The sky was bright and blue, the forest, full of vitality, had gone about its daily routine, and the water streams continued to trickle down like they always had. It was a new morning and with it, was another wonderful experience.
Now that a new day had arrived, it was time for Grey and Yuna to part ways with their first home once again. Their bodies were already draped in their gears and their equipment, ready to be used. No matter where one looked at them, they looked like true adventurers.
Their trip was supposed to be yesterday, but because of unforeseen events and Yuna's previous condition, continuing was out of the question. The previous day was spent relaxing and playing games.
"Yuna, are you sure you're alright now?" ［Grey］
"Geez... How many times have I told you already? Like I said before, I'm all well, and... Please stop asking that question already! It's embarrassing!" ［Yuna］
Yuna was fuming as she tried to retort against Grey, puffing her cheeks adorably to show her dissatisfaction. While she tried to avoid Grey's eyes at all cost, she wasn't actually mad at him, only a little embarrassed to show her face.
No matter how much she tried to forget, those passionate events still lingers around her mind. And every time Grey reminds her of it, it only makes her recall everything. There was no reason she wouldn't be embarrassed with her personality.
"Well, I was just making sure... Alright, let's go!" ［Grey］
Their preparations all done, Grey extended his hand towards Yuna, the latter took it happily with a smile on her face. Soon after, the door opened and they came out of the wooden cabin, ready for the adventure waiting for them.
The two continued to walk until they arrived at a clearing. It was the same place Sirius landed and was going to be the same place where they will use to once again reach the sky and soar between the clouds.
"Sirius, are you ready?" ［Grey］
At Grey's words, his shadow trembled as it should, a little fragment breaking out and shooting out outwards. The fragment grew larger and larger until such, an identifiable figure was formed. Sirius has been summoned.
"I await your orders, Master, Mistress." ［Sirius］
The large dragon once again bowed her head towards Grey and Yuna. In response to her gesture, Yuna caressed the sides of her massive jaws gently all the while embracing as much of Sirius' body as she can.
Yuna and Sirius looked like a pet owner and a pet who were getting along with each other. Well, it would have looked that way if the one being petted wasn't a humongous and platinum-scaled High Dragon. Well, at least they looked good together.
"Sirius, we'll be in your care again." ［Grey］
"You can leave it to me, Master." ［Sirius］
Without much effort, Grey hopped on top of Sirius' back. Following him, Yuna also hopped on and sat down without much worry. Although she was an elf, she had also never been in any of Ingrasia's towns and cities. She was quite excited.
Sirius spread open her wings once again. With a few gusts of wind blowing against the dense forest, she has soared high up to the sky. The world below which was full of browns and greens was now changed to blues and whites on the world above.
The journey went on smoothly and because of the games Grey made, it was never boring. It was also thanks to Sirius' great stability in flying that they could enjoy such liberties even when flying on a dragon's back.
Night soon fell and after traveling for the whole day, they have closed more than 80% of the distance. Even then, all they could see was green as far as the eyes could see. It was more than impressive how far the great forest stretched.
The very next morning, Grey and Yuna once again departed from their camp site. They rode on Sirius' back and soared into the open sky. Well, it only lasted for a couple of hours. The reason was simple. It was because they were only a few distances away from their destination.
"Grey, is that it...?" ［Yuna］
Asked Yuna as she pointed into the horizon. While normal people may see nothing, to Grey and Yuna whose sight reaches places kilometers of distance away, there was a familiar silhouette. It was the silhouette of a city.
"Yeah, that's it... The Elven City, Torvis!" ［Grey］
Over the eternal horizon, a grand structure was standing proudly. Its walls dwarfing trees and hills, its gates large enough to accommodate giants if they existed, and the people lining up like ants to an ant hill. It was a familiar sight.
Not wanting to cause any needless panic, Grey and Yuna had Sirius land down a nearby forest. The city was still quite the distance away, but it was not a problem for the two. They could easily cover a distance without breaking any sweat.
"Thank you for your help, Sirius." ［Grey］
"It was my pleasure, Master, Mistress." ［Sirius］
"See you later～!" ［Yuna］
As quickly as she appeared, Sirius also disappeared into thin air just as suddenly. The forest returned to its normal state like nothing happened and Grey and Yuna also continued down their path.
The distance which one could only gawk at was quickly closed by Grey and Yuna in a matter of seconds. Forget about enchanted carriages, even those are like snails compared to the two youths who are just going about their days.
