Navigating this situation was going to be particularly challenging. Tama, with her ever-flicking tail and keen, delicate cat ears, was overly friendly and unshakably idealistic. Her worldview was simple. Authority stemmed purely from superior skill or strength.

  The nuances of setting boundaries, the ability to project confidence through presence, tone, and clarity, were entirely lost on her. To her, personal space was merely a matter of physical distance, not a social construct to be respected.

  Unfortunately, that mindset was entirely insufficient when dealing with someone like Tera.

  "No, Tama, you don't politely request space. You establish it firmly. You are in control of your boundaries. You state them clearly, not ask for them to be respected," I said, attempting to suppress my growing exasperation.

  Her ears twitched, flickering between embarrassment and stubborn determination. "Nya! Tama will try again!" she declared, straightening her posture, tail swaying with renewed resolve. Though we were nearly the same height, she seemed to attempt to stand taller, an effort at appearing more confident. "Tama needs you to stand back, Tera!" she said, voice carrying a slightly forced weight.

  Progress. Imperfect, but progress nonetheless.

  I actually smiled. She seemed to be getting it! It had only taken... I looked at the sun through the window. Over three hours. My fox ears twitched, and my tail snapped in irritation.

  I exhaled, willing myself to patience. "That will suffice for now. We're out of time. Let's help Tera understand your boundaries and resolve this matter," I said, trying to hide my frustration as my fox ears drooped in resignation.

  I turned and walked out of the room, then proceeded down the hallway. I made it about halfway before Tama appeared at the door at the other end, of course, she had blinked over there, her cat ears twitching and her tail swishing.

  I ignored her impatient stare; I knew she was nervous and just wanted to get this over with. I reached the end of the hall after another thirty seconds, with Tama clearly waiting impatiently. She even blinked over at me and tried pushing me forward, her cat ears drooping in a mix of nervousness and excitement.

  I put my tail to the ground and summoned my earth to hold me in place until she stopped. Once she did, I continued, my fox ears flicking in irritation. She would learn patience if it killed us both.

  I finally made it to the door, to Tama's great relief. She had begun pacing back and forth like I had taken days instead of literal minutes; her tail swished rapidly in agitation, and her cat ears flattened slightly. I rolled my eyes at her absurdity. If I kept up the habit, they might roll out of my skull at some point.

  Stepping into the main guildhall with Tama in tow behind me, I noted the room was as crowded as before. Tera and David sat at a table a few feet away. Tera looked annoyed and David looked bored. As I watched, I drowned out the background noise and listened to what they were saying. My amazing fox ears, even sharper than Tama's cat ears, picked up every nuance.

  "That bitch Saki needs to stay out of my way!" Tera said, anger and resentment clear in her voice. I smirked, and my tail twitched in satisfaction.

  "I don't see why you're so upset; you have been repeating yourself for the last three hours, Tera," David said, his voice sounding bored and annoyed.

  Tera slammed the table and said, "Well, now you're annoying me. Go check if they are done yet!"

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  David sighed and stood. He began walking towards us. "Wow, he really does just let her boss him around," I thought in amusement as I walked toward them, Tama in tow behind me.

  David saw us and looked relieved; he waved and walked back over to Tera, who had sat down. Tera looked up at me, her eyes glazing over as they landed on Tama. The instant look of desire in Tera's eyes was creepy.

  "Alright, Tama, just like we practiced," I whispered to her, hoping beyond hope she would pull this off. (Her cat ears perked up in attention.) If the last three damn hours were any indication, it was going to be a long quest.

  Tama stepped forward and instantly tripped. I facepalmed hard as I felt our chances of success slipping, her cat ears drooped in dismay while her tail swished awkwardly.

  Tera was at her side in an instant, helping Tama to her feet. "Are you alright, Tama? I can kiss and make you feel better if you want!" Tera's words were soft as she, very clearly in front of everyone, attempted to seduce Tama. I noted how Tama's cat ears twitched with uncertainty as she accepted the help.

  This was apparently not new, as no one really batted an eye at her antics. I resigned myself to dealing with this obsessed girl myself when Tama spoke, "Nya! You call Tama Empress, slave girl!" Her tail flicked defiantly as her cat ears pricked up.

  I paused, mouth open in shock. I quickly closed it as my mind caught up with what had just happened. "Yes, Tama, set your boundary!" I thought as hope blossomed. My fox ears drooped in astonishment.

  Tera looked at Tama with an unsure smile. "What, Tama? I don't understand." I watched as Tama looked confused for a moment before she put on her assertive face (though not very assertive indeed), her cat ears flattening slightly as she tried to muster authority.

  "Tama said her name is Empress to you, Tera! Now bend your knee and praise your empress!" Her tail swished imperiously, and her cat ears flicked with determination.

  This caught every single person in the room off guard. This was new, apparently. I grinned; this was going better than I hoped, my fox tail twitching in approval.

  I watched Tera's reaction carefully, in case she got violent. Instead, I saw in real time as Tera's eyes dilated and a dreamy smile crossed her face. She instantly fell to her knees and bowed her head. "I serve my Empress Tama," she said, her voice coated in respect.

  I looked at Tama to see her reaction and saw her eyes light up. It turned out Tama was a natural at this, making me feel like I had just wasted three hours of my life. "Good girl, now kiss Tama's feet and beg Tama to serve her!" Tama's cat ears perked up in delight as her tail swished happily.

  Tama said it with force in her voice. I almost took a knee before realizing it was just an act. No one else did, and to my shock, everyone in the room bent the knee to Tama. My eyes widened in shock as her solitary tail twitched authoritatively.

  Even Tama looked confused as she scanned the room. I realized it felt like my knees had turned to jelly. Whatever Tama had just done had actively affected me! It wasn't just some phrase. Her words had some kind of power. I forced myself forward, ignoring the jelly feeling as I reached Tama. "Tama," I said through clenched teeth, "tell us to stand up!" My fox ears drooped as I struggled to maintain composure, and my tail swished in determination.

  Tama looked at me for a moment before nodding, "You may rise!" she said with her imperious tone. Her cat ears flicking with regal authority and her tail swishing confidently. Instantly, everyone in the room jumped to their feet, crying out in shock at what had just happened.

  I felt my knees return to normal. I didn't know what that was, but it was overwhelming and my fox ears twitched as I tried to comprehend the sudden shift.

  "You are even more amazing than I thought, my empress; your wondrous nature knows no bounds! Please, greatest queen, allow me to serve you!" Tera's words were laced with honey and an extreme level of desire. She hadn't gotten up like everyone else, instead bending forward to kiss Tama's feet. Tera's eyes shone as her hand rested on her knee, while I noted how Tama's delicate cat ears seemed to tremble in anticipation.

  I looked down at her in disgust before an idea entered my head. Aside from that ever-present, "erase erase erase" thought that was so annoying! I leaned in and whispered into Tama's ear, "You should tell her to pay you to serve you." Her pointed cat ears twitched as she listened.

  Tama looked at me and frowned, "But Tama doesn't want the shiny round things!" Her tail flicked, and her ears twitched with a hint of playful stubbornness.

  I sighed before leaning in again, "Maybe not, but she made you uncomfortable; this is your chance to do something that might make her uncomfortable!"

  My fox ears drooped slightly as I urged her.

  Tama just stared at me like I was crazy. "Why would Tama do that? Revenge is never right!" Her cat ears seemed to droop in confusion as her tail swished slowly.