Chapter 7: A Night in Anemone
Unlike the train, which sped along smoothly, Aster seemed uncomfortable.
His tall frame and muscular build, unusual for an eighteen-year-old, made him nervous about crowding Shani beside him.
"Relax." Shani pointed at the space between them. "There’s still more than enough room."
Only then did Aster finally stop shifting around.
Still, it was only now that Shani truly realized how broad his build was.
Whenever the train rounded a curve and the passengers swayed slightly to one side, she could feel the firm muscles of Aster’s arm brushing against her shoulder.
Shani turned to the scenery outside the window, trying to divert her attention. The scenery was filled with endless grasslands and golden wheat fields.
As one of the border towns, Galesend was the region’s primary supplier of livestock, milk, and eggs.
The surrounding towns each specialized in different agricultural products. Some focused on wheat, others on corn, while those nestled among the hills were known for their orchards.
Around two o’clock in the afternoon, Shani and Aster took out their lunch.
At first, Aster insisted on giving Shani the bread he had brought.
But she refused. "If I don’t eat the bread I packed, it’ll go bad. I brought exactly enough."
Shani was surprised to discover that the large suitcase Aster had been carrying actually contained a Vault Preservation Pod.
She had only packed her own bread in a much smaller Capsule Preservation Pod.
Vault Pods weren’t just significantly larger, they could preserve food far longer than Capsule Pods.
"Once we get to Lunarion, you can take half of it with you to the academy," Aster said eagerly.
Shani wasn’t sure whether Grand Novabeast Academy allowed students to bring outside food.
Still, she could always give some of it to Instructor Cole as a thank-you gift.
After all, food delivered directly from a farm was much fresher and of higher quality than what was sold in the ordinary markets of the capital.
Of course, only if Aster agreed. The food belonged to him, after all.
...
At exactly six o’clock in the evening, the hovertrain arrived at Anemone Station.
Shani stretched before stepping off the train, with Aster following close behind.
Because Cedric had only managed to purchase their aerobus tickets the previous day, all of the evening departures had already sold out.
The earliest available flight left at eight o’clock the following morning.
During the train ride, Aster had already booked an inn for the night. It was located right next to the station.
"I picked the cheapest place around here," Aster said.
The two of them left the station and walked one block toward the inn.
"How much is it per night?" Shani asked.
"One hundred Creds."
Shani stopped walking. "You call that the cheapest?"
She only had one hundred Credits left. There was no way she was spending all of it on a single night’s lodging.
"Aster, one hundred Creds is expensive. That’s enough money to buy food for ten days." She looked at him the way a judge might glare at a criminal.
Aster wanted to explain that in Anemone City, one hundred Credits only covered one or two days’ worth of meals.
Food was so cheap back in Galesend because most of it was grown locally.
But after seeing Shani’s eyes widen in disbelief... He wisely kept his mouth shut.
"I’m going to find a proper place." Shani emphasized the word proper.
A holographic screen appeared before her from the smartwatch Cedric had recently bought her.
There were only two smartwatches at Rowan House. One belonged to Cedric. The other was shared by all of the children.
That was why Cedric had specifically bought Shani her own before she left.
After standing outside the inn for nearly ten minutes, attracting curious glances from passing guests, Shani finally found what she was looking for.
"I found one! It’s only fifty Creds." Grinning proudly, she started walking. "It’s only another block from here."
Following behind her, Aster couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. An inn that cheap sounded like a scam.
Soon, they arrived in front of a three-story building.
Its walls were covered with moss. The sign hanging above the entrance was almost unreadable beneath a thick layer of dust.
Without the slightest hesitation, Shani walked inside. "I booked two rooms."
While Shani checked in with the receptionist, Aster looked around the inn in horror.
The lighting was dim. Paint peeled from the walls. Water stains stretched across the ceiling. The squeaking of rats echoed from somewhere inside the building.
By the time he came back to his senses, he had already transferred fifty Credits to pay for his room.
Shani then led him upstairs to the third floor. Their rooms were directly across from each other.
Dust covered nearly every surface. Old cobwebs clung to the corners. Water stains marked both the walls and the staircase.
’Is this a haunted house...?’ Aster wondered.
Shani noticed his expression, but she didn’t have much choice. She couldn’t afford to spend every last Credit she had.
As expected for a fifty-Credit room, the interior was just as disappointing. The bed was dirty. The bathroom was dirty.
Shani took out a bread and milk for dinner.
After eating, she spread her blanket over the bed before immediately lying down to sleep
Sitting for an entire day had left her body stiff and exhausted.
She was just beginning to drift off when angry shouting erupted from the room next door.
’Damn it. This cheap place doesn’t even have soundproof walls.’
All she could do was complain inwardly before putting in the earbuds Aster had given her.
She wasn’t particularly interested in whatever was happening next door.
Judging from the voices, there were several people arguing. All of them were men. Probably just a bunch of drunkards who couldn’t control themselves.
Shani didn’t sleep well that night. She woke up several times because of loud thuds coming from the neighboring room.
At six o’clock the next morning, she decided to check out. By then, the shouting next door had finally stopped.
She and Aster headed downstairs together.
Near the reception desk stood two men. One was a large, burly man talking to the receptionist. The other stood nearby in silence.
...