Kaiden awakes abruptly, his eyes snapping open as he struggles with his blanket. He eventually manages to free his face from the tangled fabric, greeted by the sight of the sun high in the sky outside the window. The raucous noise from the tavern below filters through the room, reminiscent of the previous night's rowdiness. Despite his reluctance, the grumbling of his stomach propels Kaiden out of the bed and out of the room. He steels himself for the rowdiness that awaits downstairs, knowing that food will be necessary to satisfy his hunger. He takes a deep breath and descends the stairs, bracing himself for the inevitable chaos of the crowded tavern below.

The scene in the tavern is indeed chaotic, with men shouting, arguing, and brawling. A few men are engaged in a fierce arm-wrestling match at one corner. Kaiden scans the room and eventually spots Loden sitting with the same group of men from the previous night. The men are clustered closely together, sharing bowls of food amongst themselves. Kaiden approaches Loden's table, intending to gain the group's attention by making a noise. However, his attempt is initially ignored as the men continue their rowdy conversation.

Just as he is about to tap Loden's arm, he is abruptly seized on the other side and yanked onto the bench. Caught off guard, he lands awkwardly on the bench, squeezed between two large men.

Loden, realizing that Kaiden has finally awoken, calls out loudly over the clamor of the group. "There you are, Sleeping Beauty! About time you woke up. We saved a seat for you, and Grom and the boys have laid out quite the feast!" Loden gestures towards the array of food spread out before them, a mix of meats, breads, and pastries.

As Kaiden attempts to get a closer look at Loden, one of the men at the table abruptly moves, sliding Kaiden even closer to Loden. The man's action takes Kaiden by surprise, and he finds himself squished up against Loden on the bench.

“Woe there. There is plenty of room. Grom can you pass the ale?” Loden says and then laughs.

As if on cue, Grom, who is sitting across from Kaiden and Loden, hears Loden's request and reaches for a nearby ale pitcher. He lets out a hearty chuckle, amused by the situation.

Grom responds, "Plenty of room is right, Loden! And aye, I've got the ale here." He grabs the pitcher and pours a generous amount into Loden's flagon, the foaming liquid filling the container to the brim.

Kaiden seeing the full flagon suddenly moves, knocking it over in the process. The men around the table react to the spilled ale, shouting in surprise and frustration. The liquid from the upturned flagon cascades over a few dishes of food, ruining their contents.

The men at the table start grumbling and complaining about the spilled ale. "Hey, what the hell, man?" one of them exclaims. "Look what you've done! Ruined perfectly good food!" Another man chimes in, "Watch where you're flailing your arms, you damn klutz!"

Kaiden's face flushes red, his expression a mixture of embarrassment and shame. He hadn't intended to knock the flagon over; he had just wanted to prevent Loden from downing yet another flagon of ale. He keeps his head down, avoiding the disappointed gazes of the men around the table. He knows he messed up, and he can feel their irritated stares on him.

Grom, recognizing the tension that has built up at the table, stands up, his impressive stature and imposing presence demanding everyone's attention. "Easy there, lads," he says, his voice booming over the commotion. "No need to jump down the kid's throat. It was just an accident. Let's all take a deep breath and enjoy our meal, shall we?"

The men grumble but gradually settle down, the atmosphere returning to a calmer state. As the atmosphere at the table slowly returns to normal, Loden takes the initiative to fill up two flagons with water, one for himself and one for Kaiden. He hands the second flagon to Kaiden, giving him a reassuring nod, signaling that it's alright. Loden then takes a sip from his own flagon, his demeanor much more subdued than the previous night.

Kaiden leans closer to Loden, his voice coming out as a hushed whisper. "I'm sorry," he says, his expression sheepish. "I didn’t mean to cause any more trouble. Just...not used to all of this."

Loden lowers his flagon, his gaze shifting to Kaiden. He offers him a reassuring smile and pats him on the shoulder. "It's alright, mate," Loden replies. "We all have our moments. No harm done."

