The remainder of the shift passed much like any other day.
Customers continued coming and going throughout the evening, but as the hours passed, the inn gradually became quieter. The lively atmosphere that had filled the building earlier slowly faded as more and more patrons finished their meals and returned home.
By the time the sun disappeared beyond the horizon and darkness settled over the city, only a handful of customers remained inside. The constant noise of conversation had diminished considerably, and even the staff finally had a chance to slow down.
Before long, my shift came to an end. After finishing the last of my duties and helping tidy a few tables, I made my way toward the counter. The owner was still seated in his usual spot, reviewing entries in a ledger while occasionally counting coins.
The moment I approached, he looked up. Without saying a word, he reached beneath the counter and placed two bronze coins onto the wooden surface.
I picked them up and slipped them into my pocket.
"Thank you, Sir Owner."
The owner merely grunted in response before returning his attention to the ledger, clearly having no interest in extending the conversation.
After pocketing the coins, I remained standing at the counter for a moment.
"Sir Owner, I'd like to take a leave tomorrow."
The owner looked up from the ledger and immediately frowned.
"Why? Wasn't yesterday's day off enough for you?"
"I'll be meeting some relatives tomorrow." I kept my expression calm as I answered.
"We rarely get the opportunity to see each other."
The owner studied me for several moments, his fingers lightly tapping against the counter... eventually, he let out a quiet grunt and shrugged.
"Fine."
A small sense of relief settled inside me. However, the owner wasn't finished.
"But don't expect another leave for at least a month."
I nodded immediately. "Understood. Thank you, Sir Owner."
The owner waved a hand dismissively before returning his attention to the ledger. With permission secured, I gave a slight nod and left the inn.
The evening air felt noticeably cooler after leaving the warmth of the inn. The streets remained lively as ever, with people still moving through the city and the sounds of conversation drifting from nearby shops and businesses.
I had barely walked a short distance when a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind me.
"Arthur!"
Turning around, I saw Miguel hurrying toward me. His large frame bounced with each step as he pushed his way through the sparse crowd. By the time he finally reached me, he was breathing heavily.
"O-Owner told me... haahh... you're taking leave tomorrow."
I nodded.
Miguel looked genuinely surprised.
"Really? Why?"
I resumed walking, and Miguel naturally fell into step beside me.
"I have plans to meet some relatives tomorrow."
"Relatives?" Miguel repeated the word with obvious curiosity.
I nodded.
"We rarely get the chance to meet, so I decided to take the opportunity while I can."
Miguel seemed to accept the explanation, though the curious look on his face made it obvious that he was still thinking about it as he continued walking beside me.
Suddenly, Miguel's eyes widened as though he had just remembered something important. He turned toward me with an excited expression on his face.
"Wait... don't tell me you're meeting them at Daylight Inn?"
I looked at him in mild surprise. Just because I had asked about Daylight Inn earlier today, he had immediately connected the two things together. It wasn't a particularly difficult conclusion to reach, but it was still faster than I had expected from him. Perhaps he wasn't quite as slow as he appeared.
"You're not as dumb as you look."
Miguel immediately grinned and scratched the back of his head.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
I ignored that response and continued walking. A moment later, however, Miguel's expression brightened again as another thought seemed to enter his mind.
"Actually, do you want me to come with you?"
The sudden offer immediately made me suspicious.
"Why would you want to do that?"
Miguel shrugged as though the answer should have been obvious.
"You're still new to Astravia, so if you want, I can take you there."
Then he hesitated briefly before revealing what was clearly the real reason.
"And... I'd kind of like to meet your relatives."
I stared at him for a moment before quickly shaking my head.
"No, that's alright... I can find it myself."
Miguel's shoulders visibly slumped. "Ah... really?"
"Besides, the owner isn't going to approve leave for both of us on the same day. You can meet them some other time."
Miguel considered my words for several moments before eventually nodding in reluctant agreement.
"Yeah... I guess that's true."
I nodded. "See you later."
With that, I turned around and resumed walking. After taking a few steps, I casually raised a hand and waved goodbye without looking back. Behind me, Miguel remained standing there for a short while before eventually heading off in the opposite direction, while I continued making my way home through the lively evening streets of Astravia.
---
Next day evening, after making the necessary preparations, Charlie and I left the slum district and headed toward one of the transportation stations near the center of the city. Since Daylight Inn was located on the outskirts of Astravia, traveling there on foot would take far too long, especially when we had a specific time to meet Bora and Tara. Fortunately, horse-drawn carriages regularly traveled between different parts of the city and its surrounding districts, making long-distance travel significantly more convenient.
Unfortunately, that convenience came at a cost.
"Fifteen iron coins per person."
The carriage driver announced the fare as though the amount was perfectly normal. I stared at him for a moment, unable to hide my disbelief. Fifteen iron coins for a single trip was hardly cheap. That amount of money was enough to pay for several meals, and after spending weeks working at the inn, I had gained a much better appreciation for the value of every coin.
The corners of my mouth twitched slightly.
Astravia truly deserved its reputation as the capital city. Even traveling from one place to another seemed designed to drain a person's savings.
Beside me, Charlie's expression wasn't much different. It was obvious that he also thought the price was excessive. Even so, neither of us voiced any complaints. The streets were particularly busy at this hour, and the constant flow of people and carriages made traveling on foot an unattractive option. More importantly, we had no intention of arriving late for our meeting.
Reluctantly, I handed over the fare. The driver accepted the coins with a satisfied smile before motioning for us to climb aboard the carriage.
The interior of the carriage was already occupied by three other passengers. Two young women sat together near one side, chatting quietly amongst themselves, while a middle-aged man occupied a seat opposite them. His posture was straight, and although he wasn't doing anything in particular, there was a composed air about him that immediately set him apart from the younger passengers.
Charlie and I took the remaining seats, and shortly afterward the carriage lurched forward as the horses began pulling it through the streets.
Not long after the journey began, the driver glanced back toward us.
"If you're heading to Daylight Inn, you'll need to get off before the rest of the passengers."
Charlie looked slightly confused. "Why is that?"
The driver gestured toward the road ahead while skillfully guiding the horses through the busy traffic.
"This carriage is heading toward Astravia Academy. Most of the passengers traveling this route are academy students, instructors, or people working there. Daylight Inn requires a different turn before reaching the academy."
"So we'll have to get off somewhere along the way?"
The driver nodded.
"There's a separate road that branches off before reaching the academy. You'll need to take that turn if you want to get to Daylight Inn."
"I see."
"Don't worry. I'll let you know when we reach it."
With the matter settled, Charlie relaxed into his seat while the carriage continued its journey through the bustling streets of Astravia. Outside, countless pedestrians and passing carriages filled the roads, while the sounds of conversation, merchants advertising their goods, and horses trotting across stone-paved streets drifted through the open windows as the city gradually gave way to the outer districts.