GONE

With one last piercing look, Bojan departed, leaving Yumi kneeling on the ground, a heavy silence hanging between them. Despite the visible anger on Bojan's face, Yumi maintained an impassive expression as she watched him go. His fits of anger were familiar, though never escalating to physical harm. With time, she had mastered the art of brushing them off.

Now, seizing the moment, Yumi decided it was an opportune time to collect herself and strategize her next moves. She needed to navigate her return to the tables delicately and devise a plan to handle the other guards without raising any suspicions from Falken.

As she rose and prepared to adjust her pants and panties, a rustle of movement caught her attention. Footsteps echoed toward her location. Instinctively, she considered hiding, but the dead-end nature of the alley suggested there was only one reason someone would be approaching.

Peering cautiously through a gap, Yumi spotted two guardsmen strolling in her direction, engrossed in casual conversation. One of them noticed her and offered a wave.

Swiftly pulling up her panties, Yumi weighed her options. Though she was open to servicing them, she needed to make a brief appearance on the tables first, just to catch a glimpse of Falken.

"Hey," Yumi greeted, smiling. "Hold on. I'll be right back, okay?"

Moving toward them, expecting a pathway to open, Yumi was met with raised hands. "Where are you off to?"

"I need to return to the tables."

"Why?" inquired one of the guardsmen.

"I just need to see Falken. Let me through."

"Falken? He left a few minutes ago."

Yumi was caught off guard. "What?"

"Yeah, not long after you left, he stood up and just left. Carl tried to intervene, but Falken wasn't having it. He still wasn't around when the Captain arrived either."

Yumi's heart sank. She had a sinking feeling that Falken had witnessed her. But beyond that, a sense of impending doom lingered. Something felt awry. As the two guards guided her back to the alley and began undressing her, Yumi felt her very essence spiraling into an abyss.

When Yumi returned to Good Tidings, she made a beeline for the bathroom. Once inside, she examined herself in the mirror. Sweat glistened on her flushed face, and her clothes, now smudged with dirt and soil, lay haphazardly in the dirty alley. The emptiness in her eyes stared back at her, a stark reflection of her internal struggles.

She sighed, grappling with the realization that her request for the guards to ease up had likely fallen on deaf ears. It was a new plea for her, as in the past, she had let them have their way with her body, even encouraging their actions.

With a final, disdainful glance at her reflection, she washed her face and left the bathroom. Weariness clung to her, and the prospect of heading home became increasingly appealing. However, her plans took an unexpected turn when she spotted Falken in the bar. A brief surge of happiness flickered within her, quickly extinguished as she realized Falken no longer regarded her with concern; his eyes were blank and emotionless.

Attempting a smile that turned into a wince, she greeted him, "Hey."

"Hey," Falken replied, smiling without reaching his eyes. His gaze held barely concealed judgment as he gestured for her to take the seat next to him at the bar.

The scent of daisies filled her senses as she complied, unable to meet Falken's eyes.

"So..." Falken began. "Apparently, you like to sleep around?"

Yumi nodded, her head bowed, eyes fixed on the floor.

"Why is that?" Falken inquired.

"It feels good," Yumi admitted after pondering for a while.

"That's it?"

"Yeah. Sleeping around, especially behind the back of someone who cares about you... I love it." Yumi turned and **** herself to look into Falken's eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Why apologize?" Falken raised his brows. "We don't even know each other."

"I know... but I felt a connection." She cursed herself inwardly, feeling a twinge of pathetic vulnerability.

"Did you really?"

Yumi steeled herself, maintaining her gaze, hoping he could see the sincerity in her eyes.

Regrettably, Falken responded with barely hidden disgust. "Okay. Follow me then."

He stood up, paid for his drink, and left Good Tidings without a backward glance. A few moments later, Yumi summoned the courage to follow him.

Yumi followed Falken at a careful distance, her gaze fixed on his back as she wondered about their destination. Falken never once looked back, trusting that she would trail behind him.

To her surprise, they returned to the Revalare Inn, and Yumi bit her lip, feeling a sense of trepidation about the possibility of Aki being outside. Thankfully, the space between her and Falken provided an opportunity to explain that she didn't know him. While Falken might harbor resentment, given his current feelings, it seemed inconsequential.

Observing Falken before entering, Yumi noticed him pause to remove the Blackhammer ring from his thumb, stashing it in his pocket. Afterward, he entered, and Borin acknowledged Falken with a nod.

"I'd like to rent another room," Falken stated as he walked toward the dwarf.

Borin raised his brows, but upon glimpsing Yumi entering the inn behind Falken, he grinned with understanding. "Certainly."

Quoting the room price, Borin received prompt acceptance from Falken, who produced a pouch of gold coins. Although Yumi felt the urge to mention the Blackhammer ring discount, now that she was certain Falken wanted to share a room, her excitement held her back.

