Amukelo's shoulders were tense as he pushed through the pub's rickety wooden doors with a grumpy expression. Eliss trailed behind him, her head slightly lowered, unsure of what to say.
Amukelo came to a stop a few steps outside and turned sharply toward Eliss. "Give me my items back," he said curtly, holding out his hand.
Eliss quickly handed him his backpack and sword, her hands trembling slightly as she avoided meeting his eyes. She could sense his irritation and thought it best to remain silent. Once he slung the backpack over his shoulder and sheathed his sword, he turned away without another word, starting toward the inn.
As they walked, Amukelo finally spoke. "Don't do that again."
Eliss glanced up at him. "But it was him who started it," she said defensively.
Amukelo stopped abruptly, spinning around to face her. His eyes bore into hers with a mix of weariness and annoyance. "Do you think that if you had to fight him in a fistfight, it would've been worth it?" he asked, his voice low but pointed.
Eliss opened her mouth to respond, but no words came. She looked down, avoiding his gaze, and stayed silent.
Taking a deep breath, Amukelo continued, his tone tinged with exasperation. "There could've been unnecessary bloodshed tonight. If not for that second orc, we might've had to fight to death. What good would've come from that?" He gestured vaguely toward the town, as if encompassing all the potential dangers they could have faced.
Eliss fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, still not looking up. "But he was insulting us," she mumbled weakly.
"This isn't a noble house," Amukelo said. "You're not a princess here, Eliss. You can't just talk to people however you want and expect to be untouchable. Out here, people will pick fights for no reason, and they're always ready to fight. If you're not ready to back up your words, then don't say anything at all. Just shut up."
Eliss flinched slightly at the harshness of his tone. Her cheeks burned with a mix of shame and regret, and her gaze fell to the ground. "I'm… sorry," she said quietly.
"What?" Amukelo said, his brows furrowing as he leaned slightly closer.
"I said, I'm sorry," Eliss repeated, her voice louder this time, though still heavy with guilt.
Amukelo studied her for a moment, his expression softening ever so slightly. He let out a long sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. "I hope you actually understand what I'm saying," he said. "Don't just apologize because I scolded you. Learn from this."
"I will," Eliss said, her tone more resolute. "I won't do it again."
"Good," Amukelo replied simply. He turned back and resumed walking toward the inn.
The inn was small and dimly lit, its interior filled with the earthy smell of animal hides and dried herbs. As Amukelo approached the counter, an orc with a scarred face and a tired expression looked up from behind it. The orc's voice was gruff as he greeted them. "What do you need?"
"Two rooms," Amukelo said firmly.
The orc raised an eyebrow and let out a short laugh. "Two rooms? For humans? We've only got one room for your kind."
Amukelo frowned. "Only one?" he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice. "What's the difference between the rooms?"
The orc shrugged nonchalantly. "The rest are for orcs. I doubt you'd want to stay in one."
Amukelo crossed his arms. "Why not?"
The orc gave him a long, appraising look, then sighed. "Suit yourself. But don't complain later." He reached beneath the counter and retrieved two keys, placing them on the worn wooden surface.
Amukelo eyed the keys warily. "I'll take one of each," he said, reaching for them.
The orc nodded and handed the keys over, saying nothing more. Amukelo pocketed one and held the other out to Eliss. "You're getting the orc room for what you did today," he said flatly.
Eliss's mouth opened in protest, but when she saw the look on Amukelo's face, she snapped her mouth shut. With a small, begrudging sigh, she took the key. "Fine," she muttered, clutching it tightly.
Amukelo smirked slightly, turning toward the hallway that led to the rooms. "Good," he said, his tone laced with finality. He gestured for Eliss to follow, and the two of them began walking down the corridor.
As they walked, Eliss shot him a sidelong glance, her lips pursed in annoyance. She muttered something under her breath, but Amukelo ignored her, focusing instead on the thought of finally getting some rest after the day's chaos.
Amukelo entered his assigned room with a weary sigh, the wooden door creaking slightly as it shut behind him. The room was small but serviceable, with a modest bed positioned against the far wall, a wooden table with a single chair, and a small window that let in the dim light of the moon. The faint smell of old wood and dust lingered in the air, and as Amukelo set down his belongings, he noticed a thin layer of dust coating the furniture. He ran a finger across the table, leaving a clean streak.
