He whispered to himself as his teeth found his bottom lip. Finally, he sucked in a breath and cracked open the door. He was met with the strong smell of smoke, liquor pungent enough to burn his nose. The Tavern was dimly lit, an orange hue cast over most of the room, save for some tables tucked away within darkness. There appeared to be a staircase leading to an upper level, but Lumen couldn't see clearly from the entrance.

Lumen scanned the room; men of large stature, rugged appearance, booming voices filled the space. They were talking, some quiet and some loud. There were men drinking, smoking, and playing cards. Lumen felt like he'd just been hit with cold water, his thin pale body mostly concealed, still stuck out painfully.

A few men glanced at Lumen before muttering amongst themselves. He felt eyes bore into him from every direction. Especially in the darkest corner of the room where he couldn't make out the figures.

Lumens eyes fell forward to the bartender, trying to ignore the stares and the burning embarrassment he felt even stepping foot in here.

His voice barely managed to fall from his lips

"E-Excuse me.."

Lumen tried to get the man's attention. He was a bit younger but still older than Lumen. Human, with garishly dyed orange hair, gaudy and tied back tight in a ponytail. The man lifted a brow and stopped the glass he had in his hand. He turned towards Lumen and grinned in a way that could be seen as condescending.

"Hey kid, not sure if you're in the right place"

He spoke with a slight mocking tone. Lumen grit his teeth as he leaned in closer, determined not to back down and run away now. He spoke in a hushed tone, not to draw attention.

"I need to hire someone.."

The bartender raised a brow and flashed a smile at Lumen.

"Oh? Listen I'm not sure how you heard about.." The man flapped his hand as if he couldn't find the words.

"y'know, That. We don't exactly promote it. I'd ask but I'm not sure I want to know. Even if we could help you, I doubt you'd have the coin, what's the job?

Lumen tried to act calm. Reaching into his pouch he pulled out his satchel of coin, dropping it on the counter in front of the orange haired man. He wasn't sure exactly who he was supposed to pay, but surely this had to get him something.

"I have this.." Lumens voice was cut off by the man's hand quickly shoving the pouch back towards Lumen. His voice hurried, clearly alarmed.

"Don't go waving that around here, shit. There's all kinds here, you'll get yourself mugged at this rate. Anyway what's the job, that might be enough depending. Did you want someone to, well, go away?"

Lumen swallowed, his throat was dry as he quickly shook his head.

"No! No nothing like that, I need an escort.. To somewhere far.."

The man cocked his head and leaned in closer

"How far we talkin'?"

Lumen pondered his words for a moment, afraid nobody here would be able to fulfill his offer if he said it.

"Astradel."

The bartender stood up straight and inhaled; he had a confused expression, bringing a hand to his chin.

"That's a hefty order, uh, Sorry kid what's your name? Didn't catch it."

Lumen felt his heart sink, but he wanted to cling to whatever shred of hope he had.

"Lumen, it's Lumen. Listen I can try and get more silver, I just really need this.. I need to get there no matter the cost."

"Yeah I hear ya, but there's not many merc's we've got available willing to go that far out.." The man stopped for a second as Lumens stomach twisted in defeat.

"But listen there might be a few willing, I'll ask you to take a seat somewhere, anywhere you want. I'll ask a couple of the guys. How's that sound?"

Lumen's brows knit in relief at the fact there was still a chance. He nodded to the man and turned away, his eyes falling on the stairs in front of him, he decided to climb them, walking past the sea of rugged men. He tried to keep his eyes down, avoiding any gazes that tried to pry at him.

As he ascended the stairs, creaking beneath his slight frame, he heard less noise. It was quieter up here. Only two men sat on the other side of the room, candles held in place along the walls up here, it seemed warmer and slightly more inviting. From the far side of the room he spied a stoic male of Elven blood. His hair, a deep midnight blue, his eyes thin, caught his gaze momentarily. Lumen felt as if he was trapped for a moment within his icy glare. Lumen's chest twisted with anxious thoughts, he quickly hung his head, hoping he hadn't accidently invited the stranger to him.

