Lazarus

  Primordial limit.

  Primordial 1.

  Paragon luck.

  Paragon strength 4.

  Presence detection 6.

  Regeneration 13.

  Centaur riding 5.

  Sex 10.

  Sword mastery 1.

  Blink 4.

  Resistance 7.

  Acid resistance 2.

  Poison resistance 1.

  Fire resistance 3.

  Centaur pleaser 11.

  Forging 1.

  Copycat 1 (-------)

  Primordial blessing 1.

  Limitless Primordial 1.

  Primordial Pantheon (presence detection 6)

  [Willows devotion] 2.

  Skill points - 9

  "Dinners ready."

  We didn't really need Willow to tell us as we were all huddled around the fire almost drooling at the smell that was currently wafting out of the pot. I didn't know what meat had been used and at this point didn't care, I hadn't had a lot to eat today.

  The brown centaur began to scoop the stew into four bowls making sure one of them only had meat in it and no vegetables. I was about to ask why then realized it was in front of Kayalett. Carnivore arachnid got it.

  We didn't have cutlery so it was a drink from the bowl type of meal but I was use to it. The girls were a little hesitant still trying to hold on to some type of decorum that didn't st long, hunger eventually forced them to eat like myself. Well Arath and Willow at least, Kayalett bundled her meat into a silk wrap and pierced it with her fangs in what I presumed was her way of liquifing her food.

  A nice silence settled over our group in a way that reminded me of my old comrades. Some of them I would kill if I ever saw them again because of their betrayal but even then I couldn't help the times we'd smiled around a campfire together. Although my present company was definitely better in the looks department.

  When the food was finished I picked up everyone's bowls and started to scrub them along with the pot much to the dismay of both the centaurs.

  "My lord it's our job to do all...."

  "Now Willow." I interrupted the mare. "And Arath for this matter. You can be all centaur culture requires only we do this at home all you want but out here, everyone pitches in. And if that's too hard to understand take it as an order from your god."

  The girls gave me looks of mild dissatisfaction but relented. For now at least. I had a feeling they wouldn't drop this that easily.

  "For now get some sleep. I'm pretty sure I spent the st few hours being carried so it's only fair I take first watch. I'll wake one of you up around midnight to take over."

  Truthfully I knew I wouldn't sleep. That face in the deep was still at the edges of my mind. No point making one of them stay up if I wasn't going to sleep anyway. Internally I felt my pulse jump at the thought that it was something I might have to fight. Future problems.

  "Alright. But you will wake me up at midnight are we clear?" Arath demanded as she began to herd Willow to the tarp and began to unfold the edges, giving a little bit of privacy to the inhabitants.

  "Of course." I said, a part of me knowing that was a lie.

  She didn't push me and looked at Kayalett. "You joining us?"

  "I will in a second. I would like to put my own warning system in pce just for a little added security."

  My head mare gave her a nod then a pointed look at me before bringing the final side down. She knew I was lying but at least she wasn't going to challenge me.

  "So what are you going to create? Some type of spell dome?" I asked my arachnid needing a little distraction.

  "No, nothing like that just a simple web that should alert me if something gets close and maybe a trap or two to slow them down."

  Of course. Spider stuff. Need to remember she can do stuff like that.

  "There is also another reason I wish to do this. It gives us some time alone. Although I highly believe the other two are listening to us regardless." Kayalett made her way over to the closest tree and brought some silk from her abdomen into her hands. It was interesting to watch as two of her middle legs moved the silk between her limbs. Sort of like a spider but modified slightly to incorporate her human half.

  "I want to ask. Am I the only one that doesn't serve you?"

  "In what way do you mean, because you are part of our family?"

  "But not your god group thing. Sorry arachne don't serve gods so I don't know what it's called."

  "If it helps I don't either. Zemelly keeps referring it to my Pantheon but even then my knowledge is ckluster at best, and before you ask you don't need to be part of it."

  "Oh I'm going to be part of it. Arath wouldn't let me hear the end of it if I refused." Kayalett ughed in good nature. "Besides hard to be a gods wife if I'm not one of his followers."

