"…Riahana?"
She blinked. Her brows furrowed as she looked at me.
"Hm?" she said, not confused so much as surprised. "Do I know you?"
"I—yeah. You came to our shop," I said. The words came a little too quickly. "You were asking about a mana brew."
I glanced back at Liona, then nodded toward her.
"That's her. The shop owner I mentioned."
Riahana's gaze shifted to Liona, then back to me, her expression easing a bit.
"Oh..." she said. "The shop."
I nodded. "Yeah. Liona's place."
Her gaze dropped briefly to my ears. " though I don't recall you being an elf."
I hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I had my cloak up," I said. "Back then."
She nodded once. "I see."
For a moment, she remained silent. So did I. The clearing was gradually settling again.
Her eyes moved to Liona's side, to the blood staining her clothes, before turning to me again.
"You're heading to the capital," she said, more observation than question.
I nodded. "We were."
"We're not far from it," she said. "It's better if you come with me, okay? It's getting dark."
"I need a minute," I said. "To grab our things."
She didn't argue. Just watched as I went back to the carriage.
As I gathered our belongings, I noticed her gaze on our carriage almost the entire time. When I was done, she had already moved to the horses, tying them off to a thick tree at the edge of the clearing.
"Leave the carriage," she said. "You can come back for it later."
I nodded.
When I turned back to Liona, she was already trying to push herself upright.
I stepped in to support her. She waved me off immediately.
"I'm not some fragile egg," she said flatly. "I can walk."
She took two steps.
Then stopped.
"…That said," she added, glancing at me from the corner of her eye, "if you're going to carry me, at least do it properly."
Before I could respond, she stepped closer and climbed onto my back.
I staggered. "—Heavy."
She paused for a second before her arms tightened slightly around my shoulders.
"…How rude," she muttered.
Riahana turned away without comment and pulled her hood back up.
She led us down a narrow path choked with vines and low branches, one that opened gradually into something wider.
The trees thinned as the road stretched out before us.
And beyond it—
A vast city spread across the land, surrounded by a thick, intricate wall.
Riahana slowed and glanced back at us.
"Here we are — Ryemont," she said.
Then she turned and continued forward, leading us into the capital.
*******
The road opened up, and Ryemont stretched before us. The trees thinned, giving way to streets made of polished marble, as if the city itself took pride in its upkeep. Homes lined neatly on the avenue.
Beastkin moved along the streets in small clusters. Most kept their distance, glancing at us from time to time, while a few let their eyes linger, sharp and wary, laced with disdain. It must've had something to do with us being outsiders, being measured by everyone we passed.
"…Look at that," Liona murmured, tilting her head toward a small sign swinging above a cobblestone archway. "That Inn looks nice."
I glanced at it, careful with the weight of her on my back. "Mhmm. It does."
She shifted slightly on my back, tugging lightly at my cloak. "Hey… what are you doing?" she asked. "We could stay there."
Riahana stopped too, her hooded head tilting slightly as she glanced towards the inn.
I adjusted my stance, balancing Liona. "It looks nice… though I'm guessing it'll cost us a lot."
Liona's tone held a trace of annoyance. "Still… maybe we should consider it." She gave me a look, like I was supposed to agree.
Riahana's tone cut through the quiet. "You don't have to worry about money," she said casually. "I'll cover it."
I shook my head quickly. "No, you don't need to pay. We can manage."
"Yes," Liona added, her voice firm. "We don't want to be a burden to you."
Riahana waved a hand, dismissive.
"Nonsense. Don't worry about me. You're not inconveniencing me." She turned toward the Inn. "Come on."
We followed.
The inn was tidy, to say the least. The stone walls caught the light. Wooden beams had simple carvings, and potted plants lined the entrance. The smell of herbs drifted out into the street. Inside, the reception was quiet and neat—benches along the walls, small rugs on the floor, and a polished oak counter at the far end.
The only person in sight was the receptionist, a young beastkin with long, bunny-like ears and a bored expression, scrolling through a ledger.
As we stepped up to the counter, Riahana leaned slightly forward, her hood still up. "We'd like to book a room for two," she said calmly.
The receptionist glanced at her lazily. "That'll be fifteen gold coins," she said without looking up.
Riahana tilted her head. "Fifteen gold? Could we—" She paused for a moment before continuing. "Could we settle this later?"
The receptionist finally looked up, eyebrows raised. "Later? That's… unusual, but if you leave a deposit—"
Riahana's hand slipped inside her cloak. She drew out a small stack of coins, placing them neatly on the counter. "This should cover the deposit. You'll have the rest by sunrise—with interest for the trouble."
The receptionist stared at the coins for a heartbeat, then nodded."I suppose it'll do," she muttered, sliding a heavy brass key across the wood. "Room four. Watch the stairs, the third step is loose."
Only then did Riahana pull back her hood. Red hair spilled free, catching the dim light of the inn. The receptionist's bored expression vanished immediately, replaced by wide eyes, her jaws dropping in disbelief.
"Oh my—" the receptionist started, but Riahana's gaze cut her off.
"Take care of them," she said, voice calm, carrying an unmistakable authority.
The receptionist snapped to attention. "Y-yes!" Her earlier disinterest replaced by an almost frantic eagerness.
Riahana turned back to us. "I suppose this is farewell." She placed a hand lightly on my shoulder. "Take care of yourself." Her fingers then moved to brush against Liona's cheek. "And you too."
Liona froze for a heartbeat, caught off guard by the gesture. A faint flush coloured her cheeks, but she didn't pull away. She simply blinked, allowing it to happen.
Riahana withdrew her hand, adjusted her hood, and turned toward the exit. Without a word, she left us in the reception area, the receptionist who now buzzed with activity, far more alert and excited than when we first entered.