"Hey, Kin, do you think that incident was caused by an Inns attack?!" Hickson asked, baffled and frightened by what he saw on the local news channel.
The screen showed a horrific scene—a noble family and the village mayor's family brutally massacred, with boneless bodies lying in rooms filled with pools of blood.
"I suspect as much, but then again, it could be something else, like a robbery or something," Akin replied, aware of Hickson's fearful state but trying to ease his friend's fear.
"I hope it's something else, because—"
"But then again, it could be Inns!" Akin interrupted, speaking spookily into Hickson's ear.
Hickson screamed in terror, as he flinched frantically in terror. Just then he suddenly heard Akin's hysterical laughter.
"Damn you! Do you think that's funny? Those things can't even be detected except for their shadowy figures on the wall—it's like they're invisible or something. And you're not scared?" Hickson yelled, breathing heavily.
Looking at Akin dying of laughter only fueled Hickson's anger. Akin never seemed afraid of these creatures, even when their caretakers warned them to be inside before curfew.
"Your reaction was priceless. I didn't know you were this scared," Akin said sarcastically, still wheezing at Hickson's reaction.
Akin always found Hickson's fearful expressions amusing every time their caretaker warned them about the Inns creatures. Hickson always seemed so on edge that it turned him into a hypersensitive and paranoid individual; he would flinch at any nighttime creak, waking up screaming.
"Anyway, let me tell you something about those creatures, my dear friend. If you show them your fear, guess what…" Akin began, placing a hand on Hickson's shoulder as if he knew something about them.
Just then, a familiar female voice cut in, calling to them.
"You two! Get over here. Lady Sia needs those muscles of yours right now!" Lotanna yelled.
Hickson flinched at Lotanna's sudden tone, while Akin chuckled, amused that Hickson seemed to think it was an Inns creature calling him.
"All right, we're coming!" Akin replied.
"I'll tell you right after this," he added, patting Hickson's back in a friendly, reassuring way.
In no time, Akin and Hickson with other boys helped Lady Sia pick up logs for that night's meal for all the orphans. Lady Sia watched and directed them, while Lotanna stood by her side, smiling and teasing Akin, Hickson, and a few other boys.
"Hurry up, you two," Lotanna urged them, smiling.
"How about you give it a try if you think it's so easy, woman!" Akin replied.
"Too bad I can't, and I'm pretty sure you know why!" Lotanna shot back with a sassy attitude.
"All right, you two need to stop. Akin, ignore her attitude. And you, Lotanna, keep quiet! I'm sure the doctor didn't say anything about you assisting with carrying logs meant for two men carry," Lady Sia scolded Lotanna, seeing them both as little siblings.
Akin smiled, watching Lotanna glare at him. Just then, he realized Hickson was gone with his log.
"I hope he isn't having another episode," Akin thought, still smiling.
Akin was aware of Hickson's paranoia about Inns, especially during this time of evening, just a few hours before curfew.
A few minutes later, Akin was in his and Hickson's room as Lady Sia yelled at the two of them for its untidy state.
"I can't believe you two! What do you think—your future wives are going to do this for you, Akin?" Lady Sia exclaimed, glaring at him.
"Oh, so she doesn't have a life, huh? Just there to serve you like a slave, right?!" Lady Sia snapped, looking at Akin.
"I didn't say that! I'm just saying that's what she should be doing. That's all," Akin replied jokingly, smiling at Lady Sia.
Akin knew Lady Sia had a soft spot for him and Hickson, and he loved teasing her.
"Young man! Get to cleaning this instant!" she commanded. "Or else, dinner is out of the question!"
Then Lady Sia turned to Hickson, who was uncharacteristically quiet as he folded his clothes scattered on the floor and his bed.
"And you, Hickson, I'm sorry you have to deal with this clown every day of your life!" she sighed, walking out with Lotanna, who was clearly enjoying the scolding, especially aimed at Akin.
"Seriously, my heart goes out to you," Lady Sia added.
Aware of Akin's childish behavior toward Hickson, who was so different from him, she couldn't help but feel for Hickson, as Akin wasn't helping with his paranoia about the Inns.
"Once you're done with that, come to my office. I'd like to have a word with you," she said as her final words to Hickson before closing the door to the boys' room.
"Yes, ma'am!" Hickson replied.
Akin playfully bumped his elbow into Hickson's back to catch his attention.
"Hey! Check this out!" Akin pulled some cash out of one of his shirt pockets.
"Where did you get that from?" Hickson exclaimed in shock.
"Did you steal that? Oh my God, we're done for!" Hickson began to panic, shaking Akin frantically.
"Sheesh, calm down! I didn't!" Akin brushed Hickson's hand off his shoulder to stop the shaking.
