Amanda, Feryn, Rache, and Yerval sat by the bar's wide wooden island, their heads slunk down a bit.
All of them were awaiting the impending exchange of words with the fiery landlady that would soon come; all of it was brought upon by Yervel's loose lips in the hall.
Magio quickly pushed open the thin bar door and positioned herself behind the expansive wooden island, taking a spot where she always stood in the late drinking hours and early morning preparation with Ayrell, who was nowhere to be seen.
*FAINT CREAK OF METAL HINGES AND THE CLUNK OF WOOD SLAMMING BACK.*
The landlady's reflection blurred into the varnish of the freshly wiped top as she leaned on it, her arms wide.
Now standing in front of the seated adventurers who all jittered from the slam of the closing wooden bar door. As the blonde storm began to brew, it would soon wash over all of them, sparing no one in its wake. The warm brown eyes flecked with yellow scowling down from above squinted in disappointment to all of them.
Magio: From what I just heard in that hall from you, Yervel. 'Furious.' How dare you speak about Ayrell like that! (Focusing on Yervel.)
The woman pointed at Yervel, singleling her out from the rest.
Magio: Even though he might not be the best, he still gives it his all. He deserves more respect from you and the rest of your sorry lot. (Pointing an index finger in Yervel's face, then to the other three.) Considering how he saved all of your arses yesterday!
A small frame shot up from the stool, purple hair flicking up. Yervel was now looking up at the towering figure in front of her, her imposing form mentally affecting the little magician.
The chiselled-tone curves of Magio stood firm, belittling the slim adventurer clad in the mixture of coloured leathers, some brown and some dyed in a fading white, forcing her to sit back down from whence she came.
Not comparing or even coming close to Magio's firm stance and luxurious form men dreamed for.
Yervel: 'Meek.' How dare you talk to me like... (Her resolve faltering.) that... You know I am a graduate of the Armellian magic society.
*SHARP LOUD HUFF.*
Magio: 'Annoyed.' Excuse me, little Missy of spells of the dip-shittian academy! (Finger now pointing at Yervel.) Remember where you are! This isn't your home or failed school; this is my domain and mine alone.
Yervel recoiled into herself at the words, tightening onto her staff but loosening it immediately.
Magio: So, I will speak to you, however I bloody well please! (Throwing a thumb to the door.) If you don't like it, then leave; there's the door. Go on, get! 'Pausing.' If not... then shut it! 'Loud.'
Yervel dropped her head even deeper at Magio's words, lashing at her, leaning on the bar. The only support she would be getting was one from gravity's pull, as her hat pointed up.
Magio: Smart choice, little one... 'Condescending.' Now...
Feryn's mouth opened as he leaned away from the worn mahogany trim, preparing himself for a witty retort in an attempt to break the atmosphere, only to abruptly close his mouth as the weight of Magio's fiery gaze fell upon him.
Feryn again arched his weight on the bar's edge, holding his tongue at the coming onslaught.
Magio: Not a word from you, blue eyes, white shieldsman. 'Scowling.' If I were you, I would keep it buckled and buckled tight! (Moving from the island.) Swinging a big sword and hefting a shield doesn't mean jack here, and it certainly doesn't mean anything between your legs before you become a smart ass. The only thing you are packing is stupidity.
A firm, broken voice chimed in, trying to control the situation that was growing out of hand. Feryn found himself beat on two fronts, one of jests and a broken attempt at bravado.
Amanda: What do you mean... 'Bewildered.' How did Ayrell save us? He injured my arm when he pushed me against the rock wall. (Pulling up her leather sleeve.)
The arm was in full view of all of them; they all looked at it with a bewildered look, Amanda not noticing something.
Amanda: If he hadn't been there, we could have taken those lizards. We are the ones who saved him, so... 'Confidence fading.'
A flurry of words threw Amanda off before she could carry on, not realising what the others were looking at. Then it sank in, and she was looking at her own arm.
Amanda glanced at her arm; the scratches were now faded, no longer scraped or torn. She plopped down back to her seat, still looking in bewilderment at her arm.
Magio: Please, cry me a river... It would surely make for a good recipe of "I told you so stew and mead." (Rolling her eyes.) You all knew the risk, and if I remember correctly, Ayrell was the one out of all of you who spoke up about the lizards acting up before you all ventured off yesterday.
