Swagger and charm incarnate, Seneca burst down the door of The Burdens’ Respite, quickly located the bartender, and waltzed through the space with Eden following closely behind. Instead of being boisterous by saying anything aloud, the swashbuckler simply made her way through the tavern, and looked at every patron in turn as she strode past their tables. When she caught someone’s eye, the half-elf would give them a smile, a wave, or a wink; by the time the pair made it to the bar, everyone knew they were there.
The bartender was an effortlessly beautiful woman who grinned at Seneca as she approached. “Well, if it isn’t two of the young giant slayers! It’s lovely to meet you, I’m Lila, I own this place, and it seems like you’re already making me some extra coin.” Lila nodded past Sen to a table near the entrance, where the tailor Seneca had bought her new garb from was sitting and smiling, and raising two fingers. “Must’ve been quite a sale, Vio’s never the one to buy drinks for wayward souls who pass through town.”
Sen blew a kiss to Vio, and turned back to Lila, who was already pouring the ales. “Lila, it is an honor. My name’s Seneca, this here is Eden, and it was the least we could do to help your village.” When Eden looked at her incredulously, she couldn’t help but laugh and give him a look that said Watch and learn. “Darling Lila, would you mind giving me back, hm, let’s say three silver, and you keep drinks coming for us? Of a caliber that’ll make the money last for a few hours, of course.” Sen placed one of her gold pieces on the polished counter, and slid it towards the keeper with one finger. Looking pleased at the business, Lila nodded and fished four silvers from a drawer. Sen beamed, and as she pocketed the money, she caught a glimpse of four more figures entering the building. “Actually love, why don’t you pour four of those drinks right now?”
Kishori was first in the door, followed shortly by Pax and Elias. By the time Abel had entered and shut the door, Seneca was posing dramatically atop a stool. “Ladies, gentlemen, and the lovely folks who identify otherwise, may I present your saviors!” As Sen lifted an open hand towards the group, the tavern crowd erupted in cheers and thanks. “Let it be known that when literal giants fall from the sky, decent people will show up to help out, no matter how stupid and crazy it may seem!” The crowd laughed, and when Eden began enthusiastically clapping, so too did the people. With the quartet somewhat distracted by the applause, Sen swiftly hopped off the stool, and leaned in to whisper to Lila once more. “Hey, Ly, see that brunette man in the fancy silk suit? Pretty positive he’s loaded, so I would love if some stronger stuff is brought around to, let’s see, that table in the corner? Pretty frequently, if you could, and I promise to get you the best tip you’ve seen in months.”
Lila laughed at the devilish smile on the half-elf’s face. “I like you, Sen. I’ll make sure you have a good night, and I trust you’ll work something out when I bring around the bill.”
“Excellent! You’re a gem.” As Elias made it over to Seneca, she shoved a tankard of ale into his hand. “There you are, m’lord!” She began waving everyone over to the table she had spotted. “Come on, everyone, let’s drink!”
“Only if you stop calling me that,” Elias muttered, still slightly amused.
The motley crew of young people gathered in the corner of the bar, and set drinks down on a circular wooden table that had certainly seen better days. The table itself was dotted with so many stains that Elias would have at first pegged it for an art piece, but it was clear that it had just seen well over two decades of good use in a rowdy place. As the group got settled, the tavern fell back into its normal rhythm, although the number of glances thrown their way made it clear to anyone who cared to notice that they were still likely the main topic of the people. But, shoved in the far end of the establishment, the budding young heroes were afforded a relative air of privacy.
“So, Seneca!” Kishori started. “You seem more… vivacious than earlier today. This your sort of scene?”
“What can I say, it’s a good day! I took a chance listening to this idiot-” Seneca gave Eden a shove. “And it panned out! This little town loves us, I’ve got two new swords and comfortable clothes, and no one wants to kill me! What’s not to love?” Seneca took a huge swig of ale from her mug, and sighed happily as the cold alcohol began to warm her up.
“I don’t know that we deserve all this praise, truthfully…” Elias said. “I mean, you guys all fought, but most of us were knocked down pretty quickly. And… well, I know about how much good I did.”
