“Why are their demands so unreasonable?” Eliana asked, furrowing her brows in confusion.
The property dealer sighed, a resigned look in his eyes. “It’s the harsh reality of the Northern Frontier, miss. The chances of people meeting an untimely demise here are high. The landlords know this. If they get their payment upfront, they are the ones who benefit most from the tenant’s untimely demise. In their death, lies their profit. The world is an ugly place, and that ugliness is more evident here than anywhere else.”
Val and Eliana shared a glance, both realizing just how brutally honest the property dealer’s words were. Hearing his words, Eliana’s heart immediately filled up with indignation while Val was once again reminded of the fact that people in this world were sometimes crueler than he was in his previous life. He was cruel when it was necessary or felt deeply offended, but they were being cruel just to profit off of the misfortune of people they had no beef with.
‘Honestly, it’s really nasty. But that’s the way this world works. Since I lack the strength to change it, I can only follow along.’
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Val decided to go along with this old saying considering his situation.
Without a word, he dug into his pocket and pulled out five copper starlight notes topped with one silver starlight note, placing them firmly in the property dealer’s hand to whom he said, “Show us the best deal you have on the market.”
The property dealer’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the notes. Pocketing the money with a swift motion, he flashed them a smile. “Since you are young master Alfred’s acquaintance, I do know of a place that might suit your needs. It’s a modest home, which can be rented out for just the monthly payment of 120 contribution points. There’s no need for security and advance monthly payments.”
“But…” he continued, “there’s a catch. The house has a reputation. Rumors circulate that it is haunted as strange things happen in the house during the night. Strange noises and flickering lights have been reported, especially during the dead of night. It’s why the rent is so low. Though, you don’t worry too much about the rumors. If you hang your talisman in the house, those eerie occurrences tend to subside. I’ve personally tested it.”
At the property dealer’s explanation, Val’s eyebrows knitted together in thought. Haunted or not, a roof over their heads was better than being homeless in an unfamiliar city. Plus, given his inability to feel fear, he wasn’t as bothered by the thought of ghosts and apparitions as most people would be. Not to mention, having a talisman to suppress the strange occurrences was just an added benefit. On top of all that, he had the power to slay demons and ghosts alike, so it was a great deal for him.
He looked towards his new girlfriend.
As for Eliana… well, she would have to adapt.
After all, the exorbitant rents demanded by the landlords weren’t something he was willing to concede to. He wasn’t one to take a loss, and this time it was going to be the same. 𝒩𝞸𝐕𝔩xt.𝔠𝒪𝔪
Eliana, on the other hand, felt a shiver run down her spine at the mention of a haunted house. Wandering souls and vengeful spirits were something she was extremely afraid of and for a good reason. Although she was a holy priestess and had the power to fend them off, she still felt afraid of encountering them. Her heart pounded against her chest at the prospect of possibly sharing a house with such entities. It was an irrational fear, she knew, but it wasn’t one she could easily shake off.
However, she held her silence, her eyes turning towards Val, seeking his decision on the matter.
Looking at her, Val easily determined she was afraid in a haunted house, but he didn’t love her enough to not see her get wronged. Moreover, helping her overcome her fears would lead to them getting closer, allowing him to inch closer to his goals.
With all things considered, he looked at the property dealer and calmly said, “We’re interested in the offer. But we would like to see the house first before we make any final decisions.”
Seeing Val’s calm demeanor, Eliana steeled herself. His steadfastness seemed to have an infectious quality that made her want to face her fears, no matter how irrational. If it meant staying by his side, she was willing to compromise, to adjust, and if necessary, to confront the fears that lurked in the darkest corners of her mind.
“Is madam truly willing?” the property dealer asked.
“Let’s go see it,” Eliana voiced, her hand instinctively reaching out to hold Val’s. Val instinctively wanted to free his hand from her grasp as he wasn’t used to being touched by others, but he held himself back as he didn’t want to reveal what he truly felt about herm His warmth and strength were comforting, a tether that bound her to reality amidst the swirling chaos of her fears.
“There’s your answer,” Val said to the property dealer.
Their interest in renting it out brought a tinge of relief to the property dealer’s face. He had been trying to find someone to rent this house for quite some time now, but the rumors of it being haunted had kept prospective tenants away.
“Very well,” he said, “Follow me. I’ll show you the house.”
Under the sky enchanted by two moons, the property led them through a labyrinth of streets until they arrived at a modest two-storied house. Its exterior was slightly worn, but it had a certain charm to it that hinted at its old age and rich history.
The windows were dark, giving the house a gloomy look.
Stepping inside, they saw that the house was in surprisingly good condition, considering its reputation.
It had two rooms, an equal number of bathrooms, a kitchen, a balcony, and a guest room, and all of it was furnished, though the decor was old and lacked any semblance of modern design.
However, it was clean, and the lack of dust hinted at regular maintenance.