Adrest and Belle both showed their enthusiasm as they agreed, both happy to let Rin revisit her hometown. And to learn more about their friends childhood.
“Good! I think I know just the place!”
Rin dragged them through a few hesitant twists and turns, her memories of the streets slowly returning. They eventually found themselves in front of a nice looking medium-sized hotel, a bit smaller than the one they’d stayed at in Everflow.
Pushing the door open, Rin found an older man in a white button up wiping down a meticulously cleaned table, looking up from his task he smiled, “Welcome! How may I be of service?”
Rin as the leader stepped forward, “Hello Sir, We’d like two rooms and board, we’ll pay by the day.”
“Excellent! That will be twenty gold a night. Would you like a meal now or later in the evening?”
“We’ll eat later if that’s okay.”
“No problem at all!” The older gentleman spoke warmly as he accepted Rin’s payment.
As Rin started walking away, new keys in hand the man called out, “Each floor has a set of baths near the stairs. Feel free to use any of the toiletries stocked in the changing rooms, they’re complimentary.”
The three gave a chorus of thanks to the chipper bartender, making their way up a large set of stairs. It was a bit of a walk getting to their rooms on the third floor, but found theirs easily enough.
About halfway down the hall were a set of rooms labelled 314 and 315. Rin held the two keys out for Adrest to choose, both were doubles so it didn’t matter much to him or Belle so he grabbed the ones labelled 314 and led Belle inside, Rin entering her own.
It wasn’t much on first glance, two beds somewhere between twin and queen in size, pale wood floors, brick walls, a small table, desk, and a fireplace. Belle happily jumped onto the bed, sinking in deeply before bouncing back up.
Adrest tried to hold his laugh back as he took a seat on his own, surprised by how soft the bed was, almost as nice as the ones they’d specially ordered from Leaves of The World Tree for home.
Adrest and Belle both jumped when from a corner near Belle’s bed they heard a loud creak from an inconspicuous door. Adrest stood up, thinking it was someone who had been still using this room, but relaxed seeing bouncy chestnut hair pop out from the opening.
“Looks like our rooms are connected!”
Belle cheered as she ran over to hug Rin, “That means I can go to your room when I want right?”
“You can stay with me whenever you like, just tell Adrest first. We don’t need him tearing the place down brick by brick to find you.”
Belle laughed at the image of a frantic Adrest disassembling an entire building and nodded.
Adrest was happy with the surprise, they should be safe in a tiny town like this but with Rin able to rush to their side with just a few steps no matter the time, he was happy to have another safety net.
“Perfect! This’ll make mornings a lot easier. The two of you feel like getting all the road dirt off, then seeing what kind of food little Rin grew up with?”
Adrest was too slow to dodge the kick to his behind Rin sent his way. It made sitting in the empty baths a bit more challenging, but seeing Rin get so flustered was always worth it.
Adrest let out a long sigh in the steaming hot wooden tub. He was sitting on a bench submerged in the water up to his chest, his muscles relaxing for the first time in nearly a week. At C rank his muscle was comparable to densely wound steel thread, but all the new sights, sounds, and emotions took a bit of a toll on him.
As much as Adrest didn’t want to show it in from of the other two, he was feeling a bit lost without Alissa by his side. She’d been within a few dozen feet constantly for almost a year now, she was the first person he met in his new life, and she was the first person he loved too.
Several times in the first two days he had to stop himself from making some snide comment that would’ve made all her scales stand on end. He would wake up in the middle of the night on the road and try to pull that familiar weight and warmth over but just found air. Even just today, he kept looking to his side as they explored the new scenery.
Whenever they did something new Adrest made it a habit to look at her face. The way her lavender eyes sparkled at something she didn’t recognize, or the way she would grin like a child whenever they found a new sweet for her to try. Her endless expressions were something Adrest looked forward to more than experiencing these things himself.
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With another long sigh, Adrest hefted himself out of the comforting water, needing to move and distract himself. Only left six months to go.
A refreshed Belle and Rin were waiting on a bench just outside, Belle tackling him into a hug. As soon as he felt a dampness soaking into his shirt, Adrest knew what she wanted, taking a towel that Rin was holding out while blushing and shrugging, she mumbled, “Sorry, Belle insisted you’re better at it.”
Adrest did his duties, carefully drying the silky and soft hair. Only after Adrest used fire magic to dry himself again did they set off for a quick dinner downstairs.
At the bar, the old man expertly handed out menus and drinks, always perfectly filled and never spilling a drop. Adrest ordered a fish stew that the man recommended, Rin a fruit and nut salad with grilled chicken and goat cheese, and Belle got a vegetable soup and hearty sandwich.
Through the meal, they introduced themselves to the bartender, Carn, and learned he opened this Inn himself nearly a hundred years ago after retiring from the adventuring life.
