Upon waking up to the sound of screams from the floor below, Ferinish sat up in bed, drool dripping from her mouth and her hair messy. She glanced at Slady, who was lying beside her, still asleep.
She got out of bed, undressed, slipped into her kimono, and picked up her sword. When she reached the first floor, she saw a man robbing the tavern's manager. Despite his muscular build, the manager stood no chance against someone wielding magic.
"Who are you?…"
Ferinish asked, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
Both the manager and the robber turned to look at her. The manager tried to warn her:
"Miss, just go back to your room!"
"Shut up!"
The robber conjured a tree root that wrapped around the manager, holding him in place. He turned to Ferinish with a lustful look.
"What's a pretty woman like you doing here?"
He approached, placing his hand suggestively on her shoulder. But with his touch, Ferinish's sleepy gaze hardened into pure seriousness.
"…"
Without hesitation, she made a swift move with her sword. The robber didn't even realize what happened at first, his body was split in half and collapsed at Ferinish's feet. She remained expressionless.
The manager was terrified by the scene, but whispered:
"Thank you…"
He tried to free himself from the roots but couldn't. Ferinish gripped her blade firmly, flames appearing around it. With just a touch against the roots, the fire consumed them, leaving only ashes at the man's feet.
"You… you're truly powerful. I guess I can give you and your boyfriend a few more days of rent."
Ferinish blushed at the comment but kept her composure, replying in a neutral tone:
"He's my friend, nothing more."
She quickly sheathed her sword and left, returning to her room. The manager, confused, sighed, knowing he now had to deal with a corpse.
"She could've made less of a mess…"
Ferinish entered her room, glancing at her chest stained with blood. She grabbed her old clothes and went to the bathroom to clean up.
Some time later, Slady woke up and heard the sound of the shower, still groggy. Heading downstairs, he found the manager cleaning the floor with a damp cloth broom.
"Good morning."
He greeted in a tired voice.
"Good morning, young man!"
Recognizing him, the manager gestured in thanks.
"Your friend helped me earlier with a robber. I'm grateful again!"
"Was she hurt?"
"Not at all! … Let's just say the robber didn't fare as well."
He set the broom aside and served coffee to Slady, who took the cup and sipped it.
"You've got dark circles under your eyes, lad. Were you up to something last night?"
"Nothing much. I usually wander at night."
Still curious, the man's eyes fell on Slady's mechanical arm and eye…
"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your arm and eye?"
"I lost them in a fight against Renkai creatures. That's all."
Slady sat at the counter, finishing his hot drink.
"So, you're a Demon Hunter? You don't look like someone with a Mana Liberator."
"Anyone can be a Demon Hunter, as long as they're strong enough."
"Hehe, I'm strong enough for it. But I'd rather care for my family. That job's far too risky for me."
"That's admirable. You must be a wonderful father figure, right?"
Slady asked almost in a murmur, as though questioning himself too.
"Yes. My children are always happy when I come home, and my wife… well, she does so much for me."
"I see…"
Slady grabbed another cup of coffee, his gaze shifting away, deep in thought.
Am I really good for Shaphira and Elisa? Will they be okay without me?
The manager noticed his distant look but didn't pry, changing the subject instead.
"When you first came into this tavern, you seemed nostalgic about this kind of place. Can I ask why?"
The large man asked in a lower tone.
"You're observant, aren't you? But to satisfy your curiosity, a friend of mine used to own a place like this. He's been dead for some time now."
Hearing this said with such indifference worried the tavern owner. He asked again, in an even softer tone:
"And… do you feel sad about it?"
"Yes."
Relieved, the man placed a comforting hand on Slady's shoulder.
"Your friend is resting in peace. Don't be sad about it."
"…It's good to hear that, honestly."
The moment was interrupted by a crash from room fifteen. Slady excused himself and hurried over.
"Ferinish, is something wrong?"
"Ah…"
A groan of pain echoed from the bathroom. Without hesitation, Slady warned:
"I'm coming in…"
Opening the door, he found Ferinish collapsed on the floor, wearing only a towel to cover her muscular body. She looked far more vulnerable than she wanted.
"Don't look…"
Closing his eyes, Slady pulled her against him to support her. Her body tensed, almost in reflex to strike him, but gradually relaxed, realizing his good intentions.
"You don't have to help me… I can take care of myself…"
"I know. But I won't risk you falling again."
He placed her on the bed, wrapping her in a warm blanket before turning his back.
"Get dressed and call me if you need help."
Nodding, Ferinish dressed under the covers. Soon after, she discarded the blanket, now wearing tavern clothes.
"I didn't want you to see me like this. I thought you might take advantage of me."
"I wouldn't do that."
Reassured by his honesty, Ferinish added, her hands fidgeting over her thighs and chest:
"I need those… clothes women wear to cover… you know, those parts…"
"I know. I'll help you with that. But you have to start trusting me, okay?"
He extended his hand to her.
"I know. I'll trust… only you."
Her grip was delicate, as though afraid of breaking his mechanical hand.
***
In the frozen kingdom of IceStorm, Slady and Ferinish entered a modest clothing shop. Behind the counter was a saleswoman with her teenage daughter, who was helping with customers.
Slady kept his bionic eye closed and his mechanical hand hidden under a glove, avoiding attention. Beside him, Ferinish maintained her naturally cold, distant expression.
"My friend needs undergarments. Can you help her?"
