Calaf awoke in a plush bed. The layout was identical across all rooms in the inn, but he could tell it wasn’t his. Too many rucksacks were stashed against the walls, and a pair of long boots waited near the door. The Squire did not need rucksacks with his Inventory in order. And those boots belonged to…

  Jelena stirred, lying sprawled out face-up on her – their – bed. Limbs were angled every which way and sheets covered nothing. She was nude, as was Calaf, save for a single garment:

  A single curly lock poked out of the bonnet, denied the headgear’s Endurance-enhancing properties. Stats-based benefits from the attire were questionable, bereft of the Interface such that Jelena was. Still, it was quite cute.

  What had they been up to? Oh, right. Memories came rushing back. They’d done it in the hot springs. Then Jelena had shown him some additional fun to be had with their mouths in an alley behind the inn. Then they’d done it once or twice more after stumbling into her room not long before sunrise.

  By the Menu, he’d slept with Jelena Turandot, infamous church apostate. Calaf’s heart raced. He rapidly flitted through excuses. It was because of grief from his recently severed betrothal! No, he was Charmed again by this seductress.

  No, no. That wasn’t it. Calaf had no one to blame but himself. If you would call it blame. He had a status now, every neighbor and pilgrim on the route would see his status as an Oath Breaker.

  Mere church laypeople had a less strict code of honor to upkeep. It was only by moving up so high in the church, and treading the noble path of Paladin, that the now-sullied Squire had fallen so far.

  Still, looking at Jelena there, Calaf couldn’t help but feel his racing heart give way to a fluttering sensation. She was strikingly beautiful, even sprawled out there and snoring profusely. This was without doubt.

  Calaf leaned down and planted a kiss on the forehead just below the relic thief’s bonnet. Jelena stirred slightly, letting out a soft coo unbecoming of a grizzled relic thief.

  With Jelena still snoring softly, limbs spread out every which way, Calaf rose. He donned his equipment via the Interface, and slowly, quietly left out the door.

  By the Interface, why did his hips ache? Calaf must’ve stretched muscles he’d never once exerted before. Were there muscles meant just for these purposes? How did parents of multiple children, or those women in the Firefield bordellos, ever walk straight? Calaf limped along, too proud to admit the soreness was somewhat pleasant.

  As he walked, the squire looked back at his Menu designation for the fourth or fifth time.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Oath Breaker. It was a title that would follow him for some time, refreshing for every additional indiscretion. Front and center on his Menu, the first thing anyone he passed on the street, any shopkeeper would know, was that he was sleeping around.

  The sullied Squire walked down the empty streets of Twelfthnight. Every second store was closed for the season.

  Calaf would need some adornments for his armor. Black highlights, to reference his sullied reputation. Yes, this would negatively affect his status as a Paladin forevermore. No further betrothals with pure and lovely church deaconesses. Why, he’d likely be turned down for any church prestige positions in favor of more honorable candidates. Frustrated, the Squire shook his head.

  Perhaps a quick meal would help to clear his mind. He’d worked up a bit of a sweat overnight. A rumbling in Calaf’s stomach indicated it was time for breakfast.

  Finding an open food vendor at this hour proved difficult. He found a mobile Friar Destin’s location that was out of dire-duck sandwiches.

  While waiting for the veggie-steaming spells to prep, Calaf was approached from behind.

  “Hey.”

  It was Jelena. Out of the bonnet, back in the eyepatch. Wearing plain civilian garb meant more for lounging and comfort than for adventure and combat. She’d been expecting to rest around the inn for the early afternoon.

  “M-Madam Turandot,” Calaf stammered, to a confused Jelena. “Don’t worry, I shall take responsibility for this horrible shame upon us.”

  Jelena raised her eyebrow further still. “Huh?”

  “Yes,” Calaf continued. “I shall do… whatever people do in this situation.”

  The most-wanted Jelena was already excommunicated and in open rebellion. She wouldn’t have to consign herself to a nunnery in shame of this horrible indiscretion. So, there was that. As a former working girl at a brothel, she’d done this quite a lot actually. Was this just another uneventful day for her? Was Calaf just another fling to be used and cast aside once Jelena’d exhausted the novelty of seducing a churchly Squire into a life of sin? That last thought left Calaf feeling worse than if he’d resigned himself to a monastery in a life of penance, actually. Yes, he didn’t want to be used and discarded. What he wanted…

  Judging by her bemused expression, Calaf was making a fool of himself. He felt his whole body turn warm.

  Rather than admonish him, Jelena merely laughed.

  “That’s… upstanding of you. And very adorable. But most people don’t ‘do’ anything redemptive after, well, doing it.”

  “Certainly not anything that drastic,” Zilara said.

  The holy brat and Enkidu caught up with Jelena and her position-pending beau.

  “I… I’m sorry.” Calaf said. “What is it people… do… now?”

  Jelena smiled, one hand on her hip “Well, I was hoping you’d say yes to my offer to travel together. Among other things.”

  The more Calaf thought, the more he realized he likely wasn’t returning to a position as a sewer guard or any other type of guard. Let alone any higher-ranking church positions that would put him in close contact with any of the arbiters. Yes, those bridges had been thoroughly burned. And on his journey – first to apprehend, later to be with, Jelena – he’d outgrown these potential roles. Traveling the pilgrimage route wasn’t meant to result in faithful abandoning the church, but in this case, it seemed to be where Calaf’s journey had brought him.

  “What do you say, brave and noble Calaf.” Jelena winked at him. “Wanna travel together to the next city or two? We can save on inn and camp supplies by bunking up.”

  That was a journey that would lead to more indiscretion, Calaf sensed. But he found himself looking forward to the journey and indiscretions both.

  And who knew? The level and ranking system itself didn’t mandate that Paladins be squeaky-clean avatars of churchly virtue. It was merely part of the church’s social code. He could maintain his shield and spear. Continue to earn experience. And, with the proper relic rubble from Fort Duran, could still reach the coveted rank of Paladin, sullied with sinful desire for Jelena Turandot though he was.

  The Squire nodded. Jelena offered a hand, and he took it.

  “Soooo~” she looked at him with a warm eye-fluttering gaze. “Whatcha ordering? Mind if we get enough for two?”

  Over by the Friar Destin’s stall, a bored-looking clerk had been waiting for him to order for some time now.

  “Oooh, I want something too!” said Zilara.

  “I shall do without,” Enkidu said.

  Calaf nodded eagerly. “It’ll be my treat. Least I could do.”

  “We pool gold for our meals in most cases, Hot Shot.” Jelena stepped up beside Calaf. “But I won’t say no to a treat.”

  Clouds pooled over the mountain highlands to the west and south. It would be best to move up the route, into the plains. No doubt Jelena would want to continue moving into the desert.

  “Excuse me,” said the food vendor. “Are you two together? If so, uh, can I take your order?”

  The former pilgrimage station guard and former church sister looked at each other. With a quick nod, they turned to the vendor.

  “Yes,” Calaf said.

  “Why, yes we are,” said Jelena.

  The pair ordered a serving of hash browns, pan-seared by a Minor Conflagration spell. Their hands were intertwined. Calaf came to realize that he didn’t care what his title said or how many people saw him cavorting with an apostate relic thief. Maybe apostasy wasn’t so bad. Maybe he was halfway to apostasy already. And maybe he didn’t want to uphold church strictures any longer.

  In fact, there was no place he’d rather be.