Malachai [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53261925580_1e321c5891_w.jpg]Malachai struts into the cozy bakery, the cheerful morning light streaming in behind him. The shopkeeper looks up from his newspaper, surprised to see such a sprightly customer so early in the day. Malachai flashes him a charming grin as he approaches the counter, his eyes scanning the array of fresh pastries and bread rolls arranged tantalizingly on display.

"Good morrow, my dear sir!" Malachai says brightly, leaning on the wooden counter. "I'd like ten of your finest loaves, please. You know, for sustenance."

The shopkeeper sets aside his newspaper and regards Malachai warily. "Well, well...aren't you a chipper one? That'll be 1 silver, then."

Malachai's eyebrows raise in surprise. "Much obliged! You won't find a better deal than that anywhere else, I can tell you."

He digs into his pocket and produces a few strange, foreign-looking coins. The shopkeeper takes them cautiously, turning them over in his hand as though unsure what to do with them.

"Uh, friend, I hate to ask," he begins, eyeing Malachai uncertainly, "but where exactly did you say these were from again?"

Malachai chuckles and leans back against the wall, a carefree air about him. "Oh, those? Just a little something I picked up on my travels. You wouldn't happen to have heard of Infernalis World, would you?"

At the mention of the name, the shopkeeper's expression changes from skepticism to shock. "Wait—you mean, that place actually exists? How in the world did you manage to come back alive?"

Malachai winks conspiratorially. "That's a story for another time, my friend. Point is, these coins may look funny, but trust me, they're worth more than their weight in gold. Literally, in fact. If you ever want to trade 'em in, just swing by The Alchemist's Exchange downtown. They'll give you a fair price, I promise."

The shopkeeper scratches his head, seemingly undecided whether to believe Malachai's tale or dismiss him as a fraudulent salesman. Before he can reply, however, Malachai intervenes with an easygoing gesture.

"No sweat either way, my man. I totally get it. Adventurers like us gotta stick together, right? Keep the faith, brother."

With a final salute, Malachai collects his bread and ambles outside, humming a tune as he strolls off toward his next destination. The shopkeeper lingers a moment, watching him go before shaking his head in amusement.

"Well, that was certainly different," he mutters to himself, returning to his paper.

As Malachai stepped outdoors, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Awesome! Finally, I'm in Astralholm, folks!" He took a deep breath of the crisp city air, feeling like a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders. "Man, being a retired adventurer rocks! No more dungeons, no more monsters. Life's good!"

Some passersby glanced his way, giggling at his enthusiasm. One guy whispered to his friend, "Check this dude out – he's like, super excited or something. Maybe he escaped from a nuthouse?" Another woman chimed in, "Yeah, and what's up with his clothes? Does he think he's still in ancient times or what?"

Malachai caught wind of their snickering, but it didn't faze him. He just kept munching away contentedly on his bread, enjoying the simple pleasures in life. People could speculate all they wanted; he knew the truth – that he was living his best life. Retirement was treating him great so far, thank you very much!

If anything, Malachai found their teasing a bit bemusing. What was wrong with expressing happiness, anyway? Some folks seemed to forget that smiling and having fun were still allowed, especially after surviving all sorts of crazy adventures. Shrugging it off, he continued his stroll, looking forward to discovering what else Astralholm had to offer. Let others judge; he wasn't going to waste a second of his precious freedom.

As he strolled through the bustling streets of the City, his mind began to wander, weaving through a labyrinth of thoughts. "Those Guild guys are tight-fisted as a miser with a coin purse in the past I wonder how they act around now and Even though I'm not actively adventuring, I'm still considered an S-Rank adventurer I may be retired, but I've still got my S-rank skills - I could handle any job they throw at me."

However, a bad memory came flooding back, halting his chain of thinking. "If only they hadn't meddled," he grumbled inwardly, "I'd have been long gone by now". Alas, I've resigned myself to my fate. They're too strong; I can't handle them alone."

Lost in thought, Malachai didn't notice a nearby canine observer until it began yapping uncontrollably. Its persistent barking "his temper was already on a knife edge", prompting a "His fists clenched. His jaw tightened. He was mad". Acting on instinct, Malachai lashed out at the "This poor dog looks like it's having a tough time."

Malachai's emotions surged, fueled by an overwhelming torrent of pent-up frustration. With a swift and powerful strike, he propelled the unfortunate dog forward, launching it through the air like a missile At an astonishing velocity, the dog's body began to undergo a remarkable transformation, breaking down into minuscule particles. As it soared through the air, its form disintegrated, dissolving into a cloud of microscopic specks. In a matter of seconds, there was nothing left but a swirling mist of particles, leaving no trace of the dog's physical presence behind. And then, in an instant, it vanished. There were no remnants, no traces left behind—just a void where the dog once existed as if it had been erased from existence.

