As they rolled through the city gates of Fuhren, the curious stares and murmurs only increased. People turned, pointed, whispered to one another as the strange vehicle cruised past merchant carts and mounted patrols with zero subtlety.
Tio reached casually toward her shoulder, brushing her fingers over the faint, darkened spot left by Selena's earlier nap.
"Fufu~ I suppose I've been marked," Tio mused, smiling faintly.
Selena groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Ugh, it's too early for this."
Tio beamed, utterly unfazed. "On the contrary, it's the perfect time. What better way to start the day than with affection and a little teasing?"
From the opposite side of the vehicle, Shea slumped dramatically against the window, yawning. "Ughhhh. Way too much sugar for this early in the morning."
Selena shot her a look. "You're literally the one who pours syrup on everything."
"Yeah, on pancakes. Not on people's weird… kimono-drooling, hand-holding whatever this is."
Tio turned toward her with a wink. "Jealous?"
Shea squawked, "No!" But if it was Hajime then…
Selena ignored them both, leaned over her seat, and turned to glance behind her.
Will was in the backseat, sitting rigidly upright, staring blankly out the side window. His posture was so stiff he could've passed for a statue.
"…Will?" Selena called.
He didn't react.
She leaned a bit more. "Will?"
He blinked rapidly. "Huh—ugh—yeah. I'm here."
"You okay?"
He looked at her like someone who'd just been handed the crown to a cursed kingdom. "No. How could I be?"
He waved his hand vaguely around him, gesturing toward the vehicle they were in. "I've been taken into the city in this. People are staring at it like it's going to explode. Do you know how bad this looks for a noble? People are going to ask questions. Questions lead to rumors. Rumors lead to letters. Letters lead to tea invitations, which lead to inquiries, which lead to diplomatic entanglements—"
He broke off into muttering, rubbing at his temples.
Selena blinked. "...He's spiraling."
Hajime, still driving up front, didn't even turn his head. "He'll be fine."
"I will not be fine!" Will burst out, now gripping the back of the seat like it might launch him out of the car.
Will was still muttering behind them, his voice a fast stream of noble panic and social anxiety.
Tio, ever calm, reached a hand over the seat again and rested it gently on his arm. "Will, darling. If any bothersome nobles or officials try to approach you… just send them to us. We'll deal with them."
Will froze. His pupils dilated slightly.
He shivered.
"...Right," he said, voice trembling. "Just… send them to the party. The party that wiped out an army. No big deal."
He sank back in his seat, looking utterly haunted. "I just… I just wanted to see my mom again…"
The entire vehicle went quiet.
Shea turned around in her seat slowly to look at him, the tips of her ears drooping like she'd just tasted something sour.
Even Yue cracked one eye open and frowned faintly.
Selena tilted her head, genuinely confused. "...Wait. What does your mom have to do with any of—"
Tio leaned in, lips brushing close to Selena's ear, and whispered delicately, "He has a… thing for his mother. Oedipus complex. Deeply embedded."
Selena blinked. "He what?"
Tio just smiled. "Fufu~"
Will groaned behind them, looking away from them before collapsing into himself like he could vanish.
"I just wanted to visit her. Have some tea. Maybe hear her read poetry again…"
Hajime didn't look away from the road, but he sighed deeply. "Will."
"...Yeah?"
"Stop talking."
"Yes, sir."
Selena looked out the window, then down at her lap.
"...This is the weirdest party I've ever been in."
"Yet you fit right in," Tio purred beside her, utterly delighted.
After a short altercation with some guards, the gang were sent straight to the adventurers guild.
They were sent to the same room as last time. While waiting, they greedily consumed the tea and cakes while waiting for Ilwa to show up. Just five minutes of waiting was all it took before Ilwa burst through the door and ran into the room.
"Will, are you alright!? You're not hurt, are you!?" The composed image that Selena saw was there. The only emotion that Ilwa was showing was worry for Will, fretting over his safety.
"Ilwa-san… I'm sorry. Because I insisted on going, I ended up causing you so much trouble…"
"What are you talking about? It's my fault for recommending such a dangerous request to you… I'm so glad that you made it back safely. I wouldn't know how to face Greil and Saria if anything had happened to you. They were also worried for you too. You should go let them know that you're safe. I've already told them that you were alive, and luckily they are right here in Fuhren now."
"Father and Mom are… I understand. I'll go to them immediately."
Ilwa told Will where his parents were staying and urged him to see them at once. With a quick thank you, Will set off to find his worried parents, but not before promising Hajime and Selena that he'd repay them both properly later.
With Will gone, Ilwa turned his focus on the quintet and bowed low.
"Hajime- kun, Selena-san, I thank you so much for finding Will. I honestly didn't believe that I would see him alive again. I cannot express how thankful I am that you were able to bring him back alive."