The young assistant eagerly raised her hand:
"I can help!"
Ferinish shot Slady a reproachful look, clearly displeased at being paired with the girl, but she understood his intention. She followed the teenager, who tried to advise her on choices, though Ferinish politely avoided her touch.
Meanwhile, Slady silently observed IceStorm's frozen beauty. The shopkeeper approached him.
"She's really your friend?"
"Yes. Just a friend."
The woman smirked, not entirely convinced. Then she sighed.
"This place still holds beauty… but it's nothing more than a kingdom in decay now."
Her words caught Slady's attention.
"What do you mean?"
"Long ago, an innocent girl came into contact with Renkai Energy in an Inférius. She fought bravely, becoming a Destroyer and keeping her consciousness… something nearly impossible. She mastered ice at its peak. But, little by little, the energy corrupted her. She became cruel, erecting frozen walls around our region, making it impossible to leave."
Slady looked into the distance. Massive ice walls surrounded the entire kingdom.
"A Glacial Destroyer…"
He murmured.
"Yes. That's the story of our queen, Fraizen Rosenmary."
Slady fell silent, thinking.
You're mistaken, my lady… Whoever overcomes the trial of sin and conscience cannot be corrupted by Renkai energy. Which means Fraizen Rosenmary was never innocent: she was always evil. She only gained the power to show it.
The shopkeeper's face remained serene, though sadness lingered in her eyes.
"Slady! Your friend needs you."
The teenager called, patting his back playfully.
He looked toward the fitting room, where Ferinish poked her head out, watching him coldly.
As he walked over, he heard the shopkeeper laugh and cough discreetly, giving him a teasing pat.
"You naughty one!"
Slady remained impassive, but Ferinish frowned at the scene, releasing an irritated "Hm!" before retreating inside.
Entering, Slady found Ferinish in only underwear. She gazed at him coldly, though her stance carried rare vulnerability.
"How… how do I look?"
She asked, trying to pose with her hands on her hips. But instead of appearing delicate, her toned muscles stood out.
Slady observed calmly, leaning on the wall.
"Your chest is moderate, the bra fits well… and the panties… they look nice."
Ferinish blushed faintly, nodding.
"Thank you. I don't recall ever being called beautiful."
Grabbing a dress, she turned to him:
"It looks like a kimono, Slady. Do you like it?"
"What matters is whether you like it."
"I do."
Gradually losing her shyness, she dressed in front of him, while Slady respectfully averted his gaze. Once done, she posed again, hands on her hips, chest lifted.
"And now?"
The dress suited her: long skirt, waist sash to hold her sword, balancing elegance with strength.
"You look beautiful."
"Then I'll take it."
As they left, the shopkeeper praised Ferinish's appearance, nearly patting her chest in friendly jest, but the young woman dodged and stayed close to Slady.
"Sorry if I was intrusive."
"It's nothing personal."
Ferinish replied firmly.
Slady paid for the clothes and handed Ferinish a generous amount of Lynes.
"For you."
"But… why?"
"So you can pay, of course… I stole it from that lab when we escaped."
He whispered near her ear. Ferinish silently nodded. Just hearing "lab" made her shiver, but she accepted the money, grateful.
Outside, the cold embraced them, and Ferinish raised the hood of her dress.
"I want to go home."
"Tomorrow we'll start exploring some Inférius to gather more resources. Okay?"
"Of course."
Walking through the frozen streets, a pleasant scent of soap caught their attention. Drawn by curiosity, they peeked through a bathroom window… and found an unexpected scene.
***
It was Carolina Silver bathing a little boy of about 3 or 4 years old. She knelt beside the tub, washing him as he looked at her with innocent eyes.
"Sis, you told me everyone has parents, right? Where are ours?"
Carolina took a deep breath, replying softly and tenderly.
"Our parents… well, that's something you'll understand when you're older. But does it matter? You have your big sister to care for you until then."
"Yes, you're the best! I love you!"
The boy hugged her, and she wrapped him in a towel, drying him.
"I love you too, little brother. Always."
She caressed his hair lovingly, resting his head against her chest.
***
The duo watched the scene. Then they looked at each other.
"Cute."
Ferinish commented.
"Yes, cute."
Slady agreed.
***
That afternoon, Slady and Ferinish spent time together, eating at humble restaurants and even earning money from some Inférius.
At the tavern, both returned exhausted, lying on the bed together, staring at the ceiling.
"Even with IceStorm in this state, we had fun and earned quite a bit of Lynes, right, Slady?"
Ferinish asked, adjusting her kimono skirt.
"Yes. A few more renkatas sold, and we'll be able to rent a temporary home."
Slady replied.
They both took off their shoes and pulled the blanket over themselves.
"Wow, you stink!"
Ferinish scolded, giving him a weak punch on the back.
"You're not the sweetest-smelling woman either, Fer."
He tapped her head lightly. She couldn't hold back a soft laugh, then snuggled against him from behind.
"Anyway, good night, Slady."
"Good night, Ferinish."
Almost without realizing it, the two drifted off together, wrapped in an embrace. Ferinish curled up gently, releasing sleepy sighs, growing more at ease with Slady's touch. He, in turn, felt even more connected to her, as though her heartbeat pulsed in rhythm with his own.
It was more than trust or deep friendship: it was a shared discovery. Perhaps, for the first time, Slady and Ferinish didn't just feel close or intimate, they felt bound by something indescribable, something that made neither of them want to part for long.