How long has I been staring blankly at the ceiling now. I watch the moonbeam dance through a small hole on my window. This brilliant bright beam made me guess that the moon of this world is on it's highest; it's midnight. 

Meaning it has been a few hours ever since that rousing speech May made that made every one raise their drinks for her... Before falling in exhaustion.

Neil helped me carry her up stairs, where after that he told me tend May while he took over the Inn that was filled with worried soldier downstairs.

Hours has probably passed by and May still semi-awake kept holding my hand. All the while I could hear a combination of men and women downstairs and Neil's voice offering some free drink in his expense.

“He's making friends no doubt.”

May weakly remarked.

Only when all of the Inn fell silent and still that May gave a mouse like snore and soften her grip.

I see this as my permission slip my way downstairs. Where I was greeted by an empty and dark Inn, to the fire in the hearth and the embers of the lamp they were put to sleep.

Only Neil savoring a drink like a snob connoisseur and a lone bright lamp met me at the bar.

Taking a stool to sit, I thanked him for being here.

“Heh. Even if I wasn't here, I'm sure the innkeeper has many friends to take over this fine establishment.”

He replied as I sat down.

“Plus, I wasn't the only one who served the bar.”

“Yeah, your voice was one of the many reason why May couldn't sleep. How many friends did you make?”

I said in a chuckle as he finished his drink and stood up.

“Only one acquaintance and old man with a very distinct eye color.”

He took the lamp and asked if I want to meet this new friend of his.

“You're joking, right?”

I just told him what that guy did to May and he befriended him?

“Well, if you don't want to come then it's fine. But, trust me, he just want to apologize.”

He opens the door,

“Plus who knows, he might tell you something that the innkeeper might not.”

Neil left after that. Giving me no chance to reply. But the bright lamp gave away two shadowy silhouette on the window. One a smiling shadow I recognized and the other a hooded figure.

Whatever they were talking about, it got the best of me. Not only that a metallic spark that I so often hear lured me in further to eavesdrop besides the window.

That stinging nicotine of gray smoke made me already clench my fist... For some reason.

“You know it's rude to eavesdrop on conversation.”

Neil said as he opened the door and peeked with a smile.

“Said the guy whose hobby is eavesdropping on people during highschool.”

Not once did he left me alone when Erika, Mary, or Jeanne talked to me in private.

He gave a smile and shrug and said fair point and once again told me to come out.

“Besides, who was it that served the place while both of you were gone?”

He formed a smirk that I so hate. That I rolled my eyes and followed him out into the dark street.

“You sure you don't want a stick?”

The man said to Neil when he shone his lamp revealing those brilliant purple eyes, silvery beard and hair, and burning cigarette on his pink lips.

“Oh, believe me I want it.”

He chuckled a bit.

“It's just... Breathing this clear is something I miss.”

“He he, really now? How old are you?”

He cocked an eye at Neil.

“77”

Shrugged Neil.

“With that face? How much?”

“It's cheap. One dead demon lord is all you need!”

“Ahahaha! Of course! That's always their price hahaha!”

“Ahahaha!”

I was rubbing both of my shoulders to stave off the cold while the two got along fine with their layers of clothing and robe, and laughter and jokes.

“What do you want?”

I spoke out in the midst of their joy.

“If you still left some belonging on your room please comeback tomorrow.”

“You're a very, very, generous inn if you do that. May would never do that, especially to me.”

He then gave a knee, crouched to my level and grabbed both of my shoulders. I jolted at his warm hand and tried to jump out but to no avail.

“Can I have some time with Elfien please.”

He then looked at Neil in which he looked at me and ruffled my hair to my irritation. He laid the lamp on the dirt street besides us and bade goodbye.

“Hadrada, let's meet up again sometimes.”

Was his last words to the purple eyed old man as Neil's silhouette faded into the dark.

“Who are you?”

I asked as I still tried to shake myself out of his hands.

“I-It's hard, Elfien.”

He sighed and pauses for a minuet.

“There's a lot of histo–”

“Are you my father?”

If my mother back home saw my damnable father barging in our apartment asking for me to come with him or something like that. I damn well sure that she will have same reaction that May had. And if that were to happen I would have no second thoughts on beating my father out of our apartment.

