It was finally time for Joshua to walk around without looking like a beggar. The moment he walked through the village, people noticed it.
"Would you look at that," a man said after passing by Joshua.
Joshua showed off his new armor set and said. "I know, I know. I look too handsome, Anthony."
"We both know I'm handsome here," Anthony laughed, passing by Joshua. "I have some duties to fulfill, Joshua. Maybe another time we can chat about how handsome I'm."
Anthony was one of the few guards the village had. He's cool, and it seems he takes his job seriously. Considering that a general of the army lives in the same place as him.
After that brief encounter, Joshua went to see Aurora. It had been some time since they last talked. They were both busy with the trip to the capital getting closer and closer. Joshua wanted to get his level up to five. Aurora could not level up just yet, as she did not have a class. That did not stop her from practicing her magic meditation every single day.
'Are there guests in here?' Joshua thought. A carriage he had never seen was there, so he guessed it was from someone else.
As soon as he got closer to the house, Richard noticed his presence. For a moment, he got stunned upon seeing him.
"You're already level 3?" Richard walked out of the house and asked. "Brat, what are you doing to level up so fast? Share the secret with his old man."
"The secret? I don't know. I see a monster, and then I kill it." Joshua thought more about it and then nodded, reassuring that was the correct answer. "That's it."
"You see a monster, and then you kill it?" Richard focused his gaze on him for a moment and then laughed. "You never change."
"Is that a compliment?" Joshua asked.
"I guess it is."
They both walked in, and before Joshua asked about the carriage, Richard answered him.
"There's someone I want you to meet. Remember the bandits you arrested that day? Well, this is my friend from the army, Gideon." Richard pointed to the man that was sitting at the dinner table. "He's here to bring the bandits to the capital. I asked him if he could get us a ride, and he agreed. He'll be staying with us for the time being."
"So you're the one that arrested the bandits? Good job, kid. I heard from this lady here good things about you." Gideon looked towards Aurora. She wished she could hide her face in embarrassment.
"You did, Aurora? Anyway, I'm Joshua. Nice to meet you, Gideon."
With that, they all sit at the table for dinner. Gideon was a tall blonde man, and he looked like he was in his thirties. Richard and Gideon shared stories about their time in the army.
"Richard was my general back then, and he taught me a lot of the things I know to this very day. I've managed to become a general myself thanks to him."
"It's nothing like that." Richard looked towards Joshua and said. "He's just being humble. Quite a talented man he is. You and he are quite alike."
Joshua was not sure he believed that. He was a legendary hero, after all. Only the other heroes could say things like that.
~~~~
They all ate until their stomachs screamed for mercy. Gideon went to one of the guests' rooms. Joshua had used one in his first days at the village. As they had not talked for a while, Richard gave the idea of Joshua staying for the night. He accepted it. For that reason, Joshua and Aurora chatted all night long.
"Are you excited about our trip? I can't wait to join the magic academy." Aurora was happy about that, but another thing was constantly popping inside her mind.
"Of course I am. I can't join the magic academy, but I'll join the mercenary guild. So we can hang out when both are free."
"Are you serious? I was so scared of not seeing you again." They both got closer and hugged each other for a long time. Aurora's cheeks were red, and Joshua's heart was racing. That moment had been great for both of them, and with that, they both knew how each other felt. Aurora had liked him since the day he saved her, but that was it. As the time passed, her feelings grew, and Joshua's also.
"I-I think I like you." Aurora gathered all of her courage to say that aloud.
Joshua's smile was as big as it could be. Aurora was beautiful. Her personality matched well with Joshua's, and she had been there for him since day one. He felt that way too.
"Aurora, I think I like you too." Their lips touched for the first time. A warm sensation enveloped both of them, and they got lost in that moment. Joshua wanted more as things started to heat up.
"I think we should wait to do that. I'm not ready yet, and my father is nearby."
"Yeah, it's too soon. Maybe we can think of that in the future? After we settled in the capital."
"Okay," Aurora smiled, and they both got back to the kissing. That night had been something none of them would forget. They wanted to sleep together, but Richard would find them in the morning, and who knows how he would react. Richard liked Joshua, but as a father, he would surely be protective, and it was a fact that Joshua had shown up out of nowhere. What if the man his daughter loved was someone from a dangerous background. Only time will make Richard fully accept Joshua.
Aurora left Joshua's room late that night. They did not only kiss, but they also shared their feelings. The next step would happen in the capital, and they could not wait for that.
~~~~
A cloaked figure entered the jail where some lowly bandits were locked. They all got up after seeing the cloaked figure.
"Did boss see? We told you we were right." the one who seemed like the leader stepped up and said. It was clear that they were all scared.
"You guys did a good job. Don't worry. I'll get you out of here. There's another job I want you to do for me," a sinister smile could be seen beneath the black hood.