RAIN

CHAPTER FIVE:🌖

The last Milar witch!" they all shouted in unison, their voices filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

"Yes," I said, my eyes glinting with determination. "But we don't know where he is."

They all looked at each other nervously, and I could see the doubt creeping into their eyes.

"Then you'll have to find him," I said, my voice firm. "If you want to learn from me, that is. I won't waste my time on those who aren't willing to take risks."

I paused, surveying them with a critical eye. "So, I'll ask you again: are you ready to learn? Are you ready to find the last Milar witch and face whatever dangers lie ahead?"

They hesitated, exchanging nervous glances. I could see the fear and uncertainty written across their faces.

"I guess you're not ready to learn, then," I said, shrugging. "In that case, I'll leave and find someone who is ready to help me."

I turned to leave, but they all shouted in unison, "Wait!"

"We know someone who can help you," they said, and I nodded. "Okay, let's go."

As I turned to gather my belongings, my stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I was hungry. I turned to them with a gentle smile, and the kid burst out laughing. "Home, home! Mummy made food!" he exclaimed, still chuckling.

I smiled, gathered my things, and followed them out. We walked to the innkeeper's house, which was located right next to the inn.

The innkeeper's wife welcomed me warmly, and their children gathered around, curious about the stranger. The little child ran to his mother, smiling, and exclaimed, "Sword, sword!"

His mother looked at my hand with surprise, and the innkeeper chuckled. "It's a long story," he said, winking at his wife.

They both laughed, and she turned to me. "Don't tell me... you're the one he told me about, aren't you? The one who...?" She trailed off, her eyes wide with surprise.

The innkeeper nodded, his face flushed with shame. "Yes, that's her."

His wife's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Where did you learn to use a sword?" she asked.

I smiled, reminiscing about my childhood. "My grandfather taught me. He started training me when I was just four years old."

The room fell silent, with all eyes on me. The kids looked at me with a mix of awe and fascination, while the adults exchanged surprised glances.

Finally, the silence was broken when the innkeeper's wife said, "Let's head to the table and eat." We sat down, and she brought out a steaming hot meal. I was taken aback by the sight and smell of the food, and my face must have shown my disgust.

"You don't like the food?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I hesitated, not wanting to offend her. "Well, yes..." I admitted.

She snatched the plate away, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Okay, then I'll take it, and you can starve."

My stomach growled loudly, protesting the thought of going hungry. I quickly relented. "Wait... I'll eat, I'll eat."

She smiled, seeming to enjoy my discomfort. "I know your parents must be rich, but you've run away from home, so you have to accept all that you experience, okay?.

I nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed about my initial reaction to the food. I took a tentative bite, and while it wasn't the most delicious thing I'd ever tasted, it was edible.

The innkeeper's wife smiled, seeming to sense my resignation. "Good, good," she said. "You'll learn to appreciate simple food like this."

As we ate, the innkeeper began to tell his wife about our earlier encounter. He recounted how I had threatened to kill them all, and how I had demanded that they help me find the Milar witch.

His wife listened intently, her eyes wide with surprise. When he finished, she turned to me and asked, "And what makes you think we can help you find this witch?"

I leaned forward, my eyes locked onto hers. "Because," I said, "I have reason to believe that the person you know might be able to lead us to her."

The innkeeper's wife nodded thoughtfully, her expression unreadable. "I see," she said. "Well, in that case, we'll have to go see our... acquaintance tomorrow morning."

I nodded, feeling a surge of excitement. Finally, I was one step closer to finding the Milar witch.

When we finished eating, the innkeeper's wife said, "Okay, let's do the dishes." I looked at her, confused, and asked, "Why?"

She stared at me, shocked, and I quickly added, "I've never done it before, so I don't know how."

The innkeeper's wife blinked, seemingly taken aback by my admission. "You've never done dishes before?" she repeated, her voice incredulous.

I shook my head, feeling a bit embarrassed because I hated when people were better than me. "No, I haven't. I've always had servants to do that sort of thing for me."

The innkeeper's wife nodded slowly, a small smile playing on her lips. "Well, in that case, I'll have to teach you how to do dishes."

She led me to the kitchen, where a large tub of hot water and soap awaited. She handed me a sponge and began to demonstrate the proper way to wash dishes. I watched intently, trying to absorb every detail.

After finishing the dishes, they offered me a small room where I could drop off my belongings. I accepted and spent the afternoon lounging on the bed, snacking on some bread and cheese.

As I rested, I also took some time to teach the kids some basic self-defense moves. They were eager learners, and I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with them.

Just as we were finishing up, the innkeeper's wife approached me with a curious expression. "I'm curious, why are you looking for the last Milar witch?" she asked.

I hesitated, cause I didn't want to give out any information to her. "It's personal," I said finally.

She pressed on, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Why did you run away from home? Was it because of the witch or a boy?"

I shook my head, feeling a pang of discomfort. "I don't want to talk about this."

The innkeeper's wife raised an eyebrow. "It's fine if you don't want to talk about it, but you should know that looking for the witch is like searching for water in the desert."

I met her gaze, my determination burning brighter. "I'll find him, no matter what it takes. I can find him I said with confidence."

She snorted, a hint of amusement in her voice. "You're a confident one, I'll give you that. But you're also reckless and foolish."

She leaned in, her eyes glinting with a knowing look. "I used to work in the palace, you know. I heard rumors about the king's granddaughter and her... habits."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "What kind of habits?"

But before she could respond, the innkeeper burst into the room. "Would you like to take a tour of the city?" he asked, his face cheerful. "I'm going shopping, and it would be a great opportunity for you to see the sights."

I hesitated, unsure of what to do. But before I could respond, the innkeeper's wife spoke up. "Go with him. It'll be good for you to get out of the house for a bit.