Life is a perpetual machine—it doesn’t stop. Tomorrow becomes today and today becomes yesterday—what does it all matter if we fail to live in the now.

~Ogma, God of Eloquence and Inspiration

The girls spent a lot on upgrading the road from the farm to Bluebell, which improved shipment speeds. The farm was impressive, as it was one of the few he’d seen that focused primarily on crops instead of livestock. However, it also required a small army to patrol the perimeter to keep the smaller beasts away.

He’d listened to the people managing it all and discovered that there was a lot of mundane drama. The stories were interesting, such as the farmers that tried to push their livestock into Darkstar territory so they’d feed on the crops. Turns out Mara ordered every livestock that crossed into their territory to be slaughtered. Even put up signs all over reciting a law that allowed them to kill indiscriminately if their harvest was threatened. After those idiots realized that his wives weren’t pushovers, they ended most of their shenanigans. Especially after one farmer lost almost seventy percent of his livestock. He tried to retaliate, but Nin broke the man’s legs.

The second story the workers told sounded like retaliation. When he saw images of the symbol used by the bandits, he almost laughed out loud. It was the one Mara used when she called herself Pirate Mommy in the dragon god’s trial. Even the style of taking everything, including the farmer’s clothes, was in line with what they did back then. He could only chuckle and shake his head. What made him smile was that they seemed to be in good health if they could play around.

Overall, once his women cleared out the nest of insect beasts that infested the land, Darkstar Farms grew in prestige very quickly. The people selected to manage it were very loyal and well trained. In fact, Darkstar Farms was already in the top fifty for size on the entire floor. That didn’t mean they were the most profitable, though. Since their principal product was used as beast feed, their profits were moderate at best. However, regarding the amount of land, they rivaled the bigger ones and managed to secure it at rock bottom prices. Seeing these numbers, Crow couldn’t help but be stunned.

That moderate profit might seem belittling of the achievement, but it really was a lot of money. A third of the profits were used to build walls, fences, and better roads. Those women even spent more money to plant vine fruit because they were attempting to create a winery. Crow spent a few days at the idyllic location they chose because there was already a tiny inn placed on the shores of a nearby lake. On the other side of the lake was a large hill covered in those vine plants. It was very peaceful, and he felt it had massive potential.

The herb gardens didn’t go unnoticed either. Still, those were hidden away, so it’d be hard to spot them unless someone was snooping around deliberately.

Darkstar Farms was several days behind them when the road became rougher, slowing their travel speed. Aine and Crow sat in front of a campfire, idling away while the sun was setting. Crow smiled at her and looked in the direction Ahote had disappeared to hunt for their dinner. Nuk preferred fresh meat, and those two could find beasts in the most barren locations, so he wasn’t worried they’d come back empty-handed.

“Those wives of yours…” Aine spoke but trailed off. “They are exceptional.”

“You think your husband is any less impressive?”

“N-no,” Aine shook her head.

“I admit I’ve been lucky, but so have you. Ahote will give up everything for you, and I admire him for that. It is what I’d have done for you. Did you know I used to feel guilty about all the women I claimed?” Crow looked at her while stirring the fire.

“Really? You don’t feel guilty for being a lecherous bastard now?” Aine laughed.

“I don’t because we all have the freedom to make our own choices. They know about me, and I never lied to them. People, especially cultivators, only want sincerity from their friends and partners. This is a foundational component of trust. They know I love them, and I’d dive into a pool of lava to save them. You have that sincerity, and you need to stop the comparisons on the path ahead. I know that isn’t what you intend, but it is something that will inhibit your growth. Once you realize that everything you’ll ever need in this life is beside you, who can stop you?”

“You think I’m comparing him to you?” Aine asked. “Are you that narcissistic?”

Crow laughed and rubbed Aine’s head.

“I think you know what you are thinking better than I am. So let me just say one last thing. Ahote is a great man, and I’m relieved he is by your side because I worry about you. He isn’t less than or greater than me, but he should be greater in your eyes because he’s your man. A man that went into the fire to pull you free, knowing that he probably wouldn’t walk out. Understand? We are similar, but he’s yours, and if you fully open your heart to him, what can’t the two of you accomplish?”

“What are we talking about now?” Aine asked, a little confused. She loved Ahote but always had a soft spot for Crow. It wasn’t worth denying it to herself.

