Walking through the moonlit village had an odd charm. The streets were quiet, with the distant sound of crickets chirping, and the wind blowing against weathervanes stuck into the thatched roofs of the cottages.

Kylian’s cottage was a quant one, with a thatched roof and stone walls packed with clay. The front garden was littered with lilies and pomegranates along the cobblestone path from the front gate.

“This is the place?” Tanalia asked.

“I think so?” Maria said and walked up to the front door.

“I can’t believe you took them with you through that death trap!” a woman's voice cried from inside.

The trio froze and stood outside the door, exchanging awkward glances.

“If you had half the brain of your brother, none of this would have happened! You’re lucky those people came along to save you! And the horse, where is he?”

“Should we knock?” Maria whispered.

“I’m sure whatever boss he’s facing in there is a thousand times worse than what we went up against,” Chariot whispered.

Maria gulped and knocked. The screaming fell silent. She looked back nervously at her party members before the door swung open and warm candlelight spilled out.

“Oh, you three must be the adventurers,” a woman said in a sweet and excited tone. She was shorter than Kylian with her hair tied back under a deep purple scarf and a colorful stained cooking apron over her long tunic. Her smile was soft and innocent. Despite that, Maria couldn’t help but stare at the woman's cleavage. The fabric of her dress was straining.

“That they are.” Kylian stepped aside so the three could enter. He looked pale and had one more black eye than Maria remembered.

“I’m Mélanie,” she introduced herself. “Please come in.” The cottage was cozy and well-furnished. A warm, soft orange glow came from dripping wax candles on the bronze chandelier over the dining room table. Matteo and Silke were sitting in the living room, looking quite tired. As soon as the two of them spotted the adventurers, they gave them friendly smiles. “I can’t thank you three enough for saving my husband and children.”

“You don’t have to thank us, ma’am,” Maria chuckled.

“But I will.” She looked the three over. “You all must be tired. Please, allow me to draw a bath for you. I can wash your gear. It’s the least I can do.”

Maria looked down at herself. She hadn’t taken notice of it before, but her cloak and trousers had accumulated fine dirt and wet, muddy stains. Dried patches of blood had soaked her sleeves as well. “You know, a warm bath doesn’t sound so bad.”

Mélanie nodded her head and turned to enter the washroom. “I can prepare some soup for you three when you’re finished washing up. Just give me some time to get everything situated. You can change in the guest room.”

Kylian stood by the three for a moment. “Please, make yourselves comfortable.” He looked at Matteo and Silke. “And you two, go get some rest.”

“Hard to make myself comfortable watching you fight a banshee,” Tanalia said. Chariot elbowed her in the ribs.

Maria simply nodded. “I’m about ready to pass out myself.”

“Again,” Tanalia whispered, “It’s kinda hard to sleep when—”

Chariot wound up her fist and punched Tanalia in the side, causing her to recoil away. “Would you keep quiet!” she said in a hushed whisper.

Kylian ushered Matteo and Silke into their shared room. It looked quaint and comfy, with two beds closely pushed together with heavy comforters. “I imagine we’ll be up for quite a while.” Kylian turned back to the trio. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. I know I keep saying it, but thank you.”

Maria smiled. “Yeah. I have to tell you what Matteo did in the morning. He’s got an itch to be an adventurer.”

A few moments later, Mélanie stepped back into the living room and brought three sets of towels for the trio. “The water’s ready. Our basin’s only big enough for one. Once one of you finishes, I’ll draw a new bath.”

“Maria, you can go first,” Chariot said. “You’re still bleeding, right?”

Maria raised her arm. Her robe was cut and stained with blood. The adrenaline had masked it for so long she had almost forgotten about it. The wound was shallow enough to cause bleeding but not enough to kill her.

“Would you like me to patch that, dear?” Mélanie asked.

“No, it’s quite alright. I can take care of it myself but thank you.”

Maria entered the washroom. She disrobed and sank into the warm basin. It was the perfect kind of scorching–just barely warm enough not to burn her. It soothed her skin and gave her a few moments to really relax. She could hardly believe any of this was happening to her. She’d grow used to it eventually. Still, it was all so exhausting. Adventuring was never something she was big on back home. But now, it was a whole new world. She never thought she would see a giant serpent, much less fight it. Winning that battle invigorated her.

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The Following Scene (Chapter 21 Uncensored) is Exclusive to Patreon

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When she finished bathing, she left her clothes folded in a pile for Mélanie to take and wrapped herself up in the towel. Maria reused her bandages to cover her father’s marking. The guest bedroom was directly beside the washroom, so it wasn’t a long walk. She peeked out anyway to make sure no one was out in the living room before stepping out. The smell of warm broth boiling came from the kitchen.

Maria opened the door to the guest room and froze.

Chariot stood in the middle of the room, half-naked. She screamed and threw her arms over her chest and groin. “What are you doing?”

Maria blushed, looking Chariot over. She was standing in just her underwear. Chariot was well-toned and fit. Maria's gaze fell onto Chariot’s thighs and she found herself staring.