"It was his own luck that let him survive for as long as he did." Hajime said while waving his hand dismissively.
"Hohoho, is that really so? I suppose that did factor in a bit, but… I got word that you both defended him from an army of monsters with a demon captain leading them. Isn't that right, Oh Goddess' Knights?" Ilwa grinned mischievously as he spoke the nickname they were given in Ur. Hajime's expression stiffened at hearing this. Conversely Selena didn't look like it mattered to her.
"So you found out already, huh?" Hajime asked.
"Most of the guild's higher-ups have an artifact that allows them to communicate with each other over long distances. Ur's branch chief isn't high enough to have one, so I'd actually sent one of my subordinates there to relay information to me. The first time I'd ever heard him cry was when he tearfully reported that he had lost you just a few minutes after you all left Fuhren." Ilwa smiled wryly. It seemed whoever he'd sent to Ur had wanted to tail them to learn his secret.
It was obvious that someone, whether it was Ilwa himself or the man's own decision, but that man must of been quite frustrated he'd lost the group. Then, after riding to Ur as fast as he could, he'd seen five people face off against an army of seventy thousand. Almost right after that, he probably raced out of town to head back as fast as he could.
It didn't matter if the artifact was a communication device or a scrying tool, there was no blame going to be placed on Ilwa for someone after them.
"Regardless, it must have been tough. To think the anomalies in the northern mountains had been the signs of such a disaster… I'm doubly grateful you chose to take this request. I'm truly interested in what power you must possess to be able to eliminate such an enormous army so easily… Would you mind telling me what happened first?"
Selena tuned out the rest of the conversation, partially knowing that Ilwa will be seeing their stats and agree to keep their information from the Holy Church on their side. Refocusing back on the conversation, Selena sees the rest of the group start to leave the room. With a quick look back, Selena sees that Ilwa scrunched his nose, as if he smelled something foul.
The heavy wooden doors of the inn creaked open as the group of five stepped inside. The warmth of the flickering firelight wrapped around them, a comforting embrace after the bite of the afternoon air. Their quiet conversation and soft laughter echoed off the stone walls, filling the space with a sense of camaraderie earned through shared trials.
The innkeeper, a kindly older man with a weathered face, greeted them with a polite nod and handed over a set of keys. Hajime accepted them with a small word of thanks, his gaze sweeping over the group as he began to distribute them.
They moved toward the staircase, boots tapping softly on the wooden floor. Yue and Shea were the first to drift ahead, chatting in low voices—Yue's tone was calm as ever, while Shea's ears bounced with her usual enthusiasm.
"I hope the beds are actually soft this time," Shea muttered, rubbing the back of her neck.
"They will be," Yue replied with quiet certainty, her fingers brushing against the banister as they ascended.
Tio, walking just behind them, paused near the stairs. She glanced toward Selena with a faint smirk. "I trust you'll manage," she said, her voice low and laced with her usual teasing, though there was a strange gentleness to it. "Do try to relax, little one."
Before Selena could reply, Tio turned and disappeared down the hall toward her own room, her footsteps fading into silence.
That left Hajime and Selena standing near the base of the stairs.
He looked at her briefly, as if about to say something, but then simply offered a gruff "Good night" and headed off to his room with a soft click of the door behind him. Probably preparing for the meeting with Will and his parents. Selena proceeds to give him a silent prayer to that poor brave soul.
Selena then realized that she stood alone in the dim corridor, the firelight flickering over the walls, casting long shadows. She then slowly looked down at the key in her hand.
Shower or rest…? Her muscles ached faintly from the day's journey, dust clinging to her clothes and skin. The thought of collapsing into bed was tempting—but the idea of a hot shower, washing away the tension and grime, ultimately won out.
With a soft sigh, she turned and made her way to her room, already undoing her gloves as the door closed behind her with a quiet click.
The shower hissed to life, steam quickly fogging the glass as Selena stood beneath the cascade of water. It was hot, almost too hot, but she didn't flinch. She welcomed the sting. The heat grounded her.
Her fingers moved slowly, brushing grime from her skin in wide, aching circles. She hadn't bathed properly since Ur. The frantic retreat, the rush into that battered truck, the nonstop travel until they reached Fuhren. She hadn't even realized how filthy she felt until the water ran down her back and came away tinged with dirt and dried blood.
No one had said anything. Not a single word.
'We all must be similarly exhausted by the time we had arrived. The others are probably reeked of sweat and fatigue too.'
Selena had almost convinced herself she didn't care.
But now, with the warmth soaking into her muscles and her arms braced against the wall, she felt the full weight of how long she'd been holding everything in. The strain. The pain. The quiet shame of not even having the energy to clean herself, of walking through the aftermath with her armor clinging to her skin like a second, suffocating layer.
It was only now, after a full day of walking, hiding her discomfort behind a cool stare and stiff posture, that she finally had enough space in her mind to focus.
