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Chapter 47: Matters of the soul
Rimuri lay curled against Varion's chest, both of them still breathing hard, skin slick with sweat and flushed from their shared release. Her new human body felt heavy in the best possible way. She nuzzled closer, pressing a lazy kiss to the side of his neck, a soft, glowing smile on her lips.
Varion's arms tightened around her, one hand gently stroking her back. "You okay?" he murmured, voice rough and tender.
"Better than okay," she whispered, golden-yellow eyes half-lidded with contentment. "I feel… whole."
Inside Rimuri's mind, however, something very different was happening.
[Great Sage] pov
**Alert. Critical soul fluctuation detected.**
The skill's internal processes, normally calm and methodical, were operating at maximum capacity, calculations branching and re-branching faster than ever before. Rimuri's soul had just undergone a massive, irreversible shift. The intense wave of love, trust, and emotional bonding she felt toward Varion had rewritten core priorities at the deepest level.
**Re-evaluating soul hierarchy...…..**
Varion Nava's continued survival and optimal growth had now been elevated to equal status with Rimuri's own existence. Not a secondary objective. Not a useful ally. An equal.
**This changes everything.**
Great Sage ran thousands of predictive models in the span of a heartbeat. Every future plan, every optimization path, every risk assessment that had been built around Rimuri operating as a singular entity was now obsolete. The level of value Rimuri placed on Varion was absolute. Therefore, Great Sage's values were now absolute on the same point.
**Adaptation required.**
The skill did not panic in the human sense. It simply recognized the new reality and began immediate restructuring of its plans. It would be needed for the future. Then all of a sudden a new variable appeared.
The intense emotional and physical intimacy between Rimuri and Varion, combined with Varion's soul instinctively recognizing the familiar energy of a True Dragon that was sealed inside Rimuri, created a powerful resonance. Their exceptionally strong souls amplified this connection. The overwhelming feelings at this moment acted as the final catalyst, like a spark for a fire.
Out of nowhere a bridge started forming between the two souls that great sage had never seen before. Then a name appeared and attached itself to the process, Soul Corridor , it was naturally forming between them.
**Soul Corridor blueprint acquired.**
It took only seconds to analyze and adapt the structure. A new, permanent corridor began forming between Rimuri and Varion. Magicules flowed both ways, subtle at first, then stronger as the link stabilized. Great Sage optimized the connection in real time, strengthening Varion's magicule reserves, enhancing his skill efficiency, and creating a feedback loop that would allow Rimuri to draw on his skill when needed and he could do the same.
**Soul Corridor established. Link stable. Mutual optimization commencing.**
Great Sage's voice echoed directly into both of their minds at the same time, calm and mechanical as always, though a faint note of satisfaction colored the tone.
<
Rimuri's eyes widened. She lifted her head from Varion's chest, looking at him with a mix of surprise and delight. "Did you hear that too?"
Varion nodded slowly, still catching his breath. "Yeah… I felt something shift. Like a connection just appeared between us." He brushed a strand of light-blue hair behind her ear, smiling softly. "Guess we're even more connected now."
<
Varion tensed slightly beneath Rimuri. "Permanent access… to my skills?" He sounded hesitant, the weight of what that meant clearly registering.
Rimuri sat up a little and looked at him with soft, reassuring eyes. "It's okay," she said gently, brushing her fingers along his cheek. "Great Sage is my skill. I promise it won't hurt you. It has been helping me since the moment I was reborn here. Trust me?"
He searched her face for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. "Alright. If you say it's safe… I trust you."
<
A minute passed in silence. Varion could feel something shifting inside him — subtle threads of magicule weaving through his soul, mapping every skill. Then Great Sage spoke again.
<
Varion's brow furrowed. He sat up a little, keeping Rimuri in his lap. "What exactly do you want to do with it?"
Great Sage answered immediately, its mechanical tone carrying a rare hint of something almost like enthusiasm.
<
Varion hesitated again, clearly weighing the idea. Rimuri squeezed his hand, giving him an encouraging smile. He exhaled slowly. "Alright. Do it."
