Kelvin was still staring at him like Noah had just announced he'd decided to become a professional juggler.

"A harem," Kelvin repeated, the word coming out flat. "You. Noah Eclipse. The guy who spent six months at the academy completely oblivious to the fact that half your classmates had crushes on you. You've somehow accumulated a harem."

"I didn't accumulate anything," Noah protested. "It just kind of happened."

"Things don't just kind of happen, Noah. You have three dragons because you summoned them. You have void powers because you awakened them. You don't accidentally trip and fall into romantic entanglements with multiple women simultaneously."

Noah ran a hand through his hair, suddenly aware of how absurd this was going to sound when said out loud. "Sophie and I have been together since the academy. That's established. But on Raiju Prime, she suggested we explore an open relationship because she knows I care about Lila and didn't want me suppressing that."

"Okay, that tracks. Sophie's weirdly mature about emotional complexity." Kelvin gestured for him to continue. "And?"

"And Lila's made it clear she's still interested. Very clear. Multiple times. Including almost kissing me in a hallway before Sophie and Seraleth walked in."

"Of course they walked in. That's peak protagonist timing." Kelvin was grinning now, the kind of manic energy that meant he was absolutely going to make this worse. "And Seraleth?"

"Seraleth keeps asking me to demonstrate combat techniques that she definitely doesn't need help with. She positions herself near me during tactical planning. She volunteered to be mission coordinator specifically so we'd work together more." Noah felt heat creeping up his neck. "I'm not imagining this, right? That's actual interest?"

"That's extremely actual interest. Space elf warrior princess wants the dragon summoner. Tale as old as time." Kelvin stood up, pacing now. "So what happened tonight? Did they all simultaneously confess? Stage an intervention? Challenge each other to ritual combat for your affection?"

"Worse. They asked to meet with me tomorrow. All three of them. Together."

Kelvin stopped pacing. "They're coordinating."

"That's what I thought."

"Noah. My friend. My brother in increasingly ridiculous circumstances." Kelvin sat back down, leaning forward with absolute focus. "Do you understand what this means? They're not competing. They're collaborating. That's not a harem scenario, that's a council forming to discuss terms and conditions."

"That sounds terrifying."

"That's because it is terrifying. You're about to walk into a meeting where three extremely capable, extremely intelligent women who all want to date you have pre-negotiated their positions and are prepared to present a unified front." Kelvin's grin was slightly unhinged. "This is amazing. I'm so glad I'm your friend so I get to watch this happen."

"You're not helping."

"I'm helping by appreciating the narrative structure of your life. Do you know how many people read stories about this exact situation? Millions. And you're living it. That's beautiful."

Noah put his head in his hands. "I just killed a four-horn Harbinger. I've faced Arthur's clones. I've survived situations that should have killed me a dozen times over. Why is this harder than any of that?"

"Because you can punch Harbingers in the face but you can't punch feelings in the face. Well, you could, but that would solve exactly zero problems and create many new ones." Kelvin pulled out his tablet, already pulling up something. "Okay, we need a strategy. First, do you actually want to pursue this? All three of them?"

Noah was quiet for a long moment. "Yes."

"Okay, good. Honest answer, that's progress. Second question: do you think they can actually make this work without it imploding spectacularly?"

"I have no idea. Sophie's logical about it in theory, but she also likes control. Lila's competitive by nature. Seraleth seems completely unbothered but I don't know if that's genuine or if she's just hiding stress really well."

"Those are all valid concerns. Third question: are you going to that meeting tomorrow?"

"I don't have a choice. If I avoid it, that just makes everything worse."

"Correct. But you're going to hide first, right? Do some training in your domain, process the Widow kill rewards you still haven't checked, generally avoid thinking about this until you absolutely have to?"

Noah looked at Kelvin. "Am I that predictable?"

"You're extremely predictable. It's part of your charm." Kelvin stood up again. "Go. Train. Check your system notifications. Punch some imaginary enemies. I'll cover for you if anyone asks where you went."

"Thanks."

"But Noah?" Kelvin's expression shifted to something more serious. "Don't avoid it forever. Those three deserve an actual answer, not you strategically postponing until circumstances force a resolution."

"I know."

"Good. Now go hide in your pocket dimension like the emotionally avoidant protagonist you are."

Noah left the room, Kelvin's laughter following him down the corridor. The headquarters were quiet now, most people either asleep or in their quarters. He made it to his room without encountering anyone, closed the door, and activated his domain ability.

Reality folded. The familiar transition of molecules scattering and reforming, consciousness existing in that strange space between locations. Then grass beneath his feet, perfect light from no visible source, his domain spreading in every direction.

The dragons noticed him immediately. Storm shot from his den with that characteristic screech, covering the distance in seconds before nearly bowling Noah over with enthusiastic nuzzling. Ivy emerged more gracefully, her emerald scales catching light as she approached. Nyx remained in his den but his golden eyes tracked Noah's position, acknowledging his presence.

"Hey guys," Noah said, scratching under Storm's jaw. "Miss me?"

