CHAPTER 74: AFTERMATH

As I looked upon my companions my heart fluttered as I truly appreciated the women in front of me and how much my life had changed thanks to them. From a boring life of going to uni to study for a likely boring job to going on magical adventures with people that I truly loved and enjoyed spending time with. I couldn’t think of a single thing I would want to change about my life.

But as I had these thoughts I finally noticed what was going on around us and my eyes opened wide as I realised that our reunion was not quite as private as I might have imagined. All around us were the other teams that had completed the second half of the trial.

From the original 100 adventures that number had been reduced to just over 40. And based on the amount of parties that lacked a full 5 people not every team had managed to fully complete their trials. I did spot the Silver Wings and was thankful that all 5 of them were present. I then looked around to see if I could spot the arrogant Lord Michael and found myself smirking when I realised that I couldn’t see him within the large open building.

Just then a voice rang out, loud and authoritative that instantly hushed all the conversations. "Congratulations to you all for fully completing the Trial Ground! I am happy to announce that this year we have 43 adventurers that achieved this feat! But I don’t want this to get to your head too much, after all 15 people have failed to return at all and we can only assume they have died within the trial ground."

My eyes opened in shock at this and I heard a number of gasps ring out around me. Atar Stone stood unflinching as a rush of conversation erupted with people wondering who may have died during the trial. Only for us all to be silenced by a genitive from the Gold Ranked adventurer. "A full list of names will be posted back at the guild hall for you to look over in your own time. Now everyone else who failed to reach the second stage or who failed during the second phase is waiting outside of this chamber. I also want to make you all aware that the Adventures Guild will be hosting a Auction in a weeks time to sell off anything that you will not be wanting. Please be sure to register any items you wish to sell back in the guild hall within the next 4 days!

As that is everything that I needed to say I’ll finish up by just saying congratulations once more, and I wish you well on your journey to power." With that the doors of the chamber opened up to let the sunlight stream through into the large chamber. Their was a collective hush that fell from outside showing that their likely was a few people who were talking before all growing still as they waited to see who would be exiting from the building. "Well go on get out there!" Atar called out to us effectively shocking us into motion.

Needing no further encouragement I and everyone around me began to make our way towards the door and our first taste of fresh air in quite some time. Exiting the building the humble tents of Adventuring parties awaited us as it seemed like around half of the people who didn’t make it all the way were waiting for us all to arrive. Some cheers erupted as parties were reunited with their missing members along with some cry’s of horror as others realised that their lost members would not be returning after all.

The mood was a strange mix of anticipation, hope and despair. Thankfully the latter was the lest common to be found, only a small number had actually perished if Atar is to be believed but even still a 15% mortality rate is not exactly a great result for any group. My group headed to the side to get some space so we could better discuss what exactly we all faced and what kind of rewards we received.

The conversation was enlightening from all parties involved as each of us told the tales of our adventures from Zara describing how she managed to outwit an army over 5 times larger than her own to force the enemy general to show himself. To listening to Dawn adorably describe how her and ’aunty Senitha’ hunted down both beast and man to claim their victory. "Wait did you actually kill that pompous paladin that we met when we first arrived here?" I couldn’t help but blurt out after she had finished telling her tale.

"Yep! He tried to fight us right after we had beated the big beast in the middle so I did the distracting with the green around us whilst aunty made a big spell and it went boom! he then got poofed away after that." Her description left much to be desired but overall we got the picture of what went down and honestly, yeah I can see that noble butt doing something as cowardly as confronting people right after they had finished with a big fight and would presumably be exhausted after the fact. Thankfully it seemed that Lady Senitha was able to deal with him quite handily, I would have to be sure to thank her for looking after Dawn so well during her trial!

Then Amanda gave a surprisingly detailed explanation of what was involved in her trial. "It was a hunt, were I was supposed to be the one who was being hunted." She flashed us a vicious grin that hinted at her vampiric nature before continuing. "Instead I decided that I should hunt them down instead." She then proceeded to tell us in exacting detail how she reversed the role of her trial and managed to find the corrupted vampire by following traces of corruption within the forest.

Whilst it could be a touch brutal to hear her describe how she drained her ’prey’ the obvious joy she exuded during her retelling kept me engaged. After all I was the one who fell in love with a slightly psychopathic and sadistic vampire so I should at least try to understand her, right?

Then we had Kana who didn’t go into a whole lot of detail about her trial past that she got to experience memories of her parents along with some of her own that helped her come to terms with who she is and what it is that she wants going forward. I could tell that she was holding some things back but I would ask her about that later when we were alone.

Then she explained the bloodline renewal that she underwent which managed to effectively ’purge’ her of her human half by boosting the potency of her succubus blood. Apparently she had to spend a full week submerged in what was effectively high rank succubus blood and allow it to alter her very nature. It was apparently quite painful but from how excited she seemed about the whole process I could only be happy for her.

And then we came to me. I hesitated at this feeling quite awkward about how my trial seemed quite unusual when compared to everyone else’s but after some prodding and pulling everyone further away from the milling adventurers I spilled what happened to me. "Wait so your challenge was to be dominated by an ancient and high ranked succubus for a day straight?" Kana asked me somewhat incredulously.

Amanda seemed to share her look of suspicion as I squirmed under their shared glare. I did notice however, that Zara looked quite jealous about what happened to me as her face was flushed and she was rubbing her thighs together unconsciously. Dawn didn’t seem to understand or particularly care as she was just napping whilst wrapped around my neck.

"Umm, kinda yeah. I mean I’m pretty sure I almost died from the amount of strain she put me through..." I had to stop talking as I could feel myself just digging a deeper and deeper hole whilst my two lovers faces gained a distinctly predatory look which seemed to promise that I would be sure to face some consequences for my actions. "I did get some good rewards though! I got a new boon and she also removed one of the downsides for a different boon!"

I felt like I had to try and defend my actions and it did seem like that helped... a little bit anyway. Letting out a sigh Amanda spoke up. "Well I suppose I cannt really blame Lillith for wanting to play with you, you are just too tempting Lilly."

I blushed at that unsure of exactly how to take that compliment. "And knowing you as soon as she put the moves on you were basically doomed to accept her offer." She too let out a long suffering sigh at that.

I grinned guiltily at my two lovers and scratched the back of my head awkwardly. "I’ll make it up to you?" I helplessly offered.

"Oh we know you will don’t worry." Amanda said with a predatory smirk that made me gulp audibly.

Thankfully we moved on from my actions during the challenge to more practical matters, such as what exactly we will be wanting to sell at the auction in a week and speculation about what sort of items we could expect to see others sell.

Our conversation flowed freely and it wasn’t long before we decided that we should camp out here for he might and return to Bowen city in the morning. We met up with the Silver Wings as we were planning to set up camp and joined them for the evening.

Stories were told and we all enjoyed each other company, it was especially entertaining to hear how Senitha’s version of her and Dawn’s challenge differed and learning of all the mischief that Dawn got up to when she was ’free’ from my watchful gaze. I made sure to let her know that I didn’t approve of how reckless she was which made her present extra hard to be nothing but a scarf for a while to the laughter of all.

I cooked us up a large meal using some of the last of my prepared food, with the other party offering up some of the leftovers that they had. The meal was by no means luxurious but it was hearty food that tasted good so we all still had a good time. But before too long it was time to turn it in for the evening and we retreated to our tent. Zara was about to go to her own tent but after sharing a look with my two lovers who nodded I instead grabbed her hand and pulled her into our tent with us.

Not to do anything with but just to sleep together with. After all I wanted my first time with Zara to be just the two of us.