The air crackles with relief as the last orc crumpled to the ground. The village elder, a wiry man with worry lines etching deep into his face, booms, "Brave warriors, your courage has saved us! Your victory over the beast shall be sung for generations!"

Villagers emerge from their homes, relief washing over them like a tidal wave. They swarm towards us – me, Ruby, Aveline, and Rodger – their gratitude a tangible force.

"Heroes!" a young woman with bright, curious eyes squeals.

"We are eternally in your debt!" an older man booms, his voice thick with emotion.

The elder clears his throat. "To show our deepest appreciation," he booms, "feast on any dish your hearts desire! And consider this inn your home for a week, free of charge!"

A cheer erupts from the crowd, a wave of joyous noise that wash over us. We find ourselves usher into a ramshackle tavern, its wooden walls adorns with hunting trophies and fades tapestries. The air hums with the comforting bustle of a village coming back to life.

Four rickety tables, each with mismatched chairs, dominating the central space. A long counter, reminiscent of the Ezlea marketplace, serves as the tavern's heart. The flickering candlelight dances off the dark brown wood, creating a scene both rustic and oddly inviting. The villagers, their faces alight with genuine cheer, filling the room with a warmth that contrast sharply with the knot of unease twisting in my gut.

We exchange hesitant glances, the celebratory atmosphere a stark counterpoint to the storm brewing within our little group.

...

Sigh.

Can't say I am fan with this situation.

Rodger and Aveline pin me with stares that can even curdle milk. Ruby, on the other hand, wears a pout so cute but in a bit sinister aura around her. Is she... jealous? Of me and Aveline? The thought send a jolt through me.

And Dad? What is with that hawk-eyed look? Does he think I'd forgotten Amy already, replaced her with a new girl? Ugh, why are things so complicated?

Aveline, her voice dripping with something far icier than celebration, finally breaks the silence. "Alright, General Rai," she drawls, emphasizing my title, "care to explain this little wizard by your side?"

My throat tightens. "Uh, yeah, I think we can start with that... introductions first," I stammer while forcing a smile. "This is Ruby. We met in the Capital, under... uh, rather peculiar circumstances. Long story short, she saved my life, twice, and then... well, let's just say we might have accidentally caused a magical apocalypse. You know, the whole magical creature outbreak thing?"

Aveline's jaw drops. "What?!" she roars loud, her hand connecting with a resounding thud on the rickety table.

"Y-yeah," I squeak, raising a placating hand. "Exactly what I said."

...

Aveline's voice crackles with disbelief. "So you're saying you two unleashed chaos above ground... in the Capital?!"

Ruby's shoulders slumps, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I'm afraid so."

I explain our situation-- me and Ruby, at the big cave, how we met, and how were we opened the seal by accident.

...

Aveline throws her hands up in exasperation. "Honestly, you two are a walking disaster zone! How the old geezer entrusted you with this mission is beyond me." Her gaze flickers to Ruby, hardening into a glare. "And you, just what is your connection to him, exactly?"

"Uh... girlfriend?" I blurt nervously while reaching for my drinks, so does Ruby.

Aveline's frown deepened. "Girlfriend? Is she what you've talking about that night? No wonder why you didn't saw me as a woman..."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

SPURT!!!

A spray of water erupts from both our mouths, drenching Aveline right in the face. The moment feel synchronizing, a share reflex born out of sheer absurdity.

"WHAT THE-?!" Aveline roars even louder, sputtering and swiping at her face. Rodger's jaw hangs slack, his expression a comical mix of shock and amusement.

"W-We didn't mean to!" Ruby squeaks, her cheeks burning a delightful shade of crimson. She pinchs my waist – a playful jab disguises as chastisement – but I can tell she is secretly trying to stifle a laugh.

She then buries my face in my arm, my shoulders are shaking with stifled giggles. The image of Aveline, fuming and soaked, was simply too much. Rodger, unable to hold it in any longer, lets out a snort that quickly morphs into full-blown laughter. He coveres his face with one hand, his entire body shaking.

"Kid, I seriously thought you were seriously in a relationship with both those girls," Rodger shakes his head. "If my daughter were still alive, I'd want to give you a good punch in the face."

"Seriously, guys!" Aveline shrieks with her voice laces with mock indignation. "What's wrong with all of you!?"

The tension finally shatters. The three of us are erupting into laughter, the sound echoing through the tavern. It was a welcome release, a break from the storm brewing inside me. A moment of genuine connection, shared not on the battlefield, but over a ridiculous misunderstanding.

...

The laughter tapers off, leaving behind a trail of happy sighs. Wiping tears from my eyes, I attempt to piece things together. "So, let's get this straight."

Ruby fidgets in her seat.

"Aveline," I cut in gently, "you were glaring at Ruby because you're not a huge fan of magic users, right? Trying to wrap your head around the whole capital incident?"

Aveline sighs dramatically. "Bingo." Her gaze flickers to Ruby, then hardens back into a glare. "Though, that doesn't explain your little... hand-holding situation with him."

"W-We didn't mean to!" Ruby squeaks, her cheeks flushing a delightful crimson. She throws me a playful punch on the arm, embarrased.

"Alright, And... Ruby, you thought Aveline and I were… involved?"

"um," Ruby starts sheepishly, "when she jumped in front of you like that…"

"She's my husk-- my bodyguard!" I exclaim defensively. "Assigned by the freaking Lord himself! I see her as a friend, someone I can rely on, not someone to… you know…"

Relief washes over Ruby's face. "Oh, thank goodness!"

Aveline, a playful glint in her eyes, leans in and grabs my shoulder. "So, this 'bodyguard' sticks by her master's side at all times, huh? Even… in the bathroom?"

Ruby's face explodes into a fiery red. She throws her arms around me from the other side, effectively trapping me in a playful hug. "Stay away from him!" she mumbles into my shoulder.

"Hey, hey!" I protest, caught between two blonds. "What kind of situation have I gotten myself into?"

Rodger's pointed cough cuts through the playful tension. Both Ruby and Aveline release their hold on me, exchanging a hesitant glance.

"Hmph!" they mutter simultaneously, before turning away from each other and crossing their arms.

Rodger shakes his head, a hint of amusement lingering in his eyes despite his gruff tone. "Kids these days…"

Taking a deep breath, I decide to address the elephant in the room. "Alright, now that you both know Ruby's a mage, I hope neither of you objects to that."

Aveline hesitates, opening her mouth to speak. "But… as warriors, we're trained to…"

"The warrior code doesn't apply here," I declare, my voice firm. "Mage, warrior, it doesn't matter. As long as we can work together, that's all that counts. This discrimination business? Not a fan. We're not in the Capital anymore, so leave the 'honor' list at the gate."

Aveline huffs and crosses her arms, a pout forming on her lips. "Whatever," she mutters, closing her eyes with a dramatic flourish.

Disappointment stings a little. I thought Aveline, as my Huskarl, would follow my lead, accept my decisions without question. But... this? This is unexpected, to say the least.

Still, a flicker of relief warms my chest. At least the awkwardness has dissipated, replaced by a simmering tension that feels strangely… normal. Maybe even a little refreshing.

"Alright then," I say, pushing myself up from the table. "Let's put this little debate aside for now. Food's getting cold. How about we enjoy this well-deserved feast?"

#

End of chapter 5.