“Did I make you wait too long? Sorry—it took longer than I thought. I had to explain why the item was damaged, and I also told them about that monster we saw. Apparently, it was a Nethralis, but they’re not supposed to appear anywhere near this area,” Kaela said, looking visibly tired.

  Veil, who had been absentmindedly watching other adventurers chatting around the guild tables, jumped slightly at the sound of her voice. Kaela stood beside him, hands clasped behind her back, gently rocking on her toes.

  “No, no, don’t worry about it. I was lost in thought. So, shall we go?” Veil asked, rubbing at his eyes.

  “Yes—but first, we need to take care of you. Those wounds have to be treated properly, or they’ll get worse. The liniment I used earlier only works temporarily. If you leave it as it is, like I told you, it’ll start spreading,” Kaela said in a mildly scolding tone.

  They left the guild together, the cool night air biting softly at their skin. Kaela’s tail and ears twitched, her hair lifting slightly in the breeze. They took a narrow side street leading to the city’s main road—a path Veil was starting to know by heart.

  Kaela walked a few steps ahead, her arms swinging lightly at her sides like a carefree child.

  “You know, I don’t often get to go out with anyone. I’ve tried joining adventurer parties before, but they all said I was useless. Called me a pretty ornament—said I was only good for carrying their bags,” she admitted, her voice heavy.

  Veil didn’t reply. He could tell she wasn’t finished and didn’t want to interrupt.

  “Sorry, I’m killing the mood, huh? It’s just… I’d like things to be different this time. I don’t want you to see me as some silly little girl whose only worth is her face,” she added, her voice trembling slightly.

  Veil reached out and took her hand, stopping her in her tracks. She tried to pull away in surprise, but he tightened his grip gently, keeping her from breaking free.

  “Listen, Kaela. I don’t really know you yet—I can’t pretend to understand what you’re capable of. But I’m not here to judge. There’ve been times when, if I’d been alone, I wouldn’t still be around to talk about it,” Veil said quietly.

  He placed his free hand over his chest—right where the specter had once pierced him—remembering every time Alynia had saved his life.

  “Being in trouble doesn’t make you weak. Not ever. The only thing that makes someone weak is giving up the moment things get hard. You couldn’t beat that creature today—so train, fight, and make sure next time, you won’t have to run,” he said, his tone turning firm.

  Kaela blinked, a faint gleam of light catching in her eyes as his words sank in.

  “Well, look at you… a lot more confident than when we first met. Back then, you practically compared me to that creature,” she teased lightly, wiping the corner of her eyes. “Thank you, Veil. Really. You’re the first person who’s encouraged me instead of walking away. Come on—let’s get you treated, and then we’ll go eat.”

  Kaela resumed walking, and Veil followed close behind. The rest of their conversation drifted toward lighter topics as they crossed the quiet streets. The late hour kept the roads calm, and their pace quickened in the peaceful stillness.

  A few minutes later, they stopped in front of a small building.

  They stepped inside and approached the counter, where the same woman from a few days earlier sat reading a small book.

  “Good evening. I need some medical treatment for my companion, please. He suffered burns from a Nethralis,” Kaela explained, leaning against the counter.

  The woman lifted her gaze from the pages, her eyes immediately settling on Veil.

  “Good evening. You again, young man? At this rate, we should make you a member card. Or maybe you just enjoy coming to see me? You know, you’re welcome to stop by even without an injury if that’s the case,” the woman said with a laugh.

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  Kaela let out a small giggle, trying to stifle it behind her hand, while Veil stood there unsure how to react.

  “I’m joking, of course,” the clerk added quickly. “Nights tend to be a bit dull around here. But forgive me—that was inappropriate. As before, just fill out the small form and hand it back with the amount for the treatment you’d like.”

  Veil took the form and began filling in the required information. When he reached for his pouch, though, he hesitated.

  “Kaela… which one am I supposed to pick? Last time you handled it, so I’ve got no idea what any of this means,” he asked quietly.

  “Oh? No one’s explained it to you? For burns like yours, you need a level-two treatment. Those are simple—nothing too invasive. From level three onward, it gets more serious. The process hurts a lot more, and you need someone qualified to perform it,” she explained, pointing out the line he should check.

  Veil nodded, counted out the proper amount of coins, and ticked the corresponding box before handing the paper and payment back to her.

  “Thank you very much. Just a moment… there. You can head to room thirteen; someone will be with you shortly,” she said, gesturing down the left hallway.

  Veil made his way to the room, stepped inside, and waited patiently. The treatment this time was quicker—and, as Kaela had promised, far less painful. When it was done, he stepped back into the corridor, met up with Kaela, and gave the receptionist a polite nod before they left the building together.

  “Feels good to have my skin back to normal. And to finally get rid of that awful smell,” Veil said as he pushed open the door.

  They stepped into the cool night air and began walking again, though Veil frowned slightly when he realized which direction they were headed.

  “Kaela… where exactly are we going? This is the road toward the inn. I didn’t see any other place to eat along here,” he asked curiously.

  “Yeah, I’m staying at the Elclin Inn. You know it? Don’t worry—they serve the best food in the city! Though honestly, it’s still nothing compared to the taverns in Elon?a,” she replied cheerfully.