Selena closed her eyes. Sparks of light danced behind her lids as she channeled her magic inward. Not the sharp, explosive kind that split the battlefield in two but a gentler current, focused and precise.
It took more strength than she expected. Not magical power, she had plenty of that, but the will to turn her attention inward. The patience to tend to her own wounds.
A soft glow flickered over her arms, then her chest, then across the bruises still blooming along her side. Torn muscles knitted back together. Inflammation eased. Cuts closed with a warm tingle.
By the time she was done, her breath was shaking but her body felt lighter.
For the first time since the battle, the constant throb in her limbs dulled into something manageable. Something distant.
She pressed her forehead to the wall and let herself stay like that for a few more minutes. Letting the water rinse away the last traces of blood, the grime, and just a little the weight that had been dragging at her chest.
She stood there until her legs threatened to give out, then finally turned off the water and stepped out into the still, humid air of the room.
A robe waited for her. Soft. Thick. Warm.
She wrapped it around herself slowly, pressing the folds to her chest as if anchoring herself as she got comfortable. "Man, I really wished that I had a soda right now." Then she reached for a towel and began drying her hair, the motion meditative.
When she finally stepped out into the bedroom, her muscles were no longer trembling.
But the quiet spark of someone who had finally remembered how to care for herself. Wrapped in the thick robe, Selena stepped out of the bathroom, the cool air of the suite brushing against her freshly cleaned skin. Her hair was damp, clinging to the back of her neck, and each movement felt just a little smoother now that the aches had disappeared.
The room was dimly lit, shadows stretched long across the floor, cast by the magically powered lantern. Her steps were slow but measured, the towel she used to dry her hair now tossed over one shoulder. She felt lighter.
She hadn't seen Tio since they checked in.
Part of her wondered if maybe Tio had chosen to stay in Shea's room instead. Maybe she'd finally taken the chance to rest too. The thought left a strange hollowness in Selena's chest—one she tried not to linger on.
It had only been two days with Tio—barely enough time to get used to anyone. And yet, the thought of her not being there felt… off. Selena wasn't sure what bothered her more: the idea of being alone tonight, or how much she didn't want to admit she'd gotten used to Tio's presence at all.
She told herself it was better this way.
Even if a small, annoying part of her was hoping the dragon would show up.
Selena reached the door to double-check the lock before settling in for the night. Too many evenings spent sleeping with one eye open had carved the habit deep into her.
But just as she was about to check the door, her instincts flared, signaling that something was behind her.
Her body reacted before her mind could catch up—an instinct honed by battle. Pressure. Heat. Movement.
And then—
Arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back gently. And before she could turn, her face found itself pressed into something soft. Too soft. Familiar.
She inhaled automatically, catching the faintest hint of dragon spice and lavender.
Her breath caught.
A very familiar laugh rumbled close to her ear.
"You didn't actually think I'd stay away, did you?" Tio's voice was smooth and teasing, but quiet—far less theatrical than usual.
Selena stiffened, heat rushing to her face as the realization set in. Her nose was buried in the curve of Tio's chest. Her hands were hovering awkwardly midair, unsure whether to push her away or hold on.
"I—You weren't in the room," she said, cursing herself for how shaky her voice sounded.
"I was waiting for the right moment," Tio murmured, her arms still snug around her. "You needed that shower more than you needed my interruptions."
Selena didn't respond—not right away. She wasn't sure what rattled her more: the surprise, the warmth… or the fact that she didn't actually want to pull away.
The fact that she hadn't noticed Tio's presence unnerved her. Tio had only stayed out of sight. In fact, Selena didn't even realize that she had dropped her guard until Tio revealed herself.
Selena's breath caught as she realized what it meant: Tio had waited. Had seen her hurting, knew her limits, and instead of pushing, had given her space.
Now she stood between her and the door like a warm shadow, daring her to open it, daring her to leave.
But she didn't.
Because for once, Selena didn't feel the urge to run.
*** R18 ***
Selina blushed. She couldn't defend herself as it was all true. Things had been harsh and stressful with little time to truly rest. Made worse by Shea letting her eat her out for a week but never once reciprocating. And then all of a sudden Tio drops into her life. Even curvier and bountiful in the best places. Torturous only just barely covers what she was feeling.
"I didn't mean it. I swear."
"You say that, but you hadn't removed yourself from between my bosom."
Selina had forgotten where she was. She pushed away desperately, not realizing she did so by pressing her hands against each of Tio's huge breasts. As she tried to let go, two hands grasped hers forcing them to remain in place. White cloth hit the floor before Selina could process what was happening. The kimono was removed so quickly that Selina's hands were still left in place, now acting as the only bit of modesty covering Tio's bare skin. Everything else was on full, unashamed display.