Meanwhile, Borin eyed the pouch with narrowed eyes. Understandably, it seemed brimming with gold coins. However, it wasn't the contents that caught Borin's attention.

"That pouch..." Borin began, sounding suspicious. "I've seen that before."

"Have you?" Falken replied, his tone making it clear that it didn't require an answer. He placed a couple of gold coins on Borin's desk. "Here's the payment. I added a few gold coins as a tip for you."

Borin's eyes widened at the notion of such a substantial tip. Audibly swallowing whatever he intended to say, he accepted the payment, grabbed a key, and handed it to Falken.

For the first time since leaving the Good Tidings pub, Falken turned to look at Yumi. "Come here."

With a nervous gulp, Yumi approached Falken. He reached out, holding her by the base of her back, guiding her toward the stairs.

"Third floor, Falken," Borin called out, not looking at the two. He had raised the gold coin, examining it through a lamp. "Enjoy."

As Falken and Yumi climbed the stairs, their bodies brushed against each other, sending electric shocks of desire through Yumi's veins. Her anticipation was palpable, the tension between them building with every step.

Reaching the third floor, Falken wasted no time. He pushed open the door to their room, revealing a cozy space with a large, inviting bed. The scent of musky desire hung in the air.

Without a word, Falken pulled Yumi into his arms, his strong hands gripping her waist possessively. Their lips crashed together in a passionate, hungry kiss, tongues dancing and exploring, their desire spilling out in moans and gasps.

Yumi's hands roamed over Falken's muscular chest, feeling the heat radiating from his body. She trailed her fingers down his abdomen, brushing against the growing bulge in his pants. A low growl escaped Falken's throat as he pressed his hardness against her, making her shudder with need.

With a swift movement, Falken lifted Yumi off her feet, carrying her to the bed. He laid her down gently, his eyes filled with desire and adoration. As he loomed over her, his hands roamed her body, caressing every curve, setting her skin ablaze.

Yumi's breath hitched as Falken's lips descended upon her neck, leaving a trail of wet kisses and love bites. His hands worked their way up her thighs, parting them slowly, revealing her most intimate desires. He teased her with his fingers, tracing delicate circles around her throbbing core, making her arch her back and moan in pleasure.

Unable to hold back any longer, Falken shed his clothes, revealing his impressive length, hard and ready for Yumi. He positioned himself between her legs, his eyes locking with hers, filled with a raw hunger that mirrored her own.

With one swift thrust, Falken entered Yumi, filling her completely. Yumi gasped. He was the perfect size for her. She felt no pain as he inserted himself. It reminded of the enchanted dildo Daryl used on her. The one that changed in size to be the perfect size for the user.

Their bodies moved in perfect harmony, a symphony of desire and pleasure. Moans and cries filled the room as they rode the waves of ecstasy, their bodies moving in a rhythm that only they could create.

Falken's pace quickened, his movements becoming more urgent and ****. Yumi's nails dug into his back, leaving marks of passion and possession. Their bodies writhed together, their connection deepening with every thrust, bringing them closer and closer to the edge.

And then, in a crescendo of pleasure, they both reached their climax, their bodies convulsing in ecstasy. They clung to each other, their sweaty bodies pressed tightly, riding out the waves of pleasure, their hearts pounding in sync.

As their breathing slowed, Falken collapsed beside Yumi, their bodies intertwined in a state of blissful exhaustion.

Yumi lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, a profound sense of satisfaction enveloping her. The encounter with Falken had been brief, and though he appeared relatively new to the intricacies of lovemaking, it had been enough.

Turning toward Falken, she gazed at him and whispered, "That... was perfect."

Falken, however, didn't meet her gaze, keeping his eyes fixed on the ceiling. "It was.... It should've been..."

Perplexed, Yumi frowned as she noticed a single strand of tear streaming down Falken's cheeks.

"What's wrong?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Nothing," Falken replied, his tone distant. He turned his head towards her and raised his hand, hovering it over her face. "Go to sleep, Yumi."

Despite her desire to help him with whatever troubled him, Yumi found herself succumbing to sleep, thinking that the fatigue of the day taking over.

Yumi awoke with a start, the warmth of the morning sun kissing her skin. Recollections of the enchanting night before played in her mind, a satisfied smile lingering on her lips. As she reached out to the other side of the bed, anticipating Falken's presence, her fingers met empty space.

Opening her eyes, Yumi sat up, scanning the room for any sign of Falken. A hopeful ear strained to catch sounds from the bathroom, but the room remained silent. A tinge of sadness washed over her; Falken's departure before morning left her yearning for more. While the night might have been a fleeting encounter, she couldn't help but hope for clandestine rendezvous in the days to come.

Standing up, Yumi noticed her clothes scattered on the floor. As she dressed, thoughts of Aki crept into her mind.