Malachai muttered under his breath, "Damn it, I let my emotions get the better of me." He couldn't believe he had just taken out his frustration on the innocent dog. But, he reasoned, it was the dog's own fault for barking at him like that when he was simply minding his own business.

Looking around, Malachai saw that nobody seemed to have noticed what had just transpired. "Good," he thought, "I guess my speed is still top-notch if no one caught that."

Without further ado, Malachai decided to play it cool and pretend like nothing had happened. He continued on his way, whistling a tune and trying to shake off the lingering embarrassment. After all, he had more important things to worry about than a pesky dog and a momentary lapse in judgment.

In the opulent mansion, Zet slowly opened his eyes, only to find the familiar presence of the Maid already in the room. As the sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the surroundings, Eleanor, the ever-attentive Maid, was the first to approach him with a bright smile. "Good morning!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine concern. "How did you sleep? Are you feeling alright today? Anything I can do to make your day better?" Her genuine care and thoughtful inquiry instantly put Zet at ease, assuring him that he was in good hands.

"Rise and shine, Prince!" Voilet chirped, stepping into the bedroom with a tray of breakfast and a beaming smile. "How'd ya sleep? You feelin' good this mornin'?" Her perky attitude and concern were infectious, easing away Zet’s morning grogginess.

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Zet replied, "Yeah, I'm feeling good, no need to worry anymore. Oh, and thanks for whipping up that meal right on time. It was spot on!"

Zet eagerly dug into the meal, savoring each bite and appreciating the mouthwatering flavors that danced on his taste buds. With a satisfied grin, he exclaimed, "Wow, today's meal is on a whole new level! It's seriously extra good!"

image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53268157685_33dea65faa_w.jpg]"Aw, shucks! You're makin' me blush!" Violet giggled, brushing off the compliment with a hint of playful sass. "I'm just glad you like it. Consider it a special treat from the world’s greatest maid - ME!" She threw a wink and a cheeky grin on Zet’s way, basking in her own sarcastic humor.

Zet noticed a change in Violet's usual tone and asked, "Hey, you sound a bit different today. Is everything okay? By the way, have you prepared my attire for the academy?"

Violet spoke up in surprise, her voice laced with concern. "Wait, what do you mean by 'attire'? Are you planning on going to the academy today? Didn't I tell you yesterday to take it easy and focus on your health? You shouldn't push yourself too hard, especially when the doctor hasn't given you the green light yet. I'm sure they'll come to check on you today, so let's play it safe and keep things low-key for now."

"You got me there, boss! You're right - health comes first!" Zet shrugged, admitting defeat with a grin. "But seriously, there's no need to worry about me. I'm feeling good as new! I promise I won't push it too hard.

Eleanor, who had been observing the situation unfold, couldn't help but think that things had definitely picked up around here recently. Violet, who normally kept to herself, was now opening up and being more social. It was almost as if the Prince's presence had brought her out of her shell. Eleanor couldn't deny the fact that she felt a bit left out, seeing how close Violet and the Prince had grown. It was almost like she was being pushed back in the corner.

Violet stated firmly, "No way, you're not going to the Academy until you've fully recovered. There's no use in arguing about it. Eleanor, why are you just standing there silently? Say something!"

Eleanor spoke up, "Uh, no, I'm not trying to push you away. I just...I don't know, I feel like I can't really get involved in this because I always end up making excuses for you, like 'Oh, it's his job, he has to do it.' But truthfully, I'm worried about you. Yesterday, you weren't looking too great, and I don't want you to overexert yourself and end up hurting yourself. Plus, I think Violet might be right, you two have been getting pretty close lately...and I don't want to see either of you get hurt."

Violet and Zet gave Eleanor puzzled looks. Zet asked, "What do you mean? What pushing? Are you feeling okay, Eleanor? You seem a bit out of it today." Violet added, "Yeah, it's not like that. You and I are in the same boat, and I don't think you should be thinking like that. You should speak up and express your thoughts instead of keeping them bottled up inside." Zet chimed in, "Exactly, you're acting like Violet when she first arrived. Come on, Eleanor, let's hear what you have to say." They both looked at Eleanor expectantly, urging her to share her thoughts.

image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53268161820_7f1c834862_w.jpg]Eleanor replied with a mix of sadness and amusement, "You think so? Well, I suppose I could try to change myself too. I don't want to end up looking as downcast as Violet all the time." She said with a slight laugh, trying to hide her true feelings.

Violet's voice carried a subtle hint of hurt as she responded, "Ouch, that stings a bit. Did I really use to look that bad? I still have feelings, you know." Zet and Eleanor exchanged a quick glance, then nodded in acknowledgment. Zet spoke up, "Yep, you totally looked like that."

