A few days passed since Ren and Aelia settled into The Red Ox Pub.
It had quickly become part of their rhythm — a place to rest, recover, and live quietly before the next city. The mornings, especially, had fallen into a predictable pattern.
Ren, as usual, woke first.
And as usual, the first thing he saw wasn't the sunrise, but Aelia, sprawled across the bed like a fallen knight after a war. One leg tangled in the blanket, her arm hanging off the edge, and her mouth slightly open in the most un-princess-like fashion imaginable.
The so-called "Trinity Sister", known across the kingdom for her grace and beauty… was snoring.
Ren sighed in quiet resignation and gently nudged her back into a more... acceptable posture.
"This girl…" he muttered with a shake of his head. "Every damn morning."
After freshening up and pulling on his coat, he made his way downstairs. The familiar scent of warm bread, eggs, and brewed tea greeted him before anything else.
Behind the counter, Ayla, the ever-graceful elf and innkeeper, was already waiting with a knowing smile.
"Good morning, dear~"
"Morning, Miss Ayla," Ren replied, slipping into his usual seat by the corner window.
"Has the lady risen from her royal slumber yet?" Ayla asked, amusement dancing in her eyes.
Ren gave her a tired look. "What do you think?"
Ayla chuckled, covering her mouth. "Fufu~ I take that as a no. The usual for both of you, then?"
"Please."
She returned minutes later, placing two hearty plates in front of him. Ren began eating slowly, savoring the peaceful silence. The second plate remained untouched, steam still rising from the eggs and toast — waiting for its owner.
It was peaceful. Familiar.
And in a strange way, nice.
A few moments later, the lady herself finally descended from her slumber.
Still rubbing sleep from her eyes, Aelia trudged down the stairs, barefoot, her hair slightly frizzed despite clearly having washed her face and freshened up. Her body was awake. Her soul… not quite.
"Well, well, well. Good morning, my lady," Ren said without looking up from his plate, one eyebrow lazily raised.
"Mornin'..." she mumbled, still half-asleep as she yawned and made her way to the table.
Despite her state, her skin glowed, her long silver-blonde hair catching the morning light — the kind of effortless grace that only made her messy appearance strangely charming.
She blinked a few times, then noticed Ren was already well into his breakfast.
"Wha—!? You started without me? Haha… sorry, Ren. I totally overslept again, huh?"
Ren just gave her a neutral glance and took another bite of toast. "You don't say."
Aelia flopped into the seat beside him and began digging into her food like it was the first meal she'd had in weeks. Across the room, Ayla leaned behind the counter, propping her chin on one hand and watching with open amusement.
"You two are quite the sight every morning," she mused with a soft giggle. "It's like watching an old married couple."
Ren didn't even flinch. "Don't encourage her."
"I wouldn't mind," Aelia added between mouthfuls, half-teasing, half-asleep.
Ren paused mid-bite. Then calmly resumed chewing. Ayla, meanwhile, was clearly enjoying the show.
After a quiet moment, Aelia leaned toward him slightly.
"So, Ren… what's the plan today?"
Ren wiped his mouth and set his fork down. "I think it's time we start heading toward the next city."
"Oh?" Ayla tilted her head, visibly disappointed. "You both leaving already? That's a shame… I was starting to enjoy having you around."
"Sorry, Miss Ayla," Ren replied with a shrug. "We try not to stay too long in one place. Especially when a certain someone ran away from home."
He gave Aelia a pointed look.
Aelia, finally more awake, widened her eyes and swatted his arm playfully. "Hey! Don't just say it out loud like that!"
"Fufu~ I see, I see. That explains a lot," Ayla said, clearly amused. "A runaway noble sharing a room with a former hero… Sounds like the start of a ballad, doesn't it?"
Ren leaned back in his seat, sighing. "Let's hope it doesn't turn into a tragedy."
Aelia smiled softly, glancing at Ren with just a bit more affection in her eyes.
"Don't worry. If it does, I'll be the one rewriting the ending."
The wooden steps creaked softly beneath Ren and Aelia's boots as they descended, bags slung over shoulders and the morning light spilling in through the inn's dusty windows.
But something felt off.
Ayla, who usually greeted them with a warm smile and teasing charm, now stood behind the counter with a pale expression. Her fingers clenched the edge of the counter. Before her, a knight in weathered armor stood hunched over, his breath ragged and forehead damp with sweat.
Ren's steps slowed. He exchanged a brief look with Aelia before stepping forward.
"Miss Ayla... is something wrong?" he asked, voice cautious.
Ayla managed a smile, but it was strained—forced, like she was trying not to shake.
Before she could respond, the knight turned sharply toward Ren. His eyes were tired but sharp, as if scanning for a lifeline.
"You there—are you an adventurer?"
Ren blinked. "Uh… not exactly. I was… formerly a hero, but I'm not part of any guild now. Just a traveler."
The knight exhaled—part relief, part frustration. "Traveler or not… this concerns you too."
Aelia stepped beside Ren, brow furrowing. "What's going on?"