"Hopefully, he's ready for the journey," Yumi mused.

Fortunately, the distance to Aki's location was just a floor below. Contemplating a shower, she dismissed the idea, wary of potential questions from Aki about where she had showered the previous night. Swiftly attiring herself, Yumi spared a moment to glance at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, nodding approvingly at her appearance despite the indulgent night.

Exiting the rented room, Yumi made her way downstairs to Aki's.

Before entering Aki's room, Yumi took a moment to compose herself internally. Adorning the bright smile that Aki loved, she swung open the door and called out, "Aki! It's time to go!"

Her voice reverberated through the room, returning to her ears with an unsettling echo. Aki's absence became painfully apparent when no response met her ears. Puzzled, she surveyed the room, her heartbeat quickening as she noted the conspicuous absence of Aki's clothes and satchel. Her armor and shield remained, along with her own belongings.

Entering the room with a glimmer of hope that Aki might be in the bathroom attending to his possessions, Yumi found the door ajar, revealing an empty space. A note on the table seized her attention, inducing a cold sweat on her forehead. A sinking feeling in her gut preluded her anticipation of the chilling contents. She bit her lip, closed her eyes, and attempted to stave off tears, a sense of dread escalating with every step toward the table.

A small gasp of utter despair escaped Yumi's lips as she read the letter.

"Dear Yumi, I made the decision to go to the capital on my own. This is goodbye. Don't look for me."

Frozen in place, the letter slipped from her numbed fingers to the floor.

"W-What? Did Aki see me? How... I must find him!" Yumi's thoughts raced in desperation. Forgoing any thoughts of showering, she hastily donned her armor, grabbed her shield and satchel, and within five minutes, she was descending to the first floor.

"Yumi!" the dwarf receptionist called out.

Intent on her mission, Yumi initially ignored him, but a sudden realization halted her. "He might have information," she thought.

"Did you see Aki?" she inquired with hope in her voice.

The dwarf nodded. Yumi's spirits lifted, only to plummet as the dwarf studied his notes in silence. "He left a few hours ago," he finally spoke.

A wave of disappointment washed over Yumi, but she pressed on, determined. "Did he say where he's going?"

A shake of the head was the dwarf's response. "He just left," he added, observing the turmoil in Yumi's expression. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he massaged his beard. "You seem troubled, Yumi. Do you want to release some of that pent-up stress with me? I'm free for..."

Without allowing him to finish, Yumi was already out the door, leaving the dwarf's proposition hanging in the air.

Yumi, determined and anxious, mounted the horse, urging it to gallop in pursuit of Aki. Despite the horse's speed, Aki remained elusive on the road. A perplexing sense of urgency gnawed at her, fueled by the absence of any sign of him along the route. While the possibility of Aki choosing an alternative path lingered, Yumi couldn't fathom him deviating from the fastest course.

"Unless he had to save someone," Yumi mused, acknowledging Aki's inherent sense of duty.

Bringing the horse to a halt, Yumi pondered her next move. The decision weighed heavily on her, each option fraught with uncertainty. After a brief but contemplative moment, she resolved to redirect her course toward the capital.

As the horse carried her away from the stretch of road where Aki's figure should have been, Yumi's mind whirred with thoughts. She questioned what she would say to Aki when they reunited.

"I'll do anything," she vowed inwardly. "If I have to get on my knees and beg, I'll even sever my connection to the Blackhammers... I just want to talk to him again."

Once Yumi arrived in the capital, she inquired with locals, but no one had spotted Aki yet. Yumi sighed with relief, confident that Aki would eventually make his way to the Guild. Waiting for him there seemed like the logical choice, and she wasn't concerned about his safety on the path; as far as she knew, there was nothing that could outmatch Aki in a fight.

Two days passed with no sign of Aki. "Where could you be?" Yumi wondered aloud. Her stomach rumbled — she hadn't eaten in a while. She had spent almost the entire day at the guild hall, anticipating Aki's imminent arrival.

Determined, Yumi gritted her teeth. She resolved to wait for him at all costs before considering joining the army. They had always discussed enlisting together, and she was eager to see if Aki would honor his word. She wanted answers about why he left, and more importantly, she yearned to know what he knew. Perhaps he was unaware of the depth of her involvements, and she hoped to explain herself and seek forgiveness.

Unfortunately, days passed swiftly, and a week went by with no sign of Aki. Yumi stayed in a modest inn, eating sparingly. The toll on her was visible; she had shed so much weight that her armor no longer fit. Leaving the shield Aki had crafted for her in the room, she felt its weight as a symbolic burden, as if it deemed her unworthy. At night, its gleam in the lamplight seemed accusatory.

With a heavy heart, Yumi headed to the Guild, resigning herself to enlist in the army. The urgency of the situation dictated that she accept the lowest rank. As she recorded her details on parchment, a blond man with brown skin approached her.

