Dawn- An age of Darkness

"Yawn*"

I slept like a log. The first thing I noticed was that most of my wounds didn't hurt anymore. I hated to admit it but the doctor's medicine might have been something more than just a health drink- but who knew? Surely, not me.

I sighed. I couldn't conjure up a better reaction.

The room was dark but light poke through the window. I looked out. It was night and the whole city was lit up. Every house had at least one light. It was fun to stare at the lights. It reminded that there was still hope, there was still civilization. I was still alive.

The sky shimmered as well. The stars were playing hide and seek with the clouds.

Will it rain?

The thought of rain brought back horrible memories. I had to focus on something else, or I'd drown in emotions.

I put on my armor and headed downstairs. The wooden stairs made creaks as I walked. There was a familiar scent in the air. The scent of alcohol. And some murmurs.

They must have already started drinking.

But the moment I came down, my eyes opened wide.

What is this?

The place was flooded with people. Murmurs turned to chatter: Their chatter made a unique sound, but none of their words were distinguishable among countless others. It was like I was in the middle of the streets again of a foreign city. Bards sang in the corner and some dancers danced to the tune. Calling it lively would have been just an understatement.

I looked around and in a corner, there were familiar faces.

"What is going on here? There were barely two guys here this afternoon…" I said as walked close to them.

I had to speak louder than usual. The background noise was getting in the way of my sanity.

"This is what always happens to this inn at night. Everybody from around the town visit to drink. This place is very famous for the drinks you know," the old man said.

With a solid laugh, he made me sit down. He ordered food and more drinks; he was already quite drunk. Brenda and Jowy were here too. I was still skeptical about Jowy though. But I had to make my peace with it.

However, there were also two other faces here: namely, the man from the food stall and the owner of the weapons shop.

Him I get but why is the food guy here?

"I believe I should introduce you to our guests this evening," the old man said.

How's this evening? Even I can tell that were way past the evening mark….

"Nice to meet you two, I'm Daarc. I believe we've already met." I introduced myself first. Of course I'd met both of them in the city but I never had to time to properly introduce myself before.

"Anyway, I'd go first. I'm Denkaborkarere. Nice to meet ya all. Although we already know each other." The old man let out a triumphant chuckle. He wasn't first like he claimed but he was definitely more drunk that I thought.

The old man from the food stall turned to me. "That's right, but I didn't know you knew this shitty old man with his shitty name! Denka-whatever my ass!"

Actually I agree!

I almost threw up the food trying not to laugh. It was hilarious, if nothing else.

"Hey what is that supposed to mean, you hideous monster! Your name is no better!" The old man wasn't taking that insult without uttering his own.

What is going on here? Is that something worth fighting over?

The food stall guy stood up. "Shut it ugly! I'm proud of my name! At least people call me by my name! Ha haaha." His laugh was forced and probably was used as sarcasm then an actual laugh.

"Huh! Yeah right! Don't ya know they call you Bonkarin the drunk behind yar back?" The old man stood up too.

"HUH!?"

"HUH!"

"Don't mind these two gentlemen, they are old acquaintances. I am Dileans and as you've said we've already met back in the store." The smith introduced himself.

Which parts of them are gentle?

It was weird to introduce yourself to people you've already met but that's just how it was.

"By the way Daarc, I'm interested in that story too. I've heard the gist from Jowy but I wanted to hear that from you…" Brenda said.

Brenda's voice became inaudible towards the end. She must have heard from Dileans about my story telling campaign....

"Anyway, boy, you owe me a story!" With a serious laugh, Dileans started to pour his drink and focus on me.

The two old men, duked it out with words. At one point their curses turned to sweet whispers and they spent the next hour discussing about the future of curry and its importance. I just didn't get old men!

"It all started…" I said my story, and obviously, I sugarcoated most of it like an ideal storyteller.

I didn't say anything about me being from another world or anything about the emperor. In this story, I was a lone adventurer who owed an elf for helping me out. I tried to help them and ended up saving a city. The elf got injured and we wanted to take her back to Alfeim. But I was betrayed on the way. I kept the rest, attached. I didn't say anything about the god of sea though. Well, most of what I said was probably not lies. This made-up story had at least some truth present, no matter how shady.

But at one point I just couldn't bring myself to say anything about the fate of the pirates. The two old men had already stopped fighting a long time ago. Brenda had tears in her eyes. The pirates were really brave, or really stupid. I picked the former and stuck with it.

Dileans must have sensed the atmosphere too. "Alright, that's enough for tonight. But I can't believe you were that brave. Hanging down the neck of that monster!"

I was staring at the wooden table we were sitting at. It had cracks here and there. I tried distracting myself from reality but failed miserably. "I was desperate, not brave…" And that really was the truth.

"Aren't we all?" Jowy added.

For a moment I had totally forgotten that Jowy was here, to begin with. He didn't have much of a presence

Dileans laughed, paused, and then added, "Are you sure you don't want any drinks though? I could at least get you one drink you know…"

"Sorry but I really don't drink…"

It wasn't like I couldn't drink in fact it was the opposite. I used to drink so much that more than half of my monthly budget was spent on boozes. But after a certain incident, I stopped drinking.

I promised her that I wouldn't.

"Alright then, it's getting late. The wife will start yelling if I get more late…" Dileans stretched his back and stood up.

"Yeah, run home, boy. We don't want your pretty wife to be lonely do we? Ya ha hah ah!" Old man Bonkarin –that probably wasn't his name- said.

That kind of made me jealous though.

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