Mantle of the Gods

I was bored.

We were walking through the sand instead of on the trail so that we could run into monsters, but Gesai had the lower levels doing all the fighting.

Gesai had Mitchel tanking with Oz and Fray flanking him in the front. Jovena and Jenne were providing ranged support with Ren buffing and healing if someone got hurt. I thought it was kind of overkill. Everyone here was at least level two and with gear, it made the first floor feel trivial. These were Elites since Gesai had put all ten of us in a party together, but still Oz and Fray weren’t having any problems at all.

Oz was using the two axes that she’d bought instead of the sword that she’d traded with Fray. It was a little strange watching her fight with a different weapon than what I was used to seeing her have, but she was still every bit as impressive as she had been while we were captive.

For the other four of us it had sort of turned into a couples stroll. After three weeks of watching Justia worrying over how Aelin was doing, it was nice to see our brunette Healer smile again.

Aelin was another story.

“How dare she disrespect Miss Alard like that!”

“Aelin, I’m sure she was just frustrated and didn’t know how to express it.” Justia was holding hands with the blonde Buffer. “I’m sure that once she warms up to us, she’ll fit right in.”

“She better…” Aelin sighed. "Because she’s the only option.”

“Aelin, I know you’re set on this being a large harem, but I’ve got Ether and you know that Gesai is going to join the team as soon as these six years are up. Once you add in Rix…” I saw the shocked looks on their faces. "She and I are bound together even if we don’t get together.” I shrugged. "And with her history, I doubt she’d date outside the party.”

Ether nodded. "Once you add in Oz, Ren, and…” She must have seen the surprise on my face. "Fray. He has more than enough for a whole party.” She eyed me. "I had thought Rix would do her own thing.”

I swallowed. I hated that I couldn’t tell her the whole truth about me. “Rix and I are…” I tried to think of a good way to put it. Eventually we’d have to go up against the Primals and we’d need to be together to do it. “... I don’t know how to put it. Fated to work together?” I took a deep breath. "I knew Aelin was trying to prep Fray…” I looked at the blonde. "She has some trauma that she’s going to need to work through, by the way.” I held up my hand to let our Buffer know that I wasn’t done. "She wants to get over it, okay? Just, don’t push her?”

Aelin sighed. "You’re no fun.”

I smiled. "I do what I can.” I turned back to Ether. "Since when had Ren been an option?” I looked at Justia. "There was that one time you had her mess with me, but I thought that was all a joke at my expense.” I put my arm over Ether’s shoulders, If we got ambushed right now, we weren’t ready to fight, but again, I wasn’t worried about our ability to handle whatever on this floor that dared to attack us. “Besides, I thought she and Oz were a thing?”

Justia laughed. "Maybe a little, does that bother you?”

“That they’re together?” I shook my head. "It’s the thought of coming between them that I don’t like.”

“Oh, you’d like that.” Aelin winked at me.

I sighed. "Otherwise I’m fine with it.”

“Good.” Ether pointed at a small cluster of rocks. "We’re almost at the boss room.”

“So…” I touched Aelin on the shoulder. "That means we have plenty of people to fill a harem out.” I nodded at Mitchel. "If he’s the better candidate, then we should take him.”

Aelin stuck out her tongue. "You’re no fun at all.”

“I think we’re about to have plenty of fun.” I smiled. "Besides, aren't you worried that if we add too many women to the party that they’ll start flirting with Justia?”

Aelin started laughing. "Good luck to them if they try.”

I shook my head. “See, so maybe a guy or two wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

“Maybe…” Aelin sighed. "We’ll see.”

I pulled Ether closer to me. Maybe it would be a good day.