“Sorry — could we stop somewhere?” I fidgeted in my seat. 

Askret looked at me. “Is there a problem, Lady Aria?”

“No,” I said, “Just need to use the restroom.”

He wordlessly waved his hand, signaling the carriage to come to a stop. 

“Need me to come with you?” Gale asked.

“I’m not ten,” I said, “I’ll be right back.”

Stepping out, I looked around at the nearby businesses. We had just pulled off the road on the third layer, and my excitement was overrun by physiological needs. I let out hurried breaths as I looked about. One building caught my eye - it had a sign of a scroll above it. I could do a little shopping…

I was sure the others wouldn’t mind. Probably. I skipped to the door, beaming. I threw the door open and waltzed inside. Smells of ink and old paper met my nose, as did a man who let out a greeting. “Welcome.”

I looked back and forth for a moment before sheepishly smiling at the man. “Do you have a bathroom?”

His smile faltered, but he pointed behind himself. 

“Phew,” I said, flicking my hands free of water. I looked up at the man running the counter and smiled. “Thanks!”

I got a better look at him now that I wasn’t in such a rush. He was younger than I expected. He had shoulder-length black hair pushed behind two long ears. An elf? I found myself staring for longer than was appropriate. I turned away and set my attention on his wares. 

A few other people milled about in the shop, looking over various inks and scrolls. A soft jingle rang each time someone left or entered. I approached one that caught my interest. It was bound in the familiar shape of a scroll, sealed with a wax stamp; the seal was red, in the shape of a stylized flame. I grinned. Finally! My destined fireball! 

I turned to bring it to the corner when the price tag caught my eye. My grin faded. That much?! This was highway robbery! My eyes shook as I looked towards the salesman. He was a fiend! My stomach dropped as he stared at me expectantly. Oh god, I had made a mistake. By using his restroom, I had to buy something! I briefly considered turning tail and running out, but suppressed the urge. I looked around and realized the scroll I grabbed was the cheapest thing I could use. 

Sweat dripped from my forehead as I begrudgingly approached the counter. Face twisted, I laid the scroll on the table and reached into my pocket for my coin purse. I cracked it open and briefly imagined a moth flying out. The change inside was barely enough for the scroll. 

A man sidled up next to me, closer than a stranger usually would. I looked over. He was a bit taller than me, with short, jet black hair, and several piercings in his ears. They were pointed as well, but seemed different than the shop-owner’s, a bit more rounded. His eyes were sharp and playful, the highlight of his thin face. He grinned at me, his body close. He pulled his coinpurse out and poured the contents on the table.

“I’ll be buying for the lady,” He said.

I looked up, confused. Why was this random guy buying something for me? Was I getting scammed? My eyes looked over the coins he’d dumped on the table. Damn! That was enough to buy five of these things! Was he just going to leave it? My hand itched to reach out and snag them from the table.

“Uh, thank you,” I said, “Do I know you?”

He fluttered his eyes at me, his voice a sultry tone. “No, but I would like to.”

My brows furrowed. What did this random guy want with me? Still, he was buying me my fireball, so he couldn’t be all bad. I shrugged, saying, “Thanks, but I have some people I have to meet up with. Later?”

“It’s a promise, then.”

He lightly touched my hand then sauntered away, leaving the store. I raised my hand, looking at it blankly. Wait a second. I looked at the door. Was that guy flirting with me? A shiver ran down my spine. As if! He wasn’t even worth half a Gale! 

I picked up my scroll and dazedly left the shop, my thoughts spiraling. A man, flirting with me in broad daylight?! Why me? There were two other women in the shop, both prettier than me. It felt like the universe was targeting me. I stowed the scroll in my item box and climbed back into the carriage.

I looked out the window, stuck in my head for the rest of the ride to our accommodations. I gave Gale a perfunctory smile when he checked on me. I didn’t want to push him away but… I just didn’t understand why anyone would like me over someone else. Had everyone gone insane?

Askret dropped us off at a rather small house. “This is us?” I asked, eyes widening. 

He flicked a hand dismissively. “Courtesy of the church. We wouldn’t dare host a potential Hero and Saintess in a meagre inn. It’s yours for tonight, and yours to keep if your position is as we suspect.”

