Moments passed as he took a deep breath. His eyes still following the tavern as he stepped forward, slowly but surely making his way to the tavern. While his eyes kept records of everything else around. Could he even see in such darkness? Probably not, his Vine-like eyes were not made to spot in the dark. – He was a warrior of the shining stars, in the end.
As he entered the tavern he expected some emptiness, but instead it has a group of people. None that he could recognize, but nevertheless, unexpected. Seemingly he sighed, taking a few steps towards the counter and taking a seat.
His surroundings were no longer that strange, familiar with the tavern from the looks of it. The group of strangers seemingly was made up of four people, Quite many, taking the average size of the tavern. There were three women along with one guy. Seemingly just discussing something, they did look like adventurers for sure.
Yet our dying star did not seem to care. – His eyes moving as the ears gave a flicker, his movements being more like the dance of his story's hero than a mere person. . Perhaps it was passion, moving him forward best it could. This tavern wasn't known, as such his freedom was here, no people to judge him, no people to judge by accident!
"A drink here please. Forest fruit tea, the classic y'know! A tongue of silver must only have gold to go well with. No?"
He spoke to the lady managing the bar, she seemed rather young. Her hair long and shiny at the flame of the candles, like an ever–burning torch, made to light up someone's day. . Fitting! And as such, the Male's hand moved under his sleeve. . Threads of light being hidden under it like the stars were covered by the dark sky. He took a small shaky breath. . Silent as the night as to not make the others aware. In his palm, that he now raised, stood two Silvery coins, simply placed onto the counter, his ivory-like hands being shown for a small moment.
"Ooh! Seems the Foxy has returned, has it not? Young man! You're back late! – Here it's coming! Careful, it's more hot than the sun!"
The Barkeeper chuckled, her hand bringing over a cup of hot water as she took out a few tea sortiments and mixed them around, dropping them right into his tea. Perhaps if you looked closely. . Just a bit. It looked like the leaves and plants were stars in their own dark sky. – Who would have thought, that stars could be compared to everything. .
Tris's hand moved from under the long sleeve once more, just grabbing onto the cup and bringing it to his lips. Taking a small, silent sip. His grace seemed almost like Royalty, movements as gracious like the now long lost constellations. But perhaps it was just meant to be this way, in the end rarely do you see such person. – Who puts his grace and work above all else.
"Thank you, I've had quite the day. An older lady quite enjoyed a story of mine."
He chuckled, his eyes standing on the lady, like two wild stars.
"Ooh? Your poetry if anything is hard to understand. ."
The barkeep answered, her lips showing a smile.
"It takes a deeper understanding of the world. If I asked you. You wouldn't even know what water to the flame meant. ."
The man spoke. His tone falling once more into poetry lands. He gave a smile, followed by a small yawn.
"Putting out a fire, duh! – Anywayyy! What are you planning hm? You aren't the type to be calm."
She spoke, placing her elbow on the counter, leaning her head into her palm, almost seemingly more bored and colorless than the sky itself.
"Nothing, but my vacation is ending soon you know? Won't be around as much, so I get the most out of it! Plus I've been missing my Lyre. ."
He spoke, followed by a small pout. His movements followed the same grace as they did when he first entered the tavern. Not changing. He simply raised the cup and proceeded to down the whole tea in two sips.
"I don't understand you. . Vacation from what even? You don't have a job or anything! You came here. Rented a room for a period and called it a Vacation. ."
She spoke to the Bard, after all his words were complex. But perhaps this Vacation of his was one of the most complex things he's ever said or done.
"Complexity is art, I am unique in such ways. Like a small bit of water breaking from a river. At the start it's small, fragile. But in the end it can become a river in its own rights. Time is not something we lack."
He spoke, poetry running out of his mouth like they were words he's said for hundreds of hours, never stopping.
". . . If you keep going it's a flower pot to the head."
The barkeep blinked blankly at his words. Confusion was clearer than a night's sky.
"I said what I said! Anything else you have to ask?"
He spoke with a small sigh.
"Yes. You've been around for three months now. Yet I barely know shit. Your name, nickname which I gave you and stories at most. . How old are you? What city are you even from? Will you just be gone forever when this Vacation ends?"
The barrage of questions fell onto our silver fox. His lips pressed into a thin line as he took a deep breath. It was his turn to spit out words.
"I ammm, sixteen. From Soluna. And no, I won't be just gone. I just won't be around here as much. ."
He answered, frog blinking a bit. Perhaps it would've been better to shut his mouth and lie. .
"Young. . And coming from a ruined city. . Damn. Sad, almost made me cry! Welp! I suppose not much to care about."
She answered, giving a light stretch as she looked over at the group of adventurers. Seemingly their conversation has gotten. . Loud. The guy out or their group was speaking loudly.
"Do you not get it? It's a shadow, those things are deadly. Agile, and can quite literally kill everyone in this tavern."
The fox's lips pressed into a thin line, giving a sigh. His eyes moved towards the barkeep, with a grin. She stared for a second.
"Don't you dare. ."
She spoke almost exasperated. He just widened his grin and spoke loudly.
"Talk for yourself old man! The only scary shadow you've seen is probably a candles."
He said with a cackle. The male turned around. – Anger perhaps. Yet seeing him rather young he almost seemed to give a smile. His looks would say he was in his late forties.
"Ah, a young soul Ey-? Have you even met a shadow before? I'd assume not."
The man spoke. His dark almost wished hair just standing there. He seemed quite curious. Yet the Barkeeper seemed to answer swiftly instead. Her voice swift.
"Once he did. Wounded and beat up for sure. But he's the one that lived."
She answered, her eyes stuck exactly on the adventurers. She probablybwould have had some worse words to say than just beat up. But it was a child, and she was gonna be a dedicated 'good' influence!
