FINALLY, THYMORE

Aki's eyes slowly fluttered open, greeted by the expanse of a brilliant blue sky above him. Almost instinctively, his first words were, "Yumi?"

His call hung in the air, unanswered, and a surge of anxiety washed over him as he feared for her safety. Despite the throbbing discomfort coursing through his entire body and the ache in his muscles, he was relieved to feel pain—it was a sign that nothing had been dismembered in the blast.

Wincing, Aki turned his attention downward, inspecting the scorch marks and the damage to his clothes and armor as evidence of the explosion's impact. He couldn't help but wonder about his face, but quickly realized that it hardly mattered. He knew Yumi loved him for who he was, regardless of appearances. What mattered most was that his primary senses—sight, smell, and voice—were intact. This meant he could continue their journey without any significant hindrance.

Just as he began to fret more about Yumi, a soothing, feminine voice reached his ears. "Aki, you're awake!"

Aki heaved a sigh of relief, spotting Yumi rushing toward him. She had been tending to a horse, offering it hay from a bale. Her armor was now back on, and her shield rested at her back. A few blood smudges stained her gauntlet, but Aki brushed it off, for all that mattered was her safety.

Worry etched across her face, Yumi crouched beside him and asked, "Are you okay? Is anything broken?"

Taking a deep breath, Aki responded, "I don't think so, but we should find out." With Yumi's support, he gingerly rose to his feet. His left foot seemed fine, but when he attempted to put weight on his right, a searing pain shot up his leg.

"I think it's sprained," Aki admitted, his frustration barely concealed. There was no need to remove his boots to see the significant swelling inside.

Yumi voiced her exasperation with a click of her tongue, remarking, "We should've insisted on upfront payment. We could have purchased some healing potions with the money."

"It's alright. How did you locate me?" Aki inquired, attempting to divert his thoughts from his unfortunate injury.

"I heard the explosion and rushed to find you," Yumi explained. "I found you a fair distance from the blast. Oh, Aki, I thought you were gone for good!" Her eyes welled up with tears.

Aki grinned, replying, "Not quite." His thoughts shifted to the other members of the family. "What about the others?"

Yumi shook her head, her expression somber. "The entire family perished. Schylo was trapped inside when the fire broke out, and I found Landon's body."

Aki inquired about the woman they had been escorting, and Yumi shook her head. "She was alive when I first saw her, but she didn't make it."

Aki felt a pang of sorrow. He found it puzzling; the woman didn't seem like someone who would willingly end her life, and she was remarkably resilient. If he survived the blast, she might have too. "I guess she was too close to the blast radius," Aki thought sadly. He regretted not being able to save her.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Aki turned his attention to the horse nearby. The animal seemed to acknowledge him with a nod, and Aki returned the gesture with a smile. "Hey there. What's your name, buddy?"

"Oh!" Yumi exclaimed. "This horse actually led me to you! I was calling your name, and this horse showed up, so I followed him."

"Is that so?" Aki replied, giving the horse a thoughtful look. The horse seemed to recognize him and nudged his face. Aki patted the horse affectionately. "I don't know your name... I'll call you Buddy." The horse seemed to approve, nuzzling Aki again. An idea struck him. "We can ride Buddy to Thymore!"

Yumi watched them with a small smile, her eyes widening with enthusiasm. "Yes! It's not cheating if we use the horse! He's our treasure! Come on, it's still early in the day. We should make our way there quickly."

She turned around, crouching down and offering her back to Aki. Though he felt slightly embarrassed, he knew what was expected. He wrapped his arms around her neck, hugging her from behind as she lifted him effortlessly, carrying him with little effort.

"Comfortable?" Yumi teased with a giggle.

Aki replied, "Yeah," a shy smile on his face. Being this close to Yumi made his heart race, and he couldn't help but wonder if she could feel it.

"Let's get going," Yumi said with determination. As if Aki wasn't even behind her, she climbed onto the horse, and together, they set off on their journey to Thymore.

