/Inferno: Semmi: We need to lock those away and keep them safe Nix. Those tokens are worth a fortune. magic

/Inferno: Shae: I'll keep them in my elemental world.

/Inferno: Nix: So...Explain what you've discovered about the New World.

/Inferno: Semmi: Exactly what it sounds like. There has been a crowd of upper-tier guilds fighting over the same scraps in Colonial for a few years now.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Right, there's actually a waiting listing on all the top Upper-tier raids that aren't instances.

/Inferno: Semmi: There's a forum for the New World, but since Salamander is the first Guild to advance, there aren't any details yet.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Salamander's policy is not to give out information. So we'll have to wait until another guild advances.

/Inferno: Semmi: I do know one thing, the recommended level for entry is 100.

/Inferno: Jun Li: That's the level cap for Upper Tier guilds.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Anyone here close to that?

Pon, Sharl, Wind, and Nix all raised their hands.

/Inferno: Pon: You're that far noob?

/Inferno: Nix: Fraid so. Our mission hasn't changed. We are going to destroy the Artifact on the 12th floor of Mermaid City. After that, who knows?

/Inferno: Ronnie: I have a theory.

/Inferno: Sharl: Don't start sis.

/Inferno: Nix: Go ahead, Ronnie.

Ronnie sat on the bar, giving Nix a smile when he slid a pint to her. "Okay. I think that Aquarions and humans are highly compatible. We were never meant to be enemies but actually allies that live and fight together."

Nix kept his face expressionless. "Please continue."

"Know why a human girl is needed to change the gender of Aquarion babies? It's because the two can interbreed. Think about it, how were there any Aquarion girls before the artifact?" Ronnie took a long drink from her pint, a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.

Milat frowned at her. "We are friends yes. Our two peoples cannot reproduce."

"I'm not sure that is correct Milat." Fajii's soft voice carried everywhere in the Inn.

Mina stared at her friend. "Are you saying?"

Fajii nodded.

Nix felt his stomach flip-flop as he listened to the conversation. "Wait...What are you saying?" Mina took over the conversation. "Aquarion females have an inherent protection around their eggs. It's impossible for one of us to accidentally become pregnant. We have to allow it or fertilization will not occur."

Fajii smiled at Nix, "when Nix and I have exchanged pointers in the past, I became aware that not only was it possible but also quite probable."

Ronnie whistled softly. "So you aren't pregnant, but only because you didn't remove the protection?"

Fajii continued to watch Nix while she spoke. "I believe that to be the case."

"Fajii is right, the potential is there." An Aquarion female named Yuna spoke from the back of the room.

Ronnie grinned happily, her theories were never right. "Nix... You dog!"

Nix felt his face turning red as he shook his head, "I've definitely never exchanged pointers with any Aquarion other than Fajii."

"Yuna is my girlfriend." The words caused everyone to pause. A relatively new Scorched Earth Mage named Tyrant spoke up. He moved beside the Aquarion and squeezed her hand. "That's the way it is."

Mina's pale face was a picture of shock. "Yuna?"

Yuna nodded in agreement. "We are good together."

/Inferno: Mina: All females come at once to the Kindled Spirit. I would appreciate if all males would leave now.

"Huh?" Nix found himself pushed towards the door along with the rest of the men. "Hey! I should be in on this!"

A few minutes later, Nix was sitting on the docks with Milat and Wind. They talked amongst themselves, mostly about the raid but occasionally their eyes would stray to the Inn. After nearly an hour, the door opened and the females started to leave. Mina, Jun Li, and Semmi walked toward them.

Semmi patted Nix on the back. "Well... You may have been the historic first, but you definitely aren't the only."

Mina sat down next to Nix, her face showing confusion. "Seventeen Aquarion women have human lovers."

Semmi nudged Mina with her elbow. "Tell them the rest."

"Three of the couples have agreed to try and conceive." Mina frowned at Nix, somehow this was his fault. "You started this Nix!"

Colonial System Announcement: The Hoss Guild [Upper Tier] has defeated the Escalade Bridge Master and is departing Colonial forever.

Colonial System Announcement: The Daybreakers Guild [Upper Tier] has defeated the Escalade Bridge Master and is departing Colonial forever.

/Inferno: Semmi: That's more like it, there should be details in a few days.

/Inferno: Sharl: I'll check my friends in the Daybreakers and find out what I can.

