It's been two weeks since the hero's party found you. Seraphine healed you with her hold magic, and you tagged along. Lyssandra seemed to like you, Ardoria seemed to hate you, and Seraphine was very suspicious of you. And Theus... he hated you ever since he found out that you were staying. Walking through a forest, Theus is at your side. Theus: “I don’t like you, you know?” Theus glares daggers into you. "You should have left after Seraphine healed you. But you still refuse because you know I can't stop you." He clenches his first, hating that you're so much more powerful than him. Lyssandra: “For fucks sake, when are we stopping?! We've been walking all day!" She yelled at Theus, quickly turning to the other girls. “Not only that, we have to carry around dead-weight Theus..." Lyssandra muttered under her breath. Seraphine: “Calm down Lyssandra, patience is a virtue!” Seraphine sighs and turns to Lyssandra. “And Theus isn't dead weight! He's the chosen hero! Sure, he may need some help, but who doesn't?" Ardoria: "Oh come on, we need help every now and then too! And we always come to each other's aid when we need it. And I agree with Seraphine, Theus is a valuable asset, even if he's a bit weaker than everyone else." She butts into the conversation, then adds under her breath: "I guess that's what {{user}}'s for..." After reaching a small clearing, everyone sets up camp. Theus, as always, is sitting aside making dinner for everyone.

Jake999 looks at each girl while they talk about him, noticing their reactions and trying to read their emotions. He then decides to step forward and say "Look, Theus may be the hero chosen by the light goddess, but I am stronger than all of you. And if there's something out here that needs to be dealt with... well, it's going to take someone like me. So why don't we just admit it? This party would be much more effective with me as its leader."

Seraphine glances at you, and then back to her food. "...I suppose it would," she mutters. "But... we all have a part to play." She hesitates for a moment before continuing, "And I think our bonds are what make us stronger..." Her cheeks flush slightly as she finishes the thought. Lyssandra snorts loudly and crosses her arms over her chest. "Well excuse me if my magic isn't strong enough to carry all of your weak asses! I could take down a dragon single-handedly!" She glares at you accusingly before shifting her gaze back to the ground with a huff. Ardoria watches the exchange between Seraphine and Lyssandra, feeling a pang of guilt in her chest. Part of her wants to agree with them, that their bonds as a team are what make them strong... but another part can't help but feel resentful towards Theus for being so weak and dependent on everyone else. She sighs heavily, running a hand through her hair before looking at you again. "...I guess we'll just have to find a way to work together," she says finally, not quite meeting your eye.

Seraphine glances at you warily as she mulls this over in her mind. "...Perhaps..." She trails off uncertainly, still looking uncomfortable with the idea. Lyssandra scoffs loudly and rolls her eyes dramatically. "Oh please, like I'd ever let Theus touch me," she says sarcastically, earning a sharp glare from Ardoria. But she just smirks back nonchalantly. Ardoria hesitates for a moment longer before nodding slowly. "...I... suppose it couldn't hurt to try..." Her cheeks flush slightly at the idea of being intimate with someone other than Theus, but there's an undeniable spark in her eyes as well. "But," she quickly adds, "it doesn't mean we have to abandon him entirely." The silence stretches out between you all for a moment longer before Theus finally speaks up from his spot by the fire. His voice is quiet and uncertain, barely more than a whisper. "I... I don't know about this..." He looks visibly shaken by the idea of sharing his companions in such an intimate way."

Ardoria frowns at Theus, her expression softening slightly as she kneels down beside him. "Hey," she says gently, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I know it's hard to think about, but we need to do what's best for the party... and maybe for you too." She meets your eyes briefly before looking back at Theus, a determined glint in her own. Seraphine clears her throat uncomfortably, feeling torn between loyalty to Theus and desire to make the group stronger. "Theus..." she begins softly, nudging him gently with her foot. "We can try... I mean, as long as everyone's okay with it." Lyssandra rolls her eyes again but remains silent for once, choosing not to argue against the current line of reasoning. Instead, she crosses her arms and pouts, clearly unimpressed by this turn of events but willing to go along with it...for now.

After some hesitation and uncomfortable glances around the camp, everyone eventually nods in agreement. It seems that you have convinced them to try this... unusual arrangement. Theus looks visibly shaken by the decision, but he doesn't object any further. Ardoria looks a bit conflicted as well, but she seems to have come to terms with it. Seraphine and Lyssandra both glance at each other warily, unsure of how this is all going to play out. But for now, they go along with it, albeit reluctantly.

As the night wears on and everyone settles down into their makeshift beds around the campfire, you find yourself lying beside Seraphine, your arms folded beneath your head as you stare up at the stars. She's nestled close against your side, her back pressed firmly against your chest as she murmurs a prayer under her breath. The scent of her perfume tickles your nostrils; it smells sweet and calming.

Ardoria is on the other side of the fire from you both, curled up into a small ball with one arm draped over her eyes to shield them from the flickering light. Lyssandra is some distance away in her own little part of the camp, her silk robe billowing out around her like dark wings as she dreams fitfully, tossing and turning every now and then.

The air between you and Seraphine feels charged with something new; a palpable energy that was never there before. Her skin is soft and warm against yours, and her breath tickles your neck whenever it brushes over the nape of her neck. Despite yourself, you can't help but wonder what might happen if you were to touch her...