Mors Funebris Ch. 2 P. 3

Mors Funebris Chapter 2 Part 3
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“Hello Arawn.” The Courier replied sultrily, as she held up the ‘identifier stone’ she’d been using previously. While keeping her eyes firmly set on Arawn, she shifted her grip upon it and then with a slight grunt of effort, she broke it apart into two pieces. Within an instant, Secundus spoke.
‘I have detected an enormous surge of Dark-Energy! It is coming from that ‘courier!’ (2) he cried shrilly!
 The erstwhile courier then made an unusual gesture with her right hand, one that looked familiar to Arawn. He then heard the sound of the room’s cabinets, and every single door therein close, and latch themselves firmly shut.
“You and I have much to discuss concerning our impending union.” She purred as she made another gesture, this time with both hands. Arawn felt a sinking sensation, as that two-handed gesture of hers caused her plain courier outfit to change into the purple robes of a Dark Mage.
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‘I knew it! (2)’ Secundus crowed.
 ‘Uh, Primus!’ Quintus stated fearfully. ‘Every nearby door and cabinet, has just shut and latched themselves magically. I would venture that they are so heavily warded now, that we could very well end up destroying the building and its contents if we attempted to force an egress! (5)’
‘I am afraid that I have to agree with Quintus.’ Secundus chimed in. ‘Every avenue of normal escape, is now so well warded that it would take a significant portion of our mana to penetrate them. Assuming that is, that the Courier would simply stand by and allow us. (2)’ Secundus reported unhappily.
“Faex.” Arawn stated firmly with his lips pursed, as he held up his box that contained one of those annoying chocolate dildos, between his hands.
“Well played, whoever you are.” he continued, staring unhappily at the now rather fetchingly half-dressed Dark Mage.
“Why thank you, Majin Arawn.” The not-courier simpered, as she undid her hair-tie and allowed her maroon colored hair to drop freely about her shoulders.
“Allow me to introduce myself; You may call me Rowena. Under the strictures of the Hunt, I hereby formally state my intentions to make you my husband.” She paused momentarily with a toothy smile.
“What say you?” she then demanded in a satisfied tone. Arawn blew out a breath of frustration in response, which made Rowena’s smile widen just a bit. He then took that moment to give his feminine-adversary the once over.
She wore a diaphanous dress that billowed and flowed out in the air in a manner akin to her being underwater, flowing and shifting in an un-seeable current.
Normally, it took Arawn only a second or two for him to ‘scan’ an individual properly. But the gentle swaying to and fro of Rowena’s dress, combined with the alluring curves that her outfit didn’t quite cover caused him to stumble and hesitate, as his eyes hungrily took in the entirety of her beauty.
To a “T” Arawn found himself comparing Rowena of the now, to the obnoxious persona she’d adopted a short time previous. Whilst her previous drab outfit had muted her figure; her current state of dress both enhanced and accentuated her ample physical assets, in ways that drew his attention from her face, down to her rather well developed cleavage.
 ‘Uhmm,… Status Report? (1)’ Arawn/Primus mentally requested hollowly, after finding that he couldn’t quite pull his eyes from her ample cleavage. He didn’t receive an immediate reply like normal, but neither did he care overly much in that moment.
 ‘Uhhhh,…..Quintus? (1)’ Arawn requested again, trying to force his eyes away from Rowena’s chest area. Alas, he soon found that despite his best efforts to the contrary, he couldn’t quite manage to tear his gaze away from that tiny space in between her heaving breasts.
‘Any port in a storm. (5)’ Quintus finally replied in a dreamy tone, his attention being slowly drawn towards Rowena’s other bodily attributes that were tantazingly being flashed by her dresses’ movements.
‘I pine for the Fjords! (2)’ Secundus cooed then, which statement left his fellow not-brothers confused momentarily. Luckily, Secundus’ appraisal did have the unintended side effect of bringing Arawn back to his senses. Shaking his head to clear his increasingly creative thoughts, Arawn rallied himself and began to regain his mental control.
“I would say that you have demonstrated a certain degree of craftiness.” He replied, making himself stare back at her with a feigned coldness. She smiled happily as she lifted her left hand to her face, and blushed.
“Why thank you for the compliment, my intended.” She replied, looking away for a second. “But you didn’t answer my question.” She blinked her eyes back up to his.
“What say you? Why would you try to resist my obvious ample charms,” she stated with a sweep of her arms to indicate her buxomness. In response to her gesturing, Arawn found himself involuntarily looking over her beauty once more. When he did he slowly became aware that he was beginning to perspire freely. If Rowena could see the effect her body had on him, she gave no obvious sign.
“I have so much love to share with you. Oh,” she paused and looked at him warmly, “I suppose you could manage to mount a resistance to my efforts. I do rather expect you to try, after all. Yet, it won’t avail you much.” She stated casually, looking about herself and glancing at each window and door in turn, as if to double check their locking. She then allowed her gaze to linger at the clock momentarily and before he was aware of it, she had stepped forwards and closed the distance between them by a considerable margin.
Arawn had been so enchanted by her body, that he was quite startled by her sudden nearness. He then stumbled and nearly fell, as he stepped to one side in an effort to avoid bumping into her. Somehow he managed to bumblingly interpose a convenient table in between them. At whichRowena froze in place, then frowned.
“Oh come now Arawn.” She replied, in a slightly hurt tone that made Arawn feel slightly guilty. “Are you going to continue to resort to something so puerile? Something, so easily thwarted?” she demanded as she flicked a finger.
Immediately the table in between them slid off to one side, then bumped into its neighbor, which started a small chain reaction of tables bumping into each other with a loud ‘clunk’ every time one by one, their contents sliding- then falling off.
She then placed her hands atop her hips, and flounced her way towards him in a way that somehow managed to make her already interesting cleavage become the axis of every turn.
“Careful!” Arawn tried to warn her. “These Automaton parts are something that Makai is highly interested in! Damage them at your peril.” He warned with a smile directed at her, grateful for the distraction.
Rowena hesitated then, looking at the multitude of mechanical components strewn before her with a disinterested eye. She then reached out a single well-manicured finger, and tapped one of the nearest Automaton’s armor casing lightly. It made a slight ‘clunking’ sound when she did.
“Hmmm.” She smiled indulgently with a raised eyebrow, looking down at it haughtily as she pulled her hand back.