"Hello."

Yumi glanced up, recognizing him. "Hi, Landale," she greeted weakly.

"Where's Aki?" he asked, his eyes narrowed.

"I don't know," Yumi replied.

"Hmmm," Landale mused, scrutinizing her disbelievingly. Yumi couldn't blame him; she and Aki were once thought of as inseparable.

"You just arrived?" Yumi inquired, attempting small talk.

"Me?" Landale snapped. "Of course not. I've been here almost a week, waiting for Aki. We have some matters to settle."

He looked away, his frown deepening. "Well, if he's not with you, I'm leaving."

Yumi nodded. Landale turned to go but glanced back, surveying her from head to toe. "You look horrible, by the way."

With that, Landale departed, leaving Yumi watching him go. He walked away, clearly frustrated and disappointed, his eyes scanning the surroundings as if expecting Aki to appear around the corner.

As Yumi turned to hand over her enlistment papers to the guild receptionist, a voice called out to her. The voice was familiar, but it wasn't Aki's.

Dario, a dwarf and the third son of the Great Knight Blackhammer, approached her with a grin. His teeth sparkled as much as the expensive armor he wore.

Two months later, darkness and stormy weather enveloped one of the tallest buildings in the capital. Yumi lay on the bed, beneath the sheets, completely unclothed. Time had swiftly passed, and Dario had taken her under his wing, attempting to fill the void left by Aki. However, there was still no news of Aki, and Yumi, while not mourning him, was certain he was alive. Aki wasn't one to perish easily.

Thoughts of Aki consumed her—where was he, what was he doing? He seemed like a ghost, vanished without a trace, leaving no tracks or rumors.

As rain poured down and thunder roared, Dario took a shower, and Yumi, wrapping herself in bed sheets like a towel, decided to close the balcony door. In Dario's study, she noticed several cut-off newspaper clippings.

The title of the newspaper caught her attention and she quickly walked towards it and read.

"In a shocking incident today, the Revalare Inn, an esteemed establishment owned by the influential Blackhammer family, collapsed, resulting in the loss of a life. The victim, a dwarven receptionist, was heard shouting in anguish just moments before the structure gave way.

Initial reports suggested foul play, but authorities have since concluded that the collapse was due to structural failures attributed to subpar engineering. The incident has prompted concerns about the safety of other buildings in the area, leading to calls for a comprehensive review of construction standards."

Yumi noticed two more cut out of the newspaper and read.

"Thymore, a usually tranquil town, was rocked by a gruesome incident as the renowned blacksmith Garland was found murdered, with his wife confessing to the crime. The motive behind the shocking act was revealed to be the wife's allegation of infidelity on the part of the victim.

The small community was left in disbelief as details of the crime emerged. Authorities were alerted when neighbors reported hearing a heated argument from the couple's residence. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered the lifeless body of the blacksmith, and his wife admitted to the crime during questioning."

and the last piece,

"The usually peaceful town of Good Tidings was marred by a tragic and violent incident as a drunken brawl unfolded, resulting in multiple deaths. Shockingly, allegations have surfaced that the town's Guard Captain, entrusted with maintaining order, may have played a role in the fatal confrontation.

Eyewitnesses reported that what began as a routine night at a local establishment escalated into chaos as a heated argument erupted among patrons. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, culminating in a series of violent clashes that left several individuals dead.

The bartender, a key witness to the mayhem, claimed that the Guard Captain, typically a symbol of authority and protection, was involved in the fatal altercation. According to the bartender's account, the Guard Captain allegedly murdered one of his own guards, with jealousy cited as a possible motive.""

While Yumi absorbed the shocking news, terror gripped her. She looked up as Dario emerged from the bathroom, toweling off. "Yumi, close the balcony door," he instructed.

Yumi hesitated, unable to move, her fear intensifying. Dario noticed the newspaper clippings in her hands and acknowledged, "Ah, you've read it. Sad times in Thymore, I'm afraid. We've lost so much influence there; I must go there tomorrow."

"I... I think you shouldn't," Yumi stammered, placing the clippings down, fear evident in her eyes.

"Why's that?" Dario inquired.

"I think it would be very dangerous."

"Come with me and be my personal guard then. We need to convince Daryl and Diane to rejoin. They've stopped supporting us and claim to be neutral. I'll make sure they see the Blackhammers rise again in Thymore."

He grinned, his overly shiny teeth glinting through the lamplight.

*THUNDER*

Startled by lightning, they both jumped, and the room echoed with thunder. A powerful, cold wind blew through the open balcony door, extinguishing some lamps and leaving the rest teetering.

Dario moved toward the door but froze, his face falling. Yumi, about to turn toward the balcony, witnessed another flash of lightning illuminating the room, revealing the shadow of a tall, thin man.

Yumi caught the scent of daisies and finally pieced it all together.