The sun dipped low as the party arrived at the gates of Silverhaven.
Selena walked firmly at Red's side, arms folded, eyes narrowed like a hawk watching prey. Except, the prey wasn't a goblin or a bandit
It was Zara.
The beautiful silver-haired elf walked gracefully a few steps behind them, her long hair catching the golden light. Every time she got a little too close to Red, Selena would casually stretch an arm out or shift her steps, blocking the path with a smile that screamed "Back off, elf-lady."
Zara, of course, never seemed bothered. She kept her hands clasped in front of her and strolled like royalty, her violet eyes watching everything calmly, including Selena's constant territorial positioning.
Behind them, Lio and the rookie trio giggled quietly.
"Selena-san's really intense today," Hina whispered.
"She's guarding him like a dragon guarding treasure," Rika snorted.
Yuzu: More like a jealous cat!
Yuzu added, sketching a doodle of Selena with cat ears hissing at an elegant elf.
Lio, now fully armored, tried to keep a straight face.
Lio: We should probably not laugh… I mean, she might kill us…
The moment they entered the city, Red turned toward the merchant district.
Red: Come with me, You need new clothes.
Selena's mouth opened in protest
Selena: I-I can pick something for her!
but Red was already leading Zara toward a famous elven tailor.
Outside the shop, Selena paced back and forth, muttering under her breath while Lio and the rookies pretended not to eavesdrop.
Selena: It's just clothes. Not like she's going to look that amazing in them. I mean, come on, she just came from a cage…
Then the door opened.
Zara stepped out wearing a stunning elven tribal dress, woven from pale moon-thread and emerald silk, it hugged her slender frame with elegance. Silver embroidery curled along the hem like ivy vines. Her long white-silver hair fell in soft waves, and a delicate flower crown sat atop her head. She looked like a forest spirit descended from the stars.
Every passing adventurer stopped.
One stumbled into a cart. Another walked into a lamp post. One man dropped his entire coin pouch while staring and didn't even notice.
Even the dwarven blacksmith across the street whistled and muttered,
Dwarf Oki : By the forge…
Selena's jaw dropped. "O-Oh, come on!"
But Red just stood with his usual calm, arms crossed.
Red: That'll do,
Zara smiled sweetly at him.
Zara: Do you approve, Sir Red?
Selena stepped right between them.
Selena: He doesn't approve! He doesn't disapprove either! He's very neutral about everything! Also, why are you calling him 'Sir Red'!?
Zara tilted her head. "Should I call him Beloved Dark Knight instead?"
Selena: I WILL KICK YOU BACK INTO THAT CAGE!!
Selena exploded, face redder than her name.
Before anyone could laugh, or before Selena actually tried to throw hands, a sudden gust of wind swept through the street. A blue blur landed on the cobblestones beside them, bow in hand, hair fluttering.
Blue had arrived.
Dressed in his iconic long elven coat, Mithril Great bow slung over his shoulder, he landed with silent grace. His gaze locked onto Zara.
Blue: There you are.
Zara blinked. "Big brother?"
Selena and Lio exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"You're her brother!?" Selena shouted.
Blue: Obviously,
Blue said with a sigh, walking up to her.
Blue: Only one person in our forest can talk that much and still look smug doing it."
Zara: I'm not smug,
Zara said, pouting.
Blue: You're the reason three tree elders retired early.
Zara: I was helping!
Blue: You tied a ribbon around the Wyrm Oak Tree and called it 'Princess Barky.'
Zara shrugged. "She needed a name."
Blue turned to Red.
Blue: Thanks for finding her. I'll take her back now.
Zara immediately clung to Red's arm.
Zara: No.
Blue blinked. "No?"
Zara: I'm staying with him. I owe him a life debt.
Blue: Yeah, that debt's been paid,
Blue replied, grabbing her shoulder.
"I haven't finished cooking for him yet," Zara protested.
Blue: You can't cook.
Zara: I can try!
Blue tried to pull her away.
Blue: We're going back to the village!"
Zara: Noooo!
Zara clung tighter to Red, who remained perfectly motionless with his arms crossed and expression blank as a slate.
Selena was cackling now.
Selena: Oh my gods, she's a barnacle!
Blue: I'm serious, Zara. I don't have time to chase you through human towns!
Zara ducked under his arm, spun around him, and hid behind Red again.
Blue turned to Red, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Blue: Please. Talk to her.
Red shrugged. "She's your sister."
Blue: I will pay you.
Zara peeked out. "I will bake cookies."
Selena shouted, "He doesn't even eat cookies!"
The rookie trio were on the ground at this point, crying with laughter. Yuzu sketched Blue's frustrated expression with "Big Brother Rage Mode" in sparkles above his head.
Eventually, Blue sighed and pulled out a small crystal pendant from his pouch.
Blue: You leave me no choice,
he muttered. Then, in a flash, he threw it toward Zara's feet, activating a mild paralysis enchantment.
Zara froze mid-step. "T-That's cheating!"
Blue lifted her bridal-style with practiced ease.
Blue: I have done this before.
Zara: UNFAIR!" she squeaked.
Blue: You set fire to the village bakery trying to invent muffin bombs. This is mercy.
Zara: LET ME FOLLOW RED! I'LL BEHAVE!
Blue: NO!
Zara: HE'S MORE FUN THAN YOU!
Blue: I will gag you.
As he turned to leap away, Blue glanced back at Red.
Blue: Thanks again. Let's have drinks later."
Red nodded slightly. "Good luck."
Blue: I'll need it.
With that, Blue vanished with Zara in his arms, her shouting echoing faintly in the distance: "REEEEED! I'LL COME BAAAAACK!"
Selena finally stopped laughing, wiping tears from her eyes.
Selena: Okay… that was satisfying.
Lio: Wow. I didn't expect elves to be so… loud.
"Elf families are weird," Rika muttered.
Yuzu nodded, doodling "Zara-sis Nap Time" with stars and clouds around her stunned chibi face.
Red turned away without a word, heading toward the guild.
Red: Let's go. There's another quest waiting.
Selena marched after him, practically glowing with triumph.
Selena: Yes, Sir Red~! Oh, I mean, my Beloved Dark Knight!
He stopped and glanced back.
Selena instantly went red.
Selena: I...I mean...ugh! Let's just go!
The rest of the group burst out laughing again as the newest adventure loomed ahead, filled with clumsy rogues, scaredy swordsmen, mischievous rookies, and apparently, dramatic elf families.