As Felice and Haiko enter the tavern, night has fallen. Different races share stories and banter as they stuffed themselves full, and drink till they laugh like a pack of hyenas from a cartoon show.
Making their way through the bar tavern, Felice taking the lead as Haiko walks along closely behind her. Haiko sees a few people greet Felice and Silfy as they walk by.
As Felice arrives at the front of the bar where Vilo is seen working behind at. Felice looks at Silfy as she stops in front of a stool next to the bar, “Silfy dear,” she smiles.
Silfy nods and from on top of the backpack, she jumps on top of the bar. She then makes Felice’s backpack glow and takes in the backpack into her gem.
Haiko, just catching up to Felice, looks up at her, “What’s the point of carrying it around?”
“Aesthetics!” Felice childishly winks at Haiko, as she then sits down at the stool. She then looks at tiny Haiko on the floor looking at the stool, “Need any assistance?”
“No need” Haiko replied, as he then uses shadow movement to get on top of the bar counter.
As Vilo sees Felice sit down, he approaches her with a drink on hand and at the right time he sees Haiko pop onto the bar counter. Vilo was amazed at what Haiko just did, “Ohh!”
Haiko on the other hand is a bit embarrassed by his mistake, “Uhh… I missed the seat…”
Vilo and Felice chuckle at Haiko, “No worries, I believe you would have been too small to see even if you stand on it!” Vilo laughs as he serves a smirking Felice her drink.
Haiko sees Vilo closer, He has dark grey-ish slick hair and a gentleman’s beard that wears simple rectangular glasses over his eyes, that seemingly looks always closed. He has four slender black horns, two at the front and two at the side. He wears a gentlemanly attire mixed with a western pub aesthetic, a white polo shirt and simple brown coat.
Vilo takes a cloth coaster and places near Haiko, “Now may I know who this is?” Vilo asks Felice as he smiles at Haiko.
Haiko thanks Vilo and sits on the coaster, “I… feel like an ornament”
“A toy fits better” Mimir states from inside Haiko.
Felice takes a sip of her mug before speaking, “I’ll tell you once food is on the table, it’s been a very eventful day and I would really like something to eat!” Felice childishly grins, “Oh! do take down that Viper quest and power anomaly notice, I’ll take my rewards later” she grins at Vilo playfully.
Vilo sighs, “Expected,” he says as he points at the quest board. Small amount of smoke then comes out of his fingers, moving towards the board and marking the Viper and power surge notice as completed.
“I hope you kept your word Felice” Vilo sighs as he returns to work cleaning some dishes as other smoke clouds helps take the dirty wooden plates and empty wooden mugs to him.
Haiko looks around amazed, seeing the small smoke clouds working around. Some were cleaning tables, serving customers, and even take payments from said customers and placing them into a wooden box near Vilo. The clouds are accepting both Aetho and Tenzal coins, but mostly everyone just pays with gold Tenzal as Haiko sees.
Felice chuckles, “About that…” she says as she looks at Haiko.
Vilo smiles seemingly curious, “I see,” he strokes his beard. “I’ll prepare your usual Felice, but how what about you sir…?”
Haiko looks at Vilo, “Call me Haiko!” he says putting out his tiny hand for a handshake.
“A pleasure sir Haiko, please call me Vilo” Vilo says with a welcoming smile as he shakes Haiko’s nub with two fingers. “What would you like then?”
Haiko ponders, “Mind if I look at the menu first?”
Vilo smiles, “Certainly!” as he says a cloud of smoke brings Haiko the menu. As he continues to put out drinks for his other customers.
Haiko looks at the menu but to his bewilderment, he had a small issue with it, “Uhuh… Yeah… I can’t read this” he smiles wryly, looking at the menu that to him looks like has been filled with organized lines and scribbles.
Felice notices and chuckles, she was about to offer her assistance but she sees Mimir’s drone saying something.
Haiko and Felice sees it saying, “TRANSLATING…”
A moment later Haiko sees the words on the menu change into something he can read.