Storm chirped, electricity crackling between his scales. Ivy pressed her head against Noah's shoulder in greeting. Nyx rumbled from his den, a sound of contentment rather than threat.

Noah sat down in the grass, finally allowing himself to breathe. No missions. No tactical planning. No relationship complications. Just him and his dragons in a space where nothing could reach him unless he allowed it.

He pulled up his system interface, and notifications immediately cascaded across his vision.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[SECRET QUEST COMPLETED: WIDOW SLAYER]

[OBJECTIVE: DEFEAT A FOUR-HORN HARBINGER]

[DIFFICULTY: EXTREME]

[BONUS OBJECTIVE COMPLETED: SOLO ELIMINATION]

[CALCULATING REWARDS...]

[REWARDS RECEIVED:]

[+15 STRENGTH]

[+18 AGILITY]

[+15 VITALITY]

[+17 INTELLIGENCE]

[+16 WISDOM]

[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: REAPER'S HARVEST]

[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: HARBINGER SLAYER (FOUR-HORN)]

Noah dismissed the achievements and focused on the ability description that appeared next.

[REAPER'S HARVEST]

[RANK: UNIQUE]

[DESCRIPTION: DEATH IS NOT THE END FOR THOSE WHO FALL TO THE VOID REAPER. ENEMIES SLAIN BY THE USER CAN BE RESURRECTED AS VOID CONSTRUCTS, RETAINING THEIR ORIGINAL ABILITIES AND STRENGTH. CONSTRUCTS APPEAR AS DARK PURPLE MANIFESTATIONS OF THEIR LIVING FORMS AND OBEY THE USER'S COMMANDS ABSOLUTELY.]

[LIMITATIONS:]

[- MAXIMUM ACTIVE SUMMONS: 5]

[- SUMMONING COST: VARIES BY CREATURE STRENGTH]

[- ONLY CREATURES PERSONALLY KILLED BY USER CAN BE HARVESTED]

[- CONSTRUCTS ARE NON-SENTIENT]

[- CONSTRUCTS REQUIRE INITIAL VOID ENERGY TO MANIFEST BUT DO NOT DRAIN ENERGY WHILE ACTIVE]

[AVAILABLE HARVESTS: THE WIDOW (FOUR-HORN HARBINGER)]

Noah stared at the interface, his mind racing through implications. 'This is insane. I can summon the Widow. Actually summon her as a construct under my control. Her speed, her strength, her regeneration, all of it available whenever I need it.'

He checked his updated stats.

[Name: Noah Eclipse]

[Level: 61]

[Class: Void Reaper]

[Health Points: 3,520/3,520]

[Void Energy: 24,000/24,000]

[Experience: 2,847/35,000]

[Talents:]

Void Manipulation [SSS+ RANK]

Perfect Echo [Sealed]

Enhanced Regeneration [S RANK]

[Enhanced Skills:]

Void Blink (Level 13)

Enhanced Null Strike (Level 10)

Void Absorption (Level 9)

Entropy Touch (Level 8)

Void Barrage (Level 6)

Null Strike 'n Chi Fusion (Level 5)

Storm Call (Level 6)

Phase Step (Level 3)

Reaper's Harvest (Level 1)

[Attributes:]

Strength: 330

Agility: 363

Vitality: 340

Intelligence: 349

Wisdom: 334

The stat increases were significant. Not transformative, but enough that he could feel the difference already. His void energy capacity remained the same, but everything else had jumped noticeably.

'Alright. Let's see what this actually does.'

Noah stood, focusing on the new ability. The system responded immediately, pulling up the harvest interface.

[SELECT CONSTRUCT TO SUMMON]

[THE WIDOW - COST: 18,000 VOID ENERGY]

'Eighteen thousand. That's three quarters of my total capacity. This better be worth it.'

He confirmed the summon.

Void energy poured from his body in a torrent, purple-black light erupting from the grass in a pillar that stretched upward already taking the shape of a Harbinger. The dragons reacted immediately. Storm screeched, backing away with frost forming around his scales. Ivy's vines extended defensively. Nyx rose from his den, golden eyes locked on the manifestation with clear hostility.

"It's okay," Noah called out. "Stand down. It's under control."

The pillar of void energy condensed, taking shape. Several feet tall, feminine, four horns curving from the skull. The Widow materialized as a dark purple construct, her form solid but clearly wrong. Not flesh and blood but void energy given shape and substance. Her eyes glowed with purple light, empty of intelligence or personality. Just a weapon awaiting commands.

The dragons didn't stand down. Storm was actively charging an attack, electricity building between his scales. Ivy's thorns had extended to combat length. Nyx had moved closer, radiating heat.

Noah walked toward the Widow construct, positioning himself between it and his dragons. "Easy. She's not a threat. Not anymore."

He placed his hand on the construct's arm. The material felt solid, real, but wrong. Like touching something that existed slightly out of phase with normal reality.

The dragons watched, tense but not attacking. Nyx rumbled, a sound that carried clear disapproval. Storm chirped uncertainly. Ivy's emerald eyes tracked the construct's every micro-movement.

