"And that should be perfect for what you wanted, nice and simple for everyday where. Woven from a special mergata fiber so water repulsive to keep you dry. Should go well with that cover of yours and fit nice to be fancy. Whaddya think sweetpea?" Reciri said as her spindly limbs retailored the clothes directly on Temate's body.

  He turned on his plinth, set in front of three mirrors, to get a good look at himself. A long seafoam blue tunic, neatly csped around his stomach with some unique stitching technique. Long, loose sleeves attached to ste gray leather wristbands adorned with brass buttons to allow for adjusting it's position. Currently they sat just passed his elbow causing the sleeves to billow out slightly.

  It was cinched at his waist with a new waistband made of simir material to the wristbands, with it's own brass csp to help with adjustment where necessary. Both were surprisingly stretchy, almost as if estic but Reciri had expined that's a trait of rakniss silk. They wove that with another base material to allow for freedom of motion and comfort. Below the waistband the tunic continued to midthigh, split open at the center to echo the v-neck design up top.

  The pants that now repced his old pair of jeans were smoother, softer, and clung more tightly to his body. He felt like he was wearing tights and was surprised at how comfortable they felt. The darker blue-gray of the pants helped hide the clear bulge of his junk as well, which was nice. He'd noticed guys tended to accentuate that in this realm, or at least this city, but he felt weird about doing that.

  "And it was how much?" Temate asked, turning to examine his back.

  "Normally something like this, with the material weaving, would be about 120 pieces. Here however we offer a default 20% lower value then any other simirly priced goods and since you're a first time customer, your first purchase is half off." Reciri chirped happily, "So your total comes out to-"

  "48 pieces, here you go." Temate answered and pulled the pieces out of one of the pouches on his new waistband.

  Reciri blinked at the coins. "I'm surprised, you seem rather well educated." She commented.

  "Is that not normal around here?" Temate replied with a grimace. "Where I grew up that's pretty basic mathetmatics."

  Reciri tilted her head. "Is it? Around here few know math like that except business owners."

  "Hmmm. Guess that makes sense." Temate replied, stepping down from the plinth.

  Quickly a ghanaan clerk rushed up with a bag containing his old clothes. They handed it to Temate who took it and thanked them before double checking everything was present.

  "How much do you think your business partner will push onto my companion?" Temate asked.

  "Aires is very skilled when it comes to gauging a customers budget, she never pushes them passed their comfort zone. It's part of why she's so good at this kind of work." Reciri lowered her voice and continued to herself. "And why I agreed to do this." She smiled to herself.

  "Oh? [Power]s I assume, that's impressive." Temate grunted, pretending not to notice the wistful look on the small rakniss' face.

  "Yes quite! She can be a bit much at times, but she's absolutely skilled and considerate!" Reciri chirped happily.

  "Well aren't you kind Reciri dear!" Aires said as she stepped from the backroom.

  Behind her a deeply reddened Toni followed with a beaming Mims holding a bag. She was still dressed in her old outfit which raised one of Temate's eyebrows.

  "Ah! Aires y-y-you're, sorry I was just tryin to comfort Temate here-" Reciri eyed the bag in Mims hand, soft golden fabric peaking just out the top. "-Is that?" Reciri pointed at the bag.

  "An investment, don't you worry pet, I assume you've already found the right fit for the young man?" Aires spoke confidently as she strode up and examined Temate. "Hmm, yes aguaria fibers is a good choice, especially for one so fit." Aires said with a squeeze of Temate's bicep.

  "Something about being water repulsive?" Temate inquired.

  "More specifically liquid expulsive. Water, oil, sweat doesn't matter the material actively pushes it off the surface to remain dry. We don't exactly know why, but as long as it's a 70% primary mixture in any fabric blend it retains the properties to great effect." Aires answered absentmindedly. "Yes, yes, mmm I would've picked a pins leather for a warmer gray instead of an undermount leather but otherwise very good." Aires said with a hand patted atop Reciri's bonnet.

  "Thank you ma'am. I thought about the pns leather but he already has such a warm skin tone I felt a cooler color would be good for accessories?" Reciri said cautiously.

  "Oh, hmmm. It's true your body tone is remarkably warm, both of you really. I don't think I've met a human quite so... exotic." Aires said.

