My life was a comedy where I always ended up flat on my face. The debt of 10 coins to Astrid, because of the fiasco at the guild, was yet another weight on my shoulders, and Melina's song about "the map strippers" already had adventurers laughing even in the taverns of Vaelor. My head was a whirlwind. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel messed with my feelings in ways I couldn't understand. Elara's timid glances, now more intense after her memories returned, 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 confused than ever. To make things worse, Princess Lyra sent another letter, in a passionate tone praising my "unshakable courage," while Thalira, the elven envoy, watched me with a look that mixed analysis and flirtation, causing Elara and Vespera to huff. Elowyn, through her druidic messages, sent me a carved bark ring, saying: "For your resilience, Takumi." That only made the emotional chaos worse. Vespera's kiss at the Moon Festival still lingered, with her avoiding my gaze, while Elara hesitated to speak. I wanted to understand what I felt, but with this group, it was like trying to read a scroll in a tornado. 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, bracelet, medallion, ring, pendant, cord, bracelet, fragment, cord, scepter, and pendant in my backpack all glowed together, and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was drawing closer. Danger rumbled like distant thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay off my debt to Astrid and avoid more humiliation.
At the Vaelor guild, after the map disaster, Elowen sent us to Sylvandor, the elven kingdom, to forge an alliance against General Kaelthorn. "The elves are crucial," she said, with her usual mysterious aura. "Prove you are trustworthy." The guild gave us a mission: to convince Queen Aeloria to join forces, while avoiding offending her court. Liriel grumbled: "Elven court? 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: "Elves? This is going to be interesting." I tried to be firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just convince the queen." They laughed, as if I were dreaming. Lyra sent a royal pendant as a "symbol of support," and Liriel threw it on the ground: "Stuck-up princess!" Thalira, guiding us, said: "Your group is... captivating, Takumi." Elara muttered: "Why is she always so close?"
Sylvandor was a landscape of giant trees, with vine bridges and elven lights floating like fireflies. Elowen introduced Leif, an elven guard with green hair and light armor. "The strippers? Don't destroy Sylvandor!" said Leif, in a tone mixing seriousness and sarcasm. He explained that Queen Aeloria demanded a demonstration of skill to prove our strength. Melina appeared, plucking her lute. "New verse ready!" she announced, drawing the elves' attention. Elowyn touched my shoulder: "You lead with your heart, Takumi." Elara and Vespera huffed, while Liriel kicked a root: "Stupid princesses!" The air was tense, with jealousy flaring like wildfire.
The demonstration began, and chaos came fast. Elara tried a light spell to impress the court. "Just to show control!" she said. The spell shone for a few seconds before she collapsed, panting. "Mana... gone," she moaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close I felt my heart race. "Takumi, I... I wanted to..." she began, but the spell burst into a flash of light that blinded the elves, toppling a tapestry. Vespera, trying to help, used her charm, but distracted Leif, who tripped on a vine bridge. Her crooked arrow hit an elven lantern, which fell. "What delightful chaos!" she shouted, as an elf shoved her, and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her wine goblet. "Divine purification magic!" The light exploded but set the tapestry on fire, spreading smoke. I tried to smother the fire with my cloak but slipped on a vine, crashing into a statue. Aeloria, watching, shook her head: "You are a disaster."
In the middle of the chaos, Elara, still in my arms, murmured: "Takumi, have you ever felt... unworthy?" Her voice was fragile, and I felt a tightness in my chest. Vespera teased: "Getting cozy, Takumi?" Lyra, who accompanied the mission, said: "Your bravery is enchanting, Takumi." Elara blushed, muttering: "Why is she so close?" while Liriel, eyes burning with jealousy, shouted: "Focus, mortal, or you'll burn all of Sylvandor!" Thalira laughed: "Your chaos is almost poetic." Elowyn, with a druidic glow, said: "You're stronger than you think, Takumi." Vespera huffed: "Another princess!" Liriel kicked Lyra's pendant: "Stupid princesses!" Leif, sighing, put out the fire with a spell, but the tapestry was in ashes. He found a necklace with markings identical to the items in my backpack, fallen among the debris. "Curious," he said, handing it to me. When I touched the necklace, it vibrated, knocking over more ornaments. Leif, annoyed, said: "You'll pay for this." The elves laughed, and Melina sang: "In Sylvandor, they strip tapestries, the strippers fall in confusion!" Leif grumbled: "You're a plague!"
We returned to the Vaelor guild with the necklace, but the court was offended. They paid us 50 coins, minus damages. We paid off the debt to Astrid, but Leif charged 10 coins for the tapestry. 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, sneered: "You're pathetic. I did everything." Elowen appeared, examined the necklace, and said: "Another piece of the Demon King's ritual. Kaelthorn is in Vaelor. Be careful, strippers." She left without explaining further. The air was heavy, with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel casting jealous glances, and Lyra, Thalira, and Elowyn's words only made it worse. "What's going on, Takumi?" asked Elara, her jealousy clear. 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 handles the rest." She took a sip. "Why? Thinking of sending me back, mortal?" She smiled, her gaze leaving 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, bracelet, medallion, ring, pendant, cord, bracelet, fragment, cord, scepter, pendant, necklace. Vespera's kiss, Elara's memories, Liriel's jealousy, Lyra's letters, Thalira and Elowyn's flirting, the debt to Leif — my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.