CESAGA

As they settled in, they noticed two other diners quietly savoring their satay.

"Purnama, those meals look delicious... I can finally eat in peace and satisfy my hunger. Old man, give us fifty sticks of chicken satay and forty sticks of beef satay!" Suria eagerly placed her order.

A wizened old man, his white hair peeking out from beneath a worn cap, stood by the grill. Clad in tattered clothing, his weathered face, smudged with soot, was focused on tending the sizzling satay.

"Ah, welcome! Didn't see you two come in. You can call me Hrakas. Just a moment, and I'll get your order ready," he smiled, adding more satay to the grill.

"Suria, don't eat too much. We don't have much SAGA left," Purnama warned, discreetly checking the silver coins in his embroidered pouch.

"Don't worry, Purnama. We can always ask Ria for more later. We need our strength for the investigation mission," Suria replied, dismissing his concern, her focus clearly on satisfying her hunger.

Purnama sighed, placing a small, untied sack of Dykin seeds on the table.

"Suria, take these three seeds. Keep them safe. Use them if you need to."

Suria, surprised by the gesture, took the seeds and placed them inside her gold-embroidered pouch adorned with a mystical bird.

"What's gotten into you? First, you say I'm careless, now you give me these? If you'd given them earlier, we wouldn't have lost a seed back on the hill," she remarked, tightening the pouch.

"It was a reflex when you rushed in like that. I've got a bad feeling something is going to happen. Just remember, if it does, use the seeds to save yourself," Purnama added, his tone more serious.

Suria sighed, dismissing his concerns. She encouraged Purnama to enjoy the food and stop overthinking.

Meanwhile, Hrakas moved the freshly grilled satay from the grill to a clay plate. He tossed a rag over his shoulder, carefully balancing the plate in one hand while holding a clay bowl of steaming peanut gravy topped with finely chopped onions in the other.

The rich aroma of spices and the sight of the sizzling satay, glistening with juices, made it impossible to resist. The hot steam rising from the perfectly grilled meat was enough to make anyone's mouth water.

"Enjoy your meal—the best satay dish from Jyala!" Hrakas said with a warm smile as he served the satay.

As soon as he placed the dishes down, the earlier customers, having finished their meal, left a handful of SAGA coins on the table before exiting the shop.

Hrakas pocketed the coins and began clearing the dishes. While wiping the table clean, he glanced over at the twins, who were lowering their scarves to uncover their faces.

"Forgive me for asking, but where are you two from? You don't look like the usual merchants who pass through here," Hrakas inquired curiously.

"Uh... Old man, we... we come from the far west. We have some important matters to discuss in Renok," Purnama stammered, noticing that Suria was already busy devouring the satay.

"As I mentioned earlier, you can call me Hrakas. What should I call you two?" he asked again, smiling.

"This is my twin brother, Purnama, and I'm Suria," she replied between bites.

"Nice to meet you, Purnama and Suria. So, you're heading to Renok? Never thought I'd have guests with a noble pass dining in my little shop," Hrakas chuckled.

"Noble pass? What is that? And about Renok—could you tell us what the situation is like there? We're new merchants and not very familiar with the area," Purnama responded, confused by Hrakas' mention of a noble pass.

Hearing Purnama's response, Hrakas abruptly walked to the door, glanced outside, and, satisfied that no one was watching, locked it.

Purnama and Suria exchanged puzzled looks. The old man returned to the counter, set aside the dirty dishes, and rummaged through a cabinet. He pulled out an old, rolled-up map and returned to their table.

"Now, where were we? Ah yes, Renok." Hrakas pointed to the eastern part of the map.

"This is the town you're heading to. It's the main merchant hub of the empire. But before you can enter Renok, you need to pass through Yurok, the inspection fortress." He traced a line between Jyala and Renok with his finger.

"You know Renok's under Erabis's control, right?" Hrakas asked, his voice low.

Suria, unsure of the details, simply nodded.

"The villagers preparing carriages... it's for Erabis's tribute, isn't it?" Purnama interjected.

Hrakas met Purnama's gaze, then closed his eyes before slowly reopening them. He took a deep, steadying breath.

"For six years now, we've been paying this so-called 'compensation.' That's the only way to enter Renok if you're local. My only grandson is being held there, and they've promised he'll be released soon... We can't ask for help from the outside empire. If they find out..." His voice cracked as he gripped the rag in his hand, tears welling up in his eyes. He wiped them away slowly.

"I'm... I'm sorry..." Hrakas muttered, composing himself before continuing.

"Foreign merchants usually have a noble pass... It's strange when you asked me about it..." He paused, leaning closer to the table and whispering, "Could it be that you two are... associated with the Avalon resistance?"

"Avalon resistance? We've never heard of that. Sorry, Hrakas, but you must be mistaken. We're just a regular merchant" Suria replied, wiping her mouth.

Hrakas looked disappointed.

"I see... my mistake. As I mentioned, I shouldn't involve outsiders in these matters. It's just... I've been praying for a miracle. But what's an old man like me thinking?" His voice softened as he continued, "Please, keep what I've told you a secret. If Erabis finds out... my grandson..." Hrakas trailed off, his face etched with worry as the Celestial Twins watched his despair.

"Don't worry, Hrakas. Not a word will leave us. You've helped us more than you know. We'll find a way to enter Renok," Purnama assured him, trying to lift his spirits.

"It would be troublesome for you to turn around and apply for a noble pass. The villagers of Jyala will send their compensation to Renok the day after tomorrow. I can help you enter if you disguise yourselves as my assistants. In the meantime, you can rest here," Hrakas offered, genuinely eager to assist the twins.

"Good that you offer; if not, we might just knock and crash in any house around here." 

"Purnama...." Suria sighed and continued, "I guess I'll help you with the dishes, Hrakas."

"Oh my, you don't have to do that. You're my guests..." Hrakas protested.

"I insist!" Suria exclaimed, standing up after finishing her meal.

She lifted the greasy plate and bowl and joined Hrakas at the wooden barrel near the kitchen counter to scrub them clean with the cool water. Meanwhile, Purnama handed Hrakas some coins to pay for their meal.

As dusk settled over Jyala, the street traders along the main road began packing up their goods, preparing to close their businesses for the day.

The atmosphere grew cooler; withered leaves fluttered in the wind and the lively noise of the day faded into silence. As the first stars twinkled in the darkening sky, the town of Jyala slipped into a quiet slumber.