“What a curiosity.” she murmured, turning her attention back to him, while placing her hand on her ribs just below her breasts.
“What is?” Arawn demanded, confused by her reaction, looking alternately between her and the Automaton casing she’d just tapped.
“You.” She stated simply, while her hands started to reach up and cup the bottoms of her breasts. “You appear to fixated upon these Automatons, which are so cold, so unyieldingly hard,…” she began in a husky tone, looking at him through half-lidded eyes.
“,…and inanimate.” She inhaled heavily as she leaned forward and took a firm hold of her XXXX breasts, while she lightly licked her lips sensuously. Arawn swallowed involuntarily as he felt his attention drawn towards the sight of her sweetly moistened tongue playing upon the inner side of her lower lip. Suddenly, she was standing next to him, her cleavage not quite touching his shoulder.
‘Yet I,” she sighed, ‘Am so animate,…” she promised, “So warm,…” she spoke in a whisper that warmed his ear, ‘and so very very,….softly yielding.” she finished as she gently pressed her breasts into his side. Every last bit of Arawn’s attention was drawn to her in that sweet moment, as he became aware of her femaleness, feeling the fullness of her twin orbs pressing themselves into his side. His head swam as he felt her body heat melt into his.
From a far-away place, he became dimly aware that she’d gently taken ahold of his head with her hands, and was slowly turning his face towards hers. Arawn couldn’t speak then. Why should he? Speech seemed so vulgar in that moment, as he began to feel her sweet breath crossing the gap in between their respective lips.
“Accept me.” She implored him with her eyes closed, his entire being resonating with her demand. Arawn, found himself starting to lean so as to allow his lips to contact with her inviting mouth.
Then, something unusual occurred. There, a goodly distance away from them both, one of the Jenny Unit’s component parts- gave off a slight sparking. It wasn’t much, just barely on the level of being audible.
But it was enough. Enough for Arawn to realize just how very close he had come to being lost.
“NO!” he shouted, pushing Rowena away precpitiously with both hands. He stumbled backwards several paces, until he came to a standing halt. Arawn found himself breathing heavily in that moment for several reasons. The chief one, being the rather obvious bulge his kilt had sprouted. Looking up, he espied Rowena glowering back at him from her original position next to the Automaton table.
“Well done.” He muttered angrily, shaking his head to clear thoughts. “That, was one of the most-subtle Charm-Spells that I have yet encountered here in this world, and a damned near effective one too!” he snarled.
“Not effective enough, obviously.” Rowena replied, glaring at Arawn from several feet away with an indignant frown. “It appears that that compact I made with a Lilim isn’t as effective as she claimed it would be.” She admitted with a sigh, nodding once.
“But then, you did manage to find your way out of a room stuffed with them!” she frowned with a shake of her head. “I worked many a long night, researching and creating that charm spell, just with you in mind.” She huffed slightly
“So I will simply have to be more devious in my next approach. Be warned Arawn, your talented resistance will not prevent me from my endeavors, it will simply delay the inevitable.” She inhaled deeply.
“AAaaaah.” She breathed in lustfully, her eyes rolling back in their sockets. “Even from here, I can smell the wellspring of Spirit Energy within you!” she stated with her eyes closed, then she opened her mouth slightly as she began to slowly lick her lips with her cute little tongue.

“It is vast! So much more than a regular human male! I feel like I’ve been dying from thirst and have stumbled across a fountain!” she stated huskily as she opened her eyes and moved herself closer to him once more. Arawn raised his arms defensively. To which Rowena stopped and mirrored his arm gestures.
“Do not think you can use your ‘Blast-punch’ or ‘Force-shield’ on me with impunity Annwyfn!” she stated with a snarl after glancing at the clock. “I am no amateur concerning such as you! Stand down!”
“Why should I?” Arawn demanded.
“Because you are under just as much a stricture as I am!” she smiled. “Any damage done to these Automaton parts, including this building, you will be held liable for!”
“As will you!” He pointed out.
“Yes,” she nodded, “but can you afford to pay the resultant fines?” she asked archly, taking another step. “I can. Easily.”  Nervously, Arawn licked his lips, which made Rowena smile satisfaction.
“I have extensive financial holdings.” She began in a satisfied tone. “You, do not. Consider what we could accomplish together, Arawn! Between your Spirit Energy and talents, combined with my knowledge and riches, we could begin a long and lucrative career!”
“So, that is what you are attempting to seduce me with now? Finances?” Arawn replied disgustedly, curling a lip.
“Hardly!” she scoffed, walking to her side nonchalantly. “I’m merely pointing out, that if you chose to spend your life with me; we need not live as paupers!” she replied, changing tactics.
“I have lived long enough to become aware, that riches are not what many make them out to be.” He replied, tilting his head and leaning over to look behind her.
“Wait, what are you doing?” she asked suspiciously coming to a halt, while looking at Arawn. Who then was leaning far enough over, to cause him to lift a leg for counterbalance.
“What are you trying to accomplish?” she demanded archly in a confused tone, as she looked behind herself sharply. “There is no one behind me!” she stated as she turned to one side, standing in silhouette.
‘Well, her bust is a sight more appealing right now. (2)’
‘Hush! (1)’
“I am not looking to see if there is anyone behind you. No, I was instead checking to see if you suddenly were sporting a Danuki tail.” Arawn replied in a deadpan tone. Rowena gave him a withering stare in response and lowered her hands.
“Ha-Ha.” She grimaced through her teeth. “Very funny. I assure you that I was indeed born a Human, but I will die a Dark Mage.” She smiled with her lips pressed together, as she glanced at the wall clock once more, then made a moue as she walked back to the table that held her satchel.
‘Why is she concerned with the time?’ Arawn asked silently. Then he realized something. ‘Perhaps she is under a time limit? (5)’ Quintus asked.
“What is it that you truly want?” Arawn demanded loudly, stepping forward to meet her.
“Have I not made my meaning plain?” she shouted, as she reached into her satchel and pulled out rope that gleamed golden in the light of the room. “I want you for a husband! Between your variegated talents and ability to tap into manifold Mana sources; an alliance between you and I, I would be able to carve out my own Kingdom. No! My own Realm!” she grinned fiercely then.
“What makes you so sure of this?”
“One of my talents is that I am a Scryer of the future! Let me show you!” she demanded archly with her eyes widened maniacally, as she began to raise both her hands.
