Warmth gently wrapped itself around Lili like a cozy cocoon, pulling her slowly out of a peaceful slumber. She sighed softly, deeply content beneath the luxurious fur blanket. No more was there any pain in her legs or a feeling of lightheadedness, and she was once more feeling much like herself again, full of energy. She was feeling surprisingly refreshed yet still deliciously sleepy, she stretched her tiny body lazily—only to bump her hands against something firm and surprisingly warm.
"Mmm?" Lili murmured sleepily, curiosity nudging gently at her consciousness. She contemplated opening her eyes for just a moment, but quickly decided that it simply felt far too comfortable to move. It was just like Gandalf once said: "A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to." Sleep, too, surely had its own schedule. Who was she to interrupt it prematurely?
Her head nestled cozily on something pleasantly firm yet surprisingly comfortable. Curiously, it felt suspiciously like a muscular arm. The gentle rhythm of someone's breathing nearby slowly coaxed her fully awake. She furrowed her delicate brows, puzzling quietly over this discovery.
"W-Wait a minute...," she mumbled softly, her voice carrying its usual innocent, stuttering lisp. "W-what's going on here…?"
Vague, scattered memories of the night before drifted through her mind—laughing cheerfully, drinking medieval ale that tasted funny yet delightful, and being playfully teased by Art. Art feeding her, Art holding her, Art carrying her gently to bed... Art?!
Suddenly, realization hit her with the force of a thousand startled chickens. Her blue eyes flew wide open, and her small hands urgently began patting herself down, cheeks reddening fiercely.
"Oh g-goodness, please don't be naked, please don't be naked," she whispered anxiously to herself, quoting nervously under her breath, "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering—wait, or is it embarrassment?"
Thankfully, to her relief, her two-piece primitive rabbit clothing was still safely in place. Crisis averted. But just as she breathed a sigh of relief, Lili suddenly became acutely aware of Art's muscular, bare torso pressing comfortably against her side.
Slowly, almost comically cautious, she turned her wide-eyed gaze toward Art, hardly daring to breathe. Her breath caught sharply in her throat as her eyes took in the flawless, marble-white skin of his perfectly sculpted chest. His handsome face was serene in sleep, strong jawline perfectly relaxed, and thick, dark eyebrows framing eyes closed in peaceful repose. She briefly thought of Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings, and murmured softly, "Oh my god, he looks just like Aragorn… b-but younger, a-and maybe even handsomer… Oh no, I'm thinking weird again."
Still mesmerized, Lili's curious gaze slid further down, admiring Art's thick neck, broad shoulders, and impeccably chiseled eight-pack abs that practically begged to be touched. A strange heat spread gently through her chest, making her feel simultaneously intrigued and wildly embarrassed. Her heart pounded nervously. Her logical side, rooted in her past identity as Bruce, immediately scolded her internally:
"Bruce, my man, this is not cool—definitely not bro-code approved! You can't be lying here ogling your bro's abs… that's, like, totally not warrior-like."
Yet another, softer voice—newly awakened and distinctly feminine—countered sweetly, encouraging her:
"No, Lili, this feels… nice. And besides, you're a girl now, right? It's totally okay to admire a boy's abs, especially when they're right there, looking like a statue of some Greek god. Yep, this is totally fine."
The conflict inside her mind was briefly intense but short-lived, as innocent curiosity easily won out. Timidly, almost guiltily, she reached out one dainty hand, placing it gently on Art's firm chest, marveling at the warm, defined muscles beneath her tiny fingers. "Wow," she whispered softly, heart fluttering nervously. "He's built like… like a Spartan warrior… This is madness! No, this… is Sparta—wait, I mean… amazing."
Embarrassment flickered briefly through her chest, and she almost drew back. But the temptation of exploring further proved too great. Slowly, she rose up onto her knees, carefully pulling the fur blanket downward to reveal Art's sculpted upper body fully bathed in soft morning sunlight. Her blue eyes widened in awe.
"Oh, sweet baby Yoda," she muttered reverently, quoting again instinctively, "The Force is strong with this one."
Fingers trembling nervously, she traced softly downward, feeling each ridge of Art's powerful chest muscles and perfectly toned abs, marveling at their strength and beauty. Her pulse quickened sharply, curiosity now overtaking embarrassment completely. She softly squeezed his abs, mouth dropping slightly open at their sheer firmness.
