Ves was having the time of her life. In her own mind, she was laughing out in joy. Experiencing the woods with the bear’s senses with a real wild bear as her guide was not something she could describe.

  The wolf had been fun as well, but this was different. The wolf had effectively been dead. The bear, on the other hand, was very much not. As she practiced trying to communicate with it, she could pick up some of its surface-level thoughts and really started to experience the forest just as the bear did.

  Trying to learn to guide the bear rather than control it was a delicate task. Surprisingly, the bear did not seem too agitated by her presence. It certainly enjoyed the free food they fed it that morning. It also seemed pretty happy to no longer be in constant pain from its old injuries.

  In reality, she was supposed to be keeping an eye on the bear and helping train it to be a boon to the village, not a threat. Thus far, aside from Ryuko, only Setsu Farren and Xeeta knew about the bear. They wanted to ensure it would be on its best behavior and could be trusted before introducing it to anyone else.

  So while Ves was spending time with the bear, Nell was busy with her own work.

  “My thanks again for your help on this Xeeta.” Spoke Nell as she gave the Voss women a polite bow.

  “No worries, not every day someone asks me to help build a secret underground layer for the purpose of birthing void sent monstrosities.” Replied Xeeta as she sealed off the artificial stream they used to fill a giant stone bowl carved into the ground.

  “This place doesn’t help Ves’s reputation at all, does it…”

  Xeeta gave Nell a look, “Were not for the fact I trust you and Elder Setsu, along with a very unhealthy dose of morbid curiosity, I would be running for the hills.”

  “Do these rumors of me being a void-sent really scare people that much?”

  “Nell, they wiped a small nation off the map, leaving a barren husk behind. Even if people trust you as an individual, that sort of thing is hard to ignore.”

  Nell leaned back and let herself float atop the water in the newly formed pool.

  “Is it just me, or is that water getting murkier and darker?” Xeeta asked with a gulp as she walked over to the water’s edge.

  “It is,” Nell answered.

  “Dare I ask what you are doing?” Xeeta asked.

  “If you really want, I can explain, but Ves warned me I should avoid details so as not to upset anyone. I think that’s why she is playing with the bear and not really paying attention to this,” Nell replied.

  “Is it really that bad?” Xeeta’s curiosity got the better of her, and she poked a finger into the water, and she swore she felt something brush up against her finger.

  “Not really, the function is the same as already explained. It will be a pool that myself or Ves can use to create all sorts of things. For example, we could create a sword made out of the same hard material as our claw. Or eventually, extra bodies we can control to help with manual labor or protection.”

  “Ok, then what is the issue? This sounds like everything you already explained before she went off with the bear.” Xeeta asked as she stepped away from the water.

  “I think the how is the issue. She really did not enjoy the last time we had to lay eggs.”

  Xeeta squinted to look into the water more closely and realized she could see a bunch of tiny somthings swimming about, “Wait, so this whole time you have been in the water, you have been… well… popping those out?”

  “Correct,” Nell stated calmly.

  “I see why Ves ran away for the day…” replied Xeeta as she stepped even farther back from the water.

  “Feels natural to me,” Nell admitted.

  “Nell, my kind also lays eggs, and this weirds even me out. I can’t imagine what Ves thinks, having been a normal human up until recently. Humans don’t normally lay eggs, and I hear giving birth for them is very painful.”

  “Fair, and the first time was rather unpleasant. I have since modified our body to make the experience less distressing.” Nell said with a grimace.

  “So these are all your children in here?” Xeeta asked.

  Nell laughed “No, not at all, they are extensions of our body. They don’t think, they don’t have minds of their own. Imagine you cut off your hand, but you could still move it as though it were still attached. That’s what these are like to us. Bringing a true new life into the world is a road we are not ready to cross.”

  “Weird, so just how much of that body is still human anyway?” Xeeta asked.

  “To be honest, aside from trying to avoid further changing our outward appearance, very little. And before you ask, we do discuss all the changes ahead of time, how much Ves actually pays attention to what I tell her is another story.”

  Nell swam up the edge of the pool near where Xeeta was standing. “I think she is enjoying being able to change things about herself and her life. She grew up without any freedom, every part of her life was controlled by others. All these body modifications are like an expression of that newfound freedom.

