Shin stayed seated on the bed, tears still flowing from his eyes. He clenched his hands hard.
Hard enough that his fingers punctured through his palm. Shin looked at it as black blood flowed from the wound and dripped down his arm.
He watched as his hand sizzled and closed the cuts, leaving it brand new. He ran his hand across his chest.
Nothing. The claw marks on his chest had already healed.
Bael quietly opened his eyes and turned to look at Shin. He saw that he was crying but made no sound.
I'm not dealing with this early in the goddamn morning.
Bael turned and faced the other side. Shin looked at Bael.
"I know you're awake, so let's just get up and have breakfast," Shin said, straining to make his voice sound normal.
Bael was silent for a while, then sat up. He looked at Shin with half-open eyes and yawned.
"If you say so," Bael muttered as he slowly got out of bed. "I'm going to shower first."
Bael walked into the next room, leaving Shin alone, still sitting on the bed. Shin looked up at the ceiling as he wiped away his tears.
A few minutes later, both of them left the room. They met the innkeeper and handed him the key.
"How much for your best purple maize porridge and warm honey milk?" Bael asked with a smile.
The innkeeper stared at him. "That will be sixty-five zen in total."
"Make it two, then," Bael responded as he placed one hundred and thirty zen on the table.
The innkeeper took the money and wrote the order on a piece of paper. He went into one of the doors behind him, then came out.
"Take a seat. We'll have your order ready in a few minutes."
The innkeeper walked off. Shin and Bael sat down at a table near the counter.
They sat in silence until their food came. They both started eating. Bael occasionally shot glances at Shin, who just stared down at his food with a defeated look.
"Shin, you need to hurry up and eat. We're being followed," Bael said as he shoved hot porridge into his mouth.
Shin looked up at him, then nodded. He started eating. Bael finished his food before Shin did and began scouting out the inn.
He suddenly felt a pair of eyes on him and quickly turned in that direction.
There sat a group of demons, eating their food and talking loudly. But Bael noticed something.
He saw a demon wearing a large black cloak turning her head toward their table. Once she spotted Bael looking at her, she got up and quickly left.
Shin finished his food and the two quickly headed out of the inn. They passed by a supply shop and bought some provisions.
Then they left the village and headed back into the forest, continuing their journey to the Demon God's temple.