Vol.1 Ch.50 A Heart to Heart.


    Rya shook her head as she heard the pouting Wolfkin from behind her. Once she reached the corner of the hallway, Rya could hear Dalia rushing to catch up to her.


    "Hey! Wait up Alpha!"


    The dark elf then turned to see the wolfkin running out of the room to catch up to her.


    <span ss="editText">''Oh thank, God... She''s wearing clothes... But why is she worried? She''s acting like I''m going to leave her behind or something.'' Rya thought<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">to herself as she looked at Dalia.


    "I''m not leaving you behind, Dalia. I just want to meet up with Quin and see when we''re departing?"


    Dalia smiled and nodded when she walked alongside Rya. "I understand, Alpha. Don''t worry about me. But I couldn''t help but notice that you seemed... Angry? Mad? Was there something that happened?"


    <span ss="editText">''Huh? She notice that? I thought she was so smug about having sex with Percy to<span ss="aiText">notice that I<span ss="editText"> was<span ss="aiText"> angry.<span ss="editText">.. Damn, Dalia''s sharper<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> than she looks... Not only is she a good fighter but she''s smart as well.'' Rya thought as the two continued their walk through the hallways.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Haah! Yeah, I had a visit from the Goddesses that brought me to Tertius. And let''s just say that they''re on my shit list right now." Rya said with a frown.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dalia tilted her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "What did they do?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">"I don''t want to talk about it. Let''s just say that I''m not a fan of their methods." Rya said with a grimace.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dalia furrowed her brow. "Fine but I''m curious. So, tell me if you need to talk."


    "Thanks, Dalia. I''m d I saved you. You''re turning into someone I can rely on," Rya said with a smile.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dalia smiled back and nodded. "Me too. So, do you know where Beta is?"


    Rya stopped walking down the hall because she realized she had no clue where she was going. As she looked around, Rya noticed a few of the servants staring at them with a concerned look in their eyes. Or was it fear? It seems most of the humans wanted to keep their distance from the Dark Elf and Wolfkin.


    <span ss="userText">''Damn...<span ss="aiText"> It feels awkward walking around with people avoiding me like this...'' Rya thought to herself as she stood motionless.


    <span ss="editText">Rya noticed Dalia look<span ss="editText">ing at the servants a<span ss="editText">s well but she had<span ss="aiText"> a grin on her face<span ss="editText">. I<span ss="undoDeletionText">t<span ss="aiText"> was li<span ss="editText">ke she enjoyed<span ss="aiText"> the fearful stares she was receiving.


    <span ss="aiText">''That''s strange... Does she get a kick out of this or something?... She seems happy but, I can''t figure out why.<span ss="editText">''


    <span ss="editText">"Why are you grinning<span ss="aiText"> like an idiot, Dalia?" Rya asked curiously.


    <span ss="aiText">"Well, I can''t help it, Alpha. It''s not every day you get <span ss="editText">the respect of everyone<span ss="aiText"> around you," Dalia answered proudly.


    <span ss="aiText">"Hmph! Respect!? I don''t know about you, Dalia, but these people are terrified of us," Rya retorted while rolling her eyes.


    <span ss="userText">"Isn''t that the same thing?" Dalia asked as she tilted her head<span ss="aiText"> to the side.


    "Uhh... No, it''s not the same. There''s a huge difference between respect and fear. But I have no clue where I am going... I guess I''ll ask one of them for directions," Rya replied while pointing toward the servant who flinched when the dark elf zeroed in on her.


    The rest of the servants in the hallway quickly got out of there before the dark elfdecided to ask any of them for directions. That only left the servant woman in a pink dress and an apron whom Rya pointed at.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">"Alright, go ahead, Alpha. I''m sure they''ll be more than happy to help," Dalia replied as she smiled again.


    <span ss="userText">Rya sighed<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> and walked towards the servant, "Hey... Sorry to bother you, but do you know where Prince Quinus is?"


    <span ss="userText">The servant woman was surprised when the dark elf approached her. She tried to keep a brave face but when Rya finished her question<span ss="aiText">, the servant''s courage faltered and <span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">he<span ss="editText"> ran away in fright<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">"Goddess save me!"<span ss="aiText"> the servant cried out as she ran.


    <span ss="userText">Rya was dumbfounded as she watched the serv<span ss="editText">a<span ss="userText">nt clumsily<span ss="aiText"> run away, <span ss="editText">b<span ss="aiText">um<span ss="editText">ping<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> into things along the way.


    "I think we scared her?... Should I go after her and bring her back?" Dalia asks Rya.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya shakes her head. "No, it''s not worth it... Hey Dalia, can you find Quin''s scent?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dalia nodded then closed her eyes. The wolfkin started sniffing the air as she tried to pick up the faint traces of the prince.


    <span style="font-weight:400">After a few minutes, Dalia opened her eyes and then turned to Rya. "Picked up his scent. He''s this way, follow me," Dalia says with a smile.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya smiled. "Thanks, Dalia. I owe you one."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dalia nodded and then closed her eyes again while sniffing the air. The wolfkin started walking down the hallway with Rya following behind her.


    ***


    It took several minutes for the two women to reach the living room where Quinus was with Sir George.


    <span ss="editText">When the two women enter the room Quinus and Sir George both turn to look at Rya and Dalia with a surprised look. They thought the twodies would have wanted to sleep in after their long travel<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Well, you''re up early? How was your sleep?" Quinus asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya grunted and then rubbed her temples. "It could have been better."


