The run back down the beach in the massive suite of tree-covered armor was refreshing, I even took a swim. My connection with Eva let me feel the water and breeze like it was my own body. The monsters in the water stayed far from me and left me alone while I swam, and It was a nice wind down after the crazy morning I just had. It was hard to believe that it was only just after lunch, but I was hungry, so maybe not that hard to believe.
I got back to the beach and ran back to where I found Trem waiting. This guy was beyond loyal, and I should find some way to repay him. I nodded to him and in three quick movements, we were back on the massive terrace balcony that led to everyone's bedrooms.
I emerged from the armor, but I held the connection and waited. Eva was slow to come, but she finally slid into me. Instantly Eva was squealing in what I assumed to be a delight, and it was hard to get my bearing together. I sat down cross-legged, right on the grass in front of the dormant Dragon Armor, placing my hands on my knees.
I focused, I knew what the place looked like, and I had visited Gripton inside of the place. I could feel the excitement pouring from Eva, so I focused on that point, only feeling her energy and happiness as my beacon. I could feel that energy shift, coming closer, then faster, until there was nothing.
"HYDE!" Eva screamed at me from very close.
My eyes were still closed, but I put a hand up to defend my ear. Then I peeked one eye slightly open, and then opened both full, getting a big smile on my face.
I was inside of my own head while being awake, now this was weird, but I was here to see what hand got the entity, Eva, a clone of my wife Nina, so damn excited. I turned my head to the origin of the ear-piercing scream, and my eyes fell on a soft blue version of Nina's form, wearing the black dragon scale dress.
"How are you here? And how do I have a body now? I'm not real?!"
Tears were starting to fill up Eva's eyes, and I stood up and took her into my arms.
"You are real, and maybe one day we will find you a cute body for out there, but for now, this should help. Plus, now you can read some of the stuff...woah, there is a lot more in here than last time!"
"I don't need a body, this one is good. I thought I was just going to be a thought or a driver, but now I have a place to relax! Thank you! I promise not to be a burden!" Eva said, hugging me back.
"Okay, I just wanted to come and check to make sure you are settling into my head okay. Wow, that just sounds weird, hehe! If you need something just ask."
I let go of Eva, and woke back up out of my trance, still sitting on the ground. I looked around and Trem was still standing and waiting. The women were all out doing things, so it was just the two of us.
"Hey, do you want to come for a tour with me and the girls?"
"Hmm? Do you need me to take you to different places?" Trem asked.
"No, just to come along, check out the sights and maybe eat some food? Well, definitely eating food. Are you hungry? I'm starved," I said to Trem as I got up.
"Yes, that would be nice, when do you plan on going?" Trem said with a smile.
"Now, let's go round up the women that want to come, and we will get going. Maybe the guys will want to come with us!"
Trem dropped us down to the beach where most of the women were, but none wanted to come, they were all enjoying the beach and nice calm weather that had just come in, but Breth, Buddy, and Cable all joined us. The missing women were Titania, sleeping, and the mothers, who were putting children for naps. Mesh, Wendy, and Marly were still helping with the Zoo clean-up, so it would just be the boys, minus Mesh, but we would bring him back food.
I asked Trem to take us up to the top level where I assumed Titania's parents would be, and my assumptions were rewarded with wide eyes and raised eyebrows from both Leana and Grayson Therock, Head councilors of the Tri-Islands. I wasn't sure if the looks were from our entrance, the group I entered with, or the fact that I came at all.
Still, I was here and they were my god damn guides, come hell or high water I was going to have my tour! I was starting to get Hangry, but my in-laws put up their hands as the irritated look started to make its way onto my face.
"Don't worry, we are still taking you on the tour!" Leana said with a worried look.
"Yes! We, we just didn't expect you here so soon! We thought that you might be spending more time with the family!" Grayson said, bowing his head.
"We also thought you might bring more of the family? Where are all the women...and Titania?" Leana asked hopefully.
"The women didn't think the tour would be that interesting, and my daughter is sleeping, she was up all night working on a project for me. The same one that rid your island of its zoo and the ax the queen had held over your heads."
"Oh, yes...we heard about that…" Grayson let his voice travel off, and then she looked at Leana with a worried expression.
Wow, that was not the reaction I was expecting to get from them, but then Grayson spoke up again and the way they acted made a bit more sense.
"What do you want from us now that you have done this thing for us?" Grayson asked.