It was peaceful

After that steamy event, we got ready. Eden woke up as well and we went to have breakfast. I see that Aura is in the kitchen with Fiona. I smell bread. Did they make bread from scratch?

Aura comes out and stands in front of me. She is wearing an apron over her dress. Her hair is tied in a ponytail.

"Honey, it seems that you were enjoying yourself quite a bit." (Aura)

They are all connected to me. So my emotions flow to them as well. Maybe she felt what I was feeling this morning.

"Before you say anything, I am not against it. Because I know how you feel. I know that you would have done the same to me as well. But your line of thought is a bit problematic. I am allowing only those who are connected to you. That doesn't mean that you can do that to anyone." (Aura)

She stands on her toes and lightly kisses my lips before leaving. I couldn't even say anything. Damn! She is flaunting her wife position.

I take a seat at the table and wait for breakfast. The seating plan is as usual. I am at one end of the table. Eden is to my right. That much has been settled.

Fiona is directly of me. But who gets to sit next to me? It seems that an order has been made. Hazel starts the week and then it follows Fay and then Aura. They take turns.

I did try to talk to them about this order but it was useless. They had decided it by themselves and they wouldn't change it.

Breakfast was delicious as always. Having freshly baked bread with onion soup is kinda odd but satisfying in a way.

"By the way, I made that soup." (Aura)

Today, Aura is sitting to my left. She is looking at me with expecting eyes.

"That's wonderful. It tastes good. You have learnt so much in such a small amount of time."

I praise her. Well, she did learn a lot in a short timeframe. But she is still expecting something from me. Hmm….. I have an idea. Let's try it.

I put my right hand on her head and caress her hair.

"You did a good job."

If that doesn't worl, I am out of ideas. But she seems to be enjoying it.

"It feels nice to be praised." (Aura)

"Master, I will learn to cook too. Praise me as well." (Hazel)

Hazel says from her seat. Hazel is sitting to my right, next to Eden.

"I will. Make sure to learn everything you want."

It probably didn't come out the way I wanted to say it but I think she knows what I meant. After breakfast, Fiona leaves for the castle. And Gwen had already left before I arrived.

"She left to get her belongings," is what Aura told me. I ask them what they would do.

"I am going to meet an acquaintance of mine. You want to travel to the neighboring towns, right?" (Fay)

"Yeah. I was hoping to see the area."

"Then it will be useful. I'll go and make sure that no one bothers us during the trip." (Fay)

"Thanks for always taking care of the tedious things."

I cannot thank her enough for that. Things like this take too much time. Fay leaves saying that.

Hazel is playing with the felis. I told Hazel to find a good name for her. In the end, she went with a common but good name. The felis is now called Jade. Why did she name her jade?

Because the felis has jade colored eyes. Well, it is a good name and I did tell Hazel to name her so I didn't make a fuss about it.

But Fiona is the one having most fun. She was taking care of Jade until it was time for her to leave.

"She will need lots of things so I will go and talk to Montana." (Fiona)

She said that and left. It seems like Fiona is enjoying herself even though I am just burdening her with more troubles.

I decided to go to the guild first and then to Ms. Pablo's shop. I will pick up the map and give it to Aera to analyze it.

"I will go now."

I say and was leaving when Doris suddenly popped up.

"Master, take me with you." (Doris)

"You have something you need, Doris?"

"I have a feeling that I will be needed by you today, master." (Doris)

I don't have any problems taking her with me. Aura and Hazel didn't mind it either. So we both left for the guild.

Our journey to the guild was nothing special. But I felt some envious stares. The shopkeepers basically see me everyday. I guess a man's envy can be strong.

When I pushed the guild door open, everyone stopped to look at me and Doris. But they resumed soon after. I think they have become somewhat resistant to me.

I go straight to Ms. Maria.

"Good morning, Mr. Belmont. You are a little late today." (Maria)

"I had a late start this morning. Any job for me?"

I ask if anything is available. She brings a few papers.

"Anything worth your time…..found it." (Maria)

She takes a paper and says that. She shows it to me.

"Yves lake has been polluted by something. Do you have purification skills?" (Maria)

"Purification? I don't think I do. What do you think, Doris?"

I ask Doris and she has a smug face. Ahh…she did say that I might need her help today.

"Master, as a great water spirit, I can control water to do anything. Purification is child's play for me." (Doris)

She proudly announces. Did she get a personality change? I thought she was more on the introverted side.

"Then purification it is. Is that okay though?"

A job like this is pretty lucrative. I think anyone would want it. Of course it requires a rather specific skill but that won't stop others from taking this job.

"This job was posted a month ago. The lake is regularly purified so some of its water can be used but the source of the impurity is yet to be found. 3 parties have tried this job. All of them failed." (Maria)

So this one is an old and difficult job. I will see to it then.

"Then sign us up for the job. By the way, where is the Yves lake?"

"It's to the north of the city. Most of this city's water comes from there. So this is a rather urgent job." (Maria)

This world is pretty unbalanced. The city's water supply is polluted and yet they don't do anything. What is the king doing? I'll have to ask Fay for more details.

I take a rough map from Ms. Maria and leave for the Yves lake. With Doris with me, I don't think I will have any troubles.

After Clive's departure, another receptionist comes to Maria.

"Maria, why did you give him that dangerous job?"

"I know that it's ranked A in terms of difficulty. But that's the party rank. Solo rank would be S, probably." (Maria)

"If you knew then why did you send him? It's speculated that an ancient monster has taken residence near the lake. Why did you send a B rank solo adventurer there?"

"Don't worry. He will be just fine. Wait and see. He will probably be back with the speculated monster in less than an hour." (Maria)

The job is purification of the Yves lake. Reward is 10 gold coins. Recommended rank is A for party and S for solo. The source of pollution is speculated to be an ancient monster. Likely a kraken zombie or a cursed dragon. It could be something else as well. But that won't pose any threats to Clive. Maria has decided to put her faith in Clive. Which is why she gave him that job.

This might sound like a conundrum but the day would certainly be peaceful.