  Veil came to a stop, a faintly exasperated look crossing his face. Kaela noticed and turned to him.

  “Kaela… if I just said it’s the road to the inn, don’t you think that means I already know it?” he replied, raising an eyebrow.

  “Oh, right—hehe, yeah. I tend to talk before I think. My mother used to scold me for that all the time. It’s not that I don’t listen, it’s just… sometimes I answer before my brain catches up when I get excited,” Kaela said sheepishly.

  Veil resumed walking under the soft glow of the photaliths, appreciating the gentle calm of the night after such a long day.

  “You know, Kaela, you might want to be careful about saying the first thing that comes to mind. Someone might take it the wrong way. I don’t know this city that well yet, but from what I’ve seen… most people here seem to have the brains of a slime,” he said evenly. “Sometimes I wonder… maybe we’re the real monsters.”

  They reached the inn in a silence that had grown noticeably heavier. Kaela had fallen quiet, her earlier brightness dimmed by his words.

  Inside, they chose a small, secluded table away from the other patrons. Each of them picked up a menu, though the air between them felt a little heavier than before.

  “I… I don’t agree with you, Veil. If we were monsters, you never would’ve come to… to save me. You would’ve just ignored my screams and gone on with your life. You wouldn’t have been so affected by what happened to that puppy. I think some people don’t deserve to be called monsters,” Kaela said softly, breaking the long silence between them.

  A waiter approached their table, placing two cups and a small jug of water before taking their orders and leaving again, the quiet stretching once more between them.

  “Not everyone’s bad,” Veil murmured. “And I’ve met people who’ve proved that… But the doubt—it’s there, deep down. We fight monsters and kill them without hesitation. Yet, when I face a person… everything inside me twists. I don’t want to hurt them. Why do I hesitate—when to save you, I killed without thinking twice?”

  Kaela stayed silent, uncertain how to respond. Her smile faded as she searched for words that wouldn’t come. Veil poured water into their cups and downed his in one motion.

  “Sorry… I don’t actually know anything. I’ve forgotten everything. I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable—it’s just… I feel lost. My memories are gone, but I keep acting like everyone else. Yet everything feels wrong somehow… like none of this fits me. Like I don’t belong here,” he said quietly, his gaze lost in the ripples of his cup.

  Kaela slowly placed her hand over his, her cheeks tinged with a faint pink.

  “If you think like that, then that’s proof you’re not a monster, Veil. Don’t you see? Others wouldn’t even question themselves—but you do,” she said softly.

  Before Veil could respond, a waitress arrived with their meals, setting the plates and drinks in front of them. The warm aroma eased the tension somewhat—but as she turned to leave, her foot caught on a chair leg, and she stumbled, sending the contents of a nearby table crashing to the floor.

  Dishes clattered and rolled across the floor. The poor woman hurried to apologize, visibly flustered. Kaela couldn’t help but burst into a quiet laugh, covering her mouth quickly.

  “Sorry… it’s just—seeing that, I realized it could’ve easily been me,” she said with a sheepish grin. “Come on, let’s eat. It’ll do us good.”

  Their meal passed in a much lighter mood, their conversation drifting to happier topics. The murmur of laughter and chatter from the other tables filled the room, and for a brief moment, Veil managed to forget the weight of the day.

  “Well, I think I’m gonna call it a night, Kaela. My eyes are starting to hurt,” Veil said, suppressing a small yawn.

  “Oh, already? Time went by so fast…” Kaela replied.

  Her hands fidgeted nervously on the table, her legs swinging beneath it until her knees brushed against his.

  “What’s wrong, Kaela? You suddenly look nervous,” Veil asked, tilting his head.

  “Well, I… um… I wanted to ask if you’d… maybe…” she began, her voice so quiet that Veil couldn’t make out the rest.

  “If I’d what…? Kaela, you’re speaking so quietly I can’t understand you. What’s bothering you like that? If this is about earlier, you don’t owe me anything for helping you,” he said calmly.

  “No, that’s not it,” she replied, taking a deep breath. “I… I wanted to know if you’d agree—if it’s not too much trouble—to… see me again. Maybe take on a quest together tomorrow?”

  Veil blinked, taken aback by the question. He slumped slightly in his chair, relieved that it wasn’t anything strange. Even though Kaela’s voice had dropped again toward the end, this time he’d caught her words clearly.

  “Well, since you’re staying here too, why don’t we meet for breakfast and talk about it then? Sounds better to discuss it once we’ve both rested,” he said, stifling another yawn.

  “Yeah… yeah, let’s do that. I’ll wait for you here in the morning, then. Thanks again for everything, Veil. Have a good night,” she said as she stood up.

  She waved at him before heading toward the stairs, her tail swaying nervously, her ears lowered slightly. Veil stayed seated for a while longer, finishing his fruit juice in thoughtful silence.

  Honestly, what an idiot… talking about repayment when she’s the one who invited me to dinner, he thought, annoyed with himself.

  Finally, he rose and made his way upstairs to his room. He drew back the curtain and cracked the window open, letting the cool night air drift in. After undressing, he slipped into bed, his eyes growing heavy.

  I wonder what Alynia would think about all this… how she’d react, he mused as his mind slowly faded into the quiet shadows of the night.