We had run at insane speed for most of the day stopping for snacks and lunch, but most importantly to study some animals. We weren't worried about getting behind schedule really, we were holding back to not get ahead as was, so a leisurely pace was something we could afford.
When the time came we conjured a small house out of earth for Eve and I to sleep in, since Cosmael wanted to spend the nights over the next couple of weeks with Astrael in case the time came for her to revert.
We then had a campfire dinner of Quatal's nostalgic favourite of boar, then retired for the night. Holding each other close as we tried to drift off to sleep, or at least I tried to drift off to sleep. Eve should have been doing the same, but her brain was in places more base.
"Are you sure you dont want to?.. I know, I'll just leave you resting riiiiight here, if you change your mind I get the feeling I'll know."
"Woman, if you want to kill me, fine... You can explain why Papa withered away to nothing before they met him."
"Wow bold move. Fine, I'm sorry, I just enjoy being with you, but if you don't feel the sa-"
"Don't go there, that is a cheap move."
"I know, sorry, just thought I'd give it my best shot... Besides, all I'd have to do is pull a knife to get what I wanted."
"I keep telling yo-"
"Yes dear, survival instinct through genetic legacy, it still isn't convincing but I guess your memory is pretty bad so you might not remember the truth."
"Woooow, gas-lighting and emotional blackmail... Sexy choices" I said with a tired chuckle, slightly concerned that I was actually having to fake the sarcasm more than expected.
"I don't know what "gas-lighting" is, but fine, I see your point. I love you, Adam, see you in the morning."
"I love you to Eve, now can you do me a favour and put your toy away, you will definitely not appreciate the wake up call that gives you."
"Ugh, fine. Amazing how you never forget that."
The next morning we opened a portal for the girls who both plodded through sluggishly under the weight of their own slothfulness. It was truly a miracle how quickly they livened up after all the work had been done though.
"Starting at lunch we are rotating meal prep, that means breakfast is on you two tomorrow."
"But Daaaad" "But papaaaaaa"
"No buts. You two are getting lazy and spoiled, that's my fault, but that just means correcting it is on me. Quatal, you're gonna be raising that hatchling soon and if you aren't ready it will die because you mistreated it. Little One, you aren't a baby yet, until you are you're the big sister and that isn't something I ever thought would need to be said."
"Fine." Eve gave me a look of genuine approval, it was still rare for me to be parental, but I was easing into it.
We had a good time again, rather than observe however, we made hunting the pass time of the day. The no-man's-land between Kanelsia and Eden was home to more natural looking animals. As we approached Kanelsia though that changed drastically. Basilisks, cockatrice, monarclaw and more dangerous creatures lurked in this area and their numbers seemed greater than they had been the last two times I travelled there.
"What is going on? Your father sent a letter the other day, any word from the cardinal they appointed to the land?"
"Nothing... If you don't mind, could we stop at the temple, I want to make sure he knows."
"I don't mind as such, but Hasleth, whilst a bigot, was good at his job and told us to stay away. Why don't I summon a phantasm to take a message."
"Please."
So I summoned the phantasm, which immediately hid behind me. "What the? What's wrong? I've never seen a phantasm so skittish."
"Forgive me Lord, but the young lady ate the last one she met."
"Hey! No Tattling!" Quatal cried.
I suddenly remembered that I had sent a phantasm to tell her about what was happening after the second mine incident, it hadn't occurred to me that it never returned. "I'm sorry, but that is my fault, I put him in danger by asking him to deliver bad news to an evolving monster. I never considered she could eat an ethereal being, the blame is with me not her."
"I'm sorry to..." Quatal started to sob. "I ate your friend because he said Papa wasn't coming back and I got angry. I promise to never eat another summon again and Papa won't let me break a promise."
"Can you forgive us?" I bowed.
"Lord! No! You don't need to bow! We denizens of black are yours to do with as you please... I should apol-"
"No. Your lives are each sacred and precious, they belong to no one but yourselves. I order you now, to pass this along to every denizen when you return "Never obey an order, at the cost of your own lives and if you do, do it because it is something you wish to die for." Now, do you accept our apology?"
"I do my Lord. Now how may I serve you today?"
"Please go to the kingdom of Kanelsia's temple. Ask the cardinal if they know about the increase in the monster population and what is being done about it, then return with their reply. Thank you and stay safe." The phantasm bowed than sank into its own shadow before darting off.
"Sorry Papa."
"No more eating friends."
"I know, I promised him and I promise you and Mama to."
We then continued to thin the population as much as possible, it was tiring work, but rewarding. The materials we had gained alone were worth a lot and our coffers were looking healthier already. I smashed a few monarclaw eggs, not all, but I wanted to diminish the next generation, without endangering the species.
Cockatrice eggs were impossible to identify as were basilisk eggs, but they weren't the issue. The monarclaws we were fighting all seemed mutagenic, like the acidic one that Doran and I found. The species seemed to be almost random, each individual a sub-species.
"What could be doing this? This is a thousand years of trial and error, not a few months." My head was resting in my hands which cradled it behind me and Eve was visibly concerned as well.
"Are you sure we shouldn't just smash them all, this could be a disaster if it gets out of hand. Even Quatal's tough skin is cracked, she can't fight anymore."
"No, we need her to hatch that damn egg, I feel it in my bones that something obvious is being missed. It's so damn frustrating..." I looked over at Quatal who was being healed by Cosmael and sulking. "Caliburn, could Quatal wield you? Not as a blade but as gauntlets."
"Hmmm, I do like her and she does have your wavelength... We can only try I guess, but she won't be able to fully bond with me like you, I know that much."
With that I held the sword and dagger, then pictured the form I wanted the to take. "Quatal, come here a sec, I want to try to see if Caliburn can help you."
She skipped over excitedly. "Wow, he's so pretty Papa. You sure Cali? I thought you only wanted Papa to use you."
"I do, but Lady Kuronovus wanted her little niece safe to and I like you as well, so I want to help you if I can. Your Papa can conjure some other ones for you if I can't, for some reason he seems oddly blind to conjuring hand coverings, it's the gloves thing all over again."
"Can we not mention the gloves thing... Ever, honestly, will I ever live that down?" Roles reversed Quatal was now chatting to Caliburn, trying to be the bestest of friends before they tried, meanwhile I was sulking about the gloves as Eve hugged me and Cosmael chuckled.
"Papa! It worked! Now we can play together... Only when we need to of course... And only with Papa's permission." With that she dashed off, there was a loud wet splash, then she returned sobbing and covered in blood and horribleness.
Eve cleaned her off and re-prioritised who needed comfort. "Ooooo, baby... You need to hit them softer ok, you're strong and Cali's strong, so you need to be more gentle now you're working together."
After that we decided to move on, Quatal was eager to try again the next day, but she was all funed out for that one.
We set up camp about a hundred miles east from the Kanelsian capital, hugging the same coastal mountain range that we would find the first target in another few hundred miles.
As the girls departed after eating, the phantasm returned.
"Lord... The capital is in chaos. the citizens all evacuated and the army is maintaing control, but Hasleth was lying to you all..." Eve and I completely released our divinity for a moment. "No, apologies! That was a bad choice of words... He was ignorant of the danger. Divinity has seeped into the land, what they thought they were purifying, they were empowering."