Vol.3 Ch.201 You Can Use Green Word!?


    Rya and Quinus left the room and headed towards the tavern. As they were walking Rya made sure her Seer Stone was safely nestled in between her breasts. When they arrived, they found most of the party, waiting for their arrival.


    "There you two are. I was wondering if we would have to send a search party for you," Percy teased with a mouth full of food. Dalia wasn''t that much better as the wolfkin was inhaling her meal.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Were you nning on saving some food for us?" Quinus asked with a hint<span ss="aiText"> of sarcasm.


    <span ss="aiText">"Nope, sorry," Percy said, swallowing.


    "Percy? You know you''re a human and not a beastkin, right," Rya joked, sitting down.


    <span ss="aiText">Quinus sat down next to her and they both started eating.


    "Hey, don''t me me. My mate is very passionate in our private time. And we burn off a lot of energy at night," he winked at Dalia while taking a sip of water from his cup.


    <span ss="aiText">Dalia blushed, and she turned her head to look at him, "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    <span ss="aiText">"Nothing," Percy grinned.


    <span ss="aiText">"Uh huh," Dalia grumbled before she continued to eat.


    Rya had to ask, "So Dalia... Did you fail to get the jump on him? You seem poutier than normal."


    <span ss="userText">Dalia put down the piece of meat<span ss="aiText"> she was about to bite into and s<span ss="editText">ighed before<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> speaking.


    "Haah... I thought I had him this time but it turns out he let me jump him in bed! It doesn''t count if he just lets me win!" she exined, still feeling a little salty about her failure.


    <span ss="aiText">"Aww, <span ss="userText">but that''s so sweet of him<span ss="aiText">," Rya cooed.


    "Yes, it is," Percy grinned, kissing Dalia on her cheek.


    "Pff!... Some ''alpha mate'' I turned out to be. I have to have my mate give up his victory just to feel like a winner," she pouted, taking a swig of water.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh, lighten up. Besides, <span ss="userText">you were so happy when you had the jump on me. That smile alone<span ss="aiText"> was worth getting jumped on," Percy <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">assured her<span ss="aiText">, making the wolfkin blush again.


    "I suppose you are right... B-But I can''t get soft! I need to be better," she muttered before stuffing her face again to hide her embarrassment.


    Rya and Quinus just looked at each other and shook their heads. While six of the Royal Knights were impressed by how much food Dalia could pack away in one sitting.


    <span ss="aiText">"Are all wolfkins like this?" Sir <span ss="editText">Bart <span ss="aiText">asked <span ss="editText">Sir Richard<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Pretty much. Wolfkin<span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText"> are verypetitive by nature. They''re always trying to get better at everything.<span ss="userText"> That''s why vers are always trying to capture them for the battle arenas<span ss="aiText">. They have a natural desire to fight and win," he replied.


    <span ss="userText">"Does that make it right to enve them?" Rya asked Sir Richard pointedly<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"No, not at all. But it''s something you have to understand. They want to fight and will do anything to do so. They have a strong survival instinct and a drive to be stronger<span ss="userText">," Sir Richard tried to defend himself. As Rya slowly nced over to Dalia who was sumbing to Percy''s head pats<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="editText">Sir Richard grimaced when he followed <span ss="editText">Rya''s gaze and saw the mighty wolfkin<span ss="aiText"> melting in the hands of the young <span ss="editText">rang<span ss="aiText">er.


    <span ss="aiText">"I... I didn''t mean...<span ss="editText"> That... is an exception!<span ss="aiText">" he stuttered, realizing that the wolfkin next to <span ss="editText">them<span ss="aiText"> was <span ss="editText">proving <span ss="userText">his point<span ss="aiText"> wrong.


    <span ss="aiText">"Sure it is," Rya rolled her eyes.


    <span ss="aiText">Quinus couldn''t help but chuckle a little, earning a re from Sir Richard.


