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    Hitory sighed, and Elyndra, noticing something was off, called him to a corner of the kitchen.


    — "Hitory, what did you do to make her act like that?" — Elyndra asked, crossing her arms and giving him an inquisitive look.


    — "Nothing much... I just slept on the floor last night. Thought it would be more appropriate." — He scratched his neck as he spoke.


    Elyndra raised an eyebrow, clearly understanding the situation.


    — "Ah, so that''s why. Well, you can’t blame her for being upset. You really could’ve explained it better, you know?"


    — "I tried, but... well, it''s done now." — Hitory shrugged.


    Elyndra sighed and patted him twice on the shoulder before they returned to the table.


    Back at breakfast, Elyndra tried to ease the tension, steering the conversation elsewhere as everyone sat down.


    — "Alright, let''s eat before this gets cold. You''ll need energy for today, especially with the journey ahead."


    Tekime finally relaxed a little, grabbing a slice of bread, though she still shot occasional side glances at Hitory. He, on the other hand, avoided provoking any further reaction, focusing on filling his coffee cup. Gradually, the breakfast became more relaxed, even with Tekime occasionally letting out sighs of disapproval.


    After breakfast, Hitory went to his room to grab his things. He paused for a moment beside the bed, opening the small pouch he carried. Inside, he found the necklace he''d inherited from his mother. Holding it carefully, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if drawing strength from the memories the object represented.


    Back in the living room, he looked at Tekime, who was still sitting at the table with her arms crossed, her expression sulky.


    — "Tekime," — he called, gripping his backpack strap.


    She glanced up for just a second before turning her face away again, clearly still upset. Hitory sighed, shaking his head with a small, resigned smile.


    Without pressing the matter, he turned to Elyndra, who had been observing the scene with a discreet smile.


    — "Elyndra, thanks for everything. For the hospitality, the food, and the advice. These days here were important." — Hitory bowed his head slightly in a respectful gesture.


    — "Take care, Hitory." — Elyndra replied, her gaze flicking briefly toward Tekime with an amused sparkle in her eyes.


    Hitory took a step toward the door but was stopped by Tekime''s firm voice.


    — "Are you leaving me here?" — she asked, her eyes clearly warning that he was treading on dangerous ground.


    Hitory paused, looking at her over his shoulder with a calm, almost serene expression.


    — "Ie, are you gonna start sulking now?" — he retorted in a tone so calm it seemed to provoke Tekime''s impatience even more. — "If you wanna come, move fast, got it?"


    Hearing the affectionate nickname, Tekime felt a mix of surprise and embarrassment. Unsure how to react, she turned and rushed to her room, closing the door behind her. There, she sat on the bed, staring at the floor while reflecting on her actions. Gradually, she realized she was overreacting and that, in truth, she was the one at fault.


    Determined to set things right, she quickly packed her things, sighing deeply. When she finished, she went back downstairs, where she found Hitory talking to Elyndra.


    — "Here you go, Hitory." — Elyndra handed him an old book with a worn leather cover. — "This might be useful for your journey."


    Hitory nodded in thanks but paused when he noticed Tekime approaching. She walked slowly, her expression a mix of regret and shyness, like a dog that knew it had done something wrong.


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    — "I''m sorry, Hitory. I was..." — Tekime began, hesitating.


    Hitory stood up, offering her a faint smile. He reached into his pocket and handed her something.


    — "It''s okay. Here, I want you to have this." — He opened his hand, revealing the necklace he had inherited from his mother.


    Tekime stared at the necklace, surprised.


    — "Our journey could get a little dangerous," — he explained, his tone serious yet gentle. — "So keep it with you. My mom always told my dad that this necklace brings strength to its wearer."


    Tekime carefully took the necklace, treating it like something sacred. She put it around her neck, touching the pendant for a moment before looking at Hitory.


    — "Thank you..." — she said, touched.


    Without much thought, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Surprised, Hitory froze for a second before lightly returning the embrace.


    Elyndra, watching the scene from the side, simply smiled.


    — "You two make a good couple," — she commented before stepping away to give them some privacy.


    After bidding Elyndra farewell, Hitory and Tekime grabbed their backpacks and headed for the door, ready to continue their journey.


    The sun was already starting to set, painting the sky a warm orange that reflected off the distant mountains. The road ahead seemed endless, but that didn''t discourage them.


    The day had been long and exhausting, and in the distance, they spotted a simple building with a soft light glowing through the windows. Tiredness took over, and they quickened their pace, hoping it was some sort of inn.


    As they approached, Hitory saw a sign that read "Tavern" and sighed with relief. They entered but quickly sensed something was wrong. The atmosphere felt odd, with muffled laughter and conversations echoing through the dark wooden walls.


    They crossed the room and approached the counter. A waitress with a seductive expression approached them, her skin slightly pale and her eyes glowing a deep red.


    Hitory, still unaware of the situation, asked:


    — "Do you have a room for us to stay the night?"


    The waitress smiled enigmatically, her lips curving almost maliciously. She answered in a soft tone, full of implications:


    — "We''re not the kind of inn you''re thinking of, but if you want, we have... other kinds of services."


    Tekime, already suspicious, immediately grabbed Hitory and pulled him away with a worried look.


    — "We need to leave this place now," — she said urgently.


    For a moment, Hitory looked at the waitress, but before she could make another move, he quickly responded:


    — "We could just see if they have food and camp outside."


    He returned to the counter, determined to avoid more complications.


    — "Do you serve any food?" — he asked.


    The waitress smiled, her teeth whiter than usual.


    — "Just drinks and some bread," — she replied with a light chuckle.


    Hitory, unwilling to stir more trouble, ordered:


    — "Then bring me four loaves, please."


    He took what he could and, with Tekime, prepared to leave quickly. However, before they could step out, the tavern door opened again, and a dwarf elf entered, his imposing figure drawing attention. He was short but muscular, with a sharp gaze that suggested experience in complicated situations.


    As they left, Hitory and Tekime exchanged quick glances. While walking away from the tavern, Hitory murmured:


    — "This place... feels weird."


    Tekime''s voice was quieter but held a grave tone.


    — "Not everyone here is human. Did you see? The dwarf elf... This is just the beginning, Hitory. In our world, there are many races beyond humans."


    As they moved away and set up camp, the book Elyndra had given Hitory explained the various races inhabiting the world:


    — Demi-Humans


    — Demons


    — Harpies


    — Beasts


    — Dragons


    — Deities


    — Elves and Dwarves


    — Vampires: ?????


    This was the world they were exploring — a world full of beings and races far beyond what they had imagined.


    End of EP 16: Between Races and Mysteries


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