"How is she?" I ask.

Rishya grimaces, after taking Kaede's pulse and listening to her chest.

"She is sick, Elijah-sama. Her mind is closed off from the spirits. Michael even, is thrown aside. She is denying her very self."

"If I deny my feelings, I only deny myself." Seria says to herself.

"Uh... that means 'do not deny your feelings lest you kill your very being' is it not, Seria-sama?"

"Ufufu... close enough, Rishya. Do you know of it?"

Oh, was Seria speaking Syjilian again just now?

"Ah... grandfather set it as the new motto of the academy when he came in charge!" She smiles.

"Fufufu... that sly old man, Douglas, was it...?" she snickers. "Boy... you heard the original meaning, did you not? You should remember it. It is very important for magic... and mmm... probably your current situation as well."

I guess she means it’s important to harem management. True enough. I can't deny myself, no matter what happens. I resolved that much.

"Nii... um... do not worry, Kaede-chan will get better, I'm sure!" Kiku is balling her fists and looks determined.

I ruffle her head for her kindness, and she chitters again.

I take a deep breathe.

"Well... ladies, a hell of a lot happened yesterday... and this morning... but my promise still stands." I state.

"Should I take Rishya on a date as thanks, perhaps?"

"Ah!" She jumps, almost accidently slapping the downed Kaede.

"Uh... I'd love to, Elijah-sama... but... uh... I am still tired from all the healing. And I should watch over Kaede. Perhaps you should take Kiku or Seria-sama?"

What's this about?

"Hmm, are you sure?" I touch her face.

She looks away, with a wry smile.

"I... uh... I promised to go out with Aria today. I can wait for a later turn. And... p-please stop with the casual touching!"

I see. Yeah... I'm sure Aria has plenty of girls talk due.

"As you will, my lady." I let her go and she has a somewhat resigned smile.

"I do want it, Elijah-sama. Make no mistakes!" She grins.

How cute. I ruffle her head as well. She turns to leave.

"So then..." I turn to the other two.

Seria pushes Kiku in front of me. She looks like a deer trapped in the headlights.

"Take this girl. It is Saulmsday. The Inn will be quiet." Seria says.

"Um... um! Eh wot?! W-well... if Seria says so... p-please take care of me, Nii."

She is smiling like a spring flower but looks terrified at the same time.

"Get ready to go then, Kiku." I nod.

"Y-yes!" She dashes off, chittering.

She is really like some kind of turbo chipmunk at times. Adorable.

Aria and Kali have already left. Aria said she wanted some air after her bath, and Kali said that Saulmsday has a community arena tournament which she always joined in where possible.

I'm still a little worried about Kaede. She's a very brittle sort, and all these changes to her were bound to cause her some issues. But I didn't expect it to be this damaging. She looks like she's dropped into a coma...

It is... I suppose, a little disturbing, hearing she apparently enjoyed killing that demon.

Is treating her like a girl that I'm interested in the wrong path here?

Well... no point worrying about it. This is something she needs to work through on her own. I need to give her more space than the others, perhaps?

Let's not dwell on it, let’s try to think about the date with Kiku.

If it is Saulmsday... I guess that means it’s the start of the week. I've still not fully got a handle on the whole myths side of things, but according to one of Seria's primers, Saulmsday is the first day of the week, and a celebration of the day that Saulm put fire to the dead stone that would become the world.

So, basically this worlds Sunday equivalent, but they celebrate the start of all things and the creation itself, rather than the point that rest happened.

You're always expected to start new businesses, shops and ventures on Saulmsday, so it’s very busy for some people. Most of those with long-term stable jobs get the day off so that new things can be enjoyed and sampled. I suppose this means the Furious Stallion gets less business precisely because its well-established already. It's a really nice idea to give the fresh ideas a chance to prove themselves.

Creating new relationships as well. With Kiku.

Incidentally, this means I got together with Aria on Junasday, which is an auspicious day for couples expecting or wanting a long-term relationship, blessed as they would be by the goddess of time, growth, and fertility.

Ultimately, it’s all superstition of course. But I suppose in a world with ample magic, what's to say some of these things aren't shown to be common patterns? It's something to think about.

Suddenly Kiku reappears. I have no idea where she got it from, but she has picked up a slender red dress made of some shiny, soft looking fabric. Reminds me of satin.

It hugs her slender figure nicely, and much like her red armour, complements her down green hair, and looks very much her colour.

"Um... Nii... do I... I must look strange... right?" She sighs.

Whoops, a little too much hesitation drinking in the sights there, Elijah.

"No way! I was downright floored by how gorgeous you suddenly became that it muted me." I grin.

Kiku fidgets and shakes and has a wry grin and a blush.

"Fufufu, nice save, boy." Seria remarks. She has started writing again at the desk here.

"Um! Eh wot!? I... uh... I'm not that gorgeous Nii... please don't fib so much... I've... uh... got none of Kako's boobs or figure or anything... or Aria's sheer gorgeousness... or..."

"Kiku." I take a serious tone. "You are one of the cutest things I've ever seen."

I wrap my arms around her and she shivers.

"Now. You're mine for today. Stop thinking about others for five minutes and think about yourself for once. What do you want, and what can I give you?"

"Nii... nii... niiiii! Elijahhhh!" She squeaks, and gives me bone crushing hug, rubbing herself up against me.

I suppose, unlike some of the girls, Kiku is one that doesn't instantly go for closeness. Probably her low confidence. So… this is new in itself.

"Yup, I'm here. Let's go."

"Nnn! Let's!" She smiles radiantly.

How adorable.