Chris and Amelia are back in their room at the inn. Their new ~friend~ Serena is staying in the room next to them. Amelia is not entirely happy about this.
It is early in the morning and they are lying in bed. They had been very tired last night and fell asleep quickly despite everything that had happened.
"Is it really a good idea to bring the enemy into our home?", Amelia says to Chris.
"I think she has just had a rough start in life. Maybe you should go over and get to know her a bit better.", Chris answers with a reassuring smile.
"Okay, I will.", Amelia responds and starts preparing herself.
A while later Amelia is ready and exits their room. She walks a couple of meters to the left and turns to the guards, "I wish to visit the prisoner.".
"Yes, my Lady", the right guard answers and knocks on the door.
"Come in!", Serena yells from inside.
"Pardon my intrusion. I have a few questions for you.", Amelia says as she steps inside and looks at Serena.
Serena is standing over by the window. She seems to be enjoying the rays of sunlight shining in. She looks amazing in the light. Her sharp contours, full lips, and fierce brown eyes. She is wearing her regular long black robe.
"Ask away, I am at your service", Serena answers and motions for Amelia to sit down with her on the bed.
"Do you mind if I take off this robe? It is too warm in here. I only put it on because I had a visitor.", Serena adds.
"I don't mind. I will make sure to get you some new clothes when I leave.", Amelia answers.
Serena takes off the robe. She is only wearing simple handmaid leather panties and a bra underneath.
"Your skin is perfect!", Amelia exclaims surprisedly. "I thought you had lived a difficult life", she adds.
"It became like this when I was brought to this world. It was like all my old scars and imperfections were erased. I have also been in excellent health ever since coming here and my skeletons have kept me out of harm's way.", Serena answers.
Amelia considers Serena's answer and thinks that it is indeed similar to what happened to Chris. Amelia gives Serena a fierce look and says, "Can you somehow convince me tha", but is interrupted.
"You are still far prettier than me, don't you know that?", Serena says in response to Amelia's flattery.
"I don't know about that. Besides your look is much more exotic. Have you already seduced Chris? Is that why he seems to trust you far more than he should?", Amelia answers giving Serena a look of suspiciousness.
"I never even had to do anything for him to spare me. I just realized how futile it would be to fight him and decided to surrender. I assumed that he would kill me, or hurt and imprison me. I was even more shocked than you were when he told you that he had spared me.", Serena explains with a serious expression.
"You are far more beautiful than me. You are like an elven goddess! Maybe you are the one I should seduce.", Serena adds and tries her best to look sexy.
Amelia is briefly stunned by her boldness, but then she leans over and gives Serena a gentle kiss on the lips. Serena is first surprised, but then she returns it with a more intense and passionate one.
Suddenly Amelia pushes Serena back, "We shouldn't do this. I can't trust you.".
Serena looks very disappointed but soon answers, "Of course, I don't want to make you uncomfortable even if you were the one who kissed me first. I will do my best to earn your trust.".
Amelia hurries back to the room next door and quickly closes the door behind her.
Chris gives her a worried look, "Is everything okay?".
"Yes, yes, everything is fine. I- I just don't trust her yet.", Amelia answers blushing. She didn't know what had gotten into her. Serena had just looked so very appealing and all her flattery. "This sexual awakening of late must be making me crazy.", she thought to herself.
...
The days go by and Chris handles some business with the merchants' guild regarding all the vampire fangs he had delivered to them. He also works in his smithy, melting down old weapons and refining equipment for a lot of customers who have made custom orders. There hasn't been any time for forging new equipment. Serena follows him around for everything and he tells her a lot about Harborton and she soon starts helping him out in the smithy.
She is not used to meeting people, so she tries to avoid customers, but she is skilled with her magic. Surprisingly Chris manages to teach her some energy crafting and she is then able to help with some easier refining tasks.
When Serena is not with Chris, she is either moving about freely in the inn accompanied by the two guards or she is out with Amelia. After a few days, Amelia had brought her out for some shopping and since then, they seem to be growing closer each day that goes by.
...
"I need to check on the village before we head back into the mountain to look for that dwarven hold you told me about.", Chris says to Serena.
"Okay, will you bring me back to the inn first?", Serena answers. They have just visited Chris' smithy, Harborton's Refinest after eating breakfast at the inn.
"No, I am bringing you with me as per usual. However, I think it is best if we do not expose your identity of being the Necromancer that tormented them for years. Just come along as a companion of mine. Of course, I am assuming that they never had the chance to see you?", Chris responds.
"Okay, I am happy to go with you. No, they never saw anything other than my skeletons.", Serena answers happily. She had grown accustomed to always following Chris around. Some people would probably feel limited by this, but after having been on her own for so long it was a really nice change of pace.
...
Chris and Serena get to Amber Village and there are people working everywhere. Two new watchtowers are being constructed, the lumber mill is being extended, a large house or more like a manor is being built and many other smaller projects are ongoing. More resources than usual are being transported to and from the village. The big difference is that there are not just wood products going out, but a lot of other resources are being brought in.
Chris finds Thor in the middle of the village square. "Hi Thor, you seem to be in the middle of turning the village into a small town.", Chris says.
"Haha! Welcome back, my Lord. You put me in charge and so I intend to do my very best.", Thor answers with a big grin on his face. He is feeling quite proud of himself and their village.
"Is there anything you need?", Chris asks.
"If you weren't joking about turning this village into a town, then I will need a lot more resources. What we have started doing now are just some small improvements in comparison to that.", Thor says with a worried expression.
"It was a joke, but if you can make it happen, then I am happy to provide you with the means. Contact Harborton's Refinest and they will help you out. I will be going on a journey again.", Chris says with excitement written all over his face.
Chris introduces Serena to Thor and some of the other villagers, then he gives her a quick tour and then they head off toward the mountains.