Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In a forest in the late morning with the sun shining down between the leaves of trees, the forest was quiet. A bit too quiet. A wild horn rabbit hopped out of the bushes, looking for something to eat. Its ears twitched as it looked around, unaware of the danger that was around it from within the shadows of the trees above it. Eight eyes stared down at the helpless prey below.

These monsters were called Venom Tarantulas as one of them, being above the Horn Rabbit lowered down slightly before snapping its own web, falling straight to the horn rabbit which was the meal but it would have succeeded if it weren't for a familiar crimson furred paw coming into view along with a familiar face.

Fel channeled his lightning magic through his body before casting it and electrocuting the spiders which all fell to the ground and letting the Horn Rabbit escape.

Moments earlier upon entering the forest...

"It's not even midday yet and it's already this dark and way too ominous." Alice, now 18 just 3 days ago, said as she walked beside Fel with Dragonair fluttering her wing ears as Sui was in the bag.

"The map clearly shows that we have to go through this forest to reach the town of Claire." She said as she looked at the map.

"Why do I have a feeling this place is filled with bugs?" She muttered quietly as Fel turned to her, sensing her unease.

"Hmm. Bugs... I don't like bugs." He told her as she turned to him in surprise.

"Wait, what? You do?" Alice asked him in surprise as Dratini looked at Fel curiously.

"Not only that, Venom Tarantulas. The shells make it hard to eat." He simply said as she laughed slightly. Of course food was on his mind.

"And just when I thought it was something important, food is still in your mind, fluffball." She said playfully as he chuckled.

"What? Food is important." He said playfully.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it-" Alice said only to walk face first into something sticky as Fel paused beside her as he noticed a Horn Rabbit and something else.

"Gah! What is this?!" She removed it and noticed the familiar texture.

"Is this...string shot?" She asked in confusion before her hair stood on edge suddenly and she looked as Fel casted his lightning magic at something as a Horn Rabbit ran past them.

Current moment...

Fel casted his lightning magic once more and took out the remaining spiders around them which all fell down to the ground as they came out of the tree line.

"Don't tell me that's all of them. Mere child's play." Fel said, sounding a bit disappointed but he had noticed how they seem to be on edge.

Alice stepped towards the spiders and knelt down to examine them.

"I don't like how hairy they are. Though they remind me of these spiders back home; Spinarak and Ariados are poison types and Galvantula which is an electric type but both are bug types." Alice noticed before she looked at Fel.

"What are we going to do with all these?" She asked him curiously though she already had an idea what.

"Venom Tarantula's shells make them a challenge to eat." He explained once more.

"You mean these guys are edible?" She asked him curiously. Now she's curious what they taste like as Dragonair landed, looking at the Venom Tarantula with a wary expression while Sui peeked out and saw that the fight was over.

"Over already? Sui wanted to go pew-pew on those guys." Sui said, sad that he didn't get to fight one.

"I'm afraid Uncle Fel was too much of a show-off. Maybe next time." Alice told Sui as she petted his head as she gave Fel a teasing glance who snorted in amusement.

"Sui gets it." Sui said as he hopped out of the bag.

"But something is off about this forest. They seem more aggressive than usual." Fel said as he looked at the Venom Tarantulas. Normally they wouldn't attack unless something had agitated them. Something must've happened.

"Noticed it too huh?" Alice asked as she stood up. She had indeed thought that the atmosphere was tense for some reason.

"You mentioned that it was not midday yet, correct?" Fel asked her curiously as they found a much more lighted area.

"Yup." Alice said as she went to the Venom tarantula.

"I'll store these guys for now. You never know when they could come in handy." She said, putting the bag down as she started to put each one in her item box. It took her a few rounds but she managed to put each one into her item box.

"How about we stop for lunch?" She suggested as they found the perfect spot to have lunch.

"Now, what's on our menu for today?" She took out the folding table before the type of meats they're going to use.

"We don't have very much of any one ingredient." Alice said, not knowing which meat to use before her eyes landed on the ground meat and had an idea.

"I know! I'll make gyoza!" She suggested as she put the other two meat away before bringing out the utensils from her item box.

"Gyoza?" Sui asked her curiously, jumping on her shoulders with Dragonair looking at the meat that was going to be used.

"What is gyoza?" Fel asked her curiously. That was a new word that he had never heard of before and Alice seemed to know what it was.

"You'll have to wait and see." She told them as Fel's ears twitched curiously before agreeing. He's curious though.

"Acceptable." He agreed which made her smile and in turn, her smile made his tail wag happily.

"Sui's hungry! Hurry, Mama!" Sui said excitedly which made Alice chuckle.

"I know, I know." Alice said as Dragonair scooped Sui up on her head so they could watch.

"We'll need gyoza wrappers from the online grocery if I'm gonna make us gyoza. And I'll pick up some special seasonings too." She told them as she opened the online grocery to start getting the items she needed. The online grocery has saved them countless times when it comes to their meals. Fel immediately wagyu and wanted some of it even though he had said he won't ask her for some yesterday.

"I see plenty of wagyu options!" He said excitedly as Alice chuckled at him. She can tell he hadn't asked wagyu for a long while now but not today.

"Sui wants to shop too!" Sui said excitedly, wanting to see what Mama is gonna pick as Dragonair looked at the online grocery excitedly.

"We're buying the essentials for the gyoza this time, Fel, and nothing more. But I promise I'll get the wagyu if it comes to that, okay?" Alice told him as he sulked a little but he nodded.

"Promise?" He said as she chuckled and petted his head.

"Promise." Alice soon purchased the items she needed as the box appeared. She opened it to see that it had purchased items.

She lay everything down on the table as she smiled.

"Now we have all the ingredients." Alice said as she started the process by chopping up the vegetables.

'First, finely chop the vegetables.' Alice put the chopped vegetables in two bowls before moving to the second part.

'Next, add ginger and garlic paste to the ground orc general meat. Then soy sauce, sake, chicken broth powder, and finally sesame oil, salt and pepper.' She added the ingredients into the bowl that has the ground meat, making sure that every ingredient added was the right amount.

'Be very careful with how much of each you use.' Alice smiled as she had put the right amount, setting the seasonings down.

"Because with raw meat, you really can't taste as you go, right?" She said, knowing that Fel had feasted on raw meat before they first met before she started to knead everything together.

Fel had decided to lay down since it was taking a bit long as he watched. He was getting really hungry but he knew that after Alice had cooked their meal, it would always be worth it.

"Now knead and keep on kneading until everything sticks together." Alice said as Fel, Sui and Dragonair waited for her to be finished until she started to add the chopped veggies from earlier.

"Add Japanese chives in your pre-dried and salted cabbage. Then you need to knead some more." She said as she kneaded everything together into a perfect texture. She can tell everyone was hungry and she was too but she needs the food prepared properly before cooking.

"Is it ready?" Sui asked. He was getting hungry now even Dragonair who nudged Alice's head slightly.

"My stomach grows impatient." Fel told her and Alice knew that they have to wait a bit more since she had to put the meat in the gyoza wrappers.

"I know, I know. Sorry you guys. We're only just getting started on the wrapping." Alice apologized as she looked to Fel who's ears twitched but he nodded to let her proceed with the next step.

She grabbed a spoon after opening the packet of gyoza wrappers she bought before taking them out. She placed them on a small plate before taking one of the wrappers, grabbing a spoon that she used to scoop some filling to put in the wrapper.

'There's a lot of ways to wrap gyoza, but pleats are ideal if you plan to pan fry them.' She thought as she folded the first one in half and pressed both edges closed into pleats. She had made the first one and Fel was impressed by the technique.

"Is there a reason to fold the edges?" Fel asked curiously as she smiled.

"It's to keep the meat from spilling out if anyone cooks it but I think the pleats gives it a more unique look." Alice explained as she set the first one down on a large plate to start on the second one.

"Mama is amazing!" Sui said in awe. Fel agreed with him silently as he stared at Alice who smiled bashfully at Sui. She is indeed amazing and his entire being couldn't have picked the perfect mate.

