Magi: The Oblivious Rukh

CHAPTER TWO

"Kindly pay your bills now, Eino." Jana, the innkeeper humbly plead.
"Excuses?"
"The bills remained unpaid last month. I'm afraid that you'll need to find another inn."
"I promise I will—"
"No more consideration."

My guts was telling me to punch the woman in front. But of course I can't afford to do such thing. I just don't lack money, but I lack skills as well.

"I'll do anything just let me stay!" I had no choice but to throw my last trump card on the deck. I could see her frowning, a frown that suggested annoyance. "Fine. I'll give you a task."

"Thank you very much!" I could almost kiss the earth for the great luck bestowed upon me! I'll make sure to find a way this time.
"You see, this inn will be having special visitors from another country." Jana said.
"Of all hostelries in the country! Why do it had to be—"
"Okay then, get out of this inn."
"I was just kidding!" Heck no.

The inn resembled antiquity. Damned by cobwebs, tattered pillows, and rusty walls. It really was suspicious for those visitors to choose this inn.

"What am I gonna do for them?" I asked.
"Clean their shoes. Guide them around. Such gestures of kindness." She smiled.
"Are you kidding me?"
.
.
.
Now here I am.
I never wanted to clean anyone's shoes.
But still.
Here I am.
"Can you make it faster?!" The blond foreigner banged my head with his colorful fan. "You are sent here to serve us, right?!"
"Y-Yeah." I hesitantly answered.
I never agreed to be anyone's slave!
"Ardus, stop playing around. We need to leave. Hamisian soldiers might caught us." His companion, a tanned skin guy, remarked. It's been years since I've seen people with such color of skin. He's from a tribe of another country, that's for sure.

The blond foreigner, probably named Ardus, stood and dropped a gold coin in my hand. "Lead us to the tavern." He ordered.
Thank the gods for this coin! I can now buy three meals for this day… I didn't had the clue who were those goofy foreigners. But if I'd stick along with them, they might give me another—
"Are you listening?!" Another bang on my head.

"This is the well-known tavern here." I let out a big sigh. I had never visited any tavern before. Drunkards stink! Even those harebrained women who enjoys getting played…
The two foreigners wandered around the
noisy room. They were searching for someone.

"Found them!" Ardus beamed.
"Zaemiala!" The tanned-skin guy hollered.
"Your work here is done. Go home now." Ardus shooed me away.
"No more coins?" I carelessly demanded.

My eyes started to get itchy. As soon as I regained my sight, a figure of a woman drew closer towards us.

Those butterflies appeared.
Again.

"Who is he?" The woman questioned the two foreigners.
“My minute-slave.” Ardus answered.
“I don't think so?” Her gleaming green eyes peered at me. “Regardless, help me stop Faiqa from drinking.”
“That girl!” Ardus stomped his feet. “Why are you just staring, minute-slave? Go home!”

I guess I got too absorbed staring at the unexpected butterflies. Wake up, Eino. I'll need to ask the innkeeper again. I need to—

Wait a minute.
Since when did my back became heavy…
I can't move.

“Hiya!”
A tender voice echoed in my ear.
“F-Faiqa!” The three strangers gasped.
“Get away from him…” The blond foreigner warbled.
“I won't! This guy is cute so… He's mine!”

A girl. Just hugged me.

“Hey Zae, can I take him home?” Faiqa chuckled.
“You're drunk,” The stern woman sighed, “Lin, take her away from him.”
As what Zaemiala ordered, the tanned-skin guy tried to pull Faiqa away. But for unexplainable reasons, he couldn't.
“Faiqa is using all of her strength to hug him.” Lin tried to grab her again.