After we returned to the palace I prepared us all a bite to eat. "Dinner is a thanks for help earlier Tryland, Desert however, that is a thanks for giving me a chance to stretch my legs,"
"Please... We may have a few challengers to our own rule over the coming weeks, but at least we wont have to worry about idiots causing trouble with humans now they have seen who is waiting for them."
"Adam, I mentioned the device you made for me, Parcella would like some if you think it will work for demons, except she wants them to look for the least fertile moments."
I sat back, what she was asking wasn't impossible, in itself, the issue was how varied the demon clan's mutations were. I threw my head back into the waiting cradle of my hands. "I don't think it will work. Your race is infinitely more diverse than human physiology, why might I ask? I may have other solutions."
"We wish to bottleneck population growth. The explosive population is our biggest challenge, imagine thousands like my boy, civil war is practically a generational occurrence because of that."
"Well if that's all, I can make some contraceptives easily enough."
"Con-what?"
"I just need to know if all demon's reproduce in the same way humans do."
"Yes, we all have do the same dance you two did on your wedding night..." She stated bluntly before laughing at our immature and embarrassed coughing and spluttering. "Ahhhh, youth. Well given Adam's age maybe it's just nostalgic inexperience." She cackled.
"In that case these should work..." I produced several dozen contraceptive items. "There are different sizes but most stretch, the males just need to get over the whole size thing, if you have healers I would suggest letting them distribute... They must be free though, if they aren't then I will start charging for them."
"Why might I ask, are some flavoured?" Parcella's smirk was truly demonic.
"Because the lubricant on them gets on the hands, some people cannot stand the unflavoured taste, so flavoured options prevent the distraction.... That is all I will say on the matter." I huffed, happy with my honest, half-answer.
"I think Parcella and Ever would really get along." Eve muttered.
"They probably would, which makes me hope they never meet. If she's still even the same after what I did..." My mood darkened again. "Erased a daughter... Essentially killed the devas'... I'm racking up the familial failures, aren't I?"
"Adam, do you want some advice?... Get over it... Huff and puff all you want, but if you don't you'll only hurt those still around, what will you do when one of those remaining is lost because you were blaming yourself for others? Mope more and lose more?"
Eve's temper began to flare, no matter how friendly they were, no one mocked her family or made light of their feelings. It was extinguished quickly however when I laughed. "I know, I'm trying, but I'm just struggling to get a handle on the feelings stuff. I could organise my thoughts when it was just them, but now with the burning in my chest and divine nature, I feel a bit outnumbered."
"Hahaha! You were outnumbered a moment ago and still trounced us. How about rather than using that divine will with the subtle thought "I don't want to feel" try "Give me five minutes without grief"... Eve already explained the self-imposed rules you two can set and I wondered why you hadn't used it for the advantage it is."
"Probably because I was too busy moping to think like I usually do."
"You usually think?" Eve and Tyrland asked in unison, making Parcella cackle wildly.
"Oh my new friends, I adore you both, powerful, wise, wrathful and so in love it's almost sickening. My son is getting beaten harder than ever for making me miss your wedding." She made a gesture to the condoms I had made, one that said more, lots more and in crates if possible.
"I don't think demons have allergies, but please let me know if anyone reports side effects, I'll collect samples and have my apprentice run tests to figure it out."
Parcella asked why it sounded like we were leaving when that was not an option. "I haven't had my fill of you two yet."
"Well we have a daughter being cared for by a grieving aunt, so we should get back. Why not come with us? Bring your son, our daughter can play with him for a while and the aunt in question might cheer up with a new pet."
"Splendid!" She cheered before running off and dragging the son in question back by his ankle. "Now, let's head to the teleporter..."
"No need." I said bluntly, opening a window to The Garden before stepping through. "This is our private world. Our escape from the mortal realm and a place we don't have to hold back."
They were awe-stricken, I explained that it was actually how the world looked billions of years ago, I shouted greetings and announced our guests. Quatal and Cosmael ran out to hug us, Astrael held back trying to maintain her usual air of unrestrained freedom, despite the sagging shoulders that made the weight of her grief evident.
"Astrael... We brought you a gift dear... Adam says you like pets so try and teach this one to do as it's told." Parcella shouted back to her before unceremoniously tossing him in her direction. "Just like I told Adam, just don't break his horns or anything he needs to live."
"What if I repair them after?" She asked with sadistic excitement.
"Then do as you please!" Parcella shouted with a howl of laughter as the deva held her son like a someone inspecting a vegetable at market.
Whilst that was happening we were talking to our girls.
"Missed you Mama and Papa." Quatal said with the initial impact.
"Welcome home Mum and Dad." Cosmael continued as they swapped targets.
"Hello girls, how are we feeling."
"I've been playing in the river most of the day, turns out I can breathe in it." Quatal beamed as Eve and I realised we had just gained another way to lose our daughter.
"Little one, how about you? Talk to me any time you need it."
"I'm fine, I loved Dad, but he left and then I found you. I realise this might sound horrible, but I had moved on before he died, I just need to remember that."
"Little one, you're so strong, my precious girl."
"I only just left my room to make dinner with the others, should we cook for all of you as well?"
"We ate in the demon realm, sorry Little one, but Astrael's new toy missed out."
"No worries, Quatal, let's get started before Astrael gets too involved with helping us." With that they ran indoors just a bit after I had seen Parcella throw her son by the same ankle she had dragged him by.
We gave our guests a tour of the immediate area. "As our control has grown, we can now open windows to different areas in space, but it's draining so we usually run everywhere." I explained as we teleported to the cabin.
"Oh this place is darling!" She explored the space, then we showed them the hot spring. "And with that the men can leave, Eve and I will be taking a bath it seems."
"Dear, do rem-"
"No she's right, they could use relaxation. You have it to yourselves until after dinner, then I'm sending Astrael to join you, she needs it just as much, I'll watch the kids." I kissed Eve goodbye, then dragged Tyrland through another portal.
When the "children" and Astrael finished eating I sent her to relax with the others, she tried to fight me, but I simply hugged her and told her freedom meant doing what she wanted and not what she felt was good.
Tyrland and I ended up fighting the kids team, which was very one-sided, the only effective combatant on their team was Cosmael after all and although she was definitely more powerful than I was at that point, she just couldn't bring herself to attack.
Quatal was suprisingly adept at fighting, utilising instant transformation to drastically change her size and shape, which made me wonder if she had been getting trained by Astrael.
"Auntie Astra said I would be a burden to you and Mama if I couldn't fight in both forms on the honeymoon. She said a lot of princesses know how to fight and I should learn."
"If you know how to move like this... Then why was you so bad at dancing?"
"He got mad and it was funny." she chuckled.
I picked her up and hugged her, then flicked her head and told her she was out.
Tyrland was just embarrassing his son. The boy threw a punch, Tyrland took it and laughed, then the boy went a bit wild and I just flicked him in the head again.
"Little one... I think it's time to surrender, sweetie." I sang ominously.
"It's not fair... I could beat you.." She sulked.
"You can't beat anyone you can't attack or negotiate with." I grinned before simply tickling her into submission, then had to do the same to Quatal when she thought it looked fun.