MILLY

  After flouncing on the bed with a book, Milly pulls paper and writing sticks from her bedside stand. Deep in thought, a knocking sound from her door startles her out of the tactics problem. Not thinking, she calls, “Come on in.” She looks up to see Jax’s father, she freezes.

  “Hello Milena, may we talk?”

  “Oh uh yes sorry I was studying and expected some one else.”

  “Not a problem is there some place, less personal and a little more public?”

  “Sorry yes I wasn’t thinking.”

  “I will wait out here in the hall while you wash your face.”

  “My face? What’s wrong with my face?”

  “You have writing stick marks all over it.”

  Now embarrassed, Milly jumps from the bed and runs to a mirror.

  Milly walks out of her room with a clean but red face. “Sorry Grand Duke.”

  Grand Duke Utian smiles at the young woman. “First off the proper mode of address is ‘Your Grace’ that being said, please call me Walter. I would like us to get to know one another. Is that alright with you?”

  “Okay.”

  Milly leads him to the group study. As they enter, Walter looks around and notes the investigation board. “You interest me Milena, studying tactical problems while relaxing. You are investigating the Delvers guild?”

  Milly sits at her normal spot. Arms crossed, and a stubborn look on her face. “Yeah, we started just before we went into the dungeon. Look you can save us both some time, I’ll stop seeing him. It was nice, I thought, well it doesn’t matter does it. Your gonna ask me not to see him or something like that maybe offer money or some bullshit. I will not take your money or any thing else.”

  Walter sits across from her, he places his arms on the table and leans in, looking her in the eyes. “Milena, there seems to be a misunderstanding between us. I am happy that Jax has a woman in his life as dynamic as you. Jax, your the one that gave him that nickname?”

  “I thought of it, I think is gives him a sense of mystery and danger.” She tells him with a small, hopeful smile.

  “I like it, it gives him a sense of danger, and it is a strong nickname.”

  “So why did you want to talk to me?”

  “I really want to get to know you, Jax is special to you and you to Jax. How much do you know about Jax’s birth mother?”

  “He doesn’t talk about family much. He talks about you and his brother a little.”

  “His mother was much like you, she was also a merchants daughter. She was the light of my life, She died before Jax was a year old. Jax never really knew her, his stepmother tries but she really does not understand him. Truth is I don’t either most of the time. He is much smarter than I am.” He gives her a small smile. “I would to like to spend some time with you both, if that is ok with you. After his mother died, I went through a rough period. His brother is several years older. He helped when I wasn’t able to. I love my son. First loves do not always work out. If your relationship fails or prospers. I want you both to know I support you either way. I will not interfere. I want my son to be happy if you are included in his happiness. I gladly welcome you to my family.”

  “Mikhail's Nikolai Rasumun, where is your shirt and why in the Goddess’s name are you running down the hallway half dressed?” Is heard from the hallway.

  Milly laughs at the Grand Duke. “Change your mind yet?”

  Milly and Walter step into a hallway of chaos. Lilly and Karnna straightening their shirts, Smith Jhaeros, and Mrs. Chainbreaker frowning at their children, but amused. Iris and Dylan laughing hysterically. Milly’s mother standing in shocked outrage.

  Mick’s bare back disappears into his room with the sound of a slamming door. Iris, still chuckling, tells Milly. “We were looking for Lilly, she wasn’t in her room. So Kselia wanted to find Karnna, I opened her door without knocking. Sorry girls, I will never do that again. Anyway we found Mick, Karnna, and my sister making out. Heavy make out. The girls shirts were unbuttoned and Mick shirt was almost off they had their hands all over him.”

  Mick emerges from his room, a fresh shirt, buttoned this time, and wearing a sheepish look. “Sorry Mrs. Chainbreaker, Smith Jhaeros, Mama. We were, um, well, things got a little out of hand. We wouldn’t have gone any farther, though.” With the realization of what he just said, Mick’s face goes crimson with a panicked look. Mick’s every thought crosses his face when he changes his stance into a brace for a charge and says, “Mrs Chainbreaker, Smith Jhaeros. I Love Karnna and Lilly with all my heart. I was waiting to ask your permission to date them but uh, we uh. Well you saw.” Mick stands waiting for his punishment.

  Lilly speaks up. “We were the ones to take his shirt off.”

