Chapter 237: Planning To Obtain The Flaming Sword (2)

"The Flaming Sword," Willow explained, "is said to be the only weapon capable of piercing the Succubus Queen's defenses and releasing her from the grip of darkness."

“But, we shouldn’t worry too much about getting the sword yet since if any of us even step foot into the Succubus Queen’s territory as we are now,” Willow mimed, their heads being cut off. “We’re pretty much dead.”

“. . .So what do we do?” Amelia asked, enviously glaring at Raegis who was lying on Willow’s juicy thighs for a lap-pillow after their breakfast. “Rather, what do you intend to do with the sword if we even manage to acquire such a blade?”

“I understand your worry, Amelia, but I’m not really thinking of world domination or fighting people like a battle-maniac so you don’t have to worry, no,” Willow scratched his chin, thinking. “No, I was thinking of simply giving it to Raegis.”

“Raegis?” Amelia asked, eyebrows raised.

Even Raegis was surprised. “Me?”

“Yes you,” Willow tapped the beast kin's forehead playfully. “You have a special connection for all those bladed, and I have a sneaky suspicion that something amazing will happen when the Sword Akin To The Sun falls into your hand.”

“I believe that you should be the one to wield it,” Willow said, before turning to Amelia. “Besides, do we have anyone in our party that can handle swords as well as her right now?”

“Well. . .” Amelia tried to object, since she didn’t really want to entrust such powerful equipment in the hands of a naive mutt like Raegis, but she had to admit it. Naive or not, Raegis was one strong swordsman. “Fair point.”

Raegis simply gave a thumbs-up, still in her very comfortable lap-pillow. To her simple-minded brain, she couldn't care less about anything other than the softness of Willow’s thighs. 

As Willow observed Raegis's reaction, a thought crossed his mind. What would happen when Raegis realized the true nature of the Flaming Sword? It was one of the six divine swords in all of creation, a fact unknown to most. The original Steel had never obtained any of the divine swords due to the Heavenly Restrictions. Willow's curiosity was piqued, wondering how an incarnation of the Steel would wield such a sacred artifact.

“I’m curious though, where exactly is this place that the Succubus Queen is residing in?” Amelia asked. 

“Oh it’s going to be one long journey,” Willow started. "To make the journey, we’d have to go all the way down south, crossing through the [Gap Between Giants], then crossing over to the [Swamps] and eventually reaching [The Bed Of Lust] or simply known as the Ruins, where Lillith the Succubus Queen should be."

“And, I assume you know where the Flaming Sword exactly is, in her domain?” Amelia asked. 

Willow wanted to scoff at the little elf. Did he know? DID HE KNOW? God, any other gamer who played the game half as much as he did would be offended. It wasn’t as if every gamer had memorized the location or anything. “Don’t you worry about that, Amelia.”

“What you really should be worried about is the time it’s going to take us to get there,” Willow shook his head and sighed. 

Amelia tilted her head. “If we’re passing the [Gap Between Giants], I think there should be a secret passage though.”

“. . .Huh?” Willow’s eyes went wide. 

“Yeah, I remember most of the elven merchants went out the same way since they didn’t want their carriages to be attacked by the golems, and denizens wandering around the Gap Between Giants,” Amelia said, placing a finger on her lip. “If I remember correctly, as long as you were an elf, the spirits should help to find the passageway, and guide you straight through the Giant’s Gap without any problems.”

“Amelia?”

“Yes?”

Willow took a deep breath, before letting it out. “I love you so damn much.”

**

After a few minutes of trying to bring a heavily blushing, and excited Amelia back to reality, Willow then turned his attention to both of his party-mates, before his gaze turned into one of determination. 

“Like I said previously, we need to get a lot stronger than we are before we can even think of crossing over to such dangerous terrains,” Willow said. 

Raegis suddenly chimed in, tail flapping about at the prospect of training. “Fight enemies?!”

Willow's thoughtful expression shifted into a mischievous grin as he contemplated Raegis's question. "Well, my original plan was for us to train and grind away in the Mystic Forests until we reached A-Rank. However, that would take quite a long time. We need a faster way to grow stronger now, something that will push us to our limits."

His gaze wandered to a vibrant poster adorning the wall, announcing a highly anticipated tournament taking place in their town. It was scheduled to be held on the Fifth Moon, just a week away, at the prestigious Grand Stadium in sixth avenue. Willow pointed at the poster. “But there’s a much better way to grow stronger.”

Amelia's eyes widened with curiosity as she read the details on the poster. "A. . .tournament?”

