A Starlit Promise

The City of Alaris

By the time they emerged from the forest, the sun was still high in the sky, casting a harsh glare over the bustling coastal town of Alaris. The sight before Rylla was both captivating and unsettling. Alaris sprawled out along the shoreline, its streets crowded with people from all walks of life. The scent of the ocean mingled with the aroma of street food and filth, and the sound of waves crashing against the docks was a constant backdrop to the hum of voices.

As they made their way into the town, Rylla found herself in awe of the stark differences between this city and the small village she was familiar with. The buildings were a mix of study stone structures and wooden shanties, their facades weathered by salt and time. The harbor was filled with ships of various sizes, their sails furled and masts swaying in the breeze. But a sense of unease lingered amidst the vibrant market stalls and lively vendors. The town was alive with activity, but there was an undercut of tension - shadows lurking in every corner.

Kaelith led Rylla through the crowded streets, navigating with practiced ease. The people around them were a diverse bunch, some eyeing them with curiosity, others with suspicion. Rylla felt a sense of fear as she noticed the occasional glint of a blade or the furtive glances exchanged in the alleys.

They arrived at a modest inn tucked away from the thoroughfare. It was a simple, two-story building with a sign that read "The Worn Sailor." As Rylla strode in the door, the scent of mead and body odor hit her so hard that she almost took a step back out. Kaelith strode ahead a few steps before peaking back over his shoulder to notice she was no longer a step behind him. Quietly, he let a shadow slip down his sleeve to pull her toward him, hard and fast. Rylla didn't dare let a squeal of shock escape her lips as the tendril of shadow yanked her in his direction. Once she was at his side again, he glared at her in anger. "I told you to stay close." He said, with a hurried yet hushed tone.

Rather than disputing, Rylla crossed her arms over her chest, rolled her eyes, and looked around the inn while they waited to speak with the innkeeper. The exterior, she noticed, was unremarkable, but Kaelith's demeanor suggested it was a safe enough place to lay low. Inside, the space was dimly lit and filled with the murmur of conversation. The patrons - merchants, sailors, travelers, and women of the night - seemed to be keeping to themselves, their voices low and their movement a bit cautious. Kaelith finally approached the innkeeper, a grizzled man with a wary eye, and exchanged a few words before gesturing for Rylla to follow him to a private room upstairs.

Once inside, the room was small but clean, with a single window overlooking the bustling streets below. Kaelith set down his pack, and she followed before he turned to her, his expression serious. "This is where we'll stay for a while," he said. "It's not much, but it's secure. We'll need to keep a low profile. Alaris is a dangerous place, and we have to be careful."

Rylla nodded and then took in the room's sparse furnishings - a small table with two chairs, a single picture hanging crooked on the wall, a broken door leading to the criminally small bathroom, and a window above the bed.

Bed. Singular. One bed.

Kaelith noticed Rylla's face fall from anticipation to embarrassment at the notice of the single small bed under the window. Leaning against the doorframe, he smirked at her. "This was the only room available," he said. "It's fine!" she interjected quickly.

His eyes wandered again, from her eyes to her lips and then back to her eyes again. He didn't know what it was about her that was drawing him in, but he surely intended on finding out. To hell with his original plan.

Kaelith cleared his throat. "Let's get you some proper clothes, and we need more supplies. Tomorrow, we'll start gathering information about the situation in your village and hopefully find my contacts." Her brows pinched together momentarily before she answered, "And tonight?" She asked.

"Tonight, we dance and have fun," Kaelith said, a huge grin spreading across his face. "Alaris is very well known for its substances and taverns. Let's let loose for the evening. It might be the last chance we get for a while." Rylla kept her expression neutral, but inside, she was counting each and every one of her heartbeats to steady herself over his last remark. Substances and taverns were not in her wheelhouse. She'd never been drunk before. They didn't even have a tavern in her village.

Rylla shifted on her feet, her nerves still amplified by Kaelith's suggestion. The idea of letting loose in a town as dangerous as Alaris seemed reckless. But perhaps that was his point. Despite the intensity of the journey and the apparent tension between them, she could sense there was more to him than what he'd shown so far, and she was desperate to find out what more he had to offer. She gave a small, hesitant nod. "Alright," she replied quietly, "but just... don't let me do anything too stupid." Kaelith pushed off the doorframe, and his grin widened once more. A glint of mischief lit his eyes as he opened the door. "No promises, love."