The streets were crowded with the horde of people with varying professions, intentions, and dispositions.

Some were on the lookout for business opportunities. Street vendors shouted about their deals, craftsmen showed off what they had made, and then there were those from the inns and the less reputable joints, luring customers in with promises of a good time. Brothels enticed clients with a respite wrapped in the velvet of night stars’ embrace. Every glance held a bargain, every gesture a story.

The air was filled with the aromas of food and the salty smell of the ocean waters. The air pulsed with the currency of countless transactions as it was pervaded by the noisy sounds of people and waves. Waves lapped against the docks, steady and reassuring. There was an undercurrent of excitement, a sense of endings and beginnings as day workers and nightcrawlers crossed paths.

Among the liveliness of the night, situated closer to the water was a tavern called Nochnaya. It was quieter than the streets, leaving only the sound of conversations and clinking glasses. It was a popular spot where locals went to wind down. Its reputation was murmured from one knowing local to the next, a gem hidden in plain sight.

Inside the tavern, near the counter of the bar stood a lone man. Yan Rahshan was tending to the clients with a warm smile and an open mind. He had hair that was dark and tousled, falling carelessly over his brows. He dressed with an effortless blend of tradition and calmly surveyed the area with a warm and hospitable gaze, offering a nod and a smile to the people with whom his eyes met. His face had a maturity that exceeded his years.

“One more fill, brother.”

A young gentleman prompted. His face was flushed red from all the drinks he had.

“Enough is enough, no more.”

“Just one more!”

“You’re repeating it for the fourth time.”

Rahshan had no intent on letting the man drink. Not that he was worried over his health, but this client of his worked at the castle. Harming their worker would bring unwanted attention to his tavern.

This young servant sitting across from him at the front counter was his regular client, Eymen. He would occasionally visit the tavern, especially on weekends. Yet, recently he had been coming here every day.

“Try talking to her. I’m sure she will consider your feelings.”

“There is no way of talking out of this!”

Eymen slammed his cup on the table.

“I tried and tried and tried! It is not getting up!”

“Drinking will only worsen the situation.”

Rahshan said while tending to another regular who sat nearby Eymen.

The said client had his own worries and thus came to get some relief with a drink. But he thought his suffering was nothing in comparison to Eymen’s.

“Did you try eating oysters? My old man says they are really helpful for ‘that’.”

“Of course! Everything! I tried doing everything! Oysters, herbs, nothing works!”

The burly man regretted making his suggestion since it only rubbed the wound with salt - it only added to his injury. He turned his head and focused on his own drink, leaving Rahshan to handle the headache.

“Rahshan! Brother! Just what should I do!?”

To the man’s plea, Rahshan sighed internally. He had a pessimistic outlook on the guy’s circumstances. Yet, he didn’t show it outwardly and gave a warm smile while patting Eymen’s shoulders and pouring him another cupful of alcohol.

“Nothing. You’re fucked. Consider handling the break up.”

His voice was as warm as his smile, yet words as piercing as his glare. Upon hearing it, Eymen couldn’t handle himself anymore and broke into tears.

“Are you the owner of this tavern?”

A silvery haired man with a black hat perched atop his head asked. Rahshan carefully scrutinized the man as he didn’t recognize him.

“Yes, and who might you be?”

“I’m Tayfun pasha.”

Hearing these words, Rahshan gave a slight bow.

Throughout the Yan clan, The title of pasha was only given to high-ranked and renowned individuals who had proven themselves with their accomplishments. They were treated with utmost respect by the common populace.

“How may I be of help, sir pasha?”

To Rahshan’s inquiry, Tayfun handed him a letter enclosed in a fancy enclosure of velvet color. Rahshan slid a finger under the sealed flap of the envelope. The seal, marked with the clan’s emblem, cracked with a faint snap. He unfolded the letter as it revealed its contents.

As Rahshan began to read, the dim light on the table cast flickering shadows across his face. The words darkened his brows with each line. His eyes, usually calm, turned stormy, his expression tightening.

By the time he reached the final sentence, the tranquility of his earlier demeanor was gone. Rahshan was perplexed. He slowly tucked the envelope into his robe.

Tayfun was interested in the letter’s contents and the tavern owner’s identity, yet he didn’t like to pry into others' lives.

“Whose fancy did you cater to, brother?”

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Eymen remarked as he gave a meaningful smile, his already flushed face extra flushed with snot and tears. Tayfun was slightly annoyed at Eymen’s behavior as this letter was written by his master, yet didn’t bother.

Rahshan soon poured another glassful of ale and put it on the counter across an empty seat. He then locked his eyes with Tayfun and gave a greeting smile.

“You have walked such a long journey up from a castle down to this modest tavern. It would have been presumptuous of me not to welcome sir pasha with a drink. The drink is on the house.”

“Well, I won’t be refusing. Thanks.”

Tayfun gave a nod as he sat on a cottony cushion. In the Yan Clan, declining hospitality was a grave insult, no matter your standing.

As Tayfun gulped the drink in a go, he furrowed his brows.

“How much alcohol is in this?”

“Don’t worry, sir. It’s a little sour, yet there is only a little over five percent contained in the drink.”

Rahshan assured him, his eyes earnest. Tayfun nodded, reassured by Rahshan's sincere demeanor. Little did he know the drink had five times that.