  Karnna, blushing prettily, nods her head in agreement and adds. “We broke some buttons that's why he had to change.”

  Before anything more can be said. Mick’s mother exclaims, “Mick how can you lead these girls on like this. I raised you better it’s mean and selfish.”

  Before she can berate Mick further, Grand Duke Utian makes his presence known. “Excuse me, Madame Rasumun. Before you go any further with this line of thought. This is one of those things you know nothing about. You will remember when we explained how much Attunement changes a person? They just don’t get powers. We change on a much more fundamental level. Our body, our mind, even our souls. Which means our minds work differently, our physical bodies work differently, and our emotional makeup is no longer what you would call human normal. Miss Jhaeros, do you love Mick?”

  Lilly gives a bright smile. “With all my heart.”

  “Miss Chainbreaker do you Love Mick?”

  “Of course I would not have behaved this way otherwise.”

  Lilly interjects. “Karnna and I love each other too. The three of us together love one another.”

  Karnna nods as Mick walks to his loves. Three hug and gently kiss each other. Slumping in defeat, Mick’s mother says. “I knew things would be much more different. I still don’t understand all of this, but no more judgment.”

  Pushing her a bit, Walter asks. “And if Milena here finds more young men along with my Jax and forms a relationship with multiple men? This is also a possibility. You really need to attend a councilor about this, it will help you understand better. And possibly acceptance. These ‘children’ of ours, the young men and women we have raised will live around 200 years right now as things stand.”

  “I have some thinking to do about all of this. I thought we understood. I guess not.”

  “If it was just Mick and one girl would you be this upset?”

  “Now that you mention it I don’t think so, I assumed he was being a cad.”

  “Maybe this will help. Mick is an attractive young man. The young ladies are also attractive. The three have the same body gate, and the same Affinities. Which make them extremely attracted to one another. All three having the Body Gate open along with Physical Affinities, made their make out session more aggressive than they would have pursued, under normal circumstance.”

  Elena Rasumun looks at the other parents, who have remained silent. “You both are okay with this?” Lark shrugs his shoulders. “Okay, no, accepting yes. Of course I hope they wait until marriage to go much further. But they are younger and their blood runs hotter. I am sure us old timers still remember that age, fondly.”

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  Blushing slightly, Elena says. “I may recall a heated moment or two.” Looking at her Children, she adds. “With your father of course.”

  Mick, pacing a bit, says, “It may be our Classes also. The three of us got almost the same Class just some minor differences.”

  Milly speaks out. “Guys is the hallway the best place for this? We have a conference room right here. Let’s put it to use shall we?”

  The party moves into the room, all the while apologizing to Milly as they file past. All the parents file by and give her nods of respect. Milly’s mother stops in front of her daughter. “Who are you and what have you done with my ‘Silly Milly.’?”

  Milly smiles at her mom’s pet name and hugs her mother. “Don’t worry mom she’s still around.” Milly sets down in Tanner's seat. “Class reveal. What does everyone want to know? Class room rules apply.”

  The adults blink at that. Walter grins, delighted at Milly’s antics and raises his hand. “Might I suggest we just go around the table and tell the information. Us old people can then ask informed questions.”

  Milly clears her throat, “First off three of us got Unique Classes. Get with them about it. Jax got an Epic/Unique, Evolved Class.”

  Smith Jhaeros burst out, “Three of you got Unique Classes and Three of you got Epic/Unique Evolved Classes? That’s unheard of.”

  Kselia pats his hand. “We should let them continue.”

  “Sorry the news just startled me.”

  Milly waves away the outburst, and continues. “The rest of us got an Epic/Advanced Class.”

  The adults, except for Elena, sit quietly, processing the information. “I am sorry for my ignorance, it seems this unusual?”

  Walter stirs, nodding his head. “Yes it is. Unique Classes show up two or three times per year. They are just as they says. Totally Unique. No one ever gets it except that person. Advanced Classes show all the time at Tier 3 and above. That is when most of us have developed enough to gain them. They do show at Level 10. It is rare but it happens. What is amazing is seven out of ten got Epic Classes, all seven are advanced. Three are Evolved. Throw in the Unique Classes and everything I thought I knew about Classes just got tossed out the window.”