A sudden realization flashed into her mind, recalling awkwardly from her past life that "guys compare sizes all the time, right?" Nervously she reassured herself aloud, "Just c-checking the competition… for scientific purposes. Nothing weird, totally normal… ish."
Her eyes widened comically as she noticed a very distinct, masculine shape beneath the fur blanket, becoming alarmingly clearer by the second. She blushed furiously, her heart hammering nervously, whispering anxiously, "Oh no, t-that's gotta be like… a weapon of mass destruction or something."
Mustering every ounce of courage she possessed, she bit her lower lip nervously, tightly grasped the edge of the blanket, and murmured one final motivational phrase—"For the Alliance!"—before swiftly tugging it downward.
For one tense, breathless moment, nothing happened. She dared to open one eye hesitantly, only to see—much to her relief and embarrassment—that Art was wearing medieval-style black leather pants. Her cheeks flamed hotter than ever, embarrassment washing over her in waves. Quickly pulling the blanket back into place, she dropped hastily back down beside Art, tightly squeezing her eyes shut and pretending to sleep, trembling anxiously.
But a moment later, Art shifted gently in his sleep, pulling her small form instinctively closer against his chest, sighing softly as his warm breath caressed her flushed cheeks.
Lili's heart hammered wildly in embarrassment and nervous guilt. Yet despite everything, being securely wrapped within Art's unconscious embrace felt undeniably comforting and safe. Quietly, stubbornly, she whispered to herself, quoting Yoda once again for reassurance:
"Do or do not, there is no try…" Her voice grew uncertain. "Or is it kiss or kiss not…? Oh boy, I am so confused."
Wide awake now, heart fluttering with excitement and confusion, she stared up thoughtfully at Art's handsome, peacefully sleeping face, wondering innocently and nervously just what to do next.
Lili's eyes remained wide open, her heartbeat still thumping rapidly in her small chest. Sleep, she quickly realized, was now completely impossible. The comforting warmth and closeness of Art's muscular embrace had electrified her into full wakefulness. She felt a nervous flutter deep within, uncertain exactly how to handle the strange excitement buzzing inside her.
Slowly tilting her head upward, she carefully studied Art's sleeping face in the gentle glow of the morning sun streaming through the inn's small window. Even at rest, Art was impossibly handsome—his features sculpted and strong, like a young warrior-king. His thick brows framed a peacefully sleeping face, a perfectly straight nose and strong jawline, and then, finally, her gaze settled on his lips. Those lips, which seemed unfairly attractive even now while he wasn't awake to tease her.
An idea suddenly flashed into her mind—a wonderfully mischievous idea that made her cheeks burn pink with embarrassment and excitement. A playful revenge was in order. After all, Art had humiliated her at the lakeside, spanking her like some unruly child. How amusingly embarrassing would it be for the proud and strong Art to awaken suddenly to her bold kiss?
"Yes," she whispered quietly, her voice nervously excited, eyes sparkling with playful mischief. "Revenge of the Sith… um, no—I mean revenge of the Lili. Mwahaha!"
But as quickly as the idea thrilled her, anxiety twisted inside her stomach, gripping her tightly. She'd never kissed anyone before, neither in this life as Lili nor as Bruce, her previous clumsy and naive self. Panic briefly overwhelmed her. How exactly did one go about kissing someone anyway?
Nervously searching her memories, she recalled the iconic kiss between Aragorn and Arwen from The Lord of the Rings. That kiss had seemed so romantic, beautiful, and perfect—surely it couldn't be too difficult, right?
Yet still, her courage faltered briefly. She needed more motivation—something stronger, more resolute. Then it hit her. Of course! King Leonidas's famous words from 300: "No retreat, no surrender."
"Right, no retreat, no surrender!" she whispered dramatically, brushing her hair nervously behind her ear and mentally bracing herself.
Timidly, Lili leaned forward, placing her dainty hands on Art's firm chest for support. Her heart hammered nervously in her chest, her cheeks flaming brighter red than ever. Slowly closing her eyes, she tilted her head forward, inching towards Art's lips.
However, her nervousness and lack of experience betrayed her—her small nose gently bumped against his lips instead, and she awkwardly ended up kissing his chin.
