”What do you think you’re doing, Sophia? You could’ve at least asked. She is our guest! I was the one who asked her to wait here.”

The girl who was called Sophia immediately gasped. She then quickly shook Maven’s hand. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know Reyl has come home. I’m Sophia Wellss, who might you be?”

Still reeling from the shock, Maven was stuttering, “M-my name… Maven Istravel… from R-Redne. Do you… live here… Sophia?”

“Why of course! This is my house and Reyl lives here with me,” answered Sophia cheerfully, holding Reyl’s arm and resting her head on his shoulder. “Reyl and I are lovers.”

Maven instantly turned pale. Her bad feeling turned out right. And the reality crashed right into her heart like a sledgehammer. And it was painful. All the hope that she had long nurtured was now lost.

Sophia didn’t seem to care about Maven’s reaction. She simply cheerfully clung to Reyl, before saying. “It seems that Maven is still tired. Come on, let’s head to the kitchen.”

Reyl simply took a glance on Maven, as if he was trying to apologize and say, ‘This is how my life really is.’ Maven simply looked the other way in sadness.

Maven was stranded on a totally foreign place. Far from vengeance. Far from love.

She was trapped and helpless.

Maven still couldn’t make sense of the situation. Why is Reyl hiding his relationship from me? Does he actually like me, but is afraid of cheating on her girlfriend? Was he afraid that I will leave him had I known? Or is he checking on Sophia on purpose before deciding between her and me?

It seems that Reyl isn't being mature here. But I probably would’ve done the same in his shoes.

Suddenly, yet another female voice was heard. “Ah, we have a guest!”

Maven lifted her face and found a woman wearing a light purple robe that reached all the way to her ankle. Her silver hair had a bun on the rear and a pair of braids flailing down from it, stretching down to her hips.

What drew Maven’s attention was the white bandage that was covering her left eye, as if she was covering an illness or a defect.

That very woman in her fourties squinted her reddish right eye. Her tone turned brusque, “It’s not nice to stare like that, young girl.”

“Oh, right! I don’t mean to…”

“Heh, never mind. I’m used to such stare,” the bandaged woman interrupted. “Besides, I should have introduced myself first. Name's Lei, Nepathya Lei. I’m a witch and an alchemist, Reyl and Sophia are my students.”

“I-I’m Maven… from R-Redne,” Maven said then offered a handshake.

Which Lei didn’t respond to. Instead, she coldly asked “Did you come here with Reyl?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Yes, ma'am.”

“And you were travelling with him.”

“Yes, we met in…”

Maven couldn’t continue since Lei only stared straight at her eyes. It was unfriendly and even more rude then what Maven did previously. It was filled with contempt.

Maven couldn’t help but unconsciously shirked away from that woman. She couldn’t stand the other woman’s pressure, so she was about to ask what was her problem.

Suddenly Reyl entered the room, approaching Maven. “Ah, you two seem to have acquainted with each other. Pardon me Madam Lei, may I speak with Maven alone?”

Lei answered without a smile, “Sure, Reyl. I’m going to help Sophia in the kitchen anyway…”

The witch turned around and walked toward the kitchen. But she didn’t forget to take a peek on Maven through the corner of her eye.

Reyl waited until his teacher had entered the other room. Only then he talked, “Forgive me for not telling you from the beginning. All this time I thought you only see me as no more then a friend and a partner.

When we almost kissed in Parthenia, it was then I only realized about your feelings for me. I was almost tempted, but then I got reminded of Sophia. I can’t simply betray her.

It was my fault that I didn’t tell you about Sophia since then until now. I’ve been cowardly, immature and despicable, I didn’t respect your thoughts and feelings. But I think I did all that because… I’m actually…”

Maven quickly interrupted, “Enough Reyl. I understand. I am not a suitable company for you. Perhaps it’s time for me to leave and return to Redne, to settle all my problems there.”

Reyl warned her, “I don’t think it will be that easy, Mave. Your entire salary so far won’t be enough to go back to Redne.”

“With the bow and arrow set that you gave me and my pair of daggers, I can hunt.”

“Yes, I know.” Reyl nodded with a smile. “That’s why I have an offer for you.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t you remember, Mave? During our journey here we didn’t only trade. We also fought against the monsters that attacked us.”

Maven answered cluelessly. “Sure, I remember, but..."

“You know that I’ve been collecting certain parts or organs from every monster that we killed, right?”

Maven went silent and nodded.

“Now, what you don’t know is that, every time we visited a town I’ve been selling those monster parts and organs. Whether to sorcerers to be used for magical potions, to blacksmiths as ingredients to craft special weapons, or to the place who’ll pay for the most for them.”

“What is that place?”

“Monster Hunters’ Guild. In every town in Aurelia there’s usually at least one Hunter’s Guild. Those guilds were founded in order to organize monster and bounty hunters, in order to minimize disputes between them over shared targets and the bloodshed that they can cause.”

“So you are saying that you’re offering me to become a monster hunter?”

“That's correct, Mave. Whenever I was in Lu Vazr, I and Sophia also do monster hunting beside running a weapons shop. This has been a quite profitable side work, with benefits such as an opportunity to hone our skills and experience. You should join us. The three of us will become a very formidable team, and you’ll be able to get enough money to return to your hometown or wherever you want.”

Reyl extended his hand. “What’s your answer, Mave? Are you interested?”

Instead, Maven didn’t return his courtesy. She then quickly rose from her seat and took all her belongings with the intention to leave.

Reyl’s shoulder grew limp at once, knowing that this brokenhearted girl won’t easily forget and forgive him.

A moment later, Maven stopped on the doorstep.

“I don’t believe I'll make a good match with Sophia. But since I’m already tired and have nowhere to stay, so I guess I have to bother you again… for the time being,” said Maven without looking back to Reyl.

Reyl reacted with a thin smile.

Sophia then immediately emerged from the kitchen. She then began to chatter, “Oh Mave, are you leaving already? You should stay here for a while. I’ve already prepared a special dinner as my apology to you. Come on, let’s have dinner to celebrate our meeting!”

“Of course! Mmmmhm, the aroma of Sophia’s cooking is making me hungry.” Reyl stood up and walked behind Sophia towards the dining room.

While Maven followed slowly behind, uncomfortable with the intimacy that the couple was showing. It occurred to her, a feeling that the place she was staying in at the moment was not and would never going to become her home.