“We all did our part,” Pax said with a gentle voice, placing a hand on the knight’s shoulder. “Even you. I mean, who wouldn’t be scared of a giant? I know I was. But we distracted him, warned the right people, and kept him from killing anyone. I think you’re worthy of praise.”
Eden nodded vigorously, and his eyes seemed to glow brighter under the shine of the lantern light. “For sure, we all did our part, but you were amazing! I mean I was sort of unconscious, but I could still hear you kicking ass, and throwing out all these cool lines! … Wait, your name’s Pan, right?”
The man laughed loudly after he choked down some of his drink. “No, it’s Pax. But I kinda like Pan, it’s funny.”
“So what is your deal then, Pan?” Seneca asked, folding her arms. “You some sort of… martial artist? Acrobat?”
Pax shrugged. “In a sense. I am quick on my feet, but really I’m just a guy who likes to help people. I’ve told Elias this, but I lived at an abbey for a long time, called the Tranquil Monastery at Celeste. I initially went so they could… help me with something. So I essentially lived and worked there as part of a voluntary debt, and while I did, I learned what our monks call the Form of Tranquility. It’s basically just a fancy term for a mindset that we approach the world with, and through a lot of reflection, careful movements, and measured breathing… well, I can heal people, and also throw around a punch or two when I need to.”
“Huh, cool,” Kishori said. “Is that an abbey that’s dedicated to any particular deity? I’m not familiar with it.”
“We have tomes on pretty much all the gods, but people sort of worship whoever they want; lots of them are clerics of Nera. I’m not very religious myself, though.”
Ki nodded in approval and opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a wide, thin platter that clattered onto the table, upon which was a spread of the finest breads, hard crackers, and cheeses that Lila could find. She gave them a smile as she also placed down a smaller platter, this one with a dozen shot glasses that alternated between clear and amber liquor. “Drink the dark one first, preferably all at once, and then the clear one at your leisure.” She gave Seneca a quick wink before heading back to the bar.
“Did we order this?” Abel asked, the first time since entering the tavern that he’d spoken up.
Seneca grinned, pulled her dagger from her boot, and stabbed a piece of cheese with it. She took a bite, and found that it was deliciously sharp, if a little firm. “Figured we should get to know each other! This is how people facilitate that, right?”
Kishori picked up one of the tiny glasses. “I’m in. Pax, was your abbey like a sober one? Are you allowed to drink?”
Pax chuckled. “Yes, I drink, though I don’t do it often.” When he picked up another of the shots, everyone else followed.
“Well, if this is what we’re doing,” Abel said. “To… killing giants?”
“Making new friends!” Eden suggested.
“How about just ‘to good times’, and we leave the future open,” Seneca said, and clinked her glass with Eden’s. The rest of the group laughed and followed suit, and simultaneously, the group sank their first shot. Twenty seconds later, their throats were all burning, but they were laughing even harder, and settling into their seats. Seneca took her second shot quickly, and was pleased by a smooth, minty liquor that soothed the burning of the last one, but still meant business. “Oh shit, take that, it helps!”
“Alright, alright, let’s go around the table!” Kishori proclaimed, grabbing half a loaf of bread. “Pax basically already went, so… Eli, you’re up!”
Elias elected to stay away from the second shot, and instead drank from his regular drink again. “Okay. So, my name is Elias Eagleheart, and we’re-”
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“Oh, you’re an Eagleheart!” Sen said sarcastically. “Woah…”
The knight flipped the rogue the bird, and continued. “As I was saying, we’re a noble house from up north, for anyone who isn’t from the area. My father’s father is the head of the family, and we’ve been around since… well, since long before the current Empire.”
“I actually do know your family,” Abel mentioned as he downed the second shot without blinking. “Wow, that is intense. Anyways, your cousin is sort of a big deal.”
“You’ve heard of Alfan?” Elias looked surprised, but his face changed when he remembered the burnt robes on the coat rack.
“Sure. A knight of his stature tends to make waves. I am not from Highhaven myself, but I’m quite familiar with the politics of the region. Don’t worry, I have heard only good things about your family. Stalwart leaders of community, and advisors to kings and queens when it is needed, through multiple reigns. Dignified.”
