I thought my life couldn't get any worse, but the fiasco on the road to the Elven Kingdom proved me wrong. The new debt of 10 coins to Eldrin, because of the destroyed jewels, was another weight on my back, and Melina's song about "the gold strippers" now made the merchants laugh even in the taverns of Vaelor. My head was a mess. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel tangled with my feelings in ways I couldn't decipher. Elara's shy glances made my heart race, Vespera's teasing made me blush, and Liriel's jealousy, hidden behind sarcasm, confused me even more. Vespera's kiss at the Moon Festival, even drunk, still hung like a fog, with her avoiding my gaze and Elara and Liriel sending pointed remarks. I wanted to understand what I felt, but with this group, it was like trying to read a book during a hurricane. The amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, tiara, key, and cord in my backpack glowed together, and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was approaching. The danger felt like a distant rumble, but today, I just wanted to explore the Elven Kingdom without causing more disasters.
We arrived at the elven city exhausted, with the carts half-destroyed. The Elven Kingdom was like something out of a dream: giant trees with carved houses, vine bridges glowing with magic, floating lights dancing in the air. Eldrin took us to the palace, a living wooden structure that seemed to pulse with energy. There, we were greeted by King Elandor, a tall elf with piercing eyes, alongside Queen Aeloria, with a serene aura, the elder princess Thalira, with elegant posture, the younger princess Elowyn, with a curious sparkle, and Prince Lothor, who looked bored. "The strippers?" Elandor asked with a slight smile. "I've heard of you." Melina, who had somehow followed us, plucked her lute. "New verse!" she announced, and the court laughed. I wanted to disappear. The tension between Vespera and me was still awkward, with Elara and Liriel watching us as if I were about to set off a bomb. Eldrin handed over the remaining goods, and Elandor invited us to explore the city before a formal audience.
The elven city was spectacular. Polished stone streets reflected the lights, stalls sold glowing fruits and magical artifacts, and elves stared at us with curiosity. Liriel, holding her wine glass, muttered: "These elves are arrogant, but the wine is acceptable." Elara, fascinated, pointed at everything. "Look, Takumi, the trees are singing!" Vespera, still avoiding my gaze, said: "This is more interesting than Vaelor." I tried to stay in control: "Don't touch anything, please." But it was too late. While walking through a square with a magical fountain, Elara tried to examine a floating crystal. "It's just to understand!" she said. Her magic failed, and she collapsed, gasping, into my arms. "Mana… gone," she groaned, her face too close. "Takumi, I… I wanted to…," she began, but the crystal fell, cracking the fountain.
Vespera, laughing, tried to fix it with an arrow but hit an elven statue, which toppled with a crash. "What a delightful chaos!" she shouted, as an elf pushed her, and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her glass. "Divine repair magic!" The light exploded, but instead of fixing it, it knocked down another statue, scattering shards across the square. I tried to hold a piece with the borrowed sword but slipped on a shard, falling with a thud that echoed. The crowd of elves pointed and laughed, and Melina sang: "In the square, statues stripped, the strippers fall in the mess!" Thalira, watching, sighed: "You are… unique." Eldrin shouted: "My square! You are a disaster!"
Amid the chaos, Elara murmured: "Takumi, I just wanted to say that…," but Liriel cut her off, eyes jealous. "Focus, mortal!" Vespera, still tense with me, teased: "Relax, Liriel, he's just clumsy." Liriel huffed: "Mortals and their silly crushes!" Lothor, laughing, calmed the crowd, while Elowyn, the younger princess, found a ring with markings identical to the amulet, scepter, and others, lying among the debris. "Curious," she said, handing it to me. When I touched it, it vibrated, knocking down more fountain shards. Aeloria, with a sigh, said: "You will pay for this." Eldrin, still furious, agreed: "This is unacceptable!"
At the elven inn, we submitted the report to the local guild, receiving 70 coins, deducted for the damages in the square. We paid off the debt to Eldrin, but Elandor charged 10 coins for the statues. I sat, exhausted, while Elara and Vespera argued over who "messed up less" during the mission. "I only touched the crystal!" said Elara. "And I only shot one arrow!" retorted Vespera. Liriel, drinking wine, huffed. "You are pathetic. I did everything." Elowen appeared, looked at the ring, and said: "Another clue about the Demon King's ritual. Be careful, strippers." She left without further explanation. The tension between Vespera and me remained awkward, with Elara and Liriel casting suspicious glances. "What's going on, Takumi?" asked Elara, jealousy evident. Vespera averted her gaze, murmuring: "Nothing."
When Elara and Vespera went out to get food, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess, who's on your throne 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 away?" She smiled, with a look that left me confused. I looked at the glowing items — amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, tiara, key, cord, ring. Vespera's kiss, Elara and Liriel's jealousy, the new debt with Elandor — my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted a day without being called a pervert.