Ryuu managed to find the inn where the Werewolf siblings resided. Sporting her best smile, she entered it and approached the receptionist.
"Good Afternoon. I want to rent a room for one day."
The attendant nodded. "That'd be 600 valis."
Ryuu rummaged her pouch and brought out the required amount. "Incidentally, miss. I've heard from a trustworthy source that a pair of Werewolves is lodging here. Is it true?"
The attendant looked at her with suspicions. "I'm no blabbermouth, so you shouldn't know anything about people under my roof. Unless you know from someone that I know."
Ryuu bowed, "Greetings, Madam. I am referred here by your brother, the tavern master. I wanted to talk to the two Werewolves."
"You're from Higg's place, huh? What are you gonna do to those two?" With even more suspicions in her eyes, the attendant pushed the money on the counter back to Ryuu.
"As I said, just talk. You see, I'm a traveling bard," Ryuu showcased her harp. "I'm looking for inspiration."
Before the attendant could say anything, somebody came from upstairs and caught Ryuu's attention. Smiling, Ryuu left the attendant to approach the figure. After all, it was the spitting image of her previous incarnation's comrade.
"Oh my, is that you, Sir Yuri?" Ryuu asked the newly appeared figure.
"...I'm going back to my room."
"Hold on! Sir Yuri!" Ryuu immediately ran and caught his arms, forcing him to stop going upstairs. "It has been a while, hasn't it? Why don't we catch up over drinks?"
"No. And it's Bete now."
"Pleased to meet you again, Sir Bete. Allow me to introduce myself this time. I am Ryuu Lion, a traveling bard journeying the land."
"Shut up. I don't want to deal with you, you nosy bard," the werewolf named Bete shrugged her off.
It was at this time that somebody else came down.
"Brother? What's with the commotion?"
Ryuu looked at the dark-haired werewolf that had just come down. "Sir Bete, this is..."
She was reminded of the fact that Yuri had lost his sister. It seemed that this time, Bete managed to do what he couldn't do in his previous life. With a soft smile, Ryuu let go of Bete and approached his little sister.
"Good Afternoon. I'm Ryuu Lion, a traveling bard and a close friend of your brother."
"Don't listen to her. We're only an acquaintance."
"Oh my, that was even better than I thought. Thank you for such a gesture of closeness, Sir Bete," Ryuu bowed. "Now then, may I have the name of Sir Bete's little sister?"
"L-Luna."
"Oi, piss of, you nosy bard. She's overwhelmed," Bete growled at her.
"Lady Luna. It's a pleasure to meet you." Ryuu then turned her attention to Bete. "Sir Bete, is it safe to assume that you came from the..."
Bete growled again when he saw her gesturing about monsters.
"Ah, I see. My condolence, Sir Bete, Lady Luna." Ryuu put her hat on her chest and bowed her head. "Please forgive my forwardness, but can we talk?"
Clicking his tongue, Bete walked towards the open table. "Might as well. Come here, Luna."
"Thank you, Sir Bete. You two were survivors of the devastating monster attack on the plains, am I correct?" Ryuu got a nod, although Bete growled again. "Then, can you point me the way?"
Luna looked confused. "Why would you go there?"
Meanwhile, Bete shook his head, knowing her tendency to make songs that inspired hope. "It's no use. You won't find a single shred of hope in that ruins of corpses and destruction."
Ryuu frowned. Usually, she would take whatever information about something and take a look by herself. But this was someone who knew her, which meant he deserved a modicum of trust for all the years he spent tolerating her. In the end, she sighed.
"Thank you for your information. I'm sorry I brought up such unpleasant memories."
"You haven't answered. Why did you want to go there?" Luna growled.
Ryuu blinked and chuckled at hearing her growl. "It seems this one is as ferocious as you were, Sir Bete."
"Of course," Bete scoffed. "We share blood."
"To answer your question, Lady Luna. I am a wandering bard on a journey to spread hopes toward the small townsfolk. I wanted to go there and look for anything inspiring so that other people won't cower in fear, thinking that the next time would be their home. But it seems that I have no need to go there, after all."
Ryuu smiled at them.
"After all, the last trace of hopes from the monster's attack is carried within the two of you."
Luna's eyes widened, and her mouth opened in awe. Ryuu saw Bete gives her a grateful look, and she nodded in understanding. It wouldn't be wrong to say that Luna was in anguish; losing everyone she cared about would do that to a person.
Bete was an old soul like her. He knew the pain of loss and could cope; the same couldn't be said for his sister. What she had just said might have just rekindled the light in her heart.
Ryuu turned her attention back to Bete. "So, Sir Bete. What are your plans after this?"
"Orario. We're going to get stronger," Bete simply stated.
"Oh my, oh my, what a coincidence. I think two years is enough looking for inspiration around the world. May I join you in my last journey to Orario?" Ryuu grinned.
"Brother, please, can she join us?" Luna suddenly asked her brother before turning her attention to Ryuu. "Miss Ryuu! You can join us!"
"...I haven't even given my permission," Bete grumbled as he was ignored by her sister.
"Then, please take care of me, Lady Luna," Ryuu bowed.
"Tch, do whatever you want."
"That means he gives his permission!" Luna translated her brother's words.
Ryuu chuckled. She was about to end her journey and made a beeline for Orario. It was just that the rumors about the monster attack caught her attention, and she wanted to spread hope to the smaller towns. With Bete and Luna here, Ryuu got the thing she wanted.
"By the way, Sir Bete. Is it alright if I write a piece about you?" Ryuu brought out her pen and paper.
"Don't you fucking dare, you Elf! The last piece you made about me had me called something ridiculous!"
Bete rose and came for her pen and paper, but Ryuu dodged his swipe of hands.
"I can just imagine the title. Howl at the Moon. Aaah, I can't wait to pour my thoughts!"
As Bete chased the grinning Ryuu, Luna looked at them in confusion.
"How did they know each other, anyway? I don't remember Brother ever leaving our place."
A/N: We've now reached the end of Ryuu's introduction. It's really fun writing Ryulu!Ryuu.