Chapter 111: The invite

Zafron's legs trembled as he lowered himself into his final squat. Sweat dripped from his brow, his breath coming in ragged gasps. With a grunt of effort, he pushed himself back up."One hundred," he wheezed, barely able to stand. As he swayed on his feet, a notification pinged in his vision:

[Quest: Morning Vigor - Complete 100 squats: COMPLETED]

[Reward: +5 Agility]

"Nice," he muttered with a smile.

A wave of relief washed over him, quickly followed by exhaustion. He stumbled towards his bed, collapsing onto it with a groan. "Never thought I'd be so happy to see a floating message," he muttered to himself while chuckling. This was all too fun for him now that he was done.

After a few moments of recovery, Zafron dragged himself to his feet and limped towards the washroom. The prospect of a warm bath was the only thing keeping him moving. Get clean, get dressed, eat and then it's back to the search for a job again. The struggles of a man.

As he sank into the steaming water, Zafron felt his muscles begin to relax. He let out a contented sigh, closing his eyes as he soaked as he thought.

'Could use a massage myseld but Mara and Matilda right now aren't the ones to go to. Left to the two of them, they'd rather have me at home all day, fucking and fucking again and again! That just isn't the way a man should live,' Zafron thought.

He could feel his legs trembling uncontrollably, reminiscent of the intense, blissful aftershocks following a powerful climax. The sensation was both exhilarating and exhausting. Each muscle in his body seemed to be rebelling, yet he felt an odd sense of satisfaction. His legs felt like jelly, but there was an undeniable strength beneath that trembling surface.

'Imagine how strong I could get in a month,' Zafron thought, a grin spreading across his face. 'If this is what a single day's worth of training can do, just think of the progress I could make with consistent effort. My endurance, strength, and overall physical stats will skyrocket!'

After a while, he wiped the steam from the bathroom mirror and glanced at his reflection, deep in thought.

'I should check my stats,' he murmured, his voice barely audible over the sound of running water. He focused his mind on the system's interface, which materialized as a translucent screen in front of him.

[Requesting updated profile…]

A moment later, the system complied, presenting his latest stats:

-Name:- Zafron

-Potency Level:- 3

-Vitality XP:- 40/350

-Physical Attributes:- Searᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

- -Strength:- 17

- -Endurance:- 14

- -Agility:- 13

- -Vitality:- 8

-Eros Attributes:-

- -Virility:- 8

- -Pheromone Production:- 8

- -Reproductive Health:- 9

-Social Attributes:-

- -Charm:- 9

- -Confidence:- 8

- -Attraction:- 7

-Eros Skills:-

- -Stamina:- 8

- -Technique:- 6

- -Intimacy:- 8

-Status:-

- -Overall Health:- 98/100

- -Potency:- 60/100

- -XY Virus Resistance:- 35%

-Active Effects:-

- -[XY Suppression]- - Virus effects partially suppressed

-Skills:-

- -[Calming Touch]- - Provides emotional support through gentle touch, reducing stress and promoting relaxation in others.

- -[Sensual Harmony]- - Enhances mutual pleasure during intimate encounters, increasing satisfaction and bonding with partners.

Zafron's eyes widened as he saw the improvements in his physical attributes. "Looks like the daily quest paid off," he mused, feeling satisfactied with the hard earned results. "My strength, agility and endurance have really gone up. This will definitely help me in the long run."

He leaned back, closing his eyes and letting the hot water soothe his aching muscles. "If I keep this up, I'll be in top shape before I know it. Just need to stay focused and keep pushing myself."

With a final glance at his updated stats, Zafron let out a contented sigh. "Not bad for a morning's work."

After thoroughly cleaning himself and enjoying the warmth for a bit longer, Zafron reluctantly got out of the bath. He dried off and pulled on fresh clothes, wincing slightly as his sore muscles protested. He knew how the first workout section in a long time was always so painful. This would go in due time. He knew he just had to keep the routine up.

The scent of breakfast drifted up from downstairs. He took a deep breath, mentally bracing himself. 'Mara must be done cooking by now,' he thought, 'better head down and eat before I think of facing the day'

'Alright,' he thought, heading for the door. 'Time to go down and spend a few minutes with Mara and Matilda. And then... job hunting. Should be interesting,' he said more so in an exasperated tone than anything.

With that, Zafron opened his bedroom door and made his way downstairs, ready to start the next phase of his day.

*****

Zafron entered the dining room, his muscles still protesting from the morning's workout. Mara and Matilda were already seated, eating in quiet. Since their last confrontation, they didn't talk much but did their best keeping it from Zafron. They smiled more with each other when he was around.

"Morning, again" Zafron said, settling into a chair with a barely suppressed groan.

Mara glanced at him, concern flickering across her face. "You okay? You look like you've been through the wringer."

Zafron managed a weak smile. "Just a bit sore. Nothing to worry about." The two women gave him a look before they continued eating. No words were said and for some reason, it just felt awkward. He could tell something was up but they both behaved normally so it was hard to really pinpoint what the issue was exactly.

All he knew was that since that day Mara and Matilda had that chat in Mara's room, things have not exactly been the same.

However, since no one would say anything, he figured they didn't want to talk about it. When they were ready, surely that conversation would be held.

