[Kira POV] Year 0, Day 53

  For a moment, nothing happened.

  Kira sat there in the sand, the seed consumed, eyes squeezed shut. Waiting. Terrified.

  Then the transformation began.

  Fire raced through her veins. Not painful—worse than painful. Wrong. Like her body was being unmade and rewritten at the cellular level.

  She tried to scream but her throat was changing. Vocal cords restructuring. The sound came out as a choked gasp instead.

  Her bones ached with impossible pressure. Not breaking—strengthening. Becoming denser. Heavier. Something more than mortal tiger-kin had ever been meant to possess.

  The poorly healed scars covering her arms began to close. Flesh knitting back together with supernatural speed. She felt each one seal—the dungeon claw marks, the failed defense wounds, the desperation injuries from her final failed quest. All of them erasing like they'd never existed.

  Her body filled out. The gauntness of spiritual depletion fading as muscle returned. As vitality flooded back into places that had been empty for months.

  And underneath the physical agony: the loyalty taking root.

  She felt it burrowing into her soul like parasitic vines. Wrapping around her sense of self. Her will bending. Reshaping. Finding new purpose in—

  No. Not finding.

  Being given purpose.

  Serve. Obey. Belong.

  And the terrifying part?

  She wanted to.

  The seed made her want it. Made devotion feel like coming home after a lifetime of wandering lost.

  Her tiger stripes darkened. Shifted from orange to black against her tawny fur. She could feel the change spreading across her body. A marking. A brand showing what she'd become.

  Her hair followed. Orange-brown darkening from the roots. Black spreading like ink through water until it was completely transformed.

  Then her eyes. The golden irises deepening to pure black. Then the whites as well. Solid darkness reflecting nothing.

  The unified aesthetic. Matching what she'd seen in Void's transformation. Matching what the horror displayed in human form.

  But there was more.

  Power.

  Raw physical power flooding into her. Her muscles gaining definition without excess bulk. Her frame strengthening. Her beastkin physiology being amplified—the natural physical advantages of her race pushed far beyond normal limits.

  Speed. Strength. Durability. Everything enhanced to supernatural degrees.

  She felt younger. Not just healthier. Actually younger. The spiritual exhaustion that had made her appear aged was reversing. Her body returning to its prime. Better than her prime. Peak condition she'd never actually achieved even in her adventuring days.

  And then something else happened.

  A connection forming.

  Not physical. Deeper than that. Soul-level.

  Like a thread attaching itself to her core and extending outward. Reaching toward—

  The horror.

  The loyalty surged. Tried to pull her toward Null. To approach. To serve directly.

  Kira's terror exploded.

  No. No no no. Not that thing. Can't go near that thing. Can't serve that directly. Will break. Will shatter. Can't—

  The loyalty felt her panic. Her absolute refusal.

  And adapted.

  The thread redirected. Found another anchor. Void. The master. The one the horror served.

  If Kira couldn't approach the monster directly, she'd serve through him. Through the chain of command that made sense. That her mind could process without breaking completely.

  The loyalty settled there. Comfortable. Satisfied with this arrangement.

  But the connection didn't stop.

  More threads. Extending in different directions.

  One to Void directly—stronger now. Primary bond.

  One still to Null—terrifying but present. Couldn't be severed.

  And another to... something else. Something without form. A presence that existed in the network but had no body she could sense.

  Then: voices.

  Not spoken aloud. Inside her head. Through the connections.

  ?Well. Welcome to the soul bond network. I'm Spy. Part of Null, technically. Soul familiar if we're being formal about classifications. You'll get used to the strangeness,? a male voice said. Unfamiliar. Slightly amused.

  Kira's mental voice came out shocked. Overwhelmed. ?There's—there's someone else? Who—what—how many—?

  ?Just me, Void, Null, and now you. Small network. Cozy, really.? The voice—Spy—continued with casual confidence. ?You're educated. Merchant Guild Academy, yes? You probably studied soul familiars in your magical theory classes??

  ?I—yes. Bonded spiritual entities. Rare but documented. Theory mostly. But I never thought I'd actually experience—? Kira's education was fighting through her shock. Years of training asserting itself despite the impossibility. ?You're showing off. Demonstrating knowledge to establish credibility. First contact protocol.?

  ?Guilty.? Spy's tone carried approval. ?But also genuine relief. Someone new to talk to besides Void. You have no idea how boring it's been.?

