Carter and Emma said goodbye to each other with a warm exchange of smiles before he stepped outside the Adventurer's Guild. The cool evening air brushed against his face as he took a deep breath, feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. "What a day," he muttered to himself, his thoughts reflecting on the events. "I've made two solid connections, finalized a deal with the guild, and even saved a tiger demihuman woman. Not bad, Carter. Not bad at all."
As he walked through the lively streets, Carter continued talking to himself, letting his excitement spill out in a stream of thoughts. "With these connections, I can make good money and start building the shop I've been dreaming about. A place where I can sell potions, flowers, and everything I grow. It'll be more than a business—it'll be a place where people feel welcome."
He couldn't help but smile as he quickened his pace. "And with Aria, Lily, and Ivy by my side, there's nothing I can't do."
Before long, he arrived at the potion shop. The familiar chime of the doorbell rang as he stepped inside. Almost instantly, Ivy leapt toward him, chirping happily. Carter knelt down, grinning as he scratched behind her ears. "Hey, Ivy! Did you miss me? I'm back," he said warmly, his voice full of affection.
From the back of the shop, Aria and Lily emerged, their faces lighting up when they saw him. "Carter!" Lily exclaimed, running over to hug him. Aria followed closely behind, her smile softer but just as warm.
"Welcome back," Aria said, her tone carrying a soothing warmth that made Carter's chest feel lighter. He stepped forward, wrapping both of them in a quick hug. When he pulled back, he leaned in to kiss Aria's cheek. She blinked in surprise but quickly smiled, her cheeks flushing faintly.
"How was your day?" Aria asked as Lily looked up at him expectantly.
Carter chuckled, motioning for them to sit as he began recounting the day's events. "It was eventful. I sold some potions, made more connections, and then...well, this tiger demihuman woman was brought into the guild, seriously injured. I stepped in to help."
Lily's eyes widened. "You helped her? Is she okay now?"
"Yeah," Carter said with a nod. "She's stable. I used one of my potions and some healing magic to make sure she pulled through."
Aria's smile remained calm, but a subtle edge crept into her eyes as she tilted her head slightly. "And how, exactly, did you give her the potion?" she asked sweetly, though her tone carried an undertone that made Carter's heart skip.
He scratched the back of his head nervously. "Well, uh...she couldn't open her mouth, so I had to...uh...administer it...mouth-to-mouth."
Aria's eyes narrowed, and a cold, dark smile spread across her face. "Mouth-to-mouth, you say?"
Carter waved his hands defensively, laughing awkwardly. "I-It wasn't like that! I swear, it was purely to save her life!"
Aria began walking toward him, her aura radiating a faint but unmistakable intensity. Carter's eyes widened as he took a step back. "H-Hey now, Aria, let's not jump to conclusions! It's not what you think!" he stammered, his voice rising an octave.
Lily giggled, clearly enjoying the scene. "You're in trouble, Carter!"
"Traitors," Carter muttered under his breath as Aria stopped directly in front of him, her smile still in place.
Before he could say another word, Aria grabbed his collar and pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. Carter's eyes widened in shock before he melted into the kiss, his hands hovering awkwardly before resting gently on her arms. The world around them seemed to fade away for a few long moments.
When Aria finally pulled back, her eyes sparkled with mischief. Carter was left standing there, dazed and slightly breathless. "W-What was that for?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly.
Aria giggled, tilting her head. "That's for being my hardworking boyfriend. And," she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a flirtatious whisper, "for making sure you remember who you belong to."
Lily burst out laughing. "You two are so funny! Carter, you look like you're about to pass out."
Carter rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks flushing. "I'm starting to think I'm in over my head here."
Aria smirked, her expression softening. "Oh, you are. But that's part of the fun." She turned to walk away, but paused, glancing back at him. "And Carter? Just a little warning: be careful about future...women trying to get too close to you. I'm not exactly the sharing type."
Her words, though playful, carried a weight that made Carter gulp. "R-Right. Got it," he said, nodding vigorously.
Lily giggled again, leaning against Ivy. "Carter, you're going to have your hands full with Aria. Good luck!"
Aria gave Lily a playful smile, her demeanor instantly shifting back to warmth. "I'm not that bad, am I?" she teased.
As the three of them continued chatting and laughing late into the evening, Carter couldn't help but feel both exhilarated and slightly nervous about what the future held. One thing was certain: life with Aria, Lily, and Ivy by his side would never be boring.
Meanwhile, back at the guild, in the room where the tiger demihuman woman lay, she began to stir. Her emerald eyes fluttered open, and she groaned softly, her body feeling heavy and tired. She sat up weakly, holding her head as she tried to piece together her thoughts.
"What...what happened?" Raena muttered to herself, her voice hoarse. Memories started trickling back: the mission, saving those two adventurers, the ambush, and the sharp pain as she shielded them from the attack. Her last recollection was of collapsing, darkness swallowing her whole.
"I blacked out," she whispered, her hands clutching the blanket tightly. "That's all I can remember." She sat there for a moment longer, her thoughts spinning, before shaking her head. "I need to figure out what happened."
Despite her fatigue, Raena swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up unsteadily. She reached for her clothes and slowly dressed herself, every movement deliberate as her body protested. Once ready, she glanced at the mirror in the corner, brushing her red hair back and taking a deep breath. "Let's see what's going on," she murmured.
As Raena made her way downstairs, the lively hum of the guild greeted her. Conversations paused, and heads turned as the tiger demihuman descended the steps. Whispers quickly spread among the adventurers.
"She's awake?"
"That's Raena, right? The one who saved those two rookies?"
