He wasn’t sure what would happen with his presence if that succeeded. Would he simply remain here in this space while she left in his place? Was he going to suddenly land in her spiritual body or the giant tree that had sprouted in the land between the ancestral grounds?

  But, he didn’t have to ponder that for too long as he felt a very familiar tug on his consciousness and his mind swirled inwards.

  ※ ※ ※

  Asterios opened his eyes to the sight of the ladies in front and around him, just like he remembered. Though, it didn’t feel like he was the one to have opened his eyes. He certainly didn’t feel like he could now move them or even blink as they stared right at Althea, who sat opposite him.

  “Master? Are you alright?” Miria’s voice reached his right ear.

  His face moved towards hers and he looked at the worried panthergirl. But, it was like he was looking at her from a slight distance. It was hard to explain. The only thing he was certain about was the fact that he definitely wasn’t in control anymore. No matter how hard he meant to respond, no words left his mouth.

  He then looked down at his hands, squeezing his fingers into fists a few times, and then gently extracted himself from his feline mate’s embrace. No one stopped him as he stepped out of the bower and moved his arms and legs a bit like he was stretching.

  “I… I can’t believe it…” He heard his voice come out of his mouth without his intention to speak. “It really worked? I’m outside?”

  ~It looks like it did.~ Asterios chuckled in his mind and saw himself flinch.

  “I can hear two Masters?!” Miria gasped from behind him and his body turned around to see all the women had followed him.

  “Tia?” Althea hesitantly called out to him.

  He could feel the massive, overjoyed smile rising on his lips, and in the next moment, he was charging at the emerald-haired lady, sweeping her into a very affectionate hug.

  “Oh, Althea… It’s been so long…” His left arm wrapped around her waist while his right hand threaded through her straight locks. “I missed your touch so much… Your soft skin… Your fragrant hair… Your tender hands…”

  As Tia poured her heart out to her old friend, she began placing delicate kisses all over the draconic lady’s cheeks, hair, and then neck. It was clear that she missed the physical sensations, deprived of them for ages, and possibly convinced that she would not be able to experience them for many more centuries ahead.

  But, both he and Tia noticed just how still and frozen Althea became and his Dryad chauffeur drew back, glancing at her close friend’s face. Althea’s eyes were wide to the brim and a delicate, ladylike flush tinged her beautiful cheeks. It was at that time that Tia realized just what she had done and Ast’s body jumped back frantically.

  “Oh, my. I’m so sorry. I got so lost in the moment I forgot this isn’t myself.” Tia glanced at his figure all over, running her hands against his arms, chest, and stomach, ending up at his crotch, where she lightly cupped it and felt its warmth as the confines around it tightened slowly. “So, this is how a hot-blooded male of a fleshy species feels. It’s kind of fascinating.”

  “Stop groping Master with that filthy expression!” Miria shouted with a faint growl reverberating in her throat.

  Everyone turned to her and she immediately stopped, her pupils narrowing to thin slits as she fidgeted uncomfortably.

  “Uhhh… Sorry… I… I have some bad memories with Master’s body being taken over…” she admitted honestly.

  Selene was by her side right away, running her fingers through the panthergirl’s hair to help her relax.

  “Ah, yes, I understand,” Tia answered in his voice. “Don’t apologize. Please, tell me if anything I do makes any of you uncomfortable. Save for you, Althea. You wouldn’t have been so shocked and embarrassed if you had lain with him already.”

  “Tia!” The person in question gasped as Ast’s body smirked at her.

  “Don’t you Tia me.” Controlled Asterios huffed. “I can’t see why you are holding back in front of such an amazing and strong male. Finding a kind True Dragon is a miracle. Or is it because of me? Were the relaxing nights we spent together something more than physical affection between friends? Are you perhaps still waiting for my return? What if he could take us both, then?”

  “Stop!” Althea sent her friend, in Ast’s body, a tender glare. “We are not talking about that in front of others!”

  She then softened a bit again and released a quiet sigh, cupping up Ast’s cheeks as they still stood in front of each other.

  “I truly appreciate the affection you have shown me. I was a panicked wreck around the time we met and your gentle reassurance has guided me to proper recovery. Including the casual intimate moments we shared. And for that, you have my sincere thanks.” She smiled warmly.

  Asterios then watched as Althea hesitated for just a second before leaning forward and joining their lips in a chaste kiss. It was just a few delicate pecks but he could tell that they were filled with appreciation and emotions, which reached Tia properly. He could also tell that those emotions were what the both of them had said, a very close friendship with mutual respect and satisfaction. There were no misunderstandings between the two so Althea did not need to further respond to Tia’s barrage of questions.

  Their Dryad friend chuckled through his body, though it was quite close to a giggle. “You are still a master of distraction and avoiding answering unwanted queries. We both know your needs are no longer dormant, Althea. It’s commendable you managed to suppress them for so long. I would have offered to take care of them using this handsome male body, but that wouldn’t be right for Asterios and his mates. He should be the one in control. Besides, it looks like my time is up.”

  Althea rolled her eyes but a faint smile curled up the corners of her mouth.