  ?I'm right here,? Void protested through the network. His mental voice gentle but exasperated.

  ?Exactly. Boring,? Spy replied.

  Kira felt the network structure properly now. Null at the center. A hub. Everything connected to her first.

  But branches extending out. She could talk to Void directly. Or Spy. Without routing through Null if she wanted.

  Private channels possible. Group communication available. The structure was complex. Sophisticated. More than she'd expected from theory alone.

  ?This is...? Kira's thoughts were racing. ?The Guild texts said soul bonds were simple. Linear. One familiar, one master. But this is a network. Multiple nodes. Interconnected. How is this even—?

  ?Your Guild texts are incomplete,? Spy said simply. ?Or deliberately simplified. This is what actually happens when the seed creates bonds. Hub structure. Null at center because she's the source. Everyone else connected through her but able to communicate peer-to-peer.?

  ?Can she hear everything? Monitor all conversations?? Kira asked.

  ?Yes. She's the hub. Nothing happens in this network without her awareness. Privacy is... conditional. She can grant it but it's her choice,? Spy explained.

  ?So I'm bound to a monster that can read my thoughts constantly,? Kira summarized.

  ?Correct.? Spy's tone was matter-of-fact. ?But she's also extremely lazy and doesn't care about most things. Your private thoughts about market prices and shipping logistics? She'll ignore completely. Your thoughts about threatening Void? Those she'll notice.?

  ?Good to know.? Kira's mental voice was dry despite the terror still present. ?Don't plot against the master. Simple enough rule.?

  The transformation was completing. The physical changes settling. The power integrating fully into her enhanced body.

  Kira opened her eyes.

  The world looked different. Sharper. More detailed. Her enhanced senses picking up things she'd never noticed before.

  The desert smelled like sand and stone and old magic. The air tasted of heat and distance. She could hear Ealdred's breathing from meters away—slow, controlled, measured. The twins' heartbeats—perfectly synchronized despite being two separate bodies.

  And she felt strong. Stronger than she'd ever been. Even fresh from transformation, even depleted from terror, she was more powerful than she'd been at her peak as an adventurer.

  She pulled herself to her feet. Her new body responding with easy strength.

  And the loyalty surged.

  Void stood nearby. Watching with concern. With uncertainty. With something that might have been guilt.

  Kira turned to him and dropped to her knees. The posture coming naturally. Words flowing without conscious thought.

  "Master. I am yours. Forever and completely. My life, my will, my existence—all belong to you. I swear absolute loyalty for all time. Destroy me and I thank you. Command me and I obey. I am nothing without your blessing," she declared.

  The oath poured out from somewhere deep. Soul-level certainty. She meant every word with terrifying sincerity.

  The devotion was real. Absolute. Consuming everything else.

  Void looked uncomfortable. "You don't have to—" he started.

  "I do. I need to," Kira said. Her voice was steady despite everything. "The loyalty is real. Absolute. I feel it consuming everything else. I accept it. I'm yours, Master. Completely."

  Through the bond network, private channel: ?She's terrified of you but devoted to me. That's... going to be complicated,? Void said.

  Null's response came back calm. Analytical. ?The seed worked. That's what matters. She'll probably adjust eventually. Or not. Either way, she's bound.?

  ?That's very cold,? Void replied.

  ?Yes,? Null agreed.

  No elaboration. No justification. Just agreement.

  Ealdred stepped closer, examining Kira with clinical interest. "Stand. Let me see the full transformation," he commanded.

  Kira rose immediately. Stood at attention. Military precision despite her recent panic.

  Ealdred circled her slowly. Observing the physical changes. The black stripes against tawny fur. The black hair and eyes. The enhanced musculature. The restored vitality.

  "Excellent results. Complete healing. Age reversal to prime condition. Substantial power enhancement—primarily physical, as expected for beastkin. And the loyalty is genuine. I can see it in her soul structure," he observed. He nodded slowly. "No resistance. No internal conflict. Just acceptance despite the terror."

  He paused, still circling. "This is a good test of candidate mental fortitude. If she can stay functional after seeing that—" he gestured vaguely at where Null's horror form had stood "—then she can handle standard training pressures. Most would have broken completely. She rallied. That's valuable."

  He pulled a bag from his storage. Handed it to Kira. "Maid uniform. Soap. Fix yourself. You're not presentable in the presence of your master like this," Ealdred said.

