The morning sun rose, shining into one of the inn’s windows. This light shone, filling the room in which Alex stayed in. He moved around frantically, his body telling him that it was time to wake up. As he slowly opened his eyes, the space next to him was empty – Veyra had gotten up before he did. “Morning.” She said so softly, warm.

  He can see her, standing by the room’s mirror, as she played around with her red hair, figuring out how to style it for the day’s to come. She wore one of his shirts, like most sizes, his was enough to cover from top to almost the upper part of her thighs, her dragon tail sticking out. “Morning beautiful.” Alex finally replied, mumbling as he did. A slight groan as he sat down on the bed, still feeling the small bump on his back when he fell off of Veyra in her dragon form from the battle prior. He had no shirt on, just a pair of shorts that were underneath the cover of the blanket.

  *Good morning right back,* author surprised him. *Thanks for the beautiful comment.*

  *You know I wasn’t talking to you,* Alex rolled his eyes, sighing as he did. *It’s too damn early to deal with your shit right now.*

  *You don’t have to be so damn rude, are you always this grumpy in the morning?* Author rhetorically asked.

  *Not usually, only when a certain someone comes here with their annoyance.* Alex was referring to the author.

  *Yeah, yeah, I’m going already.* And with that, the silence in Alex’s head resumed.

  “Are you okay?” Veyra sat at the other side of the bed, her hair in a ponytail, her tail on top his feet. That certainly broke Alex’s train of thought, seeing how the sun reflected off of Veyra, naturally showing her beauty in way that’s indescribable to him.

  “Oh, uh, yeah,” he answered and quickly too. “Sorry, I was just thinking about something.”

  Veyra had a gleam to her eyes, her gaze sharpening at Alex. “You know, its not the first time I see you like that, you always seem so calm, almost meditative when you’re in your deep thoughts. Anything troubling you?”

  Alex took a deep breathe. He hadn’t had a chance to actually tell her about the little voice in the head, about how this world was just a canvas for imagination for a certain author. His eyes locked in to hers. He realized he would have to eventually tell her. He started to lean closer, his face close to hers. “There’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell you, do you trust me?”

  She can see the seriousness in his face, his intense gaze, his concentration on her. It was almost enchanting to her. “Of course. We are together now, aren’t we?”

  She broke his rather intense look, with a smile that faintly showed her fangs. One that still makes Alex’s stomach be filled with nothing but butterflies. He swallowed hard, taking a seat next to her, shoulder to shoulder, her tail shaking and slithering around the bed. “Well, it’s about the ‘meditation’ that you so call it,” he began. “There’s actually a reason why sometimes I’m in a rather deep thought. Now I know this might sound a bit crazy, but there’s this voice – he talks to me, guides me. He’s the reason why I am here. And why I was able to meet a great person like you.”

  She didn’t have a reaction. Neutral for the most part. There was a small silence, before she finally spoke. “So it’s like a deity or a god that’s in your head?” She asked.

  Alex thought about it for a moment, before he can give Veyra his reply. “In a sense, yeah.” He lied – not technically, more like he sugarcoated it.

  *Oh, so I’m a God now, eh?* Author seemingly came back, almost gloating in his tone.

  Alex demeanor quickly changed, annoyed. Veyra can tell as it looked like he was about to pop a vein. *Not. Now. Go. Away.* His sentence was broken, emphasizing each word. That must’ve done the trick, because the silence became evident.

  “Is he back?” She asked.

  “He was,” he answered her. “But I’m sure he’ll back again. He’s like a professional third wheeler at this point.”

  Veyra couldn’t help but laugh. “You know they say that a person who teases you, truly cares about you. Might be his way of showing you.”

  *She gets it.* Author butted in once more, agreeing with her assessment.

  *Don’t you have other things to do? Go write some fanfiction or something.* Alex groaned, rubbing his face with his hand.

  *Funny enough, that’s how I started my career,* the laughs of the author echoed in Alex’s mind. *And now, I’m writing about you two, guess you can say you’re my OTP.*

  *Oh for the love of God, just shut up.* Alex now face palmed. Veyra couldn’t help but continue to chuckle, to much of his dismay.

  *More like, “For the love of me,” eh?* He continued his teasing.

  *I will strangle you with your words, try me.* Alex threatened.

