Chapter 281 Darkness of the Night

Silvia rose to her feet, her movements hesitant as she approached the door, her heart pounding with a mixture of curiosity and worry. With trembling hands, she reached out to grasp the doorknob, her fingers lingering for a moment before she mustered the courage to turn it.

"Um... Hello? W-who is it?" she called out, her words tinged with uncertainty as she peered through the crack in the door.

As the door swung open, Silvia's gaze was met by the sight of a towering figure looming in the doorway, her presence casting a shadow over the threshold. It was Olivia, her tall, imposing figure silhouetted against the soft glow of the hallway lights, her eyes gleaming with an intensity that sent a shiver down Silvia's spine.

From high above, she stared down at Silvia with an intensity that made her feel small and insignificant in comparison. Her gaze piercing and unforgiving as she surveyed the room with a calculating eye.

Olivia's presence radiated an aura of dominance, her gaze piercing through Silvia with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. But as Olivia's eyes fell upon the trembling form of Silvia, her hostile demeanor softened, a flicker of empathy shining through the steely facade. With keen eyes honed by years of experience, she quickly assessed Silvia's body language, sensing the sweet, shy nature hidden beneath the surface of her frightened exterior.

 Despite her strong exterior, Silvia's trembling body and nervous fidgeting betrayed the vulnerability that lurked beneath, her scared eyes pleading for help.

With a gentle sigh, Olivia's demeanor softened, her hostile facade melting away to reveal the warmth and kindness that lay dormant within. Stepping forward, she reached out a hand to Silvia, her touch gentle and reassuring as she offered a small smile.

"Hey there," she said softly, her voice gentle and soothing.

 "I'm Olivia. Don't be afraid, I'm not here to hurt you. I can see you're scared, but you don't have to be."

"Um... Hello, I-I'm Silvia. It's... it's nice to meet you, Olivia. So, um, w-what brings you here? Are you, um, visiting Helen?" Silvia asked as she struggled to meet Olivia's intense gaze.

Olivia chuckled softly at Silvia's stuttering attempts at conversation, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she leaned back against the door frame, a confident smile playing at the corners of her lips.

 "Well, I suppose you could say that."

"Helen... she's, um, she's not here right now. She went downstairs to get some food for us." Silvia stuttered, her voice wavering slightly as she struggled to find her words.

Before Silvia and Olivia could delve deeper into their conversation, a sudden movement caught their attention. With a gentle swish of fabric, a strong arm wrapped around Olivia's waist, pulling her into a warm embrace. It was Suzuka, she greeted her girlfriend with a smile.

"Hey, Olivia! It's been a while, hasn't it? Come on in, don't just stand there." Suzuka greeted, her voice filled with warmth and affection. 

With a playful wink, Suzuka turned to Silvia, "Oh, and I see you've already met Silvia. She's my new roommate for a few days, starting today. It's a long story, trust me."

Silvia blushed at Suzuka's words, her heart racing at the thought of being introduced to Olivia as Suzuka's roommate. Despite her embarrassment, she couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude towards her friend for coming to her rescue in her moment of need.

Olivia, for her part, greeted Suzuka with a warm smile, her eyes softening as she returned the embrace.

 "Hey, Suzu. It's good to see you again. And don't worry, I won't scare your roommate."

Before Silvia, Suzuka, and Olivia could resume their conversation, a sudden commotion drew their attention. With a rustle of fabric and a flurry of flailing limbs, Hermit finally managed to free himself from the tangled mess of blankets that had ensnared him moments earlier.

With a wild gleam in his eyes and a joyous squeal on his lips, Hermit launched himself toward Olivia with a reckless leap. Like a miniature projectile, he hurtled through the air, his arms outstretched in a desperate request for affection.

"Master Olivia! Oh, kind and good lady! Goddess of kindness! Please, oh please, give this goblin a warm hug or better yet, a gentle belly rub! Please! Envelope me in your kindness!" Hermit yelled, his voice rising to a squeal of excitement.

Olivia braced herself for the impact, her arms outstretched to receive the eager goblin. But before Hermit could reach Olivia's welcoming embrace, a sudden interruption halted his flight through the air. With lightning speed, Suzuka sprang into action, her hand shooting out to grasp the goblin by his wrinkled scalp, halting his trajectory mid-air and leaving him dangling in her grasp.

"Whoa there, little goblin," Suzuka said, her voice sharp with authority as she locked eyes with Hermit. 

"Keep your grubby hands off my girlfriend. You're not touching her, you got that?"

Then, with a swift motion, Suzuka released her grip on Hermit's scalp, letting him plummet to the ground in a tangled heap. With a soft thud, he landed at Olivia's feet, his expression a mixture of submission and surrender.

With a whimper, Hermit scrambled to his feet, his eyes downcast and his shoulders slumped in defeat. He dared not meet Suzuka's gaze, for fear of further stirring her wrath.

