"Mmm… sweet," I muttered, voice thick and hazy. My arms slid around Sofia's waist on instinct, pulling her closer. I hugged her tight, resting my chin on her shoulder, breathing in the warm scent of her skin and the faint trace of her saliva still lingering on my tongue. Every swallow had left me feeling strangely full, strangely alive. My cock was still half-hard against her, twitching lazily with every heartbeat.
---
Most people would assume Liam and Sofia were the same height, but they'd be completely wrong.
Sofia was noticeably taller — a full head and shoulders above him when they stood on flat ground. The only reason he could rest his chin on her shoulder right now was because he was standing on slightly higher ground. On perfectly level earth, when Liam hugged her, his face would sink straight between her massive, soft breasts, nestled deep in that warm, pillowy valley like it was made for him.
And in bed… well.
Let's just say the height difference was going to be *very* interesting.
Liam let out a soft sigh and gently released Sofia from the embrace, his arms sliding away from her waist. She looked down at him with quiet concern, her deep blue eyes softening in the fading light.
"Are you okay now?" she asked gently.
Liam nodded, exhaustion still thick in his voice. "Yeah… okay, Mom. Let's go. I really need some sleep and something to eat. My energy is recovering way too slowly."
Sofia took his hand in hers — warm, steady, and reassuring — and led the way. Liam walked beside her, steps slower and heavier than hers, leaning slightly into her strength.
To anyone watching from the roadside inn, they looked exactly like brother and sister: Sofia the tall, protective big sister radiating quiet power and grace, and Liam the tired younger brother who clearly needed someone to look after him.
Under the last golden rays of the setting sun, the two of them walked side by side toward the roadside inn. The day was ending… but for Liam and Sofia, their real life in this new world was only just beginning.
---
The moment Liam and Sofia stepped through the heavy wooden door, the thick tension inside the roadside inn wrapped around them like smoke.
Five sturdy, uneven tables filled the modest common room, their surfaces scarred from years of tankards and knives. Two tables were claimed by a group of young elves — all in their early twenties, sharp-eared and elegant, speaking in low, melodic voices. One table held beast-folk youths: sleek cat-folk with twitching ears, sly fox-kin with bushy tails, and sturdy dog-folk, all the same age as Liam. The remaining two tables belonged to demons — curved horns glinting in the firelight, long tails lazily flicking as they watched the room with crimson eyes.
Every single one of them had come for the same reason: to join the mysterious organization that would be announced tomorrow. Guild, noble house, or church — no one knew yet. None of them had received their occupations. They would all attend the Awakening Ceremony at dawn, and only then would they choose their faction… or become enemies.
The air crackled with unspoken suspicion. Allies or threats? No one could tell.
---
Liam exhaled slowly, muttering under his breath, "Man… I'm fucking exhausted."
He walked straight toward the table where the young demons were sitting. The group looked up at him in confusion, horns tilting and tails flicking. Liam stopped right in front of them and tapped the nearest empty chair with his foot.
"Hey, man. I'm wiped out from the journey. Give me this chair."
The demon closest to him let out a quick sigh of relief, his crimson eyes widening for a split second before he stood up smoothly. "Yes, sir. You can absolutely have my chair."
He stepped aside with obvious respect. Liam dropped into the seat with a heavy groan, the wood creaking under his weight. The demon remained standing quietly beside him, posture straight and deferential.
*Just as I thought… these guys still don't have occupations yet.* A Level 0 mage like me could wipe them out in seconds if I really wanted to. I couldn't help but sigh. *We seriously need to join some kind of organization for safety.*
Sofia watched the entire exchange without a hint of worry. Seeing Liam finally seated and resting, she turned calmly and walked toward the wooden counter to sell the rabbit and book them a room for the night.
---
Behind the broad wooden counter stood the innkeeper — a sturdy, middle-aged man with kind brown eyes and a calm, honest face weathered by years of honest work. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows as he polished a worn mug with a rough cloth, movements steady and unhurried. Lanterns hung from iron hooks overhead, casting a soft, warm glow across the room. The air carried the comforting scent of hearty stew, fresh yeast, honest sweat, and crackling firewood — nothing fancy, just real and welcoming.
