"Where are we headed now?" I asked the girl sitting opposite me.

"Muckfield." She replied with her strong gaze on me.

I shifted a bit. It's a little uncomfortable when she does that, but I'm growing used to it...hopefully.

Perhaps it's time to try to change the mood a little? It feels...cold.

I remember this feeling from somewhere.

"Anything you want to do there?"

"No."

Can her replies get shorter than this?

"So about our accommodation-"

"The usual." Her gaze grows stronger.

The temperature inside the carriage seems to drop even further.

Talking with her is hard...

Well, I guess we will just do the usual and find an inn then.

                                                             * * *

"Room for two, please."

I put down a gold coin and asked the innkeeper.

"S-S-Sir? A room for two only costs t-t-t...two silver...."

Oh, right. He must have been scared by my appearance.

"It's fine, just keep the change. We're going to have dinner in the room itself, so please bring our food up."

"Y-Y-Yes, sir!"

I feel a tug on my shirt. Oh, seems like she's more hungry than normal.

"Ah, make the meal bigger please. I'm feeling quite hungry today."

"Of-Of-Of course...! May I know your names?"

"James Dilwyn. The girl's my daughter, Anne Dilwyn." I gave him our aliases.

"Th-Th-Thank you very much. Your room is on the third floor in the corner, here's your keys. Pl...don't...make...ess."

The innkeeper's voice had almost shrunken to a minimum as his words went on.

...I really am not fit to be the one to do all these things...

If only she would do it. But knowing her, that's definitely not happening!

The world might suddenly explode, and magic might become a thing, but she definitely isn't going to do it.

And besides, there's also the matter of her attitude towards strangers.

Urgh...

I went up the stairs with her following behind.

"E-Enjoy your stay here, sir and miss!"

She turned back and looked at him, but saw no one.

Poor guy. That counter looked really dusty underneath. I understand why he would do that, though.

                                                             * * *

"So, why did you want to come over to Muckfield?"

I decided to ask her the question I've been having ever since she decided on our next destination.

"Sightseeing."

Another short and precise answer from her. She didn't even look at me this time, and instead has her attention focused on the door.

She's definitely not paying attention and just waiting for the food!

The trip must have really tired her out to make her this hungry, but she needs to learn some manners one of these days.

...but then again, when did she ever answer otherwise...

I would identify as sort of a person of mystery myself, but I should say, my companion so far definitely holds more secrets than me.

Do I want to find out more? Of course. Will she let me do that, however?

Does her cold stare count as a no?

Some knocks on the door.

She instantly stood up from the bed, and opened the door.

People often said that motivation makes someone break their limits, and I'm seeing it right in front of eyes right now. That was some record-breaking movement speed coming from her.

"Uh...m-m-missus, your meal..." The innkeeper seems very disturbed by the little time difference between his knocking and the door opening. That, and her stare isn't really helping.

"Leave it."

I can see that her stare is on the food.

"O-O-Ok..." The innkeeper definitely didn't!

The innkeeper looks even more scared now...poor guy.

After leaving the food in front of the door, he sprinted off. Yes, sprinted. I never knew someone who looks like a matchstick could run so fast...

Well, that girl wouldn't care anyways.

She took the tray and after handing me my portion, she sat back down on her bed and starting wolfing it down.

It is at times like this that reminds me more of her hidden sides that she doesn't show others.

In this case, she looks just like a python that swallows the prey whole...except the prey is a barbequed chicken this time and she is...maybe not cold blooded?

Come to think of it, when I first met her, she was on the verge of dying from hunger...

                                                             * * *

It was a rainy day.

I was selling off one of the rare loot I obtained from that time, so I entered an alleyway since the locals told me it was a shortcut.

I walked past all the garbage that people throw out, as well as other random things just lying around.

Suddenly, something grabbed my left leg.

I was scared senseless, thinking it was a ghost, but thank god it was just her.

Turning back and looking at what grabbed my leg while assuming a battle stance, I was relieved at the time to find out it was just a person.

She was lying with her face plastered to the ground. Tattered clothes barely covering her body, and a foul stench coming from her body.

Her hand that is grabbing my leg looked like skin and bones.

"Food."

A surprisingly cold-sounding voice came from the person on the ground.

"..."

Not really knowing how to respond to this, and having seen so many of the same scenes before, I decided to ignore it.

However, another hand grabbed me, on my right leg this time.

I turned back again, and this time, a girlish face is staring at me with a cold glare.

She opened her mouth, seemingly wanted to say something, but closed it again.

I felt a tinge of interest at the time so I decided to see what this little girl wanted to say.

Her cold glare slowly faded, and somehow, I felt as if her gaze had softened and was warming me up inside.

"Pl...se. I...eed...fo..."

...and that is when I decided to take this almost dying girl with me.

                                                             * * *

The girl seemed to have finished her food and is now patting her slightly bulging tummy, something really unbefitting of someone with her looks.

If some of the people infatuated with her looks could see her now, I bet most of them would turn around and run.

If I knew how much she could eat back then, I should have never brought her along with me...

It's too late to regret now.

Leave her by herself? I can't bring myself to do that!

After trying multiple times(unsuccessfully) to tell her to go on her own, I decided so just let her be my travelling companion.

Well, it's more of her making me her travel companion and not the other way around, but I guess that doesn't really matter.

As long as I get to do my work, it's not bad I suppose?

"I'm heading to sleep now."

Stripping off my armour, I told her that and lied down on the bed before pulling the bed covers over myself.

Mhm. Nice and comfy, just the way I like it.

Today sure was tiring. Time to get some shut-eye!

...

Some walking sounds on the floor and my bed cover feels lighter on my body.

A warm thing suddenly came onto my sides and hugged me from behind.

......silly Lilla. She does this every time.