Los house grows

It's been 5 years now since I visited the abyss. I haven't been there much since then, since Lex is quite against it. Nothing of importance has happened during these 5 years. Nina has gotten some friends and gotten better in her studies. Low has fun practising with soldiers and joining me when I go on hunting. Aktor is nowhere to be seen again and Relse is having fun killing things and "playing" with his kids, both demon princes and dragon lords.

I now have five more kids besides Nina, three of them from Akhekh and two from Teno. I haven't been contacted by Akhekh's kids much other than naming help and their names are Alkek, Ijbib and Rontikh. I chose Alkek. With Teno, I have some contact with the boy Artekta, who I call Art and girl Tinotezta, who I call Tino. Teno has mainly taken care of them with her servants and she seems quite irritated when I hold them.

Today Rey is about to finish her studies in Tianlong. All I know what she has done, is that she has tried her best to become my servant. I will be summoned soon to talk with Lóng and Rey in a meeting room. I thought of taking Nina with me, since I plan to make Rey her personal guard, but I think it's good to do it together with everyone when we get back.

I was summoned and I'm seated to a chair. Lóng is sitting across me and I don't see Rey yet. I ask.

- Where is she?

- She is bringing out tea in just a moment.

And as he said so, Rey came carrying two sets of tea. One for me and one for Lóng. I ask her.

- Aren't you going to drink yourself?

- No, I'm fine without it. I wouldn't dare to drink alongside my master.

- I think that you can drop that mindset when you serve me later on.

- As you wish.

Lóng then says.

- Now sit to that chair child.

He points at a chair on both of our sides and she sits right down.

Lóng: Now then, if you would kindly taste the tea that Rey has made.

Nor: Sure.

I drink and it's one of the best tea I have ever tasted.

Nor: It tastes absolutely amazing.

Lóng: Good, we have made sure that she has learned all kinds of skills to serve her master without an issue.

Nor: All kinds of things? What kinds are you talking about?

Lóng: Well there is cleaning, cooking, washing, guarding, taking care of unwanted things in many ways, courtesy, overall way of talking to people, persuasion, mercantile, economics, writing, sneaking, gathering information and bedroom arts. There might be more, but I can't remember at the moment.

Nor: I have several questions. Like what do you mean "taking care of unwanted things?"

Lóng: Oh, I'm sure you know just the right things. You are thinking of all the ways that implies.

Nor: Right then what about "bedroom arts?"

Lóng: Of course a servant of opposite sex needs to know how to make their master feel good downstairs. Oh, and don't worry. She is still a virgin as far as I know. This is the reason that you made her choose female, right?

Rey: Don't worry master, I have learned many ways to release your pent up frustration. Just call for me whenever you need to decompress.

Nor: That is NOT the reason why I chose her to be female.

Rey: Oh, then why did you choose?

Nor: I thought that you would get better along with the people of the house we are staying at with my child, if you were female.

Lóng: Oh, I was sure it was the other thing. In any case, she knows how to do it well, so rest assured.

Nor: I didn't need that confirmation. In any case, how did her studies go?

Lóng: She did splendedly. While there were some troubles at first, she eventually became an expert of many things. She has quite a talent of doing things.

Nor: That reasuring. How was the experience like to you Rey?

Rey: I didn't mind the experience. In fact, it brought me joy in knowing that I am learning these skills to help my master. Though the other students were quite annoying at times. Especially the boys.

Nor: Did something happen?

Lóng: *sigh* What I could gather from the teachers, Rey became quite popular among the students here. Her standing as someone who had connection to me made some people even propose in some occasions.

Rey: However, those fools didn't know how strong my will to serve my master was.

Lóng: Quite. And when the word came that she was going to serve house Los of all things, things got a little... difficult.

Nor: Difficult? How so?

Lóng: Those who knew who you are, no, what you are, made people try to pay an extraordinary payment to hire her to serve under their houses instead. Those funds were something that would have given even me some issues.

Nor: How big are we talking?

Lóng: The biggest offer was in tens of millions and tens of thousands of salary per month.

Nor: That... quite a lot.

Lóng: To some point, I wouldn't have been surprised if she would have chosen to go with them. Then again, her iron will pushed through.

Rey: Of course I wouldn't budge on the chance to be a servant under someone who's name has Los in it. Dad always told me how it was the most admirable thing to a dragon and mom even vouched for that. To be able to serve under Los name, ah, and the fact that someone like that is my owner, ah, there is no greater joy that I could have.

Nor: Is it me Lóng or is she a bit too focused on the Los part?