    <span ss="aiText">"Sorry<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">... But it was funny<span ss="aiText">," Quinus apologized.


    <span ss="aiText">"I don''t understand what''s so funny.<span ss="userText"> The fact of the matter is this. Lady Dalia is a special case. Most wolfkins are ves. So, they fight for the entertainment of the crowds.<span ss="aiText"> That''s how they get stronger," Sir Richard tried to exin.


    "<span ss="editText">She''s not an exception, Sir Richard. She is simply a woman who''s a little for<span ss="editText">war<span ss="editText">d due to her upbringing.<span ss="aiText"> But that doesn''t mean she''s incapable of <span ss="editText">being civil<span ss="aiText"> or showing kindness," Rya argued.


    <span ss="editText">Sir Richard wanted to argue but he then heard Dalia purring as Percy<span ss="aiText"> scratched behind her ears.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">I suppose I was a little too<span ss="aiText"> hasty with my opinion. Forgive me, Lady Rya. I was mistaken<span ss="editText">," he admitted, not wanting to continue<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> this conversation any further.


    <span ss="userText">Rya smiled triumphantly at<span ss="aiText"> him and then turned <span ss="userText">to her meal. The food looked like a shepherd''s pie<span ss="aiText"> with some bread and a side sd.


    <span ss="editText">"Mmm. Looks delicious," Rya said, grabbing a fork and knife. Her stomach was rumbling more than normal<span ss="aiText"> this morning and she needed to fill it with food.


    ''Gawd... This is embarrassing. I''m hungry all the time now. Maybe having all this sex with Quinus is making me burn more calories?... But my corsets seem to be getting a little tighter over this past week. Gah! I just wish the cravings would go away! Why doesn''t this world have ice cream... Maybe I cane up with a way to make some,'' she thought to herself while taking a bite of the pie that tasted simr to a beef casserole.


    <span ss="aiText">"This is delicious," shemented after chewing and swallowing.


    <span ss="aiText">"Ye<span ss="editText">ah... It''s hitting the spot,"<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> Quinus agreed.


    The party continued to eat their meals and talked among themselves. Rya noticed Nieren sitting at the far end of the twenty-person table with her head down.


    ''Jesus! Did she not get any sleep, again? And there''s no food on her te either... She must have stayed awake all night. She needs to start taking better care of herself,'' Rya thought while shaking her head after witnessing her friend''s poor condition.


    <span ss="userText">Yuliana came from her room and into the tavern with a pot of tea in her hands. The green-haired elf could only shake her head at her daughter''s<span ss="aiText"> state.


    <span ss="aiText">"Good morning," she greeted the table.


    <span ss="aiText">"Morning Yuliana," Rya greeted.


    <span ss="aiText">"Hello, Miss Yuliana," Quinus added.


    <span ss="aiText">"Good morning," the group said, acknowledging her presence.


    <span ss="userText">"Mmmm..." Nieren<span ss="aiText"> grumbled.


    <span ss="aiText">Yuliana poured everyone some tea and sat down. She grabbed a piece of bread and butter<span ss="editText">ed<span ss="aiText"> it. She then began eating her food.


    <span ss="aiText">"How are you today, Lady Rya?" Yuliana asked politely.


    <span ss="aiText">"I''m doing well. And yourself?"


    <span ss="aiText">"I am feeling quite well today, thank you," she replied, smiling.


    <span ss="aiText">"Good to hear," Rya smiled back<span ss="userText"> before looking at Nieren''s sorry state. "Is Nieren going to be okay?<span ss="aiText"> She looks dead on her feet," Rya asked Yuliana.


    "I don''t know. She refuses to use the earplugs I gave her and now she has a horrible headache. She probably needs to use a potion to help rid it," Yuliana sighed.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Well? I can help if that''s alright,"<span ss="aiText"> Rya offered.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh? <span ss="userText">That''s kind of you, My Lady. But if you keeping to her rescue then I fear she will never<span ss="aiText"> learn," Yuliana admitted.


