"Do you think we could stop to grab a bite to eat before we head out? I'd love to at least try one of the local pubs before we depart on a quest."
Dion checked his coin purse, "well I do have some gold we could spare and we're not in too much of a rush. We can stop by this place I know – they serve fish and some good ale."
Considering Luna had only been here two days, it would be a shame if she didn't at least get to see more of the village. So, walking down through a teeming market of shops and restaurants they made their way to a charming little eatery. A regular stop for many adventurers and their fellow companions to feast and enjoy the ambience of loud music and festive surroundings.
"Here we are, the happy gull! One of the best eateries in all of Acorn, lets try and find a seat."
As they walked through the crowded place of drunken adventurers and trying not to intrude on their meals, they eventually made their way to a small alcove near the back. Dimly lit by a couple candles the interior of the eatery was mostly dark but lively none the less.
A small band of knomes and elves played fiddles and flutes in a melodious harmony bringing about a sense of magic throughout the otherwise cozy atmosphere. Some of their tunes were off by a note or two and was probably due to them playing non-stop all night long. Many of the patrons were dancing still, even in the early morning. Scantily clad in light dresses and shirtless men danced in unison together holding each other hands.
"Dion…some of these women are barely wearing anything. Its so early in the morning, how can they keep this up?" Dion laughed at her question, "Many people around here enjoy themselves too much especially after a long quest." He motioned to a pile of gold and armour under a couple of the tables.
"I'll have you know, I'm not a heavy drinker so you won't catch me like that."
"Oh… Is that so Luna? The best part about adventuring is the parties held afterwards. The extravagant food, sparkling wines…the sultry dancers…"
He was eyeing one of the elf girls dancing. She wore only a shirt down to her knees, but her chest strappings were loose and revealing. Noticing Dion staring at her, she turned and gave a brief curtsy and an inebriated smile.
"Dion!" she slapped his hand before crossing her arms in disapproval.
"I'm just enjoying the atmosphere."
"Let's order some food before I lose my appetite." He noticed her irritation and wondered if it was jealousy. They had only been together for a night so maybe she liked him more than she was letting on.
He gestured to one of the waitresses to make an order, "Can I have to mugs of brown and two orders of fried hugge fish."
The waitress was a short girl with blonde hair wearing a beatiful dress. She took their order and went back into a busy kitchen. As they waited for their meal to arrive a man who had been sitting at the bar table watching the two of them got up from his seat at the bar. Dion quickly realized who was watching him.
'Not him… please anyone but him.'
The man drunk and about to fall over stopped abruptly at their table – wearing gleaming golden armour with a split white tunic down the front and long blonde hair slicked back.
"Dion…Dion…Dion, I thought someone like you had gone and left Acorn village by now. Years of rejection and unemployment have not treated you well it seems. But what's this! It seems you managed to find an adventurer to work alongside you. You must be desperate young green horn, to work with such a useless companion."
She listened to him rant on about Dion but didn't quite understand what the man was saying. Dion left out many regretful past events in his life out when he first met her so now seeing her listen to this man was making Dion's heart ache.
"What are you talking about? I know Dion's not the most highly skilled companion, but he's been very helpful since I arrived."
"Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha"
The man held his chest in laughter at hearing Luna's rebuttal. "Didn't it ever occur to you why no one chose this man to join their party? Perhaps, why he lives outside the village limits and lives in that mole mound of a hut?
"I…don't… I don't understand."
"Of course, you don't sweetie, you don't seem too bright yourself. A lowly summoner by the looks of it even by noobie standards."
Seeing Luna look down in shame and holding her hands on her lap made Dion breath heavily. He looked at the hurt Luna and then to the tall man standing by their table. Dion's face nearly red in anger and fists clenched.
"Don't talk to her like that! You have no right to humiliate my…," the man slammed his fists into the table and his face went dark with grimace.
"Humiliate your what? Long life adventuring partner? They should have kicked you out of the guild a long time ago. Girl, listen up because I'm going to let you in on a little secret."
She slowly raised her head.
'Don't you dare…' Dion almost about to pounce on the knight got up from his seat and stood nearly eye to eye with the golden knight.
"There's a reason why people avoid him – the inability to create the correct potions, unable to properly aid party members in combat, his lack luster skills. Even with his last group… blessings on their souls. He couldn't save them when they needed him most."
"Dion… is this true?" Ashamed of the man's response, Dion just looked away and sat back down into his seat staring at the empty table in front of him.
"Oh, its true green horn! If I were you, I'd run far away from this man as possible lest you want to die a horrible death," the man grinned once more at the already sulking Dion and turned away back to his seat at the bar.
The two of them sat in silence even when their meal arrived. Upon finishing, Dion paid for both their meals and decided to leave quickly before getting seen by other patrons who knew him.
"Dion slow down. Can't we just talk about what happened, that man who was talking to us. Who was he?"
"Just a lumbering oaf by the name of Thaddeus, he spreads lies and I'm not that useless!"
"I never said you were…," she walked in front of him as he tried to walk down the street. "Dion stop for one second! Tell me what's going on."
She pulled Dion aside into an alleyway away from the crowded street. Luna waited patiently for a response from Dion, who was pacing with his hands in his pocket.
"Thaddeus had it out for me ever since my last party never made it back to the village. He had friends in my party… let's just say I was the only one who came back unscathed and due to my past reputation, it only made the situation worse."
Dion sat down on a crate and a somber tone overtook his normal voice, "You've seen my skill sheet beforehand and I know its only been two days but if you want to cancel our partnership… I won't stop you."
"Dion…," she crouched down and reached out to hold Dion's hands, "I don't care what that drunk idiot says about you. You've shown me nothing but hospitality and kindness since I arrived. You signed a contract with the guild to help and protect me as a companion. I don't know much about adventuring and magic, but I do know this… friends… friends keep their promises…".
He looked up from their hands and saw Luna staring at him, she tilted her head and smiled. The cloudy sky overhead began to part, and beams of light flicked into the dark alleyway lighting their surroundings in a vibrant display of colour.