Odesday, 3rd of Aprillia, 470th year of the 5th Era
After Ester had left the Bolon house, Josias had finally brought up the matter of participation in the Gotilon festival's tournament to Mateus to which he readily agreed despite Sadrach also making it clear that he would also be participating. Josias could only shake his head at the spirit of fighting his two friends had. Either they had a deeper camaraderie with one another or they just wanted to fight members of the other clans. Well whatever the reason, he was still grateful that he now had a complete roster for his team. He had reminded everyone that training would start taking place in the afternoon at the guard's training ground. And so with that, Josias, Mateus, Sadrach and Helena had decided to leave the house.
Sadrach was heading out with Helena and Hanna as he had promised to take them out to the marketplace. And so with that, they went their separate ways with Josias walking along with Mateus as their houses were in the same direction. As they were walking, Josias finally decided to start up a conversation as something was really nagging at him.
“Just be honest with me, lae.” Josias said as he started to speak with the man next to him “Why are you adamant on going along with what most likely was just drunk talk between our fathers? You don't even like Helena! Hell, I'm not even sure if you're over Arta yet…”
As Josias said that, Mateus gave him a look as if he really had struck a bitter cord. Josias only shook his head as he pressed on. Mateus may look intimidating, but he didn't scare him in the slightest.
“You see, you giving me that look just confirms it.” Josias said.
“Tch, since when did you get so annoying…” Mateus said as he shook his head.
“Since I started to notice people doing useless things.” Josias retorted “Lae, this duel is meaningless whether you win or not. Why even bother at this point?”
“It's a matter of pride, Lae.” Mateus answered “Simple. What Arta did with Sadrach back then, it humiliated me to no end! I know I should've just gotten it over with then and there but I was lost, damn it!”
“Do you seriously think Sadrach had any fault in that? Let's be honest here, your relationship with Arta Idabagak was one of the unhealthiest relationships I've ever witnessed!”
Mateus frowned at Josias' comments.
“You can frown all you want, lae, but what I'm telling this is the truth. Both as a friend and as a brother, I care for you…”
“You're just saying that. Every Time you saw us together, you've only ever been supportive! Yet now I'm supposed to believe you've been against it since the beginning? C’mon Josi, you're usually sly with your tongue but this just isn't it.”
“Woy! I have been saying this since day one, you were just too bloody lovestruck to notice all our warnings, Mat! Was it not I who said that she was just too friendly to all the guys? Was it not I who alluded to the fact that for the almost two years you were courting her, not once had she made any sacrifices for you yet you do so much for her? The finest pelts for clothes, the finest ulos, jewelry, you name it! You gave all of that for her and for her to return it with what? That bloody scar on your face! Look lae, I don't want to piss you off, but you know the answer yourself!”
Mateus could only ruffle his hair in frustration listening to Josias talk. “Look Josi, I appreciate the pep talk regardless of how fucking late it is, but this just isn't a conversation I'm willing to have. Especially not when I'm sober like now!”
“Well, funny you should say that, because… ta-daa..!” Josias motioned his arms towards the village's largest tavern. It would seem Mateus didn't notice that they had been in close proximity to the tavern. “It's always good to talk these things through after a couple of tankards to loosen up the lips.”
“...Are you kidding me right now?” Mateus looked at Josias with a deadpan stare “Lae, it's still a few hours from noon and you said we still have training later on. What makes you think that drinking in the middle of a busy day like this one is a good idea?”
“To loosen up stress, of course! You need to lose all that tension and let yourself relax before a full on workout and training session!”
“...Yea, I'm not really buying that because it doesn't seem like it's worth the risk of angering-...”
“Lae, I'm paying for it!” Josias said as he jingled a small pouch of coins between him and Mateus.
“Well why didn't you just say so. I got worried for a minute there. Anyways, Let's find ourselves a seat.” Mateus energetically walked into the tavern ahead of Josias.
“Bloody cheap bastard.” Josias scoffed as he shook his head before he followed Mateus inside.
The tavern was one of several buildings in the village with its foundation built from stone in a Western-Terradomian fashion while retaining aspects of traditional Halak design with the carved heads of spirits and animals adorning the many archways of the building. Obviously, it was one of the newer buildings in the village as traditionally the Halak would just get together in each other's homes to drink tuak after a long day's work or out on the shacks of the rice paddies. The Tavern was owned and run by the Binangabalok clan who were famous for the quality of their Tuak and Nira drinks. Because it was midday, the tavern seemed pretty empty, with maybe some older folks here and there enjoying drinks with food.
As Josias and Mateus walked inside, they were greeted by a young woman behind a counter with her hair tied in a braid wearing a simple western-style dress with an apron over it. She had dirty blonde hair and paler skin compared to the others making her identity as a Malaok very apparent.
“Fancy seeing you two around at this hour…” the girl said with a smile as she was rearranging some of the cups.
“It was his idea, Ito (sister).” Mateus pointed towards Josias “I was roped into this.”
