“Tell me what happened,” I said as we were heading toward Atranth, leaving Malvick’s house behind us.

  Amber, walking by my side and holding my hand, gnced at me. The bruise on her face was already fading, and her lower lip was healed thanks to the potion she had drunk.

  “They kidnapped me and were asking if I knew anything about the attack at the b,” Amber replied.

  “Did you tell them anything?”

  “No.”

  At least they didn't learn anything about my involvement in the attack, but as they were captured by Sage, it didn't matter anymore.

  “How did they kidnap you in broad daylight in the middle of the city?”

  “It was quite early, and I was moving away from the harbour, so there weren’t many people around. They used some skill on me and captured me quickly,” Amber expined.

  “Where were you going?” I asked.

  She looked at me, frowned, and turned her gaze back to the road before she murmured, “To Ortas.”

  “To me?” I asked, smiling.

  “To Ortas,” she repeated firmly.

  At least that was confirmation that she had been coming back to me, despite her doubts about me sleeping with other women. But my good mood didn't st long, as the next question popped into my mind.

  “Did they hurt you?” I asked. “Beyond your face and ribs?”

  “No,” she replied. “This asshole was too busy with some shit and thought that keeping me captive for a while would make me rethink my situation and start talking.”

  “It’s good that I saved you,” I said.

  “I would’ve gotten free anyway, on my own,” Amber replied, pouting.

  “And how were you pnning to do that?”

  “I don't know, but I would. I didn't need you to save me.”

  “Oh, does it bother the little elf that she was saved by a man?” I asked.

  “You didn't even save me. Sage did.”

  “And you think she would’ve come if I hadn't organized it?” I asked.

  Amber locked her gaze on the road ahead of us and didn't answer, as we continued walking, holding hands.

  “After all that crying into my chest when I saved you, I thought I’d earned at least a little gratitude,” I said, smirking at her.

  She frowned before replying, “I had a moment of weakness. And I’m a bit grateful that you got me out of there faster than I would’ve done it on my own. But if you think I’m about to drop to my knees and worship you in return, you’re very wrong.”

  “Oh, I don’t doubt you will do it,” I replied. “I’ll make you.”

  She was avoiding looking at me, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

  “I missed you, little elf,” I said, squeezing her hand a little tighter.

  She gnced at me, just looking, before she pouted. “As part of my gratitude, I’ll let you call me that today. But stop tomorrow.”

  I chuckled without answering her, and soon we reached Atranth, heading toward the tavern where we were supposed to meet the rest of the women. We could probably return to Ortas that day, but I wanted Amber to eat and rest properly, so I decided to stay for the night.

  I just hoped Zelda wouldn’t be too mad that we hadn’t come back for Mari’s healing, and that she’d understand the situation had been special.

  As we entered the tavern, it wasn’t hard to spot Terra at one of the tables. She was talking with Marcy, while Mia seemed to just listen to both of them.

  “Who’s that?” Amber hissed beside me when she realized where we were heading. I ignored her and approached the table, where the women fell silent as soon as they noticed me.

  “Oh, you’re back already. How did it go?” Marcy asked.

  “Great. Sage took care of everything,” I replied, then introduced everyone.

  Amber was staring at three new women with her eyes squinted, but as I sat down, Zoe grabbed the elf’s hand and pushed her into my p. Amber seemed surprised, but as I wrapped my arm around her waist, she looked at me for a moment before she snuggled a bit closer.

  “I’m gd you are free and okay,” Marcellina said.

  “Thanks,” Amber replied. “And who exactly are you?”

  “Oh, I joined your team when you were… indisposed. I’m an archer.”

  The waitress approached, and the conversation stopped as we made our orders.

  “I’m not going to the dungeon,” Amber said after the waitress went to the kitchen. “I make potions.”

  “Don't you want to come with us to gain levels?” I asked.

  Amber gnced at me and frowned. “Maybe. We’ll see.”

  “Terra’ll join us too,” I added. “Have you bought yourself a weapon?”

  “Yes. I left it in my room. A battle axe.”

  “And clothes and other necessities?” I asked.

  “Yes. Oh, right. That’s what was left,” she said, pulling out a few coins and putting them on the table.

  “Keep them in case you need something else ter on,” I replied.

  Terra looked at me for a moment before she picked up the coins and hid them.

  “Marcy, how did you find out about our team?” Amber asked, looking at the lioness.

  “I was looking for one, and Cassia contacted me,” Marcellina replied. “I was really lucky.”

  “Lucky?” I asked.

  “Well, you formed a team already knowing each other. But if you’re on your own, it’s not so easy to find a team that would accept someone at level one. Most of them want people who already have a few levels and some experience. There are teams that boost you, but you have to pay them. You can hope to find a team that’s just starting out, but since people move through the first levels quickly, they don’t stay at that stage for long. So you have only a small window of time to do that.”

