Bonded Summoner

A week had passed since the war games were declared, and warriors had already begun arriving at destination worlds. Jake was happy to hear that their coordinated efforts were working well, already winning in their first skirmishes.

Since not much time had passed, the enemy guilds seemed to be only barely ready.

The Ravenwolf tribe with Timone and Dahlia leading them, were the first to arrive on one of the largest Tier 1 worlds in the sector, and they completely crushed their opposition.

Jake just chuckled at how Timone was probably the perfect PvP warrior–powerful mobility, ranged attacks and damage over time, incredible resilience, powerful melee, anti-magic, self-healing, and he could fight non-stop.

Really, the man was incredibly overpowered–if you didn’t outright overwhelm him, Jake didn’t see how the man could lose. Jake thought that, given enough time, Timone could have picked apart Jake’s entire Battlegroup back on Ariminum–minus him and his wives, of course.

Then Dahlia was incredibly vicious. Her attacks went straight for and pierced through vitals with ease, using her wolves of light. It was easy for Jake to imagine soft targets being taken out in just mere moments, as she leapt around the battlefield, unable to be stopped.

Aisling and the other two clan wives were no slouches either. They were ready to advance to the next Tier, but they were working on their skills and on the hunt for Hearthtribe. They had scored well enough in the Conquest that they would be receiving Epic Classes. Much of those in their Prime Instance would.

Brock, along with much of the younger Hearthtribe, and Rookard’s wolves went to Ariminum. They would soon meet up with Antonius, and Jake was happy to hear that they had an ally with his guild, Sons of Rome.

It would still be some time to arrive, but the hunters were expected to only meet pockets of resistance.

Fhesiah’s agent for her auction already left, and she had received her odd painting. It was massive, the size of an entire wall. It depicted what appeared to be a massive seven tailed kitsune, facing a horrifyingly huge carnivorous plant.

The scale of the image was epic, having what clearly appeared to be aged trees smaller than the kitsune’s feet. Behind it were tiny kitsunes, as if protecting them.

But the carnivorous plant was the size of a mountain, even compared to the kitsune. The black flames were spreading among its vines, as if trying to consume it.

Jake definitely felt something special from the painting, doubting that the thing was as inert as the description gave. Fhesiah was planning on using it for a session soon, just before she used her express ticket.

The family was all worried about Fhesiah’s trip, but they all believed in her. Whether she had to ditch the claw or find some other method to continue, they thought everything would be okay in the end.

Everyone had gathered around their living room, relaxing. A movie played in the background, while each of them played games together. Berri was currently playing checkers with Tanda, while Ophelia and Jake played their own game of chess. Blood played go with Fhesiah, despite her body being in front of Tanda.

Berri moved a piece, taking it. “Queen me!”

Tanda frowned. “Don’t you mean king?”

“Nope, we’re queens, remember? Daddy Jake’s the king.”

Tanda chuckled, but before she was about to respond, she froze. Her heart and hearth beat powerfully, to where Jake could see auril energies leaving her.

It appeared she was having a conversation with Avalara.

“Oh! Sure, I’ll put him on.” She walked up to Jake, putting her perky chest in his face.

Jake looked away from her breasts, to give her an amused look. “What is this, some kind of boob telephone?”

“Hehe, try it? I’ll try to reproduce your song!”

He could feel a little mischief coming from her, but he decided he’d go along with it. He put his cheek into her breasts as if putting his mouth next to her heart, and talked into her chest. “Uh…Hello?”

Avalara’s gentle voice entered the air of the room, coming from Fhesiah’s chest like a speaker. “It’s so nice to hear your song, Lord Jake. I can hear your heartbeat, but it is muffled through Tanda’s connection. I wanted to personally congratulate you on your union, and your coronation. The ceremony didn’t allow for a more personal message.”

“I…yes. Thank you for coming, your being there was a special surprise for everyone, I think. It was…good to see you doing well?”

His last words came out more like a question. Jake felt more than a little awkward talking to her, their previous meeting being during battle. Then, her mother and father, Brigid and Cernunnos, a goddess and god, just piled onto the weirdness of talking to a girl that was also somehow the world itself.

