Apexus was meditating upon letting Yuzuki stay in their household. She said she wanted to guide them, but how necessary was such guidance?They could find their way to the City of the Wastes on their own. It was hardly hidden nor was it far away. Reysha was beyond capable of sneaking around and gathering intel. So, why rely on a third party to show them around? What could the value of that be? Why now?
The Inevitable party had not hosted a guest since they had been gifted the Mobile Estate almost 2 years ago. They had never escorted anyone for the entirety of their over 3 years of adventuring. What was the utility in it? What were the changes?
Sitting cross-legged on the floor of his alchemy laboratory, Apexus contemplated those questions and more.
He had been thankful that the need to answer her request in the moment had been taken from him. Aclysia’s lead had replaced the conundrum of his wrestling desire and discipline with the simplicity of wanting the best for his partners. Though that had relieved him in the moment, Apexus was not the kind of man that forgot the difficult question because it had been answered simply.
Yuzuki would share a space with them over the journey. She would have her private room; they had the means for that. Still, it would narrow in on the scope and volume of the lifestyle they were accustomed to. ‘Would she mind the noises? Given her established deviancy…,’ Apexus considered. ‘I cannot be certain. Reysha will investigate. I will ask her later.’
Apexus’ mind returned to the philosophical questions of the matter. Yuzuki would be of aid to them in a limited capacity. Minimal time would be saved by her pointing them in the right direction. This saving of time competed with the lies of omission she might tell.
A base animal urge implored the humanoid chimera to believe the attractive woman. ‘Such a fair creature would not lie, right?’ was the naïve whisper of his instinct. Apexus reigned it in, forcing cold, stoic reason to behold the situation.
If they were being manipulated, to what end? Apexus did not enjoy believing himself superior to others, but the Inevitable party was not just strong but growing stronger. It would have taken a truly idiotic regime to upset them by tricking them into killing an innocent man. If they desired, Apexus, Reysha, Korith and Aclysia could do a lot more harm than a peasant revolt.
Simultaneously, if they were being manipulated, sending an attractive woman to do so was the expected thing to do.
Apexus could not claim it was not working.
‘Would I have refused a less alluring guide?’ he asked himself the pertinent question. The ultimate answer only made this meditation more vexing. ‘I do not know. Circumstances matter. Then, would I refuse Yuzuki if she was not attractive?’
To that, he could answer… No. If he took in the sum of the parts, he would have approved of guidance still. Though they were at risk of being manipulated, the attempt of the Sleeping Empire to do so would tell the party what culture they were dealing with. Such insights were worth a lot as well.
They did not need a guide, but the pros outweighed the cons.
They could host a guest, especially one that did not much mind the intense sexuality of the household.
At the end of the meditation, Apexus had reached a pleasant conclusion.
“Darling?” A soft voice beckoned him to stir.
The humanoid chimera opened both eyes instantly. Aclysia stood to the left of the door. Their eyes met instantly, green and blue. Apexus lifted his hands from his lap, an unspoken proposal that she took without hesitation. Once his melody was seated, round butt fitting comfortable between his thighs, he asked, “Yes?”
“You are interested in the lady Yuzuki?” There was a tinge of jealousy to Aclysia’s tone. She did not try to hide it. They were too deep into their unusual relationship for her to make a secret of even minor misgivings. “The suggestion of sharing you with a fourth is mildly displeasing to me.”
“Just mildly?” Apexus asked, to her nodding. “If you were deeply displeased, I would force myself to ignore the attraction.”
“I am aware.” Aclysia reached up and scratched him behind one of his fox ears. “I notice you acknowledge an attraction?”
“I do.” Large hands glided over the smooth skin of Aclysia’s shoulders. Everything about her porcelain white form calmed him – a different, fuller calm than the one brought by meditation. “It is not anchored firmly. Her appearance allures me in a way few others have. None since Korith.”
“Your instincts on these matters are keen, darling. If you were to chase her, I would not be opposed,” the metal fairy whispered. “If we were to expand this party, then a Scout would be a good fit.”
Apexus let out a deep hum. There would be difficulties. Being powerful had the disadvantage that they could not add people to their party on a whim, as the difference in Level would simply be too vast. It was yet another factor that made the upwards climb for adventurers so difficult. Past a blurry line, when a party fell apart, the individual members would have to look for years, potentially even decades, until they found a new party that worked out. The egos of powerful adventurers did not help stability to that end.
If training someone new up to their Level was easy, more parties would do it. “I would have to find an alchemical solution to the power difference.”
“I believe in your brilliance, darling,” Aclysia purred and kissed the corner of his lips. “My first impression of her is that she is charming. She also has something that we lack in a social setting.”
“What is that?”
“Decorum… gravitas… there are multiple words for it. An aristocratic air would perhaps be the most accurate way to put it?” Aclysia shook her head. “You are a quiet man, my love, not much of talker. Reysha has the opposite issue with all of her crudeness and Korith… well, those that know how to string along a kobold can exploit her with relative ease. I have my own faults, oscillating between my aiding nature and my impatience for those that would insult you.”
“You have talked well for us,” Apexus insisted.
The guardian angel’s pink lips lifted into a light smile. “Thank you, darling… all the same, having someone among us that is skilled at the social life would be to our benefit.” Fingers withdrew from the base of his ears, then she rose. “All of this is to say to your utilitarian mind, darling, that you may pursue this interest.”
Apexus watched the rear of the love of his life wiggle. Though she was mildly jealous, that was far from the only emotion she felt about the prospect of the little harem-party expanding again after two years. Stopped in the doorframe, she smiled over her shoulder.
“If you would join us for the buying of the furniture?”