The Travellers’ Inn had a nice and cosy common room, with twelve round tables that could comfortably seat five or so people apiece. The Innkeeper was a stout woman with her greying hair in a bun and her dress covered by a clean white apron.

“Welcome! Welcome! Come rest your weary selves, dear travellers! Have a seat, dinner will be served soon!”

The twins joined Yuriko and Kato’s table, drawing another fierce glare from her brother. He didn’t protest too much even though there were plenty of empty tables. Waiters bearing platters of food soon made their way out of the kitchen.

Plop, plop, plop!

In quick succession, a serving bowl of curried meats dripping with brown sauce, a platter of pungent goat cheese, and a basket of steaming hot bread slick with butter were placed at the centre of each table. A carafe of red wine, milk equally pungent as the cheese, and a pitcher of cold well water followed.

Another waiter placed plates and utensils in front of them, though the one who placed Yuriko’s seemed to linger overlong, at least until all three boys cleared their throats and stared. Puzzled, she served herself some milk and took a sip, finding the strong flavour somewhat appealing.

Almost as soon as Braden’s plate was set, he dove at the bread and cheese while Kato served himself and Yuriko some of the cubed meat, probably goat too. The spiciness was enough to mask what it originally tasted like and she was quick to stuff bread into her mouth when it started to burn her tongue.

Sweat beaded on her forehead and the back of her neck from the heat, a nice counterpoint to the cold mountain air. The Season of Fire’s heat was absent here and she found herself shivering when the breeze blew in from the open windows.

Still, she out ate everyone else, with Braden coming a close second.

“Could we have some more?” she called out to a server, who reddened and brought back another set of platters. “Thank you!” Yuriko gave a wide smile and the man’s face reddened even further as he stammered a reply.

She and Braden finished everything while Kato emptied the wine pitcher.

“How can you even drink that?” Yuriko asked pointedly.

“It’s good, one of the best table wines on the route. Want to taste?” Kato offered his glass and she took an experimental sip.

“Hmm, I’m not sure I like it.” It wasn’t as bitter as the beer and there was a hint of fruity sweetness to it.

“Take a sip after you’ve taken a spoonful of meat,” Kato said wisely.

“Oh!” Yuriko exclaimed when she did so. The wine’s flavours enhanced the taste of the meat, making it deeper and far, far tastier. Before she could try another round, Kato took the wine from her hand.

“That’s enough, you’re too young for this.”

“Meanie!” Yuriko pouted.

“Drink your milk instead,” Kato grunted.

Soon enough, the main course was done and a small dessert of honey cake was given to each of them.

“Nice and tasty. I honestly didn’t expect this,” Orrin said after he finished his food.

“Why not?” Kato asked curiously.

“Well, have you tasted the mess hall food? I kind of expected the same quality considering this is free food.”

“First of all, the mess hall is there to encourage militiamen to spend at the food hall, and second, this isn’t exactly free. I suppose you weren’t the ones who paid for your tickets?”

“A silver crown per person,” Braden said. “A fair price, I suppose. But they must provide food at cost here.”

“Or it’s cheaper here than elsewhere,” Orrin rebutted. “There are way too many goats for the town here.”

“There is that,” Braden readily agreed. “You’re not going to bed already are you?” he asked when Yuriko pushed away from the table.

“Of course not, but I’d like to drop off my gear then work out the kinks in my muscles.”

“Here,” Kato handed her a key and his pack. “I’ll stretch my legs a bit. Don’t wander off too far.”

The two of them would share a room and it was a good thing it had two separate beds since Kato flopped around in his sleep back when they were younger. He almost smothered her once by throwing his arm over her nose when she was seven. It was one of the main reasons they were moved out of the nursery.

She dumped the bags on the bed, noting with some annoyance that there was no ensuite bathroom. The common toilet and bath were down the hall and she took a quick peek, she found that they were at least separated by gender and it looked clean enough. She went back downstairs to the common room and wandered about, eventually finding herself in the inn’s wide backyard.

Night had fallen and the waxing moon was up, shedding bright silver light. The Chaos streams seemed much brighter here. The town was just high enough that she could make out the road they came from and a couple of villages in the distance. If she wanted to see further she would have to use Enhance Senses, but even then the dust, the trees and hills, blocked her from seeing Faron’s Crossing. She did see the distant Shillogu Woods though, and the glimmer of the Caradec River.