She chuckled. “Yes, I am doing very well now, and it’s all thanks to a dashing hero and his equally wonderful mates’ many efforts. I had hoped for a little more time to maybe get to know each other a little better and for me to give you my gratitude, but the ceremony didn’t really allow for it.”

Avalara let that statement hang for a moment, a very obvious hint to Jake, her fishing for him to ask her out–especially with the girls easily reading into it and their thoughts entering his mind.

Of course, there was also Fhesiah letting him know how she would like Avalara to put her gratitude, and Berri shouting to remind him about her building the castle.

Tanda’s tail was wagging, her smile beaming as he continued talking into her chest. He decided to pet her ears, before he responded.

“I felt the same way. My mates and I were just relaxing. We could have a get-together? You could be our first guest inside our new home.”

“You felt the same way? You have gratitude, for me?”

“Of course. You fought hard and held on for all that time, maintaining the balance and guiding the beastkin. You even helped them fight the war, and I could tell you came to our aid in many battles. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Jake thought that, by the sound of her voice, that she was smiling. “Hmm, I wonder? Well, since you invited me, I would like to accept. However, can we change the venue? I would rather you come to my place instead, for our first…date.”

Her last words came out in a teasing tone, and Fhesiah was more than a little excited. The girls each gave their equivalent of thumbs up, that they were more than ready to meet the girl as a prospective family member.

“We’d love that. When would–”

“Excellent, just head down with your mates once you are ready. The path should be much more…direct. See you soon!”

“Hehe, she’s gone now! She felt really excited. I guess she means our backdoor tunnel place? This should be fun.” Tanda’s tail was wagging, her wings fluttering.

Ophelia asked, “Why’d you need to use the boob telephone, anyway? Couldn’t you and Jake have found harmony, and he talked to her directly?”

“Because I got petted, and this was way more fun! Let’s get ready!”

Berri glared at Jake, putting her hands on her hips. “You didn’t mention the castle again.”

Jake chuckled, and shook his head. He was with a bunch of tricksters. “You can tell her yourself this time if you like. But do we really want a castle? We set down our manor here.”

“Hmph. Of course we do, but not to live there! When the bad guys attack, we need the biggest, bestest castle to defend, like that king of the rings movie.”

“Alright. We’ll see if there’s an opening in the conversation to bring it up.”

***

“Welcome to my humble abode.”

Avalara’s voice echoed from the stone walls as the Hart family walked down the steps to enter the cavern. Her voice carried easily from nearly a football field of distance away. The energy within the room was palpable, as they took in the changed giant cavern.

The large cave they fought the death god in and purified the stem in was even larger than before, but it now had a homey feel to it. Vines and plants of various colors grew everywhere, lining the walls with rainbow-colored light.

The stem in the back of the cavern had become even larger and more brilliant. Then, there was a tree or root piercing through the ceiling, draping itself down like a large pillar off to the side. The amount of life energy within the root was immense, and Jake knew what it was right away: it was the World Tree’s root.

The large cavern had sections or transitions rather than rooms, but it still felt like there was a living room, a kitchen, and a storage area.

The sections were separated by elevation, arches of vines and wooden furniture, stairs going up and down to different elevations in each section. It almost reminded Jake of an outdoor tea garden. There was even a small pond.

Avalara was floating in the air near the stem at the rear of the room once again like a goddess, and at her full size, witnessed in their original battle within this same room. At nearly six meters tall, she was huge.

Then, strangely, two of the smaller versions like which participated in their ceremony busied around, operating what looked like a medieval kitchen.

The four heroic beasts were all present in their own resting area, and even some spriggons busied themselves as well. They were growing various plants and even fruit trees, and seemingly tending to the World Tree’s roots.

Some disappeared off to the side cavern, likely heading another direction to the surface.

Fhesiah’s formation lines from their fight preparations were still present, though Jake’s mana font was not. Still, the formations were definitely drawing in more energy from the area.

“So, what do you think? Like what I’ve done to the place?

