My life was a joke that no one stopped telling. The 10-coin debt to Zara, because of the auction fiasco, was a constant burden, and Melina's song about "the strippers of the auction" now echoed even through the fairs of Vaelor. My mind was total chaos. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel messed with me in ways I couldn't decipher. Elara, with her shy glances that made my heart race; Vespera, with her teasing that left me speechless; and Liriel, with that jealousy she disguised with sarcastic remarks—every moment of closeness turned into a disaster. I wanted to pay the debt, clear our reputation, and maybe understand what I felt for them. But with this group, that was about as likely as putting out a fire with wine. The amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, and orb in my backpack glowed together, and Elowen warned that an attack from the Demon King's general's minions was approaching Vaelor. The danger was getting more real by the day.
At the guild, I found a mission that seemed ideal: "Protect Vaelor's Fire Festival from possible attacks. Reward: 90 silver coins." Guarding a festival sounded simple, and the money could clear the debt with Zara. Dragging Liriel out of the inn was the same drama. "A festival with bonfires? Mortals and their stupid ideas!" she complained, holding her wine glass. Elara looked nervous. "I'll use protective magic, nothing excessive," she said, gripping her staff. Vespera, with her bow, smiled. "Fire? This will be exciting!" I tried to be firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just keep order." They nodded, but I knew it was all talk.
The Fire Festival turned Vaelor into a sea of controlled flames, with bonfires, fire-breathing jugglers, and the smell of roasted meat. Melina was on stage, strumming her lute. "The strippers of the auction! My new verse is ready!" she said, laughing. My stomach turned. She introduced Lira, a pyromaniac with red hair and bright eyes who loved explosions. "I've heard of you," said Lira, with a dangerous smile. "Don't burn the festival, okay?" Fiona, the dancer, also showed up, wearing a dress that reflected the flames. "Takumi, ready to dance?" she asked, winking. I noticed Elara and Vespera glaring at me, with Liriel pouting in the background. The mission was clear: patrol the bonfires, prevent attacks, and help with the dances. Melina mentioned, in passing, that she'd heard rumors of an incendiary item connected to the Demon King's general. "Nothing you can't handle, right?" she said before returning to her music.
The festival was lively, but chaos came quickly. Elara tried a fire protection spell. "Just to hold the flames!" she said. The barrier glowed for seconds before she collapsed, panting. "Mana... gone," she groaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close I felt my heart race, but the magic failed, and a bonfire grew, spreading sparks. Vespera, laughing, used her succubus charm to distract possible saboteurs. "Come here, you arsonists!" She attracted a group of drunkards who started a fight, but her arrows flew crooked, hitting an oil barrel that exploded into flames. "What a lovely chaos!" she shouted as the flames licked her—and she seemed to enjoy it.
"Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her cup. "Divine Purification Magic!" The oil turned into a glowing slime that stuck to everyone, making our clothes semi-transparent—again. I tried to put out the flames with my borrowed sword but slipped on the slime and fell near Fiona. "I like your enthusiasm, Takumi," she said, pulling me into a dance among the fires. My face burned, and I noticed Elara, Vespera, and Liriel staring. Elara, still weak, murmured, "You dance well...," blushing, almost a confession. Vespera, laughing, cut in, "accidentally" bumping into me. "My turn, Takumi," she said, with a look that stole my breath. Liriel, irritated, tried another spell, only making it worse—the slime spread, sticking the four of us and Fiona together. "Mortals and their stupid crushes!" she huffed, but her jealous gaze was fiercer than ever. Lira, laughing, extinguished the fire with an explosive, but said, "You guys are a menace."
The crowd laughed, and Melina sang: "The strippers dance and strip, in the fire no one can keep it in!" Our fame was now "the strippers of the Fire Festival." We managed to prevent any attacks, but the damaged barrel cost us dearly. At the guild, we received 60 coins—deducted for damages. The debt to Zara remained at 10 coins, and Lira charged us 5 coins for the barrel. Back at the inn, I sat exhausted while Elara and Vespera argued over who "saved" the festival. "My protection helped!" said Elara. "And my charm distracted them!" replied Vespera. Liriel, sipping 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's holding the fort." She took a sip. "Why? Trying to get rid of me?" She smiled, with a look that left me confused. Lira stopped by the inn, saying that the destroyed barrel contained an incendiary item with the same markings as the amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, and orb—suggesting that the Demon King's general was planning something in Vaelor. "Be careful, strippers," she said before leaving. I looked at the glowing items in my backpack. Those moments with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel—almost confessions this time—moved me, but always turned into humiliation. And now, an incendiary item from the Demon King? My life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.