The road to Therasia wound through lush valleys and over gentle hills, and with each passing day, the air seemed to change. It grew cleaner, lighter, and began to carry the faint scent of sulfur and wildflowers. On the third day, we saw our destination.
Therasia was not a gray stone fortress like Vaelor, nor an elven city carved from living wood. It was… organic. The outer walls were formed of thick living hedges, intertwined with flowering vines and reinforced by the trunks of ancient, twisted trees. Towers did not rise—they grew—elegant structures of polished wood and pale stone that seemed like natural extensions of the cliff on which the city was built. Soft smoke drifted from several chimneys, and the distant sound of running water and melodic bells filled the air.
"Well, it's not entirely primitive," Liriel conceded, examining the view with rare interest.
"It's beautiful," Elara whispered, her mage's eyes drinking in every detail. "You can feel the magic in the air. It's different from elven magic… more… earthly."
Vespera was bouncing from one foot to the other. "I see people! Some have ears! Some are adorable!"
As we approached the great gate of wood and colored glass, the guards came into view. They wore polished leather and bronze armor, and yes, many had pointed or furry ears sticking out from their helmets, or tails peeking out from beneath their cloaks. One, with wolf ears and golden eyes, raised a hand in greeting.
"The group from Vaelor?" he asked, his voice a low growl. "Seneschal Valerius is expecting you."
We were escorted through the gates and into Therasia. The city was a charming labyrinth of cobblestone streets, arched bridges over steaming water channels, and buildings with thatched roofs and walls plastered in warm colors. The air was full of tempting aromas—sweet bread, roasted meat with herbs, and the distinct mineral scent of the hot springs. Demi-humans of all kinds filled the streets: women with feline ears and swaying tails carrying baskets, men with deer horns haggling in open-air markets, children with tiny bird wings running and laughing.
Even Liriel seemed impressed, her divine gaze absorbing the vibrant tapestry of mortal life in one of its most diverse forms.
We were led to the castle, which was more of a garden palace than a fortress. Built around a central courtyard with a bubbling hot spring fountain, its walls were white marble and dark wood, with large windows that let sunlight pour in.
In the grand hall, beneath a canopy woven of living branches and flowers, a figure awaited. She was young, perhaps my age, with silver hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders. But what held me most were her ears—long and pointed like a mare's, covered in silvery-gray velvet—and the pair of amber eyes that regarded us with sharp intelligence and warm curiosity. She wore a simple yet elegant blue silk kimono, and a thick, fluffy silver-fox tail swayed delicately behind her.
"Welcome to Therasia," she said, and her voice was like the chime of crystal bells. "I am Princess Lyra. On behalf of my father, King Fenrir, I thank you for coming."
I… just stood there. There was a grace to her, an exotic serenity that was utterly captivating. She was, undeniably, the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.
A nudge beside me snapped me out of it. Elara had crossed her arms, her face slightly flushed. Vespera, on my other side, let out a low but audible snort.
Liriel, of course, was unfazed. "Princess," she said with a condescending nod. "Your kingdom is… acceptable."
Lyra laughed, a musical sound. "Thank you, Lady Liriel. I hope our springs are up to your divine standards." Her amber eyes then turned to me. "And you must be Takumi. I've heard fascinating stories about your… adventures."
My face grew warm. "Ah, yes. Most of them are probably exaggerated."
"Oh, I'm not so sure," she said, her smile turning a little more mischievous. "Truth is often stranger than fiction, isn't it?" Her gaze drifted toward Elara and Vespera, and I might have imagined a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. "But you all must be exhausted. Your chambers have been prepared. You may wash and rest. Tonight, there will be a banquet in your honor."
She turned to guide us, her tail swaying gently. I couldn't help but watch.
"Fox ears," Vespera whispered in my ear, her tone slightly cutting. "Cute. You're drooling, Takumi."
I turned to her, embarrassed, and caught Elara staring at me with an expression I couldn't quite decipher — a mix of hurt, resignation, and… jealousy?
"The banquet will also serve to discuss the matter that plagues our kingdom," Lyra continued, seemingly unaware of the tension behind her. "Our Whispering Forest — yes, we have one as well — is sick. Beasts that have always lived in harmony with us have been corrupted. They've become aggressive, violent. Their fur has darkened, and their eyes glow with a sickly purple light."
She stopped before a balcony overlooking the city. Below, a vast forest stretched all the way to the mountains. Even from a distance, I could see patches of discoloration among the trees — areas where the leaves were brown and twisted.
"We suspect it to be the work of another servant of the Demon King," Lyra said, her voice losing some of its earlier lightness. "The corruption patterns… resemble the reports we received about your previous battles. We… need your help. Our royal guard is brave, but not equipped to deal with this… darkness."
She turned to us again, her amber eyes serious yet full of hope. "Rest. Recover. And then, please, help us save our home."
The sight of the ailing forest and the sincerity in Lyra's voice brought reality crashing back. We weren't here just to rest. The Demon King's shadow was long, reaching even this seemingly peaceful refuge.
I looked at my group. The romantic tension still lingered in the air, but now it was overshadowed by the mission. By responsibility.
Elara looked toward the forest, her mage's face now a mask of professional determination. "I can feel the disturbance from here. It's… unpleasant."
Vespera adjusted the bow on her back. "Corrupted beasts, huh? Sounds like a good fight."
Liriel examined her nails. "More work. But I suppose saving a kingdom is a fitting pastime for a deity."
And then my eyes met Lyra's again. There was gratitude in them, and a vulnerability that she, as a princess, probably didn't show often.
"We'll help you, Princess," I said, and the promise came out more easily than I expected.
She smiled — a smile that lit up her whole face and made my stomach turn over. "Thank you, Takumi. Now, please, come. Let me show you your quarters. The hot springs are waiting."
As we followed her down the corridor, I could feel Elara's and Vespera's gazes burning into my back. The rest we had long sought had finally come, but it brought with it a fascinating princess, a new dangerous mission, and a fresh set of emotional complications.
Therasia was beautiful, yes. But, like everything in my life since I died, its beauty came with a price. And looking from the sickened forest to the smiling fox-tailed princess, I knew we were going to pay it — one way or another.