'This place looks… familiar.'
Zaire thought to himself as he stared out the window at the dark sky illuminated by stars.
The streets, despite the late hour, were still filled with mercenaries. Is this why the hero is in the village?
The "village" he remembered, if you could even call it that, was one where the only things that moved were human-eating creatures. Back then, the streets would often have an arm or two lying around while he investigated.
Actually… was this the same village he had been investigating back then?
He hadn't thought much about it earlier, but this place looked shockingly similar. Though there were a few clear differences, most of the buildings shared the same structure as before, and even the village's size felt just right.
He rested his chin against the window, looking down at the mercenaries walking below with serious expressions.
"You're awake already?"
A manly voice came from behind him.
Zaire turned toward the kitchen, where Elijah was standing with a bottle in his hand.
"Couldn't sleep well?"
"You're asking me?" Elijah replied with a smile as he placed the bottle on the table. "Well… this is usually the time I wake up. I'm an early bird."
A towel was slung over his shoulder, and his hair was slightly messy.
"How about you?" Elijah asked as he walked over and sat beside Zaire.
"It's not comfortable sleeping while handcuffed. Not that it matters. I slept a lot before coming here."
"You slept a lot?" Elijah asked, tilting his head, but he received no reply.
"So why do you wake up so early? Don't most people get up around seven?"
"Well, it's a habit. Normally I'd go for a morning jog, but Azreal warned me not to today."
"I can go with you if you want."
Zaire crossed his legs and folded his arms, resting his head against the wall as he observed him.
"Ah… I'd love to, but-"
"I'm currently suspicious?" Zaire asked with a smirk, staring directly into Elijah's eyes.
Elijah felt like every one of his movements was being closely observed by this kid.
Wait… how old was he anyway?
"How old are you?"
"…? I'm…seventeen."
Zaire's brows furrowed briefly before returning to normal.
"Hah. I'm older than you. I'm eighteen."
With a proud expression, Elijah jumped up and placed a hand on his chest.
"You're no-… well, I guess you are."
Zaire turned his head away, hiding his face between his arms.
Smirking, Elijah decided to probe further.
"Say, Zaire. What did you do before all this? Were you with your parents or something?"
"I don't have parents."
"…."
Looks like he touched a sensitive topic.
After a moment of silence, Zaire lifted his head and looked back at Elijah, wearing a smile that seemed too big.
Elijah opened his mouth, about to comfort him, but his expression made him stop speaking.
"It's not sensitive to me. I had people who cared for me. They just weren't my parents."
"Haha, I see."
So what if it wasn't sensitive? The atmosphere had immediately turned awkward the moment he brought it up. It felt like he'd kicked a puppy in the rain, a puppy that was unusually pale and looked like it survived on sticks instead of meat.
Elijah had been ready to comfort him, to talk about their shared experience of being orphans and grow closer.
"…Anyway, I should go shower now. Smell ya later."
Deciding to flee from the awkward atmosphere, Elijah immediately opened the door and left.
Zaire stared silently at the door before burying his face in his hands and sniffing.
'Do I smell bad or something? I stopped time for my body, though…'
*******
"Done with your beauty care?"
Azreal asked sarcastically, sprawled across the floor.
"Oh, you guys are already awake?" Elijah replied. "Then why are the lights still off?"
"That guy's still asleep."
"Huh?"
Elijah followed Kevin's gaze to the quiet figure slumped against the opposite wall.
"Huh? He was awake earlier, though."
"…Were you hallucinating?" Serena asked, disbelief clear on her face. "He's been asleep since I got here, and I woke up half an hour ago."
"Maybe you talked to him while he was sleep-talking," Saoirse added with a chuckle. "I heard him muttering something earlier."
Elijah sighed as he looked at the sleeping figure.
He really is after me, huh?
Whatever.
"Anyway, I'm done with the restroom. Someone else can use it."
He walked over to the table and sat down, occasionally glancing at the sleeping figure.
As long as that guy wasn't after his friends, Elijah could accept being "friends" with him.