Lilith finally stopped in front of a hotel.

The city of Morris was severed from the outside like a sealed tomb, so a hotel here felt wrong—shouldn’t a place like this have gone under already? But she had no time for puzzles. Hunger gnawed like a small stove in her belly, and all Little White Dragon wanted was sizzling meat and a hot bath with steam curling like clouds.

She tapped the heavy wooden door, thick as a shield.

A “Please, come in!” floated from behind it, so she pushed through and entered.

“Lord Nilk, you’re early today. Don’t tell me Lord Jack plans to start right after—oh. Hello. I don’t think I’ve met you.”

Behind the counter stood a young, pretty girl. Her long silver-white hair was braided, swung over her left shoulder for work. She’d thought a regular had walked in, voice easy and teasing, but once she saw Lilith wasn’t one of hers, her crimson eyes went puzzled. She tilted her head, studying Lilith.

“Sorry, honored guest. I haven’t heard about any new residents moving to Hero Street. Maybe you’re busy and forgot—today’s a workday. Citizens aren’t allowed to leave their own street after hours. Patrol comes in about half an hour, and you’ll get fined.”

Worry pricked in her voice. She looked at the small hooded figure, a slight shadow barely chest-high. Then she smacked her forehead, as if guessing the truth.

“Oh, I should’ve thought of that. You got separated from your guardian, right? It’s okay. Happens all the time. The patrol won’t give you trouble. Just tell them your address, and they’ll take you home. If you forgot it, the station at the end of the street can help.”

Her kindness made Lilith wince a little. She wasn’t a resident of Morris at all. Maybe the white hair peeking from her hood had made the girl assume she was a Vampire.

“Guest, do you need anything else? Should I call the patrol for—oh!”

Lilith lifted her hands and pushed back her hood. White hair spilled out, and a pair of dragon horns rested on her head like crescent blades. The girl jumped, clapped a hand over her mouth, and stared at the little dragon, words jammed in her throat.

“Y-you—w-what monster are you?”

“Don’t be scared. I’m not going to eat you. And I’m not a monster. I’m a dragon. The genuine kind.”

Lilith sighed. In her heart, she knew she didn’t look imposing—people saw her and always wanted to pat her head. So why was this Vampire girl trembling like a leaf? Were all Vampires in Morris so timid?

“A dragon? Impossible. Books say dragons are half as big as Morris. You aren’t even up to my chest. You must be a Demon sent to slaughter Vampires.”

She snatched a broom from behind the counter and leveled it like a spear, eyes blazing with doomed bravery, ready to drag the enemy down with her.

“I’m not afraid of you. I trained under a Hero. Demons like you won’t beat me!”

“Nonsense. I don’t understand a word you’re spouting.” Lilith darted forward and rapped the girl’s forehead with a knuckle. “You think I want to be this small? Idiot! What’s height good for if I can still make you squat with your hands on your head?”

“Waaah—I was wrong, I was wrong! Mighty Demon, spare me! I don’t want to die!”

“Dragon. Dragon!”

Lilith’s first meeting with a citizen of Morris began with her pinching someone’s ear—hardly a graceful start.

“So, you came from outside Spuiset and entered Morris to look for something.”

The girl—no, she should be called Annie—had calmed down from the initial panic. She led Lilith to a room beside the lobby, set down two steaming cups of black tea, and sat across from the White Dragon to talk.

“Yes. I’m here to find knowledge about a sword. And I want to study astrology in Morris. I didn’t expect Vampires to live underground. How do you stargaze?”

Little White Dragon raised the cup and took a sip. The scald bit her tongue, and she sprayed tea across the table in a quick hiss. Annie rushed over with tissues, handed some to Lilith, then wiped the tabletop clean.

“So hot!”

Lilith pulled a face and stuck out her reddened little tongue, panting like a puppy trying to cool it.

“And it’s so bitter.”

Annie glanced aside, a touch guilty. Most of her patrons were husbands banished by their wives—few had the palate to judge black tea. She’d ordered cheap tea to keep costs down while pretending the place was refined, and now she’d run into someone who knew better.

“Sorry, Miss Lilith. I’ll replace it. Would you like milk or cocoa?”

“Coffee. Iced.”

Lilith dabbed away the tears brought on by the burn, then looked up at Annie—small, pitiful, and very persuasive.

“All right. I’ll get it ready.”

Annie nodded and headed toward the kitchen behind the room.

“Heh-heh.”

Lilith’s smile bloomed. She kicked her legs in the chair, mood bright, and hummed a little tune.

She’d learned to use the advantage of her looks. A bit of cute, a pinch of soft, a small bargain saved a lot of coin—why not?

Dignity? What dignity. She just wanted coffee.

The White Dragon’s tail swayed against the chair. She could already taste Annie’s coffee on her tongue.

As for intel and information—food came first.