The entrance was calm with furniture patterned about for no guests with a smooth counter having a single man. Far past Kiorif’s age though they both shared a worn and fatigue fashion to themselves. But one thing that truly separated him was the warm smile he had for the person at the counter.

“Hope you enjoy your stay, the buffets open,” and as his previous guest moved the group replaced his spot.

“Ah welcome, how can I hel-” the man paused as he glanced at Rookie and Kiorif’s set.

“Soldiers aye, that’s a rare sight. Where you from?”

“Eart-ouch,” Kiorif jabbed into Rookie as she shot her comment out.

“Earth aye?” The man looked at both of them, Kiorif shifted slightly. So far they weren’t a crowd favourite, so things may become complicated.

“Well that’s wonderful,” Rookie smiled back at the now gleaming man whilst Kiorif was left in confusion.

“Soldiers are always a great thing, and EarthBound ones are no exception. Always appreciated your work, even got a little flag in my room. Could say I’m a patriot for the Earth,” Kiorif relaxed as the man started a quick chat with Rookie, maybe they could catch a break.

“Been saving a bit so that I could go on vacation there, might try Hawaii, or Australia,”

“Okay, I recommend going to Queensland during New Year, beautiful show,”

“Excuse me, but we need a room and a stall for our creature,” Kiorif cut their vacation short.

“Ah right, what size is it?”

“What are the sizes?”

“For extra small to small-medium, it can stay in the rooms depending on the species. But if you need a stall it must be a medium to extra large, cost more the bigger it is if we take care of it,”

“We’ll get a medium,”

“Okay, a medium stall for your pet and we’ll get two rooms for you,”

“No need,” Kiorif kept calm as he shuffled for his money.

“We’ll take on-”

“Actually I would like the two rooms,” Rookie calmly cut him off.

“Why would you need that? We will be fine with one room,” Kiorif clenched his wallet tighter.

“Kiorif are you serious,” Rookie’s looked at him with doubt.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“In case you’ve forgotten I’m a woman, I need me time and enjoy myself,”

“And in case you have forgotten we don’t have the money to waste for you to enjoy yourself,”

“I can give you the rooms for free,” the man still beamed at them.

“Seriously?” Rookie smiled while Kiorif clenched the wallet harder.

“Of course, anything for a pair of heroes. Though are you fine with a smaller room miss?”

“Sure, any room is fine,”

“And a single bedroom for you to sir?”

“Two beds, it isn’t just the two of us,” The man peered over the counter to see Tomobi.

“Ah sorry boy, didn’t see you there. Thought we had these strong soldiers carry the bags here,”

“Oh you,” Rookie blushed slightly as the man smiled at them.

“Alright two rooms, a single room with a single bed and a double room with two long single beds. Here are your keys, enjoy yourselves,”

“Thank you, sir,” Rookie got her keys and was ready to walk off but Kiorif got some notes ready.

“Sir I said that the rooms were free,” the man calmly rejected.

“I’ll still pay for mine. How much?” Kiorif asked.

“Bu-”

“How much?” Now he ordered.

“$158 for your room and $63 for the stall,” placing extra notes down Kiorif took his key.

“We’ll be staying for two nights,”

***

“Hey chuck us some extra beer over here,”

Polished pristine planks stretched across the floor, white walls waned around tables and seats filled with people. A mix of all types of people, some large with treasures stuffed in bags whilst others small but armed and all in between. Each raised their voices to be heard as stories and jokes clashed. Darting between them were people holding feasts in their arms, carrying and placing plates as they were shot with the noises around them.

And in this landmine of chaotic joy, the group sat at the outskirts.

“Kinda reminds me of home,” Rookie laughed as their dishes were served to them.

“Well you shouldn’t get too excited, like I said two nights and we are out of here,”

“Say why two nights?”

“There might be things here that we could learn,” Kiorif’s mind wasn’t in the buffet but on the outside.

‘How does he pay for so many guards, this place is already well protected,’

“Excuse me,” a soft yet gritty voice caught Kiorif’s attention. The owner of the voice was built like Hudson, though it wouldn’t seem humiliating for Kiorif to lose to him. With a toned and scarred body, this man lacked the beer gut. But what truly caught Kiorif’s eyes was one of his arms that were more managed than the other, and most importantly, having something mechanical replace the hands.

“Could we borrow some seats, my wife and I don’t want to be caught in that ruckus,”

“Of course, Tomobi moved over here,”

“Thank you. I’ll be back in a moment”

Rookie and Tomobishifted while Kiorif stayed silent, eyes still locked on the hand mimic moving away. A shift in his breath and a devil thought clawing at his mind, didn’t help with the loud chattering now acting as music for the attack on his mind.

“Kiorif you good?” Rookie’s words boiled and pushed the thoughts back. His eyes opened to see Rookie and Tomobi with worry in their eyes, with Rookie especially not having her usual blinding smile.

“Yes, just was thinking about something,” Kiorif breathed out through a calm but heavy breath.

“Are you sure, cause if you need to sleep then-”

“Rookie it is fine, don’t worry about me,” there was a moment of silence between them in the screaming room.

“Alright Kiorif, just don’t be careful,”

“Sorry about that,” The man’s voice broke their conversation, he carried some plates and set them in front of their own.

“Things got a lot more crowded than expected,”

“Oh don’t worry about it, where is she?” Rookie dropped the conversation, but she had Kiorif in the corner of her eye and back of her mind.

“Right here,” he moved for his wife.