Haiko smiles, “That’s convenient. Thanks, Mimir!”
Mimir’s drone then prompts in reply, “(￣ー￣)ｂ”
Felice laughs excitedly, “Can you read it now?”
Haiko looks at Felice, “Yeah! clearly and easily!”
A few pieces of paper then are delivered to Vilo by the smoke clouds, Vilo nods as he reads. Then he looks at Haiko and Felice, “Excuse me as I prepare some these requests” he says wiping his hands with a piece of cloth.
Felice raises her mug with a childish grin, “Don’t forget mine!”
Vilo smiles, “Of course” as he says, he walks towards the open door at the back of the bar counter, towards the kitchen.
Haiko looks at Vilo as he goes, “Does he runs this place all by himself?”
Felice takes a sip of her drink, “Pretty much, he had a few temporary workers from time to time. But he never actually hired people for long runs. It’s not like he has any trouble with working alone though.” She says as she looks at the smoke clouds working around.
Haiko nods as he continues to look at the menu and notices some things in it are fairly or if not exactly similar to the ones he knows from his own world.
Silfy then moves closer to Haiko, she then looks at Mimir’s drone, “Mimir may I request for you to answer some of my questions, as I would very much like to know more about the bond system you showed us some time ago”
Haiko looks at Silfy, “Anything you need from me?”
Silfy shook her head, “Not needed, Mimir is more than capable to answer all of my questions”
Mimir’s drone prompts at Haiko, “(o≧∇≦) b”
Haiko can only sigh in reply.
Mimir’s drone then replies to Silfy, “I don’t mind” as it shows, another drone comes out of Haiko.
Silfy smiles as she jests her head to move their conversation at a more open part of the bar counter table.
As Silfy and Mimir’s other drone move away, the drone next to Haiko prompts, “(☞⌐■_■)☞”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Haiko again sighs, “I don’t even know what does that supposed to mean” he then continues looking at the menu.
Felice chuckles at the sight of her companions’ playful banter, “Silfy, do share later” she says looking at Silfy. To which Silfy replies with a polite bow.
Felice then looks at Haiko, still looking at the menu, “Found anything you like?”
Haiko ponders, “I’m picking whether to go with something I know or something new…” as he says, he finds an oddly named choice, “Guano… Meat?”
Felice holds her cheek in in joy as she explains, “One of Vilo’s specialty! Excrements of Juju birds clumped together, then fried till deeply golden brown!”
“That… doesn’t sound good… and… Juju birds?” Haiko looks at Felice questioningly.
Mimir’s drone then shows a picture of a Juju bird. Mimir vocally explains to Haiko from the inside, while the drone writes it out for Felice to read, “JUJU BIRDS ARE MEDIUM SIZED BIRDS WITH THE CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE DIFFERENT KINDS OF EXCREMENTS AND EGGS WITH VARYING FORM, CONSISTENCY, AND FLAVOURS. ALCHEMIST ALL AROUND LOVE TO OWN ONE AS A PET TO BE USED AS A WAY TO MAKE QUICK MEALS”
Felice smiles, “I take it you took that from me?”
Mimir’s drone prompt in reply, “(￣ー￣)ｂ”
“So, it’s just a bird that makes ready to eat food with its eggs and poop?” Haiko asks curiously, “I can’t see the appeal about eating raw eggs and fresh bird poop”
Felice then explains, “Juju birds can eat just about anything, and whatever they eat, their eggs and their excrements take its properties turning into food! if given the right ingredients or materials, a Juju bird can make the most delicious meals, especially their excrements with the right combination!”
Haiko looks at Felice doubtfully, “Is it that good?”
“But of course!” Felice excitedly replies wiping the drool off her mouth.
Haiko looks at the price, “It’s… quite expensive though…” Haiko sees on the side, thirty Eth or thirty Silver Tenzal.
Felice finishes her drink as she coerces Haiko, “Don’t worry! Think of it as your welcome to Niviru!”
