Now I have to decide when to visit the Kitsune realm. It'll have to be in the afternoon again, and I'm sure Tanatsu is going to love that I'm skipping my time with her to meet her Mother.

It would be funny if Tanatsu became the next Queen somehow. Would I have to fight her into letting me fulfill that contract? I won't let my daughter punish me for not following a contract, even if it is their payment they don't want. I'm not going to be the test for what happens when you don't fulfill a contract. Of course, I could just try to get others to test out that little section, but for that, I need Contract to get a temple. The easiest way would be to carve out a section in Justice's temple after this war. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs NoveI(F)ire.net

"I need to check in on Fertility," I say. The war isn't going well. Nobody told me that, but it's clear from the blood and guts in Space's temple. More and more women are coming through the portal. I've been focusing on getting the commoners pregnant and using my group heal for the most part. We can't have more nobles out of the fight due to pregnancies right now.

"I can take you," Geta says. "Did you get what you needed from Nanoka?"

"Yes."

"Didn't like the answer?"

"Of course I didn't," I sigh. "I still only have one thing the royals want. I have half a mind just to force Aurora back into the position of head maid."

"She is your concubine now. It would fit to make her the head maid. But it would be better for you to have one with a more fitting class. Death has mentioned that Sea has given Aurora skills to work better in bed, but that is hardly what the head maid should be focused on. You need a maid who won't be constantly focusing on staying balanced with a belly."

"Who says Aurora is going to be pregnant that often?" I ask. "I haven't made any plans to get her pregnant again."

"Alzi," Geta says, stopping us just before the front door. "You have a clear look for the ones you want to breed and the ones you are willing to breed, and the ones you don't want to deal with. Women like your wives give you a soft smile with predatory eyes. Victoria and your maids get just the predatory smile. The rest you gloss right over. Not that this new maid has much of a chance against you."

Well, that isn't hard to believe.

"Tomorrow, I guess. We can hope I can keep the new maid from getting bloated."

"Just put Yuki under you whenever you wish to get the maid pregnant," Geta says. "Shall we visit your Patron?"

"Yes. Maybe she can give me some help with the kitsune as well."

"My hint would be to meet with the Kitsune Goddess before making a deal with the Queen. Not that she will give a different option, but it's worth a try."

"They never do."

...

Fertility's temple has a few changes in it from my last visit. Death has finally moved in, given a small shrine in the main chamber for those wishing to bring the next generation into the world to remember those who came before them, I guess. It is a nice touch, and maybe I can ask Death for some advice as well. She seemed reasonable during our meeting. I should check on Isda as well. I need to tell her about her kids. I'm sure that is hard on her. I at least had no hope to keep the kids when I was pregnant; she thought she would get to raise them.

But I need to figure this war thing out. It's only been a little over a week, but I don't like how the brothel owners are still free, and it seems Nautre and Justice are closing in on us.

"Hello, my Champion," Fertility says.

"Daddy!" Contract, I guess, says. A little toddler of a Goddess right now. Already molding into the perfect beauty, they all have.

"Hello," I say. "You've grown very fast, little girl. Your sisters are still babies."

"They just don't want to get taken away; otherwise, they would be like me," Contract says. "Not following the rules."

"They never agreed to the rules, Contract," Fertility says. The tired expression filling her face shows that it is a common line she has to say.

"Don't get too caught up in your affinity. Make sure to keep it fair," I say. "They haven't agreed to anything yet, so you can't hold them to the agreement. It's good to see you and talk to you. Thank you for the help handling my affairs."

"You're welcome, Daddy!"

"Go hug her," Fertility whispers. Contract doesn't waste any time launching herself forward into my arms. Of course, another bright light comes out, cause why wouldn't the Goddesses mess with me?

"Just giving the mark more power, Daddy," Contract says.

"Thank you, baby, but you should still ask before doing something like that. It's scary how much you all can change me. You need to get permission to do that. I know champions need to be made young, but if you're dealing with someone who can make decisions for themselves, you should ask."

"But it helps." Contract says pouting. Has she been watching Irlo?