    "Maybe... But I can''t help but feel sorry for her," Rya said while taking a sip of her tea.


    <span ss="editText">"Naugh! I''m fine!" Nieren snapped her head up and yelled out before her <span ss="userText">fatigue<span ss="aiText"> caught up to her and mmed her head into <span ss="editText">the table with a loud<span ss="aiText"> ''thud''.


    <span ss="aiText">Everyone stared at her in silence. Yuliana couldn''t help but cringe<span ss="editText"> at<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> the sound of her daughter''s skull colliding with the wood.


    <span ss="aiText">"See? That''s exactly what I mean," Yuliana sighed.


    <span ss="aiText">Everyone stared at the young wood elf and shook their heads.


    <span ss="editText">Nieren startled herself awake and sat up in her <span ss="editText">chair. Her body posture was stiff and rigid, and she had a scowl on her face. Plus the bump<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> on her forehead was painfully red.


    "<span ss="editText">Ugh... Why does it have to be so noisy today?" Nieren mumbled while rubbing her head.


    <span ss="editText">"Because we are in a tavern," Rya sighed, shaking her head.


    <span ss="editText">"I-I''m fine. You''re all just paranoid," she muttered, waving her hand dismissively.


    <span ss="aiText">"No. You are not," Yuliana chastised.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes<span ss="userText">, I am, mother... And I''ll be better once you bring me some tea," Nieren said while trying<span ss="aiText"> to look dignified.


    "Nieren? Your mother already poured you a cup of tea. It''s in front of you," Rya said with concern in her voice.


    <span ss="editText">"Huh? What? OH! Yes! T-Thanks!" she stammered, as she noticed the steaming cup of tea on the table in front of her. It was right next to a potted nt in the center of the table. Nieren weakly reached out <span ss="editText">for <span ss="editText">the<span ss="editText"> cup of tea, but she identally grabbed the potted nt instead. And thanks to her sorry<span ss="aiText"> state, she mistakenly channeled her mana into the nt.


    <span ss="userText">The nt started to grow before everyone''s eyes. Yuliana did a double take when she saw a beautiful red flower bloom. She nearly dropped her cup of tea when she realized what her daughter was doing. All these decades of her daughter failing to use the "Green Word" tomunicate with nts made her fear that she was a failure of a mother and a wood elf. But now that Nieren was able to use the green word<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">, her hopes were renewed.


    <span ss="aiText">''That was a flower of love and passion... Could it be? Has she found someone?<span ss="editText"> Wait! That''s not<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> what matters right now. What matters is that she has finally learned how to speak with the nts. I can''t let her ruin this chance,'' Yuliana thought excitedly to herself.


    <span ss="aiText">"Nieren! You''re using the green word!" she shouted happily.


    <span ss="aiText">"Huh? Wah!" Nieren gasped and <span ss="userText">looked around in a haggard state. That was when she noticed that<span ss="aiText"> she was holding a potted nt. She let it go and itnded on the table with a thud.


    <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">Nieren blinked her eyes rapidly before she realized her mistake.


    "I... I-It''s your imagination, Mom!" Nieren panicked and then she grabbed her tea and started drinking it while acting like she didn''t do anything. "Mmmmh... The tea is good! Thanks, Mom! Ha ha! I feel better than ever!"


    <span ss="editText">Yuliana didn''t care that her daughter tried to hide her talent. She had the starry-eyed look of a proud mother and<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> it made Nieren nervous.


    <span ss="userText">"I prayed to the spirits for<span ss="aiText"> this day!" she cried out.


    <span ss="editText">"W-Wait! M-Mother!?" Nieren stuttered as she knew what her<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> mother was going to do.


    <span ss="aiText">"This calls for a celebration!" Yuliana eximed and jumped up and <span ss="editText">hugged <span ss="aiText">her daughter<span ss="editText">. <span ss="editText">P<span ss="aiText">ull<span ss="userText">ing her head tightly<span ss="aiText"> against herrge chest.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">Nieren was panicking on the inside but she couldn''t do anything to stop her mother.