Haiko ponders for a moment, “Thinking about it, the first meal I had were poisonous plants…” he looks at the menu again, “Now, I’m eating bird poop…”
Felice laughs playfully, “Don’t worry! Vilo has the best recipe for Juju bird related meals!”
“I guess you know him well?” Haiko comments looking at Felice.
Felice cheekily smiles as she rests her face on her left hand, “Well… I can’t say I know him that well, he keeps his personal stuff tight lipped”
Haiko tilts his head confused, “You know him for so long and yet know so little about him?”
Felice sighs, “I told you, he’s stubborn! He even won’t even tell me his cooking techniques and recipes!” Felice pouts at the thought.
Haiko smiles meekly, “And yet you tell me to ask him about Niviru?”
Felice chuckles, “Oh, don’t worry! He doesn’t talk about himself as much, but he does like to share anything not concerning himself, typically things happening all around Niviru! Believe me, He’ll be more than happy to help you!”
Haiko nods, “I’ll hold you up to that”
Just then Felice smells the food coming, “If you’re really curious just ask him really!”
Vilo then arrives with his clouds holding multiple dishes and drinks, one them serves Haiko the dish he was just about to request, the Juju poop meat with a tiny fork stuck on it. While Vilo serves Felice her request personally.
“Here you are Felice, the usual” Vilo hands Felice a plate of what looks to be omelette rice and a ceramic cup holding coffee with a lot of milk.
Haiko looks at his meal surprised, “How’d you know what I wanted?”
Felice answers Haiko as she munches on her food happily, “Thwe Cwlouds” she points.
Vilo holds on his hand one of the Smoke clouds, “These clouds tell me everything” he chuckles.
Seemingly catching a bit of Haiko and Felice’s conversation, Vilo looks at Haiko, “I apologise for the lack of a proper introduction earlier,” he says with a light bow, “Let me reintroduce myself, I am Vilo. The owner of this tavern, and yes, I am a pure born Ri’lvelian. I moved out after a while wanting to change my scenery”
Haiko looks at Vilo amazed, “A pureborn Ri’lvelian?”
Felice looks at Vilo while she continues to eat, “Shame thwing you towld meh!”. She then clears her mouth, rinsing it with her drink gracefully and then looks at Haiko, “Don’t worry about his race Haiko. Vilo is well known and respected here!”
Haiko nods to Felice in reply.
Vilo chuckles, “So, what is it about Niviru do you wish to know?”
Haiko looks at Vilo and meekly chuckles, “Everything you can actually”
“Oh?” Vilo looks at Haiko confused.
Felice interjects as she clears her mouth again, “Here! Take a look at this!” as she says, Felice projects a screen towards Vilo so that he’s the only one who can see.
As Vilo sees Felice’s records and a recording of Haiko fighting the Thunder Viper and the Lindworm. He became very much fascinated.
Vilo smiles excitedly, “Well this is interesting” he says as he strokes his beard.
“RIGHT!” Felice passionately yells.
Both Vilo and Felice then heatedly discuss over the records Felice has, as Haiko claps his hands together to say his thanks for the food.
Vilo stops the recording at a point Haiko uses Orbs of Creation, “Haiko, may I see these orbs you’ve made here?” Vilo asks pointing at the recording and looking at Haiko.
Haiko not caring much for anything as he was enjoying his meal, “Wha?” Haiko sees Felice and Vilo looking at him.
Felice explains, “Can you show Vilo the thing you used to create multiple flaming orbs?”
Haiko gulps down his food, “Sure,” Haiko then creates one Orb of Creation. “Here you go” as he says, the orb floats in the middle of Vilo and Felice.
Felice snaps her fingers and her goggles formed on her head, “I still don’t know what this is… But it sure is beautiful!”
Vilo looks at it, adjusting his glasses from time to time, “Indeed…” Vilo then decides to remove his glasses and partially open his eyes, showing it to glow slightly.
