The uncomfortable silence inside the carriage felt heavier than before. The only sounds were the clopping of horses' hooves and the creaking of wooden wheels rolling over the cobbled road toward the city center.
Sylfie sat with her arms crossed, staring at the opposite wall, her face completely red. It was hard to tell whether it was from anger or embarrassment.
Aeris, on the other hand, seemed calmer than expected for someone usually so timid. But the reddish tint on her face and her trembling ears betrayed her embarrassment. "M-My lord… why… did you say that…?" Her voice was so low it was barely audible.
Ethan, completely relaxed, rested his arm on the carriage window, smiling as if absolutely nothing was wrong. "Oh… I was just breaking the ice." He crossed one leg over the other, looking up at the sky with that usual satisfied grin. "I figured it would leave a good impression on the guards. And, hey, they respected me a lot after that."
"Respected?! My ass!" Sylfie exploded, stomping her foot on the floor. "They were in shock! You… you… do you even realize what you just said?!"
Ethan turned his head to her, golden eyes shimmering with amusement. "Of course, I do."
Sylfie opened her mouth, then closed it. She ran a hand down her face, letting out a long groan, visibly torn between wanting to hit him or just accepting that if she tried, it'd be two against one.
Aeris fidgeted with her staff. "B-boyfriend of b-both… w-what kind of impression… is that…?" She tried to maintain a serious face, but her voice faltered. Curiously though, there wasn't any real rejection in her tone, just pure, unfiltered embarrassment.
"An amazing impression," Ethan replied with an even bigger smile. "Any man would be impressed hearing that."
Sylfie clenched her fists. "If this ends up reaching the guild… if it spreads through the city..."
"Perfect," Ethan added without missing a beat. "Even better. Early fame is never a bad thing."
"That's not the kind of fame anyone wants, you idiot!" Sylfie snapped, practically collapsing into her seat, holding her head with both hands.
Ethan leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment. "You two worry too much about little details. When you're trying to hide something, rumors like that help distract from the real truth..."
Sylfie opened her mouth to argue... but realized that... well... he wasn't exactly wrong.
Aeris looked away, still completely flushed.
The sound of the wheels began to slow. The smell of bread, roasted meat, and iron filled the air, mixing with the sounds of the city, voices, footsteps, hammering, animals, and market chatter. The carriage began to decelerate as it approached the main square.
"Alright, alright... focus," Sylfie muttered, slapping her own cheeks to snap herself back. "First, we head to the Adventurer's Guild. And you..." She pointed straight at Ethan, her eyes sharp like daggers. "No jokes. No surprises. You sit. Stay quiet. And look pretty. That's it."
Ethan flashed that same confident smile, running a hand through his hair and winked with his right eye at Sylfie.
"Spirits help me... this is gonna be a disaster..." Sylfie muttered as the carriage finally came to a stop in front of the guild building.
The Adventurer's Guild was a robust structure of gray stone and dark wood, with colorful stained glass windows depicting slain monsters and legendary hunters. Above the door, the crest of two crossed swords gleamed under the afternoon light.
As the doors were pushed open, Sylfie led the way with firm steps, Aeris following close behind. Ethan, hands in his pockets, observed everything with that same serene and confident look, but, this time, he remained silent.
The inside of the guild was exactly what anyone would expect: noisy, filled with the scent of leather, metal, alcohol, and sweat. Adventurers of all races crowded the tables, discussing contracts, sharpening weapons, or drinking.
As the three of them crossed the entrance, the noise began to die down, slowly but noticeably. Dozens of eyes turned their way. Not because of Ethan, who was unknown, but because of the two elves, who were rarely seen in the same place... unless they were about to rip each other's heads off.
"...Oh gods... this isn't good."
"They... they're... walking together?"
"What the hell happened…?"
The confusion was almost tangible.
Sylfie clenched her fists and ignored them all, heading straight for the main counter.
Behind it stood a tall woman with fiery red hair tied in a ponytail, thin-framed black glasses resting on her slender nose, and a naturally serene expression. Her cat ears twitched as she organized a few documents. She wore a tight blouse that emphasized her generous bust, partially hidden by a black vest with golden trims. Her gaze was calm, mature... almost maternal.
But when she raised her eyes and saw who was standing in front of her... her emerald eyes sparkled, though her face remained impeccably composed, her mind was currently imploding trying to process what the hell she was seeing.
"You two together... I assume that's bad news?" asked Lenne, adjusting her glasses with elegant precision.