  Tia stepped back and pointed a finger at her. “Remember, I can feel most things he does. You aren’t the only one who has awakened after a long time. Don’t make me wait too long. Even trees can grow impatient.”

  She then stumbled a bit and Asterios felt the pull again. His perspective swirled but didn’t shift. It felt like he was tugged forward through a solid wall, reclaiming control of his own body. It still took long enough for him to start falling, but Bryn was by his side right away, supporting him against herself.

  “Are you alright, Master?” She examined him with one of her hands glowing gold.

  “More or less.” He groaned. “It was slightly different from back then. Working with only a single physical body might be making this entire thing kind of wonky.”

  ~I can’t really make any comparisons but I can say that I felt even more alive than when I was in my natural body.~ Tia giggled in their minds. ~Thank you dearly for this opportunity. Even if it was just a few minutes, it meant a lot to me.~

  “Perhaps next time we can figure out how to keep it up for longer. Maybe draw the formation on my physical body ahead of time too.” Asterios mused.

  “How did it feel to you, my Lord?” Selene’s long ears flicked curiously.

  “Like I was tied up and to a horse, taken for a wild ride.” He laughed. “I could see and feel everything but was nothing more than a spectator. Though, honestly, I haven’t really tried to exert control over Tia’s reign.”

  “Considering your draconic might, you might have been able to wrench it back out of her hands,” Althea said softly, her cheeks still retaining the faintest trace of rosiness from the earlier kiss.

  “Speaking of draconic might, there is an aspect related to it that I noticed amongst my mates and wanted to ask about. That is if we are continuing the lessons today.” Asterios glanced at her.

  She was visibly more than happy to step away from the slightly more intimate topics her mischievous best friend had brought in and nodded gladly. “Of course. I shall always offer you my knowledge and experience. What is the matter that caught your interest?”

  “Let me call for Tina and Silvia and we’ll demonstrate.” He smiled proudly.

  Chapter 33

  Draconic Augments

  A few short minutes after Asterios got in touch with his two noble mates, a single crimson gate opened next to him and the duo walked out of it. Silvia stepped onto the grass first, followed by Tina. They glanced around curiously before nodding at everyone in a greeting.

  “I hope you weren’t doing anything important.” Asterios smiled at them apologetically.

  The red-haired princess shook her head gently. “I have taken care of the most crucial matters and was in the middle of handling the less urgent ones. Things are moving forward without much trouble. Thanks to the fact that Glimmervale was using most of our kingdom’s systems, it’s much easier to make sure that everything is in order.”

  “Same here,” Tina agreed. “Though, it won’t work exactly as well for our military. It’s more like we will need to build everything from scratch. But, we have a talented and experienced man on the right station so there isn’t that much to worry about. I’m learning a lot too. We’ll have to experiment the most with my squad.”

  “Glad to hear that.” He moved closer to them and shared a brief peck with both of his amazing lovers, appreciating their efforts greatly.

  “What is it that you need us for, then? I admit that I wasn’t following the proceedings of this meeting too deeply,” Silvia said.

  He and the other girls quickly filled the duo in on the recent events, making both ladies surprised to learn that Tia had been able to act through Asterios, even if for a very short time. By the end of the brief explanation, everyone turned to him and Althea. Tina and Silvia had the most curious expressions, wondering what their beloved had meant by pointing out the two of them.

  “Alright. Bit by bit, I have been noticing some small changes and alterations to Silvia’s and Tina’s abilities. Naturally, it doesn’t revolve only around them, but they just seem to display the difference the most discernibly,” Asterios began, rubbing his chin while trying to find the correct words. “It's no secret to all of us that each one of them grows alongside me as my mates. It was one of the important elements of our deep connection that we learned about in the past. Yet, while they progress in their own, unique ways, they also seem to sometimes slightly take after… me.”

  Althea nodded patiently. “I assume you are aware of the true nature of those bonds. As we have previously established, True Dragons often simply reduce those to a connection that benefits mostly them, strikingly ignoring the other side. The more females you bind to yourself, the stronger you get. The deeper your bonds become, the more of their power you can usurp. Just like you did during the fight with the serpent. You reached into the web of your relationships and pulled their energy to strengthen yourself.”

  At that, all the ladies nodded, remembering the mesmerizing image of Ast’s draconic form enshrouded by various colors of their mana, which had granted him various effects and advantages.

  “But, while that approach is the most common amongst True Dragons, you also are already aware that this connection goes both ways,” she continued calmly. “Instead of thwarting it, you keep it wide open at all times, giving as much as you are taking. Perhaps giving more until recently. You shouldn’t be shocked that they develop quickly while being constantly granted the privilege to bask in your draconic might. I have heard that you even allow your mates to draw upon your energies to enhance their own techniques and bodies. It’s only natural that they show little signs of change throughout those as they are handling foreign mana.”

  “While that is true, it isn’t exactly what I have in mind.” Asterios chuckled warmly. “Tina, Silvia, could you please recreate the last part of your little duel from the day when we received our new gear from Imadil and Cynthia?”

  “How much of it?” Tina asked, already switching her ring into the form of her powerful gloves.

  “Your breath attack,” he replied and both girls nodded.

