I woke up with a start, and found my arm trapped and unable to move. I looked over to see the naked form of Hazeel, naked, in all of her tall and curvaceous glory. I took a deep breath and tried to remove my arm from under her head, but she grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go, so I resigned myself to being a pillow to the sleeping wood elf.

‘What in the hell did I do last night? That didn’t feel like me.’ I ran the events through my mind over and over again, and no matter which way I spun them, my actions didn’t make sense.

Things escalated way too quickly to have been normal feelings, and chalking it up to an act of passion felt like a disservice to myself.

I prided myself on my situational awareness and usage of forethought, so the fact that I would do a 180 and just act purely on instinct worried me. Granted, I had acknowledged beforehand that I was prone to thinking about my companion sexually, and since she let me know that she had also pined for me, those thoughts had only grown. But still… I was going to need to have a talk with Rexir about what was in that food of his.

I groaned and lay flat on my back once more. Without my notice, a pair hands had cupped my face and my gaze was drawn towards Hazeels, and her dazzling smile made my heart skip a beat.

And that was a thought that was immediately interrupted by the soft lips on my own and the warm, wet tongue invading my mouth. Hazeel’s soft breasts squished against my own chest as she held me close.

I indulged her, and held her in my arms as well until she was satisfied. She pulled away, leaving only a string of saliva between us as a sign of our morning activity. “Good morning, Leo. Would you like to continue our activities from last night?”

I sighed and sat up, searching for my clothes while I answered. “Not now, Hazeel. Probably not until after we get this whole situation solved, anyway.”

Hazeel flashed a knowing smile, and sat up in bed. “That’s a bit disappointing, but I wouldn’t have fallen for you if you were so easily tempted by a good time. I love you, Leo.”

I did a bit of a double take while putting on my shirt. It had only been a few months, but it had already felt like so long since I had heard those words from another human being, and having myself feel the same way about them.

In the end, as I finished dressing, Hazeel was still putting on her undergarments. I started to walk towards my remaining gear from earth that was on the table. A few grenades, a knife, and two emergency flares.

I sighed, and started attaching them to various points of a new suit that I had commissioned in Songrande before we left. It’s specifications were identical to the combat suit I had on earth, and was made from Plateau Grazeel leather.

Plateau Grazeels were a large, deer-like creature that were native to the mountainous region where Hazeel’s goblin village had been located. Needless to say, while we were waiting for Bella to officially take the crown, we had resupplied and bought better clothing and armor.

Hazeel herself had a new pair of black cut-off shorts, and a Plateau Grazeel sleeveless armored top. In addition, she had retrieved the original buster sword she used when she was a member of the Coat of Arms. The cold steel weapon was a massive, double-edged blade with several intricate gold designs worked into its surface. The greatest of those, however, went to a large sun design that adorned the place where the blade met the hilt.

“Actually, Leo…” Hazeel started, and I turned to face her. “We need to have a talk about what your plans are exactly, and what we’re going to do in the future. Please don’t misunderstand. I would follow you no matter what, but if you are so inclined to share, I would like for us to be on the same page.”

I nodded and sat down on the bed, Hazeel joining by my side soon after she finished dressing. “Ok. Before I begin, let me ask you something: do you hold any attachment to this world as it is now?”

Hazeel looked me in the eyes, and just studied me quietly for a few moments. After taking a deep breath, she asked, “What exactly do you mean by that, Leo?”

“I mean… hold on.” I looked absentmindedly out of our room’s window as I sent a pulse of photons around me, and several human-like silhouettes pinged back, notifying me that we were not alone.

With a quick burst of the void, I transported the relevant peepers away from our inn, and to the harbor which we had landed at yesterday. Turning back to Hazeel, the wood elf gave me a knowing grin.

“Cleaning the premises?”

“Cleaning the premises.”

“Alright, please elaborate about feeling attached to this world. I have an idea, but I’d still like to hear what you’re thinking before I just interject.”

I nodded, and spoke in a hushed voice, one even more so than before. “I was asking if you want to remain a denizen of this world after we find a divine blacksmith to revive Dantae. We are almost certainly going to leave after she recovers enough strength.”

“And by ‘leave’, you mean return to your own world.”

“Yes, returning to earth. Although it would be nice to live here, we left a few people behind, and while most of them deserve whatever horrors that my former boss had in store for them, that doesn’t mean all of humanity has to suffer for the majority’s transgressions.”

Hazeel took a deep breath and started to contemplate. “Besides, General Armando did something that I will never forgive him for. I’ll kill him myself if it’s the last thing that I do.”

A look of recognition found itself on Hazeel’s eyes as she remembered the story I had told her. “I’m so sorry, I completely forgot.” Hazeel shifted on the bed and hugged me from behind, resting her head in the space between my head and shoulders.