In just a mere fraction of a minute, the large walls they only saw from afar were now only just several meters in front of them. While they still have to line up, it was nothing too bothersome. Rather, they enjoyed it.
Time quickly passed and the line moved along orderly. Grey and Yuna who were at the end of the line were now nearly in the front, their excitement welling up even more as they saw a glimpse inside the elven city they have been looking forward to.
"Your IDs, please." ［Guard］
A familiar statement. Even though they were in a foreign land, Grey and Yuna were relieved that some things were similar to what they were used to. Somehow, they recalled their first arrival in Galderia after hearing it.
Just as the guard asked, Grey and Yuna handed their guild cards to him. They were the alternate cards they just got from the Adventurers' Guild. Since it was the first time they were trying it out, they couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
The guard, after receiving their cards, eyed them curiously. He looked back and forth between Grey and Yuna and their cards with scrutinizing eyes. His actions only made the two before him feel nervous.
"F-rank... Looks like we have promising youths here! F-ranks at such a young age... Ain't that something?" ［Guard］
Thankfully, their anxiety was all for naught. The guard was simply surprised with how accomplished they were despite being so young. It was a fresh reaction after hearing stiff greetings over the last couple of months.
Also, Grey's impression of elves have drastically changed. Velzier and Aria being the only elves he knew apart from Yuna, he thought they would all be more sophisticated, but the man before him was just like any other middle-aged guard, he was loud and boisterous.
"Right, I haven't seen the two of you 'round here. Where are you from?" ［Guard］
"Ah, we came from Alfrione through the Great Haltea Forest." ［Grey］
"Oh! Alfrione! And by the Great Haltea Forest no less! No wonder you're so strong despite your youth! Truly, young adventurers should look for more adventures like the two of you. Y'know, back in my day..." ［Guard］
In a wild turn of things, the guard started his monologue about his past. He hasn't even returned the guild cards back to them, and now, Grey and Yuna were forced to put up with them. It was like listening to the ramblings of an old man.
Thankfully, there were other guards present, accommodating the people entering. Unfortunately, that was all they could do. They could not help Grey and Yuna out of their situation. They all looked at them with eyes of pity.
"Ah! Looks like I've been ramblin' for too long. I haven't even introduced myself. The name's Roen. If you need somethin', I'm the man for the job!" ［Roen］
"My name's Shin, and this is my partner, Elena. It's good to meet you." ［Grey］
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mister Roen." ［Yuna］
"Hahaha, what's with the formalities? Just call me Roen. Ah, right! Here are your IDs. Sorry to keep you waitin'." ［Roen］
As if he just remembered, Roen returned Grey and Yuna's IDs to their respective owners. The former was still wearing a big smile on his face, starting to admire the two youths in front of him.
It was also worth noting that Grey and Yuna had practiced a lot of times regarding their greetings. After all, their alternate cards would just be useless if they couldn't even remember their "Names" correctly.
"Squad Leader Roen! There's something we need you for in the barracks!"
"Oh, just a minute! Tell 'em I'll be there soon." ［Roen］
"Understood!"
Another guard appeared, but he soon went back to where he came from. There wasn't much of an exchange between them. Only one which belonged to that of simple colleagues.
Meanwhile, Grey and Yuna finally understood why no guards dared to scold Roen. He was actually their superior, and a squad leader at that. They would be lying if they said they weren't surprised even by a little bit.
"Well, that's my cue... See you later, kiddosー No, actually, before I forget... Ehem! Ehem! Ehem!" ［Roen］
Once, twice, thrice. Roen faked a cough three times to clear his throat. It wasn't that it was itchy or anything of the sorts. No, not at all. The man just thought it would give a better performance if he did so.
"Welcome to the city of Torvis! I hope you'll have a wonderful stay!" ［Roen］
Roen's statement ended with a large smile on his face, extending from ear to ear, showing off his pearly white teeth. And as if it was contagious, Grey and Yuna soon found themselves also smiling cheerfully, following the man before them.
After which, they all waved their hands goodbye and parted ways with one another. Roen headed towards the barracks to answer his duties while Grey and Yuna entered the city with eyes brimming with excitement and curiosity.
Tall buildings, crowded streets, colorful houses, and massive roads. The city was just like any other they have been to before. The only difference was that there are much more trees and vegetation around as if the city was a big garden.
