Chapter 9 - Invitation

Chapter 9 - Invitation

—

Melanie

—

Alexius was smiling. He wasn’t beaming or anything, just a quiet, polite curve of his lips. Yet, in the gloom of the forest, it felt inexplicably bright.

The sun had long since vanished, and darkness had returned over the woods. The familiar heaviness that always accompanied nightfall pressed down on me, yet this time, it was slightly different. The weight felt…lighter, more manageable.

Nineteen lives had taught me to always expect an attack from the shadows, yet strangely, I found myself recalling today’s events instead of scanning for threats. Since when had I lowered my guard?

Leaves continued to rustle under our feet as we walked, filling the silence between us. Twigs would snap every here and there, interrupting the monotonous rhythm. Somehow, despite the silence that stretched between us, walking back to Lunaris felt safe. An alien experience.

Eventually, the trees began to thin and the shadows lifted, revealing the endless sky that was dotted with distant jewels. Quite beautiful. They reminded me of the faint wishes I made over my previous lives.

My chest unclenched as I observed the night sky, and fresh air rushed into my lungs. How long had I been holding my breath? Since the morning?

…

By the time we reached Lunaris, the cobblestone streets lay empty and silent, illuminated only by the warm light from the flickering lanterns. Unlike the looming forest, the familiar silhouettes of Lunaris offered a safe refuge.

Alexius slowed his pace as we approached the orphanage.

Then, he stopped and opened his mouth; it looked like he was about to say something before he closed his mouth again. “I’ll…find an inn,” he finally managed, his words tumbling out awkwardly.

“I mean, you don’t need me to follow you around anymore, right?” He scratched the back of his head as his eyes alternated between my face and the orphanage. He was close enough for me to feel his nervous energy, but far enough to be respectful.

I watched him walk away before turning toward the orphanage’s entrance. As I approached, I noticed Layla was dozing outside in the faint glow of a lantern, its soft light highlighting her disheveled brown hair, which had come loose from her usual neat, straight style.

“You should sleep inside, Layla. Your cold might get worse,” I whispered.

Her eyelids drifted open, revealing a pair of warm, light-brown eyes. A soft smile immediately formed on her lips.

“Melanie! I was worried… do you know how late you are?” She rose, her lantern swinging lightly in her hand as she walked over to me. When she embraced me, her warmth seeped in. It was a stark contrast to the chill of the night.

“I encountered some bandits,” I said, shrugging. “I got a bit delayed.”

Her brows furrowed as she slowly examined my face. “Were you okay?” she asked hesitantly, as if afraid of my answer.

I nodded. “Yes. In fact, I even met a rather… amusing boy today.” I didn’t add more. Calling Alexius amusing summed him up perfectly.

Layla didn’t press. She just shook her head with a small laugh, “Oh, Melanie… what shall I ever do with you?” Her lantern swayed slightly as she released me, making the soft shadows dance on the walls behind us.

The night was quiet. Only the distant hoots of owls broke the silence. The town smelled faintly of wood smoke. When was the last time I noticed such ordinary scents?

For once, the world didn’t feel quite so heavy.

—

Alexius

—

After I parted ways with Melanie, I glanced down at myself. It appeared that the fight with the bandits hadn’t been gentle. Dirt, dried blood, and smears of God knows what clung to what was once my shirt. Even calling it a shirt was an exaggeration. At this point, they were little more than rags held together by dried blood. Bringing the fabric to my nose, I was immediately greeted by a putrid smell that burned my nose and made me gag. My clothes weren’t clothes anymore, they were evidence. Evidence of almost dying. Evidence of meeting someone who saved me. Evidence of—stop thinking, just find new clothes already.

I found a clothing shop and pushed the creaking door open. The smell of leather, cloth, and faint smoke hit me immediately. Behind the counter, a middle-aged man with a stained apron stopped whatever he was doing and squinted at me.

“Who comes to buy clothes this late—” he suddenly paused, his eyes widening. “Boy… what happened to you?” he asked, cocking his head.

I shrugged, “Well…I ran into a few bandits, nothing to worry about.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he pressed.

The concern in his voice caught me off guard. When was the last time a stranger had cared whether I lived or died? I shook my head quickly, “I’m fine.”

Counting coins in my pouch, I gave him 2 silver and 5 copper Valors. Not much, but enough. He nodded and handed me a simple tunic and trousers, which felt incredibly soft as they brushed against my skin. I muttered thanks and then left.

Next, I went to an inn at the edge of town. Another 5 copper Valors got me a night’s stay. The inn smelled faintly of wood smoke and stew, making my stomach growl. The main room had a low ceiling and uneven floorboards. Fire crackled in the fireplace, giving the place a surprisingly cozy feel. It was warm— I forced my eyes open. Just a little longer…come on.

The keeper gave me a nod as I climbed the narrow stairs, which felt way longer than they should.

At last, I reached my room. The bed wasn’t anything special. It was lumpy and creaking, but for some reason, it felt like clouds. Huh? Since when was I lying on the bed? Whatever, it doesn’t matter anymore.

***

Morning sunlight cut through the thin curtains, illuminating my torn and bloodied clothes from yesterday.

I must have passed out yesterday as soon as my head touched the pillow. Welp, time to get changed.

I peeled off my dirty clothes and rinsed quickly using a bucket of water. The water was cold…freezing cold. My body shivered, and damp strands of hair clung to my forehead, but at least I no longer reeked of blood.

My new clothes slid on easily, and the fabric felt…smooth? Huh? I don’t remember buying high-quality clothing.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I let my eyes wander as I tried to recall yesterday’s events. The way her ice magic cut through the bandits yesterday. The look of those green eyes—stop.

“Focus!” The word bounced in my skull meaninglessly. My head shook in a futile attempt to wipe that thought. Look at something else. The worn floorboards, the torn curtains, anything but her. Don’t get ahead of yourself. She wasn’t expecting anything. Yesterday was just a lucky encounter.

Still… I wanted to see her again.

Checking my belongings, I had just two lonely copper Valors. If I wanted to make a living, I needed to become an adventurer, fast.

But wait, wouldn’t it be better to invite Melanie and form a party? Her calm, analytical mindset would be perfect. Yeah… totally practical reasons, not personal.

I grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled a note: Please come with me.

I folded it neatly and slipped it into my pocket. My hand lingered over it a moment as my chest pounded.

No, this wasn’t right. A note was cowardly. How could I expect her to accept such a poor invitation? I had to ask her properly, even if I stumbled and made a fool of myself.

I practiced saying it quietly to myself, over and over, until I could finally utter the sentence without stumbling.

Today, I would do it right. And… maybe, just maybe, she’d say yes.

—

Melanie

—

A day had passed since I met Alexius. The usual routine had once again returned to my life, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. I racked my brain, trying to search for an explanation, but nothing came up. Sigh…I suppose there’s no use dwelling on these thoughts. I continued to quietly sweep the orphanage floor when Layla burst in, her energy spilling into the room.

“Melanie! There’s a boy outside asking for you!”

I sighed. Alexius. What now?

I stepped outside. Alexius stood there, shifting slightly and looking down. His face was tinged with red. When he finally lifted his eyes, he bowed his head slightly and extended his hand in a formal gesture.

“Will you come with me?”

~End of chapter~