The sound of a slammed door was the last thing we heard as he left the inn section. Jason was holding his head with both palms, Pyrox had his mouth wide open, twins were just taking another pieces of the cake why I… I simply couldn’t do anything

- “Did I say something wrong?” Dragoness asked clueless.

- “You even dare to ask!” Loki, the hooded man that was introduced to me some time ago yelled “It was exactly the same situation, as when a woman after wearing new clothes asks their man if she looks nice. The man may barely see the difference, yet never, ever is he supposed to say that he didn’t like it!”

- “Actually, it’s worse…” Jason added “… You see, when we were running from the Holies, he mentioned you twice or thrice, that he loves you and wish to see you again… But about cakes! My beloved, he couldn’t stop talking about them!”

- “Actually, I wonder – if Zari would have to chose between sister Gis and sweets, what he would chose?” Fairy girl asked herself between munches

- “Don’t you even joke like that!” Dragoness yelled

- “I am not joking. Do you remember how proud he was serving us cakes? You have just crushed his confidence!”

- “I am wondering what he is doing right now… either crying to the pillow or scheming how to wipe out the whole nation…”

- “M..M…Mister Zariel would never do such thing!” The new girl – Elana, raised her voice.

Every adventurer, old and new, looked at her, then at each other, then back on the young Scarlet

- “My sweet, innocent child.” Man named Aloizy put his massive palm on her head “If that’s what you wish to believe…”

Oh, yeah. I have already saw him in action. Being shapeshifter is one thing, but having no problems with biting someone’s head off, is another.

- “You better check on him!” I advised

Gisele nodded her head once, twice, thrice before raising and marching on the floor

- “She won’t do anything.” Jason said picking a bottle and two glasses “… she is the last person he want to see right now. He needs some friend to talk too. I am humbly volunteering

The dragoness knocked on the door

- “Zari? You left your door open, I am coming in…” she opened the door just a little, yet she was forced to shut it right away. Reason? – through a small gap that she made a small dagger passed and ended up hitting the wall behind her.

- “Miss, let me try!” Jason said as he walked up the stairs to Zaris room “Hey! Asshole! I brought some whiskey!” and he kicked the door and walked in. Gisele was left on the other side

- “What are you doing?” Jason asked me as he sat on the bed. Right now I was scribing down new recipes

- “Trying to make a new cake.”

- “All those notes… are recipes of cakes? Man! You are almost frightening me!”

- “I believe that everyone has one kind of cake that he/she loves! So I will just try all possibilities! There has to be one that Gisele loves!”

- “Why are you trying so hard..?”

- “BECAUSE I FUCKING LOVE CAKE!... and I love Gisele too…”

- “She is partly dragon…” he smiled to me “… you know, different creatures have different tastes. I am afraid that it may be in her blood to NOT like sweets..”

- “… You are a genius!” he was so proud after I said that “… The problem isn’t I cake, it is in Gisele!”

- “Wait, what?!”

- “She is less attracted to sweet taste, so I may create a bacteria that will feast on sugar in her body, the level of calories would drop and her taste would change to keep the balance! All I had to do…”

- “NO! NONONONONONO! That wasn’t what I meant!.. here, have a drink with me!”

- “Not now, need to make a bacteria AND a receipt.”

- “Exactly! You need some new idea, and the best ideas come when you are half-dead and half-drunk!”

He has a point, in the end, there is a saying: without vodka your path for knowledge will come to a halt, right? What’s wrong in trying? More importantly, as I know that I get drunk quite easily I will keep counting glasses. I will keep it under control and….

Three hours later

- “WHY!? What waz wrongh wit ma cake?!” I cried aloud as Jason was pouring me another glass

- “It was great!”

- “EXAHTLY! I did ma best! So why… so why…”

- “There, there!” he patted my arm “… still, the rest of the guild said it was delicious! Even guild master Jericho said that he never ate a better…”

- “Jas, Jas my love, listen now, I love you, all of you… But I would rather see Gis liking my cake instead you…”

- “Aw, that was so sweet. You almost looked like… never mind. Ok. Another glass!”