“The Tournament,” Willow's smile widened. He remembered this particular event, and was quite excited to actually live through it first-hand, instead of through a screen. “The prizes aren’t bad either. First place would get a Lesser Phoenix's Tear, second would get a hefty sum of 10 Gold Coins, and third would get a Black Penchant. But, I heard that the first can actually ask for all three of the rewards.” 

Amelia's breath caught in her throat at the mention of the Black Penchant. The magical artifact, of elven origin, was known to enhance one's connection to the spirits. To the elves, such an artifact was a treasure beyond measure. Almost every rich or elder elf had one. To anyone else, it was useless. 

“Can I-?”

“Yes, Amelia. If we win the tournament, you can have the black penchant. It’d be pretty much useless for both of us.”

Her eyes shimmered with longing. "Thank you, Willow.”

Willow nodded, understanding Amelia's eagerness. He couldn't help but wonder if it was even possible to deepen Amelia's already profound connection with the spirits. Nevertheless, this tournament presented a golden opportunity for growth and discovery.

Turning to his companions, Willow's gaze encompassed Raegis and Amelia. "So, what do you both think? Shall we participate in the tournament?"

Raegis's tail wagged vigorously, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "Fighting strong enemies? I’m in!”

Amelia's determination burned bright in her eyes. "Please, include me in as well!”

Willow's grin widened, his excitement contagious. "That's the spirit! We'll participate in the tournament and seize this opportunity to grow stronger. But before that, we all need to do a little bit of training.”

“The tournament’s one week away. Time to muscle-up, people.”

***

Inner Part Of The Woods, Day 1

As Willow settled into his meditative state, he felt a sense of calmness and peace wash over him. The gentle breeze that blew through the forest seemed to embrace him, as if welcoming him into its tranquil embrace. The trees towered above him, their majestic presence a reminder of the ancient wisdom they held. Their leaves rustled, as if whispering secrets that were carried by the wind.

The scent of wet earth mixed with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers filled the air, creating a symphony of nature's perfume. Willow sat on a weathered rock, its surface rough against his fingertips. He allowed himself to fully immerse in the beauty of his surroundings. Sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves, casting warm patterns on his face. The rustling of leaves provided a gentle soundtrack, in perfect harmony with the rhythm of his own heartbeat.

With his eyes closed, Willow's mind embarked on a journey of self-reflection. His thoughts weave a tapestry of emotions, each one a unique brushstroke on the canvas of his consciousness. His curious mind was drawn to Amelia, and the mysterious aura that surrounded her. Questions fluttered through his thoughts like butterflies, begging to be answered.

In the quiet of his meditation, Willow's heart was full of both anticipation and concern. He longed to understand the secrets of Amelia's past, to unravel the depths of her experiences and the shadows that followed her. The balance between trust and doubt swayed like the dance of sunlight through the leaves.

The forest continued its symphony, with the sweet melodies of bird songs and the gentle rustling of leaves. Willow took a deep breath, the earthy scents of the forest filling his senses. It grounded him, providing a sense of peace amidst the natural beauty that surrounded him.

In the midst of his musings, Willow's attention shifted to Raegis, the vivacious beastkin whose loyalty and strength were unwavering. She had made remarkable progress in her "Counter" skill, her instincts honed to perfection. Willow couldn't help but marvel at her growth and admire the warrior she had become.

Thoughts of Elm, his sister and the Celestial Hero, intruded upon his consciousness. The delicate balance between destiny and his own interference tugged at his conscience. Had he gone too far in altering the original plotline? Regret clawed at his heart, questioning the consequences of his actions.

But Willow quickly dismissed those doubts, recognizing the futility of dwelling on what had already transpired. The die had been cast, and the path before him was his to walk. He couldn't change the past, but he could shape the future alongside his companions.

As Willow's thoughts swirled through the tapestry of his mind, they drifted toward his sister, Elm, and her journey as the Celestial Hero. A bittersweet smile tugged at his lips as he pondered the consequences of his meddling in the original plot line.

In the depths of his soul, Willow couldn't help but wonder if his interventions had inadvertently hastened Elm's progress.  Did he make the right choice by refraining from contacting Elm, his sister and the Celestial Hero, during their adventure?

With a deep breath, Willow reminded himself that he had made the decision with careful consideration. He had sought solace in the reassurance of others, listening attentively to bard's songs and tales that traveled from distant lands. At the very least, it didn’t sound like she was losing any of her battles.

What about his moon-lit lover?