“Esteemed elders! I am proud to present my findings to you! If you look at this slide, you’ll see…”

I turn around, and my voice catches in my throat. The auditorium is half empty, and the monks that are here are either snoring or zoned out completely. It seems like last night was filled with more Lovespore experimentation. I trust my fellow monks, but at times like these I can’t help but wonder if they’re not taking this too far. Are they not losing sight of their spiritual duties?

There is a prophecy that I’m close to uncovering. My body is going through rapid changes. My Zorashi symbols are glowing. My dreams are vivid and strange, and leave me filled with longing.

My body itself aches with desire. Whenever I close my eyes, all I see is her curves, her captivating smile, her gorgeous jade eyes. I want to reach out and touch her, to sink my fingers into her skin, to feel her warmth, to feel her lips press against mine…

Control is the most important thing for a warrior monk like me. And it’s that control that I’m dangerously close to losing. Every day that I’m not with her, a tidbit of my sanity slips away.

I need to get to the bottom of this. If I don’t find her, I fear I might go feral. The pressure that is on my (now winged) shoulders is simply immense.

And I haven’t even mentioned the Rift yet, the mysterious vortex that has appeared several times over New Exon already only to disappear inexplicably moments later.

These are real, pressing problems. I don’t have the time to huff spores, no matter what ‘plane of existence’ they might help me reach.

I clear my throat.

It doesn’t help.

With a heavy sigh, I fight my way through my presentation, offering my interpretation of the ancient text I discovered last night in the archives. Alas, no one seems to care.

Except… except for that one figure, way in the back.

I take a moment to study the Zoran male. To my surprise, he’s wearing a first-generation robe. Those have been phased out decades ago. How is that possible? Did he steal it from the museum?

I wrap up my speech as quickly as I can before heading towards the back of the room. Unfortunately, the stranger is a pace quicker than I am, and he ducks into a side room. I follow, only to the find the room empty.

What?!

The strange encounter weighs heavily on my mind. With the pressure that I’m already putting on myself, mysterious visions are the last thing I need. I already see enough of them during my sleep.

And those are the type of visions I prefer: Warm and cozy.

Or hot and heavy, depending on the night.

Last night was especially hot. I woke up coated in sweat, my cock hard enough to cut diamonds, and it felt like I could still taste her on my lips, as if her fragrance still surrounded me…

I finished myself off, cumming with an angry roar as I clung on to the memories of my chosen mate. By the time I hit the showers, my dream was already a distant memory, to my regret.

If only my dreams could last forever…

That evening, one of the elders sees me stewing during dinner in the mess halls and joins me at my table.

“Elder Burim,” I greet him, lowering my knife. “How might I help you?”

“By telling me what’s on your mind, Davor,” he says. “There’s no reason for such dark clouds.”

I bite my bottom lip. Can I trust him? I realize that, with these changes that I’ve been going through, I’ve retreated from the outside world. I’m a tournament champion, I’m used to the limelight, but now I’m facing a problem I can’t fight my way out of.

“I had a strange… vision today,” I tell him, weighing my words carefully.

Elder Burim nods thoughtfully. “Then your studies are going well.”

“How so?”

The older Zoran smiles kindly. “This place,” he says, spreading his arms wide, gesturing at the temple walls all around us, “It is made of Ua clay. These walls were forged with it. They attract ancestral spirits, who guide the most accomplished monks to new truths. Perhaps you will see your mysterious visitor again.”

If so, you better believe I’ve got some questions for him…