The sun had already started to set by the time the carriage reached Yoton. After the scuffle with the bandits, the trip had no more interruptions. It was a quiet trip with the only sound being the squeak of the carriage wheels and the merchandise shifting around in the back whenever it hit a bump or pebble in the road. No one spoke a word to each other. The merchants were too shaken up from the fact that they had almost lost their lives on this journey. Viktor tried to strike up a conversation with Andrew while walking next to the carriage to lighten the mood but was met with silence. He had given up after an hour, realizing that no one was in the mood to talk. Gloria had stayed inside the carriage, with Mavis huddled in the corner. Neither knew what to say to the other. Gloria was still shaking from being taken hostage, but as she looked at Mavis, she seemed to be in a worse state than her somehow. She wanted to say something but wasn’t sure what. She wasn’t even sure what exactly was eating at her. It was only when the carriage came to a stop that she finally said something.
“Mavis. We’re here.” Gloria said in a soft tone. Mavis got up without a word and hopped out of the carriage. How the village contrasted the city in what little light remained was immediately apparent at first glance. While the city’s roads were paved with stone and the buildings made with either stone or brick, the village’s roads were bare dirt and the buildings looked hand made with wood, and instead of using lanterns powered by light magic infused crystals, there were only a couple of candle lanterns on the sides of the roads, generously spaced out. Yoton was originally a settlement village, built for the families of the workers, paid or unpaid, that built the city of Nors over one thousand years ago. After the construction of the city was finished, Yoton was abandoned for decades until it became a popular bandit outpost. After it was reclaimed by the Baltharusian Empire and the bandit inhabitants wiped out, it found itself as a home for those tired of the bustle of the city and wanting a more quiet life. Almost half a millennia has passed and it has kept its identity as a quiet village, with the only expansions being for farmland. Through this, it had earned the title of “The Frozen Village'' due to it being metaphorically frozen in time while major cities across the continent have been rapidly changing and embracing new technological advancements through magic and innovation in the past decade, with many scholars dubbing it a “birth of a cultural and technological revolution”. Despite all of this. Yoton has remained relatively small sporting a population of around 150 people, including the children and elderly. The number regularly increases and decreases as either people who have become disenchanted with the city life or elderly that want a quiet retirement would move in while bright-eyed and energetic youths who want prefer the loud city full of people over the sticks or those looking to make money in the city, whether it’s to hit it big or send it back home, would move out.
The carriage was parked in a stable with the horses, next to a bustling inn. The sounds of merrymaking were audible even outside its walls. The sign hanging over the door to the wooden building had its name “The Giant’s Breath” painted in light blue letters. As Mavis pushed open the double doors to the inn, the sounds of laughter and the clinking of tankards got louder. She saw various men and some women sitting around tables with ale overflowing their cups. Laughter, arm wrestling, and real hands-on wrestling were abound at the bar. The people of the village of Yoton used this place as a way to unwind after a long hard day’s work. She took in the sight, the mood, and, unfortunately, the smell of the bar before making her way to the counter, where Viktor and Andrew both sat, looking more relaxed than they did on the way to the village. They both waved Mavis down to join them for a drink, an offer Mavis wordlessly accepted without making eye contact. She sat herself down on the empty stool next to Viktor, a tankard of ale immediately was placed in front of her by the barkeep, the foam dribbling down the wood of the mug.
“I didn’t even order anything yet.” Mavis said in a low tone as she looked up at the barkeep.
The man behind the bar was a middle aged human with black hair and a bald spot, as well as large muscular arms, which would be needed to pacify any patrons that get too rowdy. He gave Mavis a toothy smile as bright as the top of his head in the light.
“You can thank your pals here. They said you’d need something after the rough journey you all had.”
Mavis turned to Viktor and Andrew. The both of them sported friendly and comforting smiles at her. As if sensing what Mavis was going to say next, Andrew spoke up.
“Drinks and food, as well as your rooms tonight are on me. Consider it part of your compensation for the Union quest.”
