16 - How to play the game - REINA (2)

The signs of defeat because situation were still visible in Ocien's expression. But my words seemed to have reached him.

"We better eat so you don't be late for work." – he said with a sad smile.

The way he was talking finally reached me. He only talked about my work, during the entire month we spent together, whenever we got ready in the morning we used the plural, but now he only talked about my job.

"Did something happen?" – I asked, confused.

Ocien scratched his head in embarrassment.

"I got fired yesterday, but that doesn't matter now." – he finally said.

I couldn't help but be surprised by the news. Things were going to get difficult from here on out until he got a new job.

There was a lot of information to digest at once, a few minutes ago I was asleep and now the complications were only increasing.

"Don't think about it, the situation has changed a lot from yesterday to today. We need to replan our next steps at night, now you need to eat and bath so you don't lose your job too." – he asked gently.

Whether or not he was right, things changed a lot from yesterday to today and I still wasn't up to date with everything that happened. We would need time to organize everything and we didn't have it now.

Even though I thought my bosses would be understanding if I missed a day, it was better to prevent another variable in our plans.

We sat at the table, ate quickly and I took a bath. The way to the restaurant was calm, but I was really late, the movement on the streets told me that it was almost time to open.

Upon arriving at the kitchen, I received a variety of curious looks. For my delay, looks were all I received, there were too many things to be done.

With the difference I gained in my cultivation I started working as I normally did, but I soon noticed the mistakes I was making. I needed a few minutes of concentration to adapt completely and the end result was almost unimaginable.

My hands worked so quickly that in the end almost everything was in place despite my delay and even though I worked so hard I didn't feel as tired as on other days.

The looks I received when I arrived returned, this time with a hint of surprise.

I soon realized my mistake, we were in a situation that we had no way of explaining to the people around us and here I was demonstrating that my cultivation had increased drastically from one day to the next.

I quickly thought of something that would justify the scene they witnessed.

"Ocien lost his job yesterday, on an impulse he bought resources with his savings, I reached the 4th star of the first circle with them." – I said, hoping they would buy the excuse.

My colleagues' curiosity only increased and now I could notice a little concern in their attitude.

"Does he want you to become an adventurer?" – Roberta asked worriedly, breaking the silence.

I panicked almost immediately, she was probably thinking he was forcing me to do this.

"No no. This has always been my dream, I just never had the talent or money for it." – I replied, trying to calm the situation.

Not really buying my answer, she and the others started bombarding me with questions.

I tried to respond as best as I could, but they were still dissatisfied with Ocien.

Roberta called Amélia to talk to me. Together they pointed out all the difficulties that an adventurer goes through in life, they had been adventurers for years before retiring and setting up the restaurant together.

One of their main points was the extra danger that women face on missions, compared to men.

I assured them that Ocien would accompany me on all missions, but knowing that he was only 1st Star of the Paths didn't ease their concerns.

They only calmed down enough when I formulated the plan that the next resources would be for him to catch up with me in cultivation.

With the worries now slightly out of the way, we agreed to a week's notice so they could find someone to replace me.

The day was exhausting and soon I was on the way home with my head down, the mental fatigue was too much for me.

As soon as I got home I found Ocien sitting on the floor of his room meditating, he was absorbing the energy of the world turning it into Mana.

I knew his difficulties, the unbreakable barriers on the Paths, but here and now I noticed the difference. Ocien had broken the 2nd Star Mage barrier without the use of resources.

Ocien woke up from meditation with a surprised sigh.

"How was his day?" – he asked with a gentle smile.

"Tiring, I had to answer a lot of questions." – I replied, feeling some of my tiredness dissipate when I saw that smile.

Ocien stood and walked over to wrap me in a loving hug.

"Let's rest a little and then we need to figure out our next steps." – he invited, his forehead touching mine.

I immediately agreed, feeling good in that hug.

Gently he guided me to the bed and there we lay for almost an hour in each other's embrace.

"I'll work just one more week at the restaurant." – I said, starting the much-needed conversation.

I felt Ocien adjust himself on the bed and his right hand went towards my ear where he began to gently adjust my hair.

"Let's register with the Adventurer's Guild after this and then head to the next city, if we stay here people might notice if we cultivate too quickly. What do you think?" – he suggested thoughtfully.

It was a path we could take, here my family knew about my situation and so did my colleagues. If I cultivated too quickly they would notice the difference easily and we shouldn't have the money needed for that.

"Let's do as you suggested, my colleagues are already expecting something like this." – I agreed with the idea.

With a brief kiss on my cheek he prepared to get up.

"I can cultivate as a talent now, faster than I thought possible. In fact, I hope to reach the 4th Mage star before we register. You have also awakened the Mage Path, so you can get used to it now." – he commented while sitting on the bed.

Passing his hand over his face he seemed worried about something.

"In order not to attract attention until our registration in the Guild we cannot have sex, our bodily connection promotes our cultivation unconsciously, while my mental connection can be focused on a specific path." – he said finally.

I immediately understood why he didn't have the courage to say those words looking directly into my eyes. As logical as it seemed, it was a rejection of intimacy, even if it was temporary.

"I understand." – I said trying to be understanding.

Ocien turned towards me with a worried look.

"I love you and I love every moment we are together, whether intimate or not. It's just that we need to make some sacrifices to protect ourselves." – he said with a guilty voice.

My heart stopped for a moment seeing that impression.

"Let's eat something and cultivate a little before bed, we need to stabilize the euphoria." – he commented while caressing my face.

Our initial plan was made, nothing fancy, but something that can guarantee our safety in the future.