Moonlight

"Darx..."

"Mmmhh"

"Darx..."

"Five more minutes."

"DARX!!! "WAKE UP!!"

"Ehh!! What happen?"

As I woke up, the familiar sight of my bedroom was nowhere to be found. Instead, I found myself surrounded by large trees. It was then that I noticed a familiar face looming over me. It was Amelia. It took a moment for me to realize that I was lying on the ground, my head cradled in her lap. As I struggled to sit up, I remembered everything. The carnivorous plant tranquilizer was very effective because it knocked me out completely.

"Why is it so hard to wake you up?" Amelia said while puffing out her cheeks and frowning her eyebrows.

"Sorry..."

As I gazed up at the sky, I noticed the reddish sky. It's a telltale sign that the day is coming to a close, and soon the darkness of night would be upon us. I take a moment to survey my surroundings and realize that Amelia has taken it upon herself to gather the valuable materials from the plant while Oliver and I were sound asleep.

Oliver, who woke up before me, came close and extended his hand towards me, holding a piece of fruit, "Darx, try this fruit. It tastes delicious," he said with a smile on his face. It was one of the fruits left by the plant we killed. I hesitated for a moment, seeing how ugly that fruit looked. However, I decided to give it a try and took a bite. Instantly, my taste buds were awakened by the explosion of flavors that filled my mouth. Oliver was right - it was indeed tasty. What I read in the book about the fruits of carnivorous plants being delicious was not an exaggeration.

"We should gather our things and get out of the forest. If we stay longer, we won't be able to get out before dark." Amelia said.

"Amelia is right! We can eat the rest of the fruits while we walk." Oliver added.

Thankfully, our journey back home was uneventful, as we didn't encounter any monsters along the way. We finally reached the entrance of our village, feeling exhausted and battered after a long day. Despite the physical toll on our bodies, we couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that today had been a fruitful and productive day.

"Today was a good day, but finding worthy enemies by going to the same places is getting complicated," Amelia spoke.

Amelia is right. There is no use in battling giant rats and slimes anymore. However, unlike Fabe's group, we cannot venture further into the forest without the support of someone like Jax. It would be unwise to take such a risk without a reliable backup. The forest is known for its unpredictability and the dangers lurking in every corner, especially deep in the woods. Going deeper into the forest without proper preparation and guidance could lead to disastrous consequences.

"Oliver, you will be busy tomorrow, right!?" I asked.

"Yes... my mom will need help in the Inn."

"Then how about the day after tomorrow, instead of going down the road to the mine, we go to the outskirts of the village?" Amelia suggested.

Amelia's suggestion to change our training venue is a brilliant idea. If we step out of our comfort zone and venture to other areas, we might just stumble upon new monsters. Also, the monsters on the village's outskirts shouldn't be much stronger than the ones we find on the way to the mine.

"I'm in favor. What do you think, Oliver?" I spoke.

"Count me in!"

We may be done with today's training, but there is still something I have to do. It was a nagging thought that refused to let me be at peace all day. And so, I knew what I had to do - I had to talk to Oliver about Emma and Fabe. As I glanced over at Amelia, she noticed and knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Well, I have to go home. My parents must be waiting for me." Amelia said, waving her hand goodbye to the two of us.

"Good night, Amelia!" Oliver replied to her.

"Good night, Oliver! ...I-If you ever need me, you know I'm here for you." Amelia said, taking Oliver a bit by surprise, which was reflected in his face.

"Ahh, thanks, Amelia! Same for you. You can count on me!" Oliver responded with a big smile.

Amelia started walking towards her house while Oliver and I watched as Amelia walked away.

"Wait, are you going with her, Darx? Oliver asked me, looking confused.

"O-Oliver, b-before I leave, can we talk for a minute?" With a deep breath, I asked.

I'm awful at this kind of talk. Oliver nodded, seeming to realize how nervous I am because I stutter and find it hard to look him in the eye.

"What's wrong, Darx?"