---

Aki let out a low whistle as he beheld the magnificent village of Thymore, while Yumi, with a more familiar expression, merely smiled. She had visited the village more frequently than Aki, and its splendor was not lost on her. The entrance arch alone exuded affluence, constructed from marble with the village's name beautifully inscribed in an obviously expensive wood.

Thymore's history was closely intertwined with the prestigious Academy it housed. Initially, the academy was primarily attended by talented, less privileged children who couldn't afford private tutors. However, as time passed, the village's wealthier families realized the benefits of sending their children to the Academy, where they could make valuable connections. This led to a shift from private tutors to the academy for many, and even some of the wealthier families chose to reside within the village to remain close to their children, contributing to Thymore's expansion. It had transformed from a modest community into a bustling town, with influential families establishing businesses there, recognizing the strategic advantage of being close to the Academy.

The small wooden fence that had once surrounded the village had been replaced with a medium-sized brick wall, guarded by armed sentinels who patrolled its perimeter.

At the entrance arch, a guardhouse was stationed, and guards dressed in fine leather armor chatted amiably. One of them, catching sight of Yumi and Aki, raised his hand, signaling them to halt.

He retrieved a parchment from the station and approached them with an air of indifference. "Welcome to Thymore," he began to say as he scanned the parchment. Then, his tone abruptly shifted to a more commanding one. "What is your—Oh! Yumi!"

"Hey, Carl," Yumi greeted the guard with a warm smile, though Aki detected a hint of concern in her voice. Another guard also looked up upon hearing Yumi's name. He stood out, as his uniform was of higher quality, and Aki assumed he was the leader. He grinned and offered Yumi a small wave, which she promptly returned.

As he waved, Aki noticed a large silver ring on the guard's thumb. While a simple ring might not have caught Aki's attention, it was identical to the one Carl wore. The other guards either didn't acknowledge Yumi or merely glanced at her, without the ring.

"You're back!" Carl exclaimed, appearing excessively delighted, which Aki found somewhat unsettling. "Well, I suppose if you visit a village once a month for years, people would remember you," Aki thought. He felt a swell of pride that Yumi had made such a lasting impression on the guards.

"Yes, I am," Yumi confirmed, her words quick. She introduced Aki to Carl with a nod, saying, "This is my companion, Aki."

Carl's gaze shifted to Aki, his face lighting up. "Oh, so you're Aki, huh? I've heard a lot about you. You're a handsome lad. I can see why Yumi is taken with you."

Aki was caught off guard by the compliment and responded with a nod and a modest wave.

Carl waved back, his friendly smile intact. Then, he turned his attention to Yumi, asking, "What brings you to Thymore, Yumi?"

"We've just graduated," Yumi replied.

"Congratulations!" Carl said warmly as he noted their names on his parchment. "Academy graduates, and the first of your batch, no less. Welcome in!"

Yumi led the horse into the village, and as they passed by Carl, Aki couldn't resist asking, "Where can we find the healing temple?"

Carl began to raise his hand to point, then hesitated, saying, "Don't worry, Aki. Yumi knows this village like the back of her hand. I've seen her everywhere - in dim alleys, on the wall..."

Aki furrowed his brow but couldn't press further as Yumi had the horse moving forward. He mouthed a quiet "thank you" to the guard. Once they had moved a sufficient distance, Yumi audibly sighed with relief. Aki found her reaction puzzling; Carl had appeared friendly, and Aki had detected no signs of animosity from him.

But then, Carl called out to them, "Yumi! Are you heading to the pub later!?"

"No!" Yumi replied firmly, not even glancing back at the guard. "Hiya!" Yumi urged the horse to quicken its pace, and Aki noticed a slight frown on her face.

"A pub?" Aki inquired, intrigued. "People drink here?"

"Yeah," Yumi replied, her words measured. "They have drinks with low **** content. It's a good way to pass the time here in Thymore."

Aki mulled over her response and observed that Yumi appeared to be on edge, despite the absence of anything overtly suspicious. Her behavior piqued his curiosity.

