Chapter 15 - Cozy inn

Jusy keeps driving me around the city, this time with a different destination.

"I don't know if the inn will be to your taste, but it is very welcoming, not only I say it, but also all the customers who have been our guests." Jusy seems enthusiastic about their inn.

"I don't have high standards, it's already for me to have a roof over my head, that's fine for me." Especially if it's free, but we don't specify it... it's not polite.

"I'm happy for this." I haven't known her for a long time, but I think I'm starting to understand this girl's character.

After a few minutes we arrive at the inn. The structure seems simple enough, but of a fair size. It definitely has two floors inside, made entirely of wood with some stone reinforcements in the corners, to make it more robust. There is a sign above the main entrance. The sign itself is quite simple, but it is the inscription that attracts me, 'The Beacon of the Beginning'.

'What a strange name for an inn.' it's weird, but one of a kind.

"Please Darion, come in." Jusy opens the door and invites me to enter.

"Excuse me." She enters politely. 'Instead of entering an inn, I seem to enter someone's house... which in theory in Jusy's case is exactly the same thing, but we don't think about it.'

"Welcome dear custo- Jusy?" An elderly gentleman, with a beard and short gray hair, turns towards the door on hearing our entry. He has round glasses, which highlight his hazel eyes, the latter looks at me and Jusy suspiciously. "Do you know this boy, Jusy?" He asks with a certain tone of suspicion.

'It's not what you think, old man.' I think right now he's imagining various unfounded things in his head.

"Yes and no, grandfather. I met him today, but it was thanks to him that I was able to complete the mission in the guild... and besides, if he hadn't intervened, I wouldn't be here now." Jusy shrugs , with a downcast look.

"What do you mean? What happened?" The old gentleman puts down the wooden cup that he was polishing with a rag and begins to scrutinize Jusy.

"Well, see today..." Jusy begins to tell what happened today, from beginning to end.

"What?! Boy, your name is Darion, right? So Darion, thank you so much for saving my thoughtless niece's life, you don't know how much I owe you." The old man approaches, holding out his hand and inviting me to a handshake.

"It was a pleasure sir, after all how can you not help a beautiful girl like your niece?" I see Jusy's cheeks blush at my answer, and the gentleman raises an eyebrow, but then lowers it, sporting a strange smile.

"So, Darion, from what you've told me you're new here in town and above all you don't have a place to sleep. Knowing my niece's temper, she'll have already invited you to stay here. And you arrived at the right time, a room has just become free this morning." The gentleman is offering me hospitality in his inn, just like his niece, maybe I can begin to understand where Jusy's character comes from.

"Thank you, mister ..." she still hasn't said her name.

"Gald, my pleasure, Darion." We shake hands to complete our introductions. Jusy smiles happily, at our side.

"Can I start getting settled in the room yet?" I ask politely, it's been a strange morning after all.

"Sure, Jusy take our new guest to his room... and then come down, we have to talk about something important." Gald seems to change his expression and tone of voice at the end of his sentences, it seems that they have to do an important dialogue.

"Of course..." Jusy nods, but she looks worried.

'Mhhh who knows what they'll have to talk about, but I won't investigate, after all it's none of my business.' I follow Jusy up to the upper floor.

"Please Darion, this will be your room, I wish you settle in as comfortably as possible. And I hope you enjoy it." Jusy opens the door to the room, which looks normal, but is slightly smaller than my room in the baron's villa.

"Thanks Jusy, I will rest well." He thanked her when she entered the room. Jusy closes the door and I hear her footsteps coming back and going down the stairs.

'This room looks well taken care of. Jusy and her grandfather do a great job.' I begin to search the room, noting the complete absence of unnecessary dust or stains. I touch the blankets and sheets, feel the soft velvet, they are also well-groomed and wrinkle-free.

'Uffff what a busy day.' I'm referring to what happened yesterday. 'First the escape, then the ambush of the orks and finally that strange gash.' it is my separation from my acquaintances.

"Guys, I hope nothing happened to you... especially to Gilberta." He keeps thinking about them, but above all about Gilberta.

'How can I start a search? I never did it.' I think that first of all I need a map, I must at least calculate the distance to the baron's lands. 'And I need some coins ASAP, I have to work hard at the guild.'

Once he has accumulated enough money, he will leave for the Marquis's city. 'I'm not even aware of the Baron's fate ... how will he spend these moments, separated from his family?'

"There's a lot of work to do, but I have to weigh my every step, I can't afford the luxury of making mistakes and wasting time". I lay down on the bed. 'What a convenience, he really wanted it.'

I begin to close my eyes, slipping into the world of dreams.

At the same time, a girl enters his room, a dejected expression on her face. A drop of her falls from her eyes, staining her cheek.

It is an elderly gentleman sitting in a chair, with a hand on his forehead, reflecting on various things.