  Smith Jhaeros says, “Well I want to know the names of these Classes. To think our children and their friends are even more special than we thought.”

  Iris smiles, “Well father and Kselia already know I have Magus, and Dylan has Wizard.”

  Walter chuckles, “The elven and dwarven Royal Classes, that will knock several noses out of alignment. Well done.”

  Milly smiles, “Storm Rider.”

  Walter applauds from his seat, “The original Battle Mages of the Empire. You are a treasure.” Milly blushes. “How about you three?” Walter asks, pointing and Mick, Lilly, and Karnna.

  The two look at Lilly to speak. “We got Titan of Battle, Mick got Bulwark, I got of the sword and Karnna got of the axe.”

  “Those are old Classes. My one of my hobbies is Classes and Class development. Sorry, never really looked into them much.”

  “Well Master Smith Jhaeros and I were wanting to take out our newly Classed to celebrate perhaps we should all go together.”

  Mick says, “We can if we are going to lunch but we have a thing tonight with Tanner he got us seats at this new tavern that opened. Called Quincy’s.”

  They all leave the palace for a lunch celebration, a carriage pulls up and Jax and Tanner debark. Jax runs and hugs his father. “Where are you going?”

  “Lunch, any reason you did not share your Class rank with me son?”

  “I wanted it to be a surprise in private. Sorry dad.”

  “In that case I am sorry your surprise was spoiled. I would like you to come to lunch with us all.”

  “Okay, Tanner you coming?”

  “Sorry guys I have something to take care of before tonight. Everyone is invited parents included. So see you all at Quincy’s.”

  Imperial carriages pull up in front of a massive storage building as the passengers debark. They can’t help but notice the thick line of people waiting in front of the doors. An enormous banner proclaims Quincy’s Grand opening hangs on the building face. Claire and the others walk to the front door accompanied by the Imps and family. Two large men stand in the doorway, blocking the crowd. A young woman steps from the shadows and welcomes them inside. Claire and the Imps look around with enormous smiles, recognizing the layout from Volks Harbor.

  Claire squeals with excitement when she sees Quincy and Maggie standing with Tanner. Rushing to embrace the two, she exclaims. “What are you doing here? How did you get this done? It is amazing.”

  Quincy steps to Claire and hugs her. “Well Princess.”

  “No you both call me Claire.”

  “Well then, Claire. Tanner wrote me with an idea he had. He put up the money and had me come here to set it all up, train people and here we are opening night.”

  Maggie reaches out and pulls Claire from Quincy and quickly hugs her, too. “Tanner here paid us a small fortune to come her and set things up. When it is up and running we will go back. We set him up with people that know how to run this tavern and it should do well.”

  “I wanted a place we could all gather and have fun after classes or a delve, it’s close to Darton, and some of the other academies, so we should get a lot of students, and it is in a pleasant area of the city. You like it? I did it mostly for you. I want to make some money on it too.”

  Claire smiles and holds on to him. “I love it and you are going to make a lot of money.”

  After the group is seated in the new V.I.P. area, drinks are poured, food is served and all are sated. The band begins their warm up and sound checks. Claire turns to Tanner wide eyed. “You got the same band?”

  Tanner gives her an indulgent smile, “Does this mean we have to dance?”

  The normally reserved Claire jumps out of her seat and shouts. “Bet your ass we do.” As she grabs the ladies and shoos them to the dance floor.

  Tanner laughs, “Come on guys we can’t let them show us up.”

  The Imps show the other adults how to move, and soon smiles and laughter sound almost as loud as the band.

  The next morning, Tanner wakes in an enjoyable tangle of arms and legs. While, last night's three way make-out session was fun, and falling asleep in each other's arms was a pleasant experience. The pressing need to use the bathroom eclipses all. The attempt to slide out from under Claire draped across his chest goes smoothly, Connie’s legs thrown over his and pressed to his side become his undoing. As Connie wakes, smiles and kisses him. Her legs brush against his morning wood. “Please don’t do that I have to pee.”

  Connie comes fully awake, “Me too.” Jumping up, running into the bathroom. Claire wakes and also rushes to the bathroom. Resigned, Tanner walks down the hall to the renovated conference room and uses the bathroom. After he finishes, he runs into Mick on the same errand. Passing Dylan and Jax on the way back to his room. Tanner laughs to himself as he dresses for a practice session, musing on the power of women to take control of the world. The rest of his party soon join him in the garden.