"How is she even standing after what happened?"
The two adventurers she had saved spotted her and immediately ran over, their expressions a mixture of relief and gratitude. "Raena! You're okay!" one of them exclaimed. The other nodded vigorously. "Thank you so much for saving us. We thought..." His voice trailed off, and he looked away guiltily.
Raena raised a hand, her lips curving into a small, tired smile. "I'm glad you two are safe. That's all that matters." Her tone was gentle, but her legs wobbled slightly, betraying her exhaustion.
Emma, noticing the commotion, hurried over. The receptionist's face lit up with a warm smile when she saw Raena. "You're awake! Are you alright?"
Raena stuttered awkwardly, "Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Just...a little tired." She rubbed the back of her neck, clearly unused to the attention.
Emma's smile widened. "That's good. I'm glad to hear it."
Raena hesitated, then asked, "How am I...alive? The last thing I remember is..." Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head. "It doesn't matter. What happened?"
Emma's eyes softened, and she gestured for Raena to sit at one of the tables. Once seated, Emma explained everything. "When those two brought you back here, you were in bad shape. No one's healing magic was working, and we thought we might lose you. That's when a young man named Carter stepped in."
Raena's ears twitched. "Carter?" she repeated, unfamiliar with the name.
Emma nodded. "He used one of his potions and a bit of healing magic to stabilize you. He saved your life."
Raena sat back, processing the information. As Emma's words sank in, a flash of memory flickered in Raena's mind. A vivid image of Carter's face leaning over her, his expression focused and determined, surfaced. Her eyes widened slightly as she whispered, "That face...he was there."
Emma nodded with a warm smile. "Yes, he was the one who made sure you'd be here to wake up today."
Raena's gaze dropped to her hands, and a flicker of gratitude crossed her face. "I owe him," she murmured. "If I get the chance, I'll thank him personally."
Emma smiled again. "I think he'd appreciate that. But for now, you should rest. You've been through a lot."
Raena shook her head stubbornly. "Rest can wait. I need to find a way to repay this debt." She stood up, her resolve firm despite her lingering fatigue.
Emma sighed but didn't press further. "Just don't push yourself too hard, alright? If you need anything, let me know."
Raena gave a small nod before turning her attention back to the bustling guild. She felt a strange mix of gratitude and determination. Whoever this Carter was, she silently vowed to repay him—one way or another.
It was getting late, and the warm glow of the setting sun streamed through the windows of the potion shop. Inside, Carter, Lily, Aria, and Ivy were gathered, talking about what they wanted to eat for dinner.
"I want something sweet!" Lily exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
Aria chuckled, crossing her arms confidently. "Something sweet? We need a proper meal first, Lily. Dessert comes after."
"What about something hearty, like stew?" Carter suggested, glancing at the shelves as he wiped down the counter.
Lily pouted. "Fine, but only if there's dessert after."
Aria smirked, leaning slightly against the counter. "You've got yourself a deal. I'll help Carter cook something later. Don't worry, Lily. We'll make sure it's good."
As they debated their dinner plans, the shop began to pick up with a few last-minute customers. Carter and Aria moved seamlessly around each other, assisting patrons while chatting and laughing in between. Aria's confident demeanor shone as she handled questions from customers with ease, her tone always warm yet professional. Every now and then, Carter would lean closer to her, his voice dropping into a teasing tone.
"You know, you're making it hard for me to focus when you look at me like that," he said quietly, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.
Aria raised an eyebrow, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush but her tone unwavering. "And you're making it hard for me to stay professional," she shot back, her words laced with playful confidence.
When no one was looking, Carter stole a quick kiss, making Aria's blush deepen. She swatted his arm lightly, glancing over to ensure Lily hadn't noticed. "Behave," she whispered, though her smirk betrayed her enjoyment of their stolen moments.
As the shop quieted down and the time to close approached, Lily and Aria found themselves tidying up together. They chatted easily, the conversation flowing like a natural big-and-little-sister dynamic.
"You're really good at helping around here, Lily," Aria said, smiling as she folded a cloth. Her voice carried genuine warmth and encouragement.
Lily beamed. "I just like being useful! And it's fun spending time with you and Carter."
Aria laughed softly, her golden eyes glinting with affection. "You're part of the family now, so it's only natural we all work together. Besides, you've got great energy—it's contagious."
Lily giggled, leaning closer to Aria. "You're like the big sister I always wanted. It's nice to have someone to talk to."
Aria's expression softened, and she placed a hand on Lily's shoulder. "Well, you've got me now. And I'm not going anywhere."
Carter watched the scene unfold from across the room, his heart swelling with warmth. Ivy perched on his shoulder, chirping happily as Carter scratched behind her ears.
"Ivy," Carter murmured, his voice low and affectionate. "Our little family's gotten bigger, hasn't it?"
Ivy chirped again, snuggling against his cheek. Carter laughed softly, his hand coming up to support her as she nuzzled him. "Yeah, I know. It's nice, isn't it?"
The shop's atmosphere grew quieter as the last customer left, and Carter locked the door behind them. Aria, ever supportive, leaned against the counter, her presence a calming yet invigorating force.
"You did great today," she said, her tone light yet sincere. "You're building something really special here, Carter."
Carter chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "I couldn't do it without you. Or Lily. Or Ivy."
Aria tilted her head, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Good answer. Keep that up, and you might just earn dessert tonight."
As the evening wound down, the three of them laughed and chatted, enjoying the comfort of their growing family. Carter couldn't help but feel grateful for the life he was building, surrounded by the people—and creatures—he cared about most.