Chương 27: Bonds and Ithrya — Part II

The soft sound of Kurogami Ren's footsteps drifted down the wooden corridor until it vanished completely with the thud of the inn's main door. Inside the double-bed room, silence settled for a few moments, broken only by the metallic scraping of Liora methodically passing a whetstone against the edge of her katana. Mireya, who was organizing her glass vials and test tubes on the corner table, halted her movements. Her black cat ears twitched slightly before turning toward the center of the room.

She glanced sideways at the other two and decided to break the ice, tossing the question out directly.

"Selene... Liora... What do you really think of Kuro?" Selene, who was lying on her side against the linen sheet trying to rest from the exhaustion of the journey, tensed up instantly. In a millisecond, the redhead's cheeks caught fire. She sat up quickly on the bed, stammering while trying to avert her blue eyes toward the window.

"W-What do I think?... Well, he... I don't really know what to say," Selene murmured, pressing her hands against the fabric of her rustic cloak, completely embarrassed by the sudden question. Liora stopped the movement of the stone against the steel. She raised her deep, black eyes, keeping her usual serious and military posture intact. Her response came in a mature and firm manner.

"I admire him. Not because he is simply the strongest in the group... but because he is different from any man I have ever seen and has proven himself to be a good leader for us. As a Ravenshade, I know how to recognize someone who truly knows how to guide a squad." Mireya let out a low sigh, abandoning the vials and crossing her arms. Her features took on a much more serious and analytical tone, laden with deep psychological mistrust.

"There is something strange about him, girls. I can't quite explain it... but Kuro hides many things from us. He keeps telling us to trust him, even though he knows he lies about himself most of the time." Mireya paused, looking at her own hands before pulling memories from her original world.

"From what I remember of Earth... back in our old school, I almost never saw him in the hallways or in the classroom. He was so distant that I ended up forgetting he even existed in the same room as me." Selene and Liora listened in silence, paying attention to every word from the alchemist. Mireya continued, her voice lower and denser. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"He is a strange person on the outside. You can't see anything when you look into his eyes... just a complete emptiness. I don't know if that person still has any real humanity left inside. And you know what? I don't think it's because of this mystical world. I think there's something more. Something he was already hiding in the modern world, or even before all of this happened." The weight of Mireya's words floated through the room, creating an uncomfortable mystery around the leader's true essence.

Wanting to shift the focus from that tense atmosphere and knowing they needed to prepare for their movements in the Capital, Selene stood up from the bed and adjusted her red hair.

"We need new, suitable clothes to move around Ithrya if we want to maintain discretion," Selene said, attempting to change the subject.

"I know the demands of this city well. My lineage comes from the Evercrests, one of the traditional noble families here, and I know how the patrols and the people of the high court notice simple village garments. Let's go to the commercial district while he is out." Liora stowed her katana into its scabbard and Mireya put away her tools. The three of them left the inn together and walked through the bustling streets of the central market.

They researched prices at the stalls and chose their garments according to each of their personalities. Selene opted for a striking red dress that highlighted her crimson hair. Liora chose a tight, black outfit, durable and comfortable for quick movement in combat. Mireya bought a practical, simple brown dress for everyday wear. At the end of the day and after the payments, the girls' accounting balanced exactly, leaving only one gold coin in the party's funds.

In parallel to this, Kurogami Ren walked alone through the commercial districts of the Capital of Ithrya. His dark eyes scanned the shop windows and the white pavements, ignoring the constant flow of people. He stopped before a combat tailor shop and decided to renew his own equipment. He purchased an entirely new outfit: tight black attire accompanied by an opaque grey cloak, giving him an appearance that blended a mage's style with the tactical look of a fast-action warrior.

Shortly after, Kuro entered a weapon shop. He tested the balance of several blades until he placed his hands on a new sword that stood out for being extremely light, agile, and perfect for swift movements that did not rely solely on brute force. Satisfied with the acquisition, he paid the blacksmith, spending exactly two gold coins out of his own pocket on this visual and military overhaul.

Adjusting his hidden daggers beneath his new dark garments and feeling the balanced weight of the light sword at his waist, Kurogami Ren made his way toward the political center of the upper city. His leather boots struck the paved stones firmly. He stopped before the stone palace that served as the headquarters for the gigantic Adventurers' Guild of the Capital of Ithrya.

Kuro stretched out his right arm, gripping the bronze pommel, and pushed the heavy wooden doors open, advancing into the interior of the main hall.