“It’s ok.” I muttered as she planted a quick and light kiss on my cheek. “Besides, knowing that we’re so close to getting her back makes it a bit better.”

Hazeel squeezed her hug tighter, and let out a contented sigh. “If you’re asking whether or not I would like to remain in this world, then my answer is quite simple. No. I have bonds here, and I have made many friends and have played a part in many lives, but even should I leave, their lives will continue to go on without me. I am not so reliant on the gratification of others that I cannot live without their company. No, I wish to follow you, my beloved. I would even cast aside my pride as a warrior, and bury my sword a thousand kilomels below the sea to even just accompany you and receive your affections daily. Your happiness is my happiness, and your goals are my goals. Not because of the slave contract that was the start of our bond together, or even because of some ancient rules of a long-forgotten tribe. No, I want to be with you, as Hazeel Dia Corrone.”

I smiled and hugged her back, slightly surprised by the tears in her own eyes. “So that’s your full name. I was convinced that you didn’t have any last name.”

A guilty smirk played on her lips. “When I told you I didn’t care about the family who gave me up to the goblins before… I kind of lied. I tracked them down to the Emerald Continent, and found out that they were Emeraldian nobility. The sun on my sword is their family crest, and the sword itself is an heirloom from the first wood elf noble of the continent.”

“Hazeel… do I want to know how you got your hands on a centuries old family heirloom from a family that disowned you?”

In response to my question, the wood elf just smiled.

---

“You’re… Leresa, right?” I spoke to the woman standing in front of the inn’s door, and the woman smiled back at me.

“Yes, it’s nice to meet you in a less formal setting, Lord Leon.” She extended a hand, and I shook it, an action which slightly surprised her, but drew a laugh from Hazeel.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Well, uh…” Leresa rubbed the back of her neck, a faint blush on her face. “I was giving you my hand so that you may kiss it in good will, not to… shake it.”

“The silver continent are a bunch of prudes, and still very old-fashioned when it comes to many facets of modern society as other continents recognize it today.” Leresa scowled at Hazeel, who finished with, “In other words, they’re old fashioned.”

“I am not-” Leresa’s words stopped as I greeted her properly this time, giving her a quick peck on the back of her hand.

“It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Lady Leresa. I hope you come to us bearing some good news.” She quickly took back her hand and blushed, an act which Hazeel took immediate offense to.

She walked up to Leresa and sized her up. “I know what you’re thinking, and he’s already taken.”

Leresa sighed, but did not back down from Hazeel’s gaze. “In case you weren’t paying attention yesterday, which it appears you weren’t, I am already betrothed to Lord Rexir Lu Minami. I was just wishing that Lord Rexir would have some of the same kind nature and soft-spoken qualities that Lord Leon has.”

Hazeel smirked and licked her lips in a seductive manner. “If only you knew. He might look kind and unassuming, but he dominated me so hard last night that I can still feel it in my abdomen.”

A scarlet blaze overcame Leresa’s face and she turned around, walking further into the downtown area. “God, why are you elves all such lewd creatures! Follow me, one divine blacksmith has agreed to hear you out, provided you show him the weapon.”

Leresa fumed off into the distance, causing Hazeel and I to hasten our pace to keep up with her. “See?” Hazeel snickered beside me. “Prudes.”

We followed the princess through busy streets, and the sounds of city life filled our ears. Different peoples and genders of many races, even some I hadn’t seen before mingled through the paved streets. At some point during our walk, Hazeel had bought a couple of skewers with brightly colored shapes on them.

“These are pretty good. What are they called?”

“Ramsiras. They’re a sweet, gelatinous candy made from Abyssal Slimes. Apparently they’re one of many culinary delicacies of the Gold Continent.”

“What are you both doing!?” Leresa looked exasperated as she stood in front of a massive Jade door. “I take my eyes off of you for two seconds and you sample the local food? You’re not here to sightsee! Finish those off before I take you inside of Divine Blacksmith Shaar’s workspace.”

We abided by her demands, and soon the remnants of the tasty treat were thrown into the garbage can outside the building’s door. Leresa opened the gate, the Jade glowing in a pale white hue as it reflected the sunlight.

The workspace was simple enough, only two rooms: one containing the front desk, and another with a pitch black anvil in it. The man behind the desk was large, had violet skin, piercing green eyes, and dark blue tribal tattoos running all along his bulging muscles. A long ponytail ran to the side of his head, and rested on one of his exposed pectoral muscles. Lastly, a pair of pitch black horns were the final sign i needed to determine the being’s race.

His massive frame dwarfed the desk he sat at, and the demon, Divine Blacksmith Shaar turned to direct his full attention on me. “So you’re the one I’ve heard about. Come to the back, I hope your blade is ready to be examined.”