The next few days were a blur of battles, travel, and fleeting moments of rest. Adrian and the goddesses traveled steadily toward Zarpha, experiencing nights beneath the stars, quick breaks in forest clearings, and occasional rests in cozy village inns.

Despite the danger, the monotony of the road appeared to weigh on some of them.

"I miss baths," Lilith declared one evening as they sat around a crackling campfire. Her red eyes shone in the firelight, and her whip lay quietly in her lap. "Real ones, not streams with freezing water."

"I miss silence," Hestia muttered, twirling blue flames as she laid lazily on her back, staring at the night sky.

"You complain more than anyone I've ever met," Eris countered.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Lilith shot back with a smirk. "Did we interrupt your brooding session? My deepest apologies."

"Quiet," Hera commanded firmly. She was perched on a rock, her golden hair catching the glow of the flames. "We have enough enemies without turning on each other."

"Tell that to the Shadow Court," Medea said, her black flames flickering faintly around her fingers as she stared into the fire. "They're relentless."

Adrian glanced at the group with an unreadable expression. "They've slowed down in the last two days," he observed, speaking in a steady voice. "We're getting closer to Zarpha. Maybe they don't want to risk a confrontation near the city."

"Or they're planning something bigger," Abyss said quietly, her violet eyes scanning the surrounding forest. Her hand hovered near the hilt of her sword, as though expecting an attack at any moment.

"Always the optimist," Hestia said, reclining lazily against a log. She yawned, her marine-blue eyes half-lidded. "Wake me when it happens."

Adrian chuckled softly, though his grip tightened on his sword. The days had taken a toll on him too, with the constant vigilance and growing stress feeling like a heavy weight.

But Zarpha was close now—only a few towns away.

The group walked into the busy market right when the sun was at its highest point. The air buzzed with energy, merchants calling out their wares, and the mingling scents of spices, freshly baked bread, and sizzling meat filled the air.

Stalls crammed with goods lined the cobbled streets, displaying everything from vibrant fabrics to gleaming trinkets.

Ava's amber eyes lit up as she took in the scene. "Now this," she said, her staff clinking softly against the ground as she walked, "is a proper market. Look at all the opportunities!" She clasped her hands together, practically vibrating with excitement.

"What kind of opportunities?" Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Profit, of course!" Ava replied, gesturing toward a merchant arranging polished gemstones on a velvet cloth. "Markets like this are perfect for trading, haggling, and maybe even striking a few lucrative deals."

"You're planning to set up shop, aren't you?" Medea asked dryly as she surveyed the bustling crowd.

"Don't tempt me," Ava said with a grin. "But no. I'll settle for a bit of light shopping."

"Keep your enthusiasm in check," Hera said calmly. "We can't afford to draw attention."

"Too late," Eris muttered, nodding toward the various merchants and passersby glancing curiously at the group. Eight stunning women and a striking man with a sword weren't exactly inconspicuous.

Lilith smirked, her crimson eyes gleaming. "We're the talk of every village we visit. Why should this place be any different?"

"Just don't make trouble," Adrian warned sharply.

As they wandered deeper into the market, Ava stopped at a stall filled with exotic jewelry. "Look at these!" she exclaimed, picking up a bracelet adorned with shimmering stones. "I could turn this into a fortune."

The merchant, an older man with a weathered face, smiled warmly. "A fine eye you have, my lady. That piece comes from the far eastern isles."

"It's exquisite," Ava said, reaching for another piece. She was clearly excited, and even Adrian could not help but smile a little at her enthusiasm.

But as she leaned closer, her staff accidentally knocked into the corner of the stall. A carefully balanced display of glass figurines teetered and fell with a shattering crash.

"Oh no!" Selene gasped, covering her mouth as shards of glass scattered across the ground.

The merchant's face turned crimson. "My figurines! Those took months to make!"

Ava winced, immediately crouching down to help gather the broken pieces. "I'm so sorry," she said sincerely. "I didn't mean to—"

"Sorry won't bring them back!" the merchant snapped, though his anger was tinged with despair. "Do you know how much those were worth?"

