It was a loud place as people drank and joked openly. I ignored it all thought to walk up to the keeper that was pouring drinks.
"I'd like a room for a couple nights please." I said calmly.
The frazzled looking middle aged witch looked at me oddly.
"Don't have any free sorry to say. Where are you parents anyways? Kids your age shouldn't be wondering about alone." she asked and I shook my head.
"It's just me, suppose I'll just go find somewhere else to stay then." I said before turning to leave.
"Wait!" she hurriedly stopped me.
I looked at her confused.
"Did you need something?" I asked confused.
"Look I might not have been entirely honest. I thought you were one of those kids that throws a fit and runs out of their home." she said helplessly.
"I see. So can I rent a room or not?" I asked calmly.
"Holiday prices, 2 galleons a night. 3 if you want meals." she said blandly.
"Alright." I said as I retrieved six coins and handed them over.
"Room four up the stairs." she said pointing to the stairs at the far back of the tavern.
I nodded and made my way through the area dodging any sticky fingers that might be trying to grab my stuff in this crowded place. Clearly not everyone here was a good person as I sensed no less than seven attempts at my coin pouch between my starting point and the stairs. I suppose I must have seemed an easy mark for thieves being a lone child and all but with observation haki it was laughably easy to avoid these attempts by the smallest margins. Even the one where a man tried to act like I ran into him failed as I back stepped to the side as he braced mid step for the act.-
This made him stumble but unlike his plan I was not in the position that he could blame me from. I merely clicked my tongue at him as I went on my way. The room was nothing special, a bed, a nightstand and that was it. I locked the door and expanded my spear to wedge it at an angle between the handle and floor, barring it. There would be no sneakily entering this room, the door could still be forced though but by that point I'd definitely wake up.-
I briefly contemplated putting down a small area landmine but considering this was a small room I thought better of it. There was an attempt at opening my door but once whoever it was realized I'd barred it they gave up. Other than that I slept lightly but well enough if you discount the nightmares from my now two personal kills. It was getting easier to handle but I wasn't so sure that was a good thing. I knew it was probably my conquerors haki that was making it so smooth as having it meant your personality had to be rather firm and unshakeable by nature.-
Still I reminded myself that I shouldn't kill so lightly, the moment it becomes my go to solution i've definitely gone too far. In the morning I unbarred the door and opened it before stepping back as a meaty hand grabbed the air where I would have been.
"Vigilant, good. I believe we have a conversation to finish." a gruff voice said as it's owner stepped into view.
"Moody. You've come a long way to be disappointed." I said calmly.
"Ha! I haven't met a brat who's given me so much trouble since the war a decade ago." he said with a small smirk.
"And yet here you are, still bothering me on the old goats orders a continent away." I said pointedly.
"That was a favor to Dumbledore, this is personal curiosity. You're a riddle boy, a mystery I can't quite make out, even with my vision." He said tapping his glass casing housing his fake eyes that turned this way and that constantly.
"You have to be taking the piss. You chased me to an entirely different continent, out of curiosity?" I asked dumbfounded.
"Aye, a powerful thing curiosity. Troublesome too. Has this way of leaving you restless, unable to settle down until it's satisfied. Might be best to leave it alone but that's never how things work out is it?" he said as if teaching.
"I would suggest quite heavily that you don't draw that wand. This pointy stick in my hand is a focus in and of itself and has been pointed and primed at you this whole time." I say tapping the spears butt on the floor lightly.
"Do you think you could win? Could you get off a spell before I do?" he asked with a slightly mad lilt as if eager to test that theory.
"Are you faster than literal lightning? Because if not then yes." I said confidently.
"You've been holding back at school. When Albus mentioned your ability he didn't mention your speed. Likely because you didn't use it, am I right?" he asked as he relaxed and moved away from his wand with his hand.
"A trump card is not a trump card if everyone knows about it." I said with a shrug.
"Agreed. That makes me wonder however, how much more do you have up your sleeve?" he said with both eyes focused on me.