Kai and Lyla looked into each other's eyes and quickly ran toward the source of the screams, finding a small carriage traveling as fast as the horses could manage.

  "Sir, what's happening!" Kai shouted as he stood by the path.

  The carriage came to a dead stop, and a man jumped out, cradling a woman in his arms.

  "Please, help me! We had to stop because a wheel broke, and a venomous snake bit my wife. She’s very weak," the man explained with clear anguish.

  "Calm down, calm down. Sit her in the carriage." Lyla stood beside the woman and stretched out her hands, a green light beginning to emerge.

  "Wait, isn't that...?"

  "Don't worry. In this territory, using healing magic is allowed".

  The woman began to calm down. "I... I feel better already. Thank you so much, truly".

  With a small smile, Lyla stepped down from the carriage. "It was nothing. We must always look after one another".

  The man breathed a sigh of relief. "How can we repay you for this?"

  "Oh, there's no need," Kai replied as he approached the carriage. "Though perhaps you could give us a ride back to Athelgard".

  "Of course! Climb in, climb in".

  Kai and Lyla climbed into the back of the carriage, and the horses began to gallop once more.

  "So, what are your names? It gladdens me to see such a young couple, you remind me of my wife and me years ago," the man said with a laugh. "I am Baron, and this is my wife, Isabelle".

  "Those were good times, and my husband was a great warrior," Isabelle added with a sweet smile. "But over the years, he decided to retire and live a quiet life. I'm thankful for it, I'm much calmer knowing he is in less danger".

  "That’s a very beautiful story. I'm Kai, and she's Lyla, though we aren't a cou "

  Lyla hugged Kai and pressed his head against her chest, silencing him as she stroked his hair. "We've known each other since we were children, and we've always had something special".

  Blushing, Kai tried to move, but Lyla held him firmly.

  Isabelle laughed along with Baron. "You are a very funny couple. I'm glad you're happy. And you have beautiful names, she is named exactly like the goddess, and you, boy, like the Great Hero. I'm sure your parents did it on purpose".

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  At that moment, Kai managed to break free from Lyla's embrace. "The Great Hero...?"

  "That's the one," Baron spoke up. "I met him in person. Many years ago, when I was younger, I was traveling with my group. One night, several demons ambushed us. They were powerful, and though we tried to defend ourselves, they defeated us easily".

  In that instant, several scenes flashed through Kai's mind. Memories of that night flooded back.

  "But then the Great Hero Kai appeared, and with great ease, he defeated the demons. I've been grateful ever since, because thanks to him, I made it back to my wife and later had our children," Baron finished, gently taking Isabelle's hand.

  A small smile formed on Kai's face. With a calm mind, he asked, "And... what happened to the Great Hero?"

  Baron sighed. "No one knows. One day he simply disappeared, and no one heard from him again. It's a shame, I would have liked my children to meet him".

  Lyla placed her hand on Kai’s thigh, stroking it softly as she whispered in his ear. "I told you that you were very loved." She pulled away again.

  After several more minutes, they reached Athelgard. Kai and Lyla said their goodbyes to the couple and went to the adventurer's guild to drop off the flower baskets.

  "Well done, guys. Here is your reward." Dilya handed them two silver coins.

  "Thank you very much," Lyla replied, taking the coins and leading Kai away by the arm. Outside, the sun was beginning to set.

  "It's getting late. We should head to an inn, shouldn't we? Though I haven't asked you how the economy works here... are two silver coins enough?"

  Lyla laughed as they walked through the crowds enjoying the evening. "It's enough. With two silver coins, we can stay for two nights. Ten bronze coins make one silver coin, and one hundred silver coins make one gold coin".

  They entered an inn and paid for a room for two nights.

  "Well, the place isn't so bad, is it?" Lyla asked Kai as she took off her shoes and slumped onto the bed.

  "It's nice, but... was it necessary for it to only have one bed?"

  "Absolutely necessary, that way I can keep a close eye on you," Lyla replied, patting the bed for Kai to lie down beside her. "Come on, it's late".

  With no other choice, Kai took off his shoes and lay down beside her. Lyla covered him with the sheets and pulled him close, stroking his head.

  "This is better. It gets very cold this time of year".

  Blushing, Kai remained still, simply accepting his fate, being the favorite of an obsessive goddess. "Hey... before we got here, you said you and I had a... special relationship. What kind of relationship?"

  Lyla gave a small laugh, her hand gently yet possessively stroking Kai's hair. "Well, when you started making a name for yourself, you caught my attention, so I decided to watch you. You were kind, respectful, and always just," Lyla mentioned with a nostalgic voice.

  "Then I decided to introduce myself. You were the only one who knew I was the goddess Lyla, and although I didn't travel with you, I always watched over you from afar. We got to know each other more and more until one night, we went for a walk in a small park near the lake. And there, sitting on the grass, you kissed me for the first time".

  Hearing this, Kai turned completely red, his heart beating even faster than before. "And after that, I teleported us to my most private area and "

  Kai jumped out of bed and walked toward the window. "Let's leave the story there. I can guess the rest".

  Lyla laughed and rolled over, watching Kai look out the window. "Those were good times, and I'll do whatever it takes to get them back. Even if you don't recover your memories, I'll make you fall in love with me a second time".

  Kai blushed again. "You're crazy".

  "Maybe, but that's what you liked," she replied with another small laugh.

  Kai sighed, but before he could respond, he saw a person running at high speed across the rooftops of the city. "Lyla, is it normal for someone to be running across the rooftops?"

  Lyla looked puzzled and quickly walked over to Kai. "It's not what a normal person would do".

  "Then we have a problem".