“The beast’s motivation?” Lydia glared at him. “That monster eats humans. What else do we need to know?”

“Lions only hunt humans when they burn their hunting ground.” Hank looked at her with a sharp glare, “For hundreds of years, we never had a problem with beasts. Until your people came claiming to cleanse the land from them.” He turned around, walking toward the forest.

“You’re blaming the church?” Lydia shouted.

“It was never a wound until you gouged it.” Hank turned to look at her.

AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! They heard the howling in the forest, “The werewolf?” Jack glared at the trees.

“No, I need to return to my wife.” Hank said, “She’s alone at the lodge.”

“You don’t fear the beast’s attacks?” Jack asked, staring at him.

Aella stared at Jack and then looked at Hank, remembering how he threw the griffon. “He can handle himself.” She said, watching him leave.

“Let’s hurry to the tavern,” Aella said, carrying Arad.

Jack looked at Hank’s back as he faded into the woods, “Those are some impressive muscles, Is that what swinging an axe all day does to you?” He stared at Lydia while pointing toward Hank.

“I don’t know,” Lydia replied as they followed Aella.

***

DING! DING! Aella pushed the tavern’s door open and walked in with Arad on her back, “Can we get a room?” She asked, staring at the owner.

The bartender rushed to check on them, “Is this your friend? Is he all right?”

“He is. We killed the two griffons. Just need a place to rest.” Aella replied, looking at the owner.

“I have two empty rooms,” The owner said with a smile, “It will be perfect, one for the ladies and one for the guys.” He looked back at Lydia and Jack.

“I want to stay with Arad and keep an eye on him,” Aella said, looking back at Lydia.

Lydia smiled, “Of course. Jack and I will take a room. You stay with him.”

“Are you sure?” The owner stared at them.

“Of course, no problems there.” Lydia approached the counter, paid him for the night, and ordered food.

Aella headed directly toward the room without dinner, “I will eat later. For now, I should get Arad to rest.”

CREEE! Opening the old door made it whine, “This one lacks oil,” Aella sighed, carrying Arad to the bed and slowly inspecting his body.

“I need to take his armor and wash him,” she mumbled while seeing the blood stuck on his side.

After bringing a bow of warm water and a towel from the owner, she slowly took Arad’s armor off and started whipping his body. Slowly realizing how much he had bled in the griffon’s attack.

The claws gouged him from beneath his ribcage and down to his hips. The wound closed when he morphed back, but they were dangerous.

Aella stared at Arad’s clean body with a smile, “Done.” She then quickly took her armor off, whipping her own body clean. She didn’t get injured, but the blood from the griffon got her.

AWOOOOOOOOOOO! They could still hear the wolves howl in the forest, “We should get to sleep, right Arad?” Aella said with a smile, curling in the bed beside him. “Can we have one normal night like this tomorrow?” Hugging his arm.

***

CREEE! Jack pushed the door open, glaring at the hinges with a dead eye. “You’re loud. When was the last time you got oiled?”

“Speaking to doors? Are you still sane up here?” Lydia pushed him inside, staring at him.

“I was saying it. It’s been a while since I saw a decent inn room.” Jack sighed, “If he isn’t oiling the doors, I wonder if he bothers to clean the rooms.”

“The room looks decent enough for adventurers. Have you never spent a night in the forest?” Lydia asked, staring at him.

“I slept for months in the rain on the street. I wish to have nice rooms from time to time.” Jack sat on the bed, slowly unlatching his leather armor.

“And I thought I had it rough on missions.” Lydia sighed, taking her heavy plate armor.

Jack yawned, stretching his arms and staring at the bed, “You take the bed. I’m used to the ground.” When Jack looked at her, she was stripping down. “What are you doing?” He sighed.

“I told you, didn’t I?” Lydia stared at him, puzzled, as she pulled her top off. “I sleep naked. Unless I’m on an expedition and need to keep my armor on.” She added.

“I’m here.” Jack glared at her, “I know it’s my responsibility to have some control. But at this rate, you’re digging your own grave.” He stood, walking toward the corner to prepare a spot for himself.

