The large Inn looked like it was built just yesterday but it had been 10 years since it was finished. With around 50 rooms, it was prepared to be a bustling hub for people traveling between the few towns and villages in the surrounding areas. With its heavy durable wood walls and struts from some of the hardest breed of trees, it could stand for decades without too much wear or weather damage. The dark red roof tiles that were handcrafted from clay, letting anyone who would truly take in all of its beauty know that they truly loved building this place. The building took on a proud stance of European and Asian aesthetics. Peering out of a large bedroom window a large statured man rest with his head on top of his arms, he stares out of the windows with a solemn look. His rugged brown hair slowly dancing in the wind, he watches as his daughter sits over the pond feeding the various fish in front of the Inn. After feeding the fish she stands and looks down at them gobbling the food with a bright smile. He closes the window suddenly and disappears into the Inn.
Still recuperating from their previous night, Eris and Zeais took the time to get to know the Inn based off Anya's suggestion. Within the various rooms, we're many complimentary snack rooms, break rooms, nap rooms, game rooms and many more that would have guests feeling like they could stay forever and not be bored.
Eris and Anya, all though having only talked that morning, we're like best friends who had known each other for years, but more so because all children in this day and age have a large affinity with one another due to their eyes and uncommon special traits.
Eris was looking around the Inn for things to do and Anya, back to work, tries to find something else to do while they wait for the chef to be free. Exploring outside the Inn, she wanders into the small yard despite the Inns size. Looking at the one large tree in the back she finds a shelter with homeless cats. Meowing for attention and purring at her, she stares at them.
Thinking that Anya must be taking care of them behind the Inn since the box they are in has soft white sheets and even food and water. Not fond of cats though, she leaves and ignores them. Walking away she suddenly gets a headache, as if she had a sack over her head, a violent flashback of her childhood memories come to her mind. Pools of blood, and scattered animal parts lying all over the ground. Children crying and reaching toward their parents, shrieks and non-human pained yells echo out into the fire night.
Coming to her senses and trying to put away a tormenting memory, she looks back at the kittens. Their dark eyes and white fur calling out to her for affection. She walks over to them and pets one of the now excited kittens. Her hand lightly rubbing its short white coat of fur.
[Eris: Hi there little one...look out for the evil ones okay?]
--------------- -----------------
Inside of the Inn, Zeais had taken the time to nap more inside of a rec room. Supposed to be used more as a place to relax with groups of people and chat while playing board games. Zeais he was using the sofa as his napping place, even though the napping room was right next door. Getting comfortable he could feel himself drift into sleep. Feeling warm and at peace with the room so quiet, he dozes off for a while.
Suddenly feeling his head sink into the couch more than it should he was snapped away from what could have been a pleasant sleep. Getting up to see why his comfortable couch would suddenly deny him rest, he sees her yellow pupils stare at him with a slight smile. Anya has stolen a place on the couch next to him without him even noticing.
[Anya: You know, you could stay here forever right? ]
With a tired irritated look, he stares at her as she smiles brightly right back at him.
[Zeais: I don't think that's something a guest would want to hear while they were trying to sleep..]
[Anya: Hehe, not a problem. This is a business after all and we can't just have people sleeping anywhere!]
Zeais Groggily gets up and slowly shuffles over toward the hallway.
[Zeais: Okay, Okay. I'll just go to the "Nap room"]
[Anya: Wait, please, would you mind if we had a talk?]
Stopping, he looks back to her and lets out a short sigh.
[Zeais: You wouldn't come to me for no reason and just let me leave so easily right?]
Smiling and giving a smug crossed arm pose she says...
[Anya: Of course not, I have something really important I want to ask you.]
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
[Zeais: Are you going to ask me out or something?]
[Anya: Of course not! I barely know you and I have someone I like]
Anya pouts and turns her head the other way. Zeais puts a hand to his chest, having someone say that so boldly even though he was joking still gave him a punch to the heart.
[Zeais: Oof, that hurts a lot you know.]
Once again smiling she stops her pout and laughs
[Anya: Haha I'm only joking, I'm not so rude that I would say something like that! That's for the girls who like to stir things up.]
Zeais sighs again and walks over to the couch to sit.
[Zeais: Okay now that you've almost gotten my attention, what do you want?]
With him focused on her, she looks into his gray eyes with a determined look and takes a deep breath.
[Anya: Will you help me look for someone?]
Surprised to hear her a request for looking for another person, he makes a confused face.
[Zeais: Wouldn't your friends be of more help than me?]
