Alex rejoined them as they left the guild. Lars and Luck exchanged intrigued glances, their eyes practically sparkling with curiosity.
"Sir, aren't you quite charismatic?" Luck asked, a teasing grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
Alex blinked at him, his expression unreadable.
Shelly, however, let out a sigh, crossing her arms and giving Alex a disapproving look. Despite that, curiosity still gleamed in her eyes. "Enough with the nonsense—just tell us already. Can we meet the Guild Master or not?"
Luck and Lars turned to her in disappointment.
"Shelly, that's no way to address him!" they scolded in unison, shaking their heads. Then, as if on cue, they both looked at Alex expectantly.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "What? Why are you all looking at me like lost puppies?"
Lars cleared his throat and bowed slightly. "Humble senior, please bless us with your honorable name."
Alex sighed, rubbing his temple. "If you're that interested… Feng Cheon. That's my name."
A brief silence followed.
Shelly narrowed her eyes. "What kind of name is that?"
Luck and Lars exchanged knowing glances, sighing dramatically.
"Hem, hem," Lars coughed. "Shelly, sir must be from an era of battle."
"But he looks our age," Luck pointed out.
"That's because you lack information," Lars huffed. "Those who ascend worlds can change their appearance."
Shelly rolled her eyes before turning back to Alex. "Fine, whatever. Tell me, Senior Feng Cheon, what else did she say besides all that sweet talk?"
Alex remained unfazed. "We have to wait for two days."
"Two days? Ugh, fine, we'll wait," Shelly groaned. Then, after a pause, she smirked. "But can't you at least tell us in detail what she said?"
Alex's expression remained usual. "It's none of your concern."
"Oh, but I heard something interesting," Shelly mused, her blue eyes shining mischievously. "Didn't she say she wanted to sleep with our humble senior?"
Luck and Lars turned to her, shock written on their faces, while Alex remained unbothered.
Lars quickly changed the topic. "Sir, we should book a place to stay for the night."
Shelly sighed. "Yeah, but inns here are expensive. I heard even the cheap ones cost ten gold coins per person."
Luck scoffed, flipping a coin between his fingers. "Do you think there's anything in this kingdom the Prince of Leventha can't buy?"
Shelly shot him a look. "Yes—common sense."
As the two continued their playful bickering, Alex moved ahead with Lars, scanning the rows of inns lining the street. They passed luxurious establishments adorned with grand wooden carvings and golden lanterns, the rich scent of incense drifting from within. But the price tags alone made them continue their search.
After an hour of wandering, Lars suddenly stopped, pointing at a wooden sign at the far end of the street. The paint was chipped, the words barely legible:
"Inn Stay – 3 Gold Coins a Night."
"Sir, look over there," Lars said.
Behind them, Shelly and Luck's bickering stopped abruptly.
"Finally, we can rest," they sighed at the same time.
Upon entering, the shift in atmosphere was immediate. The air was thick with the scent of damp wood and old linen. The dim candlelight barely held back the darkness, flickering weakly in its holders. The floor creaked under their weight, each step sending a groan through the worn planks.
Behind the counter stood a boy, no older than twelve. His clothes, once white, were now stained and frayed at the edges. His bony fingers gripped the counter as he peered up at them, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in his eyes.
Lars approached with a friendly smile. "Hey, kid. We need a place to stay for two nights. What can you offer us?"
The boy hesitated, his lips parting slightly as if to speak, but no words came. His fingers trembled as he traced invisible numbers on the counter.
Soft footsteps echoed from behind him. A woman stepped into the dim light, her long brunette hair streaming down her shoulders. Her dress, once elegant, now appeared faded, patched in places where the fabric had worn thin. Despite the hardship in her tired eyes, she carried herself with quiet dignity.
She dipped her head in a hurried bow. "Sir, I'm sorry if he offended you," she said, her voice full of concern.
Lars raised a hand in reassurance. "No, no, ma'am, he didn't. We just need a place to rest. Can you give us a fair price?"
