Kael woke before dawn. Not because he wanted to—his body simply refused to let him sleep any longer.
Seris sat cross-legged on the floor. Her eyes were closed, face unreadable in the dim morning. But she wasn't asleep.
Kael sat up with a groan, pressing his palms into his eyes before running a hand through his hair. "You sleep with your eyes open?"
"You are careless," she replied. "You slept like a dead man all night. Without a single worry. That is worse."
"Huh!? Why would I worry?!"
"You said you bought me for your protection. That means your life is at risk. And now you're saying why you should worry. I had to spend the whole night staying alert. If I were an assassin, you'd already be dead."
He swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "Great. Exactly what I need."
Seris rose in a single fluid motion, as if she hadn't been sitting for hours.
"You talk too much," she said.
"I know. Now let's go, it's time to eat."
...
Downstairs, the inn was already stirring. Early patrons—mostly farmers, laborers, and local merchants—hunched over steaming bowls of reheated stew and thick bread.
Alenia emerged from the kitchen with a tray of breakfast. She paused as Kael and Seris descended the narrow stairs.
"I see you're both awake. How was your night?"
Kael gave a noncommittal grunt. "Good enough."
She shrugged, setting the tray at a table in the far corner. "Breakfast's hot."
Kael then went to an empty table and sat down.
However, Seris sat on the ground instead of sitting next to him. She settled with practiced ease, legs folded, back straight, her hands resting neatly on her lap. Her posture was so composed it looked deliberate—like she wasn't submitting, just choosing a different kind of pride.
"You know you can sit at the table, right?"
"I know," she replied, eyes fixed ahead. "But I won't."
He set his fork down with a quiet clink. "Is this some sort of noble protest?"
"No," she said calmly. "It's because I'm a slave. And you're pretending not to care what people think."
Then Alenia approached with measured steps, the tray balanced expertly on one hand, and set it down between them.
She gave Seris a long, unreadable glance before her eyes slid to Kael. "You shouldn't let her sit there."
Kael blinked. "Why? She's not causing trouble."
Alenia sighed, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "That's not the point. You're a traveler, so maybe you think the rules are just suggestions—but around here, people notice. A slave sitting beside her master, eating from the same tray? That'll draw the wrong kind of attention."
"She's not eating," Kael replied, gesturing toward Seris's still form on the floor.
"Even worse," Alenia muttered. "You're treating her with dignity. People'll think you've gone soft. Or stupid. Or both."
Kael leaned back slightly, his appetite fading. "So what? Let them think that."
Alenia folded her arms. "Then let me say it plainly: if the guards come in, or a noble passes by and sees this, it's you who'll be dragged outside for disrespecting the social order. Her too. Maybe worse for her."
There was a moment of silence.
Seris didn't flinch. She stayed exactly where she was, like she'd heard it all before.
Kael's jaw clenched. "Fine. Then bring her something to eat. In the kitchen, or wherever she's allowed. But she eats."
Alenia gave a short nod. "That I can do."
She turned without another word, disappearing into the back room.
Kael exhaled through his nose and stared at his plate. The eggs had gone cold.
Across from him—below him, technically—Seris shifted slightly.
"You didn't have to say that," she murmured.
Kael looked down at her. "Say what?"
"That I should eat."
He stabbed a sausage with his fork. "You're not a beast. Just someone caught in the wrong place at the wrong time."
He glanced at her again.
(Kael's thought)
I don't know what kind of life she lived before this. But whatever it was, being made to kneel and obey isn't something anyone gets used to overnight. Or maybe she has. Maybe that's the problem.
If treating someone like a person is all it takes to get killed in this place, then this place is worse than I thought.
Alenia returned. She carried a small wooden tray with a simple bowl of thick porridge, a piece of crusty bread, and a cup of weak herbal tea.
She set it gently beside Seris without a word and slipped away before either of them could respond.
Seris glanced down at the food, then up at Kael.
Kael cleared his throat. "Eat," he said softly.
Seris hesitated, then nodded once and began to eat slowly—but for the first time, Kael thought he saw a trace of something close to peace in her eyes.
He wondered how many nights like this she'd endured, eating alone in shadows.
After breakfast, they left the inn.
"Where are we going?" Seris asked.
"The Adventurer's Guild," Kael said.
The Guild was just a few blocks down, a squat stone building with a heavy wooden sign swinging in the breeze.
Before entering, Kael stopped in front of the weapons shop next door.
Hmph. If she's meant to keep me alive, she'll need more than bare hands and a death glare. Honestly, what kind of self-respecting guardian goes into battle without proper weapons? I should buy her some gear. Yes. Arm her up—sword, dagger, something sharp and impressive.