As she walked with Kaira down the street, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. Not only would she be getting a beautiful dress for the ball, but she would also be making some money from the new business because of Marlena’s magic. And who knew? Maybe her undergarment collection would become the next big thing in this world. At least I’ll be able to have more! Washing these every day is getting annoying.

“Shall we take a stroll through the park before heading back to your inn?” Kaira asked.

Iris just nodded as her mind fell onto brand names. Iris’s Secret?

No. That sounds lame.

“What are you thinking about?” Kaira asked with a smile. “Your face is all scrunched up in concentration.”

“Trying to come up with names for the lingerie business,” she said.

Kaira chuckled. “Well, you have plenty of time to brainstorm. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the talk of Lehelia.”

Iris grinned, liking the sound of that. As they entered the park, she took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air and the sound of birds chirping. It was nice and peaceful.

The layout of the park was expansive, with winding paths leading to various sections indicated by small signs, including a rose garden and a playground. Overall, it was a beautiful and relaxing place to spend an afternoon.

And it appeared that many others thought the same. Families and couples sat in the grass having picnics or unwinding. Young men and women lounged as they studied various tomes and books.

As Iris and Kaira walked past a large fountain, she noticed a group of men practicing something like martial arts in the large field behind it.

Kaira observed the men for a moment before turning to Iris. “Have you ever tried anything like that before?” she asked, nodding in the direction of the group.

Iris shook her head. “No, I can’t say that I have. It looks interesting though.”

Kaira smiled. “Perhaps we should try it out one day.”

“I don’t think I’d be very good at it, but it could be fun,” Iris agreed with a chuckle.

The guard captain gave a playful smirk. “Perhaps I could give you a private lesson.”

Iris choked on her own spit. “Y-Yeah. That would be lovely.”

Lovely? Get control of yourself, Iris.

The elf tried to hide her smile by looking away.

As they continued their walk, they passed by a group of musicians playing instruments under the shade of a tree. The melody was beautiful and Iris found herself getting lost in the music.

Kaira gestured to the well-manicured grass and the two found a spot to sit down while listening to the music.

The sun was warm on their skin as they relaxed on the grass, enjoying the beautiful melody. Iris closed her eyes, letting the music wash over her. It was almost as if she could feel her worries and stress melting away with each note played.

Kaira leaned back on her hands, watching the musicians with a contented smile. “It’s amazing how music can make you feel,” she commented.

Iris nodded in agreement, still lost in the music. The sound of the instruments was so beautiful, it was like they were creating their own world. A world that was peaceful and calm.

Such a stark contrast to the dangers she kept finding herself in. It all seemed perfect. Too perfect.

She needed to do something to keep it.

“Kaira?”

“Yes, Iris?” the woman asked, her tone expectant.

She turned and faced the elf, immediately enraptured by the ice-blue eyes that sparkled in the evening sunlight.

“I was wondering,” Iris began, her heart pounding in her chest. “Would you like to come to the ball with me?”

Kaira’s brows shot up in surprise before a smile slowly formed on her lips. “The ball? As your escort?”

Iris blushed, feeling embarrassed. Get it together! You’ve never been this timid. Where’s that badass forward chick who isn’t afraid to flirt with anyone cute?

She took a deep breath and instantly felt another rush of nervousness. “I know we just met… but I thought it would be nice to go with someone I had a connection with…”

Damn it. What is wrong with me?

Kaira smiled warmly, her eyes softening. “I would love to go with you, Iris. Thank you for asking.”

Relief flooded through Iris, and she returned the smile. “Of course.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the music and enjoying each other's company. Iris couldn't help but feel grateful for the new friend she had made.

Finally, the musicians finished their song, and Kaira stood up, stretching her arms over her head. “We should head back now. It's getting late.”

Iris nodded, standing up as well. “Yes, you're right. Thank you for showing me around today, Kaira. I had a great time.”

The elf gave her a grin. “I really enjoyed myself too," Kaira said, glancing up at the darkening sky.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

As they strolled through the park, the setting sun cast a warm glow over the trees and the gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers. Kaira's black pixie cut danced in the wind, framing her sharp features. Her pointed ears twitched in the cool breeze, and the small silver cuffs at the top of each ear glinted in the fading light.

The two women chatted effortlessly about the upcoming ball, with the elf sharing stories and tips on how to navigate the high society of the city. To Iris, it was everything she needed, and made her think that maybe Kaira had dealt with the nobility before.

That will be beneficial.

As they reached the edge of the park, Kaira turned to Iris, her eyes full of warmth and kindness. “Let’s get you back to your inn, then I should try and see Marlena before she leaves for the day.”

Iris winced. “I should have asked you before we went there for a dress.”

Kaira's laughter was like music to her ears as she took Iris's hand. “It's no issue, I promise,” she said before glancing away for a moment. “I’m just excited that you asked me.”

“Me too,” Iris replied, unable to keep the smile off of her face.

Kaira gave Iris's hand a gentle squeeze before pulling her along. “I’ll help you walk, just to be safe,” she said slyly. “Can’t let anyone come and snatch you away from me.”

Iris chuckled. “We wouldn’t want that!”

As they strolled hand-in-hand along the busy streets, Iris couldn't help but bask in the comforting presence of Kaira. The elf seemed to exude a calming aura, which put Iris at ease amidst the chaotic world that enveloped them. She stole furtive glances at the shorter guard captain, fully aware that Kaira was conscious of her gaze.

