Van woke up to the nice cool sheets he wrapped himself up in last night. Rosalyn was naked beside him, Luna on his other side. She had joined in later that night, using the excuse to better know her future sister wife to get in on the action.

He thought it would have been better to spend some alone time with Rosalyn. Since it was the day of their date after all, but Rosa seemed fine with it, and even looked forward to watching the two in the act, saying she wanted to learn their preferences.

After that was an interesting night, to say the least… but very enjoyable…

Which now leads to this morning and Van discussing how he wanted to spend a few days going on proper dates with all his wives and concubines. To which Luna became very excited about, since that included her, and Rosalyn was very supportive, offering to pay for all expenses while he was at it.

“You know Van… I don’t think I’ve ever heard a male going out of their way to ask a woman out on a date. Or at least… it’s very rare…” Rosalyn said. “Even if it’s with your own wives, the fact that you would go out of your way to give them each some of your time to make them happy… well…” She began to look giddy. “It’s just so romantic! It really makes me happy to think I’ll marry a male like you!” Looking very excited about her future together with him.

“I know right!” Luna happily agreed. “He’s just so perfect! Kind! Loving! Caring! Amazing in bed! Handsome! Smart! Strong! Name me another male like him! I dare you!” Then began to laugh proudly.

Rosalyn gave a few giggles in reply to Luna’s infectious laughter. After a moment of this she turned to Van to ask him a question. “By the way Van, have you come to a decision about accepting Duvessa and Katalinya as concubines? I don’t mean to put any pressure on you, but I would like to know before the wedding since I want to include my best friends in the ceremony. If that’s alright with you…” sounding nervous about it all of a sudden.

“Sure, I don’t see why not. It’s just two of them, and they seem like nice people. Plus it’s your special day.” Van nonchalantly said.

“Though truthfully, I’ve already accepted that this might just be par for the course now in my life. I don’t even know if those two would ever even follow me. They might as well be part of my harem in name only, so in the end, it’s no real big deal…” thinking such thought’s inwardly, though not realizing how Rosalyn would take it until he saw her wide-eyed and open-mouthed look of shock. Weirding him out a bit.

“Hah!” Luna stuck out her chest. “You didn’t have to worry about that! Unless Van hated the person, he wouldn’t turn your friends down! I mean, he only knew my best friend for a few days, and accepted her as a concubine anyway! Because he loves me! Which means Van already sees you as family! Congratulations sister!” Going over to Rosalyn and giving the small woman a big hug.

After their sisterly bonding, Rosalyn couldn’t help but thank Van tearfully.

“Thank you Van… You have no idea how much this means to me… the thought of my friends being a part of my family forever… I…” She sniffled. “I just don’t know what to say… But thank you…”

Van was taken aback by this. He honestly didn’t even really care… but to Rosalyn, it was something super important… it made him think… were entire friendships broken up just because the male a woman was marrying refused to marry her friend as well? If that was the case… it was kinda sad… but on the other hand… would you marry someone's friend just because they asked? At least he got to meet the people… but…

He decided not to think about it anymore.

Instead he scooted over and got in on the hug. “It’s no problem, really. After everything you’ve done for us, and probably will do for us in the future, this is the least I can do.”

Rosalyn looked down, as if she was feeling guilty all of a sudden. “Even if… I'm no different… than the client’s at the Lover’s Guild?”

Van tilted his head.

“I mean! If you think about it… aren't I just as well… Buying your love by offering to pay for everything for you?” She asked solemnly, almost as if fearful of how he would react now that she pointed out her own worries that she believed would make him angry with her, or make him think less of her.

“No… of course not.” He replied, shaking his head. “The fact that you are concerned about this, and that you pointed it out means you care about what kind of relationship you want with me. I think it just proves your sincerity… I also… have to admit… that I didn’t like the feeling of owing you… but that wasn’t your fault but mine. I should figure out myself, how to earn money and take care of myself, and I think I have…” Thinking back to his time at the alchemist guild. It was hard work, but felt rewarding… and perhaps there were other things as well he could do to earn money and take care of himself… like selling things inside his soul realm…

Speaking of which…

“Also, you aren’t the only one hiding ulterior motives… honestly… I agreed to this marriage not just because I thought you were cute-”

“Cute?”

