Chapter 1: The Red Robe

KAI!" I jolted awake at the shout, bolting upright in bed as my heart pounded in my chest.

The room was dark and still, but I could feel the sweat on my brow and the sheets tangled around my legs. I panted for a moment, trying to calm my racing thoughts, before gingerly swinging my legs over the edge of the bed and rubbing the sleep from my eyes. As the realization that it was just a dream washed over me, I let out a sigh of relief.

Still shaken from the nightmare that woke me up, I stood up and made my way to the door, trying to shake off the lingering feeling of unease. This place was called the Kilef Hotel, located in Guinn Village - the oldest village in the world, and home to a diverse array of species living together.

As I descended the stairs, the noise and activity of the bar hit me like a wave. Tables and chairs were arranged throughout the room, and all around me, creatures were drinking, eating, chatting, laughing, and shouting. I made my way to an empty table and sat down, feeling overwhelmed by the sensory overload.

Suddenly, Ree - a bunny human waitress - approached me. She had brown eyes, stood about the same height as me, and was dressed in a yellow outfit. She took out a small notepad and pen from her pocket and smiled at me.

"Kai," she shouted and ran over to me.

She took the seat next to me, her brown eyes filled with concern.

"How's your sleep? Still experiencing nightmares?"

I didn't answer, instead looking at the menu to decide on my order.

"Still cold-blooded?" She said with a teasing smile, resting her hand on the table and propping her head up with her other hand.

I looked at her and replied, "Just a beef steak and coffee, the usual."

She nodded, jotting down my order in her notepad.

"You win again. Just wait for your order," she said before taking her leave.

As I waited, I looked around the bar, taking in all the sights and sounds. The smells of cooking food and alcohol filled the air, and the clanging of glasses and the laughter of patrons filled my ears.

After several minutes, Ree returned to my table, a bright smile on her face as she approached. She carefully set down a tray with my usual order, the warm plates and mug of coffee steamy and inviting.

"Here you go, Kai," Ree said cheerfully, her eyes sparkling as she watched me dig in.

I began to eat, but Ree didn't linger for long. She quickly turned and waved goodbye to a few of the other customers before disappearing behind the counter again.

As I sat at the table, I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched. When I looked up, I saw a woman in a red robe with a hood covering her head and a wand at her side. She had been staring at me and sipping on a beer since I walked into the room. The logo on her robe caught my attention - it was a white horse with wands crossed behind it. I recognized the logo and felt a strong aura emanating from her.

After I finished eating, I returned to my room. The girl's stare seemed to follow me as I walked. It was like she wanted to attack me. When I reached my room, I realized that I had forgotten to light the candle. I grabbed it from my bag under the bed and lit it, keeping my back to the door as I sensed the woman's aura outside. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Who are you?" I called out.

But instead of answering, the girl knocked again.

"I won't open the door unless you tell me who you are," I said firmly.

To my surprise, the door opened even though I had locked it. I had no idea how the girl managed to do it.

She looked at me with a disgusted expression.

"Didn't your dad teach you enough?" she sneered.

I was taken aback. How did she know about my dad? Did she even know him?

"Do you know my dad?" I asked, my voice tinged with anger.

The woman didn't respond, but instead smirked. She walked towards the window and I backed away, keeping my distance.

"I didn't know your dad had a child," she said, looking up at the sky with a confused smile.

"Children," I corrected her.

She laughed.

"So you're still not that aware," she sneered.

Not aware of what? What she talking about? Did she not know about my brother?

"What are you talking about?" I asked, I'm really confused what she said,

"You will know, but now, " She replied,

"I don't think, I'm the right person to tell it," she added,

Where are your swords?" She demanded, her piercing eyes scanning my body as she searched for the weapons.

I was puzzled by her question. Why did she want my swords? Was she here for them? I immediately tensed, suspecting that she might attack me at any moment. But I also urgently wanted to know more about my dad.

"Do you know where my dad is?" I asked, hoping for some answers.

"You're so irritating, so many questions," she snapped, her face showing her irritation. She strode towards me, standing tall and staring me in the eyes.

"Do you even know what your swords are?"

"I think one of them is Paladin's sword," I said cautiously.

"Did you know that Paladin had many swords?" she asked, her voice hushed and intense.

"I don't really know," I whispered, feeling out of my depth.

"Well, let me tell you something," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Your swords are more than just weapons. They are symbols of your heritage, your legacy. And if you don't know that, then you don't deserve to wield them."

She took a step closer to me, her eyes blazing with anger.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her auras and words. I had always known that my swords were special, but I had never realized just how important they were.

She walked over to the bed, her footsteps echoing on the hardwood floor. She sat down with a heavy sigh and shook her head.

"This is really not a good idea," she muttered.

I had no idea who this girl was or what her intentions were. I was completely confused, especially since she kept mentioning my dad. What was their relationship?

"You!" she said, pointing at me with a stern finger.

"What's your name?"

"Kai," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Yours?"

"Darn it, I have no choice," she shouted, throwing her hands up in frustration.

"Orion, my name is Orion."

She looks at me.

What's your reason for this journey?" she asked, her curious eyes scanning my face.

"I'm looking for my family and friends," I replied, wondering why she was asking me these questions.

"Well, how about we find them together?" she offered, extending her hand for a handshake.

I hesitated, wondering if it was a good idea to accept.

"Why do you want to find them?" I asked, not wanting to blindly trust her.

"Okay, the truth is, your dad and I were part of a team together," she said, moving to reveal the logo on her shirt.

"The Paladin's Warriors."

I recognize the logo from one of my dad's uniforms.

"But then he suddenly retired. A few years later, I heard that their house was raided by unknown attackers and when I arrived, there was no sign of either of them. I suspected they were kidnapped, so I made a promise to myself to find your dad."

I felt a pang of sadness in my chest, knowing that this was also the reason I had set out on this journey to find my loved ones. I sat down on the bed next to her, my shoulders sagging with the weight of my emotions.

"We'll find him," I said, offering her a reassuring smile.

Up close, I could see that Orion was actually quite cute. She was about my height, with brown eyes and short, blue hair. She smiled back at me, her eyes lighting up.

"Thank you, Kai," she said, her smile growing wider.

"I really appreciate it. I've been searching for so long and it's been tough going at it alone. I'm glad to have someone to help me."

She stood up and offered her hand to me again.

"So, do you accept my offer to join me on this journey to find your dad?"

I hesitated for a moment, still unsure if I should fully trust her. But something in her eyes convinced me that she was sincere in her desire to find my dad. And I knew that I needed all the help I could get on my own journey.

"Yes," I said, taking her hand in mine and shaking it firmly.

"I accept your offer."

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