Broken settled down onto the soft mattress in the room, barely aware of the night slowly descending around him. The room was illuminated by crystal lamps fixed to the walls.
Yet, Ivana had still not returned.
“Pawpaw, could you go look for Ivana and stay with her in case she needs any help?” Broken asked.
Pawpaw appeared beside him, her tiny body nearly swallowed by the large mattress. With a big yawn and sleepy eyes, she didn’t bother replying. Instead, the little kitten leapt from the bed onto the floor and disappeared into the shadows without a sound.
“Can I sleep here every day?” Broken murmured to himself.
The sense of peace in this place was extraordinary-it was silent, calm, and comforting. It was as if nature itself was whispering to him, wrapping him in a gentle embrace that spoke directly to his soul.
He stepped out of the room, his eyes drawn to the lake below. The moonlight illuminated the still waters, the earlier mist having cleared to reveal the lake’s full beauty. The surface glimmered, reflecting the shimmering stars above in the night sky.
“Ivana still hasn’t returned yet…”
Activating the Shared Senses skill, his vision shifted, connecting with Pawpaw’s perspective. Using the kitten’s eyes, he could see that Pawpaw had already found Ivana. It warmed him to see how close Pawpaw was with Ivana-he hadn’t even protested when tasked with finding her.
Broken walked closer to the edge of the lake, pausing for a moment as he felt a strong temptation to take a dip in the warm waters that Cedric had spoken of.
He began removing his armor. He could feel the cool night air against his bare skin, a contrast to the warmth he hoped to find in the lake. Stripping down to just his underwear, Broken cautiously stepped into the lake. The warm water caressed his feet as he waded in.
He continued forward until the water reached up to his waist, then went even deeper, his eyes scanning the area until he found a rock he could lean against. Settling there, he submerged himself in the warmth of the lake, letting out a deep sigh of contentment.
“It’s so peaceful here,” he murmured to himself. He looked around. Everything was still, tranquil.
“Are those monsters really not invading this area?”
The entire place felt far too serene, almost protected, as if an invisible barrier kept danger at bay. It struck him how different this was from any other environment he had faced before-no threats lurking in the shadows, no sense of imminent danger. Just nature and quiet, and for once, Broken allowed himself to relax in the moment.
The warmth of the water seemed to soothe away his tension, and he closed his eyes, simply listening to the gentle ripples around him and the distant sounds of the forest.
Broken knew he had to log out soon. However, he planned to leave Pawpaw outside so the kitten could stay close to Ivana in case she needed help.
Despite Pawpaw’s rather wild and unpredictable nature, Ivana had shown she could handle the little cat well. Pawpaw seemed to listen to her in a way that put Broken at ease.
This was one of the reasons why he trusted Ivana to accompany him-she could also manage the Felhorn when it was needed. Her natural ability to bond with creatures had proven invaluable time and again.
But then, a thought crossed his mind. Since their return from the royal palace, Pawpaw hadn’t once visited Princess Alora. Initially, Broken had promised the kitten that it could visit the princess from time to time, especially if she needed help. And yet, that hadn’t happened so far.
Perhaps it was because there hadn’t been a real need. After all, the princess was still accompanied by two Knight Grand Crosses, which was a significant level of protection. Not to mention, the Ass Guild was diligently monitoring the developments in the capital city. As far as Broken knew, there had been no urgent threats or dangers in the capital that required his or Pawpaw’s attention.
For now, it seemed safe enough to focus on his journey here.
As Broken admired the beauty of the night while soaking in the lake, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching slowly. Turning his head, he saw Ivana, her blonde hair shimmering in the moonlight as she walked towards him.
“Ivana?”
“Hi, I see you’re enjoying a soak here, huh?” she replied with a soft giggle.
Ivana moved towards a large rock at the edge of the lake and sat down, her gaze deliberately avoiding Broken as she looked towards the center of the lake instead.
“I was captivated by the beauty of this forest and lost track of time…” she said with a friendly smile.
Broken scooped some water in his hands and splashed it over his shoulders, then sank further into the lake until only his head was above the surface.
“Do you want to take a bath too, Ivana?” he asked. “I’m sure this place is quite safe.” “Huh?” Ivana was taken aback by his words. “You’re not suggesting we bathe together, are you, Broken? That’s not something you should say to a lady, you know,” she added with a playful giggle. freewebnσvel.cm
Broken chuckled softly, shaking his head. “No, I meant if you want to soak here, I can leave so you can do it in peace,” he clarified.
Ivana then stood up suddenly. “Don’t look! Turn your head that way!” she said, pointing firmly in another direction.
Broken quickly obeyed, turning his gaze away and focusing on the calm, moonlit lake in the opposite direction. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the warmth of the water continue
to relax him.
Soon, he heard the sound of Ivana’s footsteps entering the water. The sound of her moving away reached his ears, growing quieter until there was only the gentle noise of the rippling water, and then-silence.
Though he didn’t look, Broken could tell that Ivana had moved farther off, finding a spot behind some large rocks where she could have privacy. Only the occasional quiet splash indicated her presence, keeping him aware that she was still there but making it clear she wanted her own space.
Broken smiled to himself, leaning back against his rock, respecting the distance.
“I was hesitant to cook meat since faeries don’t usually consume it. So I decided to just prepare a fruit and vegetable salad,” Ivana said after a moment.
“Oh, really? They don’t eat meat? Didn’t Cedric seem excited when I offered him some?”
Ivana chuckled softly. “I can’t really say for sure, but perhaps Cedric is just an enthusiastic person who responds positively to anything offered to him.”
“So that’s why Cecilia looked so pale earlier?”
“Yes, I think so,” Ivana giggled.
There was a short pause before Broken spoke again. “Ivana… I’m going to log out soon, and
Pawpaw will stay here to keep you company.”
“Yes!” Ivana answered quickly. “You don’t have to worry. Pawpaw is always well-behaved with me, and I’m sure we’ll be good friends. You can relax, okay?”
Broken nodded slowly, reassured by her confidence.
After a few moments, he spoke again, “Alright, Ivana, I think it’s time to call it a night. I’m going to log out until morning.”
He stood up, dressing in his outfit before walking to the edge of the lake.
He took a moment to make sure his decision was sound-this wasn’t some reckless choice. He had considered all the factors. With Flare and Pawpaw by Ivana’s side, and her own considerable capabilities, he was confident she would be safe in this peaceful forest.
“I’m fine,” Ivana said. “I don’t mind being here alone for a while. The faeries are very welcoming and friendly.”
Broken gave her one last look, his lips curling into a soft smile. “See you tomorrow,” he said.
And with that, he logged out of the game.
***
(Author’s Note:)
Hi everyone! I’ve uploaded a lot of new Character Illustrations, along with updates on skills,
equipment, titles, and more!
Join the Discord server: /galanteodiscord.
I’ll be waiting for you there!