While I hadn't taken much of the scenery in—it was all the same.
A forest on our left, and plains on our right—losing the mountain range as we passed halfway.
Finally seeing the first houses, some made of bricks, while others wood—carrying thatched roofs. The lights of the setting sun, shone in between these houses—lighting up the streets.
The streets aren't busy... how can I find an inn?
I held my chin, as I thought it over,
I need to wake Mim up either way.
I looked up again, and saw someone walk down the streets.
"Mim, wake up! I need you now!"
"Huh... Oh—okay!" She said, not noticing the drool on her face.
"Mim." I wiped below my lips.
"Thank you, big brother!" She said, wiping her own lips.
"Good evening, do you know where the nearest inn is?"
"Good evening, ..." The lady responded as I asked her from the carriage.
I looked back at Mim, who just nodded.
"Thank you very much." I nodded to the lady, as I reined the horse to gallop.
But she still stood there, asking me,
"But young master, what are you doing here all alone if I may ask?"
"There are dangerous places, not one for someone like you to travel through alone."
"I've heard it's dangerous, but I've also heard that this is a good town. So there should be nothing to worry about." I smiled at her, as she lowered her head.
I felt a shiver run down my back.
"Thank you for talking well about our humble town, but why a—"
"Thank you very much for your help, but my little sister needs to sleep. Have a nice evening." I interrupted her.
I can't afford to slip up.
"Why didn't you correct the nice woman that we're not nobles?" Mim said, while crawling back to her seat.
"I think it's better for them to think we are nobles, than just some lost children, right?"
She tilted her head and said,
"I just trust you brother."
"That's all you need for now." I said as I reined the horse to walk.
She pointed to a building right of us, one bigger than its neighbors.
"Is that the inn?" I asked and she just nodded.
"Let's leave our carriage here then." I stopped right in front of the inn, taking Eden's bag with us.
"Mim just do the same as before." I whispered before I spoke to the innkeeper,
"Good evening, is it possible to stay here for the night?"
"Good evening, ...."
I looked down at Mim, who just lifted her thumbs.
"Can we have one room?..."
"And what are we supposed to do with our horse and carriage?"
Do we even have enough money? I hope Eden gave us enough... in the worst case I still have some of my own money.
I reached for the leather pouch in my bag, different from the linen one I used.
It's pretty heavy...
I opened it up, and had to blink a few times—blinded by the light reflected from inside—revealed to me was a bag filled to the rim with silver—there were at least 50 coins.
I had to hold my mouth back from falling open, but I had to hide it from the innkeeper.
"Ho, ho—that's quite a hefty pouch young man." He said, wiping his nose as the light reached his eyes—showing a smile that could blind a thousand.
"...." He closed in and held my shoulders, saying,
"...."
I stepped back and pulled Mim with me, as I brought my face to her,
"What did he say?"
She brought her fingers to her chin,
"Uhm... I think he said: It would be around six seals for the both of you, horse and carriage."
"And when he held you shoulders, he said: Hmm... you are quite thin boy—you can eat diner now, and breakfast tomorrow—ten seals for everything!"
I lifted my head and asked him,
"Is that not too expensive?"
"Young man..."
"Okay... if you say so I guess...?" I narrowed my eyes, accepting that I can't just ask Mim to repeat after him.
Maybe the outside is this expensive...
"Here, ten seals." I handed the seals over to him.
"Thank you, very much. You can rest up in your room. I'll take care of your horse and carriage." Having taken the money, he wore a big smile, with closed eyes.
"Thank you for your help sir..."
Did he take advantage of us... I didn't expect to have that much money, tsk.
We entered our room, it was bigger than the one back home—we even got two separate beds, and enough space to put our stuff down.
"Let's eat now, we had a long day." Neither of us wanted to eat the rations,
We need to normalize food.
"YEAA! I'm really hungry~."
"Let's go down then!" Chuckling as I turned back to the door.
As we sat at the table, we got some soup, bread and meat.
It was a great meal—a warm meal.
I hope we can always eat like this... together. I looked at Mim who couldn't choose between the dishes.
After we finished our dishes, we both held our guts as we walked back up the stairs, until we reached our room.
Seeing her bed, she bent her knees—I couldn't stop her in time anymore—and dove through the air, landing in her bed.
"Mim... please watch out... if it breaks we have to pay for it!"
"Oh... sorry... I didn't know." Pursing her lips, while she grabbed the pillow behind her,
"It's the first time I have seen a bed..." Burying her face in the pillow that lay on her lap.
"You don't have to apologize... I actually did the same thing when I saw the bed after the first job."
"And how do you like it?"
"It's a lot better than at home..." Looking down at the pillow, after she revealed her face.
"It's much s-softer." Unable to look me in the eyes, choking on the lump in her throat.
"I'm glad to hear that..." I looked down at my feet, still standing in front of her bed,
I need to ask her...
I felt my nails through my palm,
"Mim... do you miss home...?"
"Uhm... not really... a bit I think?"
"I-I don't know... we have good food here, I don't feel sore bones as I lay to sleep... but I miss home... why? Why do I miss that place?" She smiled, but it was an empty smile—one missing a piece.
"Ah... you don't know..."
So she doesn't remember?
Should I tell her? I lifted my head, and looked at her lost gaze, and continued to look down the bed imprinted with her weight.
I smiled at her, hiding my downcast eyes with my eyelids,
"It's nothing special... it's probably because you grew up there."
This will help her live a normal life...
"Really...? I trust you big brother." She hid her trembling lips with a smile.
"Yes... you can always t-trust me..." I was unable to look her in the eyes, feeling a shiver from my spine with each word I said.
"Yes brother, don't worry I wi—" As she was talking her eyes gave out, she had fallen asleep, still holding her pillow in her hands.
"I'm sorry Mim..." I muttered underneath my breath before I let myself be embraced by the blanket.
I closed my eyes, and in that instant a voice reached me.
'Tjer, it's time now—I'll explain it all to you.'
'Huh, here?'
'No, get up and take your sword—we're going outside.'
'I'll help you control your essence.'