"And you expect me to believe that? A boy. Killing and destroying a shadow. He carries no weapon even. Have you went crazy aswell?"
The male hissed and spoke out, but giving a small sigh. Seemingly he did not enjoy their jokes. But in the end one of the older from the three women. Which looked around his age, and most likely the partener pattern his shoulder.
"Down Zephyra. Sit and calm. We are civilized people. "
She spoke, her blonde hair cut short. Seemingly her ears were sharp. Perhaps an elf or half elf of some kind. Tris simply followed with a sigh.
"Truth is Truth. Times changes. And change is fluid, like water to the flame."
He answered blankly. His eyes focused on the older blonde lady.
"Mhm, not all shadows are equal either. But nor do we know you child. . So let's just pass the conversation."
Said the women once more. Taking a seat. And turning away. Tris did not seem to care turning back to the barkeep.
"If you don't mind I'll be heading to my room. Do come If you have anything to speak about."
Spoke our porcelain man, standing up eith the same graceful movement. Not awaiting an answer he slides away. And up the stairs. Entering the first room on the right.
He gives a small exhale as he enters. The room was cold. – Just as he liked it, the bed was neatly set up, and a chest at its bottom. Rather wide open. . Inside, casually stood a 9th grade Algebra summer exercise book. . His eyes slowly fell to it and he grimaced. Giving a hurt sigh, regret was setting in as he swiftly looked at the door.
Now it was the choice, would he do algebra, or break the book in half? Neither! Dust it shall grab as he is not touching it.
"Dammned be. . Summer is ending once more."
He added in a silent whisper to himself. Exasperated for sure, who wouldn't be in the end?
"I'll need to fix my bag. . Pack my shit and make my way to the rift once more. . Before Rose says I'm late. ."
No. – This one did not sound as he was talking with himself. But rather something shifted around. . He was trying to bait out whatever his senses seemed to detect.
A rat dashed out from a hole in the wall, running to another. Tris just blinked slightly. Atleast it wasn't a shadow! – His body moved and grabbed books out of the chest, along with a leather backpack he began filling up. In the corner of the room stood a set of Smiths tools he shoved into the backpack aswell. Along with the Glaive. He wrapped a piece of leather around it's top, hiding the sharp side.
As such, his things are collected and backpack is made! He gives a small chuckle, it was a nice three months while it lasted. Thats for sure.
Tris finally proceeded to grab them as he finished making the bed. Taking a few steps outside. – It was early in the day, eight or seven at most. After all he spent most of his time packing up.
Walking down. The bar was clearly closed, the whole room empty from the looks of it. Atleast for the time being. – Tris was not planing to wait until anyone woke up. So with swift steps, dropping any grace his walking ussually had. Being late would have been a serious nightmare.
His steps echoed trough the silent city. People began to wake up, almost as if it was coming back to life. Slowly but surely. His path was swiftly leading him outside the city. Perhaps not the safest but he needed to reach the point of meeting.
Time passed by, as the dark sky changed swiftly into its shining brightness. A ball of fire standing above, bringing the smallest bit of comfort. As Tris passed tree and tree, heading deeper into the forest.
Without his knowledge, the group of four adventurers, with Zephyra at their lead began to follow him, at the deepest of his wife's words encouraging them to take care of their own business.
Deeper and deeper, Tris ran into a cave. Overgrown more than anything people have seen before. The Vines almost being alive. – Zephyra was reluctant. But kept following along deeper. Yet now, the greenery seemed to be aware of him. Just as he seemingly stood behind Tris unnoticed by the busy teen. The vines shook themselves.
They moved and grabbed the group by their legs arms and torso. Keeping them in place rigidly. As as such. – Tris stumbled. His eyes turning around in a moment. His ears flickering.
"OOP- You aren't supposed to be here-. Was I that spaced out. . ."
The mumbles came from the porcelain man's lips. Suddenly a rose seemed to lift itself into the air, it's vines expanding swiftly. Forming a body as they melted into the form of an almost normal lady with red hair. She turned and walking, shielding Tris as she seemingly pushed him lightly behind her. She was tall. Abnormally.
"Young Boy. . These are?"
The vine lady spoke. Asking the pale figure.
"Adventurers. . Seemingly followed me- Apologies Rose-y. . "
He answered his ears flickered, then the Elf women spoke from behind Zephyra. Her silent tone almost sending a shiver trough Zephyras spine.
"Lady Rose. . God of Nature, we apologize for our intrusion. . Is this child with you?"
She spoke, hiding her emotions atleast for the moment. Seemingly having an idea of who the plant lady was.
"He is. And as such, you are not to continue forth. ."
It sounded as if she wanted to say more. Yet a question remained. . What was she going to do with them?
"Yes Lady Rose. . We apologize for our presence and-"
Then, they were cut off. Rose speaking sternly and loudly. The vines letting go. Instead blocking the path forward.
"You are to leave right now. Or you'll die by my hand. Understood?"
She spat out blankly, Nature was harsh, and so was she. In the end her point was protecting the young boy. Not caring for a prayer or two.
And as such the adventurers did not even stand to speak, even the elf knew to not anger a god. Even if they were considered lower or higher. They simply turned around and left in a speed akin to stars.
Tris blinked from behind her. His lips pressed in a thin line.
"I'm. . Not late am I?"
He spoke, trying to seem as innocent as possible. Rose followed with a sigh, and spoke.
"No, you aren't. Go home."
Tris simply proceeded to move once more. Going deeper as he reached a large portion of cave quite fast. It was big and like a ball, in its middle standing a pure white, tear like rift. He was not one to admire things. . So he simply jumped in as he has done numerous times.