By the fifth day, Llandra was the first to notice it.
She didn't mention it immediately.
She simply stared at her system screen longer than usual while the final iPoint totals settled across the translucent display.
The glow faded.
The number was smaller.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
Enough for someone observant to notice.
The next morning, after training drills, the Vixens sat together along the edge of the yard catching their breath while Jax adjusted obstacle placements nearby.
Llandra finally spoke.
"…Are your gains getting smaller too?"
Zee looked up from her own screen immediately.
"I thought it was just me."
Nyxian stretched lazily against a crate, sweat glistening across her shoulders.
"The system's reducing returns."
Bunny blinked.
"…Returns?"
Nyxian grinned.
"Firsts, Bunny."
Understanding slowly dawned across Bunny's face.
"Oh."
Then another pause.
"…OH."
Llandra nodded thoughtfully.
"The larger gains came from:
first experiences
emotional milestones
new forms of intimacy
public affection
things the system considered significant."
Nyxian smirked.
"We've apparently covered a lot of ground in five days."
Zee turned bright red immediately.
Bunny looked thoughtful instead.
"…So how do we get more?"
Nyxian's smile slowly widened.
Dangerously.
"Oh," she said softly.
"I have ideas."
Llandra immediately looked concerned.
"Why are you smiling like that?"
"Because," Nyxian replied proudly, "I believe in innovation."
Later that afternoon—
Brannic wandered out from the forge while the group trained across the yard.
The dwarf wiped soot from his hands slowly while watching in silence.
His eyes narrowed.
Not because the Vixens were strong.
He already knew that.
No—
because they were moving differently now.
Purposefully.
Jax stood at the center of the field issuing commands calmly.
"Split. Alpha and Delta rotation."
The formation broke apart instantly.
"Collapse. Tight diamond."
They converged immediately.
"Reverse pressure. Rear becomes front."
Llandra pivoted smoothly before the command fully finished.
Bunny adjusted spacing instinctively.
Zee shifted with them instead of reacting late.
Nyxian floated naturally toward pressure points before gaps could form.
No hesitation.
No confusion.
Brannic frowned slightly.
Then slowly nodded.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He watched them continue:
rotating blind spots
signaling silently
adjusting positioning mid-movement
protecting weaknesses instinctively
This wasn't ordinary adventurer training.
This looked closer to military drills.
When Jax finally called for a break, Brannic approached quietly.
"I'll be honest," the dwarf admitted.
"I don't understand half of what ye're teaching them."
Jax handed him a wrapped meal before sitting beside him.
"How do most parties train?" Jax asked.
Brannic snorted.
"They usually don't."
That got Jax's attention immediately.
"They fight together sure. Maybe spar occasionally. But train like THIS?"
The dwarf shook his head.
"Most parties rely on one or two talented members carrying the rest."
Jax frowned immediately.
"That makes no sense."
Brannic looked sideways toward him.
"Explain."
Jax gestured toward the Vixens.
"Every one of their lives depends on the others."
Simple.
Direct.
Absolute.
"A single mistake kills people."
Brannic chewed slowly while watching the girls reset formation again.
"…When ye put it that way…"
The dwarf scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"…it does sound insane."
Jax nodded once.
"Today's our last full-unit training day."
Nyxian perked up instantly from across the yard.
"Oh?"
She grinned slowly.
"One-on-one training next?"
Brannic coughed violently.
Jax rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Focused individual skill development."
Nyxian looked unconvinced.
Bunny immediately raised her hand.
"I volunteer for more private instruction."
Zee covered her face.
Llandra remained perfectly composed somehow.
"I look forward to refining my skills under your guidance, fiancé."
Brannic barked out a laugh immediately.
"You've got yerself a dangerous crew, Jax."
He looked back toward the field.
"…And ye're training them like soldiers."
Jax didn't answer.
Which somehow answered the question anyway.
The final hour of training was nearly flawless.
No missed rotations.
No exposed flanks.
No hesitation.
By the time Jax finally dismissed them, the Vixens collapsed dramatically across the yard cheering weakly.
And then—
they split up.
Jax headed toward town to finalize vendor contracts and supply deals for the upcoming festival.
The Vixens went somewhere far more dangerous.
Pandora's Box sat tucked quietly into a narrow side street beneath glowing lanterns.
Llandra stopped outside the entrance immediately.
"…This was my idea."
Nyxian smirked.
"And yet somehow you're the most nervous."
"I am NOT nervous."
Bunny tilted her head.
"You're fixing your hair again."
Llandra immediately stopped touching her hair.
"…Let's just go inside."
Nyxian pushed the door open dramatically.
A bell chimed overhead.
The inside smelled faintly of:
incense
perfume
silk
and terrible decisions
Zee froze instantly.
"…Oh."
Shelves lined the walls displaying:
enchanted jewelry
silk restraints
magical oils
illusion crystals
lace outfits
velvet accessories
and several objects Bunny immediately pointed at asking:
"What does THAT do?"
Nyxian nearly killed herself trying not to laugh.
The elderly fox-woman running the store looked up calmly from behind the counter.
Then smiled knowingly.
"Ah," she purred.
"New relationships."
The Vixens collectively combusted.
Nyxian recovered first naturally.
"We're looking for… enhancements."
The fox-woman nodded like a wise sage.
"Of course you are."
Zee wandered toward a shelf displaying enchanted restraints.
Her eyes widened.
"…They're adjustable."
Llandra discovered a polished stand near the back corner and immediately regretted having eyes.
Bunny touched a softly glowing crystal wand.
"…Why is it vibrating?"
Nyxian whispered the answer into her ear.
Bunny turned violently red.
"OH."
The fox-woman smiled serenely.
"You girls are adorable."
Nyxian eventually gathered everyone closer conspiratorially.
"Alright."
She pointed dramatically at various items.
"We need:
surprise
creativity
unpredictability
emotional damage
and enough confidence to make him forget language entirely."
Zee looked horrified.
"…That's the plan?"
"That," Nyxian declared proudly, "IS romance."
Llandra sighed.
"…We are absolutely enabling her."
"Correct," Nyxian replied.
"And it's going wonderfully."
Jax returned to the inn later than expected.
The city buzzed loudly around him.
Festival preparations filled the streets:
musicians practicing
vendors shouting
lanterns being hung
children running through crowds
Solmere felt alive.
And somehow—
that still surprised him.
He'd spent most of the afternoon finalizing:
supply contracts
construction orders
food shipments
material acquisition
labor agreements
By the time he finally returned to the inn, exhaustion had settled into his bones.
The hallway smelled faintly of cooked meat.
Jax paused.
Food?
He smiled slightly.
"They ordered dinner without me."
Honestly—
he felt a little guilty.
He'd stayed out longer than intended.
They were probably starving.
Jax opened the door quietly.
Then stopped moving entirely.
The room was dimly lit.
Candles flickered softly across every surface.
The curtains were drawn.
Music drifted quietly through the room.
And standing there—
waiting for him—
were four women who had very clearly spent hours preparing for this exact moment.
Silk.
Lace.
Bare skin.
Smiles.
Confidence.
Mischief.
Nyxian slowly stepped forward first.
The succubus smiled wickedly.
"Welcome home, Jaxy."
Jax forgot how breathing worked.
Completely.
Totally.
Gone.
Bunny giggled softly.
"Oh no."
Zee covered her mouth trying not to laugh.
Llandra looked slightly smug for once in her life.
Nyxian tilted her head slowly.
"…Did we break him?"
Jax opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Nyxian's smile widened triumphantly.
"…Excellent."