Grom, who has been paying attention to the conversation between Loden and Kaiden, chimes in with a question. "Kaiden, was it? We heard something about you looking for someone in the city. Is that right?"

The rest of the men at the table, having somewhat returned to their usual state of boisterous, focus their attention on Kaiden, awaiting his response.

Kaiden nods his head, “Yes, we are looking for two people in fact. We need to find them to continue our journey.”

Grom's expression becomes intrigued as he hears Kaiden's response. "Two people, you say? Interesting."

The other men at the table also perk up, their interest piqued by the mention of the need to find two people. They lean in closer, intently listening to the conversation.

Loden, noticing that Kaiden hasn't touched any of the food on his plate, decides to take action. He grabs some of the food off the table and adds it to Kaiden's plate, pushing it closer to him.

"Here, you should eat something," Loden says, a slightly concerned look in his eyes. "You haven't touched any food yet, and I'm sure you must be starving by now."

Grom chimes in with a gruff but friendly voice, "Aye, eat up, lad. There's plenty of food here. No need to waste it. We can talk more after we've all filled our bellies."

With that, he resumes eating, his appetite unfazed by the conversation. The other men around the table follow suit, once again devouring the food before them. Kaiden glances around the table, taking in the sight of the men voraciously devouring their food. He slowly begins to eat from his plate, taking small bites at first but gradually picking up the pace until he eventually finishes his meal. The other men, having finished their own meals earlier, watch on with varying expressions of amusement and satisfaction as Kaiden eventually clears his plate.

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“Now Grom, what do you know of any other special men or women, can’t be mean to the ladies. That have a special strength or ability that you have heard of along your travels.” Loden says straight out and smoothly.

Grom, having finished his meal, wipes his mouth on his bare arm before responding to Loden's question. He thinks for a moment. "Hmm, well, during my travels, I've heard whispers of a few individuals who have some sort of extraordinary strength or ability.” He takes a sip from his flagon before continuing, "But it's mostly just rumors and hearsay, mind you. It's hard to separate fact from fiction sometimes when it comes to these kinds of tales."

A few of the men around the table murmur in agreement with Grom's statement, nodding their heads. However, two of the men seem to stir a little more than the others, as if they have something to say. One of them raises his voice slightly, calling out to Grom, "Grom-"

But before he can finish his sentence, the other man beside him places a hand on his arm and gently guides his head down, shushing him.

Loden, attuned to the situation at the table, pipes up as he notices one of the men appearing as if he wants to speak. "Grom, it seems like your men might know something," he says, gesturing towards the two men who had been trying to speak up.

Grom raises an eyebrow and turns to the two men in question, clearly noticing their restlessness as well. "Aye, lads? Speak your mind."

The one man, standing up from his seat, clears his throat and gains the full attention of everyone at the table. With a firm voice, he begins speaking. "I've seen someone within the capital who possesses remarkable skills," he says, his words carrying weight. "This person is one of the most formidable warriors I've ever seen. He has the ability to take on multiple opponents at once with ease, wielding any weapon with deadly proficiency."

The other man, who had previously shushed the first man, chimes in, corroborating the story. "I can confirm this as well," he says, his voice filled with a mix of respect and awe. "A few years back, we witnessed him mercilessly dispatch one of our own friends without breaking a sweat. To top it off, he now holds a high-ranking position in the capital, making him tough to approach."

Kaiden is completely focused on the conversation unfolding at the table, intently listening to the men's descriptions of the mysterious and skilled individual. Meanwhile, Loden, with his arms crossed, maintains his characteristic air of intrigue, his expression betraying no hint of his thoughts or feelings on the matter.

Grom, upon hearing the description of the individual, visibly reacts, his face shifting from one of contemplation to shock as he connects the dots. "The Silver Shield of the King?" he exclaims, his voice barely able to contain his surprise. "You cannot be speaking of the Silver Shield, are you? Could it truly be him?"

