With so many people now packed into the rooms around the Coven Leader's room, Reiko was beginning to wonder what it would be like for her to have to travel. The Council would insist that she brought her advisors along, and security, and probably some of her husbands. She would have an even larger retinue than Wolfe travelled with, and that was after he had called for his advisors, who had brought staff and friends.

Why they had brought a child and a cat was a bit of a mystery to Reiko, who had been separated before Stephanie had first chosen to return to her human form. She was still under the impression that she was a Familiar Cat, and didn't know the backstory behind the friendly feline's childhood.

A childhood that Stephanie was determined not to get into. Especially now that she was here in her hometown, but her family was gone, having fled during the rebellion.

"So, do you all just sleep in one big pile?" Reiko joked when everyone instinctively turned toward the same room.

Nimue cheered, while Carmine picked the little hybrid up and shook her head. "No, it's first come, first served. Whoever fits in the bed. Mostly I stay down the hall with this little terror because we're both off to the library area first thing in the morning.

Rail stays beside us in a room with Dana, and the rest are spread around the hallway."

"So, you're saying that it's not as lewd as I was thinking?" Reiko asked.

"Oh no, it definitely is that. But you see, for most of us, this is a political union. The benefits are good, but it's not like we can't keep our hands off each other, like a certain blue-haired witch." Carmine added.

Ella covered her chest in a mock wounded gesture. "Oh, that stings. But I'm not that bad. I swear, you drag your husband down the hall one time, and they never let you forget it."

"I hope that you don't mind if I steal him for an hour or two. He promised to help work on my mana system, and we're so busy during the day that there will not be time for it." Reiko pleaded.

Ella nodded. "You should get that done before Mary arrives as well, because she will want to monopolize more of your time. She has a lot to tell you since she's been away, so you will want to book an entire evening at the least."

The others settled into their rooms, and Wolfe followed Reiko into the master bedroom to prepare to work on her mana system.

"Just one more thing. I should get Ella, or one of the other witches. It will make this more effective."

"It's more effective when done in a group?" Reiko asked.

"Not exactly, but in a way, yes. What we realized when the last breakthrough happened is that my mana isn't the best suited to a witch's aura. But when it overflows from another witch, it is already attuned and transformed into a more usable form, and the progression rate is significantly faster.

The Demons don't suffer from the same drawbacks, and I pulled Nimue, the little half Dryad, from Rank One to Rank Four in one session. But for you to advance in a single effort, we will need another witch." Wolfe explained.

"And of course it has to be a witch who is comfortably naked around other witches, because for some reason, that is how your magic works." Reiko guessed.

"I could lie and say yes, but mostly it's just a side effect of the magic, not a requirement." Wolfe replied with a shrug.

"We could wait for Mary." Reiko suggested.

"We could. But Ella won't mind."

Reiko sighed. "That's the problem. Mary likes fluffy things, and dislikes men. Ella likes men, and witches, and Wolfe."

"See, that's why she's the best option. I suppose that I could do it remotely, since they're just in the next room, but I'm not sure how good your soundproofing is."

"It's Rank Four in the Coven Leader's rooms. It was cast during the first generation, and we have been keeping it active ever since." Reiko offered.

"Alright, then let me warn them, and we will get started."

[I need to flood you with some mana to attune it to Reiko once I finish the work on her veins. Any objections?] Wolfe asked his witches.

[Do what you have to do. If you can cause her to break through a level tonight, it should put the Coven in a better mood tomorrow.] Cassie and Ella replied in unison, each expressing different parts of the sentiment.

"Alright, there are two basic options to reduce the sensation to a more manageable level. Either lay on the bed with me behind you, or sit in my lap. Either option requires me to be able to see you, and maximum skin contact.

Or, we can ignore the sensation side effect, and you can just enjoy yourself as I work." Wolfe explained, reminding Reiko of the first time that she had felt that particular feeling.

"Get in the bed. If there is an emergency, I don't want my servants barging in and seeing us fully exposed. There will be enough scandal explaining the situation as it is." Reiko agreed.

Wolfe smiled. "You know, I expected more of an argument. You've grown, Coven Leader. Not as shy as you used to be."

Then Wolfe got to work cleaning and expanding her mana system while Reiko got ready for bed. That was the easy part, as the curse was already cleared, and he just needed to strengthen the walls of the mana veins and gently stretch them.

But what would come after was the more difficult and enjoyable part. The flooding her body and aura with mana part, which would cause the breakthrough.

Once he was satisfied that her mana system was ready for the change, Wolfe got into the bed behind Reiko and began to channel mana through Cassie, Ella and Priya, then draw that excess mana back toward him, letting it settle into Reiko.

The effect was as spectacular as it was predictable. The moment that the mana flooded her body, Reiko's back arched, and she cried out in pleasure, relying on Wolfe's arms to keep her from flailing out of the bed entirely.

But he didn't slow the flow, and her aura was rapidly gaining strength under his ministrations, then condensing to begin the change to Rank Three.

The adaptation was much faster than he remembered it being, possibly because it wasn't being balanced between the Pentacles and the Servant bonds, or because the witches this time were much more powerful than she was.

But in under five minutes, Reiko had reached Rank Three, and the witches in the other room were just getting started.

"No more, my mind will break." Reiko pleaded.

"It's just adapting to advancing through a Rank. I promise, you're fine and there will be no permanent damage. Just a few more hours and it will be like you never left." Wolfe promised.

That was not what she meant at all, but as her aura stabilized at Rank Three and Wolfe's magic worked through her body again, and then the flood of magic resumed, she knew that it was already too late.

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