The rain had stopped.
Thin streaks of sunlight filtered through the parting clouds, casting a soft golden glow across the damp cobblestone streets of Asha. The scent of wet earth lingered in the air, mingling with early hints of baking bread and hearth fires catching flame. The city stirred, waking slowly—shutters creaked open, merchants raised canvas stalls, and carts rolled through puddles with gentle sloshes.
Inside the Kori Inn, tucked away on the quiet second floor, Rei sat up in bed.
He stared at the ceiling, silent.
Not peace. Not unease. Something in between. A strange stillness that had followed him from the night before—unspoken and heavy.
> "It stopped raining," he muttered to no one.
He swung his legs off the bed and stretched lazily. His tunic was wrinkled, boots still faintly damp. The coat hanging by the door still carried the scent of iron and wet oak. Familiar now.
> "I should buy a house."
The words were quiet, but something in them carried weight. An acceptance.
> "Making money's not hard. Hunt monsters. Sell the materials. Easy."
He moved to the window, counting the coins left from the cultists he had collected. Gold gleamed faintly in his palm.
> "Ten gold. Twenty-two silver. Two nights here cost eight silver total—with Ailith and I both. Two silver a day per room. Not bad."
He rolled a silver coin between his fingers.
> "Ten gold goes a long way in this world. Huh"
Outside, life moved. Vendors called out, wagons clattered past, and the day opened like an old book.
But something still sat in Rei's chest. The stillness of yesterday. Reka's presence. Ailith's silence. The weight of it all.
> "That woman... Reka. Strong. Powerful. Not normal. But I wasn't hostile. That's something."
He slipped on his cloak and exhaled as he reached for the door.
> "Need clothes. Supplies. Something normal."
He paused.
> "Should I bring Ailith? ...No. Let her rest. i didn't respond to her at all yesterday she should be angry
He stepped out, closing the door softly behind him.
---
Downstairs, the Kori Inn was warm and quiet. A few guests lingered over mugs of black tea and thick slices of toast. A fire crackled in the hearth.
Behind the counter stood a large man with a gray-streaked beard and a thick leather apron. He looked up as Rei approached.
> "Morning," Rei greeted.
The man grinned.
> "Ah, morning, lad. Sleep alright?"
> "Well enough.mister"
> "Aye. Call me Carm. Or Uncle Carm, like the rest do."
Rei nodded slightly.
> "Alright, Uncle Carm. I need directions. Looking for clothes. Hunting gear, maybe something casual."
Carm scratched his beard.
> "Hmm… Then head to the Farmacy. Other side of the city, but worth the walk. Bit of everything—clothes, potions, even weapons."
> "The Farmacy?"
> "Don't ask about the name. The owner's got a sense of humor."
> "How expensive are we talking?"
> "Basic wear? Ten silver. Good stuff? One gold or more."
Rei nodded, unfazed.
> "I'll manage. Thanks."
Carm reached under the counter and slid out a folded map.
> "We're here. That's the plaza. The Farmacy's just past the fountain. Easy to miss if you're distracted."
Rei studied it briefly and tucked the directions to memory.
> "Appreciate it. I'll be back in a few hours."
> "Take your time, lad. Not every day someone stirs the guild and walks away without a scratch."
Rei offered a nod and turned toward the door.
---
Asha was waking.
Shutters opened. Merchants lifted fabric roofs over their stalls. Children splashed through lingering puddles. Fresh bread steamed in baskets, and skewers sizzled over coal fires.
Rei walked slowly.
Eyes followed him. Whispers, too. He could feel them. Curious, uncertain, cautious. The events of the last mission had spread quickly—rumors mostly. Power like that didn't go unnoticed.
But Rei said nothing. Hands in pockets, he kept walking.
> "Still learning this world. Still feels... wrong. Strange."
He passed a flower stand. Then a small apothecary.
Then the scent hit him.
Spices. Meat. Fire.
A small food stall nestled between two buildings. A woman turned skewers over glowing coals. Steam curled upward. Her scarf fluttered in the morning breeze.
> "Morning! You hungry? You look it."
Rei blinked.
> "What is it?"
> "Monster skewers. Lizard meat, mostly. Tender, cleaned well. Not dangerous. Want one?"
He stepped closer.
> "Two."
She handed them over, wrapped in simple cloth.
> "Forty copper."
Rei reached into his pouch and pulled a silver.
The woman hesitated.
> "Ah… I don't have change yet. Just opened."
> "Then give me three more later. I'll come back."
Her smile widened.
> "Deal. You've got a good face, kid. I'll remember you."
He took a bite.
The flavor was better than expected—smoky, salty, a little sweet. Far better than the wolves they'd eaten before.
>"They never cooked like this back home." or "None of this was in the textbooks."
He kept walking.
Past shopfronts and lanterns, people prepared for a day of normalcy. For a moment, it felt simple. Clean.
He passed the Farmacy without noticing.
> "...Wait."
He turned, squinting.
> "I walked right past it."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
> "Guess the food was too good."
He took another bite, turned around, and headed back.
The city was watching him. But not just out of fear.
Curiosity. Wonder. Maybe even a little hope.
But Rei Noven—who had died at twenty, who had never known peace, a lover, or a true home—just wanted clothes.
And maybe a place where he could stretch without looking over his shoulder.
Far from gods, guilds, and monsters.
Just for a little while.