The two sisters stayed wrapped up like that for what felt like a small eternity, clinging to each other, before finally pulling away.

Merissa looked at her older sister with shining eyes. “Thank you.”

Tears welled up in Melina’s eyes as she choked out, “I didn’t even do anything.”

Merissa grabbed Melina by the shoulders, her golden eyes filled with emotion. “No, you did more than anyone else. You were the only one who cared enough to come looking for me. I thought I was going to die in there... I kept counting the days, waiting for the quest timer to run out. None of us were going to last another month—especially the little ones.”

Melina’s gaze dropped to her feet, shame filling her heart. It was true. It seemed like she had been the only one who cared, until she met Rick.

“All I did was come here and ask for help,” Melina muttered quietly. “I didn’t even know how I was going to do it when I left home... I wasn’t sure how I’d convince anyone to go looking for you.” Her voice was laced with guilt, and her little sister’s expression shifted to one of frustration.

Even her wonderful big sister couldn't find a helping hand in the capital

“But when I got here,” Melina continued, “everyone was so nice. As soon as they found out I needed help, they were quick to point me to a local retired adventurer.”

Her eyes drifted toward Rick, who was still talking to Captain Gonzo about the successful defense of the town. The flicker of admiration in her gaze didn’t go unnoticed by Merissa, whose feline eyes widened in recognition.

“Oh ho! So he wasn’t lying after all!” Merissa teased, her voice gaining a playful lilt. “He did say my cute big sis sent him to rescue me, but I almost didn’t believe him. Honestly, though... I would’ve followed anyone who offered a way out of there.” A look of melancholy crossed her features, her eyes clouding with the weight of memories.

“Merissa...” Melina whispered, her heart aching for her sister, wondering at the horrors she must have endured.

Merissa caught her sister’s worried expression and quickly reassured her. “No, no—it wasn’t as bad as you’re thinking. I mean, it was bad... but they didn’t do anything to me. It was weird, actually. They had us locked up, but none of them were allowed to touch us. It was like... they were saving us for something.”

Melina blinked in confusion. “Saving you? For what?”

Merissa shrugged, her face reflecting the same uncertainty. “Hells if I know.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the deep rumble of Captain Gonzo’s voice. “Ladies, I hate to interrupt your reunion, but I’ve got some questions for the young lass.”

The bear-like captain had approached so quietly that they hadn’t even noticed him coming. His large frame loomed over them, but his expression was kind, if a bit stern.

Merissa nodded immediately. “Oh, of course! I’m happy to help in any way I can.”

But Melina wasn’t so quick to let go of her sister. “Captain Gonzo, I’ve only just gotten her back... Do you really have to take her so soon?”

Her eyes, big and pleading, met his, and she used the same charm that had often softened even the hardest of men. It worked, as it usually did.

The captain sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re right, miss. Of course. Take your time. But when you’re ready, Merissa, please come down to the guard station, hopefully before the end of tomorrow. I’d like to get a full statement of what happened, so we can inform the king and have someone sent to investigate.”

Merissa gave a respectful nod. “I’ll come by first thing tomorrow.”

As Captain Gonzo left them to their reunion, Melina couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. She turned back to Merissa and gently squeezed her hand. “Are you sure you’re alright? You don’t have to talk to them so soon...”

Merissa smiled softly, a weariness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. “I’ll be fine, Melina. I promise. I’m just... I’m glad you found me.”

Melina nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude and love for her sister. For now, all that mattered was that she had her back

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—---0—------------------.

“So how much is he charging you?” Merissa asked, eyeing her sister with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

A sheepish look crossed Melina’s face. “Um, actually, we haven’t quite discussed compensation yet...”

Merissa’s eyes widened in shock, a hint of outrage bubbling to the surface. “What? So this guy could be charging you your soul, and you have no idea? How could you agree to this?”

“Well, no, I doubt he’s going to charge me my soul,” Melina replied, trying to calm her sister’s rising indignation. “But we didn’t really have time to hash out payment plans. As soon as I told him that you had gone on a goblin extermination quest nearby and that it had been three weeks since I last heard from you, he shot out of his chair and immediately alerted the Guard Captain. Then he grabbed all his friends to go get you.” She shot her sister a sidelong glance, subtly reminding her who had actually saved her from the goblins’ clutches.

