The day was ending when the adventurers and I parted ways. Whatever they discussed with the Branchmaster weighed heavily on their minds. None of them leaked a word, not even when I asked. Their minds were worried but their hearts were calm.
It was a bittersweet farewell, especially for the adventurers and Zeal. Dalinah somehow shed some tears as she embraced the little beastkin. Zeal cried the same. Wasn't she closer to Redtail? Speaking of the reptilian, she too cried a few drops. Though they wept, none were because of sadness. After more than a week of company and bonding, it seemed like a connection had formed between them.
I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty since it felt like I was taking Zeal away. Seeing the little beastkin cry again made my heart ache, somewhat.
But alas, it was time. I would visit them again soon for Dalinah and her connection to the Shards, but for now our paths diverged. Zeal and I had a world to explore and places to discover. Well, mostly. I had monstrous nightmares to keep at bay.
"May the world be as good to you, as you have been to us." Redtail said with a bow. The doors of the guild hall closed shut. Once again, Zeal and I found ourselves alone. But whatever we were about to face, I would be there for her.
But... why? Did I really need to bring her along? I could've left her with the adventurers, and she'd be fine, happier even. Being with me means she'd just be a liability, always in danger. I should've...
No. I made my choice. Saving her from dying alone... it was the least I could do. I knew how it felt to be alone. To be afraid. To be helpless as everyone you love is taken away from you.
I knew.
As I gazed at the orange clouds above, Zeal yawned. She held onto my fingers as she rubbed her eyes, squinting as sleep crept up her mind. I turned my head and looked around. The streets were shrinking empty as the halflings retreated into their homes earlier than what I expected. There was no curfew in place, at least to my knowledge. Maybe they preferred to sleep early in the evening?
Or maybe they grew to fear the dark and whatever things that lurked behind the shadows. It wasn't a baseless assumption. There was worry in the air, a hint of prevailing doubt. It was as if everyone was holding their breaths for something terrible.
The tense air choked my enhanced senses as I used it to scour the city for a place to spend the night. There were taverns and inns nearby, and they only seemed to serve adventurous outsiders and the like. No halflings occupied any room nor dined on any table. Just outsiders.
Okay, so peeking through private rooms with my enhanced senses was both an advantage and a severe violation of privacy. I shouldn't use it that way unless necessary. After a minute of searching, I stumbled upon an establishment that was just enough.
Having found and chosen a tavern for Zeal to rest and sleep, I looked back at the guild hall behind us. It was rowdy once more with the voices of adventurers rumbling through. They had either chosen to move on from the gloom that prevailed just hours before, or it was an attempt by others to boost spirits. Either way, the singing bards, laughing voices, and tumultuous revelry suited them better.
Walking down the cobblestone streets towards our destination was a welcome change to the mud and dirt from before. We came upon the tavern just as the sun finally set on the horizon. Sitting between two abandoned buildings, it lacked the usual crowd such a place would attract during these hours. It seemed like whoever made this place had seen better days, and people.
There were marks on the door and stains on the walls. The stains were best left ignored. Zeal didn't mind the stench that reeked out, mostly thanks to the spell I cast on her which disabled her ability to smell for an hour. There was a single sign hanging on the door, "We - co" it had lost a few letters.
Bells chimed as the door swung open with a push, revealing a well-lit dining area. Torches flickered as a cold wind blew inside. A single halfling with a stubby beard stood behind the counter, busily wiping a few glasses. Wrinkled and with a seemingly permanent frown, he could be misunderstood as unfriendly or unwelcoming. Or maybe he really was. I mean, he seemed friendly enough when my enhanced senses found him snoozibg off a few minutes ago.
Zeal held my hand tighter as I walked up the counter. The halfling took notice and... squinted? Frowned harder? Honestly, I couldn't tell.
"Haven't seen your lot around these parts," He said with a gruff voice and a rough accent, "Who's the beasty with ya? Slave?"
My blood immediately boiled.
"Easy there, champ," He quickly raised a hand, "If not, just say so. Ain't here to make ya make a mess of things. This place is already a mess of shit as it is."
Somehow that calmed me down. He didn't look disgusted at Zeal, in fact, I sensed no malice from the halfling. He just seemed... uninterested. It was as if he had seen it all, been through it all, and had lost all care. A veteran perhaps?
"We're looking for a room, heard this tavern offered a good place." I said.
The halfling scoffed, "Ya heard wrong. You see this shit? Ain't no way I offer good food, let alone a good place." A weird time to admit of your own shortcomings as the owner of a failing tavern.
"Then... why remain open?" I asked.
The halfling looked at me for a second, "All is shit. But it's my shit. Only thing I have left."
Using my enhanced senses, I scanned the tavern in its entirety. All of it looked well-maintained. From the new floorboards to the nicely tucked beds, the halfling was underscoring his commitment to the place.
"Can ya please not use yer magic? Makes my brain clench." He said as he placed a hand on his forehead. He sensed my magic. But how? My masking spell was still at work!
"Don't look so confused. All magicians are the same, ya? Yer eyes glow whenever you summon magic." My eyes weren't supposed to glow, not even in the slightest. I had no mirror with me, but I was certain my eyes remained normal.
I used my enhanced senses again, this time however, I focused on the tavern owner. The halfling quickly fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Letting go of my enhanced senses, the man was quick to stand back up, rubbing the part of his head that hit the floor.
"Sorry." I apologized.
"Next time, ask me if ya wanna make sure of something instead of fucking me brain up." The halfling complained, but he didn't even seem all that upset.
"That thing about the eyes was a lie, wasn't it." I said.
"It's true. Just not for you. The moment you used it, your eyes barely even moved, but my head hurt like a bi-" The halfling caught his tongue as he realized that Zeal was curiously listening into our conversation, "So yah. Brain hurts? Magic."
"Then why tell me about the eyes?"
"I dunno, wanted to?" Sooner or later I'd be the one with a headache.
An awkward silence stretched out. The halfling continued cleaning, while Zeal and I stood awkwardly in front of him. A stomach rumble later, I was reminded that Zeal had a voracious appetite.
"Ya have coin?" The halfling suddenly asked, "Ya don't seem to be here to kill me, or leaving, so what ya want?"
I sighed, "Some food and a room, specifically for someone like her. I won't be partaking or sleeping."
The halfling raised a brow, "Coin?" Payment was now his concern it seemed.