Hitory sighed, and Elyndra, noticing that something more was going on, 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. I thought it would be more appropriate." — he replied, scratching his neck.

Elyndra raised an eyebrow, clearly understanding the situation.

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

— "I tried, but... Well, it's done now." — Hitory said, shrugging.

Elyndra sighed and gave him two pats on the shoulder before they returned to the table.

Back at breakfast, Elyndra tried to lighten the mood by steering the conversation in another direction 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 sideways glances at Hitory. He, on the other hand, avoided provoking any further reactions, focusing on filling his coffee cup. Slowly, breakfast became more relaxed, even with Tekime occasionally sighing in disapproval.

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

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

— "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 insisting, he turned to Elyndra, who was watching the scene with a faint smile.

— "Elyndra, thank you for everything. For the hospitality, the food, and the advice. These days here have been important." — Hitory said, bowing his head in a respectful gesture.

— "Take care, Hitory." — Elyndra replied, looking at the young girl with a playful glint in her eyes.

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

— "Are you just going to leave me here?" — she asked, her gaze clearly warning that he was stepping into dangerous territory.

Hitory stopped and looked at her over his shoulder, his expression calm, almost serene.

— "Hey, are you gonna start throwing a tantrum now?" — he shot back in such a calm tone that it only seemed to provoke Tekime's impatience even more. — "If you want to come, hurry up, got it?"

Tekime, hearing the affectionate nickname, felt a mix of surprise and embarrassment. Unsure how to react, she turned around and rushed to her room, closing the door behind her. There, she sat on the bed, staring at the floor as she thought about what she had done. Gradually, she realized she had been overreacting and that, in truth, she was the one in the wrong.

Determined to make things right, she began packing her things quickly, taking a deep breath. When she finished, she went down to the living room, 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 thanked her with a nod but paused when he noticed Tekime approaching. She walked slowly, her expression mixing regret and shyness, like a puppy that knew it had done something wrong.

— "I'm sorry, Hitory. I was..." — Tekime started, hesitating on her words.

Hitory stood up, smiling softly. He reached into his pocket and held something out to her.

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

Tekime looked at the necklace, surprised.

— "Our journey might get a little dangerous," — he explained, his tone serious but kind. — "So, keep it. My mother always told my father that this necklace brings strength to its wearer."

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

— "Thank you..." — she said, her voice emotional.
Without thinking much, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Hitory, surprised, froze for a second before returning the hug gently.
Elyndra, watching from the corner, just smiled.
— "You two make a good couple," — she commented before stepping away to give them some privacy.

After saying goodbye to Elyndra, Hitory and Tekime grabbed their backpacks and headed for the house's exit, ready to resume their journey.

The sun was already beginning to set, painting the sky with a warm orange hue that reflected over the distant mountains. The road ahead seemed endless, but that didn’t discourage the two of them.

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

As they got closer, Hitory saw a sign that read "Tavern" and sighed in relief. They entered, but soon realized something was wrong. The atmosphere had a strange vibe, with muffled laughter and conversations echoing through the dark wooden walls.

They crossed the hall and approached the counter. A waitress with a seductive expression walked up, her skin slightly pale and her eyes glowing a deep crimson red.

Hitory, still unaware of the situation, asked:
— "Do you have a room where we can spend the night?"

The waitress smiled enigmatically, her lips curving in an almost malicious way. She responded with a soft tone, yet full of implications:
— "We're not the kind of inn you're thinking of, but if you’d like, we offer... other kinds of services."

Tekime, who was already suspicious, immediately pulled Hitory away with a worried look.
— "We need to leave this place now," — she said in an urgent tone.

For a moment, Hitory glanced back at the waitress, but before she could make any more moves, he quickly responded:
— "We can just ask if they have food and set up camp outside."

He returned to the counter, determined not to get involved in further complications, and asked:
— "Do you serve any kind of food?"

The waitress smiled again, her teeth unnaturally white.
— "Only drinks and some bread," — she replied with a slight chuckle.

Hitory, still trying to avoid trouble, said:
— "Then bring me four loaves of bread, please."

He grabbed what he could and, with Tekime, prepared to leave quickly. However, before they could take the first step, the tavern door opened once again, and a dwarf elf walked in, his imposing figure drawing attention. He was short but muscular, with a sharp gaze as if experienced in the most complicated situations.

As they left, Hitory and Tekime exchanged quick glances. While walking out, Hitory muttered:
— "This place... it's strange."

Tekime’s voice was quieter, but with a serious tone.
— "Not everyone here is human. Did you see that? The dwarf elf... This is just the beginning, Hitory. In our world, there are many races beyond humans."

There are several races that inhabit this world, some of the main ones and their brief details:
— Demi-Humans: Beings with human characteristics but with aspects of animals or other creatures.
— Demons: Beings from the depths, known for their strength and power.
— Harpies: Winged creatures with human upper bodies and bird-like lower halves.
— Beasts: Creatures with animal traits, often closer to wild beasts than human beings.
— Dragons: Majestic, imposing beings with great magical power.
— Divinities: Powerful entities responsible for influencing fate and life itself.
— Elves and Dwarves: Ancient and wise races with long lifespans and special abilities. Elves are known for their agility and connection to nature, while Dwarves are master craftsmen and formidable warriors.
— Vampire: ????

This is the world they are exploring, filled with beings and races far beyond what they imagined.

End of EP 16: Between Races and Mysteries.