A disgusting smell of smoke, a red hue of miasma, a wasteland made of hills and craters. A folly of man's ambition to question the higher powers that be and the consequences we were faced with, I do not wish to remember. Dead in number is only measured by trillions. A wave of beings not meant to exist sullying our plane with their very presence. Demons, manifestations of a greater being, with no regard for the idea of life. Man-made horrors were made to fight that of the celestial, a time when magiks and gunpowder were not enough. Only by having harmony between both can one survive, and only by being, “special” can one live. In a time when deaths and birth are truly, only seen as numbers. One can only ask…
“What was it like?” asked a curious older man with a wide frame, wearing a white button-down shirt and black slacks, and while his whole outfit seemed well kept, his shoes especially shining almost radiantly from the reflection of this well-lit hole-in-the-wall bar.
His expression is covered by a small white mask that covers all but a short gray beard and a bushy brow of similar color, his hair almost glowing white in the establishment.
He looks across from him and sees an older man walk through the doors of his bar and a certain familiar look of confusion he has seen a billion-billion times completely takes over this old man's wrinkled and aged face, wearing nothing but a long white silk robe, with a long beard that extends to his lower calves.
As the old man approaches the bartender his robe swaying with his beard, he takes a seat and puts an elbow up, and gently rests his head against his arm. His expression is unchanging to the question that was asked by the Bartender, only making unmoving eye contact where he assumes the bartender's eyes may be under that plain white mask.
“...”
Minutes turn into hours, as they both do nothing but stare and wait.
“Where am I Time Daemon?”
The old man's patience has shown its limit with a very simple question.
“My Bar”
To which the Bartender gives a simple answer. Relaxing his shoulder and letting out a small sigh, he feels this conversation may take a while.
“I have no time Daemon, I’ve two disciples that require guidance, and being here does not help them, and I would appreciate being sent back so that they are not influenced by some demonic horror.”
“Why would you assume I would be a danger to your private matters, paranoia is a rocky road.”
The old man's face starts showing signs of annoyance, as he sits up and stares,
“I know your kind, you send people to a pocket dimension and interrogate confused people of interest, didn’t think any of you were alive, and even then using such an old tactic such as this, it’s almost funny.”
His expression only grows colder with every word, like he hates every second he has to speak to this stranger.
“And I as well, Grand wizard, know your kind all too well. You and your magik wielding companions have taken eons of my time in this bar, although I don’t remember the last time I had a conversation with one…hmmm was it? No, it started with an…H?”
As his thoughts begin to wander the Bartender takes a better look at the man before him, inside and out—a weathered veteran of war, just a man looking for something.
“Listen and listen well Time daemon, our armies wiped out your leader and your so-called greater being God, so before you even think you win this fight, know I’ve had an eternity to harness mana through a corpse of a celestial, and take it as my own.”
“Yet you wonder why your connection to the fractal is gone?”
A shock, how could this Daemon know that my connection was gone, does he have a nullifier, no those were hypothetical, only the creator of magik could do that, no. A hallucination then? Did we, did I even win the war? Is everything that has happened in the last ten lifetimes been nothing but a mirage? Wouldn’t be the first time.
“And the nail is struck. Tell me Grand wizard what do you last remember, we were having a lovely and mind you, productive chat about existential planes when you got up and started mumbling at the front door, something about a war under heaven. I’d love to know more as I had assumed it never stopped and for quite some time at that.”
The old man's gaze shifts, from one of caution to a more calm expression, he states,
“Well, that only makes sense since the only survivors of that war totals to that of three, I guess I can up that number to four, daemon.”
“Well while I’m not a Time Daemon, I feel the need to ask why you would count one as a survivor?”
“HA, well since both of our respected “leaders” kicked the bucket trying to politics themselves to death, I just thought at this point there’s nothing but common ground since we both fought in a forgotten war.”
After looking down the old man pauses as something like a small glint hits the corner of his eye, he was uncomfortable at first but now that he could let his eyes wander around the bar he notices, “Is that juice? Real juice?
“Ah yes you mentioned before your earlier fugue state that most natural resources on your home plane were all but reserved as war trophies or higher ranking officials, but to put it briefly” as the bartender picks up an aged glass bottle labeled on it nothing but a small hand drawn orange, “Yes this is juice, and your welcome to help yourself, I have plenty.”
“That’s not what I was going to ask but I will partake, do you have the seeds or even some of the pulp, a piece of the skin even?”