Merissa seemed a bit chagrined. “Ah, well, I guess I can’t fault him for that.” Now it was her turn to look a little sheepish.

At that moment, it was easier to see the resemblance between the two sisters. Their shared expressions of concern and determination mirrored one another.

“I suppose, before anything else, we should go over there and see how far into the hole we are,” Melina said, squaring her shoulders and setting her sights on the man who had set everything into motion.

Merissa followed her gaze, her expression hardening in understanding. “Um!” she grunted in affirmation, determination settling in.

Together, the two sisters approached Rick, who was now talking to some townspeople. The villagers were finally waking up and emerging into the street to discover the new refugees in their midst.

As they drew nearer, it appeared that Rick was finishing a conversation with a jolly man who had a round face, bearded laugh lines around his mouth and eyes. But at that moment, the man wore a serious expression. He extended a handshake to Rick, gave a solemn nod, and then turned to leave.

“Well, hopefully that takes care of that. My part is done.” Rick stood there in quiet contemplation, and only a moment passed before he turned to face the two girls who had set this whole thing in motion.

As he looked at them, he began to see the similarities. When he had initially been confronted by Merissa, after emerging from that hole in the mountain, he’d thought,

Wow, she couldn’t be more different from her sister. Melina was soft and svelte with short platinum hair, while Merissa was tanned and tough, with a cascade of dark blonde hair. Yet now, standing side by side, their resemblance was undeniable—especially as they both regarded him with identical chilly expressions.

He stopped short, feeling a sudden apprehension. “Hello, ladies. What can I do for you?” He tried for a charming smile, but it only seemed to deepen the frostiness of their gazes.

Merissa spoke first. “So you think you can trick my sister, huh? You think you can pressure her into something without her agreeing? And I would just let that happen?”

Rick blinked in surprise and confusion. “Uh, no, I don’t think that. What’s this about?” He turned to Melina, who looked at her sister with exasperation.

“Merissa, I told you it’s not like that. We just didn’t have a chance to agree on payment because of the urgency.”

“I’ve seen this scam before, sis!” Merissa insisted, her voice urgent.

“You go up to a guy asking for a gyro. You don’t ask the price first. So he hands you the food, and then he’s like, ‘5 gold.’ And you’re like, ‘5 gold? If I’d known it was that much, I wouldn’t have gotten it!’ And the guy’s like, ‘Well, it’s too late. Pay up.’ That’s how they getcha!’” She looked up at Melina with an earnest expression, practically begging her to believe.

Melina just rolled her eyes at her sisters antics.

Now Rick understood. “Ah, I totally get it now. Don’t you two worry about that, We’ll call it even since you prevented an attack on this town.” This time, his charming smile came much more easily, and it seemed more successful.

The sisters relaxed slightly with his words, though they still exchanged wary glances, unsure of their luck.

Melina, cautious yet hopeful, asked, “Are you sure, Mr. Rick? Most anyone else would have charged me an arm and a leg for my sister’s life. And you’re just giving it to me for free? I don’t understand.”

“Well, while it is my job to help people, and I do make a living from it; money isn’t everything. I’ve found that a favor freely given is the seed that matures into a fruitful relationship.”

Rick smiled beatifically.

“More valuable than anything else, is a reliable connection. A strong friendship. The relationships between people are what make this world go round. So I would rather have two new friends than a few handfuls of coin.” He ended his words with a soft, sincere look in his eyes.

“Only this one time though, next one will cost ya.” His benevolent look turned into something more mischievous, and he winked.

The sisters studied his face for any hint of deceit but found none. Slowly, a smile spread across Melina’s face. “Friends, hmm? That’s a payment I can happily afford.” Her smile grew dazzling, while Merissa’s smirk was equally captivating.

Rick clapped his hands together, his smile illuminating his features. “Well, that’s settled, then!”

“Now how about I help my new friends find a place to stay—and maybe a bath?” He said this with a hint of amusement, and suddenly the two young ladies became acutely aware and embarrassed of their own state.

Merissa couldn’t stay quiet any longer; she near-shouted, “Gods above, I’d join a convent for a bath!”

The three of them burst into laughter, the tension dissipating into the early morning air.