“If you’re looking for entertainment, I’d recommend going to the tourist district by base of the falls tomorrow morning. It’s a bit too much of a walk down at this hour, but they have a little bit of everything so it’s worth stopping there at least once.”
Thanking Cam for the meal and suggestions, they headed back out the doors.
The sun was just barely visible in the sky now, everything taking on a golden hue. Rin looked a little lost as she took in the old streets, slowly guiding them and finding old landmarks she’d used to navigate as a child.
She pointed out a small run down park, “I used to play there when a few of us didn’t have any chores! One time when we were seeing who could jump the farthest off the swings, I sent myself clear past that tree and broke my arm. But I won!”
Adrest had no trouble imagining the scene, it seemed Rin has always been impulsive, even as a child flinging herself around thirty feet to win a game.
At another place, in a new part of town Rin looked depressed as she came to a brightly lit shop window, displaying the latest fashions from the capital. “There used to be a run down general store here. The owner, Mr. Gren, would give us candy and let us stay inside if it was raining.”
Rin looked so lonely at that moment, lost as she was realizing just how much changed. Adrest couldn’t help but put and arm around Rin and pull her in. Rin’s thoughts were cut short at the contact, seeing Adrest so close she went bright red. Though shy, Rin admitted to herself that it did make her feel better, leaning into him.
Rin was able to compose herself, and they continued their short tour of the surrounding town. Adrest was curious though, “Aren’t you in a rush to see the orphanage? Belle and I don’t mind staying out late if you wanted to head over tonight.”
Rin waved the concern away, “One more night won’t kill me. Besides, most of the children are probably getting ready to sleep already. The caretakers always had us up and working before sunrise. I don’t want to be a bother.”
Adrest could only nod along as they slowly made their way back to the Inn. It was well into the evening and the bar was much quieter than when they’d been eating dinner. Carn was still manning the bar, carefully scrubbing a stubborn spot on the otherwise flawless bar top.
He nodded as the group walked up the stairs, who waved back a quick hello. As they made it back up to their floor, Rin said, “Sorry we couldn’t do more today, but I’m feeling more tired than I thought I would. Would you two mind if I call it an early night?”
“It’s completely understandable Rin. Get some rest and it’ll be less overwhelming in the morning.”
“Night Big sis Rin!”
Adrest and Belle waved to the hero who disappeared behind a light wood door while they found their way inside their own.
Adrest didn’t like seeing the peppy hero so down in the dumps. Melancholy didn’t suit her, but Adrest had an idea to help her out a bit.
With a simple gesture, Adrest made a box of assorted candies appear from thin air in one hand, the other a recording crystal he’d picking up in Everflow City, on it was a recording of a popular comedy that recently performed in Radagon’s capital. He found the crystals for sale and became interested after learning that spacial mana is used to make the trinkets, explaining the high price.
Adrest said to a curious white rabbit who was looking at him eagerly from her own bed, “I have an important job for you, think you’re up for it?”
Belle basically flew straight off the bed to stand at attention in front of him.
Holding out the tools of the trade he said quietly, “I want you to go into Rin’s room and give her a huge hug. Be as cute as you can manage. Then, you two can share this. She’s probably feeling a bit stuck in the past right now, so just do your best but don’t force it if she wants some time alone.”
The serious gleam in Belle’s eyes was offset by her ears flopping every direction. Adrest sent his little soldier off, and laid back as he listened for the results of his meddling.
Rin had just finished changing, she couldn’t believe how much the town had changed. It was only eight years, how could it be so different from what she remembered?
Rin was just reaching out to turn off her lights and try to get some sleep, hoping Adrest was right. She jumped to her toes and spun when the door connecting her room to Adrest’s swung open loudly just in time to see Belle charging her.
Belle landed squarely in Rin’s chest, who caught her while taking a half step back and giggled as she spun the troublemaker a few times.
Setting Belle back on the ground Rin asked, “What brings you over Belle?”
“I got these from Big bro! Can we watch it together Big sis Rin?” Belle held out the sweets and crystal and asked with wide eyes staring up like an excited puppy.
There was no way Rin could say no to the rabbit puffing her cheeks expectantly, even more so when “Big sis Rin” overlapped so much today. She scooped the rabbit up under the shoulders, setting her on the bed Rin was planning to use.
“I’d love to! Did Adrest tell you what it was about?”
Belle stayed glued to Rin as she shrugged, “He just said it was a comedy.”
Rin was curious and happy for the cute distraction. She sent some mana into the blue crystal the size of Rin’s own hand. From it sprung a rectangular projection about two feet across hovering in midair while emitting a low light. They got comfortable under the soft blankets and soon Adrest could hear giggling nonstop from the other room.
He was happy and relieved to see he hadn’t overstepped. He was pretty sure he’d gotten a feel for Rin over the last few months, but wasn’t quite positive he’d read it right this time. He was glad to fall asleep to chime like laughs though.