  Though I worry that the more inhuman she becomes, it will just drive others away. I don’t want her to lose this new home because of me.”

  “For someone who is only a few months old, that is rather insightful,” Xeeta mused.

  “We do share a head. Makes me acutely aware of what she is feeling and thinking.” Nell replied.

  Then Xeeta got a mischievous grin. “Speaking of feelings, what’s the deal with Ryuko. That girl has been awkward around you two, but it feels like it’s gotten even worse.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  With the shift in conversation, Nell could feel Ves starting to pay more attention to the here.

  “It’s called Ves is a hopeless flirt, and Ryuko finally realized it was intentional.” Nell sighed and started floating on her back.

  “Yeah, that would do it.” Xeeta laughed before continuing to ask, “Seeing as you two share a body, I have to ask how that works. If those two ended up in a relationship, I mean.”

  “That’s the question, isn’t it? I asked Ves the same thing. Not sure either of us has an answer yet,” answered Nell.

  “I can see how that would make things complicated, I mean, you two share everything, and I mean everything, right?” Xeeta asked.

  “We do, all our physical sensations are shared. While we can choose to tune them out, they are still there, just not in focus. And while our exact thoughts are private, our emotions are not.” Said Nell.

  “While that’s interesting and all, that’s not what I was getting at, what about you know the private moments a couple may share?” Xeeta asked.

  “Ah, you mean sex, yes, we would experience that together as well. I will admit I am quite curious to try it based on what Ves has shared with me.” Nell mused.

  “Huh, I didn’t think a branded would be experienced. Ignoring the lack of freedom I thought people from Kohdessia turned their nose up at branded.” Xeeta asked.

  “From what Ves told me, they certainly do. But foreigners don’t share that hesitation, and from the sounds of it, her old household employed quite a few”. Nell explained.

  “So what, she would just whisk some foreign maid off her feet with sweet nothings and drag her into bed?” Xeeta asked with a laugh.

  “Or a closet or in her owner's office and on his desk. Apparently, she almost got caught and hid naked under the desk with her partner for over an hour while her master entertained guests in the sitting area. It was her little act of rebellion against the man. While she was ordered not to harm the count or leak secrets, apparently ‘don’t stain my desk’ was not included.” Nell answered as she could feel Ves' embarrassment having that detail of her past shared.

  Xeeta laughed hard enough to start coughing, “Never would have guessed Ves was such a lady killer. Just so you're aware, before Ves gets any thoughts in her head. Flattering as it would be, I’m not interested.”

  “I wouldn’t worry, I don’t think you’re her type anyway,” Nell stated.

  Xeeta then stood up, “Hey, by Voss standards I’m quite the catch, but on that note, I’ll leave you here. Have a good one, Nell. If you get any more embarrassing stories from Ves’s past, let me know.”

  “If I can coax any more out of her, you will be the first to know,” Nell said as she waved Xeeta goodbye.

  ‘I’m never telling you anything about my past again…’

  “Ohh, is that you, Ves? You finally figured out how to speak with your mind?” Nell asked, surprised.

  ‘Huh, guess I did.’ Ves replied.

  “How did you figure it out?”

  ‘I think hanging out with the bear the past few days helped. That and focusing on a body separate from our original’ Ves answered.

  “Glad to hear, or I guess not hear in the case,” Nell said with a smile.

  ‘So, what have you been up to today?’ Ves asked.

  “Just working on our pool, I have it seeded. If we feed it and let it grow for a few days, it should be ready to start seeing what we can make.” Nell answered, still floating on her back.

  Nell sensed Ves shift her focus back to their main body, then stop. ‘Wait, are we swimming in it?’ she asked.

  “Yes,” Nell answered.

  ‘What are these things I can sense in the water? It doesn’t quite feel like another body I can focus on, but close.’ Nell could feel Ves’s worry as she asked the question.

  “They will maintain the pool, keeping it clean as well as devouring any sustenance that is inside. I forgot to warn Xeeta, but it would be best if no one aside from us takes a dip”.

  ‘I really doubt that will be an issue. I’m certain no one will ever want to swim in here.’

  “Shame, it is very relaxing.”

  ‘No, it's kinda creepy…’ Ves complained.