“No, I'm just a person that reminds her of your ungrateful father.”

His face soured she uttered the word father.

“I am just a man who regretfully introduced a bright and lovable battle maiden to a general. Who, because of a mistake, he did a stupid thing. A very, very, stupid thing to us.”

He hung his head as he closed his eyes, staying silent for a minuet.

“So, why did you call me out then?”

“You really don't remember who I am?”

I could see his eyes trembling and his mouth shivering which he tried to control it.

“Everyone, not just you, has been saying that to me. All my reply to them was I am sorry if I don't remember.”

I tried my best to be tactful about this while telling the truth to him... I was prepared to see another person cry because I didn't remember them. But, he gave me a small chuckle as I said that.

“That gold I gave you. You're the one who gave it to me.”

He pursed his lips and brought out that gold coin he gave earlier.

“You said it was your first wage as a royal guard from princess Lilly. Even if you didn't remember me, I want to tell you, and May, that you are a Trueblood and she's Trueblood. We need her Elfien, we need you too. But it seems that she's still traumatized by your death last cycle, which didn't help that I played a big role on your death.”

“H-Hey!”

Before I knew it I found him hugging me. Tightly and pressing his fore on my shoulder.

“I will not ask anymore for forgiveness. I am damned in the void for what I've done to you, but I have a world to save first. I will not ask anything more but keep May happy and content. Please make her feel that she lived a life with his son she once failed. So please,”

He rubbed my back as he pleaded where when he separated and looked at me in the eye...

“Never leave her, protect her, and heal her! She has gone through so many misfortunes because of me, and I don't think your death isn't the end of it.”

He cried after that. An old man was crying on shoulder now, and I don't know what to do. The wind grew cold and the fires of the lamp was beginning to fade.

The old man wept as if I was his last hope. Yet, I know full well that his tears are wasted.

A few minuets has passed by until he finally calmed down.

“*Achee!*”

He sneezed.

“Oh, he he, it's getting cold.”

He sniffed and rub his misty eyes.

Reaching inside his robe he procured out a pouch strapped with a lace.

“Here, have this, you're mother wouldn't take your gold. So I hope you can surprise her with this.”

Though I couldn't see what was inside the very smell it emitted when I opened the pouch made my taste bud tingle in spicy delight.

“Pepper? Black pepper. Why are you carrying this around?”

I asked as I dipped a finger and felt the powdery texture, sniff the spicy aroma and licked in delight of this nostalgic taste.

“To spice up some life, I sprinkled some on your scrambled egg earlier when you weren't looking.”

He gave me a smile.

“If I am going to die from her hand, I am not going to die eating saltless scrambled eggs.”

Even though he gave a giggle at that I felt a bit insulted.

“Well, we've got some salt now, if you can make peace with May then you might get to taste how good my cooking is,”

I then wore the laced pouch like a necklace.

“And I'd be sure to use this.”

“I'll expect it then,”

He then offered his fist to me.

“Umm... What do you call it again?”

“Call what?”

I said while looking at his fist.

“The thing you do when we making a promise.”

He clicked his tongue as he furrowed his brow and thought deep.

“A handshake or a pinky swear?”

“The other one!”

His face brighten up as he raised his pinky.

“The pinky one.”

He then explained that he used to do it to Elfien when he visited and relations weren't that bad between them and May but... I refused his pinky. I am not Elfien.

“I rather want a handshake. A gentlemen's regard to one another. I'm almost at age so I might as well train myself now.”

“He he. Hahahahaha! Very well then!”

With a chortle and a spit on his hands. 

“It's a promise then!”

Frowning at his smirk and what he just did, I swallowed my disgust and shook that hot slimy hand.

“I'm counting on you. Elfien, protect your mother from your father at all cost. He is coming soon.”

He said when he hugged me for a final time. After which a strong wind blew by killing the light. Before I could think about the light the warmth of the hug that the old man gave suddenly disappeared in a snap.

Everything turned weird after that. The light returned when the strong wind stopped while the old man was no where to be found as if he was whisked away by the wind. After which I heard a horse neigh and hooves clopping away from me.