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Airi's POV
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Its unusual. Ryu's behavior that is. He seems almost too alert. His attitude in the forest is nothing compared to how he is acting right now.

I wonder whether it is something to do with those pickpockets he was talking about.

I hadn't really thought about it, I don't think anyone is stupid enough to try to steal from a Knight, and even if they did, I'm sure I'd be able to capture them.

For him, though. I don't actually see that many valuables on him. Sure he has a few daggers, and some healing ointment, but that's all in his backpack, not somewhere that can be taken easily.

So why? Why is he so alert?

"Ryu, you don't need to be so tense. We're in a village after all, this isn't the forest." (Airi)

"Y-yeah, I suppose so..." (Ryu)

Despite that, he still continues to be on guard. I wonder whether its a habit that has been drilled into him. He is from an outlaw group after all.

Well, not that it matters now, we made it to the Inn.

Gold Crow Inn, huh.

Sounds fancy. Let's hope its not too expensive.

Stepping inside, with Ryu close behind, I instantly feel comforted by the warmth and the smell of wood.

"Welcome! What can I do for you?" (Inn Keeper)

"I'd like 2 rooms for 1 please." (Airi)

"Yup yup, just go up the stairs and right at the bottom of the hallway. Oh, also, it'll be 4 silvers, with meals!" (Inn Keeper)

Placing 5 silvers on the desk, I start heading towards the rooms.

"Hey Knight, I'm feeling kind of hungry so I'm going to eat." (Ryu)

"Yeah, sure." (Airi)

Turning my back, I continue heading towards my room.

Walking down the hall, I run the day back through my head.

His attitude definitely changed when we entered the village.

I wonder why?

Opening the door to the room I just bought, I begin to take off my armour.

The floor creaks under me as I go further into my room.

I suppose he was right, it isn't that bad of an Inn. It's not very dirty, it's quite clean in fact. It's also surprisingly spacious for a single silver room.

Dropping down onto the bed, I feel the exhaustion hit me like a bull. My legs begin to throb and my stomach begins to growl.

Food. I should probably get some. Yeah, I should... Probably go... Join... Ryu... Eating...

Despite thinking that, I fall into a deep sleep.

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Hearing a creak outside my door, I get up quietly and grab my sword, awake in an instant.

A few seconds pass before I hear another creak to the room to my right, Ryu's room.

What time is it? How long did I sleep for?

Putting down my sword and walking to the edge of my room, I pull on the curtains slightly, only to see the tip of the sun-rise outside.

Something's wrong. I fell asleep at sun-down. Ryu wouldn't have spent nearly 6 hours eating. I also don't think he'd have gone outside, considering the way he was acting when we first arrived.

Something is definitely wrong.

Grabbing my sword again, I go to exit my room, before hearing another creak outside.

That can't be Ryu. There shouldn't be any reason why he'd have people in his room. He didn't seem to go to this village enough to make acquaintances.

Waiting until I hear the last creak, I slowly step out of my room and inch my way towards Ryu's.

Inside, I can hear the sounds of scuffing, before a blunt impact.

Did Ryu pack a hammer or anything similar? I don't think he did.

Going to enter Ryu's room, one of the wooden tiles I stand on creaks, alerting those inside to my presence.

Without any further hesitation, I kick the door down to see someone jumping out of the window.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" (Airi)

"Damn, she saw me!" (Intruder 1)

"Who cares, let's go!" (Intruder 2)

The second voice could be heard outside, probably on the roof.

Whilst I was rushing over to the window, the intruder jumps down and begins running down the street.

Without a moments hesitation, I follow in pursuit. I'm slightly faster than the intruder, but he doesn't seem to have Ryu with him. Maybe the other one did? Who knows?

But I'm going to continue chasing this one, I may be able to figure out where they are taking him. And I also have no clue as to where the other one went.

Despite the twists and turns the intruder is taking, I'm still catching up to him, and right now, he is about as close as a great sword. Just a few more seconds and I'll be able to catch him.

Just a few more seconds.

A few more.

And...

I've tackled him down to the ground, knife pointed at his throat.

"Where?" (Airi)

"4-4th Main Street. Knock twice on the door to the right of the bar." (Intruder 1)

"Hey, you talked pretty easily." (Airi)

"S-sorry to disappoint, but I'm not ready to die over that damned kid." (Intruder 1)

"Smart choice." (Airi)

With a swift punch, I knock the intruder out and call for the guards, who proceed to arrest him.

4th Main Street, huh.

Where the hell is that?

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Ahh, 4th Main Street. It looks no different from all of the other streets that I wandered through.

And now I need to find a bar. I probably should have asked what the bar was called, but I guess I'll have to guess.

The first bar I come across is... Sly Fox. It seems pretty full, but I don't see any door on the left or the right side of it, so I don't think this is the correct bar.

The next bar I come across is... Headstocks. This is a pretty big bar, and it is very packed. But there is no door next to it.

And the final bar is... Woods of the East. And it is completely empty, aside from one or two customers. But there is a door to the right of it, so I suppose the intruder didn't lie.

Knocking twice on the door, I'm presented with a long hallway, with a turn at the end, alongside very loud music.

As I turn the corner, I can see a very large bar, bigger than the other two, but barely anyone inside.

Looking around, I come to the conclusion that there had been a large amount of customers based in the glasses on the floor and the food thrown about.

Something must have chased them away.

My attention is drawn to the lone door in the back corner of the room. It just doesn't seem to fit in the style of the room.

Making sure to erase my presence, I creep up to the door before slowly pushing it open.

It's dark. I can't see anything. Absolutely nothing. But I can hear something. Footsteps? No, talking? No, it's groaning. Someone is groaning in this room.

No, it's not a room, the walls are too close together, it's a hallway. And the groaning is coming from one of the many doors that cover the walls.

Slowly making my way over to the door, I can hear something more. It was talking.

"-nt think that you can ju- -ack here. -med child!" (???)

Slowly opening the door, I peek through to see a small boy tied up against the wall, with a man infornt of him holding a whip.

"Ryu?"

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Author Notes
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I have to say, I am getting more and more excited the further along I get in this story, but I still feel like I'm rushing it. Its been 6 chapters and they've left the forest, entered a village, Ryu's been kidnapped and Airi's already found him.

Although, I can't really make assumptions on how long these chapters should be, I don't read many books now.

Also, for the Inn prices, it is 1 silver for a room, with an extra silver for a meal, so Airi spent 4 silver for her and Ryu's room, with meals, and an extra for a tip.