"Sir? Are you ok?" Adresin asks me with concern.
My heart's thumping like crazy.
When was the last time I saw her?
More importantly, what should I say?
Sorry?
No. We both knew what had to happen. We fought with no regrets.
While I rack my brain for something, two more silhouettes appear in the light.
"Oh gosh! That Satyr was so rude~," a girly voice complains. Going off of her shadow, it looks like she's an elf.
"True! Let's go back and beat him up, Elder Sister," a gruffer female voice responds. This time, the owner is stocky and short: probably a dwarf.
"Relax, you two," Nifa chuckles. "We got what we were after."
I didn't think I would hear her voice again. I've simulated this moment many times in my head. But the moment I saw her, my feet unconsciously steps forward.
"Nifa?" I call out to her.
The light eventually dissipates and darkness claims the forest once again. It's dark, but I see her so clearly.
The three stop in their tracks and look at my direction.
"Who's this weirdo?" the elf says as she warily scans me.
"Oi! How dare you say Elder Sister's name so casually," the dwarf aggressively breathes at me.
Meanwhile, Nifa just stands there, mouth agape and eyes wide in surprise. She's carrying a huge treasure chest and a gross-looking staff with a screaming man's face on it.
"Richard...?" she gasps and drops everything.
"Uncle, is this your friend you were telling us about?" Grace asks groggily while rubbing her eyes.
"Yes," I reply. "One of the only two."
After I say that, Nifa sprints towards me and throws her arms around my waist.
Again, I've simulated this moment multiple times. However, I never expected that she would do something like this.
"E-elder Sister?!" her two companions say in unison.
"I see," Adresin comments cheekily. "'Friends' huh?"
"You! Don't make this any more awkward," I warn him. "And you, don't take that photo," I say to Grace who's holding her phone out.
*Click*
Damn these two...
"Hey, Nifa..." I calmly say to her. "Everyone's misunderstanding something here. Look, your friends have had their mouth open for a solid minute now."
As I mention that, the elf and the dwarf close their mouths and glare at me.
Despite my persuasion, she's not letting go of me.
"Nifa...?" I call out to her one more time.
Then, my stomach drops as I feel every muscle of her body tense up.
"Nifa?!" I exclaim in alarm as I begin to feel the danger rise.
"WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?!" she yells and with one swift motion, she arcs her back and performs a perfect German Suplex.
*BOOOM*
The ground cracks and the trees rattle as my head hit the earth. The impact kick up dust, soil, and a whole bunch of things that belong on the ground.
"Oh my god~!!" the elf exclaims.
"Uncle?!" Grace yells in concern.
Eventually, the dust settles. Nifa and I find ourselves sitting on the dirt.
"Fuck, Nifa! Are you trying to kill me?!" I yell while nursing my head.
"Oh boo hoo! We both know you won't die even if I try to kill you," she replies mockingly.
.....
"Pffft!"
"Hahahahaha"
We both made it! Last time we met, one of us had to die. This time, both of us are alive and somehow, the laughter just bursts out of us.
"I'm confused..." Grace whispers to Adresin.
"This is what friendship looks like, Miss Grace," Adresin replies. "True, genuine, friendship."
We laugh for a good while which is something that neither of us have done together.
"Hahaha, ow, ow, ow," Nifa winces as she nurses her side.
"Are you ok?" I ask as I approach her.
"Fucking Satyr," she grumbles. "I'm fine, it's just a scratch."
Not believing her words, I move her hand away and see a huge gash. It's stopped bleeding since she froze it shut.
"This'll leave a scar if you let it heal like this," I say.
She scoffs and replies, "Just another one for my collection."
"Don't say that," I reply sternly. "Take good care of yourself."
Upon hearing that, she pauses briefly.
"O-ok," she says and then turns her eyes away from me
Is she embarrassed? Nah, can't be. This is Nifa we're talking about.
"I think it's best we go to the women's camp so your friend can get treated and rest for the night," Adresin suggests.
"You're right," I reply.
I then lower myself and offer my back to Nifa.
"Here, I'll give you a ride," I say.
"Nonsense!" she replies with a tone of offense. "I can walk myself."
She tries to stand up but collapses almost immediately.
"Elder Sister!" her two companions rush at her side.
"I think it's ok to take the gentleman's offer no~?" the elf says and winks at me.
"Ugh, I hate to admit it but we can't carry you all the way to the camp," the dwarf agrees.
Nifa hesitates for a bit but eventually gets on.
"You can put me down if I'm too heavy," she says.
"Oh please, you're lighter than a feather," I reply. "Just enjoy the ride. Adresin, give her a bowl of the stew before we pack it up."
He nods and hurries to the pot.
"Stew?" she asks curiously.
"It's your favorite," I reply.
After the heartwarming reunion, we pack up everything and start heading to the women's camp. The cool night air soothes us as we traverse the dark forest. Nifa's two companions, Michelle, the elf, and Henriette, the dwarf lead the way while conversing with Adresin and Grace. Meanwhile, Nifa is happily chowing down on the bowl of stew while sitting comfortably on my back.
"Is it good?" I ask her.
"It's amazing!" she replies. "You've improved a lot since the last time I saw you."
"Haha that's good to hear."
This is nice...
I wish that our first meeting wouldn't have been as enemies but this turned out well. Speaking of meeting as enemies, there is another person I am curious about.
"Hey, Nifa," I call out to her. "Have you seen Caras yet?"
Upon mentioning his name, she grips my hair and yanks it around.
"Argh! That stupid brother of mine!" she yells in frustration.
"Ow! Don't take out your anger on my hair!" I protest.
"I looked for him everywhere!" she says. "And then when I found him, do you know what he said to me?!"
Oh boy... What the hell did you do Caras...?
"What...?" I ask.
"He said don't look for me!" she says and yanks my hair again. "Like, bitch are you for real?"
"Ow hey, stop that!" I say and put her down. "Damn, are you always this emotional?"
She hesitates for a bit.
"What if I am...?" she mutters.
Seeing her like this, I unconsciously yank her horn around playfully.
"It's a good change," I reply with a smile.
She smiles back and hops on my back again.
"So I'm assuming that you only got around to entering the cave now since you've been looking for Caras?" I ask.
"Unfortunately yeah," she replies. "Before I knew it, it's been over a month since the others got cursed. I wish I could've helped sooner but Caras' tracks are going cold so I had to prioritize it."
"Well, don't beat yourself up about it," I reassure her. "You got the staff now so everyone who's cursed can return to normal."
She doesn't answer but I could tell that she's happy.
"We're here~" Michelle announces and presents a collection of tree houses built into the large trees of the forest. In the middle of this community is a raging bon fire where people are gathered. "Welcome to Camp Theta Chi~"