  Kira looked down. Realized she was still wearing clothes soaked with urine from her fear response. Shame colored her features.

  "I—yes, Master Ealdred. Immediately," she replied.

  Water suddenly appeared. A small pool forming in the sand near her. Clean. Clear. Magic-conjured.

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  Kira blinked at it. "Thank you, whoever—"

  ?Spy,? came the voice through the bond. ?I'm helpful like that. Also, we're going to get along great. I can tell.?

  ?You can do magic? I thought you were just—? Kira started.

  ?Soul familiar. Can access the shared mana pool. Magic is easy when you have power sources available. We'll explain everything later. For now: clean up. You smell terrible,? Spy said.

  ?I—right. Yes. Thank you, Spy,? Kira replied.

  Kira grabbed the bag and moved behind a large boulder for privacy. The sound of washing. Cloth rustling. The efficiency of someone used to field conditions.

  Ealdred frowned slightly. Looked around. Trying to determine who'd cast the water spell.

  Void? Possible. But Ealdred hadn't sensed the casting signature. No obvious mana expenditure. Strange.

  Null perhaps? But minor utility magic seemed beneath her. Not her style.

  The twins?

  They were watching something. Smiling in that knowing way. Their fox ears twitching with amusement at some private joke.

  Through their special channel—the one only they and Null shared, the emotional communication Spy couldn't monitor—the twins sent a message.

  "We keep your secret, friend of big sister. Even from Master unless he asks directly about you," they communicated.

  Through the bond network, Spy's voice came privately to Null. ?They figured me out. They're protecting my independence from Ealdred's awareness.?

  ?Useful,? Null replied simply.

  ?Should I be concerned they can perceive me when even Ealdred can't?? Spy asked.

  ?Probably. But they like you. That's better than the alternative,? Null said.

  ?What's the alternative?? Spy asked.

  ?They stop liking you,? Null replied.

  A pause. ?That's ominous.?

  ?Yes,? Null agreed.

  Ealdred gave up trying to determine the water spell's source. Probably Void, he decided. The elf was clearly more powerful than his unassuming demeanor suggested. Hiding capabilities. Common enough among those with reasons to stay under the radar.

  Kira emerged from behind the boulder minutes later. Clean. Wearing the fresh maid uniform Ealdred had provided. Simple black and white. Standard design. Functional. Professional.

  She looked transformed. Not just from the seed's power or the cleaned appearance. From the uniform itself. The symbol of her new life. Her new purpose.

  All her old clothes—the torn, stained garments from her adventuring days—lay abandoned behind the boulder.

  "Burn them," Ealdred commanded.

  The twins obliged with casual fire magic. Small flames consuming the pile. The old clothes turned to ash within seconds.

  "No evidence. No traces. Clean break from your old life," Ealdred said.

  Kira watched her past burn. Everything she'd been. Everything she'd owned. Reduced to ash and scattered by desert wind.

  New life. New purpose. New master.

  No going back.

  She returned to Void and knelt again.

  "Master. I'm ready. What are your orders?" she asked.

  "Stand," Void said. His voice was firm despite his discomfort. "You're staff. Not a slave. Act accordingly."

  "Yes, Master," Kira replied. She stood, though the devotion in her eyes didn't diminish.

  She looked around at the devastated landscape. Really seeing it for the first time since arriving.

  Craters everywhere. Scorched earth. Massive gouges in the sand. Glass formations where heat had been intense enough to melt silica.

  The apocalyptic destruction she'd somehow missed during her teleportation panic and subsequent terror.

  "What happened here?" she asked slowly. "This looks like... a battlefield. Like a war was fought. What could possibly cause this much damage?"

  "Little monsters playing," Ealdred said flatly. "Nothing important."

  Kira stared at the apocalyptic scenery. Then at the twins. The cute fox-maid girls standing near Ealdred in their pristine uniforms. Looking innocent and cheerful.

  Through the bond, Spy's voice came to her. ?The twins are similar to Null. Powerful. Reality-warped. They fought here a few days ago. Training exercise. This is the aftermath.?

  ?Those... those adorable girls did THIS?? Kira asked in shock.

  ?Them and Null, yes. They went full power. Had fun. Welcome to understanding what 'monster' actually means in this context,? Spy explained.

  ?I'm working for things that destroy landscapes for entertainment,? Kira summarized.