- “Nay! I have enough…”

- “Come on! The-farewell-glass!”

- “I really shouldn’t…”

And then he said THOSE words

- “Hm? You don’t want to drink WITH ME!?”

- “Ok, but that’s the last one!”

It wasn’t the last one

Jason left the room and headed back to the inn

- “Little beast is sleeping tight!” he said to the rest of the guild

- “He wasn’t doing anything bad, was he?” Gisele asked concerned

- “A..actually… he started preparing some kind of curse that was supposed to turn you into a sweet-addict…”

- “Bullshit!”

- “I am afraid not. I told him that EVERYONE, except you loves his creation, you know what he responded? That he would prefer everyone to hate it, except you.”

- “That was so sweet!” Marika purred “Gis, I start thinking you don’t deserve him! He really treats you like a princess!”

- “I can’t do anything about that!” she roared angered “… I just hate sweets, ok?! I hate it! I preferred telling him that than lying! Master Jericho always says that the worst truth is better than the best lie!”

Everyone looked at old man with angry gazes

- “What?! I am proud of my lessons! … It’s a completely different matter that Gisele is insensitive, dense and can’t take a hint…”

- “D..Dad?!”

- “Okay sweetie, now you are going to apologies to him, and you will do it as woman should!”

I woke up with terrible headache. Jason. You fucking asshole! How many more glasses you forced in me after [the last one]?

- “Drink this. Herbal drink, great for hangover, trust me, it is tested formula!” a mug held by someone’s hand appeared in my vision

I took it and gulped in one go. Then I wanted to say my thanks to the hand owner, yet I was awe struck. It was Gisele, yet it wasn’t the very fact that left me speechless.

- “Gis, am I still drunk or are you wearing…”

- “Don’t you dare to say another word! I know! It’s humiliating!”

A..actually, ok. It is. But you don’t see everyday dragoness wearing maid suit, do you? Let my eyes feast!

- “A..anyway! I am sorry for.. not being worthy of your sweets. I am simply not into it, but you are into meat too, so I thought that maybe I would make something this time?”

- “You can cook?”

- “I am an adventurer! Of course I can! That's the most basic thing that needs to be learn if you want to survive! I may not be very good, actually I can make it barely edible, so I asked for few hints from Marika and rest… I hope you would like it.”

My, my! Breakfast in the bed while being served by maid? What did I do to deserve such treatment… oh wait. Now I see it. The whole guild liked the cake so much, that they forced Gisele to apologize as they were afraid that I would never bake another cake, did they? I am 99% sure that it was the case.

- “Sorry for forcing my eating habits on you. I just have really nice memory regarding sweets and maybe I just wanted you to love them as much as I do.”

- “Silly, there are plenty things we have in common!”

- “Do we? I make a plan when you are charging in, I prefer sweets, you meat, you focus on strength when I try using environment…” I took a minute to think “…as hobby I love reading, while you are training or drinking with friends. Something I missed?”

- “…We… are both… adventurers?” Gisele tried really hard thinking of something

I just smiled

- “Come here…” I said hugging her “Actually, I am happy that we are so different. Because of that I am never bored with you.”

She purred in my ear as she returned my embrace.

- “Ok. Eat up before it cools down. I heard you are having some secret job. Do your best. In meantime I will take those friends of yours on few quick, higher rank quests – both to rank them up and get along with them. I assume they are good?” she neither asked nor stated her mind

- “Yeah. I think that all of them are better than Marika, maybe even Nyx… Oh, if twins would ask you if they can play with you while having evil grins on their faces… refuse. And say that I would be mad if they would do something to you… actually, I will tell them that myself.”

