“It will take a few days before we can find your parents,” Lucius said. “Why don’t we find a nice place to stay.”

Malachi agreed while he thought of a place and time when to kill Lucius. Killing him now would bring Malachi a lot of trouble since there were a lot of people and guards here.

He would need a place with fewer people to eliminate this man. Malachi also had the choice to escape and run away, but there was a chance that Lucius would hunt him down.

The carriage began to move to the southern part of the capital city. There were fewer people here, and the buildings weren’t as grand. Most of them were worn down, and quite dirty.

The people here also wore dirty clothes with torn gloves. Malachi saw some people sleeping on the floor with a rag.

After a few minutes, they arrived in front of a weathered building.

Malachi read the wooden sign, the words barely readable. “The Shadow’s Haven.”

Its exterior was a mishmash of ramshackle wooden planks and patched-up brickwork, hinting at decades of neglect. The sign that bore the inn's name swung precariously overhead, its paint chipped and faded by years of exposure to the elements. The entrance was flanked by flickering oil lamps that barely managed to cut through the surrounding gloom.

“This is where we are going to stay. It doesn’t look like much, but it’s cheap and comfortable.”

Lucius led them inside.

Inside, the common room was a cozy yet somber space. The air carried a mix of wood smoke, dampness, and the hearty aroma of stew. The furniture, while well-worn, was clean and thoughtfully arranged. The walls were adorned with faded tapestries that once depicted vibrant scenes but had become murky and tattered. The customers inside huddled around small wooden tables, speaking in hushed tones.

The floorboards creaked as Malachi moved his feet.

When they got inside, Lorna, the innkeeper, turned around to look at them from behind the bar. Her eyes looked tired yet sharp, surveying the newcomers.

They approached the table, and Lorna looked at them as if she had enough with her job. “What do you want?”

“A room for two, please,” Lucius said.

Lorna looked at Malachi before saying: “Before staying in this inn, I want to tell you that we are not responsible for any transactions, legal or illegal, happening here. We are not law enforcement, therefore if someone is bothering you, don’t bother me and my staff, which consists of only me and Renn, the bard.” She pointed at the corner where an old man with a white beard got drunk by the table. A small wooden guitar lay on a chair on the other side.

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“Protect yourself at all times,” Lorna continued. “If you lose your items, it’s not our problem, so don’t complain to me. To make this simple and easy, this inn only offers a place to stay and food, nothing else. Do you understand?”

“Yes. This is not my first time coming here,” Lucius said.

Lorna let out an indifferent groan as she glanced at Malachi. “We also will not take any responsibilities for any murder that occurs within the premise.”

Malachi kept his blank expression, but Lorna’s eyes intrigued him. ‘Does this lady know that I am planning to kill Lucius?’

Lucius laughed. “You are so funny, Lorna. There hasn’t been any murder in this area for years.”

Lorna lazily set her eyes on him. “Not seeing them doesn’t mean they never happen.”

Lucius’s smile vanished before he let out some fake cough. “Anyway, don’t scare the kid with imaginary tales. We will go to our room now, and we’ll take two of your hearty stews.”

“They will be delivered to your room.” Lorna slammed the key on the table.

Lucius let out some dry laugh before taking the keys and leading Malachi to their room.

“That was quite the hospitality,” Malachi commented.

“This is the capital city, after all. You will see a lot of weird people here. Hmmm, what are you doing?”

Malachi was sitting on the bed with one foot on the sheet. In his hand was a small blade. “I am cutting my nails. My parents will get mad at me if my nails are dirty and not trimmed.”

“You will hurt yourself. Let me do it for you.” Lucius approached the boy and helped him cut his nails.

As Lucius cut his nails, Malachi asked: “Lucius, I heard the wilderness is a dangerous place, and merchants usually travel with guards to protect themselves from robbers. But you are alone.”

Lucius laughed. “I guess I am blessed by the gods for helping a lot of lost children such as yourself. Ahh, I cut my finger a bit.”

“Let me see it.” Malachi used his little fingers to take Lucius’ hands and then he kissed his wound.

Lucius was quite amazed by what he saw. ‘Damn, what a nice kid. He even almost makes me feel pity towards him. Too bad, you’re too good not to be sold.”

“I am going to the restroom a bit.” Malachi got up and left.

Lucius stood up and smiled as he watched him go. He approached the table in the center of the room and grabbed a cookie that came with the room.

Malachi brushed his fingers against the surface of a water elemental Aetherium Crystal in the restroom. Right after that, a low hum of energy churned in the air before a stream of water came out of the crystal.

Malachi opened his mouth and let the stream of water enter his mouth. He then punched his own stomach and puked green slimy liquid into the drain.

He exited the restroom and saw Lucius entered a half-conscious state on the chair. Malachi approached, his feet stomped on a cookie on the floor.

“This is where your service ends. Your purpose to me is no more.” Malachi summoned his stygian blade. Laughing, he continued: “You almost managed to trick me. A merchant that can travel alone in the wilderness must be confident of his fighting skills which is why I prepared this poison for you.”

Malachi’s grip tightened around the hilt of his blade. His heart was calm as killing was as common as breathing to him.

He lunged forward, eyes on Lucius’s throat. Swinging, his blade began its downward arc, but then, a sudden knock echoed in the room.

Malachi halted, the blade an inch away from a vital artery.

Malachi’s eyes darted towards the door.

Knock! Knock! “Your stews are here.”