Lóng: It is such a big of a deal to dragons. If a dragon hears that someone with Los on their name comes to their territory, they would not disturb that person with the best of their abilities. There are some who have lost the faith in that name, but more wiser dragons should know to respect that name.

Nor: In my opinion, the name Los should be bit bigger, as to create more impactfull presence.

Lóng: Well I appologise for our tongue's word being not of your satisfaction.

Nor: I didn't mean it like that you know.

Lóng: In any case, that is your last name. If you choose to call it your house name, make sure people in that house aren't bunch of weaklings.

Nor: You start to sound like Fafnir.

Lóng: Unfortunately, it would bring us great shame to let someone not worthy of that name calling themselfs that. Make sure your decendants know this fact.

Nor: If I have any more, I will.

Lóng: Well, you have a decent chunk of children on your belt now. Six I believe was the number.

Nor: You are correct. Though only one of them calls themselfs Los.

Lóng: Is are they strong?

Nor: Not yet, and I hope that they don't need to be so physically.

Lóng: Not yet, you say? So there is a chance.

Nor: She might pick up after one of her guardian's ways. So there is a chance she might train to be able to handle people in all kinds of situations.

Lóng: Hmmm, bring this child to me one day and I get to choose myself.

Nor: I was actually thinking of bringing her along with me, but decided against it.

Lóng: Why so?

Nor: Because I think it's better for Rey to get to meet everyone in that house we are staying in, in one go. I think.

Lóng: But still, bring this child to me one day and I will decide myself.

Nor: I will do so in near future.

Lóng: And what is this I hear? You are living under someone else's house?

Nor: Is that a problem?

Lóng: I just think that it's not good to keep relying on others helping you. Get your own house.

Nor: I was thinking about that, but since I live a live as a traveler, making a housing to one place is quite a hassle.

Lóng: But you are still living under someone else's roof.

Nor: Yes.

Lóng: Get your own house. For the sake of your tittle.

Nor: But...

Lóng: This wasn't a suggestion, it was an order.

Nor: U... Understood.

Rey: I'm good where ever you live master.

Nor: That isn't the issue.

Lóng: Now then, is there anything else you would like to discuss?

Nor: I don't think so.

Lóng: Then I think this meeting is over. Drink the rest of your tea and I send you back where I summoned you from.

Nor: Right.

I drink the tea that has gotten a bit cold. It still tasted good by the way. And then me and Rey are sent back to Mary's house. Now then, to introduce Rey to everyone.

I spent the rest of the day introducing Rey to everyone. She seemed to get along very well with the other servants and they promised to talk later about things they do. Nina was a bit skeptical at first, but warmed up later to the idea of Rey being around from this point onwards.

When Mary came, we introduced her to Rey.

- This is Rey, the basilisk dragon I told you about.

- So this is... Hello, my name is Mary and I'm the owner of this house. Feel free to ask me questions if you have any.

Rey then says.

- Pleasure to meet you. If I could be as so bold, do you know any affortable house near here?

- Sure I know a couple, but why?

- Master Nor has recieved an order from elder Lóng to find his own house.

- You received an order like that? In my opinion you should be free to live in my house as you have in the past.

- That wasn't the issue elder Lóng had with this. It will brought house Los a great shame to live under someone else's house.

- Then how about the house next to mine?

- I saw that house for a quick glance and it was in disrepair.

- It is, but you can spend some lux to fix it right?

- As far as I know, master doesn't have that kind of funds at the moment.

- Then how about I lend you some lux and you all will pay for it later?

- Still, that will leave us in your debt and it will bring shame on Los family.

- Isn't it better than living in someone else's house?

- That is...

- And if lord Lóng was dissatified with the fact that Los family lives under someone else's roof, then that would solve the problem. In the time being as the house is being fixed, thei can live temporarily in my house and move when the house is done.

- Hmmm, you bring an interesting proposal. Let's do this.

They shake hands and Mary goes to her room filling some papers and Rey goes to inspect the house further. I'm left there speaking to myself.

- Well I... I mean I was going to bring it out, but... Do I have any say in this matter? I mean, it's my future house we are talking about. ... No? ... Okay.

I go tell Nina the news.

- Hey Nina?

- What is it?

- Apparently we will be moving to another house in the future. I think?

- What? You think?

- Mary and Rey had this conversation and it came to the point where they agreed that we will move to the next house over when it's fixed.

- You mean that abandoned house?

- Yes.

- No.

- I'm sorry, but this was an order that was placed under Los name.

- Don't wanna.

- It's not like you can't visit this house. In fact, you probably can still sleep in this house, but your official house will be the new house. And there is no need to worry, we aren't moving out for a while.

