The inn was cloaked in silence, the faint creak of wood and the distant murmur of waves the only sounds accompanying the stillness. Arthur waited until Melite's breathing evened out, her attempt to force-sleep leaving her vulnerable. Slowly, he allowed the faint pull of Greed to seep from him, not enough to harm her but enough to deepen her rest. A sliver of her energy flowed into him, its warmth settling in his body.
He moved carefully, packing a small, empty bag and pocketing a handful of Aleks' coins.
The lantern he'd concealed during their stay hung at his side, its blue light faintly pulsing like a heartbeat beneath a cloth. Wrapped in a dark cloak, he slipped out of the room, the door closing with the barest whisper behind him.
The night air was cool against his face as he stepped onto the streets of Varem.
