Green Blood

The pool of shadows

*Knock*

*Knock*

*Creak...*

The door to my room opened and I immediately woke up. Oh, it's just Jonathan. I then sat up on the edge of the bed as I looked at him.

— "Is there something that you need?"

— "Ma said you should come down to join us all for dinner."

— "Well... How long have I been asleep for?"

— "'round fifty minutes."

I sighed and stood up to stretch my body before following Jonathan downstairs.

I saw Leo sitting down next to Minnie and Jonathan's mother. Now that I've set my thoughts on it, I never knew her name. Geez... I really should introduce myself to people first so I can coerce them to say their name.

I sat down in the empty chair next to Leo's and in front of Jonathan's mother. Now's a 'good chance to talk and introduce myself.

— "I forgot to introduce myself but my name is–"

— "Owens. I already know it. Missy told me all 'bout it. And if you're going to ask for my name: my name is Cal."

Damn. Minnie beat me to it. Well, that's what I get for not introducing myself to people.

We all started eating our dinner. It was tomato soup with white-bread. The soup itself had beef and was quite delicious. It tasted like nothing I'd expect from an inn. I'd even go as far as tasting even better than restaurant food.

I looked around and Minnie's and Leo's reaction was the same as mine. It was delicious.

I looked at Cal who was quietly eating.

— "This is delicious!"

— "Oh really? Good that you three liked it."

A thought crossed my mind: where's her husband? I looked out and saw that it's the dead of the night and there's no traces of him anywhere.

— "Can I ask where your husband is? It's late at night and there's no one here."

Her smile faltered a bit before turning around to look at the sword mounted atop the fireplace.

And as if on cue, Leo and Minnie stomped on my foot as if to tell me to keep quiet...

— "Ouch..."

I muttered whilst they both looked at me angrily. Jonathan on the other hand was eating peacefully as if he didn't hear what I said.

Cal was still looking back on the sword before looking back at us.

— "My husband was a Hero. He fought in Aevum to protect it from harm. It's the same time when I was raisin' Jonathan all by myself. It's also the reason why I never asked travelers for payment when staying by."

I was utterly shaken. I shouldn't have asked. Now I guess I deserved what Leo and Minnie did.

— "What an idiot."

They both muttered in unison.

— "I-I'm so sorry I asked. I never knew that this was the case."

— "Ya shouldn't worry 'bout it."

Before we knew it, we all finished our dinner. We said our thank you before going back upstairs where Minnie went to her room alone and me and Leo were left alone in our room.

— "You're sleeping on the floor, Owens."

— "What?! Why?!"

— "Why else? Cuteness is superior and therefore I'm superior and so you're going to have to sleep on the floor. I'll be nice and give you a blanket."