A little later, Jay was trudging home with the sigh of a man who’d just fought a dragon… or, worse, remembered he still had bills due tomorrow.

  The night sky over Therium stretched out like a velvet painting—two moons glowing in their usual show-off way: big ol’ Sissifus bathing everything in deep violet, and tiny Lunis looking like someone spilled white wine on a pearl. Magical lanterns hung from curved posts like enchanted willow branches, painting the streets purple and gold. Edsoria nights never slept; they just partied quieter.

  Jay walked with the steady stride of a paladin… and the slouch of a guy whose mortgage was three days late. Guild fees, groceries, rent—sure, he had a holy shield that could tank a flaming golem, but no spell in the world blocked the landlord’s “friendly reminder” letters.

  That’s when he saw it again—out of the corner of his eye. The fox spirit. A quick flash of silver fur and moonlight, gone before he could blink.

  He stopped.

  And the attack came.

  Silent. Lightning-fast. Flawless.

  A black-clad leg shot out of the shadows like a spear aimed straight for his temple—enough force to take an archer’s head clean off or drop a raging barbarian. Jay was already moving, twisting, catching the kick on his forearm with a perfect spin, boots rooted to the ground like he’d grown there.

  Interesting… he thought, stepping back, eyes scanning the dark.

  The figure landed light as a feather—nah, lighter. Like a fox that took ballet classes. Female, athletic, all predator grace. Amber lantern light danced across her body, turning her into living chiaroscuro. Couldn’t see the face yet, but the curves? Generous. Dangerous. The kind that started wars or ended them—usually both.

  She didn’t speak.

  She attacked again.

  It turned into a whirlwind of thighs, fists, elbows, and feet—pure chaos ballet. Jay spun, ducked, blocked, flowing like he was dancing through invisible blades. Every strike was heavy, precise, textbook perfect… but no killing intent. No rage. If anything, she was having fun.

  Mercenary? Jay wondered, parrying a kick that would’ve caved in a lesser man’s ribs. Stronger than that trenti last week. Cleaner form than the first Vortex spawn… but she’s not trying to kill me. She’s playing.

  Then he saw the opening.

  One twist, he caught both her wrists above her head with one hand, slammed his palm gently-but-firmly against her throat, and pinned those deadly thighs against the wall with his leg.

  Air went thick enough to chew.

  Then she laughed—low, spicy honey.

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  “Mmm… so you’re one of those,” she purred, lips curling into a wicked little smirk. “This one admits defeat, hero. I like a man with grip strength.”

  Lantern light finally revealed her face.

  Almond eyes that could cut glass, ink-black hair, golden-jade skin, and curves the spring goddesses probably sculpted while drunk. Her outfit was basically scandal in fabric form—tight linen and eastern leather built for flipping and flirting in equal measure.

  Jay didn’t even blink.

  Tch. Too pretty for an ambush. Definitely a trap.

  She bit her lower lip.

  “Su Mei. Fox of the East. Saw your recruitment flyer back in Bretalia. Was looking for a party worth joining… and look at you.” She tilted her chin. “Kept the flyer right here, see?”

  Without a shred of shame, she fished the crumpled paper out from between her breasts and waved it like a victory flag.

  Jay let her go, took a deep breath, and answered with the driest half-smile known to man.

  “Jay. Pleasure’s mine… though technically you were supposed to be the one getting tested.”

  “Maybe I just wanted to see what you’re made of,” she said with a giggle that should be illegal in six kingdoms.

  And just like that—like she hadn’t just tried to kick his head into next week—they walked side-by-side toward the tavern.

  …

  The Griffon’s Beard Tavern was packed, cozy, and smelled like heaven had a lovechild with a barbecue pit. Magical hearth roaring, scents that could seduce a monk.

  Jay ordered simple (at least for him): the house specialty dark beer—coffee notes, hint of fruit, served in a massive tankard with creamy foam that made grown adventurers weep. Sides? Spiced lupini beans, crunchy roasted nuts, garlic butter bread slices. Main event: tender wild boar steak bites, seared in herb butter, dripping juice, with rustic mustard sauce for dipping.

  Su Mei? She ordered like she was trying to summon a demon.

  “Northern Aria-style Mapodoufu—salamander meat extra spicy, rice-wine seared mushrooms, and Thar’lahar flame peppers. Make it hurt.”

  When the bowl arrived, steaming red and angry, the smell hit Jay like pepper spray. His eyes watered. His mouth betrayed him and started drooling.

  She took one bite, moaned like the food personally offended her in the best way, and arched her brows in bliss.

  “Haaah… yes… perfect.”

  Jay looked away and cleared his throat. Loudly.

  Su Mei smirked behind her spoon.

  “So, about your party… building a harem or what? You’ve already got the amazon and now a cleric? That flyer needed way more fine print.”

  Jay took a slow sip of beer, totally unfazed.

  “Just an adventuring party.”

  “Uh-huh. Sure. Totally normal party.” She licked spicy sauce off the corner of her mouth like a cat with cream.

  Jay snorted.

  “Layla—the kiteni who drew that flyer—is recovering in the temple right now. Got messed up pretty bad on our last job. Worse than we thought. Nessa, the cleric, is with her. That’s why we’ve basically been living at the temple lately.”

  Su Mei raised a brow, smile turning curious instead of teasing.

  “So you guys live in a temple?”

  “No. We live in my house,” Jay shot back with a crooked grin. “It’s just been… kinda empty lately.”

  “Perfect. This one likes spacious places. Big windows, y’know? Good for morning training… and late-night visitors.”

  Jay stared at her for a solid three seconds.

  “Wait. You just invited yourself to move in.”

  She flashed a foxy grin and nodded, daintily wiping her mouth with one finger.

  “Jay, darling… if you didn’t want that, you shouldn’t have pinned me to the wall so competently. Too late now~”

  Jay sighed—not tired, just the sigh of a man who knows his peaceful days just committed seppuku.

  “Just don’t wreck the place, Su Mei. And no training on my bed.”

  “No promises,” she sing-songed, then kissed the rim of her glass before downing the rest. “But I do promise to keep things lively.”

  They laughed—light, easy, the kind that says yeah, life’s about to get way messier… and way more fun.

  Outside, the purple night kept rolling, moons watching, secrets whispering, and one very troublesome fox now officially part of the chaos.

  ?