  "We're not exotic, we're people fucks sake." Toni said with narrowed eyes.

  "My apologies! I'm not used to Ritynian physiology clearly and..." A ghanaan clerk interrupted Aires with a small bag. "Ah! And here is something a bit more casual for you miss." Aires shifted over to hand the bag to Toni. "That'll be 71 pieces please." She said with a hand held out to Temate.

  "Wait I didn't-" Toni started and stopped as she saw Temate passing the pieces over.

  "Pleasure doing business with you! Take caaaaaaare! Changing rooms are over there ma'am if you wanna change now which I recommend, storm comin and that outfit is... Not great for the weather here." Aires motioned towards the thin leafy fabric Toni was wearing.

  "That's... Yeah that's a good idea thanks." Toni replied, the bright red blush not fading.

  "Need a hand?" Temate said with a smirk.

  "I-!" Toni squeaked as her eyes widened, then she ran off to the changing room.

  "Oh, lovers not just companions I see." Aires commented.

  "For someone so observant, I'm surprised you didn't notice before." Temate poked.

  "Mmmm, mayhaps I had and I chose to ignore it for... personal reasons." Aires spoke thoughtfully.

  "Is that so?" Temate replied with a raised eyebrow.

  "I am a woman who knows what she likes, isn't that right Reci?" Aires turned toward the rakniss who had shifted to help a new customer.

  "Huh? Oh yes yes! I have work to do Aires if you wanna flirt do it without me!" Reciri said waving one of her spindly limbs at them.

  Temate smirked as he saw Aires' wool fluff a bit. "Normally when a woman knows what they want, they're also pretty direct about it. In my experience."

  Aires fluffed a bit more before carefully patting herself down. "Ahem, well I'm not so gauche as to try to break previous commitments." She huffed.

  "Really that's very kind of you..." Temate stopped his train of thought as Toni came out of the changing room with a bang.

  Or rather, her new appearance stopped his thoughts in their track for a moment. Toni strode proudly out of the changing room atop heavy, bck leather boots which she'd kicked the door open with. Long, bck silky tights ran up to mid thigh and glimmered in the glowing lights dotting the space. Taking over for the tights and stretching up to just beneath her chest was a sleek, incredibly tight bck high waisted shorts cinched by a ribbon like sash.

  Her incredible chest was accentuated by the ruffly white shirt she wore which clung tight to her torso. Long sleeves extended down, puffing out around her forearm, to her wrists where they were held down by bck leather with silver csps. A long, silver capped choker wrapped a tall colr to her neck. She stopped when she saw Temate examining her and did a little spin. He swallowed hard when he saw just how well her ass was accentuated by the tight, shiny material.

  "Like what you see, Daddy?" She purred sliding up to his chest.

  "I very much do, you finally rexing?" Temate said reaching around to grab her to him by the waist.

  "Mmmm, I took a moment to cool down in the changing room. That and these were a bitch to put on." Toni said with a pout.

  "Hahaha, as always, little T get's angry and suddenly she's not so flustered huh?" Temate said, patting her on the head.

  "Aaaalright you two, we got what we-"

  The door bell rang as a familiar bck lupine form strode in alone.

  "I'm here! Unfortunately everyone's busy prepping for the- woah! AWOOOOOOO miss Toni you look fantastic!" Kezzik howled.

  "Thanks Kezzik, I honestly forgot you were getting someone to help us." Toni said with a slight blush.

  "AH! Me too! I'm almost gd people are busy." Mims said as he pressed his hand to his forehead.

  "Well, I'm just that good." Aires boasted, flipping her hand through the wool on her head.

  "Yeah, we'll have to see about that." Temate smirked at her and started ushering people out. "Quick, before she makes us spend anymore money!"

  "Oh you'll be back! I guarantee the quality of our products will have you excited to spend here again, tataaaaaaaaa!" Aires followed them waving her hands to them at the door.

  As they exited they spotted a smaller satveak examining the wares at the front. Behind them they heard Aires call out to the man.

  "Oh, you there I think I have the perfect thing for you, no no don't worry about money, first purchase is half off and I promise you'll love it! Come come!"

  "And another victim slides into her web..." Toni whispered with a small giggle.

