Sunlight streams through the holes of the window, painting stripes of warmth across my face. I blink awake, a bit jolt of surprise shooting through me as I see Ruby nestled beside me. She's still fast asleep, her bare shoulder peeking out from under the covers. Adorable doesn't even begin to describe it. The urge to wake her is a constant battle with the desire to hold her a little longer. Finally, I reach out and gently stroke her hair, a silent whisper of affection.

"Nngh... Morning, dear..." Ruby murmurs sleepily, her eyes still closed.

"Morning, sweetheart," I reply, leaning down to plant a soft kiss on her forehead.

We linger for a few blissful moments, tangled in the sheets, until a sharp rap on the door shatters the peaceful silence. Ruby and I exchange a startled look, scrambling to pull ourselves together. I can't resist peppering her face with playful kisses and gentle pokes as we hurry to get dressed.

Throwing open the door, I'm met with an unexpected sight. Rodger stands there, a stern expression etched on his face. Aveline, arms crossed and my armor held tightly, flanks him. Two villagers, faces flushed with animation, are engaged in a heated discussion just beyond them.

"Uh, is everything alright?" I venture cautiously.

Aveline's eyes narrow. " 'Everything alright,' really, General?" she snaps, tossing my armor towards me with a dramatic flourish. "More than half the village is in an uproar thanks to the...um, incident last night! Did you have any idea these walls are as thin as paper?"

Ruby shrinks behind me, her cheeks burning a delightful shade of crimson. A cold sweat prickles my skin as I awkwardly tug on my armor pieces. Suddenly, the cheerful chatter outside dies down, replaced by an unnerving silence.

"Uh-oh," I mumble, the weight of dawning realization settling heavily on my shoulders.

...

We find ourselves back in the same awkward spot at the pub - Rodger, Aveline, Ruby, and me. The atmosphere crackles with a different kind of tension this time. Almost everyone in the room seems fixated on us, especially Ruby and me. We huddle together, my hand instinctively reaching up to shield her blushing face. Our cheeks burn the color of ripe tomatoes, and Ruby… well, she looks like she's on the verge of tears. Even Aveline averts her gaze, a faint flush creeping up her neck.

The pub buzzes with an unexpected liveliness, almost like a wedding celebration.

"Not bad, kid! Way to go, youngster! Hahaha!" A burly man booms, raising his tankard in our direction with a wink.

Rodger chuckles, muffling his laughter behind his hand. "Good work, son. You know how things work in these villages, right?"

Heat floods my face. "Shut up, Dad," I mumble, mortified. Living in a village myself, I understand exactly what this ruckus means.

"… Please kill me already," Ruby whispers pitifully, her voice barely audible.

"No! Why would I do that?" I protest, offering her a reassuring squeeze.

"Nngh… Either way, I just want to disappear," she whimpers.

I gently pat her head in a silent gesture of comfort.

"Ahem," Aveline clears her throat, cutting through the charged air. "We should probably focus on the mission. Let's grab some breakfast to fuel up for the journey. I'll handle stocking up on supplies later."

We exchange hesitant nods, the weight of the situation settling in. Breakfast is a quiet affair, punctuated only by the clinking of cutlery and the nervous coughs that occasionally escape our lips.

After breakfast, we head out to stock up on supplies. Aveline expertly navigates the bustling marketplace, haggling with vendors and filling our packs with essentials. The villagers, still buzzing from the previous night's events, greet us with knowing smiles and suggestive winks. Ruby tries her best to melt into the background, her face perpetually flushed.

...

"Here's the map I just got from a villager over there," Aveline says, pointing towards someone near the bartender. "Based on the information I gathered, Matyr City should be further south, around two days' journey if we keep a steady pace."

She unfurls the map on the table, its worn creases revealing countless journeys undertaken before ours. I lean in to examine it, my gaze tracing the route outlined in red ink.

"There's something we should be wary of," Aveline continues, her finger hovering over a sandy stretch between Kampungair and Matyr. "I heard rumors of a massive snake sighted swimming in the desert sand just a couple of days ago."

Ruby and I exchange a worried glance. The description sends a shiver down my spine.

"Could it be the giant cave we… encountered?" I ask hesitantly, the memory of that monstrous serpent still vivid in my mind. "I believe the mages called it a Naga, or something like that."

"I'm not sure yet," Ruby replies, her voice laced with concern. "But the similarities are unsettling."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

A tense silence descends upon us as we contemplate the possibility.

"I guess there's only one way to find out," I finally say, trying to sound brave despite the knot of apprehension tightening in my stomach.

"Are you insane?" Aveline explodes. "They warned us to stay away from it, not go looking for trouble!"

