-CHAPTER 20-

Now that my training was finished for the day, Adir insisted that we go out for drinks.

Thus, Naomi, Keshet, and I accompanied Adir to Plain Point Bar.

We sat down at a table near the window. The rest of the bar was loud, so we picked the front, to relax and talk normally.

The polished wooden table reflected the orange rays from the sunset, mixing with the calm yet feisty red from the candle set as a centerpiece.

Unlike the two other bars I’ve been to, I quite enjoy this one. It’s larger, and the big windows make it feel more open. Generally, less claustrophobic.

When we sat down, a jolly waitress greeted us.

“Hi, welcome to Plain Point Bar. Are there any drinks you would like to start things off?”

“I’d like the best craft beer ya’ have. As for the kiddos… Lavi, yer want ter try somethin’ incredible?” Adir shot an intense glare at me. As if about to hunt his prey, his sly smile grew.

Intimidated, I said,

“No, thanks. I’ll have some coffee.” Adir looked at me like a small child, who was denied junk food for dinner.

“I’ll take some tea!” Keshet added on.

“C- could I take some milk?” Naomi said quickly.

“All right, those will be out shortly.” The waitress finished writing on her clipboard, and walked to the bar.

“I will say…” Adir said, “This feels a lot more like a restaurant than a bar…”

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As we waited for our drinks, we made small talk. Adir and I listened to Naomi and Keshet recap their third day of odd jobs, while Adir summarized my training to them.

When the drinks came, we thanked the waitress, and Adir switched the subject. “So, I did have a reason to bring you out today. And, to tell you the truth, I didn’t really want to get all tangled up in your personal lives, but this just so happens to concern me.”

“Huh?” I said, pondering what he just said could be about. At first, I was preparing for him to ask me about the red eyes. But now, I’m not sure what it could be if it concerns him.

“Today during training, yer hood fell Lavi.”

Huh? This guy was sending my head into circles. What about my face concerns him? “Those– Those eyes… Do you all have them?”

I looked to Keshet and Naomi. Not sure how to respond, they defaulted to telling the truth, and nodded their heads. “I see…” Adir said, “So that means…

Ye’re Laosarch?”

I dropped my coffee. The moment of silence seemed to last forever, as my coffee dripped off the table and soaked my feet.

Thousands of thoughts ran through my mind.

“Is Adir serious? If he is, then what does he have to do with it? Can I trust him? Even if I can trust him, is now the right time?”

Scared and cowardly, I forced a lone word through my scratchy throat.

“Yes.”

Before I could process what I had just said, a loud thunk interrupted me.

Adir had forced his head down, and hit his forehead on the table. He steadied himself with his two palms face down on the surface.

“I am sorry!”

His apology confused me, and the lengths he was going to only tied my brain in more knots. “I am sorry, I am sorry, I AM SORRY!”

“Wait, Adir, what is it?” I asked.

“I– I– I was–” Adir paused, letting his blubbering self catch up. “I was once a guard of the Laosarch.”