Larkin, nursing his fifth beer, was still unable to shake off the persistent headache. He waved to the bartender and grumbled, "Another one."
The bartender, raising an eyebrow, inquired, "You got the coin to cover these?"
Larkin responded by extracting seven crowns from his jacket, causing the bartender to shrug and pour him yet another beer.
Larkin was about to gulp down his latest beer when Zee slid into the seat next to him, a concerned look on her face. She voiced her worry, "Are you sure it's a good idea to be drinking this much?"
Larkin downed his drink and shrugged, a glint in his eyes. "It'll take a lot more beers before I even get close to being drunk," he stated, signaling the bartender for yet another round.
As the bartender filled Larkin's glass once more, he inquired, "Where's Xain? He ain't with ya?"
Zee's brow furrowed slightly as she replied, "He wanted to explore the town by himself. I'm a bit concerned, though. He's not familiar with anything outside of Ironhelm."
Larkin swiftly drained the fresh beer in his glass, waving off her worries. "Ah, don't fret. He needs to broaden his horizons. Besides, I doubt there's much excitement in a town like this," he commented, signaling for another drink.
The bartender interjected with a scolding tone, "You have a drinking problem," as he poured yet another beer.
**Back to Xain**
As Xain ventured through the unfamiliar streets of Moonveil, he relied heavily on Ercale's guidance. Earlier, he had used Ercale's magic, known as Divine Eyes, which granted him the ability to locate their target, a thrall under vampire control. However, the sudden strain of using Divine Eyes had left him disoriented, with his sense of direction slightly skewed from the whiplash of using Ercale's magic. While Xain still knew the general location of the thrall, he couldn't recall the exact path to reach them, leaving him dependent on Ercale's instructions.
*So, what other magic can you access through me that you can't use yourself?* Xain inquired as he continued following Ercale's guidance. Ercale responded cryptically, *Don't worry, you'll get to use more soon, especially if the thrall doesn't cooperate.*
They soon arrived at the Fallen Star, a bar not far from the inn. Xain stood outside, contemplating the plan. *So, what exactly is the plan?* he inquired.
Ercale's response was straightforward, *We try to trick him into, try and trick us into being food for his master.*
Xain raised a reasonable question, *Wouldn't you be better at this?* Ercale's answer was succinct, *No.*
Curious, Xain probed further, *And why is that?* Ercale's reply was frank, *I'm great at many things, but talking isn't one of them.*
Xain recalled Ercale's typical interactions with people and sighed. *I guess I'm the one doing this,* he thought to himself, then pushed the door open and entered the bar, bracing himself for what's about to happen.
As Xain entered the bar, he surveyed the scene before him. Despite the pervasive feeling of unease in the town, not everyone appeared to be under the control of the vampires. Some people genuinely seemed to be enjoying themselves, while others simply went through the motions, their minds dulled by the vampire's influence.
The interior of the bar was surprisingly clean compared to most drinking establishments. A star-shaped object hung in the middle of the room, casting a soft glow.
Xain's trained eyes scanned the bar, searching for their target. He soon spotted a handsome man with sun-tanned skin and an almost impeccable appearance. His short hair and attire were of higher quality than most patrons, though not so extravagant as to make him stand out. Xain's attention was drawn to the man because of his knack for assessing the value of items, a skill he had honed as a thief. This was the individual he had seen through Divine Eyes—the thrall they were looking for.
The man sat comfortably at the bar, engrossed in conversation with the bartender, their exchange characterized by pleasant banter. Nearby, Xain mentally prepared himself for the task at hand. When he eventually sat down beside the man, his striking blue hair naturally attracted the attention of the bar's patrons.
The bartender momentarily paused his discussion with the man and turned his friendly gaze toward Xain. "What can I get you?" he politely inquired. Xain hesitated briefly before responding, "Just some grape juice, if you have that."
The bartender offered a smile and promptly began preparing the requested drink. Meanwhile, the man turned his attention to Xain, a hint of curiosity in his soft-spoken words. "Are you new here?" he asked, his tone gentle. Xain altered his voice and demeanor, adopting a more nonchalant and relaxed persona as he rested his head on his arm against the bar counter.
"Well, if you're asking if I'm new to bars, then no, but I am new to Moonveil," Xain replied with a sly grin. Hearing Xain's transformation, Ercale couldn't help but think, *What in the hell?*
"Ah, I see. So, what brought you to Moonveil?" Almer asked, his interest piqued.
Xain continued to maintain his charming persona, replying, "Well, I heard this place had a certain beauty, and the people were charming. Now that I'm here, I can see both were true," he said, giving a subtle wink, which earned a laugh from Almer.
Almer leaned in, a sparkle of curiosity in his eyes. "So, what's your name, traveler?" he asked, genuinely intrigued. As the bartender finished pouring Xain's drink, he took a small sip before responding, "Xain. And may I ask your name?"
Almer took a moment to think before offering a faint smile. "Xain... that's a great name, very unique. Mine, on the other hand, is quite common; it's Almer."
Xain didn't hesitate, maintaining his charismatic demeanor. "Don't underestimate the charm of a common name. Just because something is common doesn't mean it can't be interesting. And I find you very interesting," he said smoothly.
Almer's smile grew wider, his playful curiosity evident. "Oh? And what do you mean by that, miss?" he asked. The use of "miss" in his response caught Ercale's attention, and he couldn't help but be confused, *What?*