Setting up camp in the middle of the woods was a part of being an adventurer. He had found a clearing near a river, where he had already set up a fire, he hunted some deer and while it roasted. He laid out his bedroll and was eager to eat, bathe and then sleep as he had been riding nonstop for two days since he completed his last request.
Which was to find an expensive amulet in a cavern that was being guarded by wyverns. Obviously he took the request and located them in the Shinowa mountains and was able to quickly kill the nest just to get that damn amulet. He had traveled the last two days covered in their blood and fur.
He scarfed down the deer and grabbed his other clothes from the saddle bag and made his way to the river. Katsuki was eager to bathe and get some sleep as he planned on traveling to the nearest town for supplies.
Katsuki weaved through the trees, the sound of the rushing river guiding him forward. The promise of cold, clean water after days of relentless travel almost made him smile. As he broke through the last line of trees, he stopped short, eyes widening at the sight before him.
He dropped the clothes he'd been holding, too stunned to do anything but stare.
There, in the middle of the river, was a woman—a naked woman. She stood waist-deep in the shimmering water, her soft pink hair cascading over her bare shoulders as she ran her fingers through it, humming softly to herself. Her voice, though quiet, seemed to blend with the gentle flow of the river, creating an almost hypnotic melody.
The moonlight filtered through the trees above, casting a silver glow over her, making her skin look as if it were carved from pale, translucent marble. Each movement she made, from the way her fingers glided through her hair to the soft rise and fall of her chest, was unearthly, graceful—like something out of a dream.
Katsuki swallowed, his throat suddenly dry, his heart beating a little faster. He tried to tear his gaze away, tried to remind himself that staring was the last thing he should be doing, but something about her held him captive.
Her pink hair, now damp, glowed faintly in the moonlight, taking on a silvery sheen as it fell over her back. He felt his breath hitch, her beauty almost too much to take in all at once—her slender figure, the curve of her neck, the way the water lapped at her waist as though even the river was drawn to her.
Katsuki's mind raced. There was no mistaking who she was. He'd recognize that ethereal beauty anywhere. It was Rosie—the elf from the tavern.
His lips parted, her name almost spilling from them before he caught himself. He couldn't believe it. Here she was, the same woman he had met only days ago in a grimy tavern, now standing before him like a vision, far removed from the bustling, noisy world they'd shared.
For a moment, all he could do was watch, mesmerized by the sight of her, as if she were something too perfect, too rare to disturb. The world around him fell away, leaving only the moonlit water, the soft hum of her voice, and the image of her bathing under the stars.
Shit.
He shouldn't be staring at her.
Katsuki's heart pounded as he stood frozen, his back turned toward the river. He cursed himself for staring too long at the elf bathing in the moonlit water. Of all people to run into in the middle of nowhere, it had to be her—Rosie, the tavern wench. His mind raced, a swirl of exhaustion, surprise, and the lingering image of her ethereal beauty burned into his memory.
"Is someone there?" Rosie's voice, soft yet sharp with caution, broke the silence, and Katsuki swore under his breath.
He must've said her name out loud without realizing it.
"I just came to bathe," Katsuki muttered, keeping his back to her, eyes fixed on the ground. "But I can come back later." His tone was gruff, though the lie was obvious. He didn't want to wait—he was exhausted, still reeking of wyvern blood and sweat, and all he wanted was to wash off and collapse into sleep. But there was no way he was going to stick around and make things even more awkward.
Behind him, he heard a splash of water, followed by soft rustling, likely Rosie reaching for her clothes or something to cover herself. He clenched his fists, inwardly cursing his luck. Why was he running into her here of all places?
Before he could fully retreat back toward camp, a rustling sound came from the trees—something that wasn't caused by wind or an animal. It was too deliberate, too heavy. Katsuki's senses sharpened instantly, and he turned his head just in time to see dark shapes darting between the trees.
Goblins.
"Shit," Katsuki hissed, scanning for his sword only to remember he had left his weapons back at camp, assuming he'd have a peaceful bath.
Damn it!
His mind raced. Goblins were small, nasty creatures, but they were vicious in packs, and there were five of them closing in fast.
"Stay back!" Katsuki called out instinctively to Rosie, stepping toward the riverbank, his muscles tensing. His eyes darted to the camp, but there was no time to run for his weapons. The goblins were already too close, their eyes glowing in the dim moonlight as they hissed and snarled, rusty blades and jagged spears in hand.
But before he could do anything—before he could even think about how to fight them without his weapons—a sharp twang split the air. In the blink of an eye, a goblin yelped and collapsed to the ground, an arrow buried deep in its chest.
