Ivan finally gathered himself, pushing away from the table with a sigh and turning to his friends, his voice steady despite the annoying headache he got last night. "I need to step outside for a moment," he announced, feeling the weight of their curious gazes.

"Take your time, Ivan," Cassandra acknowledged, sitting in the table along with Eldarion and Gareth, knowing that Ivan needed a moment to collect his thoughts.

With a slight nod, Ivan made his way to the tavern's exit. The sunlight hit him with the force of a hammer as he stepped outside, causing him to flinch and instinctively shield his eyes with his hand. The brightness was almost blinding after the dim lighting inside, and it took a moment for his vision to adjust.

women and children could be seen going about their chores at last night's feast. And he can still smell the faint scent of ale lingering in the air. Despite his wobbly legs, Ivan managed to navigate the cobblestone streets, checking for his truck. The vehicle was an unusual sight in this world; it was tucked away in a shady alley beside the tavern where he spent the night. he then approached the vehicle, and for a moment, a slight frown slowly creased his brow.

Ivan placed a palm on his forehead and sighed, feeling a mix of irritation and amusement. "Jesus," he muttered to himself. Memories of his own childhood antics resurfaced in his head, bringing a reluctant smile to his face. He could hardly blame the local children for their curiosity. After all, he had been just as mischievous when he was their age.

He chuckled softly, his sound echoing in the quiet alley. He carefully removed the twigs and leaves from the exhaust pipe, ensuring no damage was done. Once the pipe was clear, he stood back, admiring the truck with a sense of pride. The truck was in pristine condition, with no visible scratch or dent in sight. He just summoned this vehicle a day ago, and he also knew he only wanted to use it temporarily. The truck had served its purpose well, getting him to where he needed to go, and it was his first vehicle that he had owned. However, as he took one last look at the truck, he realized that disposing of it would be a problem. The thought of igniting a bag of thermite in the engine and driving it into the nearby sea or lake crossed his mind. He knew it was a drastic move, but he couldn't bear the thought of someone else or something else driving his truck, or worse, someone reverse-engineering his truck.

He opened the door and climbed into the driver's seat, checking the interior, the leather creaking beneath him. He left the door of the vehicle unlocked, mindful that his party members might be waiting for him. Looking in the back seat, he found Tanya peacefully sleeping, using her cloak as a makeshift blanket, with her short gold hair falling in loose waves around her face. She sleeps more like a cat curled up in a ball than an elf, which Ivan finds adorable.

He sighed and scratched his head. "Did she decide to sleep here after the celebration? And why didn't she stay at the tavern like the rest of us?" Ivan wondered, feeling a mix of concern at Tanya's random choice to sleep in the car. "Maybe my car's seats were just too comfortable for her," he mused, deciding to let her sleep and check on her later as he observed the elf for a moment.

"I'm not gonna to lie; this elf kind of looks cute," Ivan thought to himself. Tanya looked so innocent as she slept; just like a cat, he had no thought of disturbing her peaceful slumber. For now, he left the car window open, allowing the cool air to keep the car from heating up inside while Tanya slept. Ivan chuckled again, this time with a richer, more casual sound. Here, in this strange world full of magic and mythical creatures, his trusty truck was more than just a vehicle; it was a comical anomaly. The idea of someone trying to steal his truck was absurd. Here, horses were the primary mode of transport, and even the most mechanically inclined villager wouldn't know the first thing about a double-cab Toyota. The complex network of gears and wires, plus the internal combustion engine, were as foreign to them as a smartphone would be to a caveman.

As he stepped out of his truck, he heard a thud from inside just as he was about to leave, where Tanya was soundly sleeping. Ivan paused for a moment and leaned through the open window with his hand gripping the cold metal grip of his gun holstered in the back of his belt. It was the same handgun he summoned when he was drunk last night.

As he stepped out of his truck, he heard a thud from inside just as he was about to leave, where Tanya was soundly sleeping. Ivan paused for a moment and leaned through the open window with his hand gripping the cold aluminum grip of his pistol holstered in the back of his belt. It was the same handgun he summoned when he was drunk last night.

Ivan saw Tanya trying to pick up her bag without her glasses on. He removed his hand from his handgun and then leaned over. She must have lost it when she dropped it off the seat. Tanya was in the back seat, clumsily fumbling around for her bag. Without her glasses on, she seemed completely lost, having just woken up when she dropped down the seat.

“Need a hand? ”Ivan asked, his voice devoid of its usual amusement. His headache was still bothering him, and he didn't have time to be amused.

Tanya squealed, startled by his voice, as her hand brushed past the bag, sending it tumbling further out of reach. A flush crept up her cheeks, warming them despite the cool morning air. "I-I'm fine," she stammered. She finally picked up her bag and grabbed her spare glasses from inside. An awkward silence hung between them as she put her glasses on and adjusted them, avoiding eye contact with him.

"I wanted to make sure everything was in order before we hit the road," he said flatly, breaking the tension. "But I never expected to see you sleeping inside my truck," he began, crossing his arm. "Was the inn too loud?"

