Chapter 29 - Sweet Dreams
As James and Ofelia sat in their corner of the inn, quietly reflecting on their conversation and the events of the day, Marlin approached with his usual broad grin, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite lovebirds," he said loudly enough for a few nearby patrons to glance over. Ofelia immediately turned red, shrinking into her seat, while James groaned inwardly, already knowing where this was going.
"Marlin…" James started, trying to sound firm but failing to hide the exasperation in his voice.
"Now, don't get all defensive on me," Marlin continued, waving a hand as if to dismiss any protests. "I'm just saying, you two certainly know how to enjoy yourselves. After all, the whole inn doesn't need a clock with the… rhythm you've been keeping."
Ofelia covered her face with her hands, her embarrassment palpable, while James rested his forehead on the table, muttering, "Marlin, please…"
The innkeeper let out a hearty laugh, patting James on the back. "Ah, don't worry about it, lad. Young love is a beautiful thing. Just maybe keep it down next time, aye?" He winked at Ofelia, whose blush deepened, before straightening up. "Your food's on the way. Figured you'd be hungry after all that, uh… activity." With that, he sauntered off, chuckling to himself.
James sighed, lifting his head to glance at Ofelia. "He's never going to let us live that down."
Her voice barely a whisper. "I'm so sorry…" she respond from behind her hands.
"It's not your fault," James replied, his tone reassuring. "Marlin's just… Marlin."
Ofelia peeked out from her hands, her face still bright red. "Does… everyone know?" she whispered.
"Hopefully not," James replied.
Wanting to shift the focus, James leaned back and activated his Appraisal skill. A familiar, glitchy interface flickered into view, its futuristic design marred by text errors and distorted icons.
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N@me: James Blackwell
A^ge: 21 - Free M?an
Jo%b: War?ior Lv4
Unlocke%d Jobs: Merchant Lv 8 | Villager Lv 7 | Explorer Lv2
Ski%lls: B*ash
Cl@ss System: Classified (Err%or - U#nable to Pr#ocess)
B$n$f/ts: Appraisal - Ex, Item Box - Ex, %&?! - [UNREADABLE]
Condition: Healthy
T!tles: B!g E@rner
Ow/n slav$%d: Of@lia
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James blinked, a mix of surprise and excitement coursing through him. "Looks like I've leveled up," he muttered aloud, catching Ofelia's attention. "Merchant jumped by 5 levels since the auction, Warrior by 1 and I unlocked the Explorer job Level 2. That must've happened inside the labyrinth." he said excited.
"Feli," he began, his tone gentle but focused, "stay still for a moment. I want to use Appraisal on you again. Let's see what's changed since last time."
She blinked, her emerald eyes flickering with a mix of curiosity and slight nervousness. "Alright," she murmured, folding her hands neatly in her lap.
James activated his Appraisal skill, his gaze locking onto her. The holographic interface flickered into view with its usual glitches, the text scrambling before settling into readable form. He quickly glanced at the familiar, corrupted layout from the first time he appraised her:
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N@me: 18 - Of@lia
R@ce: Elf
J%ob: Exp!orer Lv 4
Unlocke%d Jobs: Villager Lv 6 | Warrior Lv2
Ski%lls: Tel$port to R0/om, Item B0x, Mon-ster Appr@isal, (Locked)
Condition: Malnourished (Recovering), Mana Depletion, Mana Sickness
St@tus: E&sl@ved(owner: J@me/s Bla()kwel!l), Emotionally Distressed (Greatly Improving)
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James studied the screen carefully, his brows rising as he took in the changes. "You've unlocked a new job—Explorer—and it's already at level 4," he said, his tone filled with approval. "Looks like you've also unlocked Warrior as a secondary job, and you've gained some impressive skills. Teleport to Room, Item Box, and Monster Appraisal."
Ofelia tilted her head, her curiosity deepening. "Teleport to Room? What does that do?"
"I guess, since it's a job from the maze it would probably let you open a portal to the main door of the labyrinth," James explained, a small smile forming. "It's going to be incredibly useful for getting us out of there if things get dangerous."