I took another deep breath, gathering my thoughts before speaking, "I need to talk to you about Emma and Fabe," I said, my voice low and serious.

Oliver's expression darkened, and I could tell that he was bracing himself for bad news.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know if you know, but they seem to be in a relationship. Today Amelia and I saw them. I-I felt it was important to inform you of this before any potential complications arise."

"..."

"Oliver...?" I asked when I saw that Oliver didn't react.

"So that was the reason why you looked strange today."

"Ehh?"

"I was worried because I felt something was wrong with you today. You are pretty bad at hiding things." With a sad smile, Oliver continued, "But if I'm honest, I already suspected it."

"You already knew!?" I asked.

"I wouldn't say I knew," Oliver replied, his voice calm and collected, "but Emma is terrible at lying. Lately, she was getting nervous around me, and I saw her and Fabe together more than once." Oliver's eyes held a hint of sadness, and I could tell this was not an easy conversation for him.

I felt guilt wash over me as I thought about how Oliver must have been feeling. He had always been so in love with Emma, and now he had to watch her fall for someone like Fabe, "Sorry, Oliver," I said softly, "I know how you felt about her."

Oliver let out a deep sigh and looked away for a moment before turning back to me, "I'd be lying if I told you it doesn't hurt. But at this point, there's not much I can do. It was my mistake to think that Emma and I would always be together. If there is one thing I regret, it's that I never confessed my feelings for her, and now I wonder if things would have been different if I had told her my feelings for her openly."

"Perhaps it is not too late, Oliver!? If you talk to her, maybe..."

"At the moment, I am not sure what to do, but thanks for worrying about me. It makes me happy to know that I have friends like you and Amelia that worry about me," Oliver said with a sad smile.

"You also help me a lot. It is the least I can do," I reply.

"To be honest, I was worried thinking that you were going to declare your love for me based on the way you were behaving," Oliver said jokingly.

"W-What!!!???? I wasn't that nervous!!!"

"I don't even want to imagine what Amelia would have done to me for stealing you from her," Oliver continued.

"Shut up! And since when am I hers...?"

"Hahaha! Don't make my mistake in taking so long to declare your love for her, or someone else could steal her from you."

"Nonsense. It seems you're okay, so I'm leaving." I said, starting to walk towards my house.

"Good night, and thank you!" Oliver yelled at me.

Oliver tries to joke, but I can see from his expression that he is heartbroken.

After returning home from the forest, I couldn't wait to share the remaining fruits I had managed to salvage from the carnivorous plant with my mother. As I narrated the thrilling encounter, my mother listened with rapt attention, thoroughly entertained by my storytelling skills. I recounted every detail of our battle against the flesh-eating plant, describing how we had to stay alert at all times to avoid being devoured by its deadly tentacles. My mother's eyes sparkled with excitement as she savored the juicy fruits, relishing every moment of my tale.

Following a long and exhausting day, my energy levels plummeted to an all-time low. I could feel my eyelids drooping and my body yearning for rest. After a refreshing soak, I dried myself off and crawled into bed. The mattress's softness and the blankets' warmth were like a comforting embrace, lulling me into a peaceful slumber.

It is a new day! And another good night without nightmares.

Our routine is to head to the forest every day for training, but on days like today, Oliver has to help out at his family Inn. As for me, I decided to lend a hand by collecting wood and assisting with whatever tasks were needed around the house. My mother left me a list of assignments, which I diligently worked on throughout the day. Before I knew it, the sun had set, and the day had come to an end.

Despite the late hour, I still had some time left before it was completely dark outside. So, I decided to pay a visit to Amelia's house and see if she wanted to hang out. Upon arriving, I was greeted by her mother, who resembled Amelia in many ways. It was almost like looking at an older version of her daughter, except for one noticeable difference - her breasts were nowhere near as impressive as Amelia's.

I couldn't help but wonder where Amelia inherited her ample bosom from. Perhaps it was from her father's side of the family? Regardless, I couldn't deny that Amelia's curves were a sight to behold.

