The villagers near the Shadowglade Forest surrounded Aria and EMI with cheers and gratitude. Women offered baskets of fruits and flowers, children ran excitedly around them, and the men bowed their heads in respect.
"Thank you, heroines! You saved us from that horrible creature!" exclaimed an old man, holding out a bouquet of flowers for EMI.
"Please, it's nothing," EMI replied modestly, though her smile betrayed a hint of pride.
Aria, more reserved, accepted the praise with a slight nod. "We're only doing our duty to protect you."
Alex, a few steps behind, observed silently with his hands in the pockets of his suit. The name 'Shadowglade Forest' is just as cliché as I expected, he thought. Though the villagers' excitement wasn't directed at him, he didn't mind in the slightest. In fact, he preferred it that way.
But while he feigned indifference, something kept him uneasy: Zarek's gaze. That man, one of the dark mage's minions, had looked at him as if he already knew him—like he knew something that even Alex didn't.
---
Later that night, the group rested at the duke's luxurious mansion. Seated in the main hall, Aria spread out a map across a large table, marking key areas of the village and its surroundings.
"According to what Zarek said, the dark mage's main target is this village," Aria explained, drawing circles with a quill. "We need to plan a defense strategy. We can't let any more villagers disappear."
EMI nodded with determination. "First step will be setting up watchpoints and making sure the village entrances are well guarded."
Alex, though present, seemed lost in thought. He didn't join in the planning, but his eyes were fixed on the map as if searching for something no one else could see.
---
Later, Alex lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Why did Zarek look at me that way? What does he know that I don't?
His mind drifted between all the potential threats his group might face. He didn't care about praise, but he worried that the attention EMI and Aria received could draw even more dangerous enemies. Zarek was toying with us… and he's just one of the underlings. What will happen when we face the rest of the dark mage's followers?
He sighed and closed his eyes, trying to calm his thoughts, until a soft sound at the door made him frown. He got up carefully and approached, listening closely.
"What are you doing here?" whispered a familiar voice.
"Me? What are you doing here?" replied another equally familiar voice.
Aria and EMI were arguing just outside his door.
"You came to talk to Alex too?" EMI asked, crossing her arms.
"What I do is none of your business," Aria shot back coldly. "I don't know why that surprises you. It's obvious he's worried and needs support."
"That's exactly what I thought!" EMI raised her voice slightly.
The sound of the door opening interrupted them. Alex stood in front of them, looking at both with a mix of curiosity and fatigue.
"Come in and tell me why you're here," he said plainly, not wanting to prolong the argument.
The girls exchanged looks before stepping inside.
---
Once inside, Alex sat on the edge of his bed while Aria and EMI stood in front of him, still uncomfortable with the situation.
"We just wanted to make sure you were okay," EMI began, nervously rubbing her arm.
"That," added Aria in a calmer tone. "You seemed deep in thought after what happened with Zarek."
Alex sighed. "I'm fine… I'm just trying to figure out how to keep his attacks from being so effective. I don't care what Zarek thinks of me, but if we keep going up against his group, I'm afraid someone will get hurt sooner or later."
Both girls looked at him with concern.
"That's why we're here," EMI said, offering a soft smile. "You're not alone in this, Alex."
Aria stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Trust us. We trust you."
Although Alex didn't respond immediately, he felt something strange in his chest. It was warm but also heavy, as if their words had touched a part of him he preferred to ignore.
"Thank you… both of you," he finally said quietly.
---
The tension in the room thickened after Alex's words. Aria, as composed as ever, crossed her arms and looked at EMI with a neutral expression—though there was a playful glint in her eyes.
"Now that that's cleared up, we should get some sleep," Aria said as she stood up. Then she turned to EMI with a smile that seemed to hide something more. "EMI, you should go rest. After all, you need to be at your best for the heavy lifting tomorrow."
EMI, slightly annoyed, got up from Alex's bed and walked toward the door. But just before crossing it, she stopped and glanced over her shoulder.
"Why are you so eager to get rid of me?" she asked, frowning slightly.
Aria gave a confident smile and replied in a firm voice: "Isn't it obvious? Alex and I are destined to be married. It's better if we start sleeping together now so we can get used to each other's skin."
Alex felt the heat rise to his face, a clear blush spreading across his cheeks. The mere thought of sharing a bed with Aria left him speechless.
EMI, for her part, turned fully on her heel and stared at Aria with a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
"Married? Since when is that a done deal?" EMI snapped, crossing her arms.
But before she could add anything else, Aria calmly began to undo the ribbon of her robe. The garment slipped to the floor, revealing a graceful figure clad only in lace underwear that accentuated her porcelain-like noble skin.
Without hesitation, Aria jumped into Alex's bed and settled in naturally. "Good night," she said, a playful smile on her face.
"What are you doing?!" EMI shouted, stepping forward with a face flushed in anger and embarrassment.
Aria turned slightly on the bed, resting her head on one hand as she looked at EMI with amusement. "What's the problem? Do you have any objections to Alex marrying me?"
The question caught EMI off guard. She couldn't find the words right away. Her nervousness became evident as she stammered:
"That… that has nothing to do with it! I'm just saying… friends can sleep together too!"
In a move that surprised both Alex and Aria, EMI began untying her own robe. When she let it fall, she revealed lingerie even more daring than anyone would have expected.
Aria raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised, then let out a small mocking laugh.
"Wow, EMI. I never thought someone like you wore such sexy underwear. Maybe I misjudged you."
EMI's face turned as red as a tomato, and before Aria could say anything else, she jumped into Alex's bed, burying herself under the covers in obvious embarrassment.
Alex, who had been standing by the bed in complete silence, could only watch the entire scene unfold, unable to process what was happening.
"I'm not an idiot. I know any guy—or even girl—would kill to be in this situation. But this is too much..." he thought, staring at the two girls now sharing his bed.
Aria, completely calm, got more comfortable and looked at him with a confident smile. EMI, still curled up under the covers, was no less present.
They both looked at him and, almost in unison, said:
"What are you waiting for? It's bedtime."
Alex sighed, defeated. He knew there was no way to win this situation. With a slight shake of his head, he approached the bed, lifted the covers, and lay down between the two of them.
"Good night," he said, closing his eyes and trying to ignore the chaos around him.
Aria let out a light chuckle and murmured, "Good night, Alex."
EMI, still a bit tense, murmured the same.
And although Alex tried to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder when his life had taken such an absurd turn.
"I just hope this doesn't become a habit…" he thought, just before exhaustion finally took over.