Isran huffed and got back to her feet. She had been at the adventurer’s hall for almost an hour and was starting to get frustrated with how much she was losing to her sparring partner.

  He was an orc of simir build to her. That wasn’t the only thing they had in common.

  They were both prospective participants in the games, they both had blonde hair. Even their weapon of choice was the same. The one thing that differed was their confidence.

  The orc had immediately spotted her when she entered the wide sparring fields and made a beeline for her. He had spoken as much as she had, which was next to none, but introduced himself with assertiveness and asked if they could train together.

  Isran had seen no issue at the time, and she—to an extent—still didn’t see an issue. He was much more talented than her though. Or maybe talent wasn’t the best descriptor. He was just pinly better.

  Isran appreciated the tips he gave whenever he got her on her ass, it didn’t mean she wasn’t frustrated though.

  Red had tried to attack him when they first started, but after a very stern warning, the cape was unmoving against her arm.

  “You’re… you’re pretty good.”

  Isran blinked away the sweat that had entered her eyes, panting just as much—if not more—than the orc. “You’re better.”

  He smirked and shrugged. “Been fighting a long time.”

  They took a break, drinking water and stretching on nearby benches.

  “Did you find the cape in a dungeon?” He asked, gncing at Red, who had started moving around Isran’s neck.

  “Uh… the bcksmith I got my armor from added it…as a bonus? I’m still not sure.”

  “I don’t think it likes me very much.”

  Isran smiled and brushed her finger against the silk-red fabric. “Red doesn’t like anyone that hurts me.”

  Alden—he had said his name was—tilted his head and nodded. “Let’s go!”

  Isran smiled and stood.

  After a day of being mostly beat up Isran left with Alden walking with her.

  “Oh, my first time in the dungeon was terrible.” He ughed heartily. “I was robbed twice!”

  “Twice?”

  Alden nodded. “Twice! Isran when I tell you that I thought I’d never go back it isn’t a joke.”

  Isran ughed at him, both adventurers found the events funny. “They were so evil about it too. The first guy was just some barely stronger bandit with a stolen enchanted weapon. The second was so damn embarrassing.”

  “Why.” Isran chuckled.

  “This attractive lean elf came up to me. Like—I need help, I’ll repay you when we get back to Kestin. He was just so innocent looking and I was like—Of course, being all chivalrous.”

  Isran ughed loudly at that. As funny as it was, if Elysi was a bandit that could’ve easily been her.

  “We exit the dungeon and there are his buddies. What hurt the most was his big hot tiger-kin boyfriend.”

  Isran stopped as the two of them ughed. They were close to her apartment, but they had spent longer stopping and ughing than actually walking.

  Alden spoke more when telling stories. But when the orc was focused on a task, he was quiet and precise.

  “I’m a sucker for a pretty thing what can I say?”

  “Isran?”

  Isran turned to see Phaedra approaching uncertainly.

  “Hey.” She smiled, the joy of ughing so heartily still vibrating under her skin.

  “Hello.” She waved briefly at Alden.

  “Alden, this is Phaedra, Phaedra Alden.”

  Alden nodded with a smile. “A pleasure to meet you.”

  “Uh… nice to meet you too…”

  Isran noticed Phaedra’s discomfort at the foreign presence and decided to end their little bonding. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

  Alden gave a firm nod, appearing to understand why Isran was cutting their walk short. “Same time?”

  “Same time.”

  After he left Red rushed towards Phaedra and messed the woman’s hair.

  “Hi.” She giggled lightly.

  They walked in a comfortable silence back home.

  After Isran had taken a shower and Red had gone to py with Calliope and her rat, Isran y in bed with Elysi.

  Phaedra was sleeping on a bed a few feet away in their rge bedroom

  Elysi was pying with her hair as they y quietly together, slowly drifting off to sleep.

  “Do you like Phaedra?”

  Isran blinked at the question and sat up lightly. “What?”

  Elysi had a scheming smirk on her face. She shrugged. “I think she likes you.”

  Before Isran realised a light blush was blossoming.

  “You do!” She whispered shouted.

  Isran cleared her throat and rubbed her nape.

  “I’m not mad Isran.”

  Isran shrugged, her blush still there. “I like her… she’s a good friend.”

  Elysi rolled her eyes. “I’m being serious.”

  Isran smiled. “I’m being serious too. She is a good friend. And…yeah sometimes I—”

  “You…?”

  Isran shrugged again. “Have less friendly thoughts about her.”

  Elysi huffed a ugh, “Less friendly thoughts huh.”

  Isran chuckled lightly. “I don’t know… isn’t that weird? I mean---I love you. I love you so much, but I—”

  “No, it’s not my love.”

  Isran’s heart fluttered at the term of endearment.

  “You’re dating a woman with a whore css… Isran liking more than one person isn’t weird. Much less to someone like me.”

  Isran drew closer to Elysi, both of them lying down, their noses touching.

  “What if I like twenty women.”

  Elysi giggled. “I’ll always be number one.”

  Isran didn’t try to fight her smile. “Yes. You will always be number one…”

  “But like, what if it’s a hundred.”

  Elysi shook her head with an eye-roll.

  They were quiet for a while before she spoke again. “I love when you’re like this.”

  “Like what?” Isran whispered against her lips.

  “Sure of yourself. Did you have a good day today?”

  “I made a friend.”

  “That’s nice… what kind of friend?” She lifted an eyebrow with a smirk.

  Isran ughed. “Not that kind of friend.” She whispered back.

  “Mmhm.” Elysi ughed lightly.

  “He’s a prospective participant in the games as well. Cool guy. We trained together.”

  “That’s nice. You never know, you might need allies during the games.”

  Isran hummed. “Strength in numbers.”

  Elysi nodded, “Strength in numbers… we are talking about fighting right? Not you big heart?”

  Isran shook her head with a ugh and moved over Elysi. “I’ll show you what else I have that is big.”

  With giggles and pyful kisses, the night moved on, two lovers enjoying each other’s company. With one more prospective lover lost in her dreams nearby.