Thwack! Thud!

The sound of wood striking wood drew her attention to a corner of the backyard. Kale and Rorke were sparring, though with the brown-skinned teen wielding a greatsword and the other using an oversized shield and nothing else; she didn’t know what kind of practice they could do with such a mismatch.

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Kale spun his weapon, making it dance in his hands. He was surprisingly agile with it, quite unlike how she used Fri’Avgi. He poked and prodded Rorke, seeking a weakness in his defence. Finding none, Yuriko recognized his moves as one to force an opening.

Evidently, Rorke was quite used to the other man’s moves since he wasn’t flustered when his shield was forced out of position. He was quick enough that none of Kale’s strikes hit flesh.

Thack, thunk, clunk!

The fast-paced rhythm, the steady form, and the moonlight on his dark skin and silver hair made for a mesmerising sight. Kale’s movements were graceful when they needed to be, forceful and abrupt at times.

Rorke wasn’t so bad either. He barely gave up any ground, shifting his shield and footing to make sure that he could react stably to any of Kale’s attacks. After a few minutes, they eventually wound into a draw. Both of them lowered their weapons, breathing a bit heavily.

Kale’s eyes darted to her and Yuriko realized that she had been staring at them for the past ten minutes or so.

“Like what you saw?” he asked with a smirk.

Yuriko felt her cheeks flush. “Ah, yes. Those were wonderful moves.”

“Why thank you. I practice the Sweeping Gale Style mostly, with a bit of Roaring Volcano. I’m ashamed to say that wasn’t my best showing with Rorke here mostly acting as a training dummy.”

“Thanks a lot,” Rorke retorted. “Hmmph, you swordies always stick to your fancy moves. Nothing beats simplicity.”

“Yes, yes. You’re a simple man, with a simple weapon, and a simple purpose. With complex tastes, and needs. Sure.” Kale laughed.

He returned his gaze to Yuriko, eyes reflecting the silver moonlight. “Here for some practice, Miss Davar?”

“How hard is it to endure such a long trip?” Yuriko nodded.

“I mostly spend it in meditation.” Kale shrugged. “I usually spend the time to think about what I’ve done, what mistakes I’ve made, and what I could have done better. It’s rare to have such a stretch of enforced idle time as travelling across cities by Tram.”

“I mostly sleep,” Rorke grunted. “I spend the evenings training instead. We’d be here for several hours still, working up a sweat.”

“Yuri!” Orrin called out happily when he came out from the inn. Braden was nowhere in sight though, probably sleeping.

“Friends?” Kale asked.

“Yes. Teammates at the training camp.”

“Hmm, are you travelling to Rumiga to take the elite exams?” he asked dubiously, “Or to secure accommodations?”

“The former,” Yuriko said with a smile. “Is it so unusual?”

“For people out in the provinces, yes,” Kale nodded seriously. “It’s mostly unnecessary, the elite classes aren’t even that much better, and they ask so much more from its students.”

“Oh, are you part of it?”

“Of course.” Humble his tone might have been but Yuriko could see him standing up straighter and puffing his chest out.

“Amazing.” Yuriko said, “Are the exams that difficult?”

“It depends, I guess, on whether you have what it takes. Well, you’ll find out soon enough when we get to Rumiga City. In the meantime, would you and your friend like to spar?”

“It would be my pleasure,” Yuriko said before turning to Orrin. “And you?”

“Oh, uhm.” Orrin fidgetted. “Sure, for a round or two, I suppose.”

“That’s the spirit!” Rorke clapped Orrin’s shoulder hard enough that his knees buckled. “Come on, I’m tired of fighting this lunkhead.”

“Hey, it’s not easy for me to sharpen my skill when all you do is stand there and take my shots.” Kale protested. “Pick a training weapon there.”

He pointed at a barrel beside the door to the kitchen. It was filled with wooden training weapons, from arming swords to greatswords, and even a hatchet and heater shields.

The backyard wasn’t that well lit, only a couple of spheres set at the corners glowed with a soft yellow light that cast long shadows across the hard-packed dirt. Yuriko’s hands hovered over a couple of side-blade shaped wooden swords but seeing a rare greatsword user, she opted to pick up a similar blade.

