Rin handed Dmitri a small pouch of coins. He was eager to peek through to see how to coins looked like. It obviously didn't look anything like the coins back in Kiva. There were holes in the middle of the coins, with something engraved around it, likely words. He couldn't read, but he doubted he was going to need to know what it said. Dmitri and Vlad didn't know where else to go, so Rin had to guide him around the village. After a few more turns, they stopped by a building. It was larger than most of the other buildings in the village, and well decorated from the outside with a garden of racked pebbles and a little river of water running around by the side. It was obviously an inn, there were a lot of signs by the sliding doors to indicate it. Of course, Dmitri didn't know what it said in general, it only took common sense to know a well decorated common house would be an inn. In front of this inn was a balding middle-aged man, sweeping the snow off the porch entrance. He looked up with an inviting smile at him and Rin.

"Oh, Rin! Welcome back, my son!" He turned his attention to Dmitri, "Oh, I see you brought company, nice to meet you, young one. From the looks of you, you must be a traveler."

"Yes, sir," Dmitri grinned. The man radiated with joyful aura, he couldn't help but feel at ease.

"You look like a sweet child, we would like to take you, but unfortunately we run a business," the man shook his head, making tsk-tsk sounds of disappointment.

Dmitri was reminded by the coins Rin gave him. He rummaged through his satchel for the pouch. He didn't know how much to give the man, so he poured everything into the man's hand.

"Is this enough?"

The man widened his eyes, it was definitely too much, however, the man didn't complain.

"Oh, definitely! Thank you, young traveler. Come! I will show you to your room."

They walked into the halls of the house. The spaces were narrow, enough for arms' length to pass through to get to anyone's rooms. The doors were a thumb thick, just enough for privacy in terms of changing and sleeping. However, sound can still travel through it. The tightness of the building made Dmitri feel uneasy, he never liked closed spaces.

Dmitri kept rotating his head from side to side, peering through each open room that they pass by.

"If you are trying to find young Rin, he is working," the bald man hummed, "he works here as a server, and he's one of the best in the business."

The man slid the door open to Dmitri's room. Space was fairly larger than the rooms he passed by earlier. Dmitri was relieved, the large sliding window right across him made him even happier.

"This is where you will sleep for the night. Feel free to call any of the servants if you need."

The man bowed and slid the door.

Dmitri laid down and rolled on the matted floor. Vlad peered out of his satchel and crawled towards Dmitri, laying on his chest. He chuckled and petted Vlad's head gently.

After a moment, the door opened again. Dmitri rushed to sit up properly. It was Rin, carrying a tray of tea. He carefully placed it on the floor. He prepared everything from crushing the leaves to pouring hot water into the cup. The aroma had sweetness and warmth to it that calmed Dmitri's restlessness for the day. Dmitri picked up the ceramic cup and took a gentle sip on its rim.

"Thank you, Rin." Dmitri smiled.

Rin lifted himself up from the floor and slid the door open.

"Please, stay for a bit. It's been a while since I talked to someone."

Rin withdrew his fingers from the frame of the door, sitting back down to face the young boy.

Rin wasn't very talkative from what he observed, even with his master. Why did he ask him to stay? Why did he want to talk to him? Dmitri didn't know why in the first place. He knew Rin wouldn't talk back, but there was something about Rin that he couldn't help but feel the want to share everything. At least, Rin was eager to listen.

"Hey, do you wanna know why I'm traveling?"

Rin just nodded.

"I made a promise to my mom that I travel west," Dmitri laid down on the floor and rolled around a bit, "she told me I would find peace here since people accept other people's differences. Maybe, I can find people here like me, who ran away from Kiva."

Rin shifted to a different sitting position, unfolding his legs, and leaned on the side. He wanted to hear more.

"I'm so glad I'm finally in the west of the continent. Though, I will say it feels very different from what my mom described this place to be. I wonder why people were chasing after me earlier. I thought people welcomed sorcerers here."

Rin raised a brow and looked at Vlad. Vlad looked at him and shook his head a little. There was a sense of sorry from Rin, but Dmitri wasn't sure why the man was feeling that way.

The conversation started to feel blunt, but he wanted to hear Rin at least once respond. Dmitri sat back up and grinned at. Rin flinched when the boy inched closer to his face.

"Hey Rin, wondered why I'm able to understand you and you are able to understand me?"

Rin blinked.

He pulled out a necklace that was tucked in his clothes. It was a pure white gem with marbled cracks of gold and faded tone of purples.

"This is the Gem of Tongues. With this, it lets me understand anyone who talks to me. They can also understand me. I only speak Kivan, so because I'm traveling, this is useful, don't you think?"

Rin still didn't respond him with anything but a nod. He wondered if this session between them was every worth Rin's time.

"Am I boring you?"

Rin shook his head. Dmitri was relieved.

"Rin!" There was a shout from the halls.

Rin in an instant stood and fixed up his draping robes before bowing and leaving Dmitri's room. Dmitri sighed and looked at Vlad, leaning his palm to his face and elbow to his knee. He didn't think Rin was ever interested with anything he said.