"Well it's just… I mean that is-uhhh oh why am I explaining myself. Why are you here?"
"I just thought you might want to get a better look."
Looking down, Tio's chest seemed even bigger when unbounded. Her hands seemed to almost get lost in their endless bounty. Their massiveness made her tight waist and skinny stomach seem even smaller by comparison only to burst outward again into defined hips and legs. Hourglasses would stare in envy.
They stayed like this for a brief while. Selina, not sure what to do next, petrified by the position she found herself in, could only stare at her own hands and the body they were attached to.
"Are you planning to stare like that all night? I was hoping you'd do more by now."
Selina just continued to stare. Tio sighed and finally pushed away the fingers glued to her breasts. Now freed, she pushed past the dumbstruck amazonian. Making sure to shake her hips extra far with each step. After a few mesmerizing steps she lay upon the bed, posing with one leg high and the other low while waving inward in invitation.
Hesitantly, Selina crawled on top. She couldn't decide what was softer. The fine silken sheets filled with Tartary cotton, or the body on top of them. Staring into her golden eyes surrounded by long, black hair which spread out like wings across the bed. Her pail skin was broken up only by her hard nipples framed by a pinkish circle. More than her body, Tio had a confidence that Shea lacked entirely. Demanding to be touched rather than merely letting it happen. And that was the scary part.
Selina started with the neck. Kissing gently across its length. The scent of rose water filled her desires. Tio's skin was clean and smooth. The hot sauna water made her seem even whiter than before. Selina felt this across her fingertips. Lost for a moment as she caressed the delicate skin.
"You're being rather delicate." Tio's voice broke the trance. "I can take a lot more. I want to take more."
Selina forced herself past the hesitation. Right and on left breast, left hand on right cheek, and squeeze. The harder her fingers pressed the more Tio seemed to like it. As one nipple was pinched between her thumb and pointer, the other started to look rather lonely. Selina's mouth found the mark, nibbling its pink between her white teeth.
She moved her left hand between Tio's legs. It was wet unlike anything Selina experienced with Shea. Her legs were open wide giving total access. Her hips pressing back against her fingers begging wordlessly for more. So this is what it's like being with someone who wants it, too. Selina brought her hand to her face. The clear, sticky liquid left strings between her fingers. It smelled intoxicating. She had to have a taste straight from the tap.
Moving down between those thick, porcelain legs, Selina realized she hadn't actually gotten a good look at a pussy before. Besides her own, of course. Shea was always turned away and doing her best to hide the good parts. And it did not disappoint. Freshly shaved and smooth, her scent mixing with the smell of sauna water. It was both clean and dirty at the same time. Her lower lips were plumper than Selina imagined with a small hint of the inner pink sticking out. Selina spread the opening wide and gazed at the prize in the box.
For some reason, Selina always thought it would be more like a giant hole on the inside. What she found was much more beautiful. The entrance was small and low framed by an inner hood with a clitoral crown. Selina couldn't resist. She extended her tongue and dragged it across from the bottom all the way to the top. Its taste was complex. Slightly sweet with a musky overtone. It's addicting.
Selina kept licking. Focusing on different spots, feeling the different textures with her tongue. It was sloppy work, in every sense. Liquid coating Selina's face and entering her nostrils. Trying to get her face deeper then it should go. '
"Selina." Tio sounded less enthused than Selina expected. "You don't really know what you're doing, do you?"
Red flushed across Selina's face. She thought she was doing a pretty good job. But it's true, she really had no idea what she was doing.
"Here. I'll show you."
Before she realized it Selina was on her back now. They had flipped with Tio now between her legs. Her golden eyes just barely poked above the horizon of Selina's own body while her lips lie below. Her hot breath caressing Selina's most delicate area. Then she felt something even hotter and wet. Like lightning it struck, sending waves of pleasure through her body.
Lighting struck again and again. Each pass felt better than the last. Instead of licking wildly Tio seemed to be searching for the most sensitive eras. She found them. Circling around the clit while her fingers explored inside.
Selena squirmed and moaned. She was so pent up from weeks of teasing without release. It wasn't long until she felt like exploding.
"You've been holding back a lot, haven't you? How about I do something special for you."
Tio raised her head, opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue. Then she stuck out more of her tongue. Then more. It quickly reached down to her belly button. Long, thick and wet. This was a true dragon's tongue. Then she lowered back down, and started the lick.
Tio only licked once, because that was all she needed to do. Pressed closely against Selena's inner fold, hitting every sensitive spot at one, it slowly crawled upwards and kept going. It took only a few seconds of this for Selena to feel the rocking burst of final release. Her hips splaying out and pushing back and forth desiring to feel more while recoiling back at the stimulation. Her body unable to decide if it's had too much or not nearly enough. Meanwhile the singular lick kept going, inch after inch rising upwards unaffected by its victim's lack of decisiveness.
