That awful, unmistakable scent of scorched skin. Everyone else doesn't give anything away do they not notice? Or maybe their brains are just writing off such thing as belonging to the inn? It really does smell in here, everyone around is smoking and drinking, but that burned flesh smell is definitely different.

"Then maybe don't drink so much, next time you'll cut your head." Dali's biting reply was timely and appropriate this time, Kiyeri gave him a reproachful look, but he was actually grateful.

Seyre remained calm as always, Ashiya’s dark expression fit the moment - though for completely different reasons, Ruki, already out of previously assumed character, looked at that healing palm, and the sisters laughed sincerely.

"Everything in its place, everyone plays their role" Thought Kiyeri, he pulled his collar briefly with his injured hand to show Mia, "The last, but not the least." After some more jokes about Kiyeri's recklessness and inability to drink in moderation, the company sat back at the table.

"You visiting for one day or longer?" Kiyeri asked.

"Two companies with Elanta are leaving for the capital tomorrow, the others are staying here with me.“ Explained Mia. “And you, for a long time?"

"We have a good week before we have to return, we started with the festival, but we can't agree on where to go next."  Kiyeri looked at Seyre.

"As I said, one can always spend one's free time accumulating knowledge."  Seyre glanced at Dali as he spoke.

Dali snorted and, leaned back "As I said, not everyone is interested in gnawing on books in their free time."

“Perfect!” Kiyeri praised his colleagues in his mind, “In short, we can’t agree.” He sighed, expressing his fatigue and rubbing his forehead. Although technically the soldiers who had become Bearers no longer belonged to any squad and acted on the direct orders of the King, most of the time they were all old acquaintances or relatives and huddled together in their free time, as if something were drawing them to spend it together. With Kiyeri being the former leader, everyone would naturally have been waiting for his last word. “This is what our real outings would have been…” Kiyeri thought, feeling something akin to mourning.

“Sounds like a great opportunity to come visit,” Mia interjected.

“Ah, indeed!” Elanta agreed. “You’re on vacation now, right? When will there be another opportunity like that?”

"Whoever wants, can read books, whoever wants, can storm the city, what do you think?" Mia pushed.

The moon people looked at each other, showing either an agreement or a gesture of "I don't care." Kiyeri looked at the sisters "Why not."

"Then it's decided!" Mia slapped her palm on the table and, having called the waiter, ordered another round.

The company sat like this until evening and agreed with Elanta to meet in the morning before dispersing. Back at their inn, the five moons regrouped. Kiyeri’s plans were rarely too detailed - he’d always taught the group to carry only a few vital notes in mind, and trust each other with the rest, and everything else was improvised, because you can't plan for circumstances. After a quick discussion, they dispersed to rooms, which they apparently booked while Kiyeri was still sleeping.

As Kiyeri unlocked his room, he couldn't help but notice Ashiya standing behind him. Not knowing what to do, he decided to go with the flow and see what would happen. He had attacked Ashiya more than once before, drawing conclusions in advance, and he had often been wrong. If he had to admit, he had always been a little afraid of him, but today he had firmly decided that it would not happen again.

Entering the room, Kiyeri left the door ajar and, sinking into his chair, let out a loud sigh. “After all this, my head is throbbing with pain.”

Only then did Ashiya go inside and close the door, “Mmm, it’s been a long day.” His voice was very strange, as if completely emotionless, each word pronounced in a clear low tone.

“More like a long week, or maybe even a long month.” Kiyeri agreed. He had no idea what Ashiya’s expression looked like, completely unable to look in that direction, he simply lay down on the table, clasped his hands under his head, and closed his eyes.

The slow footsteps gradually approached and Kiyeri's heart began to beat louder and faster, suddenly he felt a slight tug on his collar and tensed. There was complete silence in the room. Kiyeri thought for a moment and said, "I'll leave it like this, who knows who else will want to see it."

The tug disappeared and the collar returned to its place. Ashiya said, "If you plan on sleeping, I'd like to put up a barrier."

Kiyeri’s eyes suddenly opened, he had completely forgotten. So much had happened that his head was spinning.

"If you don't mind, I'll be grateful." And not only the barrier, they still didn't understand why he lost consciousness in the temple.

A person could not put such a barrier on himself. More precisely, he could, but it would lose its meaning because when he fell asleep the barrier would disappear, any barriers must be constantly maintained by an alert consciousness.

"Wake me up in a few hours, then you will have time to rest too,” Kiyeri said, taking off his outer clothes, but he did not receive any answer. Having climbed into bed, he turned to face the wall and covered himself with a blanket.

With only one candle burning, a shadow stretched across the wall — long at first, then growing larger as its owner drew closer. The bed sank under the weight - the young man sat down next to him. Despite the dream problem, Kiyeri usually had no trouble with insomnia and would simply disconnect when he put his head on the pillow, but not in this situation. He could feel that stare on him. That imaginary gaze seemed so intense to Kiyeri that he could wipe it off his face because it had taken on a physical form!

Kiyeri didn’t understand why Ashiya was acting like this again, after all, everything had been explained in the Temple, so what else did he want? Kiyeri could hear his own heart beating in the pillow.

No one moved and no one spoke. After a good five minutes, Kiyeri couldn't stand it anymore and opened his eyes, but there was nothing in his field of vision. Suddenly, a hand near his face rested on the bed and the weight that had been on the edge shifted closer to the center. He heard a soft whisper in his ear, "Do you really believe them?"

Now everything was clear to Kiyeri. He had tried so hard that he had deceived even the closest person.

Kiyeri smiled slightly, placed his hand next to Ashiya’s, and closed his eyes, "Not even a little."