The subtle orange sky, shone bright in the early dawn, reflecting off the dragons, making the air seem to sparkle. Mother's white scales seemed to dance as she shifted, while Everest's icy blue coloration was tinged with the rising sun as she yawned and sat up. Both mother and daughter nudged James as he sat on the edge of the nest.

James hadn't been able to sleep. Two days ago, him and his family were attacked by The Pact. Luna was dead alongside four others. Simply thinking about the Fenrir brought tears to his eyes as he rolled a piece of clay around his hand.

Amber and Zenaria were still sleeping in, and he didn't want to bother them. James had snuck out before the sun was risen, his thoughts racing with all of the things that he needed to do.

First, he needed to figure out his new skills more. The one he was working on at the moment was Soul Magic. It was an upgrade from Soul Water, and he knew he could control any of the elements with it. Thus the clay, and his desire to morph it into different shapes.

Second, he needed to settle the fifty odd demi-humans below the city. They had water, food, and power. Essentially they had everything they needed to survive in the wastelands with all of the monsters gone. Before Grace had died, she had stocked them up with meat, and helped harvest the fruits and vegetables from the farms.

Third, he needed to head to the rent that separated Africa from Asia and destroy it. All the while, entering the Underworld with his army to strike back at The Pact and avenge his family. He didn't know what the situation was in the Underworld, but he knew the animal demi-humans were more animal than human. The elves were different as well. Slimmer, taller, and darker.

The Pact fought with skills that shut down his Soul Skills and those of his family. Luna was killed the moment the battle begun, absorbing a powerful attack, taking the damage from everyone. The others fell shortly afterward, giving James all of their energy to grow stronger.

Calling on his violet soul, he watched the purple veins spread across his arms. He knew they were on his face as well and that at least one of his eyes was purple. It had to be. The gem had replaced the organ after the bitch Venice destroyed it. He could now see souls and weak points with the new eye. The first nest was only defeated because of his eye showing him where to take the energy from it.

He would need to learn more about the Sight of the Violet Eye, but for now, seeing the souls of people at all times, and the barriers The Pact put up was enough. Only The Pact knew how to shield themselves from him. Although his violet soul could crush those barriers. Sadly, Amber and Zenaria didn't have that luxury.

Glancing at the building the two ladies were sleeping in, he sighed. I hope they are doing better today. The funerals yesterday are still going to be raw. Pulling out the black sword he made from his family's ashes, he held it up to the light. I swear by all the love I hold for you all that I will strike down The Pact. This blade will run red, and the streets will be painted with their blood.

Returning it to his storage, he focused on his ball of clay. Pushing his soul into the clay, he found it easy to turn it into a cube, and then a pyramid. The soft material was easy to mold and begged to be manipulated.

Setting the clay down, he reached into the stone beneath the street and used his soul to pull it to the surface. The remains of asphalt broke and split as a pillar of gray stone rose from the ground. He kept it about two feet wide, but it shook the area enough that Amber raced out of her bed.

"What the fuck?" Amber screamed with her claws summoned and glistening with golden Soul Flames.

Mother sighed behind him. "James is playing with his magic. Men, I tell you."

Amber smirked. "James is playing with his tool and he didn't ask for help?"

Snorting, Mother lowered her head to the ground. "Someone would have to been awake to help him play."

Walking over, Amber sat next to him, wrapping her tail around his back. "How is the magic going?"

Resting his still dirty hand from the clay on her leg, he smiled. "I made a pillar."

Furrowing her brows, she looked down at his hand on her bare skin. "Why is your hand wet?"

Pulling away, he left a perfect hand print on her leg. It wasn't his fault she had only worn underwear.

Jaw dropping, Amber stared at the print for a moment before growling. Grabbing his clean shirt, she ripped a chunk off and wiped her leg off. He enjoyed her slightly tanned skin and even through her anger, their souls mixed with love and adoration.

Luna's last wish was for him to accept Amber as his soulmate. The place that she had held until she died. Even when she came to him in his dreams, she tasked him with getting closer to the nekorian.

Running a hand through her orange hair, Amber huffed. Her two cat ears flickered as she turned to the building they were sleeping in. They both watched as a kitsune with black hair and fur walked out, dressed for the day while protectively carrying a book she had started. Her pen was behind her ear, ready to go at a moment's notice.

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Behind her, a single black tail with a white capped end danced with happiness. Her second tail was made from pure white Soul energy. A replacement for the one that was cut off by her old employers. Her third tail hadn't come back yet, but they all believed it would the moment she reached the gold soul.

"Why is there a crude pillar in the middle of the road?" Zenaria asked.

Amber pointed at him. "He was playing with his tool without me."

Snorting a laugh, Zenaria joined him at the nest, taking his other side. "If you were that pent up, we could have helped. Shadow magic is my forte."

Snapping his fingers, he crumbled the pillar before chuckling. "You three are terrible. Everest doesn't need to hear your sexual teasing."

Everest inched over to Amber and laid her head in the nekorian's lap. "I'm older than all of you. I've heard these things before."

Amber rubbed the dragon's head. "I'm still getting used to you talking like a normal person."