Finally the tip tickled Selina's privates as the pleasure ended. She collapsed back on the bed, breathing heavily. It was not exactly what she wanted her big O moment to be like, but it was more than worth the wait. Tio, however, was not done. She released her Dragon tongue once again, swaying in the air like a cobra preparing to strike. It found its mark, sliding deep inside the nearest tunnel for safety.
Maybe it's because she didn't expect it to happen, maybe this just happened to be a kink she didn't know she had, or maybe the intense stimulation just turned her brain off. At that moment Selina couldn't have told you. All that was clear was her immediate reaction to being invaded by something so long and deep. And that was to pull it in closer. Selina grabbed hard onto Tio's long black hair and yanked until her lips were kissing Selin's lower ones. Her legs wrapped tightly around Tio's head, squeezing tightly. TIo couldn't breathe as the pain of her hair forced her forward and her body was being used against her own will for the pleasure of another. All she could think to herself was:
"Finally, it's getting good."
This went on for a short while. As her orgasm heightened Selina pulled harder. As She pulled harder, Tio wriggled her tongue even more enthusiastically. As the wriggling increased, Selina's orgasm grew in intensity. This caused her to pull even harder. And round and round it went. Finally, Selena released Tio, falling back into the bed with a blank mind and happy heart. Tio pulled back and gasped for air. Falling back onto the floor with sweat and the liquid of ecstasy pouring down her face.
"Tha-*cough*, that was a good start." Tio whipped her face with the discarded robe on the floor. "Think you can pull my hair even harder next time? I don't mind losing a few strands as you… Selina?"
Selena was out cold.
Her breathing deepened the second her head hit the pillow, slipping straight into sleep with the force of someone who hadn't rested properly in days. Within moments, soft snores filled the room—steady, a little loud, oddly endearing. Like a chainsaw muffled under blankets.
Tio blinked, watching her new companion sprawl unceremoniously across the bed, one arm flung wide and robe half-unraveled to leave far more skin exposed than should be. Her legs were tangled in the sheets. Her hair was still damp. She looked like she'd passed out mid-fall.
Tio sighed, placing a hand on her hip. "Really now... You make yourself so easy to tease."
She leaned down, carefully adjusting Selena's limbs into something more dignified—tucking the robe back over her chest, smoothing a blanket up over her. Her motions were gentle, almost reverent, though she made a show of rolling her eyes.
"I'll let you off easy this one time," Tio murmured.
But before she turned away, her gaze fell to the smooth curve of Selena's neck. Pale skin, marked only by the faint shimmer of her own healing magic. It would be so simple, so subtle—a tiny mark. Not a wound. Just a reminder.
Her smile turned mischievous. "Though… I suppose a dragon is allowed a bit of mischief."
She leaned in, brushing her lips against the base of Selena's neck. Two small fangs extended just enough to prick the skin—not enough to break it, only to leave a phantom warmth and the barest pink impression. A dragon's whisper. A mark that would fade before sunrise.
"Mine," Tio whispered, before settling down beside her.
She tucked herself into the curve of Selena's side, slipping an arm over her waist and letting her face nestle into the inviting softness of her chest. Selena didn't stir, only mumbled something incoherent in her sleep.
Tio smiled against her skin.
She hadn't expected this. Not so soon, and not so suddenly.
Watching Selena throw herself into battle without hesitation—even when she didn't have to, even when the others could have handled it—had awakened something old and aching in Tio. That recklessness. That loneliness. That stubborn, burning drive. It reminded her too much of who she used to be. Of the parts she thought she'd buried.
And maybe that's why it hurt to watch.
Why she couldn't help but follow Selena, even into the heart of a fight.
Because if she wasn't careful, she feared she might fall for her.
And truth be told…
She might already have.
*** R18 end ***
Selena woke to pressure.
Something warm… heavy… soft… and—oh gods—breathing on her.
Her eyes cracked open, and the first thing she saw was a mess of black hair spread across her chest. The steady rise and fall of Tio's breath tickled the bare skin above her robe's neckline. One of the dragon's legs had somehow draped itself between her thighs, and both arms were locked tight around her waist like she was some kind of oversized plush toy.
Selena's first instinct?
Throw her off. Hard. Roll her onto the floor, reclaim the bed, and pretend none of this ever happened.
But her hand, half-raised in preparation, hesitated.
She remembered the night before. The warmth. The lust…
So instead, she sighed, slumping back onto the pillow.
"…You're lucky," she muttered, "I don't mind this as much as I should."
Then—click.
The door opened without warning.
Yue stepped inside, quiet as a shadow, her expression unreadable as ever. She took one long look at the tangle of limbs on the bed. Then her gaze slid to the pile of Tio's discarded robe in the corner.
She blinked once. Slowly.