As Vilo looks at it with his eyes now slightly open, he understood what it is. He looks at Haiko with a face both amazed and worried.
Haiko notices Vilo’s stare and so does Felice, “You know what it is Vilo?” Felice lifts her goggles as she asks.
Vilo laughs, “I don’t know yet, but…” Vilo coughs and perks himself as then he puts his open hands to the side of his mouth and huffs, “EVERYONE OUT!!” he yells.
Felice and Mimir jolts as they and All the customers look at Vilo confused.
“FELICE IS DRUNK!!” Vilo shouts.
As everyone heard what Vilo said, as it echoes in their minds. Each one of the customers hurriedly left the tavern till it was only Vilo, Haiko, Felice and Silfy left to be seen.
Felice replies in bewilderment, “I am?” she says as she looks at Silfy. To which Silfy shook her head saying no.
Vilo’s smoke clouds begin tidying up the place, “Apologies but I needed us to be alone for this” Vilo says as he reaffirms himself.
“Why?” Haiko asks.
Vilo then explains while holding the Orb created by Haiko, “This… is what I believe, no, I’m very sure… is an Aevos Sphere”
Felice jaw drops, her goggles vanish as she replies coming closer to Vilo, “REALLY!!”
Vilo nods, “I’m certain of it”
Haiko on the other hand just looks in confusion, “Aevos Sphere?”
Vilo looks at Haiko and happily explains, “Aevos Spheres are a highly condensed form of power, it is the essence that gives people like Felice her capability to use magic”
Felice looks at Haiko, “The only pure mass ever to be seen, are the Guarding Crystals around Aéthea!”
Haiko looks at them blankly, not knowing much to what they are talking about.
Vilo nods, “Haiko, may I see the black mass you used during this moment?” Vilo points to when Haiko used Devour.
“One moment… Mimir I think you’ll be more of help explaining rather me” Haiko knocks on himself as he says.
A second later, Mimir comes out of Haiko, “Afternoon everyone” he bows as he says.
Felice waves at Mimir.
Haiko points at Vilo, “Mimir, this is Vilo… which I guess you already know” then he points at Mimir, “Vilo, this is Mimir. He knows me better than I know myself… physically that is”
Vilo smiles, seemingly aware of Mimir as he saw him from the records, “Nice to meet you Mimir”
Haiko looks at Mimir, “So, Mimir mind showing them the black mass thing you do?”
Mimir looks at Vilo, “I see no problem with that” as he says he lets the drone next to Haiko float to the middle of them.
Felice and Vilo look at the drone as it ruptures, creating a black shiny moving liquid that floats in place.
Vilo looks at again with his glasses up and his eyes partially open, “As I suspected… this,” Vilo encompasses the black mass with his smoke, but it gets taken in by the black mass, “This… is definitely Mieza!” Vilo excitedly state as he puts back his glasses.
“What’s Mieza?” Haiko looks at Vilo.
Vilo explains, “Mieza is the opposing element of Aevos. Simply saying, Aevos holds the power of life and creation, Mieza holds the power to consume everything and take it for itself!”
Felice laughs in excitement, “Both Mieza and Aevos Sphere!? Haiko just what are you!”
Haiko laughs meekly, “I really don’t know myself, Mimir?” he says as he looks at Mimir.
Mimir prompts in reply, “¯\_(ツ)_/¯”
Felice and Vilo sighs looking at Mimir’s prompt, “Well whatever you are, you have both the pure power of Aevos and Mieza in your hands” Felice gleefully says.
Silfy then interjects, “Besides those, he has an array of other powers. Varying from different elements and purposes”
Vilo ponders for a moment, his face becoming more serious, “Haiko, with this power you can disrupt the entire form of life here in Niviru” he looks at Haiko seriously.
Felice now also noticing Haiko’s potential, “He could very well do as he pleases…”
Felice and Vilo stare at Haiko gravely.