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Did someone bother you? Is that why you''re here so early?" Sir George asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya shook her head. "No, I just had some bad dreams. I feel like I''ve been having nightmares every single night. It''s getting really annoying."


    <span ss="editText">Quinus frowns and he wraps an arm around her shoulder. "Are you okay?" He whispered<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> in her ear.


    <span ss="editText">''MMmmh? Q-Quin? Agh... I-I know I have the body of a woman. But I''m still a man. I need to get some distance from him?'' Rya thought to herself as she summoned her willpower<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">.


    <span ss="aiText">Rya backed up and shook her head. "Thanks for worrying about me, Quin. But, I''m fine, really.<span ss="editText"> Just a little tired. Thest few days have been pretty rough," she lied.


    Quinus <span ss="editText">has s<span ss="editText">ome worry written in his eyes but doesn''t question her and gives Rya he<span ss="editText">r s<span ss="editText">pace. The dark elf noticed his troubled look and it made her heart sink<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">. She didn''t mean to hurt him, but she needed time to clear her head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">''Why did I look into his eyes!? He''s like a sad puppy! I can''t act like an ungrateful bitch to him.'' Rya thought to herself.


    "Quin, I need to tell you something in private... If you''re free that is?" Rya asked while looking down and to the side. She was not trying to make eye contact.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Huh? Ah! Yes! We can chat over here. Sir George, Lady Dalia, would you two mind waiting outside for a moment?" Quinus asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sir George nodded and left the room with Dalia.


    ''God! Okay, you can''t tell him everything. Just tell him enough to know that this is not his fault and I still want him around. BUT NOT IN THAT WAY! He''s just a very good friend. One of the few I can trust... A friend who''s amazing at using his tongue on my~'' Rya shakes her head fiercely to try and stop these strange thoughts of Quinus going down on her from entering her head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"R-Rya? Are you okay?" Quinus asked worriedly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya put her hands over her face. "I don''t know anymore!?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Hey, hey. Come over here and sit down." Quinus said and then pulled her over to a couch.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"I''m sorry Quin. If I tell you something, will you keep it a secret?" Rya asked while sitting next to him.


    Quinus looks at her with a questioning look but nods his head.


    "No matter how much it hurts, I''ll keep it a secret... I promise," Quinus tells her while cing his hand atop her head.


    Rya could feel her whole body rx when she felt his warm touch on her scalp.


    ''NO! MY KRYPTONITE!'' Rya screams in her mind but knows there''s no stopping the inevitable but she must resist even though she doesn''t want to.


    "Q-Quin. T-These bad dreams? These nightmares I''ve been having, are caused by my Goddesses," Rya struggles to speak with the mighty hand that soothes her soul.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Quinus frowns as he takes his hand off her head. "What do you mean?"


    <span ss="editText">Rya was relieved<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> that Quinus removed his hand but also felt the urge to scream ''MORE PLEASE!''.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Ugh! They''re teasing and tormenting me. And I don''t know if what I''m bing is something of my choosing or theirs," Rya says to him nervously.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Quinus looks at her with an understanding look. "So, you need to find yourself?"


    <span ss="editText">"Y-Yes! I need some time to figure out my new path in life before I can trust myself," Rya says and starts to panic<span ss="aiText"> when she realizes what she just said.<span ss="editText"> The possibility of not returning to Earth was al<span ss="aiText">wa<span ss="editText">y<span ss="aiText">s <span ss="editText">in the back of her mind, but once she<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> said those words, it became more real.


    The prince looks at her with a sad gaze before asking, "So, you need to depart from us? That''s why you''re dressed in your adventure clothing instead of a fine dress?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">"NO! No no! I''m not leaving you guys. No." Rya quickly says and shakes her head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Quinus smiles at her and then ces his hand on hers. "So, you''re not leaving us? Then take all the time you need, Rya."


    <span ss="editText">The dark elf was surprised that<span ss="aiText"> Quinus <span ss="editText">w<span ss="aiText">as<span ss="editText"> going to give her the space she needed. He was so close to her that she didn''t think he would<span ss="aiText"> understand, but she was wrong.


    <span ss="aiText">"You''re not upset with me, Quin?" Rya asks hesitantly.


    <span ss="aiText">"I''m not going to hold you hostage, Rya. You have your own dreams and desires, I understand that. And <span ss="editText">I''m here to help... I''m fond of<span ss="aiText"> you<span ss="editText"> a<span ss="aiText">nd I<span ss="editText"> don''t wish to see you leave<span ss="aiText">, but I won''t force you to stay," Quinus says<span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> softly.


    Whatever fear or worry Rya had started melting away with those words. She was beginning to feel at peace with Quin by her side. She thought it was true friendship and nothing more, but deep down inside she had a small me growing for him, that she was unaware of.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Thank you, Quin. This means a lot to me." Rya says and blushes.


    <span ss="editText">"It''s nothing Rya. Let''s get some breakfast before we depart for Ironside." Quinus said and offered a hand to help her up. She looked at his strong hand and <span ss="userText">hesitated at first.


    <span ss="userText">''Fine. Just this once.'' Rya thinks to herself. She grabs his hand and gets up<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> bef<span ss="userText">ore <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">they leave the room.