“No, I just felt that we needed to talk about some things and no better place to talk about it than here.” Josi answered before he leaned in and said while raising an eyebrow “It's about Arta…!”
The girl merely laughed while Mateus clicked his tongue in protest as he glared at Josias before he sat down at a table nearby.
“Pris, we want two cups and a pitcher of your best nira.” Josias put in his order to the barmaid while setting a few coins on the counter as she nodded and got on to the order. He then sat down on the chair across from Mateus. It didn't take long for the cups and pitcher to be set.
“But, seriously though, are you still not over Arta, bang?” The girl - Priscilla - asked as she set the pitcher on the table.
“Argh, don't just listen to whatever this monkey says and take it seriously.” Mateus said as he filled in his cup with the Nira before downing it.
“Which is why I'm asking you right now. From what I've heard, aren't you supposed to be duelling Sadrach because of Helena?” Priscilla asked again which caused Mateus to nearly spit his drink. Even Josias was surprised when he heard that she already knew that much as it hadn't even been a couple of hours since the idea was proposed.
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“Where did you hear that from?” Josias asked her.
“The Elders are all on the second floor talking about it. Lady Ester was talking about it with Elder Sabam, Elder Hagogoan, and Elder Marasi.”
“Ah yeah, they did say they were playing cards today.” Josias muttered as he drank his cup.
“My grandfather's up there too?” Mateus asked back to which the girl nodded.
“So what's this really about? I didn't know you were aiming for Helena too now. I mean, I know she's really pretty but, to fight Bang Sadrach for her is a bit…”
“Pris, you're free to join us so just sit down.” Josias said as Mateus scooted over to the chair next to his so that Prisca could sit down. “Anyways, that's exactly what I was about to ask him. What in the world was he thinking?”
Mateus merely shook his head before downing another full cup of Nira. Finally as he let out a sigh after finishing the cup, he fell silent for a few moments before beginning his explanation.
“You know my father and Tulang Mardomu have always been good friends.” Mateus started.
“Yeah, no shit, all of our parents are friends.” Josias retorted “All the eight clans are basically family anyways since one way or another we're all bloody cousins, so what's your point?”
“...It was after the whole mess with Arta. My father never liked her or her father all that much and after the big incident, well… I took it hard.”
“Pfft, tell me about it.” Josias made a sarcastic face as he laughed with Priscilla to Mateus' expense which only caused him to frown before filling in his cup again. “Anyways, continue…”
“Yeah, well… It took me a while to get over her and you have to understand, I did everything in my power to try and win her back.”
“Yes, we know, and then?”
“Josi, stop cutting him off!” Priscilla complained.
“My father decided to just go ahead and arrange a betrothal between me and Helena with Tulang Mardomu. I mean that's it.”
“Huh, that's it?” Priscilla said with a bewildered expression.
“Yeah, that's it!” Mateus nodded.
“This bastard, so you don't even really like Helena then?” Josias said as he feigned wanting to whack Mateus.
“I mean, she's always been a nice girl, and she is indeed pretty but… yeah I'm still pretty out of it.”
“Then why the fuck are you even bothering with this stupid duel? I'm sure your father would understand if you don't wanna go through with it and even Tulang Mardomu would prefer to have Helena with Lae Sadrach, so why?”
“It's simple, really. I just want to clock that prissy-ass bitch right in his pretty face.” Mateus said seriously “I just need to get one good hit in. I don't even care if I fucking win or not but I just want to punch that fucker.”
Josias could only plant his face in his arms on the table as he was so frustrated with the very asinine yet very simple explanation for why Mateus accepted the challenge.
“Brother, why?” Josias asked as he raised himself again.
“Well, if it's an officially sanctioned duel, I won't have anyone bitching about me for not having self control over my temper and picking fights with people - even though they absolutely deserve it!” Mateus answered.
“What did Lae Sadrach ever do to you that would cause you to hold such a grudge?”
“Lae, he fucking kissed my girl! Tongue and all!” Mateus banged his hands to the table which caused the cups to almost fall over if it weren't for Josias' and Priscilla's quick reflexes.
“Abang! Don't hit the table!” Priscilla slapped Mateus' arm.
“...Right, sorry…” Mateus said as he exhaled to calm himself down.
“Also, I was there when it happened, and I can tell you, bang, it wasn't Bang Sadrach's fault. Kak Arta was pissed-drunk and she literally tackled the man! Besides, that happened way before New Year's and you only stopped courting Kak Arta this year, so why the grudge? And for that matter, why did you break up anyways?”
“You're like a guard questioning a burglar.”
“I'm just curious! Humor me, Abang… pleaseee…!! If you don't, I'll start to ask Josi for his version.” Priscilla started tugging at Mateus' arm before he finally relented.
“Lae Josi doesn't know shit.” Mateus exclaimed as he once more downed another cup.
“I do though.” Josias said matter-of-factly.
