A loud, persistent snoring shattered the peaceful quiet of the small tavern room the following morning. Yuki was lying on the bed, arms and legs spread out, her jacket draped over her, partly concealing her face. Through the curtains, sunlight revealed her messy hair and drool-covered face.
Without warning, the door swung open with a sharp bang.
"Yuki! Get up. We're leaving."
Yuki woke with a jolt, so violently that she flew off the bed. Instead, with an awkward twist, she rolled off the edge, hitting the wooden floor with a loud thud.
"Ow! Geez, what's your deal?!" she grumbled, sitting up and rubbing the back of her head, her hair sticking out at odd angles.
"My deal," Caelric said, leaning against the doorway, "is that we're wasting daylight while you're drooling on a pillow. Get moving."
Yuki groaned and waved a dismissive hand at him. "Alright, alright! I'll get ready. Can't a girl have five more minutes to—"
"No," Caelric interrupted, his expression deadpan. "Five more minutes for you means five hours for me."
Grumbling under her breath, Yuki scrambled to her feet, yanking her jacket off the bed and attempting to smooth her hair. By the time she joined Caelric downstairs, her irritation had worn off—until she spotted him at the base of the stairs.
Gone was the bulky armor she'd seen him in before. Instead, Caelric wore a fitted dark gray robe with intricate, subtle embroidery, a short cape draped over one shoulder. His high boots and gloves matched the sleek aesthetic, and the hilt of his sword peeked from the sheath strapped at his side.
Yuki froze mid-step, blinking as her gaze swept over him. "Whoa."
Caelric glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "What?"
"You... look different," she said, hopping down the last few steps. "What happened to the armor? Not that I'm complaining—it's a pleasant look."
"It's impractical for traveling," Caelric explained, adjusting the strap of his sheath as he spoke. "My usual armor draws too much attention. We need to blend in, especially where we're headed."
Yuki nodded, her lips curving into a small smirk. "Still, you look kind of... cool like that. All mysterious and stuff. Like the edgy knight from some fantasy novel."
Caelric stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he turned away. "It's just practical. Nothing more."
But the faint pink tint creeping up his neck didn't escape Yuki's notice, and she fought back a chuckle.
"Got it, Mr. Practical," she teased, shrugging into her jacket.
Caelric ignored her and walked toward the door. "We'll stop by the market for supplies before we leave. If there's anything you need, get it now."
Yuki followed, grinning to herself. Who knew the stoic knight could get flustered?
...
The morning sun climbed higher into the sky as Yuki and Caelric approached the stables. The scent of hay and leather mingled in the air, and the faint whinnies of horses greeted them as they stepped inside. Their mounts were already saddled and waiting, their coats sleek and their saddlebags packed with essentials for the journey.
Yuki adjusted the strap of the sword slung over her shoulder—a standard-issue blade given to her by the kingdom when she was summoned. She wasn't particularly skilled with it yet, but it was better than nothing. She also carried a small satchel filled with basic supplies: dried meat, bread, water flasks, and a few healing salves. Caelric had made sure everything was well-organized, though she suspected he didn't entirely trust her with provisions.
"All set?" Caelric asked, giving his horse a final check.
Yuki nodded, tightening her grip on her reins. "Yeah. I've got the sword, food, and whatever else we need to survive. Not that I'd know what half this stuff is for if you weren't here."
Caelric smirked faintly, swinging himself onto his horse with practiced ease. "Good thing I am, then. Let's just hope you don't need to swing that sword too often."
Yuki made a face, fumbling slightly as she climbed onto her own horse. "Hey, I'm learning, okay? Give me some credit."
The horse shifted beneath her, and she adjusted her position awkwardly. While Caelric looked like he was born in the saddle, she still felt like she might slide off at any moment.
"You're doing fine," Caelric said, his tone softer. "It'll come with time."
Yuki glanced at him, surprised by the rare encouragement. "Thanks, I guess. But don't think that means you're off the hook for being a hardass earlier."
He rolled his eyes but didn't reply, instead guiding his horse out of the stable. Yuki followed, the rhythmic clop of hooves echoing against the cobblestones as they made their way out of the village.
The road ahead was long and winding, stretching through fields and forests toward the Kingdom of Lust. The distant horizon shimmered faintly under the mid-morning sun, promising adventure, danger, and who-knew-what-else.
As they rode, Yuki couldn't help but glance at her traveling companion. Caelric looked every bit the seasoned warrior, his dark gray cloak fluttering slightly in the breeze, his posture relaxed but alert. She wondered what kind of life he'd lived before meeting her—how many battles he'd fought, how many dangerous roads he'd traveled.