“Oh, I didn’t think you were the type.” Kale’s voice had a lilt to it that made her unsure if he was happy or condescending. He gestured at a space near the fence and held his weapon low.

Orrin glanced at them worriedly. He picked up an arming sword, a one-handed blade a bit longer than the side-blade and also had a double edge, and a heater shield. He and Rorke squared off a few paces away.

Yuriko held her greatsword high above her. Its weight was about four Jins or so, four times more than her side-blade, but she barely noticed the difference. The training blade was superbly balanced, with its centre of gravity towards the pommel.

With a yell, Kale leapt forward, sweeping with the blade. Yuriko took a single step back, the tip of Kale’s weapon passing not an inch from her belly button, and with a lunge, she struck down, aiming at his shoulder.

He parried with a twist of his wrist, manoeuvring the blade so that her slash was guided into the ground. She didn’t let it happen, of course, she arrested the downward swing, pulled back and thrust.

They exchanged blows several times and Kale’s confident smirk turned into a focused frown. His strikes, slashes and thrusts, were easily avoided or parried. Yuriko found his movements familiar as if she had seen those moves made so many times that just seeing the beginning motions, a twitch of his shoulders or a foot inched forward, was enough for her to extrapolate what kind of motion he was going to use.

She could see the flaws in his form too, though she wasn’t fast enough to take advantage, not without boosting herself with Animus anyway. Since this was mostly a session to work out and sweat a bit, she hadn’t engaged her sword dances either.

After half an hour of back and forth exchange, Yuriko had seen enough of Kale’s moves to form an image of the Sweeping Gale Style. From the name, it was full of wide slashes and lightning-quick thrusts.

Certainly not a duelling form, she realised. ‘So he had been holding back, after all.’

“Alright, that’s enough.’ Kale laughed easily, stepping back and grounding his sword on the ground in front of him. “Impressive! How long have you been using a greatsword?”

Yuriko reddened and muttered under her breath.

“Pardon? What was that?” Kale leaned forward, interest clear on his face.

“About two, oh, probably three now, weeks.”

“It must be a natural gift!” Kale said without missing a beat. “Your Facet?”

“Partly.”

“Ah.” His grin grew wider. “I need a break, will you continue?”

Yuriko shrugged. “Perhaps not. Thank you for training with me.”

“Believe me, the pleasure is mine.” With a nod, he strolled up to the barrel and slotted the wooden blade in it. “Ey, Rorke?”

His shield brother and Orrin were still exchanging blows furiously. Rorke’s shield was significantly bigger than Orin’s heater, but his other hand held a short sword that he kept concealed behind the plank. He stabbed with it at unexpected angles, especially when he banged his shield against Orrin’s binding both while using his superior strength to manipulate the other’s movements. As Yuriko looked, Rorke’s blade darted out and pressed against Orrin’s neck.

“That’s my fifth win,” Rorke said easily.

“Yeah, I’m beat,” Orrin said while wiping the sweat off his brows. “Thanks for the match.”

“Likewise.” The two of them returned the gear and Rorke followed Kale inside. Orrin stayed behind and walked up to Yuriko.

“Nice work,” she said easily.

“Thanks. I might stick to this style if I’m forced into melee,” Orrin mused. “It feels easier for me.” He gestured at the greatsword. “You’re switching?”

“No,” Yuriko shook her head.

“You want to be an Armsmaster?”

Yuriko shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Ah.”

They stood in silence while Yuriko admired the view. Pine trees covered most of the hills, with goat pastures covering the rest. Low stone walls crisscrossed the fields, following the lay of the land. The breeze picked up, sending a chill down her spine.

The silence was soon broken.

Grrghgh.

She was hungry again. Orrin snorted a laugh while she flushed. The training blade went back into the barrel and the two of them returned to the common room. The tables were almost full, this time of night with townsmen out for dinner or drinks. They squeezed into a table and ordered food, having to pay a few silver pennies for the extra.

While waiting, Yuriko looked around and she spotted her brother, Kale, and Rorke at a corner table with mugs in front of them. There was a woman with short-cropped red hair and piercing grey eyes with them. They looked quite serious for a night in an inn.

Now, what was her brother up to now?