Finally, they arrived at the entrance of Iris's inn. Kaira turned to her, her face beaming with a warm smile. “Have a good night, Iris. Perhaps… we could see each other tomorrow?”

Iris felt a jolt of excitement at Kaira's suggestion. "Yes, I would love that," she replied, feeling her cheeks flush with anticipation. “I had a wonderful time today.”

Kaira's smile widened, and her eyes sparkled with amusement. “So did I,” she replied, before lifting to her tiptoes and placing a light kiss on Iris's cheek. “Sleep well,” she added, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before turning and walking away with almost a bounce to her step that forced a giggle from Iris.

I’m a mess.

The adventurer was left standing at the door of her inn, her fingers lingering on her cheek, and feeling a mixture of emotions that she couldn't quite put into words.

She stood there, watching Kaira's retreating form until the elf disappeared. She finally turned and entered the inn, a small smile playing on her lips, making her way toward the bar. Sera called out to her from a nearby table.

“Iris! Over here!”

The adventurer walked over to the table, and Sera waved a hand for Iris to take a seat. Iris smiled and pulled out the chair next to the merchant and sat down. She glanced between Tanith and Sera. “Hey, you two. What's up?”

Sera grinned. “We have information.” She paused for a moment. “I didn’t expect you to not be here when we returned,” she pointed out. “You were gone a lot longer than I suspected you would be. Did you spend it with the Guard Captain?”

Iris felt her cheeks heat up. “Yes, Kaira showed me around this part of the city and we visited the Temple and a seamstress for a ball gown,” she explained. “We just came from the park where we listened to some musicians.”

Sera nudged her playfully. “Ooh, sounds like a date to me.”

Iris rolled her eyes. “No… the date is when we go to the ball together.”

Sera put a hand over her mouth as her eyes filled with glee. Tanith raised a brow. “You certainly waste no time. Well done. We were worried that would cause us issues.”

“No, I…” Iris hesitated. “I actually want to go with her. Not just because of what Lady Arden said.”

Sera’s expression softened. “I’m sure it will be a delightful evening,” she said. “Now, our information.”

Tanith sighed. “We managed to get some information. A representative from the Merchant Guild is going to meet us in the morning to explain the rest.”

“The Merchant Guild?” Iris repeated.

Sera nodded. “The Guildmaster of the Merchant Guild is the highest-ranking member of the Guilds here in Brightburn. She leads the city’s Guild Council.”

Iris squinted her eyes as she tried to figure out the significance of that. “Can you fill me in on what you guys were able to accomplish today? It sounds like I need some backstory.”

“Of course,” Sera replied, lifting her mug toward one of the barmaids and pointing at Iris. “We spent the day gathering information on the political landscape of Brightburn, and it turns out that there are a lot of players involved.”

Tanith took over. “Three main factions are vying for power in the city. A noble faction aligned with Lady Arden, another faction of nobles aligned with the lady’s biggest rival House, and the Guilds. They each have their own interests, and they’re constantly at odds with one another.”

“Lady Arden represents the ruling noble House, and she’s trying to gain an advantage over the Merchant Guild and her rivals by forming alliances with other Houses,” Sera added.

“How does this affect us?” Iris asked.

Sera took a deep breath. “If she sponsors us, then she will expect the Adventurer’s Guild to be firmly on her side. It will give her a seat on the Guild Council.”

Iris sighed. “There isn’t much we can do about that, is there?”

Both Tanith and Sera shook their heads. “No, there isn’t. We either accept her help and slip into bed with her politically, or we don’t and we need to find another city.”

“I guess this meeting at the ball just became even more important,” Iris said, thinking about the potential consequences of their decision.

“Exactly,” Tanith agreed. “We need to gather as much information as possible and make a decision that’s best for the Adventurer’s Guild.”

The barmaid returned and placed a mug in front of Iris, who wasted no time in lifting it to her lips and taking a long gulp of ale.

“I understand,” Iris said, wiping foam away from her lips. “Let’s hope this meeting with the Merchant Guild will give us some more insight.”

The three of them continued to discuss their options and plans for the next day, with the information they had gathered weighing heavily on their minds. As they talked, Iris couldn’t help but steal glances at the door, thinking about Kaira and that kiss, wondering what it meant.

She smiled softly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at the memory. But she quickly refocused on the conversation at hand, realizing the gravity of the situation they were in.

“We need to be careful,” Tanith said, breaking her out of her thoughts. “We don’t want to get caught up in this power struggle.”

“Agreed,” Sera added. “We need to keep a low profile, at least until we figure out what we’re dealing with.”

Iris nodded. “I understand. I’ll be careful.”

Good,” Sera said, finishing off her drink. “Now let’s get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”

The three of them paid their tab and made their way to their rooms. Iris followed Sera into their room and quickly doffed her armor and set it up for the next day.

Finally settled, with Sera already asleep, Iris got into her bed and got comfortable.

As she lay there, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. She knew that their quest in Brightburn was important, but it seemed that the political landscape may make things more complicated than she had expected. And then there was Kaira, the enigmatic guard captain who had captured her attention in ways she couldn’t quite explain.

With a deep sigh, Iris closed her eyes and tried to push her thoughts aside. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, and she needed all the rest she could get.

I’ll figure it out. I always do.

There was bound to be some type of bad luck she could defy and twist into something beneficial.

Just take it one day at a time.