The Court of Souls?

“In philosophy, the natural order is the moral source from which natural law seeks to derive its authority. It encompasses the natural relations of beings to one another, in the absence of law, which natural law attempts to reinforce. This is related to Dharma.

In contrast, divine law seeks authority from God, and positive law seeks authority from government.”

- The Journey to the Afterlife

***Dedessia, the Sea of Souls, Mana Storms***

***Shade***

I watch the rampant energies of chaos. They melted the rocks and earth, then scrubbed everything into a perfectly flat surface. It's a sight I have never seen before. When I started researching chaos magic, I had nightmares about creating a magical construct like this. There is no telling what the chaos magic might do. All it takes is a little mistake in the containment of the spell formation.

But in this case it looks like a natural occurrence. The magic is warping not only energy, but probably also space and time.

Now I don't have any doubts about this phenomenon being the source of the spirits. If a being that's too weak comes into contact with magic like this and survives... well... corruption is the very least of your problems in such a case. I highly doubt that it will only twist the body. The soul will also be heavily affected. That's why I got nothing from the spirits whose souls I caught. They are just sorry and shredded remains of the original.

I watch the slowly moving storm and try to figure out a pattern. Even if it is chaos magic, something has to keep it going. Otherwise the spell would annihilate itself sooner or later. If not then... hm.

“Have you seen enough?” Aswang asks with a frightened voice. “The last time I was here, the vortex was much smaller. I am afraid that the storm might be in a hot phase. We don't want to be here when it expands.”

“Sure. Just let me research this thing for a few more moments.” I reach for a nearby stone with a flat surface and focus mana in my fingertip. Then I start etching a rune circle into the stone and pour my mana into it to imprint the enchantment into the rock.

Such methods won't stick for long, but maybe they will hold long enough until the storm expands the next time. At least I hope so, the air is brimming with energy and I am not eager to wait around for too long.

“I hope you don't intend on walking into that storm. If you do, know that I'll knock you out and drag you back home.” Elona grumbles, taking another bite from some sorry animal which she caught on the way.

I seriously doubt her judgement by now. Stopping her from accompanying me is impossible, so I didn't even try it. But doesn't she see herself that she is in no condition to go on trips like this one? Her belly is just starting to show, but she is eating like a horse. No, probably she would eat a horse, given the chance.

“Of course not. I am just leaving a little spell behind. It's an observation ward. I hope to gain some information once the storm expands.” I finish the enchantment and place the stone on the ground. “That's enough. We can return now.”

“All that for just one look?” Manti asks astonished.

I smile and urge them to walk back the way we came. “One look and setting up a little observation probe. It's enough. Once the storm expands, the probe will send detailed images to my mind. It will be as if I were here in person. I can already tell you that these storms are able to create spirits. It is possible that Moonray exposes people to the storm in order to change them.”

Aswang opens his mouth in outrage and Elona stops chewing. “That's horrible! But how does he manage to expose them to the storm and gather them afterwards?”

I shrug my shoulders. “There are ways. Casting a normal spell or teleportation is out of the question with that much interference from the surrounding mana. But as you saw with the stone, strong enchantments hold for a while. If I have to guess, then I would say that he has a mana imbued cage and places it close to the storm.

“When the storm expands, the victim is exposed to its energies. As soon as the storm shrinks again, he can come back and collect the cage with whatever the victim turned into,” I finish my explanation.

We hurry back down the mountain, this time our steps are much easier because we know that we are walking away from danger. Our excursion can be called a success. I've seen the storm and identified it as chaos magic... more or less. In addition I've found a possible explanation for the spirits.

There wasn't any concrete evidence, but at least now I know what we are dealing with. And as for my suspicions... those will have to wait until the storm expands and encloses the ward.

The rest of our way back doesn't cause any problems, though I caught Elona digging up some strange roots and gnawing on them. I have to feed her as soon as we get back.

It takes a while, but finally we arrive back at home where Elona immediately disappears in the kitchen. In the meantime I take a break in the living area and use it to think about the new implications. Chloe and Shawn are also present, but they are deeply engaged in a game of chess.

As fate would have it, my thoughts are soon interrupted by Elona. She has a plate piled up with dishes in her hands and tears in her eyes.

Her expression surprises and frightens me a little. “What's wrong, Dear? Did something happen?”

“I don't know. Something is wrong. I am eating and eating, but the hunger never subsides. It got worse over the past week. While we were at the mana storm it was better, but since we returned it is unbearable. I feel weak and hungry,” She sobs with food in her mouth.

Chloe looks up. “Oh... didn't you eat well enough?”

“I am eating all the time,” Elona sniffles.

Chloe places both hands on her cheeks. “I didn't mean food. I mean life force. A succubus needs a constant intake of energy. Especially when you are carrying a child. Didn't your husband provide you with enough power? It must be very draining, even more so since your baby is a god. When I was pregnant, Shawn had to do me at least three times a day.”

“Whaaaat? Elona almost killed me yesterday. There is no way that she needs even more sex!” I call out, not even thinking about my words. Shawn looks up and glares at me with hate in his eyes.

Elona stops chewing and gulps. Then she hands the plate to Chloe. “But I didn't leech as much on your power as I could have!”

“Shade, you have to help your wife with her energy resources. When a succubus forms a child it is very energy consuming. The poor child,” Chloe complains.

“You should have told me earlier, Mom!” Elona hurries to my side and pulls me to my feet.

“I didn't think it as a problem. You were having so much sex, who knew that you didn't draw on his energy.” Chloe shakes her head.

Elona pulls me towards our bedchamber, ignoring her mother and father, who is still glaring at me.

When we arrive at the sleeping room, she locks the door behind us and starts undressing. “Is something wrong, Shade? You look so pale.”

Pale. Yes. “Elona? I am sorry. But I don't think that I can do it!” The memories from yesterday are still too fresh and my balls hurt!

Elona rips off my shirt and pulls down my trousers. “Don't worry. I'll take care of it.” She grabs my manhood, but as expected, nothing happens. I am a little relieved to be honest.

She snorts and pushes me back towards the bed until I fall onto it. “I might have to use force.” She rummages through the drawer and pulls out two handcuffs.

“Elona-”

“Shhh... let me do the work.” She chains me to the bed with my hands spread. I am lying on my back and Elona crawls on top of me. I get a full view of her breasts while she is handling the handcuffs. Then she smirks at me and does something to my ear.

I have to confess that I have conflicted feelings about this. That pair of breasts is enough to drive me mad, but it simply won't work today. I am out of ammunition.

Elona gives me a French kiss and then her tongue wanders down my chest and to my left nipple. I want to cry at the fact that this actually turns me on.

Before I can say something her lips wander further down, kissing my belly, and then her mouth is on my member. She starts with slow, sensual motions and then I feel something from our wedding ring. I feel her need, her desire! I can't help it. My body simply reacts as she cups my balls in her hands.

Her kisses wander back up to my mouth until she makes eye contact. She is grinning and pressing her breasts to my chest.

Moving her hips into position, she impales herself on me ever so slowly and I growl. It feels like sparks are going off throughout my entire brain. The wedding rings should be forbidden!

I feel my energy pouring into her. “Elona! That's- mh!”

She shudders with her first orgasm, although I did nothing. Grabbing my head, she shuts me up by pushing her breasts into my face. Then she starts sliding up and down my entire length. “Shade! Yes!”

“Oh, by my balls! Elona you-”

She seals my mouth with her lips as I come. But she doesn't stop rocking on top of me. Instead it goes on and on...

This is limbo!

.