"Thank you, Sui. It's really not so tricky, but would you like to try it, Sui?" Alice asked him, knowing that he would say yes. He's such a good kid and wants to help.

"Yeah!" Sui cheered happily, bouncing excitedly.

She soon handed Sui one wrapper to try and he held it carefully in his tentacle hands.

"Place some filling in the center of the wrapper." Alice instructed as she placed the filling in hers and Sui's.

"Place some filling." Sui mimicked her which was very adorable as Fel watched the process, practically drooling but he tried to reign it in and yet he couldn't help himself.

"Now gently pinch the edges to seal it." She instructed once more, showing Sui how to make the pleats which he copied.

"Gently." Sui copied her instructions and the results became different for both of them. While Alice's was normal, Sui's was a bit messy.

"Sui's looked different." Sui said, looking confused and sad that his didn't look like mama's gyoza but Alice just smiled and petted him, reassuring him that it's okay.

"We added a little too much filling. But it's okay, Sui. Other than that tiny mess up, you're a pro." Alice said and Sui felt happy and motivated to keep helping her.

"Sui's a pro!" Sui cheered happily.

The process took a little longer as Fel let out a yawn and lay down to watch them. And with Sui's help, they managed to make a lot of gyoza for them all on two plates and Alice chuckled at the amount.

"Looks like a Fel-sized portion to me." She said teasingly to Fel who snorted but smirked at her playful tone as she put the pan over the stove before turning it on to medium heat and placing the gyoza in it.

'Arrange the gyoza and cook them on medium heat.' She made sure the fire wasn't too high or low, watching as the gyoza changed colors before adding the next thing.

'Once they start to change color, add some flour dissolved in water and cover the pan.' Alice poured a generous amount of the flour water before covering it.

'The water will boil off and the pan will start to sizzle.' Alice listened carefully as Fel's ears twitched and the sizzling started before she took off the lid. She grabbed the bottle of sesame oil which was the last step before serving.

'That's when you start to drizzle the sesame oil.' She drizzled the right amount of sesame oil before putting the bottle away. She grabbed a plate to cover the pan.

"Last but not least..." She grinned as she made sure to be careful as she flipped the pan so her hand that was on the plate was under which she did in one swift motion before removing the pan, to show the finished dish.

"Now! Feast your eyes upon these thoroughly seasoned gyoza!" Alice announced and the trio looked excited at how delicious it looked.

Fel's tail started to wag as Sui jumped excitedly with Dragonair swaying her tail lightly. Lunch is served!

"Here you go. Sorry to keep you guys waiting." Alice set the plate down for them all to try.

"Now, I added some extra so they shouldn't need any sauce. But a little chili oil and vinegar, soy sauce-" She started to explain but was cut off by Fel who couldn't resist any longer as he went right to eating it and Alice just smiled. He deserved it after all that waiting.

Fel grabbed a couple in his mouth before he chomped on it and a burst of flavors he had never tasted before met his taste buds. They were delicious!

"These scalding pearls are filled with a distinct meaty yet juicy goodness the likes of which I have never tasted!" Fel exclaimed in delight and excitement which made Alice smile even more as Dragonair and Sui decided to try some too.

"The moment you bite into them, the flavor explodes onto your tongue! The temperature, texture and aroma are all exceptional!" Fel said, giving a detailed description of the gyoza. They're very delicious!

"Sui likes the crispy outsides with the ooey gooey insides!" Sui said in delight as he and Dragonair enjoyed their first taste. They finished their first serving and are ready for more.

"Another round please!" Sui said with Dragonair.

"Another round at once!" Fel said at the same time, holding the plate in his mouth. His tail wouldn't stop wagging as he approached Alice who was already making another batch.

"I figured you three would ask for more, so I started on a second batch. Just wait a little bit longer." She told them as Fel set the plate on the table and she instinctively scratched him behind the ears which made him lean against her touch with a smile and she smiled back.

They were unaware that they were being watched by something small from the shadows of a tree, watching the four of them eat lunch without a care in the world. It had followed this group for three days after it had first smelled something delicious and now it was surprised to see a Fenrir, a human, a slime and dragon-like Serpent eating something that smells so good. It must have some of that meal.

Alice was the last one to eat as Fel, Sui and Dragonair were really hungry but she was glad they enjoyed the gyoza.

"What a decadent delicacy." Fel said happily, laying behind her with Sui resting by his foreleg and Dragonair coiled slightly on Alice's other side as he lowered his head to take a post-meal nap.

"Good job, Mama. So tasty." Sui said in content as he hopped to her.

"I'm glad you guys love it and if you three had eaten your fill, I won't hold back." Alice said as she prepared to eat her share. She took her first bite and Fel was right as she hummed in delight. It was delicious. She picked up the can of Pinap juice and drank from it as she sighed.

"Nothing but a cold drink and a warm gyoza." She said in delight before something practically smacked itself into her face much to her shock and disbelief as she let out a yelp which alerted Fel as he raised his head immediately to see what caused her to yelp.

The first thing that came to her mind was to smack it away before she sensed that it wasn't something but a creature and she pried it off her face, careful not to harm it and all she could do was stare at the creature in her hands. It was practically the size of a doll but could tell it was a male from the aura it was giving off

The creature has a petite and adorable figure who is about 20 cm from its nose to the tip of his tail with red scales and wings and eyes are black but it has a slight blue hue to it and it's underbelly from the mouth and wings were a cream color.

All Alice could do was stare at the creature in surprise and confusion, her shock and disbelief fading away. She couldn't help but think that this one was cute but Sui was cute too until he was revealed to be really strong under hers and Fel's care but she wondered what this creature is this time. She let the creature go and watched as it flapped its wings, staring at her with curiosity. He was curious why she didn't freak out and how she's not immediately in awe of his presence. Humans would be very lucky if they saw him and went nuts but this one was just staring at him with curiosity.

"Uh, Fel, what's that?" Alice asked Fel who looked at the creature warily, recognizing what he was.

"That is what we call a Pixie Dragon. And it's a very rare find indeed." Fel told her as she looked at him in confusion. A Pixie Dragon? That might explain the size.

"This small creature is a dragon?" Alice asked in confusion before she noticed how it seemed to cringe at the word small and she smiled apologetically.

"Well, I didn't realize they could be so small. But then again, I'd seen Pokémon big or small." She said reassuringly which surprised the Pixie Dragon but it was staring at the gyoza. When she moved the chopsticks that were holding the gyoza she was about to eat, the Pixie Dragon followed it.

She moved it again to see what the Pixie Dragon would do and the same result. Growing a bit fond of the creature quickly given how it didn't seem threatening, Alice decided to let the Pixie Dragon take the gyoza.

"Maybe you like the smell of the gyoza, huh? Here, try it." She said and the Pixie Dragon nodded excitedly. Alice gave the gyoza to him and it was practically the size of his entire torso, using his arms and claws to hold the gyoza.

The Pixie Dragon sniffed the gyoza before taking his fist bite and immediately cried in delight before eating it all enthusiastically, scaly tail wagging as Alice watched with a warm smile while Fel, Dragonair and Sui watched the newcomer. The Pixie Dragon finished the gyoza, eyes sparkling in delight before he flew to Alice, grasping her shirt on the shoulder, tugging at it while letting out cries in delight, wanting more of the gyoza.

"You want some more?" She asked the Pixie Dragon with a chuckle before offering her own lunch to the creature who didn't hesitate to start eating it.

'(You gave your meal so freely when you haven't eaten your fill yet? You will be hungry before we reach the human town.)' Fel told her telepathically, worried and a bit annoyed that the Pixie Dragon got to eat all of the gyoza while Alice only got to eat one.

'(It's fine, Fel. I can always eat later. Plus he seems to really like it.)' Alice reassured him telepathically which made him huff. He still didn't like it. The last time she didn't get to eat anything was when they met those folks from Karelina.

They watched the Pixie Dragon eat its fill as Alice wondered about something as she looked to Fel.

"Hey, Fel, you said that this Pixie Dragon is a rare find?" She asked as he nodded.

