"I apologize for my companion's actions, we're new to the city, she still hadn't grow accustomed to contact with other people."
Kai lowered his head a bit as a sign of apology.
"No its ok sir…"
Ryuu shook her head not minding her fellow elf's actions, she look straight to Kai's eyes waiting for him to introduce himself.
Right I have yet to introduce myself to her.
"I am Kai d'Arc Valentine, you can just call me Kai, nice to meet you, miss…"
"Ryuu Leon…"
She replied smiling.
"You're more beautiful when you smile miss Ryuu…"
"…"
Ryuu look back at him a complicated look on her fairy like face.
"Um… I'm sorry about that it just came to me subconsciously."
He covered his mouth with a apologetic expression.
She just nod a little and turned back a small smile manage to emerge on her always calm and stoic face.
She felt her heart fluttering for some reason to the young man's simple words.
She didn't get it but she felt comfortable around him.
This comfort came from Kai's natural high compatibility with natural mana and natural elements that elves loved so much.
Ryuu when she's around Kai even for a bit felt like she was back at her hometown idling around the village's sacred tree.
A rejuvenating, calming, and refreshing feeling washing over her body.
She then led the two to the counter where a towering woman that gave off a enormous aura was grinning from ear to ear looking at Kai and Tessa as if she was looking at a bunch of lost pockets.
But amidst those somewhat greedy gaze Kai could see deeper.
He can tell that she's examining him and Tessa trying to figure out their circumstances and as if she saw something on Kai a faint gentle smile emerged on her face for a second before quickly being hidden retuning back to normal.
"YO! you two, I am Mia Grand, I am the owner of this tavern and the mother of these girls here if you dare fancy my girls you need to pass through me first."
She showed her gigantic fist trying to intimidate Kai.
Tessa seeing the first and sensing the pressure coming from Mia quickly hid behind Kai.
Kai just smiled to Mia's threat and Tessa's antics.
Seeing his reaction even though she exude pressure enough to crush a normal person Mia's already wide grin reach her ears.
"Chloe here seems to be interested in you, what will you do?"
She said, pointing at the now blushing Chloe hiding in the corner giving Mia a glare.
"Hello, good morning lady Mia I think that's a bit too soon… miss Chloe and I just meet seconds ago, I don't think feelings had developed that far… and I just came here through the suggestion of miss Chloe about this tavern offering inn services."
"Tsk… have some back bone kid…"
Mia snorted before giving a signal to Ryuu to accompany Kai and Tessa as she returned back to what she was doing.
"This way sir Kai and… right, miss Tessa…"
Ryuu said leading the way.
'How did she knew my name? I haven't yet introduce myself to her.'
Tessa questioned in her mind as she look at Ryuu's a bit so familiar back.
Kai tap her on the shoulder and pointing in front.
Tessa shook her head and followed.
…
It was still very early in the morning and there's still no costumes present, the only people in the pub present were Mia, Ryuu, Chloe and some people at the back of the counter probably in the kitchen preparing things for the day.
Kai and Tessa was given separate rooms.
Tessa at first tried to argue one is enough but after realizing how bold her words was she run off and shut the door of her supposed room.
Kai could only sigh to his companion's actions and behaviors.
He knew it be a challenge to accompany her but at least he had some fun being together with her.
Her clueless, careless, and airhead nature turned his boring days a bit fun even though awkward moments kept occurring again and again due to her actions.
"I'm really sorry about Tessa, miss Ryuu she's just like that…"
He shrugged the back of his head as he look straight at Ryuu's emerald like eyes.
"You really don't have to worry… it was nothing…"
He extended his hand to Ryuu.
She look at the extended hand of Kai with a confused look.
"Right, I forgot Elves didn't like being casually touched by someone. Moreover someone of a opposite sex and different race…"
Kai issued a weary smile as he look at Ryuu in the eyes
"…"
"I'm sorry once again miss Ryuu, it seems my lack of common sense is troubling you. That was a subconscious action on my part that I grew accustomed back on my home country when meeting new people, you can just ignore it, it's nothing but a sign of respect given to one another…"
He explained as he retracted his hand back, but before he could retract it fully Ryuu suddenly grabbed his hand at a speed he almost couldn't react.
"…"
"…"
A awkward atmosphere prevail.
Kai broke the awkwardness as he lowered his hand down shaking Ryuu's.
"It's like this miss Ryuu…"
She adjusted and followed Kai's lead as they shake each other's hands.
'Are all elves this weird, at first I thought it was only Tessa now it seems that miss Ryuu here seem to be weird in her own way.'
He thought as they leg go of each others hands.
"Thank you for guiding us miss Ryuu, sorry to waste your time…"
Kai turned his back to Ryuu as he opened the door where he is going to stay the night or probably the following days.
--- Ryuu ---
What am I doing? Am I losing my mind?
I felt heat welling on my cheek in an instant.
Alise you said to not let go of a man who manage to catch and hold my hand but I were the one to grab the man's hand.
I'm sorry Chloe and Tessa but this feeling is comfortable that I don't want to let go of it.
…
For the very first time in her life Ryuu finally decided to be honest and bold about something other than fighting and being a stubborn elf.
At first she found this feeling's annoying and foreign but even though its only a few minutes that had passed by she realized that she didn't want to lost this strange warm.
She look at the now closed door where this feeling in her heart had originated from a slight gentle smile with a bit of mischief surface on her face.
'You better take responsibility sir Kai.'
Having such thought she left for the downstairs afraid to anger mama Mia for being too slow.
Kai looking around his room let out a sneeze.
On the stairs Ryuu meet Chloe's gaze the two stared at each other complicated thoughts running through their minds.
A competitive glint can be seen on their eyes.
Mama Mia in the counter observing the silent exchange between the two couldn't help but thought of the best way to punish the boy who was able to make two of her daughter's fall for him at their first meeting.
'I need to hide my other daughters, who knows he might try and conquer all of them.' – Mia thought.