Pinky checked into a small hotel at the edge of town.
He was tired. The journey from the Knight Village had taken days, and he still had weeks of travel ahead. A single night of rest wouldn't hurt.
He paid for his room, climbed the stairs, and locked the door behind him. Then he began removing his armor.
The chestplate came off first. Then the gauntlets. Then the greaves. He set each piece carefully on the floor, treating them with the respect they deserved. This armor had saved his life more times than he could count.
He reached for the straps on his mask.
"A-Are you going to take me?"
Pinky froze.
"P-Please be gentle. It's my first time."
He spun around.
There was a woman in his room. Green hair. Round glasses. Simple adventurer's robe. She sat on his bed, hands clasped in her lap, face bright red.
Pinky grabbed the blanket from the bed and wrapped it around himself. His hands moved frantically, gesturing at the door, at her, at the window. Get out. How did you get in here. What is happening.
"Oh my," the woman said, her blush deepening. "You're inviting me to stay? How bold. But I suppose a strong man like you takes what he wants."
Pinky shook his head violently. He pointed at the door again. Leave. Please leave.
"You want me to close the door? Of course. Privacy is important."
She walked to the door and locked it.
Pinky's eye twitched behind his mask.
"I understand," she said, turning back to him. Her hands moved to the ties of her robe. "A man has needs. And you're going on a dangerous journey. It would be cruel to send you off without some... comfort."
She let the robe fall.
She lunged at him.
Pinky dodged.
Years of combat training kicked in automatically. He sidestepped, spun, and watched as the elf sailed past him and crashed headfirst into the bed frame.
There was a loud thunk.
She didn't get up.
Pinky stood there for a long moment, trying to process what had just happened. A strange woman had broken into his room, stripped, jumped at him, and knocked herself unconscious.
He looked at the door. He looked at the unconscious elf. He looked at the ceiling.
Why.
He sighed silently, pulled a blanket over her body, and left to book another room.
***
Lyriel woke up alone.
She was in a bed. A blanket covered her. Her head throbbed with a dull ache.
"What... happened?"
She looked around. The room was empty. The knight was gone.
But she was in his bed. Covered with his blanket. Half-naked.
Her face turned crimson.
"It happened," she whispered. "It really happened. He... and I... oh my."
She clutched the blanket to her chest, heart pounding. A peak-rank knight had chosen her. Had taken her. Had left her warm and safe in his bed.
"I have to find him," she said. "I have to thank him properly."
She got dressed and ran out of the hotel.