Now, after all the kisses… and all the playful sips from each other''s lips, we''re finally back in the bedroom.

    The air feels quieter here, softer somehow, like the night has wrapped itself gently around us.

    I''m already on the bed, tucked under the covers. Sitting up with my back against the headboard, I let the warmth of the blanket settle over my legs. The fabric is soft, a little heavy, comforting. I pull it closer as I watch Eris from across the room.

    She''s changing into her sleepwear, her movements slow and unhurried. The quiet rustle of fabric fills the space between us.

    She slips on a nightgown, dark as midnight, smooth as water. It drapes along her body like it was made just for her. Every movement, every shift of muscle beneath the silk, feels deliberate and graceful. Her tail flicks lazily behind her, and I swear it knows I''m watching.

    Strong, radiant, utterly effortless.

    It''s hard not to stare.

    And yet… even in this still, intimate moment, a thought drifts quietly into my mind.

    Our time in Mistvale has been short.

    Too short.

    And I know I''ll miss it—the warmth of Gordon''s family, the quiet clatter and chatter downstairs at the inn, the soft glow of lanterns on the cobbled streets outside the Gilded Horns. It''s only been a handful of days, but somehow, it already feels like a home I have to leave behind.

    But… it''s time.

    Time to move forward.

    There''s so much waiting for us now, so much to learn, so much to become.

    And Eris… Eris will be the one guiding me.

    She said she''d train me, help me grow stronger, strong enough to stand beside her, beside everyone, strong enough to fight, to protect.

    And honestly?

    I can''t wait.

    After all, I''m already so tired of being the weak one.

    I''m so sick of being this Felicia who can''t even jog a kilometer without wheezing, the Felicia who always has to be protected, the Felicia who can only watch from the sidelines while others face the danger.

    I want that to change.

    No… I will change.

    And when Alter finally awakens, I''ll learn from her too. Her fighting style—just from what little I''ve seen—seems so much more intense, faster, heavier. It''s the kind of strength I''ll have to earn with every breath, every bruise, every drop of sweat.

    But I''ll be ready.

    That''s why this time with Eris matters. These next few weeks… they''ll be the foundation, the beginning of something real.

    She warned me it wouldn''t be easy, that the training will be brutal.

    And I didn''t even hesitate.

    Good. I thought. Bring it on.

    Still…

    As I sit there, watching the way the candlelight dances over her skin, there''s one small question pressing at the edge of my mind.

    Something I''ve been meaning to ask.

    "…E-Eris?" I call out gently.

    She pauses and turns toward me.

    "Yes?" she answers, , her eyes catching the soft, amber glow of the bedside lamp.

    And as I take in the sight of her body, oh my… she''s gorgeous!

    Breathtakingly gorgeous.

    The nightgown she''s wearing hugs her body just enough to leave room for imagination. Midnight-dark silk clings to her skin, drawing soft shadows along every curve. Her nipples press faintly through the fabric, teasing through the thin sheen of cloth. That athletic frame, so powerful, so perfect, moves with such effortless grace it makes my heart skip a beat.

    I swallow, a little too loudly.

    And then I ask, voice uncertain, cheeks already burning. Sear?h the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If…If I train really hard… will I get muscles like you?"

    "Oh?" Eris blinks, caught off guard.

    I fidget under the covers, eyes fixed on her abs—the way they''re just barely visible beneath the fabric, sculpted, defined, like something out of a painting.

    "Y-you know… your abs," I murmur. "Your delicious, sexy abs. I… I mean—can I have those too?"

    Eris lets out a laugh, a soft, amused, affectionate laugh, and shakes her head as she walks closer, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.

    "Ehhh?" I puff my cheeks and pout. "What''s that look? Don''t laugh! I''m serious! I wanna have abs too!"

    "Well…" she says thoughtfully, tapping a finger to her chin, "some Furren don''t really develop abs the same way. It depends on your body type. So… maybe you''ll get them. Maybe not. You''ll have to train and see!"

    "I…I see…" I groan, slumping back against the pillow, a little disappointed. "But… let''s say I can, then how long until I can see them?"

    She tilts her head, grinning now. "Hmmm… if we train seriously, maybe… two months?"

    "Hell yeah!!" I cheer, throwing my arm up. "Abs in two months! Let''s gooo!"

    Eris giggles and steps up to the bed. She kneels beside me and leans forward, one hand reaching out to gently pat my stomach beneath the blanket.

