After that, I call the kids over and have our normal training session before playing with them. I spend some time with my wives after the kids are gone and then I end the soulscape. I immediately shapeshift into my new form and check myself in the mirror to make sure I got it right.

  I did and the form feels pretty comfortable, almost as good as my normal form. It will probably get even better after I get used to using it, but it will do for now. Since Myria is still sound asleep I start working on enchanting the remaining weapons for Zachariah.

  My mana is still low from gating to the castle and back, but the enchantments are simple enough. In fact, thanks to the tattoo, I actually gain more mana than I spend on the enchantments. Still, there are not that many weapons and I finish well before Myria wakes up.

  After finishing the weapons, I lay down with Myria, but I only manage to sleep for a few hours. The sun still isn’t up when I wake up, so it is too early to wake up Myria. I am tempted to start going through my pouch, but I think that project will take a while.

  Having a bag of holding has turned me into something of a packrat, who knows what is in there. Since I can’t remember, I am going to have to empty the pouch, which is going to make a mess. I am sure that there are beast parts and other messy things in there that I have forgotten about.

  Instead, I go into my soul palace to check on its progress and spend some time with Maximus. There really isn’t much room for him to move around in here, I really need to find time to get more plants. Or farm up some soul coins and buy more materials to help expand the space.

  It is just hard to find the time with everything else that is always going on in the real world. What I really need is to get better organized and make better use of the time I do have. However, if I am being completely honest with myself, that just isn’t going to happen.

  My original plan was to have Jarvis act as my personal assistant and help with all of that. The problem is that I wasn’t expecting to be leaving him behind to act as a home for my wives and kids. I have thought about making another artificial spirit that I can carry with me, but haven’t gotten around to it.

  I am a little worried that Jarvis would get jealous and go crazy. That would definitely be a bad situation, so I want to try and prevent it. When I find some time, I plan to discuss it with Jarvis and see what he thinks. He might come up with a better alternative for me.

  Of course, it will have to wait until I get back and I will have to remember to talk to him. Who knows, by then I might come up with another crazy idea to use instead. For instance, now that I think about it, there might be alternatives to using an artificial spirit.

  I remember being told that it was possible to buy intelligent soul pets or even soul slaves. As much as I hate slavery, the idea of buying a soul slave disgusts me, but a pet might be a possibility. Although, before I make that call, I should find out how soul slaves work and if they can be freed.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Luckily, before I can go off on some crazy tangent, I sense Myria start moving around. I give Maximus a last couple of pats and then open my eyes just in time to see Myria open hers. We have some fun, a delicious breakfast, and then I pack up the weapons and we leave.

  As we head to Zachariah’s tower, everyone on the streets stops to stare at my new form. However, I have gotten used to that and it doesn’t really bother me anymore. Myria is a little less used to it, but she just clings to my arm and uses me as a shield.

  When we get to the merchant building, I have a bit of trouble at first due to my new form. Luckily, even though I forgot about it, I still have my VIP card in my pouch. Once I show that, we are taken up to Zachariah’s office without any more delays.

  Zachariah says “Welcome back, Myria. Wait, Ash, is that you?!”

  “Yes, it’s me. This is my new form and the one I will be using from now on.”

  Zachariah says “Understood. I will make sure a description of the new you gets sent to all the department heads.”

  “Oh, speaking of, is Henrietta still in the Magic Kingdom?”

  Zachariah says “No, she got promoted. She is now in the capital of the northern empire. Why?”

  “Oh, right. I feel like I have heard that before. I was just asking since that is where I am headed.”

  Zachariah says “Well, I will pass along your greetings to Henrietta and I will warn the new manager of the Magic Kingdom.”

  “Alright, thanks. Also, here are the rest of the weapons. I did think of some more materials that I need though.”

  Zachariah says “That’s no problem. What do you need?”

  “High quality cloth, the best you have, at least enough for seven or eight outfits. I also need as much Astral Silver as you have.”

  Zachariah says “Alright, no problem. I take it you are going to be making more shapeshifting outfits, any way I can convince you to enchant a few extra?”

  “Didn’t I already give you some?”

  Zachariah says “Yes, you did and that’s part of the problem. Almort and I might have gone a little overboard in showing them off. I have had all sorts of powerful people asking about them, including most of the owners of the merchant group.”

  “So, you got yourself in trouble bragging and now you want me to bail you out?”

  Zachariah says “Yes. Please?”

  “Sure. I’m guessing that you already have things prepared?”

  Zachariah says “Yes, I do. Suits made by the best tailor on the continent out of the best materials I could get my hands on.”

  “Alright. How many suits are we talking?”

  Zachariah says “I have almost one hundred prepared. Although, I don’t expect you to enchant all of them. I understand that you are busy.”

  “Well, I will see what I can do. Can you have all of them brought up along with the materials I asked for?”

  Zachariah says “Yes! At once! Just give me a few minutes!”

  Before I can answer, or change my mind, Zachariah goes running out of the room. Now that it’s quiet, I can hear strange noises coming from the attached room, so I take a look. It seems that rather than just sealing the door, Zachariah has had the door removed and a mason is currently bricking it up.

  He is putting down a double layer of bricks and he is interweaving them to make both stronger. He is obviously a master of his craft, Zachariah definitely spared no expense. The speed at which the mason is laying the bricks tells me he will be done in just a few minutes or so.

  *DING*

  Congratulations! Skill Masonry has progressed to level 6!

  Masonry

  Level 6

  Str +6 End +6

  Able to build simple structures using brick or stone.