He was woken by the cold, deeply assaulting his body. He shifted, then his eyes opened.

It was early in the morning, dawn has not come yet. He took off the sleeves that he wore for sleeping, revealing his body naked.

Scars, countless of them, ridden his skin. He accumulated injuries from receiving swords and bashes. A white mark ran through his muscular back. Then again on his stomach, and to his chest.

His rough hand reached for his worn-out armor, viscously fitting inside of it, then he grunted.

The shield that was laid on the floor was picked up and soon followed by the broad sword, putting them in his rear and waist respectively.

Squeak squeak. His feet made a noise when it stepped into the wooden floor. He tried to silence it by walking slower, but the effect was not that much.

He twitched the doorknob left and right before sliding the door open.

The hall was without a light, empty and quiet. Walking into the place, he heard another door creaking and a soft voice calling out to him.

“Where are you going Darwyn?” It was Liliana. Her head was moving up and down due to drowsiness, her eyes half shut.

A thread of her hair stuck out from her head, she was wearing something easy to move in.

“Outside.” He answered briefly. Liliana grazed her cheeks, “I see... Wait for me,” then closing the door.

Darwyn stood there for a few good minutes before Liliana came back with her blue wizard clothes, staff near her chest.

“Where are we going?” She said with an upward gaze. Darwyn didn't notice how her hair was straightened by a comb, or how her lips were redder than usual, did he even thought that her face was slightly flushed?

The quick answer was no. He didn't. “We're going to eat first.” Darwyn then walked yet again with the clacking at his feet.

Liliana followed with a faint smile. Down into the stares, the receiving area was almost empty, except for the few ones that were eating their fill.

They passed through them and head for the outside.

“We're not going to eat here?” Liliana asked behind him. She gazed at the vacant seat of the lodging, and as well the empty corners of the counter.

“No. The food here is not enough for us.”

“Correction, not enough for you.” Liliana giggled as she quickened her pace to walk beside him. She could only imagine how much food it has to take to satisfy someone as big as Darwyn. Even during the days of traveling, Darwyn was responsible for eating half of the supplies.

“Indeed.” He was not denying it. He knew how big he was, and how needy his stomach.

The streets that were generally load were of course, silent too. Though that does not mean that there are no people.

This was the city of the merchant, a place for people who value time as much as gold. And the dealers were selling food early.

A busy person has no time preparing something to eat, so that was why it was profitable for merchants to sell quick and delicious food.

Boiled eggs, bread, hot soups. It was a different kind of bustling that Darwyn saw yesterday.

“What do you want to eat?” He asked, not looking at the girl beside him.

“Hhmm... Anything, really.”

“Then meat.”

“You know what, maybe I want the bread and the soup combo.”

“Yes.” Darwyn and Liliana proceeded to the stall that was selling it. Two copper coins, not too cheap and not too expensive.

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Liliana received the bowl and the bread with delight, while Darwyn left for a moment, buying something to eat.

Meat stew, eggs, and milk. He bought all of them before going back to Liliana.

“You're going to eat, ALL of that?” Liliana drunk the hot soup dainty, breaking off a piece of bread then placed it inside her mouth.

“Yes.”

He has to eat plenty so that his body has enough energy for the day.

“Won't your stomach get upset?” She asked, then Darwyn answered with “No,” as he shook his head. “I never experience that.”

“Are you a robot or something?”

Liliana was doubtful if that was true, but she couldn't picture Darwyn lying. Well, whatever. Her mind was still groggy, no need to think about complicated stuff.

The two silently eat their food at the side of the street, bathed in the violet rays of the still-rising sun.

Darwyn noticed that there are more people roaming the city. Civilians and adventurers just woke up in their slumbers.

After finishing their meal, Liliana stretched her slim body, her willow arms high up. While maintaining that position, her head fixed itself to Darwyn. “What should we do next?” Then as if to wake herself up, she tapped her soft cheeks.

“Hhmm... Let's go back.”

“Pupu! Wrong.” Liliana's arms made a cross sign while shaking her head, her hair shuffling.

“You should say that, ahem! “Should we take a stroll?” She lowered her voice deeply as she can, imitating Darwyn, who could only look at her in confusion.

“I see.” He said. Though there are many things that he couldn't understand, he thought that he could do what Liliana wanted.

“Should we take a stroll then?” This time, it was his voice who said the line. Her lips curled up, her small chest puffed up.

“Fufufu, then let's go!” Maybe the food finally replenished her energy, Liliana was back to her usual energetic tone.

“Hhmm....” This time, it was he who was following Liliana. She was galloping, humming as she spun to face Darwyn, continuing her stride backward with her hand hidden behind her body.

“It's a good day today isn't it?”

