What was the actual reason for Sana not wanting to come to this tavern? No matter how hard I think, I couldn't think of any actual answer.
My legs were crossed, and I was sitting next to Sana on a couch. The Bleeding Faun was magnificent. As a tavern that comes right in between Earth and Star, it gets lots of visits. That would also mean the inside was grand.
Similar to the Pharmacy of Star, grand decor decorated it's walls. There were a ton of couches, and elevators.
A moment later a thin woman held some margaritas up to us. "Do you want one?"
Sana smiled at the lady, and took it. "Thank you."
The lady turned towards me. "What about you?"
I smiled at her, but shook my head. "No thanks." Alcohol was not healthy for you.
"Are you even of age?" I whispered to him. "Alcohol will be bad for those under the age of 21. It gets into the brain cells, making it hard to think properly, especially since your brain hasn't fully developed yet."
He leaned back into the couch, swirling the alcohol, and then took a sip. A satisfied face appeared. "I'm 22." He's older than me. For some reason, I did not want him finding out I was younger than him. He would probably find some way to turn it against me.
The woman checked her watch, and bowed. "Sanda will be meeting with you in room 34." With that, she turned around and left to serve other guests.
I stood up, but before I could go anywhere, Sana put an arm around me and suddenly pressed his lips against my ear. "How old are you then?"
My face immediately went blank and I pushed him away from me. "21…" I muttered, before any rational thoughts could get to me. Right when I said it, I surprised myself. That reaction and answer didn't go through my head, and I didn't consider the possibilities that would connect to this in my head.
A grin appeared on his face, and Sana took another sip of his drink. "I'm older than you."
He was just stating facts. "And?"
Sana shrugged. "Nothing. C'mon." He dragged me towards a sign that read:
← To The Left: Rooms 20-29. To The Right: Rooms 30-39. →
To the right then.
I walked towards room 34, counting, with Sana following me. He suddenly walked past me, but his hand froze right before his hand knocked on the door. Somebody called him. "Sana? Sana Chikao, is that you?"
Sana's head whipped around to the origin of the voice, as did my head. Who could it be that would cause so much reaction from him?
"Sana, my baby boy…" Two adults, one man and one woman, had sympathetic looks for him. I automatically hated them. Did they look down at us? They both had luxurious clothing, and had a slight resemblance to Sana. Could it be…?
Sana's hand went to my wrist. "Who are you?!" He demanded.
Their sympathetic looks increased even more. "We're your parents! You don't remember us. Come to mama and daddy," the woman cooed. My hunch was correct.
Suddenly a voice came from inside the room."Come inside!" It surprised me. That wasn't Sanda's voice. It was either an intruder, the lady tricked us, or it's Light.
The voice was Light's. Light was with Sanda.
Sana's so-called parents walked towards us, but before we could do anything, Sana pulled me inside the room.
A table with many luxuries greeted me. Sana besides me shut the door quickly and gulped down all the wine. Satisfaction glowed on his face.
I wouldn't understand how the burning sensation of bitter taste would satisfy anyone. Especially when you know it's bad for you as well.
I turned towards Sana and ushered him to the side. "Give us one moment," I told Light and Sana. They nodded.
"Who were they?" I whispered to Sana. "Were they really your parents?"
He had a regretful look on his face. "This is exactly why I shouldn't have come here!"
"Tell me the truth. Now." A dangerous look flashed through my face. Knowledge is not something that would be withheld from me for long. I craved it. And if I craved something, I would go to all lengths to get it.
"Umm…." An awkward look appeared on Sana's face and he moved both of us to a small, secluded corner. We could barely see Sanda and Light. "They are my parents. The truth is, I've been tracking them. They were at the Bleeding Faun, and Sanda just had to be here. I didn't even know why I was as stupid to suggest Sanda helping us, and knowing she was at Bleeding Faun."
"And why do you hate your parents?" He obviously had some kind of grudge against them.
"They abandoned me when I was a young age. I gave myself a career as an alchemist in Vine. I was a prodigy. I'm not sure why they even remember me. The only reason I remembered them is because I've been constantly tracking them." He sighed. "Why am I even telling you this? I know you won't judge me for this, but…"
I looked up at him, but no sympathy graced itself upon me. People have experienced worse. "It's ok." That's all I could say, really. "Just act like you don't have parents. That's what I do. You're perfectly fine on your own."
"Oh yeah!" Sana's grim face got replaced by an over enthusiastic smile. "What about your parents? How are they doing?"