"Oh—eep!" she squeaked softly in embarrassment, her eyes snapping open wide as Art stirred slightly, mumbling something unintelligible in his sleep. Her heart leaped in panic, her face glowing with embarrassment.
Yet she quickly shook her head stubbornly, rallying her determination once more with the silent cry of King Leonidas in her mind: "No retreat, no surrender! Tonight, we dine… I mean, this morning, we kiss!"
Adjusting carefully this time, Lili leaned forward once more, her soft lips finally finding their intended target in a gentle, trembling kiss against Art's warm lips.
Art's eyes instantly snapped open, staring directly into Lili's startled face in complete surprise.
"Lili? Wh-what… what are you doing?" Art's voice came out sleepily confused, his icy blue eyes blinking rapidly.
"Ahh!" Lili yelped loudly, panic flooding through her entire being. She jerked sharply backward, scrambling awkwardly in her haste to put distance between them. "N-nothing! I—I—I wasn't kissing you! Th-that wasn't a kiss! It was just—just, uh—"
She flailed her arms comically as she lost balance, tumbling backward off the bed and landing with a soft, embarrassing thump on the wooden floorboards. Dazed, she sat for a moment, her heart hammering wildly in her tiny chest.
Art immediately sat upright, muscular torso outlined in the sunlight, his voice filled with startled concern, "Lili! Are you okay? Wait… did you just kiss me while I was sleeping?"
Lili's cheeks burned brighter, embarrassment and panic surging sharply. She desperately avoided Art's amused and curious gaze, stammering nervously, "Wa—wa—what? Kiss? N-no way! I—I wasn't doing that! I was just… um… inspecting your face for—for leftover food crumbs! From last night! Y-yeah! I was making sure you didn't look goofy when you woke up—t-totally normal stuff, right?"
She quickly covered her face with both hands, whispering anxiously to herself, "Oh, gods, he knows! I have a bad feeling about this…"
Art remained strangely quiet for a moment. Lili heard rustling as he moved on the bed, but she dared not peek. Suddenly, without warning, Art's strong hands reached out, gently but firmly gripping her slender waist. He effortlessly lifted her small form into his lap, ignoring her startled squeals and protests.
"Ahhh! Art, n-no! Put me down—I didn't mean it! I-I was just being curious! Please, Art, mercy!"
Ignoring her flailing and panicked babbling, Art held her gently yet securely against his warm, bare chest, his voice calm, sincere, and full of concern. "It's okay, Lili. Calm down—I'm here for you. Now tell me honestly: are you alright? You worried me last night. If there's anything you need, anything at all, just tell me, and I'll do my best to fulfill it."
Lili's heart skipped gently at his sincere words. Gratitude and warmth filled her chest, yet stubborn pride quickly resurfaced. She didn't want Art thinking she was some weak damsel in distress, even if she secretly enjoyed his protective embrace.
"N-no! I'm okay, Art, really," she stammered bravely, trying to regain her composure. "I'm a Jedi, like my father before me—wait, I mean, I'm strong, okay? Last night was just—just a glitch in the Matrix! It won't happen again, I swear!"
Art chuckled softly at her strange words, shaking his head gently, though his eyes still showed deep concern. "Lili, you don't sound convincing at all. Seriously, talk to me. I won't judge you. I'm here to help."
His genuine kindness touched her deeply. Lili wanted nothing more than to hug him close and cry, but her pride wouldn't allow it. Instead, she summoned her bravest voice and spoke defiantly, though her voice still wavered slightly.
"No, really, Art—I'm fine. Forget yesterday! That was nothing. I promise, someday soon, I'll be rich and powerful, and it'll be you asking me for help. Just wait and see!"
Art raised a curious eyebrow, amused yet skeptical. "And how exactly will you achieve that? If you have a plan, you could just join me. There's strength in numbers, after all."
Lili puffed her cheeks stubbornly. "Nope! Thanks, but I'm doing this on my own. I need to return home. My Father is probably already waiting for me and my chickens, especially Terminator—my rooster—they need me, plus the bunnies and Mister Frog! Plus, the garden won't tend itself, you know?"
Art's amused expression faded slightly, turning serious. "Your Father—Lord Foster—let you run around alone, dressed like this, without money or an escort? Did you run away from home? Come on, tell me, honestly?"
