First Step in the new World

As James helped Ofelia sit up, after their tender time on the bed, his hazel eyes caught sight of the tip of her ear turning a deep shade of red. It stood out against her soft, flushed skin, and he couldn't help but pause, his lips twitching into a mischievous grin.

Her blush was spreading even further now, her emerald eyes darting away from him as if to avoid his gaze. She was adorable, and the sight of her trying to maintain composure only made her more endearing. I can't resist, he thought, his chest tightening with affection.

Without warning, he leaned in closer, his breath ghosting over her ear. Ofelia froze, her body stiffening as her eyes widened in surprise. "Ja-mes?" she stammered, her voice trembling slightly. "W-what are you doing?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pressed a soft kiss to the tip of her ear, his lips brushing against it so lightly that it sent a shiver coursing through her. Ofelia let out a startled gasp, her hands instinctively clutching at his arms as her body reacted to the unexpected sensation.

"You're blushing so much," James murmured, his voice low and teasing as he kissed her ear again, this time lingering a little longer. "I can't help myself."

"J-James!" Ofelia squeaked, her voice high-pitched as she tried to pull away, but he was relentless. His lips trailed along the edge of her ear, his kisses soft and deliberate, before his tongue flicked out to trace the delicate curve.

The sensation sent a jolt through her, and she shivered uncontrollably, her body pressing closer to him as if seeking stability. "S-stop that," she mumbled weakly, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her. "I-I'm serious…"

"Are you?" James teased, his tone playful but gentle as he kissed the sensitive spot just below her ear. His tongue flicked out again, tracing the shape with deliberate care, while his teeth grazed it ever so lightly. "Because it doesn't sound like you want me to stop."

Ofelia's breath hitched, her entire body trembling as a wave of heat washed over her. The sensitivity of her ears was something she hadn't expected, and the way James was playing with them so tenderly, yet so purposefully, left her completely undone. "I-It's… unfair," she stammered, her voice barely audible as she clung to his arms. "You're not… supposed to—ah!"

Her protest was cut off by another gasp as James took the tip of her ear into his mouth, his tongue swirling around it while he sucked gently. The sensation was overwhelming, sending shivers racing down her spine and making her knees feel weak. She pressed her forehead against his chest, her hands clutching his arms tightly as she tried to steady herself.

James chuckled softly, his breath warm against her ear as he pulled back slightly to speak. "Unfair, huh?" he murmured, his tone filled with amusement. "You're the one who's so sensitive here. How could I resist?"

Ofelia groaned, her blush spreading all the way to her neck as she tried to hide her face against his chest. "Y-you dummy," she muttered, her voice muffled but laced with both exasperation and affection.

James smiled, his hands moving to gently cradle her face as he tilted her head up to look at him. "You're beautiful when you're flustered, you know that?" he said softly, his voice warm and sincere.

Her emerald eyes widened, her breath catching as she stared at him, speechless. The affection in his gaze, the way he looked at her like she was the most important person in the world, made her heart flutter in a way that left her completely disarmed.

And despite her embarrassment, she couldn't help but smile faintly, her fingers relaxing their grip on his arms. "You're… annoying," she whispered, though the softness in her tone betrayed her.

James chuckled, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before leaning back slightly. "Maybe," he said with a grin. "But you don't seem to mind."

Ofelia let out a soft huff, burying her face in her hands. "You're so annoying," she muttered again, though the small smile lingering on her lips said otherwise.

---------

James leaned against the edge of the bed, his damp hair still clinging to his forehead from the second cleanup they had to do. Ofelia sat cross-legged on the mattress, her emerald eyes watching him curiously as he fumbled with the towel around his neck. There was a shift in the air, a calm yet unfamiliar sense of intimacy between them.

He glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Feli," he said, testing the word aloud, letting it linger between them.

Ofelia tilted her head, her expression puzzled but intrigued. "Feli?" she echoed. "What is that?"

"It's you... like a nickname," James explained, his voice soft. "Where I come from, it means 'luck.' And I think it suits you." He met her gaze, his smile deepening. "You've brought me luck, after all."

A flicker of something crossed her face—surprise, warmth, perhaps even gratitude. "Luck," she repeated quietly, as if tasting the word. For a moment, the vulnerability in her eyes made her look younger, almost fragile. "Feli... I think I like that."

"Good," James said, straightening up and tossing the towel onto a chair. "Then it's settled. Feli it is."

The comfortable silence that followed was broken by the faint hum of activity outside. James moved to the small window, pulling the curtain aside to look out. The village streets were bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, the market below bustling as merchants began closing their stalls for the day.

He turned back to Ofelia. "It's getting late. We should head to the market before it gets too quiet. There might still be something worth picking up."