Zet said, "Hey Violet, can you come a little closer? I want to check something." Violet replied, "Uh, I don't know. Are you going to make another joke like that?" Zet answered, "No, I promise. I just need to see something." Violet hesitated for a moment before walking closer to Zet.

Zet reaches out and takes hold of Violet's hand, his fingers wrapping around hers in a gentle but firm grasp. Violet's eyes widen in surprise, and she pulls back slightly, her mind racing to understand why Zet would touch her like that. She feels a flutter in her chest, a mixture of excitement and nervousness that makes her heart race.

Violet's cheeks flush, and she looks away, her gaze falling to their entwined fingers. She feels a sense of nervous energy building inside her, a thrill that comes from being so close to someone she cares about.

"I-I don't know what to say," Violet admits, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is kind of unexpected."

"W-what're you doing?" Violet stammers, trying to keep her voice steady. "Why'd you grab my hand all of a sudden?"

Zet's expression remains calm, his eyes locked onto Violet's. "I wanted to," he says simply, his voice low and husky. "I wanted to feel your skin against mine, to know that we're connected in this moment like yesterday."

Captain Aurelius burst into the room, his sudden arrival causing Zet and Violet to release their clasped hands in surprise. Unlike the previous day, the captain refrained from jumping to conclusions, instead choosing to observe the situation carefully. He briefly scanned the room, his eyes lingering on the pair's guilty expressions before focusing on Zet.

"Zet, are you awake?" Captain Aurelius queried crisply, his deep voice tinged with a hint of urgency.

Without giving Zet a chance to reply, the captain continued, "We need to chat. Follow me."

Feeling a pang of trepidation, Zet complied, his gaze flickering towards Violet as he rose from his seat. Violet, sensing Zet's unease, returned a reassuring smile.

As they walked, Captain Aurelius maintained a stoic silence, his brow creased in concentration. The weight of his scrutiny hung heavy in the air, leaving Zet with an unsettling feeling that whatever the captain intended to disclose, it would prove significant.

The Captain's voice resonated with a mix of surprise and curiosity as he asked, "Have you transformed into a man this time?"

Zet "Ugh, Captain. You're impossible. Why do you always have to make everything into something it's not?

Captain said "Come on, Zet. Don't be coy. You know what I'm saying. You're not fooling anyone with your 'simple gesture' explanation. Just own up to it, man. You've got feelings for her."

It's not what you think, Captain. Zet continued Yesterday when she was worried and held my hand, I felt something different. She looked different too, and I didn't know what to say. I just wanted to feel that same sensation again, you know? It wasn't about anything more than that. Just wanted to connect and understand what was going on.

Captain said "Hey, Prince. I want to talk to you about physical contact. Sometimes people reach out to hold hands, and it's not always just a friendly gesture. When someone's feeling anxious or stressed, they might take your hand as a way of seeking comfort. In a romantic relationship, holding hands is a common way to show affection. But here's the thing: not everyone is okay with casual touching, especially from someone they just met. So, let's all be mindful of personal space and make sure we're respecting each other's boundaries."

Zet responds "Are you kidding me? Did you really just say that? I can't believe I'm hearing this from someone like you. Have you been snacking on something weird or what? Anyway, I gotta go talk to my Father about something. Later."

Captain thought "Zet's definitely acting strange. Is it because of his newfound fame or just plain old human nature? Who knows, maybe he's getting a little too full of himself. But honestly, I think it suits him better than being a total nerd. He's definitely changing, but slow and steady wins the race, right?"

Zet walked confidently into the King's personal office, catching him off guard. "Hey, Father, I need to talk to you about something. Can you spare a moment?" The King's expression turned to surprise as he replied, "Oh, Zet! What brings you here, and what's this about discussing something?"

My maid has been doing an amazing job taking care of my place and helping me out with errands, and I feel like her current salary doesn't quite reflect the value she brings to my life.

The Captain enters the office and addresses the King, "You called for me, Your Majesty?"

The King responds, "Yes, Captain. I've been hearing that your salary is quite high, and I think it's time we made some adjustments."

"I see," says the Captain, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And how much of a pay cut are we talking about here?"

"Well, let's say... 8 gold coins should do it," replies the King nonchalantly.

The Captain's expression turns grim as he tries to hold back his anger. "Eight gold coins? That's a significant chunk of my salary, Your Majesty.

Captain's face fell. "Ouch, my man - you really went for the jugular there." He sighed. "Well, guess you won that round. I'm no pushover, but you caught me slippin'."

King said, "That's exactly what I told Zet, but don't worry, Captain. I won't cut off your salary. Rest assured, I just wanted to have a little fun before we dive into the main issue. I'd appreciate it if you could gather all the lords in my chamber tomorrow. I want to discuss the possibility of traveling to another world for a period of six months."

The Captain replied, "You nearly gave me a heart attack there, King. However, I will follow your instructions and make sure all the lords are present. Consider it done."