"Well," she said, her voice flat, "I was going to let you sleep a little longer, but clearly I'm interrupting something sacred."
Selena bolted upright, nearly knocking Tio off the bed just by reflex. "It's not like that!"
Tio, half-asleep, snuggled in tighter with a pleased hum. "I was just getting to the good part..."
Yue's lips twitched.
"I see. So I should leave you two lovebirds alone, then?" she said, already turning toward the door with a teasingly slow step.
Selena's face turned red enough to ignite the bedsheets.
"We're not—this isn't a—Tio get off!" she sputtered, and with a loud fwump, shoved the dragon off the bed.
Tio yelped as she hit the carpet with a muffled thud. "Ooooh, cruel mistress! My heart—shattered!"
Selena buried her face in both hands. "Why is this my life?"
Yue, standing at the door, deadpan as ever, added, "Anyway. I'm picking up supplies. Hajime and Shea left for their date already."
Then, with the faintest smile: "If you two are planning one of your own, I'd get moving before Selena ties you down Tio…"
"OOO that'd be great" tio look joyfully at imagining that outcome.
"Sigh, I have no words."
Yue shut the door behind her, and somehow, the silence that followed felt smug.
Selena sat frozen on the bed, red in the face and too stunned to move, her thoughts spiraling into a chaotic mess. A date? Yue had said it like it was fact—like it was obvious. And worse, she hadn't even smiled. That slight twitch at the corner of her mouth had been enough. Yue knew. Of course she knew. Nothing ever slipped past her.
Selena buried her face in her hands, groaning into her palms. Her heart was racing, her skin still warm from the weight of Tio's body, and her mind couldn't stop replaying the kiss. Soft. Brief. Casual—like it was the most natural thing in the world. And then Yue walked in.
Perfect timing, as always.
Of all the people to catch them like that, why did it have to be her?
She could already imagine the smug glance Yue would send her later. Not even a word—just that unreadable stare that somehow judged you and teased you at the same time.
"Ugh," Selena muttered, dragging her hands down her face.
And then, from the floor, Tio's head popped up with maddening cheerfulness.
"So... was that a yes to breakfast together?"
Selena didn't respond. She didn't need to respond.
She grabbed the nearest pillow and hurled it straight at Tio's smirking face.
***
Later that morning, Just the wind, the warmth, and the company.
Selena walked a few steps ahead, her shoulders a little too straight, her movements a little too careful. She didn't speak much, only glanced around now and then like she wasn't sure what to do with herself.
Tio strolled beside her, utterly relaxed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she watched every awkward twitch and hesitant glance.
"You're tense," Tio said lightly, bumping her shoulder just enough to be teasing.
"I'm not," Selena muttered, definitely lying.
Tio laughed. "You are. But it's cute, so I won't hold it against you."
Selena gave her a flat look, but there wasn't any real heat behind it.
After a while, Tio let the silence stretch before gently asking, "How are you feeling? After that last battle."
Selena hesitated, then exhaled. "Mentally drained," she admitted. "I've been burning too much energy. I keep thinking I need better long-range spells, but I'm not there yet. Most of what I've got… drains me faster than I can manage."
Tio hummed thoughtfully. "Then what is your fighting style, exactly?"
That gave Selena pause. She slowed her pace, a contemplative look pulling at her brows as they walked. Her lips pressed together, eyes narrowing slightly.
Tio glanced sideways and smiled to herself. She liked that look—the way Selena's whole face scrunched when she was deep in thought, like solving a puzzle only she could see.
"Right now?" Selena said eventually. "It's kind of a mess. I'm using a mix between sword techniques, chakra-based skills, a gun—sort of—and my innate magic."
Tio blinked. "A gun?"
Selena smirked. "Yeah. It's… complicated. The skill's a copy of something someone else used. Works well, but drains energy like crazy."
"Your style sounds like chaos incarnate," Tio said, bemused.
Selena actually laughed. "You're not wrong. I am chaos. I'm trying to make it work, but my energy management is terrible. The chakra-based stuff isn't stable yet—it's good for bursts, but I can't rely on it in extended fights."
She looked ahead, her gaze steady now. "What does come easy is the monster magic. Skills I've picked up feel… natural. Like breathing underwater. I lean on them more often now to supplement the rest of my toolkit. It helps keep me viable at close range, and I've got a few strong mid-range attacks too."
Tio gave her a thoughtful glance. "So, your instinct is to fight up close, but your power wants to branch wider. You're trying to force both ends to meet."
Selena nodded. "Yeah. Pretty much."
They walked a few more steps in silence, then Tio tilted her head, glancing sideways again.
"I've only seen you use that gun skill a few times," she said. "But you're good. Too good for someone who supposedly just copied it. How can you handle it like it's second nature?"
Selena let out a quiet chuckle, then tapped the side of her temple, just under her eye. "Because I know Hajime."
