"There should be a tavern around, why don't we treat ourselves to drinks?"
Elda looked back at her mates and then returned her gaze.
"Sure, we've just gotten two weeks' worth of pay, let's drink a little!" She answered rather cheerfully but something was wrong, Tiagon noticed.
'Does she feel compelled to go drinking because I asked? Humans sure have gotten softer, a lot softer. I was right not to treat them wrongly, the people of today are in no way responsible for the actions of the powerful few in the years back.'
Tiagon was lost in thought, and Elda called out.
"Clyde? Clyde?"
"Yes, the drinks will be on me. Now take me to the best tavern around!"
He had gone for that response since he was certain they had things they needed money for and drinking in a tavern wasn't one of those things.
Elda smiled and Tom woke up from his nap oblivious to what had happened.
The group left the guild, they walked towards the towering church and as they did, Tiagon met something unflattering. Many things in fact and yet they were the same.
He saw a poster of a close drawing of him on the wall of a cobbler's shop. He stopped and centered his gaze on it. It wasn't just there alone, it littered multiple walls and poles around.
The red hair and the golden eyes, it was no mistake, it was certainly him.
"Ohh, a poster of the murderer. 15 gold coins for significant information?!" Tom yelled. It was an appropriate response, 15 gold coins was a lot of money for people of their caliber.
"Hey Clyde, let's work on finding this Murderer instead, with your strength, I'm sure we can."
Tiagon simply didn't respond, he continued his stare at the poster and his face creased.
He then swiftly turned back to the group with a smile.
"I'm afraid that can't happen, I have things that I'll be busy with."
'I expected this sooner or later, maybe not this soon. It certainly brings back memories.'
Elda pointed to a shop, she was many steps ahead of the men.
"Here it is!"
Tiagon and his new acquaintances entered the beer-reeking place that was 'Green Mantis tavern'.
They entered to meet many chitons of various species, there were so many around with them being the majority and it most likely had to do with the fact that as the name suggested, large green mantises with large eyes, large butts and slender waists were the employees of the tavern and most of the customers present were green mantis-like chitons.
Elda saw an empty table and occupied a seat, the others followed.
The tavern was large and was decorated with various Mana stones that emanated different lights providing a certain relief to those of the chiton race and also beautifying the tavern.
Above the table where they sat, a short pole holding two stones of red and blue on two sides hung downwards. The tavern was both abundant in light and mana.
'Those stones, they were the same that female mage had. What's it?'
"A Sourpine beer!" Elda yelled.
"What would you like Clyde?"
"I'll take what you ordered as well."
"Alright. Make it two."
Tom and Rink made their orders as well and finally, a large green mantis brought their orders forward.
Tiagon stretched his hand and handed a gold coin, the large mantis took it to the counter and brought back change.
Despite his long-lived rule and his awareness of their existence, Tiagon knew almost next to nothing about the chitons, they weren't of large populations when he ruled and his time in the tavern was the first time he had ever interacted so close to one but a question lingered in his mind.
'I have known Chitons to keep to their communities, how are they so comfortable leaving their natural habitats? This is unprecedented. What really happened while I was away?'
"Ahh! You're thinking again." The human halfling spoke.
"A habit of mine."
He proceeded to take a gulp of the beer. A strong sour sweet taste hit his tongue with a feeling of refreshment like never before.
"This is good, really good!"
"Yes, they serve the best Sourpine beer here."
Something wasn't adding up, if she knew that, then it meant that she frequented pubs and taverns and yet, her unsure out-of-place response suggested that she and the group would rather not spend their money.
"Do you frequent this tavern?"
"I once did with a partner of mine, but she's dead now."
"Oh, I see. My condolences."
"It's been years ago, I'm over it but that means I and the team can't go for expensive drinks anymore."
Tiagon took another gulp and he was hit again with the near-heavenly taste, an ambrosia in the city of Minastoma brewed and served by naked large insects.
Tom and Rink bickered as they were close to getting drunk after taking a few cups, Elda surprisingly handled her alcohol well.
She pushed herself to converse with Tiagon.
"So that darkflame spell, is it of the fire element or is a more arcane magic?"
Tiagon smirked and took a sip of his beer, he answered.
"I don't think it's advisable to reveal the secrets of a trump card to a person I just met, don't you think?"
Elda laughed and beat on the table.
"I suppose that's fair, I can't tell of our relationship in the future but I have a feeling it'll be a positive one."
Tiagon looked to the side of Elda, past her, a magic knight handed a parchment of his wanted posted to one of the employees, he was uncomfortable with the sight and he wanted nothing more than to burn up the magic knight right there but that would call on attention to himself, he wanted control over the attention he'll get.
Then a bam sounded from his side, Rink had fallen over on the wooden floor, intoxicated and asleep and Tom was very close.
"They were never good with alcohol. Sometimes I think I am the man of the group." Elda commented and laughed to herself.
She continued, "You're a mage of what class?"