"BWUTHAA!"
A yell so adorable yet so earnest shouted in the early rays of morning.
"Sana be a little quieter others are sleeping." Little Kaya acted as the big sister as usual while she started poking Penta's cheeks.
The small nudges carried over to a groggy Penta but without success.
Kaya seemingly annoyed at the man pinched his forehead.
"OW! Who pinches people in the morning!?" Penta opened his eyes upset that he got pinched so early.
Seeing who it was from and the look they were giving. He sobered up and let it slide.
"You better make up for it today. No! This week!" Little Kaya said with a pouting angry face which was also just cute.
"Awww, when did the shy little Kaya get so selfish? What happened while I was gone?" Penta said with a wide smile and crescent eyes.
He just wanted to pet her head but he waiting for her reply.
"Hmph, you left us for three days and you didn't even bother to say goodbye in the morning and after you left, bad things happened and you only showed up after Grandpa Claud got hurt!" Little Kaya fired off like a prepared machine.
Penta was sweating once she finished.
"Bwutha, make up make up! one week!" Little Sana was jumping on the bed as well with demands.
Penta was so unsure of when these girls got so used to making demands all of a sudden. He didn't mind and was actually glad the girls didn't develop severe trauma from everything so far. However, he couldn't just cave in like that.
"It was Celia wasn't it?" Penta said with a curious stare at Kaya's every reaction.
Her eyebrows moved up and she seemed slightly surprised and that didn't evade Penta's senses.
"Hmmm, it seems she has been teaching you some things eh... things to Take Advantage Of Me!?" Penta said with a small look that looked angry but not really.
Kaya got scared and tried to run off but Penta threw her on the bed with Little Sana before throwing pillows at them.
"You little girls are too naive if you think I will settle to your demands so easily!" Penta said in play anger before throwing the pillows again.
The girls started retaliating before they knew it.
The war had lasted several minutes. Little Sana was hiding behind a protective sister maiden.
Penta was behind the table barricade that was created.
The war seemed to tilt in Penta's favor as the girls get slightly tired from lack of pillow war experience.
However, a burst of pressure is released from Kaya as she had to protect her sister.
The burst came with additional stamina and strength. Pillows were reaching their marks at this time.
Penta had to return on the defensive.
The war had reached a stalemate between the two factions as neither try and give up.
"WHO THE HELL IS MAKING THIS RACKET!?" Celia started slamming the door before just opening it.
What laid before her was pure, unadulterated pillow war remains.
Feathers flying, one party hiding behind a knocked over table with guilt on his face.
Whilst the other remains on the bed, keeping a true stand as they knew what they stand for.
Penta has to make it up to them.
Celia as well now too.
...
A little later.
Sitting in the mess hall with breakfast at hand sat Claud, Celia, Sasha, Little Sana, Little Kaya, Griss, Karu, Faren, and finally Penta.
"Be careful, out there kid. It's a competitive place. Make sure to come back from time to time, I might even cook something for ya." Claud was the first to give his farewell.
Celia also looked at Penta and smiled.
"I didn't think so much would happen from the moment you walked in with that Bone boar but I and this Inn can truly say thank you for having stayed with us."
She said with a beautiful smile.
"Haha, Woah there not to belittle your sweet words but you do know we ain't gone forever right? Hell, even if they stopped me. I'd find a way to come out to eat as often as I can haha. Anyways my little one's would miss you too you know?" Penta replied while munching on his food while looked into Celia's eyes making her eyes light up just a little before she looked away.
"Alright there with the sappiness. You take care of Kaya and Sana you hear? Or else you are definitely getting an ass-kicking from yours truly." Sasha went after.
"Will do Sasha and I'll be sure to come around from time to time and spend time with you all. Oh right, you three. I'm joining the Storm Tribe so I don't know what to do with you. Want to come as my porters?" Penta asked since he figured he could use some guys for errands.
The intention was very clear and none of the three looked happy at that offer.
Faren who couldn't take it anymore finally blurted out.
"We are already in the Storm Tribe. We were recruited six months ago." He breathed it out and Celia finally confirmed her suspicions.
Penta on the other hand was simply shocked.