"Indeed. Do not allow its small stature to deceive you. Not only are these beasts surprisingly quick, they are deadly combatants and masters in every type of magic." He told her a short explanation but Alice gave him a look and a knowing smile, sensing he knows more than he let on.

"They might look different, but it's still a dragon. Pixie Dragons can move at an incredible speed. They're also bursting with magic and can even use all different elements of magic. Spreading magic across their whole body, they can rush at some pretty crazy speeds." Fel explained further as she breathed in awe. This one is that powerful, huh? They look at the Pixie Dragon who had finished the gyoza, licking its claws before looking up at Alice as if contemplating something.

It suddenly rushed at her, smacking against her face once again as she yelp, falling against Fel's side.

"H-Hey! What's this all of a sudden?! Why are you on my head?" She exclaimed in disbelief as she used both hands to get him off her face before she noticed that a flash appeared when the Pixie Dragon did that.

"What was that?" She asked the Pixie Dragon only to hear a voice similar to how Sui would talk to her, Fel and her Pokemon.

"Hey! That stuff is crazy delicious! Give me more!" The voice said excitedly as Alice blinked as she slowly sat up.

"Who just said that?" Alice asked as she looked at Sui who was confused and excited. It didn't belong to Sui or Dragonair. She looked to Fel who just looked worried as he helped sit up properly, letting out a sigh. He had used appraisal and he saw what the Pixie Dragon just did.

"It's obvious that Pixie Dragon has decided to join our party as your familiar." Fel said, looking wary and much to Alice's surprise as she looked at the Pixie Dragon in shock.

"My third familiar?" She questioned in disbelief and surprise as the Pixie Dragon just smiled cheekily at her and she quickly checked her stats and saw her new addition. Guess he is now her familiar.

[Name] Alice
[Age] 18
[Job] Accidental Otherworlder
Pokémon Researcher
Slime's Mother
[Level] 8
[Strength] 144
[Magic] 142
[Defense] 124
[Attack] 126
[Agility] 126
[Skill] Appraise, Item Box, Fire Magic, Earth Magic
[Familiars] Fenrir, Big Slime, Pixie Dragon
[Unique Skill] Online Grocery
[Blessing] {Goddess of Wind: Ninrir's blessing (Minor)}, {Goddess of Earth: Kishar's blessing (Moderate)}, {Goddess of Fire, Agni's blessing (Moderate)}

"What a meal! I can tell just by looking at it!" The Pixie Dragon said happily as it flew out of her hands while Alice looked at him in surprise and curiosity.

"I don't mind being your familiar if it means I get to eat tasty stuff like that!" He said, voice certain before lowering down slightly.

"Nice to meet ya!" He greeted Alice energetically which made her smile a little.

"You're quite energetic for a Pixie Dragon." Alice couldn't help but say as she hesitantly reached her hand and scratched him behind the horns, he melted instantly with how gentle she did it. That felt nice.

"He's talking! Just like how Sui can talk!" Sui said excitedly, bouncing happily as Alice stopped scratching as the Pixie Dragon looked at Sui and was surprised when he sensed that the slime was much stronger than he thought.

"Wow, you're a lot stronger than you seem at first glance, aren't ya?" He couldn't help but say in surprise before he looked at Dragonair.

"Wow! I've never seen a beast like you before! You look like a Serpent but you give off the scent of a dragon!" He marveled in awe as he circled Dragonair curiously.

"That's Dragonair. She's actually a dragon type Pokemon." Alice explained to him with a smile as he flew back to her with Sui still happy that someone can talk just like him.

"Sui is strong! Strong is Sui!" Sui said giddily before Alice looked at the Pixie Dragon.

"Hold on just a second, guys. I may not have a choice here like before but are you sure?" Alice asked the Pixie Dragon. She doesn't want him regretting his decision after.

"Fel told me you're some sort of ultra-rare beast. Are you sure you want to be my familiar? I don't want you regretting your decision after." She told him as he had his claws behind his head.

"I've already made up my mind. Your cooking is the most delicious I've ever tasted. Plus you seem really nice too. And if I stick by your side, I'll get to keep on eating it, won't I?" The Pixie Dragon said as Alice hummed.

"I guess but I just want to make sure that you won't regret your decision after, okay?" She told him with a small smile.

"His reasoning is sound." Fel agreed as he stood up.

"A few decades spent doing the bidding of a human who has been nothing but kindhearted and thoughtful is no great loss to legendary creatures like us." Fel said but he didn't mean it like that.

'(I didn't mean it that way.)' He said defensively as he looked away, ears flat against his head but it was true and it saddened him a lot. Alice only gets to live for a few decades and after that...

Sensing something was wrong, Alice stood up as she went to Fel and petted his neck gently.

"Something wrong, Fel?" She asked him gently as his ears lowered.

"You're... You're the first and only human that has been nothing but kind to beasts like us. You never treat us as mindless creatures but beings with emotions and you make us feel seen." He told her as she looked at him with a saddened look.

"And the first one that doesn't want your powers to be used as a weapon?" She said softly as he nodded hesitantly.

"I know. And I know that a few decades with me might feel short to you, but it feels longer to me and I cherish every moment I have with all of you." Alice said as she walked around and held his face in her hands and he leaned against her touch and their foreheads touched once more. Something that only both of them share.

"Wow, you two are cute together." The Pixie Dragon said which caused major embarrassment between them both causing them to blush lightly as Alice reluctantly let go with Fel pulling back hesitantly as the Pixie Dragon came to Fel.

"But I'm glad someone gets it. Us long-lived species should get to have fun too. And you're a-okay in my book." The Pixie Dragon said, the last part to Alice who just smiled.

'Even though the familiar contract was formed between us, I can tell that this is just the start of something great. I don't know why but Fel, Sui and this Pixie Dragon are hearty eaters.' Alice thought softly with a smile as the Pixie Dragon and Fel high five before the Pixie Dragon came to her.

"First things first, as your familiar, I'm going to need a name. Get creative, buddy." The Pixie Dragon told her.

"For a Pixie Dragon, you're pretty demanding." She told him as she stood up, starting to come up with a name.

"What do you name a dragon?" She muttered as she thought about it.

"A very special dragon." She stared at the Pixie Dragon before she had an idea.

"I know. How about Dora-Chan?" She suggested but the Pixie Dragon, now named Dora-Chan looked shocked. What?!

"Dora-Chan?!" He exclaimed in shock and disbelief as Fel looked amused when Dora-Chan fell to the ground but got back up and started to hit her shoulder which didn't hurt.

"Are you kidding me? That name doesn't suit me at all!" He complained but Alice just took him in her hands as he sat on her palms with a pout while Fel just chuckled.

"Come on, don't be like that. The name Dora is short for dragon in Japanese terms from what I read. Plus it also means gift." She explained as he crossed his arms, looking away.

"And I think it fits you perfectly, Dora-Chan." Alice smiled warmly at him as he glance at her.

"That's the kind of name you give a child. I'm an adult dragon!" He explained.

"Really? To me, you sound like a juvenile. But let me check your stats just to be sure." Alice said, not belittling him and used appraisal.

[Name] Dora-Chan
[Age] 116
[Race] Pixie Dragon
[Level] 126
[Strength] 895
[Magic] 2879
[Attack] 2652
[Defense] 865
[Agility] 3269
[Skill] Fire Magic, Water Magic, Wind Magic, Earth Magic, Ice Magic, Lightning Magic, Healing Magic, Bombardment,
[Blessing]

"Sorry , but it looks like your name's already been set but it's incredible. Your speed is way higher." Alice noted in surprise. Maybe it was due to his wings giving him a large boost.

"And you're 116 years old? You don't look it but I guess it's because you're technically still in your prime. People might mistake you for a baby dragon." She chuckled as he sighed in dismay.

"Don't you think you could come up with something cooler?" He complained as he sat on her shoulder. Despite the name being a bit lame, she wasn't belittling him which he liked especially when she scratched that spot behind his horns.

"It's too late now." Fel said as Alice picked up the plates to put them away in her item box.