He waved us off before leaving, ignoring my bewildered expression. 

I walked to the door, hesitantly inserting the key I had snatched from Gale’s hand. The house was more modern than I expected. It was well kept and clean, furnished with pristine furniture. There was a fruit basket on the bar in the kitchen. I walked over to it, picking up a note that adorned the handle. I skimmed over it, looking at the important bits.

Greetings, Hero, Saintess.

The Church of the the Star-Mother, Navira, welcomes you to Elanis. 

Please enjoy your accommodations until the ceremony tomorrow.

There were some other sentences, mostly showering us with praise. My brow furrowed. Why did it suddenly seem like we’d walked into a time-share scam? Whatever, as long as the place was nice. The idea of having a home in this new world was…nice. A place to call our own, me and Gale. 

I looked at him. He was exploring the rest of the house, opening cabinets to see what was inside. “Whatcha got?” 

“Looks like tons,” He said, “They really went all in.” 

“Feels like we’re newly-weds,” I joked.

He turned his head. Our eyes met, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Sorry,” I said, “I’m taken, the guy who flirted with me earlier stole my heart.”

His brows furrowed, his face turning dark. “Someone flirted with you?”

He set down a cup he’d been holding and approached me, putting a hand on my shoulder, his lips tight.

Was he really that bothered? This guy, that face really wasn’t suited for brooding. I smiled. Suddenly his expression felt kind of…cute. Gale was jealous over me? As strange as the thought was, I didn’t hate it. I probably shouldn’t make him worry too much. He’s not that smart.

I pulled myself up, sitting on the cabinet, shooting a teasing smile at him. He followed, standing a few inches away from me, staring intensely.I leaned my face in close to his, my voice a whisper. “Look at you, all jealous.”

He frowned. “I’m not jealous.” 

I let my lips brush against his. “So, you wouldn’t mind me doing this with someone else?”

“Aria…” He warned.

I smirked. I raised a finger to his chin, lifting it. “What’re you gonna do about it?” He flushed, before pushing my arms down.

He forcefully put a hand to the back of my head and kissed me. Fire shot through my chest, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. I was breathing heavy by the time he pulled away. After a moment’s rest, I pushed my weight into him, our lips meeting again, and he wrapped his arms under my legs, lifting me into the air. The couch squeaked as he tossed me down into it, putting one arm besides my head. His stare sent a flush through my face.

I looked up at him, panting. “So jealous.” Why is this idiot so fun to tease?

He growled as he leaned over me again, peppering me across my lips, face, before finally downwards on my neck. I had just fallen back-first onto the couch, staring up at him, when a knock sounded at our door. We froze, a line of saliva stringing from his mouth as he pulled back. Gale looked as if his dog had been murdered; I laughed and pushed him off me. I wiped the dampness from my neck and face, then stood up to answer the door. Gale’s hand caught mine before I could step away. I turned, looking at his needy face. 

“Ignore it,” He whispered.

“It could be Askret.”

“Ignore him.”

I giggled, head still light from a moment ago. “We have plenty of time. Just wait.”

I pulled my hand from his and walked towards the door. Pulling it open, a woman met me face-to-face. She was young, with fashionable clothes, though the term seemed a bit…off, given the city’s peculiarities. To me, it looked like she was wearing a strange hodgepodge of wardrobe items. I forced the reflexive smirk from my face. 

“Can I help you?” 

Her face twisted into one of glee. I was confused, until her arm moved, and I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my abdomen. My mind froze. I took a few steps back, each footfall sending a searing pain through my body. A hand moved to my stomach, but a foreign object blocked its advance. I looked down, my vision swimming.

The handle of a dagger was poking out of my stomach. Huh? I stepped back again. Crimson liquid welled from it, pouring to the ground in splatters. The smell of copper met my nose. I lifted my hand, staring at it. Blood red, sticky, and warm. Burning hot pain blossomed within me, drawing tears and a whimpering gasp. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel※fire.net

“Aria!?” Gale’s voice rang out as I fell backwards, my head knocking into the ground. My last moments of consciousness were spent casting a heal on myself. I watched through floating golden particles as the woman slipped away, the doorway covered by Gale’s body as he shouted.