Akane's POV

While holding two pieces of skewered meat, with a smile on her face she told me.

"Here's your share Akane."

Accepting the skewered meat I replied.

"Thank you Yuni."

Her face turned beet red, she turned around, took a bite of the meat and replied.

"Y-You're welcome Akane."

We sat down on a bench near the town square, I took another bite on the meat, Yuni stared at me and asked.

"Is it good?" I lightly nodded and took another bite. "Yuni."

Hearing her named being called she turned to my direction and asked.

"W-what?" While staring at the azure sky I asked. "Do you still believe that we'll find your mother?"

With confidence Yuni answered. "Of course, I'm sure she's alive."

Yuni took another bite at the skewered meat. We sat down on the bench for a while, casually chatting.

"Want to look around the city?" Without answering Yuni simply nodded. We stood up and began exploring the town.

Dalen is a town located near the empire, it is the center of trade between the two countries.

Many merchants gather in the town, the streets crowded by both carriages and people.

Vending stands are also scattered throughout the city.

As we continued to explore the town, We stumbled upon a small inn called the Autumm"'s wind.

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"Somehow we got back to the inn without getting lost." I jokingly said.

We opened the door and went to the reception desk, a young man around the age of fifteen greeted us with a smile and said. "Welcome back miss Akane, and miss Yuni."

Placing a few silver coins on the desk, I told the young man.

"We would like to extend our stay for a week."

He bowed and told us. "Would you like to have your meal delivered to your room?"

I shook my head and replied. "No thank you, we just ate."

Our room is located at the far right corridor of the second floor. After opening the door, Yuni quickly jumps on the bed.

I giggled lightly and asked Yuni.

"Are you that tired? Or hungry perhaps?" With a wry smile on her face she replied. "Not hungry. Yet very tired."

Noticing her staring at my neck I asked. "Thirsty perhaps?" There was a sudden silence, Yuki viciously shook her head in denial and replied.

"I'm not, but I am concerned about the bite mark on your neck."

After covering the wound with some bandages, I noticed Yuni's depressed face as she told me.

"I'm sorry Akane, please forgive me."

Stroking her back lightly I told Yuki in a calm and reassuring voice.

"I have already forgotten about it, you should forget about it and move on."

While patting Yuni in the head I told her. "Get some sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow."

Once Yuni is asleep, I got up from bed and left the inn. While walking down the streets of Dalen, I noticed that I'm being followed.

One man and a woman cloaked covering their faces are tailing me. Should I try confronting them? No it's too risky.

I quickly ran to the crowded streets of Dalen, and making a quick turn to an alley to lose my pursuers.

I unsheathed my dagger and checked if I'm still being followed. After confirmed that I lost them, I quickly went to a weapons shop.

"Is my order finished?"

The receptionist who was a dark skinned man around the age of thirty nodded, and placed a single edged sword on the desk, I handed the man fifty silver coins and he replied.

"Pleasure doing business with you miss Akane."

The name of the receptionist is Rolance, a blacksmith from the empire, he came here to learn about eastern sword making techniques. I picked up the sword, it's really heavy.

"Is it too heavy? If you want I could have it delivered to your inn."

I shook my head and told him.

"No need I can do it myself."

Rolance opened the door and told me.

"Be careful out there miss Akane."

After retracing my steps and making sure I'm not being followed I got back to the inn and went to sleep.