"Honestly, I don't get why you'd be unhappy with your new name. There were people back home that named their pokemon something too ridiculous. But yours is more unique." Alice told Dora-Chan as she headed for the table though she could have named him Blaze or Crimson but they don't feel right.

"I would have thought of something but Dora-Chan feels like it fits you." She said as Fel came to her.

"You can't expect much from her." Fel said playfully as he nudged her playfully which caused her to chuckle.

"At first for me, when we forged our contract, she first attempted to name me Poochie or Grumpup, both of which awoke an anger in the core of my being." He said as she rolled her eyes playfully but he nudged her, indicating that it was true but he had let it go.

"Because you kept demanding a lot of the Ginger-Fried Red Boar I made for Iron Will and you scared them. That was called a small payback." Alice said playfully which made him huff in amusement.

"It sounds like she was trying to make you into her fluffy Fenrir pet." Dora-Chan said, noticing how Alice and Fel went rigid at that.

"Dora-Chan, it's not like that. I only suggested those names as payback but he likes the name I gave him. Plus it suits him and it's very Fenrir-like for a majestic beast as Fel." Alice chided Dora-Chan lightly as he backed off sheepishly but he nodded as Sui bounced over.

"Sui's name is Sui." Sui introduced himself happily as Dragonair slithered over.

"So you like your name, huh?" Dora-Chan noted as he went to the slime and landed on top of him and Sui started to bounce him much to Dora-chan's surprise which turn into delight.

"Yeah!" Sui giggled as he bounced Dora-Chan on him, causing the Pixie Dragon to laugh in delight as Alice watched them with a fond smile.

"I was worried about having another familiar for a second but I'm glad you're all getting along very well. You'll fit in well around here." Alice said happily, watching Dora-Chan and Sui play while Fel sat down beside her, watching them with Dragonair.

It took them until the next day to finally reach their first stop. The town of textiles; Claire. Though it took them a while since a centipede monster almost attacked the stone house Alice made for them to sleep in but Fel dealt with it quickly so they can get some sleep after putting the barrier up.

"Wow. We've finally arrived." Alice said in awe as Fel shook himself as Eevee was on her shoulder since she recalled Dragonair back in her Poke Ball and Dora-Chan sitting on the flap of her bag where Sui is resting. They went to the guild first so she can register Dora-Chan as her new familiar.

But when Alice opened the door and let Fel in first, she was met by a surprise. The one at the receptionist desk was a person but her appearance reminded her of a canine, especially the ears and tail.

"Welcome to Claire's adventurer's guild. What's your business here today?" The beast girl. Dottie, greeted her warmly, her tail wagging and Alice couldn't help but awe at how cute she was.

"Um, hi, my name is Alice and I actually need to talk to the Guildmaster here." Alice said as she showed Dottie the reference letter and she gasped before nodding.

"Of course! Please wait a moment." She said before hurrying to get the Guildmaster as Alice watched her leave.

'(This is the first time I'm seeing someone like her. She's pretty cute with those features.)' She told Fel who was watching Dottie leave before his attention returned to Alice as Sui peeked out of the bag.

'(That is what we call a beastman.)' Fel said as Alice turned to him curiously.

'(A beastman?)' She questioned.

'(Yup! Beast men have animal-like traits like that beast girl for example.)' Dora-Chan piped in.

'(In all my years, beastmen are usually considered low-class slaves in certain countries. I've heard that there are three countries that don't treat those that aren't human.)' Fel explained grimly as Dora-Chan nodded.

'(Elves, beastmen even dwarves aren't treated as if they're not human.)' Dora-Chan pipped in sadly, his tail flicking as Alice looked to them before looking to where Dottie ran off to.

'(Does that mean... Reijseger is one of them?)' Alice said sadly. She couldn't help but pity those that aren't treated as equals. Even if this is her first time hearing of other beings, she sees Dottie as a being not an animal to be looked down on. Eevee sensed her sadness and nuzzled her cheek which made her smile slightly.

She heard footsteps approaching followed by a voice.

"You must be Alice." The voice said but when she turned, she didn't see anyone until she looked down and was surprised. Is this guy a dwarf?

"I'm the master of this guild and proud of it. You can call me Rodolfo. It's nice to meet you. I've been waiting for you after I've received word from Willem." Rodolfo said as Alice continued to stare at him in surprise which he noticed.

"What, this is the first time you've seen a dwarf in person?" He asked her curiously as she blinked before laughing sheepishly.

"Ah, sorry if it was offending." Alice apologized but Rodolfo just laughed and waved her off. He didn't sense any malice, only curiosity and surprise.

"It's all right." He reassured her before spotting the dragon on her shoulder.

"That must be your pixie dragon." Rodolfo said as he observed how the Pixie Dragon was perched on her shoulder comfortably.

"How do you know them?" Alice asked him curiously as Rodolfo looked at her.

"Well, I know a little bit. Though I've heard of the species before. I've never been lucky enough to witness one in the flesh." Rodolfo explained as Alice glanced at Dora-Chan. He must be pretty rare.

'"I heard that there's someone who knows dragons." Alice said as she put an arm around Fel's neck when he moved to stand beside her.

"It's not that nice. He has a weird obsession with dragons. He did a lot of research on the topic of dragons. Even wrote a book - pretty hardcore stuff. He's always nagging me about it and so much so that I still remember the details." Rodolfo explained and Alice could tell he was grinning under the beard.

"If he knew about this, he'd be so jealous he'd lose his mind." He said with a small laugh as Alice approached him.

"Oops, nearly forgot. You're the perfect candidate for our guild's most challenging quest." Rodolfo said before he led the way to his office so they could discuss it.

"A forest exploration?" She asked him curiously as Sui sat on her lap with Eevee sitting beside her, Dora-Chan sitting on the back of the couch while Fel sat by the couch she was sitting on.

"Something's changed in our forest and I can't put my finger on it. We're moons away from mating season, yet the monsters are on edge and aggressive." Rodolfo explained and Alice tensed slightly and she noticed she wasn't the only one. Fel had tensed as well. Fel knows that his season won't be near but it puts him on edge.

"Um, well, if that's the case, why don't you just avoid it? If they're being aggressive, I think it's best if people avoid the forest. I'm sure there's an alternate path to-" Alice suggested but was cut off.

"OUT OF THE QUESTION!" Rodolfo exclaimed which caused Fel to move a bit closer to Alice protectively when she flinched at that and Dora-Chan had moved to her shoulder instinctively. He doesn't know why but when Alice flinched and Fel moved closer, an instinct told him to follow Fel's lead. Rodolfo calmed his voice when he noticed how the Familiars with her moved closer, protectively from what he could tell.

"We need to collect webbing from the insect monsters. It's a key component in the high quality textiles our town produces. The forest is the one place we can source it. Losing access would be a major economic blow." He explained as Alice listened, petting Fel's fur unconsciously.

"Do you think you can help us out?" Rodolfo asked as Alice thought about it.

"I would like to, but I can't just waltz into danger like that without any information on what we're dealing with." She told him before Dora-Chan chimed in and just like Sui, he speaks telepathically so only Alice can hear what he's saying.

"The northern forest, right?" He asked he as she looked to him.

"That would be a cinch!" Dora-Chan said as Alice was curious on what he meant.

'(It's chock full of spiders and centipedes. While they're creepy to look at, they're a lot weaker than you'd think.)' He told her telepathically as Alice just raised a brow.

'(You're calling spiders weak when a centipede almost got to us last night if it weren't for Fel.)' Alice told him as he just smiled sheepishly.

'(The hard shells are a pain, but yeah.)' Dora-Chan said before what he said made Alice think. Textiles... silk...

Rodolfo watched them curiously since Alice had been silent while she and her Pixie Dragon seemed to have a stare off.

'(My lightning magic already did away with them.)' Fel told her as Alice thought. Maybe... But that would mean they had already finished it without knowing.

"Um, there's a little issue." She said as she turned to Rodolfo as Sui got on Fel.

