A few days went by since the last time Elliel bid us a visit. We were now in the middle of the week.

Unlike what we got used to, today, the trio were nowhere to be found as Nia and I walked down the stairs to the restaurant, glancing around for familiar faces at the tables. We hadn't heard from them since the beginning of the week, the day after Shawn's release, and while it appears that they were there primarily to welcome Shawn's return, they simply vanished from existence after the big day.

Upon reaching the basement room, I waved my greetings to Madam and Finn, who were already at their counter, and went straight for our usual seat, while Nia went to see Madam and Finn first.

Even without spying on their discussion, I knew from the way Nia was talking that she was begging for something that Madam was clearly reticent to offer.

This was not the first time something like that has happened.

For the past few days, Nia has been asking something from Madam, to which she has always, so far, refused to agree.

A few minutes after being scared, upon being seated, I heard the sound of someone arguing, or to be exact, the sound of a couple arguing from the kitchen.

" –I said, "No." Do you want to end up in jail again? "

"You don’t understand, we need money. This money, our future lies on it."

"Our future, you're only speaking for yourself here, there's no future in–"

Upon emerging from the kitchen, the couple immediately noticed my presence and cut short their ongoing argument.

"Good morning, An."

"Good morning, Zaraha." I greeted, and as for Shawn, who was the man with whom she was arguing since he didn’t even bother to say anything but only weirdly stared at me, I didn’t greet him.

Zaraha, noticing what was going on, with an elbow smack, urged him to stop staring at me this way, which he did.

This isn’t the first time that he's looking at me like this.

"Hi, Rena."

"Hi, Zaraha, Shawn." Nia greeted me with a big smile and made her way back to me.

"Hi." He greeted back.

At this point, I have evident reason to believe that he doesn’t take me fondly.

He’s always looking at me with that stare, and though I wouldn’t qualify as hostile, it would be more mistrustful than anything else, at least that what it feels to me.

From what I could see of their interactions, the trio of Shawn, Elliel, and Elliel know each other very well. This was especially true for Shawn and Elliel.

I know from what I’ve put together of the story I got from the trio’s story that Shawn and Elliel were the first ones to meet each other. It was through him that the others got to know Elliel.

And as to how Shawn met Elliel, I was told that it was during that day when the dragons marched to the Iharana Great Forest that they first met. Apparently, it was Elliel who saved them that day from the wreakage of the structure across the city falling apart. As to how their relationship evolved after that, I don’t know. I only know that a few years after, roughly 7 months ago, Shawn was arrested for the murder of a man.

Who that man was, I wasn’t told. In fact, this subject was harldly brought up, but from what I got from the discussion between them, the man was some sort of local thug.

The laws of this city are strict in regard to murder. This kind of act would, by the law of these lands, be worth a hanging, at least normally more severe than just a few months of emprisonment.

It was clear that his being freed after such a light imprisonment was most likely due to Elliel's involvement. Madam, Zaraha, Charle, Henri, Franq, all of them are clearly aware of that. I knew it from the way they were, during the party they threw for Shawn, from time to time thanking Elliel for bringing Shawn back to them.

"Hey, I talked to Madam, she said I-"

Nia was about to say something when she finally took notice of the couple's argument behind her, still unfolding strongly.

Even though it was none of our business, it was hard to ignore what was going on.

We noticed the couple approaching Madam, and their arguments were immediately silenced by Madam's scolding, and while the scolding was directed at both of them, it was clear that one was getting more scolded than the other. —Who? —Shawn, apparently.

I wasn’t sure what exactly the subject of their argument was about. I only vaguely knew that it was linked to money, but I saw clearly that though Madam was trying to be impartial, she was more in Zaraha’s favour, leaving Shawn with a two-to-one. At this point, if I were him, I would’ve just shut up and listened to finish the argument, but he kept going.

At some point, while I felt things starting to cool down, Shawn took notice of the curious gazes of Nia and I.

We both stopped and went on to decide what we were going to have for breakfast to divert the attention.

With a full-blown smile, she said, most likely finally remembering it after having forgotten it because of the couple's arguments, "Hey, Madam accepted! She allowed it, "she said victoriously."

"She did?"

"Yes, I can start helping Zaraha and the inn with whatever task is needed till the end of the afternoon."

The night after Elliel's passage, she voiced out that during the time we remain here, she would like to work. To find something to do.

To be honest, I couldn't but understand the reason behind this decision. There wasn’t much to do for us most of the day.

Starting from that day, she kept asking Madam if there was something, a task or a job that could be assigned to her, for she wanted to do something of her own.