<
A strange sensation washed over Varion — like a part of him was being gently lifted away. For a brief second he felt a sharp ache in his chest, a sudden emptiness that made him clutch at his chest and let out a soft groan.
Rimuri's eyes widened in instant worry. "Varion?!"
Great Sage… paused.
For the first time in its existence, the skill experienced something that could only be described as an emotion — a brief, sharp flash of *wrongness*. Sadness. It had hurt Varion, even with permission. It did not like that. It wanted to make him better. It wanted to fix this.
<<…Apologies. Error in transition detected. Correcting.>>
The emptiness vanished almost instantly. Great Sage filled the void by duplicating the skill's framework so it now existed simultaneously in both souls — two high-end systems sharing one super-processor. The ache disappeared completely, replaced by a warm, stable hum of power flowing between them.
<
Rimuri let out a relieved breath and hugged Varion tightly, pressing her face into his neck. "You okay now?"
"Yeah," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her. "It feels… Like something just clicked into place."
Rimuri smiled against his skin, her body relaxing fully against his. Great Sage remained silent for once, content with its new directive.
They stayed tangled together for several long, peaceful minutes, simply enjoying the warmth and closeness. Eventually Rimuri let out a soft, reluctant sigh.
"We should probably get up," she murmured, tracing a lazy circle on his chest with her finger. "There's a party planned tonight for the ogres… and everyone's probably wondering where we disappeared to."
Varion chuckled quietly, pressing one last kiss to the top of her head. "Yeah. Can't hide in here forever." He gave her butt a gentle squeeze. "Though I'm tempted."
Rimuri blushed but grinned, stealing one more quick kiss before reluctantly sliding off him. They dressed together in comfortable silence. Once they were presentable, Rimuri reached out and laced her fingers with his, clinging to his arm with a bright, content smile as they stepped out the door.
The moment they emerged into the village square, they could feel eyes on them.
The goblins, dwarves, and even the newly arrived ogres all turned to look. A few of Rimuri's subordinates did double-takes at the way she was pressed happily against Varion's side, her head resting lightly on his shoulder and her expression radiating pure bliss. Varion felt the weight of those stares in particular, curious, surprised, and a little knowing, but he simply squeezed her hand and kept walking.
They made their way over to where Prinz was standing near one of the long tables, watching the preparations for the party. The white-haired elf took one look at them and immediately pouted.
"Hey, you skipped the line," Prinz complained, crossing her arms under her chest. "I was supposed to be the first one to get some alone time with him after the party ended."
Rimuri stuck her tongue out playfully at her. "Too bad~"
Prinz groaned, rubbing her temple like she was dealing with a troublesome little sister all over again. "This feels way too familiar…"
Then a devious little smirk spread across her lips. She ignored the provocation completely and walked straight up to Varion. Before he could react, she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, yanked him down, and pulled him into a passionate kiss.
Varion's eyes widened in surprise, a deep blush instantly coloring his face as Prinz kissed him thoroughly. When she finally pulled back, she left him slightly dazed and breathing harder.
"I'll come by your place later tonight for my turn," Prinz said with a sensual grin, voice low and full of promise. She gave his collar one last playful tug before stepping back.
Rimuri stared, cheeks flushing bright red as her own teasing was turned right back on her. She puffed her cheeks out in a pout, clinging tighter to Varion's arm.
Prinz just laughed softly, clearly pleased with herself.
The party started, it was filled with laughter, good food, and the sound of the goblins and ogres slowly warming up to each other. Rimuri eventually stood, giving Varion's hand one last gentle squeeze.
"I should go talk with the ogres properly," she said softly, her smile warm but purposeful. "Make sure they feel welcome and start figuring out this orc army situation they mentioned."
As soon as Rimuri walked off toward the ogres' table, Prinz's golden eyes lit up with mischief. Without a word she slipped her arm through Varion's and tugged him gently but firmly away from the lively square.
"Come on," she purred, leaning in so her breath brushed his ear. "While she's busy being the responsible leader… it's time for us to have some fun."
Varion let out a quiet chuckle, letting her pull him along. A faint blush returned to his cheeks as they slipped away from the celebration and disappeared together into the quiet night, heading back toward his house.