 "Y-yes, Mistress Helen," he muttered meekly, "I-I understand. I... I didn't mean any harm. I just... I just wanted a hug. I-I won't do it again, I promise." Though disappointed at being denied the warmth of Olivia's embrace, he knew better than to defy Suzuka's commands.

Olivia's gaze softened as she watched Hermit cower before Suzuka, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. With a gentle sigh, she reached down to pat the trembling goblin on the head, her touch light and reassuring.

"Aw, there, little one," she cooed, her voice laced with warmth and affection.

 "Don't worry, I don't mind giving you a hug. After all, everyone deserves a little bit of kindness now and then."

Her eyes twinkled with naughtiness as she cast a playful glance in Suzuka's direction. 

"But if your mistress insists otherwise," she added with a wink, "then who am I to argue? After all, we wouldn't want to upset her now, would we?"

Silvia's heart swelled with empathy as she watched Hermit cower before Suzuka's stern scolding. She knew all too well the pain of loneliness and mistreatment, her own life a testament to the harsh realities of the world. But she also knew the healing power of a comforting embrace, a simple gesture of kindness that could transcend even the deepest wounds.

With a gentle smile, Silvia stepped forward, her eyes soft with compassion as she approached the trembling goblin. 

"Hey there, little one. It's okay. I'll hug you."

Kneeling beside Hermit, Silvia wrapped her arms around him in a tender embrace, her touch gentle and reassuring. As she held him close, she could feel the tension slowly melt away from his small frame, replaced by a sense of warmth and security that he had never known before.

 Hermit buried his face in her shoulder, his body trembling with silent sobs. As Silvia held him close, Hermit felt a wave of emotion wash over him, his eyes brimming with tears.

But these tears were not tears of pain or suffering; they were tears of release, of healing, of finally finding solace in the arms of someone who understood his pain. It was a hug unlike any he had ever experienced before, a hug that spoke volumes of the mutual understanding and compassion they shared for each other's suffering.

As the evening stretched into the night, the cozy atmosphere of Suzuka's room enveloped them like a warm embrace. With Hermit finally calmed down, they all settled onto Suzuka's bed, their voices mingling in a lively conversation that danced through the air like a melody.

Outside, the weather took a turn for the worse, the gentle patter of raindrops against the windowpane gradually growing into a steady drumbeat. Occasional flashes of lightning illuminated the room, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls.

Despite the storm raging outside, the three friends remained engrossed in their discussion, their laughter and chatter filling the room with a sense of warmth. But as the night wore on, Silvia's exhaustion became increasingly apparent, her eyelids drooping with weariness as she struggled to keep her eyes open.

Sensing her friend's weariness, Suzuka cast a concerned glance in Silvia's direction.

 "You look absolutely beat, Silvia," she remarked with a sympathetic smile.

 "Why don't we call it a day and get some rest? We've had a long day."

With a grateful sigh, Silvia nodded in agreement, her tired eyes half-closed at the prospect of sleep. 

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Thank you, Helen."

Turning to Olivia, Suzuka offered a warm smile.

 "Hey, Olivia, why don't you stay the night? My bed's big enough for all of us. It'll be like a slumber party. With this weather outside," Suzuka added, gesturing towards the window where raindrops danced against the glass, "it's the perfect excuse to snuggle up and get some much-needed sleep."

With a playful twinkle in her eyes, Olivia turned to Suzuka, a teasing smile playing at the corners of her lips. 

"Well, well, Suzu, I must say, I do love the sound of that offer. Who could resist the temptation of snuggling up with you on such a stormy night? I suppose I'll just have to take you up on that invitation, won't I?"

As Suzuka and Olivia exchanged flirtatious banter, Hermit's tiny frame trembled with fear at the thought of sharing a bed with Suzuka once more. Memories of her restless tossing and turning flashed through his mind, sending shivers down his spine as he recalled the perilous night he had spent barely escaping her thrashing limbs.

With a voice quivering with dread, Hermit mustered the courage to speak up. 

"I-I'm not going to sleep on the bed," he stuttered, his words barely audible over the gentle patter of rain against the windowpane.

 "I-I'll be spending the night under the bed, in my secret goblin lair... with my precious hatchlings."

Suzuka's gaze hardened at Hermit's words, a flicker of annoyance flashing in her eyes. 

"You weren't even invited, Hermit. This doesn't concern you. Stay out of it. Sleeping on the floor is good enough for you. Shoo, shoo!"

Hermit's heart sank at Suzuka's harsh words, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he scurried away to seek refuge beneath the bed. Though he longed for the warmth and safety of Suzuka's bed, he knew better than to risk his life. And so, with a heavy heart, he retreated to his hidden sanctuary, his precious hatchlings his only solace in the darkness of the night.