For four days, she kept begging Madam to allow her to do something, and only today does it seem it has yielded results.

"When do you start?"

"Today."

"Oh?"

"I see."

Glancing, at the counter where Madam was. I met eyes with Shawn, who, for some reason, was still dead staring at me.

Seriously, what does he have against me?

I was left with no answer, I told myself for everyone's sake to stay away from this person.

***

Sometimes when you just wish to get away from someone, it is then that somehow destiny gets you back together.

"Where exactly are we going?"

"The south outer quartier," the man I was walking next to answered without a single further comment.

That man was Shawn.

How did we end up together?

Well, it started this morning, a couple hours after we had taken our breakfast and Nia had started to take over the duty that she had been assigned to. I was, well, laying around when he, out of nowhere,

approached me and told me that if I were free, unlike Nia, who was starting to help Madam, there was something that he needed my help for.

To be honest, the way he asked it felt less like a request for help and more like a simple announcement.

I didn’t even receive a word from Madam, which I believe if it was something for her, she would’ve at least told me about it.

It was only after having walked for some time that I noticed what was wrong exactly.

On the spot, I didn’t immediately notice it. No one was notified of our departure. He just announced the thing and we just left. Well, maybe I did. It was just that I didn’t even take the time to overthink his proposition given that I literally had nothing to do when he came at me with it, except laze around while everyone around me was busy with whatever they were busy with.

Even though I had the feeling that this had nothing to do with the Auberge and was most likely a personal request from him, I literally jumped on it.

"What exactly are we going to do there?" I finally asked. It was late, but I believed at this point I was worthy to know.

Without looking at me, he just said, "I said, I need your help with something. We’re going to visit some people.", then stopped midway and announced once again, "I know I was the one who asked for help, but, since I heard you were new to the city, I think I need to inform you first that where we’re going isn’t as welcome as the inner district. It’s not too late to head back to the Auberge. I think I might have been impulsive when proposing this. "

Same here.

"No, I’ll be fine."

Is that so? I hope you’re right with that. "

We continued to walk silently toward the South outer quartier. It was only when we passed through the inner wall that he broke the silence.

From the slope that overlooked two overlooked two divided quartiers, he pointed out, "At your left is the South-East outer quartier, where we’ll be going, and at your right is the South-East outer quartier.

That’s where people like Madam, Finn, Zaraha, and the other girls working for the inn and I lived before moving to the inner district."

"Madam came from there?"

"Yes, she does,"

Feeling curious, I ventured, "What exactly is your link with Madam? I thought she was Zaraha’s aunt or something like that, but it seems like she isn't. "

"She is my aunt. We’re not blood related, but she’s my aunt in the sense that we came from the same village before we moved to Beaufort."

"You aren’t from here?"

"Of course not, if we were from Beaufort, we wouldn't be living in the outskirts—no, wait, forget it. I said, I forgot you’re new here. Those living in the inner districts are mostly Beaufort-natives, people who were here before the "Night Ecarlate". Those who live in the outer quartier are people from elsewhere in the duchy who came here for refuge after the barrier breach. Some are from the "night Ecarlate", but the majority came here after great calamities.

"I see."

"Madam was just pregnant with Finn when we moved from our village to the city."

"We?"

"Madam, her Finn’s father, my father, and I."

It was the first time that I heard the mention of Madam’s husband, so I asked, "Where is Madam’s husband and your—I see."

I didn’t even have to fully complete my sentences so that when we met up, I understood.

"Sorry for asking."

"It’s nothing, anyway, we’re getting close." Please beware of the mud. I need you to be clean and shinny. "

"Huh?"

***

Muds, everywhere around, the sound of the muddy ground being stopped was heard. There was no rain these past few days, yet on the road there were puddles of water here and there. All around me, random sounds reverberated and strong odors reverberated.

Children with dirt all over their clothes. Their faces were playing joyfully around completely in their natural elements amidst the mud and the puddles. This place was exactly what I imagined a common district to be a year ago.

I can imagine what sort of commotion I caused. With my appearance and how I was dressed, I stood out compared to the people around me.

"Hey, don’t you think I stand out a lot too much?" I asked.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"You sure do, and that’s why I asked you to come over."

"Huh?"

"We’re close to first place. You go in front of me. Just don’t say anything. Let me handle everything. "

We kept walking until we reached an isolated place that was in front of a huge wooden structure, in front of which was what resembled what I believe was a forge, and next to which were some isolated wooden houses. Three absolutely sturdy men covered in charcoal were in front of a smoking furnace, apparently ready to remove what they were melting from within when, while on the side observing, were four other children, all the same age as Finn.