Mavis had brought enough money with her to cover her expenses herself, but she wasn’t one to say no to free stuff. She picked up the ale tankard and downed it with gusto. Viktor, with a wide grin, gave Mavis a strong pat on the back that could be heard from across the counter, making her choke and the remaining ale in her gullet.
“That’s the spirit, Mavis! What’s an adventure without downing a couple of ales at a local tavern after a job well done!”
Mavis, caught by surprise, coughed until her throat was clear. Wiping away the foam at the edge of her mouth, she glared at Viktor. He slowly pulled his hand away, as if any sudden movements would be met with the fangs of a beast. Mavis’ annoyance subsided quickly, however. She looked down into her empty cask and sighed.
“Why did you try to stop me?” She asked, not looking Viktor in the eye. The encounter with the bandits was relatively a breeze. No one got hurt, and the only fatality was the bandits’ leader. But there was something eating at Mavis. Something Viktor couldn’t quite understand was what exactly it was, just that there was something wrong. A gut feeling.
“You didn’t really seem like yourself there. It felt ‘off’ somehow. I just felt like it was the right thing to do at the time.” He answered in an awkward tone. Mavis finally turned to look him in the eye. There was a short pause as her expression turned from a somber and downtrodden one, to a smile. She felt a weird comfort despite the awkwardness. The feeling of one being concerned for her wellbeing wasn’t one she had felt for some time. Mavis tried to come up with something to say, but there was only one thing that felt natural at this moment.
“Thank you.”
Before anyone could react, Mavis held up her empty cask and shouted with a big smile on her face. “Hey, barkeep! I’m a bit empty over here!”
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The barkeep smiled back at her. “Coming right up!” He shouted, matching her volume. After getting her cask refilled, Mavis held it up in front of Viktor and Andrew. No words were needed between them as they raised theirs as well.
“To a job well done.” Mavis said. With a shout of “CHEERS!” they all clinked their ales together and drowned them in one go. With the second cask down, Mavis began to feel more at ease. Not just because of the alcohol, but the atmosphere of the tavern, as chaotic as it was, was soothing in its own way. Everyone here was likely either a farmhand or some kind of menial labourer, working hard, tiring, demanding jobs. Yet they still have the energy to come here, laugh, knock back a few pints, and have fun with each other. Or maybe it was because of that that they could find respite in the loud tavern. There was a sense of security in a tavern filled with people with simple lives, enjoying simple pleasures. It almost made Mavis forget about any hardships she had. She looked back at the men she was sitting with, the sense of camaraderie she had with them, despite the short time she had spent with them, soothing her worries. She felt relaxed.
It wasn’t long before the rest of the patrons made their way to their respective homes. The sun had long set, the ale run dry, and whatever food was leftover on their plates had gone cold. The three still sat at the bar, keeping the barkeep company as the barmaid was busy cleaning the tables. Andrew sat with his face down on the bar, having drank himself to sleep trying to keep up with the constitutions of two trained fighters. Viktor was starting to feel woozy himself but was still able to stand. Mavis looked much better off. While she was feeling a buzz, she wasn’t quite at the level she couldn’t walk straight. Having crashed many dorm parties during her university years, she had more experience drinking than Viktor. Jeorg and Gloria didn’t join them in the celebration. Jeorg, having been exhausted from the journey due to his age and Gloria needing to take care of the baby, they had gone to their respective rooms once they had gotten to the tavern. The two adventurers sat in silence with the only thing breaking it was the clinking of the plates and cups the barmaid was moving from the tables and Andrew’s snoring. Mavis stared at the only conscious yet still drunk man next to her. There was something she wanted to ask him, but the liquid courage wasn’t enough for her to just spit it out. If she went about it wrong, it could just get her into more trouble. Though even with senses dulled, Viktor noticed the woman staring at him.
“Hey what’s the matter? Got something on my face?” He asked, his speech slurred.
Mavis groaned. She felt that she couldn’t avoid it now. She would just have to take a leap of faith that it doesn’t go wrong.