"Y-yes," Tanya mumbled, still feeling uncomfortable about being caught in an embarrassing situation. Ivan had previously taught her how to open the doors and lock them, so she decided to take a nap in the truck instead. "I hope you don't mind,"

Ivan chuckled softly. "It's fine; also, I heard that elves have much sharper hearing than humans, don't they?" he asked, leaning against the open truck door. "Yeah, celebrations can get a bit rowdy and annoying sometimes; that's true," he said thoughtfully. "But I can also imagine how stressful it must be to walk through all that noise."

Tanya nodded, fiddling with her bag strap. "It's slightly similar to that," she mumbled, finally meeting his gaze. "It's not just louder; it's... sharper. Every creak of the floorboards, every raised voice—it all just hits you at once."

Ivan scratched his head thoughtfully. "That sounds overwhelming." He gestured towards the truck's interior. "I guess my truck did make a pretty good makeshift room then?"

A small smile finally played on Tanya's lips. "It was... quiet," she admitted. "And... comfortable." She glanced away again, a hint of pink dusting her cheeks. "Thank you for showing me how to open the door."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the chirping of birds in the nearby trees. Suddenly, a flicker of panic surged in Ivan's chest. Watching Tanya fiddle with her glasses, a small smile played on her lips, catching Ivan's attention. The soft pink flush on her cheeks mirrored the vulnerability in her eyes. But as their eyes locked, a sense of alignment swept over them. In that moment of locked gazes, time seemed to freeze. and in that moment, Ivan's heart skipped a beat.

"This is ridiculous," he thought, taken aback by the force of his own reaction. They were strangers, thrown together by circumstance just two days ago. Their conversations had been brief, filled with awkward silences, yet here he was starting to get oddly attached to this quiet elf.

He couldn't afford to get emotionally invested, and sharp memories from his previous life clawed their way to the surface of his mind again. A wave of nostalgia washed over Ivan as he watched Tanya adjust her glasses. The gesture, both endearing and vulnerable, stirred a memory deep within him. sitting on the edge of the couch, engrossed in TV shows showcasing young love. His heart pounded as he remembered the innocent excitement of those ineptly acted romances.

But now, with Tanya, he felt a similar sense of thrill and anticipation. It was a dangerous path to tread, but Ivan couldn't help but feel drawn to Tanya's presence. The possibility of experiencing love once again both terrified and exhilarated him. The thought made Ivan smile, his fears slowly melting away in Tanya's presence.

He dreamt of holding hands with someone special, just like the characters on screen. But translating those dreams into reality proved far more difficult. He was a smooth talker on paper, but face-to-face interactions left him stumbling over his words. The first time he tried dating, it felt like poorly rehearsed plays. He’d charm and flirt, but he could tell that they saw him as temporary, more interested in physical intimacy than emotional connection.

His first date, when he went to college, was the final nail in the coffin of his already fragile faith in romance, when she’d show him off a list of “requirements” for a potential partner, like a shopping list of qualities that left him feeling like a used car being inspected for flaws. He then made the stupid decision of turning down their date and rejecting the woman because of his fear of not meeting her expectations. And the thought of it made him look like a complete clown, a joke for being too sensitive, too emotional, and not manly enough. Funny how he's now lost in thought, replaying the scene again in his mind. He was such a fool back then. But now all he can do is shake his head at his past self and wonder what could have been.

"Ivan?" Tanya's voice was laced with concern, and her voice snapped him out. He hadn't even realized he had been staring at Tanya for a while.

"Are you okay?" Tanya asked, her brow furrowed in worry. "You look like you're lost in thought."

Forced a weak smile, Ivan shook his head, replying, "No, my head hurts so bad it feels like it's splitting in two." He wasn't entirely lying; all this time he was enduring the lingering effects of the dwarven ale, which still left him with a pounding headache. He also couldn't tell her about the real reason for his distraction. He wanted an adventure, a fresh start, not a burden. but part of him also sought not to sever his relationship with Tanya. He wanted to explore their connection without crossing any lines that could potentially complicate things.

Suddenly, a cool sensation spread across his forehead, momentarily pushing aside the throbbing pain. Tanya's gentle and surprisingly cool hand rested against his skin. He looked up, startled, only to find her eyes filled with concern.

"Here," she said softly, "let me try something." She muttered a short incantation of unfamiliar syllables that tickled his ears. Then a faint, warm glow radiated from her hand, washing over his head.

"What are you doing?" he asked with a furrowed brow as Tanya's unexpected move caught him off guard. She continued the incantation, ignoring his question, and he felt a noticeable shift in her personality. The concern in her eyes was replaced by a focused intensity as if she was tapping into some hidden power within herself.

"Was she casting some kind of healing spell? Ivan thought quietly to himself, choosing not to interrupt her in case it disrupted whatever she was attempting. Tanya's hands remained steady as the glow intensified, enveloping him in a comforting warmth that seemed to seep into his very core.