Jake allowed his voice to carry with some magic. “I really like it. This is amazing. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this.”

“Thank you, I did hope you would enjoy it. Now, let’s continue your relaxation? I know you heroes have worked hard.” She floated over to what appeared to be a living room area, adjacent to her kitchen.

It was a mostly straight shot to head over, so the family walked through the few separate areas, before arriving in the room. There was a large coffee table in the center, with two couches facing each other. A love seat was off to the side, and more than one recliner was near.

She motioned them to sit, floating to the side of the table which had no furniture. She sat down as if sitting on an invisible chair, crossing her knee over the other with a smile.

As she got close, Jake could feel her hearth. They had witnessed its creation when they faced the terrible death god within this very room. Jake wasn’t sure how it tied into the core of the world itself, but the large avatar, the huge woman in front of him, was linked to it in some special way.

And through the hearth, he thought he felt a better understanding of who Avalara was, and what her path was. She wasn’t a Hearthian so it was only a vague feeling, but he thought that she was quite similar to Tanda in her original goals for stewardship.

But there was also a strong, noble feeling coming from the hearth, that reminded him of the way Blood made him feel.

The spriggons got excited about Bloodberri, chanting her name as Jake’s family found places to sit.

“Oh! You guys are here too, huh? You’re such nice little helpers!”

Several spriggons jabbered, and started handing her fruits from the fruit trees. “Thank you! I am hungry, now that I think about it. Um, I will just eat these…and those…and maybe those.”

She immediately started crunching on the Highlands fruit, completely ignoring that several of them you likely weren’t supposed to eat the skin.

Several spriggons then crowded around Tanda, to everyone’s surprise. A few of them were handing her their seeds.

“What is it, little ones? You want to give me your…children?”

They jabbered in their strange language, before one began gesturing to her chest. “You! Grow!”

“O-Oh! You want me to grow this? Your…child? They must mean my new ability.”

[Divine Cyclical Auril Hearth Ability Learned: Seed Growth]

[Infuse a seed with the power of life, death, and rebirth. Seed will become ready for use with Druidic Magic or other abilities, based on the seed grown, the power increased by the duration energies were infused. With the power of a Heathian core, this ability’s possibilities to invest power into a seed is limitless.]

Jake rose his brow at the ability. In this case, she was given spriggon children to be grown. He supposed that, in some way, this might be able to be used as a sort of spriggon summon.

Berri tapped her lips in thought. “What about that seed thingy you got, Tanda? When you beat that dark elf bitch.”

Tanda’s tail wagged. “Oh! You’re right, Berri. Let’s do that?” She took it out, and for the most part, Jake thought he felt a tiny bit of divinity or immense faith energy wafting off of it.

Fhesiah inspected it with her Divine Sense, and Jake looked at it with his Gaze.

He thought that, if there was any evil trapped inside, it was already purified. It contained an energy and feel to Jake that appeared to match what he imagined an acorn should have–it was a symbol of fertility and growth, restarts and potential.

Fhesiah shrugged. “I don’t feel anything bad from it. It should be fine? It seems to have captured a large amount of energy inside.”

Considering it was purged from an evil enemy’s attack, he still thought it prudent to be cautious.

Jake asked, “What do you think, Avalara?”

She smiled. “I sense no ill energies within. I think it’s no coincidence. My father’s planning and cunning may rely a little too much on luck sometimes, but every action of his serves a purpose. I think you should grow it, and the time when you should use it will become evident.”

Tanda placed the strange acorn within her hearth, along with the spriggon’s seeds. As she did, Jake saw the Framework overlay itself over the spriggon seeds, he imagined protecting them for when they were used.

It appeared that they were not going to be some kind of kamikaze seed that would die permanently when she used the living entity.

She then patted the spriggons who gave her their seeds. “Thanks for entrusting me with your children. I will do my utmost to use them wisely. And, thank you for your help! It’s good that we started this step early.”

Avalara chuckled. “They really are such nice helpers. Once again, welcome. I wanted to…hint at you to invite me sooner, but I’ve been practicing with my lesser avatars, trying to get used to them once more while I prepared my home. It’s been so long since I was able to have them out–I simply didn’t have enough energy until now.”

