Archdemons: The Inn

"Greetings." Tetsuno spoke. The old man gave him a look of surprise in return. Seeing as most of Tetsuno's face was covered by his hair and he appeared rugged and worn, you'd figure his voice would be brusque and deep, but against what you'd think it was really a gentle, soft voice. It was the voice of a mannered gentleman. Also, beneath his hair, his feature were actually quite close to what most woman would see as perfection, angled jaw line, fine, intelligent and deep eyes that seemed to hold a galaxy of blue in them while his eyelashes were long and his lips were filled. He had the face of a royal on the body of a soldier.

Tetsuno walked up to the counter and reached into his pocket, pulling out his bag and placing a single gold coin on the counter.

"Will this cover a single night?" He asked.

"No." The man spoke, shaking his head. Then he held up two fingers.

With a sigh Tetsuno placed another gold on the counter.

"Pah!" The man spat, waving his hand. He grabbed the gold coins and shoved them back into Tetsuno's hand. "Silver boy, two silvers."

"Really?" Tetsuno asked. "That is such a low cost.. I insist, take the gold. I'll use it to cover the food expenses as well."

"No. Two silvers. One for the night and one for food." The old man insisted.

"Are you certain?"

"Just accept the old man's kindness." Came a voice. Tetsuno turned to see a young man, he guessed around the age of twenty, sitting a few tables away. He looked tired and was obviously drunk. He was fit and wore no shirt, only pants. Scars covered his body and he had short brown hair. His skin was tanned and he looked like a warrior, defined muscles and all.

"But, I do not wish to pay any less than what it should be." Tetsuno said.

"What it should be? Hah. Man, are you from the Kingdoms or something? Out here we scrape by with what we got. Money is not much of an object to us. There are far more important things." The man said. Tetsuno was painfully reminded of his wife.

"Yes. I suppose you are right." He placed three silvers on the table.

"I said two-"

"Your turn to accept my kindness." Tetsuno cut the old man off as he dropped his bag to the ground and sat, placing his katana across his lap.

The old man chuckled. "Fine then. Fair enough, suppose." The man took the silvers in his decrepit hands and disappeared beneath the counter, rustling around with something before returning with a small glass and a bottle of alcohol. He poured it, the liquid filling the glass halfway before he placed it on the wooden counter and pushed it over to Tetsuno.

"It is our best gin. You'll enjoy it." The man spoke, replacing the bottle.

Tetsuno put his hand on the glass and grasped it, lifting it to his lips. The gin was indeed good and it was refreshing as it flowed into his mouth and he gulped it all in one go.

"I told you you'd like it." The old man spoke.

"Indeed. It is quite good." Tetsuno said. Then he heard someone walk up behind him. He turned, placing the glass on the counter as he saw the brown haired man from before approach him, sitting beside him. The old man poured him a glass and as the man gulped it, he slammed the glass back to the counter. He then turned to Tetsuno, an intense look in his eyes.

"You speak like a royal, and that blade is no ordinary weapon. Katanas aren't ordinary in general, much less ones as finely crafted as that. Who are you?" The man asked.

"Kedo, be respectful, he is our guest." The old man spoke.

"Sorry father, I am just curious."

'Father?' Tetsuno thought. He couldn't see any similarity between them, but decided to push that thought aside.

"My name is.." Tetsuno was about to say his full name, but decided against it. "Abeza."

"Abeza, huh? Where'd you get a blade like that?" The man, Kedo, asked.

"From my tutor. I used to take swordsmanship lessons."

"Has your blade tasted blood yet?" Kedo inquired.

The room went silent. Tetsuno's eyes went dark. "Yes. Many times." He answered solemnly.

"I see, so you are a hunter." The old man asked, cleaning a glass.

"You could say."

"Wait," Kedo spoke, "are you a-"

Just then the doors burst open and a cloaked figure walked in, followed by two others. "Greetings, old man! Pour us some drinks, won't you? We need to talk."