Stronger Together chapter 93 (Patreon)

We got back to the hotel in a few hours and all passed out. The fight  had been at sundown, but between the hours getting up and down and the  battle, not to mention being on a knife's edge the entire evening we  were all exhausted. Barb and I didn't get any sexy time sadly, but I  couldn't complain about that because the reason for the short dry spell  was the other two girls curled up in my bed. It wasn't a sexual thing we  were just tired and it was comforting curling up together. Cinder was  unusually warm and Kara being from an ice planet snuggled in close to  enjoy the heat.

I got the other  side of the girl in the red dress and Barb was on the other side of me. I  slept like a baby and woke up in a great mood. I missed Chicago. That  house had quickly become home, and Raven had sounded so lonely on our  phone calls. Seeing my sorceress again was going to be wonderful. I knew  Barb was as excited to see our girlfriend as I was, and Kara was so  excited to see Inari. Even Cinder had been missing Sam something fierce,  even if she hadn't mentioned her best friend more than a few times.

Waking  up and having our continental breakfast was great, but it also came  with some sad news. The wizards would be leaving us, as Senior council  members they were always in demand and this errand, while important had  taken quite a bit of time. River had a date to go on so he would be  coming back with us, but Ebenezar, Joe, and Liberty, were going to be  parting ways with us for quite some time. It was sad to think about,  they'd taught us as much if not more than Harry, and I knew Barb had  bonded with Liberty almost as much as Cinder had bonded with River.

I'd  learned a ton from Ebenezar too, ad Joe had always been around to help  us when we got stuck or if we were getting frustrated. The old man had  the patience of a saint for his students, though I knew from the books  id he decided you were an enemy that patience could vanish in an  instant. Still leaving the wizards felt sad, Harry had agreed to teach  us and done his best but when you though about learning magic you  pictured someone like Ebenezar. Plus he had experience, Harry was a good  wizard but Ebenezar was a great teacher, and even Harry admitted those  weren't the same.

Harry  had also enjoyed the month spent with his grandfather and I was happy  that he'd been able get this time with the old man before they became  estranged. He deserved the good memories and more, I just hoped I could  smooth things over between them when the truth finally came out. But it  was time to go. They came with us to the entrance to the nevernever to  see us off and they looked almost as sad about us going was we felt. It  was nice to know the fondness we had for the old timers was mutual. When  it came time to head to the council which we would need to do  eventually they at least would definitely welcome us.

Ebenezar  stepped up first putting a hand on my shoulder. "I've questioned Hoss's  decisions in the past, but the boy hit the jackpot with you, son.  You're one of the most talented your wizards I've ever met, and you're  going to do great things. I hope to be able to help teach you again  someday, but until then listen to my apprentice, he's got a good head on  his shoulders and he won't steer you wrong." He nodded to the girls "I  didn't spend as much time with you three, but you seem like fine young  ladies, and you're all damn dangerous fighters. It was an honor to go  into battle alongside you, and I look forward to seeing how powerful you  become."

Kara  lunged forward to hug the old man, who grunted with a surprised smile  as Barb piled in hugging our grand mentor before he left us his hand  fell from my shoulder as the girls piled into him and I smiled. Joe was  next up, stepping forward to offer us all a proud smile. "You children  do an old man proud. I wasn't directly responsible for training you, but  I feel like I had a hand in your growth all the same. I truly believe  you're all going to go far, and I'm grateful you were here to help with  this." He chucked his head at Ebenezar "This old redneck won't admit it  because he feels like should put on a strong front for his grand  disciples but we would have been lost without you."

Finally  Liberty stepped forward and Barb hurled herself into the older womans  arms, tearing a wet chuckle from the powerful wizard. "As I said before,  I should like nothing more than to be your master full time, but my  duties to the senior council deprive me of that joy. Still seeing how  far you've come in these last few weeks and knowing I had a part in it  is a greater pride than I've known in quite some time. You're an amazing  woman Barbara, and you're going to take this world by storm. I'm always  available should you wish to reach out through the methods we discussed  and I wish you the best."

I  gave a watery smile of my own as I looked down at the stocky scotsman.  "I cant thank you enough, sir. You've taught me more than I can imagine  and every bit of it saved my life and will continue to do so in the  future I'm sure. I hope our paths cross again soon, and until then stay  safe." I stepped up to hug him brushing Kara aside. "Us youngsters need  you around to keep us in line, so don't go taking any reckless chances.  Imagine what would happen to Harry if you left him unattended." The old  man gave a rumbling laugh and hugged me back.

