CHAPTER 85: A MEETING WITH MYSA

Pip sits at the edge of the glowing forest pool, ankles dipped in the water, legs slightly apart, still dazed and rebooting.

His optics blink a few times as he scans the mossy trees, the moonlight glinting off his golden plating.

A low whistle escapes him.

Mysa is already back between his legs.

She places a hand on his faceplate, cupping it with gentle warmth. "You blinked out for a second, big guy. Just a quick nap. Everything’s totally fine."

She eases upward out of the water, droplets gliding across her curves like they were hand-painted by the gods. Her eyes smolder and her smile promises both sin and salvation.

"Let’s carry on... right where we left off."

Pip gives a delayed scan of her, head to toe, then lets out a long, slow whistle of admiration.

His head tilts. His optics shimmer.

A slow nod follows.

She giggles and sinks back between his thighs.

His pelvic port clicks open with a golden glow. Pip leans back on his palms with a whistling sigh that sounds suspiciously pleased.

Mysa brushes her fingers along his inner thigh and gives an exaggerated shiver.

From a tree branch overhead, Raenly squints through his binocular goggles, pastry in one hand, muttering, "Focus on the mission. Focus on the... oh no... she’s actually doing it."

Pip jolts upright as Mysa leans in with wild abandon, her luscious lips gripping his glowing godhood like a vicegrip made of seduction.

Raenly clamps both hands over his goggles and nearly falls out of the tree as the pool’s water ripples with his sister’s rhythmic head movements.

Moments later, Mysa releases Pip with a plop and wipes her mouth dramatically. "Whatever ambrosia is, you taste better," she purrs, licking her lips.

She rises from the water and twirls with dramatic flair, ready to seat herself on Pip’s lap like a queen claiming a golden throne.

"PIP?!"

Mysa freezes mid-descent and her body tenses.

She curses under her breath and spins toward the voice.

Ka’Lula’s cries echo from the other side of the cottage.

"Seriously!?" Mysa huffs.

She quickly plants a kiss on Pip’s faceplate. "Thanks for the warm-up, golden boy. I’ll definitely be back for round two."

With one splash and a rustle of leaves, she disappears into the treeline.

Ka’Lula rounds the corner in her nightgown, blinking in the moonlight.

She sees Pip, sitting statue-still at the edge of the pool.

And then she sees... the glow.

"Is that... oh my gods!" she squeals, tearing off her nightgown and sprinting for the water. "You waited for me!"

Pip gives a confused beep but she’s already bouncing gleefully on his lap.

"Bless you, Pip," she sighs, nuzzling against him while her hips rotating figures. "Truly, the golden gift that keeps on giving."

Pip shrugs and wraps his hands around her waist, happily assisting the dragon-kin as her moans turn into squeals of delight.

"Another day. Another...shift." he ponders to himself.

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The next morning, Penelo clings to Pip’s left arm like it’s the last fluffy pillow in existence.

Ka’Lula wraps herself around his right side, hair tousled, a dreamy sparkle in her eyes.

The team gathers near the forest’s edge, backpacks packed and weapons cleaned while the sun rises in sleepy slants through the trees.

Sera raises a brow. "Well. Someone’s in a good mood."

Veena eyes the bunny and the dragon-kin, both clinging to Pip like he’s the main course of a sacred breakfast buffet. "What did I miss?"

Sera smirks. "Oh, not much. Just Pip’s double shift."

Veena gasps. "P-Penelo?! You too?"

Penelo sighs happily, still half-asleep. "Just for a second... a single, glorious second. And then... everything went white."

Veena stares at her, jaw unhinged.

Vuvi chuckles, reaching over and pushing Veena’s chin closed. "Jealous?"

Veena snaps upright. "Wha... no! I mean... even you haven’t—"

"I built him," Vuvi says, taking a sip from her ever-present flask. "Would feel like dating my own son."

Veena crosses her arms. "That’s a valid point. So what’s my excuse again?"

