Stumbling his way out of the chamber, he noted how Aria gave him suspicious gaze. Well, it's to be expected since he didn't have a single wink of sleep since the Eliza and Robin went at it all night. He rubbed his aching forehead, as he could do nothing but listen to their moans and screams at night. He had planned to take a night stroll, but situation outside forced him to stay. Using what's left of his strength, Gray pushed the door open slamming into someone in the process.

"Sorry Robin," Gray yawned.

"You look like you just died," he smirked. "Did the girls keep you up that all night?"

Gray glanced at the table, and caught the sight of some sort of liquid dripping. Leaning on the doorframe, he smiled tiredly as he crossed his arms. It felt as though his upper eyelids added more weight the longer he stood up. Staying up for one day is fine and all, but mental fatigue really adds to exhaustion.

Gray jerked his head towards the table, "I'm a light sleeper."

Robin's smiling face swiftly glanced to the table, and turned back immediately. The face in front of Gray showed no signs of emotions as if it had became stoic. However, the look on Robin's face drew something humorous from Gray. Barely managing to laugh, he managed to chuckle due to exhaustion from yesterday night.

"Things... got a little freaky..."

"Is that why you're so energetic? I recall that you two didn't stop until the sun broke the horizon!"

"You get a free meal today as long as you don't talk to E-"

"Morning you two!" Eliza smiled. "Wow, you look like you've been up all night."

"Two lovebirds forced me to wake up since they wouldn't be quiet," Gray yawned. "Hopefully, I don't hear them again."

 "Oh goodness, I hope you're okay. Maybe you should rest some more?"

"Yeah, maybe I should," Gray agreed. "I'll leave you to your work then."

"Hurry up girls," she said. "I hope you have a good day," she bowed, leaving with a beaming smile. Once Gray assumed that the girls were no longer in the vicinity, he shifted his gaze back to Robin.

Gray rubbed his tired eyes, "Interesting, she didn't realize who the love birds were."

"She's different today, perhaps maybe because this is the first time she's satisfied?"

"Robin... I don't need to know that."

He chuckled, "Anyways, I need to tell you something, Alseif."

"It's about Aria, isn't it?"

"Keep away from her," Robin pleaded.

"Yeah, I've noticed it as well," he smiled sadly. "I can't seem to leave her by herself even though I have no feelings for her. At this rate, there'll be a misunderstanding that I don't want to get involved with."

The person in front of him wore an expression that tore at Gray's heart as he tried to pay it no mind. For Robin, an information broker, to wear an expression such as that seemed to wring out Gray's very soul. Eyes filled with shame and regret, burning with a tinged of sadness. He sighed and with a single stroke of his arm, Gray slapped Robin's shoulder to force him to go to work. Closing the door, he went over to the same corner that he sat at and closed his eyes.

***

Robin took one more glance at the dark-haired youth before the door closed, then made his way downstairs. The youth carries too much mystery within him that troubles Robin quite often. He never knows what the young man is thinking nor did he wish to know. The exiled prince of Raultivon traveling around the world to do odd jobs for people he never refuses remained in contact with is just too mysterious. What make things more troubling to Robin are the rumors revolving around The Lone Wanderer's actions. Rather than taking all of the coins The Lone Wanderers earns, he gives the other half back for information.

Perhaps this is the reason why he favors Gray over his other customers. Even now, his eyes still seems as dead as they were back then. For someone his age, he seems to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, and the only way to help someone who died on the inside is to let them expose their inner thoughts. To do that, Gray needed someone who he could trust, someone who isn't like Aria and the girls.

Yeah, I've noticed it as well, Robin remembered his words one by one. Of course, Gray's words also meant something much deeper than what he lets on. Aria can't help in filling the void within him, and hearing that felt like a icy blade twisted itself inside his heart. To live for the sake of living; a child did not deserve such treatment. Purging his mind, he refocused on his task for today.

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Standing behind the counter drying up the cups and plates from before he came down, he looked around his inn. Taking in the details of his inn looked exactly like how he remembers it from his childhood. The inn consisted of wooden waxed floor, waxed circular tables, and candle lanterns hanging on hinges of the wooden pole. Looking around, the Aria and Eliza served with great enthusiasm while the younger three assisted them. Robin smiled thinking about how the future will be like when Eliza has his child. For some reason, he felt like he is the father, his wife is the mother, and Aria and girls are like the daughters. Maybe, just maybe they could conceive a child due how energetic they were yesterday. Imagining how his son or daughter would look like in the serving uniform made him scream internally. He couldn't wait.