“No, it’s just that when I was in the back of the caravan, I noticed one of the products that the Vanbars were transporting here were figurines of the Twelve. It might just be a coincidence but one of them looked just like you.” It had been bugging her since Viktor introduced himself to Jeorg back in the city. It was odd that he didn’t hesitate in the slightest to accept a couple of newbie adventurers to escort them, nor did he complain. With them being new to the Union having to go through bandit territory, it would have made more sense for him to lodge a complaint or two. But the reason he didn’t was because he recognized who his escort was.
A proud and excited smile forms on Viktor’s face. “Wait, it's out now!?” He exclaimed. He didn’t deny it at all, and seemed more interested in that figure than Mavis’ deduction. Andrew woke from the shout, grasping his head and groaning. The barkeep and barmaid didn’t even flinch. They were so focused on cleaning they didn’t even notice the conversation happening right next to them.
“Oh, apologies.” Viktor said quietly.
“So you ARE one of the Twelve!” Mavis said, frustrated. “Did you run into me this morning on purpose? Are you surveilling me because of that incident with Matty Boy?” Her initial caution was thrown to the wind. Conspiracies swirled in her head about how she got paired up with Viktor. If worse came to worse she could probably go to Charlotte, that is, if she wasn’t in on it too. Viktor put up his hands defensively at the accusations thrown at him.
“Hey, just listen for a second.” He said, trying to defuse the situation as best he could in his drunken state. “I heard that Sir Edenz got into a fight the other day but I didn’t know it was with you. All the people who work in administration were pretty mad at him for giving them more paperwork because of his actions. Personally, I think it was very unbecoming of someone who holds the title of Roundtable Knight to act like he did. It was very unchivalrous.”
Mavis sensed he was sincere. Maybe it was the alcohol loosening his lips, or maybe he was just the way Viktor was, but she felt she could trust was he said.
“Alright then. But why did you sign up with the Union?’ Mavis asked. “You’re already one of the Twelve. I thought they would have turned you away?”
While the goals of both the imperial knights and the Union weren’t at odds with each other, they operate on different levels. The knights serve the country at large. They handle criminal cases closer than adventurers and have more of a presence in both internal and international politics. The Adventurer’s Union, however, aims to serve private citizens and organizations more with escorts, bodyguarding, and exploring ruins. The knights have more on their plate on the day to day to deal with every single issue that every single citizen has. That is why the Union exists. To step up and help people where the knights cannot. Therefore, the imperial knights are normally forbidden from joining the Union and becoming adventurers while they are active. Despite the Union’s rule of anyone being able to join, active duty knights are the exception. But there was one difference between Viktor and other knights.
“It’s because I am one of the Twelve that I was allowed to get my adventurer’s license.” He explained. “When you become a Roundtable Knight, the government cares way less about what you do anymore as long as you’re helping to protect the people, but it’s not like there ISN’T any red tape or codes I still have to follow. So becoming an adventurer was the best way to get around it.” The way he spoke wasn’t the usual loud and dramatic way Viktor would speak. This wasn’t a performance to prove something to anyone. Mavis could feel, this is who Viktor truly was. “I worked hard to get to where I am now just so I could have the freedom and authority to help people the way I wanted to.” He continued. “But it's not like the fame is all bad either.”
Mavis felt assured now. Charlotte wasn’t lying when she said the Twelve were an eccentric bunch, but of the ones she has met so far, the majority were well meaning. And she did have at least one thing in common with Viktor.
“Yeah, having a big name is pretty great, huh?” She said, almost envious.
“I’d hate to interrupt,” The barkeep interjected “But I gotta close up shop now.” He placed a clear bottle with small tablets in front of the two. “Take one for your hangover in the morn’. With the way you’ve been drinking, you’ll need them.”
They both took one tablet for each of them, plus another for Andrew, who was too wasted to grab one himself. Mavis volunteered to take him to his and Gloria’s room as she could walk straighter than Viktor. As quietly as she could, as to not disturb Gloria or the baby’s sleep, she gently placed Andrew in the bed. She took a second, seeing the family peacefully resting together, realizing what she did today. They were able to sleep like this because of her. She had a mix of relief and pride wash over her as she exited the room as silently as she came in, before turning into for the night herself.