Her outburst is justified. The thought of facing a creature that size again makes my bravado waver. I can barely handle a single orc, let alone a legendary beast.

"Right, right…" I concede, defeated.

Just then, Rodger walks in, carrying a couple of bulging pouches that he sets down with a thud on the table.

"Preparations are complete," he announces. "I also stopped by the stable and rented a horse cart."

"A horse cart?" I echo, surprised.

"Yeah, I think it's a good idea," Rodger says. "Should save us some time on the journey."

I reach for my right pouch instinctively, but Rodger beats me to it, pressing it back into my lap.

"Don't worry about it, son," he says with a wink. "It's already taken care of."

"Uh, thanks, Dad," I mumble, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me.

Rodger nods, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. As we head towards the front door, a boisterous voice cuts through the air.

"Hey, kid! Take care of your wife, huh!"

The words send a jolt through me, turning my face crimson from toe to head. Ruby stumbles beside me, a muffled giggle escaping her lips.

"Uh, of course," I stammer back, mortified.

Seriously, if Rodger hadn't spread that little lies about me and Ruby being engaged, things might have gotten even more awkward. The innkeeper had even apologized earlier, sheepishly separating our rooms for the night.

...

We arrive at the stable, locate just across the bridge. It is a quaint structure - a small, square wooden house flank by four large barns. Each barn has double doors at both ends, revealing individual horse stalls with doors that swung open inwards. A couple of stalls housed horses, one a sleek black stallion, the other a sturdy grey mare.

Six carts stand near the barns, one already hitches to a horse and occupied by its owner, a middle-aged man clad in a simple shirt, short grey pants, and a straw hat. He approaches us with a warm smile.

"Your cart's all set! Any of you folks know how to handle a horse?"

We exchange glances, a collective shrug passing between us. I raise my shoulders helplessly.

"No, I take it?" the owner chuckles, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Alright then, I'll find someone to accompany you. Just a moment, please."

He disappears into the direction of the pub, returning a few minutes later with a young man in his twenties. The young man sports a friendly grin and wore a grey-blue shirt with dark yellow short pants.

"This fella's got some business in Matyr," the owner explains, gesturing towards the young man. "Figured he wouldn't mind giving you a ride."

"Pleasure to meet you, adventurers," the young man greets us enthusiastically. "My name's Fuller. I'll be your guide to Matyr City."

"The pleasure's all ours," Rodger replies, stepping forward. "I'm Rodger, this young man here is Raiken, this is Ruby and this one little tomboy is-- ."

Aveline's foot stamps down with a huff. "Aveline!" she declares, her cheeks flaming with indignation. "And what exactly do you mean by 'tomboy'?"

"My apologies," Rodger chuckles, unfazes. "Her name is Aveline. We appreciate the assistance, Fuller."

Fuller lets out a hearty laugh, the tension dissipating slightly.

"Alright then, climb into the back of the cart," Fuller instructs. "Two on the left, two on the right. We'll be off as soon as you're settled."

We all nod in unison.

"After you, Dad," I say, gesturing for Rodger to take the lead.

He hops in first, followed by me. Aveline squeezes in beside me, leaving Ruby standing awkwardly on the other side.

"H-hey!" Ruby protests, pointing at Aveline.

"Hmm~?" Aveline replies with a playful tilt of her head.

"T-that was supposed to be MY spot!" Ruby sputters, her cheeks burning with a hint of jealousy.

"Oh ho~ But I was quicker," Aveline teases, batting her eyelashes. "So it's mine now! Isn't that right, General Rai~?"

Ruby lets out a frustrated puff of air, her staff trembling slightly in her hand.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on now!" Rodger booms, sensing the rising tension. "Let's keep the peace, alright? No fireball flying in the back of the cart!" He gestures towards Ruby. "You, sit right here. Let the lovebirds have their spot."

Aveline grins mischievously. "Fine, fine~" she concedes, scooting over to make room for Ruby.

I extend my hand to help Ruby climb in, and she takes it gratefully, settling down beside me with a small huff. She throws a pointed glare at Aveline, who winks back unrepentantly, before folding her arms and looking away.

The owner secures the back flap of the cart, snapping the locks shut with a final click.

"Take care on your journey, folks," the old man warns. "Heard rumors of a giant snake creature lurking out there in the desert."

"Let's hope we are lucky not to encounter it," I mutter under my breath.

"General... Don't jynx it."

As we finish our conversation, Fuller cracks the whip, sending a sharp snap through the air. The black stallion whinnies in response and sets off at a steady pace, pulling the cart forward onto the dusty road south.

#

End of Chapter 7.