Setting off

-23rd day of AC, 23.04.1052-

-Time: Late afternoon-

The birds chirped happily, flying between the trees and engaging in their activities. The smell of mire was thick in the air, showing that what had come of rain lately had yet to dry up entirely. The ground felt soft and inviting to sit on. Was it not for its wetness, perhaps the two would.

Aria sighed. Her fingers shuffled atop the map she held, pinpointing a location.

"Here," she pointed to a small, unnamed dot. "It's one of the unsupervised dungeons. It's a fair distance from Icla, so there's almost a guarantee we will be alone. The report from last year said that the levels are hardly approaching 20, but it wasn't completely explored. Four floors, which means the boss might be even level 40 (although I wouldn't expect a miracle). I believe it's a good starting point. We can diverge here, then here..." she pointed to a few locations, each marked with similar dots. "This way, we will be able to keep somewhat low for some time."

"Sounds good," Travis nodded, shuffling his hair slightly. He shot a glance around, searching for any dangers.

Not a single beast dared approach. Whenever his golden eyes gazed upon a new potential prey for the Daily Quest, they almost immediately backed off and ran. Even rats - known for their fearlessness fueled by lack of intelligence - achieved a moment of clarity when they looked at him.

Inwardly, the man clicked his tongue. Although he didn't understand why the monsters behaved like this now, he decided against wondering.

'Such behavior might make it tricky if I get a quest about dodging attacks.' he sighed quietly at the thought. Glancing over his status, he confirmed that today's 5 points were still waiting to be assigned. Travis's eyes looked at one stat in particular.

[Wisdom: 99 (+5)]

He had put the remaining points from before into this stat, bringing it to the brink of achieving the three-digit status. However, nothing extra happened.

Now, as he had finished the Daily Quest, there was only one thing left to do.

He put a single point into the stat.

[Notice: Wisdom has reached 100 points. All conditions have been fulfilled. Something special will happen.]

[Skill 'Unwavering Heart' has been awarded.]

'...how strange.'

Once again, a skill he never heard of. Travis's eyebrows knitted.

[Unwavering Heart lvl. 1 (0.0%)

Persistent passive.

Your heart is strong. Your focus is unwavering.

*You will keep your composure more easily. Even when your health is critical, you will not fall into crisis.

*Regenerates 2 WP/minute when fighting.]

A smirk entered his face. This was what he needed. WP was a resource that had a terrible regeneration speed and was required for many of his abilities, both the current and the future ones. Although this skill was limited to only fighting, it would still be usable. On top of that, the speed was incredible, all things considered. The current Travis recovered only about 60 WP per day passively.

"Say," Aria's voice brought him out of his spell. "How long do you want to keep going today?" her hands moved, closing the map and folding it neatly. She put it in the bag and pulled out her staff.

"...probably best not to strain ourselves," he replied, putting the remaining points in Strength and focusing on the woman. In sincerity, he wished they would go on until the sunset, preferably running all the way, much like he did with Violet. However, he knew that Aria's Endurance statistic was awfully low. "I think about three hours will be sufficient, and then we can find a good place to camp. What do you think?"

"Sounds alright to me," she nodded.

The path they took strayed somewhat from the main road to Icla. Somewhere along the way, the two took a sidepath that diverged south toward a town whose name barely struck Travis's memory as Epenil. It was one of the last towns one could find before encroaching the Quear Mountain Range, much like Duli south of Silvana. The only difference was that this path was in an incomparably better state.

The sun, low as it was on the horizon, cast myriad colors across the sky's expanse. The spectacle slowly dimmed as the Apostle and Mage lurked between the trees.

-Three hours later-

"Fireball."

A ball of orange fire appeared in front of Aria's palm, showering her beige shirt in a pleasant light. Her hand partially clenched as she aimed the spell directly at a pile of wood waiting to become their campfire.

"Disperse."

In an instant, the fireball in her palm concentrated before transforming into a small flamethrower. This lasted for about three seconds, engulfing the wood in a hot embrace.

"I didn't know fireballs could do that," Travis commented as Aria stopped her magic.

"Hmm?" the white-haired Mage turned to him for a second. Then, she looked at her hand. "Well, normally, they can't. It's a technique my family developed."

"Is that so?" Travis's eyebrow raised in question. A memory surfaced as he brushed his matte hair. "Ah, now I remember. You once said that elemental magic is your family's thing, right?"

Aria's eyes glimmered with surprise. Then, she lowered her gaze a little. "Yeah..." she looked at her fingers for a long moment.

"Did something happen?"

"No... I mean, maybe..." she shuffled on her legs, sitting next to the man on a large duvet.

"Is it something bad?" Travis asked, tenderly caressing Aria's shoulder.

