Alex lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air with determination. The scarred man deflected the blow effortlessly, his movements calm and precise. Alex growled in frustration and unched a flurry of three sshes, each as swift as the st. But the adventurer met them all with a practiced ease, his bde moving like an extension of his body.

  "Not bad," the adventurer said, stepping back to disengage. His scarred face softened with a faint smile. “You’ve got spirit, but you’ll need more than that if you’re serious about becoming a knight.”

  Alex lowered his sword, panting, and wiped the sweat from his brow. “I’ll get there.”

  It was then that both of them noticed Kyle approaching.

  "Kyle!" Alex called out, his usual grin returning despite his exertion.

  The adventurer offered a nod. “Good to see you again.”

  “What’s going on here?” Kyle asked, raising a brow.

  Alex gestured to the adventurer. “He was just giving me some pointers. Figured I could use the practice.”

  Kyle turned to the adventurer. “Feeling better now? And how are the others from your party?”

  The adventurer sheathed his sword and crossed his arms. “I’m doing better, thanks to your mother. As for the others… They’re hanging in there. We’re leaving for the Barony tomorrow to report to the Guild.”

  Kyle nodded thoughtfully. “Good to hear.”

  The adventurer cpped Alex on the shoulder and turned to Kyle. “Speaking of thanks, how about a drink? Let’s head to the tavern.”

  Kyle agreed, and the three of them made their way toward the vilge’s modest tavern.

  Kyle, Alex, and the adventurer squeezed into a corner table in the bustling tavern, the air thick with ughter, clinking mugs, and the savory aroma of roasted meat. They ordered a round of ale from the passing barmaid, who promised to return quickly.

  As they waited, Kyle leaned back in his chair, his eyes absently scanning the room. His ears caught snippets of conversation from a group of soldiers seated a few tables away, their voices carrying above the din.

  “Shadow Sves,” one soldier said, a note of pride in his tone. “Never thought we’d come across those freaks in this region.”

  “Yeah, no kidding,” another added, his voice rough and brimming with excitement. “Rowan’s got some knack, though. Caught them like they were nothing.”

  “Shadow Sves…” murmured a third, leaning closer to his companions. “Strong bastards, aren’t they? Even half-starved, they’re tougher than those weaklings from the capital.”

  “Amazing, really,” the first soldier said, chuckling. “The God of Shadow might be long gone, but these stragglers still cling to his ways. Guess that’s why the state doesn’t hesitate to turn them into sves. No one compins when it’s them.”

  “Unlike the capital sves,” the second soldier chimed in. “Those poor sods are just cannon fodder. Shadow Sves? Now they’re worth something.”

  Kyle's grip on his chair tightened as he listened, his gaze sharpening.

  When their ales arrived, Kyle forced himself to maintain a neutral expression, joining in the conversation with Alex and the adventurer to avoid drawing attention. Alex leaned back in his chair, a grin spreading across his face. "So, Kyle, I finally spoke to Sebi," he said, his tone tinged with excitement.

  Kyle raised an eyebrow, taking a cautious sip of his drink. "And?"

  "It went well! Better than I thought, actually," Alex continued, his grin growing wider. "She agreed to my proposal, and I already talked with her parents. They seemed pleased enough, no objections so far."

  Kyle gave a slight nod. "That’s good news, Alex. Now you just have to convince your parents, huh?"

  Alex chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, they’ll be the real test. But once they’re back in the vilge, I’ll talk to them. I’m not too worried, though. Sebi’s parents seemed pretty eager to make this happen, so that should help."

  The adventurer, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "Marriage talks, huh? That’s a big step, Alex."

  "It is," Alex said, turning to the adventurer with a smile. "But I think I’m ready. Speaking of big steps, I didn’t expect to see you around here, Albert.”“He has worked with my parents before, Kyle." Alex told Kyle.

  Albert nodded, swirling his ale. "A long time ago, yeah. Your parents are good people. Saved my skin more than once. When I ran into you, I figured you had to be their kid, same eyes, same damn stubbornness."

  Alex ughed, a warm, familiar sound. "Well, they’ve taught me a lot. And it’s good to know they pick good people to trust," He gestured to Kyle. "Albert’s good people, Kyle. You don’t have to be so stiff around him."

  Kyle gnced between the two, his posture rexing ever so slightly. "Guess it’s good to know he’s not just some random adventurer, then."

  Albert raised his mug with a smirk. "I’ll take that as a compliment."“Thanks,” Kyle said as he took a sip of his ale.“No, I should be the one thanking you and your mother for healing my party.” Albert said.Kyle just smiled at his remark.

  As the conversation carried on, Kyle found himself loosening up. Albert’s stories about his past adventures and his friendliness with Alex slowly chipped away at Kyle’s guarded demeanor.

  At one point, Alex stood, stretching. "I’ll be back in a minute. Too much ale." He shot Kyle a grin before heading toward the back of the tavern to relieve himself.

