After the initial movement and greetings, the guests began to sit around the round table, adjusting themselves in the elegant chairs. The room was softly lit, with candles lit and soft music playing in the background, creating a comfortable and refined atmosphere.

Gregory marked his place before pulling out the chairs and helping all the women to sit down. A task that took a few minutes, but that positively surprised all the women at the table.

Finally, taking his place, he exchanged subtle glances with Juliette and Daira, as they settled themselves to his right and left respectively. While the two were happy, Vivian, next to Daira, had a small blush on her face.

Nora, who was sitting on the opposite side of Gregory, noticed this clearly, recording every detail in her mind with a subtle smile on her face.

After everyone was seated, the waiter appeared next, ready to take their orders.

“To start, I’ll have the Risotto ai Funghi Porcini,” Gregory said with a relaxed smile, his eyes skimming the menu before making his choice.

But before he could close the menu, Daira’s presence at his side became evident. She was sitting next to him, leaning slightly to the side, her shoulders touching his.

Daira looked closely at the menu, her eyes moving with calculated precision, but the gesture was far from innocent. She positioned herself intimately, pressed against Gregory’s body, her breathing so close that he could feel it, as if she were more interested in what he was choosing than in the menu itself.

He tried to look at her face but his gaze was drawn to the deep cleavage that formed between Daira’s enormous breasts. With a great deal of willpower, he managed to look away, and calmly waited for her to order.

She noticed this movement, so with a discreet smile on her lips, Daira spoke softly, her voice soft and insinuating: “I’ll also like a Risotto ai Funghi Porcini, please. And two glasses of Chianti, isn’t that right, Gregory?”

She didn’t move away, her words coming out with a tone that seemed more intimate than before. She noticed that Gregory, although he tried to maintain his composure, began to release pheromones into the air.

The atmosphere became awkward, but soon Lira broke the awkward silence and said: “Daira, dear, how about controlling your instincts a little? You’re making our host uncomfortable.”

“Ohh, I’m sorry. I got carried away.” She apologized, but the smile on her face made it clear that she wasn’t sincere.

“I’ll have an Osso Buco with polenta.” Vivian was the first to order.

“A classic Margherita Pizza, please.” Leyla was next.

Juliette placed her order: Tagliatelle al Limone. Patrícia leaned towards the waiter, asking for Pappardelle al Cinghiale, while Aria was more daring, ordering a Cotoletta alla Milanese accompanied by a green salad.

Teresa and Beatriz ordered a Pasta alla Norma and a Parmigiana di Melanzane, respectively. With a more relaxed look, Lira opted for a Lasagna alla Bolognese, and Nora ordered Ravioli di Zucca with butter and sage sauce.

With their orders placed, the waiter left and closed the door to the private room. Soon, side conversations began, with the girls talking about work stuff.

Gregory only randomly answered some silly questions. Until Juliette, with a soft smile, turned to Gregory and began talking in a more intimate tone about Lira.

“You must have heard about Lira Frostwood, right? She is considered the strongest Hound that Efflium has ever had, a true icon on the battlefield.”

Gregory, curious, leaned forward slightly, his eyes shining with interest. “How could you not know about her when she’s on several magazine covers? But, in fact, I would love to know more about the legend of the famous ‘White Death’…”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The words ‘White Death’ sounded loaded with meaning, as if Gregory was trying to poke a beast.

Which really had an effect, because as soon as the words were said, the temperature in the room suddenly froze. Everyone immediately looked at the person in charge.

Lira, with a smile on her face and a cheerful expression, spoke calmly: “hoho, Gregory, my dear, there are certain things that are not said in public. Especially if it concerns a lady’s past…”

She was smiling, but no one there believed her cheerful tone of voice, much less her smile.

Realizing his mistake, and somewhat pleased with the outcome, Gregory immediately stood up and leaned forward to apologize. “Forgive me, Miss Lyra, I was charmed by your kindness and forgot my manners. I beg you to forgive my mistake this one time…”

With a genuine smile this time, Lira quickly waved him back to sit and said, “Don’t worry, dear, I’m not a petty person. It’s okay as long as you don’t repeat this mistake.”