- ...

- Well, see you at dinner.

I leave the room. When dinner came, we didn't see Nina coming to eat. The maids went and tried to get her to come, but she just wouldn't come. Even I tried to convince her, but with no results. Is she protesting on the moving thing now? I tried to console her, but she was annoyed at my attempts. When Mary came back, she managed to convince Nina to come eat. Luckily the food hadn't gone that cold yet so we could eat.

We later talked about this with Nina together with Mary, and we managed to make her understand the situation. She clearly didn't like it, but she was willing to let it go. Thank goodness. At least she willing to at least try.

Low was interested in the moving part and offered to help the best she could. She didn't know how to do stuff, so Rey had to manage her most of the time there. It was unclear whether Low was going to move along with us, but we let her think about it for a while and tell us her decision later.

Mary mainly managed the manpower that was needed to make the house livable again. She hired some workers to make the process much faster. She also tried to see if anyone would like to become a servant of Los house. Couple of servants from Mary's house volunteered to be part of the Los house. With Mary's aproval of course. One of them was Nina's nany. We got plenty of servants that were willing to come from outside. Apparently the fact that Low was supporting me made some impact to the people who were looking for work. Even some other houses offered to lend their servants to my house, with strings attached. We decline most of them.

A year passed as we fixed the house to livable state. It took that long since it was a big house, some would even call it a small mansion. Some parts of the house had to be demolished since they were in so much disrepair. We had professionals make the finishing touches to the house and it looked amazing. I wonder how much in debt we were now? No matter, at least we have a patient patron that lend that money. For now at least.

Nina has come in terms of the matter and is ready to move out when the house is ready. We are moving in today.

But something pretty interesting has happened. Someone named Xorim has requested to be my butler. This name is something that I have heard before. It's Will's former master. I was a bit surprised at first, but I calmly thought of the idea and let him join. He seemed to be quite good with butler's job. He even could compare with Rey's skills at this point. They got a little rivarly between them, well at least in Rey's eyes.

...

We have lived in our new house for couple of weeks now. Nina sleeps on Mary's house every now and then, but she has grown to like this house. Rey has done excellent job as my servant and she keeps on surprising me. She even has come along with us during me and Low's hunts. We need to keep making some income after all. And Low has started sleeping in my house more often than in Mary's house. She said that she just likes to sleep in places that has my scent in them. It was a bit creepy, but knowing Low, she doesn't mean anything bad about it. It's just how Low is.

One day, Xorim came to ask me about something that I didn't expect.

- Master Nor, can I ask you a question?

- Depends on the question.

- Do you know a man named Aktor who carries an old spear with him?

- I do know of him. In fact we are friends of sorts. Why do you ask? Are you looking for him?

- I have been looking for him for quite some time now.

- And you came to my servise because you heard that I had connections to him?

- Partially true.

- I see. Well I tell you if I ever see him around.

- Thanks for listening me master Nor.

- No problem. We are a big family so we should look out for each other every now and then.

- Family you say... Haven't had one in a long time.

- Feel free to feel like this place would be where your family is.

- Thank you, master Nor.

Other than that, Xorim did his job without complaining. He did give banter to Rey every now and then, but he was mostly calm and collected.

Couple of months pass and Aktor comes to visit. He is surprised to see that I have a house of my own now. I ask Rey to prepare some tea for us. Xorim is doing some shoping at the moment, so he isn't here right now. I informed other workers to infrom him to come to the meeting room when he comes back. We chated with Aktor a bit.

- So, now you have plenty of servants.

- Yes, thanks to Mary's efforts.

- So how many have you slept with?

- None.

- Oh, why so reserved? You should take advantage of the situation sometimes.

- I'm not that thirsty. And be carefull what you say when Nina is around.

- Of course I would know to keep some stup secret from her. She is a child after all. But you need to be ready to tell her about birds and bees sometime.

- I think it's way too early for that.

- She might have learned it from somewhere already. She is, what, 28 right now. In that time she might have already learned about that stuff.

- I... consider your proposal

- Good, and how is your other kids?

- They are okay for what I can see. Ijbib came to visit me couple of weeks ago and she seemed quite grown up already. They sure grow fast, don't they.

- Well they are children of dragon lord so they are supposed to grow that fast.

- Well how is your kid doing?

- Don't ask. I have managed to talk to him in person, but the hostility is still there.

- Can't really blame him. He has lost most of his family after all.

- I know. And I have come in terms with this.

- ... So is there anything else that has gotten your interest?

- Well... Have you heard about harpies?

