This inn… might look ordinary from the outside. A simple wooden building, weathered by age, its signboard already half peeled off. But somehow, every time I step inside, it feels like coming home.
The scent of old timber mixed with the delicious aroma of soup simmering in the back kitchen fills the air. Warm. Soothing. Like a mother's embrace… ah, maybe I'm just being sentimental tonight.
In the corner of the room, the menu board hangs plainly. Parcival's slanted handwriting somehow adds to the nostalgic feel—like a glimpse of the hometown I haven't seen in years.
But that peace didn't last long.
BANG!!
The sudden slam of the table by Parcival nearly launched Elfea and me out of our seats.
"H-Hey, Parcival! What the heck?!" I almost choked on my own breath.
"My heart almost stopped!" Elfea clutched her chest, face flushed with shock.
But Parcival didn't even flinch at our protests. His sharp eyes stared straight at us—like a gatekeeper catching trespassers in the act.
"What's your real reason for coming here?" he asked, coldly. His voice left no room for lies.
I knew this question would come eventually. Parcival wasn't the trusting type—especially not with inexperienced kids like me.
I took a deep breath and straightened my back.
"I came to Moniyan… to join the Elixiran Trials."
The room fell into an eerie silence.
Parcival stared at me, expression unreadable. But after just a few seconds, he exploded.
"W-WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" He stood up so fast the table almost flipped. "Are you out of your mind, Rey?! That competition is life-threatening! No sane person enters it!"
I bit my lip and lowered my gaze. Yeah… I figured he'd say that.
He was right. There's no way a greedy kingdom like this would just hand out Elixiran. Of course they'd test the contenders—through a blood-soaked competition.
But…
I had already made up my mind.
"I don't care," I said, clenching my fists. "I'm… ready."
Parcival growled and grabbed the collar of my shirt.
"What makes a brat like you do something this reckless, huh?! You're not even twenty yet!"
I looked straight into his eyes, trying to stop the trembling in my fingers.
"I have no other choice, Parcival. My mother… she's gravely ill. Every healer in our village has given up. But… Healer Uryan told me there's one last hope. He said… Elixiran might be the only thing that can save her."
Just saying that name felt like swallowing broken glass.
Parcival went quiet. Slowly, his grip loosened. His piercing stare softened… into sympathy.
Elfea, who had been silent this whole time, finally spoke—her voice soft, almost a whisper.
"Rey… I… I didn't know about your mother…" She looked down, her voice shaking.
I forced a smile.
"It's okay, Elfea. I didn't want to tell you… not until we got here."
Parcival let out a long, heavy sigh—like an old soldier who's lost a war.
"Ahem… alright. You came just in time. The Trials start tomorrow morning." His face relaxed a little, though worry still lingered. "You two better get some rest tonight. You'll need all the strength you can get."
"Oh right, Parcival… You got any spare clothes? Mine and Elfea's… well, they're practically rags. Hers even looks like wilted leaves," I said, eyeing our absolutely pathetic outfits.
Parcival chuckled.
"Of course I do. Hold on."
He casually walked to the corner, opened an old wooden chest, and a fresh scent of clean clothes wafted out.
Wait… he actually has clean clothes? I always thought he was the kind of adventurer who didn't care about looks.
"Here you go. Hope the sizes fit," he said, handing us a few sets.
I took them awkwardly.
"Eh… are you serious? We can wear these?"
"Come on, relax. You're my guests now, aren't you?" He laughed casually.
Elfea finally smiled faintly. For the first time tonight, she looked a bit more at ease.
"Thank you, Parcival…"
And I thought everything was going to go peacefully… until—
"Wait, Rey… we… only have one room?" Elfea suddenly asked, confused.
Thud.
I stared at Elfea. She stared back.
The atmosphere instantly turned super awkward.
I'm… I'm going to share a room… with Elfea?
No way, right? No freaking way… I just met her today!
But… if we want to book another room… my wallet's already dryer than old straw. Ugh… no other choice.
I scratched my head.
"E-Elfea… yeah, looks like… uh… we'll be sharing a room… h-heh…"
Elfea gave me a sharp look.
"Rey… you're not going to do anything weird, are you?" Her voice was soft. Too soft. Like getting stabbed with an icy blade.
I immediately raised both hands.
"N-No! I swear! I'm the most gentlemanly man alive!"
Parcival, who had been silently watching us, suddenly burst into laughter.
"Haha! You two look like newlyweds on your honeymoon!"
"WHAT?!" Elfea and I turned red like overripe tomatoes.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Parcival! We're just partners! Got it? Partners!" I protested with all my might.
"Partners who sleep in the same room, huh?" Parcival grinned mischievously.
Elfea buried her face in both hands.
"I can't believe… I have to go through this…" she muttered.
"Hey, think of it as mental training. The adventurer's life is tough, you know? Someday you'll be sleeping in caves, stables, even with wild goats," Parcival said cheerfully, patting my shoulder.
Goats… wild goats?
Elfea and I exchanged looks. That only made things even more absurd.
"This… has never happened in my life, Parcival…" I whispered, my face burning.
"Haha, don't worry. Anyway, you're already eighteen, right?" Parcival laughed heartily.
"I'm still seventeen! I turn eighteen next year!" I shouted.
"Rey, come here a sec," Elfea suddenly pulled me aside.
I followed her, puzzled.
"What is it, Elfea?" I asked.
She hesitated for a moment… then finally spoke in a low voice.
"Actually… I'm a hundred and fifty years old."
"WHAT?!" I shouted.
"Kid, why are you yelling?!" Parcival called out from afar.
I stood frozen, jaw dropped. A hundred and fifty… years?
"W-Wait, are you… a vampire? An elf? A ghost? A goddess? Or… an ageless grandma?!" I blurted without thinking.
Elfea sighed, face expressionless.
"I'm half-dragon. Did you forget that, Rey?"
I stared at her. Somehow, memories of when we first met came rushing back. I had thought she was around my age back then. But in truth… I was wrong. She had walked this world long before I was even born.
Oh… right. I forgot dragons live that long.
"So… Rey… now you know my real age. Technically, I'm way older than you. Way older. So… who should be more embarrassed about sharing a room?"
I froze.
Damn… I lost. Completely.
And that's how…
That night, I learned a harsh truth: sharing a room with a beautiful girl you just met… isn't a sweet dream.
It's a mentally exhausting nightmare.