  I didn't quite follow her logic but I definitely wasn't going to refuse.

  "So how does this work? Do I just say, I wish to follow you for better or worse?" Kayalett asked as we were halfway around our camp with her weblike warning system.

  "No I'm pretty sure....."

  Kayalett is offering herself to you do you accept her conditions?

  Evidently not I thought, but there was the offering option as oppose to the other two swearing themselves.

  Conditions: Do not forget Kayaletts existence within your harem.

  Gains: 1 lover, 1 Battle Cleric.

  I mean yes that was an easy choice, already promised her this is just confirming it.

  Kayalett is now part of your Pantheon.

  5 skill points acquired.

  So only priestesses don't give skill points for joining. Makes sense since they earn me more ter. It gives a good point now that I think about it.

  The entire purpose of a priestess is to give skill points to their god via themselves or by getting others to swear themselves to a god. No wonder Zemelly wanted to make sure she got a good deal for herself and why she said they were sves effectively. Would have to make sure she knew I appreciate her in some way, especially if Vataria joined because of her.

  "Oh that's it?" Kayalett seemed surprised. "I was expecting a whole ritual or something."

  I almost ughed. "Yeah I'm half expecting it to be just as easy to leave."

  "Oh I can."

  That got my attention as well as someone else's.

  "Don't you dare!" Arath shouted from behind the makeshift tent she was in.

  "Don't worry I won't!" Kayalett shouted back before coming closer to me and whispering. "I just wanted you to know I can leave at any point in time according to my opinions."

  I must have had a worried look because she continued.

  "I won't leave but whatever we just agreed isn't binding."

  Another thing I need to get crity on. Hopefully Zemelly and Vataria know more especially if Vataria left a god already.

  We finished our loop of the perimeter with Kayalett attaching the st of her web to a tree but still leaving a single strand in her hand.

  "That was all I wished to speak to you about. Would you like some company on your watch?"

  "I'm fine but thank you, it would be better if you got some sleep."

  My arachnid gave me a nod before retreating back to the other girls while still holding her silk warning system.

  With the silence now settling in I made sure to put out the fire in case it attracted unwanted attention. A mistake I'd made before that had caused a pack of ogres to attack in the night. Of course I was bmed for it being the person on watch at the time even though they wanted the warmth as they slept. Hopefully the girls slept together to preserve their own body heat.

  The more I think about it the worse my adventure as a hero seemed. So much false appreciation from those I traveled with. It was honestly embarrassing that I didn't see it at the time. I bme the fact I was blinded by stories that I didn't see what was right in front of me.

  I wouldn't make the same mistake this time, I silently vowed. It was helpful that this time I was guided by someone who actually cared about me and not their reputation.

  Arath. You saved me in more ways than you know, and I'm definitely not going to compin about the harem you are all to happy building for me.

  A stray thought edged itself into my mind. She wouldn't be around forever, gods don't age but mortals do. I wanted to stab the thought but the more I tried to get rid of it the more true it became. If I really was a god then she would age eventually and I would have to say goodbye.

  No.

  I bit my lip. I refuse.

  Arath will be beside me till my dying breath, I would make sure of it.

  But how?

  The answer was simple. She would have to become a Primordial as well. Fifty skill points was the price to choose her evocation and now that I had two priestesses I could achieve it.

  The face again came to the forefront of my mind, and I couldn't help the smile that creeped into my lips. One god against two, I like those odds a lot better and with Willow and Kayalett as well. Suddenly the creature in the deep seemed a lot less threatening.

  Fourteen skill points. Thirty six more to go. It would be a huge sacrifice to use all of them on her instead of getting myself some skills but if Arath could start growing at the same rate I am. She might actually be able to dominate Rayna herself.

  Now that was a thought. It would also be more beneficial to have her able to level up skills same as me when we were in the dungeon instead of relying on her own meager supply. A lot to decide.

  I completed another loop of our camp keeping an eye on the foliage around us as well as with presence detection but nothing of interest came back. It was going to be a long night.