Tanya finally lowered her hand and then smiled. "That was a purification spell. My mother used to cast it on my father whenever he'd have too many ales at the tavern. She claimed it helped with father's hangover."

Ivan blinked twice, unsure of what to say. He wasn't familiar with this type of magic, and the sudden display left him speechless. With caution, he reached up to touch his forehead. It felt as though his mental anguish had also diminished along with the physical pain in his head. He never thought magic also had effects on emotions; he also knew its potential dangers. However, he nudges over that thought for now. He smiled back at her, grateful for her unexpected help, but before he could give his thanks to Tanya, Ramset interrupted them, clearing her throat.

Ivan scrambled to his feet, stammering, "R-Ramset! Kyle! I, uh... just checking on the truck." He shot a nervous glance at Tanya, who simply smiled serenely, adjusting her glasses.

"Hi," said Kyle, still bleary-eyed, mumbling a greeting before promptly yawning and sinking down onto the back seat of the truck beside Tanya with a thud. He fumbled with his leather bag, letting out a sleepy sigh as the weight settled against his leg.

"Is our transport ready?" Ramset asked, her grin widening. Her gaze switched between Ivan and the truck, leaving the silent question hanging in the air.

Ivan blinked again. He was caught off guard by her sudden and unexpected question. "Now? This early? I hadn't even bid farewell to Gareth and the others at the tavern."

Ramset raised an eyebrow, clearly impatient. "The sun's been up for hours, dummy. It normally takes two hours traveling by wagon to reach the capital, and we're almost late." She gestured at the sky, where a clear blue expanse was dotted with fluffy white clouds.

"Late? For what?" Ivan's brows furrowed in confusion as he asked.

"To register our quest, of course," Ramset said, rolling her eyes. "The guild needs to document the details, verify our accomplishments, and, most importantly," Ramset glanced at Ivan with disdain. "You're not wearing your armor; you should throw your armor away and get a new set. You look like an ape in your previous armor."

Ivan sighed with a frustrated groan. he was thinking the same thing, realizing he had been neglecting his equipment lately. "Right, right, I'll get new armor as soon as we arrive in the capital. But I must tell Gareth's party to…"

Ramset cut him off with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Gather your belongings and let's go. Whatever goodbyes you need to say, make them quick.

Ivan's irritation was clear, but he couldn't help but chuckle at her teasing tone. "You know, Ramset, it's your fault I got drunk in the first place." He smirked, folding his arms.

"What are you talking about?" Ramset said, losing her confidence in her voice as she furrowed her brow in nervousness.

"I know you placed the dwarven ale beside the usual ale on our table. And when the Guild Master was drunk, you took advantage of the situation and made sure she lifted the dwarven ale and poured it into my keg," Ivan said with a dent in his pride.

Ramset could barely hold back her laughter, still denying her involvement in the prank. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Ivan," she said, trying to keep a straight face. Ivan could see through her façade. a faint smirk played on his lips, realizing that he had caught her red-handed.

"You can deny it all you want, Ramset, but your voice tells me everything I need to know," he said with a knowing look. The realization that she had been caught made Ramset's cheeks flush and her voice falter even more, confirming Ivan's suspicions that she was indeed the mastermind behind the prank.

"You may have fooled everyone else, but you can't fool me," Ivan said with a grin slowly spreading across his face. "I can tell when someone is lying, and you are a terrible liar."

Ivan's teasing only served to make Ramset blush harder. "You... I'm not a liar," she muttered, her words lacking conviction. She avoided making eye contact and looked everywhere but at Ivan. "And I had nothing to do with the prank. you must be imagining things."

Ivan let out a low chuckle and shook his head as he watched Ramset squirm under his gaze. "Sure, sure, keep telling yourself that," he said as he walked out of the alley, leaving Ramset feeling flustered and defeated again.

After a minute, Ivan finally came back, this time in different clothes, wearing a white plain shirt and black trousers paired with red sneakers. He was carrying a very large sling bag consisting of bread, chips, and cola. On the other hand, he was holding a garbage bag full of last night's trash and his armor. He then proceeded to dump it at the back of his truck. "You guys didn't clean up the mess from last night, so I took care of it," Ivan said casually, giving Ramset a disapproving look.

"You can just leave it to them to handle everything, and also, what are you wearing?" Ramset asked, looking puzzled at Ivan's outfit. Ivan shrugged. "I wanna look more presentable since we're going to the capital city today," he replied, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. "Plus, I bought some snacks for the road trip."

Ivan's thoughtful actions took Ramset aback. She never really saw his considerate side before, and it made her appreciate him for a small moment. "Wow, I never really thought you'd be so thoughtful," Ramset admitted with a surprised look on her face.

"I figured we could use some extra energy for the journey," Ivan said, handing her a bag of snack chips. "You already know how to open them, right?."

Ramset grabbed the bag and tore it open. "Uh yeah, you taught me how to open it last night."

Ivan smiled and didn't reply, but the look of satisfaction on his face spoke volumes, and Ramset felt grateful for his gesture. "Now then," Ivan said as he turned the key in the ignition, "let's go."