Ultimate Spin System: Ero Spin?-Chapter 103 - Back pain

Lena tilted her head playfully. "Why? It’s fascinating. I mean, really? The innkeeper? That’s so predictable."

Lucas muttered something unintelligible, his face still burning. "Can we not talk about this?"

Lena ignored him completely. "You’re lucky her husband wasn’t around. Though, honestly? That would’ve been hilarious."

Lucas glared at her. "Lena."

She grinned, leaning back with a satisfied sigh. "Oh, relax. Like I said, I’m not gonna tell anyone."

Lucas exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is so not how I imagined this night going."

Lena smirked. "Oh? What did you imagine? A peaceful camping trip? Sitting under the stars, roasting marshmallows, telling old stories?"

Lucas groaned. "I hate you."

Lena laughed. "No, you don’t."

Lucas sighed, shaking his head. "Seriously, why are you even bringing this up?"

Lena shrugged. "I dunno. Just thinking about how different you are now." She poked the fire with a stick, watching the embers rise. "You used to be so... innocent."

Lucas scoffed. "And that’s a bad thing?"

Lena smirked. "Not bad. Just... unrealistic."

Lucas frowned, but before he could respond, Lena continued.

"You used to believe people were good. That if you just worked hard enough, if you just tried hard enough, things would work out for you." She exhaled. "But that’s not how the world works, is it?"

Lucas was quiet.

Lena’s voice softened slightly. "I think that’s why I dragged you out here."

Lucas blinked. "Wait, what?"

Lena smiled faintly, but there was something off in her expression. "You needed a reminder."

Lucas hesitated. "Of what?"

Lena tilted her head, her golden eyes gleaming in the firelight. "That you can’t always run from who you’re becoming."

Lucas stared at her.

Lena smirked. "And trust me, Lucas. I know exactly what kind of person you’re turning into."

Lucas swallowed hard.

Because, deep down, he was starting to think she was right.

The night had been awkward, to say the least.

With their makeshift shelter barely holding up and the uncomfortable tension hanging in the air, neither Lucas nor Lena had gotten much sleep. The rough ground left their muscles sore, and the cold breeze slipping through the cracks in their hastily constructed hut didn’t help.

Lucas, in particular, had barely slept at all.

Not because of the cold, nor the uncomfortable ground—but because every time he closed his eyes, his mind betrayed him with thoughts he really shouldn’t be having.

Specifically, about Lena.

Or, more accurately, about the way she had been lying beside him, her back turned, the curve of her hips perfectly outlined by the dim moonlight. Every shift she made, every breath she took, sent an annoying warmth surging through his body. It was ridiculous. He had been around women before. He had even been intimate with some.

But this was different.

This was Lena.

And that made it wrong.

Lucas let out a long, exhausted sigh as he forced himself into a sitting position. His back cracked in protest, and he winced, rolling his shoulders to loosen the stiffness. Across from him, Lena was still curled up, her breathing slow and steady.

For a moment, he just watched her. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The fire had long since died, leaving only faint embers glowing in the ashes. The forest was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves from the wind or the distant hoot of an owl. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine.

Lucas sighed again, rubbing his face. He needed to clear his head.

---

By the time the first light of dawn broke through the trees, Lena stirred, stretching her arms above her head with a quiet groan. Her golden eyes blinked open, still heavy with sleep, and she looked at Lucas groggily.

"Ugh... what time is it?" she mumbled.

"Too early," Lucas grumbled. "But we need to move. We’ve already wasted enough time."

Lena yawned and sat up, rubbing her neck with a wince. "Gods, my whole body feels like it got trampled by a herd of beasts."

Lucas scoffed. "Yeah, well, that’s what happens when someone forgets the tent."

Lena shot him a glare but was too tired to argue. Instead, she lazily tied her hair back and stood up, brushing leaves and dirt off her clothes.

Lucas did the same, stretching his stiff muscles before slinging his bag over his shoulder. The ache in his back was a painful reminder that next time, he was bringing the damn tent, no matter what Lena said.

"So, what’s the plan?" Lena asked, rolling her shoulders.

Lucas glanced around. The dense forest stretched in all directions, the path they had taken the day before barely visible in the morning light.

"We keep moving. Following the map." He shot her a pointed look. "Unless you’ve got another brilliant idea that’ll get us stranded again."

Lena smirked, unfazed. "Oh, shut up. That was your fault, too."

Lucas sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Just... let’s go."

With that, the two of them set off, the morning chill clinging to their skin as they disappeared deeper into the woods.

The forest stretched endlessly ahead, thick with towering trees and tangled roots that made every step a careful calculation. Morning mist clung to the ground, weaving through the undergrowth like ghostly fingers. Lucas pulled out the enchanted map given to them by the Adventurer’s Guild, watching as glowing lines shimmered on the parchment, shifting and twisting in real-time to guide them forward.

Lena peered over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "So, how does this thing work exactly?"

Lucas exhaled. "It updates based on our movement. The Guild said it’s supposed to lead us along the safest route, avoiding any major threats."

Lena smirked. "Yeah? And yet, here we are, already suffering from poor life choices."

Lucas shot her a glare. "Says the one who dragged us out here in the first place."

Lena shrugged, clearly unbothered. "Adventure requires sacrifice, Lucas."

"Yeah, well, next time let’s not sacrifice my sleep and my back."

Lena chuckled but didn’t push further. Instead, she focused on the glowing lines on the map as they shifted, forming a winding path that veered slightly to the right. "Looks like we take this way."

Lucas sighed and tucked the map into his belt. "Fine. Just... let’s not get distracted."