CHAPTER 54: A NIGHTCAP FOR A MATRIARCH

The moon has long since crested the hills, and the village of Knob’s Hill lay in tranquil slumber, save for the glow still pouring from the windows of the chief’s commandeered home. Outside, the once-bustling street has finally emptied. The long line of clients has come and gone. The final booking has just ended.

A woman, an elf by the looks of her ears, perhaps half-something else by her broad grin. She was being carried away on a makeshift stretcher by two equally satisfied friends. Her limbs draped lazily over the sides, her face frozen in dreamy bliss.

As she passed Vuvi, she weakly lifted a thumb and said, "Wooooorth it..." before sighing herself into unconsciousness.

Vuvi, half-asleep herself and nursing a cup of lukewarm tea, could only blink in response.

"Another day done," she mutters.

The front door creaks open. Pip steps out into the moonlight, arms akimbo and faceplate glowing like the morning star. Steam puffs from his vents like a teapot meeting its calling. He strikes a mighty pose... one leg up on a stool, fists to hips, mechanical thighs gleaming with oil, pride and the residual residue of women divinely pleasured.

He emits a long, harmonic chime, radiating an emotion so clear and pure that even Veena, half-napping against the wall, cracks open an eye and grinned.

Vuvi chuckles and gives him a slap on the back. "Another day, another dozen satisfied hearts."

"And hips," Penelo whispers sleepily from Veena’s lap, one eye half-lidded and dreamy.

Pip lets out a sheepish whistle.

Veena grunts from her perch. "Do we have the energy to carry Penelo this time, or are we just leaving her with a snack tray and a blanket?"

Vuvi is about to respond when a shadow looms.

A hunched figure emerges from the dark. Robes rustling, cane tapping. It’s the village matriarch, ancient and bent, yet somehow elegant in her stature. She steps forward under the moonlight, her silver hair like threads of starlight.

"I had to see you once more," she says, voice creaking like an old tree. "Vuvela Blackthorn, and the miracle man of gold..."

Vuvi stood, blinking back her exhaustion. "Ah... Matron Dallia, was it? I hope everything’s alright?"

"Oh, more than alright, my dear," the old woman says, stepping forward slowly. "You’ve saved our daughters. You’ve blessed our fields. You’ve reminded us what joy can feel like again." She turns to Pip, eyes glinting. "And you, my dear sweet boy... you’ve turned this brittle old body into something fluttery again."

Vuvi gives a small smile.

Until Dallia suddenly pulls something from her robes.

A bulging velvet pouch hits the table with a thud.

"Now," the matriarch says, smiling crookedly. "I know I’m old and I creak when I sit, but... is there any chance this wrinkled soul might have a small taste of the Prince?"

Vuvi lifts a brow.

Penelo sits up, gasping. Veena’s jaw drops.

Pip tilts his head and whistles low.

"...Matron," Vuvi says slowly. "You don’t have to—"

Before she could finish, Pip gently pushes the bag of gold back into Dallia’s hands, shakes his head, and takes her wrinkled hand in his smooth metal fingers. He beams, sending a pulse of pure emotion into her heart.

Kindness, honor, warmth, and... a pure willingness to please.

Dallia swoons, her cheeks suddenly flushed with color not seen in decades.

"Merciful heavens..." she whispers, gripping her cane. "I might pass on before it starts! better lead me in quickly."

Vuvi gives a sigh, small and fond. "Alright, alright. But gentle, Pip. She’s got more decades behind her than most kingdoms."

Dallia cackles. "And I plan to enjoy every one of them!"

She clutches Pip’s arm, and the two disappear into the candlelit house.

The door closes behind them.

A beat of silence passes.

Then...

A soul shaking shriek.

Penelo leaps to her feet, knocking over a pitcher of lemon water. "We’re under attack! Monsters!"

Veena’s already glowing, magic pulsing at her fingertips. "Position! Where are they?!"

Vuvi bursts into laughter.

"Relax," she says, wheezing. "That’s not a monster. That’s Matron Dallia... probably finding salvation."

From inside came another scream. A warble of joy and guttural satisfaction.

Penelo blinks. Then scrambles to the window.

"No way... she can’t possibly... Maidens! Pip’s bending... oh my... oh my gods—"

She grins widely before her eyes roll over and she slumps to the ground, drooling. "Me next..."

Veena steps away from the window. "I’m scared," she whimpers.

----------------

The sun rises to find Knob’s Hill transformed.

The streets are decked with garlands, ribbons, and streamers. Tables stretch end-to-end through the main square, weighed down with fruits, roasted vegetables, fresh breads, pies, and pitchers of wine. A breakfast feast fit for a queen.

The inn’s doors creak open.

The team stumbles out, blinking at the light.

Pip gleams in the morning sun. Penelo’s hair tumbles down her head in frizzy curls. Veena still has pillow-creases on one cheek. Vuvi looks like she hadn’t slept but was running entirely on caffeine and success.

The village erupts into cheers.

"Saviors!" someone yells.

"Hail the golden one!"

Penelo perks up like a bunny on sugar and bounces forward, grabbing handfuls of food and bowing with dramatic flair. "Thank you! Thank you! I’ll take three of these! Oh, chocolate!"

Vuvi blinks. "Wait, did they... did they make all this for us?"

Pip, still glowing from his nocturnal miracle, strolls into the crowd. Women immediately surround him, hugging him, kissing his faceplate, stroking his arms like he was a myth come to life.

Veena watches, deadpan.

"You’re just gonna let him get mobbed?"

Vuvi sips from a cup of cider, arms crossed. "He’s enjoying himself. Let the man beam."

Veena grunts. "That’s not

a man. That’s a holy relic."

"Same thing."

Then a voice rings out.

Matron Dallia.

Gone is her cane. Gone is her slouch. She strides down the street like a teenager in spring, singing a bawdy song and slapping hips as she passes.

She practically dances into Vuvi’s arms and gives her a firm hug.

"Your golden friend is a miracle, child! I’ve not felt this limber in decades. I feel like I could outrun a centaur in full gallop!"

Vuvi chuckles and gives her a pat. "Glad to be of service."

"You saved our fields. You saved our girls. And you saved me." She points a wrinkled finger at Pip, who’s currently posing like a statue while a pair of artists try to sketch him. "He’s not just a miracle. He’s a legend. The Golden One, the Restorer of Fields, the Healer of Hearts!"

The crowd roars as Penelo tries to crowd-surf on a pie tray.

Veena sighs, plopping into a chair with a croissant.

As the feast winds down and food dwindles, Vuvi sits on the inn steps, stomach full and heart lighter than it had been in days.

She glances sideways as Veena pulls out her ever-present notebook.

"What are you scribbling now?"

Veena doesn’t look up. "Schedule."

Vuvi groans.

"What? Already?"

Veena clears her throat. "Session one begins in twenty minutes." she announces.

Every woman within earshot freezes.

Fifty faces turn to Pip.

Eyes gleaming. Lips curling into grins.

And in a heartbeat, the line forms again.

Vuvi stands up, brushing crumbs off her coat.

She pats Pip’s shoulder. "Hope you’re ready, golden boy. Lots of hearts to fill and pockets to empty!"

Pip strikes a pose and lets out a ding!