Under the Shadows of Danger — Chapter 41

Eris cleared her throat and looked at Renji and Tiberku in turn.

— “We’ve said all there was to say. From here on, there’s nothing left to discuss, only to do. You should leave now.”

Tiberku flinched slightly, as if shaken from a dream, and bit his lip again. Renji looked at Eris, hesitating, but the determination in her eyes left no room for reply.

Eris turned a little, only toward Renji, her voice lower but clear.

— “Think very carefully about everything we discussed. Every choice you make from now on has consequences. Not for me, not for Tiberku, but for you and for Megan.”

Renji clenched his fists, feeling the weight of her words, while Megan lowered her gaze, biting her lip in silence.

Tiberku slipped the elf into his pocket, looking toward the door.

— “Then… shall we go?” he asked softly, as if to break the silence.

Renji drew a deep breath, lifted his eyes to Eris, and gave a small nod, accepting the decision.

Megan took a step behind them, timid but determined to follow.

— “Wait,” Eris said suddenly, turning toward her. “You can’t leave now.”

Megan stopped, surprised, and clasped her hands to her chest.

— “W-why?” she asked.

Eris looked at her coldly, then shifted her gaze to Renji and Tiberku.

— “Because I don’t trust for even a moment that those two can protect you. They can barely take care of themselves. Renji still can’t control his demon, and you, Tiberku, run out of arrows in the middle of battle. How could I entrust your life to them?”

Renji clenched his fists, biting his lip to keep from bursting out. Tiberku blinked several times, ashamed and angry at the same time.

Megan lowered her head, caught between the two sides.

— “But… I want to go with them,” she murmured.

Eris crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

— “What you want doesn’t change the fact that they aren’t ready. If I let you leave now, it would be foolish. And I’m not stupid enough to do that.”

Renji lifted his eyes, his dark gaze burning with frustration.

— “So what do you want us to do? Sit here, stuck, waiting for you to tell us when we’re good enough?”

Eris stared back coldly, unblinking.

— “Exactly. You’ll leave with her only when I’m convinced you can at least stay one step ahead of death. Until then, Megan stays with me.”

Renji sighed and headed for the door. Tiberku followed close behind with the elf in his pocket, relieved that the tension in the basement was finally over. They stepped into the long stone corridor, then onto the narrow street leading to the inn.

The elf looked up at the sky and exclaimed loudly:

— “I have to admit, the women I’ve met here are incredibly beautiful. I feel like luck has been striking me nonstop since I started traveling with you.”

Renji and Tiberku glanced at each other and burst out laughing. Their laughter lasted several long seconds, enough for the elf to blink in confusion and place his hands on his hips, not understanding what was so funny.

Renji wiped the corner of his eyes and, still smiling, asked Tiberku:

— “Tell me, has Eris always been this unbearable?”

Tiberku stayed silent for a moment, then scratched his neck, thoughtful.

— “I don’t know if ‘unbearable’ is the right word. She was always serious in her letters, even harsh, but now… something’s different about her. Something has changed, and I can’t tell what. It’s like she’s hiding more than she says.”

Renji narrowed his eyes, pondering his words. The elf, seemingly untouched by the conversation, hummed a cheerful tune, completely oblivious to the tension still lingering between them.

After a few dark alleys, the three reached the inn. The lights inside seemed out, only a stray cat crossed their path and vanished into the darkness.

Renji shrugged and pushed the main door. The handle didn’t budge. He tried again, but it was useless.

— “Seriously?” he muttered, trying once more. “They locked the door.”

Tiberku set down his quiver, drew in a deep breath, then banged on the door with the heel of his palm.

— “Hey! Someone open up?!”

No answer. The inn seemed dead, the silence broken only by a few nearby crickets.

The elf ran his fingers through his hair, smiling awkwardly.

— “Looks like my luck runs out at locked doors.”

Renji gently pushed him aside and bent down, checking if there was a way to force the lock.

— “Great… after a day like this, just what we needed. Stuck outside like beggars.”

Tiberku sighed and sat down on the cold stone steps.

— “I don’t think anyone’s awake to hear us. Either we find another way in, or we sleep outside.”

Renji ruffled his hair, exasperated, then turned to Tiberku.