“Is that so…”

Tayfun had just finished the drink when Rahshan poured another portion. Rahshan didn’t let Tayfun protest as he exclaimed in a heavy manner.

“You look down, sir. Did something happen?”

“Do I?”

Tayfun was taken aback.

“What do you think, Eymen?”

“Now that you say that… sir pasha do be lookin’ gloomy.”

Eymen supported Rahshan’s claim. Rahshan was subtly trying to play on Tayfun’s emotions, gaslighting him.

Tayfun was ignorant to that, as he gulped another mouthful of ale.

“Honestly, I am in dire need of some advice…”

“Just tell us! Seriously, why are you stretching it out?”

Eymen, the young gentleman with golden hair and blue eyes, completely intoxicated, was completely oblivious of his manners. Normally, he would get beaten for such disrespect toward pasha. Yet, Tayfun just gave a high sigh as he raised his cup, demanding another portion.

Rahshan smiled wryly as he knew that the alcohol was kicking in.

“The thing is… I… I don’t have friends.”

Eymen couldn’t find words of comfort. Both him and Rahshan pitied the guy as they watched him continue to bicker. Shit was real sad.

“I’m always, like always doing this and this and that and this for my master. But… but she just doesn’t care about me! Don’t get me wrong… like I am forever grateful to her for bestowing her teachings upon me and saving my life. Still, she treats others normally. Only me! Only me she treats like a pile of shit! Fucking bitch!”

Tayfun immediately gasped after cursing at his master. He had never done that before. He had also never drunk before, either.

Though it was apparent from his state.

“No! Sir pasha is right. I have always performed the best at my job. But recently, I’ve had some personal problems. The chef says my cooking skills have declined. He doesn’t even try to understand my pain! My suffering!”

Eymen patted the man’s back while snoring with his nose.

Rahshan was glad he didn’t even have to involve himself. Eymen was unintentionally doing all the work for him. Tayfun was an easy nut to crack.

“You too?!”

“Yes! Yeah! I can feel for you, brother.”

“Hahaha, I see. I see!”

Tayfun hugged Eymen as tears fell from his eyes. His frustration was building up and he could finally relieve it.

Rahshan was unsure of what they were bickering about as he stealthily topped off their drinks whenever their cups emptied.

‘They sure have a great chemistry.’

He thought. Just a moment before, these two were strangers, and now they were brothers for life. He remembered a saying from Earth how brothers are not born but made. He could finally understand it.

“That aside, I was the only disciple of hers and felt lonely. I had no one to share my pain and suffering with. But she’s recently gotten another disciple. Finally - I thought. But she also hates me! Everyone hates me! Every time I talk to her she misunderstands me…”

Tayfun sobbed and wailed in Eymen’s embrace while gulping the ale like a fish out of water. Eymen held him tighter, offering a silent strength as Tayfun's emotions spilled over like the ale that occasionally sloshed from his cup. The world narrowed to just the two of them in their shared moment of vulnerability.

‘What the fuck?’

Rahshan couldn’t help but think.

“She just scoffs at me and ignores my eyes. She is always looking at me with contempt!”

“Is she good-looking, brother? I think your problem is deeper than you think it is!”

“How so!? Tell me!”

“As your brother, I can definitely tell that you like her! And she, too, likes you! Girls are just shy nowadays, you know? You can definitely trust me! I have much experience in this regard.”

Eymen declared as Tayfun pondered about what he said.

‘How the fuck?’

Rahshan couldn’t help but think.

“I think… I think you might be right. Yeah! You are right… She loves me! I was just too stupid to see!”

“Hahaha! Right?”

“So she was crazy about me this whole time. She was mad at me because I couldn’t sense that… I see! But… She is my junior sister. I can’t answer her love. What should I do?”

Tayfun looked downcast, yet internally he felt happy. He gushed with positivity. Eymen tsked upon hearing Tayfun’s reluctance.

“So what? Forbidden love is the sweetest! Haha!”

Eymen proclaimed as he raised his cup. Tayfun managed a weak smile and clinked his cup against Eymen’s.

“But what if she’s angry at me and doesn’t love me anymore? I am also very bad at revealing my feelings.”

“Are you blind, brother? Sitting opposite to you is the clan’s renowned charmer. Trust me, with a little guidance, you’ll be expressing your heart like a poet in no time!”

Said a guy with erectile dysfunction.

“I will trust you on this one! By the way, your name is Eymen, right, brother?”

“Eymen. Remember my name as I’ll be the clan’s greatest cook one day!”

“No shit. And I’m the Seeker of Storm, Tayfun!”

Rahshan was at a loss for words as he couldn’t describe the scene occurring before him. At this point, they don’t even need women. They can just go on and forge a brotherhood that runs deeper than any romance - no need for romantic entanglements when you have a camaraderie that can weather any storm. Their laughter and talks filled the tavern. He watched as the two men found solace and understanding in each other's company.

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Fatma felt an itch in her ears. This evening, she couldn’t focus on her meditation at all. Her mind was surging with emotions as tomorrow was the day she would finally awaken.

“Is someone talking behind my back?”

It didn’t make sense for her to feel this distressed. After months of enduring what felt like unparalleled suffering, she had become accustomed to discomfort. Yet here she was, on edge, as if her nerves were frayed strings about to snap.

“Never mind.”