"But you guys are so weak? How did they let you in?" Penta asked curiously but clearly every single one of the trio was offended. Even Karu who was a big fan started looking down in shame.
Griss couldn't take it.
"Not everyone is as abnormal as you! Who the hell can do that at your stage without being a promoted Shaman already??"
Penta was surprised.
"I... I am strong?" He pointed to himself shocked.
Everyone just looked down before they started throwing crap at him.
"OY! OY! Stop it, don't throw random things. Only food!" He replied while grabbing whatever food came near him.
After that little moment, Penta continued.
"Kaya you hear this, you should have no worries climbing up the ladder at the Tribe with me around and we also got tour guides, isn't your honorable brother very good?" Penta smiled as he reassured Kaya while going to pick up little Sana.
"Bwutha good." Sana petted his head with a smile while Kaya had a determined look and raised her fist while replying. "Honorable brother is very good!"
"Hahaha! Good good! Alright everybody get to packing and you three grab the captive. We got to explain ourselves to the Storm Tribe and let them pass judgment."
Karu came up to him and asked.
"How did you know he was from the Storm tribe when you didn't know we were?"
"What he was a part of the tribe too? Sheesh you all just started popping up eh?" Penta replied.
Karu just got confused and asked again.
"Then why did you insist on them judging him?"
"Oh that? Well, I wanted to look good in front of the Tribe on my way there by capturing a criminal? Hahaha, bonus points for me." He replied while laughing and the passed out Castello could be seen almost popping a nerve.
"Oh... bonus points..." The soul left Karu's body for a second before coming back as he just felt his worldview shatter.
Someone of the prestigious Kalway family hunted like a criminal by someone who is only joining the Tribe without any backup or faction, only to be handed over as said alleged criminal.
Karu's respect for Penta grew yet again.
"Oh, I'll be right back. Celia send me over half the money from the donations." Penta asked and Celia gave as she didn't care but Penta just smiled at her trust and left while saying he would be back soon.
Over an hour later, Penta was seen coming back while everyone was ready and outside waiting for him.
Oddly, someone was following him. A tall fierce-looking woman with a scar on her face and a longsword at her waist. She had a rough air around her and seemed very strong.
"Hey, ready to go?" Penta shouted as they neared.
"Who is this Penta?" Sasha asked looking at this grizzly like woman.
"Oh this, hold on," Penta said before looking over at the woman next to him.
"Ina, welcome to your new employer! Congratulations!" Penta said out loud which just made everyone there gasp except for the trio in the back.
"Why did you hire someone and from where? Who is she?" Celia started questioning.
"Alright calm down, I will explain.
I met Ina here by recommendation from F..the city lord. I asked him to help out with security whenever we weren't there as I didn't want things like yesterday happening too often here. Partying is only allowed when I'm there. Haha.
She is retiring so I figured she could handle the cozy job in a familiar place. Ina, Ina Rizform, Peak rogue warrior will be security for the Inn, what you think?" Penta explained but Celia, Claud, and Sasha all had a suspicious look.
They knew how much someone of this grade was worth for hire and what they gave him earlier barely covered a month with this type of person and yet she is going to work here officially?
"I think I can explain that part." Ina interrupted and got the attention of the trio.
"Penta is a promising youth and as such he agreed to a demand I had made for my approval. He agreed and as such we are here now." She closed with before going back to being quiet. Though she would peak at Little Sana every now and then and secretly scream at the girl's cuteness.
"Its nothing dangerous is it?" Celia asked worried to Penta.
"Haha, na not for me. I just gotta something and it fits in line with what I will be doing at the Tribe so win-win." He said with a smile.
"Alright, off we go. I'll see you guys in a bit." Penta smiled while Kaya and Sana gave hugs to Claud, Sasha and Celia.
As Penta was walking away with Griss, Karu and Faren and the little one's caught up to him. Celia finally couldn't hold it in.
"PENTA YOU MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THEM SAFE AND COME BACK OFTEN LIKE YOU PROMISED! and ... thank you." She said the last part with a whisper.
"Haha, WILL DO CELIA, TAKE CARE EVERYONE!" He yelled back.