- “Hey! I can take care of myself! Unlike you!” she kissed the tip of my nose

- “… You now that all of them are hunted witches that killed few dozen people?”

- “These two little kids too?”

- “Psionics. They asked entire village to kill themselves. They cooperated.”

- “… on the other hand, they are your friends. Feel free to talk with them about whatever you want.” Gis tried looking cool

- “I will. Love. I will.”

She left the room leaving me all alone with steak. I took a bite.

… it was half raw. Where is seasoning?! No pepper? No salt? Not fried in oil with butter!? You could at least put a damn vegetable, at least as decoration! Yes, it was edible, you wouldn’t get sick after eating that… but…HEY! YOU SERVED ME ALMOST A CARCASS, WOMAN!... Just because I can eat raw, bloody meat, doesn’t mean I like eating raw, bloody meat! That’s why I love sweets so much! Eh. Gis, I will show you how you should treat a good meat.

Later, after eating “breakfast” washing myself and dressing up I went down to the inn section. Older professor was already sitting there waiting for me

- “Ah! Mr. Zariel, good to see you! I got your message, what is that favor you wish to ask me for?”

- “Just a moment, please! Morgana!” I called the witch that right now was talking with group of adventurers at the opposite side of the room

- “What?” she wasn’t very happy that I disturbed her conversation

- “Professor, she is the one who has a favor to ask. Could you please let her into the library? She knows no one here, and I am afraid that my position isn’t strong enough to give permissions to enter the building..”

- “Is she… Half blood demoness and elf, fascinating. Especially taking into consideration that both of her parent did not belong to fertile breeds… yes, high elf from… Nigihoria? No, you would have bit longer ears, color of your eyes also make it impossible for you to be a part of Embra society… Your parent didn’t belong to any tribe known to me , that’s fascinating… and about your demon part, Asmodian, is it? How was it possible for Asmodian to have kids with anyone outside of their race is a mystery to me, these guys are as fertile as stones!... I would love to check what are you possibilities on the field of fe…”

I coughed a few times

- “… oh, pardon me, my lady! That was so very rude of me! Of course, as long as you are a friend of Mr. Zariel, I don’t mind taking you with me…” now he started looking nervous “… but I would like to ask if…”

- “If you want some more samples of my blood, I don’t mind. If you want to make some more tests, I don’t mind, as long as they are not… extreme. I can’t say if Morgana would allow you to make some tests on her thought, you would have to make a deal with her by your own… Still, Morgi, if you would agree on that, I would advise you using same disclaimers as myself.”

- “That would be splendid!” old man smiled. “I hope that you have improved your DNA base since our last session!”

- “You have no idea.” I allowed myself to tease him a little “I got something that would make your jaw drop.”

Poor man, he looked as if he could have heart attack anytime soon.

But that’s it. Right now I can deal with the rest of my businesses. To the factory!!!

Your skill [Medium Potion Creation] has leveled up[Medium Potion Creation] is now level 8

- “See? That’s how you are doing it! Easy? Easy! All you had to do is to keep your eye on the flame, it is important for the pot to stay at the exact right temperature. If it would be too low, the process wouldn’t even start, too high, and you would ruin the effects added by White lily… silly little lily. Such a frail little flower. It is very hard to grow it, as many factors has to be meet, humidity, not too much light, while it needs to be hot, every flower that you girls are carrying right now cost around from 80copper to even 10 silver. Depending on the season of the year and so on. This is why I would be grateful if you wouldn’t fail!... Otherwise I would have to punish you. And by punish I mean that little device I bought and put in the corner! I got it after the visit at torturers room!”

I didn’t lie, still, the device covered by cloth was alchemy equipment, but shhh, they don’t have to know about it, right?

- “Two days in a row you work for 8 hours…” Rogue said coming from behind a corner “…Are you sick? If I would know that some tortures would make you so motivated, I would hire some inquisitor myself!”

- “Ha-ha. Very fucking funny, I have to disappoint you. I need money, this is why I am working my ass off.”

