One week later…
* * *
The 'Town of Old Hand', evening—
Old Hand was a rustic type of town in the northern part of the southern region.
As the evening sun lowered, its warm light spilled out over the old, tiled rooftops and cast long shadows across worn stone and packed earth.
Night approached, and with it, a slight chill…
Known for its production of paper, cloth and pottery, 'Old Hand' was one of the first settlements established after the initial migration of the human race, nearly a thousand years ago!
And since the founding, it had changed very little.
The buildings were old but sturdy, repaired rather than replaced, their layout untouched over the many long years. Faded shop signs hung down and swayed in the wind, and cloth banners, bleached from many decades of use, swayed gently in the breeze. Even the people moved at a leisurely and unhurried pace, as if time itself flowed differently here.
It was an unusual place…
As for how…Mm, perhaps, it didn't carry the same urgency as the rest of the continent?
Because of its unique location, many people had to pass through this town to reach the capital, and as a result, Old Hand naturally developed a long tradition of inns and roadside lodgings to accommodate the constant traffic.
Lanterns were already being lit along the main road, igniting at equal distances atop tall signposts, matching the soft glow that spilled out from open doors and sealed windows.
Travelers came and went, constantly—
Merchants, messengers, explorers and adventurers, pilgrims and mercenaries, all of them passed through for one reason or another.
Despite the steady flow of outsiders, the Town of Old Hand was still considered rather dry and unchanging. This reputation came mostly from its elderly and old-fashioned population. Here, traditions were strictly followed, and change was very slow…
-
As night settled in, the town slowly grew quiet…
The town of Old Hand prepared to sleep, but while those familiar with its cycle had slowly settled in for the night, a few outsiders were still walking through the empty streets.
* * *
Petra walked down the street with Wind and Soryn, Lilly and Luna, followed by a few other servants, forming a small entourage. They moved at a relaxed pace, looking around like tourists, their curious gazes jumping from storefront to restaurant.
Their presence immediately attracted attention.
Excluding Soryn, the others were too delicate to be adventurers, and too young to be explorers.
Old Hand wasn't the kind of place where unarmed people appeared often, let alone a group of young girls strolling around openly without any hint of disguise.
Petra nibbled on a piece of beef jerky, cheeks puffed out, her big black eyes sweeping across the quiet streets and the rows of wooden homes. There was no attempt to hide who they were, and honestly, this was far more comfortable anyway…
An old couple stopped to stare as they swaggered past, their conversation trailing off mid-sentence.
A craftsman halted mid swing, nudging his wife and discreetly pointing at one of the girls.
Nearby, a flock of children poked out from behind a stack of drying fabric, whispering loudly to one another about the 'beautiful big sisters' and 'ugly little girl'.
Petra just hummed, unbothered.
Petra just hummed, unbothered…
Hopefully…? No...
Mm! She let Soryn lead the group as Luna pulled the red-eyed Petra deeper into town.
-
Ten minutes later—
They stepped into a large inn…
- Hammerstone Inn!
The Hammerstone Inn was an old wooden building with a stone foundation and a wide tavern built into the first of its three floors. The moment they crossed the threshold, the floorboards creaked, and the low murmur of voices enveloped them like a cloud.
The interior was a bit deserted, with only a few guests scattered throughout its dozens of tables, but that made the room feel more open and relaxed.
Old lanterns hung overhead, casting warm light across its rustic face.
In the center of the room was a tall wooden chimney that supported a simple stone hearth, filling the room with a steady, comforting atmosphere, and a low, crackling fire.
Looking around…
The decorations were rough and scattered, with little knick-knacks here and there, lining shelves and covering repairs. None of it matched, but together it gave the place a homely aesthetic, like a relative's living room. The entire building was a mix of wood and stone, with very little in the way of magic enchantments. Not only did each pillar and beam carry the weight of the structure, but they also held the long weight of history, stretching back hundreds of years.
Through the Inn and Beyond the tavern, the kitchen filled its walls with the heavy scent of baked bread and simmering stew. The smell drifted through the air, making Petra's stomach growl.
To the side of the main room, a large bulletin board stood against the wall. It was crowded with newspaper clippings, notices, travel warnings, merchant advertisements, and—
Oh…?
And naturally—
A section was reserved for wanted posters and criminal notices. Some were new and crisp, while others were faded and curling at their edges… And smack dab in the center, the portrait of a certain green-haired little girl was plastered right on the top!
-
The girls passed through the tavern and approached a large wooden desk near the back.
Standing behind the counter was a young woman in simple servers' attire, but unlike Petra's maids, her clothing was older and far more rustic, dyed in simple browns, with the fabric stained by time, and worn down from repeated washing.
She straightened her back when she noticed them approaching.
She greeted them with a polite smile!
Since Petra looked like a child, and she definitely couldn't reach the counter, even on her tippyist of toes, Soryn naturally handled the arrangements. She spoke calmly with the girl, her tone relaxed as she checked them in and reserved their rooms with a professionalism that reflected her often forgotten status as a gold rank adventurer.
After a brief exchange, the woman retrieved six keys from beneath the counter and placed them down.
It seemed as if they would be sleeping in pairs…
Right before they were led upstairs, Petra didn't forget to grab a menu from the side of the desk. She immediately began flipping through it, humming quietly as she scanned the different options.
At the same time, Wind became more observant.
While Petra focused on food, Wind glanced around the tavern, silently studying the few faces that occupied the room.