A sturdy staircase in the corner led up to the rooms. Nothing luxurious, but clean, functional, and safe enough for travelers to rest without worry.
When Sofia stepped up to the counter, the innkeeper glanced at the space above her head where a faint blue glow read **Level 0**. He gave her a small, genuine nod of recognition, the kind that said he'd seen plenty of new faces like hers before.
Sofia's eyes flicked upward. Above the innkeeper's head floated a simple **?** mark.
*Just as I thought.* Running a roadside inn in a world like this meant the man had to be strong enough to protect his customers and his livelihood. He looked like a genuinely good guy — steady, kind, no hidden edges. A safe place.
*We'll stay here tonight.*
---
The innkeeper set the polished mug down and looked up at Sofia with a genuinely warm, honest smile that crinkled the corners of his kind brown eyes.
"Welcome, madam, to our humble Resting Horse Inn," he said in a steady, friendly voice. "How can I help you this evening?"
Sofia nodded politely at the innkeeper's warm welcome. "We have two people — myself and my son, Liam."
At the mention of his name, Liam raised his hand from his chair and gave a tired little wave across the room.
"My name is Sofia Kane," she added with a calm, steady smile.
The innkeeper's kind brown eyes crinkled with genuine friendliness. "Pleasure to meet you both, Madam Kane. How may I help you this evening?"
"We need a safe place to stay for the night and a fresh meal, if possible."
"I understand completely," he replied, voice steady and helpful. "May I ask how much coin you currently have?"
Sofia gave a small nod. Without a word, she reached into her inventory and placed the freshly killed Level 0 rabbit carcass gently on the counter.
Even the honest innkeeper's eyebrows rose in quiet surprise. A ripple of gasps and excited murmurs spread through the common room as heads turned and eyes widened at the sight of the rare early-game kill.
The young demon standing respectfully beside Liam leaned in slightly, voice low and full of awe. "Do you… have skills as well?"
*Just as I thought — skills really aren't easy to earn in this world.*
I couldn't help the smug little grin that tugged at my lips as I answered, "Ah, it's nothing special, really. I'm a mage with a modest Fireball skill."
The young demon beside Liam twitched at the corner of his mouth, clearly stunned by the casual mention of a real skill.
The innkeeper, however, simply smiled his honest, steady smile and nodded at the rabbit on the counter. "This Level 0 rabbit will fetch you fifty silver coins — that's half a gold coin right there. With that, you two can stay here for a full month without any trouble. That includes your room, morning breakfast and night dinner every day, plus my personal guarantee of safety while you're inside these walls."
Sofia gave a calm nod. "Then one month it is."
The innkeeper returned the nod, reached under the counter, and carefully lifted out a smooth crystal orb the size of a large watermelon. It glowed faintly with soft blue light.
"Madam, please place your palm on the orb," he said kindly. "It will scan your essence — nothing painful, just a simple check. If you're clear of any criminal records or fugitive status, I'll hand over the room key right away."
Sofia didn't hesitate. She nodded once more and placed her palm firmly on the cool, glowing surface.
The crystal orb pulsed softly for a moment before displaying the words **"Unknown Person"** in glowing blue letters.
The innkeeper studied the result and gave Sofia a reassuring, fatherly smile. "It doesn't recognize you — no guild registration yet. That's perfectly fine. It just means you're clear of any criminal records or fugitive status. You can register with the guild whenever you're ready."
He leaned forward a little, voice dropping into helpful advice. "Though I should mention — without a proper guild ID, finding steady work can be quite difficult. But since both of you already have occupations and skills, it won't be nearly as hard. The guild, noble houses, and even the churches will probably come knocking to recruit you two. Just choose carefully."
Sofia nodded thoughtfully. She glanced around the quiet common room before asking, "If you don't mind me asking… which force do you think is the best one to join?"
The innkeeper squinted his eyes in thought, then answered with complete honesty, "To be frank, the Guild is the strongest power in this region. If you join them, your safety is practically guaranteed — not even the noble houses or the Church would dare bully you. But…"
---