The walk back to the tribe was quieter than usual. After handing over their gathered materials and the apprentice priestess delivering her report to Yalara, Selena and Chase were instructed to wait at the inn while the priestess made her assessment.

  Selena sat by the window of their shared room, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Her tail twitched restlessly, betraying the thoughts swirling in her mind.

  Chase: You’re awfully quiet. That’s not like you.

  Selena: (Sigh) I’m just… thinking.

  Chase: About the assessment?

  She turned to him, her ears drooping slightly.

  Selena: What else? I’ve been waiting for this moment, but now that it’s here… I can’t stop thinking about all the ways it could go wrong.

  Chase: Selena, relax. I’m sure everything will be fine.

  Selena: You’re so optimistic about this. Chase… if they disapprove of me again, I won’t be able to learn my tribe’s spiritual arts.

  Chase: Then I’ll teach you instead. I know the basics.

  He gave her a smug look, clearly pleased with himself. Selena stared at him, torn between laughing and throwing him out the window. She took a sharp breath before standing up and shifting her weight in a way that suggested she was about to pounce.

  Chase immediately raised a hand, warning her off.

  Chase: DON’T… think about it.

  Selena: Then don’t mess with me right now, Chase.

  The heavy weight of her worries lifted, if only slightly. Selena let out a soft huff, her tail flicking lightly behind her. Despite the lingering anxiety, his words eased some of the tension pressing on her chest.

  They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the air between them lighter as they waited for Yalara’s decision.

  The Verdict

  Finally, Yalara called for Selena, and she stood in the center of her chamber. Her claws lightly fidgeting at her sides as she tried to mask her nerves. The priestess sat with an unreadable expression, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

  Yalara: Selena, I’ve reviewed the reports from the raid.

  Selena’s ears twitched. She straightened her posture, trying to appear calm despite the tension coiling in her chest.

  Yalara: You showed exceptional bravery in protecting the apprentice priestess. Such actions reflect positively on your growth. However…

  Selena’s heart sank at the pause, her tail curling slightly behind her.

  Yalara: I’ve also noticed glimpses of the recklessness that led you astray in the past. Your tendency to act on impulse, while tempered, still lingers.

  Selena lowered her gaze, feeling the weight of the priestess’s words.

  Yalara: That said, your willingness to protect others is commendable. And your loyalty to your companion, Chase, was evident throughout the mission. It’s clear that you care deeply—not just for him, but for the values we uphold.

  A flicker of hope sparked in Selena’s chest, her ears perking slightly.

  Yalara: For those reasons, I believe you deserve another chance. You are welcome to rejoin the tribe and continue your training.

  Selena’s breath hitched. For a moment, she couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Then, realization crashed over her.

  Selena: Thank you… I won’t let you down this time.

  Yalara’s lips curled into the faintest smile.

  Yalara: See that you don’t.

  As soon as Selena stepped outside, her eyes locked onto Chase. He was leaning casually against a wooden post, watching her. At the sight of her expression, he straightened, his brows raising in quiet expectation.

  Before he could say a word, Selena bolted toward him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

  Selena: Chase! I did it! I can continue my training!

  A small chuckle rumbled from him as he returned the hug.

  Chase: That’s amazing, Selena. Congrats.

  She pulled back just enough to meet his eyes, her tail swishing with barely contained excitement.

  Selena: I start tomorrow. After that, you’ve got nothing to worry about.

  Chase: (Smirk) I wasn’t worried.

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  She huffed but didn’t argue, already turning toward the village, her mind racing ahead to the challenges awaiting her.

  Chase trailed behind, watching her with a quiet smile—marveling at just how far she’d come.

  Selena’s Training

  The day after Selena’s acceptance into the tribe, she was summoned to the temple, where Yalara explained the rigorous training ahead. For the next thirty days, she would remain within the sacred halls, honing techniques that emphasized support rather than raw offense. Though she had expected the challenge, the reality of the restriction only set in when she realized she wouldn’t see much of Chase during this time.

  Chase, on the other hand, wasted no time making plans. Without an adventurer’s guild in the Lion Tribe, there were no local commissions he could take on, forcing him to travel to nearby villages in search of work. The arrangement suited him well enough—he would keep himself busy, earn some coin, and most importantly, have something to focus on besides waiting.

  Their time apart wasn’t absolute. Once a week, Selena was permitted a brief respite from her training, during which she and Chase would meet near the outskirts of the village. These meetings were short but familiar, filled with their usual exchanges.

  One evening, under the glow of the setting sun, Chase leaned against a tree, waiting. It wasn’t long before he heard approaching footsteps—silent to most, but unmistakable to him.

  Chase: Took you long enough.

  Selena: I get one evening off, and this is how you greet me?

  Chase: Just making sure you haven’t gone soft locked up in that temple.

  Selena: (Smirk) Please. If anything, I’m stronger than before.

  She stepped closer, her tail flicking behind her as she eyed him up and down.