Lili furrowed her brow, puzzled, not understanding who this 'Lord Foster' was that Art keeps talking about? Quickly gathering her composure, Lili bravely spoke up, saying. "Don't worry about that, Art; my father isn't mad or anything. Or, well, I hope he isn't; I just really hope he'll return home soon. Like Gandalf said, a father is never late; he arrives precisely when he means to… oh wait, did I say that already."
Seeing Art's questioning gaze, she stubbornly crossed her arms, pouting slightly. "And what about you, Art? I bet your real name isn't even Art. I mean, like, what sort of mother names her son Art? Imagine if you became an artist—that'd be so confusing. Art making art and gaining fame through art, and when asked whose work this is, they'd say, ' Well, art did this painting, ' and the people would be like, ' What art? Wait, what! ' Well, basically, if you don't tell me about yourself, so I won't tell you about myself either. Although my name is Lili, that much is true, or well, I didn't really lie, but you know I'm Lili, and that's that."
Art smirked playfully, leaning closer. "Oh, come on, Lili. Don't be like that. You know, all that really matters is that I'm the most handsome man or teenage boy in the kingdom, and I have plenty of gold coins as well. What more do you need to know. Besides, aren't you a bit interested in seeing what it is that my master, Reinheart, the old man you saw last night, and I are like, and what it is that we do? I mean, it's pretty cool, I promise. Why don't you just come with us and become my sidekick or, better yet, my concubine? I'd make you happy. Just come to Camelot with me. I'm sure your father wouldn't mind once he heard who I was, plus there is the money as well."
Lili blushed fiercely at his words, although she didn't quite understand them, yet she huffed stubbornly and said. "Not a chance! I have my own plans, Art. I don't want to just be your sidekick. I'm a strong, independent boy, or I mean girl! So thanks, but no thanks."
Then she swiftly hopped down from Art's lap, making her way stubbornly toward the door, determined to hide her deep embarrassment. Yet secretly, her heart hoped Art might insist just a bit harder.
Lili stubbornly marched toward the door, her heart pounding with embarrassment, confusion, and a strange sense of longing. Then behind her, Art's quiet voice carried a gentle yet teasing tone.
"Well, we'll see about that, Lili. You know, I have quite a lot of influence within this kingdom. I'm sure your father would gladly let me borrow you for my travels. You just wait and see, but sooner or later, I'll make you my side, and you'll like it. That's a promise."
Lili halted mid-step, turning slowly back toward Art with one eyebrow raised suspiciously. Why was he so stubbornly persistent? It wasn't like she was useful. She could barely manage her chickens and, especially those foxes Sleemo and Scar, much less fight monsters or do whatever heroes did in stories. What possible use could she have for someone like Art?
Yet despite herself, a secret part of her warmed at his insistence. Nervously, she muttered back with a stubborn pout, quoting quietly, "You underestimate my power," before quickly adding, "Uh—I mean, yeah, well, we'll see about that!"
Art grinned, clearly amused by her determined stubbornness. "Indeed. I suppose we'll just have to see each other again soon and find out."
She turned quickly, hiding her shy smile. Quietly hoping deep down that Art would indeed come after her one day, she swiftly grabbed her torn black cloak from the wooden hanger beside the door, wrapping it carefully around her small shoulders. She could clearly feel Art's intense gaze following her movements, making her cheeks flush hotter yet again.
Suddenly, Art moved toward her, holding out a small leather pouch of coins. "At least take this, Lili. Get yourself proper clothes next time you wander into town alone. The world can be dangerous, especially toward the northern borderlands. You really shouldn't travel by yourself—not until you can actually defend yourself, okay?"
Lili stubbornly shook her head, gently pushing the offered pouch back toward Art, her tiny fists clenched in determination. "Thanks, Art, but no thanks. I—I've seen enough of the world for now. Besides," she quoted confidently from her memories, "I'm a strong, independent woman who needs no man! …Um, or something like that."
She moved to open the door, but suddenly felt Art's strong hand close gently around her slender arm, pulling her carefully back into his warm, comforting embrace. Her heart skipped sharply as his voice became deeply sincere and serious.
"Promise me, Lili," Art whispered softly, yet firmly. "Promise me you'll stay safe. Because if you don't—if you break this promise—then I'll come find you, and I'll never let you go again. I'll keep you by my side, even if it means protecting you against your own stubborn will."
