Lessons Away from Home

The driver directed the carriage to the only inn in Manchuren. The inn looked rather quaint, a modest-looking brown structure of two stories. As the driver tied the horses to a post next to the inn, I asked Cathy to wait by the entrance while I retrieved my bags.

Reminded of Cathy's request to visit the dungeon in town, I approached the driver and asked, "Umm, excuse me… there's something I wanted to ask you…"

"What is it?" the driver snarled back. "You want to talk to me now when you pretty much left me alone the whole time after you picked her up?"

"Well, about that…" I began to feel nervous in front of the driver, so I avoided looking directly into his eyes. "We wanted to spend a couple of days in town and get a chance to visit the dungeon. Would it be alright if you could stay as well and head to Waturia in three days?"

"Arghhh… I'm supposed to be on a tight schedule here. Sighhh… I guess you're the customer, so I'll do it, but… only if you pay me in advance for my expenses while we're here."

"Sure… I figured I needed to spend a little extra for something like this, so let me get that money for you."

I took out my bags from the trunk and counted up enough coins for the driver to relax in town for the next couple of days. As he checked the amount, he tried to issue a warning. "By the way… about that little girlfriend of yours… there's something I don't like about her…"

"What are you talking about? Cathy's a sweet girl. And besides, she got separated from the rest of her group and has no idea where her companions are, so she has no one else to turn to."

"Hmph… whatever… as long as I get paid, why should I care what the hell you do? I'll be around the lobby in the mornings if you're ready to leave this dump early…"

"Okay… well, thanks again…"

The driver walked off towards a small restaurant to get dinner on his own. I knew he and I didn't talk much, if at all, after Cathy joined the group, but I felt quite offended for how he spoke of her. Seeing how Cathy was distressed enough, I decided to ignore the driver's sudden outburst and headed towards the entrance.

"So Haru.. are we able to stay in town for a little bit?" Cathy asked when I reached her.

"Yeah. He was okay as long as he got paid for his necessary expenses, so I took care of that."

"Oh my, that's really sweet of you! But it wouldn't be right if you paid the entire fee, considering it was my request…"

"No, it's perfectly fine," I interrupted. "Don't worry about it. I rented out the carriage in the first place, and I decided for both of us to stay, so you don't owe me anything for this."

"Okay… thanks again!" And once again, Cathy brought another trademark smile to her face. She made it so easy to be comfortable around her after she opened herself up a bit.

As we entered the inn, I immediately noticed a large flyer to my right.

"So, what's that about?" Cathy asked.

"Seems like a bulletin about the group of bandits causing some trouble lately… random kidnappings… wolves spotted alongside the bandits on the outskirts of town … a possible hideout about a day's journey away somewhere to the west…"

"Oh my!"

"It's alright, Cathy. As long as we're careful while we're here, there's nothing to worry about."

Cathy then reached out her hand to my left arm and nodded. It was reassuring to know I helped subdue her fears.

We then walked up to the counter, and the inn manager addressed me. "Good evening and welcome. It's always a pleasure to be of service to such young travelers. I assume you'll need two rooms for the night, one for you and one for the miss?"

"Yeah, two rooms will be…"

Before I could finish, Cathy interrupted. "Actually… if it's alright with you, Haru, I think it'd be best if we stayed in the same room…"

"But… are you really fine with that?"

"I'd feel safer if you were with me, considered the bandits could be anywhere…"

"You have a point there," I said. Cathy was indeed right, though; the bandits could strike at any moment, and it would be easier to defend her if we were together. "Sir, one room will be fine for us."

"I promise you," the inn manager responded, "we make sure our guests are perfectly safe, but if you want just the one room, I am happy to fulfill that request."

The inn manager handed me a set of two keys to the last room on the left up on the second floor. We entered to find a bed, table, and three chairs, two by the table and the last by the bed. I placed my bags down at the far corner of the room, as Cathy sat on the bed.

Cathy mentioned about a pub in town she heard that served some delicious food, so we left the inn and headed towards this pub.

When we arrived, the pub was about three-quarters full, but we were able to get a table at the far end of the establishment, on the opposite side of the bar. After the waitress took our orders, Cathy and I were discussing our plans for tomorrow when a commotion broke out a couple of tables away from us.

"… What you say, you damn dog?!" A rather tall, burly man jumped up from his seat.

"You heard me! I have to work to provide for my family, so why should I help you snuff out those bandits?!" a short, but stocky man yelled from the next table over.

"Because we need you, dammit!" the burly man continued to shout. "How many other people here have the strength you have? Are you saying you can't give up a little measly cash to help out the town?!"

"Little measly cash?!" the stocky man responded, deeply offended. "How else could I support my family then? If anything happened to me, nobody would be there for my wife and kids! As if you'd understand what that's like!"

"What the hell you say?" The burly man's tone raised a couple octaves. I assumed the stocky man hit a very sore spot for the burly man.