Katsuki's eyes widened as another twang followed, and then another. Each shot hit its mark with deadly precision. He turned, stunned, to see Rosie standing at the water's edge, not a trace of fear on her face. Her longbow was raised, her expression calm and focused as she drew back another arrow and released it with a deadly grace.
Another goblin fell, clutching its throat as it gurgled a final breath.
Katsuki could only watch in shock as Rosie continued firing, her movements swift and fluid, each shot finding its target with ease. The final two goblins didn't even have time to react before they, too, were felled by her arrows, their small bodies hitting the ground with dull thuds.
It was over in seconds.
Rosie lowered her bow, her chest rising and falling as she took a slow breath, her eyes scanning the area to make sure there were no more threats. Her pink hair, damp and cascading over her shoulders, shimmered under the moonlight, but it was her expression that caught Katsuki off guard the most—calm, collected, and completely unphased.
He stood there, dumbstruck, for a moment longer than he should have. The woman he had thought was merely a tavern wench, a high elf with an innocent smile, had just taken down five goblins without breaking a sweat.
Rosie's eyes met his, and she raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for him to say something.
"Were you going to just stand there the whole time?" she asked, her voice carrying a playful edge now that the danger had passed.
Katsuki scowled, quickly pulling himself together, though he was still reeling from what he'd just witnessed. "I left my weapons back at camp," he grumbled, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over him.
Rosie glanced at the fallen goblins, then back at him, a small, amused smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Good thing I didn't," she said, slinging her bow over her shoulder.
For a moment, silence settled between them, the crackling of the nearby river the only sound cutting through the night air. Katsuki, still shaken, couldn't help but wonder—who was she really? A tavern wench didn't take down goblins with the precision of a seasoned warrior.
He cleared his throat, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. "Thanks," he muttered, glancing back at the goblin bodies scattered around them.
Rosie smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Next time, don't forget your weapons. You might not get so lucky." With that, she bent down to retrieve her clothes from the riverbank, pulling on a long shirt that hung loosely over her slender frame.
As she walked past him, Katsuki caught the subtle scent of rainwater mixed with roses, an intoxicating fragrance that lingered in the air long after she had disappeared into the woods. He shook his head, trying to dispel the thoughts swirling in his mind. There was no time for distractions—he had to clean up, especially now that goblins were lurking nearby.
Quickly, he stripped off his bloodied clothes, tossing them into the river before stepping into the cool water. The rush of it was refreshing, washing away the grime and sweat from his body, but he knew he needed to be swift. If those goblins were nearby, he couldn't afford to be caught unprepared. Using his own weight as leverage, he scrubbed his skin and hurriedly rinsed away the last remnants of the wyvern battle.
Once clean, he dressed in his black pants and a simple white shirt, the fabric feeling oddly comforting against his skin. As he walked back to camp, he noticed a white horse grazing beside his own dark steed. A bedroll lay on the opposite side of the fire, and there was Rosie, sitting cross-legged as she braided her hair, a soft melody escaping her lips.
"What the hell are you doing?" he blurted, incredulous as he approached.
She looked up, beaming at him, unfazed by his abruptness. "There's a whole goblin nest not too far east from here. I tracked it and decided I'd much rather make camp with someone in case they decide to attack."
Katsuki watched her, a mix of admiration and annoyance flaring within him. As she finished braiding her hair, he couldn't help but notice her outfit—a sterling silver bralette that exposed her toned abdomen and a flowing white skirt that barely concealed her assets, held together by shimmering silver pins. Elves were known for their lack of modesty, but seeing it in person was still a jolt to his senses.
He turned away, unwilling to let himself be distracted. "You could've just camped somewhere else," he muttered, though a part of him acknowledged that her plan wasn't terrible. Given the goblin threat, it was indeed better to have a partner to keep watch through the night.
"You take the first watch then," he grumbled, feeling the weight of exhaustion pulling at him.
As he slipped into his bedroll, he watched Rosie pull out a blue leather book from her pack. The firelight flickered across her features, casting playful shadows that danced over her face. She seemed completely at ease, immersed in her reading, her expression a mix of concentration and calm.
Katsuki's mind raced.
Just what the hell had he gotten himself into?
He was too tired to consider the implications of sharing a camp with a high elf who had so easily taken down five goblins. He tried to shake the thoughts away, letting the warmth of the fire wrap around him like a blanket.
With one last glance at Rosie, who was now completely absorbed in her book, he closed his eyes. The crackling fire and the soft rustle of leaves provided a comforting backdrop as he surrendered to sleep, his body finally giving in to the exhaustion of the past few days.
Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, but for now, in this unexpected companionship, Katsuki allowed himself to drift into dreams, his thoughts filled with the lingering scent of roses and rainwater.