“Look who decided to drop in” chuckles a familiar imp like creature in a tuxedo sitting on a stool in front of a bar. “Come over and have a drink. First ones on me.”

Grinning as I realize that this is the same guy from my dream the day before. “So what’s the special occasion?” I ask as I walk from the doorway to the bar stroll next to the foot tall imp.

“Nothing much really.” He replies with a hefty chuckle “I just thought I might as well treat an old friend to a congratulation drink”

“Congratulation drink? For what might I ask?” I ask as he orders another round of drinks.

“Why for finally getting rid of that annoying thing you humans call restraint.” He answers as he hands me a glass full of golden coloured liquid with ice floating around in it “That and finally getting back into the game, and you even managed to add a few more stains to those blackened wings of yours with the filth of the world again.”

“Ah, so I take it this” I hold up the glass filled with brandy next to my face “is for breaking my promise with Lily to never fight again?”

“Something like that.” He chuckles as he raises his glass “It is probably a good thing she didn't live long enough to see her big brother get into a death match with her former gang and her boyfriend’s newest gang members. On the anniversary of her death no less.”

I shot a glare at the red skinned imp from the corner of my eye “Shut it.” I warn as I tighten my grip on my glass.

“I see I hit a sore spot with that last comment. Well that’s fine, after all with you back in the game the world is bound to hold even more excitement.” He comments as he reaches out his hand with glass in hand.

“And how is my involvement going to make any difference to this chaotic world? It’s like saying that by rolling a single marble, one can shatter a skyscraper.” I ask not even flinching to tap my glass against his.

“Oh but it can my friend, that very marble can cause a chain reaction which can do a lot more then topple mere skyscrapers.” He gestures with his hand on the glass to not leave him hanging “And you can do things that even that marble could only dream was possible”

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I let out a sigh as I reach out my hand and tap the glass against his and with a reverberating “clang” we say in unison “cheers” as if we were long time drinking buddies. And I held up my glass to my lips and slammed it back in one go. The dry parching feeling slides down my throat and into my stomach where it holds a warming feeling before it slowly turns into a numbing sensation.

He gets up on he’s bar stool, reaches out his long, red clawed hand so that he can pat me on the shoulder and with his usual Cheshire smile says “As I said before congratulations on your return and I’ll see you around.” And with that he jumps off the stool and starts for the door. As he’s leaving the bar he tells the bartender “Put it on my tab like usual Isaac.”

The bartender turned around and for the first time I realize that he wasn’t human. He has the head of a goat, the upper body for the most part looks human under the bartender uniform while his lower body is that of a lion but he is wearing black pants that end at his ankles revealing his lion paws for feet. “Of course you will Blanch.”  He put the order through the till and then he looks up over the counter at me “Will you have anything else sir?”

Smiling at Isaac I answer “No, I’m good Isaac, but thank you for the drink.”

Smiling back at me with a toothy goat face smile he nods at me and sincerely replies “Then I will see you again” and went back to cleaning the glass in his hand.

I get up out of my seat and I myself start for the door, as I reach the door and place my hand on the cold bronze coloured handle Isaac spoke up from behind me “Ah, that’s right. Welcome back to the world Mr. Blut.”

I turned around with a smile that probably rivaled Blanch’s “It’s good to be back Isaac.” And twist the knob opening the door and back to the world of reality.