I'm sure he meant to lighten the conversation a bit before talking with Sanda and Light, but he darkened my mood. "They're dead."
The smile disappeared. But then a smile graced my features. "But who cares, really? It's as if I've forgotten about them!" I laughed a bit. "People have experienced worse!" A hysterical feeling took over me. It was all absurd.
A worried expression appeared on Sana's face. "Are you ok? What happened to you in your past to make you… psychotic like this?"
"I'm not psychotic."
"What happened in your past? Why did your parents die? Why are you like this?" With each question, he stepped closer to me until my back was pressed against the wall. Too close. Both physically and mentally. Undesirable and troublesome.
I let out a small huff, and walked into the light where Sanda and Light were talking. A small sigh and chuckle appeared behind me.
Sanda and Light were sitting on one side of the table. She dipped her head at us. "Welcome. Care to sit?" She gestured to two chairs, one which I sat down on.
I also dipped my head at them. "I'm terribly sorry for delaying this. I had to have a conversation with Sana."
Light immediately grinned at me. "It's all fine! I should be the one thanking you for saving my life! You were so awesome, with that calm face and doing everything so cool…"
It was either the Earth prince had an ulterior motive, or he was just dumb. Gaining the favor of a soon to be god would definitely be in my favor. Didn't he realize that?
After Light finally finished rambling, a slight blush flushed over him. "I'm sorry! Overall, I just meant thank you!"
"You're welcome."
A lady came into the room and served some water. Everybody took it except for me. "What would you like," she asked me.
"Tea, please. Thank you." I smiled at her, and she nodded. Then she left the room after taking Sana's empty wine cup.
Sanda gestured to the food. "Would you like to eat?"
I took a piece of soft bread and examined it.
I shook my head. "No thanks."
But unlike me, Sana dug in. "Food is nice. It's free. So why not take it?"
"I said no thanks." A grimace that meant to be a smile appeared on my face.
"If you say so then. I guess I'll just eat yours." A grin appeared on his face and he leaned his face towards my hands. Before I could figure out what was going on, his mouth was already on my fingers.
He bit a piece off, and licked my fingers clean, painfully slowly. I could see a sly silver eye staring back at me. Then he leaned back into his chair as if nothing happened.
But something had happened, one event which would be considered undesirable.
Which would also explain why my nervous system triggered blood to be rushed towards my face.
Why was Sana acting like this all of a sudden? First when he asked about my age, and now, licking my fingers off. Was it his true personality? Or did he also have different sides of a personality, like mine?
Sanda coughed into her fist, and looked up at me. "What did you come here for?"
All events left my mind except one matter which was more important than all others. Emotions such as these were useless, so you can't use them to your advantage. "Tell me where the portal to the Celestial Sphere is."
"That was straightforward!" Sana leaned back into his chair, with slightly wide eyes. "Really straightforward."
Sanda glanced at him, and then stared at me. "Ok. I'll lead you to it. But you need to pay a price."
That was to be expected. "What do you need?"
"I want medicine," she requested.
Sana pursed his lips, and shot a look at me. "Well, you came to the right place. We're both medicine experts."
An idea formed in my head. "You help her, and repay what she needs. I need to get to the Star god as quickly as possible." I nodded at Sanda. "Just tell me the location. I can get there myself."
She also nodded. "Bring Light with you. He'll act as guidance, and he can activate it. I can't activate the portal. You need Earth magic to make it awake."
"Ok."
Light grinned at me. "A pleasure to be at your acquaintance! I'll try my best to be of help!"
I stood up and bowed to him. "I have the same positive thoughts. I look forward to working with you. But just get me there. I'll handle the rest."
"Sure!"
A hand snatched my hand and pulled me back down. "What about my consent? Where's my opinion in all of this?" Sana had a blank face as he stared at me. "I also have a say in this."
I smiled at him. "Please remember your place. You do not have a say in this. You are just merely a helper, an assistant assigned by the Star god. Do what I say."
He blinked a few times, but I couldn't see the real process behind his face. His hand, which had been gripped tightly before, slowly loosened. "Ok…" Suddenly a grin appeared on his face, one which Light and Sanda didn't see. A sly grin, and a whisper of a promise. "You're very interesting, Phoenix…"
My eyebrows kissed, but… the best thing I could do right now is keep it in mind. "Then I wish you best of luck in helping Sanda."
A moment of silence passed before he also dipped his head. "You too. Best in luck." He then turned around, with a big smile on his face, ready to negotiate with Sanda.
I left the room with Light strolling behind me.