Lili's breath caught softly, eyes widening with surprise. No one—not even Frank—had ever spoken to her so intensely, with such raw sincerity and passion. Art's words made her heart tremble strangely, conflicting emotions swirling deeply inside her. She desperately wanted to stay—to hug him tightly and never leave. But she couldn't. She had made promises—to Terminator, her rooster, and she stubbornly clung to the belief that her father would return soon.
Blinking back tears, she summoned all her courage, reached up gently to tug Art's collar down toward her, pulling his surprised face close. Quickly, she leaned in and pressed a soft, innocent kiss to his cheek, whispering nervously yet warmly in his ear:
"I promise, Art—I'll stay safe. If not for my sake, then definitely for yours. You stay safe too, okay? You're my first real friend in this world—well, besides my chickens and frogs, of course. Take care, bestie."
The moment she said the word "friend," she felt Art tense ever so slightly, the air around them seeming to chill slightly with disappointment. Internally, she panicked a little. Had she said something wrong? But quickly, she forced the feeling aside, knowing she had to leave before her courage failed her completely.
Reluctantly breaking away from Art's embrace, she stepped into the hallway, hearing Art's voice behind her sounding slightly disappointed yet playful. "Yeah, see you soon, friend. Though, you know—I wouldn't mind being something more than friends. Think about it, Lili."
She paused briefly, glancing over her shoulder with a teasing smile, blowing him a playful kiss and winking. "In your dreams, buddy! Hihihi!"
Yet, as she turned away, each step forward felt heavier and more painful. Her heart ached strangely as she moved further away from Art. Deep down, she felt as though she was making a huge mistake. Part of her stubbornly insisted she needed to grow stronger and become independent, while another part desperately wanted to turn around and run back into his comforting arms.
She thought stubbornly about Terminator, waiting loyally for her at home, and perhaps her father would return soon as well. She briefly considered maybe someday joining Art in Camelot, perhaps even bringing Terminator along. But hadn't Art mentioned something about a fiancée? That made her hesitate. Maybe dressing as a boy could solve that awkwardness. Could a disguise really fool Art?
Lili shook her head stubbornly, steeling her resolve again. "I have to do this myself. Besides, it's dangerous to go alone… wait, that's not right—I mean, it's better to learn to survive alone first, right?" She tried to reassure herself quietly.
As she reached the staircase, Art called after her, his voice gentle yet carrying a hint of longing. "Stay safe, Lili. Remember your promise."
She stopped, eyes softening. Quietly, she whispered back, "I promise, Art. May the Force be with you—I mean, you stay safe too!"
Then, with a determined step, she descended the stairs, leaving Art's warmth behind, feeling stubbornly proud yet painfully aware of the strange emptiness suddenly gnawing at her heart.
As Lili stepped carefully down the creaking wooden staircase into the inn's tavern area, her head still swirled chaotically with thoughts of Art, her heart stubbornly caught between embarrassment and a deep longing she didn't fully understand.
"Come on, Lili, g-get your head together," she muttered softly to herself, taking a deep breath. "The Ring must be destroyed… Oh wait, I don't have a ring. I—I mean, focus, Lili, focus!"
Raising her gaze to survey the tavern, she was surprised to find it unusually quiet and orderly. Gone was the raucous atmosphere of the previous night. Instead, the tables stood neatly cleaned, the floor swept, and dim morning sunlight cast muted shadows across the empty chairs.
In the corner near the stairs, Lili's eyes caught the sight of four hooded men slumped awkwardly against the wall, like a group of low-budget assassins taking a badly timed nap. One was awake, slowly sipping ale, while the other three appeared to be sleeping upright, heads drooped forward at uncomfortable angles.
She tilted her head curiously, quietly wondering how poor these fellows must be not to afford a single room between them. Or maybe they were waiting for someone? Or something? Shaking her head, she nervously whispered under her breath, quoting from memory, "I've got a bad feeling about this…"
Swiftly diverting her attention, Lili noticed that the fat innkeeper from last night was nowhere in sight. Instead, an elderly woman with hunched shoulders and a scowl etched permanently onto her wrinkled face wiped the tables vigorously.
Mustering her best polite voice, Lili timidly approached the old woman. "Um, e-excuse me, ma'am. I'm Lili, y-you know, the amazing singing superstar from last night's performance? Could I—could I please have my reward now?"
