Prelude of Chapter 3 : A Night At The Inn

The night was slowly falling over the capital, enveloping the city in a peaceful calm, only disturbed by the soft golden glow of magical lanterns floating in the air. The streets, bathed in this supernatural light, seemed to dance under the watchful gaze of the moon, and every detail—from the stone facades to the weathered rooftops—exuded a simple yet captivating beauty. The cool evening air brought with it a sense of tranquility after a long and exhausting day.

Finally, I stood before the inn, a modest but welcoming building, hopeful that I could finally find some peace and rest. The day had been intense—getting my ID card, meeting Elvaria, this fascinating yet mysterious girl—but now the idea of lying down on a soft bed was a simple joy I longed to experience.

Elvaria, meanwhile, was already deep in conversation with the innkeeper, an elderly man with a kind face, though something about their conversation caught my attention. They exchanged glances and, every now and then, I noticed a complicit smile on their faces. It was clear they were hiding something from me, but what? I wouldn't take long to find out.

I approached them, pretending not to be suspicious. "Elvaria, is everything settled for the rooms?" I asked, trying to sound casual. She turned to me, her cheeks flushed, a mischievous smile on her lips.

"Yes, don't worry, everything's in order," she replied, her tone slightly playful, only increasing my suspicions.

I turned to the innkeeper, a short elderly man who would normally inspire trust, but right now, his overly broad smile made him seem strangely suspicious. "Can I have the key to my room?" I asked, now more cautious.

The old man handed me the key with a mysterious smile. "Of course, young man, here you go." I took the key, casting a quick glance at Elvaria, who looked like she was about to burst into laughter. She followed closely behind me as we climbed the wooden stairs to the upper floor, her hand still firmly holding mine. One thing struck me, though: she didn't have a key.

"Wait a second... Elvaria, you didn't just reserve one room, did you?" I asked, growing increasingly suspicious.

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She gave me a cheeky smile, her cheeks still slightly flushed, but she remained composed. "Yes, yes, just one room. Don't worry, it's for the two of us. Anyway, we didn't have enough money for two rooms. But, don't worry, I made sure to choose the best one!"

I stood frozen for a moment, trying to process how I ended up in this situation. This girl, with her innocent determination and straightforward ways, had once again taken the lead without really giving me a choice. "You know, Elvaria, I have a say in this too. And… sleeping in the same bed as a man you just met doesn't bother you?"

She blushed even more but remained steadfast. "No worries. And besides… y-you won't do anything to me, will you?" she said hesitantly, her eyes sparkling with a shy gleam.

I sighed. "Of course not, you can sleep peacefully." She seemed satisfied with my answer, but a small, almost sinister laugh escaped her lips, which made me doubt for a moment. What kind of situation had I gotten myself into this time?

The room was simple: a large bed in the center, a dark wooden wardrobe, and not much else, but it had a peaceful atmosphere. Without hesitation, I collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. My eyelids grew heavy after such a hectic day. As I slowly drifted into sleep, I noticed Elvaria removing her armor and putting her belongings into the wardrobe. She then approached the bed, her face so close to mine that I could feel her hair brushing against my skin.

I stayed perfectly still, pretending to sleep. But at that moment, I realized she was leaning closer and closer. She murmured, almost to herself: "Papa told me this is how he met Mom, and I promised her..."

My mind raced. Was she about to… kiss me? My eyes remained half-closed, my breathing carefully mimicking that of someone asleep, but my heart was pounding in my chest. The closer she got, the more I realized this situation was spiraling out of control.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and opened my eyes. "Elvaria… what are you doing?"

Her face turned bright red instantly. She quickly sat up, clearly shocked that I was awake. "A-Aley, I… uh… i-it's not what you think!"

She flailed about, trying clumsily to justify herself, but I could see right through her embarrassment. With an amused smile, I replied, "It's okay, Elvaria. But next time you try something like that, make sure I'm actually awake."

She nodded, blushing, before slipping under the covers next to me. The room fell into silence again, but it was far from peaceful. Neither of us dared move or speak a word. What should have been a simple night of rest turned into an anxious vigil, both of us too aware of the other's presence to find sleep.

We lay there, side by side, too conscious of each other to close our eyes.

- Access granted: 364 days remaining before the annihilation of all life, as initiated by Project Aleystria.