Chapter 66: Celebration Catastrophe! (Part 2!)

If you put together a bunch of rich people, get them stupid drunk, what do you get?

A problem, that’s what.

Getting past the initial crowd of people was the easiest and the second most uncomfortable part. Brushing against the foul smelling party goers, who were by no means quiet or kind, was… not preferable. But also standing around while doing nothing was worse so Amir, Sorbet, and Skaldi pushed through.

“Gah! Someone stepped on my foot again!” Sorbet cried out, being squeezed and practically crushed in the crowd.

“Just hold on, almost there. When we get out of this, we’re all going for a bath!” Skaldi told, holding onto Amir and Sorbet tight. He would have asked, or pantomined more like it, to sit on Amir’s shoulders. However he knew that would risk meshing up their outfits so he kept it to himself.

“This sucks. This is way worse than the palace, and people wanted to kill me there.” The ice cream lady kept her eyes and voice low, trying not to draw any attention.

Everyone emitted hideous volume, from their mouths that hadn’t been cleaned in days, stained by unhealthy foods and generous helpings of booze.

“Honey, look! It’s a fat Tripolian gal. A-and an elf holding a big ice cream cone!” A woman dressed in ten tons of makeup pulled a boy that was definitely not of drinking age towards the three, sipping wine and leering at them.

“Please don’t lick me.”

“If we move fast, they probably won’t.” Skaldi whispered, gently guiding them through.

The amount of alcohol present was astounding. Servants were carrying the pitchers, refilling the cups and glasses people brought with them. They were free. They were easy. And they looked delicious.

“...no. I’m not doing that.” The elf could not deny that it would make the situation a lot easier. Well, easier as in more comfortable.

“Free drinks! Drinks for all, drinks for you and me.” Standing atop a stool, a servant passed out drinks only a few feet near him. He let his grip on Sorbet a little loose, as if preparing to grab a cup.

It would have been nice. It would be easy.

A tiny voice in his mind reminded him of how much he had been facing. Barely surviving crumbling buildings yesterday, a friend missing. And all combined with a place that made him feel sick. Not because of what was happening, but what it represented.

People ignoring what was to come. Coping in the worst ways possible. Instead of confronting what was ahead and preparing, they turned their faces and closed their hearts and hands.

He could wait. He could wait for the invasion, drink till he’s blind. He nearly let his hand go.

“...No. We keep going.”

Skaldi nearly reached out for one,but a thought came to his mind. An image. The image of Vega walking forward to unknown territory. If Vega was discovering her past on her own, he could at least handle some drunk folks. The thought of Vega pushing on made him rethink. He held on tight and led the others forward.

“Skaldi, what does beer taste like?” Sorbet asked, staring at the cups in mild curiosity.

“Lady, it tastes like crap and smells like piss.” Skaldi chuckled, glad that he could properly dissuade her from the wrong path.

“What’s a piss?”

“...do… do you not pee?”

“What’s a pee?”

“Nevermind, just keep going.”

All of it was a shame, Skaldi thought. These rich folks were acting so gross. I mean, it wasn’t too different from the rich people he had met before and recently. But his effort to make cute outfits for everyone made him have a greater appreciation for fashion. Their once fine and up to date clothing were stained by sour beers, but the partygoers could hardly care and drank to their heart’s content.

And also to their stomachs.

“Ugh. I don’t feel so pheasant.” A voice coughed out, as people backed away.

“Sire, don’t you mean pleasant?” Holding up this man, a much tiny servant barely prevented him from falling.

“~Holy hell. Is that one going to-~” Amir was cut off by the retching of a white haired man. Built like a ball and gray as steel, he looked terribly sick. Well, sick to his stomach. This was the worst part of it.

Now here is the part where I give you, my student, a brief mercy in this situation. I will not describe what followed in deep detail, nor in vague detail, or in any fucking detail at all.

So, we’re just going to skip that negatively life impacting event and are just going to skip over that!

“No way… how is that fucker still drinking?” Skaldi said.

“Please make this stop…” Sorbet begged.