    <span ss="editText">"Mom... Your boobs are crushing my head! And you''re just seeing things," Nieren said as her mother''s chest muffled her voice<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">"What was that, sweetie?" Yuliana asked,<span ss="aiText"> rubbing the top of her daughter''s head.


    <span ss="editText">The wood elf mother wasn''<span ss="aiText">t letting her daughter go<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText"> no matter how much she squirmed.


    <span ss="aiText">"Mother! I-I said-"<span ss="userText"> Nieren<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> stopped mid-sentence when she felt her mother''s grip on her tighten.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">"Mmmph!? Mmmf! Mm!" Nieren squeaked, trying to break free.


    <span ss="userText">Rya shook her head at Nieren''s weak attempts at denying facts. The cat was out of the bag and Nieren needed to<span ss="aiText"> ept that<span ss="editText"> her mother<span ss="userText"> now<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> knew her secret.


    ''Jeez!... <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">Poor Nieren... She''s trying so hard to deny the truth, but if she doesn''t admit that she''s a green word user to her mother. Then I''ll tell Yuliana myself. She deserves to know the truth. And maybe Yuliana will stop ming herself for being a bad parent,'' Rya thought.


    After a few minutes, Nieren finally escaped her mother''s vice-like grip.


    "Gah!... Mother! I told you that it was a fluke," Nieren tried to argue.


    <span ss="aiText">"No, it''s not, dear. You''ve used the green word, I saw it with my own eyes," Yuliana said, smiling at her.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Mom! I am telling you that I''m—"


    <span ss="userText">"Nieren!... The secret is out. If you won''t tell her then I will<span ss="aiText">," Rya cut her off.


    Nieren''s face became redder with embarrassment.


    "T-There is no secret! Don''t listen to her mom!" she tried to deny.


    <span ss="userText">Yuliana looked at<span ss="aiText"> Rya, then back at her daughter, and raised an eyebrow at her.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">What<span ss="aiText"> are you two talking about? What is going on?" Yuliana demanded.


    <span ss="aiText">"Rya! Please, don''t do this! You promised not to tell her," Nieren begged.


    "And I wouldn''t if you didn''t just use the green word in front of everyone," Rya scolded her.


    <span ss="aiText">"Nieren? You''ve been able to use the green word all this time?" Yuliana asked with shock in her voice.


    "NO! Rya, don''t please!"


    <span ss="userText">"Yuliana... Nieren''s mana vein had some seals or curses ced on it. I was able to heal it. That''s when I saw her mage veinsing back to life<span ss="aiText">. She had the ability to use the green word. But she couldn''t ess it<span ss="editText"> until I fixed them<span ss="aiText">," Rya said, taking pity on the poor girl.


    <span ss="aiText">Yuliana <span ss="userText">looked at Rya as her savior<span ss="aiText"> and her eyes filled with tears. She <span ss="editText">began to <span ss="aiText">hug her <span ss="editText">daughter again, but it was even <span ss="aiText">tight<span ss="userText">er as Nieren''s head almost disappeared into her mother''s chest.


    <span ss="aiText">"Thank you! Thank you so much, Rya. I didn''t know. I had no idea. Thank you for helping my daughter," Yuliana cried<span ss="userText"> while swinging<span ss="aiText"> back and forth <span ss="editText">while<span ss="aiText"> hug<span ss="userText">ging<span ss="aiText"> her daughter.


    "Mom... I can''t breathe... And you''re embarrassing me," Nieren said with a muffled voice.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh, sorry," she said, letting her go<span ss="userText">, "Now you can stop ying the adventurer and be a proper Wood Elf Princess<span ss="aiText">!"


    <span ss="aiText">Nieren was mortified, and she wanted to die at that moment. She just couldn''t deal with the embarrassment.


    <span ss="aiText">"Ugh..." Nieren groaned.