  ?Correct. But the life extension is excellent and they're surprisingly good employers considering. Trade-offs,? Spy replied.

  Kira had no response. Just stared at the twins with new understanding. New terror. New respect for what hid behind those cute faces.

  Through the bond network—broader channel, everyone could hear—Void's voice came. Quiet. Uncertain.

  ?The play session. The thing that happened during those two days. What exactly did you do? I saw this battlefield. But what else?? he asked.

  A pause. Nobody responding immediately.

  ?Spy?? Void pressed. ?Tell me. I want to understand what my mistress is actually capable of. Her real power. Not theoretical. Actual demonstrated capability.?

  Spy's response was careful. Measured. ?You want details??

  ?Yes,? Void confirmed.

  Another pause. Then: ?The fight here. Epic scale combat. Reality-warping forces. Null went full strength for the first time and loved every second. The twins matched her. They played for hours.?

  ?And?? Void prompted.

  ?And then they went to the Church State. Cardinal Vescari's domain. The one who threatened you,? Spy explained.

  Void's mental presence went very still.

  ?They destroyed it,? Spy continued bluntly. ?Systematically. Every population center. Villages, towns, military posts, the main city. Everything. Made it a competition—who could destroy more before the timer ran out. Hundreds of thousands dead. Total annihilation. Left only rubble behind.?

  Silence through the bond.

  ?She participated in mass murder,? Spy said. The words flat. Clinical. ?Willingly. Enthusiastically. Called it 'playing.' Just like the twins do.?

  ?And she enjoyed it,? Void stated. Not a question.

  ?She did. Very much,? Spy confirmed.

  Through the bond, Kira was listening. Her mind reeling.

  ?My master's servant... the creature I'm bound to... just destroyed an entire noble's territory? Hundreds of thousands dead? For FUN?? Kira asked in horror.

  ?Not exactly for fun,? Spy corrected. ?For revenge. Vescari said bad things about Void. Threatened him. Made Null angry. So she eliminated him. And his domain. And everyone in it. She doesn't see it as excessive. To her: insult equals appropriate retaliation. Magnitude doesn't register as meaningful.?

  ?That's insane,? Kira said.

  ?That's what she is,? Spy said simply. ?Welcome to understanding your new employment. The life extension comes with significant context.?

  Kira felt sick. But also... calculating.

  Her merchant brain never stopped working. Even now. Even after everything.

  She was alive. Powerful. Bound to someone building something significant. With backing from Ealdred himself. With access to monsters that could reshape territories.

  Her brother thought he'd won. Thought she was finished. That he'd run the family empire while she died in obscurity.

  But she was alive.

  And if she worked hard. Made herself indispensable. Proved her value...

  Her new master would become a major player. Fast. The resources. The connections. The sheer overwhelming power backing him.

  Second-in-command to that? Worth having. Worth fighting for.

  She'd show them all. The failed daughter in a servant's dress would be worth more than all of them combined.

  Null, standing quietly behind Void in her human form, read every thought through the bond network. Clear as day. The ambition. The scheming. The revenge fantasies barely hidden under devotion.

  Private channel to Spy: ?She's already planning. Using this position for advancement. Wants to prove herself to her brother. Wants status and power within the bounds of loyalty,? Null observed.

  ?Ambitious servants work harder,? Spy observed. ?Could be useful. Should we be concerned??

  ?No. She can't betray us. The loyalty prevents it. And if the brother ever becomes an actual problem...? Null's thoughts were matter-of-fact. Simple cost-benefit. ?We eliminate him. Simple.?

  ?That's your solution to everything lately. Elimination,? Spy said.

  ?It works,? Null replied.

  ?It's also becoming your only solution. Everything is just: identify problem, apply overwhelming force, problem gone. You're losing nuance. Complexity. Everything becoming binary—threat or not threat,? Spy argued.

  ?Is that a problem?? Null asked.

  ?Yes! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You're simplifying. Becoming more... alien. Less capable of thinking in shades of gray,? Spy said.

  ?I'm a monster, Spy. Alien is accurate,? Null stated.

  ?You're also supposed to be learning to function in society. To be a maid. That requires understanding nuance. Proportionality. Social complexity. Not just 'destroy everything that annoys me,'? Spy countered.

  ?I'm learning maid skills. That's different from being human. I'll never be human. Just something that looks like one when needed,? Null replied.