She blinked, processing the information. "That… sounds useful."
"It is," James said. He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Your condition's improved too. Malnourishment is still recovering, but 'Emotionally Distressed' is marked as 'Greatly Improving.' You're doing better, Feli."
Ofelia's lips parted slightly, her eyes softening. "Greatly improving…" she repeated quietly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "That's… good, right?"
James nodded, his expression warm. "More than good. It means you're getting stronger—not just physically, but mentally too."
She smiled faintly, looking down at her hands. "I think… it's because of you," she admitted softly.
James's chest tightened at her words, but he quickly shifted focus to the rest of her status. "Your mana sickness and mana depletion are still there, though." he hesitated as to why.
"Feli," James said softly, drawing her attention. "Let me see your mana stone. I need to check something."
Ofelia nodded, pulling the small black stone from her satchel. She placed it gently in his hand, her expression curious. "Is something wrong?"
James activated his Appraisal skill, his gaze fixed on the dark, polished surface of the stone. The familiar holographic interface flickered into view, the text glitching momentarily before settling:
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[Appraisal Activated]
N@me: B!a#ck Mana St%ne
Cond!tion: Good
Eff#ct: 0% Charged - Absorbs a small portion of mana from defeated monsters
Valu^e: 15 Copper Coins
Err%r: None Detected
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His brows knitted together as he read the information. "It's completely drained," he muttered. "Zero mana left."
Ofelia's expression faltered. "It's empty? But… I thought it would recharge after the labyrinth."
James shook his head, setting the stone on the table. "It hasn't recharged at all. Before the labyrinth, it was at 4%. That was enough to help you start recovering, but now it's completely depleted." He frowned, glancing at her. "How long have you been carrying it since the last recharge?"
She paused, thinking back. "It's been… about two days," she said softly. "I had it with me the whole time I was nursing you. And then today, while we walked through the city."
James leaned back in his chair, realization dawning on him. "That makes sense," he said slowly. "You've been using mana from the stone nonstop while taking care of me. Even if it wasn't intentional, your condition—Mana Depletion and Mana Sickness—must have drawn on it constantly to keep you stable."
Her lips parted slightly in surprise. "So… it ran out because of that?"
"Exactly," James confirmed. "Your body was probably pulling mana from the stone to recover, and now there's nothing left. Even the monsters we killed in the labyrinth weren't enough to recharge it."
She looked down at her hands, her expression filled with guilt. "I didn't mean to use it all…"
James reached across the table, gently placing his hand over hers. "Feli, don't blame yourself. That stone did exactly what it was supposed to do—nursing you. If it's empty now, that just means it served its purpose."
Her emerald eyes softened, but there was still a hint of worry in her voice. "What happens now? If it's empty… can I still recover?"
James sighed, leaning back in his chair. "That's the problem. Without mana, your recovery might slow down—or even stop. We need to figure out how to recharge these stones, or find new ones with more mana already stored."
He pulled his own mana stone from his belt and activated Appraisal on it:
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[Appraisal Activated]
N@me: B!a#ck Mana St%ne
Cond!tion: Good
Eff#ct: 0% Charged - Absorbs a small portion of mana from defeated monsters
Valu^e: 15 Copper Coins
Err%r: None Detected
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"Mine's the same," he muttered, setting it beside hers on the table. "Zero mana, just like yours. Even after killing eight Blue Foxes in the labyrinth, they didn't provide enough mana to recharge either of these stones."
"Maybe… the monsters didn't have enough mana themselves?" Ofelia suggested hesitantly. "Could that be why?"
James nodded thoughtfully. "It's possible. If the Blue Foxes were low-mana creatures, the stones wouldn't have absorbed much from them. We'll need to fight stronger monsters—or figure out another way to recharge these."
"Do you think the alchemist could help?" she asked.
"Maybe," James said with a sigh. "But considering the price we paid last time, I'd rather avoid going back unless it's absolutely necessary. We could also ask at the guild or check with the merchants to see if anyone knows how these stones work."
