Reincarnated into a Snow Griffin
Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Chapter 49

"I’ll pay you." I insist.

"Right, right, you will." At that, as he starts turning around to walk towards the attendant up front, when he suddenly seems to think something that curves his lips up in an uneven way to display a mischievous smile, hidden under the angry mask, but still present in his voice when he turns back and says:

"Pay, don’t pay me, is just money anyway, but how about compensating me for saving your life uhm?" That is far worse than just money, but yet it seems as he is finally stretching his claws out by wanting something in return, and having him show his true colors actually sets me at ease, for I can finally settle everything down and be done with it.

"...I will pay you."

"You just keep saying that, but how can you pay it back? Saving your life... it will be very expensive you know, since you are only breathing here and walking about because of me."

That is true, everything I can and will have from now on will be thanks to him, and there is no heavier burden than this.

And still, repeating myself as I am, with no ideas to settle things up, I end up getting carried away and, in need to promise something, I say:

"I will pay you tenfold if needed." That pleases the little devil.

"Ohh, is already very price as is, are you sure about that? Though I can say that it does not feel fair still..." He says, provoking me, but there is just so much that I can compromise myself to as well, so as I’m about to brush his schemes off he suddenly laughs, letting go of my arm and giving me a little pat on the back, however what I do not hear is when he barely murmur the words with his back towards me: "I will hold you to that promise..."

His murmurs pass by unnoticed to me, especially when he already goes back to his vivid self, prompting me into following him: "Come on now, I’m dead tired from running around all night, let’s get a room uhm?" And even though that is a question he does not wait for my answer before going to the front desk in the middle of the open salon and talking to the employee for a while, coming back moments later with a small smile on his face, which gave me enough time to have a look around the place and it people, enjoying the anonymous sightseeing of people.

There were big black metal round chandeliers filled with candles illuminating the place, which made me wonder for a second how they were changed and lighten up every night so high up on the ceiling, and as much as it is a high class in it still had its peculiarities hand over the walls, from the most diverse and colorful masks to match the festival theme, white smirking foxes, scary looking demons, roaring red tigers, all glancing from the stone wall on the side close by to the huge dual face fireplace that had a huge pyre illuminating the central area as well as the more secluded place behind it, with couches and fur rugs on the chairs, all very cozy and of high quality.

Like the market that surrounded it and its people, the inn had many different and foreign aspects to its decoration, but I could hardly tell what from when since all was strange to me, only guessing by some very different styles and use of colors of some.

"Great news! Even though they are full because of the festival I managed to get us a room!" He says, but something tells me that there is more to it so I wait it out, and sure enough his next words bring an exasperated sigh out of me. "But... there is literally only one room available... and we will need to share it."

Well, that’s just great, might as well sleep on the cave floor by now.

However, as I take a deep breath that does not manage to take away all the increasing irritation and annoyance this mischievous devil has the gift to bring forth inside of me away, the always so relaxed and easygoing little devil tenses up, so out of place for him that I cannot help but look at the cause of such tenseness, following his gaze towards a group that is sitting to the side at one of the booth tables, straight backs and figures, none were wearing masks, but even if they did they would have stood out just by their aura alone.

And not only that catch my attention, but the strange little devil’s reaction only fuels my curiosity further, so I end up staring at them for a while, so we should not be surprised when the group senses our gaze, but I’m startled once one of them stands and comes our way to greet us.