"Is it too difficult even for you?" Rodolfo asked in concern but Alice shook her head as she moved to stand up while Dora-Chan flew up.

"No, no, that's not it." She said as she opened her item box before pulling out one of the Venom Tarantulas which Rodolfo recognized immediately.

"A venom tarantula!" He exclaimed in shock and disbelief.

"That's the beast! Why do you already have it?" Rodolfo asked her in shock.

"Well, about that. Fel?" She called him as she turned her head to him as he lifted his head while she set the Venom Tarantula down.

"Those creatures made the tragic mistake of crossing paths with a Fenrir." Fel said simply as Rodolfo turned to her in surprise while Alice just chuckled at how blunt he was.

"I apologize. They're all yours since your town uses their webs as materials. We didn't mean to steal them from your people and not know that they're really important." She told him apologetically as she moved to take out the rest. There's still more in the forest after they left so the town will still have more monsters for the textiles.

"Don't be sorry. Venom tarantulas like those reproduced by the score." Rodolfo reassured her.

"I've had to organize dozens of efforts to cut back their numbers." He said before he stared in disbelief at the pile of the venom tarantulas that Alice had finished taking out.

"I was getting ready to organize another, so thank you. It's like you read my mind!" He said in disbelief and delight as he came to her side and smacked her on the back which caused her to stumble forward and rubbed her back with a small cringe.

"Although, what do we do about that pixie dragon of yours? Are you sure it's safe to bring him around?" Rodolfo said as he looked at Dora-Chan who had settled on her head.

"It's fine. He formed a Familiar Contract with me." Alice said so casually that Rodolfo practically fainted in disbelief as Alice stared in concern.

"Uh, whoops." She winced.

They went back out to get Dora-Chan registered with her and the girls were already fawning over his cute appearance.

"We've successfully registered your familiar!" Dottie said happily, tail wagging as she handed Alice her guild card back.

"Although, I never imagined we'd ever get to register a real-life dragon." She said delightedly.

"Now you'll have no problem getting into other cities." Rodolfo said as Dora-Chan grew a bit uneasy with the attention even though he liked it. So he went to Alice and perched on her shoulder with Eevee sitting next to Sui and Fel sitting beside Alice.

"Thank you very much." Alice smiled thankfully at them.

"Hey, is that a dragon?"

Alice soon heard the whispers start and they were looking at Dora-Chan warily and she felt a bit uneasy when she heard the whispers as she lowered her head a little. Despite being 18 now, they still see her as too young.

"A baby dragon?"

"Is it alright for it to be here?"

"What about her? Ain't she looking a little young?"

"She looks like she could use a real man protecting her."

"I think she should be married right now."

Fel felt his ears twitch at the whispering and he felt a growl trying to escape him as he looked to the adventurers who dared say those things about his mate and his expression seemed murderous that it made the adventurers back off immediately as he positioned himself closer to her. She blinked and looked up at him as he huffed but stayed put and she smiled slightly as Eevee and Sui played by her feet.

Rodolfo had heard the whispers as well and shook his head before looking up at her.

"Don't mind them too much, it's to be expected. Though you should still be careful, okay, Missy?" Rodolfo said comfortingly as she smiled more.

"I'll keep that in mind." She said as she petted Fel as Dora-Chan played with Sui and Eevee before they went to the door with Rodolfo.

"As for the venom tarantulas, the shells and the webbing will fetch you a decent sum. And if you boil the meat with salt, you'll be in for a delicious treat." Rodolfo explained which excited Fel and Dora-Chan.

"That sounds divine!" Fel said excitedly as Alice caught Sui in her arms as Eevee jumped on her other shoulder.

"It's settled. You heard the man." He said and Dora-Chan agreed with him.

"If it's delicious, then we've gotta try it!" The Pixie Dragon said excitedly.

"You guys..." Alice chuckled softly.

"Please, mama. Sui wants to try deliciousness." Sui pleaded as she looked down at him.

"Okay, but... they're spiders." She said as she looked at the pile. She still doesn't like how hairy they look. But if Rodolfo says they're good, there's probably no harm in trying it out.

"All right." She said as she turned to Rodolfo.

"I'm happy to sell you the shells and webbing if you're interested. Can you process them for me, please?" Alice asked him politely which made him smile.

"I'd be happy to. I'll have the meat processed so it can be eaten right away. And as for the reward, the guild will prepare that now. I believe it'll be ready the day after tomorrow. Feel free to relax until then." He told her as Fel licked his chomps at the idea of eating something new and delicious later.

"Have you had a chance to look around?" Rodolfo asked Alice as they stopped by the door.

"Ah, no, not yet. They brought me here as soon as I arrived first." Alice said honestly as Rodolfo nodded in understanding.

"In that case, you should check out the market! This is the town of textiles, after all. You can get some quality clothes for cheap." He told her and she nodded her thanks before she and her Familiars left to explore town.

They soon explored the town and everything was so colorful thanks to the fabrics.

"Everything's so colorful." Alice said in awe as the town's folk watched them passing by.

"Sui likes colors. Colors make everything pretty." Sui said in delight and Alice smiled at him. She better plan on giving Sui something to paint.

"I'm glad we took Rodolfo's recommendation to shop." Alice smiled at him as Dora-Chan sat on Fel's head with Eevee riding on her other shoulder since Sui was on one.

They stopped in front of one shop and knew she had to at least get something new to wear.

"I could be in the market for a fresh change of clothes. As well as some sleeping clothes." She said as they approached the shop. She touched the sleeves of one of the shirts to have a feel of the fabric and it felt amazing.

"This material feels great." Alice noted before noticing the price. 1 gold and 5 silver coins. It may be cheap but it's still crazy expensive.

"Mayve it's a good deal for something so nice." She muttered as she weigh in her options. She still have a lot of money even though it took one bag of gold coins for the tub but she really needs a new change of clothes.

"Allow me to help." A voice said and they turned to see the shopkeeper giving Alice a friendly smile.

"Most of our items are brand-new. Most stores around here only sell second-hand clothes. In other cities, these can go for twice as much. You can't beat our prices for this level of quality too." He explained as Alice thought about it.

"I'm not the type to miss out on a steal." Alice said as she thought about it more.

'It's a different league compared to the clothes I first bought in this world and I've been wearing this for so long that it's getting frayed and worn out.' She thought as she looked at the clothes she's wearing. The condition still looks great but they're starting to become a little frayed.

'(Why not purchase then?)' Fel suggested as he looked at one of the clothes that looked similar to the ones she's wearing but more quality in detail.

'(Really?)' She asked him in surprise.

'(If you desire a change of clothing, I have no issue of you wanting a change.)' He told her as he nodded in the direction of one of the clothes that looked similar to the one she's wearing and she followed his gaze before coming to a decision.

"Okay then. We came to go shopping, so we're gonna shop." She said, finally coming to a decision thanks to Fel's help.

"All clothing achieves the same purpose." He said playfully as she turned to him with an amused look.

"You better count your blessings and be thankful you have fur, fluffball." Alice teased back as he chuckled as they soon started to go around.

'While we're at it, I should probably buy something for Fel in case I find something that would suit him.' She thought in anticipation as they went around until Alice purchased enough clothes as well as one that were similar to the one she's wearing.

"Phew, I bought a lot but it's enough for me." Alice said in delight though was a bit disappointed when she couldn't find one gift for Fel as they went back to the direction of the guild after she put her shopping bag in her item box.

"I wonder if the processing is done." She wondered and met Rodolfo outside the guild who was apparently waiting for them.

"Now about your reward, I've discussed it with Willem from Karelina. and heard you're more interested in the meat rather than any valuable." He explained as he led the way to the warehouse but for some reason it feels like a kitchen.

"Does that mean the processing is done?" Alice asked as he opened the door and the sight made her blink twice as soon as the smell hit her. It smells good if she's being honest despite coming from spiders.

"They start to lose flavor the second you pop them out of their shells, so I left them as is." Rodolfo explained while Fel sniffed it curiously, finding the smell was okay but he's not sure.

