So… it’s done. This very short episode of my life. An episode of nativity and foolishness.
My mood was constantly shifting. On the one hand, my carefree attitude kept on telling me that “what’s done is done” or that “at least I tried – and tired really hard atop of that!”… on the other hand I failed someone. Someone died. That someone was partly me, and that other me just wanted to live. Live and drown the world in the ocean of blood as he would purge the world of those who he deemed as weakling… but hey! Nobody is perfect!...
… This terrible humor again.
Ha, in the end, I am a coward. Whenever I face some difficult situation all I can do is to turn it into a joke, I can’t deal with consequences so all I can do is to run away and pretend it never was a problem, to begin with.
I slapped my cheeks trying to free myself from the grim mood.
Ok. It’s time to deal with it like an adult – let's go to the inn and get myself wasted.
Or, to say the truth – for the first time in months I couldn’t bear the silence. I needed noise. Screams, chatters, insults, the sound of broken glass or whatever. Anything would do – anything not to focus on my own thoughts.
Ha! I even forced myself into building the second factory. One could think that I did it because of “soft heart” – that I couldn’t just leave those people alone.
The truth is, I could. I won’t deny that this solution was like killing four birds with one stone (I made sure that beast men wouldn’t become some rampaging bandits –which could be associated with some “cult”; made Arthur owe me a favor; reduced the influence of Senate – by dropping some of “responsibilities” and “bad light” on them; and got myself a new factory quite soon – that meant more money, but not for me, I didn’t need it – for Syndicate. And Syndicate would become a very reliable tool in following years, I knew that); but what I wanted to achieve was “getting myself buys” with work – so I wouldn’t think… about this aching hole in my chest.
Again, the feeling I knew from my previous life. The feeling of utter failure, or pointlessness of my actions… Of not fitting.
I didn’t even notice when I sat in the corner of the inn, with my backs resting on the wall, having a perfect vision on everything that was going on inside of the inn section of a guild. Fuck, I looked like a spy or shady merchant selling illegal stuff. To look a little less suspicious I raised my hand drawing the attention of a waitress.
* “What can I get for you, love?”
Girl asked with a cheerful tone.
* “A glass and a bottle of something strong.”
* “Any preferences?”
* “No. Not really. I will drink everything you would bring.”
* “Aw! Don’t be like that! Women hate indecisive men! You have to know what you want or else…” she was just trying to be friendly and maybe a little flirty (because, you know, she hoped for a tip). Still, I just gave her a tired look.
* “Oh.. I am… sorry. Before guild, I was working in the regular tavern. I keep on forgetting you guys are not regular drunkards, but people that fight with monsters on daily basis… Not so long ago I tried to force my mood on an adventurer that lost his friend on quest… Gosh, I will never learn, I am sorry. I will bring something strong. I will be back in a jiffy… sorry again.”
She talked too much. Normally I would be all bitchy about people wasting my time on pointless chatter, yet this time her noises were like a blessing.
I gazed over the inn once again. Some middle-aged adventurer, but drunk, was quite affection-full toward one of the waitresses, and I mean that he kept on ordering cheapest drinks just to make her come over and over again to him so he could smack her ass. She allowed that once, twice, but when his hand was about to land on its target one more time she started yelling.
A commotion, few adventurers tried calming the lady down saying “that he is just drunk and does barely anything to her”, some “knight in shining armor” decided to protect the damsel honor, took her side and start yelling together with her, but, because mr knight wasn’t a cute damsel no one tolerated his screams. And he got punched in the face.
What? You thought that some heroic action would happened finished with happy ending of waitress running away with her hero on a white steed? That could work if Mr. Hero wasn’t head shorted and two ranks weaker than the person he was yelling at.
Remember kids, never pick up a fight with someone bigger, unless you know what you are doing or can kick him the ball really quickly.
In the meantime, the talkative waitress returned with my order.
* “I.. I am sorry, I wasn’t sure what’s your budget, so I picked a bottle from middle shelf, well, it’s the strongest I could find so…”
* “It’s a good one. As for the budget, I thought I have an account opened.”
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* “Is that so? I am sorry, As I said, I am working here since not so long ago, so I don’t really know all the customers. Can I ask for the name please?”
* “Account is open on Giselle Redwing.”
* “Is that so?” she narrowed her eyes with suspicions
* “Yeah, she OPENED it on HER name, but somehow it’s attached to my bank account. You can check it. She tends to spend more time in inns so that’s maybe why. The same account pays for the room… thinking about it now she is leeching on me quite a lot, I will have to ask her what she spends her money on.”
* “Sir, excuse me, but if you are using an account registered on someone else I will have to check it…”
* “Sure. Go on.”
* “Sir…?”
* “Yes?”
* “Your name?”
* “Sorry. I stopped introducing myself some time ago. Whiteraven, Zariel.”
* “Funny, you have the same name as CEO of Whiteraven apothecary.” She smiled while writing my name down, then she froze in the middle of writing my name. She must have just jump into right conclusion.
* “I hear that a lot.”
* “I-is that so?”
* “You have no idea. They keep on mistaking us.”
* “I-I see. E-excuse me. I-in that case I will be on my way t-to deal with formalities.”
* “Of course don’t mind me.”
With still cheerful and proud step she moved behind the counter, but once she vanished in the backroom I could hear as she accelerated running with all the strength she had in her legs yelling half whispering to her friends.
* “WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME THAT SUCH A BIG FISH STAYED HERE!? I MADE A COMPLETE FOOL OUT OF MYSELF… and ruined chance for a great tip too… BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY…”
Well, at least she knew what she wanted.