“I’ll tell you a secret—watch my eyes,” Crow told her and activated his Silver-Eyed Crow powers, which had changed since he left Wistman’s Woods. The lines of karma were clearer, so his ability to see the past and present had strengthened. There was also a physical change. The golden ring surrounding his pupil had thickened, so the light emitted when he activated his powers was more visible.

“What is that?”

“I am sensitive to karma, and there are connections around you that are strong. You are connected to Ahote and me. He’d probably even allow you to have multiple lovers, provided he was sure they wouldn’t hurt you. But in your heart, you’ve already chosen Ahote because I can see the bond between you two has nearly solidified to the point of no return. You two are forever entangled, and the bond will only shatter if one of you dies. Your combined future potential… it’s a little frightening. I can see a whole spiderweb network of connections. That means your friendship is bound to have its own legend.”

“But I am at a crossroads?” Aine realized what Crow was trying to do. She had long given up on any romantic feelings she might have had for Crow. In truth, those were primarily residual feelings from their childhood memories.

“Naw, you’ve already chosen your path, but you are hesitating. Stop doing that. I’m sure you already know it in your heart but are scared to do so but give Ahote your everything, and you will not regret it—by limb and root, I swear it.”

“If I’m already at this precipice, why are you bringing this up?”

“Because…” Crow hesitated. With his eyes still glowing, he looked toward the sky and sighed. “Because your path, like mine, won’t be easy. The sooner you confirm your feelings for that Beastlord you fancy, the better off you’ll be when your tribulations come.”

“You won’t be there to save me?” Aine frowned.

“I’m afraid our paths will diverge sooner rather than later?”

“But… why?”

Crow laughed, and the gold ring in his eyes dimmed. He pointed at her stomach. “Do you not know?”

Aine rubbed her belly, and her body shuddered. Tears fell as she wrapped her arms around her stomach as if to protect it.

“You’re pregnant?” Ahote asked from behind them. Even Crow hadn’t realized when the man arrived. His eyes roamed between Crow and Aine. “Is everything you said true?”

“Karma and fate are not static. What I’ve determined is real, but telling you has already altered what I previously felt. However, the bond between you two is more fierce than you know.”

“What do we do?” Ahote asked, walking up to Aine and hugging her. “And you silly girl, are you happy?”

“Happy!” Aine nodded, her head rubbing against Ahote’s chest.

Crow hesitated and handed over one of the Wistman’s artifacts. “This is a gift for your child. It has a rare technique on it that our Druid Order has long lost. It is powerful and will give him access to that other place I told you about once a year. During his visit there in the future, I’ll give him training and guidance.”

“This…” Aine knew about Crow’s experience in that other place, but he hadn’t said anything about the artifacts. That was mainly because he wouldn’t have many left after giving one to his wives. However, he believed instinctual urges were a manifestation of luck, so he went with his impulse.

“As far as what you should do… continue to climb. You have time to reach the sixth floor, but I don’t recommend passing through the sixth floor while pregnant. That place is called the Witchwood Forest, and it’s a place with a lot of dark rituals, cultists, and Hex magic. Also, I haven’t confirmed it, but I believe Unholde has an enormous presence there.”

“So we head back to a previous floor?” Ahote was feeling nervous. As a first-time father, he wasn’t sure what he should do and wanted to protect his unborn child.

“No. Go back to Oiche. They’ve opened the False Dawn Academy, which operates jointly with the Druid Order and the Beastlords. Once the kid is old enough, you can leave him or her with the clan and take six months to reach the next floor and return. Repeat until the child is old enough to awaken and start their climb.”

“Alright, we’ll do as you say,” Ahote said. “And… no matter if it’s this life or the next, I’ll pledge myself to your service. You saved my wife and me—”

“It is fine,” Crow chuckled. “You don’t need to do that. If something happens, I won’t hesitate to call on you, but as I said before, you two might be at the beginning of your own legendary adventure. Don’t let your thoughts of gratitude inhibit your own growth. I feel that after we part, the next time we’ll meet is in the upper realms. You already have the status of an elite of the Darkstar faction, so use the organization as much as you need.”

“You are really—special!” Aine snorted with laughter. “How can you say such cringe-worthy things with a straight face.”

Crow burst out laughing, and then they spent the next few hours cooking, eating, and talking about their child’s future and what to call it. It was a hopeful look toward the future, and Crow cherished the moment.