Chapter 2: The First Meeting

"SOMEONE HELP! PLEASE! I’M BEING ATTACKED!"

"That sounds close," I said, running out the door. "Where the fuck is the front door Ignis!?"

"Down the hall and to the left."

I burst through the door and jumped into the open area, my heart slamming in my chest. I had no clue how I could help but hearing a woman cry for help filled me with a sense of duty. It looked like a dark-skinned woman was being pushed back by a boar, a few more steps and her back would be against it.

"Hey, look out! It’s trying to box you in!"

Without a second thought, I ran and absolutely kicked the shit out of the creature, the force sending it flying into a nearby tree. It fell into the thick brush below.

"Are you okay?" I offered her a hand, trying to act casual while my heart hammered against my ribs. "More importantly, did you see that kick? I think I just launched a boar into orbit."

"I did... it was..." She paused, catching her breath. "...definitely something. I’m Damara. Thanks for the save. Any other day, I wouldn’t have had trouble with a stray beast like that, but that bastard ambushed me," she paused, lowering her head. "I can’t believe he got the jump on me..." She muttered.

"Ah it’s no problem, I’m just glad I could help. So... what are you doing out here in the woods?" I asked, still frazzled from the encounter. "A pretty woman like yourself, I’d expect to have an entire entourage surrounding them."

As she grabbed my hand, I couldn’t help but notice her silky smooth dusky skin and a pair of rams horns jutting out of her head. The sight of her clothes hugging tightly around her hips made my face become hot as I lifted her from the ground.

A weird feeling began to creep up from the pit of my stomach. A warm, electric pulse traveled from the tips of my fingers straight down my spine. Before I could process whether it was raw adrenaline or the upgrades Celestia bragged about, a loud RPG chime rang directly between my ears.

[ QUEST COMPLETE: Save the Damsel in Distress ]

[ REWARD: +1,000 Favor Points ]

[ BONUS UNLOCKED: First Impression Assessment ]

[ Target: Damara (Fiendkin Rogue) ]

[ Special Trait:Stubborn Pride – Acts tough to hide vulnerability. ]

Forcing the windows closed, I looked back to Damara who was dusting herself off.

"I’m new... ummm... this is my house–" My thoughts dissolved along with my mind. "This huge place is mine?!"

Towering behind me was a sprawling manor built from polished dark wood and stone, its windows shimmering with faint magical light under the open sky. It looked less like a humble woodland cabin and more like an opulent estate built to house an entire royal court.

"You’re telling me you own this place?" Damara asked, crossing her arms and eyeing me with a mix of suspicion and amusement. "It’s magnificent, a bit daunting honestly," she paused, placing her hand on her chin. "And why is it out here where you’re all alone?"

"...I’m shy?" I said, my voice raising an octave.

"Well, would you help me get back? With how you kicked that boar, I’m afraid more will show up." She batted her eyelashes. "I’d really appreciate it."

"Lead the way," I managed, puffing my chest out a little further than necessary. Leaving the safety of my absurdly massive estate, we stepped into the dense canopy.

The woods buzzed with various magical hums, foreign trees and plants far larger than one would find back home brushing against my shins while several unidentifiable birds darted through the leaves above at blazing fast speeds .

Damara walked a half-step ahead, guiding us along a faint foot-worn dirt trail. Every time she glanced back over her shoulder, her ruby red eyes caught the dappled sunlight, and those sleek curved horns only made her smirk look sharper.

She moved with effortless grace, hips swaying just enough to keep my attention dangerously locked on her rather than watching for wild beasts.

"The village isn’t far from the edge of this ridge," she explained, vaulting over a mossy fallen log with rogue-like ease before looking back to see if I could keep up.

After a few more minutes of forcing our way through the dense foliage, the sounds of civilization began to bleed through. Anxiety rose as we walked into the clearing.

The tree line broke, opening up to a bustling district framed by the massive curve of the outer ring wall in the distance.

Sleek, rune-etched skiffs glided silently just above the pavement, weaving past wide sidewalks packed with humans, towering beast-kin, and demi-humans trading beneath digital storefronts projected over ancient stone.

"This place is so cool..." I whispered.

"Thanks Sam, I’ll have to repay you someday. Do you have a cellphone number or some way to get ahold of you?"

"I don’t. I guess you could come knock on my door some time," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "As long as no more baby boars try to eat you." I finished with a subtle giggle.

"Guess you’ll have to come find me then." She winked once and walked away, fading into the crowd.

Instead of following her into town, I decided to head back home. Too many things had happened at one time and my brain hadn’t had the chance to catch up. I spent the walk back in silence, mulling over my feelings.

DING!

The notification chime echoed in my mind before my vision was assaulted by a flood of alerts. Windows opened and closed too quickly for me to read. Once they stopped, I could read the message.

[ CELESTIAL MARKET: ONLINE! ]

[ Anything you could ever want is just a click away. ]

Prodding the alert expanded a sprawling grid of categories, with items priced from cheap consumables to six-figure locked artifacts. In the corner, my balance glowed with the 1,000 Favor I’d just earned, plus the 100 starting bonus from earlier.

I scrolled through the catalog and stopped on an option that made my stomach instantly grumble. Tapping the icon shaved 100 Favor off my balance, I watched as it slowly dropped.

With a soft chime and a flash of golden light, a piping-hot, grease-stained double cheeseburger materialized directly into my hands.

Taking a massive bite of the greasy, savory burger, I let out a satisfied groan. A massive mansion, god-tier powers, and infinite fast food on demand. Life in Veloria was looking up.

"Tomorrow," I muttered around a mouthful of beef and cheese, already plotting out the morning. "First thing in the morning, I’m heading into town and taking Damara out for lunch. Gotta strike while the iron is hot."

I took another bite, smiling smugly to myself, until my brain screeched to a halt.

My jaw froze mid-chew as I realized I didn’t have her number. I didn’t ask what she did for a living. And in a city spanning thousands of miles with millions of people, all I knew was her first name and that she was stunningly beautiful.

"...Oh, shit."