    <span ss="userText">Everyone at the table was feeling the secondhand embarrassment from Nieren, with the exception of Dalia, who was enjoying Nieren''s<span ss="aiText"> suffering.


    <span ss="editText">"Y-Yuliana? You do know that Nieren''s my retainer. And she needs to maintain her fighting skills, right?" Rya stuttered whileing up<span ss="aiText"> with an excuse<span ss="editText"> to help her friend<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">.


    <span ss="editText">Yuliana blinked and realized that Rya was right. Her daughter vowed to be her retainer and<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> serve as her sword and shield. And Yuliana knew her daughter was serious when she said those words.


    "Oh<span ss="editText">... I suppose you''re right... But can''t you dismiss her from that duty? I''m fine if she continues being yourdy-in-waiting, but she''s a princess and<span ss="aiText"> should be learning about diplomacy and other important skills<span ss="editText">. Not some adventurer<span ss="aiText"> that runs around inbyrinths," Yuliana asked, not wanting to give up her dream<span ss="editText"> of rebuilding the Wood Elf Kingdom for her daughter<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Mother! You can''t ask her to do that," Nieren argued, but Rya had another idea.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I would have agreed to that, Yuliana... But you see, Nieren is also a light mage. And it wouldn''t be right<span ss="aiText"> if I took her away from her calling," Rya <span ss="userText">stated.


    <span ss="aiText">"She is<span ss="editText"> a light mage<span ss="aiText">?!" Yuliana eximed.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, she is," Rya nodded.


    Yuliana looked at her daughter in shock, ''She has her father''s gift of being a light mage!? But he said it would be impossible for her to gain it! He said that only full-blooded High Elves were capable of using the "white word"... Could it be that he lied to me about this as well?... N-No... He wouldn''t.''


    "A light mage and a green word user? How can she be both?" she asked.


    "What do you mean?... She''s half-high elf, right?" Rya asked.


    "But full-breeds are the only ones that can use light magic. So how is my daughter able to use it? How do you know she''s a light mage?" Yuliana asked.


    Rya looked at her with a perplexed look, "Well, that''s not the case because I''ve seen her mage veins and she has two of them. It seems like it''s another lie from the High Elves, Yuliana."


    The older wood elf sighed as her old habit of believing everything from the High Elves resurfaced. It was second nature for her to believe them after four hundred years. But after everything Rya has done for her and her daughter, she knew she shouldn''t have doubted her.


    <span ss="aiText">"That''s true. I''m sorry. But please forgive my stupidity, Rya," she apologized.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Hey, it happens to the best of us<span ss="aiText">. I''m not offended. Just remember that you can trust me. I would never lie to you," Rya said<span ss="userText"> before returning to eating her meal.


    <span ss="userText">Yuliana felt a sense of<span ss="aiText"> warmth fill<span ss="editText">ing<span ss="aiText"> her heart.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes. I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have doubted you," Yuliana apologized again.


    <span ss="aiText">"You are forgiven," Rya smiled at her.


    <span ss="editText">Nieren seemed to rx when her mother<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> finally let her go and stopped smothering her. That was until her mother chimed in again, "Oh! I need to get some pots for the seedlings! There''s so much catching up to do, Nieren. You wait here and I''ll be back," Yuliana said, getting up and hurrying out of the tavern.


    <span ss="aiText">"Mom! No, don''t<span ss="userText">! I don''t need to learn..."


    <span ss="editText">*SLAM!*


    <span ss="userText">Goes the door<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> as her mother went out to get some supplies.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">"Urk!" Nieren groaned and sat down with her head in her hands.


    "Aaand she''s gone! Ha ha! Woody''s going to be a nter," Dalia teased,ughing at the blonde wood elf.


    <span ss="aiText">"Shut it, mutt! Or I''ll put a muzzle on you!" Nieren growled at the demi-human.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh<span ss="userText">! How scary! Flowers are way more dangerous than that bow of<span ss="aiText"> yours," Daliaughed harder.