  - - -

  The rest of the day flew by with retive normalcy. As much as Temate had adapted to in the city of Occiden. Quick trip to a new restaurant with another seafood based meal to try. Then back to the Are estate to get battered around by Mua, or when he's busy like tonight. Kezzik.

  Kezzik was a terrible sparring partner, because he didn't hold back. Kezzik was so significantly stronger than Temate that calling it 'battered around' would be an understatement. It was more like a predator pying with it's prey.

  Like right now as Temate stumbled through the shadow choked sparring pit, [Magic Eye] maintained to try and get a glimpse of something through the darkness. That alone helped him spot the shifting shadows forming into a cw and block them.

  "UNGH! Fuck!" He growled as the cw still tossed him several feet as the shadow faded. "God could you not go a little easy on me?" Temate huffed as he dragged himself to his feet for the hundredth time.

  "Why would I do that? No one out there will, you wanted to get strong, and you are. Hell first time we sparred you didn't even spot my cws, now you can block em!" Kezzik barked cheerfully.

  "Yeah, I suppose. It's also helped build my power much to my surprise." Temate grunted as a small human woman ran over to tend to his wounds. "God I miss Pip, his poultice fixed these up in hours."

  "Mmm, good stuff that, too bad the medical team couldn't replicate it." Kezzik said as he sat across from Temate.

  They sat there in silence for a minute, Kezzik gnawing at some rge port bar that Temate had know idea how he had gotten. Temate examined the other man, taller then him by a bit, rippling muscle buried under thick, wonderful looking fur. All he wore now was a long loin cloth which barely hid anything.

  "You are getting stronger you know. That's how [Power]s work." Kezzik murmured thoughtfully.

  "Huh?" Temate replied.

  "Your comment, bein surprised your power is growin. I don't much care for how it works or why, but what your girl said reminded me of somethin I do think about often." Kezzik polished off his port bar and looked off toward the setting sun beyond the long, nguid river running beside the city.

  Supposedly in the northern part of the city there was a port on the river, but Temate hadn't left the south side since arriving. This alone had been a huge effort of discovery and exploration, and he didn't want to stray far from the Are estate until he knew where they stood with their mysterious supporter.

  "What's that?" Temate asked after another moment of silence.

  "[Power]s aren't just a thing you have, they're who you are. If you accept that, and lean into em, power will naturally grow. Somethin like that..." Kezzik scratched his ears and then growled. "AAAAH Look, all I know is if you use em, you get stronger okay? So I'm makin you use em, you're welcome!" He barked and stood up.

  "Another round?" Temate asked. He was surprised when Kezzik shook his head.

  "Nah, gotta get ready for the lord's return. Need a good long bath and some nice duds. Eeeegh, I hate clothes." Kezzik whined as he stalked away.

  Temate ughed but figured he should follow suit. He stood and headed off toward the small apartment he and Toni had been sharing for the past week. He moved himself quietly through twisting alleys and dark passageways, taking a quick route he'd learned through experimentation over the week.

  As he stepped down the st stretch of back street toward his current abode he felt something he hadn't in awhile. [Oversight] tingled at his front, alerting him to someone, no three someone's, hiding within a small alcove leading down another street. He grimaced and pced a hand on the hilt of his machete.

  "I know you're there." Temate spoke calmly. After several moments of silence he directed his [Dominion] toward the hidden figures. "Come out." He commanded.

  A pair of feet shuffled forward with hissed warnings from their companions. Then an audible sigh as two other pairs followed the first into the open. They were non-descript, wrapped in loose tunics like his own with hard leathers over top. They wore no masks to hide their features, which was a common trait of satveak like themselves.

  At least like the first two. One was a thick, heavyset satveak with a shorter neck then most others of their kind. The second was a dark scaled satveak with a long, bded tail, he could make out neither ones scale colors in this dark alley. In fact the only reason he could really make them out at all was because of his [Magic Eye] which he used to quickly scan them.

  He saw nothing particurly dangerous, sensory [Power]s mostly, some things that rely on distraction. The only real threat was the final figure, smaller then the rest with feline ears and a long tail. Very simir to Mims except for the rather pronounced chest and the rge, heavy looking bde on their back.

