During the evening, the sky above Dal'ieth was a stunning spectacle; it boasted a sky brimming with stars, and the presence of 3 moons added a sense of otherworldly beauty.
Under the stunning sky, a youthful dryad maiden with hair like gold and eyes the shade of amber perched upon a tree limb, her head resting against the rough bark of the trunk. Lost in contemplation, her lovely face wore a melancholy expression.
"Oh well, they will finally be leaving tomorrow, and I can go back to my normal life in the village as if nothing had happened. I should be happy about it, but for some reason, my mouth says one thing while my heart feels differently."
The recent days were intense and emotional, bringing forth new sensations she had never felt. Recalling the encounter with the troll, she vividly remembered the feeling of pleasure she experienced when causing the enemy pain. This sensation filled her with a strange excitement.
The next day, when it's time for them to depart from the village, she will need to suppress all her feelings and resume her uneventful daily routine. Right after, Laurelena leaped down from the tree and made her way back home.
As she approached her house, she noticed the soldiers stationed outside as well as the blue fighter with one hand, who glanced at her briefly before nodding and then turning away, paying her no more attention.
Upon entering the house, Laurelena observed the two girls sleeping side by side, embracing each other, and she couldn't help but feel envious of their intimacy. As she approached the sleeping area on the floor, she noticed a set of vivid, crimson eyes gazing back at her.
Ayaka was the one who stirred awake at the sound of the door opening. Being a fox girl, her senses were more acute than those of ordinary humans. She simply smiled softly at Laurelena before drifting back to sleep.
Luarelena simply smiled back and made her way to the sleeping bag, climbing inside before drifting off to sleep.
The following day arrived, and once again, Ayaka was the earliest to rise from her slumber, prompting Kaylessa to also stir awake. Ay noticed that Kay's previous injuries were now healed, with her complexion appearing flushed and healthy once more.
"Good morning, Ay. Gimme my morning kiss." Kaylessa began to embrace Ayaka by gently placing her hands on her neck and drawing her in for a kiss. Unbeknownst to them, Laurelena was actually awake and observing them, feigning sleep as she watched their intimate moment.
"Alright, Kay, we have a busy schedule ahead of us, and we need to start getting ready to leave before midday." Ayaka smiled and gently touched Kay's lips as she observed a small mouse peeking out and taking pleasure in the entertainment. She then chose to remain silent for the time being.
"Buu buu, Ay's tyrant is trying to make me work early in the morning. I should ask for a raise!" Ayaka shook her head in amusement as she observed Kay whine with an adorable pouty expression resembling that of a fish.
"Kay, didn't you mention yesterday that you had a plan to propose to Laurelena? It looks like she's waking up, so now would be a good time to ask her." Laurelena just flinched while she saw the smirk on Ayaka's face, and so she decided to act like she was just waking up.
"G-good morning, everyone. I am happy to see that you are feeling better, Kaylessa." Laurelena greeted them shyly before getting out of bed and heading towards the kitchen.
Ayaka went out of the house in an attempt to purchase clothing for Kaylessa, as she had only been wearing underwear and bandages since the previous day, leaving Kay and Lau alone.
"Hey, Laurelena, do you have a moment to hear about a small proposal I have?" Kaylessa looked at Laurelena as she sat at the edge of the bed while Laurelena was getting breakfast ready.
Upon hearing that, the young dryad paused briefly before nodding her head and gazing into Kay's eyes.
"Ay and I were discussing you yesterday and how you were instrumental in rescuing me when I was attacked by the troll. We admire your ability to act quickly in challenging situations, and we would like to invite you to join us as the leader of our mage squad. Are you interested?"
Kaylessa forgot Ay's advice to consider the girl's feelings first before revealing the news, so she dropped all the bombs without any warning, leaving little Lau speechless.
Yesterday, Laurelena was contemplating the possibility of asking them to bring her along with them once she had resolved her internal conflicts, though she was caught off guard when Kaylessa extended the invitation to her personally.
When Kaylessa's mind switched on and she recalled Ay's recent conversation, she felt a sudden rush of panic. "I-It's completely fine if you choose not to accept; we are not pressuring you in any way."
While Kay fluttered her hands in front of her face, Lau swiftly took hold of them and brought them close to her own face, affectionately nuzzling her cheek against them.
"From now on, I will be relying on you. Please make sure to take good care of me." After uttering those words, the front door swung open. Ay had just come back with clothes for Kay, and the first thing she noticed was Lau affectionately rubbing her face against Kay's hand, followed by a mischievous smile spreading across her face.
Ayaka was irritated by Lau's smiling face, but she quickly came up with an idea and headed towards the girls.
"I can tell from Laurelena's response that she has made the decision to join us. Since we will be spending time together, why not consider making her your soul companion as well, Kay?"
Ayaka flashed a smile and used a captivating tone that reached both girls. Kaylessa maintained her stoic expression, as she understood the soul companions were merely forming a group to share EXP during battles. On the other hand, Laurelena perceived it as a more profound commitment than marriage, considering that once you give your soul to someone, you can never betray it or love someone else.