    <span ss="aiText">Nieren clenched her teeth. Then a smirk formed on her lips, "<span ss="userText">Yeah, I wonder how many flowers I can put in your hair<span ss="aiText"> before you start looking like a <span ss="userText">cute defenseless maiden, waiting to give birth<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="userText">Dalia stoppedughing and looked at Nieren. Her eyes went wide.


    <span ss="userText">"You wouldn''t dare!"


    <span ss="userText">"Try me!" Nieren growled.


    <span ss="userText">Dalia hid behind Percy, " Gamma! Keep her flowers away from<span ss="aiText"> me!"


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">She''s just bluffing<span ss="aiText">. Nieren wouldn''t do that," Percy said.


    <span ss="aiText">"You''re not helping, Percy," Rya groaned.


    <span ss="editText">"Huh? How am I not helping? Nieren has never done anything to harm her before," Percy stated what he thought was<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> a fact.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">Rya and Quinus just gave him a look of disbelief.


    <span ss="userText">Nieren grabbed the flower pot and channeled her mana into it as more flowers began to bloom<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="editText">"W-What is going on?!" Percy<span ss="aiText"> gasped as the nt continued to grow<span ss="editText"> many flowers. Nieren had a sinister grin on<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> her face as she held the pot in her hand.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh, Percy. You just sealed Dalia''s fate," Rya chuckled.


    <span ss="editText">"W-What did I do?<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> Nieren is just bluffing... right?" he stuttered, turning to the blonde wood elf.


    <span ss="aiText">"D-Don''tugh, Alpha! H-Help me!"<span ss="userText"> Dalia panicked as Nieren pulled out over three dozen red flowers<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Heh heh. It''s payback time, puppy," Nieren chuckled darkly.


    <span ss="aiText">Dalia squealed and ran out of the room. Nieren chased after her,ughing maniacally.


    <span ss="userText">"You''re not so tough now, wolf<span ss="aiText">y! Take your punishment!"


    <span ss="aiText">"NO!"


    <span ss="editText">Rya<span ss="aiText">ughed at their antics.<span ss="userText"> While the Royal Knights were stunned by how the other races acted. It went against all the stereotypes<span ss="aiText"> they''<span ss="editText">d<span ss="aiText"> heard about other races.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">S-Sir Richard? I thought you said Wolfkins are verypetitive by nature?... Are you sure<span ss="aiText"> we have the correct species?" Sir <span ss="editText">Bart<span ss="aiText"> asked.


    "Of course, I am! I''ve studied all the known species of demi-humans in our world," Sir Richard huffed.


    <span ss="aiText">"Well, <span ss="userText">maybe the studies are wrong? Because she seems to act almost like another human. Maybe a little more of a free<span ss="aiText"> spirit," Sir Bart questioned.


    <span ss="aiText">"I would have to agree with Sir Bart. The demi-human has shown no signs of aggression, except <span ss="userText">if she''s provoked. But you could say that about<span ss="aiText"> humans as well," Sir <span ss="editText">James<span ss="aiText"> added.


    <span ss="aiText">"I''m telling you that Wolfkins are the most aggressive out of the known species of demi-humans. We''ve fought them on several asions, and their ferocity in battle is something to behold," Sir Richard insisted.


    <span ss="userText">"That''s only if you are their enemy," Percy<span ss="aiText"> interjected.


    <span ss="aiText">"And what do you know, boy?" Sir Richard growled.


    <span ss="aiText">"More than you do, sir. She''s <span ss="userText">my mate<span ss="aiText"> and I would appreciate it if you don''t talk about her like that," Percy warned him.


    <span ss="aiText">"So, she''s your mate. I''m not impressed. You have no idea how hard it is to control the beast that''s inside of her kind. You will see soon enough that you''re in over your head," Sir Richard warned.