Selena smirked. "Yeah. It's… complicated. The skill's a copy of something someone else used."
Tio raised a brow. "Let me guess—Hajime."
"Bingo." Selena gave a small laugh. "It works well enough, but it drains energy like crazy. And unlike him, I don't have the same support setup. He's got artifact systems that auto-reload his ammo. I don't. I have to do it manually."
She gave a helpless shrug. "At best, I can carry two reloads. Any more, and it starts weighing me down."
Then, casually, she shook the small fanny pack strapped just above her hip. "I keep them back here."
Tio's eyes flicked downward—and didn't come back up right away.
Selena caught it and immediately cleared her throat. Loudly. "Ahem. Eyes up, dragon lady."
Tio smiled behind her fan, thoroughly unbothered. "Fufu. I was simply assessing the structural efficiency of your storage solution."
"You were not," Selena muttered, cheeks coloring slightly.
Tio gave an innocent tilt of her head. "Well, whichever one you meant to show off—your fanny pack or your—hm, let's call it your 'mobility asset'—both look great. Truly."
Selena shot her a sharp glare, but couldn't quite suppress the smirk tugging at her lips. "You're impossible."
"And yet you keep walking beside me," Tio said sweetly.
Selena rolled her eyes but didn't move away.
With a satisfied hum, Tio let the teasing simmer down and smoothly brought the conversation back on track. "So, your style is adapting, but you're still refining how to sustain it. Energy's your biggest limiter."
"Exactly." Selena's tone was steady again, slipping back into focus. "The chakra-based skills are high output, high cost. Monster-based magic feels natural, but it's mostly close to mid-range. The gun skill helps me push further out, but with my current loadout… I can't rely on it too often."
Tio nodded, this time with genuine contemplation. "Then your next step isn't power. It's efficiency."
Selena glanced at her. "And here I thought I was just trying not to trip over my own chaos."
Tio chuckled. "Chaos can be beautiful. Especially when it hits its mark."
Selena didn't say anything, but the slight curve of her lips said she agreed.
Realization bloomed behind her expression.
"Fufu…" Tio snapped open her fan with a soft flourish, half-covering her face in mock-dramatic fashion. "So the peeping tom eye is good for more than sneaking into places you're not supposed to be."
Selena rolled her eyes. "It's called observation."
"Mmm-hmm." Tio's golden eyes sparkled over the edge of her fan. "Observation, imitation, replication… quite the little mimic, aren't you?"
"I don't just copy. I refine," Selena said with a smirk. "And I don't peek."
"Pity," Tio said, fluttering her fan. "You're missing out on all kinds of fascinating research."
Selena gave her a look. "I'm not touching that."
Tio laughed, the sound light and genuine, not her usual sultry purr. "Fair enough. Still… I'm impressed. Not many can pick up someone else's weapon style and make it feel like their own."
Selena shrugged. "I've always had to adapt. That's just how I survived."
Tio studied her for a quiet moment. Then, softly, she folded her fan and stepped a little closer—not to press, but simply to walk beside her at the same pace.
Because in this moment, Selena wasn't just a puzzle or an intrigue.
She was becoming. And Tio… was honored to be there for it.
The grassland trail they walked gradually curved toward a small roadside plaza—just a handful of market stalls and tucked-away shops meant for travelers passing through. One stood out: a clothing boutique with silk streamers hanging from its awning and colorful displays in the windows.
Tio's eyes lit up immediately.
"Ooh~ Shall we take a look?" she asked, already drifting toward the shopfront. "Clothing is such a beautiful way to express yourself, don't you think?"
Selena slowed her pace, her expression flattening. "Pass. I'm good."
Tio blinked and turned back. "Really?"
Selena gestured at herself—dark, fitted ninja-style attire, belts and straps neatly fastened. "This works fine. Comfortable. Functional. That's all I need."
Tio raised an eyebrow, arms crossing. "And how did you dress back in your world?"
Selena thought for a second. "Uniform. Six days a week."
Tio blinked again. "Uniform?"
"Yeah. School outfit. Standard blazer and skirt. Didn't have to think about it."
Tio let out a small, dramatic sigh. "So you never explored your fashion sense? No expressive coats? Flowy skirts? Not even boots with character?"
"I had a hoodie I liked," Selena offered flatly.
Tio looked genuinely heartbroken. "Darling… we have so much work to do."
Selena gave her a dry look. "Just wait until we make it back to our world—because from what I've seen here?" She glanced around at the mix of rustic tunics and frilly peasant blouses nearby. "Most of the styles look like bad fantasy cosplay."
Tio gasped. "You wound me."
Selena smirked.
"But what about me?" Tio said suddenly, stepping directly in front of her.
Selena blinked as Tio did a graceful spin, her ornate kimono catching the breeze, fluttering elegantly around her. Golds, deep purples, embroidered accents—it all shimmered softly in the light.
