Reincarnated as a Genius Mage-Chapter 36: Ember Inn

"So this is Ludia." I mutter, the excitement I feel barely contained.

The air is filled with threads of pure, elementless mana flying around. And the entrance of the city is loud with hustles and bustles of people.

The cobblestone streets fork like veins across the ground. Leading people toward the heart of the city.

–Clump !– –Clump !–

It’s the sound of the feet of our wagon’s horse hitting on the ground, but I could have sworn that it’s my heart beating with excitement.

I’ve come this far. But... As the Phoenix said, this is just the beginning of my journey.

I clench my fist— resolve twirls around my heart.

And my gaze lands on the several stalls and kiosks lined at the entrance of the city.

Clever people. They’re targeting travelers; making them buy the goods they know they’ll surely need.

"Aren’t we gonna buy some stuff?" I ask Jennette, my voice layered with thick enthusiasm.

She scoffs, almost letting out a laugh, and she says, "did you even think of bringing any money when you were planning your grand escape? I wonder how you’d have survived if I didn’t stubbornly hide in this wagon."

I roll my eyes, "yeah, I know I messed up because I was too focused on leaving.. but you’ve mentioned that more than five hundred times! Let it go already— sheesh! What has happened, has happened."

"Yeah, that’s because you’re not the one spending the money," she snorts.

I cross my arms, my lips parting as I retort, "fine. I’m not gonna ask anymore." A smirk plays on my lips, "you’ll still need them anyway."

Her forehead folds as she frowns, "why do you always win?"

I shrug, "because I’m a Flameworth?"

She chuckles, almost laughing, "I’ll reserve my comments.. Family lover."

My brows arch. I think I understand what she thinks.

And a chuckle of my own leaves my mouth, "think whatever you want." And I turn my neck again— to take another look at the city. And I draw in a deep breath, taking in that dusty, and spicy air. "So... Where are we headed?" I ask, she rides like she already has a destination in mind.

"Isn’t it obvious? It’s the first thing anyone does when they arrive in a city... find accommodation— an inn." She says bluntly, I think she expected me to have that knowledge by now, but my common sense and hers are far different.

So, it’s like paying for a hotel room immediately you enter a different country or city back on Earth. Not bad. "There’s gonna be food at the inn right?" I ask, my narrowed eyes focusing on the back of her head. My serious tone echoing dramatically, and my facial muscles tense up.

I need good food.

"Tch, you want food but you didn’t remember to bring any money." I can hear her mutter under her breath. But it seems she thought I didn’t hear it.

Why the hell is she still nagging about that?

"There’ll be food. We’ll eat when we get there, and we’ll also have a good rest." She speaks in a more relaxed tone, but I can still feel the ’naggigity’ under it. I know that word doesn’t exist, but it fits.

We arrive at the outer district. And apparently, it’s just the city’s skin, the true heart of the city(where some aristocrats live too.) lay deeper— within the inner district, or so Jennette says.

On almost every corner— low, timber-framed buildings rest, and we’re arriving at one that stands out from the rest— it has a mug-shaped insignia glowing faintly with an enchanting warmth.

"Neighh.." the horse stops as we arrive at the entrance of the building.

"Is this the place?" I ask. My voice is low, and tinged with exhausted weariness. The echoes almost drown in with the noise of the street, but Jennette still hears me.

"Yes, it’s the Ember Inn. An inn with a pretty decent pricing," she says as she jumps down from the horse, and she beckons— her wrist flicking at me to come down.

I nod,

Does she think I care about all that pricing and such? I don’t. But I won’t say that out loud... She might start nagging me again because I didn’t bring any money.

The bag on my shoulder crumples slightly as I sling it, and I step down from the wagon.

My gaze falls on Jennette. I’m waiting for her lead, because I don’t know anything.. yet.

She’s tying the horse to a pole by the side of the building. frёewebηovel.cѳm

"Ahem," she clears her throat, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead. And then she flashes her bright sunshine smile— almost blinding me. "Let’s go in."

She walks ahead of me, and she opens the wooden door; and I follow behind her patiently.

Whoa.

The scent of roasted meat fills the air. And drunken laughters echo— streaming into my ears.

Meat... Food.

The scent of the meat in the air slides down my nose as I sniff it in— hoping that the scent would fill my belly or something.

The wooden stool and tables in the room are occupied by drunk men. Some of them are singing, some are laughing boisterously, and some are just talking.

One burly one with a large belly (pfft) keeps trying to flirt with a waitress. While the others are eating, and some aren’t even drinking at all.

They don’t even glance at me. But one man..

Hmm, nice fit.

He’s wearing a black blindfold on his eyes, a black top hat on his head, and a blue leather jacket— is sitting alone at the corner of he inn— his gaze; it’s lingering on Jennette’s figure as she walks graciously toward the counter— where the waitress is, with refined steps.

And of course, he’s not the only one staring; but he’s the only one making it so obvious.

My nose scrunch as my forehead wrinkle.

And I shift my gaze to focus on the men whistling and gossiping to themselves as they snag quick looks at Jennette.

The blood in my heart boils as ang—

No, Edward. Calm yourself. They’re just being men. And besides, no one here has a circle. I think. Well, I don’t even want to glance at them again to confirm.

With that decided, I still give them the deadliest glare I can offer— in an effort to scare their gazes off Jennette. But they laugh at me; some of them calling me cute a cute kid.

A resigned sigh leaves my lips as I turn to face Jennette.

Forget it, they aren’t worth the time.

"So... We’ll bring the food to your room?" The waitress asks with a soft, friendly tone. And her lips curve into a perfectly crafted, fake smile.

I know a fake smile when I see one. Whoever owns this inn, taught her well.

I nod to myself, and small, warm smile tugs at my lips as memories of the times when I trained new employees in my past life surface.

Good times. But I wonder.. does she or the people around her know that she has an affinity? There are clusters of light revolving around her.

"No. Just give me the key, and I’ll come downstairs to take the food myself." Jennette replies— her voice calm, but authoritative.

It seems she also doesn’t want us to eat with these perverted freaks. That’s good. We’re on the same page.

"Then, I’ll prepare the food, and wait for you to come collect it, ma’am." The waitress bows her head slightly as she speaks. Her voice is low, and her tone is mild and respectful.

Jennette nods, satisfied by the outcome.

It seems she had paid already, and they’d arrived at a conclusion in those few seconds I spent glaring at those perverted clowns.

"Let’s go." With the key to our room in her hands, Jennette guides me as we make our way toward the wooden staircase that leads upstairs— where our room would be.

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