After she said that, the temperature in the room began to heat up again. Gregory shifted in his chair, but continued to speak:

“I may seem impolite, but I’ve heard about many of your hunts… I was wondering, Miss Lira, can you tell us a few? I’d love to hear these stories from someone who actually experienced them and not just someone who heard someone talk about them…” Gregory said, his tone curious and persuasive, as a slight smile appeared on his lips, but his eyes were fixed on her, attentive and serious.

Lira looked at him for a moment, the smile that had previously played on her face gradually disappearing.

She paused before answering, her voice now deeper and more melancholic. “What’s interesting about a silly hunt? They are all bloody, with sacrifices and losses marking each one of them.” She seemed distant, as if she were reliving those memories, her expression now more closed and thoughtful.

Gregory, noticing the change in tone, tried to soften the conversation with an answer that sought to touch more on the essence of Lira’s experience.

"Experiences teach us a lot. Even if they are marked by sadness and loss, each lesson learned is important for the future. And I think no one in this city has more experience than you, Miss Lira.” He smiled with a touch of admiration in his eyes, without hiding the respect he felt for her.

Lira raised an eyebrow and, with an amused but also slightly challenging smile, asked, turning her head slightly towards him: “Are you calling me old, Gregory?”

Gregory quickly corrected himself, a little surprised by the provocation, but with a confident and playful look. “No, no, never. I meant that you are experienced… I mean, you have participated in many hunts. You are not old, quite the opposite, you look so young and beautiful.”

The last word was said with more intent, an attempt to further ease the tension in the conversation.

Lira let out a low, teasing laugh, her eyes shining with a hint of amusement. “Oh, are you hitting on me, dear?”

Gregory’s response was quick, the expression on his face more amused than nervous. “Hahaha… Please, Miss Lira, don’t play games with me. Besides, I might fall in love with you if you keep teasing me.”

He laughed, albeit a little nervously, trying to keep the conversation light. Lira leaned back a little in her chair, the mischievous smile never leaving her face.

“Hehe, very well, if you want to hear an old woman’s stories so badly, I won’t deny you that pleasure.” She said, the irony in her voice mixed with a hint of challenge, as if she was toying with him, enjoying the exchange.

The side conversations died down, with only occasional murmurs, as Lira held everyone’s attention with her stories.

Lira began to tell of her hunts, narrating intense battles against formidable monsters. She spoke of when she went to Lornitum, a level 2 Fortress City, built on a rocky plain, famous for its precious mineral mines.

There, she faced a Terradrake, a giant lizard Mutanid of the Magical Type – Earth. A Mutanid that has the ability to open huge holes and create small mountains with its powers.

As she slowly sipped the wine from her glass, she spoke of the Gigantomorph, a colossal Elephant Mutanid of the Physical Type that she faced in Zyrilium, a level 1 Fortress City, just like Efflium.

But unlike Efflium, which is a commercial city, Zyrilium is a city focused on agriculture, surrounded by huge plantations of various types of crops. For this reason, the city is famous for hiring hunters and Hounds from other cities on a large scale.

The Gigantomorph was drawn there for some unknown reason, but it was difficult to fight because it was so resistant that even the strongest weapons could only slightly injure it.

She also faced the Compsorift in Quentrium, a level 4 Fortress city, located in a valley of mountains covered with forests of giant trees. Headquarters of the main forges of the continent and home to several famous figures.

Lira had passed by there to escort and protect a shipment of weapons, but they were attacked by a gigantic horde of Compsorift.

Compsorift are Mutanids similar to Ostrich, but three times as tall, of the Physical - Agility type. They always attack in packs, creating terrifying chaos, but this particular pack had more than 100 individuals.

“It was epic when at the end of the battle, I climbed onto the truck soaked in blood and watched the sunset shining over the ground covered in blood and bodies of those filthy beasts…” Lira said, in a nostalgic tone.