"Probably a lot," Lilith muttered under her breath, earning a glare from Adrian.

Ava straightened, a guilty look on her face as she stared at the merchant's shattered figurines. Her mind raced for a solution, but before she could speak, Lilith leaned in with a smirk.

"Why don't I just... you know?" she said, her crimson eyes gleaming mischievously. She tapped the side of her temple. "A little nudge, and he won't even remember these things were valuable."

Adrian frowned. "No tricks. We've caused enough trouble already."

"Suit yourself," Lilith said with a shrug. "It's quicker, though."

"I could repair them," Medea offered, black flames flickering at her fingertips. "They won't look exactly the same, but they'll be intact."

"That's not how this works," Ava cut in sharply. "Markets run on trust and profit. If I wrecked his stock, it's my responsibility to make it right. We'll compensate him properly."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, impressed by her sudden sense of accountability. But his approval quickly faded when the merchant crossed his arms and declared, "A chest of gold would just about cover it."

Ava turned on her heel, glaring at Adrian. "Absolutely not. My gold isn't going to fix this."

Adrian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's our gold, Ava. You can't just—"

"I'm not parting with it," Ava snapped, crossing her arms. "There's a difference between responsibility and robbery, Adrian. This is highway robbery."

The merchant scowled. "If you don't have the gold, there's no other way to settle this."

"Wait," Selene interjected softly, her silver hair catching the sunlight. "Maybe we can help another way. Is there anything we can do to repay the debt?"

The merchant's gaze softened slightly, though he still looked skeptical. "Well, now that you mention it... there's an errand I've been needing help with. But it's not for the faint of heart."

Lilith grinned. "Sounds like our kind of thing."

"That's it?" Eris asked, flipping one of her daggers in her hand. "We haul a few boxes, and we're even?"

"It's better than starting a scene," Hera said, her tone sharp. She turned to the merchant. "We'll do it."

The merchant led them to the edge of the market, where a rickety cart stood loaded with crates. "This needs to be delivered to a trader a few miles from here," he explained. "The problem is, the route passes through the woods, and there've been... reports of bandits."

"Bandits?" Abyss said, her hand instinctively moving to the hilt of her sword. "They'll be the ones needing help if they try anything."

Adrian stepped forward. "We'll take care of it."

The merchant nodded, though his expression remained wary. "If you can get this delivered safely, we'll call it even."

"Fine," Ava said, climbing onto the cart with a resigned sigh. "But if those bandits so much as breathe near this shipment, they're paying for it."

The road was narrow and overgrown, the trees casting long shadows as the group trudged along. Adrian walked beside the cart, his sword strapped to his side, while the goddesses fanned out in a loose formation.

Hestia yawned as she trailed behind, clearly unimpressed with the situation. "I don't see why we couldn't just fix the figurines and be done with it," she muttered.

"Because Ava has morals," Medea replied sarcastically. "Apparently."

"Markets are about trust," Ava shot back. "You wouldn't understand."

The group chuckled softly, but their laughter was cut short by the sound of rustling leaves. Adrian raised a hand, signaling them to stop.

"Bandits," Eris whispered, her emerald daggers gleaming as she moved to the front.

"Let them come," Abyss said, her violet blade already in her hand.

Moments later, a group of rough-looking men emerged from the underbrush, their weapons glinting in the dappled sunlight. The leader, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward.

"Well, well," he said with a grin. "What do we have here? A nice little cart of goods and some fine company to boot."

"Turn around and leave," Adrian said coldly, stepping in front of the cart. His fiery chains began to glow faintly at his back. "You won't get another warning."

The bandits laughed, their leader shaking his head. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But I don't think you understand how this works."

"I think you'll find we do," Hera said, her golden spear appearing in her hand. She stepped forward, her regal presence making the bandits hesitate.

"Time to learn some manners," Medea added, her black flames sparking to life.

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