---

As they made their way to the healing ward, the rhythmic sound of the horse's hooves echoed throughout the village. The path was covered with intricate rock tiles, and vibrant gardens stretched as far as the eye could see. Laughter of children filled the air, playing merrily, while adults carried out their daily chores.

Aki broke the silence, marveling at the surroundings. "This village is absolutely stunning."

Yumi agreed with affection in her voice. "Yes, and there are so many kind people here." She guided them towards a destination that she seemed to know well.

Aki was taken by surprise when they arrived at what appeared to be a house, rather than a healing temple. He glanced a questioning look at Yumi who muttered, "The people living here owe me a favor." He clung to Yumi for support as she dismounted the horse and secured it to a post.

Once the horse was settled, Aki carefully rested his uninjured foot on the ground. The close contact with Yumi left him feeling slightly embarrassed, but she seemed to understand and smirked. She took his arm and draped it over her shoulders, providing support as they moved towards the house.

"Diane!" Yumi called out, and a woman emerged from the house. It was immediately clear that she was a half-orc, with her distinctive green skin and prominent teeth. Despite her appearance, she wore a warm and welcoming smile.

"Oh, Yumi, welcome back!" Diane greeted Yumi, evidently delighted to see her.

Diane's attention then shifted to Aki. "So this is Aki, huh?" she remarked.

Aki managed a slight smile, but before he could engage in further conversation, Diane urged them inside. The house was as impressive as the village, and Aki couldn't help but think he'd like a place like this if he ever achieved his goal. It was a simple two-story house with an interior made of wood. Paintings adorned the walls, and one in particular caught Aki's interest. It depicted Diane with another half-orc, presumably her husband, who also wore the same silver ring on his thumb as Carl and the guard captain.

Diane led them to a room on the ground floor that resembled a laboratory.

"Is Daryl not here?" Yumi asked.

"My husband is at work," Diane replied simply. "Sit right here and let me examine you," she instructed, indicating a stool.

With Yumi's help, Aki settled onto the stool, and Diane scrutinized him intently. She offered an honest appraisal. "Handsome. Tall. Smart-looking." Her approval was accompanied by a warm smile. "I approve, Yumi."

But her assessment soon shifted from compliments to a detailed examination of Aki's injuries. "Now for the negatives. Clothes are destroyed, charred. His hair is singed, and there are burns on his face and neck." Diane extended her hand to grasp Aki's arm. "A couple of burns here and there too." She examined the extent of his injuries before stepping back.

"Take off your shirt," she ordered, her impatience showing.

Aki felt a sense of discomfort at the prospect of undressing, but he glanced at Yumi, who silently encouraged him to comply. With a deep breath, he proceeded to remove his shirt, feeling a sting as it peeled away from his skin.

Diane's appreciative whistle took him by surprise. "Well built," she acknowledged, her gaze tracing his form. Her eyes remained fixed on his body, and Aki found the scrutiny unsettling. "More burns."

As she contemplated her next course of action, Diane turned to Yumi and voiced her intention with a few simple words that caused Aki's mouth to open agape. "Lower part."

Yumi glanced at Aki's horrified expression and she grinned ear to ear, nodding vigorously.

Aki couldn't believe what he was seeing. Why was she asking Yumi for permission to examine his lower extremities instead of him? his eyes shifted from one woman to another as He panickily blurted out, "I think I'm fine!"

Diane and Yumi shared a laugh, seemingly enjoying Aki's outburst. With a mischievous look in her eyes, Diane then turned to Aki and inquired, "Do you want Yumi to be present?"

Yumi gasped, taken aback by the question. "Diane!" He smiled despite the awkwardness of the situation and replied, "No, please. Yumi can step out."

Yumi shot him a disapproving glare, her frown evident, but she didn't protest. She exited the room, leaving Aki to complete the examination without an audience. Aki removed his pants, leaving his underwear on, as Diane began her inspection.

Aki's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked about the favors Yumi had mentioned. "I heard you owe Yumi favors," he said, seeking a better understanding of their arrangement.

