Taylor thought of Pollyanna–thought of that, miserable, uncouth, bitter, tortured human. She wondered if she could do that to Tock, the one person she had an actual shred of affection for. 

“But what does that mean?” Taylor wondered.

It means there is an inextricable bond between you, that you can love no other. 

“What will happen to him?” Taylor questioned, knowing she would get no concrete answers from the creature. 

You know what will happen. You know another like him. The Antler replied. 

“He will be invulnerable? He’ll live forever? Can… can he have children still? Will his life be bound to my family line?” Taylor asked. 

The Antler was silent for a time. Eventually, he said, those who are the subservient soulmate can have no children. Their legacy is their own life. They have no need for children. 

Taylor felt sweat dripping down her forehead. Her shoulders felt unbelievably heavy, and her pulse quickened dramatically. She knew this was the hardest decision she would ever have to make. 

Without you, Yharos can’t move forward. The Antler stated. 

“What do I need to accomplish this?” Taylor finally asked, unexpected tears flowing down her cheeks. 

The Antler grinned. A lock of his hair, a griffin’s horn, a blue mushroom, and some of that Arrozan magic of yours. 

Taylor committed that to memory. She lowered her head, sinking to her knees in despair. She knew what she would do to Tock was unimaginably cruel, but she knew it was the best possible way to get what she wanted. 

What you do with this information is up to you. In order to achieve your dreams, sacrifices must be made. Your ancestor, Fjorn, never would have hesitated.

The Antler slowly faded from existence--it's body becoming smoke and drifting away.

Taylor walked through the cave in silence, her footsteps echoing the whole way. At the mouth of the cave, she saw Tock. Despite everything, she found herself smiling at him. 

She opened her arms and drew him into an embrace. Tock patted her back. “Why the hug?”

Taylor held him at arm’s length. “I just ran into an Antler.” 

Tock’s face tensed in concern. “What did he say to you? Did he–”

Taylor pressed a pointer finger against his lips. “It was nothing bad. He was saying I could create a powerful weapon if I killed a griffin and took its horn.” 

“A weapon?” Tock’s golden eyes fluttered in confusion. 

Taylor gazed at him intensely, holding his face in her hands. Why shouldn’t I make him into a weapon? He want to be my husband. He already belongs to me. I’m sure he’d love to be mine for as long as he lives. 

“Yes… he was saying I could make a magical spear if I get a griffin’s horn and a blue mushroom and combine it with my Arrozan magic.” Taylor explained.

“Arrozan magic? In that body, do you still even have Arrozan magic?” Tock asked. 

Taylor kissed his forehead, glad he couldn’t see her eyes, because she was weeping. “I still have it. I have the soul of an Arrozan, after all, even though I’m in this body.” 

“Well, I know where the blue mushrooms are, and I think I know where the griffin is. I can lead you to them!” Tock said excitedly 

Taylor pressed her cheek against the top of his head, eyes still glassy. “I knew you would know where to find them…” 

Tock wrapped his arms around her. “What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing… I just… I look forward to having those millions of babies with you.” Taylor said. Tock smiled at her. 

Taylor never thought she could care for anything or anyone other than herself. Maybe I found one person I care for even more than I care about myself. 

She held his face in her hands, looking into his amber eyes. She wanted to make the world a better place. Both for people like her, but mostly for people like him. He was willing to die for her, to be her loyal husband, when she had treated him so poorly, and when she knew she would continue to do so once she made the potion. 

“Tock…” Taylor sniffed. “I’m so sorry about Pete. I’m so sorry about Terran.” 

She broke down in tears, hating herself for ruining the life of the one person she loved. He had had actual friends who cared about him--who didn't just want to use him. Now all he had was a master. She collapsed to her knees. 

Tock looked down at her for a long moment, his gaze compassionate. He kissed her forehead and cheeks and told her, “I’d give them all up for you again and again. You’re all I need. I only feel complete when you’re around.” 

Taylor drew him into an embrace, and he continued dotting her with kisses. He pulled her down by the hips and she giggled, wiping the tears from her eyes. She found herself begging, “Give me a baby.” hoping she could get pregnant before she gave him the potion.

***

Kori and her new companions were nearly at Maribel. Night had fallen, and they had made camp around a warm fire. It had been a long journey, and she was only grateful that it had been uneventful compared to her journey to Alanheim. Her new companions, Raynnie and Myrenna, told her how Raynnie had ended up in jail. Kori learned that it was due to her proclivities toward women, and she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable for a moment once she learned of this. Such waifs who had such proclivities were cast out of Trella without a second thought, and it was hard to overcome her preconceptions about such people. 

“Can I ask why your religion forbids such proclivities? Creatures who are attracted to the same sex exist in nature, and you worship nature. What’s the problem?” Kori wondered at they made camp about thirty miles away from Castle Maribel.

Raynnie answered as rain began to fall down, “Because it’s rare and it doesn’t produce children, it’s considered a perversion of nature.”

Kori listened, intrigued by the reasoning. “In my culture, it’s considered indecent for somewhat similar reasons. My people think sex is just for having children, and not strictly for pleasure.”

Raynnie was blushing uncomfortably. “I see. I’m an abomination in every culture.” 

Kori looked upon her silently. As far as she knew, Raynnie was a kind, innocent girl, but she had to admit she was uncomfortable being around her. 

Myrenna sat down next to Raynnie, looping an arm around her protectively. Kori had since found out that they were sisters. 

Kori shook her head. “Well, the way I see it is that my God, Sherne, created you in such a way for a reason. I won’t deny that I’m uncomfortable, but to throw you in jail because of it is ridiculous.” 

Rannie snorted. “The bigger reason I was put into jail was because the queen kept accosting me, and I kept refusing her. I spread a rumor around the castle about what she did. She caught wind of it and threw me in jail.”

Kori’s mouth hung open in shock. “She certainly does enjoy not following her own religion. I wonder how easy she would be able to dethrone if her people found this out about her…”

“Even if they did, she would just be replaced by someone worse…” Raynnie sighed.