Aether Beasts

It felt surreal traveling through the exotic floor, even more so than the mountains. They had been floating but besides that, the only odd thing had been the trees, but this was a whole ecosystem below a wasteland covered in an endless storm. It felt like something from one of my aunty's old-world books. My eyes kept moving as we traveled, and just when I thought I couldn't see something stranger, another thing popped up. I saw flowers that curled and shook alongside grass that just like back below the hole seemed to blow with a nonexistent wind. The trees were even odder, especially the fact that the trees felt rubbery, and not like normal wood. The mushrooms ironically simply looked like giant mushrooms and were probably the least odd thing there.

"Are those fruit?" Sandra asked as we passed a tree with circular leaves that glowed a vibrant purple. Attached to its side as though part of the wood was what looked like apples though far smaller and blue.

Zirani followed Sandra's gaze and smiled. "There are, grab a few if you'd like."

Sandra shrugged and walked over. To my surprise and hers, the moment she touched one of the apples the tree seemed to be pop it out, and it fell into her hand. She hesitantly moved it towards her mouth and took a bite. She chewed then suddenly her lips pursed and her eyes crinkled. "It's so sweet."

"Sweet?" Misty asked excitedly before walking over and popping an apple out herself. "Oh, it is."

The blonde had shoved the entire thing into her mouth, causing Sandra to glance at her with wide eyes.

"It can be that sweet?" I questioned.

"Here, try it." Sandra handed me over what was left of her apple.

I hesitantly took a bite and almost immediately my tastebuds were assaulted by the strongest sweet sensation I had ever felt. It was like honey mixed with sugar except for a dozen times stronger, and long after it was down my throat, a lingering taste was left on my tongue.

"Come on," Zirnais said with a chuckle. "We can try some more later, but first shelter. There's a large tree just up ahead."

I caught Misty grabbing at least half a dozen more from the tree before we followed Zirani and continued on. Zirani's idea for a treehouse was perfect and with both of us, we could easily shape one. There were plenty of materials and it was looking like food wouldn't be too much of a worry. Besides the fruit, we'd seen a few normal animals, though when I said normal, I meant as in they weren't aether beasts. A two-tailed squirrel with a beak definitely wasn't a normal animal, well not outside a place like this at least.

The tree Zraini had talked about came into view a few minutes later, and it did indeed look tall enough for what we were planning. It was nowhere near the height of the tall trees on the last floor, but it was definitely taller than any of the others we'd seen on this floor so far. Its bark was a pale color and its leaves were a shiny bronze.

"Are we going to make it the same as the other treehouse?" I asked Zirani.

She nodded and then walked up to press a hand to it. She closed her eyes before they opened as a smile split her face. "This is it. Misty, Sandra you two keep an eye out while Aiden and I start building."

Zirani plan was cutal quite simple. She would fell some trees and shape them into the necessary parts and then I would climb up and marge them with the tree which I hadn't been sure I could do at first, but then Zirani had shown me the patterns. Before the training, I wouldn't have been able to make sense of the patterns let alone mimic them, but with my new knowledge I was able to shape the wood easily, and soon the treehouse began taking shape.

It was by no means a quick task, and hours passed by as Zirani shaped tree after tree, and the surrounding area soon became far flatter and open, which was a good thing for training. The hardest part was the roof as it was the largest piece and kept falling, but eventually, after using a lot of aether I managed to get it in, although Zirani was forced back into the core as I had used too much.

"You can come on up now," I called down to Sandra and Misty.

The way up to the treehouse wasn't as complex as the lift that had been on the first floor, instead, it was just a simple ladder. Soon the blonde and the dark-haired arcanist were in the treehouse and marveling at what we'd made in just a few hours.

"It looks wonderful," Misty said as she walked over and gave me a quick kiss. "Good job."

For a second I was surprised she'd done it so casually in front of Sandra, but the dark harried arcanist didn't look bothered at all, in fact, she copied the blonde a moment later, though her kiss was deeper and lasted far longer.

"Really?" Misty asked with a mock glare.

Sandra chuckled. "What, he liked it."

I nodded. Out of the three of them, Sandra was by far the best kisser.

We set up our rooms as we had on the first floor and by the time we were done, Zirni's core was rested enough that she could manifest. We all headed to the dining room and had a quick meal while Zirani began to explain things.

"We're going to go about things just as we did on the first floor," Zirani stated. "And this time it will be even easier as Aiden and I can use green pulse everywhere, and due to Aiden's power increase, it can cover a larger area. After we know the land then we can begin hunting for cores and get back to training. It's the same as the last floor. Up one level of infusion and one density stage, although that's not really an option for you Aiden."

"Why?" I asked with a frown. "You don't think I can do it?"

"No, not at all," She said quickly. "It's just that the jump from Iron to steel isn't a quick process even with the right elixirs. This floor will allow me to make some improvements to what I've been giving you, but not large enough for you to make it to steel within a reasonable amount of time, so instead, you'll be spending that time learning more about nature?"

"As in?"

"Look around Aiden," Zirani replied. "Did you ever expect to see or even imagine a place like this?"

I shook my head. "No."

"This is nature," Zirani said. " A stranger side, but still nature and there is much to learn here. I do expect you to reach the third level just as I do Misty and Sandra, but while they try and get to the iron stage in their first cores, I will be teaching you more about nature, and just what's possible, because it is far, far more than you think."

I felt a bit peeved, but I understood what she was saying, and she was right. My idea of nature was still limited. She had shown me much and taught me not to be so narrow-minded in my view of the green, but there was still a lot for me to learn. Like she'd said, I'd never imagined a place like this.

"Oh, and by the way, I'm going to go make some bathtubs while you eat." Zirani simply smiled in reaction to our groans of protest.

"We still have to do the baths?" Sandra asked.

"I suggest you savor them this time," Zirani said with a smile. "The improved version will hurt just as bad as this one did the first time."

We finished up, and I walked into my room to find the dreaded bathtub already full of crimson water. We'd taken the water enchantments from the first floor since they was no reason to leave them behind.

I stripped and winced as I got it. Just as I'd been getting used to this one, Zirai was going to hit us with a stronger version. At least this would increase my pain tolerance and improve my body. The effect of the baths was certainly noticeable. My body looked far more chiseled, though not overly muscular. My body had always been leaner, with compact muscle full of strength rather than the bulging muscles and large frames I'd seen on some people.

The girls had also seen benefits, and I'd noticed Sandra's toned abs and Misty improved body as we'd made love to one another.

I felt my lower part rising and immediately pushed it back down. I didn't need to get a hard-on in this hellish bath. I cringed just imagining the pain.

Zirani arrived at my room after my bath, and after a rigorous session of lovemaking, I fell asleep with her in arms and with thoughts of what else we might find in this strange land on my mind.