[Spirit of Lust] Chapter 169: Pressure. (Patreon)

Will told her everything. He told her of Ishtar, of the powers he gave her, of the things it did to him and the people around him. He told her it was how he and Cynthia got together, he told her how he met Reina, Ruth and Anna. He told her of Jack Evans, of the Spirit of Sloth, of Nanami and Aoi as well.

“Aoi Miyamoto…” Amelia muttered. “She tried to convince me to sell her that building for dirt cheap, saying it would bring me more trouble than it was worth.” She sighed and shook her head. “I could tell she was serious, but she’s a lousy businesswoman. Like I’d sell a building over some vague warnings. But you’re saying she meant that there’s a… portal to another world in that building’s basement?”

“We’ve seen it,” Reina said. “Not just the portal, but the other world.”

“It's a wasteland,” Ruth added. “There are creatures there taken straight out of fantasy books. Lizards standing on two legs, men and women with bat-like wings and tails… And simply being there was sickening.”

Amelia rubbed the bridge of her nose as she let it all sink in. “Alright, so that’s the story. Now show me proof.”

Will nodded. He raised his hand at eye level and kept it open, fingers loose. If she wanted proof, there were a few things he could show her. One was swapping with Ishtar, but that was hardly proof. For all Amelia knew, it could just be Will acting like a bratty girl.

‘Hey!’

From there, any other proof that Ishtar could present, Will could do it too. The one he decided to go with was showing her that magic was real.

He felt his body warming up, and in seconds his entire body was oozing a purple aura. Reina and Ruth noticed it, but Amelia didn’t. He expected it. Aoi had said that one’s aura could only be seen by people who could control aether to some extent. Amelia couldn’t do it, so he needed to take it a step beyond that. He focused on his hand, and the aura around it became dense, powerful, visible even to Amelia.

She gasped. “W-What’s that?”

“Aether dense enough to see,” Will explained. “The source of all supernatural phenomena. Ishtar, the spirit inside me, is basically a sentient cluster of an insane amount of aether.” He looked at Amelia and waved his hand over her. She suddenly shivered and held herself by the arms.

“W-Whaaa…?”

“You felt it, right? Something like a wave of pleasure running through you? That’s the nature of Ishtar’s powers, and by extension mine.”

“It shouldn’t be hard to believe after that, right?” Reina said. “It was a familiar sensation, wasn’t it? You’ve felt it while having sex with him.”

“It’s harmless, and undeniably good,” Rath said, shrugging. “Though… we’re investigating some possible side effects right now.”

“Side effects?” Amelia asked.

“Like Ruth said, nothing harmful,” Reina answered. “If anything, it saved our asses. In short, we may be awakening to aether, too. We can see it and feel it, but not use it yet.”

“...Could you take me to that other world you mentioned?” Amelia asked.

“No,” Will answered bluntly.

“Why not? If there’s something strange under a building I own, I should have the right to see it.”

Will sighed. “Did you forget the part where all the tenants save these two were left unconscious? If you can’t see my aura, you don’t have enough magic resistance to go there. I can protect you from anyone that tries to harm you, but not from the equivalent of poison gas.”

Amelia grimaced.

“Why do you want to see that place?” Ruth asked her. “I told you, it’s a wasteland full of monsters.”

“To see is to believe. It’s one thing to see purple light coming off of Will’s hand, but the existence of a new world… intrigues me.”

“What?”

Amelia shook her head. “It’s nothing. Nevermind. This is all too wild to take in at once. To think that Cynthia was dealing with all that crap for so long…”

“You two are friends, right?” Reina asked.

“Friends, yes, but not the closest friends. We see each other once in a while since our business areas don’t really overlap. We gossip about shared acquaintances over one or four glasses of wine. I never met her husband, and she’s never met mine, but we always complained about them.” She smiled. “I’m glad to hear she’s done with the jerk.”

Amelia dropped on the couch, to the left of Will. She sighed tiredly and kept rubbing the bridge of her nose. “And what am I supposed to make of this? That seeing Will is more trouble than it’s worth? That the amazing sex is worth the risk?”

Will tensed up.

“If you ask me,” Reina started. “I decided to see it as just another relationship. At least, in the sense that every person comes with a lot of baggage. If Will’s also makes him amazing in bed, that’s just a plus.”

“I’ve seen the length he’ll go for me,” Ruth said. “That’s enough for me to give him a chance. I’m getting used to the supernatural stuff, and there’s no denying he can satisfy us all. Now all that’s left is to see what time will say.”

Amelia chuckled. “Well, I did say I’d get serious about him, and you two bring up good points.” She turned to Will and snuggled closer to him, pressing her breasts on his arm. “And what can I say? I love a proactive man. Maybe this will be interesting.”

Will smiled wryly. “...I feel like there’s a lot of pressure on me.”

Reina sat next to him, to his right. “You’ve heard of how diamonds are made, haven’t you?”

“You press them!” Ruth yelled as she dropped on Will’s lap, laughing as she did.

And that was finally what got a good laugh out of him. Some of the tension went away, his chest felt lighter and his head clearer.

One problem was over and done with, but there was more to do. There is always more to do.

It was time to start again.