could hold her together if that happens.

  I quickly figure out that there is nothing I can do from this side of the spell, I will need to work on the source. However, I am going to need to talk to the goddesses before I do anything else. I will do that later, for now I am going to spend my time with Kechara while I can.

  It doesn’t take me long to handle other matters and after that I just relax and cuddle with Kechara. I really shouldn’t play favorites, but Kechara, as my first kid, still holds a special place in my heart. When the other kids are around I don’t give her more attention than the others, but right now I can spoil her a little.

  However, as much as I enjoy spending time with Kechara, I quickly start to feel bad about being idle. I quickly check on my wives, Lin is in the capital, Brightfire is on the island, Mercy is in her capital, and Myria entered the trial. I quickly decide that helping Mercy is what I should do, but it is something that I don’t really want to do.

  I take Kechara with me and gate to Mercy’s capital, but I come out in the throne room. It is the only place that I remember well enough to target since there are no platforms here. My arrival disrupts court, especially when Mercy runs down from her throne to hug and kiss me.