My life was a comedy where I always ended up face-first on the ground. The 10-coin debt with Nora, because of the fiasco in the ruin, was yet another weight on my back, and Melina's song about "the pillar strippers" was already making adventurers laugh even 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, now deeper after regaining her memories, made my heart race like a wild horse. Vespera's teasing, softer since Infernia, still made me blush like a bonfire. Liriel's jealousy, hidden behind sharp sarcasm, left me more lost than ever. To make things worse, Princess Lyra sent another letter, with a passionate tone praising my "heroic leadership," while Thalira, the elven envoy, watched me with a look that mixed curiosity and flirtation, causing Elara and Vespera to huff. Elowyn, with her druidic messages, sent a vine amulet, saying: "For your determination, Takumi." That only added to the emotional chaos. Vespera's kiss at the Moon Festival still lingered, with her avoiding my eyes, while Elara hesitated to speak. I wanted to understand what I felt, but with this group, it was like trying to read a book inside a volcano. The amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, diadem, key, cord, ring, stone, necklace, bracelet, ring, wristband, medallion, ring, pendant, cord, bracelet, fragment, cord, and scepter in my backpack all glowed together, and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was drawing closer. The danger sounded like distant thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay my debt to Nora and avoid more humiliation.
At the Vaelor guild, after the chaos in the ruin, Elowen summoned us for a meeting with allies to plan against General Kaelthorn. "The scepter confirms it: he's in Vaelor," she said, with her mysterious aura. "We need a plan." The guild gave us a mission: coordinate with Thorne, Sigrid, and Sven to train and devise strategies. Liriel grumbled, "Plan with mortals? Unworthy of a goddess!" Elara, clutching her staff, promised, "I'll use magic carefully, I swear!" Vespera, with her bow slung over her shoulder, smiled, "Strategies? This will be interesting." I tried to be firm: "No crazy magic, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just plan." They laughed as if I were dreaming. Lyra appeared in person, wearing a royal dress, saying: "Takumi, I trust your leadership." Liriel scoffed, "Stuck-up little princess!" Thalira, beside her, said: "Your group is... unique, Takumi." Elara muttered, "Why so many princesses?"
The meeting took place in a stone room of the guild, with maps spread across the table and flickering candles. Elowen introduced Astrid, an elven archer with golden hair and sharp eyes. "The strippers? Don't destroy my room!" said Astrid, in a tone that mixed seriousness and sarcasm. She explained that the training would test tactics against Kaelthorn's minions. Melina appeared, strumming her lute. "New verse ready!" she announced, drawing glances from allies. Elowyn touched my shoulder: "You inspire unity, Takumi." Elara and Vespera huffed, while Liriel kicked a chair: "Stupid princesses!" The air was tense, jealousy flaring like a bonfire.
The training began, and chaos came quickly. Elara tried a barrier spell to simulate defense. "Just to protect the room!" she said. The spell glowed for seconds before she collapsed, panting. "Mana... gone," she groaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close that I felt my heart race. "Takumi, I... I wanted to..." she began, but the spell created an unstable barrier that fell onto a map. Vespera, trying to help, used her charm but distracted Thorne, who knocked over a shelf. Her crooked arrow hit a beam, which cracked. "What a delightful mess!" she shouted as Astrid pushed her away—and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her wine cup. "Divine purification magic!" The light exploded—but set the map on fire, spreading smoke. I tried to save the map with my borrowed sword but slipped in a puddle of wine, crashing down and knocking over candles. Sigrid, watching, shook her head: "You're a disaster."
Amid the chaos, Elara, still in my arms, murmured, "Takumi, have you ever felt... like you disappoint everyone?" Her voice was fragile, and I felt a pang in my chest. Vespera teased, "Getting cozy, Takumi?" Lyra, observing, said, "Your bravery is inspiring, Takumi." Elara blushed, muttering, "Why is she so close?", while Liriel, her eyes burning with jealousy, shouted, "Focus, mortal, or you'll burn down the whole guild!" Thalira laughed: "Your chaos is fascinating." Elowyn, glowing with druidic light, said, "You're stronger than you think, Takumi." Vespera scoffed, "Another princess!" Liriel kicked Elowyn's amulet: "Stupid little princesses!" Astrid, sighing, put out the fire with a spell, but the map was already ashes. She found a pendant with markings identical to the items in my backpack, fallen among the debris. "Curious," she said, handing it to me. When I touched the pendant, it vibrated, knocking more papers to the ground. Astrid, irritated, said, "You'll pay for this." Allies laughed, and Melina sang, "In the guild they strip the maps, the strippers fall into confusion!" Astrid muttered, "You're a plague!"
We returned to the guild with the pendant, but the room was destroyed. They paid us 50 coins, minus damages. We paid off the debt with Nora, but Astrid charged 10 coins for the map. At the inn, I sat exhausted while Elara and Vespera argued over who "messed up less." "I only used one spell!" said Elara, her cheeks red. "And I only fired one arrow!" retorted Vespera, avoiding my gaze. Liriel, drinking wine, scoffed, "You're pathetic. I did everything." Elowen appeared, examined the pendant, and said, "Another piece of the Demon King's ritual. Kaelthorn is in Vaelor. Be careful, strippers." She left without further explanation. The atmosphere was heavy, with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel throwing jealous looks, and Lyra's, Thalira's, and Elowyn's words only making things worse. "What's going on, Takumi?" asked Elara, jealousy obvious. Vespera muttered, "Nothing, just stuck-up princesses."
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, with a lazy smile. "Celine, my assistant. She's annoying, but she takes care of the rest." She took a sip. "Why? Planning to send me back, mortal?" 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, diadem, key, cord, ring, stone, necklace, bracelet, ring, wristband, medallion, ring, pendant, cord, bracelet, fragment, cord, scepter, pendant. Vespera's kiss, Elara's memories, Liriel's jealousy, Lyra's letters, Thalira's and Elowyn's flirts, the debt with Astrid—my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.