"Wait. Let me clarify: a few days after Lazuli and I left, your body began experiencing rapid changes, and within a week, you went from that tiny little boy to now this male model?" Asked Alexander lightly as he looked at Vanimo, who raised an eyebrow before nodding with a smile while sitting opposite of him.
"Ah, I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a model, but yes, that's what happened." Replied Vanimo softly as he rubbed his head before faintly smiling, causing Alexander to shift his expression to Vanye, who softly nodded in agreement.
"The only reason I even began to experience these changes is because you broke the curse placed upon me; without you, I would've forever stayed as that little body that was commonly mistaken for a girl." Added Vanimo softly as he stood up and approached Alexander before embracing him in a hug, causing him to awkwardly reciprocate the gesture.
"Thank you, Alex, truly. You don't know how much this means to me." Muttered Vanimo softly as he tightly hugged Alexander, who gently patted his back with a faint smile.
"You're welcome, Vanimo; however, don't start crying; you're a man now; you wouldn't want Vanye or Talis to think less of you, would you?" Said Alexander with a faint smile as he glanced at Vanimo, who faintly chuckled and nodded before wiping his tears.
"Sorry, you're right. I can't cry over every little thing now; I've got a little sister and now a lover to protect!" Stated Vanimo sternly as he wiped his tears with a hardened gaze, causing Alexander to smile proudly.
"Heh, that's what I want to see, Vanimo." Said Alexander with a smirk as he patted Vanimo's shoulder, only for him to shift his focus to Talis sitting beside Lazuli.
"Now, I'd like to ask… What the hell happened to you, Lazuli? Just last month, you were an adorable feathery bird, and now you're, well…" Asked Alexander as he carefully looked at Talis, who tilted her head, only for Vanimo to pick up where he left off.
"... Beautiful?" "Um, I was going to use a stronger word, but yeah, that's the gist of it." Said Vanimo and Alexander, respectively, as the former proudly raised his head while the latter hesitantly nodded before shifting his focus to Talis.
"Oh, it's really simple, Alex. About two weeks ago, I was flying through the forest and smelled something delicious, and since I was hungry, I followed the scent. When I arrived, I saw a red, pulsating fruit at the center of a clearing while numerous beasts fought each other surrounding it; however, since it was I, Talis, the Queen of the Skies, I swooped down and stole it from all of them." Stated Talis proudly as she puffed out her chest, causing Alexander to gulp while Vanimo clapped his hands, completely enthralled by her.
"After I found a quiet place, I ate the fruit, went to sleep, and then I woke up looking like this." Added Talis as she stood up and spread her large wings while proudly raising her head to the sky, causing Alexander to rub his head.
"Wait, you ate a red pulsating fruit? Oh, Talis, it seems I was mistaken… You are stupid." Muttered Alexander with a raised eyebrow, only for him to sigh while shaking his head in disappointment.
While I was coming to terms with how close Talis was to dying by eating some unknown fruit, Vanimo and her started to behave all lovey-dovey with each other, which I found to be a bit weird, seeing as how they didn't know each other for long, but since I could tell they held a rather deep love for each other, I remained silent and simply observed them.
"T-Talis and I will be right back." Said Vanimo with a slight smile and a faint blush as he glanced between Alexander, Vanye, and Lazuli while Talis dragged him off into the forest, the two quickly vanishing within the thick vegetation.
"Are they going to do what I think?" "Yes. These past two weeks have been rather terrible for me. Do you know what it's like listening to your brother having sex nearly every night? I'm barely able to get any sleep." Said Alexander and Vanye, respectively, as the latter vented her stored-up annoyance, causing the former to lightly nod.
"So they're already that far into their relationship, huh? I'm a bit jealous of him; Talis is incredibly sexy now." Remarked Alexader softly as he looked in the direction that Vanimo and Talis walked off in while Lazuli and Vanye both looked at him.
"I can make that jealousy vanish." Said Lazuli softly as she leaned into Alexander's embrace and looked at Vanye with a faint, wicked smirk, causing her expression to twitch in annoyance.
Before I could even refuse her advances, Lazuli stood up and began pulling me in the opposite direction of where Vanimo and Talis had entered the forest; at this point, it was a bit too late to stop her, so I just went with the flow and picked her up as I dashed deeper into the forest.
