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n“So then you want me to make all of them mine? Like the whole family tree?” I asked curiously.

n“Yes, and I know it is a lot to ask of you when you are already looking after so many, but I think that they will be happy. Even if it’s just to know that they have someone that cares about them,” Mex explained, and I nodded thoughtfully.

n“Sure, but then what are you going to do? Settle down with Candace?” I asked curiously, and to my surprise, he nodded right away.

n“I really like Candace, and over the years, I have grown attached to her, so I would like to make it more public for her. I also noticed what you did with Veronica, and I am curious if you can do the same for her sister?” Mex asked me curiously, but I really wasn’t sure, and I really didn’t want to bring Harold up again.

n“I am not really sure at the moment, but I think that we should get going, and we can look into it later,” I said and then started to walk over the edge as I mulled everything over.

nI hadn’t been thinking about doing it, but I still wanted to wait until the women birthed my memories. Nushi and Hanna were the only demons in my System right now, and I wanted to test something.

nI could see which route was better by not adding the other women, but it wasn’t like I could take all Demons in. I didn’t want to make any of the others more or less now that I had the plan.

nThe other women were all reasonably close, so I didn’t want to make one more than the other, but I think I might make an exception for Lidy. While Nushi was the first and decided before I met most of the other women, Lidy was unique, and Hanna was already in the System.

nHanna had been more of a strategic move, so to speak, so I could find her, but she was Lidy’s sister. The other Demon that I convinced to join me in the center of the island would also become part of the System.

n“Is he not here?” Mex asked from behind me.

nThat surprised me, and I turned around to look at Mex, and he had a puzzled look on his face. I wasn’t really sure how to reply, so I tried to just raise an eyebrow questioningly.

n“The God or whatever you talk to,” Mex added, and I groaned, but there was nothing for it right now.

n“Yeah, when I entered this world, he disappeared, and it was a pretty inconvenient time. I have no idea how to use my new Aspect thing,” I complained, but then remembered something and asked, “Hey, you are a shaman, right?”

n“Hardly, I only have access to two totems, and neither is useful for the most part. I have one from Candace and one from Kieta. Candace’s is an Air Sphinx Totem, and it allows you to see far, while the Water Sphinxlin Totem allows me to Calm creatures,” Mex explained, but I didn’t really think he would, but I was surprised about Kieta.

n“You and Kieta were, or are doing it?” I asked, and Mex shook his head no.

n“No, she is like my daughter; I bought her from a blacksmith ages ago. I Heard what you did for her, and thank you. I had meant to do it when you got back tonight, but we aren’t going to make it,” Mex said, and I nodded.

n“Okay, I think she will be a tough nut to crack or even pry from her work,” I joked, and Mex grinned at me.

n“I wouldn’t worry about that one too much. I think that Kieta likes women, and she was very close to one of Mary’s sisters, Mati,” Mex said, and I nodded.

nThat was good to know, but now I needed focus, and I could think about that other stuff tonight. For now, we needed to get somewhere that we could sleep because I didn’t really want to sleep out in the open in a world like this.

nI closed my eyes for a moment and centered myself, focusing on Fireden’s presence. I wanted to see if he could maybe help me out.

n‘Fire Boss, do you think that you could help me out-’

nI felt a hot mental slap that jumbled my thoughts, and it almost made me lose the connection that I had just established with Fireden.

nI really thought that the Hero fellow was a bit overzealous with his accusations of you not asking for help, but come on, man!

n‘Did you just backhand me?’

nNo, I used the other side, but if you keep ignoring us, I am going to let you try it out!

n“Z-Zack… yeah, Zack! Are you okay? You looked like you just got hit by something!” Mex said from beside me.

n“Give me a moment while I deal with this hot-headed prick in my head,” I growled as I held my focus and threw all of myself into the connection.

nSuddenly, I was in the place of two suns floating through the Cosmos, but I wasn’t restricted this time. Fireden and Wataluga were both standing before me; one had arms crossed while the other grinned.

nThere was a thin ethereal line that connected me to Fireden but nothing to Wataluga. I would get the answer to this and everything else now and set something straight.

n“So, oh great fiery storyteller, answer this! In what **ing story of your does it end good for the arrogant passenger that slaps the driver and owner of the vehicle?” I growled as I walked up to Fireden, and he uncrossed his arms and his flames stoked.

n“The one where the passenger reminds driver who is fueling the vehicle and that he would like to make it to his destination, you stupid **ing meathead!” Fireden snapped, and that really ground my gears as my own heat started to rise.

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