“If you don’t mind I will see what is in season” the bartender gestures from behind the counter as he takes a step back and begins to look smaller, no he looks as if he is walking down step from right behind the counter, and as he is almost halfway down.
“Look if you don’t want me to pry I won’t, but don’t insu-” Taken aback as the bartend disappears from view, the old man almost lunging over the counter sees a flight of stairs right behind the counter, looking down he sees the man walk up with a small basket covered with a fine piece of red cloth.
“Cough-ahem, my apologies for that, it was unwise to be so untrusting.” the Grand Wizard in all his time had forgotten that sometimes, things are as they seem to be.
“Apologies are for transgressions, you’ve done no such thing, and if your curious later you can help me with the garden that I have gathered these from.” Lifting the cloth from the large basket reveals what could have been the rewards for the medal of honor from the grand wizards’ time, a smorgasbord of fruit thought lost to inbreeding and radiation.
“I…” at a loss for words the value of these fruits could only be measured in countries, and if they tasted at all good, it could move nations.
“...well if you're alright I’ve been looking forward to the watermelon harvest, I will cut some up, and feel free to help yourself to anything as I have always had an abundance.” passing the Grand Wizard still in shock a small pairing knife to help with any fruit with tougher skin. He moves to a small table near a window slicing melon and brings the cutting board full of melon to be presented to the baffled old scholar.
“...I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t the slightest idea what some of these fruits are, I never bothered learning about most fruits because they were lost resources, so why bother right?” The Grand Wizard in all his time spent alive had been in few situations when he was pleasantly surprised, even fewer times where he’s received gifts. Today is a good day, his mind is now full of thoughts, he can fix the wasteland, fill dead forests with actual edible fauna, animals would adapt and ecosystems could be repaired.
“MMM! Now that is some damn good melon, I’d recommend growing these in high heat and a ton of sunlight. It took forever to replicate that in the basement, but if I can get this quality without a sun then you should have an easier time.” The bartender had a wide grin as he holds up a piece to the Grand Wizard and after a moment of hesitation, takes a bite of the most delicious thing he’d try after a thousand lifetimes(https://youtu.be/iQs0bEGXhl8).
Needless to say after a small lecture on agriculture, including some, Magik theory of accelerated growth, and spending about a month with the Bartender, they both settled that after an initial bloom, the Grand Wizard could accelerate the growth until the fruit reaches the stage of natural ripening, as accelerating the growth too fast can cause a noticeable detriment to flavor and juice presence.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Still I have no idea how all of that land fits down there, how did you manage? Spacial warping? Or is it just an illusion and the shop is just on top of a portal…I would appreciate you reciprocating my curiosity, or at least humor my thoughts with playful banter Barkeep.”
“...”
“Do you have something to say barkeep”, Wiping a small bead of sweat off his brow after loading some inoculated dirt, the old Wizard seemed comfortable with the presence of the Bartender, he has never seen the hospitable and cheerfully polite old man act in such a listless manner.
“Do you ever think of what you left Grand Wizard? I often do. I had a life and a family but I cannot remember. All that I know is that they existed, they were here in this very shop. However, I cannot remember their faces, what their voices sounded like, hell, if they were young men or women, I can’t even remember the fine details or the most basic of appearances, but I know that they existed. I know that I miss them, and I can’t help but wonder if they come back or if they find their way back on accident if I’ll be able to recognize them.
Can I tell you a recurring thought I have Grand Wizard?”
“... I try not to pry into the affairs of, beings outside the fractal, their stories are often filled with horrors that my mind is critical towards… never mind, what is your theory?”
“I believe, that despite the circumstances of people that come and go from here are usually ones of tragedy, that I’m in my hell, no, purgatory would be something more accurate to depict, rather than the reality of what I’m in. I believe that I am in hell, and as mundane as it is, I have to stay here and guide others to a place I cannot go. A place other than here. A place you are supposed to be Grand Wizard.”
“I’ve suspected that you may have a purpose, albeit I assumed it was an interrogation, but to be tasked with guiding those who are lost, well I’m jealous.” He says after loading some more dirt into a large crate.
“...Why are you jealous?”
“Because you know your purpose. You have been here for far longer than someone of human descent should’ve lasted. Hell if you were here alone for a year you’d be a shell of a broken man, but here you are having a conversation with one of the most eccentric men left, and you still haven’t lost your temper, and that is something, not even my disciples can brag about, so chin up Daemon, you're stronger than most.”