"You know," she said, breaking the silence, "this is probably a stupid question, but... do you think I'll get better at this whole 'hero' thing? Like, actually survive long enough to figure it out?"
Caelric glanced at her, his expression thoughtful. "That depends. Are you willing to put in the effort?"
Yuki hesitated, then nodded firmly. "Yeah. I mean, I didn't ask to be here, but since I am... I might as well try, right? Even if I'm terrible at it now, I'll figure it out eventually. Or at least fake it until I do."
A faint smile tugged at Caelric's lips. "That's a start."
The conversation settled into a companionable silence as they rode onward.
...
After three days of steady travel, Yuki and Caelric finally reached the outskirts of the Kingdom of Lust. The journey had been grueling at times, with rocky paths and the occasional bout of rain, but the sight before them made it all worth it.
Massive gates loomed ahead, carved with intricate designs of vines and blooming flowers that seemed almost alive. The gates shimmered faintly, as though enchanted, and two guards stood at attention in front of them. Both wore polished armor that glinted in the sunlight, adorned with ornate symbols that matched the opulence of the gate itself.
As they approached, the guards stepped forward, crossing their spears to block the path. One of them spoke, his voice formal and steady. "Welcome to Erosanct, travelers. State your purpose."
Yuki blinked, glancing at Caelric. "Erosanct? That's the name of this place?" she whispered, barely able to contain her surprise.
Caelric gave a faint nod. "Yes. The Kingdom of Lust has an official name. Did you think they'd just call it 'Lust'?"
"Honestly... yeah," Yuki muttered, scratching her head. "I mean, who names a kingdom after a sin? It's kind of a weird flex."
Caelric sighed. "It's symbolic. The seven kingdoms are named after the seven sins, as I explained. Each sin represents a different aspect of life and power. Erosanct embodies desire—its beauty, passion, and, yes, its excess."
Before Yuki could respond, the guard cleared his throat impatiently. "Your purpose, travelers?"
Caelric straightened in his saddle, his tone calm and even. "We're simple travelers, seeking shelter and trade within your kingdom. We mean no harm."
The guards exchanged glances before lowering their spears. "Very well. You may enter, but remember: the laws of Erosanct are strict. Disruptions will not be tolerated."
Yuki leaned toward Caelric, whispering, "Strict laws? In the Kingdom of Lust? That doesn't add up."
"Just follow my lead," Caelric murmured back, guiding his horse forward as the gates slowly began to open.
As they passed through, Yuki caught her first glimpse of Erosanct—and her jaw nearly dropped. The streets were paved with smooth, iridescent stones that sparkled like gems. Elegant buildings with arched windows and intricate carvings lined the roads, and the air was filled with the scent of exotic flowers. People of all species and appearances walked the streets, their attire ranging from extravagant silks to simple yet finely made clothing.
Yuki stared in awe. "This place is... wow."
Yuki and Caelric dismounted their horses in front of an ornately decorated stable near the kingdom's entrance. The stable master, a tall human with sharp features and a friendly demeanor, greeted them and guided their horses inside. Yuki gave her horse a gentle pat on the neck before stepping back.
"Be good, okay?" she murmured, feeling oddly sentimental about the animal she'd barely known for three days.
As they left the stable and entered the bustling streets of Erosanct, Yuki's eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. Everywhere she turned, people looked as if they'd stepped straight out of an anime—or maybe a fantasy photo shoot.
Elves moved with unmatched grace, their silken clothes flowing as if animated by the wind itself. Their long ears twitched slightly as they spoke in melodic tones, and their features were so perfect they could've been sculpted from marble.
Sirens stood in groups, their laughter like a gentle melody that seemed to make the air shimmer. Their vibrant hair and sparkling eyes made them impossible to ignore, and Yuki spotted one performing on a street corner, drawing a crowd with their hypnotic voice.
Humans blended seamlessly into the mix, playing flutes, selling intricately crafted jewelry, and performing street plays that drew cheers from passersby.
And then there were the Sylphs—ethereal beings with translucent wings that glimmered like a kaleidoscope in sunlight. Their light, airy movements gave the impression they could drift away on a breeze at any moment.
Yuki clasped her hands together, her cheeks reddening as she let out a delighted squeal. "Oh. My. Gosh. Everyone here is so fricking hot! I mean, are we even in reality anymore? It's like I fell into some kind of reverse harem anime, but everyone is equally gorgeous!"
