The afternoon sun hung low over Ram City, painting the streets gold. After a simple lunch at the church, Dusk left Dawn behind under Elara's care and made his way toward the restaurant Richard had recommended.
When he arrived, he hesitated at the entrance.
The place didn't look like any "restaurant" he'd imagined. From the outside, the crooked signboard barely hung on its rusty hinges. Inside, the smell of alcohol and roasted meat mingled into something thick enough to sting the nose. The floor was sticky, the lighting dim, and the laughter of drunkards rolled through the smoky air like waves.
A pub — that's what this place really was.
Dusk took a cautious step inside, eyes adjusting slowly to the gloom. A few of the patrons lifted their heads at the sound of the door creaking open, muttered a few half-hearted curses for the noise, and then slumped back over their tables.
Behind the counter sat a man with a sharp hooked nose and slicked-back hair, probably in his thirties. His black coat clung tightly to his thin frame as he swirled an amber drink in his glass. Without a word, he cast a sidelong glance at Dusk before returning to his quiet contemplation.
Dusk scanned the rest of the room and spotted a dwarf snoring loudly behind the bar. The poor man was perched on a stool, his head resting against the wall. A glistening trail of drool ran down his cheek and into his neatly braided blond beard, which someone had tied into a ridiculous little bow.
Realizing the dwarf wouldn't wake up on his own, Dusk approached the counter and rapped his knuckles firmly against the wood.
The sound was like a thunderclap in that sleepy den.
A few drunkards stirred, muttering darkly about "noisy kids." The dwarf blinked open his eyes, bleary and unfocused.
"Whu... what time's it…" he mumbled.
"Hello," Dusk said politely, standing straight. "I'm Dusk. Sir Richard sent me."
The dwarf rubbed his eyes, yawned, and then grinned. "Ah... the kid from church. Right, I remember now." He stretched his stubby arms and nodded. "Name's Muk. The guy you're waiting for'll be here soon. Sit down and have a drink in the meantime."
Muk rummaged under the counter, pulled out a small mug, and filled it with something steaming. "Here. Warm milk. Kids like you shouldn't touch the strong stuff."
Dusk accepted it gratefully. The rich, creamy taste surprised him.
Muk smirked at his expression. "Good, right? That'll be one Fin."
"..." Dusk stared at him blankly, speechless.
Muk let out a hearty laugh that rattled the mugs on the shelves. "Relax, kid, I'm joking. Richard would skin me alive if I charged you."
The tension eased, and they talked while waiting.
"I've seen more fools heading for the Lightfall Mountain Range than I can count," Muk said, polishing a mug. "Mercenaries, treasure hunters, knights — you name it. They go in laughing and come back... well, most of them don't come back at all."
His voice dropped. "But those few who do... come back rich beyond belief."
Before Dusk could respond, a new voice joined in — smooth, deep, and oddly soothing.
"Don't underestimate them. Many of them were knights."
Dusk turned around.
A silver-haired man stepped out from one of the side rooms. He had an effortless grace — wearing slim dark pants and a red shirt beneath a high-collared black coat. His posture was elegant yet casual, and a pair of small deer horns peeked through his hair, marking him as a therianthrope.
"Hello, little guy," the man said with a friendly smile. "I'm Hester. Your new teacher."
"Teacher?" Muk blinked, almost dropping his mug. "You? Wait, he's studying?"
Dusk nodded, a little embarrassed.
"Studying?" a drunk voice echoed from the corner.
Then another joined in.
Soon, half the room was chuckling.
"Wooo! What a magnificent dream for our brave little pauper!"
"Hahaha! Look at him — wants to read books while we can't even read our bills!"
Despite the teasing, a few men raised their mugs in genuine encouragement.
"Good for you, kid! Dreams make a man real!" one of them slurred.
Muk wiped his eyes, laughing with the rest. "Two years, Little Dusk. At least two years before you'll read a proper sentence. It'll take time, money, and a hell of a lot of patience. You sure you can handle that?"
Dusk met his eyes and nodded firmly. "I can. I'm a kid — I have all the time in the world."
Muk froze for a moment — then chuckled softly. "Fair enough."
Hester smiled approvingly. "Good determination. Remember this — the beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you."
He extended a hand, and Dusk shook it. The man's palm was calloused but warm.
"Then let's begin tomorrow morning," Hester said. "We'll start from the basics — reading, writing, counting. It'll be boring, but it'll open doors you didn't know existed."
Dusk smiled faintly. "I'll be ready."
---
By evening, Dusk and Dawn were walking home, the sky tinted with crimson. The city was quieter now, and street vendors were packing away their wares.
As they turned down their lane, Dusk noticed a boy about his age standing near their doorstep. The boy had messy brown hair and wolf-like ears twitching atop his head.
He looked nervous.
"Hello," the boy said, straightening quickly. "I'm Woofy."
Dawn immediately snorted and covered her mouth, giggling uncontrollably.
Dusk reached out and gently placed a hand over her head to quiet her. "I'm Dusk. This is my sister, Dawn."
Woofy nodded quickly. "I was with Brother Seid today," he said, words tumbling out in a rush. "And... I wanted to ask you something."
Dusk tilted his head. "What is it?"
The boy took a deep breath, as if he were about to beg a god for mercy. "Please... tell me how to get a job at the church!"
Before Dusk could answer, Dawn proudly puffed up her chest and shouted, "It's easy!"
Woofy's eyes widened in anticipation. He looked as if he were about to uncover the greatest secret in the world.
This bunny girl seemed incredibly cute in his eyes.
"First," Dawn said, raising one finger, "you need to live in a house here, not in the slum area! Second, you just need a knight's recommendation!"
She finished with a bright, innocent smile — the kind only a child could give.
In an instant, the adorable bunny girl transformed into a devil in his eyes. Woofy's face fell instantly. His ears drooped. "H-huh?"
Dawn blinked. "Huh?"
He looked on the verge of tears, staring at her like she'd just destroyed his world.
Even Dusk couldn't help but laugh quietly.