The morning came lazy to the campsite, wrapped in soft mist that clung to the trees like cotton sheets. The scent of damp earth mixed with something far more tempting: sizzling meat, freshly ground coffee, vegetables sautéing. A complex aroma enveloped the clearing like a sensory spell.

  Jay—as always—was already up. Simple cotton shirt half-open at the chest, revealing sun-gilded muscles honed by a thousand deserts. Blue armband still wrapped his right arm like living part of him. He spun a small skillet over coals with one hand while the other split open a freshly baked flatbread—puffed slightly, golden outside, crackling softly.

  Inside went thin slices of herb-grilled meat, strong soft cheese, lightly toasted greens dressed in fruit vinegar and dark wild-nut oil. Beside it, metal pot steamed dark dense coffee—bitter deep perfume strong enough to wake the dead.

  “Wake up, lazybones,” Amy called—voice too sweet to trust.

  She was… glued to Jay. Literally pressed against his back, arms around his waist, chin on broad shoulder. Wore light night tunic—dark blue with silver trim, long sleeves swaying breeze. Fabric—clearly chosen with… minimal modesty—hugged every curve of petite frame; freckles danced bare shoulders in sunlight.

  Su Mei emerged tent first. Wore only loosely tied satin robe—black hair still sleep-mussed yet impeccable like wet lotus. Yawned dangerously sensual, ran hand through hair—froze seeing… that.

  “Hm?” Eyes narrowed; nine fox tails rose behind like ready attack. “This one… questions… what audacity is this?”

  Layla burst out next—rubbing eyes like rooftop cat. Oversized sleep shirt, drawstring sleep pants. Seeing Amy clinging Jay—eyes plate-sized.

  “YOU’VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME, MEOW?!” she bellowed.

  Jay didn’t even look.

  “Coffee’s almost ready,” he said—calm. Like no sensual mage clung to his waist.

  “YOU’VE GOT A SENSUAL MAGE CLINGING TO YOUR WAIST, JAY!!!”

  “I noticed too,” he replied—face perfectly neutral.

  “AND YOU’RE NOT DOING ANYTHING, MEOW?!” Layla clenched fists—eyes sparking.

  “She doesn’t bite. I hope.”

  “Only if you ask nicely,” Amy purred—wicked freckled smile—pressing even closer against his back.

  Su Mei crossed clearing—steps light precise like imperial dancer.

  “So… you two…” Looked Jay eyes—then slowly down Amy—then fire—then back Jay. “Slept together?”

  Jay hesitated a second.

  Amy answered first—lazy smile:

  “Not exactly… ‘Sleep sleep’ isn’t right word.”

  Layla exploded.

  “I’M GONNA KILL YOU, FRECKLED WITCH, MEOW!”

  “You gotta catch me first,” Amy said—hiding behind Jay like tree. “Besides—is his fault. I was needy. He didn’t resist.”

  “THAT’S A BLATANT LIE, MEOW!”

  “I resisted. A lot. Nothing happened.” Jay finally spoke—turning with stuffed bread in hands. “Here—breakfast. Real food. Eat before I eat alone.”

  Layla stared plate like war declaration. Su Mei kept half-lidded eyes—sniffing betrayal air. Nessa—emerging tent now—yawned, scratched head, looked whole scene with “seen too much to care” eyes.

  “Good morning. The food looks great.” Sat—grabbed bread naturally. “You fight over everything…”

  Amy smiled—victorious—still glued Jay like human pillow.

  “You know how it is, Nessa… some girls can’t handle other people’s success.”

  “YOU’RE A FRECKLED DEMON, MEOW!”

  “Thanks, Layla. I try.”

  Jay sighed deeply—sipped coffee. Bitter. Hot. Tasted morning chaos.

  Another normal day with too many girls.

  …

  Group walked forest over hour when Jay suddenly stopped—eyes fixed something among foliage.

  “Deer tracks.” Murmured—crouching touch marks ground. “Fresh. Quick hunt—I can secure lunch before sun hits canopy.”

  Layla crossed arms—still slightly sulky since breakfast.

  “Go then, meow. Better hunt than keep being living pillow.”

  Jay opened mouth—thought about retort—decided loving own life virtue.