As we approached, it didn’t take the men long to notice our presence, and upon doing so, their faces shifted from surprised when seeing me, to a clearly hostile one when noticing Shawn.

"You!"

"Gentlemen! It has been a long time. Shawn greeted them theatrically. "Six months, I believe."

"What are you two doing here?" one of the three men asked in a clearly not-welcoming voice, especially to Shawn,

"You know I’m here, boy. I’m here for my money. I’ve given you a reasonable timeframe to get it for me. "

The man motioned with his head for the boys to run to one of the houses. "And there is no such thing as your money here," the man said, grabbing a metal pipe, and so did the others.

"We lent you money because we believed you would make good use of it and promised to reimburse it in due time. The time for payment has arrived; whether you used it wisely is irrelevant to me. I want my money. "

Shawn said, fearlessly approaching the men.

"There is nothing that is your money here. Now fuck off! "

"I’m not here for this bullshit. Just give me my money. And I’ll be gone. "

"How about you just fuck off, we don't own anything to thief like—fffff"

Before the man could even utter the last words of his sentence, Shawn’s forehead hit his mouth, which he immediately followed with a punch.

"You bastard!" The two others, seeing what happened to their leader, came at Shawn with their metal pipe.

While that was happening, I saw Shawn using Aina.

He dodged one swing, and kicked away while blocking one with nothing but his forearm. He once again headbutted the man, not once but twice, before the man fell flat on the ground.

"Call us thieves as much as you want, but you still accepted the money we lent you in your time of need." Grabbing one of the man’s metals, he walked toward the one simply kicked away on the

ground. So what does that make you, hein? Tell me! Huh! " He swung the metal pipe. He did, but before it reached the man's face, I had stopped him.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I’m retrieving my money!" He shouted at me.

To be honest, I finally see how this person came to kill someone and end up in the prison he was in.

"I can’t see a man with a broken skull getting your money back."

Glaring at me for some time, he exhaled loudly then said, "I guess you’re right." He turned his attention back to the last man. He reached his hand to the man's shoulder and asked, "Now, you heard my friend, I won’t break your skull, now give me my money. —No, where is your old man that will get things done quicker. He isn’t dead is he? Where is he? "

Still trembling, the man blurted out, "He’s..."

Before he could finish his sentence, one of the men, the one that had been headbutted first, shouted

"Don't!", splattering blood out of his bleeding mouth. "We don’t—"

"That’s enough." another voice reverberated, this time not from Shawn or the trio but from where the tree children ran to, the wooden houses.

Holding onto one of the children, an old man came out of the house. He didn’t seem particularly old, at least not to a point where he wouldn’t be able to walk on his own, but he was doing so because he was missing two things that he would need to do so. A leg and an arm were both missing on the right side.

At the simple pace they approached us, "That’s enough, look at you, this isn’t worth it." he said, not to anyone but the beaten up men, then finally turned to face us clearly.

"Hello, old man. How has been health?"

The old man didn’t even answer his question, he retrieved something from his pocket and threw it at Shawn.

"Here’s your money. Now, get away from my sons. "

Upon inspecting the sum and being satisfied with it, Shawn’s face turned into a smile, "Thanks old man, glad at least you kept your sanity, unlike these ungrateful bunch." He said, before turning his back to leave.

"Your father wouldn’t be proud of what you’ve become."

What he said made Shawn stop:

"You don’t know him. He might’ve been a thief, as you call him, but he knew very well that when something had to be done, it had to be done." He declared before announcing to me, "Come on, An, we’re leaving."

A few minutes later, in a silent and muddy alley, I finally asked, "What the hell was that?"

"You’ve seen it, didn’t you?" I was there to take my money back. "

"You know very well what I mean."

"Okay, I might’ve gotten a little bit too violent, but things went pretty smoothly, didn’t they?

This time, quite done with all of his bullshit, he reached out for his shoulder for him to face him face to face and said, "Smoothly, my ass, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Don’t you just come out of prison?" You want to get back there for murder again? "

He just stared at me silently, then took me out of him and continued walking. "It was all under control.

I just want to retrieve what is mine. Resistance was to be expected."

"If it was under control, then why the hell did you take me here?"

He brought you here because-" he stopped midsentence as he exited the alley, turning back to me, as if noticing someone, and hurriedly told me, "What a coincidence, here comes the reason why I brought you here."