“D-don’t just stand there with the door open. Close it!”

“Oh, right.” Maria chuckled awkwardly and came into the room, making sure the door was shut behind her.

“Don’t you ever knock before entering anywhere?” Chariot blushed. “Anyone could just walk by.”

“Sorry.”

“I’m glad it’s just you. If Kylian or Mélanie saw me, I’d be petrified.”

“Sorry, sorry. I just… you look amazing.”

Chariot stared at Maria, a blush creeping up her cheeks. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. As Maria walked past her to change, Chariot spun around to face her. “W-would you mind helping me remove my bra?”

“What?”

“H-help me remove my bra?”

Maria’s gaze fell squarely on Chariot’s chest. Her bra was clipped on in the front. “Why?” she asked slowly.

“Oh, that’s right. Y-you’re not from around here. Well, we knights have a tradition. Long ago, there was a brave knight named Trumhere. He traveled the lands, seeking to right the wrongs done by Orzamath during his century reign. One day, he came across a quaint hamlet in the north. The villagers were fearful, for bandits led by the old demon king's army had been plaguing their lives. They sneaked into their village in the dead of night, pillaged their supplies, and stole their women. So, Trumhere laid a trap for the bandits that night. He evacuated the hamlet. As night fell, the bandits rode in. Trumhere stood his ground and fought them valiantly. But before the last man fell, Trumhere took a hammer to the chest. His armor caved on his breast and restricted his breathing. If anyone had been present, they could have removed the breastplate, but sadly, he perished. As a reminder of Trumhere’s sacrifice and a cautionary tale, we knights always help each other remove our top garments, especially if it attaches on the front. It carries more meaning.” Chariot glanced away. “It’s a noble tradition from my old guild. So… Do you mind?”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Maria stared brazenly at Chariot’s chest. “I have a deep respect for people's traditions and beliefs. I couldn’t possibly disrespect yours.” Maria took a huge step forward, almost startling Chariot. Maria did not waste the opportunity to grope the woman as she reached for the clip and undid it. As she pulled the bra away, she got a good look at Chariot's exposed breasts. “You’ve got some pretty great armor to hold a chest this big. These are bigger than mine!”

Chariot's blush rose and grew brighter. “T-they’re not that big.”

“Are you kidding?” Maria undid her towel. Chariot’s gaze fell onto Maria's body as she groped her own breast. “They’re definitely bigger than mine.”

“They can’t possibly be–”

Maria moved closer, almost pressing her own breasts against Chariots. “They are,” she chuckled and squeezed Chariot’s breast, eliciting a squeal from Chariot.

The door burst open, causing both women to scream. Chariot again threw her arms over her chest and groin as Maria pulled her towel back over her body. Tanalia stood in the open doorway, partially undressed, with her armor and cloak having been stripped off.

She spoke in elvish, looking the two of them over before correcting herself to English. “Am I interrupting something?” she asked teasingly.

Maria’s blush grew brighter as she quickly stepped away from Chariot, tossing her bra away. “N-no, we were just talking.” She let out a nervous chuckle.

“Mhm… right.” Tanalia’s gaze landed on Chariot’s chest. Grinning, she leaped forward and grabbed a handful of Chariot’s breasts. She squeezed, causing the girl to yelp, and let out a slight moan as she stumbled awkwardly.

“H-hey! I didn’t invite you to–”

“They’re soft.” Tanalia giggled. “And your nipples are hard. Are you excited by this?”

“L-let go, you insufferable elf.” She broke away and covered her chest before wrapping her nakedness in a towel. She slammed the door shut. “Honestly, what is wrong with you?”

“You stand there naked with your breasts out like that and you don’t expect someone to grope them?” Tanalia asked.

“Yes, I do. How would you feel if someone just ran up to you and started groping your breasts?”

“I wouldn’t mind at all,” Tanalia said. She stripped down until she was naked. Shamelessly, she stood before the two with her arms out, putting her splendor on full display. “It’s not a problem for me.”

“It’s not a problem for me either,” Maria muttered under her breath, practically drooling. She had read that elves were the most beautiful creatures. Now she knew why. Tanalia’s hourglass figure, her small but perky breasts, and not a hair on her body. Just smooth, perfect skin. The kind of body Maria never expected to see. At least, not in real life.

“There’s nothing wrong with being naked. It’s how we were born. It’s us in our most natural state. To lay naked in a field of grass and feel its gentle touch against your skin, or the warmth of the sun, it’s what connects our true selves with nature.” Tanalia grabbed Maria’s hands and pulled them to her chest. “You can touch mine. I actually quite like it.”

Maria’s face turned as bright as a rose as she got a handful of Tanalia’s breasts. Tanalia’s skin had such an odd texture to it. It was warm and inviting. The longer she stood there in silence, the more awkward she felt. But she couldn’t help it. Tanalia’s nipples grew stiff, and she brushed her finger over them.

A sudden knock on the door startled Maria, and she backed away from Tanalia.

“I’ve readied the next bath,” Mélanie said from the other side. “Which of you are next?”

