In her room, Elara couldn't shake off the feeling that lingered within her. She unconsciously kept thinking about the way Eryndor tightly grasped her hands, how he kept insisting that she join his party. "Should I join?" she thought vaguely, her mind wandering to the possibilities.
Noir, her familiar, noticed her master's distraction and decided to intervene. "Joining his party and adventuring is below your standards," Noir said, trying to discourage Elara and nip the idea of joining a ruffian in the bud.
Elara felt a pang of upset listening to Noir's words. This was the first time in her life when someone made her feel this excited. Her heart was beating fast, and she was venturing into unknown territory. Ever since she was born, the lower dark creatures only looked at her with reverence, no one ever treated her as an equal. But today was different.
"Why couldn't she have this?" This was the question that kept troubling her. Not knowing what to do made her impatient, and she decided to clear her mind by going out.
Vylonia, still disguised as Elara, instantly teleported a few miles away from the motel. She found herself in a bustling market, dense with people from all walks of life. The air was filled with the sounds of merchants hawking their wares, people haggling over prices, and the clanging of pots and pans from the food stalls.
Elara's eyes took in the sights and sounds of the market. She saw people of all shapes and sizes, from tall, muscular Ogres to petite dark elves. There were humans, elves, dwarves, and other races, all mingling together and going about their daily business.
She walked through the crowds, taking in the different activities that people were engaged in. Some were buying and selling goods, while others were eating and drinking at the food stalls. Elara's stomach growled as she caught the aroma of roasting meats and freshly baked bread. She stopped at a stall and purchased a skewer of grilled meat, taking a bite and savoring the flavors.
As she ate, Elara continued her leisurely walk around the market. She saw a group of children playing with a ball, laughing and shouting together.
After a few hours of wandering, Elara decided to take a break and sit on a wall at the end of the town. There was a small pond nearby, and she watched as children of different races played together, and Elara felt her mind begin to clear.
As she sat there, she realized that her long lifespan had made her too laid back. These people, with their short lifespan, were hurrying with their lives, making the most of every moment. Elara felt a sense of envy, wondering what it would be like to live life with such urgency and passion.
Elara finally decided to waste no more of her time idling around. She wanted to feel alive, and a little adventure in her life wasn't half bad. She didn't care anymore about her low standards, and she wouldn't let Noir or anyone discourage her anymore.
With a newfound sense of determination, Elara went back to the motel and knocked on Eryndor's door. When he opened it, she said with a smile, "I've decided to join your party."
Eryndor's face lit up with excitement. "Really? You'll join us?" he asked, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.
Elara nodded, and before she could say another word, Eryndor suddenly hugged her without thinking. "I'm so glad you're joining us!" he exclaimed, squeezing her tightly.
The room temperature suddenly got hot, and Elara felt her head spinning. Eryndor had squeezed her too hard, and she tried hard to bring the words out of her mouth. "L...let go," she managed to stammer.
Eryndor quickly apologized, feeling a little ashamed. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I got a bit carried away."
But it was too late. Elara's face was already a tomato red, and she looked at Eryndor with a mixture of shock and annoyance. She slapped him on the cheek, saying, "Rascal!"
Then, she turned around and ran away, leaving Eryndor standing in the doorway, looking sheepish.
Noir, who was watching from the shadows, shook his head. "This is going to be nothing but a whole lot of trouble," he said, sighing.
Meanwhile, Elara was running down the hallway, trying to catch her breath. She couldn't believe she had just been hugged by that rascal, and she couldn't believe she had slapped him. But as she ran, she couldn't help but smile. She was actually looking forward to this adventure.
At the same time, Eryndor was still feeling the aftershocks of Elara's slap, but in a good way. His chest was still warm from the impact, and his heart was beating fast like it was going to explode. His stomach was filled with butterflies, and he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was new to him, previously no woman had ever given him the time of day, all because of the stupid toad's bad luck.
But as he stood there, basking in the glow of Elara's agreement to join his party, a thought suddenly choked him. "I was just joking about going on an adventure," he thought to himself, his eyes widening in panic. "I never thought she would agree, what the hell do I do now?"