The Bartender looked satisfied behind his mask as it had been a long time since he was the one being consoled.
After some silent time, and a short break the Bartender brought out some books from a forgotten time, “Grand Wizard, what were you doing before you arrived here? It’s dawned on me that I’ve never asked a very important question.”
The Grand wizard looks up after pulling down his reading glass and closing a book on city planning and road infrastructure, he breathes out and looks up at the mahogany ceiling wooden supports even adorned in such a meticulous manner, he did not even notice until now. “I had just been freed from a plane known as The Aether a warped land amid an inaccessible and inescapable canyon. The ones who freed me were my now disciples, a golden Dragonborn with scales that shine like the radiant sun, and a silly Kenku Crow that would have a field day with all of your agricultural knowledge. But before that, I was just working my mana into a mage’s corpse as my original form was too injured to last the extended stay in that prison, and after that, I was just killing time by learning all that I was capable of for, well eons.
I had lost count of the years in a body that does not age or need sustenance, a shriveled old man was what they first saw when they found me sitting at the top of my Tower of Power. They’re like the sons I could never have, and students I’ve always wished to share my knowledge with.”
“You sound grateful”.
“Ha, more so than. I owe those young men, my immortal soul, there is truly nothing worse than realizing how alon-...yes, I’m sure that I do sound different when talking about them, but I truly love them like my own kin.
Their stories of adventure and mistakes, their tales of investigation and espionage. One time the Crow saw the naked bodice of a Grand City’s most powerful and neurotic War priestess, and in his shock, he’d yet to realize the lack of breath after being grappled and choked by one of their companions. Another was when the Dragonborn had jumped off a cliff and ignited his halberd with some enchanted flame and ran down the side of a calamity size slime. His warcry could be heard for miles as he was scaling downward and spiraling down this massive mass, leaving a trail of holy SILVER FLAME! Truly a classic epic that the bards will sing about for years to come.”The Grand wizard boasted as he was somewhat excited to talk about remembering his disciples, their stories captured the attention of the Bartender, and a bullet was dodged as the Grand Wizard almost stated something insensitive.
“That’s a very fun story Grand Wizard, tell me and I know that it may be prying, but I have seen your style of cloak before, your techniques and methods are familiar as well, to the ones that always told me of a “great war”.”
“Don’t call it that.” The Grand wizard looked serious, his eyes like stone and his body unmoving.
“Never use the words great and war in the same phrase. I hate all that romanticize the deaths of those undeserving, and I will end all those who wish to prolong it.”
“I had no idea it was such a heavy topic for you, I apologize for it being unprompted, however, I would like to know more of your story Grand Wizard, you are a man, and that is what fascinates my mind, a man that has seen literal hell and is here in front of me eating an Orange, a man eons in age that has kept his mind intact and his ego, I assume, relatively the same.”
“You flatter this old man Bartender, tell me, why the curiosity in a being that is just old, surely you have some tales that could be told. Tell you what, I’ll tell you about my experience in the War if you tell me your most interesting encounter. Fair game?”
The bartender was taken aback, he’d, of course, remember most of his meetings, however, what was the most interesting, what was a meeting that stood out, what was the outlier that could satisfy this Grand Wizard?
After a moment, “Ah, there was a curious time a while back, now for context there usually are people of tragedy and worry that come to me, either close to death, or worried about the affairs of nations and countries, economics, and politics are some of the more common ones. But if I’d have to choose, it was an encounter with a very young miss.”
The Grand Wizard almost expected a meeting with a god or being of similar capability taking the most interesting spot in this celestials’ mind, but a young woman? He was surprised and his curiosity tempted him to ask.
“What was so special about her?”
“Well, she was an infant, no older than two Terran years old, just sitting on the closest stool over there” He gestures a finger to the chair next to the very middle of the counter, two seats from the right, three to the left.
“When I found her she was silent, not confused, but in shock at the unfamiliar place around her, and well after seeing my person and reacting quite- “surprised”, she eventually was able to learn the same speech that you and I use-”
“Common?”
“Yes, and she could not remember why she was here, like most, but what was odd was that she could open the door that led to a land unfamiliar to even me.”
“What?”
“She would open the door and I could feel the warmth of a young sun, not yet burning red, or blinding white, the air fresh and not polluted, a general feeling of peace that is only heard of in stories, and then after opening the doors once, “Heroes” of that place would enter, asking if this building had always been here if we were new to the town, but what was odd was that it was only beings that were of a certain power, no, of a required strength would be more accurate.”