"Let them make that decision. People are allowed to destroy themselves," I say. "You have to be careful and direct when making decisions that affect others. Just because it will affect others doesn't mean you can't do it. If that were the case, you would never get to act. But you have to be careful with how much power you control. You can do a lot of damage.

"Ok, Daddy."

I kiss her and set her down. I'm not sure she should be here for the discussion on a massing killing of life after I just told her to be nice to others. "I need to talk to Fertility about some stuff. There should be time left over to play a bit afterwards."

"I know about the massacre," Contract says. "I'm going to help!"

"What?!" I say. I can't do anything about this. I get half an hour with Contract, and the rest is Fertility. What can I do against a Goddess? Is even Fertility blind to everything? How can we raise nice Goddesses if they are brought into death so soon?

"I didn't explain it correctly," Fertility says. "It isn't a massacre. Well, not yet. It is going to be one. Now. Why don't we all sit down? I think we have a lot of talking to do about Goddesses and what is going to happen."

"Oh, yes, we do," I say. "Talking to our child, who isn't even a year old, about slaughtering people! What are you thinking!"

We're in the living room, so there are plenty of seats to choose from. But Contract brings me to a chair and gets into my lap. Fertility takes a couch across from me.

"Now, I know this seems bad, but Contract is basically fully formed. This is more of a show of power than her actually maturity. She just wants you to shower her in love right now, so she is acting more childlike. Contract is missing life experience as well. But, Alzi, she understands the state of the world. Her part in the ritual is small, but it will help. You promise your old Mistress that she'll live through the ritual, and in return, she will willingly participate. The other option is for her to die in it, and you get someone like Queen Yumanae to take her spot. The Queen won't be happy to do it, but she'll live and be rewarded with power."

"Kitsune Queen could do it instead."

"Yes. But the Mistress is the best target. Now, we have finished all the runes, and the Priestesses are busy setting up the ritual grounds. If you wander the garden outside, you'll find it. I know you're here about that."

"Don't just gloss over telling our child about death, and letting her participate. That is how we get Justice and Nature acting like this, or War just picking fights for fun. Her experiences need to be centered on loving and care and being kind to others. It isn't good that Contract is fully formed mentally minus the lived experiences that shape a person!"

"She is joining out of love for you."

"She marked me again! Contract needs to learn how to interact with others safely. She's growing too fast, and you're letting her get too involved. This isn't some small thing that only affects me! These are lives. I understand that, and I wish the war would stop without more blood, but Nature and Justice won't let that happen. I understand that, but does Contract? Does she have the experience to figure that out? Just because she is as smart as an adult doesn't mean she's fine to do all that. I was an adult, and my experience didn't let me know just how awful I would be treated. How easily someone could take advantage of me, and that they would do it without remorse."

"Daddy, I just want to help."

"I know, and I'm happy you wish to help me. I just want you to understand what you're doing and are ok with it. I want you to be a great Goddess. One that the people love. Surrounding you with death could make that hard, even if you are helping me. I don't want you thinking that killing the masses is fine if you help someone you like. There is so much more to making that decision."

I've been acting like a friend of the Goddesses. I thought they were like me. Fertility shared a similar past, her worse than mine. Yet, she can just sit there as she drowns our child in blood.

"As you know, Goddesses are different. We are made to change the world. It affects large swathes of people and the land. We are drawn to do that. I ignored it for years, and when I came out to do it, I hurt the world. Contract had the feeling to act in the world, so I had to let her do it. I didn't want her to follow me, ignoring the world, only to break and hurt the world. She is part of the ritual, and the ritual is getting put into place. I understand why that scares you. But she is learning to be kind. She sees how you interact. But she needs to learn how to be a Goddess as well."

"Sorry, Daddy," Contract says.

"No, I'm just out of my element here. I just want you to be a Goddess people want to worship out of love and not fear," I say. "If the ritual is close to finishing, then that is what I wanted to know about."

"Kitsunes?" Contract says. "You want to know about them."

"Are you spying on your daddy?"

"No, just watching over your contracts!"

These kids are going to kill me.