"Looks like Irene won't come down." Ezer cuts his portion of meat after taking a big sip of soup.

“She has to decide what to do from now on. If she decides to go in the same direction as us and go home...”

"You won't let her come with us."

“Exactly, I don't trust her. Something keeps me alert and the worst thing is that I don't know what exactly. I can perceive truth in her words, but only to a certain extent, she hides something from us.”

“Your eyes?”

“It wouldn't do any good, I can only confuse people's hearts, not read them. At least for now.”

“I also feel a certain distance from Irene, but I think it's normal considering what she suffered. Maybe we should give it a try... I know how she feels, I too was forced to leave my home and if you hadn't helped me back then, I wouldn't be alive. Maybe... maybe we should help her.” The mountains hardened Ezer's heart, at least as far as himself was concerned.

However, seeing someone in a similar situation to him reminded of what he once was and wanted to help if he could.

“Let's decide when the time comes, we have to listen to her decision first. Now, let's finish eating.”

Lyaria understands Ezer's feelings better than anyone, his words make her ask herself if it was really necessary to separate from Irene, maybe her mistrust was extreme.

---------------------------

Night falls completely and the town of the three roads plunges into cold darkness. There was no one in the streets being all inside their houses, but this was not entirely true, there was an exception. A contingent of soldiers escorted a group of people on horseback, these were led by a man with an impassive gaze and immune to the cold.

"Where is that man?"

“Here.” Despite having his head bowed in a show of respect, his multiple scars on his face made it easy to recognize that he was the same person who came across Ezer a few hours ago.

"You know what will happen if what you say is a lie."

“You don't have to worry my lord, I saw with my own eyes what you've been looking for so long.” A smile spreads across his face, split by greed and scars.

"Then let's not waste any more time." No emotion could be discerned from the man sitting on his horse, but only he knew how anxious and exasperated the search had made him.

"Please wait a second my lord... With all due respect, I heard that it managed to slip away several times and that's why I have a proposition for you." He takes a risk and stands in front of the contingent blocking their path, and as a result, several swords rise to the level of his neck.

“What's your name?” With a slight wave from him, the soldiers lower their weapons and loosen their muscles.

“Siergo, my lord. A humble mercenary at your disposal.”

“Let's hear your proposal.”

Hearing this, the smile on Siergo 's face only widens in size and greed.

---------------------------

Late at night, taking longer than he expected to fall asleep, Ezer can't clear his mind of the most trivial thoughts.

"It's the first comfortable bed in weeks and I still can't fall asleep…maybe Lyaria." He decides to get out of bed hoping to find a partner with the same problems as him, but to his surprise, Lyaria sleeps soundly with soft, relaxed breathing. “You really were exhausted, you deserve a good rest.” Ezer caresses her cheek without waking her up at the same time that an unconscious smile forms on his face, then decides to go outside since he couldn't fall asleep.

The hallway would be completely dark if it weren't for the moonlight filtering in through the single window at the end of the corridor. Silence reigned except for one room from which came ragged moans that Ezer ignores with slight discomfort.

He finally reaches the stairs to descend to the dining room when he perceives movement to his right, the same direction as Irene's room. She walks out the door fully kitted out with her backpack and coats, she is shocked and freeze at the sight of Ezer, but quickly regains her composure walking over to grab his hand and drag him to the window.

“Iren-”

"We have to escape!" She doesn't even let Ezer finish his sentence.

“What? From whom?” Having reached the end of the corridor, Ezer's heart skipped a beat at those words.

"It's... it's that man, whom we passed as we entered the inn. He's chasing me, I don't know what he's trying to do, but…” She tries to explain in exasperation just as a man walks up the stairs to the hallway revealing the scars on his face.

“It's him!” Ezer sees how the man takes out a dagger perfect for closed spaces like the one they were in now.

“Follow me!” Irene wastes no time and jumps out the window.

Ezer steps onto the frame as he remembers Lyaria. Shifts his gaze back and makes sure he has the man's full attention on himself. When he can already hear the agitated breathing on the strong footsteps of the man as approaches, he throws himself out the window falling on some barrels on the ground.

Siergo follows Ezer's example and does not hesitate to jump out the window in the same way, thus reaching the narrow backyard walled by the walls of surrounding houses that overlooked an alley and the main road.