My life was a comedy where I always ended up flat on my face. The debt of 15 coins I owed Bjorn, because of the fiasco in the forest, was another weight on my back, and Melina's song about "the strippers of the trees" already had adventurers laughing even in Vaelor's taverns. My head was a whirlwind. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel tangled my feelings in ways I couldn't understand. Elara's shy glances, more intense after regaining her memories, made my heart race like a wild horse. Vespera's teasing, softer since Infernia, still left me red as a bonfire. Liriel's jealousy, hidden behind sharp sarcasm, left me more lost than ever. To make matters worse, Princess Lyra sent another letter, filled with romantic tones that praised my "legendary courage," while Thalira, the elven envoy, kept giving me looks that mixed fascination and flirtation, earning huffs from Elara and Vespera. Elowyn, through her druidic messages, sent me a bracelet carved from twigs, saying: "For your tenacity, Takumi." That only added to the emotional chaos. I wanted to understand what I felt, but with this group, it was like trying to read a scroll in a hurricane. 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, cord, ring, amulet, and fragment in my bag glowed together, and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was imminent. The danger felt like a deafening thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay off Bjorn and avoid another humiliation.
At the Vaelor guild, after the ambush, Elowen warned us that Kaelthorn was in an abandoned fortress in the hills. "He's preparing the ritual," she said, her aura mysterious. "Face him now." The guild gave us a mission: infiltrate the fortress and stop Kaelthorn. Liriel grumbled, "A stinking general? Unworthy of a goddess!" Elara, gripping her staff, promised, "I'll use spells carefully, I swear!" Vespera, with her bow slung, smiled, "A villain? This will be fun." I tried to sound firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just defeat Kaelthorn." They laughed like I was dreaming. Lyra sent a royal necklace as a "symbol of victory," which Liriel threw to the ground: "Stuck-up princess!" Thalira, who joined us, said, "Your bravery fascinates me, Takumi." Elara muttered, "Why is she always so close?"
The fortress was a scene of dark ruins, with broken towers and an aura of shadow magic. Elowen introduced Nora, a human scout with short hair and sharp eyes. "You strippers again? Don't destroy my fortress!" Nora said, in a tone mixing seriousness and sarcasm. She explained that Kaelthorn was in the central hall, protected by minions and runes. Melina appeared, strumming her lute. "New verse ready!" she announced, drawing glances from allies. Elowyn touched my shoulder. "You lead with courage, Takumi." Elara and Vespera scoffed, while Liriel kicked a rock. "Stupid princesses!" The atmosphere was charged, jealousy flaring like wildfire.
The battle began, and chaos came fast. Elara tried a spell to attack the minions. "Just to clear the way!" she said. The spell glowed for a few seconds before she collapsed, panting. "Mana… gone," she groaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close I could feel my heart racing. "Takumi, I… I wanted to…" she began, but the spell hit a rune, releasing an explosion that toppled columns. Vespera, trying to attack, used her charm but distracted Nora, who tripped over a minion. Her crooked arrow struck a beam that collapsed. "Delicious chaos!" she shouted, as Thorne shoved her, and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her wine cup. "Divine purification magic!" The light burst out, but ignited tapestries, filling the room with smoke. I tried to hit a minion with my borrowed sword but slipped in a puddle, crashing down and bringing rubble with me. Nora, fighting the minions, shouted, "You're a disaster!"
Kaelthorn appeared — a tall figure with red eyes and black armor. "Your relics are mine," he said in a cold voice. Elara, still in my arms, whispered, "Takumi, have you ever felt… like you can't win?" Her voice was fragile, and I felt a sting in my chest. Vespera teased, "Getting cozy, Takumi?" Lyra, who had joined the mission, said, "Your bravery is enchanting, Takumi." Elara blushed, muttering, "Why is she so close?" while Liriel, eyes burning with jealousy, shouted, "Focus, mortal, or you'll burn the whole fortress down!" Thalira laughed. "Your chaos is almost epic." Elowyn, glowing with druidic light, said, "You're stronger than you think, Takumi." Vespera huffed, "Another princess!" Liriel kicked Lyra's necklace. "Stupid princesses!" Nora, sighing, extinguished the fire with a spell, but the tapestries were ashes. She found a pendant among the rubble, marked with the same symbols as my relics. "Curious," she said, handing it to me. When I touched the pendant, it vibrated, toppling more columns. Nora, irritated, said, "You'll pay for that." Allies laughed, and Melina sang, "In the fortress, they strip the stones, the strippers fall in confusion!" Nora grumbled, "You're a plague!"
Kaelthorn laughed but retreated with his minions, leaving a warning: "The ritual will be completed." We returned to the Vaelor guild with the pendant but a damaged fortress. They paid us 50 coins, discounted for the damages. We paid off Bjorn, but Nora charged 10 coins for the tapestries. At the inn, I sat exhausted while Elara and Vespera argued over who "messed up less." "I only used one spell!" Elara said, cheeks red. "And I only shot one arrow!" Vespera retorted, avoiding my gaze. Liriel, sipping her wine, mocked, "You're pathetic. I did everything." Elowen appeared, examined the pendant, and said, "Another piece of the Demon King's ritual. Kaelthorn is almost ready. Be careful, strippers." She left without explaining more. The air was heavy, with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel throwing jealous looks, and the words of Lyra, Thalira, and Elowyn only made things worse. "What's going on, Takumi?" Elara asked, jealousy clear in her tone. Vespera muttered, "Nothing, just some stuck-up princesses."
When Elara and Vespera went out to get food, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess, who's on your throne now?" She shrugged, smiling lazily. "Celine, my assistant. She's annoying but 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 relics — 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, amulet, fragment, pendant. The confrontation with Kaelthorn, Elara's memories, Liriel's jealousy, Lyra's letters, Thalira and Elowyn's flirtations, Nora's debt — my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.