  *Fine, I’ll leave you be, I’ll come back again in a couple paragraphs or so. Sayonara.* And like that, Alex’s mind was quiet once more.

  “Oh thank god.” Alex let out a huge sigh, letting himself fall back onto the bed.

  “Seems like he continues to tease you, he truly must care for your wellbeing.” Veyra’s smile almost cured Alex of his headache. Almost.

  “Don’t give him anymore ammunition.” Alex weakly said.

  It wasn’t long before they started their day. They got properly dressed – Alex in his modernized warriors armor and Veyra, in the tunic she borrowed. They had breakfast at the inn, both stealing glances at each other, appreciating each other’s presence. It wasn’t long before they found themselves walking around the streets of Valthar. They weren’t the only ones awake at this hour – what remained of the guards, patrolling the streets, children playing tag with each other, merchants rolling in with their carts.

  The first stop on their list was a tailor. Veyra heavily needed more clothes suited for her size, not that she didn’t mind wearing Alex’s of course. After being a beast the entire time she was mind controlled, it was easy to see she needed to have more of her own.

  Surprisingly, the shop catered to adventurers, so most of it was a mix of heavy and light. While the shopkeeper nearly fainted at the sight of both of them being at his shop, the bag of money kept him awake for the most part. The price didn’t matter to Alex, considering before he left the adventurers guild yesterday, Torvald had given him the money he was owed, and then some. Almost a million in gold crowns were given to him, after dealing with the quest at hand. His threats to end the noble as well must’ve been what raised the incentive. Not what he had planned, but not one he complained about.

  As Veyra handpicked her clothing and gear, Alex stood in the sidelines, just admiring her as she looked around the racks. A red dress that matched her hair, a tunic that had a flame embroidery, and a simple cloak that had a fur line. She took all of them to the back, tailor following, to help her try the fitted armor.

  He couldn’t help but smile – she was everything he wanted. How her smile made his heart skip a beat, how he always snuck a compliment to her beauty ever since he met her. If it wasn’t for the author pointing him in the right direction, who knows how much longer she would’ve bared to be – on that mountain alone. He knew how lonely it can be, so much so, that he greatly appreciated her – her presence, the way she smiled, even her dragon form, it was something he couldn’t help but think about each time he saw her, no matter how many times he saw her. He realized how much he’s fallen for her.

  He never regretted meeting her, not one bit.

  About 15 minutes or so passed, and she finally came back.

  The crimson dress moved in disciplined panels around her legs, each fold falling in controlled lines instead of loose swaths of fabric. When she shifted around the store, the material parted just enough to allow motion, then settled back into place as if trained. It did not cling or flare wildly; it obeyed, at least that’s how it looked. The tailor made sure, measured her stride before cutting that cloth.

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  The leather tunic was fitted with unmistakable precision. It traced the shape of her torso - ribcage, waist, hips, her tail - without excess. The front lacing lay taut and even, adjusted with care rather than decoration. The leather itself had been molded and hardened, shaped to her frame while still pliable, then finished to a muted sheen that absorbed light rather than reflected it. It looked protective without appearing cumbersome. It followed the same way Alex wore his armor, a more modern look.

  A broad belt cinched her waist, anchored firmly against the tunic. Every strap, buckle, and rivet appeared deliberate. Nothing sagged. Nothing shifted. The metal fittings were blackened, functional, subdued. Her thigh guards followed the natural contour of her legs, not hanging like borrowed armor but resting where they were meant to be.

  The cloak was the most commanding piece. Black and heavy, it fell from her shoulders in a controlled sweep, its weight evident in the way it resisted the wind. The fur at the collar framed her neck and upper back, evenly distributed so it did not pull to one side. Even from a distance, it was clear the seam had been reinforced to bear that burden.

  Her dark red hair in a tight ponytail, her tail that wagged around, almost hitting the shopkeeper as it swayed left and right, it matched perfectly with the armor.

  From the sidelines, she did not resemble a warrior who had gathered mismatched pieces. She looked constructed - measured, fitted, and finished by hands that understood both her body and her movement in combat. Every line of cloth and leather responded to her body as though it had been made for no one else. It was perfect, Alex couldn’t help but let his jaw drop, the armor she picked out, it truly brought her beauty. “H-How does it look?” She asked, nervously.

  Alex composed himself. “You look magnificent.”

