CHAPTER 242: TWO GOLD

Raegar and the girls enjoyed their meals, and everyone began packing away the tent. However, soon enough, they were all back on the road again. He was leading them through the rolling hills, setting up camp behind them to shelter them from the wind.

On the fourth day of their journey to Vaelthorne Manor, the five girls glimpsed the first village, Dawncreek. They stood in awe, captivated by the beauty of the peaceful farming hamlet.

The village wasn’t big and was home to a few dozen cozy-looking houses clustered around a square where stalls were set up to help the people earn an income. Raegar turned around with a grin.

’’We can stay in the inn,’’ he suggested. ’’The beds are comfortable and the food is delicious.’’

Selene glanced around, yellow eyes full of curiosity, only to spot several guards patrolling the edge. ’’Do they get attacked by monsters?’’

Raegar nodded. ’’Yes. They got it under control, mother said grandfather sent his army all across the west to clear out the bandits and monsters,’’ he revealed. ’’Dawncreek is safe, they have their legend.’’

As the five girls drew closer to Dawncreek, their curiosity was piqued by a tale that stirred their imaginations. Raegar looked at them, grinning as he began talking. ’’Long ago," he said, his eyes glinting. ’’A legendary Tier Ten warrior, renowned across Dawnfire for unmatched power, chose to retire in this very village. It was love that kept him here, a deep, unspoken bond with a simple farmer’s daughter, whose fierce spirit captured his heart.’’

The girls leaned in, hanging on his every word as he continued. ’’In Dawncreek, the warrior found a life of purpose. He worked hard in the fields alongside the villagers, connected because he married the farm girl.’’

Raegar smiled because his mother loved to tell him this story, but he shook his head and went on. ’’With a lifetime worth of skills, he single-handedly beat back waves of monsters that threatened the village, his blade a shield against the darkness. But fate, ever the cruel mistress, has a way of cracking even the strongest heroes. Tragedy struck, and the woman who held his heart was taken from him by a plague that passed through here over fifty years ago, leaving the warrior to face a grief as fierce as any beast he’d ever slain.’’

’’What became of him?’’ Alice asked softly, her voice trembling with anticipation as the group stepped into the heart of Dawncreek.

Raegar offered no reply, only a silent gesture toward a lone figure perched on a chair by the village gate. A sword rested at the ready by his side, worn from years of vigilance. The man turned to them, his face etched with a sorrowful smile that spoke of a lifetime of loss.

As the girls approached, the strange warrior rose and continued the tale with a voice heavy with memory. ’’Master Vaelthorne,’’ the warrior murmured, bowing deeply before stepping back to face Alice directly.

’’I swore an oath to my beloved,’’ he said, his eyes searching hers as if seeking solace in her youth. ’’I vowed to remain in Dawncreek, to shield this village with my life, as she once shielded my heart.’’

The girls stood in stunned silence, their gazes fixed on the grey-haired warrior, his weathered features a map of battles he fought in and love lost. Zahara, her warm smile faltering yet persistent, ventured, "That’s so romantic, to keep such a promise."

Raegar watched as the man’s lips curved faintly, a ghost of joy flickering across his face. ’’It may sound so, young one,’’ he replied, his voice cracking. ’’But the weight of it is a wound that never heals.’’

Selene, unable to bear the quiet that followed, blurted out. ’’Why? Why stay if it hurts so much?’’

The warrior’s gaze drifted to the horizon, where the golden fields of the village swayed under a mournful breeze. ’’Because I’ve lost her,’’ he whispered, his words full of longing. ’’Her face has faded from my mind, her voice no longer echoes in my dreams, and her touch is but a shadow I can’t grasp.’’

Raegar felt sorry for the old man, but it didn’t stop him from continuing. ’’All that remains is her laughter, a memory that haunts me. It’s the only piece of her I can still hold, and it’s why I endure, guarding this village as I promised. That laugh... It’s my reason to keep breathing, even when my heart begs to stop.’’

