“Hey hey now. That’s just daylight robbery. Not even the most luxurious inns with well maintained rooms and ample amenities would take such exorbitant amounts for a single night, let alone your shabby place.”

With an indifferent expression and a yawn, the inn-keeper replied, “Firstly brat, it's already evening so it’s technically not ‘daylight’ anything. Secondly I’ll have you know my inn is the finest around these parts. And thirdly, do I look like someone who cares if you can afford the room or not. I set the prices here so take it or leave it!”

The last sentence was spoken with extra emphasis, and some saliva and spit got into Adrian’s face. Squinting his eyes he was about to protest again when another man sitting nearby called out to him, “Don’t get angry son. It’s just how the times have become. We have no choice but to charge high prices for any goods or services here in this town. The crex attacks have been occurring more frequently from the wilderness over the past few months and a lot of people have died, and a lot of buildings destroyed…….we are still managing though. The people are optimistic that the church officials will come and help out more in the near future. All that aside, the gist of the situation is that the old man here is stubborn and won’t allow any price less than that.”

“Well guess it can’t be helped. Just hand him the money kid.”, Aero’s voice rang out from behind.

“But that…..”

“No buts. It’s fine cause I’m paying anyway. Hand him the seths and let’s go to our rooms.”

“Ok fine.”, Adrian sighed as he grumpily handed the thousand seths to the innkeeper.

“Happy doing business with you.”, the inn-keeper handed him the key without delay and Adrian and Aero proceeded to their room.

The door opened with a creak revealing a dimly lit room with two beds, a table and chair and a small wardrobe to keep their clothes. The light in the rooms came from a few candles placed randomly on the candle stands mounted over the walls.

“A thousand seths and not even some lighting pods” Adrian said looking around the room.

Closing the door Aero turned to Adrian, “You are still dissatisfied over having given such a huge amount just to stay one night right?”

“Yeah. Because no matter how I see it, they are way too high for such shabby rooms.”

“Listen kid. You heard the guy at the lounge right? This town was attacked by crexes. And as officials of the church we are responsible for not having been able to protect a town full of innocent lives. It is a grave failure in our duties if a town has suffered from crex attacks continuously and has been reduced to such a poor state. And I think paying just a thousand seths on a night stay at the inn is far from enough to compensate for that.

Of course it’s true we can’t reach out to every small place out there to provide help against crex attacks. But if the church had tried a bit more……..”, Aero gripped his knuckles tightly as Adrian looked at the conflicting expressions of his master.

His face still had that Plastered annoying smile that he always wore, but his knuckles were starting to get white from how tightly he held them, his body showing clear signs of anger and annoyance.

Once again, Adrian was seeing a new side of Aero. Seeing that he genuinely cared for the citizens of the land. Feeling responsible for all the lives that the crexes took, was a truly heavy burden.

 In Adrian’s heart, his respect for Aero had increased and his impression of him was a bit better.

“Aaaaaanddd”, Aero started again, “there’s also the fact that if you caused a commotion and people somehow found out I was a paladin, I’d have to move my lazy butt and help them out with this crisis.”

Silence filled the room as the new found respect he had just gained for the paladin was lost as soon as it came.

Adrian gave a mortified groan as he kept his bag down and went off to sleep trying not to listen to Aero anymore.

Morning came, as Adrian was greeted  with the sweet chirping of birds and the sound of……….metal clanging? Adrian woke up with a sudden jolt at this abrupt noise. Looking around with blurred hazy vision Adrian as his eyes struggled to open, confused because this place looked way more different from his room back at the guild. 

After rubbing his eyes a bit and looking around clearly, all the events of the past day rushed to him. Right, he and Aero had arrived at the Crivelwolk Inn and had decided to spend the night there before continuing their journey. Looking around he found Aero who was putting up his armour. Aero turned around as he finally strapped the cross shaped hilt of his exquisa to his belt. 

“Oh you are finally awake now? If you had stayed in bed for another few minutes I was seriously considering just leaving this burde-I mean my bedazzling apprentice, behind in this wonderful inn. Completely for training purposes I assure you.”

Adrian ignored his words and went ahead to wash his face in the nearby ceramic basin. After freshening up, he strapped on his new sword onto his back, firmly locking its harness as he went for a stroll in the nearby market place. It was early in the morning and the shopkeepers were just arriving to set up their stalls for the hustle and bustle of the day. 

Aero had gone off early to check some stuff out so Adrian was left alone. Roaming around, he came across a fruit stall selling fresh apples. He decided to just buy one for a bite as he’d walk. 

“Three seths”, the shopkeeper spoke when he saw Adrian eyeing the apple.

‘Although that’s overpriced I can’t really complain.’, Adrian sighed as he handed over the three seths. As he turned around he saw a guy with a bag made of fine leather, running from a group of pursuers who had swords in their hands. They were shouting something but it was inaudible amost the chatter of the crowd. Adrian could only make out the words the man being chased was screaming, “Robbers! Thieves! Scoundrels! Help  someone help! They are trying to take all my gold!”

Seeing this sight, Adrian didn’t give it a moment of thought as he immediately stepped in front of the pursuers and unsheathed his sword. The pursuers were now close and their voices had become clear. Meanwhile the man who was being chased continued running.

As Adrian charged at them and pushed back three of the men at the front, halting their advance, a  guy standing at the back in fine robes shouted in an authoritative voice.

“He’s helping the thief! Apprehend him too!”