Instead of leaping immediately into why I had been fucking two of the most gorgeous women to ever walk the earth in the bed I had grown up in, I instead just... started from the beginning, telling my Dama about everything that happened after she had passed away.
My time at the Academy, how I had graduated top of class and with a bunch of eyes on me because of her, my immediate deployment in the military and how I had steadily climbed the ranks thanks to the Academy as well as how unstable the world had been.
That instability brought a whole lot of opportunities for me to capitalize on, and while I wasn't some sort of silver tongued, quick thinking schemer who could have turned all of that into a Noble title, generational wealth and all sorts of amazing things, I did make a good life for myself.
Kept on living here whenever I was in the city, took my role in the military seriously, honed my skills as best I could and just... lived to the best of my abilities, which only ended up leading me into that batch of turmoil that I can only now look at as a blessing in disguise.
The entire time I was talking to her about this she just remained quiet, lounging in the chair and staring at me with an unreadable expression that was so... unnerving yet familiar, making me wonder again and again if I was just going insane or what.
It wasn't like there was anything else for me to do though so I just kept talking, filling the silence and telling her about how Giselle had accused me of rape, got me branded as a horrible criminal and had me fleeing from our home like some sort of coward.
I told her about the long months of shame and despair I had gone through in Geard, how I had had a few nights that always seemed to end with me staring at the blade I had, wondering if it would have been easier to just...
I told her about the fight with a particularly strong Geri and a few Quetzalcoatl that left me weaponless and exhausted, only for all of that negativity and uncertainty to fade away when I met that fateful woman who changed everything.
Describing how Astra had turned everything from this monochrome, bleak existence that I had been forced to live into something that had meaning and purpose again had me tearing up once more, and it was then that my Dama finally spoke again.
"This Astra, she's the violet haired one? The one with a potent aura?"
"Potent..?"
"High Divine energy, lots of mana... that sort of thing."
I nodded, causing my Dama to sigh as she leaned back in the chair and stared at the ceiling, making me rather confused since she seemed to be against this, though like she had done before she just said "I'm not against it, just... processing."
After a few moments she sighed again and looked back towards me, saying "Well, at the very least she seems capable and filled with potential. Probably too good for you, but hey, your Mother was far too good for me as well, so perhaps luck just runs in our blood."
That was something I could agree with wholeheartedly, though before I could really bask in the 'acceptance' from my Dama about the woman I had landed as my wife she immediately asked "So are the two of you actually wed yet?", which made me freeze.
"I... W-Well I mean, she has this... That's..."
"Rhefia."
"D-Dama, listen, she's got this weird magic thing going on that sort of tied us together anyways, so I just sorta for-"
"I didn't raise a wimpy brat who couldn't slip a ring on a woman's finger... or did I?"
"W-Well, does a ring have the same weight as like... tying your very being to one another..?"
The disapproval in her eyes as she added "You didn't even go to a temple and ask for the Goddesses to bless your matrimony, did you?" made me wilt a little, though that was when I felt another hand on me that came from 'nowhere'.
"To be fair, Miss Camara, Rhefia isn't exactly lying about us being tied together... and that power does come from Reincantra and Demetra, so it is technically what you want... But we didn't have a flashy ceremony, no."
My wife was standing beside me, still completely naked and very much looking like I had left her - well fucked yet still yearning for more - so I felt a little complicated about her being here in front of my Dama, only to remember that I was still naked as well...
"No need for the 'Miss' part, dear. Dama would do well enough, if you are alright with it. 'Tis a shame my daughter cannot do you the honor of a ceremony, but if it is something you are alright with..."
That exasperated sigh made Astra chuckle as she rubbed my shoulder, her touch being neither accusatory nor comforting as she replied "A ceremony would be nice, but to be fair she has been a criminal up until today, so..."
"Excuses..."
"Well, we have been making use of the time in other, more productive ways. I feel a little bad saying this seeing as you are a spirit, but... well, you have a plethora of grandchildren already. Two fully grown Deerkin and an adorable Doe that is still growing, born of me. Rhefia also has a few others..."
Astra trailed off as she gauged my Dama's expression, which was near impossible since the Deerkin was still as neutral as ever, though after a moment she nodded and said "That is good to hear. At least you didn't waste that time you 'saved' by forgoing a ceremony..."
"Dama, please..."
She just gave me a half glare before waving for me to continue, wanting to hear the remainder of my story now that we had skipped around just a little bit; during that time she was also looking both Astra and I over appreciatively, which felt... weird after all this time of not seeing her, though considering how she remained neutral I was a little relieved...