"Hi, Darx! If you are looking for Amelia, she is in her room."

Amelia's house and mine are next to each other, very different from the rest of the houses that are quite far from ours. This proximity led to a natural closeness between our families. I have spent countless hours at Amelia's house, to the point where it feels like a second home to me. As I was engaged in a conversation with Amelia's mother when the creaking of her daughter's bedroom door interrupted us. Emerging from her room, Amelia joined us with a bright smile on her face.

"Oh, hi, Darx!"

Amelia was carrying some books in her hands, and it seemed she was ready to go out.

"Hi, Amelia! Are you going somewhere?" I asked.

"Yes, I'm going to Alice's house because I wanted to ask her some questions."

Alice, a former C-Rank fire mage, has now settled into her role as a housewife. However, her past as a powerful mage still lingers in the minds of those who knew her. In fact, Alice and my mother were once a part of the same guild, and that's where they first crossed paths. My mother has told me various stories of her and Alice's adventures, so I know more or less know how strong Alice is. Since Amelia focuses her training on magic, whenever she finds herself struggling or in need of guidance, she knows she can always turn to Alice for help.

"It's impressive that you keep training even on your day off. I am not doing anything right now. If you want, I can go with you." I said.

"Excellent! Let's get going."

"Be sure to return at dinner time."

"Yes, Mom!"

Alice's house is almost at the same height as ours, only to the east, passing the bridge. The house is approximately ten minutes away, in which I took the chance to fill her in on what had transpired with Oliver the previous night. Amelia's response was as expected. She felt worried about Oliver but was relieved that Oliver didn't take the news too badly.

Once at the entrance of Alice's house, I caught the smell of food, which reminded me that I hadn't eaten yet. Amelia knocked on the door, and Alice came out to greet us.

"Amelia, Darx. How nice to see you!"

"Hi, Alice. I'm sorry to bother you, but I wanted to see if you could help me with some questions I have."

"Your visit is never a bother. Come in, come in. I just finished making food. Did you eat already?"

"Not yet," I reply.

As we entered the cozy house, James, the amiable husband of Alice, greeted us with a warm smile. Their delightful daughter was happy to see Amelia and ran towards her and hugged her tightly. The little one was overjoyed, assuming that Amelia had come to play with her. Amelia reciprocated the hug and played with her for a brief moment while Alice served me some mouth-watering food. James and I sat down to eat. As we savored the delicious food, Alice and Amelia excused themselves and headed towards another room to address Amelia's queries.

I would say that Alice and James are a couple that stands out from the rest. James is a farmer and has a simple and unassuming appearance that doesn't draw much attention. He looks a bit old with white hair and beard, besides some wrinkles on his face. However, his kind and gentle nature is what makes him truly remarkable. His love for his family is evident in everything he does, be it tending to his crops or spending time with his wife and daughter.

On the other hand, Alice is similar in age to my mother, and just like my mother, Alice has managed to maintain her youthful looks with her cute face and long blonde hair. She is a woman who exudes elegance and grace. Despite having a daughter, she still has a good figure. Without a doubt, she is an attractive woman, and if it weren't for the fact that she is married, I am sure that many of the men in the village would be after her.

James may be older than Alice, but the age gap doesn't seem to matter when it comes to their relationship.

Still, I wonder how James did manage to make a woman like Alice fall in love with him. From the little I know, Alice is not from this village. My mother once told me that Alice met James for the first time on one of those times that Alice came to visit my mom. And their relationship started there.

"How is everything going in training, Darx? Everything okay?" James asked me while we ate.

"It's a slow improvement, but we do what we can."

"Glad to hear that. Make sure you protect Amelia. Although she seems like a girl who can fend for herself, there will always be times when Amelia will need a good friend like you."

"Of course!"

"Lately, Amelia seems more stressed when she comes to talk with Alice," James told me.

"Amelia come here often?" I asked.