"It does look great on you," Selena admitted after a pause.
Her gaze lingered a bit longer than she meant it to—specifically at the way the silk hugged Tio's hips… and her chest.
Just a second too long.
Tio arched an eyebrow. "Mm?"
Selena cleared her throat and quickly looked away. "Anyway."
Tio smirked but played it off, gracefully pretending not to notice. "Well, since you're not in the mood for a wardrobe makeover, how about a snack?"
"Food sounds safer," Selena muttered.
"Less dangerous for your heart, perhaps," Tio said, already drifting toward a food cart with a knowing sway in her step.
Selena followed, and though her expression was neutral, her ears were a bit pink.
As they neared the outer edge of the plaza, a few passersby turned to look.
Selena could've sworn she caught murmurs—soft voices carried by the breeze.
"Who is that woman?"
"She's gorgeous…"
"Is she nobility?"
"That kimono—she must be someone important."
Selena stiffened.
She glanced at Tio—radiant as ever in her embroidered finery, smiling without even trying, golden eyes catching the light like polished amber. Of course she was drawing attention. She always did.
Selena didn't think about it.
She just reached out, grabbed Tio's hand, and tugged her away—firmly, but not harshly—down one of the cobblestone paths leading into the food section of the city.
"Let's eat," she muttered, eyes forward, choosing the first half-decent stall she saw without even looking at the menu.
Tio blinked, then let herself be pulled along without protest. Her lips curled into a slow, quiet smile.
Selena didn't say anything. Not about the stares. Not about the hand-holding. She simply let go when they reached the stall, already scanning the posted menu like nothing happened.
But Tio's heart fluttered—just a little.
She didn't need the words. Not when Selena, flustered and prickly as she was, had chosen to take her by the hand. Had claimed her in the simplest, purest way.
And Tio adored it.
Even if Selena pretended otherwise.
The scent of fresh tea and warm, lightly glazed sweet bread drifted in the morning air. The small outdoor café they had stopped at was peaceful—tucked against the corner of a quiet street near the edge of Fuhren's trade district.
Selena sat with one leg crossed over the other, hands loosely wrapped around her teacup, letting the warmth soak into her fingers. Across from her, Tio stirred a bit of honey into hers, smiling faintly as she watched steam curl upward.
"...Hajime wants to go home," Tio said gently, not looking directly at her. "What about you?"
Selena blinked, caught off guard by the question. She looked down at her reflection in the tea.
"I'm not sure," she said quietly. "I… I think I did. Once."
Tio watched her closely, noting the way her shoulders curled inward just slightly. "But?"
Selena's lips pressed into a faint line. "But I am starting to enjoy this adventure."
Tio nodded, sensing there was more there, but she didn't press. At least not now.
Before Selena could continue, boom—an explosion rocked the street, the ground trembling beneath their table. The building across from the café shuddered, then collapsed in a spray of dust and shattered wood.
Selena was on her feet in a blink, hand already on her weapon.
From the rubble emerged Hajime and Shea, stepping out through the smoke. Between them, dragging limply by the collar, was a man who looked like every bone in his body had been broken—limbs twisted at awkward angles, his face a swollen mess of bruises.
Hajime didn't look winded. If anything, he seemed annoyed.
"They had Myu," he said flatly as he approached the group. "A Daygom—merfolk girl. She was kidnapped. We tried to bring her to the local authorities."
He glanced back toward the smoking ruins. "They blew it up before we could get her to safety. Then they demanded we turn over every girl in the party."
Selena's eyes narrowed. "Of course they did."
Shea stomped up beside Hajime, arms crossed. "Who cares what they want? We'll crush them and get Myu back ourselves!"
At that moment, Yue silently appeared at Hajime's side like a shadow, calm and unreadable.
Shea jumped slightly. "When did you get here?!"
Yue didn't answer, only glanced toward Selena.
Selena blinked. "...I'm guessing she shadowed us."
Tio let out a soft, amused hum. "Fufu~ She's quite attached."
Hajime looked around at the group, eyes sharpening. "No time to waste. We're splitting up."
He gestured, quick and decisive. "Tio, Shea—you're with each other. Search the western sector. Yue and I will hit the river district."
He turned fully toward Selena, his expression serious now. "You go solo. Northeast edge of the city. They've been moving cargo and captives through the underground. Check for signs. Use comms if you find anything."
Selena nodded, slipping into focused mode.
And then—Hajime stepped fully into the open, eyes hard, back straight, no hesitation in his voice.
"We move now. Anyone in our way?"
He glanced once toward the ruined building, then toward the stunned crowd watching from a distance.
"They'll find out what happens when they cross us."
And just like that, the calm morning shattered—replaced by tension, fire, and forward momentum.
The party scattered.
And Selena headed into the storm alone.