Bring Dix back home.

It's quite a difficult journey back up the way you came, especially with a girl who has legs barely larger than the roots she's stepping over. So, you take your time. Linzeri remains near you, and you sense a discomfort. After several minutes of hiking, you speak softly, knowing full-well you can't avoid Dixby's ears, though you still speak quieter out of respect.

"This was a nice little date," you say.

This catches Linzeri off guard. "You're quite a brave one to be saying such things."

"Thank you for taking me out here."

After yet another pause, she stops. Dix bonks into the back of her leg. However, the succubus reaches out and grabs your cheek, and she forces a kiss right against your lips. Then as if nothing had happened, she leads the way forwards, moving farther ahead as she did originally on the way here. As you taste your lips, you notice the flavour of strawberries. Even after everything that's happened to you, such a kiss still leaves you buzzed. Though the strangest thing of all is that it didn't feel nearly as erotic as one might except from a succubus. There was no tongue, nor did it linger too long. It was a gentle, soft, loving kiss, though she doesn't seem to want to speak any longer.

It isn't until the gates are up ahead that she says something once again. "We're home," she whispers. Then she turns back to you. "And yes, this was nice. Don't be a stranger, Kyle. I know you have much to do, and many people to see, but... I'll always be around, I suppose."

Dixby looks up at the two of you. "I can think of all manner of fun potions to get either of you to drink." She wiggles her brows.

You shake your head with a chuckle. "Linzeri, you really are amazing. And maybe, if you're fine with it, we can get those kobolds to help us all. Having little spies out in the outskirts is pretty useful, and they seem to like serving you."

"I'm sure you'd like serving me too if you gave it a chance," she says with a smirk. Before you can respond, she puts a finger to your lips. "I never thought I'd say such a thing again in my lifetime, but I'm happy to follow you, Demon King. Remember that. Now, take your little friend somewhere warm before she freezes to ****."

"What's going on over here?" a sudden voice rings out. Coming from nowhere is yet another small figure, though only in height. The curvy, voluptuous Stax makes her way over to the group with a waterskin in her hand. She stops and takes a drink, and you don't believe it's actually water inside by the darker colour. The liquid rolls down her lips, and drips down along the generous curves of her green, freckled cleavage always present in what she wears. "Some kinda party?"

There's a strange moment that you can't quite describe when both Dixby and Stax make eye-contact with one another. They appear almost like polar opposites--in colour, in figure, yet not in height. You worry that perhaps goblins are the natural enemy of gnomes or something like that. The air becomes still, and they approach one another. Then, much to your surprise, both of them smile.

"Wow, nice shorts. They look great," Dix says.

Stax looks herself over and chuckles between stumbling hiccups. "Oh yeah? I keep them unbuttoned on purpose. It's like, a style thing."

"You know, that gives me a weird idea for a potion. Something that would make you feel amazing."

Stax throws her arm around the shoulder of the gnome. "Tell me more."

You don't know what just happened, but the two of them just start walking off together. Sometimes people just click, you reckon. Either way, she seems to be able to handle herself, and if Stax is going to act nice, you figure you can finally get some sleep. You've recruited a brand new alchemist, Linzeri seems to be doing quite well, and there's only a few days left until the so-called Sports Festival. You also still feel quite pleasant from Peony's little gift.

It's time to rest.