The old woman slowly turned toward Lili, narrowing her eyes suspiciously, her voice dripping with disdain. "Oh, you're that girl, huh? The pretty little troublemaker."
Lili's eyes widened innocently. "Troublemaker? Me? N-no, you must have me confused with s-some other adorable singing prodigy!"
Ignoring her protests, the old woman shuffled irritably into the kitchen, returning moments later to slam a hard chunk of stale white bread and a single, dull copper coin onto the wooden counter.
Lili stared down blankly, blinking in disbelief. "Wait, th-this is it?"
The old woman smirked mockingly, revealing yellowed, crooked teeth. "It's more than a little troublemaker like you deserves after the chaos you caused last night. Take it or leave it, girl—or go back upstairs and earn yourself a better reward from that noble boy of yours, if you know what I mean."
Lili's small fists clenched indignantly, cheeks puffing up stubbornly. She opened her mouth to deliver a scathing response—something noble and defiant, possibly involving a movie quote about justice—when suddenly an icy sensation prickled down her spine. The feeling of danger washed over her, causing her to freeze mid-sentence.
Slowly turning, she caught the four hooded men staring silently and intently in her direction, fully awake now. One tall, thin man rested a wooden bow at his side, while hidden blades protruded menacingly beneath their shabby cloaks. Their expressions were cold and unreadable, sending chills crawling uncomfortably across her skin.
Her breath caught nervously in her throat, and her heart quickened. "Oh no—this isn't the tavern I was looking for," she whispered anxiously, quoting clumsily from memory, "I think it's time for me to boldly go where no Lili has gone before… away!"
Swiftly grabbing the stale bread and copper coin, she hurriedly stuffed them into her two piece clothes. Without further word, she dashed toward the exit, ignoring the bitter old woman's annoyed grumbling.
"Ungrateful brat!"
Lili hesitated briefly at the door, guilt nudging stubbornly at her conscience. Turning back awkwardly, she quickly offered the old woman a clumsy bow and a forced smile. "Th-thank you kindly, Granny! I'll enjoy the bread and coin… May the Force be ever in your favor—I—I mean, live long and prosper!"
Without waiting for a response, Lili fled out into the muddy village street, her anxious heartbeat driving her forward swiftly toward the southern gate. As she approached, she glanced nervously over her shoulder multiple times, half-expecting the four hooded men to appear behind her.
Thankfully, the road remained empty. Lili released a shaky breath, whispering in relief, "Looks like they failed their stealth-check… heh, thank goodness."
At the gate stood an unfamiliar guard who eyed her briefly but without concern, opening the gate silently. Quickly slipping through, she left the strange, unsettling village behind, jogging steadily onward down the familiar road that led back to her lakeside home.
And to her delight, the journey back home felt unexpectedly swift under Lili's determined pace, yet by the time she neared the familiar small stone bridge leading to her lakeside home, the sun had already dipped low on the horizon, casting long, gentle shadows through the trees.
Pausing to catch her breath, Lili turned back thoughtfully toward the distant road leading to Einsway. Her mind drifted back over the past few days, recalling vividly the village, the inn, and the strangely memorable people she'd encountered—some good, some unsettling, but all fascinatingly new to her isolated little world.
Her lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. True, the practical rewards of her adventure were embarrassingly modest—a single copper coin and a piece of hard, stale bread. But she'd gained something infinitely more valuable: a real, living, breathing friend. Her first genuine human friend since being reborn in this strange world. Art.
A warm blush returned to her cheeks at the thought of him, embarrassment mingling again with confused longing. Sure, he'd teased her mercilessly, sometimes suggesting outrageously inappropriate things like becoming his concubine or his little sidekick—but beneath all that teasing arrogance, he'd been sincerely kind, protective, and comforting. Almost like Frank had been, in her old life as Bruce.
Her smile faltered slightly, confusion and guilt washing over her. What was wrong with her, anyway? Wasn't she still Bruce, deep down? Shouldn't she feel weird about being so close to a boy? But oddly enough, it hadn't felt wrong—not really. After all, she stubbornly reminded herself, she was technically a girl now. Maybe it wasn't so strange?
Lili tilted her head stubbornly, muttering softly, "I-It's not weird if you're a girl, right? I mean, Arwen kissed Aragorn, Leia kissed Han… It's totally normal…ish?"