"Then what is it?" Hickson yelled.
"Shhh! It's called hustling, my guy," Akin said, covering Hickson's mouth as he revealed his secret.
Hickson looked at Akin suspiciously, trying to make sense of what he'd just said.
"Really? I hope this isn't some kind of scam, right?" Hickson, aware of Akin's mischievous personality, had a gut feeling Akin was up to something shady.
"Hey! A scam? Me? I'd never!" Akin replied with an innocent look, glaring at Hickson as if genuinely offended.
"Then what is it?" Hickson persisted, still suspecting Akin was up to no good.
"Well, it's just a business, I'd say," Akin began, explaining how he'd started a business casting out Inns from people's rooms.
"You? Casting out Inns from people's rooms?" Hickson scoffed.
"I knew it—you're scamming people," Hickson said.
Seeing Akin grinning mischievously, Hickson sighed helplessly and walked out.
"Just hope you don't encounter a real Inn someday!" Hickson mumbled as he left.
" then you'll know who is the real scammer between you two!"
In no time, dinner arrived, and everyone in the orphanage rushed out of their rooms. The meal was being served by Lotanna, alongside Lady Sia, the head of the orphanage Marta Julio Enthkur, and the other caretakers.
"Don't get full of yourself just because I'm serving you!" Lotanna's gaze darkened as she noticed Akin's smug look.
"Then again, I'd be careful if I were the one being served," she added with a hint of menace in her tone.
Akin's smirk widened, knowing Lotanna was only bluffing—he knew she'd never actually try to harm him.
"Sure, ma'am. Now move along, I'm sure Hickson is waiting for his plate," Akin replied.
Lotanna blushed as Akin leaned in close, his face so near she could feel his breath.
"Damn you!" Lotanna muttered, her heart fluttering as Akin's blue eyes seemed to stare into her soul.
Aware that Akin was doing it on purpose, Lotanna turned away, trying to keep up her angry façade.
"Don't get cocky, Akin. I'll never lose to you!"
Meanwhile, Akin grinned, pleased by her flustered expression. He found Lotanna's flushed face amusing, especially as her redness betrayed her emotions. Just then, his eyes widened in surprise at the sound of a soft yet strangely familiar voice.
"Can I sit here if you don't mind?" Kalè asked.
"Her presence!" Akin thought as a subtle shiver ran down his spine.
"Sure. After all, empty seats are meant to be sat on, right? So why ask my permission?" Akin replied with a smile.
"I'm sorry, I'm just used to it," she apologized.
"Why did she apologize?" Akin thought.
As he watched her sit down, Akin's gaze turned carefully calculated. Her presence didn't feel normal to him, even though it appeared ordinary to others.
"Strange. Am I the only one who senses something unsettling about her presence?" he wondered, keeping his gaze discreet.
"Strangely, her complexion is so pale—almost white. And that white hair… talk about creepy," Akin thought.
He observed Kalè's ethereal appearance, noting her unnaturally pale complexion, white hair, and gray pupils as she kept her head lowered while eating.
Then, something caught his attention: a necklace around Kalè's neck, with a small golden pendant holding a dark orb.
"All right, that's it, I'm out," Akin thought, feeling fear creep in as he noticed a brief shadow flicker within Kalè's shadow on the wall.
"Enjoy your meal," he said, smiling charmingly at her.
Akin walked away, trying to keep his cool after what he'd just seen.
"Don't tell me there's an Inns here," he thought, his heart sinking as his eyes widened in fear.
He hastily walked out of the dining hall. As Akin dropped his plate in the kitchen, he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, and his heart leaped in fear.
"What are you doing here, clown?" Carter sneered.
"Dropping my plate," Akin responded coldly, keeping his composure.
"Duh… I know that. I'm asking why you're here alone without your buddy," Carter said mockingly, a grin spreading across his face.
Akin knew Carter's presence behind him wasn't a good sign, but he kept his cool; he didn't want to get into a fight right now.
"It has nothing to do with you," Akin said, smacking Carter's hand off his shoulder before walking away.
"Annoying wasp," Akin thought as he walked off.
Just then, the door slammed shut in his face, stopping him in his tracks. He stared in shock, realizing no one had touched it.
"Tell me it's not what I think it is!" Carter's voice dropped slowly in terror.
He grabbed Akin's shoulder tightly as a sudden wind began to blow, making the window creak ominously.
"Is this some kind of intimidation?" Akin wondered, his mind racing in both fear and a strange sense of thrill.
Akin stood still as the kitchen took on an ominous atmosphere—the wind blew, the windows creaked, and some kitchen utensils clanged together with an eerie sound.