- “Why? Last time I checked you had a few gold coins of pocket money? Don’t get me wrong. I am happy that you are working and you shall be paid properly… You just picked my curiosity.”

- “Communication crystal!”

- “What?”

- “COMMUNICATION CRYSTAL! I want one!”

- “But… they are so very inefficient! If you want to I can borrow you some of our agents, they can deliver your messages in every place on continent if three-max four days…”

- “I. Want. Crystal!”

- “You are acting like a spoiled child.” He was smiling under his bandana

- “But that’s a technology I haven’t yet examined! I don’t only want to use it… cuz I want to talk with someone in Holy Kingdom… I just want to see it! Check the spells! See how it’s working!”

- “Will Syndicate be able to use that knowledge? Or sell it?”

- “You are so shortsighted and dull! Where is your desire to uncover unknown!?”

- “Oh, uncovering secrets is what I do for living.”

- “Stop twisting my words! Ok, let’s say that hypothetically I would manage to elongate the transition time from minute to minute and ten seconds, or minute and half? Would you benefit on that? Surely you would. And now let’s say I wouldn’t learn a damn. I would be sitting quietly near the crystal for at least a month, a month without my nagging, can you imagine that? It’s a win-win situation for you!

- “…Just work some more. I will have it delivered to you in three days.”

- “Two.”

- “Fine.”

He agreed too quickly. It means that I could have bargain more. Damn it!

Same time, Holy Kingdom

The highest priestess were praying in the circle leaded by the prophetess. They were performing a rite that normally could only be performed during a specific time – A demon invasion, to be precise.

The rite that required a blessing of the goddess herself. They were summoning a hero.

The beam of light started forming again and again, yet at the end it would fall.

- “What are we doing wrong? All precious summonings that had it place in history ended successfully!”

- “Keep the rite on.” Angel said “The demons are not attacking, so the spell is resisting. Also, summoning requires a soul to die somewhere is alternative universe. You just have to keep trying until the soul would answer…”

Suddenly, the beam of light shined like never before .

Luxia raised her head from her throne. Something was wrong. Somewhere, someone is playing with forces that shouldn’t be touched right now. A beam of light appeared in her chamber. A confuse man stepped off it.

- “You! Who are you, and what are you doing here?” her voice sounded like a thunder

- “Y…You are asking me? I was having a nice dinner, then next thing I remember was that I couldn’t catch a breath and… Um, Did I die?”

… For the soul to appear in front of her… No! It can’t be! There is no war going on, yet that man in front of her combined with disturbances in magic she felt a moment ago? Could that be, that someone summoned a hero? That shouldn’t be possible without her allowance! Yet here he is… Someone is playing with HER domain! Someone will pay for it, that more than sure!... But she is a goddess of order. She was almost PROGRAMED to follow the protocol. And Protocol said clearly what needed to be done when hero steps in this chambers.

- “…My name is Luxia, the goddess of order and light. I bestowed upon my people the power to summon a protector when the darkest hour would approach…”

- “…Wait, you mean that I am a summoned Hero? For real?! HAHA! Cool!... but you are not a loli. I demand my loli goddess…”

- “… Even goddess of light has it patience, mortal.”

- “Pardon me.”

- “You have to know… that your summoning is a mistake.”

- “WHAT?”

- “It’s far too early, someone is playing with my forces. Before I would give you my blessings and let you among my people, I just have one thing that you have to know. My people are… Not exactly following my teachings. The words and knowledge I gave them is too complicated for them, thus they are acting… wrong. Yet they are still my people. They are my lambs. In their foolishness they aimed to kill one of the most amazing creature in this world. One of the kind. I am sure, that they would ask you to kill it, what am I asking you is the opposite. Don’t even approach it.”

- “What is this creature?”

- “…Zariel, called WhiteRaven. Now go.”

The man once again was embraced by the light before vanishing.