My life was a comedy where I always ended up face down. The debt of 10 coins with Torvald, because of the fiasco in the village, was another weight on my back, and Melina's song about "the strippers of the carts" 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 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 lost than ever. To make matters worse, Princess Lyra sent another letter, with a passionate tone praising my "heroic determination," while Thalira, the elven envoy, threw me glances mixing curiosity and flirtation, causing Elara and Vespera to huff. Elowyn, through her druidic messages, sent me a necklace of carved seeds, saying: "For your strength, Takumi." That only added to the emotional chaos. Vespera's kiss during 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 during an earthquake. 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, pendant, necklace, bracelet, bracelet, cord, stone, and cord in my backpack all glowed together, and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was getting closer. The danger felt like a distant thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay my debt to Torvald and avoid more humiliation.
At the Vaelor guild, after the clash with the minions, Elowen summoned us for advanced training with allies: Thorne, Sigrid, Sven, Gunnar, and Leif. "Kaelthorn is closer," she said, with her mysterious aura. "You need synchronization." The guild gave us a mission: to train advanced tactics in a fortified field to face the general. Liriel grumbled, "More training with mortals? Unworthy of a goddess!" Elara, gripping her staff, promised, "I'll use spells carefully, I swear!" Vespera, with her bow hanging over her shoulder, smiled, "Tactics? This will be interesting." I tried to sound firm: "No crazy magic, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just train." They laughed, as if I were dreaming. Lyra sent a royal pendant as a "symbol of faith," and Liriel threw it to the ground: "Spoiled princess!" Thalira, who accompanied us, said, "Your leadership is captivating, Takumi." Elara muttered, "Why is she always so close?"
The fortified field was a scene of trenches, wooden towers, and moving targets, with a stream in the background. Elowen introduced Ingrid, a human strategist with red hair and piercing eyes. "The strippers? Don't destroy my field!" said Ingrid, with a tone that mixed seriousness and sarcasm. She explained that the training would simulate a Kaelthorn attack, with targets representing minions. Melina appeared, strumming her lute. "New verse ready!" she announced, attracting the allies' attention. Elowyn touched my shoulder: "You inspire unity, Takumi." Elara and Vespera huffed, while Liriel kicked a barrier: "Stupid princesses!" The air was tense, jealousy crackling like fire.
Training began, and chaos came fast. Elara tried a tracking spell to locate moving targets. "Just for coordination!" she said. The spell glowed for seconds before she collapsed, panting. "Mana... gone," she groaned, 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 activated a training trap, releasing ropes that caught Thorne. Vespera, trying to attack, used her charm but distracted Sigrid, who toppled a tower. Her crooked arrow hit a beam, which collapsed. "What a delightful mess!" she shouted, as Leif pushed her, and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her wine cup. "Divine purification magic!" The light exploded, but it set a barrier on fire, spreading smoke. I tried to cut the ropes with my borrowed sword but slipped in a puddle, crashing down and knocking over targets. Ingrid, watching, shook her head: "You're a disaster."
Amid the chaos, Elara, still in my arms, murmured, "Takumi, have you ever felt... that you're not worthy of leading?" Her voice was fragile, and I felt a tightness in my chest. Vespera teased, "Getting cozy, Takumi?" Lyra, who accompanied the training, said, "Your bravery is enchanting, Takumi." Elara blushed, muttering, "Why is she so close?", while Liriel, her eyes burning with jealousy, shouted, "Focus, mortal, or you'll burn the whole field!" Thalira laughed: "Your chaos is almost heroic." Elowyn, with a druidic glow, said, "You're stronger than you think, Takumi." Vespera huffed: "Another princess!" Liriel kicked Lyra's pendant: "Stupid princesses!" Ingrid sighed, extinguishing the fire with a spell, but the barrier was reduced to ashes. She found a ring with markings identical to the items in my backpack, lying among the debris. "Curious," she said, handing it to me. When I touched the ring, it vibrated, knocking over more targets. Ingrid, annoyed, said, "You'll pay for this." The allies laughed, and Melina sang: "In the field, they strip the barriers, the strippers fall in confusion!" Ingrid grumbled, "You're a plague!"
We returned to the Vaelor guild with the ring, but the training field damaged. They paid us 50 coins, deducted for the destruction. We settled the debt with Torvald, but Ingrid charged 10 coins for the barrier. At the inn, I sat, exhausted, while Elara and Vespera argued about 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, drinking wine, mocked, "You're pathetic. I did everything." Elowen appeared, examined the ring, and said, "Another piece of the Demon King's ritual. Kaelthorn is in Vaelor. Be careful, strippers." She left without further explanation. The atmosphere was heavy, with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel casting jealous looks, and the words of Lyra, Thalira, and Elowyn only made things worse. "What's going on, Takumi?" asked Elara, her jealousy evident. Vespera murmured, "Nothing, just spoiled princesses."
When Elara and Vespera left 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? Planning to send me back, mortal?" She smiled, with a look that left 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, bracelet, bracelet, cord, stone, cord, ring. Vespera's kiss, Elara's memories, Liriel's jealousy, Lyra's letters, the flirting of Thalira and Elowyn, the debt with Ingrid — my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.