Diane nodded as she stooped to check Aki's legs. "Yes, that's right," she replied. "More burns, a little swelling here too."

Straightening up, Diane looked at Aki and grinned. "She helped me and my husband... experiment."

Aki was intrigued and pressed for details. "Really? Like what?"

But Diane didn't seem eager to share the specifics of their collaboration. Instead, she moved on to examine Aki's left foot. "Sprained," she declared, ignoring his previous question.

After inspecting the injury, she retrieved a selection of potions and oils from a cabinet. She studied each one thoughtfully before tossing them to Aki.

Aki deftly caught the potion and the bottle of oil, wondering about their purpose. Diane clarified, "When you get back to the inn, apply those to every part of your body that's burned and take the potion."

Aki examined the potion and inquired, "What does the potion do?"

Diane raised an eyebrow and questioned his suspicion. "It's a simple rejuvenation potion. You seem very suspicious," she added, her eyes narrowing.

Aki, puzzled at his own skepticism, looked up and admitted, "I'm not sure why."

Diane then asked about Aki's clothes, and he responded, "They're in my satchel."

"Put them on," Diane instructed. "Then join us in the living room. I'll give you more instructions there." Aki nodded and began dressing in his own clothes, being careful not to irritate his burns in the process.

---

Yumi remained silent and seemed a bit miffed at Aki for agreeing to let her be thrown out of the examination room. She continued to lend him her shoulder for support, but her pouting made her look incredibly cute to Aki. He recalled moments at the Academy when Yumi's anger at a professor or classmates had made her look adorable, and he couldn't help but smile at the memory.

Aki finally asked, "Shall we head to the inn, then?" as he held on to Yumi's waist.

Yumi remained silent. Aki thought, _"It was a silly question, anyway," _and he smiled to himself as he observed how cute Yumi turned away from his gaze.

Their journey continued in silence, but Aki relished the ride. He had the opportunity to admire the village's beauty and bask in the closeness of Yumi, who appeared as a renowned knight atop the horse. Holding onto her, he couldn't help but marvel at how soft she felt, despite the fact that she was likely the physically strongest person in their batch.

The day was drawing to a close, and some of the lamplights were already being lit. Aki found comfort in knowing he didn't need to set up protective runes; they were safely within the village. They had made it just in time to find an inn for the night, and it was all thanks to Buddy, the horse who had led Yumi to him and ensured their safe arrival.

Aki was actually hoping the ride would continue for longer, but they soon arrived at a tall and elegant structure with a sign that read "Revelare Inn." An arch adorned with flowers marked the entrance, and Aki initially assumed they were fake, but he soon noticed gardeners working on them, confirming that the flowers were real. Aki held back a whistle, realizing that maintaining such an arch must be costly.

Aki hadn't initially thought that this could be the inn they were staying in, but Yumi guided the horse toward it. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, as if she was searching for something.

Aki, bewildered, asked, "Is this the inn we're staying in?" The inn certainly did not look cheap.

Yumi simply nodded, still giving him the silent treatment, although Aki sensed a hint of relief in her expression. He wondered about the reason but decided to leave it for now. When they dismounted, a young man in formal attire emerged from the inn's front door.

As Yumi helped Aki down from the horse, the young man approached them. Aki was puzzled about his intentions, but Yumi took Aki's arm and wrapped it around her shoulders before handing the tether to the young man.

Aki muttered, "This place even has a valet..." His confusion was growing. "Yumi, how can we even afford this?"

"I know the owner," Yumi replied simply, pursing her lips.

Yumi didn't appear eager to share more information, so Aki decided not to press the matter. They stepped into the inn, and Aki initially believed the reception hall was unoccupied. It was a large area with a reception desk in one corner. On the wall, Aki noticed a sigil featuring a dwarven war hammer pointing upward with a shield behind it. "That must be the sigil of the owner's family. It seems familiar..." Aki pondered.

"No one's here," Aki commented.

However, his assumption was proven wrong when, just a few steps further, a dwarf's head emerged from behind the desk.

"Oh," Aki mumbled, pursing his lips, hoping the dwarf hadn't heard his previous comment.