Loden, along with the other men at the table, all react with visible shock as the two men firmly nod their heads in affirmation. Their faces pale as they collectively respond, "Yes."

There is a moment of stunned silence as they all take in the implications of what has just been revealed. The Silver Shield, considered a legend among soldiers and fighters, is confirmed to be within the capital, holding a high position and potentially difficult to approach.

Kaiden's confusion is evident on his face as he looks around the table, seeing the shocked and pale expressions of those present. He addresses the group, his voice bewildered. "Who is this Silver Shield? And why do you all look like you've seen a ghost?" he asks, looking around the table, seeking answers from the others at the table.

Loden chimes in with a nod, explaining the reputation of the mysterious Silver Shield. "The Silver Shield is the empire's foremost defender. According to tales, he possesses unparalleled skill and strength with a sword. He is fiercely devoted to protecting the emperor at any cost, never faltering in the face of danger. If he were one of the celestial warriors, he would undoubtedly be a powerful ally on our journey."

Kaiden, filled with determination, speaks up, asking how to find the Silver Shield. "How do we find him? If he's the emperor's protector, he'd probably be at the palace, right?" He suggests, thinking out loud. "Should I try to speak with him and explain our situation?"

Loden and the other men promptly shake their heads in response to Kaiden's idea, expressing their disagreement. Grom then chimes in, addressing Kaiden, "Kid, if you approached the Silver Shield you wouldn't even get a single word out. He'd cut you down before you could blink. The only way you might get close is if you were granted an audience with the emperor. And the chances of that happening are slender to none."

Kaiden, bolstered by confidence, states, "But I'm the priestess sent to this world to summon the deity Astralyn who will save this empire and the surrounding land. The emperor would surely want to meet me since I'm here to save his empire and lineage."

Loden and the men at the table exchange looks, contemplating Kaiden's point. The laughter at the table is boisterous and unrestrained, except for Loden who remains solemn.

"He's a man!" one of the men bellows.

"The deity sent a male as a priestess? That's absurd!" another man exclaims, struggling to contain his amusement.

Kaiden glares at the men, his arms crossed in a show of frustration. He is fully aware of his own male identity and understands that traditionally, a woman is the priestess. However, circumstances and situations often necessitate alterations from tradition. He didn't choose to be here; he was thrust into this role against his will.

Loden, seeing that the laughter at the table has become disrespectful, decides to intervene. He bangs his hand down on the table, gaining everyone's attention. His tone is firm but respectful as he addresses the men. "This person," he gestures to Kaiden, "has been chosen by Astralyn to save our lives from impending danger. He risks his life to assist us and return to his own world. I ask that you show him the respect he deserves."

Kaiden, somewhat taken aback by Loden's firm yet respectful tone, feels a surge of confidence. He turns to Grom and the other men at the table, his voice steady as he poses his question. "We need your help," he says, his eyes meeting theirs. "To find the Silver Shield and to speak with him. Will you assist us in our mission?"

Grom and the men exchange glances, their subtle nods indicating their agreement. Grom rises from his seat, a smirk on his face. He extends his hand towards Kaiden.

"We'll help you, kid," he says, his tone firm. "We're not ready to risk our lives yet with the Silver Shield, but we'll do what we can to get you close to him."

Kaiden stands up and enthusiastically shakes Grom's hand. "Thank you, Grom," he says, his gratitude apparent. He then turns and looks at Loden, who is turned away, smirking slightly.

After releasing Kaiden's hand, Grom takes a seat and rests his head on his palm in a thinking gesture. He rubs his chin thoughtfully before posing the question, "The question is, how do we get you close to the Shield without meeting a premature end?"

One of the men at the table boldly suggests, "We could start a fight near the palace!"

However, another man quickly interjects, "Are you daft? That would get us killed!"

One of the men interjects, "What about the emperor's weekly trip outside the palace, near the market area?"

The other men at the table express their confusion and look at him expectantly. He continues, "Hear me out..."