“~That was so much! Is that an book? Out of him- nope. Nope! Keep going!~” Amir pushed them ahead, finally passing the outlying crowd.

Drink responsibly kids!

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Desperate not to think about the event that will not be named or mentioned, he thought of Valiato and of tea and of anything that had nothing to do with the present moment.

Luckily, there would be no more alcohol related disasters ahead of them, as it appeared many of the inner crowd took to dancing to the music. On a big open lawn pairs or circles formed, each dancing in a variety of styles. I assure you, all of it was miserable to anyone sober.

So it was just miserable for the three.

“Alright, the way has cleared up a bit. The Lai’s will probably be in the big house.” Skaldi pointed out to the stairways up to the manor itself. The people there were sparse along with any guards.

“Good, now we just-”

“Thank you everyone for being such a great audience. In just a few moments, we’ll be taking this party to the inside for its final conclusion!” One of the musicians yelled out on the platform, causing a frenzy in the crowd. Walking like some mad army, the people shambled towards the stairs.

“Oh shit.” Sorbet felt scared.

“~Oh fuck~.” Amir felt terrified, coughing a fit.

“Oh come on! Let’s get up there before anyone starts asking questions about us.” The redhead knew they had to get there, lest they be the victims of this party.

Each of the three took to the stairs, pulling up their dresses to run better. Most of the party were far behind, their cheers similar to the moans of something evil spirit. Luckily no one bothered to confront them because they either didn’t care or were blasted out of their minds.

“Ha! Those three birds are racing each other.” One drunk man did comment though, spilling his drink on the ground.

“Is that an insult or a compliment Sorbet?” Skaldi asked as they raced by.

“I’m pretty sure he mistaked us for actual birds…”

“Huh, that’s a nice change of pace.” Finally reaching the top of the stairs, Skaldi waved them forward. As the two rushed beside him his face dropped in horror. Not because of the horde of drunkards, though they were scary as they trampled and fell over one another.

“Skaldi, you stopped? Come on, we’re almost there.”

There was something in the distance. Far yet disturbingly close.

“Skaldi?”

Not in the city. On the horizon…

“Skaldi!”

“Hmm, what Sorbet?” Skaldi spun around, all unbalanced from what he had seen.

“Come on you idiot! They’re getting closer!” Grabbing him by the collar, Sorbet pulled Skaldi off his feet and into the manor.

Looking through the stained glass, the three saw the hands of the crowd crawling toward them, sounds of slurring words and ugly laughter. And they were coming right for them!

“Block the door! Do not let them inside! They’ll eat us alive!” Skaldi cried, immediately pushing over a dinner table and shoving it to the door.

Barring the door like they were facing some undead entity, the three hurled shelfs, wardrobes, and whatever furniture they could find. Building up a sufficient enough barricade, the three heaved and held themselves up on their knees. Hearing the banging and the drunken complaints of the crowd, they breathed all the air they needed and more.

“If anyone asks, tell them it was the drunk guys… okay?” Skaldi pushed himself up and stretched out, searching around. A small dining hall, complete with pots people would vomit into, along with incense that would normally be covering up any bad smells, that being potential vomit. Most of it hadn’t been touched, aside the corner the three tore up while blocking the door.

“Sure… by the way, did we over react there?” Sorbet asked, dusting herself off and feeling a tiny bit bad for the crowd.

“Pffh! No? Well, they probably wouldn’t have eaten us, but come on.”

“~I’m taking this thing off.~” Amir, wanting to be humiliated no longer, tore off the dress. Tossing aside the garments, Sorbet and Skaldi pouted at all the hard work they had done putting into his outfit. The one good note was that he handed over the limes to Sorbet gently.

“Thanks big guy. I wonder if this would work better than my bra?”

“I doubt it. Either way, I’m keeping this thing on. Looks nice.” Giving his dress one final brush over, Skaldi began his entry into the manor, with Amir and Sorbet close behind.

