"What is your name?" she asked with slight anticipation.
"My name is Virin, it's delightful to make acquaintance with you," he said politely.
-------------------
Virin kept walking while chatting with Regina for hours and the sun was almost about to set.
So he made the most logical decision.
"Hey Reina, can we take a rest? My back is killing me," he requested
"The sun is about to set as well. Moving in the dark is stupidity" he said.
"Mmm," she replied.
Then he untied the piece of cloth around their waist and let Regina down.
When she got down, she finally realized that he was a tad taller than her, at least now that she wasn't wearing any footwear.
Then he turned after looking around for a bit for something and after nodding turned around.
'He is younger than I thought,' she thought to herself while looking at him in a daze.
"Hey Rei...," but he stopped mid-sentence, as soon as she turned around.
"What?" she questioned.
"You have beautiful eyes," he mumbled while he was staring into hers, with wide-opened eyes.
She smiled gently and said, "I can't believe it."
"Hehehe! You had seen me completely naked and the only thing you complimented about, was my eyes," she said while giggling.
His eyes turned soft and with a smile, he said, "Well your smile is equally beautiful."
She nodded with a slight blush.
Women were weak to such innocent compliments.
"Moving on," he turned around and started speaking again.
"We can rest on that tree. It is girthy enough to be used as a makeshift camp," he declared while pointing towards a huge tree, which was a few meters away from the main path.
"We won't be able to light the fire to keep us warm at night," she said.
The nights were quite cold, especially in the forest.
He started moving toward the tree while joking, "I'm really sorry, but your Knight in Shining Armor is not strong enough to fight monsters in the night, my lady."
She nodded and followed while clenching her chest, as the image of her dear Knight surfaced in her mind.
If only Virin knew that his joke was like rubbing salt in her wounds.
But she knew very well that it was not his intention, so she simply ignored his comment.
When they reached the foot of the tree, Virin drew his blade and started making groves in the bark to help them climb the tree.
After 20 minutes, they were finally able to reach the base of the thickest limb which was around 2 meters in diameter.
Virin decided that it can support the weight of the duo and they can spend the night on it.
He spread the piece of cloth on the trunk to act as an insulator and for a smoother resting place.
Then he realized that it must have been quite an expensive dress that he tore off without thinking.
"I'm sorry for ruining your dress," he said while laughing dryly while offering her hand.
"Don't mention it. I'm thankful that you chose me over this pretty gown," she said as she sat on the makeshift bed.
The sun had already set a while back and the night was getting colder.
Then Virin realized that Global warming really made the difference. He felt like he was in some hilly area at the base of the Himalayas, as it was still only spring but the weather generally was cold.
He hesitantly looked at his Storage Ring, he wasn't sure how Regina would react.
Not many would appreciate looting from the dead.
Seeing his hesitation she understood what he was thinking.
She placed his hand in her's and while looking at the ring she said, "That Ring belonged to my savior, my Knight and I'm pretty sure he would feel no remorse towards you."
"Especially after you are going way out to take care of me."
"You can keep it," she said with a gentle smile.
Virin nodded, he wasn't that gullible enough to let go of such a great treasure.
While he was in deep thought, she could already feel how cold his hand were.
They both were not dressed for spending the night in the open.
She then concentrated on her storage ring.
Then suddenly a huge red-colored velvet cloak appeared in her hands.
She moved closer to Virin while moving between his legs and covered them both with the cloak to ensure he was warm.
Virin was quite surprised by her boldness.
His back was resting on the tree while she snuggled closer to him, close enough that they could feel each other's warmth.
She turned back and looked at his surprised expression.
Then she turned straight with her head crestfallen as she mumbled, "At least let me do this."
"This is all I can do, keep men warm," she muttered self mockingly.
"Huh? Who told you that?" he blurted out without realizing that he was shouting.
"That's what everyone expects of me," she said.
Since her husband passed away, everyone has been suggesting to her that she should just marry someone and bare their child.
Meanwhile, her new husband would take command of their territory.
*Haah~* he sighed and then wrapped her with the remaining cloak while hugging her from behind and began speaking.
"I'm not sure who these stupid people were, but I think you're pretty strong."
'Heck, she's stronger than me, even after I've gained a few levels after killing that old Knight,' he thought as he remembered she was at level 10 and had quite balanced status.
'She's an archer as well,' he remembered she had archery skills as well.
"You just don't know it yet," he said while yawning.
Even though he had gained a few levels, the march while carrying a curvaceous goddess on his back was still taxing.
"Hahaha! No one likes strong women," she said mockingly.
She remembered how she was reprimanded for practicing archery while everyone told her that no boy would marry such a brute woman.
"Well I do...," he muttered while he was drunk on drowsiness.
Her eyes opened widely and she turned around as a ray of the moon, that passed through the thick foliage of the tree lit his face.
"You're on the first watch. My life is in your hand, Re..g..ina," he mumbled as he fell asleep with his face resting on her backless dress.
She could feel his warm breath tingling her back. But she didn't pay much attention to it as she was in shock for another reason.
'How come he knew my real name?' she thought.
'No, no, maybe it was just gibberish,' she concluded.
But she still remembered what he said, 'He likes strong women,' and it kept on repeating in her mind.
While his moonlight face kept on flashing before her eyes.
To her, it was like God had given a commandment to her.
A warm feeling enveloped her heart and a smile crept on her face.
*Screee~*
After hearing a bestial screech, she lifted her gaze only to find a huge bat, which was around 1 meter in height hanging down from a tree branch, looking down at them with its blood-red eyes.
Then she saw several bloodthirsty eyes looking down on them.
"Don't worry, I will protect you," she muttered as a creepy smile almost borderline that of a maniac replaced her gentle smile.
Then a hunter's bow appeared from her storage ring and she gently caressed it
It was a gift she had received from the old Knight when he got to know about her skill as an archer.
She then pulled the bowstring and soon an arrow made of pure fire appeared.
Then after knocking the arrow with full strength, she let it go.
The fire arrow zoomed toward the beast and after piercing its head.
Then the ignited headless body of the beast fell on the tree trunk and burned until nothing was left.
"Hahaha, I still have it in me," she said in a hushed voice.
Then she turned around and rested Virin's head in her bountiful chest.
While caressing his head she hummed a lullaby in her sweet voice to ensure that he doesn't wake up.
Then he shot at another beast, then another one she kept on shooting the monster one by one like shooting fish in the barrel.
The bats were quite wary of her because they were weaker and their instinct told them to avoid confrontation with her.
They were waiting for her to fall asleep until one of their stupid kin blew their cover.
They tried to flee but most of them succumbed to her fiery arrows.
As she kept shooting those poor beasts with fire arrows a sadistic smile was plastered on her face as several notifications popped before her eyes.
{You've Leveled Up} {You've Leveled Up}...
But Virin never woke up, as he felt a warm sensation enveloping him while listening to her lullaby.
{You've gained a new skill: Enchantress}