But then her grin faltered, when the sound of knocking came from the laboratory door. She looked at the door with desperation in her eyes.
‘No!” she whispered fiercely, “Too soon!” She then turned her attention back to Arawn.
“Answer me now.” she yelled with a warble in her voice, as the pounding at the door became stronger, fiercer. “Will you submit to me willingly?!” Arawn shook his head.
“Very well then!” she yelled again as she uttered a spell, “Lamia-ut Funem!” That coil of rope that appeared to be made of gold began to give off a slight glow then. Rowena then flicked that golden-rope smartly, and when she did, some sparks flew off the far end of it as it uncoiled out with a small crack. Arawn instinctively raised up his Force-shield in his left hand and formed a sword with his Blast-punch, in his right.
Rowena noticed his preparations in a flash, and as the two of them faced off with each other three meters between, she smiled eagerly in anticipation. Neither turned their head from each other in that moment, despite the sound of pounding on the door becoming powerful enough to shake the door with every impact.
“Why delay the inevitable Arawn?” she asked, as she flicked her rope towards him, testing his limits. Arawn blocked that magical rope with his Force-Shield easily. When his shield blocked her rope two things happened, it caused her rope to give off a slight sizzling sound, while causing his shield to flare momentarily in intensity.
“Tunc Cess,…” he intoned by way of reply, but was prevented when she flicked her rope at him once more. This time, she managed to twist her wrist just enough, to get its tip underneath his shield. Which allowed it to impact his forearm hard enough to elicit a yelp of pain.
“Damnatus!” he shouted fiercely back with a grimace. Rowena merely smiled in response and flicked her rope again. “Aaaahhh!” Arawn cried when the rope connected once more.
‘What is that thing!? (1)’ Arawn/Primus demanded, his Force shield flickering.
‘Unable to identify! Still working! (5)’ Quintus replied desperately. Even as Quintus spoke, Rowena lashed out with her rope once more. This time it made a sizzling impact to his left knee that left a slightly smoking scorch mark. That mark appeared to be burning intensely for several seconds, then it slowly disappeared.
“Arrrggghh!” He screamed clenching his teeth with the pain, distracted enough to cause his force shield to flicker, and then it dissipated with a flash.
“YES!” Rowena cried out in triumph, as she pressed her advantage; lashing out at him several more times in rapid succession, every time leaving a temporary smoking scorch mark on his clothing or skin. Arawn valiantly attempted to block that rope with his Blast-sword, but with his every action, that damnable rope always seemed to flow around his sword with contemptuous ease.
“No!” he cried at the last, when he discovered that Rowena’s rope spontaneously started to extend itself by several lengths. Then it began to wrap itself snake-like around his legs.
 “No!” he shouted again, as he fell to the floor with his legs tied together at his ankles, then his knees and then his hips. Futilely he began to try slapping at that rope with his bare hands. But, all too quickly the match ended, when within a few more seconds he found himself bound completely, the impossibly long rope now having wrapped him in its entirety.
“YES!” Rowena cried then, her eyes alight. Pumping her right fist that held the rope’s far end in triumph. Just as Rowena announced her success, the room’s door exploded inwards with a loud bang, then fell off its hinges with a large crashing.
There, standing in the doorway Arawn noticed that there were a pair of large Red Oni brandishing their kanabos. Behind them stood Lieutenant Jinks, who had a severely annoyed expression on her face.
“Guards!” Jinks shouted, “Arrest that person!” she ordered, pointing at Rowena. “Use whatever force you deem necessary!” The Red Oni pair, nodded their heads once in acknowledgement and then they advanced towards the Dark Mage with an angry expression in their eyes.
“There is no need! I surrender!” Rowena yelled back happily. “I’ve achieved what I set out to do!” she crowed, holding up her end of the rope. Arawn noticed that Jinks looked stricken, when she followed the length of that rope with her eyes and found Arawn at the other end. ‘No.’ she silently mouthed in shock.
“Under the rules of The Hunt, as set by General Scathach! I hereby declare myself the successful captor of Annwyfyn Arawn!” she yelled gleefully. She then began cackling madly, causing her hair to fly askew.
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“Fraudster!” Jinks yelled then, interrupting her mirth. “You are still under arrest! Guards, take her!” she began, but then looked at Arawn with fearful eyes, refusing to believe in the evidence before her.
“Fine! Fine!” Rowena yelled as she didn’t fight against the Red Oni pair as they seized her by her arms. “I relent! But nevertheless, Arawn is still MINE!” she grinned happily, looking at him hungrily.
“NOT YET!” Arawn shouted redfaced, trying to fight against his bonds. Rowena turned as best she could in that moment, seeing as the Red Oni pair were doing their best to pin her down.
“I do not,..!” he screamed, as he began to tap deep into his mana reserves. In response, Rowena, Jinks, and the Red Oni pair were shocked into immobility when Arawn’s eyes took on an intense white light that shone forth like the noon-day sun.
“Care,…!” he continued to scream, as the air in that and the next room became so charged with ambient Mana that every loose object, including Arawn himself, began to levitate itself up from every surface upon which it lay. Upon seeing it, Jinks leapt to Rowena
“TO BE CAAAAAGGGGEEEDDD!!!!!” Arawn howled in a resonant voice, that made everyone else in that room wince in pain. As he cried out, gold and white sparks of St. Elmo’s fire began to leap from one separate Automaton component part to another, each making discharge that left a strong scent of ozone in the air.
“Let go! Let go!” Jinks shouted then at Rowena, pounding on her with her fists, attempting to get her to let go of Arawn. “Let GO of HIM!” she screamed, pounding with every syllable. For her part, Rowena had been scared into immobility with the realization of what she’d created.
Arawn continued to mount an ever increasing resistance to his bonds, attempting to build up a massive enough charge that would allow him to escape from his fear-inducing confinement. While the gold-rope continued to fight him at every step, sparking with its own mana-energies in response.
“I had no idea!” Rowena whimpered, as she cowered. “I had no idea this would happen!” she continued, shaking her head disbelievingly. Finally, Jinks gave up trying to convince Rowena. Taking note of the mesmerized Red Oni pair, she correctly assessed that they were unable to respond to any orders from her in that moment.