Elias huffed. “Dignified, maybe, but I don’t feel like a ‘stalwart leader’. I left because I don’t like leading people, or having to be a figurehead. I’m no good at it. But, I would like to do some good all the same, so I figured I’d put my ceremonial glaive to some practical use.” Abel nodded, and began neatly cutting a log of cheese with a cheese knife, and placing the little circles on crackers. “What about you, then, Abel, why are you so far south? I noticed your robes, are you from the University?”
Abel bristled. “Adjacent. I haven’t been a member of the college itself in several months. Some peers and I… established our own arcane practice.”
“Arcane?” Eden asked. “So, you’re like a wizard, then? Do you think you could teach me how to use my powers?”
Abel looked at Eden, intrigued. “Perhaps. Why don’t you tell me how it is you received these abilities, if you know.”
“Hold on,” Kishori interjected. “Before we move on to you Eden — Abel, may I ask why your clothes were all burnt up?”
Abel sighed, and looked down at his spellbook. “I, eh… can you guys all promise not to tell anyone about this outside of current company?” The group collectively nodded, and Seneca said ‘I don’t give a shit.’ “Okay… well, I belong to a collection of young arcanists who all left the University of Higher Arcana in Highhaven, after some of us graduated, and the others of us simply wished to leave with them. Over the past few months, we… I have been doing research that is fairly alien to practitioners in at least Matryoshka, perhaps the entire world. When my old mentor caught wind of it, he came to forcibly take my findings. When we refused to give them up, he and his kin… began burning our tower to the ground.”
Abel’s face looked haunted, and his eyes were icy cold. The others all looked on, anticipating what happened next, but Abel had stopped speaking. Kishori reached across the table and grasped Abel’s hand. “I’m so sorry… how long ago was that?”
Abel looked up to the woman, and as their eyes met, Ki knew that he wasn’t lying when he said: “Yesterday afternoon.”
Pax, Elias, and Kishori all did a double take. “Yesterday?” Elias said. “And your tower’s near Highhaven? How the hell did you get here so fast?”
Abel’s eyes had gone dull, and they latched onto the tray of alcohol. There was one last shot of the mint liqueur. “Is anyone going to drink that?” Pax shook his head, so Abel quickly downed it. “As the tower was burning, one of… his other students came in, and tried to burn me to pry this book from my hands…” Abel lifted his journal for emphasis. “But he missed, and… well, he scalded me. Badly. Next thing I know, one of my friends has beaten the shit out of him, and another has applied a burn salve to my face. Then, we’re getting ready to teleport out of there, but it is the caster’s first time using the spell. He had never attempted to access his seventh circle of arcana before, so the spell faltered. One of us was left behind, and… the rest of us were scattered. I do not know where everyone else landed, or if they are all together, but I was transported to the top of the bluff. I managed to stumble my way to town, and… that’s when I saw the giant fall.”
“Gods above…” Elias said.
They all sat in silence for a few moments before Eden eventually spoke up. “Well, I’m glad that I’m not the only one who’s got a fucked up origin story, then.” Abel managed to laugh a little, giving the rest of the table permission to as well. As the energy picked back up, Abel motioned for Eden to continue, if he wanted to. “I wish I could tell you where my power comes from, but I don’t know. I have a bit of a case of amnesia, truthfully. I woke up a tenday ago on a beach just outside… what’s the city, Sen? Soughe? Yeah, so I woke up, soaking wet, seemingly spat out from the sea, and there was this couple that saw me wash up. When one of them went to see if I was alive, I woke up so quick that I accidentally shocked him, like, full lightning and thunder and everything like I did yesterday with that big dude. But he wasn’t that big, so I really hurt him by mistake. The guards near the city walls saw it happen, so they threw me in prison until they could figure out what to do with me.” Seneca gave Eden the side-eye, but liquor and conversation had taken away all of her subtlety, and all of E’s perception, meaning that everyone noticed but him. “Anyways, my cellmate was Seneca, that’s how we met, and then we broke out!”
Seneca expected some big fuss, but no one seemed to care. Kishori even laughed. However, as if on cue, Pax opened his mouth. “Uh, Seneca… if you don’t mind me asking, why were you in prison? So long as you didn’t kill or abuse anyone, I don’t really care.”
Sen put on her best face. “I was a pirate for many years.” Gods, please let this dude believe I just owed the wrong people money.
