Dawn- An age of Darkness

The inside of the inn was just like any other. There was space for people to eat and drink and a counter. But there were three red flags. The first one, all the staff were women: harpies. The second one, there wasn't a single woman among the customers. And the third, the staff were wearing rather short skirts and their backs were totally open: They did have feathers on their arms and legs though. I got that this city had a hot and humid atmosphere, but seriously? 

It didn't take a genius to figure out what this place was. 

"Yeah, I think I'll go-" I turned around. Staying here any longer than what we already spent, was a bad idea and a recipe for disaster. 

Alisa looked like a kid. I knew she wasn't one, but I treated her like one, and I didn't want her to see any of this stuff. And I didn't want my bunny to see these things either. 

Was I being too overprotective!?

Yes!

"Don't go." A staff came my way and wrapped her hands around my arm. Needless to say my arm was touching very soft spots. 

Her feathers were very soft. 

She reached about my neck and was kind of cute, but I didn't feel anything. More like I controlled my feelings before they could even manifest. If I was going to commit to one person, I was going to commit to that one person alone. 

"WHY?" I gave her a cold glance. After all, everyone was free to choose where they wanted to stay anyway. 

She flinched and took a step back. 

I guess I might have sounded a bit rougher than I thought. 

And now all eyes were on me. I didn't know why but I was the bad guy. 

"Now look here punk! You don't make her-" A large guy got up and came my way: the whole floor shook with his every step. Judging by his large size, he was probably a large dwarf. 

I still didn't know why these giants were called dwarves though. 

I sighed. "Yeah, I kind of don't care. I don't want any trouble so I'll just leave."

I gave a side glance to Alisa and Ve. Both were in agreement. Dick wasn't. 

"I'm not done talking to you!" He grabbed my shoulder. It kind of hurt. 

"Let go."

"First apologize-"

I grabbed his arm and gave him a good squeeze. I always wanted to try that. 

"What are you doing?" He looked at me, a bit confused. 

I guess it only worked in movies. So I switched to plan B. 

I twisted myself and his hand in the process. I finished it up with a knee on his stomach. I'd seen the geezer try this a few times at the bars. Of course, he never taught me, but after seeing him pull it off whenever he got drunk and got into an argument, I kind of learned it anyway. 

Argh!

The man groaned and fell on his knees. 

"Please stop." The staff was already quivering. 

I kind of didn't want to go through all this. 

I let his hand go. "As I said, I don't want trouble. Later."

"Wait!"

"Now what." I really didn't want to waste any more time here. It was already past evening and I wanted to sleep.

"Please. Saram isn't safe after dark. I don't know what your problem is with this place, but I assure you, no harm will come to your comrades within the inn." She was behind the counter just moments ago. And judging by her sincere tone, she was serious.

She was a bit different from the rest of the crew. While the staff were mostly just human and had some feathers, she had wings instead of arms and claws instead of legs. She was the real deal: a real harpy. 

And not to mention she was looking out for us. 

"I don't have any problem if you don't," Alisa said. 

"I'm in agreement with the shorty." Ve just stood by me, hands crossed. 

  "Hey!"

Dick meanwhile was grinning way too hard. He really wanted to stay. Servesta was indifferent. 

'Finding a place at this hour wouldn't be a great experience either.'

And most of the inns always got pretty much full by the evening. I'd known it for a long time, but honestly, I still didn't want to stay here. The over-friendly ness of these girls made me remember a past, I wanted to stay buried. And yet, I couldn't decline her sincere offer either. 

I sighed. "Fine. How many rooms do you have available?"

"Two. And both have multiple beds, so I don't think there will be any problem. Or if you'd like one bed-"

She was looking at the two girls behind me. After knowing she was a girl Ve had chanted the shape of his armor and now anybody could tell she was a girl. 

Meaning this harpy woman was suggesting some rather wild things, things I never even imagined and things that I didn't want to imagine, ever. 

"Yeah, no thanks. Multiple beds are fine. I would have preferred a single room for me though." Less noise, more privacy. 

"Oh, you'd like our services then?" She was confused. She was looking at me like I was some sort of hypocrite. 

Just moments ago I was declining her, and now I was asking for a single room away from my comrades. I could understand her confusion. 

I guess she wasn't wrong. I was kind of a hypocrite myself. 

"No, sleeping alone can yield better sleep." At least that's what I thought. But in the end, I didn't really know. 

"Interesting. But in my case, I always tend to sleep better with company." The woman winked. 

'Unfortunately, I'm not you.'

In the end, we ended booking the rooms. After checking the rooms upstairs, I came down again. 

Dracona was the next city over, so we could just go there with the dwarven railway in a matter of half a day. And yes, these guys had a working railway. Though this train used a rather inferior steam engine, even compared to the one I help build back at Moire- or so I could surmise from what the girls at the inn told me. Strangely, these girls were rather talkative, and instead of just flirting they were actually acting nice: I kind of had a bad feeling about that. It was almost as though, they were plotting something. 

But it was hard to imagine such technology already made its way here. 

I kind of felt a bit proud.

'Come to think of it, I wonder how that guy is doing.'

Dick's drunk giggles were all over the place. The guy was enjoying himself too much. 

And the girls were pouring him one too many drinks. And the guy was chugging down everything. Why wasn't he feeling sick already?

"Can't you just drag him back?"

Alisa and Ve were already upstairs while I, Servesta, and Dick were here. While those two were busy drinking, I was trying to wring out some information. But I kind of already succeeded. My job was finished. 

"He wouldn't listen." Servesta sighed. 

Well, that was rare for him. I was almost surprised. 

Most of the guests who were here had either left for their homes or went upstairs. The few that remained were literal drunks. Dick wasn't an exception. 

But that gave me an idea. And Dick was gullible enough to fall for it. 

"Yo, Dick? I heard they provide excellent service once you fall asleep. Why don't we head upstairs and meet them in our dreams?"

Dick grinned. His cheeks flushed. "Oh, like in the gawmes? Ob course." I still had no idea, why this moron drank and why he never got a hungover anymore. He didn't even get sick anymore. And what game was he even talking about?

I really was jealous of his ability if nothing else. 

'Lucky bastard.'

Servesta now picked up Dick and walked upstairs. Dick waved, I waved back. 

Moron. 

"We're not succubi you know." The girl by the counter sighed. 

"I'm aware. I was just making sure he didn't do anything stupid."

"For a guy such as your standing, you sure seem rather nonchalant." She was wiping the glasses. I got a weird Deja vu feeling. 

"What do you mean?"

"Aren't you the first-class adventurer who recently took down a grand monster and even killed two monarchs?" Wow, didn't think she'd recognize me. 

I guess my fame of being the duke hadn't yet traveled here. "I see, news travels fast." I still tried to act a bit surprised though. 

The girl gave me a smug grin. I guess she thought her information network was fast and flawless. Unfortunately, it wasn't. 

"Night." I stood up. It was getting late.

"Goodnight and please don't have any ideas to run around at night. I know you're strong but that's why I'm warning you." This girl was awfully serious. "You shouldn't go out at night."

"Noted."  I smiled. I had no reason not to heed her warnings anyway.