Before Ofelia could respond, Marlin returned to their table, balancing two steaming bowls of stew and a fresh loaf of bread. He placed the food down with a grin, his usual mischievous expression in place. "There you go!" he announced. "Stew's hot, bread's fresh, and you two look like you need a good meal after the day you've had."
"Thanks, Marlin," James said, giving a polite nod as the innkeeper walked away, still chuckling softly to himself.
James turned back to Ofelia, picking up his spoon. "We'll deal with the mana stones tomorrow. For now, let's eat and rest. We've both earned it."
Ofelia nodded, a faint smile gracing her lips as she picked up her own spoon. Despite the mystery of the depleted mana stones, James felt a sense of relief. They were alive, together, and making progress—step by step.
The warm, savory scent of the stew should have been comforting, but James found it hard to relax as he dug into his meal. The crackling fire of the hearth, the clatter of utensils, and the low hum of conversation filled the inn's dining area. Yet, every so often, a burst of laughter erupted from one of the nearby tables, followed by subtle glances in James's direction.
He tried to ignore it at first, focusing on his food, but the glances became more frequent, accompanied by barely muffled chuckles and even a few low whistles. James's grip on his spoon tightened as his ears burned with irritation. He leaned slightly toward Ofelia, lowering his voice.
"Is it just me, or does it feel like everyone's looking at us?" he muttered.
Ofelia's emerald eyes flicked up, scanning the room quickly before darting back to her bowl. Her cheeks flushed crimson. "I… I think they are," she whispered, her voice trembling with embarrassment.
Another wave of laughter rippled through the room, and this time, James caught a few phrases from the nearby tables.
"Thin walls, huh?"
"Bet they didn't even notice…"
"Lucky lad, isn't he?"
A round of snickering followed, and James's face turned scarlet. He set his spoon down, his appetite rapidly fading. Ofelia kept her gaze fixed on her stew, her shoulders hunched as if she wanted to disappear.
"I swear, Marlin's big mouth…" James muttered under his breath, glaring down at his bowl. He could feel the stares from across the room, the weight of their assumptions pressing down on him.
Ofelia shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her voice barely audible. "I'm sorry," she said softly.
James shook his head, forcing a small smile. "It's not your fault, Feli. Let's just finish up and get out of here."
They ate quickly, neither of them saying much as the occasional burst of laughter or poorly concealed whisper made its way to their table. When they finally stood to leave, a sharp whistle from the corner of the room made James's blood boil. He turned his head slightly, catching a group of merchants grinning and raising their mugs in his direction.
James clenched his jaw, placing a gentle hand on Ofelia's back as they made their way to the stairs. The quiet chuckles and low murmurs followed them all the way to their room. By the time he shut the door behind them, he felt like he was ready to punch the nearest wall.
Ofelia stood in the middle of the room, her arms wrapped around herself, her face still burning with embarrassment. "They… they all think…" she started, but her voice trailed off.
James sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Let them think whatever they want," he said, though his voice betrayed his frustration. He paced the room, his thoughts racing. "This is ridiculous. We shouldn't have to deal with this every time we come downstairs."
He stopped abruptly, his expression hardening with resolve. "That's it. I'm done with this place. We're getting a house."
Ofelia looked up at him, her eyes wide. "Really ?" she ask.
"Yes," James said firmly. "I don't care what it costs. We're not staying here any longer than we have to. We need a place of our own—a proper home. Somewhere with actual privacy and no nosy innkeepers or thin walls."
Ofelia hesitated, a flicker of hope and nervousness crossing her face. "Do you think… we can afford it?"
James turned to her, his expression softening. "We'll figure it out," he said. "Between what we've earned at the auction and what we can sell in the labyrinth, we'll make it work. We've already come this far, haven't we?"
She nodded slowly, her lips curving into a small, tentative smile. "Alright. If you think we can… then I trust you."
James smiled back, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Good. Tomorrow, we'll start looking. For now, let's get some rest."
As they settled into their small bed, the muffled sounds of the inn grew quieter, and James felt a renewed sense of purpose. The laughter and whispers might sting now, but soon, they'd have a place of their own—somewhere they could finally start building the life they deserved.
