Kechara says "I would really like that!"

Asuna says "Me too! Me too!"

Core says "As long as it is not too long of a trip there should be no problems."

"It won't be right away, but I really hate leaving them here all the time."

Core says "Kechara is at a point in her magic lessons that she can afford to take a break now and then."

Kechara says "So I can go?"

Core says "Yes, Kechara, you can go."

Kechara says "Yay!!"

Asuna says "Me too?"

"Yes, Asuna, you too. But as I said, it won't be right away. I still have some things to do first."

Both of them say they understand, but they are both obviously excited. It takes a few minutes to calm them down a bit, but I don't mind, they are cute when worked up. It feels good to spend time with them, I hadn't realized how much I missed them till now.

They are also doing a really good job distracting me from worrying about the experiment. The two of them quickly come over and start begging to know when they could go with me. Not having an answer at the moment I try to come up with something to distract them.

"Oh, that's right! How have the magic lessons been going?"

Kechara says "Really good! I can use all four elements!"

Asuna says "I can only use ice."

Core says "That is because of your bloodline, but I doubt you could find anyone as able as you with ice."

Kechara says "Yeah, I can only use water, not ice."

"Asuna, there is nothing wrong with being specialized. You are just like me."

Asuna says "Really?"

"Yeah! I can only use lightning and probably not even as well as you can use ice!"

Asuna says "I am more like dad!" and sticks her tongue out at Kechara.

Kechara says "Maybe, but I'm the older sister!"

"Now, now, no fighting! You are both my children and I love you equally!"

Kechara says "Yes, father."

Asuna says "Okay, daddy."

"Especially now that you have younger brothers. You need to set a good example for them."

Both say "Yes, dad." and come over to be petted.

Of course, I oblige them and start scratching behind their ears making them happy. Asuna puts her head in my lap, but Kechara can't do that, her head is too big. So she instead holds her head next to my side so I can reach her ears.

Yui and Core are quiet, probably working on the ritual, leaving me and the girls mostly alone. That is fine by me, spending time with the girls like this is very relaxing. So for the next hour or so I just sit quietly, petting Kechara and Asuna.

This peaceful time lasts right up until Ekard and Haku come rushing into the room. Sarah and Windy enter shortly after them, but Myria is not with them. Asuna moves her head out of the way as Ekard climbs up my body until he can put his face against mine.

Ekard says "Mama, I'm hungry!"

"Alright, little one, dinner will be here soon."

Kechara says "Why does he insist on calling you mama?"

"I'm not sure, but I think it is probably because I was holding his egg when he hatched."

Sarah says "Myria said she had some things to discuss with Kitara, so she will be having dinner with her."

"Alright, that makes sense. After all, the experiment will have a huge effect on the beastmen if it works. Did she say anything else to you?"

Sarah says "She asked me what it was like to die and be brought back."

"I can't blame her for being curious, especially considering the risk she is about to take."

Sarah says "I think she is handling it well. I don't think you need to worry about her."

"You mean there is nothing I can do anyway so don't annoy her?"

Sarah says "That too!"

Ekard finally climbs down off me when the sprites come in carrying the food. He tries to just climb onto the table to eat, but Kechara is not having it. She pushes him into a chair and sits behind him to keep an eye on him so that he behaves.

As we eat dinner there is only small talk, no one mentions the experiment. Since Myria isn't here, the others are probably avoiding talking about it for my sake. While I appreciate the thought, it doesn't work, the entire time I am thinking about the experiment.

After dinner Kechara takes the kids to the play room that Yui made and I follow along. The playroom turns out to be a normal room that has had the floor, ceiling, and walls padded. It is filled with all sorts of pillows and other soft things that the kids can hit each other with.

As soon as Ekard and Haku see the room, they go nuts and charge into the room. Asuna follows them in and before they can attack each other she attacks them. Asuna, with a pillow gripped in each tail, starts pummeling Ekard and Haku.

Kechara and I just watch and laugh as the boys panic, they aren't used to having someone else play. It doesn't take them long to team up against Asuna, but they aren't used to working together. They lose badly, and it is absolutely hilarious to watch, just what I needed.

This continues until both Ekard and Haku collapse from exhaustion, by then my ribs hurt from laughing. At that point all that is left to do is to put them to bed, which is fairly easy. Kechara and Asuna each pick up one of the kids and carry them to my bedroom.

Sarah and Windy choose to use one of the other bedrooms, leaving me and the kids in mine. Kechara curls around the outside of the bed leaving the middle to the rest of us. So Asuna and I climb into the middle and curl up around Ekard and Haku.

Ekard and Haku fall asleep immediately, they are too worn out to keep their eyes open. Kechara and Asuna can't sleep, they are too excited to have me around I guess. However, with about a half hour of petting they finally calm down enough to fall asleep.

Once they are all asleep I enter into my meditation room and start my homework. I go back through my memories and review every single time I have ever manipulated mana. Then once I have gone through all of them, I go back and start over from the beginning.

In the end I spend the entire night going over everything again and again like a broken record. I just can't stop myself, somehow I feel that if I review enough it will prevent any mistakes. Before I know it, morning has arrived and the kids start waking up.