  “And what were you doing before you joined?” Amber asked.

  I looked at her, wondering where this whole interrogation was coming from. I’d have guessed jealousy, but she ignored Terra and Mia, so I wasn’t sure. Unless it was because they were sves. It was hard to get into Amber’s head sometimes. Or maybe that was just normal, and I’d simply gotten too used to how easy it was to read Zoe and Azura.

  “Oh, I was helping at one of the market stalls in Ortas,” Marcy replied. “It wasn’t bad, I met a lot of people and could chat with them, but it didn’t pay well, and there was no chance to earn more or find something better. So I trained with a bow in the meantime, and not long ago I turned eighteen and started looking for a team.”

  “And are you gonna stick around, or just get a few levels and look for something else?” Amber asked.

  “I don’t know,” Marcellina replied with a smile. “It probably depends on how I fit into the group, if we become friends, how my retionships develop with all of you,” she added, her gaze locked on the elf.

  Amber didn’t manage to reply before the waitress brought us food. As I put some on the spoon and brought it to her lips, her focus shifted to me.

  “I’m not a child. I can eat on my own,” she said.

  Despite that, when I put the spoon in front of her mouth, she took it and chewed, averting her gaze and blushing as I smiled. She looked amazing with her pale cheeks turning pink. I fed her both her own portion and part of mine before we finished.

  As the waitress came to pick up the empty bowls, Sage entered the tavern and quickly joined us.

  “Everything taken care of?” I asked.

  “Don’t worry about them anymore, handsome. Now you only need to worry about paying me,” she said with a smile.

  “What do you want?” I asked.

  “I don’t know yet, but it’s funny to keep you in suspense,” Sage replied. “Are you going back to Ortas?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Then we’ll talk about my payment there.”

  “Actually, since you mentioned Ortas, can you contact Zelda somehow?” I asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Can you tell her that we’re not coming back tonight, that we’ll return tomorrow morning, and that I’m sorry?”

  “I’ll tell her.”

  “How?” I asked, wondering how she was going to contact her.

  “Magic, handsome,” Sage replied.

  I rolled my eyes at her.

  “Take care of your princess, because I might need you tomorrow night,” Sage said as she got up from the table.

  “For what?” I asked.

  Sage giggled, walking away without answering.

  “How much are you paying her?” Amber asked.

  “That’s not your problem,” I replied.

  “How much?” she pressed, gring at me.

  “Five thousand.”

  “What?” Amber gasped. “She scammed you!”

  “It was to save you,” I replied. “And without her, I would’ve tried on my own anyway, and I’d most likely be dead by now. Besides, she doesn’t care about money. She wants something else.”

  Amber scowled but said nothing more.

  “Come on, princess. You need to rest,” I said, standing up and pushing her off my p.

  “I like princess much more than little elf,” Amber said, gncing at me with a smile.

  “You’re my little elf princess.”

  She scowled as we headed toward our rooms.

  “Terra, how many rooms did you rent?” I asked.

  “Two,” she replied.

  “Right. Wait here,” I said, realizing I hadn’t told her we needed three. I went to the waitress at the bar, fortunately they still had rooms avaible, and came back with an extra key. I handed it to Mari, who took it without a word and headed straight to her own room.

  Marcy said her farewells and went to the room she had rented for herself. When I opened the door to mine, Zoe, Azura, and Amber walked in, but to my surprise, Mia followed them.

  “Mia?” I asked.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Umm…” she murmured, gesturing toward my room.

  “Don’t you prefer to sleep with Terra?”

  “W-What? I-I thought that…”

  “Go sleep with Terra, okay?” I said.

  “Y-Yes, sir. Thank you,” Mia replied, hurrying back to Terra, who was standing by her room, staring at me.

  “Good night,” I said before entering my room.

  I already had three women waiting inside, and more importantly, I didn’t want to sleep with Mia just because she thought she had to. I preferred to fuck someone who was willing. Or, in Zoe’s case, desperate for it.

  Zoe and Azura were already lying on the bed, while Amber stood in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips and a frown on her face, her gaze locked on me.

  “Three?!” she excimed the moment I closed the door. “I was gone for one day, and you already have three more women? What the fuck?! Don’t you have any fucking restraint?!”

  Smiling, I walked up to her and pulled her into a hug. She didn’t resist, but she didn’t hug me back either, as I pressed her against me.

  “I missed you, my little elf,” I murmured, brushing my hand from her lower back down to her ass, squeezing her cheek in my palm.

  She pressed her body closer. “Big-dicked asshole,” she muttered, wrapping her arms around me and finally hugging me back.