Instantly catching his attention, his eyes flashed to one of the customers reaching to grope Aria's bottom. Something within him burst, immediately snapping the fork in his hand in half. Everyone stared at him in surprise. Trying to calm himself, he sucked air in between his teeth, still feeling the rage he held earlier. Robin finally understood how parents felt when someone gropes their daughter.

"Mess with her and you're dead," Robin hissed softly.

Immediately after, he heard Aria yelp in distress, and in retaliation, he reached into drawer on his left to pull out a knife. Hiding the knife inside of the sleeves of his shirt, Robin moved effortless towards the offender. Right before he made it to the offender, a young man in a black cloak sitting at the corner of the room moved faster than he did. Robin scowled, figuring that he's going to have to fight the two of them.

Fortunately, the young man did the opposite of what Robin had expected. He grabbed the offender's wrist, twisting it to the back, and slamming him down onto the floor. Then everyone within the inn took part in beating the offender up by kicking him here and there. Robin approved in satisfaction as they threw him out of the inn.

Moving back behind his counter, he noticed the young man approaching him. Something about him looked familiar, but he couldn't recall where he saw the young man. The young man's medium straight hair basked itself in golden light, and the way he his movement flowed mesmerized Robin. Although his handsome face seemed familiar to someone he knew, but couldn't quite say who. Apparently, a noble has entered his inn.

Sitting down by the counter, his cloak slightly opened up around the chest revealing the armor underneath. The chainmail he wore fell short of his elbow covered by a black robber jerkin with Raultivon's symbol of the black dragon embedded in the center. His arms were covered his black leather vambraces, and he wore black open-fingered gloves. Robin couldn't see what he wore below due to the counter blocking his view. This man must be after Gray, but fortunately, Gray slept inside his inn.

"You must be Robin," the young man said. "My name is Edgar. Lord Eristol told me that you are the most informed in Tamworth."

"Well met, Edgar," he smiled. "I want to thank you for aiding Aria in my stead."

He shook his head, "Everyone here would've done the same. Rather, they did."

Robin leaned in, "Humble for a Noble."

Edgar swiftly glanced around, "you're reputation precedes you."

"Perhaps you should go by an alias as well, my young prince of Raultivon."

Edgar smirked, "Truly, you are a dangerous man."

"So, what information would you like?"

"Any idea on where Gray Raultivon resides?"

 "I can't tell you that because I believe he was exiled as a baby."

Edgar shook his head, "Wrong, two elves took care of him when my father announced his exile."

Now that explains both his superior agility and fighting style, Robin thought to himself. This changes many things since the Raultivon kingdom is known to keep close relationships with the neighboring elves. Due to this relationship, they became the super power. Perhaps due to elf persecutions by the other kingdoms for their vast knowledge of ancient magic made Gray grow up the way he is now? Things are getting interesting now. What could possibly make the Exiled Prince beg Robin yesterday?

Robin leaned in, "Really? Now that's interesting, but I thought the Raultivon Kingdom are allies with the elves? It's counterproductive to exile a bastard son just to give him away to the elves."

"They were, that is until four years ago when we attacked the elves."

Four years, Robin pondered. The Exiled Prince is seventeen as of now, so he happened to be around thirteen at that time. He called himself Alseif when they met each other. The pieces are slowly falling into their place with Gray's dead eyes, his elven name, his need to alleviate his guilt, his fear of the Raultivon Kingdom, and his odd jobs. Everything leads to the Raultivon Kingdom raiding his elven village. Gray wants to kill the one responsible. He wants to kill his father.

Robin picked up a plate to dry, "Well, I'm not sure I can be of much help to you, but I can assure that should you come back next time, I'll see what I can do."

Edgar glared, "You were prying information from me?"

"You mean you didn't notice until now? I guess there's more room for you to grow up."

Edgar quickly stood up from his seat, "Well! Do you or don't you know where he is?"

"No, I don't," Robin lied.

"Enough!" Edgar turned to his men, "We're done here!"

"Wait," Robin pulled on Edgar's sleeve. "I don't have information regarding Gray, but I do have something that'll interest you."

Edgar curiously leaned in, "What?"

"Don't do anything that'll reveal that you're from Raultivon because another Kingdom walks amongst you." Robin whispered softly, "Zazion has a convoy in Tamworth that brought dangerous merchandises."

Edgar's eyes narrowed, "Ogrum?"

Robin's eyes darted left and right, then focused back on Edgar, "I don't know how many, but you best be careful since I don't want to deal with cleaning up after you. Remember though, the ceasefire agreement from twenty years ago means nothing in reality. Tensions are rising high, and the chances that another war might start are very likely depending on tonight's actions."

"Shit..." he turned to his five men behind, "Don't group up, but stay close. I don't want to shed innocent blood tonight for Mourinthia."

"Don't jinx it," Robin muttered as the six of them walked out of the inn.