Chapter Thirty-Four

In the empty dining room of the Canopy Inn, Aeri orders an abundance of dishes for herself and Royo, planning to bring leftovers upstairs. Royo tests the food, staying alert and uneasy about lacking his axe, while noting how Aeri conceals the relics she carries. He fixates on being under-armed to protect her.

Their talk shifts from weapons to worth when Aeri tells Royo he is more than a blade. She teases about courtesans and herself, prompting Royo to admit he is always thinking of her. Aeri responds with vulnerable longing—then deflects as “strictly-friends”—but the moment pushes them closer.

Royo reaches for Aeri’s hand, kisses it, and they share a fuller kiss across the table. Royo’s fear of loss and betrayal surges, yet he chooses the connection despite his doubts.

Afterward, Royo asks what happens if Aeri gets truly stuck in time. Aeri doesn’t know; she trusts Royo would bring her back and points to the temple as their best hope for answers. Royo cannot promise success but silently commits to try, his anxiety coiling beneath the brief peace of their meal.