The woman answered by scooting slightly closer to him, resting her side against his. She felt her heart flutter at the man's hand reaching over her. But the sensation didn't alleviate the uneasiness in her soul. "I... I don't know," she spoke softly. Intertwining her fingers, she stared at the fire. However, Aria remained silent beyond that.

Travis rubbed her shoulder tenderly. Aria shuddered slightly in response. He sighed, "Don't say it if you think it's unimportant, but I'm here for you if you need me."

"...Elements," Aria mumbled under her nose. "I just... Travis," she raised her voice slightly. "What is your approach to the other Apostles? It's a competition, right? Do you have to... you know?" she made a gentle gesture akin to swiping a finger across her neck.

He shook his head. "It is an option, but not a requirement. I can make them yield or give up their class. Why do you ask?"

Aria didn't answer. A heavy yet quiet huff left her lips as she closed her eyes. Her body trembled. She appeared troubled about something.

Travis pulled her into a hug. He felt the woman's accelerated heartbeat through the skin contact. He lowered his lips to her hair.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt anyone I don't have to," he spoke tenderly. "I'm not some crazy murderer."

"No, it's not what I mean," she replied unexpectedly.

"Then, what is it?"

Aria sighed heavily. "...I might be overthinking this, but... my family is really good with elemental magic, and... there is a goddess of elements..." she looked away, closing her eyes.

"You're afraid one of your brothers was picked?"

"...yeah," her voice lost volume, turning into a whisper. "I mean, I know it's improbable, but... what if one of them did? Or... m-my parents?" Aria trembled as she tried to decrease the distance between them further. The soft skin of her cheek rubbed on his chest as she sought comfort in his embrace. "I just..." her voice died off, the sentence unfinished.

"It's alright," Travis reassured her. "I'm sure they are fine."

"I hope they are..." she muttered quietly.

Travis let out a quiet sigh. He understood well why Aria was worried. Truth be told, he felt the same. What if her words found reflection in reality? He didn't want to **** her to choose between himself and her family.

However, the only thing he could do at this time was focus on himself and the woman. Eventually, they would disperse any doubts. For now, they needed to focus on their growth in strength.

...

Some time passed in silence.

Travis stole a glance at the clock in RALS. The time was approaching for his final activity of the day. With a careful motion, he reached over to his left, pulling out Rulebreaker's Piece.

"Hmm? What's that box?" Aria asked, tracing a hand along Travis's hip.

"It's a gift I received when the Competition started. It's supposed to help me grow stronger," he explained. "Sometimes, it gives advice, other times - items."

"...how does it work?"

"I supply it with mana, a flash of light comes from the inside, and I get the daily piece. Its cooldown will finish in a while. Want to see it in action?"

"Yeah. Can... I activate it?" a genuine ponder could be discerned in Aria's tone. Although Travis could not see her eyes, he was sure they were examining Rulebreaker's Piece to the best of her capability.

"Sure," he handed the box to her. A question of whether or not Aria would be able to activate the item appeared before being thrown aside. The answer would become clear once she tried.

Aria felt the cold structure of the box in her hands. It wasn't large, but for some reason, she expected the item to weigh more than it did.

She made a bit of distance from Travis and looked at him.

"When?"

"2 minutes," he answered shortly, his eyes darting to hers back from the display.

"*Sigh* I really kind of wish I could see that whole 'RALS' thing. An MID without an MID sounds pretty handy."

...

Eventually, Travis nodded.

Aria focused on the metal box and attempted to open it. The golden-eyed man immediately chuckled at her puzzled expression. However, after a few more seconds, she recoiled with a short yelp, dropping the box on the duvet. Rulebreaker's Piece opened silently.

"???" Aria's face was overcome with confusion as nothing happened. "Isn't it supposed to--!"

*FLASH!*

"--ah!" the white-haired Mage yelped, her tone surprised as she recoiled straight into Travis's arms.

The man let out vivid laughter. "I told you it'd flash. It has yet to fail in that."

"...shut up," the white-haired woman pouted, rubbing her eyes. "Why was it so bright, for crying out loud..." she lamented, eventually focusing on what came out of the box.

[A new message is added to the message log.]

"'Sometimes, it’s best to flee a fight'," Aria read the snippet of paper that landed atop the box. "...sounds uninspired."

"The advice from Rulebreaker is like that," Travis nodded.

"Though... where's the rest of it?" Aria looked at both sides of the paper, finding nothing. "Is that all?"

"A function in RALS," he shrugged. "I can read it aloud if you want."

Aria nodded, putting the box to the side. Then, she skittered toward the man. However, quite contrary to what he expected, she sat right atop his hips. Her prominent rear was being pushed into his stomach as she leaned back, her head next to his. Travis felt his body react nigh-automatically. He did his best to stifle the response as he opened the message log.

[Have you ever met an opponent that won’t die no matter what you threw at them?

Perhaps you haven’t yet, or won't, ever. Or maybe you did, in which case this entry is useless.

