Shortly after Li Wei disappeared from Bhazout Grayhelm's sight, Ni Shiuri came out from the bushes, rustling them. The dwarf turned in the direction of the sound. Seeing the hero, he smiled and walked up to him with Bergo following while the hero did the same and walked up to the dwarf.

The two met mid-way; the Ni Shiuri looked around, "I don't see Riya?"

Bhazout Grayhelm shook his head, "She already left, should have I stopped her?"

Ni Shiuri shook his head, "No it's fine, we will see her again, I am sure of it. Did you give her food and water? It's four days to that city."

Bhazout Grayhelm laughed, "So protective, already thinking of her as your wife."

Ni Shiuri nodded, "I am, so did you?"

Bhazout Grayhelm smiled widely, "Don't worry brother, I gave her a week's worth of food and water."

Ni Shiuri nodded again, "That's good… what about the village? Where is it?"

Bhazout Grayhelm nodded, "Yes," he pointed his finger confidently in the direction where Li Wei pointed, "It's that way."

"Let's pack up and go," Ni Shiuri walked towards the burned out campfire.

"Yeah! I can't wait to see Vartys again." Bhazout Grayhelm walked after him and Bergo walked after his master.

Ni Shiuri raised the corners of his lips forming a smile, "Yeah, me too."

Bhazout Grayhelm laughed, "I am pretty sure you would want to see Riya more."

The two stopped by the campfire. Ni Shiuri moved his head to Bhazout Grayhelm, "No, actually I want to see Vartys even more now—I have to get her blessing…"

Bhazout Grayhelm laughed, "I see, I see."

The two started packing and Bergo watched them. Packing up, Ni Shiuri moved his eyes to Bhazout Grayhelm, "Let's go."

Bhazout Grayhelm nodded, "Yeah."

Three of them turned in the direction where Li Wei pointed them in and walked into the distance. Walking for some time, they reached the place where Riya woke up and in that place they saw their companion, sitting with her back against the tree.

"Vartys!" Bhazout Grayhelm shouted; the bear growled loudly; Ni Shiuri smiled.

Vartys moved her head and she jumped up, "Shiuri? Grayhelm? Bergo?"

The three of them ran up to her and she ran up to them, resulting in them all, meeting midway.

"What are you all doing here?" Vartys asked with excitement in her voice.

"We came here for you!" Bhazout Grayhelm said smiling widely.

Ni Shiuri coughed into his hand, "You see, the king is holding a banquet for the heroes."

Vartys nodded, "I see… I would like to go but I can't, I am under house arrest."

Ni Shiuri and Bhazout Grayhelm looked at each other confused and said in unison, "House arrest?"

Ni Shiuri moved his head and looked at Vartys, "Who put you under house arrest and why?"

Vartys laughed lightly, "Do you remember Riya?"

Ni Shiuri and Bhazout Grayhelm widened their eyes in shock and they looked at each other once again. Bergo growled.

Vartys smiled, "Shiuri like you and like Grayhelm and like Eri said, she wasn't angry with me… but she didn't forgive me. She said that she would forgive me only if I go through the same things she did."

Ni Shiuri slowly nodded, "Go through the same things she did?"

Vartys nodded, "Yeah, she wants me to stay in the village, right until she returns from being an adventurer."

Ni Shiuri nodded once more, "So you will be here for a while then."

Vartys smiled, "Yeah."

"We met Riya," Bhazout Grayhelm said.

Vartys looked at Bhazout Grayhelm surprised, "You met Riya?"

Ni Shiuri nodded, "Yeah. We camped together and parted ways just this morning."

Bhazout Grayhelm glanced at Ni Shiuri and then looked back at Vartys, "You see, our very own hero has fallen for Riya."

Vartys's eyes widened and she mumbled, "What?"

Ni Shiuri scratched the back of his head, "Yeah… so on this topic, do you mind if I take Riya as my wife?"

Vartys lowered her head and then raised it, nodding, "If she feels the same way, I won't stand in either of your ways."

Ni Shiuri sighed with relief and Bhazout Grayhelm chuckled, "Good for you, Shiuri."

Vartys turned around, "Let's go, I will show you around the village."

…

Li Wei walked out of the forest; looked around and saw wide plains covered with medium length grass; tall trees growing every few yards apart and a road more than 40-yards away. "I am finally out of the forest… but I still have a long way to go," she thought and walked towards the road.

Walking 20-yards, Li Wei stopped as in front of her, she saw a translucent light-red slime basking in the sunlight.

"A slime? The second goal I set for myself was to subjugate the first monster I saw. You sure are a lucky slime. I first need to lower it to 25% of its health" she thought unsheathed her katana, took a step forward and slashed diagonally.

The sword went through the slime's body, cutting a part of it off, but the slime didn't issue a single sound. The cut off part reattached to the slime's body and the slime grew smaller in size.

"Now how do I use this skill… I could either extend my hand and say the skill name out loud while pointing my hand towards this slime or think the skill's name in my head while pointing my hand towards the slime," Li Wei thought. She extended her hand and thought, "Subjugate!" Nothing happened. "Thinking of the skill name in my head doesn't work…," She thought and said, "Subjugate!" Her hand got enveloped in a black glow and a notification flashed.

The slime returned to its original size, Li Wei sheathed her sword and rubbed her chin, "Hmm, my mana is at infinity, so I should be able to use all of these new skills," she thought and extended her hand down at the slime, looking at it.

"Monster Promote General!"

Black light once again enveloped her hand; a few notifications flashed.

The slime's form changed, it changed from a small, light-red slime into a thin pale skinned girl of around 13 years old with long red hair, red eyes and a round face. The girl immediately kneeled down onto the ground and said with a lowered head, "I greet the demon lord!"

A window opened before Li Wei with an input field.

"Well that's convenient, if she doesn't look like a monster, its less trouble for me." Li Wei thought and inputted the name.

The window closed.

"Xie Nie, you are not to call me demon lord ever again. When we are in public call me Riya, when we are alone call me, Li Wei."

The girl raised her head, "As you wish, your highness."