“I don’t think I could do that in front of all these people. I know that your group dynamic is pretty relaxed, but that’s, well, you know.” Priya stammered.
Ella giggled at her flustered state and rolled over to make a gap beside Wolfe. “He meant the same way he does for the regular troops, but it seems you would really like a bit of special treatment. Come lay beside him. You can even keep your clothes on if you prefer.”
Priya looked shocked and pointed at Ella’s body, but no words were coming out while her mouth moved.
“We all use armour spells to get dressed. Why are you shocked?” Ella asked.
“Not that, the mark on your stomach. I’m certain that’s a Demonic binding spell.”
“Oh, this? We all have one. It allows the storage of his mana for a few hours and allows us to work it directly into our aura strength. That’s how we are getting stronger so fast.
I don’t have a measuring tool, but we should all be close to five hundred points of aura density, and our ability to channel mana is much stronger than usual with completely clear and expanded veins.
It’s like we’re becoming the Witches of old, from before the war, when they were supposed to be able to change an entire battlefield with a thought.”
“As long as you’re sure it’s safe. I’ve seen horror stories come to life after a Demonic Familiar took over the bond and ran wild, using his Witch as a Familiar to draw additional mana to attack her unit.”
“Even without restraints, it’s never been an issue for us. Maybe because I’m alive and recall the rest of my life? Why don’t we try a new arrangement today?
You lay down between Ella and Mary and wrap your arms around Ella. I’ll only touch your hand. That way, nobody needs to get up, and I can channel the energy in to expand your veins.” Wolfe suggested.
Cassie and Reiko both sat up after that announcement, stretching and getting up for the morning. “We are going to shower. You four can group bond. Just don’t let the girls wear the Lieutenant out too much. She’s got to train later.”
Ella smirked and patted the vacant spot on the bed while Priya sighed and then removed her boots and armour plating, leaving her in the soft cotton uniform as she climbed into the bed.
She realized her mistake only a second later when Wolfe touched her hands, and the mana began to flow through all three Witches as one. In to expand their veins, then hold for two seconds and then out again. Each movement of the energy was an exquisite pleasure, and Priya was struggling to keep her voice in, even before Mary’s hands made their way inside her uniform, and Ella began undoing the buttons.
By the time Cassie and Reiko left the shower stall, Priya was a red-faced and panting mess, but her mana veins had made incredible progress, moving mana much more quickly than the day before.
Unlike Wolfe’s group, she hadn’t reached her natural limits yet, so there was still some potential for easy growth.
“You’ve had your fun, ladies. Bring the Lieutenant to shower. We’re stealing Wolfe to go for breakfast.” Reiko announced.
The forehead flick she gave Mary was enough to convince the little pink-haired Witch to stop teasing their Lieutenant, and she reluctantly got up, helping Priya up with her.
“You get used to it after a while. The flow is constant for us all day long, just not at full strength like when we’re in contact and focusing.” Mary explained as she activated the shower, turning on the magical device.
“I am not sure that was the problem. Wolfe, save us a seat. We will see you all in a few minutes.” Ella added, waving the others out of the room while she padded across the wool blanket-covered floor after them.
They were all back in order and looking professional, with their hair neatly styled and all smelling of the same generic shampoo when they made it to breakfast a few minutes later.
“I will bring the new arrivals to you as soon as we have finished eating, so they can get started. Is it possible to do that flow-increase exercise without you? Having everyone reach their potential would really make a difference in our combat strength.” Priya asked Wolfe once she was seated with her bowl of oatmeal.
“I don’t think Witches can do it. If they could, the academy would teach it, but my suspicion is that your aura masks the feeling from you, which is why even after all these years fighting in the Wastes, the lingering damage and blockages aren’t being cleared out of the recruits before they arrive.
I could arrange to gather more of you at once and do it as a unit, but that is up to you five to negotiate. You know what it feels like, so the call is up to you as a group.”
Ilyas and the other officers joined them at that point. “What sort of sexy group activities is our resident Demon suggesting we do today?”
“Mana vein expansion. You will naturally stretch them when you exert yourself, but the process can be accelerated with my help. But like clearing your veins, there are side effects.”
“So, you’re looking to claim all the Witches for yourself, are you?” Ilyas laughed and gave a pointed look to a small bruise on the side of Priya’s neck which Wolfe realized could only have come from Mary.
“You wound me. They did that to each other. I only provided some mana.”
Priya blushed as she realized what Ilyas was laughing at, then glared at Ella and Mary.
“Really, both of them? I’m impressed. I thought for sure it was Wolfe trying to form a second Pentacle already.”
Wolfe chuckled at her assessment. “Maybe later. Lieutenant Priya needed help to grow her power, so she took action to get a head start. That’s hardly a whole new Pentacle. Besides, are you five even a proper Pentacle, or do you just work together?”
ƥαṇdαηθνε|
A bond like that can’t be casually broken, and any member’s death would leave you feeling a sense of loss forever, even if you replace them to reform the Pentacle.
This job is hard enough without that.” Amanda sighed, looking up from her food to join the conversation.