As they began to eat, Matilda cleared her throat. "So, I've been thinking. Since we're new here, it might be a good idea for us to explore some business opportunities while you're job hunting, Zafron."

Mara looked up from her plate, curiosity piqued. "What kind of opportunities?"

Matilda's eyes lit up. "Well, I've got some capital we could use to start something up. I was thinking of talking to a few people, see what's in demand here."

Zafron nodded, intrigued. "That sounds like a good idea. Any specific plans in mind?"

"Not yet," Matilda admitted. "I need to get a better feel for the local market first."

Mara's fork paused halfway to her mouth, her expression turning serious. "Speaking of plans...have you thought about returning to Astoria? Or aren't you worried Lord Blackthorn might find us?"

The moment that question reached the ears of both Zafron and Matilda, the atmosphere in the room suddenly grew tense. Matilda's face went blank, her eyes distant. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, seemingly at a loss for words.

Zafron glanced between the two women, unsure of what to say.

Before Matilda could formulate a response, a sharp knock at the door cut through the silence. They all froze, exchanging confused looks.

"Were we expecting anyone?" Zafron asked, already half-rising from his chair.

Matilda shook her head, her earlier discomfort replaced by wariness. "No, we weren't."

Mara stood up. "I'll get it," she said, moving towards the door.

Zafron and Matilda listened intently as Mara opened the door. They heard a brief exchange, then Mara returned, holding a small package.

"It's for you, Zafron," she said, handing it to him. "From a delivery service."

Zafron took the package, surprise evident on his face. "For me? But who would be sending me anything?" It wasn't like he knew anyone here in Drakoria. First it was Matilda who received a package from Malachi Vex yesterday and now this.

Matilda leaned forward, her earlier tension forgotten in the face of this new development. Curious, she said, "Well, open it and find out."

"What is it?" Mara asked, unable to contain her own curiosity.

"It's... an invitation. From Cassandra Beaumont. She's inviting me to the Beaumont mansion." Zafron said as he was going through the letter.

He then looked up from the letter, realizing he hadn't exactly informed them about his encounter with Cassandra. "I, uh, actually met Cassandra Beaumont yesterday," he admitted sheepishly.

Both Mara and Matilda's eyes widened in surprise.

"You met a Beaumont and didn't tell us?" Mara asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and mild reproach.

Zafron rubbed the back of his neck. "It was a brief encounter. I didn't think much of it at the time."

Matilda leaned forward, her expression serious. "The Beaumonts are one of the most influential families in Drakoria," she said, her noble background evident in her knowledge. "I know of them from my time in Astoria. They're old money, with fingers in every pie in the city."

"Really?" Zafron asked, surprised. "Cassandra seemed... well, friendly enough when I met her."

Matilda's brow furrowed. "That's what I don't understand. Why would a Beaumont be interested in you, let alone extend an outright invitation to their mansion?"

Mara shot Matilda a look. "He's not exactly unremarkable, you know."

"That's not what I meant," Matilda said, shaking her head. "The Beaumonts don't typically associate with newcomers to the city. They're very selective about their social circle."

Zafron reread the letter, his mind racing. "She says she wants to discuss something important with me. But I can't imagine what that could be."

"Did anything unusual happen during your meeting yesterday?" Mara asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Zafron hesitated, remembering the strange incident with the thief and Cassandra's cryptic words afterward. "Well... there was a bit of excitement. Some thieves tried to steal her from her and I helped stop them...I ..think,"

The story didn't go exactly like that but well, that would do for now.

"Ah," Matilda said, understanding dawning on her face. "That might explain it. The Beaumonts value loyalty and bravery. You may have impressed her."

"Or she could have ulterior motives," Mara added, ever cautious.

Zafron sighed, feeling the weight of the decision before him. "So, what do you both think? Should I accept the invitation?"

Matilda tapped her fingers on the table thoughtfully. "It could be a valuable opportunity. As much as I hate to say it or even admit it, my connections are cut short now. I can't exactly throw around my last name like I would before and get anything I want. We have to remain under the radar. However, the Beaumonts' connections could open many doors for us in Drakoria."

Mara, however, looked less convinced. "It could also be dangerous. We don't know what she wants from you, Zafron."

As they debated, Zafron found himself torn. The invitation represented both opportunity and risk, much like Drakoria itself. When he thought about it, both women were actually being overly cautious. The lady he met the previous day, while it looked like she could kill a bull with a stare didn't exactly strike him as one to plot evil against another person.

Much less someone as insignificant as himself.

And to even top it off, she did help him find his way back home too. So surely she can't be all that bad, right?

'This city keeps throwing curveballs at me,' he thought. 'But maybe that's just part of the fun. I meet a random beauty and now she sends me a letter inviting me to come meet her. To think I was brainstorming and doubting the odds of us ever meeting again and now the universe have delivered her right into my hands. Thank you, universe.

You are far too kind to your boy,' Zafron thought for a second before slipping back his thoughtful look.

Looking at his women, he saw their concern for him, mixed with curiosity about what this could mean for their future in Drakoria. But they didn't know the full details so it explained why they were being overly cautious. Him on the other hand did. And he felt it in his guts that this was his chance.

"I think," Zafron said slowly, "I should accept. But I'll be careful. Maybe this is the break we've been looking for."