Apart from the structures, the very first thing to notice was the abundance of elves. While there were humans, therianthropes, and other races around, the number of elves outnumbered the other races 20 to 1. They dominated the city.
"Amazing... So many elves...!" ［Yuna］
Even Yuna who was an elf herself couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with how many of them there were. Back in her village, there were only a couple hundred, but just in front of her, she could already count more than a thousand heads. It was nothing short of amazing.
"Hey, Yuna, come on! You're really going to be left behind if you keep spacing out like that." ［Grey］
"A-Ah, wait for me!" ［Yuna］
"Haha, catch me if you can!" ［Grey］
"Agh... Grey...!" ［Yuna］
Teasing Yuna a little, Grey headed off into the city without any direction in mind. Excitement was evident on his face as he looked around the city curiously like a little child who just played in the playground for the first time.
It didn't take long for Yuna to catch up to him and they then explored the city together, hands linked with one another. They neither knew any landmarks around nor any particular place at all. They just went ahead and explored blindly, with the thrill of adventure with them.
Before they noticed, they had already arrived at the market. Just like the one in Galderia, it was quite expansive. The only difference was that the products sold had more fruits and vegetables in comparison to meat.
The timing was just perfect. It was almost time for lunch and now that they were in the market, an elven market in a new kingdom at that, Grey and Yuna took the opportunity to experience new food and specialties.
The two scoured the market far and wide in search for things new to their eyes. And their trip wasn't in any way unsuccessful. They were able to have a taste of elven cuisine and managed to snag themselves new ingredients on the market.
After lunch, Grey and Yuna continued exploring the city, and with a little bit of asking here and there, they were able to determine a few famous spots of the city, starting with the sacred tree which are landmarks in every elven town and city.
The sacred tree, like the name suggests, is a special kind of tree which is able to absorb mana from the surroundings more efficiently than other trees do. While it doesn't really do much other than being a symbol of hope and good health, they are very important in elven culture.
"Oh, looks like we could see it from here already." ［Grey］
"Waah～! It's massive..." ［Yuna］
Grey and Yuna's comments echoed throughout the air as they watched over a large tree in front of them. The closer they approached, the bigger and more impressive the tree looked. It looked like it had been there for hundreds of years already.
The tree easily and proudly stood more than 40 meters in height, with its trunk measuring about four of five meters in diameter. It would take more than four adult men just so that they could embrace the whole trunk. Calling it massive would just be a major understatement.
The Sacred Tree wasn't alone either. Around it was a variety of beautiful and vibrant flora which is teeming with life. There were patches of flowers, bushes, and even water lilies atop a small pond. It was easy to see how well maintained the place was.
Well, despite it being called a sacred tree, the security around it was quite lax. Rather than a sacred sanctuary which people are prohibited from entering, it was like a public park where people could spend the day and relax.
"Yuna, do you want to have a little picnic?" ［Grey］
"Hm? Do we even have enough food to have a picnic?" ［Yuna］
"Haha, don't worry. We have more than plenty." ［Grey］
"Okay! Let's do it!" ［Yuna］
Enthusiasm was present in Yuna's voice as she followed Grey towards an open spot. There, Grey took out a picnic blanket and spread it on top of the soft, green grass. After which, the sweet desserts followed.
There was cake and there was pudding, ice cream could be seen as well. They were all desserts that Grey and Yuna made in their spare time. It didn't take long before the picnic blanket was filled with colorful desserts.
"After you, Milady." ［Grey］
"Fufufu, thank you, Sir Grey." ［Yuna］
"It was my pleasure." ［Grey］
Playing a little bit, Grey and Yuna sat down the soft blanket as they inhaled the fresh and gentle breeze. Despite them being in the center of the city, the air was surprisingly clean and calming. It was as if they were still in the forest.
"Here, Yuna, say ahh～!" ［Grey］
"Eh?! Why so suddenly?!" ［Yuna］
"Well, you fed me just a couple days ago. Now, it's my turn to pay you back. Come on now, don't be shy～." ［Grey］
"Grey, that's..." ［Yuna］
Yuna tried to reason her way out, but all her efforts were for naught. In the end, Grey had his way with her and he was able to feed her a spoonful of cake. The latter felt strangely satisfied.
"Alright, Grey, your turn! Ahh～!" ［Yuna］
"Then I'll happily oblige." ［Grey］
"Eh?! Ah?!" ［Yuna］
Completely contrasting to Yuna's expectations, Grey openly accepted her invitation and ate the cake Yuna was feeding him without any hesitation. With it, Yuna's little plan for revenge has been completely ruined.