‘His Mana matches his Essence, that’s for sure!’ Jinks’ realized in horror the predicament in which Rowena had put them all in. Looking up, Jinks’ dared a glance and noticed that Arawn’s attention had turned to her and her actions. He was still scowling fiercely, but she sensed that he was barely controlling his manic fury for escape. Just for a moment, their eyes met and she heard something strange.
‘Release me.’ She heard/felt, but it echoed in her mind, not her ears.
‘Enough! It’s time to act!’ Jinks decided. Within a half second, Jinks made her choice and reached into one of the pockets of her ass-less chaps, to retrieve a souvenir she’d picked up from a previous escapade. She then pulled out a small metallic cylinder, which she activated with a flick of her thumb on one end.
Within a second or two, a small blue glow sprung from the other end, akin in appearance to a welder’s torch-flame. As soon as she deemed that it had become hot enough, she began to press the edge of that ‘Force-Blade’ into the golden metallic rope that bound Arawn. The effect was instantaneous.
Cerulean and XgoldX sparks flew out from where the Gold-rope and Jinks force blade made contact, the power feedback from both interacted badly enough to cause a rebound burning effect that was painful to her.
 But, it also had the immediate effect of causing the rope to convulse wildly.
‘Arawn.’ She replied, blinking, and it was then that she knew that she had to continue in her task Jinks then set her face, and bowed her head to continue in her self-appointed task. Rowena, continued on nearly unaware of her current situation. Instead, she kept her whole awareness fixated solely on her prize: Arawn.
“Mine, Mine, Mine.” Rowena kept muttering, over and over. Gritting her teeth, Jinks did her best to ignore her. Finally, after several more minutes, she managed to cleave through the Gold-rope, and when she did, several things happened. The rope gave off one final sizzle and spark, then it fell to the ground quivering loosely. Arawn’s first response was to expand his mana outward rapidly to shed himself of the hateful coils confining him, but he barely, only barely held off on it.
Instead, with a careful shaking he allowed the now slackened rope to fall away from his person. When it had completed, he allowed himself to gently settle down to the floor. Setting his eyes, he concentrated heavily on setting up his self-control once more. As he did every other object in the room also matched his actions in slowly falling back to the table top’s surface in which it had previously been ensconced.
Even though Rowena was now able to bring herself back to a semblance of reality, she still refused to let go of the rope end that now, lay weakly in her grasp. At first Jinks found herself at a loss.
‘Arawn’s been taken!’ Jinks mourned, frowning unhappily at the thought, but then she noticed that Arawn still stood facing Rowena with his eyes aglow, his stance defiant. ‘Or perhaps not.’ Jinks thought, her lips starting to rise at their ends. Jinks spoke.
“Rowena XXXX, I hereby place you formally under arrest!” Jinks intoned. “Under the charge of forging General Scathach’s command seal!” Jinks finished, and was surprised to hear what Rowena had to say next.
“I confess.” Rowena said simply, not struggling in the least against her Oni captors. She then turned her attention to Jinks for a second.
“That I have indeed forged the General’s Seal.” She smiled. “I will face my punishment accordingly. But once I have, I will depart Fort Eequor in the company of my husband!” she cried gleefully, her chin raised as she smiled happily.
“Wouldn’t you agree, my husband?” she demanded then, looking at Arawn square on. Jinks looked to Arawn and noticed that he didn’t reply, instead he only looked back at Rowena with a baleful expression, his eye’s light fading now as he drew in the remainder of his Mana back into himself.
“No, I will not agree.” Arawn’s reply made Rowena’s eyes flare angrily at him.
“I have fulfilled the strictures!” she shouted then, “that you yourself have agreed to. I have captured you, you are mine!” she breathed through clenched teeth. “Do you forswear your oath now?” she demanded.
“No.” Arawn said simply, shaking his head. “There is still a small matter that we need to attend to.”
“What is that?
“You mentioned that you were a Scryer?”
“Yes! What of it?!” she demanded.
“Then Scry the future, show us both what the future will be, if I submit to you in the here and now.” He returned coldly, as he looked meaningfully at Jinks.
Jinks caught his look and looked puzzled for a second, then she noticed Arawn glancing at both the Red Oni momentarily as way of explanation. Jinks then ordered the guards to release Rowena. They did so slowly, reluctantly. But they obeyed Jinks authority, and finally released her. Arawn stepped forward and faced Rowena head on.
“Do it then.” He challenged, Rowena obeyed immediately, gesturing mystically. Soon, before both of them appeared a floating silver-sheened sphere, a third of a meter in diameter.
“My, Scrying-globe.” Rowena explained looking at it with a lilt in her voice, then she made a motion that caused the globe to slowly expand enough to engulf them both. To Jinks and the Red Oni, they saw nothing more than Arawn and Rowena facing yet not looking at, each other inside that silver-sheened globe. But, to Arawn and Rowena, they found themselves standing together in darkness, unable to see anyone or anything else.
“What is this!?” Rowena demanded shrilly then, confused.
“It appears to be night time, and therefore,…” Arawn began dryly, looking over in the direction of Rowena’s voice with an unseen smirk on his face.
“It’s not supposed to be night time!” Rowena barked in frustration “It’s supposed to be the middle of the day! I always scry events in daylight, this has never happened before!” she cried, wringing her hands.
“When? When is this supposed to be?” Arawn demanded, as she reached out to grasp her. After a second or two he succeeded, and when he did he discovered that Roweena was shaking violently.
“Answer me!” he shouted. Instead, he felt Rowena turn and grasp at him in desperation, her breathing catching in her throat as she began to sob.
“I don’t understand what’s going on! This didn’t happen the last time I scried a future between you and I!”
“What do you mean? You have done this before? When!?”
“Last night!” she began, “Last night I was curious to see what our future together would be like! What I was shown was wondrous!” she cried, “You, me, and our kingdom! It was the kingdom that I, no!” she stopped, panting. “That WE,” she emphasized, “had carved out in the swamps south of Cynosure! It ran for leagues upon leagues it did! All of the land from Cynosure down to the steppes, it was all OURS!” she wailed in frustration.
“But this!” she exclaimed as she spread her arms out to indicate everything around them. “This is NOTHING like what I,…” Rowena stopped, and then her eyes widened considerably, as she stumbled backwards and fell on her ass. When she did, she started to point at something in the air and began moving her mouth, but at first no sound came out.
“What is that!” she screamed finally, pointing up at something high in the night sky. What Arawn saw up there in the night blackened heavens, chilled him. Even as jaded as he thought he was, nothing could quite prepare him for the sight that was poised above them both.