"What?"

"Just like earlier, don’t say a word, let me do all the talking."

As we both exited the alley, we were almost instantly called out from the direction in which he had noticed something.

"Well, if that isn’t Shawn?" A man said, along with a half-dozen others.

"Who might be asking? Oh Lord, it was you. " Shawn mocked.

"Who is this guy?" I heard one of the men ask,

"He’s the one who killed Fred." I heard one answer.

"Stop talking, you two. You’ve got the nerves to wander these streets after what you’ve done to Waldo that day. You’re not even out of prison for a month that—Wait, fucker, where are you going like this?

"

"Huh? Me? Bascus, was it? You’ll excuse me, but as you can see, I have no time to waste on an idiot like you. "

"You’re really looking for it. You really think you can walk out of our territory like this after all you’ve done."

"Your territory? Did you just claim that this land is your territory? You’re talking about yourself individually or the gang you are bootlicking so vividly? Because as far as I’m aware, this land belongs to the nobles ruling our beloved Beamont Duchy, right, An? " Shawn dropped out of nowhere.

All the men present, their attention went to me.

What the hell is this idiot doing?

"Tsk."

"Oh, you’ll excuse him, he isn’t very talkative. I was making him visit our beloved district while you people rudely interrupted us."

Shawn's action seems to have had its effect since while staring at me, the man clearly shifted from his earlier threatening one to a clearly incertain composure.

"So gentlemen, what will it be?"

"We’re leaving." the man announced to his goons.

"But Boss—"

"I said we’re leaving!"

"Send my greetings to Charle for me." Shawn shouted at them.

After they had left, I once again asked.

"What the hell was that again?" Who were these people? "

Starting to walk, he said, "Just goons ruling these parts of the district. In other words, someone you have no reason to care about."

I, once again, reached for his shoulder and said, "You brought me here for that?"

"Yes," he said. He immediately tried to break free of my grasp but couldn’t move me even an inch with all his effort.

"What exactly did you bring me here for?" Even while using Aina, he still couldn’t free himself of my grasp.

"Tsk, I give up. These people are part of the Outsiders. They are, as I said, the gang running these parts of the city. I accidentally killed one of them seven months ago and was sentenced to prison for it."

"And?"

"– And I brought you today because I needed my money back. I knew that in these part I was bound to stumble upon them, like I did the other day, but I also knew that they wouldn’t lift a finger on us because they don’t know who you really are, and to be honest, you have the face of someone they wouldn’t dare to offend. That’s it. You know everything now. "

"That’s it? You brought me here to be your human shield? "

"Yeah, Did I hurt your feelings? "

I let go of his shoulder and said, "No and to be honest, it doesn’t even surprise me coming from someone like you."

"Someone like me? A thief? A murderer? "

"No, an asshole." I said, before turning heel and preparing myself to head back to the Auberge.

"Hey, where are you going like this?"

"Where do you think?"

"Wait—please wait."

"What again?"

"I was told to—I’m trying to get along."

"With who?"

"You. I know this might no be looking great between us right now, but I’m trying. I thought that this would be a good start. It worked just fine earlier. So what about giving just giving another try? "

"Giving what another try? "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I need my money back."

"Didn’t you get your money already?"

"That’s just one person. There is still some of my own money scattered across the district that waits only to receive our harvest. I wouldn’t come risk my life here for just that much money."

"That’s your money. Go get it yourself."

"You know what will happen if I go on my own?"

"Then don’t."

"This is our money, the money my father died for." He shouted this time, clearly getting sentimental over this. Trying to calm himself down, he added, while reaching for my shoulder, "Okay, listen

camrade, I know we’ve somehow started on the wrong foot, you and I, but I need your help on this one. Just this time, I need this money for Zaraha and the baby that is to come. "

Hearing the mention of Zaraha, I remembered their arguments this morning.

All of this was clearly linked; the topic of their argument had to do with money, and now I finally realized that this idiot got me wrapped deeply within what was the subject of their argument that went up to Madam. With us leaving without announcing my departure, whatever I would do from here, I was sure to get myself in trouble because of this idiot.

"Sigh... How many are there left? "

"What?"

"Those you lent money to."

Knowing what I meant, he started to smile. "A dozen, don’t worry, we’ll be done with it by the end of the evening."

Sigh.

What were they thinking while lending this money to so many people?

"And one more thing, what was the link between these people and Charle?"

"Oh, that. Charles is the Mayor of the South Inner District’s third son. These thugs are directly under his father and elder brothers. "

***

Several dozens, he said.

