Back in Chief Cerra's home.

*******

"So it looks like we have some time until they return are you hungry"? Cerra asked politely being a good host.

"I'm ok, thank you for the offer but I will wait for Yuuta to return I'm sure he will be starving when he gets back," Ria replied with a giggle. Cerra followed letting out a small chuckle.

"You two seem very much in love. If you don't mind would you tell me how you met I'm intrigued, to say the least? Don't tell anyone but I'm a sap for love stories." The old lady wiggled her eyebrows a little encouraging her to tell the story.

Ria turned a little red at her interest. "Are you sure? It's a pretty long story."

"Of course I'm sure now spill the beans already if you don't mind!" She said the old women putting a little excitement in her voice.

"I don't mind at all hmm... where should I start I guess a little back story is involved. Before I met Yuuta I was a slave as was my family." She started her story putting the old lady on the edge of her seat.

"The next thing I knew I was awake and he was kissing me forcing a potion down my throat. Obviously, I freaked out but he was able to calm me down enough to explain himself." Cerra cracked up at hearing their first meeting.

"Anyways he decided to carry me back to the main road so I could guide him to the closest city. I told him since he had my ownership papers I was his. Unknown to both of us that held a bigger meaning than we both realized." She said with a fond smile, her face and a tint of red in her face.

"He told me he wasn't looking for a slave from the beginning so I figured he would sell me off and that would be that." Cerra grimaced a little at just the thought she had lived her whole life in her village slavery was a barbaric idea to her cruel and inhumane.

"I can tell by the look on your face that you don't agree. Neither did Yuuta from the day we met he didn't treat me like a slave we were equals. He gave me a room to sleep in and he even offered to sleep on the floor can you believe that even now that blows my mind. Giving your bed to a slave while you sleep on the hard wooden floor!" Cerra listened on getting more infatuated with the story.

"Of course as a slave, I couldn't let that happen so I let him sleep in the bed with me and I guess that when I first noticed it." A bright smile lit up the room. "Ohh so forward of you young lady you roped him in quick!" Cerra teased her a little making her go red for the 100th time.

" No of course not I had no such intention but, I thanked him for everything he did for me that day saving me, feeding me, buying me a new dress, even sleeping on a real bed. All he had to say about it was that's what anybody would do right!! He was so kind and thoughtful and when I was near him I felt like I was the safest person in the world. His breath calmed my anxious thoughts. His touch soothed me and his voice when he talked to me was so soft it made my skin shiver. When I'm with him I feel like I can do anything no matter how scared I am cause I know he always there no matter what. Even that first day he showed me a new world I was blind too." She realized she went in a tangent going beet red as Cerra looked on in amazement.

"It was no wonder I told him I loved him after the second day we were together. I honestly can't believe I said it now that I look back. I must have sounded crazy but I meant it. Back then. I was scared I was going to lose the first good thing in my life after being separated from my family so I felt like I was forcing him...... oh, sorry I'm getting off track again." She apologized to her attentive listener.

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"No need to apologize, child, it is a beautiful story please continue." The chief pushed her to finish her story.

"I was so embarrassed to say I love you to him but it just slipped out after he freed me from my slave bindings and well.... we made love for the first time to my surprise he said it back without hesitation like it was something so obvious it didn't need to be said." Her voice turned a little shaky as Ria recalled her first days with Yuuta a small tear of happiness fell down her eye as she continued."

"I'm honestly so lucky to have found him even though he insists it's the other way around. He will never admit that I'm the lucky one it's so frustrating sometimes I just wanna hit him till he admits it. Other time I still wonder what he see's in me I can't help when I see how strong and powerful not to mention a now-famous adventurer he could literally have anybody he wanted. Literal noblewoman falls over him for his attention. I can't help but admit my heart jumps in my chest when he ignores them like their insects and only looks at me and god help anybody man who gets too close to me.