  “Right. Thirty minutes tops. If you hear some noise—run. If it's a scream… well, run too.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  He slipped into woods—light steps, almost silent.

  Amy stepped forward.

  “I’m coming with you.”

  The other three turned simultaneously—gazes synced enough seem choreographed.

  “No.” All three said.

  “Huh?” Amy blinked—genuinely confused. “I just… want make sure he doesn’t get lost. You know Jay’s sense direction? Literally only thing worse than his joke skill.”

  “This one needs talk with you.” Su Mei stepped forward—soft hand shoulder redhead. Smile satin… and venom. “Urgent.”

  “It’s about women, meow.” Layla said—subtlety charging boar off cliff.

  “And bath.” Nessa finished—pointing tree curve. “Clean stream nearby. Won’t spend another night smelling horse trail and goat cheese.”

  Amy looked side side—torn between prey (Jay) and trap (girls).

  Su Mei tilted head—half-lidded eyes—voice almost hypnotic:

  “Come with us, Amy. This one wants know many things. About you. And about… your body preference.”

  “Body pref—whaaat?” Amy choked.

  Layla already pushed shoulders.

  “Move it, redhead. Lucky—maybe water washes that smug face, meow.”

  “I-I don’t—! Ow! Nessa—stop poking ribs! I’m going! I’m going!”

  And so—dignity dragged through forest mud—Amy went.

  …

  Clearing small hidden paradise: shy waterfall trickled mossy stones—forming crystal stream winding trees. Sun rays filtered canopy—golden reflections water.

  Nessa already feet water—sleeves rolled, serene eyes. Layla stripped chainmail bikini brusque—like tearing anger with clasps. Su Mei—of course—half-nude, thin bands wrapping body, bangs loosely pinned like living sculpture.

  Amy stood frozen. Eyes wide.

  “You’re… already undressing?! But… what about Jay?!”

  “He went hunting, remember?” Layla kicked gear away. “Meow—if appears—gets axe to kidney.”

  “This one trusts our paladin good sense. Or death fear.” Su Mei sank shoulders—clear cloth floating like white ink water. “Now come. The water is perfect.”

  Amy blushed neck-up.

  “I-I don’t know if good idea… You so casual and I don’t even—!” Layla yanked redhead robe with unnatural speed.

  “AAAHHH! LAYLA!!” Amy screamed—arms trying cover—tripping water with catastrophic splush.

  “Better wet inside than drooling outside.” The amazon entered with her.

  “That sounded awful!” Amy yelled—sinking chin-deep.

  “You impossible today,” Nessa laughed low—wetting hair improvised shell.

  “This one always impossible. Not news.” Su Mei approached Amy—feline eyes. “So, darling. How was night with Jay?”

  Amy choked water.

  “PFFFF! I… I slept! We slept! That’s it!”

  Layla dove—reappeared opposite bank—malicious grin.

  “But same blanket, right?”

  “Blanket big!” Amy trembled.

  Su Mei closer.

  “This one just curious. Heard you not seem care him that way. Until now. Why?”

  Amy looked away.

  Silence.

  Gentle current suddenly louder few seconds.

  “Because…” she whispered—almost voiceless “…he’s my safe harbor. Always was.”

  The others silent instant.

  Even Layla arched brow—smile like pulled grenade pin:

  “Meow! Wait… Weren’t you the one who got all excited the day Nessa woke? Wanting see a curvy celestial archer elf? And now want Jay? What’s the story, meow?”

  Amy paled. Then blushed. Then seemed ready supernova pure embarrassment.

  “N-No wasn’t like that!! Just curious! Elves are beautiful, okay? I like aesthetics! They absurd symmetry! It’s… pure art!”

  “This one loves art too. Especially when stutters trembling like that.” Su Mei smiled—complicit.

  “Pheww—you guys awful.” Nessa sincere laugh—finally entering water.

  Amy crossed arms—sank chin.

  “You… you don’t know what talking…”

  Su Mei even closer.

  “This one only wants understand… He just safe harbor? Or more?”

  Amy bit lower lip. Then—sigh—whispered:

  “I’m still trying figure out…”

  Distant—from forest—Jay shouted:

  “I heard my name! Everything okay there?!”

  “SHUT UP, JAY!” all answered together.

  Amy finally smiled—eyes teary but firm.

  “Idiot… Even hearing perfect when shouldn’t.”

