Yui found him before he could disappear. She stepped out from the alley shadow. Her pink braid swung over her shoulder. The greatsword was still on her back. It looked heavy but she ignored it. She smiled at Nagi directly.
Yui said, "You were watching."
Nagi said, "I was passing by."
Yui said, "You stood for thirty seconds."
She tilted her head slightly. Her eyes were bright and curious.
Yui said, "Come eat with us."
Nagi said, "I have no time."
Yui said, "Everyone has time to eat."
She did not wait for an answer. She turned and walked toward the tenement. Nagi hesitated for a moment. He could walk away easily. But he wanted to know her. He followed her slowly. They walked through the narrow streets. The worker's district was crowded here. Children played in the mud between buildings. Women hung laundry on lines overhead. The sun was setting behind the roofs.
Yui walked with a bounce in her step. She greeted people as they passed.
Neighbor said, "Good evening, Yui."
Yui said, "Good evening, Mrs. Gail."
She knew everyone in this block. Nagi remained silent beside her. He was a shadow in her light. They reached a small wooden door. It was painted a faded blue color. Yui knocked twice on the wood. The door opened immediately. The father from the earlier scene stood there. He looked relieved to see her.
Father said, "Please come in."
Yui said, "We brought a guest."
She gestured to Nagi behind her. The father looked at Nagi briefly. He saw the plain clothes and quiet face.
Father said, "Welcome."
They entered the small living space. It was one room divided by curtains. A table sat in the center on four legs. Three children sat on wooden benches. The mother stood near a small stove. She was stirring a large pot of stew. The smell was rich and savory. It smelled of herbs and roasted meat. Yui sat down without asking. She patted the seat next to her.
Yui said, "Sit here."
Nagi sat down quietly. He kept his back to the wall. It was a habit from many battles. The mother brought bowls to the table. She placed one in front of each person.
Mother said, "It is not much."
Yui said, "It smells perfect."
The children began to eat quickly. They were hungry from the stress. Nagi picked up his spoon slowly. He tasted the broth carefully. It was warm and salty. It tasted like real food again. Not the flavorless system rations. He ate without making noise. The oldest child watched him closely. He was a boy of about ten years. He had dirty cheeks and bright eyes. He stopped eating to stare at Nagi.
Boy said, "Where are you from?"
Nagi put the spoon down. He had prepared this answer before.
Nagi said, "A traveller. Nothing worth telling."
The boy did not look away. He leaned forward across the table. He sniffed the air near Nagi subtly.
Tom said, "You smell like outside."
Nagi froze for a fraction of a second. His hand stopped over the bowl. The words hung in the warm air. Yui laughed softly at the comment.
Yui said, "Children say strange things."
She ruffled the boy's hair gently.
Yui said, "Eat your stew, Tom."
Tom went back to his bowl. He did not drop the subject entirely.
Tom said, "Outside the walls."
Nagi looked at the boy seriously.
Nagi said, "What does that mean?"
Tom said, "I do not know."
He shrugged his small shoulders.
Tom said, "Just like the wind smells."
Yui found this very funny. She laughed louder this time.
Yui said, "He thinks you are a ghost."
Nagi did not laugh with her. His mind was analyzing the statement. Outside the walls. The city was surrounded by walls. Beyond them lay the wild territories. But the boy did not mean the wilds. He meant something else entirely.
Nagi said, "Have you smelled outside before?"
Tom said, "No."
He pointed to his nose.
Tom said, "But I know the difference."
Nagi looked at Yui quickly. She was feeding the youngest child. She did not seem concerned. To her, it was a child's imagination. To Nagi, it was a data point. How could a child smell a difference? Was it the air on his clothes? Was it the dust from the East Road? Or was it something metaphysical? He touched his coat sleeve subtly. It smelled of smoke and wool. Normal smells for a worker. But the boy insisted on outside.
Nagi finished his stew slowly. He placed the spoon in the empty bowl.
Nagi said, "Thank you for the meal."
Mother said, "You are welcome."
Yui stood up from the bench. She stretched her arms above her head.
Yui said, "I will walk you out."
Nagi stood up as well. He nodded to the family politely. They returned the nod quietly. They walked out into the evening air. The street was cooler now. Lanterns were being lit on poles. Yui walked beside him in silence. She hummed a tune softly. It was a simple folk melody. Nagi broke the silence first.
Nagi said, "You help them often."
Yui said, "Someone has to."
Nagi said, "It is dangerous."
Yui said, "Staying silent is more dangerous."
She stopped near the corner. She looked at him with warm eyes.
Yui said, "You are very quiet."
Nagi said, "I have little to say."
Yui said, "Silence is okay too."
She shifted the greatsword on her back.
Yui said, "See you around, Traveller."
She turned and walked away. Her braid swung behind her. Nagi watched her disappear into the crowd. He stood alone under the lantern light. He touched his coat again. He brought the fabric to his nose. He smelled nothing unusual. Just sweat and street dust. But the boy's words remained. You smell like outside.
Nagi said, "What is outside?"
He looked up at the sky. The stars were bright above the city. In the game, the sky was a texture. Here, it felt infinite and deep. He began to walk back to the inn. His mind was racing with theories. Was it the server shutdown residue? Was it the reality protocol change? Or was the child sensitive to anomalies? He reached the Broken Cog door. He pushed it open and entered. Maret was wiping the counter. She looked up at him briefly.
Maret said, "You are back late."
Nagi said, "I was invited to dinner."
Maret said, "That is rare for you."
Nagi said, "It was a kind family."
He walked toward the stairs. Maret called out to him.
Maret said, "Nagi."
He stopped and looked back.
Maret said, "Do not trust everyone."
Nagi said, "I trust no one."
Maret said, "Good."
She went back to wiping the wood. Nagi climbed the stairs slowly. He reached room six and unlocked it. He closed the door behind him. He locked it with two turns. He walked to the small window. He looked out at the city lights. They flickered like distant stars. He thought about the boy's nose. Children noticed things adults ignored. They had not learned to filter yet.
Nagi said, "Outside."
He whispered the word to the glass. It did not answer him. He sat on the edge of the bed. He took off his coat slowly. He hung it on the chair back. He lay down on the thin mattress. He closed his eyes in the dark. The smell of outside lingered in his mind. It was a clue he could not solve. But he would keep it safe. Every clue was a step forward. Every step was toward the door. He drifted into sleep eventually. The city noises faded away. Only the wind remained outside. And it smelled like freedom. Or maybe it smelled like danger. He would find out soon.
A/N: Thank you for reading Chapter 9. The child's observation is key. What does "outside" mean to you? Please add this to your library and leave a review. Your support keeps the story alive!