Chapter 19: No Plan, No Problem

"What’s going on?!" Damara called from the bed.

"It’s the system. I got an urgent quest. Get dressed, we have to go," I explained, throwing her clothes to her. "Get ready to meet harem member number two."

Damara forced her shirt over her horns, letting it fall over her tight frame. Her nipples pushed the fabric out. The sight tried to ignite my flame, but I fought it off, shoving my boots on.

She tilted her head. "Already?" She puffed her cheeks out. "I was hoping to have you to myself for a bit longer..." she huffed, shooting me a piercing glance. "Fine, let’s go."

In a blink, we were sprinting through town, toward the lower quarter. Our boots smacked hard against the pavement. Sharp gusts of wind whipped across our faces as we cut past startled pedestrians.

Shopkeepers shouted in dismay as we kicked up clouds of dry street dirt along the narrow market avenues. We stopped before rounding a corner to catch our breath.

Pulling my phone out, I checked the quest.

[ URGENT QUEST: A Cry for Help in the Market ]

[ TIME LEFT: 4 MINUTES ]

"We don’t have much time left," I managed, huffing profusely. "Plan?"

"Let me handle the distraction," she said, her tone different from moments ago. She peered around the corner. "Four guards, armed and wearing full chainmail. I can’t approach from the front."

Glancing at my phone, I said, "Three minutes."

Damara stood straight, her body tensing. "Shit," she scoffed. "Here goes nothing..."

In an instant, she had closed the distance and hidden behind a food cart. She gave me a glance, winking, before she placed her hands on the cart, shoving it over and flinging her body over it like she had tripped.

The guards’ focus changed, and the timer on my phone increased. Good, it’s working. They surrounded her, weapons drawn, yelling different things.

Wooden crates splintered open, spilling bruised fruit everywhere. Iron blades rasped violently as they slid free from heavy leather scabbards.

My stomach dropped as Damara raised her hands. One of the guards grabbed her wrist, yanking her forward. She let out a whimper that sent a jolt of rage down my spine and into my feet, making them feel like TV static.

"She needs help," I huffed, gathering my nerves.

Throwing my phone in my pocket, I ran out from the alley and toward the scene. No plan. My vision blurred on the edges as I walked up, chest puffed.

The woman on the ground looked at me. Her cat ears tucked low. Her lip was fat, and blood was running down her face. The sight enraged me further.

"Let go!" I demanded, my voice harsh and absolute. "She’s done nothing wrong. What, are the guards of Valeria just a bunch of bullies who pick on women?" I spat on the ground. WHAT AM I DOING?! "Now let her go if you don’t want any problems."

My mouth was moving faster than my mind could. My stomach dropped, waiting for a response. They didn’t have time to give one. Damara ripped away from the guard holding her.

She lunged back, lowering herself into a literal football snap position. Like a beautiful linebacker, she tackled the entire group of guards, their armor clanging against the cobblestone.

"RUN!" she yelled at the woman on the ground.

Her ears perked slightly as she slowly lifted herself off the ground. Halfway to her feet, she fell back down.

"D, I’m going to have to carry her. Meet back at the manor?!" I yelled, thinking not to use her full name.

"Get your prize and get out of here," she called, starting to run from the guards. "See you soon!"

All four followed, the former interest forgotten.

Running over, I picked the woman up. She was incredibly light and thin. Her face was slightly sunken, and she smelled foul. Her battered orange tail twitched weakly as I pulled her against my chest.

Her shallow breathing fluttered against the fabric of my shirt in fragile, ragged gasps. My heart instantly hurt as I recognized her.

"Let’s get you safe..." I whispered, fast walking toward the manor.

I broke into a steady jog, ducking into the narrow side streets before the rest of the market could register the chaos. The sound of armor died with the distance.

"I hope Damara is okay..." I whispered.

The girl barely weighed anything in my arms, her head lolling against my shoulder with every stride. Nobody gave us a second look. A few stray merchants glanced up from their stalls before quickly turning their attention back to their wares.

The noise of the district thinned out until only the sound of my heavy breaths remained. Towering stone buildings gave way to open dirt trails. Once the treeline swallowed the trail, the cool shade of the canopy hit my skin, bringing my pulse back down to an even thud.

The sprawling outline of the manor appeared through the brush.

I took the front porch stairs two at a time, kicking the front door open with my heel and rushing inside into the quiet warmth of the foyer.

She had passed out sometime during the journey. I set her down on one of my couches, making for the kitchen shortly after. Filling a glass with water, I set it in front of her on a small table. I gently pushed a matted lock of orange hair away from her bruised forehead.

My phone erupted with sounds and vibrations. The feeling tickled my inner thigh. Opening my phone, I was met with a flood of notifications.

[ QUEST COMPLETE: A Cry For Help in the Market ]

[ REWARD: 10,000 Favor + New Celestial Market Items ]

[ QUEST COMPLETE: No Plan, No Problem ]

[ REWARD: 15,000 Favor ]

There were more, but the sound of footsteps on the front steps caught my attention. I ran to the front door, opening it to reveal a huffing Damara. Drenched in sweat, she walked past me and into the house.

"I cannot believe that worked," she exclaimed, walking toward the woman. "So who’s this?"

"Did I tell you about my phone getting stolen?"

"You did, this is the woman?"

"It is,"