Silence stretched between them. The tension in the small inn room was thick, neither side willing to break the fragile balance.
Leon observed everything carefully.
Astralis.
The moment Rei had spoken that name, Seraphina's fingers had twitched—just slightly, but enough for him to notice.
She knew something.
Something important.
And so did Rei.
Leon's golden eyes locked onto the Demihuman girl. She wasn't here by coincidence.
Which meant this meeting was inevitable.
Seraphina was the first to break the silence. "You mentioned Astralis." Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "Why?"
Rei's smirk didn't falter. "Because that's where you're going, isn't it?"
Seraphina didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied the girl, as if searching for hidden intentions.
Then, after a moment, she sighed softly and placed her dagger back into its sheath.
Leon knew what that meant.
She was willing to listen.
Rei, seeing this, finally took a step back and leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. "Good. I was starting to think you'd just kill me and move on."
Seraphina didn't react.
Instead, she pulled a chair and sat down, still holding Leon in her arms. Her emerald-green eyes locked onto Rei's.
"Talk."
Rei's smirk faded.
She glanced briefly at Leon before speaking.
"The road to Astralis isn't safe for people like you."
Leon's mind sharpened.
People like us?
Seraphina remained expressionless. "And what exactly do you think we are?"
Rei gave her a knowing look. "A noblewoman who clearly isn't from Valefort. A child with unnatural awareness. And two people who survived an attack in the forest without a single scratch."
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"You don't belong here."
Leon remained silent.
Sharp. Very sharp.
This girl wasn't just an ordinary tracker. She had been watching them closely.
But what did she really want?
Rei continued: "Astralis isn't just any kingdom. It is the most powerful kingdom in the Astral Empire, second only to the Empire's royal family and its capital city, Luminar. If you think you can just walk in unnoticed, you're mistaken."
Seraphina's expression didn't change. "I've been there before."
Rei tilted her head. "And yet, you don't have an entry permit, do you?"
Leon saw Seraphina's fingers tighten slightly.
A direct hit.
Rei smirked. "That's what I thought."
Leon quickly processed the situation.
Astralis required an entry permit. That meant they couldn't just waltz in freely.
But Rei…
She clearly had a solution.
Seraphina, sensing this as well, leaned slightly forward. "What are you offering?"
Rei's smirk widened.
"A way in."
------
Rei didn't waste time.
She reached into a small pouch at her waist and pulled out a folded piece of parchment.
A document.
She flicked it open, revealing an official seal—a mark of authority from the Astral Empire.
"A temporary pass," Rei explained. "Issued to certain merchants, travelers, and diplomats. With this, you can enter the city without needing a background check."
Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "And how exactly did you get this?"
Rei chuckled. "I have my ways."
Leon doubted that.
She's either connected to someone inside Astralis… or she stole it.
Either way, it didn't matter. What mattered was the deal.
Seraphina glanced at the parchment, then back at Rei. "And what do you want in return?"
Rei's smirk faded.
For the first time, she looked serious.
"I need protection."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
Protection?
Seraphina remained unreadable. "From who?"
Rei exhaled, her crimson eyes darkening. "…The Blackfang Syndicate."
The name carried weight.
Even Seraphina's expression flickered slightly.
Leon, meanwhile, processed the information quickly.
A syndicate. That meant criminals. Smugglers. Assassins. Maybe more.
And Rei was on their radar.
"Why are they after you?" Seraphina asked.
Rei hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Then, she answered.
"I stole something from them."
Silence.
Leon almost laughed. Of course, she did.
Seraphina sighed. "So let me get this straight. You want us to smuggle you into Astralis, protect you from an entire criminal syndicate, and in exchange, you'll give us a temporary pass?"
Rei grinned. "Pretty much."
Leon analyzed the offer carefully.
It was risky.
Taking in a fugitive—especially one being hunted by criminals—could bring more trouble than it was worth.
But…
They needed a way into Astralis.
And this was the only offer on the table.
Seraphina was thinking the same thing. He could see it in her expression.
Finally, after a long pause, she exhaled.
"Fine."
Rei blinked as if slightly surprised by the quick decision. "Just like that?"
Seraphina's voice was cold. "I don't like owing people favors. If this pass gets us in, I'll consider it an even trade. After that, you're on your own."
Rei smirked. "Fair enough."
She extended the parchment.
Seraphina took it.
The deal was made.
But Leon wasn't convinced.
Rei wasn't telling them everything.
There was something more to her story.
And Leon intended to find out what.
------
With the agreement settled, the atmosphere in the room relaxed slightly.
Rei stretched her arms. "Well, then. We should leave before sunrise. The roads are safer that way."
Seraphina stood up. "I'll decide when we leave."
Rei raised her hands in surrender. "Sure, sure."
Leon, meanwhile, kept his gaze locked on Rei.
She was hiding something.
And sooner or later…
He would uncover it.
For now, though—
Their journey to Astralis had truly begun.