I once again gazed over the guild, few were drinking, few were eating, few were being dragged to the ambulatory. The usual.
My eyes met with the gazes of few rookie adventurers. They raised their mugs in my direction bowing their heads slightly. Flippantly I answered with the same gesture before bottoming down my first glass.
Waitress returned once again, with another bottle and… is that cheesecake?!
* “Sorry for making you wait! It’s just as you said, sorry for doubting you… I brought whiskey of better quality as a replacement, I hope it didn’t offend you, and here, please dessert from us as an apology.”
She really wants that tip, doesn’t she?
* “You worry too much about the details. And the whiskey you brought me before is really good too… or, I will admit shamefully, I can’t really tell two whiskeys apart. As for the dessert, you better be prepared for consequences, because I am absolutely going to judge you depending on the cake’s quality!” I said with dead serious tone
* “B-b-but I was told you like cheesecake…” she said almost crying
* “Like? No. I love them! This is exactly why I am so strict when it comes to cakes quality.”
With a cruel smile I prepared a small fork, I dig it in, feeling a little of resistance before fork pierced through the outer layer and almost sink into the filling. Ah, the texture is just wonderful, I couldn’t wait to actually taste it! That’s what I truly needed! No booze! No noise, but sweet nectar of soul commonly called as “The Cake”.
* “WHAT DID YOU CALL MY WOMAN!?” a loud yell could be heard from not far away, followed by the sound of fist hitting face
… wait,
Ah, of course, because the person that got hit rotated in mid-air and landed in my cake.
It splashed wonderfully, the fork was send flying, rotated few times in the air before digging in the table close to my hand.
Hit-person got off the table, scoped some cake off his face and put it in his mouth. He clicked his tongue with affirmative sound saying “quite good, have to admit that.”
And that’s what crossed the line. One more drop of madness felt into the chalice of anger, unfortunately, the chalice was already full and it ended spilling its content everywhere. My rage overflow and flooded everyone around me.
* “Hey, are you fine pal?” I asked with sweet tone helping man to get up completely, even cleaned him off the dust with few pats
* “So-so, could be better, thanks for asking though.”
* “There is only one problem mate, it’s nothing personal, but next time try landing in bit less strategical places, ok?”
* “Sure, but what do you mean by that?”
* “My cake, you cunt!”
A quick jab aimed at his chain sent him back to the guy that threw him in my direction in the first place.
* “Buahaha! Good one! Now, this fucker got everything he dese…” laughing man – the first
He said in my direction thinking I was about to hit the cake stealer again. But it was him I was targeting this time.
* “And you, next time don’t send people toward SOMEONE’S FUCKING CAKE!”
I punched him in his guts.
The fat resonated after my punch like a wave, yet a huge man didn’t even move from his spot.
* “Bua ha ha! Another one! Kid, I like your attitude so I will let you go this time, still…”
* “… na.. ck.. ve…” I mumbled under my nose
* “What did you say?” my palm was still resting on his stomach
* “I said: mana shock wave” and twisted my palm slightly to the side
Guy looked to weigh around 150-200 kg taking his armor (that he still had on) into consideration.
It must have been quite a show seeing from the side as such a colossus is flying six meters before “leaving via window”.
* “BART! You bastard! Why did you attack Bart?!” one of his companions approached me readying his mace
Punch – he landed under the table
* “NOW YOU DID IT, KID!”
Another man approached from the side picking up his Warhammer
Bam – he was now sleeping on the chair – once he was sent on it
* “Amateurs! Picking large weapons in a salon! I will show you how it’s done!”
Someone picked dagger. Even managed to swing it, but instead of attacking with my hands I jumped to hit and hit him with my head breaking his nose.
* “YOU SHOWED YOUR BACKS BRAT!” two at the same time pounced at me from behind.
Inhuman reaction – quick turn – I grabbed their heads together and smashed them like in an old cartoon.
* “PLEASE STOP IT! I BROUGHT YOU ANOTHER ONE!”
I didn’t notice when and where the waitress vanished, but she was already back with another cake. In the meantime I was choking another man that was furiously patting my arm as if saying “I give up”, mercifully, I released my grip and let him fall down
* “You little cunt!”
The man that I released grabbed his dagger and threw in my direction.
Waitress dodged. I dodged. The cake didn’t.
* “… You fool, he already calmed down…” waitress whispered
The image of caked rotating while falling, the way it jiggled slightly before going “pap” in all directions will hunt me forever. The other guy at least had the decency to taste it after ruining the cake and even commented on the taste… and that was… that was…. Pointless excessive cruelty and savageness.
* “… And savages are not mean to eat indoor…” I said to myself
* “The fuck you are talking to, you crazy psycho?”
* “They are meant to keep outside of society like animals they are.”
I don’t really remember what happened next, but after that day the rumor spread across the city. Apparently, one adventurer dragged the other one across the whole city by his foot, left the city and headed toward wildness before throwing him in elderwoods.
Nothing really happened to him, as the team of his companion followed behind and rescued him. Still, they found him hanging from the tree by his foot – head down, completely naked with his equipment scattered all over the forest.
Later the number of cakes being ordered in the guild inn drastically dropped, even when someone actually ordered it, they were sure to handle it with extreme care, as a blessed item, performing a prayer of some small ritual before eating it. They were afraid of the vengeful sweets keeper. The beast that devastated half of the guild, just because his meal was ruined.
All hail the sweets beast, protector of the cake.