The older man shook his head gently, as if to dispel the weight of his memories, and gestured toward the warmly lit inn at the heart of Dawncreek. His hand lingered in the air for a moment before he spoke, his voice carrying the quiet authority of hard-earned wisdom.

’’I see the bond you five share with Master Vaelthorne,’’ he said, his gaze sweeping over the girls, each of whom stood a little closer together. ’’It’s a rare and precious thing, that kind of love. Hold it close and cherish every moment you have with him. Life has a cruel way of thrusting a blade into even the best-laid plans, twisting them when you least expect it.’’

Following that, Raegar and the girls said thanks to the warrior before making their way over to the inn. Once inside, they spotted an older woman sitting behind the counter, causing him to approach.

’’Can I get the biggest room, please?’’ he requested.

The woman’s gaze flicked upward, her eyes widening in shock, and Drusilla’s face darkened with a scowl. A surge of anger flared within her, ignited by the human’s blatant judgment of his scars.

’’Two gold,’’ the receptionist replied.

Raegar gave a dismissive shrug and slid the coins across the counter, his expression unreadable. The judgmental woman, her lips pursed in thinly veiled disdain, handed him a key in return.

Moments later, the group walked up the creaking wooden stairs of the inn, their spirits undampened as they placed a large order for food and drink, annoying the woman even more, her eyes narrowing with every word.

The five girls exchanged glances as they followed him to the room, and once inside, they piled onto the bed and relaxed as the soft mattress enveloped them. Raegar was at peace when Drusilla appeared in her small form.

Just then, she expanded to her full size in a heartbeat. Leaning down, she captured his lips in a passionate kiss. The second their lips met, a spark of electric warmth pulsed between them, igniting the air with unspoken promises.

Reluctantly, she drew back, her big blue eyes lingering on his, before stepping aside to make way for Selene. The red-skinned beauty approached with a radiant smile, her gaze alight with adoration.

She leaned in, kissing him with the same fierce intensity as the Dark Fairy, her hands gliding over his muscular chest. As she pressed herself closer, her movements a slow grind against him, the room seemed to hum with the intensity of their connection, each touch a testament to the unspoken bonds that wove them together.

After some time, Selene stepped back, her breath catching as she made way for Zahara. The brown-skinned Half-Elf, her blonde hair catching the dim light of the fading sun light, approached. Her warm, honeyed eyes locked onto his, a soft smile appearing.

Zahara eased herself down beside him, her warm fingers tracing his jaw. As she leaned closer, her grey eyes held his, brimming with excitement. Her kiss unfolded slowly, a cascade of love that enveloped him, each soft press of her lips radiating affection.

The blondes hands rested on his shoulders, her touch warm and steady, as if anchoring him to the present amidst the whirlwind of their shared connection. As she drew back, her gaze lingering, Dominique stepped forward, her grey skin shimmering faintly in the light.

The Vampiress’s large emerald eyes gleamed with a mix of mischief and depth. She flashed a playful, fanged grin before closing the distance, her cool fingers gliding along his chest, tracing the scars that told his story.

When her lips met his, the kiss was electric. Dominique pressed herself closer, each motion a dance of desire and restraint, as if savoring every second because they couldn’t take the next step. Thanks to all this the air in the room seemed to pulse.

Following that, they all relaxed until a knock rang out causing Alice to jump up with red cheeks as Raegar watched her. The tanned girl hadn’t made her move so he would when everyone was relaxing.

Zahara sprang to her feet, a warm smile lighting her face as she moved to assist their new friend, a young man who wheeled a creaking cart into the room. The cart brimmed with an array of steaming dishes, their rich aromas swirling through the air.

Roasted meats, fresh-baked bread, and herb-laced stews. As the savory scents reached him, his stomach let out a low, eager rumble, a reminder of the hunger that had gnawed at him through their journey.