Lumen finally looked away, finding a table off in a far corner, the candles' soft light spreading above him. Lumen waited, he hoped with every bone in his body that someone would take the job. He never considered hiring a mercenary, dealing with people like that.. Frightened him.

Lumen clenched his knees, bunching the fabric of his pants as he nervously waited. Distant sounds of men laughing downstairs.

Suddenly he heard the heavy thud of boots climbing the stairs, a faint clinking of metal as someone ascended. Lumens eyes squeezed shut, his brows forming a tight crease, he was torn between being terrified and optimistic. He felt sweat pool in his palms as the footsteps stopped at what sounded like the top of the stairs. Lumen kept his eyes downcast, staring at his table beneath his hood.

He heard the rustling of clothes, and the clanking of metal as the man shifted towards Lumen's direction. Slow, deliberate steps grew louder, and Lumen realized it was someone coming towards him. He felt too embarrassed to look up, so he kept his eyes locked on the empty table in front of him. Suddenly a clank as a glass full of amber liquid was placed on the other side of the table. A large figure shrouded in black pulled the wooden chair from its place, seating himself.

Lumen's eyes glided upwards, his eyes scanning the individual in front of him. Dark cloak, tanned skin, fingers with sharp nails gripped the glass on the table. Under his cloak Lumen felt his body go rigid. His eyes wide as he took in the sight before him.

It was him

The man from that day in the city when he was grabbed. The one who found him in the forest.

Lumen's blood ran cold and he couldn't find his breath as bright gold eyes examined him across the table. The scent of cinnamon filled his lungs when he finally inhaled, it was familiar. The same scent as before.

His voice was trapped in his throat as his stomach twist into a knot, words escaped his mind and trembling fingers clutched his knees.

Finally, after what felt like hours. a deep but smooth voice emitted from the man

"You're going to Astradel?"

Lumen averted his gaze at the question, his fingers tightly clenching his pants under the table, he felt relief at the simple question.

"Y-Yes.. I'd like to leave as soon as possible.."

Lumen didn't look up to meet the man's eyes, but he felt them on him, unwavering.

"By yourself?" Another question filled his ears.

"Well, yes.." Lumen trailed off, too intimidated to speak, too in shock to explain himself.

"Why?"

Lumen glanced up, surprised at the sudden onslaught of questions from the stranger before him.

"I just need to.. Does the reason matter if there's payment?"

Lumen bravely returned the question. The pit of his stomach felt like a void as he shifted in his seat.

The man across from him made a deep sound, not exactly a sigh.

Lumen flinched as he saw the man's hands suddenly lift. He quickly shut his eyes, before hearing rustling and realizing he wasn't reaching to touch Lumen. His eyes landed on the hoodless sight in front of him. Something he hadn't even noticed or considered sat atop the broad man's ink-black hair.

A pair of pointed, furred ears. He was of beast blood.

Lumen couldn't help but stare, but was soon caught by the man's eyes. They were sharp but held a deep coldness that Lumen felt in his core. The man's hair tied back into a ponytail, he noticed the ends faded to a pure white color; his ears the same as if they were dusted with snow.

Lumen's eyes suddenly shifted downwards as he realized he had been staring; the man's face wasn't aged, but it was defined, surely more matured than Lumen's. Putting a face to this mysterious figure felt strange, but somehow relieving. But now Lumen's embarrassment grew. He knew he was far smaller and weaker than him. He wondered if the man even remembered him from the other times.

"I can take you"

His voice filled Lumen's ears as his thoughts came crashing back to the subject, he had almost forgotten as he starred at the beast-man in front of him. Lumen felt some type of relief, but he needed to know if he remembered him, he worried that maybe he was trying to trick him for seeing him in the alley, beating the other man up. Although he had let him go in the forest. Did he remember that? Lumen questioned himself, unsure of why it even mattered.