“Or really pretty-”

“P-Pretty!”

“Or kinda sexy hot in your own way-”

“W-what!?”

“But because I wanted your power to help protect myself and my loved ones… If I have to be honest… I don’t know what kind of relationship we’ll have… I kinda… just bring all of my loved ones with me… I’m admittedly afraid… if we really fall for one and other… but have to stay separate for years, maybe even decades apart… is it even worth it?”

“...sorry. That was probably something I shouldn’t have said…” Thinking he just ruined the chance of making Rosalyn feel better now.

Rosalyn, for her part, was a deep shade of red. It never would have occurred to her that Van would see her as anything of those things he just said. After all, she was an Ingrid, beautiful yes… but not someone people would happily marry… They were considered more like walking dolls than actual people, with some vampires looking down on their beauty with jealousy and hate.

And now that she had a chance to hear Van’s own insecurities, she actually felt worse about how she originally just wanted to marry him for his status and what he could offer…yet… also a little touched by how much he cared for her…

She wanted to ask him about carrying his loved ones with him but figured that was just some sort of metaphor. More importantly, she had to ease his worries somehow. So reached out and held his hands.

“Even if we're apart. We have two whole weeks to get to know each other. And it’s not like once you leave that will be the end of that… we can send letters, gifts, I can even spend the money necessary to expand the pulse network so that we can talk to each other more often. And it’s not like you won’t return and can’t visit me… or that-...” Her own words began to die on her lips as it dawned on her that if she truly fell in love with him, how badly she would want him beside her no matter what. Even a few years can feel like forever…

But… even after that melancholy thought, she couldn’t help a small smile make its way up her face. For even if they weren’t able to spend a lot of time together… If she could marry such a male as Van… perhaps it would be worth it… someone who genuinely worries and cares for her… not just her few friends or her father… but her actual husband… that’s not someone she could let slip through her fingers, no matter what…

“Ugh! Seriously! You both got all solemn all of a sudden!” Luna complained.

She looked towards Rosalyn. “It doesn’t matter if we spend years apart! You are my sister! And you will always be! You don’t have to worry about space or time because I and Van will take care of it! Right Van!” Looking at her husband expectantly.

Van furrowed his brows in confusion, then tilted his head in thought. Perhaps there was a way… through his soul realm… he should ask Ren about this.

Rosalyn didn’t miss the play-by-play, looking between Van and Luna curiously.

Seeing Rosalyn’s confusion, Van decided to tell her about his soul realm, but only if she agreed to swear not to tell anyone else.

She of course agreed, and Van and Luna shared a look with each other. Luna gave a nod and Van sighed. Somewhat already regretting letting his emotions carry him away again. But at the same time… a little hopeful that he might add another person he could trust to his roster.

He first brought out a large piece of rolled-up paper and laid it out. Then began to explain that not everyone that went into the forest with him that fateful day that Karmine attacked them actually died.

“They didn’t die? What do you mean?” Rosalyn asked, looking confused, not disbelieving him, but secretly worried that Van may be in some sort of denial. Yet hopeful at the same time that he might have an ace up his sleeve that would explain why he said what he did.

“The truth is… I can store people within my soul realm… I stored those who remained in my soul realm… but I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to just… summon them out of the blue… fewer people ask questions because… I… Have a large soul realm…” He admitted.

“Ah…” Rosalyn said thoughtfully. “That would make sense… I didn’t think it was possible for you to have all your troops completely wiped out…”

“You… believe me?” He asked surprised.