"Think of it as our thanks and to give it a taste. Just drop off the shells when you're done." He told her as Alice glanced at Fel who was looking a little unsure despite Dora-Chan, Eevee and Sui looking at them curiously.

'Interesting. It looks like a Kingler though Fel's looking a little unsure though.' She thought as Rodolfo took one of the boiled venom Tarantula legs.

"They taste best when they're fresh out of the pot." He explained, snapping the leg at the joint and causing one part and the meat of the shell to slide off as he handed it to her which she took.

"I guess I'll find out." She said uncertainly.

'Maybe one try wouldn't hurt.' She thought as she took one bite before her eyes lit up at the taste. It tasted just like the ones back home but even better!

"Wow! It tastes like a Krabby and Kingler dish but the flavor is even better! Like it was injected with a concentration of the signature umami!" She said in surprise and delight which was all it took to change Fel's mind. He had watched as she took the first bite and was worried that it wouldn't taste good but the way her eyes lit up was enough to say that it was good.

"Don't tease me!" Fel said as he wants some now as Eevee yipped in agreement.

"Sui wants to try!" Sui said excitedly.

"I'm starving here!" Dora-Chan agreed and Alice smiled at them.

"All right. Just wait. We're having a krabby and kingler party!" She exclaimed much to their confusion aside from Eevee who knew what she meant.

"Krabby and Kingler party?" The three Familiars asked in confusion.

"So what are you going to do after this? You're leaving right?" Rodolfo asked as his assistant watched in awe as Alice put the boiled Venom Tarantula legs in her item box.

"Yes, that's correct." She nodded after she put everything away as she looked to Fel, Sui, Dora-Chan and Eevee as Fel yawned.

"Everyone wants to go see Dolan's dungeon city." Alice explained as Rodolfo looked to her familiars.

"You have a Fenrir with you as well as that kit, an extremely strong slime and not to mention the Pixie Dragon. It wouldn't be surprising if you were the first to conquer the dungeon completely." Rodolfo said and Alice stilled at that before she just laughed and waved the idea off but she did promise that they'll check the dungeon out.

"No, no, no, something like that would be impossible but I promised everyone we'll visit it." Alice said while Rodolfo laughed as they prepared to leave.

"We'll drop off the shells once we're done." Alice said as she walked out of the door with her group.

They accepted the boiled legs and they went to the forest where Alice made four dishes from the meat of the Venom Tarantula legs. The fifth one was for Eevee which was a mix of everything and everyone was in surprise and delight at how good everything looks.

"I made fried rice with plenty of shredded meat and a refreshing salad. I made an omelet and wanted to do croquettes, but went with spring rolls to save time." She explained as everyone was already picking which ones to go to.

"I had to go all out for our new pal and member Dora-chan's welcome feast." Alice explained and Dora-Chan looked at her in surprise.

"You did all this for me?" He asked, looking surprised yet he was very touched. This has got to be the first and only human to make this much food just for him as a welcome meal.

"Of course. We could eat the Tarantula but I decided to make it really fun. And you gave us a reason to celebrate." Alice smiled warmly as he came to her and hugged her head as she laughed and patted him on the back.

"Oh, you're gonna make me cry! You're the best mistress ever!" Dora-Chan said in delight. Okay, it's official Alice is his favorite now!

"We're glad to have you in our party, Dora-Chan." Alice smiled at him as he let her head go, hovering in front of her with a smile.

"Hope you're all ready for some food!" She said excitedly and everyone was eager to start eating.

Fel went for the omelet and he loved it instantly though he had a bit of the sauce around his mouth and nose which he licked away. The omelet is delicious but with the meat of the venom tarantula, it gives it a more unique flavor.

"This omelet is delicious. I never dreamed of such richness and sweetness coming from a lowly spider." He noted in surprise and delight.

"The meat's unique flavor is masterfully highlighted by the mellowness of the egg and the saltiness of the sauce!" Fel said as he ate one more bite, enjoying it to his heart's content, tail wagging happily.

"The fried rice came out tasty too." Alice said as she had a bowl of the fried rice and she loved how it turned out.

Sui had apparently gone for the salad and he loved it very much.

"Sui likes the taste. It's fresh and crunchy." Sui said as he ate one piece of the meat after the other. Eevee yipped in delight, eating her share happily.

"I made a mock Caesar salad dressing. It's just mayo thinned out with some lemon juice." Alice explained before a crunch beside her was heard followed by Dora-chan's voice.

"It's hot!" He exclaimed. He picked the spring rolls but the food was still inside the wrappers.

"Yeesh, I'm gonna ignite over here! But it's worth it!" Dora-Chan said in delight as he let out small puffs of breath to hopefully cool the food down in his mouth. The food tastes great!

"Ah, be careful. But I'm glad you like it. Though the spring rolls might need to rest for just a second. Make sure not to hurt your tongue." Alice told him and he nodded, blowing on the spring roll he had bitten into before eating it, glad that it wasn't too hot but still hot enough to enjoy.

Everyone was enjoying their meals as Alice ate the last spoon full of hers though there were still some venom tarantula legs that weren't boiled which gave her an idea for a small second dish.

"I almost forgot." She said as she stood up and went to the table and took out a grill top and put it over the stove.

"When you're eating something like this, you have to have something like this, like grilling." Alice smiled as she turned on the stove. She used a specialized knife to cut open the legs and put over the stove grill, making sure that the fire wasn't too high or too low.

"A few classic grilled krabby legs or in this case, venom tarantula legs." Alice watched as the legs cooked slowly.

"Not true krabby, but still, the flavor is so similar, it's practically the same." She said patiently, waiting for it to cook. The smell caught Fel's attention who had just finished eating as he came to her, curious on what she was cooking.

"Human, what are you hiding from us?" Fel asked her curiously as Alice turned to him. She wondered why Fel never calls her by her name even though he's heard it multiple times. He stared at what she was cooking, ears twitching.

"That smells amazing!" Dora-Chan said as he came to them as Sui jumped repeatedly, wanting to see what she was doing.

"Sui wants to eat it!" Sui said as Eevee jumped on the table followed by Sui.

"It's my party! So pay up!" Dora-Chan said playfully as Alice just stared at him in surprise.

"I suppose that's fair. But I was initially gonna cook up the rest so all of us can eat it." Alice reassured him as she cooked four first to give it to them so she can cook the rest.

"Here you guys go." Alice put the finished ones on a plate and gave it to them.

They didn't hesitate to try it and Fel's tail started to wag. It was unlike the one she had made moments ago and the flavor was so good!

"Mmm, this method allows you to taste the meat's complexity!" Fel said in surprise as he ate it, wanting to savor the taste of the meat.

"The more you chew, the deeper the flavor gets!" Dora-Chan said as he chewed excitedly.

"Yummy!" Sui said in content as Eevee voiced her agreement, munching on hers happily.

"I can't believe I get to eat such delicious food!" Dora-Chan said as he came to her side while she was cooking another set. Fel had come to her side, wanting to see how she cooks.

"I'm so glad I chased after you." He admitted as he chewed the meat in his claws but what he said caught Alice's attention.

"I'm happy like it, but what did you mean you chased me?" She asked him in confusion. Since when?

"That's right. I started following you around the city of Karelina." Dora-Chan said as Alice and Fel glanced at each other.

"I smelled something amazing and had to check it out. I lost you before I could say hello, so I blew through the forest to find you. That really made the forest monsters mad. What a pain in the tail!" He said sheepishly before Alice realized that Dora-Chan was the cause of the forest monsters from yesterday and last night to act so aggressively.

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that? You did what?" Alice questioned him even though she knew what he did as Fel agreed with her as he looked at Dora-Chan.

"The forest monsters were acting up because you invaded their territory. They were more aggressive than usual because they saw the Pixie Dragon as a threat." He pointed it out as Alice gave Dora-Chan a look which made him smile sheepishly and guiltily.

"And what I'm realizing now is that the tarantulas were completely innocent from the beginning and you killed them anyway, Fel." Alice said as Fel just tilted his head at her which made her huff in amusement but she smiled and looked at the meal. She feels bad for the tarantulas now but at least there were still a lot but for the ones that Fel had killed off, she felt sorry for them.