The burly man seemed to have had enough, grabbed the stocky man by the collar, and lifted him off the chair. I felt concerned about the situation and murmured, "Why is no one stopping this?"

I started to get up from my seat, but Cathy pulled on my sleeve. "Wait, Haru! I don't think you should get involved with this…"

"It's alright. I just want to help calm those two down. Maybe a little reason will sort things out."

Cathy let go, and I approached the two men. "Hey guys, I think this is all just a misunderstanding. Maybe we can talk things out a little more smoothly?"

The stocky man responded angrily, "What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with you!"

The next thing I knew, the stocky man threw a left fist into my face and sent me flying back.

"Haruuu!!!" I could hear Cathy screaming my name and running to my side on the floor.

"Stop all this!" the bartender shouted as he approached the two men. "I think that's enough from the both of you tonight! Head back home and calm yourselves down. If I see you behave yourselves tomorrow, I'll let you back in. Now go!"

I was unable to hear what else the two men had to say, as they muttered their final words exiting the pub. I was conscious enough to know Cathy had my head in her lap and was caressing my face.

"Haru, are you alright?! It doesn't hurt too bad, does it?" Cathy asked.

"Uhhhh… That was some punch… but I'm feeling better, thanks to you."

"Oh… I'm so glad you're alright then."

The bartender approached us and looked down at me on the ground. "Hey kid, lesson for you: mind your own business. The people in town have been a little uneasy lately. Those two have been arguing here for the past three nights, but there have been no fists thrown until tonight. I don't need some knight in shining armor showing off here in front of his princess. Just stay at your table and eat your food."

Considering the position I was in, I didn't argue back with the bartender's warning. I was about to start standing up when the bartender directed his next words to Cathy. "Hmm… you look familiar… Have I seen you here before?"

Cathy looked up at the bartender and replied, "Umm... you must be mistaking me for someone else... This man and I only just got here about an hour ago, and this is the first time in this town for either of us."

"Oh, I see... I guess you're right, I had another girl in mind. I apologize for the mistake. Just make sure you keep watch over him, and please enjoy the food."

After the bartender left, Cathy helped me back to my feet, and we returned to our table. Cathy continued to show concern for me, but I told her I was okay.

I wasn't sure if she truly believed me, but we enjoyed our dinner without any other disruptions. And Cathy was right: the food at the pub was quite delicious.

After we paid for our meal, we returned to our room at the inn. Neither of us had taken a real bath in several days, so we decided it would be wise to do so. The bathhouse was located in an indoor shack outside, visible from our room.

I told Cathy she could take the first bath, so I pulled out my journal. Before I started writing, Cathy turned to me and asked, "Umm… Haru… could you come to the bathhouse with me? I'd feel safer if you were there to protect me…"

I was unsure of how to interpret her intentions, but I saw that no lights were shining around the bathhouse. So, I decided it was best to escort her. "Oh, alright, sure. I guess it is pretty dark outside."

Thus, I accompanied Cathy downstairs and out through the back door of the inn. When she opened the door to the shack, I noticed a dark divider used for concealing the tub from the sitting area. So, I sat inside on the other side of the divider, while Cathy took her bath with no one able to watch her.

As Cathy took her time, I was unable to control some of the more impure thoughts in my head.

Cathy's just on the other side of this divider. Sure, I can't see her, but it makes me even more curious for some reason. She's such a cute girl, and she's so sweet. She's been very considerate towards me; I wonder if she's into me…

But still… I just met Cathy. We don't really know that much about each other. I'm happy she likes to watch me sketch, but that doesn't mean she starting to fall for me, right? Or maybe it does?!

But then again… Akane and I know each other so well. She's really pretty too, and that kiss… What was she trying to tell me?

And then there's Maya… I still feel so sad knowing how lonely she is… I wish I could see her again…

As I remained flustered from my thoughts, Cathy spoke to me. "Hey, Haru… I'm happy you're here to protect me right now. I felt so lost out there when I got separated from my group, and you've been here with me ever since. It means so much to me, I'm glad I met you…"

"Yeah, me too. I'm glad we met too." I felt relieved that Cathy was still on the other side, so she wouldn't be able to see the redness swell up on my face.

After Cathy finished her bath and changed into a new set of clothes, I walked her back up to the room. Assured she would be safe by herself, I went back downstairs to the bathhouse.

The bath was quite refreshing, and all the tension from the pub drained away with the grime from my body. When I was back in the room, Cathy sat at the table with another magic book. I sat in the chair opposite her and started to write about my evening adventures in my journal.

A couple hours passed, and we both were ready to call it a night. I retrieved a blanket and sat down at the chair by the end, but Cathy put her hand on my arm. "Are you sure you don't want to sleep on the bed?"

"I wouldn't feel comfortable letting you sleep in a chair, so the bed's all yours."

"Oh, thank you so much! I'm really looking forward to spending the day with you tomorrow. Have a good night then, Haru!"

"You too, Cathy."

As I heard Cathy giggling into bed, sleep embraced me rather quickly that night.