"Lila! Lila! Don't go!"

Bonnie called out anxiously from where she stood. Finally, she summoned up her courage and rushed out of the door to join Lila.

Lila smiled softly, her eyes downcast."What's wrong?"

Bonnie shot her an indignant glare."I'm just worried about your safety. What if you run into danger..."

Seeing Bonnie's conflicted expression, Lila decided not to tease her any further and instead changed the topic."How's your review going? Our teacher said this exam is going to be quite challenging."

Bonnie was successfully distracted. She tilted her head in thought before replying,"Apart from Elvish and math, which I still haven't fully grasped, I'm doing fine with the rest. I just hope we don't get another of those blasted herb diagram analyses. I'm certain that'll be the biggest hurdle preventing me from passing."

"Don't worry, Bonnie. I can give you a good hand in class tomorrow. I have plenty of experience in this area..."

As the two girls chatted, they gradually left Dude Town. Lila had already made inquiries about the general location of their destination. Moreover, with Bonnie as a guide, she wasn't worried about getting lost.

Since there was no carriage available to take them to Bayek, they had to make the journey on foot. This was quite a test for two girls in their mid - teens.

As the road grew increasingly secluded, the two girls began to sense the unique atmosphere of Bayek Town—— a stillness tinged with an eerie quality...

The girls' lively chatter on the road gave way to a cautious demeanor.

Lila felt a sense of relief that Bonnie was by her side. Otherwise, she wasn't sure if she would have had the courage to continue alone.

"I think we should turn back. This place is really dangerous..." Bonnie clung tightly to Lila's arm, her head drawn in as she scanned the surroundings warily. She constantly felt that something in the nearby forest was watching them.

"It's okay, Bonnie. We're almost there. I can already see the town," Lila said, attempting to sound composed despite her own unease. Her voice was so soft that only the two of them could hear.

Hidden among the layers of tree shadows behind them, a single eye stared intently at the two girls, a hint of confusion evident in its gaze.

The master said there would be one person. How did it turn into two? Which one is the person the master mentioned?

It wasn't just Bonnie who felt the sensation of being watched. Lila felt it too, and this feeling intensified the moment they stepped into the town. It seemed to emanate from all directions.

The two girls looked around the town's houses with caution. The buildings were in a state of severe disrepair, giving no indication that anyone lived there. Yet, the sense of being watched from the windows of some of the houses was overpowering.

Lila was starting to believe Bonnie's words. She wouldn't be surprised if some strange and grotesque monsters emerged from somewhere.

Since they had come this far, they might as well go and see the gentleman's house. He wouldn't have lied to me... With this decision made in her heart, Lila's steps became more resolute.

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Glen's house was located on the outskirts of the town, so the two girls didn't have to walk for long.

However, before they could catch sight of Glen's house, they heard his voice.

A peculiar humming drifted towards them from ahead. Although the sound was extremely faint, it was easily discernible in the quiet town.

"It sounds like his voice," Lila said, her face lighting up with delight.

"Is that the gentleman who saved your mother?" Bonnie asked.

"Yes." Lila took her friend's hand and quickened her pace, heading towards the source of the sound.

...

At Glen's house.

Having just returned from the basement, Glen was famished. He promptly set about preparing a meal.

He was rather confident in his culinary skills. Even with limited resources, he could prepare a few decent dishes. The taste might be average, but compared to what the common folk in this world ate, it was far more palatable.

As he handled the cooking utensils, he hummed a tune absent - mindedly, singing a few random lines every now and then.

The sound drifted out through the window. Upon hearing it, the old man next door muttered under his breath, "That unruly lad is such a nuisance!"

Then, he turned to the puppy that was eating, wearing a beaming smile. "Stay away from that fellow in the future."

...

Just as he had placed all the steaming hot dishes on the table and was about to begin his meal, there came a sudden knock on the door.

Glen furrowed his brows, a hint of puzzlement on his face as he made his way to the door.

He gently cracked the door open and peeked outside. There stood Lila and a girl he didn't recognize.

The instant Lila laid eyes on Glen's face, she was overjoyed. She lifted the hem of her skirt and curtsied gracefully. "Esteemed sir! I offer my greetings. I didn't have the opportunity to introduce myself properly last time. My name is Lila, and this is Bonnie. We've met before."

"I never expected you'd actually come. Please, come in." Glen was somewhat taken aback. He had assumed she wouldn't dare to enter, thinking she'd be frightened off once she delved a bit deeper into the town. He had sent the beast out as a precaution, never imagining that the young girl would be braver than he'd anticipated.

Lila, for her part, was rather surprised by Glen's easy - going demeanor. It was a novel experience for her to encounter such casualness.

"We apologize for the intrusion." The two girls brushed past Glen. During this, Glen took a closer look at the timid companion trailing behind Lila.

She's actually willing to accompany her friend here. Their bond must be quite strong... Seeing that everyone was inside, he casually closed the door with a gentle touch.

The living room was somewhat dilapidated, carrying a faint musty odor that wasn't overpowering. On the wooden table were still - steaming hot dishes, all of which caught the two girls' attention.

"Sir..."

"Just call me Glen."

"Mr. Glen, haven't you had lunch yet? I'm truly sorry for disturbing your meal." Lila expressed her sincere apologies to Glen.

"It's of no consequence. I don't give it a second thought. But since you're here, why not join me? Sample my culinary skills." Glen waved his hand dismissively and made an inviting gesture.

From the moment they met, the young girl before him had been impeccably polite, as if she were constantly on edge, fearing to displease him. He was merely slightly surprised by this, attributing it to the common etiquette norms of the local people.

Upon hearing this, before Lila could utter a word, Bonnie's eyes sparkled with excitement.

She didn't notice, but Glen was quick to catch this.

Heh, get ready to be won over by my cooking! Glen felt a twinge of pride and straightened his back just a bit.

"Oh, this won't do. It's far too impolite! We..." Lila protested repeatedly, but Glen interrupted her.

"No, no, no! Young lady, there's nothing impolite about it. When I say it's acceptable, it is. In my hometown, inviting guests to share a meal is the most fundamental courtesy. If you decline, I'd be extremely disappointed."

Bonnie, who had been looking a bit downcast due to Lila's refusal, now had her hopes rekindled upon hearing these words.

"O - of course, we wouldn't dream of disappointing you. We'd be delighted to join you." Lila's expression was tinged with a hint of awkwardness, and a flash of surprise quickly disappeared from her eyes.

One must understand that for a commoner family like theirs, ensuring sufficient food and clothing was already a struggle. Inviting guests to a meal was naturally a taboo, and guests, in turn, would be mindful not to consume the host's provisions.

Lila couldn't fathom how idyllic and prosperous her host's hometown must be to uphold such a custom.

However, judging by the interior decor of his home, he didn't seem particularly well - off. In fact, his abode appeared even shabbier than her own. Despite such circumstances, he still clung to this custom?

Truly, he is a kind - hearted gentleman... Lila's eyes held even more admiration.

Glen arranged seats for the two girls and provided them with cutlery.