“The Moon.” He gasped.
‘It has been cracked, pierced by something immense, perhaps an asteroid?’ he thought in despair as he watched this planet’s Moon slowly continue to spread apart in its cataclysmic dispersal.
‘Negative Primus.’ Quintus injected then, ‘The dispersal pattern is consistent with one thing only; we cracked this Moon. We did this again, somehow. (5)’ Quintus whispered ominously.
“The Moon! The MOON!” Rowena cried, blinking her eyes over and over, shaking in her fright. “What has happened to the Moon!?” she demanded. Arawn looked up at the same place that Rowena was staring uncomprehendingly at.
“It tires.” He said simply, recalling from memory the last time he’d seen such a thing.
“Soon it will be so tired, that it will fall back into the Earth. Ultimately all will perish.” He whispered knowingly, his own face paling. Rowena then flung her arms down to her sides, cutting off her scrying spell. With an inarticulate cry she flung herself to her knees, and began to weep.
“No.” she denied. “No, it cannot be!” she whimpered. “This cannot be the future!” she cried, tears starting to fall down her cheeks. “I scried our future together, yesterday! I didn’t foresee this then!”
“There is no such thing as, the future, Rowena.” Arawn began gently, “There are many futures. If you chose to force me into marriage in the here and now, it will precipitate this future that we see before us now.”
“Noooooo!” Rowena screamed in frustrated anger. “It isn’t fair! I did my research! I investigated you ever since just after you built your Tower!! When you defied that chamber full of Lilim, I knew then that you were suited to belong to me!” she whined, as she curled her hands into fists, then she pushed herself upright.
“There must be something that we can do together to prevent this!” she stated suddenly, as she looked over at him with a light going on in her eyes.
“Work with me on this. Please.” she begged, as she turned her attention to Arawn and reached out beseechingly to him.
He stared at her in mute witness, but he chose to not reach back to her. Rowena looked at him pleadingly for several more seconds with her arms still outstretched, hoping against hope that what she’d seen was a lie. Finally, Arawn shook his head and replied.
“I am sorry Rowena, I am in Cynosure to fulfill a purpose, yes. But, it does not involve you.”  When he finished, her face fell when she comprehended the meaning behind his words.
“So, Mote it be.” She moaned then in her despair. But, even in all of her power of a Majin, she could not deny everything that they both had seen. Setting her lips together resolutely she lifted her head and looked at Arawn longingly.
“I relent.” She replied hoarsely then, her whole body wilting as she spoke.
“I withdraw my suit.” She finished quietly, as she stood up and presented her hands to the pair of Red Oni guards. As the guards began to lead her away with Jinks in attendance, Arawn chose to speak. Perhaps to give her some form of condolence.
“Rowena!” he spoke, getting her attention. Rowena turned her head to face him and looked back at him miserably. “I am sorr,…” he began, but was interrupted.
“DON’T!” she shouted, her teeth flashing. “Don’t you dare pity me! I will not countenance it!” she growled as she firmly turned herself away from him, and allowed herself to be led away by her arresters. Jinks looked curiously at Arawn for a moment, and seemed about to ask him something. But instead, she then she changed her mind. She then looked over at the broken door with a thoughtful frown which made her grimace.
“Yokai Basic Arawn?” she asked, out of the side of her mouth, not looking at him.
“Yes Lieutenant?”
“I’ll be indisposed for a bit, as I have to take Rowena away to the Stockade. Do you think you’ll be,….” Jinks stopped and thought about it for a second. “Oh never mind, of course you’ll be all right. Now.” She stopped, and thought about it for a second more.
“Instead while I’m gone, inspect the Automaton parts and see if there’s been any damage due to your and Rowena’s antics. Also, see what you can do about fixing that door, would you? There’s a good Yokai!” she grinned, as Arawn began to salute; to acknowledge that he’d heard her orders correctly.
“Yes Lieutenant.” He replied as evenly he could.
“Oh, and Arawn?” Jinks grinned at him as she moved to leave. “After I get back from that, you can give me your ahh,….,” Jinks hesitated and looked at him full on. ‘Oral’ report” she said while licking her lips, “on what happened between you and Rowena when I was away.” Jinks smiled saucily.
“I look forward to the opportunity.” Quintus replied in a cheerful tone. Jinks smacked her lips in anticipation, as she motioned to have the Oni guards take the now thoroughly subdued Rowena away.
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First Arawn insured that the main door to the Research and Recovery office was secure, before he went about locating, and then scheduling, a Mason to come in and repair the rather thoroughly pounded door.  The CQ in charge of the building wasn’t happy when he showed up on her doorstep.
“I see that you’ve not been taken yet! Was it necessary for you two to rip apart my building so!?” The Anubis CQ demanded peevishly, with her ears laid flat back on her head, when he had finished describing what his purpose there was. Arawn opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted.
“OH NEVER MIND!” she complained, her black tail held stiffly out behind her, as she stood up from her desk. “Just get out of my sight for now you thrice-bedamned bachelor!” she snarled, with more than a little teeth showing.
After he had returned to the R&R’s offices, he set about inspecting the Automaton components one by one, assessing each for any damage that was inflicted.
‘Quintus? Do you detect anything amiss? (1)’ he asked as he stared unhappily at the now massive piles of thoroughly mixed parts, appearing to have been thrown around at random.
‘Other than the fact that everything is now a total mess?’ Quintus growled for a second, causing Primus to clench his lips. ‘Nn--. Wait!’ he hesitated. ‘Yes I do detect something amiss. Standby (5)’. He finished with a pregnant pause. Arawn/Primus waited as patiently as he could for several minutes, until finally…
‘Confirmed!’ Quintus replied nervously. ‘It appears that between our Mana discharges, coupled with Rowena’s rope-weapon’s discharges, we have managed to somehow charge up a number of Automaton components. (5)’
‘What?! (1)’ Arawn demanded, surprised. Quintus sighed with frustration.
‘It appears that even though a random number of Automaton component parts are still heavily damaged; they are now charged up with enough Mana to begin their own self-repair routines. In short, if we are not careful we will end up with one, maybe two Automatons repairing themselves to full operation, unassisted by us. (5)’. Quintus.
‘Can you estimate how long it will take for them to do so? (1)’ Arawn asked.