"Let's make this quick." Said Alexander sternly as he set Lazuli down and pushed her against a tree while she stuck out her butt, awaiting his cock.
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Although I told Lazuli to make it quick, we returned by nightfall, and it was a little awkward since one, Vanye was clearly annoyed with us, and two, we returned long after Vanimo and Talis despite initially only leaving a minute after them.
"Um, I'll make some food. Talis, go hunt for some food." Said Alexander with a faint smile as he cleared his throat and lit a flame atop his hand while Talis nodded.
With Talis flying off to acquire us some food, I asked Vanimo and Lazuli to get some sticks and stones for the firepit, leaving just Vanye and I alone.
'Heh, all according to plan.' Thought Alexander with a faint smirk as he looked at Vanye, who had her eyes closed.
Using [Blink], I appeared sitting right beside her, causing her to open an eye and glance at me before promptly closing it, clearly annoyed with me.
"I've asked about Vanimo and Talis, but what about you, Vanye; how are you? Have you been well?" Asked Alexander earnestly with a faint smile as he poked Vanye's cheek, only for her to swiftly grab his finger while reddish-black mana surrounded her hand.
"Okay, okay, sorry, I'll stop." Said Alexander quickly, in slight pain, causing Vanye to snort as she released his finger, which had withered ever so slightly, though it was only a matter of time before it returned to normal.
"Lost. Vanimo and I have nowhere to go, and I have nothing to strive for. For most of my life, I've been searching for a way to break Vanimo's curse; never once have I thought about what I'd do afterward, and now that it's happened, I'm feeling lost, unsure of myself." Said Vanye softly with a deep sigh as she lowered her head, causing Alexander to softly and in understanding.
"I kind of know what you're feeling." "Really?" Said Alexander and Vanye, respectively, as the latter skeptically glanced at the former, causing him to nod.
"Yeah, I only say kind of because it lasted only a few days; it was after my Master died. Back then, she was my entire world, so I was left lost when she died, but I'd long since wished to be an adventurer, to follow in her footsteps and make her proud, so it didn't take long for me to settle on my decision. From the looks of things, you weren't as lucky as me." Replied Alexander with a nod as he looked into the sky with a faint smile, only to shake his head and glance at Vanye.
"I would say I'm luckier… I didn't lose Vanimo." "Heh, that's true." Remarked Vanye and Alexander, respectively, as the latter smirked and nodded.
"Anyway, other than being an ear for you to voice your concerns, I can't really help you out; this is your life; after all, I can't make decisions for you. Unfortunately, you must figure that out alone or with Vanimo." Stated Alexander softly as he playfully bumped Vanye, causing a faint smile to grace her face, only for her to sigh again.
"Yeah, I know. It's troubling, though." Said Vanye softly as she lowered her head, causing Alexander to nod before faintly smiling.
"How about you stay with me?" "Hmm?" Asked Alexander and Vanye, respectively, as the latter stared at the former in confusion, causing him to shake his head.
"I don't mean just me unless it's just you. I wouldn't mind that." Added Alexander with a faint smirk as he nudged Vanye with his elbow while she blankly looked at him, causing him to cough awkwardly.
"Anyway, I meant, why not stay with my family until you figure out what you wish to do? We live on the Mezcla continent, but traveling between the two continents isn't that big of a problem; it's a little time-consuming, but that's all. Also, I personally think it'll offer more opportunities for you given its sheer diversity; after all, who says you must use that sword? Maybe you can be a chef or something." Remarked Alexander with a smile as he looked at Vanye, who furrowed her brows at his words, seemingly contemplating, only to roll her eyes.
"A chef? Don't mock me; I've tasted your food, and if that's what it takes to be a chef, then I might as well waste away the rest of my life doing nothing." Said Vanye, her words causing Alexander to chuckle as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Hehe, don't worry, I'll tell you my secrets." Said Alexander quietly, causing Vanye to faintly smile while shaking her head in amusement.
"Ho, Vanye, what is this? Alex, with his arm wrapped over your shoulder? It seems like you do quite like him." Said Vanimo with a mischievous grin as he carried several sticks while looking at Vanye and Alexander.
"Hmph, as if." Said Vanye with a scoff as she removed Alexander's arm, folded her arms, and averted her gaze.