Thud! Lydia grabbed his hand, “I can’t let you sleep on the ground. We both sleep in the bed.”

Jack stopped, glaring at her for a moment. She already had her torso fully exposed. Thud! He grabbed her by the chest, “And now? Can you let me alone?”

Lydia stared at him, grabbing her chest, “Come on,” She pulled him toward the bed, “Sleep in the bed, idiot.” Jack couldn’t resist her pull. She was a paladin and had more strength than him.

Lydia dropped Jack on the bed and then took her pants off, “You’re a hard-headed one for a rogue.” She then curled in the bed beside him.

“On many levels now, yes.” Jack stared at her, “You’re the weirdest women I’ve seen in my life.” He sighed. 𝓫𝓭𝓸𝓋𝓁．𝓬𝓸𝓂

“Come on, Jack,” Lydia turned around, hugging him from the side, “I know you won’t do anything. You lack motivation.” She giggled but suddenly felt his hand creeping between her legs.

“What are you doing?” She stared at him.

“Giving you what you deserve,” Jack replied, tickling her from the outside.

“We can’t sleep like this,”

Hearing her, Jack knew he was in for a long night. “What kind of weirdo did I get stuck with now?” He sighed, standing up and pushing the blanket to the side.

Lydia looked at him from the bed, “It’s cold, you know?” She said with a smile.

“Don’t worry. It won’t stay like this for long.” Jack said, taking his clothes off, “You sleep naked as well?”

“No, I’m just going to play your game.” Jack smiled, glaring at her with a grin, pulling his pants down.

Lydia stared at him for a second, “That’s,” She lifted one finger about to speak and then started thinking, “It shouldn’t be limp, should it?”

“Let me be straight with you,” Jack glared at her, “Seeing you strip like this is just weird. And if you are trying to seduce me, you’re just doing the opposite.” He approached her, “I get on with the woman I want,”

“Are you trying to make a point?” Lydia stared at him with a smile.

“No, I already made it,” Jack said, getting in the bed by her side. “I was never wrong about the people of your church. You all have a screw loose.”

***

Back in Alina, Alcott got his things ready and was about to leave the guild for Oakedge after Arad.

“Alcott, do you have a moment?” Nina called him.

“Hush! Be quiet, it’s night, and you don’t want Ginger to get the wrong idea.” Alcott stared at her with a smile.

Nina giggled, “That’s funny, but she is behind you.”

Alcott turned so fast his neck almost cracked, “She isn’t here,” He said, seeing the empty guild.

“There is someone I want you to take with you to Arad. Say it’s the guild’s recommendation.” Nina said with a smile.

“Someone? A forced party member?” He stared at her.

“It’s risky as a party of three,” Nina replied, “Aella is a ranged fighter, Jack is the stealthy rogue, and Arad is the support blaster mage. They need a melee warrior to take the front.”

“I’ve seen them with a paladin,” Alcott replied.

“She isn’t a part of their group. Lydia is a part of the church’s divine force, and she isn’t even an adventurer.” Nina looked behind her, and a girl walked ahead, “Merida of whitehold? Is she the one you’re talking about?” Alcott looked at her, surprised.

“She seemed ‘Interested’ in Arad after he retrieved something important for her family.”

Alcott seemed to think about it for a moment, “Is it about what Jeremy did with Alina?” Merida immediately pulled her sword, swinging it at Alcott’s neck. CLANG! He caught her blade with his bare hand.

“Don’t get so excited. I’m not going to tell anyone.” Alcott gave her a wry smile. Alina was the woman currently ruling the city of Alina, hence the name. Jeremy, Merida’s niece, was her secret lover. She cheated on her husband with him countless times. Two of the lord’s five children are probably his, and no one knows.

“How did you know?” Merida growled, looking around to see if anyone was listening. If this information slipped out, the kingdom would throw Alina’s family in Jack, execute Jeremies close relative, and drop the city into chaos for years.

“The birds told me.” Alcott looked to the side, remembering Alina herself telling him.

Nina approached Merida, whispering in her ears, “After Alcott’s first wife left and before he married Ginger, he had a relation with Alina for a month.”

“What?”