‘Yes, but I doubt that I will be given sufficient time to do so. (5)’
‘Why is that? (1)’
‘Because Lieutenant Jinks has returned, and judging by the amount of sex-pheromones she is currently emitting, she will not be inclined to allow us to make a proper inspection. Well, an inspection of anyone other than her that is! (5)’ Arawn looked over his shoulder nervously then.
“There you are!” Jinks replied triumphantly as he finished turning around. “I’ve realized on my way over to the Stockade. That I’m really much hungrier for your Essence, than what I expected.” Jinks grinned as she embraced him, her cat-like ears twitching with her desire. Arawn put his hands on her shoulders in an effort to forestall her. Which became problematic when she started to grind her genitals up and down his thigh.
“Uhhm, Jinks, is this really a good idea? Arawn asked nervously, trying to fend both her and Quintus off at the same time.
‘Of course it is! (5)’ Quintus griped, mentally frowning.
“Of course it is!” Jinks griped with a frown, as she continued to rub herself on him, while attempting to corner him against the wall. “You’re cleared of having to deal with the Hunt for today! Since Corporal Tia will be mentoring you at her apartment tonight, I need to insure that my needs be met right now!” she growled deliciously then, as her hands made their way under  his kilt once more.
“Uhmmm, there’s no clear spots for us to do so, other than the floor.” Arawn pointed out weakly to her. Jinks stopped short when he said that, then looked around to double check his assessment.
“So there isn’t.” she admitted after craning her head around for several seconds. Setting her mouth firmly, she stomped her way over to the nearest table and grabbed it by its rim with both hands. Setting her feet underneath her, she then lifted that parts-laden table and tilted it just so. With a number of small crashings, ever part on that table hit and bounced on the floor noisily. Jinks then set the now-empty table back down, and turned back to Arawn with a triumphant smile on her face.
“Come here, you!” she ordered, waving her hand up and down in a ‘come hither motion. Arawn/Quintus obeyed.
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“Are you sure that you wish to do it this way? It does not seem to be safe.” Arawn/Quintus asked, surprised at Jinks’ sexual ingenuity.
“Of course I do, I wouldn’t have suggested it I hadn’t done it before!” Jinks smiled/frowned at him then. It was hard for Arawn to be sure if she was either smiling or frowning at him in that moment.
 That was because she was lying on her back on the now cleared table, with her head hanging over the edge before him. Thus if she smiled, the corners of her mouth curved down in relation. She then licked/smacked her lips invitingly. Arawn felt his already stiffened manhood, stiffen even further with the unspoken promise she’d made.
“Aaah”, she sighed in eager anticipation as the glans of his penis neared her moistened lips. Arawn felt a small thrill as he felt the heat of her breath warm his penis, ever so slightly. Cautiously he leaned over, just enough for her to tilt her head forward and take ahold of his penis’ end with her lips.
When she had, he could feel a minute amount of his blood forced into his glans as she began to suckle him strongly into her mouth once more. Yielding control, Arawn/Quintus felt himself drawn into the depths of her mouth, feeling the inherently natural pleasure of having his manhood be engulfed by her warm, inviting oral folds.
But, unlike the usual oral sex configuration, wherein her tongue would be underneath his glans in the optimal ‘pleasure-spot’ caress position; this time her tongue played along the ventral side that still somehow managed to elicit a string of pleasurable sparks along his length the deeper he plunged into her.
Slowly, he allowed himself to penetrate her oral cavity to the depths that she had allowed the previous night, and no further. Even in his lust of the moment, Arawn was gentle enough to be mindful to not damage her unduly. Holding there in the depths for a moment, he allowed himself to become at one with the immensity of the sensation of having most of his penis engulfed, and suckled by her undulating throat.
‘What is this position called again? (1)’ Arawn/Primus asked distantly.
‘She referred to it as: Skull-fucking. (5)’
‘I find I rather enjoy this position. (1)’ Arawn/Primus mentally grinned.
Finally, after several seconds, the pleasure increased once more as he began to withdraw in preparation for another plunging. Yet, for some reason he noticed something odd about her behavior.
‘What is she doing? (1)’ Arawn/Primus asked dreamily, over Jinks’ pleasured moans and humming.
‘It appears that she is suckling even harder, it is almost as if she does not wish for us to withdraw as fully. How odd. (5)’ Arawn/Quintus replied as he reversed his course and slowly began to plunge into Jinks’ mouth once more.
This time, when he neared the apex of his penetration and began to slow, Jinks reacted differently. Where before, she had meekly allowed Arawn to withdraw, this time she reached out with both of her hands and slapped them onto his buttocks firmly. Clenching tightly, she then hugged his hips closer and closer to her. This had the effect of her maintaining control of how deeply he penetrated her mouth and throat.
Deeper and deeper he managed to probe, far beyond what he’d previously thought possible, until at the end, his staff’s base reached and then pinched her lips up against her teeth. Even then she still suckled and rolled her tongue against, seemingly trying to get him to penetrate her still further.
‘Jinks.” Arawn gasped in desperate wonder in that moment. But he couldn’t continue, how could he? Even as deep a penetration as he managed in that moment, he couldn’t recall ever having enjoyed before. In response, Jinks suckled even harder in that moment.
Arawn’s eyes went round in surprise, when Jinks’ efforts were paid off as he felt his scrotum begin to be drawn in.
“What?!” he half shouted at the last, wincing mightily as the entirety of his scrotum and its contents were suddenly suctioned into Jinks warmly inviting mouth. It took every ounce of his control to keep from ejaculating in that eternal moment. Dimly, he became aware of her heart beating close to the glans of his penis, and that strange sensation was just enough to throw him over the edge!
“AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!” Arawn and his not-brothers screamed echoingly into the emptiness of the R&R’s rooms, as he vainly attempted to press himself still further into Jinks’ body. He was uncaring if anyone heard him or not. In a deep part of his mind, he slowly became aware that he was shooting off endless amounts of ejaculate down her esophagus, accepted down into her stomach to be absorbed and digested, thus eventually to become a small part of Jinks forever.
Shuddering with the after-shocks of his pleasure, he withdrew himself from Jinks’ mouth carefully. Even then, she was reluctant to let him go. Arawn wasn’t sure if she was frowning or smiling up at him when he finally managed to pull himself out, a small bridge of his ejaculate remained when finally removed himself. Jinks’ eyes focused on that bridge, and with a quick flip of her tongue, she lapped it into her mouth, and swallowed.