  A magic bde. And she had a few offensive [Power]s of note. Thankfully she wasn't strong enough to stop his [Magic Eye], nor seemingly detect it.

  "Careful, he's got somethin to read." The squater satveak hissed. So not all of them were unaware.

  "Of course he does nitwit, how do you think he knew we were there?" The woman hissed. "Now we'll make this easy on you sir, drop your bde and we'll make your death quick." She threatened.

  "Death?" Temate said, tilting his head to one side. "Ah, you must be associates of... what was his name?" Temate asked with a bit of [Dominion] leaking into the question.

  "Meatra Ciang Phlu you-"

  "Keather!" The woman snapped.

  "Ah- sorry I don't-"

  "Don't think fucking kill him!" She snapped.

  Immediately the two satveak rushed forward toward him. Temate already knew the pn just based on their [Power]s. The taller one ran forward, his body beginning to gleam with power as he darted to circle around Temate.

  "Freeze." Temate commanded quietly, focusing all his power on the shorter one who'd been so vulnerable to his commands already.

  Immediately the heavier satveak froze in pce. At the same time Temate focused in on his [Oversight] using it to determine where the other would strike at his back. There he used [Ossification] to quickly create a firm barrier of bone and twisted into the strike. The taller satveaks bde gnced off of his bone harmlessly.

  "[Vital Sever]." Temate growled.

  The bde carved into the satveak's arm forcing them to leap back. The attempted retreat fell apart as the [Power] drained vital energy from them, causing them to stumble and fall backward. Temate moved forward.

  "[Onsught]." Temate barked out one of his two developed [Power]s over this st week.

  The followed strike carved the satveak woman's, for it was a woman he could see now, chest open causing her to scream in pain. The second strike in the [Onsught] severed straight through her neck. A pained shout came from the frozen satveak behind him as [Oversight] alerted him to another attack coming from his side and above.

  Temate pushed another ossified barrier into pce, bracing for impact with his [Spiral of Bone] as the massive bde of the tiny woman. Once again he twisted at moment of impact but instead of bringing his bde to bear against the woman he aimed it toward her bde.

  "[Vicious Strike]!"

  "[Follow Prey]!"

  The massive, heavy bde turned in midair as it deflected out in ways that the girls impressive strength alone would not have allowed. In moments it was flying directly back towards Temate's stomach but his own strike smmed into the bottom ft of the bde as he knelt low. The bde sailed over his head as the girl spun in midair and nded nimbly on her feet.

  "[Killer's Cw]!" She hissed and lunged with extended cws towards Temate's throat.

  Temate matched the gesture as he ossified a long, pointed bde out from his wrist. The woman twisted quickly, avoiding the bde puncturing her throat as she rolled on her side under Temate's arm. He tracked her, using his second new power [Critical Analysis]. A vulnerability was spotted and Temate moved quickly.

  He smmed a foot down onto the woman's tail, guided by the orange light filling the space as the first satveaks body burned. The woman screamed in pain and dropped her bde, then screamed in panic as she saw the body burning. The other satveak broke his command finally but simply rushed over to the burning form of his companion screaming.

  "NO! NO NO NO STOP! STOP WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" He shouted.

  In the orange light of the disintegrating satveak Temate could finally make out some details of his attackers. Brown red scales on the heavier one. Deep bck blue on the lighter. And orange fuzzy patches of hair striped with bck on the surprisingly young looking womans face.

  "I can't stop it. It's a [Power]. If I kill, I feed." Temate growled with as much intimidation as he could. "I need only one of you to answer my questions." Temate looked down toward the girl at his feet. "You lead them, you choose. Sacrifice your ally and go free, or sacrifice yourself and free them?"

  Temate pressed into the girl with his [Dominion] and watched her shaking. Watched as her eyes shifted between him and the satveak weeping over the now lightless bones of their companion. He felt his [Dominion] take hold as she broke and came to a decision. Quietly she spoke.

  "Keather, go."

  "No, boss I-"

  "GO!" She snarled.

  Keather, the survivor, fled as the one remaining ambusher stared up at her captor in a way that no surrendered prisoner should. Divine's that's a good [Power].

  "Now tell me pet. What's your name?" Temate growled as he shifted his boot up to her neck.