  Spy was quiet for a long moment.

  Because she was right. She WAS a monster. Always had been since Heaven's broken reconstruction.

  And lately, she was becoming more comfortable with that reality. More accepting of what she actually was.

  The maid training. The social skills. The fitting in.

  None of it would change her fundamental nature. It would just teach her to hide it better. To function in society while remaining something that viewed human life as expendable.

  We have a problem, Spy thought privately. She's adapting to this world. But not in the direction we hoped. She's becoming MORE monster. More simplified in thinking. And she doesn't even see it as concerning.

  Maybe Ealdred is right. Maybe Void needs more control. Not for manipulation's sake. For actual safety.

  If Null keeps drifting this direction—if she keeps accepting her monster nature, keeps finding violence efficient, keeps viewing human life as expendable resources—where does it end?

  The training. The structure. The discipline. The gradual control Void is building.

  Maybe that's not manipulation.

  Maybe it's the only thing standing between Null and becoming exactly what she's capable of being. A thinking predator with no restraint. No boundaries. Just cold logic and overwhelming power.

  I need to help Void with this. Actually help. Not just observe and warn. Work toward controlling her. Guiding her. Keeping her leashed.

  Even if she accepts being a monster.

  Especially because she accepts it.

  Someone has to be her conscience. Her restraint. Her boundary.

  Before it's too late.

  But he said nothing more aloud. Just monitored. Observed. And privately committed to Ealdred's recommendations.

  More control. More structure. More authority.

  Before the creature who thought genocide was "appropriate retaliation" decided something else needed eliminating.

  "Enough standing around," Ealdred said. "We return. Kira needs proper Guild registration. Integration into your household. Training preparations."

  The twins pulled out a different teleportation key. "This one goes closer to city! Saves walking!" they announced.

  Before everyone could gather, Ealdred paused.

  "Actually. Let Null activate this one. I want to see if she can," he said.

  "Me?" Null asked.

  "Yes. The twins make it look effortless. I want to know if that's universal for sufficiently powerful beings or if they're special cases," Ealdred explained.

  Null approached the key. Placed her hands on it alongside the twins.

  Felt for the mechanism. The mana requirement. What it demanded.

  It was... not that much. Really not that much.

  Substantial for a normal person, yes. They'd be completely drained. But for her? Easy. She could do this dozens of times. Maybe hundreds before needing to worry about depletion.

  She channeled power into the key. The activation sequence triggered immediately. Smooth. Effortless.

  "Not hard at all," Null said.

  The twins agreed cheerfully in perfect unison. "See? We told you! Easy for us! Big sister same!" they exclaimed.

  Through their private emotional channel to Null, quieter conversation. "We both don't really live in same standards as rest of world. What's expensive for them is cheap for us," the twins communicated.

  "Mana reserves that make teleportation spam viable. Most people ration it like precious resource. We treat it like walking," Null observed.

  "Different levels. Different rules. We're lucky, big sister," the twins agreed.

  Through the bond network, Spy's voice was thoughtful. ?The fact that both of you can use teleportation casually while the entire Merchant Guild treats it as impossible dead-end research says everything about the power gap.?

  ?We're not normal,? Null agreed. ?Kind of the whole point.?

  Magic flared. Space folded.

  They arrived at a new location. Still desert, but different. Less empty somehow.

  And in the far distance, Null's Life Sense detected the border region. Scattered monsters. Weak ones. The transition zone between pure desert and inhabited areas.

  And past that, much further still: a large concentration of life signatures. Dense. Organized.

  Borderwatch.

  Still very far. But reachable.

  "From here we travel normally," Ealdred said. "This is the closest anchor to the city. We cover the rest manually."

  "How should we move?" Void asked.

  "However you prefer. I'll ride with the twins. They'll transform. The rest of you choose your methods," Ealdred replied.

  Kira looked uncertain. "I can... I should run. Test this new strength. See what I'm actually capable of now," she suggested.

  "Good. Do that," Ealdred agreed.

  "I'll fly," Void said.

  "And Null runs," Ealdred stated. His tone made it statement, not question. "She'll keep pace with everyone easily."

  The twins transformed. Their small maid forms rippling, expanding. Reality adjusting around them as they became something else.

  Dragon. Massive. Silver-white scales gleaming in the desert sun. Wings spreading wide. The same creature that had carried them here.

