Hard enough it seems. So while they wait...

Back in the living room Ixy argues with her mother, " I don't need an adventuring partner, much less one who literally doesn't know anything about the world!"

Almara sighs, "But dear that precisely why you need a partner. He doesn't know anything and you don't know much outside of the village. You can learn together. He's already a quick study adjusting to our appearances so fast.

Ixy grumbles, "He fell through the roof with an erection harder than steel. He didn't need much to adjust to tits and ass."

Almara giggles and then her smile widens "Honey how could you be so cold as to want to abandon the poor thing all alone? And its a compliment that his body is so honest. He did see you first after all."

Ixy blushes before staring deadpan at her mother, "He's not a cat and he can stay here with you if you want to take in a stray."

Almara smiles devilishly "Well it's not that I expect you both to get along in a day today. I'll have time to get to know him too, but my dear did you forgot you weren't leaving now either?"

Ixy looks to the side, " Mom I'm eighteen and-"

The air in the room becomes still, windows and the hole in the room seem to become non existent as the pressure in the room raises.

"And young, supple and bright eyed to the world," Almara begins, "There isn't a vagabond between here and the capital that wouldn't count his lucky stars to find you alone on the road. Or in a tent in the forest. Or a tavern on the outskirts. There are many places a young woman can find herself in an unfortunate situation."

Ixy grimaces, this isn't an unfamiliar tale of caution," Mother I-"

Almara's smile takes a sinister appearance, her eyes glint with the danger of a protective parent, "My word is final. If you wish to leave on an adventurer now, you must have a partner. Two years training otherwise."

Ixy stammers, "But but-"

"No one's heard of an archer traveling alone for good reason," Almara speaks as she ignores her daughter's objections, "Come on sweetie think of it as having a bodyguard."

After some silence the air returns to the room as Ixy sighs, ".... fine. But only until the capital."

Almara claps her hands with joy, "That's fair. You'll be inseparable long before then. He's surely an upgrade from those little toys you keep."

Ixy blushes, "Mother! I am not fucking the asshole who ruined my birthday cake with his ass."

Almara laughs, "Oh honey, he's already volunteered his help in me making a new cake and besides you haven't trained your succubus magic on a live specimen and he's quite lively. Besides how often do you come across a male who doesn't even notice that I'm in the room?"

Ixy's mouth open to retort, but her mother's words leave her uncomfortably silent.

Your footfalls make their way back to the living room ending the mother-daughter talk.

The two women look at you. You are clad in dark, rugged trousers of a flexible material. It's sturdy enough and woven in a way that it can survive a sword slash or an arrow or two, but light enough to not stop your mobility. The long sleeve top is made of similar materials and colour and over that you wear a tougher chest plate. All of this under a cloak that seems to be coated in something and a pack slung around your waist.

Ixy is the first to speak, "Maybe he would make a good test subject."

There's a faint blush in her cheeks.

You raise an eyebrow, "Test subject?"

Ixy then looks to her mother, "Why'd you dress him dad's old clothes?"

Almara stands and addresses you, but not her daughter's comment, "Lovely, absolutely lovely. Now, strip."

You blush a little, "W-what, I just got dressed and-"

"And it is time for bed," Almara finishes as she walks over to you, "It's late in the night, you are tired from a very eventful evening and things will settle when you wake up and realise this isn't all a dream. Agreed?"

You want to protest, but her reasoning is sound. As much as you want every detail now, there is a part of you that believes you'll wake up and be back in the Bronx talking about the weirdest wet dream you ever had....almost, you watched a lot of Star Trek. With Kirk and green alien bitches.

You nod, "Right. Sleep, would be good."

Almara smiles, "Exactly, now let's strip you down and get you to my-"

"He'll be sleeping in my room," Ixy interjects.

The room suddenly feels warmer as their is a quick staring contest between mother and daughter. Ixy's expression is somewhere between serious and annoyed while Almara looks at her daughter as if she's watching a playful kitten pulling at her pants leg. You're sure this can only go one way, but to your surprise Almara's shoulders slump as she pouts, "Oh fine then, so mean. If everything works out you'll be spending much more time with him than me."

Ixy's face doesn't change and Almara steps away from you, "Oh fine then. He'll sleep in your room."

You feel like there's something more to this exchange but before you can question anything Ixy directs you, "Second door you pass, get going."

Not the nicest Air BnB offer, but between destroying her cake, table and roof you surmise that the less you argue, the better until you have a better lock on things.

Saying goodnight you head to the room.