They sat back, their hunger sated by the delicious meal. Ethan did not know why, but the monster meat melted in his mouth in a burst of flavour. He could feel that the meat was rich and filling. He felt content as he inspected the ladies at the table. Though Wendy and Lucy were clearly in pain, they took it in their stride, not complaining. With this meal, he could give them essence without holding back.
Sophia let him know as soon as he finished his last bite.
"Alas, your resources are optimal, and excess is being stored."
"Alas, thank you, Sophia, for the update. This means the world to me having you by my side every step of the way."
Ethan got the distinct feeling that Sophia was blushing. He counted his blessings, finding friends, Wendy and Lucy. He also counted all the other people he had met in the past few days. He wanted to run outside and shout how happy he was to know he had the cores and the entities inside it. He now understood that he had five cores inside him. He could not have guessed that his weapons had entities inside his cores in a thousand years. The best part was that they were not just from his original realm but beautiful ladies. Wendy laid her head on Ethan's shoulder and sighed.
"Hail, I am fully sated. That was delicious. Penny knows how to prepare food."
They had not noticed, but Penny and Shaw sat behind them, eating the meat skewers. Their daughters sat with them, focused on their meals.
"Meow, we should thank Grace and Ethan for this meal. Shaw will walk Grace to the guild hall. The staff must be worried about her by now."
Grace sat up.
"What time was it already?"
"Alas, before you leave, Grace, we will come to the adventure guild tomorrow after training. Let us register for an adventure party together. I do not want anyone stealing such a great hunter and partner from us."
Grace was silent, and Penny slapped her shoulder, laughing.
"Meow, great news. It is a party that my friend wants to go to. She is the best, believe me."
Grace stood. Looking at the floor, fidgeting with her dress.
"Thank you for the food."
Grace bolted out the door. Ethan looked at Penny to see what had just happened. Penny sat down next to Lucy, who stared out the door. Wendy did not move her head from his shoulder. Ethan had the suspicion that she had dosed off just a second ago. He wondered if he had overstepped his bounds or if a guild master could not join a party.
Did he lose his hunting partner?
He could feel a knot in his throat and a hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. Lucy's ears twitched. Ethan wanted to caress the white fluffy ears and brush his fingers through her long white and pink hair. Her emerald-green eye stared at the table, the other eye still swollen shut and an angry purple.
Ethan wanted to hug and cuddle her, but the urge was almost irresistible at that moment. Shaw had run after Grace, and there was more to her story than he knew.
Penny called Melisa over with her finger.
"Meow, please bring us a craft of wine and mugs. Melisa, ensure it is the warm, spiced wine your father prepared for tomorrow's meal."
Penny started explaining what had happened to Grace and why she acted like she did. Penny remarked that this was the first time she had seen Grace wear such a short skirt, and she was surprised when she said she would hunt with Ethan. Penny explained that she did not trust men and swore never to get involved with one. She would die a maiden at an old age. Then Penny went into the incident that made her famous in the area.
Grace was part of an adventure party led by Gruft, a dwarf of renown. They had set out for Iron Mountain, one of the most dangerous dungeons known to adventurers. She was the newcomer. She and Gruft had grown up as childhood friends. He climbed the ranks fast, but Grace needed to help at home. Gruft took her away from home to help her. She was young, pretty, and had potential.
Unfortunately, when they arrived at the dungeon after a three-week travel by cart, a group of noble adventurers had also spotted her. One noble and his cousin had waited outside the dungeon for them. When they came out of the dungeon, the noble adventurers attacked. They bound Gruft and his wife. They had bound all the party members except Grace.
The cousin pinned her down, and the noble ripped her clothing off piece by piece. Gruft did not know how, but she wrestled her one arm free. She ripped off the noble's family jewels and threw them in a bush. She smashed her head into the cousin's face, breaking his nose. She got hold of a short sword and killed the noble's party. The noble and his cousin escaped and vowed they would get revenge someday.
It had been two years since that day, and Grace had been appointed the guild master by the king for showing bravery in the face of such insurmountable odds. Grace had made a magical contract with two friends who had the same experience: never to get romantically involved with a man. They had suffered under men, and their pact gave them power beyond that of others. Penny sighed. The problem is that the three are teases and can arouse men, getting them in hot water faster than a lightning bolt.
"Meow, understand this: It will not be easy to be friends with her. Shaw is immune to her, but I can see that you desire her. She will disappoint you in that regard."
Penny looked at Wendy with a knowing stare, and Wendy looked away, folding her arms as if offended.
"Alas, how did she wind up here? She could have been in the city."
"Meow, King Helgar gave her this guild, built it and funded it out of his pocket. First, we were worried that he was going to plough her. It is rare for people to give such gifts without asking anything. Grace was born here, and she had lived here her whole life."
She informs him that Helgar loves women and has five wives. He also has young girls serving as his attendants. She informed him that Thompson was Helgar's friend.
"Meow, Thompson, always surrounded by young women. You should see how scantily the female officers dress, and they fawn over him. He can do with them as he pleases."
Penny made a sound like spitting to the side. She disapproved of this. It made sense that she had two pretty daughters. Who would want men like that to do things to them? Ethan looked down and had a full mug of warm, spiced wine in his hands.
He took a sip. It was delicious, and it warmed the soul. Wendy was awake, and Lucy had her mug between her hands. The nights were cold, and they told him winter would be here in seven weeks. The girls would need new clothes, warm sweaters, and underwear. How will they manage on their small budget, he thought.
Penny interrupted his thoughts.
"Meow, you and your girls will eat free from now on. Only pay us for the room."
"Alas, thank you for the generous offer. I would convince Grace to come and hunt with me again."
"Meow, she needs time to process her feelings. She went out on a limb today. Wearing revealing clothes and hunting with a man alone in the forest."
Ethan thought she wanted him to do something to her. It would make her believe that all men were scum, and she would then not have to leave her comfort zone. Ethan could understand what Penny had said about her being a tease. He understood that had he acted on his desire, he would have been down one friend and hunting partner. He contemplated whether he could be that oblivious to women and their charms.
Ethan looked at Wendy and Lucy. No, that could not be. His heart raced as he remembered placing his hands directly on their flowers. No, he thought he was overthinking it. He could not be oblivious. He was a hunter, and spotting things was his superpower. He looked at Penny as she waited for him to speak, his thoughts speeding in his mind. He could swear he heard the five ladies on the mountain giggle at his predicament. He decided that he was overthinking.
Melisa brought the two arrows, giving them to Penny.
"Meow, take her arrow to her tomorrow. It will be a great excuse to see her."
"Squee, I think she likes Ethan as any woman should."
Ethan stared at Lucy, intoxicated from the wine. She glared back with one eye and then giggled. Wendy had her head on his shoulder again, her mug empty. She was drooling as she slept.
"Alas, thank you, Penny. I will follow your advice. I like Grace. Let me take these two doves to bed. They need to recover for tomorrow."
Penny stood and joined her family, taking the wine with her. Ethan drank the rest of the spiced wine. He went to a knee next to the table as Wendy fell sideways; he guided her, and she lay her head on the bench.
"Alas, Lucy, get on my back."
Lucy complied and climbed onto his back, her arms around his neck. He pulled Wendy closer and took her, placing his hand under her butt to support her. Her head was resting on his shoulder. With Wendy in front and Lucy on his back, his other hand under her butt, he went upstairs. Stopped at the toilets, had them do their ablutions, and took them to bed.