"I know," Noah said, addressing them. "I know she killed people. I know she's a Harbinger. But she's mine now. Under my control. She can't hurt anyone unless I tell her to."

He wasn't sure if they understood words or just intent, but gradually the hostility eased. Storm's electricity faded. Ivy's thorns retracted slightly. Nyx remained alert but no longer actively threatening.

Noah turned his attention back to the Widow construct. "Move."

She obeyed instantly, taking three steps to the left with that same horrifying speed she'd possessed in life. Not quite as fast as before, maybe, but close enough that Noah's enhanced perception struggled to track the movement.

"Attack that tree."

The construct launched forward, covering thirty meters in under a second, her fist driving through the trunk with force that shattered wood and sent splinters flying. She pulled back, standing motionless, awaiting further commands.

'This is incredible. Absolutely incredible. I have a four-horn Harbinger as a personal weapon now.'

Noah spent the next hour testing the construct's capabilities. Her speed was intact, that impossible velocity that had dominated their original fight. Her strength remained overwhelming. Her tail functioned as a weapon. She could regenerate damage by drawing on his void energy reserves, though he quickly learned to disable that function to preserve his capacity.

What she didn't have was intelligence. No tactics, no adaptation, no ability to think beyond direct commands. She was a puppet wearing the Widow's form, lethal but ultimately limited by Noah's ability to direct her effectively.

'Still worth eighteen thousand void energy. Definitely worth it.'

He dismissed the construct after exhausting most of his testing scenarios. The Widow dissolved back into void energy, returning to whatever space harvested creatures occupied when not manifested. His void energy began regenerating immediately, the familiar trickle that would restore his capacity over the next several hours.

Noah checked the time. Two hours had passed in his domain. Outside, maybe twenty minutes if he'd maintained the time dilation correctly. Still night. The meeting with Sophie, Lila, and Seraleth wouldn't happen until he made it happen.

He could stay here. Train with the Widow construct more. Avoid the conversation indefinitely.

Except Kelvin was right. They deserved an actual answer.

Noah took a breath, dismissed his interface, and let himself exit the domain.

Reality reassembled around him. His quarters, dark and quiet. He checked the time, found it was approaching one in the morning. Late enough that most people would be asleep.

His comm device showed three messages.

Sophie: "When you're ready to talk, we'll be in conference room C."

Lila: "Not running away. Just postponing. I get it."

Seraleth: "I am uncertain of proper human protocols for this situation but I am available whenever you wish to speak."

Noah stared at the messages for a long moment. Then he stood, changed into clean clothes, and headed toward conference room C.

The walk felt longer than it should have. His enhanced perception registered every detail, like his brain was deliberately stretching out the journey to give him more time to panic.

He reached the door. Paused. Considered turning around.

Opened it instead.

All three of them were there. Sophie sat at the head of the table, tablet in front of her, expression carrying that particular focus she wore during tactical planning. Lila occupied a chair to her right, leaning back with forced casualness. Seraleth stood near the window.

"Noah," Sophie said. "Sit down."

He sat, acutely aware that this felt like a tribunal more than a conversation.

Sophie folded her hands on the table. "We've talked. The three of us. About you, about us, about what this could potentially look like if we all decided to pursue it."

"Pursue what, exactly?" Noah asked, despite knowing the answer.

"A relationship. Plural. Multiple partners who are all aware of each other and operating with full consent and communication." Sophie's tone was clinical, but Noah recognized the slight tension underneath. "I proposed the open relationship concept on Raiju Prime. Lila's been interested since the academy. Seraleth has made her feelings clear through actions if not explicit words."

Lila spoke up. "We're not asking you to choose. That's the point. We're asking if you're willing to try something unconventional that acknowledges we all care about you and you care about all of us."

"I do not fully understand human relationship structures," Seraleth added, her voice carrying that formal cadence. "But I understand that I wish to be close to you, and these others feel similarly. If human custom allows for this arrangement, I am agreeable."

Noah looked between them, trying to process. "And you're all okay with this? Actually okay, not just saying it to avoid conflict?"

"I have conditions," Sophie said immediately. "I'm your girlfriend first. That's established. Which means I coordinate. I'm the primary point of contact for relationship decisions, scheduling, conflict resolution. This works if there's structure. It doesn't work if it's chaos."

'Of course she needs control. That's Sophie. She can share but only if she's managing how the sharing happens.' Lila thought but smiled outwardly.

"I'm fine with that," Lila said, though her tone carried competitive edge. "As long as 'primary' doesn't mean 'only one who matters.'"

"It doesn't," Sophie replied. "It means I'm managing logistics so this doesn't implode. You'll still have access, time, everything that matters. Just organized."

"I have no objections to organizational hierarchy," Seraleth said. "My people have similar structures for complex social arrangements."

They all looked at Noah. Waiting.

"So," Sophie said carefully. "What do you want, Noah?"

The question hung in the air. Three women who he genuinely cared about, who'd coordinated this entire conversation, who were offering something that should have been impossible to navigate but somehow felt almost manageable in how they'd structured it.

Noah opened his mouth, trying to find words that matched the complexity of what he was feeling.

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