Elina

I stayed still and breathed slowly. No pain. I moved my fingers. Then my arms. Everything was fine. My body was in one piece.

Last night. Was it a dream? No. I was sure that the green eyed bastard came with a friend. Another knight from the Church of Deliverance.

I was also sure that Elina went to his room. It felt like a dream. But there was one thing that proved that last night was real.

Elina never asked what I found out about the Church while drinking with them. Which meant that she got the information through her own methods. And that must've happened while she was in the room with the knight.

I looked around. Elina was gone.

Shit.

She didn't bother to kill me because her magic was weak. Maybe she ran as soon as I fell asleep.

I grabbed my sword and dashed downstairs. It would be almost impossible to catch up to her, but I had to try. Because my paycheck depended on it. Yulia's health depended on it.

If Elina stuck to the main road, then maybe I could catch her. If she went into the forests, then it'd be impossible. If she somehow got the gransia handcuffs off, then I'd be a dead man.

I rushed into the dining hall to tell the innkeeper that I'd be leaving.

I stopped again.

Elina sat at a table, a plate before her. She looked at me.

"Want some breakfast?"

A hot potato, smoked bacon and two cooked eggs. A feast.

She said, "Most travelers skip breakfast, but the innkeeper told me that breakfast is his pride, so I thought I'd try."

"Is it good?"

"It's my third plate."

"..."

I took a breath to calm down. Everything was alright.

I sat down across her. She had changed into her human form. The silver eyes and hair were gone. She looked like a normal girl.

She said, "Although it would be much easier to eat without these handcuffs."

She clinked them together.

I said nothing.

She pushed the plate towards me.

I said, "I don't eat breakfast."

"You should eat. Your little sister would be worried if she knew how you were starving."

"..."

I grabbed the potato and took a bite. It was good.

----------------------

Elina: Last night was interesting.

I always thought that only a lover could motivate a man to risk his life like this. But I was wrong. It's rare for me to be wrong. Which is why I let him live. Maybe there's some other things he can show me.

Gregor, the man from the Church of Deliverance, was less interesting. He gave up everything. Left nothing to be desired. There was no depth to his heart. Just a man.

So I killed him. Quickly, efficiently. Without a trace. Like he never existed.

Hmm…this is a mystery. I'll have to think about it. But I'll find out. Maybe I'll ask Salem. Maybe he knows more.

I watched Salem eat his potato. He seems to be enjoying it, even though his face didn't show it. But he ate quickly and drank beer. He was so easy to manipulate. Because his heart is true.

Something in his eyes. The peculiar hardness in his gaze faded a little. For a moment I saw a boy. A tiny glimpse into his heart. I smiled slightly. Maybe he wasn't so bad.

I asked, "What's her name?"

"??"

"Your sister. What's her name?"

Contemplative silence. I looked at him with my brown eyes. Because I knew my silver eyes made him nervous. Perhaps the eyes of a human girl could pry his heart open.

He said, "Yulia. Her name is Yulia."

"Yulia what?"

"Yulia...Udell."

"So your full name is Salem Udell?"

A nod.

He put the last piece of bacon into his mouth. The innkeeper came with the bill. Salem chocked.

He grudgingly paid.

Horse and cart were made ready and loaded me on.