"She comes almost every day," James continued, "Alice helps her as much as she can, but it seems to be a difficult task."

I didn't know Amelia was coming to see Alice every night. My mind couldn't fathom the amount of dedication and effort that Amelia was putting into her daily routine. So Amelia not only gets up early every morning to pick flowers and then goes to train in the forest, but she also comes here at night to study with Alice, and I assume that when she returns home, she prepares the potions for the following day. I already knew Amelia's strong desire to be adventurous, but I am still surprised by all the effort she is putting into it. It was evident that she was willing to go to great lengths to achieve her dreams. Maybe Oliver and I are just slowing her down at this point.

"You mentioned that it was a difficult task for Alice to teach Amelia.

Why is that?" I asked James.

"From what Alice says, Amelia focuses on healing magic, while my wife

knows about fire magic, so she doesn't know much about what Amelia

wants to learn," James replies, "Also, I think that Alice doesn't have what it takes to be a good teacher, hahaha! Alice has little patience and quickly loses interest in things."

"I heard you!" We hear Alice's voice from the other room.

"Ups, I forgot the good ear she has, hahaha!" James said, smiling.

As we continued waiting for Amelia and Alice, I conversed with James. He is an honest person who makes you feel comfortable quickly. After our meal, James went on to brew us some tea while sharing some of his fascinating stories. Spending time with him makes me wonder if this is how it feels to have a father.

After a long while, Amelia left the room, "Darx, I'm done. Are you ready to go?"

"Ahh, yes. Did you manage to solve your questions?"

"M-More or less," Amelia said with a fake smile.

"Amelia, are you coming to play with me tomorrow?" Alice's little daughter asks Amelia with a tender look.

"I can't come tomorrow, but I'll make sure I come to play with you more often, okay."

"Okay!"

"Hey, Darx, could you do me a favor and pass on a message to Ilene?" Alice told me, "I really miss her, but lately, it seems like she's been too busy to even notice me. It's crazy to think that we were once in the same guild together, isn't it? We used to spend countless hours exploring new territories and battling fierce monsters side by side. And now she doesn't want to go drinking with me. I'm sad!"

"Don't worry, Alice. I will make sure to pass the message on."

"Tell her I will cry if we don't go for drinks soon."

As we bid farewell to Alice and James, expressing our gratitude for their warm hospitality, Amelia and I made our way towards the exit. Amelia and I started walking back to our houses. The night had already enveloped us, with the only audible sound being the chirping of the insects. Amelia appeared lost in her own thoughts and walked with her gaze fixed on the ground. I sensed that she was not in the mood for conversation, so we walked silently. As we made our way across the bridge, we were suddenly halted by Amelia's abrupt stop in the middle of it. It was quite dark, with only the full moon casting its glow upon us, illuminating our surroundings and casting a reflection on the water below.

"Is something wrong, Amelia?" I asked her.

"Darx, if you have time, can we talk? There is something I have to tell you." Amelia said without turning to see me.

"Sure, what's up?"

Amelia didn't turn around and took her time to tell me what she had to say. When she finally turned around and her eyes met mine, I couldn't help but notice the way the moonlight played on her features. It was as if the soft glow illuminated a different side of her. She took her time, carefully choosing her words as she faced away from me. And yet, even in her silence, I found myself captivated by her presence.

As the silence between us stretched on, Amelia finally spoke up. Her voice was soft, "Darx," she began, "ever since we were children and started training together, I've always known deep down what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to go to [Riledo] and become an adventurer," She paused, like searching for the right words to explain how much this dream meant to her, "At first, it was just a game we played - you, Olver, and I. But as we grew older and our skills improved, I found myself taking it more and more seriously. And now...now I couldn't imagine being anything other than an adventurer. Little by little, it became my dream."

Her words remind me of what I thought for a moment when I was at Amlice's house and heard that Amelia has been going to study with Alice every night. Amelia's enthusiasm for being an adventurer far exceeds the one Oliver and I have.