Haiko raises his hands, “I… don’t think you need to worry, I barely know how to use my powers as much to what you think I can!” Haiko chuckles, “Besides, I’ve worked my entire life helping others towards a better life, why would I change now?”
Vilo and Felice look at each other and sigh, “Apologies for our doubts, but you must promise never to show anyone the true nature of your power”
Silfy then interjects again, “I disagree to an extent. Depending on who they are, I believe Haiko should tell them”
Vilo looks at silfy, “Oh? Why do you say so?”
Silfy then explains Haiko’s power to give benefits onto others depending on what their bond is to him. Knowing this as having being taught by Mimir earlier. She does this by means of projections similar to how Mimir has done to explain to Haiko.
“Interesting,” Vilo crosses his arms, “May we see that bond checker right now?”
Felice chuckles in delight, “This just gets better and better!”
Haiko looks at Mimir, Mimir first takes back all his drones and dissipating the Aevos Sphere Haiko created, then he prompts out;
[https://novelup.plus/uploads/403403224/1590363554.png]
Felice and Vilo look at it in awe, “What does the affinity percentage mean?”
Silfy explains, “Those are the indication as to what our bond with Haiko is. From what I understood from Mimir, the star means a special contract, yellow means a joyful companion, green means a close friend, and blue means a mutual friendship.”
Mimir further explains, “Keep in mind this is all in projection to what Haiko sees and feels, or hopefully understands. The benefits only come if the bond is of a higher status, this is shown with a symbol, an example would be mine” Mimir points with a projection.
Felice stares at everything with stars in her eyes, “Fun to be around huh?” Felice smirks at Haiko.
“In a friendly kind of way!” Haiko hurriedly corrects Felice, sensing danger.
Vilo laughs, as he coughs to gain everyone’s attention, “Alright, apologies everyone. This should be enough for now, I believe we should end it here tonight, let us rest and continue on tomorrow”
Felice notices the darkness outside and nods, “Best to save some of the fun for later,” she happily sighs, “Silfy and I will head up to our rooms, I’ll pay for the both us Vilo” she says pointing her thumb at Haiko as she stands and takes Silfy onto her shoulders.
Vilo nods at Felice, “Understood,” he then smiles at Haiko, “Apologies Haiko, but we seem to have strayed from your request to know about Niviru”
“It’s fine! I can know about that stuff anytime” Haiko humbly replied.
“Understood, let us continue tomorrow,” Vilo warmly smiles at Haiko, “Follow me, I’ll show you to your room Haiko” as Vilo takes the lead, he sees the stairs, “Would you require any assistance getting up?” Vilo looks at Haiko.
Haiko then looks at Mimir, “Can I just change to my 2nd form?”
Mimir shook his body, “I wouldn’t recommend”
Felice agrees and nods as she makes her way halfway up the wooden stairs, “We don’t want any eyes on you” she chuckles as she goes to her room with Silfy on her shoulder. “Goodnight everyone!” Felice says as she leaves accompanied by a bow from Silfy.
Vilo, Haiko, and Mimir wave in reply.
A moment later a wooden door can be heard opening and closing.
Haiko then ponders for a moment, looking back and forth at the second floor and at Mimr, he then has an idea pop in his head, “Mimir hold still for a moment”
Mimir looks at Haiko, a question mark projection shows on top of Mimir, “Why?”
Just then, to Mimir’s surprise, Haiko jumps on Mimir riding on top of him, “Onwards my dubious steed!” Haiko laughs.
Vilo looks at the two laughing with Haiko.
Mimir on the other hand projected a baseball bat at the back of Haiko, then he prompts, “(人❛ᴗ❛)♪” as the projected bat hit Haiko into a homerun to the second floor.
Mimir floats up next to Haiko who’s face lay flat on the floor, as he prompts at him, “(o ⌐■_■)☞”
Vilo then shouts from the first floor, “Your room is the one on the left! Opposite of Felice, it’s not locked have a good night you two!”
“Thwanks Vilo” Haiko says while his face on the floor.