As Adam and Tyrland left, Parcella stood, taking Eve by the hand as she walked confidently through the halls. Eve could feel some annoyance coming from her, a strange frustration and... Pity?
When they reached the parlour, Parcella opened the door, gesturing for Eve to enter ahead, then again for her to take a seat as she closed the door and locked it before activating the silencing enchantment.
"Now we can't be disturbed Eve, and forgive me if this causes upset or hurt, why are you looking at me like a mother?"
"Par- I don-... What do you mean?" Eve was so flustered she could hardly form a sentence.
"Your eyes have a thousand questions, like a curious child who has arrived home after an eventful day. Don't get me wrong I'm not offended, actually the contrary, but I would rather be your friend as I sense that is what you need most."
"You aren't wrong, on either count. I lost my mother before I knew her. I never had any lady friends in relationships either, my ex-position put distance between me and everyone and my retainer was obviously a holy woman. My friends in Eden would love to talk, but that's only because I have the most experience with men..."
"Ah! So that's it, you have questions, you have stories to tell and no one who can hear them and tell you what you wish or need to hear. Well, we don't have much time for now, but tell me, do you really have no one?"
"I have the deva, or at least I did, now I have a deva, and she and they were a great help. They gave lots of help and could even predict things our unique racial traits might cause, but again..."
"They had no first-hand experience so it felt awkward..."
"Yes... Plus, there is the fact that they respond automatically to Adam's will, he would never pry on purpose, but a stray thought can cause issues, not unlike earlier when Adam accidentally stopped feeling."
"I see..." Parcella leaned in to hug Eve. "...So, I know it will be difficult to pick where to start, so why don't we begin with these unique racial traits. What are they exactly?"
Eve naturally went bright red, which in turn made Parcella give her a motherly smile despite her earlier declaration she would rather be a friend. "Firstly, our desires absolutely must be met, if they don't our absolute will and full divinity can manifest and push us into silly contests that lock us in to the point of utter exhaustion. Secondly, we cannot seem to move passed the state of physical virginity."
"Oh, that does sound like a double-edged sword indeed. Not to mention those two pair horrendously. This might be more personal than you was planning, but was your first time the first you done anything?"
"Well no, the first time, I trapped Adam and he... gave me a hand." Eve answered honestly but with the awkward movements of one not accustomed to speaking so much about the matter. "The second was the first time our divinity manifested, again I trapped him, my will began to influence him more and more and when he realised, his activated to counter but we found ourselves in a contest to assert dominance. We were lucky we both desperately wanted to wait for full intimacy until we were married, since that managed to influence the rules we had to follow."
"Rules? You make it sound like this was judged." Parcella spoke with the unwavering and unaffected tone of one who had discussed such things before. Thanks to that demeanour and everything else, Eve was growing more confident and continued.
"There was, it was us, our divinity made them absolute, breaking them simply wasn't an option. Anyway, after that was our wedding night and that was when we realised those two things I mentioned make a "horrendous pairing" as you called it."
"I won't ask for details, that first time is always a moment that should be held only in the hearts and minds of the two involved. What I am interested in is how long did it last? Though I have a feeling the answer is longer than either of you would have liked."
"Don't get me wrong, it was amazing and special and something we will always be glad we shared with each other and waited for, that said... We lost track after four hours, we had a supply of mana infusions so all we really know is it lasted longer than that."
"Four hours! Dear girl, I'm surprised you can walk now let alone the next day."
"When we woke up, we felt horrific. We were both parched and ravenous, our heads were pounding, neither of us could walk properly, our mana was drained and bodies had accumulated more fatigue than even our pseudo-immortality could repair."
"You poor thing, I don't just mean you either. Men and women both experience things that are unpleasant their first time and yes whilst men do tend to have larger appetites I don't get that impression from Adam. I mean I guess he may ha-"
"He hadn't, not in a thousand lifetimes, maybe more from what we know now."
"I really do feel for you both then, at least it gives you an excuse to make sure those desires are met though."
"True, buuuut..."
Parcella chuckled, smiling at her like a mother when she elongated the last word and fell to pause. "But what? You're acting like a child talking to her mother again."
"But we are trying for a baby immediately, we adopted our first daughter and as much as we love her, we have a couple of reasons to succeed in this as soon as possible."
"Is this reason the deva you excluded from the count earlier, Cosmael was it. Tyrland mentioned she was going to revert to be raised as your daughter though it sounds like a fairy tail."
"Actually, the original heir of the Domain of Black imparted some knowledge, we think. Adam can take the process a step further now, I will carry and deliver her, she won't be deva anymore and is more like a reincarnation... A second chance."
"That sounds wonderful in a bizarre way. Regardless, it doesn't work li-"
"Actually Adam has a device to measure fertility in women, we are trying to let the desires build a bit so when the time is right we can make the most of it. We know it will be uncomfortable and painful, but we will do anything for our family and to keep our promise to Cosmael."
"Ok, consider me intrigued as both your friend and a political ally of Eden..."
"I'm not su.."
"Hush child... I want that fertility device, but to reduce numbers. The demon clan is incredibly fertile and we have had several civil wars because of it. You give me that knowledge and I will give you some knowledge that will make your coming... engagements, easier to fight."
Eve's face dropped slightly. "I would say yes in a heartbeat, I know Adam would too. If it would help stop suffering, but it isn't knowledge, it's technology from a past era and complicated. It might not work for demons and I don't think he knows how to read the data himself, he just knows how to conjure the device with that knowledge in advance."
"A shame, well, I will just need something possible. Can you restore the vitality I wasted on my son please? I am going to fight your man and you will referee and stop anyone who goes too far, though I know that is for our sake more than his."
"Why do you want to fight him?" Eve suddenly became defensive, she was happy to put herself in Parcella's care, but she trusted no one with her family especially after the recent loss. Adam definitely wouldn't endure any additional devastation for a while.
"Ends always have multiple means by which to reach them. I don't want my people committing such savagery again, so let them see the power waiting to punish them if they do. I will show them both sides of him, the side that Tyrland respects so greatly and the side that strikes fear into his heart. Did you know, when they first met he threatened to wipe us out one and all if the fighting did not end?"
"I did, bodycount means very little to him, his issue is when the lives were taken needlessly, and whether or not the final total of suffering caused is greater or less than what would have been."
"I see, you're very tolerant, of such willingness. I find it strange, if you don't mind my saying so."
"I don't, out of curiosity, the last time your husband had breakfast with us he was given a memory orb. Did he ever tell you what was on it?"
Parcella's eyes narrowed, that was knowledge she had desired since her husbands return that time. "He had nightmare... Horrible ones, for days after whatever he saw. What was it?"
"My husband, at ages roughly eight to fifteen. If my husband ever decided the world had reached its end, I'd ask why, but if he gave an honest answer, a reasonable one. I would help him tear it down without a second question. He has suffered at the hands of all creation enough that I truly believe him worthy of making it, even if I recognise his temper enough to question it."
"You are just darling, so naive and so profound all in one adorable package. I'm glad he has someone like you, it takes a lot to give the demon king nightmares even one night, whatever gave him nightmares for six has me thinking you are right.
Now my dear... Why don't you heal me up so I can go see how I fare, I'll take Tyrland to as a meatshield." She snickered.