The Dragon's Wrath: A Virtual Dream

Chapter 25: Selene and Katherine

(Thursday, March 11th Game Day / Sunday, January 24rd Real Day)

The three day journey had multiple stops for small game hunting and rest but we eventually made it to our destination roughly thirteen hours later. We had set out into the darkness of the night on the first day and arrived within the first hour of light on the third.

Katherine was seen roasting salmon over a small campfire just outside the log cabin and I couldn't help but think she was amazingly beautiful.

The sunrise reflecting off the river's surface sent a dazzling array of light towards Kate, highlighting the features of her face in the morning dew and snow.

If she wasn't a priestess she would certainly be an angel.

Selene may have won me over with her personality but she just wasn't in the same category physically as Katherine, and to think I'm insulting Selene by saying it that way when she is a moderately attractive woman in her own right.

I was feeling like the luckiest gamer on the continent with these two at my side.

Selene casually called out to Kate, which startled the latter into nearly dropping the salmon she was roasting into the fire, causing a small amount of raucous laughter from Selene and me.

I decided to take over the fish-roasting duty while Selene and Kate shared one of those female bonding moments with overly joyous hugs and jumping, but I couldn't blame them… both of them were supposed to die if the developer had his or her way.

While thinking of the developer's intention, I started to wonder if maybe he or she didn't create them this way but this was part of the randomly generated group… roll the dice enough and you'll eventually end up with someone's idea of perfection.

If that was the case then it was extraordinarily lucky of me to end up with such balanced and attractive females.

Not long after their reunion had settled down, Katherine approached me with some dialogue and a system message:

[You have completed Katherine's Quest: You have been granted bonus Experience and have earned a significant boost in Trust and Affection from both Katherine and Selene.]

[Katherine is now a permanent Companion!]

[You have gained a new Companion!]

[Selene is now a permanent Companion!]

Well, to say I was surprised would be a lie.

I expected something of the sort but I was amazed at the amount of bonus experience I received. I had previously went from a paltry level 14 when I started the quest to level 17 after finishing off the Earl. Now, with the bonus experience from the supposedly high level quest that was dark red in my Quest Log, I leveled up from 17 to 26.

That was a monstrous jump.

To top it all off I received another title, [The Liberator of Andal].

It was a bit cheesy but it was a title nonetheless and I would not argue with the bonus reputation I was awarded. Simply looking at the influence-map found in my [Land Management] tab I could see that I was now on very friendly terms with the surrounding Triangle Villages and Andal.

And it seems my border of influence had slightly enlarged as well.

Things were certainly looking up.

I continued to roast the fish as Katherine placed her hand on my broken collarbone and began to speak softly. I wasn't really paying attention but in a moment all of the pain had started to dissipate and I turned to face her.

She stood behind me as I was kneeling on the ground and wrapped her arm around me, placing her hand on my chest. She spoke softly again and a soothing feeling permeated my body as I felt relaxed.

No, relaxed wasn't the right word, I felt healed.

I took my free hand and placed it on top of Kate's, "Thank you, I had no idea you were capable of such advanced healing."

Kate beamed a smile that seemed to radiate happiness then proudly exclaimed, "It's the least I could do!"

And then before I could say another word she put her hand on my face and whispered once more, healing my broken nose as well.

She noticed everything.

I didn't have to say a word.

A part of me wanted to pick her up and run her back to the cabin, but we weren't quite there yet.

The salmon had finished cooking and Kate went to wash the wooden plates and utensils so we could eat; the three of us eventually sitting around the campfire on log benches, eating salmon on wooden plates.

With the view of the river in front of us and the mountains and forests behind and to the side, a beautiful woman to my left and another to my right, fresh wild-caught fire-roasted salmon on my plate… life was looking pretty good.

Certainly an experience I would never have in the real world.

I took my time to enjoy the moment for what it was.

Oftentimes people get so caught up in progression, moving forward and on and on without stopping to appreciate the small things in life. I've been through enough in my life that I've learned to appreciate a sunny day, a pain free day, a day where I can smile.

You can never take a single day for granted as you never know what may happen in the future, no matter how much you think you might know.

Plus it was a sunny day with two beauties at the river, that can't be passed up!

I just need to find the fur bikinis somewhere.