“Oh yeah? Then tell me. What do you know?” Mateus asked back with a clearly skeptical tone apparent in his voice.
“Arta dumped you because she thought you weren't taking your relationship seriously and that her father had other plans for a betrothal to other clans.”
“Yes, that's her version that she tells everyone of her friends, but that's not the full story!” Mateus said as he grabbed the pitcher to fill in his cup again but noticed it was empty.
“Want me to grab another pitcher of Nira? This story's getting juicy…!” Priscilla said as she grabbed the pitcher and got up.
“No, not Nira, Tuak.” Mateus said.
“Coming right up, Abang.”
“I think we should ease up on the drinks, Lae. Your face is already turning red, you absolute lightweight.” Josias said as he shook his head. Of the full pitcher, he probably only got to drink less than a third of it and he was starting to get worried.
“No…! You started this, so you're gonna have to deal with it, Josi!” Mateus pointed at Josias with a serious look on his reddened face while Priscilla had returned with a full pitcher and started filling the two’s cups.
“So, what was the reason??” Priscilla said as she sat back down.
Mateus took a large gulp of his cup before he began. “It was the culmination of lots of things. I don't know why, but she became more and more demanding, like she was just out of it. Everytime I would pester her to talk about it, she'd just brush me off like that. At first I was willing to tolerate all that, thinking maybe I did do something wrong but on the day of our biggest fight, do you know what she said to me, and I'll never forget this until the day I die.”
“What'd she say?” Priscilla asked while Josias' expression grew focused after drinking his own cup.
“She just said that I wasn't giving her enough space and didn't understand how she was feeling! Bitch, do I look like a Datuk (shaman)? I can't throw bones or make predictions to just magically know how you're feeling if you don't fucking say anything to me! But you know what? I accepted that, I was willing to give her that break she wanted but do you know what I saw after that? Her spending more and more time talking with Safira and Sadrach! If Sadrach had just steered clear of her, maybe I wouldn't be feeling like this, but that's not even the worst part of all this! If Sadrach had even been serious with Arta like that, maybe I could've tolerated it somewhat but then I hear he's nuzzling up to Helena? THAT FUCKING PRICK!!” Mateus’ face grew redder and redder as he kept on talking, perhaps a mix of anger and the liquor he was drinking was starting to get to him.
“Alright there, Lae, calm down…”
“DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!!” Mateus shouted again as he stood up while Priscilla who was sitting besides him flinched. Josias was worried that it was drinking that was doing the talking right now so he had started gathering aura into both his arms just in case anything happens as he stood up and gently pulled Priscilla to his side.
“That wasn't a suggestion, Lae…” Josias said even more firmly “Let's not make a scene when the elders are literally right above us right now.”
As he heard that and noticed Josias was preparing his stance while Priscilla now had a guarded look towards him, Mateus gave an exasperated sigh as he sat back down and slumped over his table as he put his head in his arms.
“Guys, I'm sorry about that… I think I had enough to drink for today…” Mateus said.
“More than enough…” Priscilla said as she took the pitcher away and put it on the counter. “That's enough drinking for you for the week, Abang…”
Just as the situation was calming, three large men had walked in through the door, putting their gaze towards the young folk at the table. They immediately stood up in respect as they saw Both Parulian and Mardomu and another person around their age walk into the tavern.
“Aha ma ributribut on? (What's with all the commotion?)” Parhal said as he looked at his son and Mateus standing at attention. “Agoooo Jo!!! (Dear God!!!)… Domu, look at these two fools drinking about in the middle of the day even though they have training with me later on!”
“Hahahaha! They remind me of when we were young!” Mardomu said “Let them be, they're probably discussing what went on at my home earlier.”
As the third man came in, with a tall yet rather lean build and a severe gaze, looking sternly at Mateus, the fierce Mateus couldn't help but avert his gaze.
“Tch. What an embarrassment.” the man said shaking his head as he just walked past them.
“Oh don't be too hard on your son, Ronggur.” Mardomu said to the stern man.
“Although he is partially the reason for why we're here.” Parulian said with a chuckle as he and Mardomu also passed them by as the three of them made their way to the second floor of the tavern. “A freaking duel for a girl, can you imagine. Well, whatever the outcome, come sunshine or rain, you boys are still going over to the yard to train.”
As their parents had gone up to the second floor, the two young men could only sigh. Priscilla also excused herself to go to the second floor to check if the elders had any extra orders to make. With only Josias and Mateus left at the table, the two sighed as they slumped back on their chairs.
“I think I should go upstairs too…” Mateus said as he stood up, as if sobered up by the tension brought by his father. “Anyways, thanks for the drinks. At least now I can more easily ignore whatever the old folks are going to say.”
“Pfft, you big bastard.” Josias laughed as the two young men embraced before parting ways. “Like what my old man said, see you at the yard. Well, if you're still alivea nyhow.”
“Alright…”
And with that, Josias had left the tavern to go and bother someone else until the time of training. As always, interesting things were bound to happen soon.