    <span ss="userText">With that, Dalia burst into the room and jumped into Percy''s arms with red flowers in her ck hair. It made her look so adorable but<span ss="aiText"> deadly at the same time.


    <span ss="aiText">"D-Dalia, are you okay?"


    <span ss="aiText">"No... She almost got me. She was going to put these in my ears, so I ran here to hide," she said, clinging to him.


    "You''re doing a bad job at hiding, dog!" Nieren shouted as she came into the room with more flowers in her hand.


    <span ss="userText">"Eep!" Dalia clung<span ss="aiText"> harder onto Percy when she saw the wood elf zeroing in on her.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">L-Lady Nieren! Please stop! Dalia is sorry for<span ss="aiText"> teasing you," Percy pleaded.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh, I''ll stop. But <span ss="userText">if you try and tease me again. I''ll make sure to put flowers in your tail, Dalia<span ss="aiText">," Nieren grinned.


    "W-What?! You wouldn''t dare," Dalia said while peeking out from behind Percy''s shoulder. Her tail was wagging yfully.


    <span ss="userText">''D-Does Dalia enjoy being chased? Huh... That''s cute.'' Rya thought as she witnessed the two of them.


    <span ss="aiText">"Do you want to find out?" Nieren grinned evilly.


    Dalia shook her head no while whimpering, even though her tail wagged harder than before.


    <span ss="aiText">"Then let that be a lesson to you, pup. I always win," Nieren said<span ss="editText"> while<span ss="aiText"> walking back to her seat.


    <span ss="aiText">Dalia''s ears drooped and her tail slowed down, "You''re no fun," she muttered.


    <span ss="userText">Percy just smirked<span ss="aiText"> and patted her head, "Well, <span ss="editText">you could ask her to chase you, you know<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">She blushed, and leaned into his hand, "Mm-hmm.<span ss="editText"> It''s only fun if<span ss="aiText"> she tries to get me."


    <span ss="aiText">Rya chuckled.


    <span ss="aiText">''I can''t believe Dalia likes to y cat and mouse. She''s so <span ss="userText">weird.'' Rya thought.


    <span ss="userText">Four of the Royal Knights were watching how affectionate Dalia was being to Percy. Then they all turned to look at Richard who was sweating<span ss="aiText"> profusely.


    <span ss="aiText">"Um, Sir Richard? I think the boy has things under control," Sir James chuckled nervously.


    "Y-Yes... A-Apparently," Sir Richard gulped while rubbing the back of his neck.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I kinda want to have a wolfkin as<span ss="aiText"> a <span ss="editText">wife<span ss="aiText">. They are quite lovely, wouldn''t you say, gentlemen?" Sir Bartughed.


    <span ss="aiText">"I can''t agree with you more, Sir Bart. They are quite attractive. If I were single, I would have snatched her up in a heartbeat," Sir James added.


    "So, once we return to the capital, I should tell your wife that you wish to rece her with a wolfkin?" Lady Rachel asked while finishing her meal.


    <span ss="aiText">"Eh... I take it back. <span ss="editText">Bart... Good luck in finding a wolfkin<span ss="aiText">," Sir James quickly replied.


    "I don''t need luck... Percy! Do you know where to find a wolfkin? I would love to give one a try as my woman," Bart shouted out from the other side of the room.


    Percy was surprised that one of the older knights asked him where to find a woman like Dalia.


    "U-Um, I don''t know, sir. Dalia was saved by Lady Rya in thebyrinth. And Lady Rya was the one to convince my love to give me a chance. So, I don''t know how to find a woman who wants to be in a rtionship," Percy answered.


    <span ss="aiText">"Haaa... Well, I''ll find a way. I''ll find a wolfkin woman and tame her. I''ll be a wolf''s alpha male!" Sir Bart proimed.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh!<span ss="userText">? You think you can handle a wolfkin of my caliber, aye? Hehehe! You<span ss="aiText"> can try, but it will end with you being a beta," Dalia taunted the older knight.