“Yes.” He said, then looked up to the violet sky. From his point of view, everything was bustling their way at the level of his chest.

“Where should we go?” Liliana asked. A gentle breeze passes by, swaying the strand of her pink hair. She fixed it by running her finger across her ear.

“Anywhere. But not too far away. Shen might look for us.”

“I know that I know that.” She frowned at him cutely, then turned around. “Geez, you shouldn't talk about other women in a time like this. After all, this is a da...”

Liliana didn't finish her sentence, this caused Darwyn to wonder, why? He could see her ears getting red.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course!” Liliana stopped, then waited for Darwyn to catch up to her, then resumed the movement of her feet.

Her wizard hat hid her face. Darwin couldn't get a good view of her expression.

Inch by inch, Liliana closed their distance without Darwyn noticing.

Then—.

“Hhmm?” All Darwyn could do was to grunt softly when Liliana grabbed his arms, clinging to him as they marched in synchronization.

Now that he thought about it. Liliana used to do this all the time back in the town, but it stopped. He wondered why, but no answer was given.

His head was not made for thinking too much, that he knew. Darwyn scattered all the complicated thoughts inside his mind.

“Y-you see, I feel a little bit dizzy so...” Liliana sounded like she was making an excuse, but Darwyn accepted her reasoning without question. That must be it.

If the person herself said so, there was no doubting it.

The city has many things to offer, they watched merchants building their stalls once again, the same as yesterday, and the day before that.

You could do get anything for the cheapest price, or choose something of the highest quality.

“Look at that Darwyn, rare stones!” Liliana, still clutching to Darwyn, pointed her finger to a certain stall. It just opened earlier, the vendor seemed to organize his goods.

The two approached the store and caught the attention of the person behind the counter.

“Welcome!” He said with a business smile. “Mr. Knight and Ms. Wizard, how can I help you?” His palm rubbed together as he presented his gems with pride.

“Whoa! They're so pretty Darwyn!” Finally, she looked up at him. Her yellow eyes seem brighter than usual, her lips formed into a smile.

“Indeed.” In all honesty, he didn't understand the value of gems, but if Liliana says so, then so be it.

“Do you want that?” He asked. The stone sparkled gently at the gentle light of the sun, who was showing itself over the horizon.

“You'll buy me one!?” She said with a start, and Darwyn nodded. “Thank you Darwyn, you're the best!”

“Hhmm...” He dismissed her with a grunt.

Liliana returned her concentration to the gems. Though gems, it was more correct to say that they are accessories.

“Can I touch them?” She asked the merchant. He gave an okay sign then winked. “Of course, I trust my costumers!”

Needless to say, it was a lie. The reason why he let her touch it was that he was sure no one would commit a crime next to a paladin of law.

Rumors have it that there was this big paladin who arrived yesterday. The man beside the wizard was big, and the symbol at his shield was of Aversia. Also, the girl was so beautiful that he let his guard down.

“What do you think suits me the best?” Liliana lifted two necklaces of different colors, orange and yellow, each with unique designs.

“Anything will do.”

“Ee-eeng! Wrong. You should pick to the two, a girl doesn't want your opinion, but rather, they wanted to be praised on how beautiful they are.”

Her words, though she speaks the same language, he did not understand any of it.

“Er...” His helmet glanced at the twinkling gems. From there, he picked purple, simple earrings. It has no design, nor anything eye-catching features, but he showed them nonetheless.

“I think this suits you.”

The earrings were reflected by her beaming eyes, following it as it dangled at the shuddering hand of Darwyn.

“Heee, so picking something else to surprise the target. How clever Darwyn, how clever, I'll give you that.”

Liliana was impressed, and she appeared pleased, so... Did he do the right thing? Probably, he was not sure, but this was better than Liliana frowning at him.

“Then I'll pick this.” She said, then giving it to the merchant. It was accepted and bought by Darwyn.

The two left the stall with Liliana still clinging, but then, she broke off. She pierced the hole in her earlobe, tucking in the purple earrings.

“How about this?” She wiped the sides of her ear before peering into Darwyn's visor. The helmet didn't move as it faced her silently.

“Yes, you look good.” His voice was carried by the traveling wind from the south. Liliana chuckled, and then said, “I see, so, why did you choose this color?”

I don't know was what he wanted to say, but he suspected that it will only ruin the mood of Liliana. On the other hand, saying something different will be an act of deceiving, and he will not do that.

“Hhmm...” He said before proceeding to walk. There was no correct choice, all he could do was to retreat.

“Hey! Answer me!” Liliana hopped and clung to his arm again. “Fufufu, are you embarrassed?”

“Not really.”

“Fufufu! Darwyn the tsundere! Oh you, geez.”

“...”

The day started peacefully, and all Darwyn hoped was for this to continue.