In my previous life, I never drank alcohol. I had always been very obedient to rules, and once I was old enough to drink, I was already heavily invested in maintaining a body as high performance as possible. No way in hell I was going to pour empty calories that are also poison in there.

But things are different now. I literally have a super power, that let's me heal from just about anything. And it's not like I wasn't interested in the effects of alcohol. I always thought people behaved a mix of weird, bold and pathetic when under influence, and I was kinda itching to try it out myselves.

The celebration starts with a single keg, maybe a foot in both height and diameter emptied. I don't think it is very strong alcohol, since it has a sweet taste, with a little bit of a bitter, unpleasant aftertaste and I have heard that strong alcohol will be downright digusting to drink pure for any first-timers.

Bosir and Larn start bragging to each other, trying to outdo the other with more impressive achievements. Mynie wants in, but they just ignore her. Maybe they can't win against her? Asger is pretty quickly starting to moan and cry about how the world is unfair, how he will never become a dependable man who can support a family, to which I end up comforting him, repeating "That's not true", "I'm sure you're a splendid man" again and again.

Three of the same kegs later, Bosir and Larn start fighting, but Mynie quickly beats down both of them soon after. I guess her gift is one that just makes her stronger? Or she is just really excellent. But then she turns to me. I look to Asger to hope and avoid her, she seems rather boisterous for my taste in company, but he is already sleeping in a pool of what I think is his own drool and spit.

"Haha, boy, we ended up completely ignoring you, let me fix that" she says as she pours me another cup of the sweet alcohol. She gives it to me and slings her arm around my neck. "So, what can you do? What's your specialty?"

"Running" I answer immediately, confident in my ability.

She starts laughing hard "Running? Ain't ever heard that before! HA! You gonna skimp out on any sign of trouble, boy? HAHA"

The second meaning of the word had completely eluded me. "No, I mean, I am fast. But if we limit it to dungeon... eering my skin is probably the most unique feature!"

"Dungeoneering? Skin?" Whoops, seems I have also been affected even though I have drunk far less than anybody else here, I accidentally made up a word.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"Yeah, yeah, just watch." They had a more common kitchen knife lying around, they had used to prop off a tricky cork in a keg earlier. I picked it up and slammed it into my hand.

"WHAT ARE YOU- huh?" Mynie utters a confused sound, seeing the back of my hand was not punctured.

"You got a gift that makes you tough, huh?"

"Nono, it's just from repeatedly destroying the skin, my gift's self-healing"

Mynie smile broadens and she creeps closer, then starts laughing after a little bit.

"I knew you would be something special after Bosir brought you in without consulting anyone! HA! We usually all weigh in on the stuff that goes around here. Figured you had a gift but one this special."

I feel differently to when this normally is brought up, maybe because of the alcohol. Normally I get a sense of anxiety, as people appear to pile their hopes and dreams into my future, that I have something to live up to just because I have this gift, but now, I feel great, larger than life.

"I can also do a fair amount of magic" I say, then suddenly become a little depressed "But I can't cast two different spells at once yet".

"HA! It is fine to only cast a single spell at your age!" Mynie cheers me up and makes me feel great and pours more and more of the alcohol.

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I am lying in a bed. What happened last night? I can't seem to remember more than up to a certain point. I suddenly feel a little uncomfortable. A hand is resting upon my bare chest. I look to the right and see Mynie. A few seconds pass and even though I had a shock and jerked a little, Mynie is snoring away happily. Don't tell me I... I get out of the bed. I am still wearing the cloth around my groin, and Mynie, though lightly clothed as she was from the beginning, appear to do the same. Phew... I don't feel like I was ready to risk being a father yet. Worse, if it had somehow happened and I had missed out on the experience, I would be very sad.

I walk down into the living room the little celebration took place at. Bosir and Larn are lying on the floor, Asger lying in the same pool of bodily fluids as before, only now it is larger and has started dripping on the floor. I can't quite come to terms with whether it was a good experience or not, but next time I will definitely not be pressured into drinking as much.

I couldn't find my clothes anywhere, so I simply find my burlap sack still in the room to fetch a fresh tunic at the very least. As I make a little sound, a few grunts appear, and Asger appears to have awoken. "Good morning" he says, having turned his head, but still resting it in the pool. "Did she get you?"

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Three years ago, when I joined. Mynie... Mynie did it with me?"

Oh, does she like young boys? But he seems unsure of the fact.

"I don't think so, I still had a minimum of clothes on" I say, also trying to assure myself in the process.

"Unfair" he mutters. "Everyone deserves the same half year of teasing I got"

"But she is a hunter. Is she not afraid to get pregnant?"

"Ah, she's on some potion or other that make it difficult" He grumbles. "Rule is, if you see her drink it, warn everybody under 20" he pauses for a yawn "Still tired, gonna sleep. Why don't you go outside so you don't disturb us" He says, then closes his eyes without his head ever leaving the pool beneath it.

I couldn't find the armor I came in, so I leave the house with only my tunic and some cloths around my feet.