- I have heard of them, but never actually seen one.

- They are little above 1 meter tall humanoid beings that have wings for their hands, talons for their feet and some feathers around their bodies. They are considered lesser species in most places, since their general inteligence is that of a 5 year old human child. At best, the queen harpy has the inteligence of 10 year old human child, but they are exceptions. They can speak other languages, but their procabulary is often not that big. They are all female race that live in groups.

- Wait, if they are all female, then how do they reproduse?

- When the mating season comes for them, some of the harpies grow a pseudo penis and with that, they can mate with other harpies. It is a random proses which cannot be predicted. Some say that it depends on the food they have eaten, but haven't been proven.

- Wouldn't you know as one of it's creators?

- That's a secret.

- Figures.

- Though I kind of feel bit bad for their race, since some weirdoes find them attractive and rape them by result. I don't know if it's more akin to beastiality or pedophilia, but it's still frickin weird.

- You were the one who was part of their creation, so why did you make it like that?

- I didn't think other races would find them attractive.

- Is that even allowed?

- Since they are considered a lesser species, they don't have any rights in most regions. It is a thing that is looked down upon, but raping harpies isn't considered directly illegal. It's the same kind of thing with goblins, but almost no one does things with them. Almost.

- Discusting.

- I agree.

Someone knocks at the door.

- It's me master Nor. May I come in?

- Sure. Come in.

Xorim comes from the hallway and notices Aktor sitting there.

- I asked you to come here since Aktor came to visit us suddenly. He has been looking for you Aktor.

- This is another of your servants?

Aktor rises and opens up his hand as a greeting.

- Hi, Aktor Vån. You were looking for me?

- Yes.

I felt a sinister presence coming from Xorim and I noticed that he summoned two daggers on his hands and attacked Aktor with them.

- Who oh there! Nor you need to teach your servants some...

In a fast manner, Xorim opened a portal near Aktor's throat and put his dagger right through it. It scraped Aktor, but he managed to dodge some of it, but recieved a scratch. They the quickly started battling and they moved to the hallway. I followed them and saw that they stoped at the hall before the door outside and continued battling. I shout out to Xorim while he is fighting with Aktor.

- What do you think you're doing Xorim?! Why are you...

- Shut your mouth!

- What?

- This is a matter between me and this man! We must settle this!

The continued to trade blows. Xorim seemed to use his spacial magic in a swift fashion and manages to get some hits on Aktor. I notice that Aktor is starting to lose speed, which is unexpected. He is pushed against a wall and Xorim starts asking him question.

- Are you happy about your life now?!

- I do enjoy it quite a bit every now and then.

- How many people have you sacrificed to get here?!

- Many people have died because of me. That is a fact. As to how many have died, I haven't got a single clue.

- And you think it's okay to trample peoples lives like that?!

- I never said that I wanted it to be so.

- Yet you do it anyways!

- Say, you have something in those daggers, don't you? Some poison perhaps?

- A curse that drains the liveforce of the one who it hits. And poison as well.

- Well, that explains why I feel so tired.

- I'm not done talking to you yet.

- Then why haven't you told me who you really are Nero.

- How did you...?

- Your fighting style is unmistakingly similar to what it was back then. I thought you some of those moves, remember?

- That doesn't change why I'm here. I'm here to make you suffer for what you have done.

- And do tell, what did I do to deserve this?

- You abandoned us when mom came sick!

- That's...

- How could you?! She was so sad when you weren't there in her last moments in that life. She even couldn't tell you about the reincarnation plan!

- I had my reasons to leave back then.

- What reason is so important that you can't be with your family?!

- All I can say is that it was the best option for everyone.

Xorim puts his dagger in Aktor's throat and he starts to bleed more there.

- You dare say that it was the best option! And why can't you tell me the whole reason?!

- That's...

He pushes even further with his dagger.

- You better have a good damn reason to give me or else I will cut your head right here!

- You know that won't actually kill me. You know what I am.

- That doesn't change the fact that I wouldn't kill you over and over again, until you confess.

- You won't...

- Start talking you bastard!

- ...

- Talk!

He keeps pushing the dagger further and further in, but Aktor wont speak the truth. Then the hold weakens and Xorim starts crying for a second.

- Why... Why wont you tell me? Why!?

He strengthens his hold again. Aktor has lost lot of blood.

- Tell me!

- Because I would have ended up killing you all!

The hold weakens.

- ... What?

- I was reaching that life's ending time thanks to all the emotions I felt back then. I was reaching a point where I would have had difficulty to change my body if I chose to continue onwards. If it would have reached that point, I would have reached the consensus that it's better to destroy everything as fast as I can and begin anew.