When they had first met Everest, she acted like a newborn with simple words and chopped sentences. It was a ploy to help them relax and it had worked masterfully.

Reaching over with his dirty hand, James rubbed the dragon's head. "We should talk to the demi-humans. Lional is likely awake."

Lional was the elf that had woken up first from cryo and taken charge of the demi-humans. He made sure there was food and each person was mentally stable.

"I'll handle it," Zenaria offered. Getting up, she double checked her pen was in place before heading to the ladder leading to the research station. It was their only way in or out at the moment.

With Zenaria gone, Amber scooted closer to James and practically in his lap. "You should have woken me, James. You're still healing and I worry."

He knew she was talking about the cracks in his mind and soul from absorbing the souls of his fellow people. When they had first found the research facility, two hundred Valiants were held in experiments and kept alive through machines and methods unknown. Taking them into his soul cracked him and pushed emotions that weren't his into his mind that changed him.

Luna had taken those cracks and filled them with as much as she could, pushing Zenaria and Amber to help her. They refused to let him fight and turn into a murderous, raging monster. Now, he found himself bolder and flirtier than before. It was easy to hold Amber close with how much the cracks were filled with her desires.

"I should get dressed," Amber said softly, not taking her eyes off him.

Clucking his tongue, he looked her up and down. "Or…"

"Nope!" she said quickly. "I need a little more time, and so do you. I'll try not to tempt you like this again." Getting up, she ran back to their building.

Rubbing his head with his clean hand, he blew out a slow breath. She's right. I need more time. Luna wanted it, but it's too soon. I just want to feel someone's arms around me again…

Sorrow washed over him as he pictured Luna's arms around him. He was so angry at the end, knowing they manipulated him and he had barely forgiven her when she died. Their last days together were complicated and tense, and now she was gone.

A head nudged him before claiming his lap and he blinked the tears out of his eyes.

"She'll be back," Everest stated. "She's going to want a dozen puppies when you revive her. I can already picture how large your family will be."

"I'll have Amber as well."

Chuckling, Everest shrugged. "Oh no, the attention of two woman is too much for me. Woe is me."

"Hey!" he protested. "At least make the sarcastic comment sound cooler."

Sitting up, the small dragon rolled her eyes. "You should keep playing with your earth magic. We are going to need shelters near the rent for our animal companions."

Reforming the pillar took a flick of his wrist and soul. Refining it took a mental picture that he was struggling with. He had never built something before and it was showing.

"Take your time," Everest coached. "You've seen enough buildings to know the general designs. Start small with the foundation and smooth it out. It needs to be level and flat. From there, reinforce your walls and ceiling. You have this, James."

Raising his brow at the dragon, he gestured to the street. "I'm not making a house in the middle of the street. We can practice tonight when we settle down."

"Fine…" she groaned.

Before he could start laughing, Amber came out of their building, still rolling up a sleeping mat. Once she was done, she added it to her ring and sauntered over in tight black pants and a worn blue shirt.

"Tease!" he called out.

Holding a hand to her chest, she gasped. "Me? I would never!" Instead of sitting by his side, she claimed his lap and wrapped her tail around him. "Now, this is teasing."

Fighting against his desires was hard, but he decided to get back at her, just a little. Resting his hand on her stomach, he rubbed small circles before slipping his hand lower. She shivered against him before grabbing his hand.

"We need to stop…"

"I'll take a page out of Everest's book. Fine…" he groaned.

Choking on a laugh, the dragon pushed Amber off him. The nekorian went willingly, her cheeks slightly flushed as she watched his hand. He wanted to tease her more, but their newest guest walked out of a different building.

The man with skin as black as midnight strolled over casually in loose black clothing. Crossing his arms, he regarded James. "When you are ready, Master, I will show you how to bond with me and we can talk about making more Priests."

Priest was the only Priest left alive that they knew. He preferred to be called Priest for that was what he was. When he was converted, he served James's grandmother and knew about his family. For once, James wouldn't have to rely on random dreams to give him insights.

Standing up, James waved his hand and the pillar collapsed. "Let's take a walk." Turning to Amber, he added, "get everyone ready. We are heading out in ten."

Amber jumped up and hurried to the ladder to retrieve Zenaria. With her gone, James started walking with Priest.

***

High atop the Settling Stone Mountain, two elders watched the city come to life in the early morning. It had been confirmed and it was hard to believe, but the wasteland was shrinking. Nature was reclaiming the land and life was blooming where the ground was once corrupted.

"He did it," Veronica stated. "The bastard actually did it."

Tim crossed his arms. "He's not a bad man, Veronica. We would do well to befriend him further."

Veronica knew she should agree, but the man had destroyed her entire city, making her move to Settling Stone. Now, her water cultivators were mixed with the earth cultivators. A tenuis relationship at best.

"Let's head down the city and continue our work," Tim suggested. "The demi-human district still needs to be repaired."

Finally smiling, Veronica turned from the sights below. She had a sewer to clean out and an underground river to tap into. The demi-humans would all have flowing water soon. It was thanks to James that they were changing. If he could reclaim the world, then her old ways of thinking could change as well.

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