The woman exhaled in relief and nodded slightly. "Of course. We'll prepare the rooms immediately."
As she turned to instruct the boy, Alex cast a brief glance at the child, his expression unreadable. The boy's thin shoulders and hesitant demeanor reminded him of something—or someone—from a past he couldn't quite recall.
But, as always, Alex pushed the thought aside.
The woman stepped out from behind the counter, the dim candlelight flickering over her tired features. She gave them a polite nod and brushed a stray strand of brunette hair behind her ear.
"Sir, let me show you to your rooms. You must be exhausted. As for the price… five gold coins should be enough."
Her voice was gentle but firm, the weight of experience evident in every word. She hesitated, then added, "I know our inn is small and far from luxurious, but I hope you understand—I can't charge any less than this."
Before Lars could respond, Alex, who had been standing quietly behind them, stepped forward. His black robes barely rustled as he moved.
"Don't worry about the price. We'll pay the usual ten gold."
The woman's fingers twitched slightly, and she shook her head. "Sir, I can't accept that. Five gold is already more than enough for us."
Alex met her gaze, "As you wish."
But Lars frowned, crossing his arms. "No, ma'am. There are four of us, so eight gold would be a fair price, right?"
The woman's lips parted as if to protest, but Alex smoothly interrupted before she could refuse.
"Think of it as a humble gift for offering us shelter."
For a moment, the woman remained silent, her gaze searching his face. Then, lowering her head slightly, she exhaled.
"Thank you, sir."
With that, she turned and led them up the narrow, creaking staircase. The wooden steps groaned beneath their weight, dust rising in the dim glow of the lanterns lining the hall. The air carried a faint mustiness, the scent of aged wood and something vaguely herbal.
She stopped before a row of doors, her hand resting lightly on the worn brass handle of one.
"These will be your rooms," she said softly.
Alex glanced down the dim hallway, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Something about this place felt… strange.
As he stepped inside, a faint musk clung to the air—an unpleasant mix of sweat, perfume, and something more pungent.
This reeks of sperm, he thought, though he showed no emotion on his face. His gaze flickered across the aged wooden walls, the worn-out floorboards, and the slightly stained curtains swaying from a weak breeze. I don't know about this inn… but it doesn't look good for these kids.
His voice cut through the silence, calm yet laced with faint curiosity.
"Do nobles bring prostitutes here often?"
The woman stiffened. A flicker of embarrassment crossed her weary face as she lowered her gaze.
"Sir… the young masters of noble families sometimes visit with—companions," she admitted hesitantly. "We can't refuse them. But I can assure you, I've cleaned the room thoroughly."
Her voice held quiet resignation, as if she had long stopped questioning such things.
Alex didn't say anything at first. He simply studied, her brown eyes yet felt more dark. Then, with a faint nod, he stepped past her into the dimly lit room.
As Alex entered his room, Lars' voice echoed from the side. "These rooms are really small, guys."
Shelly scoffed loudly. "Yeah, they are! But what can we do? We don't have much money. Well, except for Lars."
Alex didn't respond, simply sitting on the small bed with a sigh. Luck, from the adjacent room, sounded equally displeased.
"I, the prince of Leventha, am supposed to live here for two days? This is unacceptable!"
Again, Alex remained silent. His gaze drifted across the dimly lit space—aside from the bed, the only other furniture was a worn-out drawer in the corner.
Lars let out an exaggerated groan from the other room. "This place is depressing. I bet it smells even worse than it looks."
Shelly chuckled. "We're lucky we even found a place this cheap. Stop complaining."
Ignoring their voices, Alex leaned back against the wooden wall. The candle flickered, casting long shadows across the room. His fingers tapped lightly against the damp matters .
Something still felt off about this place.
The way the boy hesitated to speak. The tired yet wary look in the woman's eyes. The lingering, unpleasant scent that no amount of cleaning could erase.
His fingers tightened slightly.
There was more to this inn than what met the eye.
But for now, he let it go.
Two days. That was all they had to wait.
Then, they would leave this place behind.