My life was a comedy where I always ended up face-first in the dirt. The debt of 10 coins I owed Ingrid because of the fiasco in the forest was another weight on my back, and Melina's song about "the herb strippers" already had adventurers laughing in every tavern in Vaelor. My head was a whirlwind. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel messed with my emotions in ways I couldn't understand. Elara's shy glances made my heart race like a wild horse, even more so after Vespera's memories. Vespera's teasing, less frequent now but still with that knowing smile, made me blush like a bonfire. And Liriel's jealousy, hidden behind sharp sarcasm, left me more lost than ever. Vespera's kiss at the Moon Festival still lingered, with her avoiding my gaze, while Elara seemed like she wanted to say something but hesitated. Liriel's indirect remarks cut like knives, especially after Vespera opened up about Infernia. I wanted to understand what I felt, but with this group, it was like trying to read a book in a storm. The amulet, scepter, orb, tome, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal staff, cord, orb, diadem, key, stone, and all the other relics in my backpack glowed at once, and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was getting closer. Danger felt like a distant thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay Ingrid back and avoid another humiliation.
At the Vaelor inn, Elara fidgeted with her staff, as if she wanted to say something. Vespera, after revealing her past, was quieter, but kept giving me looks that confused me. Liriel, with a cup of wine in hand, mocked: "Mortals and their dramas. Pathetic." The guild offered us a mission—to investigate a nearby rural village where a magical artifact was causing disturbances. "Maybe it'll cover your damages," the clerk said with a smirk. Liriel grumbled, "A stinking village? Unworthy of a goddess!" Elara, nervous, promised, "I'll be careful with my spells, I swear!" Vespera, bow slung over her shoulder, gave a half-smile. "Artifacts? Sounds interesting." I tried to be firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just investigate." They all laughed, as if I were dreaming.
The rural village was a scene of wooden houses, wheat fields, and a crystal-clear stream, with a faint aura of unstable magic in the air. Elowen met us at the entrance, with her usual mysterious air, and introduced Bjorn, a retired mage with a gray beard and tired eyes. "The strippers? Don't destroy my village!" Bjorn said, with a tone mixing seriousness and sarcasm. He explained that the artifact, an enchanted crystal, was in an old cabin, causing visions among the villagers—possibly connected to the Demon King. Melina appeared, plucking her lute. "New verse ready!" she announced, drawing the villagers' attention. Elara tensed when she saw the crystal. "It looks… familiar," she murmured, with a distant look. Things between me and Vespera were still awkward, with Elara and Liriel watching every move as if I could cause a fire just by breathing.
The investigation began, and chaos followed quickly. Elara tried a detection spell on the crystal. "Just to understand what it is!" she said. The spell glowed for a few seconds before she collapsed, gasping. "Mana… gone," she groaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close that my heart nearly exploded. "Takumi, I… I wanted to…" she began, with a look that almost made me forget where we were—but the spell activated the crystal, flooding the cabin with light. Visions filled my mind, as if the crystal was sharing Elara's memories. She was born in a rural village like this, daughter of Haldor and Ingrid, mages who lost everything due to failed experiments. Her childhood was marked by unstable mana, causing accidents—like when she burned down a barn, earning her family's hatred. Her older, more talented siblings called her a "broken mage." The memory broke when Vespera, trying to help, fired an arrow to "deactivate" the crystal. The arrow missed, shattering a window and scattering glass shards. "Delightful chaos!" she shouted, as a villager shoved her, and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her cup of wine. "Divine Purification Magic!" The light exploded—setting the cabin curtains on fire, spreading smoke everywhere. I tried to grab the crystal but slipped on glass, crashing down and knocking over a table.
Amid the chaos, Elara, still dazed, grabbed my hand. "You saw it, didn't you? My family… they hated me for that." Her voice was soft, vulnerable, and I felt a sting in my chest. Vespera, watching, teased, "Getting close, Takumi?" Elara blushed, murmuring, "Takumi, I… why does she always interrupt?" But Liriel cut in, her eyes burning with jealousy. "Focus, mortal, or you'll burn down the whole village!" Vespera laughed: "Relax, Liriel, he's just his usual clumsy self." Liriel huffed: "Mortals and their stupid crushes!" Bjorn sighed and extinguished the fire with a spell, but the cabin was a disaster—broken glass, burned curtains everywhere. He found a bracelet buried in the rubble, with the same markings as the items in my bag. "Curious," he said, handing it to me. When I touched it, the bracelet pulsed, knocking over more furniture. Bjorn scowled. "You'll pay for this." The villagers pointed and laughed, and Melina sang, "In the village, they strip the cabins, the strippers fall in confusion!" Bjorn grumbled, "You're a curse!"
We returned to the Vaelor guild with the crystal—but the cabin was destroyed. They paid us 60 coins, minus damages. We cleared the debt with Ingrid, but Bjorn charged 10 coins for the cabin. At the inn, I sat, exhausted, while Elara and Vespera argued over who "messed up less." "I only used one spell!" Elara said, cheeks red. "And I only shot one arrow!" Vespera replied, avoiding my gaze. Liriel, sipping wine, mocked, "You're both pathetic. I did everything." Elowen appeared, examined the bracelet, and said, "Another clue to the Demon King's ritual. Be careful, strippers." Then she left without another word. The air between me and Elara was heavy, with Vespera and Liriel's stares weighing like lead. "What's going on, Takumi?" Elara asked, jealousy clear in her voice. Vespera muttered, "Nothing, just memories."
When Elara and Vespera went out to get food, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess, who's sitting on your throne right now?" She shrugged, with a lazy smile. "Celine, my assistant. She's annoying, but she handles things." She took a sip. "Why? Planning to send me back, mortal?" She smirked, with a look that left me confused. I looked at the glowing items—amulet, scepter, orb, tome, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal staff, cord, diadem, key, stone, and more. Vespera's kiss, Elara's memories, Liriel's jealousy, Bjorn's debt—my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.