[Brew & Bites bar, The Outlands]

The room was filled with both Fae and humans alike: the hot air a mix of various smell coming together to form a stench that most ignored. The tables were filled, each groups taking their favourite spots as they gambled and drank like there was no tomorrow. But there was, because come tomorrow, these very same people will be here drinking like the day after wouldn’t arrive.

Ding-a-ling!

The room immediately becoming quiet as all eyes turned to the door, locking with the hooded figure standing there. There was a brief pause before all eyes abruptly receded and the room went back to normal. The hooded figure remained standing for a moment longer before swaggering into the bar. His head tilted from left to right as he head for the counter.

“I’m looking for someone,” a nasal masculine voice sounded from within the hood as the figure took a seat. The bar tender turned around and a pretty face smiled at the hooded figure.

“What can I get you?” she asked, her voice cold and emotionless, the direct opposite of her face. His hand subtly twitched as the hooded figure replied in a similarly cold tone,

“I’m. Looking. For. Someone.” He made sure to enunciate each word, the underlying threat in his voice as plain as the sky on a sunny day.

The bar immediately went silent, the hooded figure’s hand twitched once more as he felt all eyes in him.

“What can I get you?” the bar tender lady replied monotonously like a broken machine; there was not the slightest change in her expression.

The hooded figure was silent for a moment, a subtle tension rising in the room. “Give me the strongest of whatever you have here.”

The tension suddenly disappeared and the room went back to its previous atmosphere, everybody minding their business. But the hooded figure knew that there were eyes on them, the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.

“I go by Niko,” the bar tender lady said, her voice still frosty like the lakes at the top of the Yecheza. The hooded figure nodded his head, watching as Niko moved about, grabbing a few bottles of myriad colours, each containing a different brew-beast.

A few moments later, Niko placed a cup of glowing green liquid before the hooded figure. She remained where she was, staring at him. The hooded figure took off his hood, revealing a middle aged man with thick beards and a thin face. He had a scar running along one eye, leaving it blind.

“Talbot.” The man said as he downed the glass. His fists clenched and his face scrunched up as he groaned.

“Pretty strong right?” Talbot gritted his teeth, the fact that Niko had no reaction infuriated him even more; like she didn’t even deign him worthy of being mocked. Niko noticed and for unknown reason, continued ignoring any of Talbot’s acts.

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“I’m looking for Haemostasis.”

“Are you new to the Outlands? You don’t look like a vagrant though.” Niko asked. She leaned in the table, staring at Talbot who kept glancing around the bar, observing everyone.

“You could say so,” he said cryptically, “is something the matter?”

“You don’t find Haemostasis, they find you.” Niko replied succinctly. Talbot locked gaze with her, his eyes narrowing.

“That’s some childish shit.” He smirked. “I heard they are a bunch of teenagers, I guess that’s what happens when you lack parental guidance and refuse to grow up.”

“I know right? It’s shocking how they managed to become one of the top three mercenary groups in the Outlands, must be a miracle.” Niko sighed, “either that or every other mercenary group in the Outlands don’t amount to shit.”

Although Niko’s voice was monotonous, the sarcasm was plain to see and the lack of emotion made it sound even more demeaning to Talbot.

He clicked his tongue, shaking his bottle to indicate a refill. This time, he made sure to only take a light sip. Talbot tapped his fingers on the counter, contemplating for a moment before asking.

“So what do I do?”

“Nothing. You’ve told me already, word will get around to them and they’ll locate you no matter where you are. Pretty easy for a bunch of young adults.”

Talbot rolled his eyes, he downed the rest of his drink and dropped a few bronze coins on the table as he got up from the chair. He glanced around one more time,

“I’ll be back.” He said as he walked out of the bar.

[Somewhere else in the Outlands, close to the outskirts]

Beep-beep!

“Elli, looks like we have a new order.” Audwin’s muffled yell filtered into the room. Elliott sighed as he made a few more touches to the machine before him before raising his head to stare at the beeping device on the table.

Not even a moment later, the door was pushed open and Audwin walked in half naked and sweaty with his black hair matted to his forehead. “It’s been a while since we had an order, I was getting bored.” Audwin had a twinkle in his emerald eyes as he stared around the room, from the papers with various drawings pinned to the wall, to the machines made of cog and wheels scattered about.

“Don’t you ever get tired of yelling? I fixed a Vox conduit in the basement for a reason.” Elliott complained, “and I’ve told you times without number to not come in here all wet and sweaty.”

Audwin ignored Elliott, standing beside him and staring at the machine he was working on; it was another one of his clockwork insects.

“Got anything new for me?” Audwin giggled prompting Elliott to smile in acceptance.

“No, but I made a few upgrades to the guns. We might be able to test them soon enough, this order came at a perfect time.”

“Great! I’ll get changed.” Elliott watched as Audwin hurried out of the room, his lips still curled into a smile. He stood up and walked to a corner where a calendar was. His eyes landed on a date that was marked in red.

“A week from now, it will be ten years,” Elliott muttered to himself,

“Ten years since I transmigrated to this world and became Elliott Roosevolt.”