Harem Tournament of Champions

[If you think you don't have to, just remember that you aren't the only one who wants this]

HTC couldn't believe it would be teaching its host such things, given he had gained enough experience to deduce what his harem would need.

[You had done the same to Pesa and restricted her to just experiencing a bit just like Solara]

Hisha bites on his bottom lip, feeling it was true and he had made a mistake in keeping them to himself and yet not attending to their needs.

Temporarily looking up as the two banter and point fingers, Hisha used the opportunity to face a few of his inner demons.

'HTC I don't want to get attached to the wrong set of ladies.'

[...]

'I had thought I could keep them until an official bond was verified just like Alta.'

[My deductions are based on compatibility and not truly love at the first instance, host.

A succubus can never be unfaithful once she has her eyes on her mate, this prompted my calculations to match you both]

Hisha's eyes bulge at the revelation, his hand firmly gripping the armrests as he mutters to himself, "I see."

Wae and Aster pick up on those little words spoken and whip their heads in his direction.

Raising his head, Hisha decides to switch up the topic. "How would you describe your rule over your tribe?"

Vanas looked serious, contemplating something.

After a lot of internal deliberations, Vanas finally speaks. "I am more of a tribal head they see as a way out of the confinement that binds us."

The cryptic words didn't go unnoticed by Hisha. "What did you say about confinement?"

Vanas forces a smile and refuses to speak on what he meant, with a promise that he would later on when the rest aren't present.

'Dickead is always pretending as though he's smart.' Hisha chuckles at the mannerism of Vanas.

"Any grudges?" Hisha pries further.

Vanas gets to his feet with a wicked grin, walking over to Draegul.

Standing in front of him, he places his right foot on the armrest and has his voice as cold as possible.

Draegul's eyes widen in disbelief as Vanas' fangs extend.

I wouldn't call it a grudge, but scores to settle with my friend here."

'Who the hell would want to be friends with you?!' Draegul scrunches his face in disgust.

Wiggling his brows, Vanas was quick to chip in, "don't disgrace your ol' pal."

Draegul's eyes furrow at the perceived disturbance once more, muttering under his breath. "You should have known better than to pick a fight with me, you little shit."

"I would never pick a fight with you, high and mighty Drachief." Vanas mocks with low chuckles.

Dropping his feet to the floor, he raises his hands in surrender as he turns to Hisha.

"That's about it, my lord."

Hisha rubs his chin and responds. "Your complaint is about the change in blood taste and the scores to settle is about riling up Draegul?"

Vanas nods.

"I will have a word later on with him and see if we can find a solution," Hisha promises, his voice low and full of authority.

"Thank you, my lord." Vanas says, bowing his head in respect and flashing a grin on Draegul's way.

Before Wae could speak, Vanas was quick to point at him, "don't you think you'd escape your turn if you don't say anything?"

Wae's eyes widened in surprise, he was about to speak when Vanas continued.

"I'm not going to let you get away with your silence, so speak up, our lord awaits your response."

Wae's face turned red as he tried to think of something to say, knowing the rest could already tell what was going on with his people

"We Lycans have had issues with feeding and I will admit it was a bit of my fault..."

'That's right, own it or you get serious setbacks from the contract.' Hisha cackles in his thoughts.

"... it's all thanks to lord Hisha that I finally get to see the need to act less selfish and start caring for others."

"That's all?" Vanas asks, his voice full of sarcasm.

"Yes, my lord," Wae answers with a smile, hoping Vanas would let it go.

"Any grudge you have against your fellow tribal chiefs or someone in particular?" Hisha asks, looking at each of them.

Looking over to Aster, Wae takes pauses whilst remembering his stone table destroyed during the feast.

'It's all in the past.' He repeats in his head.

Shaking off the thought, Wae dismisses the idea with a smile. "I don't have any grudge, my lord."

Hisha nods, feeling he was telling the truth since he did not react whatsoever from the blood contract. "I believe you."

Wae's mood elevates from the trust he had garnered.

[Charm+15]

Aster clears his throat, ready to respond as the next in line.

"As you all know, my tribe has coexisted with the goblins who had helped create our magnificent infrastructure, we had lived in relative peace until the hobgoblins..."

"Hobgoblins?" Wae interject, feeling as though it sounded familiar enough for him to taste it.

'Where have I heard that name?' He thinks while rubbing his chin.

Aster continues, hoping his explanation could shed more light on the situation.

"Yes, they are a race of goblins that have taken over and killed off the majority of the goblin tribes during their civil war."

"Wait for a second!" Vanas pinches the bridge of his nose whilst trying to keep up with the information. "You all heard what he said, right?"

He takes a glance at the rest and lets out a bitter laugh in disbelief.

"So, you're saying those shit things came from your tribe?!" Vanas blurts out, his red eyes glowing with brooding rage.

He had originally thought the creatures to be an unknown phenomenon that had sprung up and attacked Kurg randomly.

Then it suddenly began to make a lot of sense as he recalled how Aster had acted seconds before the attack.

"You could feel it, yet you chose not to warn any of us?!!" Vanas barks and gets to his feet.

His eyes trail down to the tug on the hem of his shirt by Draegul.

'What the hell?!'

"Let go!" He hisses through grit teeth, "don't act as my close bud right now, I wish for a bit of peace from you too."

Adamant on his decision, Draegul shakes his head and warns with eyes full of worry, "don't"

Vanas' fangs extend and he snarls at the hindrance from Draegul, torn between moving further and ultimately destroying one of his favorite pieces of clothing.

Aster has cold sweat trailing down his head as he hopes to have Vanas restrained.

Vanas had been a rollercoaster of emotions and he had frankly wished the playful side returned.

"It's because of him we suffered casualties a few days ago!" Vanas barks, hoping this could convince Draegul to let go.

'So unpredictable, too loud.' Hisha scoffs in his thoughts, rubbing the side of his face to calm his nerves.

[He still banters like a child]

Having had enough of his behavior, Hisha commands with a low undertone. "Sit."

Those words were like a sword at his heart, forcing Vanas to Reluctantly sit down, his fangs retracting as he looked at Aster with a frown.

'Be thankful we aren't in a room without lord Hisha.'

"You may continue, Aster," Hisha instructs, his eyes fixed on him.

"I had thought they could never break the seal that was used by the elders in my tribe to keep the hobgoblins at bay."

"Well it would interest you that your elders didn't do a good job, now did they?" Vanas asks, his voice low and his fangs still out.

Ignoring his comment, Aster gave a nod to Hisha, understanding he knew more about the situation from the book handed to him.

"We will get their whereabouts and take care of them, don't worry," Hisha assures, his voice full of confidence.

"Thank you, my lord," Aster says, bowing his head.

'I will get my hands on that book, then it's all over!' Aster completes his thoughts.

"What about the goblins?" Hisha asks, looking at Aster.

*****

A/N

My heartfelt appreciation also goes to those who vote with powerstones on my book constantly or happened to devote them currently.

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