"And now, I only have three months before the ritual," Amelia continued, "I can't help but feel worried, knowing how little I've improved. You still have nine months, Darx. However, I have to take these last three months very seriously."

The ritual to become an adventurer takes place every six months. Amelia, Oliver, and the rest of those who train with Jax have all reached the age requirement to participate in the ritual, but for me my birthday falls just two months after the scheduled date. This means that I must wait an additional six months before I can even attempt the initiation ceremony. For that reason, everyone has been quite tense these last few days. They know they only get one chance.

"What I am going to ask you may sound strange, but it is something

I need to know." Amelia asked me as she got closer to me.

"S-Sure, you can ask me anything."

"Do you want to be an adventurer?" Amelia asked, looking me straight in the eye.

"Uh? Y-Yeah.., that's why I've been training all this time."

"Are you sure?"

Unlike Amelia, I was never very concerned about the rank I would receive or the guild I wanted to belong to. To be honest, if I fail the ritual and don't manage to become an adventurer. I wouldn't feel as devastated as it might be for Amelia or the rest. There are other things I would like to do. I would be just as happy to get a job at the capital library. My plan in the back of my mind was always to go to apply for a job there in case of failing or receiving a low rank as an adventurer. Maybe unlike Amelia, all this is still just a game for me... Maybe I'm still a kid playing at wanting to be an adventurer. I guess I haven't matured.

"Sorry if it sounded pretentious, but I feel like you feel obligated. I feel like I'm forcing you to follow my dream," Amelia suddenly said, "Aren't you pushing yourself into all this just for me!? Perhaps Oliver is in the same situation. You two are helping me train even though maybe you two would like to do something else."

Amelia looks concerned, but she is wrong. In fact, it's the opposite.

"Is it not the opposite!?" I said.

"UH?"

"For the longest time, I believed that I was the one who was imposing my company on you and Oliver. I didn't want to be a part of Jax's group, so I clung to the two of you as my only companions. However, looking back now, I realize that if you had joined Jax's group right from the start, you would have grown even stronger than you are today."

"Darx..."

At this moment, we realized that we both felt the same way.

"It is ironic that it took us so long to clear things up, Darx. However, thanks to that, now I have no doubts," Amelia said with a tender smile, "I have made a decision. I will join Jax's group for the remaining three months I have left."

"I-I see..."

"I think it's best for both of us and also for Oliver. It will allow me to take advantage of the last months that I have left to the maximum and you to think well about what you want to do."

I knew that, at some point, this would be unavoidable, "If that is your decision, I will support you." I reply with a melancholic smile.

It will be sad for me not to be next to Amelia and Oliver every day, but it is the best for her right now and probably for me too.

"Thanks, Darx. I knew I could count on you."

While saying that, Amelia jumps to hug me.

"Let's try our best, Darx," Amelia said as she hugged me tight, "I still plan to go to our last practice tomorrow."

"S-Sure, sure, but if you hold me that tight, I'm going to suffocate."

"I don't want to! Let's stay like this all night."

"W-We can't! As you said, tomorrow we will have our last day of training in the forest, so we must make the most of it and-"

"I was just kidding, Darx. Hehe! Can you make me a promise?"

"Sure."

"No matter what happens, once you are in the capital, come find me as soon as possible. Alright!?"

"Of course, that was the plan from the beginning."

"Thanks, Darx! I will be waiting for you."

Then I never expected what was about to happen. Amelia held onto me tightly, her arms wrapped around my neck, and before I could even react, she pressed her lips against mine. It was a brief moment, but it left me feeling stunned and exhilarated all at once. When she finally let go, she hurriedly ran back to her house, leaving me standing there in a daze. I caught a glimpse of her face as she turned away, and her cheeks were flushed a deep shade of red. As she disappeared from sight, she shouted out to me without even looking back, "I just gave you my first kiss, so you better not forget your promise! Goodnight!"

I stood there for a few moments, trying to process what had just happened, "G-Good night..."