  As they put some distance between each other, Bryn raised a simple barrier to protect the surroundings in case anything unexpected happened. Then, they all watched Tina finish her techniques and cover herself in dark blue scales borrowed from Firo and white wings taken from Esil. Silvia materialized her amber spiritual armor and flaming tiara.

  A moment of unspoken agreement passed between them before the blue-haired girl lowered her stance and drew upon more of Ast’s energy, rearing her head back. The fiery princess prepared to deflect the pressurized stream and did exactly that, redirecting the cutting line into the barrier. She then blinked through her flames and appeared behind Tina, who canceled her attack on her own this time, without the need of taking a blow right into her chin. The two exchanged smiles and quickly jogged back to everyone.

  “I see what you mean.” Althea hummed to herself as she walked around them.

  “Is that normal?” Asterios raised a brow at her, doing the same. “Tina technically doesn’t have a summon that should give her a tail. And Silvia’s armor morphed from smooth plates to Dragon scales a little bit ago. I might be overthinking this, but I can’t really help it.”

  Just like he’d said, the draconic elements in the figures of both ladies were more than apparent. But, while in Silvia’s case, it could still be swept under some kind of a pretense, no one could deny the pretty draconic tail currently sticking out of Tina’s lower back. Even the owner was somewhat taken aback, making it wave from side to side in an effort to make more controlled movements.

  “Are they becoming Dragons?” Miria couldn’t hold her excitement in anymore and jumped up and down next to Asterios, staring between him and his mentor with wide eyes.

  The emerald-haired lady chuckled delicately. “Not exactly, no. But this is a rare sight. You are becoming more and more attuned with draconic mana. All of you. It just seems that it is more visible for the humans of your group as, no offense, they can be considered the most plain of races.”

  “What does that mean exactly?” Selene asked.

  “It means that someone loves you very much.” Althea showed a tiny smirk and the girls all turned to Asterios. “Both emotionally and physically.”

  That drew a few rosy blushes from the crowd and Asterios certainly wasn’t spared. Everyone knew what the ancient Lesser Dragon was talking about without her having to state the obvious.

  “You see, as I said earlier, the connection is usually focused one way, rarely both ways, but extremely seldom it comes to a level where the very essence of life is freely shared away,” she continued with an amused expression. “I know that you are aware of what spiritual energy and essence are, and how semen is one of the best carriers of both, but the essence Asterios is sharing with you so abundantly is special. In the end, while filling your wombs with seed, he chooses to make it as spiritually potent as possible, be it consciously or not. He expends his draconic nature for your sake. Something, as you can imagine, that wouldn’t even go through the mind of a real True Dragon.”

  Miria, Tina, and Bryn were now positively red as Althea openly spoke of the matter. Yet, Asterios could easily tell that the gazes all his mates directed at him were full of appreciation and admiration rather than real embarrassment.

  “So... This is because… I release so much inside them?” Asterios cleared his throat and broke the brief silence.

  “Alongside your explicit desire to make your mates stronger, yes.” Althea nodded softly. “While it’s nothing new for True Dragons to have copious amounts of coupling with their peerage, almost always ending with deep releases, it’s usually just that, sex for carnal pleasure with the desire to mark what belongs to them. You put so much intent into it that those protective spells you are using must be barely holding the potency of your seed back at this point. Thankfully, they don’t stop the transfer of your draconic essence.”

  The eerie silence lasted for quite a bit longer this time as the ramifications of what Ast’s wise mentor had said slowly sank into everyone’s minds.

  “Should we… be more careful?” Miria giggled shyly with her face as crimson as a ripe tomato.

  “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll teach Asterios how to properly control his virility. It would be detrimental for you to start holding back now.” Althea winked at the panthergirl, making her squirm even more.

  “Could we receive a summary of what all of this means for us specifically?” Tina asked quietly.

  “Of course. Let me put it into simple words.” The Dragon lady pondered it over for a moment before returning her focus to Ast’s mates. “Your bodies are changing in a way that makes them more accustomed to draconic energy, capable of using greater amounts of it at greater levels. You won’t really turn into part-Dragons but you will be able to manifest certain characteristics through that thanks to all the essence you are receiving from your beloved during your intimate moments. You will be able to draw upon more from him on your own through the bond you all share, becoming gradually stronger and tougher. Do not hesitate to use it as it’s going to be one of your biggest advantages not many possess.”

  “How much of an advantage?” Asterios glanced over the ladies curiously.

  “It’s said that the weakest point of a True Dragon is their peerage. In a normal scenario, by taking down one’s slaves, servants, aides, and mates, you take away lots of power from the owner of all those bonds. None of those people or entities are ever stronger than the True Dragon keeping them under their thumb. They are the weakest links.” Althea nodded at them approvingly. “But you are not. You are different. You are strengthened by your Dragon. You might not be his match, but you don’t lag behind like the usual, unpowered bonded, whose main purpose is to serve as a source of more strength or simply carnal entertainment. Fighting against another Dragon’s peerage, you are highly advantageous, and perhaps even hold an element of surprise as no normal True Dragon would ever expect one of their kin to be so giving.”