  Kyle leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting to Albert. The tension in his shoulders eased as he reached for his ale again. He felt a little more comfortable around him."So, when I reached home, my mother was sleeping on the ground. What exactly happened between the two of you?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

  Albert's face softened into a faint smile, though there was an underlying seriousness in his gaze. "You shouldn't pry into your mother's private affairs," he replied, his tone gentle but firm. "But, I will tell you this much, despite her strength as a healer, she had to give me more than just warmth to subdue my Eclipsing."

  Kyle understood what the adventurer meant, so he didn’t press him further.

  Once their drinks were finished and Alex and the adventurer left the tavern, Kyle lingered behind, excusing himself under the pretense of ordering something for home.

  He approached the soldiers' table, his steps deliberate and measured. They noticed him as he got close, one raising an eyebrow in recognition.

  “What’s the matter, kid?” one of them asked, taking a swig of his ale.

  Kyle slid his hands into his pockets and leaned slightly forward. “How much for a single sve?” he asked, his tone calm but carrying an undercurrent of tension.

  ***

  The room was dimly lit, the faint glow of the ntern casting warm, flickering shadows on the walls. Ilria stood in the center, her posture calm but her expression unreadable.

  The dress she wore clung to her figure, the fabric a deep crimson that shimmered under the light. The high slit revealed much of her toned legs, and the neckline dipped low, accentuating the soft curves of her body. Intricate golden embroidery traced along the edges, hinting at both elegance and allure.

  Rowan leaned back in the wooden chair, an arrogant smirk pstered across his face. “Hi,” he greeted, his voice dripping with mockery.

  She didn’t respond, her emerald eyes steady on him.

  Rowan tilted his head, tapping the armrest of the chair as if impatient. “So, will you let me fuck you tonight, or is it going to be just clinical again?”

  Her tone was steady, dismissive. “I can heal you without that. There’s no need for you to do that.”

  Rowan chuckled darkly. “You know, I’ve waited four days to receive the treatment only you can provide.”

  She said nothing, her silence as sharp as a bde, and approached him. Without hesitation, she sat on his p, her movements deliberate and graceful.

  Before she could reach out to embrace him, Rowan’s arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. Unlike the adventurer from the morning, there was no pretense of restraint in his actions; his hands slid down her back, boldly gripping her buttocks. His breath was warm against her neck, his touch unapologetically invasive.

  “You know,” he murmured, his voice a low growl, “if you let me consume you, I could give you so much more. Wealth. Power. Comfort. I’m practically a noble.”

  Her hands rested lightly on his shoulders, transferring the healing warmth he sought. Her face remained composed, her body poised even in his grip. “I don’t need anything from you,” she replied coolly, her voice unwavering.

  Rowan smirked, leaning closer. “That’s what makes you so enticing.”

  She just scoffed at his remark.

  Rowan's smirk deepened as his thumb traced over her lips, lingering with a deliberate slowness. “Soon enough, your body will be mine,” he said, his voice thick with confidence.

  She remained silent, her emerald eyes meeting his with an unyielding calm. It was as though his words slid off her like water on stone, eliciting no reaction beyond her stoic facade.

  “Well,” Rowan continued, his voice dropping into a lower, more provocative tone, “if you won’t let me consume you now, why don’t we get on with the treatment?”

  His hand slid from her waist to her face, cupping her cheek. His thumb brushed against her lips again, the touch lingering just enough to make his intentions unmistakable. The light from the ntern flickered, casting fleeting shadows that danced across his smug expression.

  Her lips remained closed, her composure unwavering even as his hand exerted subtle pressure. The room was heavy with the tension of unspoken defiance, her silence speaking louder than any retort could. She clenched her fists unnoticed by Rowan.

  "You don’t make it easy, do you?" Rowan chuckled, but his tone was sharp, ced with irritation masked as amusement. She didn’t answer, her focus solely on maintaining the transfer of warmth to ease his Eclipsing, her hands glowing faintly against his chest.

  Rowan’s hand lingered on her face, waiting for a response he knew wouldn’t come. His smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, only to return, though weaker this time. “You’ll come around,” he said, his arrogance faltering under her resolute silence.

  She concentrated deeply, her hands pressed firmly against Rowan’s chest, the faint glow of her Shard's energy illuminating the dimly lit room. Despite her best efforts, the Eclipsing stubbornly lingered, refusing to subside. A faint crease appeared on her forehead, betraying her growing concern.

  “When did you st use your Shard?” she asked, her voice steady but probing.

  Rowan leaned back slightly in the chair, his hand running through his disheveled hair. “I’ve been using it every day for the past four days,” he admitted, his tone carrying both frustration and weariness. “For some reason, a lot of different Beasts and Monsters came my way. Ones that shouldn’t even be in this region.”

  She paused, processing his words. Her emerald eyes darkened slightly, though she said nothing of the ominous implications. Instead, she simply nodded, rising from his p with a smooth motion. The short dress she wore shifted with her movements, catching the ntern's flickering light and briefly highlighting the toned lines of her legs.

  She turned away, pacing for a moment as she considered her options. The glow around her hands faded as she clenched them briefly.

  "It won’t work like this,” she said softly, almost to herself, before looking back at Rowan. "I’ll need to try something else."

  She got on her knees; she pced her hands pced on his thighs.

  A smirk appeared on Rowan’s face.