  Selena: And you? You look a little beat up.

  Chase just shrugs it off.

  Chase: Comes with the job. Couple of bandits, monster eliminations—nothing I couldn’t handle.

  Selena’s ears twitched. She didn’t press the topic, but Chase caught the brief look of concern in her eyes. Instead of lingering on it, she sat down beside him, stretching her legs out.

  Selena: One more week, then I’ll be done. What’s our next stop?

  Chase: Haven’t decided yet. Figured we’d pick a direction and see where the road takes us.

  Selena: (Grins) Sounds like our usual way of doing things.

  The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows as the two sat in comfortable silence. Though their paths had briefly diverged, neither doubted that soon enough, they’d be standing side by side once more—just as they always had.

  After the Training

  As the grand doors of the temple opened, Selena stepped out, stretching her arms above her head, breathing in the fresh air. The month-long training was finally over. And standing right outside, waiting for her, was Chase.

  She glanced at him, a smirk playing at her lips, her expression light but with a hint of pride.

  Selena: Chase! You’re here? Did you miss me?

  Chase replied with a tone carrying a teasing edge.

  Chase: We met at least once a week, so maybe a little.

  Selena: Oh really?

  Before their banter could escalate, Yalara appeared behind them, arms crossed.

  Yalara: Can you two loiter a little further from the entrance?

  Selena: Ah—right. Sorry about that.

  She turned to Yalara and gave a respectful nod.

  Selena: Thank you again priestess, for everything you’ve taught me.

  Yalara: Hm. You learned well. Just don’t waste it.

  Selena smiled at the remark before stepping away with Chase.

  Lion Tribe - Outskirts

  The two then quickly left the vicinity of the tribe’s settlement heading to the southeast direction. As they walked down the road leading to the next town, the air between them felt light, almost as if they were truly back to their usual selves—two adventurers, moving forward.

  Chase: The adventurer’s guild in the next town has a lot of demon extermination requests. I was going to take some, but I figured I’d wait for you first.

  Selena: Good call waiting for me to finish my training. I’d prefer seeing you in one piece before heading into another mess.

  Chase gave a deadpan response.

  Chase: Yeah? That would be a shame if you missed all the fun, huh?

  As they continued walking, Chase glanced at her.

  Chase: So, tell me—how was the training? What did you learn?

  Selena: Well, I’ve picked up everything I could about the tribe’s spiritual arts. Healing, physical and spiritual enhancements, and some mobility support skills.

  Chase: Healing? Oh yeah! The apprentice priestess during the dungeon raid was using that. That’s really going to help us a lot.

  Selena smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

  Selena: Of course! It’ll also make my hunts even more interesting. If something goes wrong, I can just heal my prey and keep going.

  Chase’s smile faltered slightly, his brow furrowing.

  Chase: Selena… is that the reason why you learned that magic in the first place?

  Selena: Hm? Of course not. But I figured I can use it that way. Hahaha!

  Chase: Maybe you should stop hunting other people?

  Selena blinked, caught off guard by his sudden seriousness.

  Selena: Why not? I’ve always enjoyed it. It’s what I love to do.

  Chase: You might scare people with your little games, you know? Also, this might be news to you, but the first time you did that to me—it traumatized me. I really thought I wouldn’t live to see the next day.

  Selena’s ears perked, and she found an opportunity to tease him again. She stepped in front of him, her gaze playful.

  Selena: Oh come, Chase. Don’t be so hung up on the past.

  Chase: “Don’t be so hung up on the past” she says. It’s not JUST a past, Selena!

  Selena steps in closer to him.

  Selena: What’s the matter, Chase? Did I scare the little adventurer that night?

  Chase: My… you’re taking this lightly, aren’t you?

  Selena: Chase, you know me. It was just a little fun game. You ran the moment you saw me—what did you expected me to do?

  Chase sighed, rubbing his temple, as if trying to understand a culture he couldn’t quite grasp.

  Chase: Ugh! Fine, have it your way. Just don’t go overboard with your hunting games.

  Suddenly, Selena grabbed him by the shoulders, leaning in, her golden eyes locked onto his.

  Selena: Chase, asking me to stop hunting is too much for me, you know? If you really want me to do that, then you need to do something in return.

  Chase: W-what? What are you thinking?

  Selena: Would you like to become my prey again?

  Chase’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  Chase: I just told you that THAT was the most traumatic time of my life, didn’t I?

  Selena: Yeah? But we could end it differently this time.

  Her smirk widened, clearly implying she meant to roughhouse him again if she caught him this time.

  Chase had a brief flashback of her intense gaze from that time. His face heated up slightly before he quickly slipped past her, hiding his embarrassment.

  Chase: Argh! T-this is hopeless! Let’s just go to our destination!

  Selena burst into laughter, clearly amused at how easily she could fluster him again.

  Selena (to self): Oh Chase, I really love that expression of yours.

  She followed after him, her tail swaying as the two continued down the road, back to their journey once more.