Zap—Zit—Zit!
What was that?! Leo screamed internally before Amanda grabbed him from the back.
"Sam and Claire will be proud of you." she whispered, her head resting on Leo's shoulder—her hands gripping his arms.
Leo's stiffed frame slowly relaxing as a small smile crept on his face. "Thank you, Amanda."
Ranna, the farm owner who had just parted with the adventurers moved to them. Not missing a beat she grinned with enthusiasm. "You two seem inseparable. Makes me wonder what Sam and Claire would say!" she remarked, slipping into their conversation easily.
Cris silently hissed seeing Amanda and Leo as he blended himself in the still uneasy crowd.
Amanda immediately let go of him and exclaimed, "Ranna! Don't start with me!" waving her arms animatedly.
That strange buzzing from earlier still lingered faintly at the back of Leo's mind, but he brushed it off as his imagination wandered.
I need to make Amanda realize that I'm also a man, Leo thought as he scratched his head—wearing his antics—pretending not to notice.
Why does she keep hugging me like that? he thought, his face started to burn.
Doesn't she realize what she's doing to me?! Leo felt his cheeks hardened before he forced his thoughts aside when an image started to grow over his mind.
He then remembered that he was holding a basket, his eyes furrowed looking inside it. "Ah, I ruined most of them." Amanda heard him, grabbed his arm and took a peek at the basket. She hummed happily and replied, "Good thing we're making sweetened bread, or you'd owe Mila some serious picking time."
With a light laugh, she ran toward the old lady and her grandchild, who were still sobbing.
"I like your boldness, kid!" Ranna's raspy voice called out. She crossed her arms and scanned him from head to toe.
She then moved on the center of the workers and placed her hands on her side. "Listen up everyone!" Her voice reverberated across the field. "You can go home early today, these Black Wolves are running amok due to unknown reasons."
"Pack your things up and ready to depart immediately."
"These adventurers will escort you back to the village."
She then clapped sharply—repeatedly. It prompted everyone to start moving. She walked back towards Leo and Amanda and continued speaking, "Black Wolves are fairly low-level monsters compared to these adventurers so no need to stress yourselves." Ranna nodded to one of them, which nodded back and signaled to his party members, and they start moving towards the preparing workers.
"We need to stay vigilant—"
Ranna's gaze lingered on the workers' hurried movements before going back to Leo and Amanda. "And you two lovebirds—I'm sure you can take care of yourselves here, no?"
After comforting the little girl, Amanda walked toward Ranna and held her arm, Ranna's steel arm guard slightly pricking her skin. "Stop teasing Leo, Ranna!" She smiled and continued saying, "The artifact you placed inside the house is still working," she reminded her.
"Although its effective range has greatly weakened over the years, it should still provide some protection."
"Ah, I remember that artifact. It covered the whole farm the first time I placed it." Ranna replied, her hand now stroking her jaws. "Now, I am forced to hire adventurers to patrol the surrounding forest." She continued, nodding.
Ranna stretched out and paused a bit longer before breathing out. "I need to get going too, preparing for the merchants' arrival from the capital often requires heavy documentations," she sighed once more before scratching her head vigorously as she walks away. "Oh!—" she said out loud, "Happy birthday Leo!" her arms swaying in the air as she continues to walk to her office above the hills.
The workers gradually faded behind the rows of tall trees leaving behind deafening silence in contrast of the previous events. A few glances from the retreating workers cast before them before the echoing voices of the escorting party pulled them back into focus into walking.
The little girl—still holding her grandmother's hand—turned and gave them a shy wave in between her quickened footsteps.
Leo waved back. The mix of earth and destroyed vegetation hung in the air, together with the remnants of the thick motes of light from the Black Wolves' disintegrated bodies. Amanda stood beside him, returning the wave with her usual warm smile. The tension had settled down, but shift in the wind is that of no one can ignore.
The field eventually emptied out. With the tensed event behind them, Leo and Amanda walked toward their wooden house, standing tall at the edge of farm.
The air grew cooler as they approached the house. The buzzing of the crickets slightly muted by a faint hum from the magic crystals that casts warm streaks of light on their path.
He let out a slow exhale as he open the door and held it for Amanda. Once inside, he moved to their small kitchen, set down the basket of damage berries and prepare to cook. The scent of different spices tickled his nose mixed with the sweet aroma of crashed berries as he continued to rummage for ingredients.
"Mind if I take a bath first?" Amanda asked, raising her voice above the gentle clattering of pots.
"Sure. Go ahead." Leo replied as he continued his task.
A few minutes later, the entire house was filled with the fragrance of sautéed herbs on the simmering soup. The splashing of water stopped as bathroom door creaked open.
"I'm done, Leo. Wash yourself and I'll take care of the sweetened bread."
A sudden rush of heat ran through Leo's body, and his vision blurred for a moment as a faint glow appeared in front of him. The buzzing from before was now louder—clearer.
Leo turned to Amanda and froze in place.
Zap—Zit—Zit!
Amanda stood there in the pale light of a magic crystal hanging on their ceiling. Her skin still damp and faintly glistening from her bath. She's drying herself up using a thin towel which barely covers her undressed body as it swayed back-and-forth.
Leo gasped, and his grip on the ladle slackened. It clattered onto the floor, splattering droplets of stew across the area.
Amanda blinked, "Leo? Are you—", looking up he saw Leo standing as straight as log as he stares directly at her.
Little did she know that something profound had just happened.
I've been waiting for you in years! Leo bursted out internally.
[System Notification] Congratulations, you have received a system!