Raven's door was slowly pushed open. Light footsteps approached her bed.
Her eyes snapped open.
She swiftly drew the sword under her pillow and slashed towards her opponent.
A hand grabbed her wrist before her sword could reach the other person while another covered her mouth before any scream could escape.
She struggled to escape the person's grip.
" Be still." Kenji whispered to her.
He let go of her." Guards are here. Let's go."
With that, Kenji jumped out of the window. Raven sheathed her sword and jumped out as well.
It was still dark outside. Some guards stood in front of shops and inns while others checked inside the places.The streets were quiet since there weren't many people there.
Somehow, the two managed to not get caught.
By the time the sun rose, they were still wandering around aimlessly.
" Where are we meeting my soulmates?"
"At Kageyume."
Raven furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
" Then why are we walking in the wrong direction?"
Kenji gave her a fake yet serious confused look." Why?"
Raven wanted to hit him and break his legs. They were silent for a while. Until Raven remembered what Kageyume was.
" Wait... Don't tell me. Do you mean that pleasure house Kageyume?!!"
Kenji nodded.
Kageyume was a very famous pleasure house. Extremely expensive too.
Raven was clearly displeased that she laughed. "Who with a brainless head chose that place?"
" Me."
Raven looked at him in disappointment. She shook her head. " Shameless Idiot."
Kenji wasn't affected. " Only fellow idiots can recognize their fellows."
They arrived at Kageyume later that evening.
The atmosphere was warm. Different people came and went from the pleasure house.There were beautiful welcoming ladies dressed in vibrant colors and revealing clothes. A sweet-smelling perfume lingered around them.
Raven couldn't help but be annoyed.
One of the ladies came and started dancing in front of Kenji, treating Raven as a ghost.
Kenji didn't seem to care, but the dancing lady seemed to enjoy it very much, smiling seductively.
Raven pushed her.
The lady gave Raven a ' Why would you do that?' look.
Kenji didn't seem surprised.
With a roll of her eyes, Raven entered. Kenji gave a low apologetic bow to the lady before entering.
The lady just closed her eyes, sighed and forced a smile that didn't look fake at all! It wasn't like she liked what she did either.
She danced towards other men.
The scent of incense and perfume was enough to hide the stale odour of wine.
Red lanterns bathed the room in a warm bright red light while musicians played soft string instruments in one corner.
Wealthy people laughed over wine while beautifully dressed women danced and poured them wine. Some women even sat on their clients' laps.
" Why would you choose such a place?"
" Why not?"
Raven sighed.
They were led to a private room upstairs where Will, Jaden and Liza were waiting.
When they entered, Will and Liza stood up. Will walked to her, lightly slapped her arm and pinched her cheeks.
" You are not dreaming."
Raven pinched him back, with a wide grin." You also aren't."
She glanced at Liza.
Liza waved at her.
Raven secretly sighed. She was still the same. She went to her and gave her a lazy hug. She then glared at Jaden who was still sitting.
" Hey! You didn't miss me?"
Jaden gave her a lazy look. " I'm sleepy."
" Then go to sleep! What are you doing here?"
" Sleeping."
Raven lost it. She removed her shoe and threw it at Jaden. Jaden simply caught it.
He looked at the shoe and gave her a grin. He threw it back at her.
Raven didn't even have time to dodge. It hit her straight on her forehead.
She rubbed her forehead pretending to be angry.
Before she could go to pick up her shoe, her sword slipped out of her hand.
When she turned, it was already in Will's hands.
" Ahh...What are you doing?!" She reached out for her sword. Will moved back. He unsheathed it.
" Hahaha... Where did you steal this?"
"Are you serious ?! Who steals?!"
Raven looked at all of them. Kenji was still standing at the entrance, Jaden sipping on his tea, while Liza stood up watching them.
" Come and sit down. I will tell you how I got it."
They all sat.
" I was walking at night, tripped on a rock. Big rock. This sword was in that rock. I took it from there."
Liza couldn't restrain herself from smiling.
Will nodded in complete agreement. He gave her thumbs up.
" Wasn't it dark green in color?"
Raven nodded.
" That totally makes sense. I have seen such a rock somewhere."
They slapped their palms together, satisfied with their own fantasy.
Jaden sipped on his tea." I wonder if the rock is fine."
They gave Raven many letters. They were from the pavilion fellows. She wanted to read them, but instead she kept them for reading later.
Will put the purple flower like herb on the table. Jaden placed the opal earring beside it.
Jaden started talking." This is what we found at Eniva's. After her death."
Raven's eyes remained stuck on the herb placed on the table. She reached out and took it in her hand.
Liza gave a concerned look. " Do you... "
" Dreamshade. Right?" She didn't recognize it when Will mentioned it in the letter. But now seeing it, it instantly came to her. She put the herb back at the table.
" They are grown at my home. Huntherb. "
Liza looked down with a blank expression.
" Huntherb." She repeated quietly and looked at Raven attentively. Raven glanced at Kenji, as if asking if they were still grown there. Instead of answering, Kenji just ignored her.
Raven continued. " That's my home."