My life was a never-ending comedy of errors. The new debt of 10 coins with Brom, because of the chaos at the tavern, was yet another weight in my pocket, and Melina's song about "the strippers of the contest" was now being sung even by the blacksmiths of Vaelor. 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 made me blush, and Liriel with that jealousy she disguised with sarcasm — every moment of closeness turned into a disaster. I wanted to understand those feelings, but with that group, it was like trying to read a book on fire. The amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, and scroll in my backpack all glowed together, and Brom said a vial found in the tavern was linked to the Demon King's general. An imminent attack by the minions in Vaelor was becoming more and more clear.
At the guild, I found a mission that seemed connected: "Explore the Forgotten Temple on the outskirts of Vaelor to retrieve a cursed relic suspected to be linked to the Demon King's general. Reward: 90 silver coins." It was a chance to pay Brom and advance against the threat. Dragging Liriel out of the inn was the same drama. "A dusty temple? Unworthy of a goddess!" she complained, holding her glass of wine. Elara seemed nervous. "I'll use protection spells, nothing excessive," she said, clutching her staff. Vespera, with her bow, smiled. "Cursed temples? This is going to be exciting!" I tried to sound firm: "No crazy magic, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just grab the relic." They all nodded, but I knew it was all talk.
The Forgotten Temple was a moss-covered ruin, with broken columns and a musty smell. We met Lira, the pyromaniac, and Veyra, a priestess with a dark veil and a serious gaze. "The strippers? Great, more destruction," Lira said, laughing. Veyra, calmer, welcomed us: "The relic is dangerous. Be careful." Lira said the temple was full of traps, possibly connected to the Demon King's general. Veyra, who had been studying the place, guided us through the dark corridors. I noticed Elara walking closer, Vespera throwing me teasing looks, and Liriel posing with her cup as if competing for my attention. It was confusing, and I just wanted to focus on the mission.
In the corridors of the temple, chaos came quickly. Elara tried a protection spell against traps. "Just to save us!" she said. The shield glowed for a few 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 then a trap triggered, throwing a sticky net over us. Vespera, laughing, used her succubus charm. "Come on, traps!" She lured the temple's specters, but her arrows flew crookedly, hitting a statue that released a glowing slime. "What a delicious chaos!" she shouted, while a specter hit her, and she seemed to enjoy it.
"Liriel, do something!" I shouted. She raised her glass. "Divine purification magic!" The slime turned into a sticky substance that clung to everyone, leaving our clothes semi-transparent — again. I tried to cut the net with my borrowed sword but slipped on the slime. Veyra, seeing this, scoffed: "You're a plague." Lira, laughing, threw an explosive to drive the specters away but damaged a wall instead. At the central altar, we found the relic — a ring marked with the same symbols as the amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, and scroll. Upon touching it, it released a curse, sticking everyone in the slime. Elara, still weak, murmured, "You're so brave, Takumi…" blushing, almost a confession. Vespera, laughing, came closer. "I like seeing you like this, all trapped." My face burned, but Liriel, annoyed, tried another spell that only made things worse: the slime glued the four of us and Veyra together. "Mortals and their stupid crushes!" she huffed, but her jealous gaze was more intense than ever. Veyra neutralized the curse, but the temple was left damaged.
We got the relic but received only 60 coins at the guild, deducted for the damages. We paid off the debt with Brom, but Veyra charged us 10 coins for the temple. At the inn, I sat, exhausted, while Elara and Vespera argued over who had "saved" the mission. "My protection helped!" said Elara. "And my charm distracted the specters!" countered Vespera. Liriel, sipping wine, snorted. "You're pathetic. I did everything."
When they went out 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 takes care of the rest." She took a sip. "Why? Planning to send me back?" She smiled with a look that left me confused. Veyra stopped by the inn, saying the ring confirmed an imminent ritual by the Demon King's general, with minions gathering in Vaelor. "Be careful, strippers," she said, leaving. I looked at the glowing items — amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring. Those moments with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel — almost confessions — stirred something in me, but they always turned into humiliation. And now, an imminent ritual from the Demon King? My life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.