  Her nervousness instantly turned to laughter – soft and pleased. “Thank you very much,” she then turned her attention to the tailor. “I’ll take this and the other clothing that you helped me pick out and fit.”

  “Right this way.”

  It wasn’t long before they finished their shopping spree, well, mainly Veyra. As they continued, Alex couldn’t help himself but steal some glances. “You’re staring again.” She chuckled, she didn’t mind the attention of course.

  “I can’t help it, you’re so gorgeous,” a bright smile loomed on Alex’s face, so brightly so, Veyra’s heart skipped a beat with it. “You can wear anything and I’ll be mesmerized by your look. I can’t help it.”

  Veyra warmly laughed, she then had her hand in his as they walked. “You really mean it?”

  “I do, very much so,” shoulder to shoulder, side by side, they grew more intimate with every step they took. “Speaking of clothing, how does it work when you go Kaiju mode?”

  “Kaiju?” She didn’t understand the reference.

  “When you go full dragon,” he elaborated. “How does it work? You don’t accidentally destroy it right? Like Hulk or something?”

  “I don’t know what Kaiju or this Hulk are, but no, my armor doesn’t get destroyed when I go full ‘Kaiju,’” she began to explain. “I use spatial magic.”

  “Spatial?” Alex knew very little of the world’s types of magic. Hell, sometimes he doesn’t even know how his works. He just thinks and it happens, flowing in his hands or sword.

  “It’s a form of magic that uses a pocket dimension, it teleports my armor there when I shift to my dragon mode,” she continued with her explanation. “When I turn back to this form, it comes back from that pocket dimension and places the armor back on me like I never took it off.”

  “That sounds very convenient.” Alex was amazed.

  “And when I’m in this form, when I use my other magic, say my fire or when I shift my hands into my dragon claws, my natural resistance makes it so it doesn’t tear or burn the fabric.” Veyra finished her explanation.

  “Now that sounds just as cool,” Alex continued to be amazed. “Now if I can figure out how to do that as well, I’d be saving gold instead of having to return back to the blacksmith when I ruin mine.” And now he pouted.

  “Being of draconoid kind, my family has always been able to cast spatial magic, in high or low tier,” she continued. “I’ve never met a human who can wield it, though.”

  Alex stopped right in his tracks, Veyra did so as well. He then started to concentrate, doing it the same way the Author had told him. His hands right in front of him. Veyra can feel the magic aura around him. After a minute or so of silence, nothing happened. Alex opened his eyes, looked at his hands. “Huh, nothing. Guess you’re right about that.”

  “Were you trying to cast it just now?” Veyra asked of him.

  “I tried, but I guess that confirms I don’t have it,” he sighed. “I hope I didn’t look like a fool just now.”

  Veyra softly chuckled, covering her lips with her hand. “No fool, just cute is all.”

  Alex couldn’t help but blush, was the first time in awhile he was called cute by a girl. He combed his hair back, playing it off. “Let’s, uh, continue walking.”

  They continued on their walk. This time, they found themselves in front of an enchantress shop. Alex always came by here, but never did he have the gold he needed to venture in, now that he did, he shopped around like a little kid at a candy shop.

  He enchanted his sword – the enchantment helped with flowing his magic onto it. His armor, have gave it a major buff to resistance, all kinds of it, from magic to physical. Less time at the blacksmith now, and more time out there doing quests.

  He continued to look around, eyes shining with the every rune he saw, rings and amulets with different buffs, scrolls with magic he’s unfamiliar with. The store – it was heaven to those who enjoy and love RPGs and alike.

  This time around, Veyra was the one sidelined, looking at how cheerful Alex was for just about anything. She couldn’t help but blush, happy to see how Alex was just filled with so much joy – how it made her realize how truly she cared for him. It wasn’t just his strength, his humble personality, his heart, it was all so charming to her. It wasn’t just his glances, his advances, she loved the attention he gave her, so much so, its why she never could fault him for staring at her, for showing her who he is, she craved it just as much as he did. She was head over heels for him – and she was glad it was him that saved her, the one that reached the top of the Ashen Divide, the one who dispelled the ugliness of the dark magic that was the collar that chained her.

  She did not regret meeting him, not one bit.

  “Hey, I’m done shopping over here, we can go now.” He approached her, with a sack that was filled with all sorts of stuff that the shopkeeper manage to convince Alex to buy.

