My life was a comedy where I always ended up face-first on the ground. The debt of 10 coins I owed Leif because of the fiasco in Sylvandor was just another weight on my back, and Melina's song about "the tapestry strippers" was already making adventurers laugh even in the taverns of Vaelor. My head was a whirlwind. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel were all messing with my feelings in ways I couldn't understand. Elara's shy glances, now more intense 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 confused than ever. To make things worse, Princess Lyra had sent another letter, filled with passion and praises for my "fearless strength," while Thalira, the elven envoy, kept giving me looks that mixed curiosity and interest — which made Elara and Vespera huff in annoyance. Elowyn, through her druidic messages, sent me a bracelet made of carved roots, saying, "For your tenacity, Takumi." That only added to the emotional chaos. Vespera's kiss at the Moon Festival still lingered in the air, with her avoiding my gaze, while Elara hesitated to say anything. I wanted to understand what I felt, but with this group, it was like trying to read a scroll during an avalanche. 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, scepter, pendant, and necklace in my bag were all glowing together — and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was getting closer. The danger loomed like distant thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay Leif back and avoid more humiliation.
At the Vaelor guild, after the disaster in Sylvandor, Elowen sent us to Durin, the kingdom of the dwarves, to secure another alliance against General Kaelthorn. "The dwarves are essential," she said, her voice shrouded in mystery. "Prove that you're worthy." The guild gave us a mission: convince the dwarf king, Thrain, to join our forces — and avoid offending his forge. Liriel grumbled, "A smelly cave? How unworthy of a goddess!" Elara, gripping her staff, promised, "I'll use magic carefully, I swear!" Vespera, bow in hand, smirked, "Dwarves? This'll be fun." I tried to sound firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just convince the king." They laughed as if I were dreaming. Lyra had sent a royal medallion as a "symbol of trust," and Liriel threw it on the ground. "Uptight little princess!" Thalira, who accompanied us, said, "Your leadership is... intriguing, Takumi." Elara muttered, "Why is she always so close?"
Durin was a maze of carved tunnels, filled with smoking forges and echoing hammers, lit by red crystals. Elowen introduced Hilda, a dwarven blacksmith with braided hair and sharp eyes. "The strippers? Don't destroy my forge!" she said, her tone a mix of seriousness and sarcasm. She explained that Thrain demanded a demonstration of endurance to prove our strength. Melina appeared, strumming her lute. "New verse ready!" she announced, drawing the dwarves' attention. Elowyn touched my shoulder: "You unite hearts, Takumi." Elara and Vespera scoffed while Liriel kicked a rock. "Idiotic princesses!" The air was thick — jealousy flaring like wildfire.
The demonstration began, and chaos followed fast. Elara tried a strengthening spell to enhance a test armor. "Just to impress the dwarves!" she said. The spell glowed for seconds before she collapsed, panting. "Mana... gone," she moaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close I could feel my heart pounding. "Takumi, I... I wanted to..." she began, but the spell overloaded the armor, which exploded into fragments. Vespera, trying to help, used her charm — but distracted Hilda, who dropped a cauldron of molten metal. Her misfired arrow hit a beam, cracking it. "What delightful chaos!" she shouted, as a dwarf pushed her away — and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her wine glass. "Divine purification magic!" Light burst forth — igniting a pile of coal and filling the forge with smoke. I tried to smother the fire with my cloak but slipped on molten metal, crashing down and knocking over tools. Thrain, watching, shook his head. "You're a disaster."
Amid the chaos, Elara, still in my arms, murmured, "Takumi... have you ever felt... not strong enough?" Her voice was fragile, and I felt a sharp ache in my chest. Vespera teased, "Getting intimate, Takumi?" Lyra, who was observing, said, "Your bravery is inspiring, Takumi." Elara blushed, mumbling, "Why is she so close?" while Liriel, her eyes burning with jealousy, shouted, "Focus, mortal, or you'll burn all of Durin!" Thalira laughed. "Your chaos is almost artistic." Elowyn, with a druidic glow, said, "You're stronger than you think, Takumi." Vespera scoffed, "Another princess!" Liriel kicked Lyra's medallion. "Stupid princesses!" Hilda sighed, dousing the fire with a bucket — but the coal was reduced to ashes. She found a bracelet among the debris, engraved with markings identical to the items in my bag. "Curious," she said, handing it to me. When I touched it, it vibrated, knocking over more tools. Hilda growled, "You'll pay for this." The dwarves laughed, and Melina sang, "In Durin, they strip the forges, the strippers fall in confusion!" Hilda muttered, "You're a plague."
We returned to the Vaelor guild with the bracelet — and a damaged forge. They paid us 50 coins, minus the repair costs. We cleared the debt with Leif, but Hilda charged 10 more coins for the coal. At the inn, I sat exhausted while Elara and Vespera argued over who "messed up less." "I only cast one spell!" said Elara, cheeks red. "And I only fired one arrow!" replied Vespera, avoiding my gaze. Liriel, sipping wine, mocked, "You're pathetic. I did everything." Elowen appeared, examined the bracelet, and said, "Another piece of the Demon King's ritual. Kaelthorn is getting closer. Be careful, strippers." She left without explaining further. The mood grew tense — Elara, Vespera, and Liriel glaring at each other jealously — and Lyra's, Thalira's, and Elowyn's words only made things worse. "What's going on, Takumi?" asked Elara, jealousy clear in her voice. Vespera muttered, "Nothing, just those stuck-up princesses."
When Elara and Vespera left to get food, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess... who's sitting 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? Planning to send me back, mortal?" She smiled, her look confusing me even more. I stared at the glowing items — 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, scepter, pendant, and bracelet. Vespera's kiss, Elara's memories, Liriel's jealousy, Lyra's letters, Thalira's and Elowyn's flirting, Hilda's debt — my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.