Unfortunately, the dwarf had indeed heard Aki's quip, and despite his well-groomed, bushy brown beard, Aki could see the dwarf scowling at him. That, along with the venomous glare, it was evident that the dwarf took offense.

Yumi tried to suppress her laughter but couldn't. "Heya, Borin," she said, giggling. "I need a room for two."

Still glaring at Aki, Borin inquired, "For two, Miss Yumi?" There was a hint of puzzlement in his tone that Aki didn't quite understand. Yumi may have stayed in the inn before, but she would have been alone, so requesting a room for two didn't seem like a leap of logic.

Yumi simply replied, "Yes," and Aki glanced at her, puzzled by the dwarf's evident confusion. Yet Yumi seemed oblivious to how unusual Borin's reaction was.

"No matter," Borin stated, still gazing at Aki. He observed Aki up and down before remarking, "I must say, I don't like this one."

Yumi was quick to reply, "Oh, hush! Don't be silly," scolding Borin while avoiding eye contact with Aki.

Borin looked down at his desk, "Master Dario isn't here, Yumi. I shall inform him of your arrival when he arrives. How long will you be staying?"

"I know he isn't here, I didn't see his carriage." Yumi replied. She contemplated for a moment, "Until early morning, I think?" She turned to Aki, who nodded at her.

"Very well," Borin acknowledged. He turned around, retrieved a key, and nonchalantly tossed it toward Aki, who managed to catch it despite not anticipating the toss. Aki couldn't help but notice that Borin also wore the same silver ring on his thumb.

Borin then commented with an unimpressed raised eyebrow, "At least this one doesn't seem drunk."

"Alright, alright!" Yumi quickly said, looking close to panicking. She took one quick glance at Aki, who had a puzzled expression. Aki was about to ask what the dwarf meant when Yumi quickly dragged him out towards the stairs.

"What does that mean?" Aki asked as they climbed the stairs.

Yumi seemed to contemplate before answering, "It was Gianna... Remember her, my friend? She got drunk, and we stayed here for the night."

"Oh, will we be drinking?" Aki teased.

"No, you're staying in the room until your burns heal. How long did Diane say it would last?"

"She didn't specify really, until the burns are gone."

Yumi opened the door with the key, and they entered the room. It was a simple two-bed room. Yumi helped Aki settle on one of the beds. "Do you want me to rub the ointments on you?" Yumi asked, seemingly teasing Aki.

"No need," Aki said, embarrassed at the thought. Although, in truth, he wouldn't have minded her assistance.

"Well, I'll leave you to it." Yumi said, turning around to check herself in the mirror. It was fortunate for Aki that she did that, as she didn't see the disappointed look on Aki's face. He sort of wanted her to press the matter further.

"I'm heading off to see a friend of mine for some equipment. Now that we've graduated, we can finally buy things."

Yumi seemed excited at the thought, so Aki merely smiled. "Go on then."

Yumi grinned at Aki gratefully, and she was about to leave the room when she turned back to him, apparently remembering something. "If you need anything at all, use Telepathic Bond on Borin."

With that, Yumi left, leaving Aki alone in the room. He took off his clothes and applied the ointment as directed, and drank the potion.

Aki's mind was filled with questions about Yumi and the favors she seemed to have in the village. It seemed puzzling that they, as new adventurers fresh from the Academy, could have garnered such support. The village was more like a town in size, and the guards appeared formidable. Aki couldn't help but wonder what Yumi had done to earn these favors.

As he paced around the room, deep in thought, he suddenly looked down at his feet in shock. Diane's potion had worked wonders, as he was unable to walk just a few minutes ago. There was still some pain, and he walked with a slight limp, but it was a significant improvement.

The temptation to follow Yumi and uncover the truth gnawed at Aki, growing stronger with each passing second. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Yet, he hesitated, wrestling with his own conscience. "There's a nagging voice in the back of my mind warning me that something isn't right," he mused silently. "But what if Yumi catches me? I'd completely shatter the trust she had built for me."