“While it is rare, it’s not like it’s impossible for a person to have an ability to hold people inside their soul realm. I mean, sure the average person can barely hold a few people or so, even if you have a large soul realm. And a rare few, maybe a dozen or two. But what’s really amazing is that you have the ability in the first place! Not just anyone can store other living creatures inside of them! Usually, the only way you can get into another person's soul realm is to astral project into them with the owner's permission! It’s really amazing you're one of the few people who can do something like that!” Rosalyn said, looking up at him with newfound wonder.

“I’ve always wanted to see someone’s soul realm in the flesh! That’s why you brought out this paper with the runic circle right? So as to make it easier on the transfer for you? I admit I’m kinda nervous about this. But it will be the closest thing to a real adventure ever!” looking at him now with wanderlust in her eyes.

Van didn’t know how to respond to Rosalyn’s excitement. He felt like he maybe should have done a better job at explaining. But figured perhaps it was best to show than tell…

But first… he probably should tell her a few more things…

He cleared his throat. “Rosalyn… before I show you my soul realm… I’m going to have to ask for your help in trying to figure out a cover story for when I move my people out of my soul realm and-”

“Easy. They're your summons.” Rosalyn said flatly but then smiled in good humor. “Don’t worry, I’ll figure something out more compelling.” She joked. “But honestly it’s a pretty good excuse, especially with what you may be learning once you get to school.”

Van wondered what she meant by that, but decided to save the question for later. “Okay… but more importantly, once you are inside, it might take you some time to explore everything… because when I say my soul realm is large… I actually mean massive! Like it would take a day or two to thoroughly explore everything! And it only got bigger when Luna and my other wives joined in! So it’s really huge! And I really need you to promise me that you won’t say anything about it.” Trying to impress upon her the importance of what he was saying.

She looked at him a little oddly, but nodded, thinking that he truly believed that his soul realm was actually bigger than it actually was. Or perhaps it really was, and she was in for a treat. Though what gave her pause was the part of when Van said Luna and his wives added to his soul realm… She made sure to ask about that after giving another oath of silence.

“Oh, ya… me and Luna are… Soul Bonded…” He replied.

“You're what!” Rosalyn exclaimed, looking back and forth between Van and Luna in shock.

Van then explained how he absorbed the souls of those whose soul bonded into his soul realm. He felt a little terrified about how she might react to that and hoped he wouldn’t think of him as some sort of monster for it, quickly explaining the benefits of such an arrangement. Luna nodded along and also explained a few things from her perspective, actually helping by giving nuance and showing complete trust in her husband, and answering a few of Rosalyn’s other questions.

Near the end, Rosalyn had to take a mental step back to recover.

“So… let me get this straight… you two are soul bonded… and not just you two… but all your true wives are… and for each wife you soul bonded… you absorb their souls into your soul realm… which amplifies them, making them bigger and thereby also making your soul realm bigger overall… not to mention… you each get bonuses for doing so… and! Become immortal so long as Van is alive… Did I get everything so far?” She asked after a few moments of thought.

Van and Luna nodded.

“Okay… but… Hypothetically speaking… what would happen… if Van died while all of his wives were outside?”

Van and Luna looked at each other worriedly, then turned back to Rosalyn and shrugged.

“Well… I can say I’ve always wanted adventure… though I didn’t expect it to be like this…” Rosalyn looked at Van and Luna. “Alright then… I think I got over it… while… being soul-bonded is rare… it’s not like I’ve never heard of it happening before… but… joining souls like that… hmmm…”

Rosalyn gave herself a quick clap on her cheeks. “Alright then!” looking at Van straight in the eye with determination. “Let’s do this! I want to see with my own eyes what you have to show me!”

She then gave a gentle smile to Van. “And don’t worry… no matter what! You will be my husband!” Though she might have said that more for herself than for Van…

Van nodded, feeling like he knew that Rosalyn was actually really nervous about this, but not wanting to say anything about it. Instead, he simply asked her to sit in the circle and not to worry too much about what might happen next. That the feeling of falling is natural the first time.

Rosalyn didn’t know what to think about that. But did as she was told and nervously got in the center of the circle. The next thing she knew, the light of the runes glowed… and she found herself… somewhere else…

Somewhere… amazing…