“Ahhh, what a failure...”

Aegon walked through the woods, looking at the stars in the sky with an embarrassed smile.

His mind kept thinking back to that moment when he turned back and realized he had just exposed himself for nothing, the girls weren't in their birthday suits like he expected, instead he had the same view he would have if he went to a typical beach. It was a truly depressing thought.

[Well, at least the plan worked…]

[…]

[Who am I kidding? It sure worked but only in getting my pure body defiled by those impure eyes!]

In his mind, the girls’ shocked expressions suddenly turned perverted and impure.

[They really crossed a line there…]

[I’ll never do anything like that ever again…]

Aegon finally reached the camp, Percy and Travis were still chatting around the fire, Roy was also still stargazing and Kuro was back to sleeping near the fire.

Everyone noticed him but no one spoke. Aegon didn't really care, actually he appreciated not having to talk at that moment, he was still annoyed at the recent turn of events.

Without wasting time he belined towards his tent and plopped down on top of his sleeping bag, too lazy to even get inside it.

“Kuro, come here.” He called from inside the tent.

Kuro lazily opened his eyes and in the same lazy manner made his way to the tent.

Aegon only signaled with his eyes towards his chest.

Kuro complied by laying down on top of his owner, serving as a blanket, yet Ageon could swear he had seen his partner twitch his eyelid with a hint of annoyance.

Meanwhile, Bella and Linda returned to the camp.

Travis heard them and asked without turning around “You’re back? How did the ”walk“ go?”

Both girls instinctively looked at Aegon's tent with a mix of emotions when Travis mentioned the “walk”.

*Sigh*

“It was fine, we really needed some fresh air.” Bella replied in a weird tone.

Aegon noticed that slight change in tone, that look at the tent…

[It seems it wasn't such a waste after all…]

[There isn't any contempt in there.]

[I managed to change their impression of me for the better by doing one of the worst things I could have done.]

Pausing, Aegon closed his eyes, he felt himself drifting off to sleep but right before giving in he whispered. ”Sometimes my genius is almost frightening...”

The next day, the group resumed their journey.

The first few hours of travel were mostly uneventful, they passed a few sparsely populated villages, a few abandoned ones and a fair share of trees, more than a fair share actually.

“I'm sick of trees!”

“We all are darling but don't worry, we’re almost there, it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours.” Travis could tell that answer only furthered his lover’s impatience and annoyance.

With his best friendly smile he added.”Why don't you try and sleep like Aegon and Roy have been doing? You said you didn't sleep well last night, this is a good time to rest. Percy and I are more than enough to keep watch.”

Percy naturally received his friend's signal loud and clear. “Travis is right, Bella you should try to rest, and you too Linda, you both have gigantic bags under your eyes.”

[You wouldn't tell me that if you knew what I dreamed of every time I tried to sleep.] A slight shade of red flashed on both girls' cheeks.

Last night’s encounter had bore a mark on their young, impressionable minds, although they were not ignorant about matters of the other gender, both already having had or in the case of Bella currently having boyfriends, they were in the end never exposed to a completely nude male.

They wished they could be intrigued by any other part of his body as in that case they could tell themselves that what they were feeling was attraction to the person in general and not the prospects of that forbidden fruit they knew so little about.

Still, reality tends to disappoint. Aegon just wasn't interesting in any other way, he was lean and tanned but they had seen plenty of that just by crossing their fields on a carriage during the summer, he wasn't handsome, he wasn't tall…he was completely average.

Every time they closed their eyes to sleep they would be taken back to the river and would once again peek through the clean water into Aegon's nether regions and wake up right after, red in shame at their own dreams.

“I don't think I can sleep while travelling. I’ll rest when we get to Miriande.” Bella answered but turned to her friend looking for support, Linda expressed her agreement with a silent nod.

Not wanting to press the issue, both boys got back to focusing on their surroundings on guard for any potential threats.

Three hours later Aegon woke up with a slight shake on his shoulder. Slowly opening his eyes he noticed Linda looking at him with a deadpan expression.

“We’re here.” In a leisurely manner she dismounted the rhino while speaking.

“Thanks for waking me.” Aegon yawned and answered in a straightforward manner because his brain was still mostly in sleep mode but he quickly realized how perfect an opportunity this was to give some payback to a certain individual…

Linda was already walking away from the rhino when she heard Aegon call.

“Linda.”

She stopped in her tracks but didn't face him.

“What?” she asked in a slightly annoyed and slightly apprehensive tone.

“Roy is still sleeping, you know?”

Percy, who was listening from the side, immediately turned his head and stared at Aegon with a face that screamed “don't you dare.”

Our hero clearly noticed it but only smiled and continued.” Maybe it's best if you wake him up, I bet he would prefer to wake up in a gentler manner, I tend to be a bit brutish.”

“Sure.” Linda answered with the same deadpan expression but her voice, although still a bit apatic, was an easy giveaway to anyone who wasn't deaf or oblivious of human behaviour, everyone could tell she was excited.

As she was making her way back to the rhino a loud voice boomed from behind her.

“COME ON EVERYONE, WE’RE HERE.” It was obviously Percy screaming.“Is Roy still sleeping?”

“Not anymore.” Roy answered, clearly annoyed at the untactful way he was woken up.

Linda turned back and headed into the village, trying and failing to hide her disappointment.

Percy discreetly approached Aegon while the latter waited for Roy to dismount.”It seems I was right, you were listening.”

Looking straight ahead, Aegon answered in the most honest way he could fake. “I don't know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t.“ Percy rolled his eyes and continued. ”Anyway, I will let this one pass since I had it coming but you can't do that again, she is practically already jumping into his lap, you don't need to push her.”

*Chuckle*

“Oh? I thought you wanted her to fall into his lap, at least it looked like it.”

Percy snorted but didn't answer. By now, Roy had reached their side and it was inconvenient to talk. Instead the trio silently made their way towards the village.

[It feels a bit like home.] They all thought.

The houses were rather small, mostly made out of dark wood with only one floor which wasn't bigger than 40 square meters. Behind every house there was something akin to a backyard but instead of the luxurious gardens or the crystalline pools the nobles were used to, there were small crops, stacks of cracked wood or for the “wealthier” ones, a small hen house.

The entire village consisted of 2 parallel streets with 20-ish houses on both sides of the road, on the other end of road was the village prefecture which was five times larger than the other houses and had 2 stories, the closest thing to a castle most villagers would ever see.

Bella, Linda and Travis were waiting by the side of the left road, they waited until the other trio passed them before following behind.

[Such a simple gesture yet it makes such an impact on the mind, humans…we really are the most fascinating creature among creatures.] Aegon didn't need anyone to explain what that gesture had meant, neither did Percy nor Roy and they were similarly honored.

This was a show of respect, in the countryside, especially in small communities, face, honor, respect and family were the key pillars and having 2 nobles and 1 rich merchant walking behind them, ordinary young men, despite their difference in status was the same as saying ”we see them as equals”, maybe even better than saying. Actions always spoke louder than words.