  The late afternoon sun had bathed both Alex and Veyra as the walked back to the inn.

  Veyra leaned in closer, like before, she grabbed his hand. His warmth with hers, the continued their walk like that. In silence for awhile before she broke it. “So Alex.” She said lowly, garnering his attention.

  “What is it?” He responded.

  “What’s your next move?” She asked.

  He thought about it for a minute. For awhile, he only followed whatever the author laid in front of him. He actually hasn’t heard from him since the morning. “I’m not too sure,” he answered, honestly. “This world isn’t the one I came from, if anything, I would really enjoy just exploring it, if I’m being frank.”

  “Then… can I help you explore it then?” Veyra asked, lowly, politely. She stopped walking, forcing Alex to stop as well. His left hand in her right, she grabbed the other one, her left in his right – and she stared right into him, with her crimson eyes. If hearteyes were a person, in this moment, she’d be it.

  Alex swallowed hard, he couldn’t help himself but be entranced with her look, with her intense gaze into his. The intimacy intensified, with his own smile causing her to blush just as hard as he. “Remember our first conversation, at the inn at the bottom of the Ashen Divide?”

  “I remember.” She pulled in closer, hand holding turned into a heartfelt hug, her tail coiled around him. She can hear his heartbeat as she laid her head unto his chest.

  “Do you remember how we both said we wanted each other, to be near each other? I still want that. Very much so.” He pulled her face closer, eyes meeting once again. He raised her chin, slowly.

  “I don’t want to just be with you,” she whispered as their faces neared. “I want you to continue to stare at me with those blissful eyes of yours, I want you to continue to compliment me each time you see me. I love your attention. I crave it so much so. I - ”

  Before she can finish her sentence, he interrupted her in the most polite way possible – a kiss, to seal their love for one another. Their moment, it may have passed as mere seconds, but to them, it was an eternity. The afternoon sun had changed into the evening, setting the horizon orange, highlighting their moment so much more so.

  Finally, they broke their kiss, as their lungs begged for air. Heart, heavy, all in one. “Explore the world with me then, Veyra.”

  “Of course, Alex. I would love to.” They held each other, embraced each other.

  Alex can hear sobbing, not from her but from the inside of his head. *Are you crying?* He couldn’t help but ask the man living rent-free.

  *It was just so – so, so lovely,” the author couldn’t help himself, sniffling like a teenager who just seen a romance movie at the theater. *Bravo. You two are just so disgustingly cute.*

  *Heh, I should thank you, without your direction, I would’ve never met her.* Alex couldn’t help but share the moment.

  *No, no, this was all you my guy, I can only third wheel hard from here on out.* Author continued with his antics.

  *Please don’t.* Alex pleaded.

  *No promises, I’ll bring popcorn next time around.* Author laughed, joking around and ruining Alex’s mood.

  *Oh God.* Alex almost puked at that thought.

  Veyra can see the concentration on Alex’s face, eyes closed, almost meditative like before. “He’s back?” She couldn’t help but ask.

  “Yeah,” he answered, with an annoyed tone in his voice. “He was just crying, grateful for us, that’s all.”

  “Oh my,” she let out a small, wry chuckle. “Well, I appreciate him for his honesty.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he knows, and he’s baskin in it as we speak.” Alex rolled his eyes, thinking about how the voice will rub it in his face.

  “I do have one small favor.” She broke their embrace, now just facing him face to face.

  “What’s up?” He can tell from the seriousness of her face, her request must be personal.

  She swallowed hard, mustering up the courage. “If all you want to do is travel, may we head to Kharzad first?”

  He remembered, back at the mountains, she had told him that’s where she hailed from. He remembered from the top, it was farther east. “Kharzad, that’s your home kingdom right?”

  “Yes,” she then held her hand around her neck, remembering that awful dark magic of a collar. “I have unfinished business there. I wish to see how things have been since I’ve been gone.”

  “I understand,” he can see her frown, how it quickly shifted from the smile she just had. He placed his hand on her shoulder, comforting her. “We can leave first thing in the morning.” He didn’t question her, he knew what she needed to do. What needed to be done.

  “Thank you.”

  So starts their journey, from one kingless kingdom to one shrouded in mystery, at least for Alex. It was going to be one long expedition, one he doesn’t have to walk alone anymore.