With that thought, I hastily pack up camp and begin trekking through the forest and a frosty mountain path to the dark stone monolithic structure carved into the side of a mountain that is Euphoria Palace, the entrance is marked by two huge golden statues of Dibella that are nearly three times my height.
A female guard in unique black and silver armor guards the entrance to the brothel, "Welcome to Euphoria Palace the ultimate source of entertainment in Tamriel. Discover yourself physically and mentally with the guidance of our lovely ladies. Indulge yourself in the Valhalla and Saahel bars, mingle with the patrons, and watch the exotic dance shows as you drink the night away. But do not let that be the end of your life! Ascend to the second floor and succumb to our sirens' lustful calls. Choose your fantasy and they will make it a reality." She says, trying to sell me on their services.
Though, the several pairs of daggers being stared into my back quickly kills any idea I had of going into this pleasure palace while I've got the girls with me, "Sadly, I am here on business. I have a letter to deliver. It's from Marcus Pinder."
"Ah, thank you. It shall be delivered as soon as my shift ends." The guard says tacitly.
"Well, I think Marcus would prefer that it is delivered im-" I say before she cuts me off.
"Yes, yes. We get letters like this all the time. Let us do our job and you do yours, courier." The guard says dismissively once she realizes I'm just a hired hand.
I walk away trying to contain my anger when I see Kasia standing alone on a balcony outside the Palace. I walk over to her.
"How did it go?" Kasia asks.
"The guard got the letter, but she was rather dismissive." I explain leaning on the railing beside her.
"Well, I guess that's what happens when it comes from a frequent customer." Kasia says with a derisive glare out into the valley below.
"Is something wrong?" I ask turning towards her.
"I'm just thinking… I can't help but feel mesmerized by the majesty of this world… And yet so sad that I have to go back under my rock for gods know how long until I can see it again." Kasia laments turning towards me.
I bump her with my shoulder and smile, "Isn't that what makes it even better? The anticipation of seeing it again?" I say trying to comfort her.
"But will I? At least like this? With all of you? Because of you, my father allowed me to go out with a group of complete strangers and without hiding my identity. I have no way of knowing for sure if I will ever get another chance at being so close to freedom." Kasia says giving me a questioning look.
"Just worry on living in the present, and you might be pleasantly surprised with what it has to offer." I say wrapping my arm around her shoulder with a big smile.
"Or pleasantly disappointed. But I see your point. Maybe this is only the beginning of something wonderful?" Kasia says before staring into my eyes with a faint blush on her cheeks before looking back over the railing.
"Dad won't let me spend my birthday cooped up inside again with only the Zun-Za family as party guests… Speaking of… W-would you like to come to my party, Commander?" Kasia asks ducking her head down shyly.
"Why don't you just call me Silvantus? If we're close enough to go to each other's birthday parties, then surely you can use my first name…" I say before leaning in and whispering into her ear, "Kasia."
"S-so, y-you'll c-come… S-silvantus?" Kasia stutters out slightly embarrassed.
"It'd be my honor." I say pulling back and giving her a smile.
"Yay! Let's head back right away so that you can get that important job done and visit me sooner!" Kasia exclaims happily before wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me into a hug before whispering into my ear, "Thank you, your presence will definitely be the greatest gift I receive on my birthday." Giving me a swift, yet soft caress of my cheek with her lips as the unexpected sensation freezes me long enough to allow her to slip from my grasp and start walking down the mountainous path before turning to see what is about to happen to me.
Though the party wasn't as frozen as me, as out of the corner of my I see a snowball whiz through the air and nail me in the side of the face.
Knocking me out of my distracted state, as I turn around, I see Inigo and M'rissi laughing their tails off as Sofia is standing perfectly still, with her hands behind her back, innocently whistling.
"Oh hell naw!" I shout, making up a snowball and throwing it at her.
A snowball that sailed perfectly through the air, making it impossible to miss its intended target... Had the target not dodged... Making me look on in horror as the snowball wizzes past Sofia and now is on a trajectory to hit a M'rissi that is currently laughing too hard at my misfortunate to notice her own barreling straight towards her.
*Thwack*
"Mreow?! Why you do that to her?! She did nothing to deserve that! You mischievous Fluffy! She will get you back for that!" M'rissi shouts before balling up some snow and running towards me.
Though, I remember my training from middle school as I dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge. In fact, I do it so well that when M'rissi throws her snowball she slips on some ice and tumbles down onto me.
"Mreow, you are too hard Fluffy, it hurt going on you." M'rissi says innocently while rubbing her head that took a nasty bump to my chest armor as we fell.
I rub her head, slightly playing with her ears, before giving it a small kiss and asking, "Is that better?"
A look of pure bliss washes over her face before she purs, "Purrr~fect..."
Though, I hear Sofia and then Inigo snicker to themselves, but before I can say anything more I hear Kasia shout from the path, "Oh, Ms. M'rissi! I'm going to get you for that!"
I see Kasia running up from the mountain path covered in snow, tossing a ball of snow that sails ungracefully through the sky, completely missing me and M'rissi as it sails past us and hits the still laughing Inigo.
We all freeze... Before busting out laughing, wiping ourselves off and heading back down the mountain, and through the woods, towards Jonestead.