Velt was looking outside through the window. The soft morning light filtered through the leaves, gently illuminating the cabin. Behind him, Rurhy slept peacefully, wrapped in the blankets.

  —How many times have I already seen this scene…? —he murmured, careful not to wake her.

  Gently, he caressed her cheek.

  —Today I’ll leave… —he thought—. I’m nervous. It will be my first time outside the forest.

  A moment later, Rurhy stirred, still half-asleep.

  —Good morning… —she said lazily.

  Velt leaned down and gave her a soft kiss.

  —Good morning.

  —Why do you always wake up before me? —she asked, squinting her eyes.

  —So I can see your beautiful face while you sleep —he replied without hesitation.

  Rurhy smiled and kissed him deeply.

  —You’re an idiot for saying things like that —she said, her cheeks completely red.

  —Strange… yesterday you were saying something very different —Velt replied with a teasing smile.

  She blushed even more and lightly hit his chest.

  —S-shut up… it’s just that it felt really good. Besides… I wanted to enjoy everything as much as possible while you’re still here —she admitted, embarrassed.

  —I know —he said softly—. But don’t worry, I’ll be back as soon as possible.

  —Then promise me you’ll be careful.

  —I promise.

  Silence settled between them.

  —Rurhy? What’s wrong? —Velt asked when he noticed she wasn’t saying anything.

  She buried her face in his chest.

  —I-I want to do it again… —she whispered, completely embarrassed.

  Velt smiled tenderly.

  —I’d love to, but we need to get up. Everyone must already be ready.

  —…Alright —she replied reluctantly.

  They both got up, got dressed, and headed toward the central cabin. On the way, they ran into Ky and Karshen.

  —Good morning —they greeted.

  —Good morning —Rurhy replied.

  —Good morning —Velt added.

  —Sister, are you okay? —Karshen asked, watching her closely.

  —Yes… why do you ask? —Rurhy replied, confused.

  —You were screaming a lot last night. I wanted to go help you, but my brother said it was normal —she explained innocently.

  Rurhy blushed when she realized what she meant.

  —W-well… you see, I hurt myself. That’s all —she lied, embarrassed.

  —I see —Karshen said, nodding without suspicion.

  —Rurhy, Velt, could you come here for a moment? —Ky intervened, smiling in a way that was anything but friendly—. Karshen, go inside and do the inventory.

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  Karshen obeyed and walked away. Ky approached the couple and lowered his voice.

  —Could you stop having sex? —he said bluntly—. Not only my sister, almost the entire village can hear you, Rurhy. And you, Velt, you could say no once in a while. Or are you planning to get her pregnant before you leave?

  Both of them looked away, completely red with embarrassment. They noticed several elves watching them: some men looked at Velt with complicity, while some women avoided Rurhy’s gaze, equally flushed.

  —You both need to calm down —Ky concluded.

  —W-we’re sorry… —they said in unison.

  —Good. Then come, Velt. We’ll take you to one of the human checkpoints and mark some points of interest on your map —Ky said, handing it to him.

  —Thanks, Ky.

  —No problem. Your belongings are already with the others. Let’s go.

  Ky started walking, but Velt stopped when Rurhy grabbed his sleeve.

  —Take care… —she said.

  —You too —he replied.

  They leaned in to kiss, but—

  —Don’t even think about doing that here —Ky interrupted, glaring at them.

  Embarrassed, they kissed each other on the cheek. Then Velt followed Ky.

  At the entrance of the village, several elves were waiting for him.

  —You’re finally here. Don’t tell me last night left you exhausted —one of them joked, handing him his sword and dagger.

  Velt didn’t answer; he simply took the weapons, completely embarrassed.

  —Thanks to you, my wife now asks me every night why I’m not like Rurhy’s fiancé —another laughed—. I should thank you, Velt.

  —I-I’m sorry… that wasn’t my intention —he stammered.

  —Don’t worry —another elf said—. You’re young, it’s understandable. Just lower the intensity a bit, okay?

  Velt nodded, his face burning.

  —That’s enough, you’re making him uncomfortable —Ky said.

  —Alright, alright —they replied, leaving him alone.

  Thus, the group left the village, taking the path toward the nearest human checkpoint.

  After several hours moving from branch to branch, the group finally stopped. From there, the human post was already in sight.

  —Alright, Velt. We’re close —Ky said.

  Velt nodded and everyone remained still.

  —There it is —Ky added, pointing at a small hut guarded by two human soldiers.

  —So… I just go and that’s it? —Velt asked.

  —Yes. We already marked the route you should follow on the map, along with some important locations —Ky replied.

  —Alright. See you in a few days —Velt said, about to jump down from the tree.

  Before he could, Ky stopped him.

  —Take care.

  Ky extended his fist. Velt brought his closer.

  —You too.

  They bumped fists, and Velt descended from the tree. Without looking back, he followed the path until he reached the hut.

  —Halt! Who goes there? —one of the guards shouted.

  —I’m an adventurer —Velt replied, raising his hands—. I just returned from a mission.

  —Show us your guild card.

  —My… guild card? —Velt whispered.

  —Is something wrong? —the other guard asked, frowning.

  —Well… you see, a goblin stole it from me —Velt said naturally.

  The two guards looked at each other and burst out laughing.

  —Of all monsters, it had to be a goblin! —one mocked.

  —How useless. A goblin, really? —the other added, laughing even harder.

  —I wish I could kill them… —Velt thought irritably.

  —Warning: not recommended —Zero intervened—. The guards rotate every three hours. If you reach the city entrance and they find corpses, you would be the main suspect. That would jeopardize the mission.

  —They’re lucky… —Velt muttered under his breath.

  —Alright, show us what you have in the bag —one of the guards ordered.

  Velt opened his bag and took out several zarshe teeth.

  —I could only keep the teeth. Some orcs took the meat —he explained with a forced smile.

  —That’s a shame. Zarshes are delicious —one commented—. You should be more careful.

  —Yeah… I’ll keep that in mind —Velt replied.

  —Wait a moment —the other guard said while writing something on a piece of paper—. Show this to the guards at the city gate.

  —Thank you.

  Velt stored the paper.

  —You may pass —the guard said, stepping aside.

  Velt nodded and resumed walking.

  —I really wanted to punch them for laughing like that… —he muttered.

  —I do not recommend it —Zero replied.

  —Yeah, I know —Velt answered, annoyed.

  After a while, he reached a crossroads. He took out the map and examined it.

  —Alright… according to this, I need to go left.

  He followed the marked route and, after several minutes, arrived before a massive wooden gate. An imposing wall stretched to both sides as far as the eye could see.

  —Excuse me —a voice called from a nearby patrol post.

  Velt approached. A human guard watched him carefully.

  —What brings you here?

  —They told me at the checkpoint to give you this —Velt said, showing the paper.

  The woman read it calmly, then looked up.

  —I see. I’ll sign this. After that, go to the guild and request a new card. It’s not safe to walk around without one.

  She handed the paper back, now bearing another signature and a different seal.

  —Thank you very much, miss —Velt said, putting it away.

  —Go ahead. Enter and head to the guild —the guard said, opening the gate.

  Velt nodded and crossed the threshold.

  —Seriously… losing your card because of a goblin. What bad luck —the guard murmured—. Though he’s a handsome boy… too bad he’s so young.

  Inside the city, Velt stopped for a moment. Cobblestone streets stretched out before him; houses, shops, and street vendors filled the area with noise and movement.

  —Alright —he said to himself—. First, I’ll go to the guild. Then I’ll figure out how to speak with Eivan.

  He started walking.

  It was his first time in a human city.

  And without knowing it yet, new adventures were already waiting for him.