Anya looks toward the windows out in the hallway. With a small tinge of sadness in her voice, she sighs.
[Anya: There are a lot of children in Rigas.… but I'm more busy taking care of the Inn than being outside playing. A lot of the other children think I'm weird because I would rather work than go out and explore.]
[Zeais: That is a bit weird.]
Anya has a hurt look in her face and lightly clutches her pants.
[Zeais: But it's not as weird as them thinking it's weird in the first place... So you have absolutely no one you could call a friend?]
[Anya: I do have one friend who sometimes visits me, but it's really rare when she comes. We've only been together twice but I enjoyed the weeks we spent together and I was hoping that you would know her… I really want to see her again]
[Zeais: And I would know her? I think Eris would know more girls than I would.]
[Anya: No, I asked her already, but you're from Brights right? My friend was also from there too!]
[Zeais: Hmmm, there aren't really many children in Brights so we all know each other, what's her name?]
Hearing that Zeais might know her elusive friend, she gets excited and gives the girl's name.
[Anya: Memori. Do you know her!?]
Zeais raises his eyebrows at the name spoken.
[Zeais: Memori huh. She is one of the few other children that go out to get food. We usually talk about good picking areas and routes.]
Sparkly eye'd to the news that someone knows of her friend she grabs Zeais's shoulders and begins to interrogate him.
[Anya: YES! Is she Okay!? Does she have a messenger bird?! Why hasn't she come to Rigas in so long!? Does she talk about me there!? Do you know about how she...]
Interrupting her Zeais steps back and puts his hands out.
[Zeais: Jeez, Calm down. I don't want to take all your excitement away but I haven't seen her in over a year. We were put on different schedules so I'm not sure how she is right now.]
Hearing him say this she lost her excitement, her face made a saddened look and just as she about to speak again...
[Zeais: But I do hear the others talk about her sometimes when I return from my hunts. Last I heard was that she was just fine and brought a large load of foods and supplies. This was last week though, which is why I'm able to be out here for my self right now..]
[Anya: *Pheeww* I'm sooo glad to hear that she's fine, you could have just said that from the beginning!]
Chopping him in the side with gleeful excitement, her hand gives Zeais a whritering painful jolt that makes him fall to the floor.
Trying not to let her know that her chop was pretty effective, he gets up and slyly rubs his side and acts like he was putting his hands into his pockets. Eris had walked in at the perfect time to see his unfortunate development unfold, turning her face away she tries not to let out her giggle. Zieas seeing her bright orange pupils stare at him briefly then quickly turn away, he became aware that his struggle was seen by someone else then embarrassingly looks away from her to Anya.
[Zieas: Ahem...You may be in luck this week though, she is also on a break too and our work free tomorrows tomorrow, so she should be back too.]
Eris looking on silently and right as she was about to leave them to her conversation, she suddenly feels two soft hands grab both of hers.
[Anya: Did you hear that Eris! I might be able to see her! It's been so long!]
Suprised and wide eyed at the quick approach Anya made to her she almost lets out a squeak but keeps it in and gives her a soft smile.
[Eris: Mmm, I could hear from the hallway... I'm glad to hear that though, now you can finally tell her.]
Zeais surprised to see her move so quickly too, he also gives a wide-eyed look. Seeing that Eris was not expecting it either and almost gave her look of surprise away, he looks at Eris with a smug look. Eris now being hugged by the happy Anya, sees Zeais giving her an unappreciated loo. She gets an arm free from Anya and makes a chopping motion. Feeling that her threat was fair, he smiles at their short exchange.
With her head squished up into Anya's chest, she taps her shoulders as if giving up.
[Eris: You move too fast...
[Anya: Oh my.. I'm Sorry! I got so excited that as soon as I saw your cute face I just wanted to hug you!]
Anya let go of Eris but still held her hand, turning to Zeais she let out a sigh.
[Anya: Still... If she's back tomorrow, it would be too soon to ask my father to let me go visit her.]
[Eris: I'm sure he would let you go, from what you told me... I don't see why he wouldn't mind working the Inn while you are gone.]
Anya wrinkling her small nose from an inch listens to Eris's suggestion and with a sudden determined look, she clutches her hands.
[Anya: I'm going to go ask him! I don't want to let the chance slip by. But I also..…]
Aware of what she might say next Eris chimes in.
[Eris: I'm sure he will be fine.]
Anya takes in a brief breath of uncertainty and lets it go
[Anya: I want to meet her again.]
Anya feeling her new found friends encouragement, turns to meet with her father.