Part 1
The tavern door swung shut behind me with a heavy thud, the sound barely registering over the din that filled the room. Dusk had settled over Merton, painting the windows with hues of orange and purple. Unlike the quiet morning bustle, the tavern now throbbed with life. Laughter echoed amongst the wooden beams, punctuated by the rhythmic clinking of mugs and the boisterous shouts of patrons.The scent of roasted meat, stale ale, and sweat was filling the air. My stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn't eaten since breakfast. Ignoring the pangs of hunger for the moment, I scanned the room. Lirien's earlier words echoed in my mind, "Head back to the tavern and relax." The idea of relaxation seemed laughable in this chaotic environment.My gaze landed on a familiar figure hunched over a corner table. Durgin, the gruff dwarf, was deep in conversation with Aria. They hadn't noticed me yet. Hesitantly, I navigated my way through the maze of tables and stools, the worn wood groaning under my weight.As I reached their table, Durgin slammed his tankard down with a booming laugh, causing Aria to jump slightly. "There you are, Senjar!" Durgin boomed, his voice easily cutting through the tavern noise. "Where've you been hiding yourself all day? We were worried sick!" His thick eyebrows furrowed in mock concern."Just decided to explore the town a bit," I mumbled, taking a seat opposite them."Explore?" Aria echoed, her voice barely a whisper. "You could've at least left a message. We had no idea you were awake."Guilt pricked at my conscience. "I... I thought you guys had left already. There wasn't any note or anything.""You were unconscious for three days, Senjar," Durgin explained, his voice softer now. "We never knew when you'd wake up.""Yeah, well," I muttered, avoiding their worried gazes. "Maybe a message would've been good."Aria, coughed lightly. "It was our fault too, Senjar. Let's not dwell on it. Now, spill the beans! Where have you been?"So, I began to talk. I told them everything, from my brief encounter with Lyra to registering as an adventurer, the surprise meeting with Lirien, and the sword shopping spree. I didn't sugarcoat Lirien's abrupt departure, leaving them both speechless at the end of my tale."Well," Durgin finally said, scratching his beard thoughtfully. "Sounds like you've had a whirlwind of a day, Senjar.""You can say that again," I agreed, letting out a sigh. "But speaking of which, where's Zane? I haven't seen him yet." Zane, the party leader, had been mysteriously absent the entire day.Durgin snorted. "That scoundrel? Probably trying to charm the socks off some unsuspecting barmaid. Look around, you might find him playing the hero somewhere." A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.Aria, who had been unusually talkative throughout my story, surprised me even further by speaking up. "He was here earlier," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "But he left, don't know where."I raised an eyebrow. "He must have told you where he was going."Aria shook her head, her usual shyness returning. "No, he didn't say much at all."Durgin, clapped me on the shoulder with his meaty hand. "Don't worry about Zane, lad. He can handle himself. Now, how about some ale to celebrate your official adventurer status?" Before I could answer, he bellowed at a passing barmaid, "Another round over here, and make it a big one for the new recruit!"I looked from Durgin's boisterous grin to Aria's flustered expression, the warmth of the tavern slowly dispelling the chill of worry.Part 2The warmth of the tavern felt heavy and thick by the time I shuffled back to my seat. Hours had crawled by, measured in mug refills and the progressively louder, more slurred conversations around me. Durgin, usually a beacon of boisterous cheer, was now a giggling mess, his beard glistening with spilled ale. Aria, the shy elf, was somehow holding her own, but her cheeks were flushed and her usually shy smile was a little too wide.I nursed the half-empty mug in my hand, the stale ale doing little to quench the growing thirst in my throat. The sensible part of me knew another drink would be a mistake, but another part, fueled by frustration and a touch of loneliness, whispered encouragement. Where was Lirien? We'd parted ways hours ago, and despite the festive atmosphere, a gnawing worry had settled in my gut.Across the table, Aria and Durgin were locked in their own drunken world, their voices rising in a cacophony of song and nonsensical pronouncements. Zane was absent too, another source of unease. Logically, I knew both Lirien and Zane were capable adventurers, but the uncertainty was still there. "Pointless to worry," I muttered to myself, trying to tamp down the rising panic.Suddenly, a flash of movement caught my eye. There, at the top of the stairs, stood Zane. He swayed slightly, but otherwise seemed unharmed. Relief washed over me, momentarily eclipsing my concerns about Lirien. Without thinking, I pushed myself out of my chair and followed him.The creaking floorboards protested under my unsteady steps. The dim tavern lighting didn't extend to the hallway, and the world beyond the stairs seemed shrouded in shadow. Squinting, I stumbled after Zane's retreating figure. By the time I reached the hallway, every door was closed, their occupants lost to the night.I was disappointed. Talking to Zane in the morning seemed the only course of action. Turning back, I fumbled for the doorknob of my room, longing for the comfort of a bed and sleep.Just as I reached for the handle, a muffled thump echoed from the room next door. My head whipped around, curiosity battling with the urge to crawl under the covers. The sound had definitely come from Zane's room. Cautiously, I crept towards the source of the noise.The hallway was deathly quiet. Each creak of the floorboards sounded like a thunderclap in the stillness. Finally, I reached Zane's door. Hesitantly, I reached out and pushed it ajar.It was not locked.The faint glow of a single candle revealed the interior. And there, in a scene that ripped the breath from my lungs, stood Zane. But he wasn't alone. Lyra, the tavern barmaid, her fiery red hair unbound and cascading down her back, was pressed against him. Their lips were locked in a heated kiss, tongues wrestling for dominance. Lyra's hands, strong and calloused from years of serving mugs, dug into Zane's muscular back, pulling him closer. His own hands, rough with the scars of countless battles, roamed her body with a desperate urgency.A loose blouse hung precariously off one of Lyra's shoulders, revealing a glimpse of creamy white skin. Zane's hand dipped beneath the hem of her skirt, sending a shiver down her spine. A low moan escaped her lips, a sound both seductive and urgent. They were oblivious to everything else, lost in a world of their own creation.Heat flooded my own cheeks, a mixture of arousal and something akin to betrayal. I shouldn't be watching, I knew that much.Shame burned through me – shame at having witnessed such a private moment, and shame at the unwelcome heat rising in my own loins. I knew I should turn away, slam the door shut, and pretend I never saw anything. But a strange mix of curiosity and… arousal kept me rooted to the spot.Just as I was about to retreat, a voice, soft, sent shivers down my spine. Lirien, the beautiful and alluring mage, whispered in my ear in a slow and seductive voice, "What are you watching, Senjar?" I could feel her body heat radiating next to me.I turned to look at her, my cheeks flushing at the close proximity of her body. Her mage robe, tightly hugging her curves, emphasized her voluptuous figure. Her long red hair cascaded down her back, and her crimson red eyes seemed to glow in the dim light in the hallway."I-I was just watching some spell-casting techniques," I stuttered, trying to keep my composure in front of her.Lirien chuckled, her voice low and sultry. "You know, I could show you some techniques myself, in private."My heart raced at her flirtatious words, and I could feel my cheeks growing even hotter.She knew the effect she had on me, and she enjoyed teasing me.But before I could respond, Lirien suddenly got up and left, leaving me alone and confused. I sat there for a few moments, trying to calm my racing heart and gather my thoughts.Eventually, I decided to head back to my room.
As I lay in bed, I couldn't stop thinking about Lirien's seductive voice and her tempting offer. I wondered if she really meant it or if it was just her way of playing with my emotions.But as I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't deny the growing feeling of lust and desire for Lirien that had been awakened within me.