Ofelia stood by the bed, her cheeks still faintly pink, her eyes darting toward him and then away. The tension in the air felt heavy—not from discomfort between them, but from the weight of the day's events.
"Let's just… forget about all that for now," James said softly, his voice more tired than angry. He began unbuttoning his shirt, letting it slip off his shoulders before tossing it onto the floor.
Ofelia hesitated for a moment before following suit, removing her vest and then her shirt. She placed them gently on the growing pile of clothing, her movements slow and deliberate. By the time they were both down to their undergarments, the room had grown quiet, the flickering light from the single candle casting soft shadows on the walls.
James slid into the bed first, the cool fabric of the sheets sending a small shiver up his spine. He looked over at Ofelia, who hesitated for only a moment before slipping in beside him. She moved closer, her slender form seeking the warmth of his body. Without thinking, James wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in until they were pressed together, chest to chest, their legs tangling under the covers.
Ofelia rested her head against his shoulder, her hair brushing his neck. Her breaths were slow and steady, though her hands clung to his arm as if she were afraid he might pull away.
"Colder than I thought," James murmured, his tone light, though his hold on her tightened instinctively.
She let out a soft laugh, barely more than a whisper. "It's warmer like this."
"Yeah," he agreed, resting his chin lightly on the top of her head. "Much warmer."
For a while, they lay there in silence, the tension from earlier gradually melting away. The warmth of their shared space, their steady breaths, and the closeness of their bodies all worked to soothe the lingering embarrassment and frustrations of the evening.
"I'm sorry," Ofelia murmured again, her voice muffled against James's shoulder.
"For what?" James asked softly, his hand gently brushing against her back.
"For… everything," she said hesitantly. "For not telling you about the alchemist, for the awkwardness at dinner, for… for being a burden."
James stilled, his brows furrowing. He pulled back slightly, tilting her chin up so their eyes met. Her emerald gaze shimmered with vulnerability.
"Feli," he said firmly but gently, "you are not a burden. You saved my life. You've been stronger than anyone could ask for. None of this is your fault—none of it. If anyone should apologize, it's me… for not seeing how much you've been carrying."
She blinked, her eyes widening slightly, before a soft smile tugged at her lips. "Thank you," she whispered shyly, her voice filled with warmth.
James smiled back and leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. He lingered for just a moment before pulling away, only to see her looking up at him with a curious, amused expression. She let out a small, sweet laugh, the sound so light and genuine it made his chest ache.
"You really are kind," she said snuggling against him, her tone playful but sincere.
Before James could respond, she leaned up and kissed him softly on the lips. He froze for a split second, startled by the tenderness of the gesture. Then, as if something clicked between them, he kissed her back.
The kiss was slow at first, hesitant and exploring, but it deepened quickly. Ofelia's hands slid up to rest on his shoulders, her fingers gripping lightly as she pressed closer. James's arms instinctively wrapped around her, pulling her flush against him as their lips moved in perfect rhythm.
Her laugh earlier replayed in his mind, a sound so pure and carefree that it made him want to protect the moment forever. He poured that thought into the kiss, his hand sliding up to cradle the back of her head. She responded with equal fervor, her own shyness melting away in the heat of their shared passion.
As the kiss grew more intense, their breaths mingled, the rest of the world falling away. The awkwardness of the inn, the whispers and laughter—they no longer mattered. In that moment, it was just the two of them, their hearts beating in sync as they shared something unspoken yet deeply understood.
James pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers as they caught their breath. Ofelia's cheeks were flushed, her emerald eyes half-lidded as she gazed at him. She smiled softly, her hands still resting on his shoulders.
"You're full of surprises," James murmured, his voice low and warm.
"You kissed me first," she teased, her tone light and playful.
"And you made it better," he replied with a small grin.
Her laugh bubbled up again, and she leaned in to press another quick kiss to his lips. "Goodnight, James," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth and affection.
"Goodnight, Feli," he replied, pulling her close again as they settled under the covers, their bodies pressed together in comforting warmth. For the first time in what felt like ages, James fell asleep with a sense of peace, knowing they were building something real—something that could weather the whispers and laughter of the world around them.