Chapter 35 Corner Table with the Window

The door creaked open, letting in a gust of wind and dust as Rein stepped through, holding it for Mira. 

The inn was modest — a far cry from the noble lodgings Rein had grown up with — but it had warmth, the kind that came from worn wooden floors and hand-patched curtains instead of magic hearths and silk. The space was simple: half a dozen tables spread around the room, most of them unoccupied. Against the far wall stretched a large window, its old glass slightly warped and fogged in the corners, letting in the last pale rays of daylight from the street.

 No one looked up for long — just another refugee and her guide.

 “Over there, by the window, the corner table. That one’s usually open.”

They sat down and a moment passed before either of them spoke.

“I like it here, a bit dusty but I like it.” Mira said at last, brushing a bit of dust from the table with her sleeve. 

Rein smiled, “Yeah, not much of a place, but they don’t turn poor people away. That’s rare these days.”

 “Thank you. For bringing me here.”

“Didn’t feel right to leave you wandering. People disappear in this town. Poor people the most. Refugees especially.”

“Disappear?”

 “It’s a rumor. Maybe more than a rumor. Some say the demons been abducting people from the outskirts of the town. Turning them into monsters. Anyone without a shelter… anyone who can't protect themselves.”

“I see.” 

The innkeeper appeared, wiping his hands on a towel.

 “What’ll it be?”

Rein ordered something simple — stew and bread. Mira hesitated, then added a quiet “Same.”

As the man left, Mira looked back at Rein.

 “Why help me, Rein?”

 “What?”

“I mean you didn’t have to. Most wouldn’t. I'm just a refugee. I have nothing to offer you for your help.”

Rein leaned back, crossing his arms. 

“I don't need anything from you. I’m just tired of watching good people get crushed while the rich living the carefree lives.”

She smiled — a small, almost sad smile. 

“That’s a dangerous thing to say.”

“Let's just say I’ve had dangerous thoughts for a long time now. But let's not dive deep into that, okay?”

The food arrived — a pair of chipped bowls carrying a watery stew that smelled better than it looked. The bread was hard at the edges but warm. Rein thanked, then pushed a bowl toward Mira.

 “Careful, it's hotter than it looks.”

Mira picked up her spoon and stirred.

“It’s strange how even after everything, a place like this still feels… normal.”

“You mean the war with the demons?”

She nodded.

 “It’s like the world is split. Over there, people die. Starve. Fight. And over here, it’s just stew and bread, and the smell of smoke from the kitchen.”

Rein leaned back, watching the people around them.

 “The war doesn’t touch everyone equally. Some can afford to pretend it’s not happening.”

“But you can’t.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You have that look. Like someone who’s been carrying something heavy for too long.”

 “I lost people. Good people. People who didn’t deserve it.”

“Do you hate them?” she asked after a moment.

“Who?”

“The demons.”

There was a pause. 

“I don’t know. Sometimes, yeah. Sometimes I hate them so much I can’t think straight. Other times…” he sighed, “Other times I wonder if they’re just doing what they have to. Like us.”

Mira looked up at him. 

“What if they’re not monsters? What if they have their own fears? Families? What if they bleed for the same reasons you do?”

“I… I don’t know. That’s not how things work. The Demon Lord’s the one behind all this — death, destruction, entire towns wiped out. He is the main problem.”

Mira looked out the window. 

“If you could talk to the Demon Lord… not fight. Just talk. Would you?”

He leaned forward, voice low but thick with quiet fury.

“No. There’s only one demon I’ll never forgive and it's the one calling itself a Lord. That monster took everything from me. My friends, my future, my family. There’s nothing to talk about. No excuses. No twisted reason will make it right.”

His fingers tightened around his cup.

“Look, I don’t hate demons. Not all of them. I’ve seen enough to know some are just surviving like the rest of us. But the Demon Lord… The Demon Lord is the reason the world’s burning. And I’ll stop at nothing to end them.”

Mira lowered her gaze. The candlelight caught the edge of her face — soft shadows curling along her jaw, her lashes trembling just faintly.

“…I see. So even if they regret it… even if they never wanted to be what they are now… it wouldn’t change anything for you.” She sadly whispered.

He exhaled slowly, eyes drifting toward the dim glow of lanternlight outside the window. His fingers idly traced the rim of his cup.

“…I’m not in the mood to talk about the war today. Or demons. Or the Demon Lord. How about something brighter? I could use a few minutes not drowning in sadness.” 

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, thinking for a moment. 

“You always lived in the capital, right? What was it like growing up there? I’ve only seen the city from far off…”

-------------

The hours slipped by in quiet comfort.

Rein and Mira had talked about everything but the war — little stories from Rein’s childhood, odd jobs Mira claimed to have taken on her way to the capital, and idle observations about the inn’s regulars. It was one of those rare, fleeting moments where time felt like it paused for them.

That peace shattered the moment the inn doors burst open.

“Rein! I finally found you.” Liora’s voice echoed through the inn. She marched inside, boots loud against the worn wooden floor. 

“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been looking for you all over the damn district—something’s come up. I need you to come with me. Now.”

She was halfway across the room before she caught sight of the girl sitting across from Rein.

Liora stopped. 

“…And who might this be?” Her tone had cooled a notch. She scanned Mira, taking in her simple clothes, the scuffed boots, the quiet presence.

Mira met her gaze for only a heartbeat before glancing away. She slowly pulled her hood up, veiling her face in shadow.

 “Be nice, Liora. This is Mira. She’s from out of town — her village was destroyed by monsters. She’s got nowhere to go. I helped her find this place.”

“Mira, huh. Is that so. I see. A refugee. Fine. But we don’t have time to chat. Come on, Rein. This can’t wait.”

Rein glanced back at Mira, then stood. 

“Sorry, Mira. It was nice talking to you, but I must go.” 

Mira gave a small nod, her face still hidden beneath the hood.

 “Be careful, Rein. And... maybe we can talk some more next time? I saw the wanted poster on the Inn's door. I might get a job here. Would you come visit sometime? We could talk more.”

"Okay, it's a deal. I'll drop by when I have a free moment."

As Rein turned and followed Liora out into the night, Mira remained seated — back straight, eyes beneath the shadow of her cloak.

And when the door swung shut behind them, she whispered softly, almost too quiet to hear.

“So… she’s still at his side... and observant as ever.”