Vuvi raises a brow. "Excellent question, doc."

Veena opens her mouth... and finds no answer.

The forest thins as they walk, and the morning warms.

Eventually, they reach a tall wall of entwined vines, bark, and blossoms. The entire barrier pulses with a quiet, ancient magic.

Penelo reaches out and gasps. "This forest... it’s alive. Not just trees. It’s aware."

The eldest witch nods, smiling. "You’re tuned to the Green. That’s rare."

Penelo beams. "Yep! I’m special!"

Vuvi steps beside her. "Okay nature girl, can you open it?"

Penelo shrinks. "Uh... maybe?"

The witches gather in a small circle. They begin to hum, their voices weaving together like vines. Their chant winds through the air like birdsong in slow motion.

The barrier shudders... then parts.

A soft breeze flutters through.

Zora twirls midair and lets out a delighted squeal. "Forest magic! Oh, it’s so romantic!"

The venture deeper into the forest where the Green Vale’s heart beats strong beyond the barrier.

Strange trees twist and stretch toward the sky. Giant mushrooms glow with bioluminescent blues and purples. Flower petals float through the air like lazy butterflies.

Small shadowy creatures giggle as they flit between sunbeams.

Penelo and Ka’Lula stick close to Pip, holding his hands tightly while Sera scouts ahead with the witches.

Veena and Vuvi bring up the rear, muttering about "weird plants" and "why do those ferns have teeth?"

Zora floats overhead, scribbling sketches of weird bugs and occasionally trying to feed them.

Hours pass.

Finally, they reach it.

Nestled in the roots of an enormous tree lies a temple. Or what’s left of one.

Half-buried, half-overtaken by nature, it sprawls in ancient majesty, worn down by time but still humming with power.

Zora spins in the air, gasping. "This place is thousands of years old!"

The witches fall silent. The eldest speaks with reverence. "This is the Temple of the Seedmother. The mother of the Green Vale."

They explain that the temple once welcomed all kinds of forest spirits. Denizens came to offer praise, to receive the Seedmother’s blessings of bounty and love. She helped heal rifts in hearts, in homes, in beds.

Zora clutches his heart. "She sounds divine. I hope we meet her."

The witches sigh. "She’s been missing. No word in years."

The team speculates, theories flying.

Zora zips across the temple ruins, poking into carvings and squeaking with joy. "There’s more underground!" he shouts. "But it’s inaccessible!"

He floats down and pokes Vuvi’s shoulder. "Can I fix it?"

"No," she says.

He pouts and pokes Pip.

Pip shrugs.

Zora grins. "That’s permission."

Vuvi turns just in time to hear the rumble.

"What the—?!"

The entire clearing trembles.

Ancient vines tear away. Stones slide and lock into place. Zora floats midair like a glowing lantern, spinning slowly as magic flows from his hands in intricate waves.

Pip watches, glowing softly in approval.

"ZORA!" Vuvi shouts.

"Pip said it was fine!"

Pip shrugs again.

Veena looks like she’s about to faint. "Did he just—?"

Moments later, the entire temple shifts. It rises slightly, structure restoring itself piece by piece. Moss and debris blow away as a burst of magical wind roars through the clearing.

In seconds, what was once a ruin now stands semi-restored. Majestic and proud.

The team gapes.

Zora lands like a magician finishing his final act. "Ta-da."

They all stare in stunned silence.

"...How long have you been able to do that?" Sera asks.

"Um... since five minutes," he says cheerfully.

Then...

Three simultaneous squeals.

The witches pounce.

They tackle Zora in a group hug, kissing his cheeks, praising his arcane brilliance.

"You brought the temple back to life!" the middle sister cries.

"You’re a treasure!" the youngest squeals.

"Would you like to bless the coven next?" the eldest teases.

Zora blinks, his jaw dropping. "I... might faint."

Pip beeps a proud whistle as he leans against a tree.