Now he's taking me to find my brother and father we were separated in the war last year. That's why he's so focused on getting to Querth as fast as possible for my sake. I don't know what I did to deserve somebody like him but I always make sure to cherish it!" She finished her story. Cerra was teary-eyed hearing her loving story a small smile crept on her face when she noticed a certain group by the door listening intently.

The 3 figures walked closer gaining the attention of Ria a look of pure shock on her face. It was Yuuta's group. Azure was openly weeping and clapping at Ria's story while Cardinal was his usual self though if you looked close a small smirk was on the end of his lips.

Of course, Yuuta had a giant dopey smile on his face as Ria yelped in surprise at his attack wrapping her in a hug. He tried his best not to embarrass her so he just whispered into her ear. "You act like it's not the same for me Ria. I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have you by my side don't ever forget that." Her smile could beat the sun at that moment as she hugged him back. "I'm mean who else could put up with me." That earned a jab to the ribs from Ria.

"Who would have thought muscle brain was such a smooth talker," Azure spoke up earning a chuckle from the group.

Cerra wiped a couple of tears from her eyes before getting back to her duties. "So I take it things went well? " the chief asked a little on edge to find out the fate of her village.

Azure answered " Yes Chief we have exterminated the threat. Well more like Yuuta did while we poked some goblins." That earned a nod from Cardinal.

"It was a team effort they did their part like I did mine." Yuuta retorted.

"Yea like you needed us! You should have seen him, gran, he was so fast I couldn't follow him he took down the hobgoblin with one strike it was insane not to mention that fire magic he casted. No chant our nothing just boom fireball. Even that wind blade thingy took down a whole chunk of the forest it was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Plus that gate thing you can do it's literally teleporting we got back here in an instant." Azure exploded in excitement retelling her version of the mission.

"I think you're over exaggerating a little," Yuuta said rubbing his neck a little embarrassed at all the praise.

"No it's very true Yuuta you are definitely the most skilled warrior I've ever met. I'm certain you could take down an army by yourself no problem. I'm almost certain you could go up against a dragon." Cardinal backed up Azure.

The comment about the dragon made him cringe internally. "Ok, ok enough about me I'm starving can we get some food." Yuuta quickly tried to change the conversation.

"Yes certainly but first I need to do something." The chief slowly got up from her pillow making her way in front of Yuuta. Azure and Cardinal stood behind her in a triangle formation.

"I Cerra Chief of Zygos village thank you for everything you've done for our village. You will always have a home here. Please accept my gratitude!" She slowly bowed her creaky bones popping loudly as Azure and Cardinal followed behind her.

"Please don't bow to me I helped because I wanted too. But it would be rude not to accept your gratitude I'm happy I could help. I hope we can continue to be friends in the future." Yuuta gave a smile before bowing back to the chief.

"Thank you for opening your home to us even when you where in your own crisis it means a lot." Yuuta did his best to even the field between them he hated feeling like somebody was indebted to him.

The chief gave a small frown before motioning for him to get up. "Don't think I can't tell what you're doing boy." She said with a small smirk.

"I'll have the food brought in if you go out there right now you'll be swarmed by the villagers. I'll have one of the guards spread the word that the mission was a success so you don't get stuck in the chaos. Though I'm sure tomorrow will be just as bad for you." The chief looked at Yuuta with sympathy it was clear to her he didn't want anything to do with the celebration.

**********

Yuuta and Ria ate dinner with the chief and his two teammates before retiring to there hut. They were currently laying down on two bedrolls pushed together. Ria nuzzled in close to him a serious look on her face.

"So how much of that did you hear?" She asked poking his side till he answered.

A smile appeared on his face. "I showed up around the I love you part." She groaned instantly burying her face in his side not having the courage to look at him.

"I can't believe I said that to her anyway. Whenever I start talking about you I can't stop myself it's becoming a real problem. Plus Chief Cerra was so easy to talk too I revealed way too much ugh." Ria was berating her self while Yuuta was laughing his ass off.

"I'm ok with it you spoke from the heart there is nothing wrong with that. I do it all the time." Yuuta shot back at her making her smile. Deciding to let him have that conversation they both drifted off to sleep.