    "Yeah," she murmurs, her voice soft and teasing. "In two months, all of this"—she gives my belly a little poke—"is gonna turn into abs of steel!"

    I burst into a giggle, cheeks warming under her touch. "Hehe…!"

    But then, out of nowhere—

    "Aaaahhh… I''m so saaaad!" Eris suddenly wails, loud and dramatic.

    Before I can react, she flops forward onto the bed, throwing herself over me like a stage actor in the middle of a tragic monologue.

    Her arms wrap around me, and her full, soft chest squishes right onto my head, muffling my yelp.

    "Mmfff—Eris?! Wh-what happened?! Why are you sad all of a sudden?!"

    She lets out a long, theatrical sigh as she clings to me like I''m about to float away.

    "Because…" she lets out a long, dramatic sigh. "Soon you won''t be weak little Felicia anymore… You''ll be strong and independent and… and you won''t need me anymore! Huhu…"

    I blink.

    Once.

    Twice.

    And then the pieces fall into place.

    Ohhh…

    So that''s what she''s worried about!

    A little smile spreads across my lips.

    I lift a hand and gently pat her arm, still draped over me.

    "Hehe… silly," I murmur, tilting my head against her. "Don''t be like that. Even if I get stronger… it just means I can protect you now!"

    I puff my chest a bit. "I''ll be Strong Felicia! Warrior Felicia! And I''ll protect you from all danger, Eris!"

    "Pfft. Suuure you will," she teases, finally sitting up with a smirk.

    Her hand ruffles my hair fondly. Then, out of nowhere, she lunges forward, grabbing my wrists and pinning me down against the bed.

    "W–wait—Eris?!"

    Too late.

    Ppppffffft!

    She blows a huge raspberry right onto my belly!

    "AAAAAA—!!" I shriek, flailing as laughter explodes out of me.

    PFFT!

    PFFT!

    "NOOOOO! AHAHA—STOOOP! STOP! PLEASE!!"

    She doesn''t.

    Eris has already pinned my wrists with one hand, straddling me with playful dominance, her tail flicking with delight.

    PFFT!

    "AAAHAHAHA—MERCY!! PLEASE SPARE MEEEE!!"

    "NEVER!" she laughs maniacally. "You said it yourself—you''re gonna be strong soon! So I have to take full advantage of my power and bully you while I still can!"

    "AAAAAAA!!! YOU MONSTER!!"

    "MWAHAHAHA!"

    PFFFT

    PPFFFTT!!!

    And just like that, I''m doomed!

    Eris keeps on blowing me and tickles me.

    Helpless under her strength, I thrash beneath her, my legs kicking uselessly under the blankets. The room fills with laughter, mine high and gasping, hers low and wickedly amused.

    Finally, mercifully, the tickle war winds down.

    Eris releases my wrists and leans down, her weight softening as she rests gently against me. She presses a warm, tender kiss to my forehead.

    Her breath brushes over my skin, tickling just a little.

    Then she lifts a hand and gently tucks a few strands of hair away from my face, smiling softly before her gaze meets mine.

    Our faces are so close now… and in her deep blue eyes, I catch my own reflection.

    A breathless, sweaty Felicia, flushed from laughter, hair tousled, still glistening with sweat from all that wild tickling.

    Gods… she''s so beautiful…

    "…But no matter how strong you get," Eris whispers, her voice low and warm, "there''s one thing that will never ever change."

    "…Mm?" I blink up at her, still catching my breath. "What is that?"

    "That… you''ll always be my silly little Felicia. Hehe…"

    Badump!

    My chest tightens.

    I don''t know what to say. Only that I''m blushing. And warm. And maybe trembling a little.

    "Nn…" I nod quietly, eyes searching hers as I reach up to touch her cheek. My voice comes out low, almost a whisper. "And you''ll always be my Eris…"

    She leans in without hesitation, meeting me halfway. Her arms wrap around me, warm and certain, pulling me into her.

    Then we kiss.

    Slow this time. Deep, tender.

    A kiss full of all the things we don''t say—the fears, the promises, the unspoken weight of everything we''ve shared.

    Once.

    Then again.

    And again.

    Until everything else begins to fade—the room, the world, the thoughts of tomorrow.

    After that… we don''t say much.

    There''s no need to.

    We just stay close, wrapped in each other, legs tangled under the blankets, lips brushing, fingers threading through hair.

    We kiss a lot.

    We cuddle more.

    And when the night stretches long and soft…

    We give in to everything.

    Our last night at the Gilded Horns, our sex is, once again, wild and breathless and full of love.