Masako’s tongue was parched and rough when she finally decided it was alright to stop for a rest. Having spent the previous night on foot at a unwaveringly brisk pace, the girl was drained. Spotting a roadside tavern, Masako decided to allow herself to indulge for a day—she’d just run away, for god’s sake!

Masako pushed open the doors to the dimly lit main room, eyes flicking from tavern-goer to tavern-goer as she stepped into the building. No one in the crowd looked up when the sheltered girl entered, and she figured that servants must be a common sight around this part. Little to her knowledge, however, the people in the bar had all reserved an eye for the girl-donned-male servant when she’d entered, appraising the value of the loot. Being the sheltered girl she was, Masako couldn’t have known about the danger of entering a building full of vagabonds alone—especially when she appeared to be a relatively young boy.

[color=indianred]”Could I get a cup of water and a room?”[/color] Masako asked, sitting down at a empty chair by the bar. [color=indianred]”Please,”[/color] she added for good measure. The bartender gave the girl a snaggle-toothed grin, looking the young boy up and down. Seeing as the young servant was venturing to these parts, he was probably unfamiliar with the area and had come from afar, which would then mean that he had a larger-than-normal amount of coin on him. Meaning that he was an easy target for his usual clients.

“Sure thing, boy. Cup of water coming right up,” the grizzled man said, turning to retrieve a cup from the sink “Rooms are in the back. Head down when you’re done.” [i]We’ll be done with you before that though,[/i] the man thought, chuckling to himself as a group of men stood up from their seats and walked over to the young servant.

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[@Damiann47]