Chapter 19

The trio, or rather quartet with Ercale/Xain, Zee, and Larkin, found themselves inside the Lunar Stray Inn. Larkin had initially attempted to argue against staying here, emphasizing the need to move quickly to avoid Amara's pursuit. However, Ercale's firm declaration silenced any further debate.

"I didn't ask for us to stay here," Ercale stated resolutely, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "I'm telling you we're going to stay here."

Given Ercale's unyielding stance, Larkin reluctantly approached the innkeeper to secure rooms for their stay, realizing they had little choice in the matter, leading to their current situation.

Zee turned to Ercale, curiosity and perhaps a hint of concern in her eyes. "Is there a particular reason for staying here?" she inquired, trying to grasp his motives.

Ercale, without even glancing at her, responded firmly, "I want to, and that's reason enough." It was a stark reminder that when he set his mind on something, nothing and no one could sway him. Zee nodded in understanding, recognizing the futility of further discussion. She simply waited for Larkin to complete his conversation with the innkeeper, accepting their current situation without much protest.

Xain, curious about their current situation, turned his thoughts towards Ercale. *So, what's the real reason we're staying here?* he inquired, his fingers deftly opening a small, vibrant cardboard box featuring an illustration of a person.

Ercale's response came swiftly, laced with a hint of sarcasm. *I just told the elf why we're here, didn't I, ape?* he retorted, though he knew Xain was unlikely to take his words at face value. Xain continued to examine the box, focusing on its contents—a collection of miniature food pieces.

*You don't expect me to buy that, do you?* Xain questioned, shifting his gaze to the back of the box, which displayed the food in a bowl with milk. Ercale, though not one to concede easily, begrudgingly acknowledged Xain's perceptiveness. *Huh, you're more astute than I gave you credit for. But you'll understand soon enough,* he cryptically replied.

As Xain delved into the inner depths of his consciousness, embarking on an odd quest for milk, Ercale's patience frayed at the edges. *Let's switch back,* Ercale urged, he urged, frustration tinging his mental voice.

Yet, Xain's curiosity was far from sated. *Just a bit longer, okay?* he requested, driven by the peculiar fascination of exploring the intricate workings of his own mind.

Ercale let out a resigned sigh. *You can explore your own head later, but right now, I need to check something in there.* he insisted, the prospect of conversing with Xain's friends clearly grating on him.

With a reluctant sigh and a mild pout, Xain acquiesced. *Alright, fine,* he muttered begrudgingly. Suddenly, he blinked, and his consciousness was once again firmly in control of his own body, his eyes reverting to their natural blue color.

As Xain reclaimed control of his body, Larkin returned from his discussion with the innkeeper, crowns in hand. He spoke nonchalantly, "Well, that's taken care of. Costs were pretty reasonable, thankfully." However, his demeanor shifted as he glanced up and found Xain's blue eyes once more.

"What's goin' on now?" Larkin asked slowly, wary of the situation.

With a slight smirk, Xain confirmed his return, "I'm back in charge."

The relief on Larkin's face was quickly replaced by frustration. "You little shit, just 'cause you didn't fancy walkin', you let that lunatic take over!" he exclaimed, his tone a mix of irritation and exasperation. Zee, too, turned her attention to Xain, realizing the change in control.

Xain raised his hands defensively, trying to defuse the tension. "Hey, we got here fast, right? So it wasn't all bad. Plus, you got to meet my brother."

Larkin still wore a frustrated expression, but Zee, relieved to have Xain back, hugged him tightly. "Thank goddess you're back. Your brother's scary," she said, releasing him.

Xain chuckled, trying to ease the mood. "Don't worry, he's actually quite nice once you get to know him," he added, though he could almost feel Ercale rolling his eyes.

Larkin, however, was far from pacified. "So what? I just spent our coin for nothing!?" he exclaimed, his irritation unabated. Xain attempted to soothe him, saying, "Not for nothing. I also want to stay here, if that's okay with both of you?"

Larkin rubbed his temples in frustration. "Alright, fine, you win. You're certainly better company than your brother, with his 'I want to, so that's reason enough' nonsense. Such a prick," he grumbled, his tone tinged with genuine irritation. Xain chuckled awkwardly, cautioning, "You do realize he can still hear you, right?"

Larkin abruptly stopped and turned to Xain, bowing slightly. "My deepest apologies for any foolish remarks I've made," he apologized, his voice tinged with a hint of fear. However, Ercale remained silent in Xain's head.

Larkin scratched his head, straightening up before sighing. "Goddess, I need a drink. You know what? I'm going to get one. You two can do whatever. I've got a headache," he announced, heading toward the bar. Zee, her concern evident, questioned, "Wouldn't drinking make your headache worse?" Larkin, driven by his own needs, continued on his way.

Turning to Xain, Zee asked, "What would you like to do, Xain?" Xain was on the verge of answering when Ercale's voice resounded in his mind, *Leave her. We need to go outside.* Xain quickly adjusted his response, stating, "I actually want to explore the town on my own, if that's okay." Zee appeared disappointed, her expression resembling that of a kicked puppy. "Okay," she reluctantly replied. Xain felt guilty but understood that whatever Ercale had in mind was important.

Xain left the inn, leaving Zee behind. As he stepped outside, he couldn't help but wonder about the current time. Observing the surroundings, he estimated it to be around 11-12 o'clock. He decided to confirm it and pulled out the chronoscope, which indeed displayed 11:30 in the morning.

*This is too early for them to be hunting, and too early for us to hunt,* Ercale said in Xain's head. Confused, Xain asked, *What do you mean? Hunt? Who are we hunting?* Ercale's response was straightforward, *Vampires.*