My life was an endless circus. The 10-coin debt to Mira was paid off, but now I owed 10 coins to Kael because of the warehouse fiasco. Melina's song about "the strippers of the tower" was already being sung by every merchant in Vaelor, and I just wanted to pay the debt and stop being the city's joke. Worse, my head was a mess. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel messed with me in ways I couldn't understand. Elara, with her shy glances that made my heart race; Vespera, with her teasing that left me flustered; and Liriel, with that jealousy she barely disguised—every moment of closeness turned into a catastrophe. I wanted to understand these feelings, but with this group, it was like trying to read a book during an earthquake. The amulet, scepter, sphere, and tome in my backpack glowed together, and Elowen said a greater ritual from the Demon King's general was near, with more minions in Vaelor. Danger was knocking on the door.
At the guild, I found a mission that seemed connected to the clues: "Infiltrate a secret auction in Vaelor's black market to retrieve a stolen orb. Reward: 90 silver coins." Elowen said the orb was part of the Demon King's general's ritual, so it was our chance to pay Kael and move against the threat. Dragging Liriel from the inn was the same drama. "Black market? Full of filth? Unworthy of a goddess!" she complained, holding her wine glass. Elara looked nervous. "I'll use illusion magic—nothing excessive," she said, gripping her staff. Vespera, holding her bow, smiled. "Secret auctions? This will be exciting!" I tried to sound firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just grab the orb." They nodded, but I knew it was all talk.
The black market was a dark alley in Vaelor, filled with shady stalls and a strong incense smell. We wore dark cloaks as disguises, but I already felt uneasy. We met Zara, the trickster from the tournament, who guided us to the auction. "The strippers? This'll be fun," she said, laughing. She introduced Kael, a smuggler with sharp eyes and a charismatic grin. "Careful not to strip my clients," he said with a laugh that made my face burn. Elowen, who appeared as an observer, said: "The orb is dangerous. It might be the last piece of the Demon King's general's ritual." The mission was clear: infiltrate, steal the orb, and leave unnoticed. I noticed Elara adjusting my cloak, Vespera giving me a teasing look, and Liriel posing with her cup as if competing for my attention. It was confusing, and I just wanted to focus on the mission.
The auction began in a stuffy room, with masked bidders and the orb glowing on a pedestal. Elara tried an illusion spell. "Just to hide us!" she said. The disguise lasted seconds before she collapsed, panting. "Mana... gone," she groaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close I felt my heart race, almost as if she wanted to say something more—but the illusion failed, partially exposing us. Vespera, laughing, used her succubus charm. "Come here, guards!" She attracted half the bidders, who started fighting, but her arrows flew crooked, hitting a curtain that fell over the orb, activating a wild spell. "What a lovely mess!" she shouted, as a guard struck her—and she seemed to enjoy it.
"Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her cup. "Divine Purification Magic!" The orb's spell turned into a glowing slime that stuck to everyone, making our clothes semi-transparent—again. I tried to grab the orb but slipped on the slime and fell onto Kael. "Flirting at my auction, stripper?" he said, laughing. My face burned, and I noticed Elara, Vespera, and Liriel staring at me, Liriel fuming with jealousy. Elara, still weak, murmured, "You always save me, Takumi...," blushing—almost a confession. Vespera, laughing, leaned closer. "I love seeing you like this, all wet." My heart pounded, but Liriel, irritated, tried another spell, only making it worse—the slime spread, sticking the four of us and several bidders together. "Mortals and their stupid crushes!" she huffed, but her jealous gaze was fiercer than ever. Elowen, calm as ever, took the orb while the auction descended into chaos.
The crowd laughed, and Zara improvised a verse: "The strippers bid and strip, no one holds back in the market's grip!" Kael, laughing, said, "You lot are a show." Our new fame was now "the strippers of the auction." We got the orb, but the black market was wrecked. At the guild, we received 60 coins—deducted for damages. We paid off Kael, but Zara charged us 10 coins for the mess. Back at the inn, I sat exhausted while Elara and Vespera argued over who "saved" the auction. "My illusion helped!" said Elara. "And my charm distracted them!" replied Vespera. Liriel, sipping her wine, scoffed. "You're pathetic. I did everything."
When they left to get food, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess, who's on your throne right now?" She shrugged. "Celine, my assistant. She's annoying, but she holds things together." She took a sip. "Why? Planning to send me back?" She smiled, with a look that left me confused. Elowen passed by the inn, saying the orb confirmed an imminent attack from the Demon King's general's minions in Vaelor. "Be careful, strippers," she said, leaving. I looked at the glowing items—amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb. Those moments with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel—almost confessions this time—shook me, but always ended in humiliation. And now, an attack from the Demon King? My life was a disaster, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.