A pair of older men sat near the hearth, already deep in conversation.
A merchant duo whispered over drinks, laughing.
A lone traveler cupped a mug in the corner, his eyes sharp, body foreboding, and his magic sword just screaming 'time for a quest!'
Everyone else was too generic to mention…
Even though there were only a handful of people, the atmosphere was quite lively. Friendly banter drifted across the room, mixing with the clink of mugs and the scrape of chairs. Waves of laughter rose and fell, never too loud and never too quiet. It was lively enough to feel warm, without slipping into the rowdy chaos of a violent back-alley tavern.
Satisfied, the silver elf followed towards the stairs.
They were led upstairs—
The wooden steps creaked beneath their feet as the sounds of the tavern slowly faded from below.
In the end, they didn't see the sharp gaze of a certain middle-aged man as they disappeared.
-
As they ascended, the sound from the tavern melted away. By the time they reached the second floor, it was gone completely, replaced by the quiet creak of old wood, and the soft brush of small shoes in the silent stairway.
They moved down the narrow hallway.
It was dark and deserted, with cobwebs in the corner, and a faint light leaking from a distant door. After reaching the end of the hall, they split up to find their individual rooms…
Petra, Lilly, and Luna shared one room, while Wind and Soryn took another, leaving the remaining servant girls to split the last four rooms.
Everyone was tired, and tomorrow was going to be a long day…
-
Swoosh!
The moment the door closed, Petra leapt onto the bed like a playful child, kicking off her boots mid-air, and crashed down with the full ferocity of a feral fiend.
Then—
Poof! With a flicker of green light, five balls of cotton-like mental energy followed her down, crashing one after another, and forming into the beast-shaped dolls. They tumbled, rolled, and instantly settled in, enlarging themselves and transforming into a set of extra comfortable pillows!
The room itself was small, only around six meters by six meters, but comfortable enough for three people to sleep.
Lilly began unpacking, while Luna walked over to the window and pushed it open.
Woosh!
A chilly night breeze quickly drilled into the room, filling the air with the cold wind of the approaching night. Petra shivered, pulling the 'long centipede themed body pillow' towards her small body for an immediate wave of warmth.
She hid behind it, narrowing her eyes resentfully.
Night was already here—
So, after unpacking, the girls cleaned up, then settled down for bed. Petra changed into her white nightgown, while Lilly and Luna wore long-sleeved pajamas. Black cotton pajamas, or something like that…? Mm, Petra couldn't see in the dark! So she didn't know! Hahahaha!
Ahem! Anyways…
Soryn and Wind were in the other room, but they, like all the other girls, had already agreed to rest early for the night, because tomorrow would be a very busy day. Just like that, the twins joined Petra on the bed, and within seconds, they were all buried beneath an avalanche of pillows and blankets, separated from the cold.
The night passed…
* * *
The next morning.
With most of the guests still fast asleep, the first floor of the inn, the tavern, was even more deserted than it had been the night before.
Petra and the girls were gathered around a circular table near the center of the room.
The space felt wider, with most of the chairs neatly tucked away and tables wiped clean, a remaining remnant from last night's cleanup. Morning light spilled through the windows, catching drifting dust and giving the air a soft, golden shimmer. Distant chatter filtered in from outside, mixing with the faint crackle of the dying fire in the center of the room. From the kitchen came the smell of grilled meat, rising with warm and rich aromas, wrapping the room in a cozy calm.
Petra sat on her chair, her little legs dangling just above the ground, swinging them lazily back and forth like a bored child. To her left, Luna quietly read a book, her expression calm and content, and to her right, Lilly had just gotten up and wandered towards the counter, preparing to order breakfast.
Across from Petra, Wind and Soryn spoke in low voices, discussing the Adventurer's Guild and what it was like outside the continent.
With a small flop, Petra suddenly collapsed forward onto the table.
Her green hair spilled across the wood as her arms dangled down uselessly beneath it, her cheek pressed flat against the cool wood.
Her face, squished slightly, grumbled under her breath.
Last night, she and the twins had fooled around until it was very late at night. It had felt like one of those old-fashioned sleepovers you would read about in girly books, with pillow fights, nonsensical conversations, and laughter that refused to die down even when a parent, or in this case, a neighbor, came to interrupt. Petra couldn't remember the last time she'd had that much fun!
Although, some people would probably disagree...
That poor poor neighbor…
Naturally, it also came at a cost—
She was so tired she nearly fell asleep right there on the table! Of course, that was nonsense considering her cultivation, but Petra liked to pretend!
Mm, actually, she really was very tired...
Her physique was a bit different from that of normal cultivators.
Her head rolled back and forth against the table, as her legs kicked slightly faster.
As she was bored waiting for their food, a strange thought spontaneously drifted through her mind. It would be nice, she thought, if one day she could take the girls back to Earth…
What an odd thing to think!
Unfortunately, that wasn't very realistic either…
She didn't even know what Earth was like anymore, especially with the Elena thing, but the place she had come from definitely wasn't ideal for outsiders. Petra wasn't the kind of person to dwell on revenge, er… at least, when she was the cause of everything, so she didn't really have a reason to go back, but even if she did, it probably wouldn't be the same! Mm, there was also her reputation…
Yeah, now that she thought about it a bit, that was definitely not a good idea!
Anyways…
After a bit of humming and hawing, Petra finally lifted her head.
Dark circles hung under her big black eyes as she turned to the silver sisters, ready to interrupt…