Blood spoke with a bit of longing, as she watched them bring in some wooden trays of snacks on one platter, and several teacups on the other. “Fascinating. I have wanted such capabilities, but I can tell it is far beyond me.”

Jake could see with his Gaze that the amount of energy contained inside one avatar was significant. While Jake and his girls were giant beacons of energy, the amount contained in a single avatar was simply more than Jake and all of his girls combined.

One might think the girls as summons were the same thing, but they were not. The main difference was the Framework’s aid, in what was essentially creating and maintaining their player characters. In contrast, what Avalara was doing was entirely on her own.

The amount within Avalara herself dwarfed even that. Jake was just at the beginning of the second Tier, so it was hard for him to understand what he was feeling and seeing, to have a means of comparison.

But he thought that a world core, at least her full avatar, likely contained the amount of energy more than two entire Tiers above an individual.

Avalara gave her a sad smile. “I’m afraid you may have to wait a while longer. Being a world core, it is one of my specialties. My full avatar cannot really leave this room or the core. It took me centuries to master, and it takes an immense amount of energy to establish them. When they’re not all that strong or useful, it was a luxury I couldn’t afford.”

She smiled at everyone. “One that I can only handle now, thanks to all of you. Please–have some refreshments. I have heard so much about all of you, your songs being sung by so many.”

Jake went ahead and took a bite of a cookie, picking up a tea cup. The cookie reminded him of a ginger snap, but filled with immense vitality. A rush of energy entered him as he tasted the sweet and strong flavor. The tea was a sort of lemon, that he thought went quite well with it.

Blood floated a cookie after cookie and tea over, her enjoying it, while Berri was far more interested in what the spriggons were doing. Fhesiah did the same, and Ophelia tucked in next to Jake, grabbed a cookie and tea for herself.

He smiled at Avalara. “Tanda’s told us a lot about you, too. I have a lot of questions about what it’s like being a world, but I suppose that can wait. Is everything going well with…growing?”

Avalara giggled. “It is! I am doing my best to keep everything smooth, but it is not easy. The number of storms has picked up, and there have been a few tidal waves from the earthquakes. You may be aware of the new desert on the other side of the world, and the tundras are growing. Actually, we are going to have an early winter coming up soon. It’s exciting, I’m transforming and being reborn once again!”

Berri said, “I love snow! Um… Can you make us a castle while you’re at it?”

“H-Huh? Why would you want a castle? Where?”

“Anywhere! Because castles are awesome. It doesn’t matter where you put it.”

Blood groaned. “Yes, it very much does matter where you put a castle, my dear sister. It is meant to protect something very specific and important, and it serves no purpose in the middle of nowhere!”

“Well, fine. I just want one. I’m not picky about it. Can you do it?”

Avalara chuckled at their antics, a fond smile as she looked over Bloodberri. “I can try it? It will take me some time, though. I suppose there are a few mountain passes near the dungeon entrance where they couldn’t hurt to have.”

Ophelia chuckled, setting down her teacup. “Thank you, both for trying, and for indulging her. The beastkin are working hard to build defenses, but we might just need all the help we can get.”

Avalara smiled. “It is my pleasure, I may be the world, but the beastkin and all those living on it are the world to me. Now, I have heard so much about you all and what you’ve done here on Highlands. But would you mind telling me how you came to be together? I have heard many songs of beastkin romance, but not of your Origins!”

Ophelia’s wings fluttered, and her tail feathers wiggled, causing her to look at them suspiciously. “T-That’s new. We’d love to tell you our story!”

Jake and the girls spent some time retelling their story from the beginning, each providing their input. Tanda had heard everything before but had little to tell with her part of the story known somewhat to the Heart, so she just enjoyed Jake pampering her with scratches, her tail wagging.

Fhesiah made sure to throw in plenty of good-natured teasing, that if anything, only exemplified their humble beginnings. Avalara was active in asking questions during the story telling, interested in details about the state of their multiverse.

She frowned. “So you have been to this world, Ariminum? What was it like?”

