The girls returned from the hot spring nice and relaxed, then found us teaching the kids how to gamble and remembered why they were stressed in the first place. I tried explaining that the coins were more like lives, but they said that just made it sound even worse and it didn't help one of the ones I was trying to fool was a deva who knew what blackjack was.
Tyrland and I just accepted the scolding, then Eve said I should make a proper outpost in the mountains with several hot springs to utilise, which I was already planning but hadn't had the time. "Well you have some time-off until the selection. A large men's, a large women's and of course private open airs in all the suites."
"How many suites? Do we really want to make a habit of our garden being crowded? No offence but the mortal realm can be a bit much sometimes."
"Only six. Special occasions only and the odd day here and there the rooms are mainly so you don't need to portal people back to the demon realm, Abelegia, probably the dwarves knowing you and the divine realm of course."
"Ok, I'll get right on it..."
That was exactly what I did, I kept it in the style I learnt the Japanese people of my original time preferred, simple, traditional and cosy. In other words, made to be enjoyable, but not fit for permanent residence, I also said that anyone who wants to stay will have to walk from the cabin, but that was just another petty deterrent.
We also made the tokens for those welcomes, a calendar for them to put their names on and with certain days blacked out.
Just as we stopped by the guild to give Byurik his seven remaining tokens for the coming year when it would be open for guests, he was already grumbling... "I can't believe Kuronovus made me use a token on Quatal's and Cosmael's birthdays as her representative."
"Be glad, you're the only one allowed on family time, at least until Kuronovus herself can attend. That means you will get to enjoy the larger men's bath all to yourself, unless I join at the same time." Eve had told me to suggest diplomatically in advance. We both felt bad that he was having to sacrifice his tokens on her orders and if he didn't accept that we were ready to give him the two back.
"Well I suppose that is a plus, anyway I also have news, the applicants will be ready and gathered in four days, nations have permitted them use of teleportation gates to areas today and they will be making their way here, that is the last weeding test, anyone late will be dropped... At least until you meet them, take a liking and allow them anyway."
"Sounds good, how long until the coronation?"
"It was delayed, something about a bit of trouble in the north-west. An ally heard you wanted to meet the dwarves and one thing led to another with some kind of bandit group on their way. No one you know, but we want you to meet them, we think you will get along since they are a collective of animal-kin."
He was right and that is all I will say... Well worth the delay...
Four days later, Eve woke me with what could only be described as aggressive intent. Her actions were aggressive, her words were aggressive, the only reason I didn't assume I was in trouble was the elation in her voice.
"We need to go... Now!... Need to get this finished... ASAP, as you say."
"Why the rush?" I asked getting dressed as Eve visibly fought against the urge to stop me. "Are you that pent up?" I added, genuinely a bit concerned that our plans to put certain aspects of our nature to good use were backfiring.
"No.. Well yes... Either way, not for long, the thingy happened, it said I'm ready... You can put a baby in me now... Well not now.. Damn, We need to get this nonsense over and done with and get home."
"Ok, just do me a favour... breath more, let me do the talking..."
"Ok... Just talk quick, fight quick... If they can't beat you then it's a no..."
I realised very soon that I was not going to get through to her, she was far too excited, I was excited... It was just our luck that it couldn't have waited until after, though the plus was that we were camping at nights, whilst Quatal would be sent home by portal to egg watch.
Within an hour, Kriel, Layaera, Cosmael, Quatal, Eve and I were at the garrison ready for selection, Byurik and Leeson were present only to see how ridiculous this was going to be. Of course what they didn't know is that the six of us had been planning this since I started renovation of the hot springs.
"Greetings everyone, I am Adam, beside me are the other members of the group so far..." I paused for a moment, waiting for Cosmael to find out everyone who made a comment about children coming along, then report to me their numbers then listed those numbers, of which there were twelve and told them to leave.
"For the remaining eighty-five of you well done, you knew better than to complain about a man's family. Now to put your minds at ease about why they are coming and how I knew.
The deva girl is telepathic. She read the minds of everyone here and will do it several times throughout the day, if you have anything to hide you can leave." That caused half of the remaining to leave, Cosmael then delved into their minds deeper and any guilty of serious crimes were apprehended by Astrael who was waiting patiently at the exit.
"Now that the criminals, secretive sorts and people who annoyed me have gone... Let me be frank. I don't want the strongest, smartest, fastest or any other ests... I want people that have the potential, creativity, drive and random luck to make this expedition fun whilst I make it successful. We are tracing footsteps the world itself has forgotten, the Nephlata's to be precise."
One man whistled. "That is quite the mission, but why are we chasing ghosts?"
"Because they started the war with the demons and I want to know why." Chatter started to erupt and Eve was getting annoyed, so I released a little divinity to shut them up. "Apologies but we need to get the final selection finished as soon as possible, Kriel and Layaera will brief the successful."
I then split the remainder into four groups, explaining that whilst strength wasn't a necessity I needed to ensure they could stand against the threats, Eve fought ten by herself, Layaera fought ten by herself Cosmael fought ten by herself, Quatal took seven and Kriel took five and a massive hit to his pride.
"Kriel don't worry about it, you're the closest thing to human in this group, at least your just as mortal as they are."
Leeson and Byurik then did something quite unexpected and joined the team fighting me, they tried to give some swagger, but soon realised their mistake when I started laughing. "HAHAHAHA! My friends, my group isn't fighting me to win... No... They're going to show me they have the strength to survive an enemy they can't beat."
The group, including my two friends, gulped hard as I fully released my divinity upon them to iterate the point they couldn't win.
Eve was telling her group they were going to show they had the wits to close the distance, or render her onslaught ineffective, but she released her divinity as well just to iterate the same point.
Cosmael's group was playing a game of "What's the time Mr. Wolf", this was to show if they had any talent for reactions, stealth and how well they retreated when they stumbled across an enemy they couldn't beat on the spot.
Quatal's group was playing tag as she, oh how I pitied them, my girl does not like losing.
Layaera became a full phoenix hybrid, which sent a slight shiver through Cosmael, then she announced she would be testing her groups defences since she could have her flames differentiate between targets.
Kriel just said "Sooo... I'm just a normal guy, I hit, i stab, I block, I use a bit of magic..." He sighed as his group laughed. "Look, I'm here to test skill, show me everything you have and don't hold back, otherwise don't bother."
What we hadn't told anyone was that teamwork was a fundamental part of everyone's testing and that was what reduced our successful applicants down to an incredibly disappointing two.
But not before we erected blind barriers between each group and rotated them between each of us to give them plenty of chances.