After finalizing everything with the guild, getting the run down of rules, etiquette, and so forth, the group decided to go to an inn and rest.
They had, after all, been through one hell of a first day in the capital city of Ebria. Each of them finished the last bit of their journey to the capital, met each other, ran into a strange man who gave a more mysterious ring, saw an evil prince shrouded in a dark aura, and met the sin of Greed, it was a lot to take in.
The group sluggishly walked through the now almost empty city streets over to an inn. The inn is named "What Ales Ya?" This was a small inn, two floors, quiet, pretty much pressed into the back corner of town. Because it was far off from the main road, there were not a lot of people inside.
This kind of peace and quiet was what the group was looking for.
"How can I help your sorry butts?" A small, middle aged man, muscles booming, his shirt barely keeping it together, but he had a smile on his face, said with a coiled beard blocking his mouth.
"Diner, two rooms, and breakfast for the morning." Fenrir said with a weary smile. Despite the group being physically and mentally drained, Fenrir was the only one able to handle the exhaustion of the day. This was because of the intense training he puts his body through on a daily basis.
"That will run you two silver." The man said, looking at the bone-weary group.
Fenrir placed the coins on the table.
"Dinner will be right out. Your rooms are three and four, up the stairs."
The group waved goodbye to the man for the time being and walked up the stairs. "How do we want to split up the rooms? Three and one?" Fenrir said, puzzled.
"Fenrir, I will sleep in your room," Zena said.
"That works for me."
"Try anything and I will kill you." Zena said with eyes narrowed in on him like a hunter looking at its prey.
"Relax, I won't try anything, I am used to it because I have two sisters at home."
"Thaaaat means me and Cocooo will share a roooom! Howww exciting." Alex said tired, her eyes were drooping, but she was excited to share a room with someone she wants to be close with.
The two groups, Zena and Fenrir, Coco and Alex, entered their rooms, and dropped their stuff off.
…
The rooms were small, with just enough room for two beds and two night stands. There were light lamps on top of each of the nightstands. Light attribute magic stones placed in glass allowing them to exude light around them.
Coco walked over to the first nightstand and turned on the light lamp by applying it with some mana. Then she did the same to the other one. Finally, Coco walked over to the other side of her bed and set the bag down, it was now leaning against the wall. If I wasn't so tired, I would love to gawk at the light lamps. I might think about them when I go to bed.
"ZZZ"
Once the weight of the backpack was off her shoulders, she let out a small sigh. I want to take the cloak off too, but I need to hold off. She thought before turning back towards where Alex was.
Alex was asleep, laying face down on the bed, she was laying horizontally on the vertical bed. She literally had no energy, the moment she hit the first bed, she fell asleep.
"Alex, I am going to get some food, I will be back later." Coco said in a whisper.
The sound of a bubble popped. Alex, if only for a moment, woke up. "Ohtay" Alex said before closing her eyes and sleeping again.
Coco opened the door, turned towards Alex, gave a soft smile, and silently went down stairs.
…
Fenrir and Zena's room was the same layout as Coco and Alex's room is. Fenrir walked over to the corner to set his stuff down.
Neither of them bothered turning on the light lamps.
Zena unequipped everything, her black cloak, five knives/daggers, her combat boots, and undid her hair. Her black hair flew outwards like a butterfly spreading its wings. She also reached under her shirt and undid the wrapping around her chest. "Huaaa" Zena let out an exhale. She was now only in a black shirt and leggings. "I am going to sleep, I will eat in the morning."
"Alight. I am gonna get some food." Fenrir said, also having de-equipped his sword, armor, and belt, wearing only a white shirt, pants, and boots.
Fenrir walked out of the room, back down the stairs.
…
Heading outside of their rooms at the same time, Coco and Fenrir met eyes.
Coco didn't say anything, just turned and walked down the wooden tavern stairs, Fenrir walking behind her.
I never noticed it before, but she really is thin and small. I get that I have a better physique than most people my age, but she looks unhealthy. I wonder if I can help her in any way.
The two reached the tables at the bar, the inn keeper came over and offered a cup of water and some food. Dinner was a potato casserole filled with cheese, broccoli, chicken, and crust.
It smelled warm and refreshing, like a hug from the elderly.
"Here you two are, I will package the rest for your friends. You must have had a long day."
Coco looked at the man with a soft, closed eyed smile.
"Thank you sir." Fenrir said, sounding like a tired soldier still ready for more.
The inn keeper walked away. Coco, feeling the man's presence get further and further away, she opened her eyes. Originally she was going to turn her head back to Fenrir, but a sign caught her attention.
This sign was wooden, located at the back center of the bar, it listed the drinking ages for all races.
Humans - twenty five years old
Elves - twenty five years old
Demi-humans - twenty years old
Demons - twenty years old
Dragonborn - ten years old
Dwarfs - eight years old
"Pfft, haha." Coco let out a soft giggle.
Fenrir leaned over to see Coco, the usually lost-in-thought seriously looking demon smiling without a care in the world.
"What, what is it? What's so funny?" Fenrir asked, puzzled at her reaction.
"I didn't know dwarves could drink the moment they became tall enough to reach the counter." She said letting out a cute "pfft" as though trying not to laugh too loud.
"Haha, I thought you grew up in the dwarven settlement on the other side of the mountain. How did you not know?"
"I did live there, but I lived in a shack on the corner of the mountain with a master of magic named Garrison. I never participated in events or spoke with neighbors." As Coco said this, her smile slowly became somber. She didn't miss Garrison or the dwarven settlement, but she felt like she missed an important part about being a kid.
"That makes sense, but I didn't think the drinking age would make you laugh." Fenrir said not understanding the somber look on her face, but trying to cheer her up.
"I like jokes about the systems of the world. Who was it that set these legal age limits? Haha. Whoever did it must hate humans, since they spend a third of their life unable to drink." Coco said, smiling again.
"I suppose so?" Fenrir said still not fully getting it. He, a demi-human, could never understand the irony of age in the face of a demon.
The two ate their food, now that it had cooled down. They sat there and ate, recollecting about their time in dwarven territory.
When the food was finally done they parted ways, and went to their rooms.
Fenrir entered the room, locked the door, laid down and fell fast asleep.
Coco locked the door behind her and finally took off her belt and cloak. Her shoulders dropped, and her tiny black horns pointed at an angle upwards, she closed her eyes as though letting them breathe some fresh air.
Originally planning to just flop onto her bed and sleep, she looked over to see the still fully equipped Alex laying wrongly on her bed. Coco did her favor of spinning her vertically with the bed, taking off her equipment, setting it against the wall, and tossing a blanket over her.
After that struggle, she walked over and deactivated the two lamp lights, laid down, closed her eyes, and looked at the lamp lights.
I don't feel bad for missing out on being a kid, because magic has always been my friend. Light lamps are simple in design, but they make daily life easier. Originally they were made over five-hundred years ago. Thinking about light magic stones, she soon fell asleep.
The wolf, the hunter, the seeker, and the demon all were fast asleep. Resting after a two week long journey on the road.
This moment of peace was something that everyone in the group needed. A peaceful eight hours of rest as the moon's lights shined down on them.