"I'm afraid that is indeed the case." He said as she reached up and scratched him behind the ears.

"Those poor spiders. Be sure to savor their delicious meat, okay?" She told them and they didn't hesitate to agree.

"That we can do!"

It was night time and they were at the inn and Alice was taking a long soak with Eevee and Sui but it was mostly to get rid of the smell of the dish they had eaten.

"Thank goodness these folks let us use their yard for the bathhouse." Alice said in relaxation. She lifted her hands out of the waiter and sniffed them, glad that the smell was gone.

"The venom tarantulas were tasty, but I'd rather not smell like it." Alice chuckled as Sui played in the water.

"Sui splash! Baths are fun" He said with a giggle which made Alice smile more as Eevee sighed in the water before she looked up at the sky.

"Fel and Dora-Chan should have joined us." She said softly as Dora-Chan and Fel waited for them and the stables were much larger than the ones Fel had slept in, especially with the futon to make it very comfortable.

"I can't eat another bite..." Dora-Chan said in delight, rubbing his full stomach.

"I require a long break from tarantula." Fel said as Alice came out, drying her hair and wearing her new sleepwear which was a nightgown.

"It's easy to stuff yourself." She chuckled as Sui and Eevee were by her feet as Fel lifted his head.

"You're wearing your new clothing?" He asked her curiously.

"Yup. I've been wearing the same clothes to sleep every night so this is a nice chance." She told him as Fel hummed and laid his head back down as she bid them good night before she went to the inn with Sui and Eevee to sleep.

"It's so nice to finally be able to take a bath..." Alice sighed as she sat on the bed. Her hand instinctively went to her shoulder, feeling a familiar bump there as she sighed.

She always hid it well but her back has a scar when she was just twelve and starting her journey. It happened when she had to chase after the former leader of team fusion and one of Team Fusion's Pokémon was about to use a shadow claw on her Ninetales if it weren't for Alice shielding her. It was already healed but the scar was still there. She even wondered if Fel would like someone that had scars on their body but she shook the thought away. Fel would want someone of his stature, not some human girl.

"My, that's a nasty looking scar on your back." Kishar's voice suddenly was heard and she jolted. She completely forgot about the offerings.

"Good evening, Goddess Kishar." Alice said through a forced smile. She really wants some sleep but of course, she has another duty which is to send offerings.

"Forgive our intrusion but it looks like you got a nice deal, you've forgotten to make an offering. You'll definitely offer us something nice, right?"

Alice sighed as she removed her hand from her shoulder.

"Yes, I forgot but a lot of things happened. Just one box per person and keep it at that, okay?" She said as she opened the online grocery page to send them something new this time.

'I'll send them something nothing unreasonable like Goddess Ninrir.' She thought before Ninrir shouted which made her wince slightly.

Back at the divine realm, they can practically hear Alice's thoughts.

"W-Why was my name mentioned?! I know what I'm doing!" She exclaimed.

Back at the inn, she can tell that something was something.

"You look like you're about to say something unreasonable."

"That's not true! That's... Ah!"

'She's definitely about to say something crazy.' Alice thought. She hasn't picked anything yet so the online grocery closed.

"Sweets!" But Alice can tell she was shaking.

Back at the divine realm, Ninrir decided to say what she wants for the offerings.

"I want sweets, that black water and that sweet clear water! I've had fizzy drinks before but nothing like that sweet clear water! I bet it'll go amazing with dorayaki!" She said dreamily as Agni just gave her a deadpanned stare.

"You don't drink much, do you?" She asked her as Ninrir just drooled, thinking of her offerings.

"Black water? I guess you mean cola and cider."

Rusalka went next.

"Snacks and rice for me. Snacks and rice. Lots of rice, please." Rusalka said, her body shaking in anticipation.

Back at the inn, Alice put everything in the cart before she noticed that Agni hadn't said a word.

"Would you like some food also, Goddess Agni?" She asked curiously.

Back at the divine realm, Agni liked the idea of getting food which was really good but there was one thing she really wanted.

"Food would be fine, but I really want some alcohol. Last time, they insisted that I couldn't ask for alcohol." Agni lamented before turning to the others.

"But come on! Can't I get at least one drink?! It won't be a lot like a barrel or anything, please!" Agni pleaded as Kishar looked at the pillars worriedly. There was still the problem of those two finding out.

"Maybe a small amount will be okay." Ninrir contemplated but she rushed to make sure no one was around, especially them.

"They don't seem to be around right now." She said quietly before she came back to them, arms crossed.

"Is everyone okay with this?" Ninrir asked Agni, looking shocked and surprised yet hopeful.

"Really?!" She looked at Rusalka and Kishar who had soft smiles.

"Yeah, I feel a little bit bad for Agni." Kishar said softly with Rusalka nodding.

"Maybe a little is okay." Rusalka said.

"Good for you, Agni. Just one though and be careful when you drink it!" Ninrir told her but Agni just cheered at finally getting to try some alcohol.

"Alright! I'm about to drink some amazing brew from another world!" Agni cheered excitedly.

Back at the inn, Alice had initially sent some juice at first for Agni but she can now send her some alcohol and from what she can hear, Agni is very happy which made her smile.

"I don't know how strong they make it, so one big bottle please!"

Alice smiled and decided to choose two versions, one from her world and the other.

"One big bottle then." Alice said as she went to the liquor page.

"And snacks too!"

"Isn't this just becoming an order?" Alice asked jokingly which made Agni snort.

Alice then scrolled through the page, looking for the perfect drink for Agni. If Agni likes alcohol, then she must have a strong tolerance to it.

"A strong liquor, huh? The first thing that comes to mind is whiskey. Well this 700ml bottle should do for now." Alice muttered before she dreaded at the fact that Agni will find out about a bigger one.

'I better not let them know about the 4L bottles yet.' Alice thought with a gulp..

Back at the divine realm, Agni was laughing in excitement at finally being able to try some drink.

"Good for you, Agni. As for me..." Kishar went last as she went to the viewing pool.

"The shampoo, conditioner and hair mask you sent last time were really good. I love the way it smells when I move too." Kishar said with a smile, flicking her hair back lightly which had a healthier luster than before.

Back at the inn, Alice listened to Kishar with a small smile.

"The male gods were all fawning over me too."

Alice then thought back to when she, Sui, Eevee and Fel found the hotsprings back at the Orthros and Griffon forest. Fel had said that something smelled bad and when she asked if it was her, he had corrected himself that it wasn't. Does that mean he likes her scent? The thought of Fel liking her scent made her flushed, her face slightly red. If she was being honest, she likes his scent too. The smell of gentle rain and fresh grass was a comforting one.

"Hey, are you blushing?" Ninrir's voice asked her, which caused her blush to intensify.

"N-No, I'm not!" Alice yelped as she blushed even more.

"Kid, we've seen how you and your Fenrir act around each other. And honestly, we support the idea of you two having a relationship." Agni's voice reassured her which made her go still as she flushed even more, heart pounding.

"R-Relationship? Me and Fel? N-No way. He wouldn't want someone like me." Alice said as she looked outside to the stables where Fel and Dora-Chan are probably sleeping.

"Is it because of the scar on your back?" Kishar's voice asked gently which made her go still, her hand going to her shoulder.

"I don't think he will reject you. In case you haven't noticed or didn't get the signals, he's totally crushing on you. I've known my servant Fenrir longer and I know when his eyes are on someone and his eyes and heart are set on you." Ninrir's voice explained as Alice paused. Does... Does Fel really love her?

"He was angry and scared that the Wyvern almost harmed you and he's scared of losing you. He loves you very much." Rusalka's voice spoke softly and Alice's eyes widened. She thought about the moments Fel has been very sweet to her at different moments, how his gaze was soft when their eyes meet or how he seemed overly jealous when other men were a bit too close.

'Come to think of it, he did stand between me and that one party member from Phoenix.' She thought and her heart hammered once more.