“Oh, so you like, owed some money to someone!” Kishori said. “Well fuck, that’s no big thing. Debt collectors are the worst.”
I will have to thank whatever divine entity this woman worships for giving me my out. Much love, big immortal whoever. Seneca chose to wear empathy on her face as she looked at the woman to her left, trying her hardest to ignore Pax, who was surely trying to bore holes into her eyes. “Oh, Ki, I’m sorry… You sound like you have some bad experiences with that…”
The human woman nodded. “Yeah… My dad and I lived alone. We had some money issues when I was growing up in Meadowghast. He was a charlatan, like a sleight of hand magician. No real magic. He didn’t make much money, so he ended up taking out loans from the wrong people, and they forced him to do some burglary jobs. When he eventually got caught, he was thrown in jail. I had to basically find my own way.” Kishori’s face grew a little brighter. “But I always sort of loved the tricks he used to do. They were fun, and innocent. So, when I stumbled into a church of Illuso, the goddess of illusion, I thought it’d be a pretty good way to honor him!”
As Kishori was telling the story, Seneca tried a glance at Pax, and found that his eyes were focused intently on Ki. Seneca, you sly dog. Someone really ought to pay you for this. “Well, good on you, then. Making something good out of something bad, right?”
“Uh huh!”
The group sat with their own thoughts for some time as they picked away at the spread of food. Seneca eventually waved down Lila, and after a few of the group got one more ale, Elias flipped the woman a gold piece and they called it even. For the most part, things were quiet as the tavern’s patrons filtered out. Abel had gone back to reading his book, Sen was spinning a dagger lazily on the table, and Eden was holding his hand up, trying fruitlessly to get the wind to pick up around his fingers like it would whenever he felt the storm rise within him.
Eventually, Ki spoke up again. “We should probably head back soon, but… I have a proposition for the three of you.” She pointed at Abel, Seneca, and Eden.
“Yeah?” Sen prodded.
“If I may be so bold, you all seem sort of lost. Or at least, at points in your lives where you don’t quite know what comes next. How about you all travel with us?” She looked to Elias and Pax, the latter of whom nodded in agreement. “We can go wherever, but we’re all pretty capable, clearly! Wren has been looking to form up an adventuring party of sorts, and I bet us plus Marseillan — that’s the air elf woman — could do some great work! We’ll make some money, and if things don’t work out, we can go our separate ways. But maybe it’s the start of something good for all of us!”
Abel looked around at the group of people. Looking at Kishori made him long for his friends like he never had before. But who in the world knows where they are… And if I am to start looking, it will be much safer to be with people. “I am in.”
“Great! Eden, Seneca? Thoughts?”
Eden looked to the half-elf with his stormy eyes. The call to adventure seemed endlessly alluring to the man, but he knew that Seneca wouldn’t go for it. But looking into her emerald eyes, Eden also felt like it would be some profound betrayal to leave her, and choose these people over her. On some level that he didn’t quite understand… she needed people, and Eden would not abandon her.
“I’ll go.”
Everyone jumped a little at that, as Seneca shocked even herself.
“Really, Sen? You would?” Eden asked.
“Yeah, fuck it. I like gold, and I like you people. But on one condition.”
“And that is?” Pax asked.
“We head to Epollonia. Party city on the coast, we can have a good time, and if at that point I decide this shit ain’t my speed, I’m hopping on a ship and not looking back. Sound good?”
Kishori shrugged. “Wren said he had no plans, but figured Epollonia or Soughe would be a good bet for continuing south. Guess we have our answer!”
Sen smiled. It genuinely made her happy to see Eden so happy. “Then I’m in. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Relatively happy with themselves, the six new adventurers gathered their belongings, polished off their drinks, and stood. Elias was actually staying in one of the tavern’s upstairs rooms since there wasn’t enough room at Cinthia’s, so he bid the group goodnight, and walked up to his bed. As the rest of them all said goodnight, they exited the tavern and returned to the healer’s home to get a good night of rest before whatever the next day would bring them.
As Eden slept, however, in his dreams there was thunder on the horizon, and as it rolled across distant mountains and over the plains of Matryoshka to meet him, the young sorcerer couldn’t help but toss and turn as if at sea, and the crash of the waves and the wind against him spoke words into his mind: “It is time to wake up, my child…”