    <span ss="aiText">"Ha! We will see about that<span ss="userText">. If I find a wolfkin worth her salt<span ss="aiText">, then you will see mee back a conqueror of the fairer sex," Bart boasted.


    "Hmph! If there''s a free wolfkin without a mate. She will run away from you the first time she picks up your beta scent," Dalia stated.


    <span ss="aiText">"Is that a challenge?"


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, it is.<span ss="userText"> We, females, can smell weakness<span ss="aiText"> and we stay away from those who are weak," Dalia exined.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh!? <span ss="editText">Are you<span ss="aiText"> calling me weak? <span ss="userText">I will find a free wolfkin and she will be so<span ss="aiText"> in love with me that she won''t even remember her past lovers. Then I''ll bring her back and have her show off her devotion to me," Sir Bart countered.


    <span ss="aiText">"Pfft. As if that''s possible. No wolfkin female would ever fall for a human male. Even a warrior, such as yourself," Dalia chuckled.


    <span ss="aiText">"You''re going to eat those words, wolf girl," Sir Bart stated<span ss="userText"> as he got up and left the table.


    Lady Rachel turned to Sir James, "Isn''t she mating a human? Why is she saying that wolfkin females won''t fall in love with a human male if that''s what she''s already done?"


    <span ss="aiText">"I have no idea, Lady Rachel. I was wondering the same thing," Sir James said.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">There you humans go. Overthinking things as usual<span ss="aiText">," Dalia sighed.


    <span ss="aiText">"Overthink things? How are we overthinking this, missy?" Lady Rachel challenged.


    <span ss="aiText">"It''s simple. <span ss="userText">And if I need to exin it then<span ss="aiText"> you humans are too stupid to understand. I''m going to <span ss="editText">get ready to leave<span ss="aiText">," Dalia stated as she got off Percy''sp and walked out of the room.


    <span ss="aiText">"Why you, little!... Come back here!" Lady Rachel demanded.


    <span ss="userText">"What the hell was that?" Sir Richard asked Percy<span ss="aiText">.


    Percy was scratching the back of his head as he didn''t know what to say. So, Rya came to Dalia''s rescue.


    "Well... Dalia realized that she talked herself into a corner and refused to admit that she was wrong. She likes to push the me onto others then she retreats to save face. Or embarrassment. It''s hard to tell when she runs away." Rya answered.


    <span ss="userText">"She lied to us?<span ss="aiText"> She is a coward then," Sir Richard said.


    "She may be clumsy sometimes but she''s a clever one. Plus she''s been through so much with her near-death experience. So give her some ck. She knows that she''s wrong but won''t admit it. So just roll with it please," Rya defended her friend.


    <span ss="aiText">"I can''t believe you''re defending her. She''s a disgrace," Sir Richard huffed.


    Rya, Percy, Nieren, and Quinus red at him, "How dare you," they said in unison.


    <span ss="aiText">"T-That''s not what I meant," Sir Richard tried to defend himself.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Sir Richard... It''s best to know when one is<span ss="aiText"> beaten. And you are losing this fight," Lady Rachel sighed.


    <span ss="aiText">"I can''t help it. All wolfkins are a nuisance. They are all the same," Sir Richard grumbled.


    "And I''m a Dark Elf... So am I a nuisance to you as well, Sir Richard?" Rya questioned him.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Personally, no... But it will cause problems with the nobility. You''ve shown me more than enough<span ss="aiText"> that not all Dark Elves are evil," Sir Richard exined.


    "Good. I was getting tired of proving myself. But you should start treating Dalia better. She may act all tough, but deep down she''s been through a lot. And she''s mydy-in-waiting," Rya stated.


    <span ss="aiText">"Haaa... I''ll do my best, <span ss="editText">my Lady<span ss="aiText">," Sir Richard sighed.


    <span ss="userText">With that everyone in the Tavern finished their meals before heading outside to meet up with the General, Johan, Tayna, and the rest of the party.