Cool air blew through the windows and patios, making the tabesties depicting the family’s history wobble ever so slightly. Inside petals fell from the inner garden of flowers and trees and sunlight from the sun roofs, glowing dim oranges and reds on the leaves.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. Well, besides the mermaids.”

“~Hmm. Yellow flower trees.~”

“That there is a Dok Koon, a pretty nice looking one at that. Only the Oligarchs are allowed to have those. And the Lai family. Grab a petal, it’ll give you good luck.” Sorbet knelt down and picked up a pile in her arms.

“Kinda don’t have time for th-” The elf stopped seeing Sorbet smile sweetly, which made sighed in defeat. Skaldi grabbed a handful and gave half to Amir who then stuffed it into his bag of handing.

“Shame it’s all gonna-”

“YAH!”

Not too from the garden, the doors to the house barged open by a group of more party goers, exploding off the hinges. The door, along with all the stained glass, broke into the splinters.

“WOOOOOOO! Neo Rem Day is the beeeesst day!” A tough and muscled up teen cheered, with many of his supposed friends not far behind.

“Quick, up the staircase.” Skaldi whispered, with them all heading up without being noticed. Finding themselves looking down at the crowd now piling in, they knew they didn’t have much time before more complications arose.

“Geez. Do we have any idea of what the family even looks like?”

“Probably like assholes. Rich assholes. Oh, tall rich assholes.

“What makes you sure of that?”

“I just got a hunch, alright?” The sounds of glass and wood shattering below them didn’t give them any solace and they scrambled to look for wherever the family might be. Skaldi kept on stopping every minute to look at the window, to look at what he saw. It was coming closer.

But no matter, the manor’s great and lengthy halls grew tiresome to explore and they didn’t want to find themselves in the middle of a sandwich of wasted people. Their search halted as they stopped in a small library, carpeted and furnished with animal skins.

“Upstairs kitchen, bath, and bed rooms have no one in them. Sorbet, please tell me you got at least a clue of where they have been?”

“Nope. Unless the amount of gold statues they have is a clue. Twenty seven is the answer, it is very odd.” Sorbet scratched her chin before Skaldi grabbed her by the shoulders.

“Focus. There has to be a secret room. Something that is off. Something that the family would know and we…”

“Why’d did you st-”

“Shh. Listen.” Putting a finger in the air, the both of them got quiet. Sorbet tried looking with her eyes, tracking the shelves and bookcases around them.

Using his senses, Skaldi dulled his eyesight and closed his eyes, enhancing his hearing. Not in the rooms or halls around them, nor of the ruckus from the floor below. It was below, a little underneath them. Returning his eyesight, Skaldi tapped the floor, feeling around for anything bumps or holes.

Faint and thin, there was an uneven feeling on the carpet. Taking out one of his daggers, Skaldi cut into the carpet and threw the sheet over. He revealed that there was a slick trapdoor.

“Woah.” The ice cream girl said, lowering down to it.

“Back up.” Skaldi waved Amir and Sorbet away as he held onto the door. Pulling out a dagger of his own, Amir nodded that he was ready for combat.

“On three… one… two-”

“Lai, shut the fuck up!” Slamming the door up, it immediately impacted into Skaldi’s nose, and was starting to bleed and blue. Falling back, he held onto it in much pain and growing confusion.

“Ouch, what the hell?” His eyes didn’t betray what he was seeing. Rather, who he was seeing.

“Skaldi?” A tired voice spoke. The man was bandit-like, his skin was a red orange and his eyes dark black. He was well protected, armored in bronze and spoke behind a mask and helmet.

“...is that you Chakrit?”

“Amber, what is taking you so long…” Appearing out of the hole beside her comrade, was a familiar and tall and sour bandit. Specifically, one who had a knack for falcons.

Noble, but with roughened hands and attire. Her eyes were burning suns and black eyeshadow made her fierce. Dust and tears were all over her armor and skin and this lady displayed them proudly. In a grand show of bravery. Or a sign of absolute immaturity.

“Shit. Lai, is that you?” Wiping his nose, Skaldi slowly got up. It was her alright.