The soft clink of coins on the cashier's desk marked the end of that morning's tension in the dining room. Elara settled the bill with practiced efficiency, ignoring the receptionist's gaze, which was still clouded with the lingering remnants of panic.
"Young Master, Wolvin." Elara's voice flowed calmly yet radiated an undeniable authority. She had once again donned her persona as 'Arale', Calian's personal bodyguard and companion. "Come, we must head to the Adventurers' Guild immediately."
"Okay!" Calian and Wolvin answered in unison.
As the three figures stepped out of the dining area, an awkward silence still blanketed the room. The nobles and wealthy merchants who had been ready to scoff moments ago could only sit frozen in their chairs. They were left with a sense of unacknowledged amazement, staring at the back of a beastfolk who had just taught them the true meaning of high-class etiquette. In the hearts of a few, a secret spark of envy flickered, imagining how perfect it would be to have a companion as loyal and as graceful as that beastfolk youth.
The inn's double doors swung open, welcoming the trio into the bustling chaos of Argam, a city bathed in brilliant sunlight. The air outside felt fresher, carrying the hum of merchant activity and the rhythmic clatter of horse hooves on the cobblestone streets.
However, Wolvin's relief lasted only a heartbeat. The moment they stepped onto the crowded thoroughfare, the wave of attention hit him once again, this time, larger and more blatant.
The reason remained unchanged. In a human city that thrived on rigid hierarchies, the sight of a male beastfolk walking freely without a slave collar or an ownership bracelet was an anomaly.
Sharp whispers began to slither through the crowd like snakes. Fingers pointed covertly, judgmental gazes sized him up, and sneers of disgust came from several pedestrians as they passed the small group.
Wolvin's sensitive, Night Wolf ears caught every foul murmur with agonizing clarity. Instinctively, his shoulders tensed. His black tail, which had moved freely the night before, now curled stiffly downward. Feeling wary and as if he were being put on trial by the entire city, Wolvin shifted closer to Calian's side. His hand sought out his husband's, gripping it tightly as if searching for an anchor to keep from drowning in his own insecurity.
Calian returned the grip with a reassuring squeeze, his thumb gently stroking the back of Wolvin's hand. Beside them, Elara's pace did not falter for a second, but her sharp eyes caught the clear shift in her son-in-law's body language.
As a mother, seeing her family cornered was something she would never tolerate.
Without turning her head, Elara spoke. Her tone was casual, yet she deliberately raised her volume so it echoed through the morning crowd.
"Wolvin..." Elara called out softly, her voice crystal clear above the urban din. "You needn't bother yourself with the opinions of those around you."
Her stride remained rhythmic, but her next words cut like a blade swung low. "They are nothing more than country bumpkins. They have no manners, let alone common decency. Just treat their stares and gossip as the buzzing of worthless insects."
Those words acted like a spark on a pile of dry hay. The whispers that had been hushed and hidden stopped instantly, replaced by a tense silence. Several pedestrians halted in their tracks, their faces flushing red, offended by the open insult from this foreign woman.
"Hey, you!"
A coarse shout broke the tension. A stout man stepped forward from the edge of the street, his face hardening with suppressed rage.
"What was that supposed to mean, hah?!" the man barked, pointing a finger at Elara. "How dare you say we have no manners or decency!"
Elara stopped in her tracks with absolute composure. She turned her body slowly, meeting the man's gaze with a flat stare that was far more intimidating than any expression of anger. Spontaneously, her son and son-in-law, who were walking beside her, stopped as well.
"If you truly possessed manners and decency," Elara replied casually, her voice as cold as ice, "you would surely know that staring intently at someone's traveling companion while whispering behind their back is a most improper act, wouldn't you?"
Elara tilted her head slightly. "Use your common sense. If you were walking through the city and were met with such disgusting glares, how would you feel? Uncomfortable, wouldn't you?"
The stout man snorted roughly, refusing to back down even though his face wavered slightly under the weight of her logic. "That has nothing to do with it! This is different!" he argued stubbornly. "Any way you look at it, he's clearly a beastfolk! A lowly creature that should—"
Elara did not let the man finish his foul sentence.
"And so?" Elara cut him off sharply.
A dominant aura immediately radiated from her, causing the stout man to instinctively take a step back. Her eyes bore into him as if she were dissecting his very thoughts.
"Is it because you were born human that you feel entitled to speak so brazenly?" Elara pressed without raising her voice, yet every syllable felt like a threat. "He breathes the same air you do. He is a living being with the same rights on this street as you. Exactly what is wrong with his race? Has he committed a crime here this morning that gives you the right to judge him?"
The man was struck dumb. His mouth hung open slightly, but not a single word came out. His mind could find no argument to counter the piercing, logical interrogation of the golden-haired woman before him. The crowd that had been ready to support the man slowly began to avert their eyes, losing their nerve in the face of Elara's suffocatingly thick aura of intimidation.
Seeing the man standing there like a fool, Elara let out a soft, dismissive snort.
"You cannot even answer a question that simple." Elara mocked. "In that case, do not dare block our path. Because of your useless antics, our time is being wasted."
Before the atmosphere could grow any more volatile, Calian, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up.
"Come on, Arale. We have to get to the guild." Calian called out suddenly. His face remained calm, showing a maturity that sought to avoid a prolonged street drama that would only attract the city guards. He gave Wolvin's hand a slight tug. "It's getting late, you know."
Elara stared at the man for a few seconds longer, delivering a silent warning, before finally nodding toward Calian. Her intimidating aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Without giving the stunned crowd a second glance, the three of them resumed their journey. They cared nothing for the judgments of those in Argam, remaining focused on their original destination: the Adventurers' Guild.