She nodded, already moving to gather the small satchel he had bought for her earlier. "Do you think there'll be more object to auctions soon?" she asked, her voice tentative.

"Possibly," James replied, pulling on his boots. "But let's focus on the basics first. Food, supplies, maybe some more soap this time." He winked, earning a faint smile from her.

As James and Ofelia stepped out of their room, the warm, comforting smell of stewed meat and baked bread wafted through the inn. The familiar sound of Marlin's hearty laughter echoed faintly from the main hall. James led the way down the creaky staircase, nodding politely to a few patrons seated near the fireplace who were waving him, big smile on there face for some reason.

Marlin turned at the sound of their footsteps, his thick arms crossed over his chest. When his eyes landed on James, a look of surprise crossed his weathered face. "Well, look who's up and about!" he exclaimed, his voice booming enough to draw glances. "Thought you'd be bed-bound for at least another day, lad. You looked feverish as a boiled lobster last time I saw ya!"

James rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Guess I just needed some rest," he replied. "Thanks for your concern, though."

Marlin waved a hand dismissively but leaned closer, his expression softening with genuine worry. "You sure you're alright? No lingering fever? No... peculiar side effects?"

James smiled. "I'm fine, really. Just needed some time to recover."

Marlin studied him for a moment longer before his grin returned, mischief sparkling in his eyes. "Well, if you're healthy enough to make all that racket, I'd say you're fine indeed."

James froze, his brain struggling to catch up with Marlin's words. Ofelia stiffened beside him, her cheeks turning an unmistakable shade of red. "W-what do you mean by that?" James stammered, his voice a pitch higher than usual.

Marlin barked out a laugh, slapping a hand on his thigh. "Oh, come now, boy. You can't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about." He leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice just enough to make it worse. "Let's just say the walls aren't as thick as you might hope. You might want to... quiet it down a bit next time you're, uh, enjoying the bedding." He punctuated the statement with a wink so exaggerated it could've been seen from across the room.

Ofelia's hands flew to her face, her entire being radiating mortification. James, on the other hand, felt his soul attempt to leave his body. "W-we weren't—" he began, but Marlin was already laughing again.

"Relax, lad," the innkeeper said, clapping him on the shoulder. "A little youthful vigor never hurt anyone. Just remember, the whole inn doesn't need to share in the experience next time, aye?"

James couldn't bring himself to respond, so he simply nodded, grabbing Ofelia's hand and steering her toward the door. She followed in silence, her head bowed so low her hair covered most of her flushed face. As they stepped out into the cool evening air, James finally let out a long, exasperated sigh.

"I don't think I'm ever going to live that down," he muttered.

Ofelia, still hiding her face, managed a muffled, "Neither will I."

They exchanged a brief, awkward glance before bursting into nervous laughter. The tension eased slightly as they made their way toward the marketplace, though both silently vowed to avoid Marlin's teasing gaze for as long as possible.

James strolled through the bustling marketplace, his eyes scanning the wares as his Appraisal skill worked quietly in the background. Trinkets, herbs, tools, fabrics—he methodically assessed each item he passed, searching for anything undervalued that could fetch a good price at auction. His mind, however, kept drifting back to the pelt rolls strapped to his satchel and taking some place. He fingered the edge of one absentmindedly, considering his options.

"Maybe the Explorer's Guild would take these off my hands," he murmured to himself. "If there's a notice for pelts, I might get a decent price. Even could upgrade our ranking. But…" He glanced toward the market's weapon and armor stalls, remembering Mira and Redan's words. "We know a Magic Blacksmith or two. Bring us the right materials, and we can get you something special." Perhaps they could point him in the right direction for a better deal.

His thoughts shifted as he glanced at Ofelia—Feli—walking quietly beside him. She carried herself with more ease than when they first met, but there was still a reserved air about her, her gaze flickering between the various market stalls. He smiled faintly, the memory of Marlin's teasing from earlier bubbling to the surface.

He exhaled deeply, his focus turning to the weightier matters on his mind. "We should probably find a place of our own," he muttered, barely audible over the market's din. It was a thought that had been brewing since he made some money and the fact that their relationship had shifted, cemented by their shared moment of vulnerability, made him clearly see that it would be a good idea . The inn had been fine for a time, but it was impractical—and now, with Marlin's comments about the thin walls, the thought of staying there indefinitely made James cringe.

"A house would be better," he mused, his voice a little louder this time. Ofelia turned her head toward him, a curious tilt to her expression. "It'd be cheaper than staying at the inn forever, and, well… quieter," he said with a slight cough, avoiding her gaze.

Her cheeks turned pink, but she nodded. "It would be nice to have… a place," she said softly. "Something permanent."