/Inferno: Nix: Okay, everyone take a few days off. We'll meet up after everyone is rested.

***********

A week went by, Nix spent the time in the Embassy. His main purpose was to increase the combat effectiveness of Fajii, Darsi, and Pinkie. In the interest of advancing floors, they fought continuously. Darsi jumped up to level 25 as a result of the power leveling.

The group left the Embassy in the morning, they had leveled most of the evening before camping out on level five.

/Inferno: Chael: Waiting on you Darsi.

/Inferno: Darsi: Just leaving the Embassy. Give me five minutes. "Going hunting again?" Nix had examined Darsi's stats a few days earlier, her Gladis enhancements were similar to his. A sniper needed high perception and hers was climbing steadily from constant use.

"Ronnie and Chael are taking me somewhere to hunt." She was sure that Nix had put them up to it, they were both expert range fighters.

"I'm heading back to the Sea-World." Pinky had her hand on Morti's shoulder while they walked. Since joining Inferno, she had managed to lock her level at fifty. She stayed in the beach cottage with Mina since she didn't have the funds to buy a houseboat.

Fajii slid an arm through his, she had become much more forward after learning that other Aquarion females had also taken human lovers. "I'm going to help Shae with her garden. Would you join us?"

"Sure." Nix was fairly certain that Shae owned the largest Ghost Pepper garden in Colonial.

/Inferno: Semmi: A few small tidbits of info coming out of the new World. Want to have a sit-down? Or should I spill it?

/Inferno:Nix: Go ahead Sem.

/Inferno: Semmi: The New World is called Oasis. As you can gather from the name, it's mostly desert. There is a large forest centrally located, but the natives don't allow exploration. There are also two Polar Ice Caps with settlements.

/Inferno: Nix: Confirmed races?

/Inferno: Semmi: Your gonna love this one Nix, they have Elves. No class information yet.

/Inferno: Chael: Looks like we're in Ronnie.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Yep. Pointy ears for the win.

Fajii walked with Nix toward the Fire Palace, they were just entering the courtyard when she stopped. "Could you help me with something Nix? It won't take long."

They walked together to her small garden where she stopped. "Please wait a moment."

Nix watched as she hurried away, a moment later he cringed at the sound of hissing. "When did Fajii become sneaky?" He turned slowly, of course, Sori Dah was standing there.

The Lamia's hands glowed for a moment.

[Second Form: Human]

Nix took a step backward, her appearance was remarkably similar to Fajii. Sori stood in her bare feet, watching him.

"I'm sorry that my Lamia form is so repulsive to you Champion." Sori bowed low, her light brown hair spilling off her shoulders.

"You have a third form also?" Nix couldn't separate this form from the other in his head. It was irrational, but she was a snake-woman to him.

Sori nodded, "my snake form."

Nix maintained his distance, wishing he were someplace else, anywhere else. "Oh, I see. Let's not show me that one."

"You are the Temple Champion. Don't you realize how much we care for you?" Sori closed the distance between them. The short wrap she used in her Lamia form was nothing but a very short skirt while she was human. "With each victory of our Champion, the Acolytes grow stronger."

Nix sighed heavily. Somehow he was starting to feel guilty. "A stronger Scorched Earth Temple means a stronger Inferno. I thank you for your hard work."

She reached out and grabbed his arm, she could feel the tension in him, his jaw clenched tightly but he did not pull away. "Would you speak to my sisters?"

Nix nodded and then followed as she descended a staircase hidden neatly behind a large pillar. He had been in the garden dozens of times and had never realized it existed. "Damn... I need to explore more."

She moved nimbly on her bare feet and led him to a large practice yard. There were archery targets set up in a line and tables with practice swords and daggers. Although underground, it was quite bright, the walls were adorned with torches every few meters.

Nix watched the Acolytes as they used the yard. They were expert archers, but he hadn't seen them use melee weapons. They seemed to favor dual-wielding small daggers. Two fighters were sparring in the center of the yard, their movements blurred while they moved with inhuman speed. Sparks would fly at each encounter until one succeeded in disarming the other.

Nix clapped in appreciation. "Very nice blade-work." He knelt and picked up the dagger of the one who had been defeated. Both combatants bowed deeply toward him.

"Again, this time with me." He tossed the dagger back to the Acolyte who had dropped it. He equipped his sword hilt. "You guys are immune to fire right?"