“Fascinating, a dimensional door being opened by, you said an infant young girl…Keep going I’ll prepare some more of that watermelon while you tell me more.”
“Oh, if you’d like I could-”
The Grand Wizard in all his time had been starved for a real tale, he was not going to miss even a second of the moment as he sprung up and was already slicing the fruit in such a fast manner, even the bartender was worried how close the knife was getting to the old man’s hand, and as he returned with a charcuterie board of fresh sliced and chilled melon, he was leaning forward with a slice in hand and wide, expecting eyes
“Hm, well since you're interested, I’ll continue.
We were then visited by Mages, Warriors, paladins, hermits, and scholars alike, every time the same questions regarding our sudden appearance, and after some time, we had some of the Heroes confirm that the greater populace was not cognitively aware of the building at all. The existence of a magic structure suddenly appearing is usually a bad omen, however, I and the young lady were given special treatment since most of the Heroes had quite the political influence when our future was being discussed.”
“Were you and the girl able to leave? Did you check if you could examine this new place?”
“Well I had tried many times in the past to open the doors here, but with no success, I gave up and accepted my place here, but I did attempt to leave as the young miss’ clothes were more than worn after a short while and I felt it embarrassing as an adult to have a child in rags. So I got up and walked out, I bought some new clothes with the young miss, truly a time to reminisce, the feeling of real life over such a long time was nostalgic, and the time I spent with young miss, I will forever treasure.”
“Can I ask, what ended up of the Young Miss?”
“...I outlived her, she grew old so fast, faster than when she was learning our language, she was taller in such a short amount of time, her hair lost its white luster and became a dull gray, her face was both recognizable, yet familiar to the young miss I’d known. In the end, I was next to her, on a bed of flowers raised by her miracle, and with a content smile on her face. What was odd was that she thanked me as her last words. Silly girl, she did not realize that there is no reason to say such a thing, I only did what I felt was right, but I still see her face now and then, in the corner of my eye I see her silhouette eating from a small bowl of nuts and berries, drawing pictures for the blank bottles in the shop while gazing out the window. I always remember her easier than the rest, I’ve not a clue why, however whenever I tell this story my throat feels odd and my chest grows hollow.
Oh…I think I miss her.”
The old bartender interlocked his fingers and looked down, remembering his most cherished memories he can recall, most being with the young miss he’d always been with, and after looking up he saw a heavy stream of tears flowing from the eyes of the weathered old magic man.
“*sniffle* uh-*hick mm-hmm *ahem*” wipe wipe wipe the tears
“That was, *cry cough* a beautiful story. *Ahem* Bartender” Wipe Wipe Wipe more tears.
“It’s a little odd, most react the same when I tell them that story”
“I’d find it harder to believe that anyone wouldn’t react as I did after that summary, gods why did you have to be the one to bury her, no parent should have to do that”
“Parent?”
“You aren’t familiar with the term? I thought you said you had a family?”
“I did but as I said I can’t remember anything other than their existence being real. But what is a Parent?”
“You, you're a parent Bartender, you raised a child and made her life the best to your ability, that is what a parent is, and that is what you were.
Still, I can’t believe her ability to open door to create paths to other plains, does the door still lead to the other world?”
“No, with the young miss’ passing, was the end of the gate that was connected to my bar, still though, I wouldn’t do a single thing differently if I could do it over again. I often contemplate if she was truly satisfied with having me as a Parent.”
The old wizard placed a hand on the bartender's shoulder and looked at him with a gentle smile, and warm eyes.
“Never doubt yourself for a second Bartender, you were and are a good man, who raised a beautiful young lady and stayed by her side until her passing, that is more than most can say. Hear me, Bartender, you are a good man.”
Looking almost like a smile had formed under his white mask, “Thank you for the kind word Grand Wizard-”
“Please, call me Jhonsen, it’s my first name, from my first birth.”
“Then I will refer to you as Jhonsen if that is what you would prefer.”
“And what do I call you Bartender, surely I cannot keep calling you that”
“I’ve been given many names in the past, but the name given to me by the young miss, I will always choose first, Mo Hay, her first words spoken to me, *heh* she even pointed her small finger at me when I-”
As the Bartender looked up, he saw nothing but a knife hit the floor, as the criteria had been met, and the old wizard left My Little Corner.
“Ah, well…I guess I’ll clean up”.