James couldn't help but smile. "Then it's settled. After we sell what we can, we'll look into it. Hopefully, there's something within our budget."

The mention of money brought him back to the auction. He tapped the pouch at his hip, feeling the comforting weight of the coins they'd earned. Between the auction's success and what they could sell today, a modest home might just be within reach. But first, there was business to attend to.

"Alright," he said, more to himself than to Ofelia. "Pelts to sell, a Magic Blacksmith to find, and maybe a realtor after that. Plenty to keep us busy."

"James," Ofelia said suddenly, her voice interrupting his train of thought. She pointed toward a nearby stall, where bundles of soft fabric lay neatly stacked. "Could we… look at that?"

He paused, following her gaze. It was a stall selling blankets and simple home linens. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure. Let's check it out."

As they walked toward the stall, James couldn't help but feel a small sense of hope. A home. A proper place for them to return to, to build something together. It was a thought that both grounded and motivated him as they continued their journey through the marketplace.

After a brief discussion with the merchant, James and Ofelia decided to pass on purchasing any of the linens or blankets. While the prices were reasonable, they didn't feel urgent—especially with so many other priorities. Still, James couldn't help but feel that the visit wasn't a waste. Seeing the costs gave him a better understanding of the market and, more importantly, sparked another idea.

As they stepped away from the stall, he turned the thought over in his mind. "Should we settle here, or look for somewhere else?" he muttered, half to himself.

Ofelia glanced up at him, her expression questioning. "What do you mean?"

James slowed his pace, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I mean, this town's been good to us so far, but… is it the best place for us? Maybe there's a better town or city nearby with more opportunities. Somewhere bigger, with more markets, more jobs…" He trailed off, glancing at her to gauge her reaction.

She frowned slightly, her emerald eyes scanning the bustling marketplace. "It's… quiet here," she said after a moment. "And safe. But I don't know much about other places. Do you think we'd find something better somewhere else?"

"That's the thing—I don't know," James admitted. "Staying here is easy, but it might also limit us. If we could check what's on the market in other towns or cities, we'd have more options. Maybe a bigger place has more affordable housing, better work, or even more resources for people like us." He paused, glancing down at her. "What do you think, Feli?"

She hesitated, her hands fidgeting with the strap of her satchel. "I… I think you know more about these things than I do," she said quietly. "I've never had the chance to think about a home before. But…" She looked up at him, her voice softening. "If you think it's better to look elsewhere, I'll follow you. I trust you."

James felt a small swell of warmth at her words, but he also sensed the weight of responsibility they carried. "Alright," he said, his tone resolute. "We'll stay here for now, but I'll look into what other towns or cities are nearby. If there's a place that offers us more… we'll consider it."

She nodded, her lips curving into a faint smile. "That sounds like a good plan."

With their decision made, they continued through the marketplace. Though they hadn't purchased anything yet, James felt the gears turning in his mind. He resolved to gather more information—not just about the town they were in, but about the surrounding areas. If they were going to build a life together, they needed to think bigger, maybe find themselves a trustworthy merchant to answer all their questions .

As they wove through the marketplace, James's thoughts turned back to the auction and the surprising profits they had made from the enchanted trinkets he had appraised. The memory of the bidding war over the bronze brooch still brought a faint grin to his face. If he could replicate that success… well, they wouldn't just afford a home; they'd build a comfortable life.

James glanced at Ofelia, who was quietly observing their surroundings. "You know," he began, his voice thoughtful, "there might be another way for us to make money."

She looked up at him, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

"Well, with my skill, I can spot magic items or undervalued goods pretty easily. If we traveled to other towns, we might find more of those trinkets—ones that people don't realize are worth something. Then, we could sell them at auctions here or in bigger markets." He tapped the pouch at his hip, feeling the coins inside. "It's risky, but if we're careful, it could be very profitable."

Ofelia's emerald eyes brightened slightly, a flicker of interest breaking through her reserved demeanor. "That… sounds smart," she said. "But how would we know where to go? Do you know much about the towns nearby?"

James shook his head. "Not yet. That's something we'll need to figure out. I'll ask around—maybe some merchants or guild members can tell us about the nearby towns, what they're known for, and how to get there. If we can find trade routes or caravans to join, it might make traveling safer too."

Ofelia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I've heard some of the merchants talk about other towns. Bigger ones with more people, more markets…" She trailed off, glancing nervously at him. "Do you think it would be... dangerous to travel?"

"Probably," James admitted. "But we can prepare. Better gear, more information, maybe even a guide or a caravan to travel with. It's worth considering if it means more opportunities for us." He had decided were he should go now to get some business done and get some information.