“I think it wasn’t all that different than my home world of Earth, just bigger? It had mana in the air, but it didn’t feel all that fantastical to me after spending time in the dungeons. This place felt exceptional to me, from the moment I set foot on it.” He smiled at her, “Highlands is beautiful, inside and out.”

Avalara beamed, putting her two hands together. “I’m so happy you like it! I still remember the day Clan Hart arrived because the beastkin’s songs were all so filled with sorrow and despair. A terrible scourge was killing my land down to its roots, songs of all sizes being lost forever. But then a single family arrived, and the songs began to change, as your Aura covered them. Summoning Hestia, you saved tens of thousands, their hearts singing the song of salvation. You made your Oath to protect me and all my people for all time, and I will never forget that.”

Ophelia smiled. “I did love that moment too. Jake really came through for us, making it extra special and being the savior the beastkin people needed. He was really the dashing hero, right?”

Berri nodded with a smile, and Tanda giggled in remembrance. She had been saved at the last moment.

Fhesiah sighed at the memory. “I still think we should have picked up more waifus, but it was a good victory. As it was, we still took forever to beat this one into submission.” She teased, nudging Tanda.

Tanda chuckled sadly, her ears flat on her head. “I was really against the Framework, even ignoring the world’s song. The moment I felt his aura and heard the world’s song, I should have been less an enemy to you. I was really at odds with my heart.”

Ophelia wrapped her large wing around her from the other side of Jake. “That’s okay, it all worked out in the end, didn’t it? Our first fight was fun!”

Avalara smiled. “The beastkin are definitely in tune with my song, but few as in tune with it as you were, Tanda. But sometimes our minds are at odds with our hearts, and I think this is normal. You have joined a wonderful Clan and family, I could feel it from the moment they set foot in my domain.”

Tanda’s tail was wagging. “You’re right. It was my luck things worked out for the better. Now, I wouldn’t change a thing. I am glad that Ophelia dueled me first, as now we have a special connection. I don’t know if it would have been made if that didn’t happen.”

Blood chuckled. “I really doubt that, sister. You two are close, as you have a lot in common.”

Avalara tapped her lips. “The duel brought you together, is it? Yes, I suppose a bit of conflict goes far in building a special connection, a trust that builds a significant bond among those that participated. What do you think, Lord Jake?”

“I do think conflict drives progress among a people. And, everything worthwhile in life is earned. The beastkin have fought long and hard as brethren, and now they are much stronger for it. They’ve been joined by the Elysians, Emberborn, humans and various others, and thanks to their extreme efforts over the years to find harmony with each other and the environment, they were able to find harmony with others when they arrived. I think we owe much of our success to that. They had struggled together, and they became closer as a result.”

Avalara smiled. “Yes, I think I like that–that everything worthwhile in life is earned. So, how about it, Champion? I told you that in order to have me, you’d have to get strong enough to bind me. You have grown, but I have the power of an entire world at my beck and call, do you think your desire and power will be sufficient? We can battle our wills, and see if you are yet strong enough.”

Her tone had become imperious near the end, but something about it was filled with mischief. The feeling was way too close to his other girls to not pick up on it, for him. Jake didn’t know what it was, but he figured it was worth a shot. Looking at his girls, they each seemed excited, for their own reasons.

Ophelia thought it was romantic for Avalara to love Jake, him already, albeit unknowingly, pledging to protect her for all time. Tanda was of course excited for the Heart to join their Clan, as any beastkin of Highlands would be.

Fhesiah’s reasoning didn’t need any explaining, and Blood was excited about her joining their Clan due to what Brigid had said–that there was much to gain, and they would be stronger for it.

Berri thought it was ten times more likely that she would get her castle, maybe even two, and even cooler and more fun things she might think of later if Avalara became Jake’s mate.

Jake looked over the beautiful world core, taking in her features once more, letting his desire for her build.

She was beautiful, her skin a pale green. Her body was slender, covered in a black, gold, and dark green dress made of leaves and vines. Her ears were that of a reindeer, with her antlers on top of her head somewhat matching. She had a cute smile, that seemed patient and caring.