She then opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, the sound of Corporal Tia’s voice called out from nearby. Both Arawn and Jinks shot their heads around to the source.
“My apologies, you two.” Tia said with pursed lips, from her position of the now empty doorframe, both of her arms crossed. “But I’m afraid that I need to interrupt, as Arawn and I need to have a highly overdue counseling session.” She frowned mightily, as Arawn noticed that all of her eyes had taken on an angry reddish tinge.
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After Jinks and Arawn had cleaned themselves up from their ‘nooner’, Arawn reported to Tia as per her instructions. He attempted to explain his behavior concerning fraternization, but Corporal Tia waved him off with but a single word.
“LATER!” she hissed waving a dismissive furry hand, as she positioned herself in front of Arawn, and glared at him.
“Yokai Basic Arawn,” she began meaningfully. Arawn’s eyes widened when he heard her say that. He swallowed immediately as she continued.
“I just got done with a most interesting conversation.” Tia stated in as an even a tone as she could manage. “With Ikiniz.” She paused and leaned forward until her nose was centimeters away from his. “Remember him? He’s the one you ‘accidentally’ managed to stumble into, at the Prancing Cadaver, several days ago, remember?” she asked, breathing through her mouth. Arawn could feel the hotness of his expirations against him then.
“Well?!” she demanded after several seconds. Arawn found that he could only nod his head once in response. Tia narrowed her foremost eyes at him then.
“Fine.” She replied. “Do you know what kind of conversation he and I just had?” she asked, but didn’t wait for Arawn to reply.
“A most unusual one. He apologized for his boorish behavior to me, many times over. All in front of his attending friends, there at the Gazebo. Of which, I had no problem with. But then,” Tia spoke as her face darkened, “He begged me to release him from my spell.”
“My spell, Arawn. My spell, can you imagine him asking me about THAT?”
“As if I were capable of spell-work somehow, HA! I have to admit that I found myself rather perplexed when he begged, BEGGED me Arawn. He BEGGED me to release him, and at first I had no idea what he was talking about.”
“Then I remembered you Arawn.” Tia inhaled menacingly. “I remember that you seem to be quite capable of an extensive use of magic, in ways that I can’t even conceive of. And then, I remembered that you had somehow managed to ‘accidentally’ stumble into him back there, then.”
“As I recall, I asked you immediately after, if you had cast a spell on him. I also remember that you answered to the negative. Isn’t that so?” Tia looked at him again with her side eyes.
“So, I ask you again Arawn,” Tia paused quietly for a moment. “Did you cast a spell on him at that time; in direct violation of General Scathach’s Orders concerning civilians and the magics of the Great Maou’s Army?”
Arawn hesitated for several seconds, looking fearfully up at Tia.
“Uh, no. I did not cast a spell on him,…” Arawn answered truthfully. Tia raised a questioning eyebrow at him, waiting for him to continue.
“,…at that time.” He quickly added, shaking nervously. Tia’s eyes flared red then.
“What. Is That. Supposed. To mean?” she demanded forcefully, yet quietly.
‘“It means, Mentor,” Arawn began, “that technically speaking I neither cast a spell, nor did I do so at that time that you asked.” He tried to explain.
“WHAT?” she growled deeply at him. Arawn continued quickly.
“Aaaaah, technically speaking, uuuhhhh, what I cast upon him, is not, uuuhhhh, was not a spell.” He stammered, shaking nervously.
“And what ‘Technically’ did you cast on him?” Tia asked, stepping back and crouching down as if making ready to Pounce. Arawn opened his mouth, but found he couldn’t speak.
After several seconds, Tia reached out and curled her fingers around the lip of his shirt underneath his throat. With a rapid yank, she pulled him forward until their noses touched. Arawn noticed then that Tia had left her mouth open, and that her pair of venom teeth were extending beyond the level of her lips.
‘Her teeth are dripping saliva. (2)’ Secundus observed.
No, that is not saliva, it is venom. (5) Quintus pointed out. All of his not-brothers gulped then.
“Speak.” She ordered quietly.
“A,….uhhhh, a,…uhhhh,” he began, trying not to swallow again. “A,….uhhhh,….curse.” he finished quietly.
“A what?” Tia asked quietly with a blink of her eyes, not quite comprehending, as she reached out with her other hand and took ahold of his shirt from the other side near his throat.
“a curse.” Arawn repeated again. Tia’s eyes focused themselves on his face.
“YOU CAST A CURSE ON A CIVILIAN!?” Tia yelled resoundingly enough into his face to make Arawn wince, as she tightened her grip on his shirt to the point that he felt his blood start to pound to fight the pressure.
‘WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!?” She screamed, panting. “ANSWER ME!” She demanded harshly. Harshly enough to make Arawn yell back.
“I DID IT IN DEFENSE OF YOU! BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT TEAMMATES DO!” he shouted back, incensed and slightly hurt.
“How do you figure that?!” she demanded, outraged.
“Because you are my mentor, and he hurt you badly! I could see your tears, and I could feel your pain because I have been, where you were then!” he continued vehemently. Vehemently enough to make Tia pause. “Between my outrage at his boorishness, and your tears that I felt dampen my shirt, I was outraged enough to lash out at him.”
“You lashed out at him methodically. After you had had time to calm down!”
“Yes I did. When no one else would step up in your defense!” Arawn admitted. “Why Tia?! Why are you more outraged with the way I treated him, than the way he treated you!?”
“Because you’re older than he, and you should’ve known better!” Tia countered.
“I do know enough, to take action when an injustice has been done!”
“Fine, fine, fine!” Tia countered, waving her hands dismissively. “You felt that you were coming to counter an injustice against me?” she demanded.
“Yes. For that, I will not apologize. But, for what I have done to him I will.” Arawn nodded contritely. “And make amends if need be.” He added quietly, not looking at Tia.
“All right.” She continued, lowering her voice and stepping back away from him. “Consider yourself as being on report.” She stated with a glare directed towards him. “I’ll still have to file that report of your actions.” She pursed her lips at the thought of that paperwork she had to do. Sighing she continued she moved over to a handy desk, then pulled open one of the drawers and began rummaging around inside it.
