My life was a comedy where I always ended up face-first on the ground. The new debt of 10 coins to Hilda, because of the fiasco in Durin, was yet another weight on my back, and Melina's song about "the forge 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 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, with a passionate tone praising my "resilience," while Thalira, the elven envoy, watched me with a gaze that mixed analysis and flirtation, causing Elara and Vespera to huff in annoyance. Elowyn, with her druidic messages, sent a carved leaf brooch, saying: "For your perseverance, 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 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, necklace, bracelet, and cord in my backpack glowed together, and Elowen said that the Demon King's ritual was getting closer. The danger felt like distant thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay my debt to Hilda and avoid more humiliation.
At the Vaelor guild, after the chaos in the ruins, Elowen summoned us for joint training with the recruited allies: Thorne, Sigrid, Sven, and Gunnar. "Kaelthorn is cunning," she said, her mysterious aura surrounding her. "You need coordination." The guild gave us a mission: train tactics in the Vaelor field to prepare for the coming confrontation. Liriel grumbled, "Training with mortals? Unworthy of a goddess!" Elara, gripping her staff, promised, "I'll use magic carefully, I swear!" Vespera, with her bow slung, smiled, "Training? This will be interesting." I tried to be firm: "No crazy magic, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just train." They laughed, as if I were dreaming. Lyra sent a royal shield as "protection," and Liriel kicked it. "Uptight little princess!" Thalira, who accompanied us, said, "Your humility is refreshing, Takumi." Elara muttered, "Why is she always so close?"
The training field was a wide grassy plain on the outskirts of Vaelor, with straw targets and wooden barriers, a stream flowing in the background. Elowen introduced Freya, a human guardian with blond hair and determined eyes. "The strippers? Don't destroy my field!" said Freya, her tone a mix of seriousness and sarcasm. She explained that the training would simulate Kaelthorn's attacks. Melina appeared, strumming her lute. "New verse ready!" she announced, drawing the allies' attention. Elowyn touched my shoulder: "You inspire loyalty, Takumi." Elara and Vespera scoffed, while Liriel kicked a barrier. "Idiotic princesses!" The atmosphere was tense, jealousy flaring like wildfire.
The training began, and chaos came fast. Elara tried a barrier spell to protect a target. "Just for defense!" she said. The spell glowed for a few 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 created an unstable barrier that collapsed on Thorne, knocking over the barricades. Vespera, trying to help, used her charm but distracted Sigrid, who dropped a stake. Her crooked arrow hit the wrong target, which fell. "What delightful chaos!" she shouted, as Gunnar pushed her aside — and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her wine glass. "Divine purification magic!" The light burst, but it set the grass on fire, spreading smoke. I tried to fix the barrier with my borrowed sword but slipped on a puddle, falling hard and knocking over several stakes. Freya, watching, shook her head. "You're a disaster."
Amid the chaos, Elara, still in my arms, murmured, "Takumi, have you ever felt... that you don't deserve this?" Her voice was fragile, and I felt a tightness in my chest. Vespera teased, "Getting intimate, Takumi?" Lyra, who was observing the training, said, "Your bravery is charming, Takumi." Elara blushed, murmuring, "Why is she so close?" while Liriel, eyes burning with jealousy, shouted, "Focus, mortal, or you'll burn the whole field!" 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 Elowyn's brooch. "Stupid princesses!" Gunnar sighed, dousing the fire with a bucket, but the grass was already ashes. He found a bracelet with markings identical to those on the items in my bag, lying among the debris. "Curious," he said, handing it to me. When I touched it, it vibrated, knocking down more stakes. Gunnar, irritated, said, "You'll pay for this." The allies laughed, and Melina sang, "On the field, they strip the barriers, the strippers fall in confusion!" Gunnar muttered, "You're a plague!"
We returned to the Vaelor guild with the bracelet — but the field destroyed. They paid us 50 coins, discounted for the damages. We cleared the debt with Gunnar, but he charged 10 coins for the burnt grass. At the inn, I sat, exhausted, while Elara and Vespera argued over who "messed up less." "I only used one spell!" said Elara, cheeks flushed. "And I only fired one arrow!" retorted Vespera, avoiding my gaze. Liriel, drinking 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 was heavy, with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel exchanging jealous glances, and the words of Lyra, Thalira, and Elowyn 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 went out 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 takes care of the rest." She took a sip. "Why? Planning to send me back, mortal?" She smiled, giving me a look that left me confused. I looked 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, necklace, bracelet, bracelet. Vespera's kiss, Elara's memories, Liriel's jealousy, Lyra's letters, Thalira's and Elowyn's flirting, the debt with Gunnar — my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.