"Hey, Lenne," Sylfie replied, leaning on the counter. "I need to file... a not-so-great report."
"Of course." Lenne calmly pulled out a form, sliding it across the counter. She grabbed a quill, dipped it in ink, and waited with a polite smile. "Go ahead."
"Northwest forest. Large-scale fire. Area... completely unusable," Sylfie declared, keeping her voice steady despite the obvious awkwardness. "Cause... a fight between me and..." She threw an uncomfortable glance at Aeris. "...her."
Lenne kept the same serene expression, though her mind was screaming, "What kind of fight was that?!" Still, her voice remained soft and composed. "A fight... I see. Any casualties?"
"No. Just... environmental damage. And maybe... a few idiots who didn't run."
Lenne's quill slid smoothly over the paper. "Right. That explains... some of the complaints we received earlier."
Aeris stayed quiet, nodding, her face still slightly flushed but trying her best to maintain the dignified composure of a priestess. Ethan remained silent as well, watching everything with his usual crooked smile, but not interfering.
Once finished, Lenne lifted her gaze, finally looking directly at Ethan. Her eyes scanned him from head to toe, assessing him professionally, at least on the surface, without any change in tone.
"And him?" she asked politely.
Sylfie sighed, nearly rolling her eyes. "Ah... he's... well... an acquaintance. Traveling with us for now."
"Understood," Lenne replied, jotting it down without further questions. Considering he was with both of them and somehow the only one without a scratch, it was probably wiser not to ask.
She closed the report, stamped it with a magical seal, and slid it back across the counter. "All done. The guild will dispatch a team to investigate. You are expected to stay available for further clarification."
Sylfie nodded. "Of course."
"Good luck." Lenne smiled, polite, professional, flawless.
With the report finished, Sylfie sighed, ready to take her leave. "Well, I guess we…"
"Wait," Aeris interrupted, tucking her bangs behind her ear. Her tone, usually timid, came out firmer. "Since we're already in town... let's stop by the Church of Aurelia."
Ethan raised a brow, intrigued. "There's a church here?"
"Of course," she answered as if it were obvious. "In fact... there's one in pretty much every major city. As you probably know, the Church of Aurelia is one of the largest religions in this world."
Sylfie scoffed, crossing her arms. "Where else would people go to pray for peace in their love life... and for their boss to have an accident?"
"Exactly," Aeris confirmed without hesitation. "Our faith represents balance. Serenity and disorder. Healing and ruin. Many seek Aurelia's blessings. She's a very... versatile goddess."
Ethan smiled, nodding. There wasn't much information about Aurelia in the novel, but this much, at least, was familiar. Maybe this was a good chance to learn more about her cult.
Sylfie sighed, adjusting the bow on her back. "Well... I was going to say goodbye here, but let me guess... you're gonna drag me along too, aren't you?"
"Of course," Ethan grinned. "You're already here. Might as well finish the tour."
"...Tch." She looked away, pouting. "Fine. Just until then."
They walked through bustling streets where the sounds of merchants, blacksmiths, and taverns mixed with the scents of bread, leather, and spices. As they got closer to the city center, the architecture shifted, more polished buildings, paved roads, and neatly designed gardens.
Before long, an imposing structure appeared ahead. The Church of Aurelia was anything but subtle. A massive cathedral built from white and black marble, with columns that seemed to pierce the heavens.
"Yeah... I definitely wasn't expecting this," Ethan muttered, looking up, impressed. Best goddess indeed.
"Of course..." Aeris smiled proudly. "This is one of the largest centers of the faith. People come here seeking... what they desire most. Some want peace in their lives... others want chaos in their enemies' lives. The Goddess doesn't judge. She simply... balances."
"Makes sense," Ethan nodded, running a hand behind his head. "Nothing's more natural than wishing good things for yourself... and, well, screw everyone else."
Sylfie crossed her arms, looking aside. "Tch. I hate to admit it... but that philosophy kinda works."
As Ethan admired the sheer grandeur of the place, the church doors swung open.
Stepping out was a woman whose appearance could only be described as... captivating. Wavy brown hair cascaded down to her waist, her pink eyes shimmered like gemstones, and her body was... obscene. Voluptuous curves, ample chest, narrow waist, wide hips, were all accentuated by the ceremonial black-and-white dress that hugged her figure perfectly.
She smiled, placing her hands over her chest, and her voice rang out sweet but laced with undeniable authority.
"Welcome... Ethan Blake. We've been expecting you."