My life was a comedy where I always ended up face-first on the ground. The 10-coin debt to Sigrid, because of the fiasco in the ancient temple, was another weight on my shoulders, and Melina's song about "the statue strippers" already had adventurers laughing in the taverns of Vaelor. My head was a whirlwind. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel tangled my feelings in ways I couldn't understand. Elara's shy glances made my heart race like a wild horse. Vespera's teasing, now softer after revealing her past, made me blush like a bonfire. And Liriel's jealousy, hidden behind sharp sarcasm, left me more confused than ever. Vespera's kiss at the Moon Festival, even if drunk and accidental, still lingered, with her sometimes staring at me before looking away. Elara and Liriel threw indirect comments that cut like knives, especially after Vespera's memories in the temple. I wanted to understand what I felt, but with this group, it was like trying to assemble a puzzle during a storm. The amulet, scepter, orb, tome, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, diadem, key, cord, ring, stone, necklace, bracelet, ring, bangle, medallion, ring, and pendant in my backpack all glowed together, and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was drawing near. The danger rumbled like distant thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay off the debt to Sigrid and avoid more humiliation.
At the inn in Vaelor, after the temple fiasco, Vespera was strangely quiet, staring into the void. "My village... I've never talked about it this much," she murmured, almost to herself. For the first time, I saw a crack in her confident façade. Elara, fiddling with her staff, looked like she wanted to say something but just huffed. Liriel, with a glass of wine, mocked, "Succubi and their drama. Pathetic." The guild offered us a side mission: escort a shipment of magical herbs to a nearby forest, where a merchant needed protection. "Might cover the damages," said the clerk, smirking. Liriel grumbled, "A smelly forest? Unworthy of a goddess!" Elara promised, "I'll use magic carefully, I swear!" Vespera, with her bow slung over her shoulder, half-smiled. "Herbs? That could be interesting." I tried to be firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just protect the herbs." They laughed like I was dreaming.
The forest was a scene of tall trees and light mist, with flowers glowing faintly. The merchant introduced us to Ingrid, an exiled succubus with black hair and fiery eyes, who knew Vespera from Infernia. "The strippers? Don't wreck my forest!" said Ingrid, with a tone that mixed sarcasm and caution. She explained that the herbs were for a healing ritual, but the forest had magical traps. Melina appeared, strumming her lute. "New verse ready!" she announced, attracting looks from the workers. Vespera tensed when she saw Ingrid. "You... from Infernia?" she asked, her voice trembling. The air between me and Vespera was heavy, with Elara and Liriel watching as if I could start a fire just by breathing.
The night before, at the inn, Vespera had shared more about her family. In Infernia, her mother, Lilith, left the village after an accident where young Vespera unintentionally used her charm, causing an elder to burn down a warehouse. Her older sisters, Seraph and Freya, blamed her for splitting the family. "I was their shame," said Vespera, her eyes distant. "I left because no one wanted me." The confession hung heavily, and I wanted to say something, but Elara and Liriel glared daggers at me. In the forest, the mission began—and chaos came quickly. Elara tried a tracking spell to avoid traps. "Just to protect the herbs!" she said. The spell glowed before she collapsed. "Mana... gone," she groaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close that my heart raced. "Takumi, I... I wanted to...," she began, but the spell activated a trap, unleashing vines that entangled us. Vespera, trying to help, used her charm—but affected the workers, who dropped the herbs. Her crooked arrow struck a crystal, which exploded, triggering more memories. We saw flashes of Infernia: Vespera being cast out by Seraph, with Freya turning her back. "You're a curse!" shouted Seraph. Vespera, dazed, whispered, "I didn't mean to..." Liriel, irritated, shouted, "Focus, succubus!" and used a "divine purification spell." The light set the vines on fire, spreading smoke. I tried cutting the vines with my borrowed sword but slipped on a root, falling with a thud that toppled a basket of herbs.
Amid the chaos, Vespera, recovering, looked at Ingrid. "You ran away too, didn't you?" Ingrid nodded with a bitter smile. "Infernia isn't a place for those who fail." Elara, still in my arms, muttered, "Takumi, why is she so close?" but Liriel cut in, eyes full of jealousy. "Focus, mortal, or you'll burn the whole forest!" Vespera teased, "Relax, Liriel, he's just being clumsy as always." Liriel snorted, "Mortals and their stupid crushes!" Ingrid sighed, extinguished the fire with a spell, but the herbs were scattered, and the crystal destroyed. She found a cord with markings identical to the items in my backpack, fallen among the debris. "Curious," she said, handing it to me. When I touched the cord, it vibrated, knocking over more baskets. Ingrid, annoyed, said, "You'll pay for this." Workers laughed, and Melina sang, "In the forest, they strip the herbs, the strippers fall in confusion!" Ingrid snorted, "You're a plague!"
We returned to the Vaelor guild with only a few herbs saved. They paid us 60 coins, minus the damages. We paid off the debt to Sigrid, but Ingrid charged 10 coins for the herbs and crystal. At the inn, I sat exhausted while Elara and Vespera argued over who "messed up less." "I only used one spell!" said Elara, cheeks red. "And I only shot one arrow!" retorted Vespera, avoiding my gaze. Liriel, sipping wine, scoffed, "You're pathetic. I did everything." Elowen appeared, looked at the cord, and said, "Another clue to the Demon King's ritual. Be careful, strippers." She left without further explanation. The tension between Vespera and me was heavier, with Elara and Liriel throwing suspicious glances. "What's going on, Takumi?" asked Elara, clearly jealous. Vespera murmured, "Nothing, just memories."
When Elara and Vespera went to get food, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess, who's sitting on your throne now?" She shrugged, with a lazy smile. "Celine, my assistant. She's annoying but handles things." She took a sip. "Why? Trying to get rid of me, mortal?" She smirked, giving me a look that left me confused. I looked at the glowing items—amulet, scepter, orb, tome, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, diadem, key, cord, ring, stone, necklace, bracelet, ring, bangle, medallion, ring, pendant, cord. Vespera's kiss, her memories, Elara's and Liriel's jealousy, the new debt with Ingrid—my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.