I should've known.

He lied.

While I agreed to help him recover all the money, it took an entire journey across the quartier to retrieve the money that had been lent. There were not just a dozen as he claimed, there were at least a good three dozen of them.

There were cases where the money was retrieved in a rather civilized manner. There were others where violent paths were taken, like it was with the brother from earlier this money.

In the end, it took us an entire day to clear the entire area. There had already been a couple of hours since the sun set. We were now on our way back to the Auberge, or at least that’s what I believed.

When we went back to the inner city, instead of directly heading for the Auberge, he asked me to accompany him somewhere else. I could’ve just left him at that point; it should be safe for him now, but I agreed nonetheless, for I didn’t want to head back to the Auberge on my own knowing what

could potentially await me there. With him leading the way, we walked till we reached the door of a small shop in the middle of nowhere in one of the many alleys of the inner city.

"Oi, old man. It's me, Shawn," he shouted, while pounding at the door.

Despite the light inside, we were left without an answer for a good one minute until someone opened the door.

"What are you pounding at people’s doors at this hour of the evening?" an old voice complained.

"Good evening. Old man."

Sighing, the old man asked, "What here are you for?"

"I got the money."

"Huh? From the debt? Already? How? "

Following Shawn's gaze, it was only then that the old man noticed my presence from the shadows.

"Thanks to that good friend of mine. Now can we get in or do you plan to let us stay at your door house forever? "

"Sigh... get in."

Upon entering the room, we were greeted by a colorful display. As I thought, it was indeed a shop. It was selling random things, some of which I didn’t even have a name for.

"Please Sir, take a seat." the old man told me, before addressing me in a completely different tone to Shawn. "Get it done fast. I have no time to waste on you.

"Yeah, yeah."

Putting down his purse, he put down on one table the equivalent of what I believed was a third of the money that had been collected, and he slid it toward the old man.

"This should be enough, right?"

"It should, but... it isn’t. You know that things aren’t that cheap now. right? With the inflation, everything."

"But you said—"

"Hey Shawn, what’s the—" I blurted out, With all the struggles we’ve been through today, I had the weird feeling that this money was about to get somewhere fishy."

Raising his hand to stop me "Please An, this is important for me and this must be done." Putting his attention fully back to the old man, he added, "You see old man, even my friend feels your sketchiness." Retrieving three other coins from his pocket, he announced "This should get it done, no more, no less."

The man, throwing a glance at me from time to time, finally announced "Yes, that should get it done."

A smile appeared on the old man face.

***

After that, we left the man’s shop and were finally on our way to the Auberge.

"You don’t think I deserve at least an explication?"

"You didn’t ask for one."

"Now I am, who was that man, again? Someone from whom you borrowed money? "

"Borrowed money? No, of course not."

"No? Then who? Why would you give him half the money that you just said was for Zaraha and your baby? "

"Because it was for them."

"Oh?!"

"You don’t believe me, An?"

In the middle of yet another alley, I went in front of him.

"Of course, I believe you. I mean, it’s not like you're, since we’ve met, antagonizing me, luring and lying as easily as it is for one to breathe. Of course I believe you. "

Instead of responding, he smiled, and gradually his smile turned into a laugh.

"You’re a funny man, An. A funny man with a weird name, but a funny man none the less. Though I was wrong about certain assumptions I had against you, I think you’re more than just that. "

"Hein?, and am I supposed to feel better because of that?"

"Yes, you are." After retrieving coins from the money we collected, he shoved a handful of them into my hand. "Don’t look at me like this. This is clean money and I don’t want to own you a favour, so accept it. This is the price of saving my ass from a beating today. Oh, and this one is to keep all of this a secret from Zaraha. Don’t worry, I’ll, as always, handle the talking. " He said, shoving another coin in my hand before resuming his march to the inn.

"You’re really starting to get on my nerves." I grumbled.

I was aiming for the heart, but I guess the nerve is fine too. "Come on, let’s get back to the Auberge.

Zaraha is scary enough. I don’t want to trigger the wrath of your beautiful and mysterious girlfriend too."

"She’s not my girlfriend."

"Yeah?"... whatever, I know that money most likely mean nothing to you but, with it you can buy Rena something, something cheap, but still something. She look like a nice girl, I'm sure as long you give her something, I'm sure she will appreciate it."

"What do you know about her." I said, stuffing these coins into my pocket.

"Nothing, I'm just good at observing people."

"And pissing them off, apparently."

"Hahaha, fair enough. Come on let’s get back to the Inn."