The knight glanced between them and Ayla, then lowered his voice. "A stampede. Coming down from the Black Hollow region. Wolves, beasts, corrupted ogres… they're swarming. A full migration headed straight toward the city."
Ren's heart sank. That word—stampede—rang loud in his mind.
A stampede wasn't just an attack.
It was a calamity.
Stampedes happened when a dungeon overflowed or monsters were stirred into panic by something deeper, more ancient, more dangerous. Villages disappeared in hours. Cities collapsed if unprepared.
Aelia's expression tightened. "That's a hero-level threat. Has the palace dispatched anyone?"
"We've sent word," the knight said with a grim nod. "But the capital's heroes are tangled in another emergency. We've only got a handful of B and A-rank adventurers in the area. We're trying to hold the outer line long enough for the citizens to evacuate."
He took a breath, looking them both in the eye. "We're asking every capable hand—guilded or not—to help. Even just protecting the rear or guiding people to safety will make a difference."
Ayla placed a hand over her chest, trying to calm herself. "Is it… that serious?"
"Yes," the knight said. "The last town they passed through—Dolsbury—it's gone. No survivors yet confirmed."
Silence fell.
Ren's breath caught in his throat. Dolsbury… he remembered passing through there just last month. A kind blacksmith. Children playing in the dusty streets. Gone.
"Thank you," Aelia said quietly. The knight gave a nod, then left to continue spreading the warning.
The door shut.
Ren stood rooted to the spot, eyes down, fists trembling at his sides. He wasn't a hero anymore. He didn't wear the crest. He had no backup. No divine favor. Just… memories.
Aelia turned to him.
"Ren…" she said softly. "What should we do? Should we evacuate?"
He didn't answer immediately. His shoulders were tense. His lips parted slightly, but no words came. He looked like someone drowning in his own thoughts.
"I want to help," he whispered. "But I've never fought a stampede. Not like this. I don't know if I… if I can."
Aelia stepped close, her fingers sliding gently into his hand. She squeezed. Her gaze wasn't filled with fear—it was steady, burning quietly.
"You don't need to fight alone," she said. "We help how we can. Together. Isn't that why we left in the first place? To choose our own path? Well… this is our choice."
Ren looked at her. Her grip was warm. Anchoring.
He exhaled. Then nodded.
"Let's help however we can. Even if it's small. I won't just walk away."
With a determined nod, Ren and Aelia dropped their bags behind the inn counter and turned toward the door, ready to rush into the chaos brewing outside.
But Ayla's voice stopped them.
"Wait," she said, her tone trembling with maternal concern. "Are you two… really sure about this?"
They turned back. Ayla stood there, hands clutched to her chest, eyes filled with worry—less an innkeeper now, and more like a mother seeing her children march to war.
Ren stepped forward, voice steady. "I may not be a hero anymore… but I was one. I can't just stand by while another Dolsbury happens. Please, Miss Ayla."
Aelia joined him, her hand gently brushing Ayla's. "And I want to repay your kindness. At least let me do that much."
Ayla said nothing at first. Then, without warning, she pulled both of them into a tight embrace.
"Alright," she whispered, voice breaking slightly. "But promise me this—come back safe. I don't want my favorite couple dying before I see them married… again."
She gave a teary chuckle.
"I've lived a long time. I've seen lovers grow cold, break apart, lose themselves. But you two… you're not like them. You remind me of what love should look like. I never had children of my own, but you both… you're like my kids now. And as a mother, I just want to see you happy, alive, and together."
Ren and Aelia each held her tighter, smiling with misty eyes.
"We promise," Ren said.
Aelia nodded, "We'll come back, no matter what."
Ayla wiped her tears and forced a smile. "Good! Now go! I'll watch your stuff. And I'll be waiting."
With hearts burning, they turned and sprinted out into the sunlight.
Outside, the knight from earlier was just about to turn down the street when Ren called out.
"Sir Knight! Wait!"
The knight turned, surprised. "You two again? Why are you still here? Get to safety! Where's the innkeeper?"
Ren stood tall. "We're coming to help with the stampede."
The knight raised an eyebrow. "Help? You two aren't even with a guild. You'll be fighting at your own risk. Are you sure?"
Ren and Aelia turned back toward the inn. Through the doorway, Ayla stood watching with teary eyes and a proud smile.
"We promised our 'mother,'" Aelia said softly.
The knight blinked, caught off guard. Then he scoffed and smiled, a gleam in his eye.
"Troublesome kids you've raised, Madam Ayla."
Ayla folded her arms with a gentle smirk. "They're mine, after all. Fufu~"
The knight laughed heartily, wiping a tear. "What a family. Alright then—come on, both of you! Let's give those beasts hell!"
"Yes, sir!"
And with that, the two rushed forward into the streets, into the fray, side by side—no longer just travelers, but protectors of a home that had adopted them as its own.
The arc ends not with the clash of blades, but with the strength of bonds forged, and the quiet courage to stand for something more.