Caelric blinked at her, utterly baffled. "What are you talking about?"
"Look around, Caelric!" Yuki gestured wildly at the people passing by. "Do you see these elves? Their faces are like... divine masterpieces! And those Sylphs? They're literally glowing! How can you not be freaking out right now?"
Caelric gave the crowd a cursory glance, his expression unchanging. "They look... normal to me."
"Normal? Are you blind?! This is peak fantasy aesthetic, okay? Just admit it—you're impressed."
Caelric sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Focus, Yuki. We're not here to admire anyone. We need to figure out how to get the page."
"Oh, right," Yuki said, shaking herself out of her fangirling. "So what's the plan? Are we sneaking in? Do I have to pretend to be royalty or something?"
"No," Caelric replied. "We're going to explain your situation and... hope for the best."
Yuki stopped in her tracks, staring at him. "Wait. What?"
"You heard me," he said, glancing over his shoulder.
"Hope for the best? That's your plan?" Yuki's voice rose a pitch, drawing a few curious looks from nearby elves. She lowered her voice but didn't stop glaring at him. "Are you serious? What if they say no? What if they arrest us? What if they—"
Caelric cut her off with a calm but firm tone. "It's the best option we have. The kingdoms don't exactly have the friendliest relationships, politically speaking. And technically, neither of us is supposed to be here."
"Wait, what?" Yuki repeated, more alarmed this time.
"You were summoned in the Kingdom of Greed," Caelric explained. "That makes you, in their eyes, part of Greed's affairs. As for me, I'm a knight from Greed. The other kingdoms might not take kindly to either of us showing up unannounced."
"So, let me get this straight." Yuki's voice was dripping with sarcasm now. "We're walking into the Kingdom of Lust, hoping they'll give us something super important, while also being very aware that we're technically not welcome here?"
"Correct."
Yuki groaned, slapping her palm against her forehead. "Why does this feel like the start of a really bad sitcom?"
Caelric smirked faintly. "Relax. We'll figure it out. Just... try not to draw too much attention to yourself."
Yuki shot him a skeptical look but reluctantly nodded. "Fine. But if this goes south, I'm blaming you."
"Noted," Caelric replied, continuing forward as Yuki followed, muttering under her breath about how ridiculous this whole situation was.
As they wandered deeper into Erosanct, the streets grew even more vibrant, with musicians playing lively tunes, vendors calling out their wares, and performers dazzling crowds with acrobatics. Yuki was still marveling at the scene when Caelric stopped abruptly, turning to face her with a thoughtful expression.
"Alright," he began, "here's the plan. We need to approach the right people to even get a chance at securing the page. I know someone in this kingdom who might be able to help us."
Yuki blinked. "Wait, you know someone here? How does a knight from Greed even have connections in the Kingdom of Lust?"
Caelric crossed his arms, his tone calm but firm. "That's not important right now. What matters is that they're nearby, and I need to meet with them alone to avoid drawing unnecessary attention."
"Okay, but what am I supposed to do while you're off being all mysterious?"
Caelric reached into his pouch and pulled out a handful of coins, pressing them into Yuki's hand. "Explore the area. Get a feel for the place. Just... try not to get into trouble."
Yuki stared at the coins in her hand, then back at him, her brow furrowed. There was something unspoken in his words, something that made her stomach twist slightly. It wasn't just the responsibility of being left alone—it was the weight of his implicit trust.
Her lips twitched into an awkward smile as she asked, "Why are you trusting me with this? I'm not exactly the most... dependable person, you know."
"You have the copy skill," Caelric replied matter-of-factly. "If something happens, you can defend yourself."
Yuki let out a dry laugh, her voice dropping into a low, sarcastic tone as she muttered to herself, "Yeah, because it's sogreat."
Caelric didn't seem to hear her—or he chose to ignore it. He turned slightly, pointing toward a nearby bar with a wooden sign hanging above its entrance. "If we lose track of each other, we'll meet back there. Understood?"
"Wait," Yuki protested as she tried to process everything. "I'm still new to all of this! What if something goes wrong?"
"You'll figure it out," Caelric said simply, his tone unyielding but not unkind. "Just be careful."
And with that, he turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Yuki standing alone in the middle of the lively street.
She watched him go, the coins still clutched in her hand, and sighed. "Right. Figure it out. Easy for him to say," she mumbled, glancing around at the bustling marketplace.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Yuki was truly alone.