We  exchanged a few more heartfelt goodbyes and then it was time to go. Joe  made his whirling motion and with a ripple we were all alone in that  empty clearing in those golden woods. We could see the graves off to the  side where we had buried the bodies of the fallen, but once again we  never spoke their name. We walked silently through that part of the  forest, no one willing to break the silence left behind by all that  death. We walked through that same forest we'd come through all those  weeks ago and it just felt so...different. We were such different  people. We'd been in Colorado longer than we'd been in Chicago.

I  couldn't wait to get back and see Raven and Yang and even the vampires.  Going home just felt so good. I was more comfortable on this insane  hell world than I ever had been back home. As we walked in silence I  looked down at the ring I'd made of godsteel. I'd done some  experimenting with it today. I could use to store and channel magic,  incredibly well actually, but nothing I did made it take on that  multicolored shimmer again. Once it became metal the shape was set. That  said I couldn't help but wonder about magic items. I didn't know how to  make them of course but the possibilities were endless.

I  could picture Harry's force rings made of godsteel, or maybe even a  staff if we could get enough power. Maybe we could fill my arm slowly  over weeks and build up enough for something like that. I wanted to  learn enchanting now as soon as possible. Tearing my mind away from that  though I decided to give the ring to Harry. With the size difference he  would need to wear it on his pinky probably but he could put it to much  better use than I could. The rings gave me a great idea though. I could  make godsteel chain mail. Each ring was small enough that I could  probably make one of them a day all on my own.

It  would be a fantastic gift for Kara even if it would take months to  make. As my Aura reserves grew it would get faster though. It would make  a hell of a gift. i even fantasized about other gifts I could make from  the stuff. Rings or earrings or weapons, but all of them would have to  wait. Hopefully practicing with the chain mail would help me learn more  about my unique new ability and how it worked. If River was to be  believed my arm was unique but that just meant once I mastered using it  it could be a huge advantage. Hell maybe i could outsource some work to  Svartalves once I got a stockpile.

We  arrived back in the main lands of Summer after about twenty minutes of  walking, and I stole up next to Barb and threw an arm around her  shoulders. "So, we're almost home. I know Raven has missed both of us  and I can't wait to see her, are you excited?" I squeezed her against me  and smiled, I knew that she and Raven called even more than the daily  three way calls we had, and she'd been missing our girlfriend terribly.  With the sexual tension out of the way the two of them had become so  close and despite being so far apart had continued to get closer long  distance.

Barb  grinned back at me in excitement "Of course I am. It's been weeks.  Hearing her voice was great but no offense you aren't nearly as fun to  cuddle in bed. You just don't have soft parts she does." I laughed at  her faux whisper and chose not to point out that neither did she, at  least not nearly as much of them. I had learned many important life  skills since coming to this world, keeping your mouth shut instead of  getting in a good jab at your girlfriend was the one I considered to  most integral to my survival.

She  was right though, I missed cuddling our half demon too, Raven was warm  and soft and gave the cutest squeaks when you squeezed her. Sleeping  without her in the bed had been the worst part of the trip. I looked  over at Kara, who was hiking nearby in a pair of jean shorts and a tied  off t shirt. "How about you, Kare-bear? Excited to see Inari again? I  know you were commuting for a while but that can't be as good as living  together. Plus this last week had you pretty busy. Looking forward to  being home?"

Kara's  laugh was musical even if her face was a bit red after I brought up the  nickname. "Of course, not to mention it's been days since I saw Yang.  Since I was there at night mainly we didn't get as much time to spend  together and the others were asleep. Being back at the house for real it  definitely going to be a whole different beast." She nodded at the  others "I know they're excited too. Cinder can't wait to see Sam." She  lowered her voice to a whisper "Plus River had been excited about his  big date. I've heard his heartbeat whenever it comes up."

She  dodged out of the way of a mud ball that mysteriously flew at her from  the direction of the carefully not paying attention Sasquatch and  laughed, the rest of us joining it. The woods were golden and beautiful,  I was with great people and I was on my way home safe and sound. This  trip had been a hell of journey to be sure but I didn't regret taking it  at all. Now we just had to find out what was waiting for us back home.  Even if we hadn't had to deal with the Black Court incursion we would  still have plenty to worry about, but somehow I just felt like we could  handle it. Together.