  “So what’s going on tonight? Anyone know yet?” Milly asks, while she and Jax are sparring.

  Claire, ending of her style’s first form, shakes her head. “No, we do not. Everyone is keeping silent. Even the servants.”

  Tanner stops twirling his sticks and informs all. “Whatever it is, all our families are involved, even my grandmother, aunts, and cousin.”

  “We will find out soon enough,” Mick rumbles in his deep voice.

  “Before I forget. Milly, Dylan. We have these translated for you both. Your Affinities fall under Claire's so we had memory crystals on them both. Keep these on you at all times, these are the only copies and we do not want to answer questions about where they came from.”

  “Thanks Claire,”

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  Claire points at Connie. “She did most of the scribe work, I read aloud.”

  Connie smirks, “He stood around with his shirt off and looked good.”

  As Connie and Claire fall on each other laughing, Tanner sighs. “I have been mapping our spiritual bodies. I think I can better direct our growth with these maps.”

  Milly smiles at the trio, “You know I was going to say Tanner with his shirt off was the more important job, but the maps just may have edged that out fractionally.” She holds her hand up with her fingers pinched together.

  “There is a drawback guys.” Tanner announces.

  Connie steps forward. “We need to treat it like a Healer's appointment. You have to be naked.”

  Mick sits and gestures for the others to sit. “I can see the girls being squeamish about this as Tanner is a friend and not in a relationship. Us guys have all seen each other in the locker rooms so no big deal. I am not sure how I feel about him seeing Karnna and Lilly though.”

  Connie sighs. “And this is why I said treat it like a Healer’s visit. We ladies have to go though much worse exams than just taking our clothes off. Get over your stubborn male pride, our bodies, we choose.”

  “I just meant things may become awkward with us if he sees our girlfriends naked.”

  Karnna sighs and kisses Mick on the cheek. “It is only awkward if you let it become that way. I trust Tanner with my mind, body, and soul. If he can help me to be better, I have zero problems taking my clothes of while he draws me.” Grinning, she adds, “Have any of you seen his sketches, he’ll make me look amazing.”

  Milly raises her hand. “I want to know how you found out you can do this?”

  “In the temple when we were breaking the curses. I got another Ability Spiritual Sight. I can see how your gates, your reservoirs, and channels are laid out. Along with how they all connect to each other and our physical bodies. That’s why you need to disrobe for me to draw it out. With your clothes on, I can not see as clearly.”

  Iris grins, “Okay I just have one question. Claire, Connie, which of you sacrificed your clothes for the sake of science?” The girls all laugh while the boys look on uncomfortably.

  Claire, blushing, says, “Neither of us, Tanner drew Eunice first then himself in the mirror.”

  The group stops to think about that for a few seconds. A wide eyed Jax breaks the silence, “You saw Eu...”

  With a glare from the girls as Milly slams a hard hand over Jax’s mouth. “Finish that sentence and I cut off something precious to you.”

  Tanner glares at the other boys and says to everybody. “She is so much more than her looks, she is my friend and she needs my help.”

  Lilly kisses Mick on the cheek, “Mick I care about you deeply but that right there is the reason we girls have no problems with Tanner seeing us without clothes. He will not make it creepy, or sexualize it, unless we want him to.”

  “I’m still a guy, but your right. I promise I won’t enjoy it. Hows that?”

  As the rest laugh and joke. Claire and Connie look at each other and nod. ‘Them first, and they will be in the room for the other girls.’

  “Did anyone see Janice last night or the people she was with?” The group's focus shifts to Jax at his question.

  Head cocked in curiosity, Tanner asks, “What about her and them?”

  “They mean to harm her. All four of them.”

  Tanner nods. “Okay, it may be starting. We need to find out if she approached them or the other way around. We need to figure out their motivation. That may give us a time frame.”

  Iris holds up her hand, “The guy she slow danced with all night met with Jennie Slater and Chris Allen back by the bathrooms for around 10 minutes.”

  Mick shakes his head. “The vice leader and the guild treasurer’s children.”

  Tanner stands and paces, “Everyone that saw her last night write up your reports. Tomorrow we look into the people she was with. Lets finish practice then get ready for breakfast.”