"Well, this is it. Pini Inn, the only one around." I say gesturing to the building. Vines cover one of the walls and the rest of it has an aged look of a building that has gone through many seasons without tumbling to the ground from age.

"This is where I leave you. It was a pleasure to walk with you Mr. Erlibis. Perhaps we can meet again. Goodbye." I smile at him and he gives me a scaly one in return.

When I turn to the Blacksmith Shop, which Father and I live on the floor above, I see that the sun is just about to go down. Good. I'll have time to prepare supper.

"Papa! I'm back," I yell and immediately am hit with a wave of dizziness.

"Right. Come on up then." He yells back.

When the dizziness is slightly more tolerable, I walk up to our small apartment, getting the key from its little hole in the corner near the door. Walking in, I put up the coat, and go to the barrel next to the rack, dumping my hands in the cool water.

I quickly light the stove and put a pan on it, placing the sausage links I was lucky enough to earn this morning on it.

When I'm satisfied that they're cooked, I go to the cupboard and retrieve two plates, moving the sausages from the pan and onto the dishes. I then go to what's left of our bread from the week and spread little amounts of goat cheese across the slices before getting some of our berries to add to the selection.

"Papa, go wash up for dinner will you," I say to him when I catch sight of his hands covered in soot.

My father is a man who believes that a man should show his work by leaving dirt on himself to prove that he has a useful skill. Looking at him now you can see traces of a once handsome man, light brown hair speckled with grey, and green eyes that resemble a tree's leaves, worn by years of work in the shop. However, he still has his own sense of humor. His smiles are a sight that's almost always present. But not at the moment.

He looked about to argue, "I'm not letting you near the food with grime and soot covering your fingers Papa. Please at least wash those."

He got up with a sigh and left to the barrel."Thank you for listening, Papa." I say when he sits back down.

I clutch my head from a sudden wave of pain and Papa looks at me worriedly.

"You alright Astrena?"

Suddenly a loud commotion is heard from outside near the inn and Papa rushes to the only window we have to get a look. I attempt to follow, but ended up standing to quickly and fall to my knees as the world swims before my eyes. It dims and brightens over and over, my hearing just as bad. I can hear almost every word being yelled perfectly.

"I TOLD YOU ONCE ..............T ONCE MORE! WE DON'T ACCEPT YOUR KIND .................MENT! NOW GET AWAY FROM MY INN!"

"Please, ...... enough Ma-"

"I DON'T ......GET AWAY!"

I could hear the words on and off and see everything and it goes black and then back until it's blinding white and repeat. I could smell the food and the damp earth outside and then nothing and back to the smell of a coming storm and the water dripping from the shudders of our window.

I didn't even notice that Papa had abandoned his post by the window until I heard his voice clear and loud beside me.

"Breathe love. Just breathe in and out. In and out. There you go. In. Out."

The steady rhythm of his voice calmed me. I could feel myself rubbing my thumb over my ear cuff. It was of silver and bronze. Inlayed with a shining blue sapphire curving into the point going greatly with the delicate design that the two metals made. Mama's. The only thing I have of her's.

"Thanks."

-<<<{Ω}>>>-

I know that most people won't read this but hi and thanks for reading my story!

I guess I could try to explain the money system in this world?

One Manre = $8(US)
One Sanre = $4(US)
One Vanre = $2(US)
One Ianre = $1(US)
One Knret = $20(US)
One Anret = $50(US)
One Unret = $100(US)

One Duun = 1 cent(US)

Sorry for all of the confusing names for the currency in the story.

Thanks for reading!

-AllDaLadiesLuvLeoHoO