The Tipsy Solberry's lantern light dimmed as night fell over Eldwood, casting long shadows across the tavern's wooden tables.
Leon sat slumped in the booth, his body still buzzing from the steamy training session with Saria and Terya.
The magic in his chest felt stronger, but exhaustion weighed on him, his mind reeling from the day's events—breaking Saria's curse, surviving a battle, and now facing Terya's curse and a demon's lair.
This is way more than I signed up for, he thought, rubbing his eyes.
Saria stood by the bar, her black ponytail gleaming under the lanterns, her face a stoic mask as she spoke quietly with the bartender.
Terya sat across from Leon, her blonde hair disheveled, her green eyes dulled by pain.
The web-like curse on her cheek pulsed faster now, its dark tendrils creeping toward her jaw, and her skin was flushed with fever, a stark contrast to her earlier cocky smirk.
She gripped her mug of ale, her knuckles white, and Leon's stomach twisted at the sight. She's getting worse, he thought, his earlier excitement fading into worry.
Saria returned, a crystal bottle of holy water in hand, its shimmering liquid catching the light.
"Drink," she said, her voice flat but urgent, handing it to Terya. Her eyes betrayed a flicker of concern, a rare crack in her unyielding demeanor.
Terya took the bottle, her hands trembling slightly, and drank deeply.
The flush in her skin eased, the curse's pulse slowing, but the relief was fleeting—she winced, her breath hitching.
"It's not enough," she said, her voice husky but strained. "This damn thing's eating me alive. We need to move."
Leon's heart sank, his hands fidgeting with his empty plate.
"Move? Like, tonight?" His voice cracked, and he winced, hating how nervous he sounded. "I mean, you're… you're not looking great, Terya. Shouldn't we rest first?"
Saria's eyes flicked to him, her expression unreadable.
"The holy water's a temporary fix," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "The curse will kill her if we don't break it soon. We leave at dawn for the demon's lair. It's ten miles through the forest. We can't wait."
Terya managed a weak smirk, though her eyes were heavy.
"Don't worry, rookie," she said, her voice teasing despite her pain. "I'll make it. Just don't faint when we get there." She winked, but the effort cost her, and she leaned back, her breath shallow.
Leon forced a grin, his stomach churning.
"Faint? Me? Never," he said, his voice wavering.
Yeah, right.
The vision of the Crimson Thorn, the kobold, and Terya's… backside loomed in his mind, and the thought of another smutty ritual both thrilled and terrified him.
Focus, Leon. Save her first, then freak out.
Saria folded her arms, her leather tunic creaking.
"We need a party," she said, her tone all business.
"I'll recruit Tila and Boren. They fought well last night. We meet at the village gate at first light." She turned to Leon, her dark eyes piercing.
"Pack what you need. Herbs, your dagger. Be ready."
Leon nodded, his throat tight.
"Got it," he said, his voice steadier than he felt.
The weight of the journey—a demon's lair, monsters, another curse—pressed down on him, but Saria's confidence and Terya's resilience gave him a spark of determination.
I'm not a hero yet, but I'm not bailing.
By midnight, the tavern had quieted, and Leon sat in the church's small storage room, packing a leather satchel under the flicker of a single candle.
He stuffed it with healing herbs—glowcaps, silverleaf, and a few sprigs of starbloom—carefully wrapped in cloth, their faint luminescence casting eerie shadows.
The dagger from his goblin kill, its blade cleaned but still nicked, went into his belt, its weight a grim reminder of what he might face.
This is real, he thought, his hands trembling slightly.
No save points, no respawns.
Saria had gone to find Tila and Boren, leaving Leon to prepare alone.
The silence was heavy, broken only by the distant creak of the church's rafters and the faint hum of Eldwood's rebuilding efforts outside.
He paused, pulling the smooth stone from his pocket, its surface cool now but still tingling with latent magic.
Fire magic. Healing. All because of… arousal.
He blushed, the memory of Saria's lips and Terya's teasing kisses flooding back.
This world is nuts, but I'm starting to get it.
The church door creaked open, and Saria returned, Tila and Boren in tow.
Tila, the young archer, bounced with energy, her short brown hair tied back, her shortbow slung over her shoulder.
"Ready for a real adventure, Doc?" she said, grinning at Leon. "There won't be any barricades this time—just us and a whole lotta monsters!"
Leon managed a shaky laugh, his nerves easing slightly at her enthusiasm.
"Yeah, uh, let's hope I don't trip over my own feet," he said, his voice light but honest. "Good to have you, Tila."
Boren, the grizzled spearman, grunted, his scarred face set in a scowl.
His gray beard was flecked with ash, and his spear gleamed in the candlelight.
"This better be worth it, Saria," he said, his voice rough. "I'm too old for fool's errands."
He glanced at Leon, his eyes narrowing. "Kid better not slow us down."
Saria's face remained blank, but her tone was firm.
"He won't," she said, her eyes flicking to Leon with a hint of expectation. "He's proven himself. He'll do it again."
Leon's chest swelled with a mix of pride and pressure, his hands tightening on the satchel.
Proven myself? Barely.
But Saria's faith, however stoic, pushed him to stand straighter.
"I'm ready," he said, his voice steadier now. "Let's do this."
Dawn broke over Eldwood, the sky a pale gray streaked with pink, the fog clinging to the ground like a shroud.
The group gathered at the village gate, their breath visible in the chilly air.
Terya stood beside Saria, her face pale but her smirk defiant, the curse pulsing faintly on her cheek.
She'd downed another dose of holy water, but her movements were sluggish, her sword hand trembling slightly.
Tila checked her quiver, her eyes bright with anticipation, while Boren leaned on his spear, muttering about the cold.
Leon adjusted his satchel, the dagger at his belt feeling heavier than ever.
Saria led the way, her sword at her hip, her fiery aura flickering faintly as they entered the dense forest beyond Eldwood.
The trees were gnarled and thick, their branches blocking the sun, and the air smelled of moss and decay.
The path to the demon's lair was narrow, winding through underbrush that snagged at Leon's tunic.
He stayed close to Saria, his heart pounding, his eyes darting to every rustle in the bushes.
"So," he said, his voice breaking the tense silence, "this is like my first dungeon crawl, but, y'know, with less respawns."
He forced a grin, hoping to lighten the mood, but his nerves made it wobbly. "Any tips for not dying in a demon's lair?"
Tila laughed, her shortbow bouncing on her shoulder. "Don't stand still, Doc," she said, her voice chipper. "And if you see glowing eyes, shoot first."
Boren grunted, his spear tapping the ground. "Stay behind me, kid," he said, his tone gruff but not unkind. "You're no use to us dead."
Terya's smirk returned, though her voice was strained. "Just keep your magic ready, rookie," she said, her green eyes glinting.
Saria didn't respond, her eyes fixed on the path, but her silence felt like a steady anchor.
Leon nodded, his grip on the satchel tightening.
The forest closed in around them, the lair waiting ten miles ahead, and the weight of Terya's curse pressed down like a storm cloud.
He was nervous, out of his depth, but looking at the team, gave him a flicker of hope.
We've got this, he thought, his grin steadier now. Or at least, we'll go down swinging.