While Lenny and Lina went to the kitchen to cook, I was alone in the corner, watching the group of customers partying as if tomorrow was the end of the world. They laughed and shouted across the hall, passing around drinks and playing games on the tables. And here I was thinking that it was gonna be quieter in here. Turns out, it was the exact opposite.

"Alright!" Lina cheered as she came back to the table. "Here we are."

She rested a tray of food on the table. From what I can see, there's quite a variety here, all of which I've never seen except for that stew over there. It was strikingly similar to the last meal that Silverain cooked for me.

Damn... It's only been a few hours, but I miss her already.

"Alright, buddy!" Lenny sat down with a grin. "Dig in! Don't worry about the payment. It's all on the house."

"Then... Thank you for the meal," I said.

I took a bite of one dish before moving on to another. A piece of roasted chicken melted in my mouth, and the savory taste of salted carrots had me grabbing a few more. So this is how feels to eat warm, fresh food... but something was off. Something was missing from this table, because even as I was graced by such delicious food... I feel nothing.

"What do you think?" Lina asked.

"Ah... It's good," I said. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome. By the way, it seems kinda weird that we're over here showing you our gratitude when we don't even know your name."

"My... name."

I've always wondered what my name was before I lost my memories. Was I a good or bad kid? Did I whine a lot like that one boy who was crying simply because he couldn't get some candy? Was I really... someone who was important to Silverain?

As much as I want to find out, that day may never come. It's okay, though. If I become someone that Silverain can be proud of, that's enough for me.

"Noir," I answered. "My name is Noir."

"Noir... That's a pretty cool name, man," Lenny chuckled. "Sure does suit a cool guy like yourself."

"I appreciate that. Are you two... lovers?"

Lenny spat out his water while Lina gagged on a spoonful of stew.

"Absolutely not!" Lina cried. "We're twins! Twins! Look! Orange hair and green eyes! Both of us!"

"Y-yeah..." Lenny muttered in disgust. "We may be cool now, but never let something like that leave your mouth again, Noir."

"Ah... I apologize," I said.

So these two are siblings. That would certainly explain why they look so similar and their close relationship. I wonder... Do I have any siblings?

"So, Noir," Lina said. "What's your story? How'd you end up in this humble little village?"

Silverain told me that I shouldn't tell anyone about my isolation in a cave and that I have no recollections of my past. Instead, she told me to say...

"I'm just traveling with no particular goal in mind," I said.

"Ah, so you're a wanderer," Lina nodded her head.

"A wanderer, indeed," Lenny also nodded his head. "So? How's the big, wide world been treating you so far?"

"Hm... It's interesting, to say the least," I replied. "I only just started my journey, so I'm curious how it'll go."

"What, breaking that poor guy's arm wasn't enough for you?" Lina snickered with an elbow on the table.

"He started it."

"Oho, yeah, he did," Lenny grumbled. "Barging in here like they own the place and trying to come onto my sister. They didn't even pay for their drinks after getting drunk. See that smashed table over there? That was all their doing."

I looked past my shoulder to see the wooden remnants of what was once a dining table. Seems like there are many different kinds of people in this world. It's a good thing that I encountered one of the bad ones so soon. Now, I shouldn't be surprised when another one shows up.

"Tch, and we have to pay for that too," Lenny sighed. "Today's just not that day, but at least we got to meet you, Noir."

"Mhm!" Lina agreed.

Then there are people like the twins. I wonder what the percentage is across the world. How many people will I meet, and will they be kind? Or will they interfere with my path? Only time will tell.

Suddenly, my eyes caught up to a strange sight, one that felt out of place compared to everything else.

A little girl dressed in tattered rags was making her way down the aisle. Her long, pure white hair fell to her hips, but it was grimy to the point where individual specks of dirt could be seen. Those big, bright blue eyes were hollowed and drooping, an apparent sign of her fatigue.

"Excuse me," I called out while the twins were stuffing their faces.

"Hm?! Lenny hummed aggressively.

"Who's that over there?"

They turned their heads in the direction I pointed, and when they saw the same little girl, their expressions simultaneously dropped.

"She's back, huh...?" Lina mumbled in sadness. "That's little Blanc. She's a homeless child who works in the fields. Every so often, she would swing by the tavern and order scraps of food with what little money she had."

"We help her out when we can, but it was never nearly enough to fill the stomach of a growing child," Lenny sighed bitterly. "An extra piece of bread or another plate of food, if we're lucky. We would give her so much more if we could, but... it never seems like enough."

Blanc. It seems like she has it very bad here. For such a young girl to be in such a deplorable state and look so dejected... I wonder what happened to her.

The doors of the tavern abruptly slammed open, forcing the jubilation of the tavern to immediately cease. With sharp rays of sunlight seemingly praising their arrival, four men walked in.

They were dressed differently from everyone else, wearing formal uniforms of red and accented with gold. Upon each of their shoulders was a mantle with the same symbol on it: a fiery hound.

"Well, well! Look who we got here," one of them chortled. "I thought I recognized you, little missy."

Though, Blanc refused to turn around and greet them with the same enthusiasm. Instead, she stayed completely still, holding onto a wrapped plate with only a piece of bread and a few slices of fruit.

"Look at those bastards..." Lenny whispered with rage. "Followers of the Path of Ignis who think they can just go around and do as they please."

"... Path of Ignis...?" I mumbled.

The path that Silverain follows is the 'Path of Tenebris.' She also mentioned that I was a Wayfarer of that same path. I never knew what it meant, and she never once elaborated, saying that I'd find out on my own.

These paths... I wonder what exactly they are. It seems there is much to the ways of this world that I must learn.

"What do you got for dinner?" that same man continued his snarky attitude. "Eh? That's it? Couldn't scrounge up just a little bit more gold to have a decent meal, could ya? Serves you right for being that witch's daughter."

The men laughed. However, not a single other soul in the tavern joined them. In fact, it was the complete opposite. Their brows crossed with teeth gritted as if they were itching to fight. Is it because these men are followers of Ignis that they're abstaining?

"Hey, missy. You trying to ignore me?" he chuckled again. "You know, I really do care about you, and trust me, I can help. Just gotta do me one little favor, and I'll give you enough gold to last a whole week. What do you think? You gonna accept my gracious offer? Or will you go down the same path that your mother did?"

Suddenly, the deafening sound of a snap rendered the entire hall silent. All eyes turned to me, with Lenny and Lina's reactions being the most stunned.

It wasn't until I looked down that I figured out the source of the sound. The spoon within my finger was snapped clean in half.

Strange. How did that happen? Despite my confusion, my body moved on its own. I stood and looked at the twins.

"Thanks for the meal, guys," I said. "I'll be heading out now. My appetite is gone."

After gathering my belongings, I began walking. Each step emitted a significant thud. No one said a word, not even those followers of Ignis when I walked past them.

However, one of them finally spoke up. "You got something to say to us, son?"

I paused in my tracks as a subtle wave of... I don't even know what, but it was coursing through my body like a shattered dam upon a river.

With a deep breath, I turned around to look at the followers, and the moment I did, their relaxed postures stiffened. A cold, inexplicable breeze rushed past us, nearly extinguishing the torches on the walls of the tavern.

I don't know why, but I'm not happy right now.

"Nothing at all... Sir," I said.

As I began walking away, I realized that my hands were firmly tightened around the grip of my sword. Reluctantly, I let go of it. I'm not sure how I feel, but one thing's for sure... I did not like what I saw. Not one bit.