Avalara’s hair almost looked like plants, but also a woman’s hair with gold, green and black highlights. It was long and went down to her ass, and the long length was part of the reason he hadn’t noticed her small tuft of a deer’s tail in their first meeting.

Then, her black eye had cleared up, along with the taint. One iris was now green, while the other was golden.

She had long legs, her breasts and thighs flaring out. Jake definitely believed she was beautiful, having a softness to her features that none of his girls currently held. Her presence relaxed him, and he could feel her hearth within.

A brilliant cycle of life, death, and rebirth was occurring within her chest, a fantastical weave of vines. A spark of golden fire had ignited from purging the terrible wicked’s taint, an eternal conflict that drove progress. The life and death were at balance, but were reborn and transformed into something new by the golden flame.

Jake stood with a smile, his hearth blazing as it began to beat in sync with Tanda’s heart. He thought of the beastkin rituals, and thought Avalara might enjoy something at least similar. He spoke with the cadence of the beastkin, following the beats of his heart.

“I’d like to try. I made an Oath to protect you for all time, facing any challenge with all my Clan’s might. I do desire to make you mine, for you to be my mate. Not only for the beauty of your person, but for the beauty of your world, and your hearth. I felt your song of life and love, and want your song and hearth to join my Clan’s choir for all time.”

Avalara’s body straightened as she stood floating in the air, a smile touching her lips. “I have heard you and your family’s song, and it is strong and full of virtue. Show me your potential, that you can protect my song from the wicked forevermore.”

Ophelia and the other girls clapped, and Berri cheered. “That was good! You should buff up first, though. Right now, she’s bigger than you!”

Jake stood in front of Avalara, and called out his Champion’s Hearth and his Mythic Champion’s Vestments over his casual wear. Forming the flame into his staff, he held it in his hand as the hearth began to blaze.

Like when he battled wills with Bree, he tried to find resonance with Blood, his Monarch.

She had a determined look, ready to join Jake in this battle of wills. Her hearth flickered, beating along with his as their hearths formed a connection, a beam of black and gold going between their chests. Her Hearthian presence washed over them further as it was empowered, the room being filled with her dominion.

Jake formed the runes in his hearth, finding them to flow easier than ever before. He formed the runic spell in record time, creating the Tier 2 spell with an ease he didn’t expect. He didn’t even need to use his functions, his runes being enough to cast Giant’s Growth.

Jake grew until he was almost as big as Avalara. Really, the difference was interesting to him. Jake was definitely wider and more massive with his manly build, but she was still tall and thin, as she looked down toward him with a challenging smile.

He then cast his Tier 2 Runic Empowerment spell, his body being filled with bright light. The runes blazed on his armor, as he filled them with his hearth flames and auril.

She smirked as she floated forward, unworried. She was only a few meters away from Jake. “Flashy, but I wonder if it will be enough?”

He drew out his hearth flames, creating the binding ritual within the air for making her his permanent summon. The scripts formed in the air, as the mysterious symbols congealed in front of Avalara.

Shoving his will into the construct, he pushed the stamp against the center of her chest, just above where her hearth would be.

When his flame touched, Jake felt Avalara’s will for the first time. Just like Bree’s in the beginning, it was like a mountain towering over his. Only this time, it was the might of an entire world. It calmly stood against him, his will not budging her even slightly.

Pulses of his will rippled against hers, like raindrops against an ocean.

Avalara tapped her lips with her finger. “Hmm…perhaps it was a little unfair, putting a man against a world. Your bonds are a part of your power, your mates a part of your potential. So it should be fair to have them aid you.”

One by one, Jake found resonance with each of his girls. Beams of flames went from their chests to Jake’s, starting with Ophelia’s lightning yellow and red hearthflames. Blood and Berri’s black and white divine monstrous flames were next, and then Fhesiah’s black and purple kitsune flames joined, along with her red and gold draconic flames.

Finally, Tanda’s deathly black flames joined from her hearth, as the state of the family was entered.

