Chapter 594 Inara Silvermane
Talila spoke as she stood up and straightened her clothes. ''I'll go in first so they don't swamp you, my dear.''
Archer nodded before the mixed elf entered the treehouse. He laid back on the chair and watched the sun come up. The air was still hot, so there was no need for a cloak, which pleased him.
He sat out there for another hour before walking back in to see Ella, Halime, and Llyniel cooking while Teuila, Nala, Talila, and Sera sat in the living room chatting about fighting.
Nefertiti, Hemera, and Leira were chatting over the books they were reading while Hecate was in her lab with Stella, creating potions.
When all the girls saw him, they smiled before Halime spoke with a cute smile. ''Breakfast is nearly ready. Talila said you'd be in soon.''
Archer walked over to each one and greeted them with a kiss, which caused them to smile, and when he was finished, Nala spoke up. ''Darling. Brother wants to meet you in the market square. Do you mind going after eating?''
He smiled at the lioness before sitting at the table where Halime had prepared a simple yet delicious meal, a hearty serving of meat and bread. The savory aroma filled the air as he enjoyed the satisfying flavors.
Once he finished his meal, Archer stood up and stretched before speaking to the girls. ''I'll meet Lioran, then we can start training for the tournament.''
With unanimous agreement, everyone advised Archer to exercise caution. Offering reassurances, Archer opened a portal leading to Starfall. Stepping through, he found himself in the familiar alleyway that had once allowed him seamless entry into the city.
Archer walked onto the street while taking out a cloak and wrapping it around himself as he made his way to Market Square. It didn't take him long to get there, and that's when he spotted Lioran standing by a blacksmith's store.
He walked over to him, and the lion boy smiled when he saw him before speaking. ''Brother! The Silvermane family has been helping the kingdom out even more since your visit. The matriarch wants to meet you as she has a proposal for you.''
''What does she want, Lioran?'' Archer asked with a raised eyebrow.
''A wild dragon has been causing serious damage in the Lionheart Kingdom, especially the Silvermane lands. They want you to deal with it and have a good offer.''
When Archer heard this, he sighed before shrugging. ''Okay. Let's see what the matriarch has to offer.''
After speaking, he opened a portal to the Lionheart Kingdom. The two stepped through and appeared out of Suheart City.
The towering walls loomed in the distance, adorned with the symbols of the Lionheart Kingdom. Archer adjusted the cloak around him, and Lioran walked by his side as they approached the city gates.
The guards at the entrance recognized Lioran, giving him a nod of respect. A brief moment of surprise crossed their faces as they saw Archer, quickly replaced by acknowledgment.
Archer thought to himself. 'She's a warrior? Seems so.'
A pair of vibrant red eyes diligently scanned the documents across her desk. The woman looked up, and her eyes widened before jumping up and kneeling toward Lioran, who chuckled before speaking. ''Stand up, Inara. I brought Archer to sort out the issue you're having.''
The mature woman rose from her seat and took a seat. Redirecting her attention to Archer, her eyes widened at seeing him, and she remarked with a grin, "Impressive, white dragon. The rumors fall short—you're even more handsome than they suggest."
She stood up and introduced herself while walking over to Archer. ''I'm Inara Silvermane. The matriarch of the Silvermane family.''
Inara stopped right in front of him, giving him a complete view of the woman, and Archer quickly noticed that despite being muscular, she was still curvy. When she saw his eyes roaming all over her, it caused her to grin.
Her tail was swaying excitedly, but she continued talking. ''We have a wild dragon causing chaos further south. It has destroyed a village but wandered off into the Wildlands. If you remove this menace, I will give you whatever you wish.''
Archer flashed a grin upon hearing this, leaning forward to whisper into her twitching lion ear, "I'd like to get to know you better, Lady Inara."
The lioness trembled at his words but nodded in agreement. Lioran, noticing this, burst into laughter, causing them to turn toward him with questioning expressions.
''Brother, what is this spell your casting? Most women you come in contact with gravitate toward you. Just look at Nala and the others.'' He commented after calming down.
Archer looked at his friend and barked out. ''It's not my fault my charisma is so high, Lio!''
Lioran couldn't contain his laughter, even hearing a lady's giggle. He turned to Inara, who was sauntering back to her chair, and she confessed, "He's not kidding, Archer. You're a catch. I mean, come on! A guy with flawless white skin and dreamy violet eyes waltzes into your office, giving you that 'age is just a number' gaze? Any woman would be melting like ice in Solaris!"
He looked at Inara, who was watching him with a twinkle in her red eyes, before asking something that shocked Lioran, who couldn't keep a straight face anymore. ''What is your opinion on older women? Do they catch your eye, or are you one of those men who only want pretty virgins who fall to your feet once you mate with them?''
Archer began talking with a grin as his gaze roamed the older woman's toned body. "Inara, I want to make something clear. I've never been one to care much about age or whether someone has children or not. Those things are just numbers or circumstances. What matters to me is the connection, the chemistry between me and them."
He paused as if choosing the right words, "A relationship, to me, is like a well-tuned melody. If the notes don't harmonize, it doesn't matter how skilled the musicians are or what instruments they play. It just won't work. Age or past experiences don't dictate that harmony; it's about two souls clicking, getting on well, and creating something beautiful together.
When Inara heard this, she got curious and asked. ''What if said woman has grandchildren older than yourself?''
Archer let out a hearty laugh as he envisioned a trio of witches. With a mischievous grin, he replied, "Honestly, I'm not picky. If I happen to fancy her daughter or granddaughters, I'll just go ahead and collect the whole set. Who says it can't be a family experience?"
[If there are any mistakes, point them out, and I'll edit it. Thanks]