"U-Uh, anyway! Is there anything else you want, Goddess Kishar?" Alice asked, her heart still hammering and her blush still present but not as much.

"So this time, I'd like to request a different scent. Also that one you were using while bathing, maybe? What did you call them? The bath salts? I'd love to have those."

Alice nodded and added it to the cart.

"Bath salts then. Let's see. Shampoo, conditioner and hair mask. What else...?" She muttered before she paused. Did Kishar requested bath salts? How did she knew that? She started to grow suspicious.

"Hang on, how exactly did you know I used bath salts? Did you just know about them?" Alice questioned Kishar suspiciously.

Back at the divine realm, Kishar started to panic and Ninrir decided to tell the truth a bit too bluntly.

"We know about it all. We all watched you take a bath, you know?" She said bluntly much to Agni's and Rusalka's embarrassment and Kishar's horror.

"Ninrir!" Kishar exclaimed in disbelief.

Back at the inn, Alice had short circuited before her patience snapped.

"Let me get this straight. The reason you found out about the bath salts that I was using when bathing with Sui and Eevee is because you were spying on me?!" Alice shouted angrily which caught the other goddess off guard.

"I didn't mean any offense, you know? I was just curious!"

"That's completely besides the point! That also means you saw the scar as well?!" Alice shouted as Eevee and Sui watched her worry as they looked at each other. Did the goddesses make her mad?

"Don't you think you're making too much of a fuss over someone seeing you naked?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't think anything of your body but I gotta admit, you're in tip top shape."

"That's not helping, you two, and you know it! At least Fel has the decency to give me privacy!" She shouted. She's gonna set some boundaries right now if they try that again.

"Don't you ever peek or spy on me while I'm bathing or so help, the next time this happens, I'll stop sending offerings for two weeks!" She said angrily as she huffed, trying to calm down.

"Understood." She heard that Rusalka and Agni agreed sincerely while Kishar and Ninrir sounded ashamed. That was enough for her and Alice sent them the offerings she was gonna send.

She finally lay down with Sui and Eevee laying down by her pillow, sleeping peacefully.

'Today was such a hectic one... I'll swing by the guild tomorrow and offer the shells to Rodolfo. Should be a pretty easy task to check on.' Alice sighed as she tried to get comfortable as she tossed and turned in her sleep before giving up and she sat up.

"I can't sleep... Especially after what they did and..." She said before pausing. Was what everything those four said about Fel having feelings for her true? She got up and picked up a sleepy Sui and Eevee in her arms before getting up and headed for the stables as quietly as she could. She wants, no, needs to be close to Fel.

Fel's ears twitched before the familiar scent of spring and ripe apples made him open an eye and he saw Alice standing out of his stable.

"What are you doing up? Shouldn't you be resting?" He asked her sleepily but made room for her as she came and sat down by him while Eevee and Sui slept peacefully. Dora-Chan slept on Fel's fur and he was snoring softly.

"Couldn't sleep." She admitted in a whisper as she leaned against his side. Fel hummed and nuzzled her hair gently. He had noticed how her hair was tied like usual which gave her a more feminine look.

"Get some rest. We still have a day or so to reach Dolan." Fel told her as he yawned softly and lay his head down on his forepaws. That was all Alice needed as she yawned as well and settled against his side as his tail curled by her feet.

"You should let out your hair more. It suits you." Fel told her sincerely which made her blush lightly as she laughed sleepily.

"I'll remember that. Good night." Alice whispered and they both fell asleep.

The next day, they went back to the guild to give Rodolfo the shells of the Tarantula legs from yesterday.

"Here are the shells I promised." She told him, opening the bag while Fel, naps a bit by the table with Sui and Eevee and Dora-Chan sitting on the table. The shells were nicely cleaned out of the meat.

"Those will be useful. And you cleaned them up nicely too. Thank you for that" Rodolfo noted in surprise. Alice smiled. She has her hair down which was down to her thighs as she handed him the leftover legs they couldn't finish last night.

"I also brought all the meat we couldn't finish. I'd figure you'd want some." Alice said as he accepted them gratefully.

"You're too generous for words. Tarantula meat is even tastier when you wash it down with booze." He told her warmly, accepting the plate.

"I hope you enjoy them." She chuckled before she remembered as she went to open her item box.

"Hang on. I have a little more." Alice said as she tried to find it but paused when she pulled out the head of the earth dragon.

'The earth dragon.' She thought as she felt hesitant to take it out.

'The one that Fel took down. It would be a massive pain to process this, so I've kept it stored away for a reason.' Alice thought worriedly.

'But I'm getting a little tired of just lugging it around.' She thought in frustration before she turned to Rodolfo.

"So, uh, I'm in need of a dragon expert and from what you said and Guildmaster Willem had told me, I hear there might be one in Dolan." She said hesitantly as Rodolfo looked at her curiously.

"Any clue who it is?" She asked. She knows they're a Guildmaster but she needs a name. Rodolfo hummed thoughtfully. He does know but he can't help but wonder why she's asking.

"I might know someone who fits that description. Why?" He asked her curiously only for her to step aside to show him why.

"Just look." Alice said sheepishly and Rodolfo stared in shock. An earth dragon?!

"You're kidding! You got an earth dragon on your hands?!" He asked in disbelief and surprise as she nodded while she looked at it.

"I was really hoping you could point me to that person who could process this beast." Alice said with a tired sigh.

"In all my days, I've never seen an earth dragon." Rodolfo said in awe as he stared at the head.

"From what I understand, you could buy an entire kingdom with one of these." He explained as Fel woke up and stood up with Sui and Eevee on his back.

"The creature was no match for me." Fel said proudly as she huffed softly in amusement.

'(Only because the food I feed you, Sui and Dora-Chan gives you guys a lot of boost.)' Alice told him playfully through telepathy as he chuckled.

"As expected of the great Fenrir." Rodolfo said, respect in his tone before he turned to Alice.

"When it comes to dragons, there's just one man to talk to." He began as he glance to Dora-Chan, a bit worried and Alice sensed something in his tone. Even Dora-Chan who immediately flew to her and she held him in her arms.

"But watch out." He said before he soon wrote something on paper and handed it to her.

"Here." Alice accepted the paper and read the writing.

"Dungeon City Dolan. The city's Guildmaster, Elrand, huh?" She read. They were initially heading for Dolan anyway but she couldn't shake the feeling that this Ellerand person is a dragon fanatic. She better make sure that Dora-Chan is safe at least.

"He's your best bet by far. His skills and knowledge can't be beat. Can't speak too much else, though." Rodolfo said, scratching his cheek as Alice just smiled thankfully.

"Thanks for all your help." Alice thanked him. With their business done at Claire, it was time to move on and head for Dolan. She had tied her hair since they'll be traveling again.

"That was fun. Next stop is Dolan. Here we come." Alice smiled as they soon resumed their journey. They were unaware but the aura around Alice and the magic around Fel was slowly changing color. Rose gold and white, signifying that something deeper had shifted between them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another World Theater: Second Serving

Right before the goddesses contacted Alice after she had taken a bath...

The three goddesses were waiting patiently for Alice but Ninrir was getting impatient as she was practically throwing a tantrum as Rusalka, Kishar and Agni watched her childish tantrums.

"Our weekly offerings are long overdue and that ungrateful Otherworldly is busy collecting pets and playing with meat!" Ninrir whined and threw a fit as Kishar sighed.

"Seems she's completely forgotten us." Kishar sighed with a pout.

"I'd let her be. She's probably got caught up with something since she has a new familiar. Plus don't you guys pretend you didn't see her and that Fenrir of hers seems to be really closer than most masters and familiars." Agni pointed out.

"But if she's not willing to pay up with the offerings, then I'll make sure my blessing goes bye-bye." She added though she didn't mean it. She'll let Alice keep the moderate blessing she had given her and she views her what the mortals call a little sister.

"She promised." Rusalka said softly as she nodded.

They were unaware that two gods, the ones that they have been watching out for, had seen what they're doing and chuckled mischievously.