"May I have your order, sir?" The waitress asked.
"Two sets of today's special and a nonalcoholic beer. Bluehead, you want one?" Raymond asked.
"No thanks. I'm not good with drinks like beer or wines." Canute replied instantly.
Raymond returned the menu and the waitress left.
"You are not good with alcohol either?" Raymond asked surprised.
"Are you?" Canute retorted.
Raymond avoided glances.
Canute chuckled."This means we are in the same boat."
"Let's take a brief review of today's events," Raymond suggested.
"We investigated the tower but found nothing skeptical about the building."
"I'm not sure. I quite disagree." Canute mumbled. He sounded unsure of whether he should mention the floor that they haven't investigated yet.
"Here are your order sirs. Enjoy your meal." the waitress chimed interrupting the conversation.
The door opened and a small bell jingled at the entrance.
The waitress hurried up to greet the customers.
"They are short on staff. I barely see any waitresses around." Canute said placing the handkerchief on his lap.
"The food seems scarce. I wonder how they are able to run this inn?"
"The population of the city reduced to half by the end of the decade. What more do you expect? The birth rate in Elysia itself is lower than any other city. Moreover, all the villages near the border have been wiped off clean without a trace of single living life." Raymond said biting his lower lip.
Canute could sense the misery and bitterness in his words." He is indeed a true Knight of Arcania." He thought.
They started off with a salad.
"Thanks, Lily!" Raymond's ears perked up to a familiar voice.
"Chaol?Why is he here?" he raised a brow. Canute who was busy munching on his roasted duck turned around.
He saw a mage with average height and short hair sitting on the counter chatting with the waitress.
"Someone you know of?" Canute questioned focusing on the meal.
"He.... is a childhood friend. We swore to become knights together, one day. Unfortunately, he specialized in alchemy. That's where we parted ways. Those were some warm but harsh memories." Raymond smirked biting on a duck thigh.
"That's quite emotional" Canute grinned.
"Ray?" Someone approached them.
They looked up. It was Chaol.
"Ahaha!I knew it was you. I recognized you in an instant. What are you doing here snuggling in the corner?"