But to reiterate: Always try to gauge your enemy’s power. This doesn’t mean just level and stats. Equipment is also a variable, and you should be aware of that now. Having a sub-par weapon to deal with a well-equipped enemy is the same as giving them 50 levels of advantage over you.

If you ever find yourself in a fight where it’s clear you are at a disadvantage, don’t bother. It’s better to ensure your survival than to risk your life. And don’t even think about some ‘honor’ bullshit. Books tend to over-glorify the meaning of the word.

There is no shame in wanting to live. People who dare try to belittle you for saving your skin should be put in your position.]

...

A moment of silence filled the air as he finished. The chilly stillness enveloped them both, combating the radiating heat of the campfire. The night sky, filled with thousands of blinking stars, smiled at them with the Moon's waning crescent.

Aria sighed, shuffling in her position slightly. The long pants covering her legs felt as though they tightened a little.

"Well, I wouldn't say I disagree with Rulebreaker," her mouth parted as she closed her eyes. "Equipment is important. Which is why I told you to get yourself something," her tone turned slightly unpleasant.

"Didn't say I didn't."

"But you've yet to wear it. I wanted to see you in it. Are you going to keep me in suspense forever?"

"I'll wear it once we get to the dungeon, I promise," he rubbed her shoulder. However, the woman did not answer.

In the silent atmosphere, a few moments passed, measured by their stable breaths. Aria's emerald eyes traveled to the sky before closing. A sigh that escaped her mouth informed the man that she was not content with his answer.

...

"...!" Aria's eyes shot open as she flinched. A sensation of something appeared on her cheek, caressing her skin gently.

Her skin flared up when she recognized what happened. With a sheepish expression, she lowered her gaze to the ground.

In the meantime, Travis's lips met her skin again.

"Don't be mad," he whispered in her ear tenderly.

"...hmph," Aria made a short sound, crossing her hands on her chest. Even from the side, the man could see that she put on a pouty expression, but it was less her real reaction and more... an attempt to hide something.

He smirked for a blink, planting a few kisses on her cheek before stopping abruptly. "You know, between this and that, which one would you rather be kept in suspense about?" his voice, laced with a bit of laughter, wormed its way into Aria's ear. The woman almost immediately shuddered, sensing the blow of air against her earlobe.

"You're mean..." she turned to him a little. The stubborn stare of her eyes was melting by the second, showing Travis the affectionate desire beneath. Her breathing turned shallow before she leaned in.

A string of saliva connected their lips as they disconnected after a few seconds. Her body buckled atop his. No further words were necessary.

Aria kissed Travis ravenously, spurred on by his hands caressing her body. The flame of passion within her heart was overflowing. The wet embrace of her lover sent unimaginable pleasure through her brain. Her heart felt like it would melt.

He helped her lower her pants, allowing access to her nether regions. Simultaneously, she undid the buckle of his belt.

Aria let her large rear rest atop Travis's knees, the bright skin showered in the spectacle of light from the campfire. One of her hands reached out to the man's hard-on, and the other lowered her panties a little, a finger immediately wettened as she inserted it gently into her folds. She didn't raise her eyes from her man's tool, jerking it with slow, mechanical movements. Her inexperience was showing, but Travis didn't mind at all.

He raised a hand, getting it to Aria's cheek. He felt her reddening skin, soft and beaming with eros-filled warmth. Her gaze met his before they kissed sensually.

Travis got hold of her ass. Once again, he was amazed by how easily his hands sank into the expanse of her rear. Aria's reaction, reduced to a short moan, informed him that she enjoyed the act.

Slowly, he took the initiative. Shifting the position slightly, Travis helped Aria to the ground. Pulling her pants down completely, he exposed her lower half. The pulsing, glistening cunt invited him as he spread Aria's legs. Resting his tool atop the entrance, he looked at Aria. Sheepishly, she gave her approval, her hands grasping at the duvet as she prepared herself for the pain...

...which never came.

"Ah!" Aria moaned, her eyes closing. With every move Travis made sliding back and forth, her voice informed him of the pleasure she felt.

He smiled, speeding up his motions. The white-haired Mage bit into the duvet so as not to scream her brains out as she came within seconds. Feeling her cunt clench, he slowed to a halt, giving her a moment.

"...gods," she panted as some long seconds passed. Her eyes locked with Travis's. Noticing his gentle smile, she reciprocated.

Travis leaned in and kissed her deeply, savoring the moment. "You're really cute, you know that?"

Aria's red face blushed even more profusely as she turned away. "I... I-I'd rather you didn't say t-that when you're-- ah! T-Travis!" she yelped, feeling the man slide further inside her. As he reached all the way to the bottom, she bit a finger of her hand.

"Why? I'm just stating the facts," he replied calmly. Lifting a hand, Travis caressed Aria's cheek. "Does it matter if it's now or ten minutes ago?"

