Lin says "No, you won't."

Neesha descends from the ceiling, but instead of landing on the floor she floats out of the room. Keeble quickly gets up and follows his floating sister, he is probably worried she will float overboard. I know that Lin won't take things that far, at least not the first time.

Brightfire says "I can't believe it, but you didn't deny it, Ash, so it must be true! You really slept with her!"

As soon as she finishes speaking, Brightfire storms out of the cabin and slams the door behind her. This wakes up the baby, but luckily it only looks around to locate me and then goes back to sleep. She reacted a lot calmer than I was expecting, there was no fire at all.

I was sure that being startled awake would have led to at least a fireball. Instead, her first response was to find me, it looks like she is going to be one of my kids for sure. That still leaves me with the problem of thinking of a name for her.

Lin says "I'm sorry for acting without your permission, but that was the perfect opportunity. I hope you are not mad at me."

"No, I'm not mad. I hadn't decided yet, but I was leaning this way. I'm not worried about Neesha, but Brightfire deserves an explanation. We have been through quite a lot together. If you weren't around, she would be at the top of the list."

Lin says "Then that means I am at the top of the list? So you do like me!"

"I like what I know of you so far, but I plan to learn more about you before I make a decision."

Lin says "That's fine. I can be patient. Have you tested the shapeshift yet?"

"No, not yet. I was planning to do that next, but then this happened."

Lin says "What were you doing anyway? From the fact that you didn't react when they barged in, I figured it was important."

"I was in a soulscape talking to someone."

Lin says "What's a soulscape?"

Since the knowledge won't hurt anything I take a few minutes to explain it to Lin. Once I have explained it I create another soulscape and invite her to see it for herself. The problem is that when she appears she is completely naked and I just freeze.

It turns out, to my shock, that she has been using some tricks with her clothes to hide her figure. She is even more amazing naked than when she is dressed and I can't help but stare. Only when she realizes why I am staring and tries to cover up do I turn my back.

"Ahem! Sorry! You can create clothes just by imagining them. From now on just imagine being dressed when you arrive and it will happen."

Lin says "Alright, you can turn around now. I noticed you got a good eyeful, did you enjoy it?"

"I would be lying if I said I didn't. So, you have been hiding your figure all this time?"

Lin says "Yes, I have. I had enough trouble with being chased, if I didn't hide my figure it would only get worse."

"That makes sense. You've told me plenty about the pigs chasing you. You are safe now, the elves won't act that way."

Lin says "Now that word has spread that I am yours, I doubt anyone will bother me. I was just hoping to find out if you liked me before you saw my body."

"Are you worried that I am only after you for your body?"

Lin says "Now that you have seen me naked, yes."

"If that were the case would I have rejected you several times?"

Lin says "Maybe you are just playing hard to get."

"Has any man ever played hard to get with you?"

Lin says "Well, no. However, you are not like any man I have ever met before, so who knows."

"Thank you for the compliment. Yet, I meant what I said, I won't decide until I know you better."

Lin says "Are you saying if I was naked right now and offered myself to you, you would still say no?"

"Yes, I would. I am not saying it would be easy, but I would still say no."

Lin says "Why fight it? It is just some fun."

"Not to me it isn't. If I sleep with you I will develop feelings for you. That is just the way I am wired, it won't be casual to me."

Lin says "That is actually reassuring to hear. If you sleep with me and then toss me aside I will have nowhere else to go."

"Then why do you keep insisting it is just some fun?"

Lin says "Isn't that what men want to hear? That there are no consequences?"

"I guess it depends on the man. That isn't what I want to hear."

Lin says "Good to know. The more I learn about you, the more interesting you become. I'm really starting to hope that you decide in my favor."

"We will see. For now let me explain the soulscape and how it works, then we can have lunch."

For the next couple of hours I teach Lin how the soulscape works and let her experiment. Once she gets the hang of it she has a lot of fun playing around with her imagination. I sit back and enjoy watching her play until she tires herself out and then I end the soulscape.

Lin says "That was fun, but why am I so tired?"

"The soulscape is controlled by imagination, but it still takes mental strength. You overdid it, that is why you feel tired. You will be fine once you relax for a while and have some food."

As soon as I mention food, both Nala and Albion's heads pop up and turn to me. It seems that they are hungry already even though it has only been a few hours since breakfast. However, that doesn't stop me from taking out food for all of us and passing it around.

Once we have eaten I shapeshift into a human and try to pick up Albion. It doesn't work, I can't even move him, which means the shapeshift limited my strength. When she sees me fail at lifting Albion, Lin doesn't say anything, she just smiles.

She obviously knows what I just did and what failing means, but she keeps quiet. It is a good thing because right now I am more confused about what to do than before. My favorite excuse is now null and void, which means I have no real excuse to stay alone anymore.

If I am being honest with myself, I have been using that excuse to keep myself in check. How could I not have lustful thoughts when I am surrounded by so many beautiful women? My excuse was my armor against them and also a chain on my mind.

Without it I feel naked and at the same time I want to jump into bed with Lin. In my old life a woman as beautiful as her wouldn't even have looked at someone like me. Saying no to her offers is probably the hardest thing I have done in this world.

Even now a part of me wants to accept her offer and that part is getting louder. Especially after seeing her naked, the image of her body is firmly burned into my mind. I have to focus and try really hard to make that part of my brain shut up, but it won't last unless I distract myself.