Jake’s heroic presence blazed, their flame shifting as their six wills joined as one, a golden flame growing. Their spirits intertwined, and they shoved their flames into the mark as it grew in both size and power.

Despite their family’s immense strength, it was now like a river against an ocean. Avalara’s will and energy was almost entirely unmoving, though Jake could feel she was now pushing back slightly.

It required a little of her focus to fight back, but it was a fight she could maintain a lot longer than Jake and the girls could.

Avalara hummed. “Not bad at all, but perhaps once more there is something else missing. A lack of urgency. Did you know that this might be your only chance to win my heart? That I am at the weakest I’ll ever be, and my growth will be meteoric as I continue to absorb the reward from the Framework. The difference between a world and a family will only become even larger.”

Her words stirred his girl’s competitive spirits, and Jake’s own desire. He did want to make Avalara his, for her to join their family. For their safety, her strength being added onto theirs, but also for selfish reasons.

Avalara was a beautiful woman, and had already expressed a desire for him in their first meeting. Then, something about her soft and almost fragile exterior stirred his possessive instincts, making him desire her even further.

Jake drew up all the energy within his hearth, and gathered all the energies from the girls. Using his Expert Energy control, which was powered by their high levels of harmony and synchronicity, all the energies that made up their family congealed into the mark.

Even Fhesiah’s Bloodline Flames were controlled by Jake, as they all smashed their will into merging the flames into a single construct–just like their hearth flames within Jake’s Hearth, but outside of their bodies.

Avalara raised a single brow at their mark growing. “That looks… a little dangerous? I uh…hope you know what you’re doing here.”

Divine Energy was also added into the construct, Jake having a much easier time of moving it now. Their will against the ocean was growing, the river becoming a lake. The mark was becoming a little unstable, but more energy was drawn into the construct and tampered down by the family’s will.

Fhesiah added her mental energy to manifesting her will, her Dao. The power of the dragon and holy kitsune’s flames were made manifest, enforcing their will on reality. Then, Jake breathed out, exhaling his void energy.

Ira was not here to help, but he found that he still held a little bit more control over his void energy than before, thanks to his bloodline improving.

The mark was surrounded in the void, compressing the immense number of energies into one and shrinking the chaotic mark. The prismatic flame was borne once again, and their will became like an ocean as they pushed the mark against hers.

Avalara pushed back, her clearly needing to fight back to not get pushed down.

However, it looked like it wasn’t enough. Jake put all the desire he had for her to join their family into his will, and each of the girls matched.

Physically, Jake was all but shoving his fist into the mark with his fist in front of it, his body tense as his desire for Avalara rose. Their ocean grew a final time, but it still didn’t feel like they would be able to outlast her immense will.

An avatar carrying a fresh tray of cookies arrived and tripped, sending the tray of cookies flying and striking Avalara in the face.

“Oh!” Her will stopped pushing against Jake’s, and his mark pressed into her chest, marking her hearth with his brand. His body stumbled forward, as if someone stopped pushing back in a shoving match.

Avalara fell somewhat backward, despite her being able to float in the air.

A vine shoved Jake a little further forward with alarming quickness, as he crashed into her large chest and his lips landed on hers.

The girls all laughed and clapped, but the sound just washed over him, as his senses were bombarded through Avalara’s bond.

He immediately felt all her emotions, her immense amount of gratitude she had for him. Deep within, she had a profound desire to experience what millions of beastkin over the years had experienced–a worthy mate that would protect her song for all time.

It had only been a few months, but when she said Clan Hart’s song was being sung all over Highlands, she meant it literally. Like when Jake matched Tanda’s heartbeat during their special dance or hunt, Jake was now able to feel what she did, her heart open to him in this moment.

It was as if hundreds of beastkin’s hearts were singing a song of gratitude for Jake and Clan Hart at almost every moment. It had only been a few months, but Clan Hart had saved thousands both directly as they defended and aided villages, but also tens of thousands indirectly as they took on the Rifts.

The beastkin understood all the immense amount of effort they had spent on them, enabling them to stand on their own thanks to the auril pills and awakening serum, the equipment crafting, enchanting, and more. His family fought long and hard, to give them the breathing room they needed to grow.