"Do.. Do you remember me?" Lumen spoke without thinking. The expressionless man in front of him watched Lumen carefully. Lumen spoke again, slightly hurried this time

"In the alley, that time you grabbed someone"

His face didn't change and suddenly Lumen worried he had mistaken his identity.

"What about it?"

His answer was dry. He watched as the other in front of him raised his glass of honey-colored liquid to his lips, swallowing a large amount; Lumen watched the ice cube clink around inside the glass, unsure of how to respond.

"What were you doing? Back then, why did you do that?"

Lumen's words faded as he spoke, each time feeling more embarrassed for asking.

The Beast-man spoke in a flat tone as his eyes examined Lumen.

"I'm a mercenary, that should answer your question."

Lumen felt a bit ridiculous for asking, but suddenly it made sense. He decided not to push it further.

"I.. See. But you're willing to go with me?" Lumen shuffled around, reaching into his bag. He dropped his sack of coins on the table in front of the other man's gaze. Lumen watched his eyes glance at the pouch, then back up at him.

"We can work out payment later, do you know how to fight?"

Fight? Lumen thought carefully, he'd never needed to. Frankly, that's why he needed to hire a mercenary. He shook his head in response, the sharp, uncaring eyes before him examined his frame. Lumen could see his gaze through his lashes, feeling too anxious to make eye contact. Even under the safety of his hood, he knew he was still visible.

"When do you leave?"

Lumen answered quickly

"The day after tomorrow, if possible, I need to prepare a couple of things."

Suddenly the memory of him being held up by this man stormed through his mind. Seeing his face, his cold gaze, he began to feel the flame of embarrassment creep up his cheeks, the familiar scent of cinnamon surely wafting from this man.

Suddenly a hand was stretched out, deep lines stretched across it. Lumen recognized them as being scars. He felt hesitant as the man held his large hand out. Lumen inhaled as he reached his hand out, making contact with the warm, rough hand; it engulfed his easily. He realized how weak he was compared to someone like him, his anxiety rising as he realized he could beat him with ease and take his silver, leaving him in the forest to die.

Lumen starred at the beast's long claws; as the man's hand pulled away, he stood, Lumen's head lifting as he watched him.

"We have an agreement. Meet me by the city gates early, before the sun is up in two days. We depart then." Without another word, the man's footsteps filled the room. The smell of cinnamon encompassing him as he walked by, Lumen felt it overpowering him as he could say nothing as the man began to descend the stairs.

Lumen sat in silence for several minutes before he stood, noticing the half empty glass of alcohol that was left on the table. He inhaled deeply, releasing the tension in his body when he exhaled, descending the stairs as quiet as possible.

He headed towards the door. He glanced back at the bartender, who shot him a wink, and continued his work.

Lumen exited the tavern, his body heaving forwards, his hands resting on his knees. He was both terrified, relieved, and in shock.

The stranger that he had been running into was a mercenary, which made sense when he thought about what had happened with the red-headed man. He had no reason to harm Lumen in the forest. It was relieving, but his nerves were still twisting.

Lumen glanced at the night sky. It was speckled with hundreds of white dots. He breathed the crisp air, noticing the nights were getting slightly more chilly. The rainy months would be coming soon, he thought to himself, as he began to walk towards the edge of town. Through the darkness of the forest that seemed to be asleep.

He made it back to his cabin without issue. He let Biyo inside, shutting the door behind him. He swiftly removed his shoes, then his clothes. The weight of his body caused the springs in his bed to creak softly. Lumen stared up at the ceiling, unsure of how to feel. He had hired a mercenary to escort him safely. But still, it was that guy.

Lumen felt a growing annoyance at his fear. He didn't even know the man. It wasn't entirely fair to judge him. Lumen needed to give this a chance if he wanted to make it to Astradel alive.

His body couldn't find the calm of sleep. He ended up staring at his ceiling until the early hours of the morning, when his drowsy haze finally pulled him under.