"...j-j-just... c-continue..." she stuttered, visibly sheepish.

Within moments, Travis began moving again. Aria was doing her best to withhold her second orgasm... and then her third...

With every passing minute, their breathing became faster.

The fair skin of Aria's face and legs glistened with mounting drops of sweat, the shirt clinging to her body in several wet spots. No matter the position she took with the man, the immense explosions of pleasure remained the same. Even when she decided to blow Travis to put a stop to the continuous penetration, her pulsing cunt threatened to clench in another orgasm, almost as though the very smell of the man could push her over the edge. His thick cum had a deliciously salty taste.

"Travis!" she bellowed his name with every next orgasm. Legs locked behind his back, Aria panted into his mouth as they kissed. She hardly even registered that the man held her against a tree, her back scratching the bark lightly. The only thing that mattered was their embrace.

"Aria," he answered to her calls. Every time she came, he adjusted his movements a little, sensing what exactly made Aria tick in the most pleasurable way. He kissed her, bit her ears, hugged her tightly from behind - all manner of experimentation was performed to ensure he could understand her better through this act.

...

Eventually, they lay down on the duvet. Its previously dry surface was now damp in several spots. Whether those were made with their sweat or love juices was a mystery they didn't bother pondering.

Travis hugged the small woman gently. Her breathing was unstable, but her dreamy eyes told him all he needed to know. The gentle smile on her lips widened as she focused on him.

"_*Huff* _Gods," she said between huffs, getting her wet hair out of her face. "Now I need to get washed."

Travis chuckled, rubbing her shoulder. "There is a stream nearby. How about we go there?"

-The next day, 24.04.1052-

-Time: Around noon-

Travis removed Thunder Blade from the rat's head. With a quick swipe, he removed most of the dirt and blood from the blade. Glancing to his side, he confirmed his experience gain to be very low - barely a hundred points. The respective bar in his status scarcely budged.

He sighed, looking at Aria.

The white-haired woman stood still, the staff in her hands aimed at a couple of small boars nearby. A soft spell left her mouth.

"Wind Cutter."

The gem atop her staff crackled dangerously with magical energy. Its brilliant surface shone for a split second before mana converged in front of it, transforming into three strikes reminiscent of translucent blades. The magic traveled through the air, reaching the animals almost instantly. Deep cuts were marked on their bodies, which Aria immediately followed up with a Fireball. Then, she summoned a bolt of lightning.

Within seconds, she was finished as well.

Letting out a sigh, she put the staff on the ground. A trickle of sweat on her cheek was wiped away with the sleeve of her jacket. Her eyes looked at Travis. She smiled lightly, almost as if asking, 'How's that?'.

"Impressive," he nodded. "Are you sure you're just level 22?" his eyebrow raised.

"23," she corrected him, bringing out her MID. Activating it, she showed him that her level had increased.

"Already? I expected this to take a bit longer."

The white-haired woman hid the tool and stashed her staff in her bag. After padding the container against her hip, she smoothed the gray surface of her pants. Then, fixing the rest of her attire, she pulled out the map and inspected the surroundings, seeking confirmation of their location. Within minutes, she stepped forward, the man following.

-About an hour later-

The dungeon the two approached looked like a simple cave from the outside. Given its location at the base of a hill barren of any trees, it did stand out somewhat. The forest-filled area had stopped some time ago already, only a line representing the trees visible in the distance.

However, as they approached, he could sense it. An instinctual feeling crawled up his spine, telling him that something lurked ahead, deep in the cave. It was similar to things he had felt before. Isolde, Chris, Teleran - those three, in particular, prodded his mind in somewhat unpleasant places. A memory flashed in front of Travis's mind.

'Bloodlust...' he grimaced. Although no notification sprung from RALS, the sensation was the same as when it did. It was far weaker now, but still present. He sighed lightly.

"The reports say it's a dungeon full of goblins," Aria spoke softly, pulling out her staff. "I assume you've fought some already?"

Travis nodded. "Plenty. How about you?"

"A few, but not that many," Aria sighed. "Here. You promised," she said, handing him her bag.

Travis immediately accepted it. Quickly opening it, he pulled out a large pack from within. Then, handing Aria back her possession, he undid the cord holding the material on the ground.

Aria's eyes glistened as she noticed what was hidden under the fabric. "...that's what you bought?" her eyebrows corrugated. "This... doesn't seem that great."

What Travis had exposed to her eyes was a suit of leather armor. It was more of a light jacket than anything else if Aria were to be blunt. Even at first glance, it was obvious that it would yield under just a bit of ****. Its protection was questionable, and seeing this made the woman question the man's ability to choose wisely when given a chance.

Travis smirked in response. "Don't judge a book by its cover. It's much better than it looks," he said, pulling out a pair of pants with a fitting color and material.

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