Shaking her head quickly to clear her mind, she stubbornly set her small jaw with determination, hopping lightly from the bridge down onto the grassy stream bank below. Skipping lightly alongside the water's edge, she began humming cheerfully, composing silly little songs to distract herself from her complicated emotions.
Night turned slowly to day again as she traveled alongside the familiar bubbling stream, cheerfully hopping, skipping, and occasionally stumbling, quoting excitedly to herself: "Home is behind, the world ahead… and I shall go boldly—wait, that's not the right one."
Her cheerful mood abruptly faltered as she recalled again losing her lute. Her shoulders drooped slightly, sighing softly in annoyance at herself. "Darn it, Lili, you're like the Jar-Jar Binks of bards—dropping your lute… I gotta work on this adventuring stuff."
Suddenly, another sharp, stinging sensation pierced the back of her head, sending alarm bells ringing in her mind. Lili spun around again, breathlessly scanning the path behind her.
Nothing visible appeared, yet her instincts screamed louder this time. A flash of green movement far behind, obscured by a fallen tree, made her pulse quicken nervously. Deer, perhaps? Or… something else?
"Nope, nope, nope! Time to channel my inner Forrest Gump and run!" Lili blurted anxiously, swiftly breaking into a determined sprint toward home, desperately trying to reassure herself as she ran. "It's okay, Lili—y-you've got the high ground… r-right?"
Back at the inn, Art lay motionless on his bed, eyes fixed blankly on the wooden ceiling, mind swirling chaotically. He stubbornly replayed Lili's innocent kisses again and again in his head, the soft brush of her lips upon his, which he barely even felt. But the one that really stuck in his head was the kiss left on his cheek, lingering like a sweet yet maddening phantom. Those kisses were his first in this world if getting kisses from his mother and sisters didn't count, although never once upon his lips, so yes, it was, in fact, his first.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips, frustration clouding his thoughts. "Women," he grumbled quietly, "they're more complicated than battling Lycans, dodging stones thrown by stone giants, training to fight dragons, or even trying to explain politics to peasants, or that one time he made that Plush Teddy Bear for his little sister Aileen."
He sat upright abruptly, ruffling his hair impatiently. He was a prince—strong, handsome, wealthy. By every measure, he was the perfect catch, and he even had multiple letters back home from lords and dukes asking to get their daughters married to him to prove this point. Yet his future bride had fled, and now Lili had firmly placed him in the cursed friend zone. Art frowned, frustrated and confused.
"No, no, I refuse to be friend-zoned," Art muttered determinedly, scowling stubbornly. "I'm a prince, for gods' sake! Women should be swooning, not calling me 'bestie'!"
He groaned, shaking his head. Yet the sweet innocence of Lili's kiss lingered, tormenting his thoughts relentlessly. Why his cheek? Was it an innocent gesture, or something more? He groaned again, flopping backward onto the bed dramatically.
"Curse you, Lili," he mumbled softly. "I thought I had it all figured out. Why must you be so stubborn—and cute?"
Frustrated and determined to distract himself, Art rose decisively from the bed, pulling on his dark traveling clothes and grabbing his sword. He fastened his cloak securely, stepping boldly toward Master Reinheart's room, his mind resolved. Knocking firmly three times, he heard Reinheart's steady footsteps approach and the door opened.
Reinheart's wise eyes studied him knowingly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Finally ready, boy?"
Art nodded solemnly, determination and seriousness returning sharply to his voice. "Yes, Master. It's time. Time to drive those red-haired Lycan savages from our borders. Let's claim new land, slay some monsters, and maybe regain a bit of my dignity while we're at it."
Reinheart chuckled softly, his expression understanding. "Ah, love indeed makes even the bravest knights into confused little fools. Alright then, young prince. Let's channel those frustrations into something productive. Blood and Glory await."
Art smiled faintly, silently grateful for his master's understanding. Yet even as he strode boldly into the sunlight beside Reinheart, his heart stubbornly whispered that no amount of conquest or glory could erase the sweet innocence of a single kiss from a stubborn, foolishly brave girl named Lili.
As they marched forward, Art muttered quietly, "Just you wait, Lili. I'll win your stubborn heart yet… No retreat, no surrender, just like you said, right."