— “Get on my shoulders and see if you can reach a window upstairs. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find one open.”

Tiberku raised an eyebrow, doubtful.

— “You sure? You don’t exactly look like the most stable ladder.”

— “Stop whining and get on already,” Renji shoved him.

Tiberku clumsily climbed onto Renji’s back, pressing his hands against the stone wall as he tried to pull himself higher. Renji strained, struggling to keep his balance.

Meanwhile, the elf was examining the inn curiously. He drifted about, then suddenly lit up in excitement.

— “Hey! I found an open window up here!”

He slipped quickly through the gap, vanishing inside.

Renji, still holding Tiberku up, turned his head toward him.

— “Did you hear that? He could’ve told us earlier, the bastard…”

At that moment, he lost his balance.

— “Aaaaah!”

The two crashed down, Tiberku landing squarely on Renji with a dull thud.

— “Ugh… I think you broke my ribs,” Renji groaned, gasping.

Just then, the main door creaked open. The elf appeared in the doorway and, seeing them sprawled on the ground, burst into loud laughter, clutching his stomach.

— “You two are… priceless!” he managed to say between his of laughter.

Renji glared up at him, still lying on the ground, while Tiberku struggled to stand, staggering.

— “If you laugh any more, you’re sleeping outside alone,” Renji snapped, but the elf’s laughter kept echoing in the quiet night.

Eventually, after managing to climb the stairs and get into their room, all three collapsed onto the mattresses scattered in the corners. The weight of fatigue pressed on them, but the silence didn’t last long.

Renji propped himself on one elbow and looked at the others.

— “We need to think seriously. We need demon blood. Without it, Megan can’t do anything, and I can’t even begin the first step of what I told Eris.”

The elf shifted, still grinning from the earlier scene at the door.

— “And where do you plan on finding a demon? They don’t grow on the roadside like mushrooms. If they were that easy to find, the world would be full of lucky hunters.”

Tiberku stared at the ceiling, thoughtful.

— “There are reports of attacks in the northern forests. Maybe one of those stray demons would be the right target. But it’s dangerous, especially for Megan, if she comes with us.”

Renji clenched his fists, resolute.

— “We have to risk it. If we don’t find a demon, everything we’re doing now is pointless.”

Silence hung for a few moments, then Tiberku asked softly:

— “And the blacksmith? What will you do about him? You kept saying you need a sword exactly as you feel it.”

Renji sighed, lowering his gaze.

— “I’ll have to talk to him directly. Show him I’m not joking and that it’s not just any order. The problem is time. I work at the inn during the day, and that job leaves me no room for anything else.”

The elf chuckled quietly, stretching out on his back.

— “Then quit the inn job. What’s the point of wiping tables when you’re being hunted by a demon? Sounds ridiculous.”

Renji shot him a brief look, then crossed his arms.

— “Easy for you to say when you’re not the one paying for food and shelter. If I quit, we’re out on the streets.”

Tiberku smiled wearily and closed his eyes.

— “Maybe the solution is Megan herself. If she manages to improve an old weapon, like she said, you won’t need the blacksmith anymore. Then the time you waste at the inn can be used for training.”

Renji stayed silent for a few moments, considering his words.

— “Maybe you’re right… But I’ll still need to talk to the blacksmith. If not now, then very soon.”

The elf yawned loudly and rolled onto his side.

— “I say think about it tomorrow. Sleep now, or you won’t have the strength to lift a fork.”

Renji sighed but eventually lay back down. Tiberku fell asleep quickly, and the elf hummed softly until the night’s silence swallowed them all.

Renji shifted in bed, but the bright light filtering through the thin curtain startled him. He sat up abruptly and looked at Tiberku, who was still snoring lightly.

— “Hey… it’s past noon,” Renji muttered, feeling a knot in his stomach.

Tiberku opened one eye, then jumped out of bed in alarm.

— “What?! How did no one wake us?!”

Renji hurriedly grabbed his coat and almost shoved Tiberku toward the door.

— “If the innkeeper finds out we slept this late, she’ll kick us out on the spot.”

The two rushed down the stairs, nearly tumbling over each other. But when they reached the main hall, their footsteps echoed strangely in the silence. The inn was empty.