Avalara had spent weeks and months now listening to the beastkin’s praise, as if Jake was the biggest celebrity and hero. Then, Jake was like a stag that fought off another one for the right to mate with her, by defeating Tartarus.

Jake grabbed onto Avalara’s waist, and allowed the kiss to deepen. He could tell her intention was to submit herself to him from the beginning, that this was just a fun means to build on their conversation.

She had wanted to join their family no matter the result of their contest, and he saw in the corner of his Gaze that the avatar had even tripped over a vine, which was conspicuously moving back to its original position.

He realized that, much like Tanda by the time she formed her bond originally, Avalara’s affection for him was already high. The summoner’s bond was already of the third level, and she was just one step away from joining their mental conversations.

She pulled away from the kiss, her smile mischievous. “That was fun! Now, don’t go thinking that contest didn’t matter! It did. When I said you needed to be strong enough to bind me before, I wasn’t lying. Please, have a look.”

She puffed out her chest proudly with a smile, and Jake took a moment to realize she wasn’t just showing off her large chest.

He looked with his Gaze, looking at her powerful hearth within her chest. His mark had landed on it, and the immense energies in the bundle of life and death vines were moving through the Celtic knots.

As this happened, it was as if his mark was being worn away–or at least, this is what would happen if his mark was not strong enough.

Instead, his prismatic mark weathered the storm, the connection to his soul being maintained. If his mark wasn’t strong enough, even if he tried reinforcing it, it would eventually be unraveled–his mental energy would eventually run out.

Still, he thought she was still being mischievous here–most likely, she could reinforce it, or otherwise reduce the strain against the mark. He wasn’t sure what stage they could have reached equilibrium, but if she were willing to submit to him, then the first stage with Blood’s help might have been enough.

“So, you see? That contest did matter! I felt how strongly you all desired me to join your Clan, and how you were willing to fight for me! It was wonderful. Now, I won’t say what stage you needed to get to in order to be successful, but a stronger bond is better than a weaker one, isn’t it?”

Jake chuckled. “You’re right. I look forward to seeing if we can all find harmony together with my Clan and for our hearts to beat as one, my prospective mate.”

Ophelia laughed. “I feel like she’s already one of us. That was fun! Welcome to the family, Avalara!” She flew up to her, giving the much larger girl a hug.

Tanda cheered, before joining Ophelia in hugging the large girl from the other side. “Yay! Welcome, Avalara! We’re going to have such fun times together.”

Avalara hugged them back. “I know that to be true. I look forward to getting to know the rest of you more, to see if our hearts can beat as one. I may have heard a lot, but that is not the same thing!”

Fhesiah smirked, as she too flew up and gave Avalara a quick hug. “Welcome, new sister. Yes, there are, after all, plenty of things we usually keep private. Though, it sounds like you have a little insight into even that.”

Bloodberri rose up, giving the tall girl a hug. Jake marvelled at how, despite Avalara being around six meters tall, she did actually look smaller than Bloodberri when she did this.

Berri giggled. “Welcome, Avalara. That was cool, you were like shwaaa, brrrrr, and we pushed back, vrooom! Let’s do it again!”

Blood chuckled. “I feel a bit exhausted after all that, but it was worth it. Everyone was wonderful, and it was so nice to meet you for real this time, Avalara. I think we’re going to get along just fine.”

The girls somewhat moved back to their places, though Fhesiah stayed floating in the air near Avalara, and Bloodberri stayed next to her with her coil.

Jake chuckled, as he watched her lesser avatar picking up the strewn cookies off of the floor.

“That was an interesting experience, and I am glad we did it. I do look forward to spending some more time together to learn more about you. Luckily, we have a lot of leisure time ahead of us. We should be able to get some dates in soon.”

Avalara beamed. “I cannot wait, this is why I practiced with my lesser avatars–so I can walk among my people, and enjoy the world with you. However, there is a problem.”

Jake looked at her in question. “What do you mean?”

She giggled. “What, you didn’t think I could fight like this, did you? Let’s make me a new body!”