“Just a minute,” Chariot called out, then glanced back at Maria. “See, that’s how you're supposed to do it.” She made sure her towel was tight around her, before heading to the washroom.

Tanalia snickered and glanced back at Maria. She was still naked, and even though Maria had wrapped herself up in her towel again, she was naked too. There was that look in Tanalia’s eyes, one she had seen in Silori’s many times before.

“What?” Maria asked curiously.

“Now that you’ve gotten to know what an elf feels like, do you want to know what one tastes like?”

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The Following Scene (Chapter 21 Uncensored) is Exclusive to Patreon

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***

When the time came to eat, Maria sat at the table with Chariot and Tanalia. Kylian and Mélanie had dished out dinner for the trio before moving into another room. They continued their talk from earlier, though thankfully in a much more hushed voice. Every now and then, though, Maria caught snippets of their conversation.

“You fucking idiot… Do you have any idea… What are we going to do…”

The air was much colder. Chariot had changed into a soft, woolen tunic, while Tanalia had dressed in a skimpy, silk nightdress that hugged her shapely figure. It looked as though it did little to keep her warm, as her soft elven skin was marred by goosebumps, and her hard nipples poked at the fabric of her gown.

“What are you wearing?” Tanalia asked Maria.

She had put on her pink tee-shirt that read ‘Jane’ with a doe beside it, as well as some soft woolen pants. “Oh, this?” Maria’s cheeks brightened. “It’s a shirt from my home.”

“Is that a doe on it?” Chariot asked.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Jane?”

“It’s a graphic design. We put pictures on our clothes back home. Jane Doe is a name we have for people who don’t have names.”

“Interesting…,” Chariot said. “So, what are we doing for the sleeping situation?

Maria pondered for a moment. She hadn’t actually considered that. The guest room only had one bed that looked as though it could fit one person. “I’m… not sure. I’m fine with sleeping on the floor if one of you wants to take the bed.”

“I have camping gear in my inventory if ever the need arises,” Chariot said. “I can offer some supplies if need be.”

“You’re just carrying those in your inventory?” Tanalia asked.

“Of course. It’s something we knights do, especially when traveling with people. It’s better to always be prepared.”

“I don’t need anything like that. A tree is sufficient enough.”

“Of course, you would say that. Do you hang upside down like a bat too?”

“I’m an elf! We can sleep anywhere. Up in a tree is just more comfortable. The swaying of the branches, the wind against your skin, it feels invigorating.”

“So… I’ll take the bed then?” Maria asked.

“Fine by me,” Tanalia said, finishing her soup.

“I’ll probably head to bed soon then. I’m exhausted… but, we did it! Yay!” Maria said in a playfully sarcastic tone.

“Barely,” Chariot chuckled. “It didn’t feel like anything went right.”

“Let’s not think about it. We should celebrate for now. There’s always tomorrow to discuss things.”

“I’d rather we don’t discuss any of it at all,” Tanalia said. “It’s better to move on.”

The dinner table fell silent as the trio sipped their soup. Chariot broke the silence by gesturing at Maria’s wrist. “Are you still injured?”

“Hm?”

“Your wrist.”

Maria glanced down at the bandage on her left wrist. “Oh, this? No, it’s… a scar. I just keep it covered. I don’t like people seeing it.”

“Was it a scar from your homeland?”

“You… could say that.”

“You know, speaking of your homeland, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you. Why did you come here?”

Maria paused for a moment. “Like… Why did I come to your land?”

“Yes. You mentioned you came from very, very far away. Why?”

“I’m not ready to tell that story in detail yet. The short of it is there wasn’t anything left for me back home. I never knew my dad. Only that he came here after he left my mom. She… passed. Things at school were hard, and life kept kicking me down. So, I left. Came here… by my own choice.”

“Are you looking for your father?” Tanalia asked.

“No, he’s dead too. I’m already here, so why not stay awhile and see the world? That was the plan at least before the Ringleader and the treasure.”

“Do you miss home?”

“Not really. Where I’m from, crime’s pretty rampant. Everyone was awful. Everything felt like it was going to hell. It’s nice to be away from it all. I feel like I can even breathe for once. I wish there was more law enforcement there like you Chariot. If people back home carried that same sense of justice, things probably wouldn’t be so bad.”

Chariot smiled.

“Was it overly crowded?” Tanalia asked.

“Kind of. The air was polluted, it smelled horrible.”

“Polluted? With what?”

“I don’t know. Fumes? It was awful, that’s all I’ll say.”

“You’re home doesn’t sound all that great.”

Maria burst out laughing. “That’s an understatement.”

“Not to change the subject, but speaking of going places, where are we going after this?” Tanalia asked.

“We need to turn in the quest,” Chariot said. “We’ll head back to Oxfell and figure it out from there.”

“I don’t know about you two, but I need to buy some potions,” Maria said.

“I’m sure potions would do us some good,” Chariot smiled. “There are a few in Oxfell that I know of that we can check out.”

“Alright. Potions first. Then, a dungeon!”