“First,” she began with a grimace on her face while she concentrated on the interior of that desk drawer. “Tell me what kind of ‘curse’ you cast on Ikiniz. Damnit, where are those?” she growled absentmindedly, her focus not on him. Arawn sighed.
“I cast, a Veni-Vomitus.” He replied simply. Tia froze for a second in her drawer search, and then she tilted her head up to stare at Arawn through half-lidded eyes. She lifted up her hand and flipped it over in an ‘and?’ gesture. Arawn continued.
“Essentially the effects of the Veni-Vomitus are as follows. Every time he will ejaculate, he will also vomit.” He finished quietly. Tia jerked in surprise when she heard that.
“WHAT!?” she yelped then, confused and surprised. “Explain!” she barked, leaving her mouth hanging open slightly as she continued to stare at him in incredulity. Arawn took in a deep breath in preparation.
“What is, or shall I say, has happened. Is that every time Ikiniz has engaged in sexual activity, more than likely with another, his bed-mate will be rather surprised when he expels more body fluids than what she expects him to.” He stopped when he saw Tia gaping at him.
“Ahem. That is to say, when a male has reached the point of ejaculation it has become involuntarily. He has no control over it. What the Veni-Vomitus curse makes happen, is that when he involuntarily ejaculates he also involuntarily vomits.” Arawn paused and thought about it for a second. “A lot.” He added. Tia found herself staring back at Arawn for several seconds, not quite believing her ears. Finally, she blinked.
“So what happens to his bed-mate?” she asked, curious. Almost liking what she had to hear.
“I would imagine that she or he, as the case may be, will find their post coital afterglow to be spoiled by the sudden appearance of vomitus, all over themselves.
“How much vomit?” Tia asked, hollowly. Still curious, her anger starting to become forgotten.
“As I recall from the details, it would be best described as: Projectile Vomiting. In effect, a massive amount. Largely, the vomitus is whatever meal Ikiniz will have consumed last.”
“What if he say,…I don’t know, refuses to eat anything for a while prior?” Tia asked.
“The human body is capable of producing a surprising amount of white frothy mucus, for just that eventuality.” Arawn replied. Tia sat back and blew out her breath.
“And that’s it?” she asked, looking at Arawn, “Nothing more?”
“Well no.” he admitted. “That is just stage one.” Tia tilted her head and nodded at him to continue.
“Stage two, is where Ikiniz probably found himself unable to get any more sexual partners easily. By that time, he had probably managed to figure out his limitations and took steps to accommodate it. At which point, the curse would outmaneuver him by making him vomit prematurely.
“Prematurely?” Tia asked, fighting the smile that threatened to overcome her control. “How so?”
“Well, at that point, Ikiniz had probably discovered that just his approaching to speak with a potential bed-mate, is enough to cause him to vomit upon that person. Also involuntarily, and in a great amount.”
“Is that all to it?”
“Negative.” Arawn replied shaking his head. “At this point, Ikiniz has probably discovered that even masturbating alone in his private rooms, is not enough to protect him from the curses’ effects.” Tia giggled then.
“I bet THAT has made quite the impression on his housekeeper!” Tia exclaimed happily, grinning. Then she caught herself and pursed her lips when she realized what she was doing.
“I’m still upset with you Arawn! Don’t think that just because I like what you did concer,…” she stopped when she realized what it was she was stating. Licking her lips, she paused to recollect her thoughts.
“Can you lift it?” she demanded in an attempt to divert attention, tapping her fingers on the desk’s surface.
“Yes, I can.” Tia blew out a relieved sigh.
“When?”
“Whensoever you so desire. I will return to my apartment immediately to make haste with such.” Arawn stated and then turned to go.
“Wait!” Tia half-shouted, raising up forestalling hand. Arawn paused, confused. “Don’t be in such a hurry.” She continued, letting her hand drop with a sigh.
“I think maybe, that we shouldn’t be so hasty in that.” Tia stated, not quite looking at Arawn, lightly clapping her hands together.
“Instead,…ummmm,….” She continued, then smacked her lips once. “Perhaps I’m being too hasty here. I’m thinking that you should probably wait a short while before proceeding with that.” She replied looking over at nothing.
“After all, you’re still dealing with the day to day stressors of The Hunt, along with the pressure of Jinks’ ‘orders’.” Tia continued, tapping one finger onto the desk’s surface. Then she looked at him square in the eyes.
“I take it that it’ll be costing you a significant amount of mana to reverse the effects of that curse?” she asked archly.
“Well, not that much actually,…” he began.
“Close enough!” Tia barked, interrupting him. Then she sighed. “I think it would best if we all waited a short while for you to lift Ikiniz’s curse. I’m thinking that another month will do, don’t you?” she asked. But before he could answer, she spoke once more.
“Good! That’s settled then! After another month!” she smiled, one corner of her mouth twitching.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong Arawn, I’m still very much vexed with you!” Tia’s voice changed to a more menacing one then. “Don’t you EVER cast any kind of spell against a civilian again, without going through me, first! Do I make myself clear?!” she shouted. Arawn found himself nodding involuntarily.
“Well then.” Tia began, shaking all of her legs up and down. “I think that’s been a productive counseling, don’t you?” she asked turning her head about looking at nothing in particular, and then she continued without waiting for him to answer.
“I would imagine that you’re probably hungry, after your and Jinks’ rather extensive actions while I was away.” Tia smiled briefly. “Right! Off you go! Go and get something to eat, I’ll finish up with my paperwork right here and now.” Tia replied, pursing her lips tightly together and waving a dismissive hand at Arawn.
Quietly he turned and left, not wishing to anger her anymore. As he left, Jinks insisted upon, and received a ready acquiescence from Arawn for her to accompany him to the Mess Hall for a meal.
Just after he’d shut the door to the Research and Recovery’s offices, he thought he heard a loud guffawing resonating from within. Momentarily, he thought about asking Quintus to doublecheck if he had heard correctly. But he decided that the question was moot. Smiling, he took up his proper walking position alongside Lieutenant Jinks on the way to the Mess Hall, and found that he had to fend off her advances along the way only a half dozen times.
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Unnoticed to all in the following hours, the sole remaining intact Automaton memory core- switched itself fully on, after having had its internal power capacitors recharged from the Mana-conflagration that Arawn and Rowena had produced.
Slowly at first, but with an ever increasing rate, it began the arduous task of reinitializing the Jenny-unit’s self-repair mechanism.
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