Well, Grey would be lying if he said he wasn't embarrassed. After all, no matter which angle he looked at it, they were still in an open and public space. He was just better at hiding his emotions than Yuna who was now completely red.
It was fortunate that they were in a public area, otherwise, Grey wouldn't know what he would have done by now. Yuna was just too adorable that he felt like he was getting mad. He was already proud of his self-control.
"Then, it's your turn again, right, Yuna?" ［Grey］
"N-No! Enough already!" ［Yuna］
Trying to get out of her predicament, Yuna puffed her cheeks, acting as if she was mad as she adorably flailed her arms. Unfortunately for her, such cute actions only made Grey want to tease her more.
Grey and Yuna's little sweet time together lasted for almost an hour. After which, they explored the city a bit more, finding lots of interesting things and witnessing several astonishing events. Of course, they skillfully avoided the horse stables they so hate once again.
Time passed once more and the sun had started to set. Like any other settlement, the liveliness of the city slowly died down. Thankfully, the two managed to ask some local folks about good inns to stay the night.
The inn which was recommended to the two of them was one which went with the name "Silver Sky Pavilion". They chose it since it apparently offered bathing services, something Grey and Yuna think of as a necessity.
"For a three days' stay, that would be 1,080 kiels, breakfast and bath included. Here is the key to your room." ［Receptionist］
Grey already expected it, but the pay for inns with baths is really more expensive. Not just by a small amount, but by a sizeable margin. It was an amount which could save them a couple of dishes in a day.
Well, Grey couldn't really complain about it. It was them who were looking for a comfortable inn with a bath in the first place. All he could do was be thankful and just gracefully accept the keys.
"Thank you... Ah, right, can we use the bath right now?" ［Grey］
"Yes, you are allowed to take a bath once a day any time. Any more than that and you will have to pay an additional fee." ［Receptionist］
"I see..." ［Grey］
"If you ever have any more questions, just head over here at the reception desk or look for me. I'll do my best to answer it." ［Receptionist］
"Alright, thanks." ［Grey］
Grey had already lost count with how many encounters he had already. Despite that, he still found himself questioning why all the receptionists in Merusia were quite the lookers. He could understand those in guilds and shops, but those in family-run inns, he could only tilt his head in confusion.
Deciding to give up on such a silly topic, Grey met up with Yuna before heading to the hot baths. The very moment he dipped himself inside, he felt like he was in heaven. All his fatigue was quickly melted away.
After the bath, it was time to check the room. There was a large bed, a good cabinet, partnered with a desk, drawer, table combo. A couple of furniture and appliances and even paintings on the walls, it was more than worth it.
Thankfully, Yuna has still yet to arrive and so, Grey was able to change to his nightly attire without much trouble. Well, he won't be in the same clothes for long, because soon after, Yuna had entered the room.
Her hair still down and wet, and her face still red from the hot bath, Yuna's feminine allure was through the roof when she entered the room. It was then Grey knew that it was going to be dangerous, not for him, but for Yuna.
"Grey～!" ［Yuna］
Oblivious to Grey's struggle, Yuna, after closing the door behind her, quickly rushed up to him and gave him a tight embrace. It was so sudden that they both fell towards the bed without much resistance.
"Hehe, Grey, I caught youー Ah?!" ［Yuna］
But in fact, it was Yuna who got caught. Grey had done his best to hold himself back for the whole day. No, actually, he has been holding himself back for the past couple days already. He was already on his limits.
"Yuna, really... You should be more aware of others. Do you know how hard it was to hold back with how cute you've been acting?" ［Grey］
"Grey, what are youー" ［Yuna］
"Yuna, sorry... I don't think I can hold myself back any longer." ［Grey］
Yuna couldn't even finish her words, when suddenly, Grey seductively kissed the back of her hand, greatly surprising her. It was only then that Yuna truly understood what situation she was in.
With a flick of his finger, Grey instantly erected a sound-proof and vibration-proof barrier all over the room. His eyes were shimmering in a familiar glint Yuna had only seen a couple of nights ago.
"Be gentle, okay?" ［Yuna］
"I will." ［Grey］
The atmosphere of the room quickly turned pink as Grey and Yuna expressed their love for one another. There were no words needed, their actions were already enough proof. It was yet another long and passionate night.
CHAPTER 131 END