  One consciousness. Two bodies before. One body now.

  Ealdred mounted casually. Settling into position like he'd done it thousands of times.

  Kira took off running. Testing her new body. Her enhanced speed.

  She was fast. Very fast. Faster than she'd ever been. Her beastkin nature amplified by the seed's power to supernatural levels. The ground blurred beneath her feet.

  But not as fast as Null.

  Null ran alongside her easily. Matching Kira's pace without visible effort. Could clearly go much faster but holding back to stay with the group.

  Void flew overhead. His magic propelling him forward with steady efficiency.

  The twins-dragon soared above them all, carrying Ealdred with graceful flight.

  They covered ground rapidly. The border region growing closer. Then passing into it. Scattered weak monsters fleeing from their approach. The city beyond getting nearer.

  Kira's maid uniform was already showing serious wear. The fabric stressed from supernatural running. Tears appearing along seams. The entire garment on the verge of complete failure.

  Through the bond: ?At this rate I'll be naked before we reach the city,? Kira complained.

  ?Normal clothing can't handle enhanced physical capabilities,? Spy observed. ?Your uniform has basic enchantments but nothing designed for supernatural stress.?

  ?So I'm going to be constantly naked? Wonderful employment benefit,? Kira said sarcastically.

  ?Ealdred will handle it. Probably,? Spy replied.

  They ran for perhaps two hours. Kira's enhanced endurance letting her maintain supernatural speed far longer than expected. But eventually, even her seed-boosted body started flagging. Breathing becoming labored. Pace slowing.

  Void was also showing strain. His magic reserves depleting from sustained flight. He descended gradually, speed reducing to conserve power.

  The dragon descended smoothly. Ealdred dismounted.

  "Understandable. You're not built for sustained high-speed travel like the monsters. We'll take you the rest of the way," Ealdred said.

  He looked at Kira's uniform. The tears. The imminent failure.

  "You'll be indecent before we arrive at this rate," he observed. He pulled another uniform from his storage. Handed it to her. "Change. Quickly."

  Kira took it with visible exasperation. "Thank you, Master Ealdred. This is my second uniform in two hours. At this rate I'll need hundreds," she said.

  "You will," Ealdred agreed. "Don't worry about that."

  As they flew toward Borderwatch, Ealdred addressed Void over the wind.

  "You'll need to commission special maid uniforms. Properly enchanted. Durable enough for supernatural stress. Self-repairing. If all your maids end up like Kira—enhanced physical capabilities, supernatural abilities—normal clothing won't survive their daily activities."

  He paused, calculating. "One hundred maids. Plus spares for each. Multiple uniforms for rotation and washing. Call it three hundred total minimum."

  "These aren't basic enchanted garments. They need to be items a step from legendary quality. Each one requires enchantments that can withstand supernatural stress. That's expensive. Very expensive."

  Through the bond, Spy's voice was dry. ?We literally have millions from the Blood Cult loot. Remember? This is exactly what wealth like that is for.?

  ?Yes. We have money,? Null confirmed. ?The cultist had much.?

  Void nodded slowly. "Master Ealdred, we have sufficient funds. The costs shouldn't be—"

  "No," Ealdred cut him off. "You don't have that kind of money. Not for what I'm describing. We're talking about items a step from legendary quality. Each uniform needs enchantments that can survive what these women will become. The total cost would exceed most of your current assets."

  "I'll handle it myself. Additional funding. Part of my investment in this project," Ealdred said.

  "Master Ealdred, that's—" Void started.

  "Non-negotiable," Ealdred interrupted. His tone was final. "I'm invested in this operation's success. Proper equipment is foundational. Consider it handled."

  He looked at Void directly. "Any special design requirements? Aesthetic preferences I should communicate to the craftsmen?"

  Void glanced down at Null, running easily on the ground far below, her maid uniform pristine and perfect as always despite the supernatural speed.

  "Use her dress as template," he said. "Makes integration easier. They'll match. Blend in naturally."

  "Sensible. Unified appearance." Ealdred made a mental note. "I'll have them commissioned. Three hundred uniforms based on her design. Properly enchanted for durability, self-repair, comfort, and supernatural stress tolerance. They'll be ready before training completes."

  He paused. "Even for me, this will cost a fortune. But necessary. Better expensive uniforms than constantly replacing cheap ones. Or dealing with naked maids. Neither is professional."