The tables were left as they had been the night before, a few chairs overturned and dishes uncleared. No customers, no kitchen noise, nothing.

Renji and Tiberku exchanged a quick look, unease rising in their chests.

— “Where is everyone?” Renji asked quietly.

— “Maybe they’re in the kitchen,” Tiberku answered, trying to push away his fear.

They rushed toward the heavy wooden door. Renji pushed it open, and they stepped inside. But the kitchen was deserted. The pots were still on the hearth, but the fire had long died out, leaving only cold ash. On a table, half-cut vegetables lay as if someone had been interrupted abruptly.

Renji clenched his fists.

— “What the hell is happening here…”

They moved toward another door, the one leading to a small storage room. Renji slowly turned the handle. Inside, the light was dim, but in the corner, leaning against sacks of flour, sat the innkeeper.

Tiberku stepped back in surprise, while Renji slowly approached.

— “Hey… what happened? Why are you here?”

The innkeeper drew a shaky breath, her wide eyes trembling with fear.

— “I don’t know exactly what’s going on,” she whispered, “but monsters… they’re close to the city. The customers won’t leave their homes anymore. They’re too afraid to go outside.”

Renji and Tiberku looked at each other, tension heavy in their chests.

— “Monsters?” Tiberku asked quietly.

— “Yes… but they’re not ordinary monsters,” the innkeeper continued, horrified. “They can disguise themselves as humans. No one can trust anyone anymore.”

Renji felt his heartbeat quicken, a cold shiver running down his spine. In his mind, the thought took clear shape: demons.

Tiberku bit his lower lip and fixed his gaze on the innkeeper. “Demons…” he muttered, not saying it aloud, but with his voice thick with tension.

The innkeeper had no idea of their true identities.
— “I don’t understand… I’ve never seen anything like this. And the people… they’re terrified.”

Renji saw her trembling and slowly stepped closer.

— “Don’t be afraid,” he said, his voice firm but calm. “As long as I’m here, nothing bad will happen to this inn. I promise I’ll protect you and this place.”

The innkeeper looked into his eyes, and the tension eased slightly. A small smile appeared on her lips.

— “Thank you… I don’t know what I would have done without you and Tiberku,” she murmured, her voice trembling.

Renji nodded and gave her a short, encouraging smile.

— “It’s all right. Now let’s take care of what we can.”

The innkeeper stepped a little closer and clasped her hands.

— “If it’s not too much… could you go to the pharmacy with one of my children? I need some remedies. I don’t want to leave the inn unattended, but I could really use your help.”

Renji raised his eyebrows, then smiled slightly.

— “Of course. Tiberku and I will go, and everything will be fine.”

The innkeeper turned her gaze toward the exit door, drew in a deep breath, and headed for her children’s room.

After a few moments, she returned to where Renji and Tiberku waited, holding one of her children by the hand. The child looked slightly uneasy but leaned on the innkeeper with trust.

Renji bent down a little toward the child and smiled calmly.

— “You don’t need to worry,” he said. “As long as you’re with me and Tiberku, nothing bad will happen. We’ll protect you.”

The child blinked in surprise but began to relax, feeling the safety Renji and Tiberku gave off. The innkeeper watched them for a few seconds, breathing easier, before turning back to her chores, knowing her child was safe with Renji and Tiberku.

Renji, Tiberku, and the innkeeper’s child headed toward the inn’s door. The child clutched an empty basket tightly.

Suddenly, the innkeeper appeared behind them, holding two small swords in her hands.

— “Take these,” she said, handing the weapons to Renji and Tiberku. “You should keep them under your clothes, just in case. You never know what might be waiting outside.”

Renji took one of the swords, inspected it quickly, and hid it under his coat.

— “Understood,” he said, looking at the innkeeper and the child with determination.

Tiberku did the same, gripping the sword before hiding it.

— “Yes, we’ll be ready,” he confirmed.

The innkeeper smiled faintly, saying nothing more, and remained inside, watching them as they set off.

Renji, Tiberku, and the child stepped through the inn’s main door, prepared for whatever awaited in the city, with swords hidden under their clothes and their vigilance at his peak.