  “Ves, am I creepy? I worry I’m just making your life harder by doing all this.”

  Nell could feel Ves thinking before she finally got a response.

  ‘I'd be lying if I said no, but I’ll never ask you to be something you’re not. If people can’t accept you, that’s their loss. Compared to humans, sure, we may be a bit different. But it’s a big world. If this place doesn’t work, we can always find another.’

  Before Nell could respond, she felt Ves return full focus to the now.

  ‘Damnit… I hate to admit it, but that does feel nice…. Why does this feel nice…’ Ves admitted.

  “This pool is produced by our own body and is especially good at cleaning and repairing it. It’s far deeper clean than we could ever get with soap and water. For us at least, anyone else would be eaten…” Nell explained.

  ‘Please don’t ruin it, let me just relax and pretend to forget how you made this thing.’ Ves said.

  “Rude,” Nell pouted before surrendering herself back to the pool as well.

  ‘So what are you going to try and make first? You said we would start with simple things correct’ Ves asked.

  Nell paused for a moment, “I want to make a knife, a hunting knife, as a gift.”

  ‘For Ryuko?’ Ves asked a bit warily.

  “Yes,” Nell answered.

  ‘I suppose we really need to have a talk,’ Ves said, sounding a bit exhausted.

  “What do you mean?” Nell asked since Ves was hesitating.

  ‘About relationships, I mean, not sure if you realized, but our situation complicates the dynamic.’ Ves said.

  “How so?” Nell asked, confused.

  ‘Nell, we share everything. It is nearly impossible for us to have private time apart. While I would like to think we both have accepted that. It will get more complicated if we add another person to the dynamic. Being with one of us basically means being with both of us. With the reverse being true, if either of us dates someone, it essentially means the other is as well. At the very least forcibly along for the ride.’

  Ves paused before continuing ‘Adding on to that, I’m not even sure what our own relationship is, for that matter. Are we friends, family, something else?’

  “Do we really need to label it? Even I gathered our situation is unique enough that none of those words would do it justice.” Nell asked.

  ‘Nell, do you even know what a relationship is? A romantic one, I mean?’ Ves asked.

  “It’s some sort of courtship or how you define your, for lack of a better word, relationship with a mate? Why ask this? I feel you have told me plenty of stories of past lovers.”

  ‘I’ve told you stories of flings and one night stands not real romance. I may have slept with the people I told you about, but I don’t think any of them would have considered themselves to be a couple with me. I look at a real romantic relationship as being with someone you truly care about. Someone whose very presence brightens up your day and makes your heart flutter. Then, depending on how things go, it may progress to the point where you end up truly loving that person, seeing them as an eternal soulmate to spend your life with through thick and thin.’

  “You realize you basically described our own relationship,” Nell commented as she thought on what Ves said.

  There was a long pause before Ves responded.

  ‘Way to complicate things further, Nell…’ Ves sighed, ‘But it’s not the same, it’s not like we kiss or have sex or any of the other stuff couples do.’

  “I feel that’s more a practical constraint of sharing the same body rather than a lack of interest,” Nell admitted.

  After a long pause, ‘Nell, you mean you want to… with me… that you’re interested? I thought your kind didn’t have sex or any sort of physical relationships?’ Ves asked, shocked.

  Nell sighed.

  “To my understanding, that is normally true. But our situation is anything but normal. Almost half of what makes me, me, I got from you. I understand that you’re concerned that we share a body and what that entails when it comes to the physical side of things. But let me remind you, we share a body and to an extent a mind. If you feel arousal, I feel arousal. I’m almost certain I share your preferences as well. You’re not the only one struck by Senotraxia’s beauty. And you’re not the only one who enjoys teasing Ryuko. After all your stories, how can I not be curious?” Nell ended her excited rant in a huff.

  ‘I had no idea.’ Ves quietly remarked.

  “It's not like I ever told you; I suppose it was a good thing we talked this out,” Nell remarked.

  ‘So what do you want to do about Ryuko?’ Ves asked.

  “Let’s see how things play out for now. If it looks like things may take a step further, then we can both talk to her.” Nell replied.

  ‘Agreed,’ Ves said, ‘Also, umm… love you, Nell.’

  “Love you too.”