Leveling Up by Seducing Milfs-Chapter 44. Farewell Before Trial

"Rick, this is your path. It’s scary and dangerous, but it’s also necessary. You saved the capital once... but now... you have to save the world, and that starts with getting the Dragon Queen’s respect and help."

She got closer and took his hands in hers. "But I also think you don’t have to deal with it all by yourself."

"Spirit Bonds work even when you’re far away, right? You will still be able to talk to Carmilla and Natasha. They can’t fight with you in person, but their strength and support will always be with you."

Rick felt something get tight in his chest. "Are you all really okay with this?"

Carmilla said, "No," in a very direct way. "I’m scared..."

"I want to punch something because the thought of you facing unknown dangers for three weeks while we are stuck here helpless makes me want to, but that doesn’t change what has to happen."

"Rick, you’ve never backed down from doing what’s right. That’s one of the things I like best about you, and I won’t ask you to start now..."

"Me too," Natasha said. "Though I am entitled to be very angry with you for the whole three weeks you’re gone."

Liora smiled gently. "And I will pray for your safety every day."

"The gods like people who are brave, and you are one of those people."

Rick looked at the three women who had quickly become crucial to him. They were all very different from each other, but they all trusted him.

Even though it meant letting him walk into danger, they all stood by him. That faith and trust were incredibly important to him because he had not experienced such support in his previously dull life.

"Okay," he finally said. "I’ll go!"

"I’ll go through the trials and show the dragons that I’m worthy! Then I’ll come back here, and we’ll figure out what to do next."

"Now that’s a good answer." Carmilla hugged him tightly. "Just promise me you’ll be safe. No more brave acts unless they are absolutely necessary."

"I promise to be as careful as I can."

"That’s not the same thing."

"It’s the best I can do."

Natasha joined the hug from the other side, which was very unlike her. Rick could feel her real fear for him through the Spirit Bond, even though she always seemed cold. "Try not to die this time, and I mean it..."

"That’s not a request... it’s my own selfish wish..."

"Yes, ma’am."

Liora hugged them all at once, making a group hug that felt both close and strong. "May the gods keep an eye on you, Rick Rolland."

"May they lead you and give you strength. And may you come back to us whole and victorious."

Rick gets squeezed by six boobies at once, and he starts having a hard time breathing, but it was all worth it because now his confidence keeps on rising just like the sword behind his pants right now. "Thank you... all of you..."

They stood like that for a few minutes, getting strength and comfort from each other. Rick remembered how it felt to have all three of them close to him, knowing it would be three weeks before he felt that way again.

In the end, they went their separate ways. Rick put his few things into a pack.

He didn’t have much, just some clothes, basic supplies, and the weapons he had been using. Carmilla looked over his tools carefully to make sure they were all in excellent shape.

Natasha put spells on his food to keep it fresh for longer. Liora blessed a small pendant and put it around his neck. She then whispered a prayer for his safety.

Rick left the capital with three of his partners as the sun was setting. They all walked to the city gates with him.

A small group of people had gathered because they had heard about the Dragon Queen’s ultimatum. Fredrich was there too, and he didn’t look happy, but he accepted it.

The Grand Magister said, "I still think the situation is too risky, but I guess we don’t have much choice in this."

"Rick Rolland, please don’t die. The Dragon’s pride is too strong to lose you."

"I’ll do my best, sir."

They kept going north on the road that led to the mountains where Sylvia had said she would be waiting. The sun was setting, and the sky was turning orange and red, which seemed fitting since Rick was going to meet someone.

Rick stopped at the edge of the wilderness, where the road started to rise into the foothills, and turned to face Carmilla, Natasha, and Liora one last time.

"Three weeks," he said. "I’ll be back in three weeks, no matter what."

"You’d better be," Carmilla said, her voice full of emotion she was trying to hide.

Rick hugged each of them again and took the time to remember how they felt, how they smelled, and how warm their bodies were against his. Then, before he could change his mind, he turned around and started walking up the mountain path by himself.

As he moved away from Carmilla and Natasha, he could feel his Spirit Bonds stretching but not breaking. It felt strange, like rubber bands pulling tight, but Liora was right.

The connections stayed strong. He could still feel them in his mind and heart, and he could still feel their emotions moving through the bonds.

After an hour of climbing, he finally got to the clearing where Sylvia was waiting. She was back in her human form, sitting on a big rock and looking at the sunset with a look that could have been sad.

"You came," she said without looking back. "I’m starting to think that you’re going to ditch out like a coward."

"I promised you I’d get you an answer by sunset." Rick walked up slowly. "And here goes my answer..."

Rick takes a deep breath and says, "Yeah, let’s go. I’ll take on your challenges."

"I’ll show your kingdom what I’m made of. And by the end of it, we should have taken the first real step toward bringing the Seven Powers together."

Sylvia stood up and faced him. For the first time since they met, she smiled. It was a real smile, warm and joyful, and it changed her face from beautiful in a royal way to something that was almost friendly.

"Then let’s get started, Rick Rolland, Hero of Mature Hearts." She reached out her hand to him again. "Welcome to the Northern Peaks."

"Don’t die in the first week if you can help it. That would be very disappointing."

Rick took her hand and felt the heat and strength in her grip. He let himself be pulled into whatever came next.

He could feel Carmilla and Natasha’s love, fear, and hope all mixed together behind him through the Spirit Bonds. In front of him were three weeks of deadly tests in a kingdom of dragons. Sylvia’s dragon shape flew around in the darkening sky above him.

Rick said to himself, "Here we go."

He could hear Sebastian’s voice in his head. "Good luck, you gooner. Please don’t make me look for a new host."

"That sounds concerning.."

Then Sylvia’s magic wrapped around him, the world became blurry, and Rick Rolland’s next big adventure began.