- What are you...?

- That is the one flaw in this type of living. The more my current body's brain has to proses information, especially emotions, the more it starts to lose it's ability to keep on keeping watch on the current life and with that, the rejection to change the body again. I was reaching the point where I didn't want to change my body at any cost, so I had to leave you and and force myself to do it. It is painfull each time since I lose focus on some of my memories. I can remember if I try hard enough, but it's still difficult to remember. At this moment, I can't even remember something as simple as your first words.

- ...

- You have no idea how much I wanted to stay with you all during that time. But if I chose to let myself enjoy thouse few moments of sorrow with you all, I would've been unable to change my body to a new one and then I would have destroyed the world.

- But...

Xorim let's go of Aktor.

- Why do you feel the urge to destroy the world? That shouldn't be in your sphere of things.

- It's a bug that happens when my body's brain prosesses enough information and starts wanting to stay as current me. The further the prosess goes and if I wont change my body, the more irrational my thoughts become. And in the end, they end up thinking that I need to remake the world to be better in some way that the current cannot. I can't do something like that, but my thoughts will make me go through with it anyways. As if it's the only plausible option.

- How... How do you know that this will happen?

- Because I once almost did it. Thankfully, I managed to stop myself right at the end, so I managed to change my body with the last of my sane will. It was a miracle that I managed to stop myself, so I won't take up a chance and try my luck again.

- You... You could have told us everything. Then all that would have been clear to us.

- At no point have I wanted to reveal that information to anyone else other than your mother.

- But... Then I wouldn't have had a reason to attack you.

The daggers disappear. Xorim looks down and seems kind of sad. He doesn't seem to want to look at his father's eyes. Even if Xorim is taller than him, Aktor starts patting Xorim's head to console him. Aktor the says.

- I'm sorry that I left you all.

Then Xorim starts to hug Aktor and they stay like that for a while. Talking something that I can't hear.

Then Aktor loses consciousness and starts leaning on Xorim. Xorim quickly puts Aktor's body to the ground and starts to panic a bit. I come and start healing Aktor. Xorim seems quite apologetic and keeps saying sorry for a while. Rey was watching from the side the whole time and didn't act since I didn't seem to act either. She told me that she tought that the two needed to sort this out themselfs. She said that she would have interfered if I would have taken action. She also gave Xorim quite a lecture about the shame he has brought to me. Even if I told her that we would talk about this later, she seemed quite willing to take Xorim to other room and lecture him more.

After a while, Low comes from the front door and sees me healing Aktor and blood on the ground. She then get serious and asks.

- What happened?

- Xorim attacked Aktor and they fought. It was emotional at the end, so I think of forgiving Xorim. Oh, and Aktor is Xorim's first live's father.

- ... I see... Was it epic?

- I think it was. I think Aktor would have won if it weren't for the effects of Xorim's daggers. Other than that, they traded blows in quick succession. Why are you asking that anyways?

- Just curious.

Nina also came from outside. She was in Mary's house before. She saw the blood and I had to explain her what happened. Xorim seemed to lose most of the trust that Nina had for him. Can't blame her.

When the situation calmed down and Aktor woke up, we had a discussion about about what we will do moving forwards.

Xorim: I understand if you won't allow me to stay to service you after this insident. Please forgive my actions, as they were done with no regards to anyone but me.

Aktor: I as well ask you to forgive my son's actions and I ask that you'd let him stay in your service moving forward. This is partly my fault for making this missunderstanding, so pleace.

They both bow.

Nor: What do you think Rey?

Rey: Personally I think that it was abhorrent to cause such a scene in our master's house. In my oppinion, you should leave master's service. Then again, I hate to admit it, but you are good in what you do, so I think it would be a shame.

Nor: What about you Nina?

Nina: How can I trust someone that violent to service our house? I think he should leave.

Nor: Is that so.

Nina: But... I will miss the sweets he makes.

Nor: I see. I think he can stay in this house's service.

Xorim: What?

Rey: I see. You are lucky Xorim. Our master has a kind heart.

Xorim: So... So it would seem.

Rey: Do you have any other words for your master?

Xorim: Of course. Thank you for your mercy master Nor. I will be sure to earn back your trust by working hard.

Nor: Good. Just don't overdo it.

Aktor: Thank you for your mercy. If it were me, I would have definetly considered firing him.

Nor: But you wouldn't do that to your friend's kid if your friend asked for his forgivenes.

Aktor: I would still think deeply about the answer. Can't be too soft.

Nor: I see.

And so the house Los came through from this crisis.