"Guess no one uses this room often," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. Despite the neglect, the room seemed peaceful enough, and after the chaos of the day, he welcomed the solitude.
Amukelo set about unpacking just the essentials, placing his sword within easy reach and his backpack near the bed. He wiped the bed down with a cloth he carried for such situations, though he didn't put much effort into it. "Good enough," he said, dropping onto the mattress with a heavy sigh. The bed creaked under his weight, but it was far from the worst he'd slept on. As he leaned back, his mind drifted to the events of the day.
"That girl will be the death of me," he grumbled under his breath, rubbing his temples. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, allowing himself a moment of quiet.
But, of course, the quiet didn't last.
A sharp knock sounded at the door, breaking the stillness of the room. Amukelo froze, his eyes narrowing. "No way," he said to himself, already knowing who it was. He rose from the bed, muttering under his breath as he approached the door.
When he opened it, he found Eliss standing there, her arms crossed and her face a mixture of tiredness and disappointment. "What now!?" he asked almost with exasperation in his tone.
"That room," Eliss began, her voice low and defeated.
Amukelo raised an eyebrow. "What about it?"
"I don't want to stay there," she said flatly.
Amukelo sighed deeply. "You've caused enough trouble for one day. I'm not switching rooms with you, Eliss."
"Can I stay in the same room as you?" she asked desperately.
Amukelo blinked at her. "Come on, it can't be that bad."
"It is," she insisted, her tone growing more urgent.
Amukelo let out an even heavier sigh, already regretting what he was about to say. "Fine, I'll swap rooms with you. Happy?"
Eliss's face lit up with a wide smile. "Okay! I'm fine with that."
Without waiting for him, she turned and walked back toward her room, her mood noticeably brighter. Amukelo followed, muttering under his breath, "Let's see what's so bad about it."
The moment he stepped into Eliss's room, he froze, his nose assaulted by a smell so foul that it nearly made him gag. The room was a mess. Bones of various sizes were scattered across the floor, some with bits of dried meat still clinging to them. The walls had stains of indeterminate origin, and there was a tattered fur blanket on the bed that looked like it had seen better centuries. The odor of decay and stale air was almost overwhelming.
Amukelo's jaw clenched as he took it all in. "What in the world…" he muttered, trying to keep his composure.
Eliss, meanwhile, had gathered her belongings and was already leaving the room. She turned back to him with a cheerful smile. "So, let's switch," she said brightly.
Amukelo stared at her in disbelief. "Nah," he said after a moment, shaking his head. "I'm not sleeping here either. Let's just share the room."
Eliss blinked at him, then tilted her head. "Pervert."
Amukelo's expression darkened immediately. He turned on his heel and began walking back to his room, muttering, "Good night in your room."
"Wait!" Eliss called after him, her tone changing to one of panic. She ran to catch up, but he had already closed the door in her face. She knocked on it frantically. "Amukelo! Come on, it was just a joke. Let me in!"
Inside, Amukelo pressed his back against the door, closing his eyes and letting out a long, frustrated breath. "And she supposes to be a noble?" he muttered.
Outside, Eliss slid to her knees in front of the door, letting out exaggerated, theatrical sobs. "Please, Amukelo," she wailed dramatically. "Don't leave me out here. I'll die in that awful room!"
Amukelo groaned, opening the door slightly and glaring down at her. "Fine!" he barked. "But just give me some peace, will you?"
Eliss's face immediately lit up, and she hopped to her feet. "It's a pleasure to do business with you!" she said cheerfully, walking into the room without a care.
Amukelo's eyes narrowed as he stepped aside to let her pass. "This isn't a business deal. This is a nuisance. An extortion," he grumbled as he closed the door behind her.
Eliss grinned as she set her belongings down, completely ignoring his complaints. "Thanks, Amukelo," she said sweetly, plopping onto the bed and making herself comfortable.
Amukelo sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "You're impossible," he muttered, sitting down heavily on the chair near the table. "Absolutely impossible."