They both stepped into the inn, the vibrant noise of custors drinking and chatting filling their ears. Most of them were elves, but there were other races mixed in. So were feys, beings of transparent bodies that seed rather ethereal. Their bodies shimred with white motes of light. Tiny wings shot out from both sides of their back.
Then, there were beastfolks, humanoid wolves, foxes, and cats. They were all present, chatting happily among themselves.
The inn was wide, with enough space to contain everyone there in excess. A wooden table stood at the far end, clearly the reception desk. Beside the desk area was a staircase that led straight to the upper level of the inn, the lodge.
All chatters died down in an instant as all eyes snapped towards the door as two unfamiliar faces entered. Several expressions played out on their faces, so curious, so observant, and so wary.
Levi just stared at them, scrutinising every detail, especially the sub-races. Sub-races were never allowed in the Imperial Academy, due to their inferior traits.
Although so were lucky enough to awaken stronger affinities, they were still bound by bloodline limitations.
"Welco to Gleamrest Inn," a female elf said, walking closer to both of them, not caring about the disturbing silence.
"Hello," Ruby replied quickly.
Levi nodded too.
"I am Beatrice, the owner of this Inn. What do you need?" She asked, direct but polite.
"We would like to rent the entire inn for a week," Ruby replied, counting zeniths already.
"I am sorry, ma, but we won’t be able to do that," Beatrice answered with a bow, but Ruby did not reply imdiately. Her mind remained focused on the zeniths she was counting.
After a few seconds, she spoke. "This is a hundred zeniths, lease the inn to us."
"No ma, not even mone... What did you say now?" Beatrice’s tone shifted as the word 100 zeniths registered in her mind.
A hundred zeniths? That was too outrageous. The currency of Zenithra was split into 3: Zens, Zenis, and Zeniths.
Zens were the lowest, used by low to low mid-rank rchants, normal people, etc.
Zenis were equal to a thousand Zens. Low-ranked nobles and high-ranked rchants used them.
Then, the highest, Zeniths, were used by top-tier nobles and kings. They equalled a thousand Zenis, but that was just in words.
Zeniths were ford near the world’s core and were extrely rare. Although it was generally said to be a thousand Zenis, it was much more than that in a normal market.
"I will give you a hundred zeniths to lease the entire Inn to us," Ruby repeated, calm and composed.
By her side, Levi just stood, imposing but quiet as he watched Ruby negotiate with the woman.
"Are you sure you don’t want to buy the entire Inn?" Beatrice asked.
The amount sounded too outrageous for just renting a place for a week.
"Don’t worry, we only need to rent it. You can use the change to serve your custors. We only need it empty at night," Ruby explained.
Hearing the word serve your custors, everyone’s ears perked up. Who did not like freebies?
Their cautious gazes softened into ones of happiness. They yelled with joy, thanking Ruby and Levi.
"Thank you," Beatrice bowed again. "What should I offer you?" She asked.
Before Ruby could talk, however, Levi spoke. "The thousand tongue water," he said.
Everybody’s eyes widened. They stared at Levi as if he were an outcast.
Levi noticed their expressions, which made him furrow his brows as he wondered what had happened or what he had said wrong.
"Sorry for the stares, sir. It’s just that The Thousand Tongue water is a very rare drink that only circulates within the capital, Elunea. And even then, its supply is limited," she explained.
Levi sighed when he heard this. ’I should have suspected that sothing like that was very rare,’ he thought. But he couldn’t help but marvel at the Academy’s power again. Sothing that was considered rare, even in the domain that produced it, was freely served in the academy.
"Just serve anything," he finally said.
"Sa," Ruby also replied.
The woman nodded slightly. "Please, let her take you to see the biggest rooms in the Inn," she offered, as another elf walked closer.
She bowed to them before walking forward. The. She looked back to ensure they were following behind before hastening her steps. Although faster, her steps were still elegant and calm, portraying the grandeur of a person who had been trained to serve nobles from birth.
They walked straight up the staircase, entering the lodge area.
As they reached the top floor, they saw rows of doors, lined against the walls on each side. At a glance, they exceeded a hundred.
"This way," the elf said. Her voice was tiny, but had a charm that seed impossible to resist.
Levi and Ruby heeded her words, trailing behind her with calm strides. They did not speak to each other since there was no use at the mont.
Just at that mont, Levi seed to notice sothing. His mind cald as he tried to see what had happened. Then a smile ford on the side of his lips.
His clone and the other two had just returned, only remaining out of sight by bending light and sound from themselves.
It was akin to invisibility.
With a casual wave of his palm, all of them were sent to the endless dinsion. He will question them later when he is alone.
"These two are the biggest rooms in the inn," she said, stopping at the end of the hall with a bow. She was in the middle of two doors labelled clearly with numbers 1 and 2. "Your al will be brought to you soon. Please let us know if you need any other things," she said, handing a bunch of keys to Ruby. It was the key to every room there.
Then she left them alone, leaving the entire lodge to them.
As she left their sight, and they confird she was no longer there, Ruby and Levi gazed into each other’s eyes.
With quiet understanding, they both went into the room labelled 1. Even if they were going to sleep separately, they still needed to discuss their plans for the next day and after.
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