  And water sound, laughter, confused hearts mixed forest.

  …

  Solariis timidly slipped between treetops—painting ground dancing golden shafts. Breeze carried wildflower perfume and distant cricket song—but mood heavier usual.

  Forest center—ancient mossy stone magic circle—Amy finished adjusting wrist channeling bracelet. Red hair more alive filtered light; royal-blue robe fluttered wind—like refused let her go.

  Jay watched silent. Not warrior facing war. Man knowing life always takes what not ready release.

  “So…” Amy broke silence—like ending business meeting “this where I say emotionally relevant thing and you look tragic martyr, right?”

  Jay smiled. Lightly. Subtly. Lip curve saying everything never verbalized.

  “You don’t want say emotionally relevant thing?”

  “Hmm…” Amy chin-scratch—thoughtful “something like ‘Jay, my heart ache every day till see again’ or ‘Never forget—even centuries pass’?”

  Stepped forward—eyes glowing circle light.

  “How tacky. Not my style.”

  Jay lowered head—laughing nose.

  “Can just ‘take care’.”

  “Blergh. Lame.”

  “Or ‘don’t do anything stupid’.”

  “Now yes. Much better.” Arched brow—pointed finger theatrical “Don’t pick fights dragons without me, don’t marry your hysterical followers. Especially the feline one.”

  CRACK!

  Left bush branch snapped. Silence.

  Jay sighed.

  “They spying, aren’t they?”

  “Subtlety drunk boar,” Amy replied—already craning neck peer leaves.

  There—line. Three pairs eyes gleaming night-cat like—full judgment.

  Layla low-growling. Su Mei pretending analyze circle energy—but arms crossed resentful stepmother. Nessa politely waved—like didn’t want involved anyone’s marital fight—clearly enjoying.

  Amy tasted smile. Raised hand and…

  “Muaaaaah!” Blew kiss.

  Layla exploded.

  “FRECKLED SLUT! MEOW! SAW THAT KISS!!”

  “Calm down, Layla,” Su Mei smiled half-lidded. “Shouldn’t… interrupt magical rituals feline attacks. This one still considers murder a complicated karma clean.”

  Jay hand forehead—deep sigh.

  Amy laughed. Light—almost nostalgic. Then—without warning—held face both hands. Fingers cool crystal.

  Looked—not powerful mage. Not advisor. Not woman faced battles councils.

  Just Amy. Only Amy.

  “Listen…” softer tone “I keep being me. Grumpy, powerful, wonderful Amy always. And I’ll be here. Always. Even don’t call. Even don’t need.”

  Leaned—kissed side face. Slow. Almost childish tenderness.

  Then stepped back.

  “Just… don’t get too cute with them, okay? Like my paladin half-broken, half-mysterious. Not fully tamed.”

  Jay didn’t reply. But gaze said everything. “Thank you” never spoken.

  Amy smiled—raised staff—murmured final incantation.

  Circle blazed ethereal blue.

  She winked spying girls.

  “Take good care him—or I come steal back.”

  And vanished light-and-leaf spiral.

  …

  Few minutes later…

  Group walked dirt trail leading Bretalia canals in silence. Sky opened—sun full crowns. Birdsong returned. Tension… still air.

  Layla kicked pebble hard. Ricocheted three trunks—knocked owl branch—landed bush.

  “Humpf! That kiss is too long, meow!”

  “Spiritual friendship seal lasting,” Su Mei enigmatic smile. “Least how this one decided interpret.”

  “Friendship seal my ass! She made noise!” Layla spun Jay “You let her make noise, Jay!”

  “Didn’t let,” Jay tired “Just didn’t stop.”

  “Which worse!” Layla and Su Mei unison.

  Jay another sigh.

  “Can I at least breathe peace now?”

  “Only promise sleep highest tree tonight,” Su Mei murmured.

  “And not dream any redhead, meow!”

  Nessa—behind—quiet laugh. Walked eyes lost sky.

  Despite absurd scene ahead—felt strange peace.

  Freedom.

  “Thank you, Malkut…” murmured herself “for pulling me father shadow… placing me wonderful people mess.”

  Wind blew gentle green-haired cleric—even under dark hood.

  And road continued.

  As always continues—even after goodbyes.

  ?