The four adventurers went quiet, silently listening to Magio.
Magio: (Staring at Feryn.) Yeah, you? Didn't you say, "We can handle a bunch of stupid lizards!" when Ayrell brought it up? 'Crass.' You all knew about them and you ignored him. The only ones at fault are the four fuckwits I am looking at now.
The four sitting by the bar put their heads down.
Magio: 'Squinting.' Ignorance itself doesn't get you killed; it's stupidity intwined. I should know; I was present when you made your plan in the corner, and it did you a tremendous deal of good, didn't it?
A slender finger uncoiled from the woman's balled fists.
Magio: 'Firm.' Rule number one of being an adventurer: "The best of plans mean shit when it all goes tits up. Sometimes you have to fuck it and run." Better to have your tail between your legs than in the stomach of god knows what. Wouldn't you all say!
Small, soft nods came from the four at the bar. Knowing this rule all to well from the guild master's training seminar they all undertook long ago. Feryn's jaw remained clamped and his arms folded as he turned away to look at the far end of the room, still listening but not wanting to look at the heart of where those words were coming from.
Magio: Yeah, you turn away! You know I am right. 'Mocking.' If it wasn't for that shield, you'd be the densest of them all.
Feryn didn't reply.
Magio: At least you all could have heard him out. Instead. 'Angry.' You belittled him, some friends you are; why he stays with you so much is beyond me. I think if he didn't have to keep supporting all of your failings, he might get somewhere himself.
A slim stood up again, with her arms to her side, barely meeting the gaze of Magio, fuming from the words she had to endure.
Amanda: That's funny; as long as Ayrell is with us, is why we all keep failing so much. 'Angry.' Why are you being such a bitch about it! (Eye's locking with the landlady.) Ayrell was the reason we failed; if I didn't get my arm scratched up, I could have supported Feryn and Yervel, instead... I was babysitting him.
*LAUGHTER RINGING OUT.*
A snickering rang out, echoing in the wide room. Magio stared deeply at Amanda, not impressed at the false show.
Magio: I can eye-fuck you all day, honey. 'Chuckling.' That tiny little scratch—you really are a moany little cow, aren't you? I see the cream worked... So much for gratitude for me and Ayrell.
Amanda fell silent, realising her words were more out of the heat of the moment than truly thinking deeply on them and a further realisation.
Magio: Oh yeah, it was Ayrell, he was the one who found me the herbs last night. (Picking up an empty potion bottle.)
A bottle shook in front of the four.
Magio: You really want to know what made you fail... It was your thick-headedness that held you all back, not Ayrell; if he didn't buy this (shaking the empty bottle.) 'Riling up.' None of you would be coming back, and that scratch would be the least of your problems; you get one life. (Pointing to Amanda's arm.)
The early morning lecture pushed on—not something any of them were expecting.
Magio: If any of that lizard's spit actually touched you, you'd be lucky to have an arm left without instant healing or nullification magic from a higher-tier magician or mage. I doubt little "Miss Magician" knows those kinds of spells. (Turning away.) Yet...
Magio breathed in, calming for a moment before speaking on.
Magio: For the record, if I were being a bitch, we wouldn't be having this conversation; I am just stating the cold, hard reality of why you all fucked up. 'Sighing.' Be lucky you have someone who speaks the truth... Be better and learn from it, not wallow in your failings.
Violet eyes shot to the charred leather skirt, lifting it up and thumbing the edges, now just noticing the streaks where the charred leather failed to spread further up the material. The bar lady noticed the direction in which Yervel was looking, calling out the little magician.
Magio: Now she realises. 'Condescending tone.' Maybe there is a glimmer of hope in that head of yours; it is beneficial to know that it isn't just full of useless spells, she has some sense. (Placing the bottle down.)
*SOFT CLANK OF GLASS.*
A soft clink of glass landed on the wood top; the long neck and round base of the bottle caught the light of the fresh sun bleeding from the backdoor, and the green layered ringed hue saturated onto the wooden island
Magio: Hey, shields for brains. Look at this! 'Rude.'
The young man turned, no longer looking away. He saw the bottle planted on the island, immediately drawn to it from the pointing finger of Magio and a faint smell wafted his way.
Feryn: (Reaching for the green empty bottle, now holding it in his hands.) Isn't this the garbage that Ayrell doused us with as soon as the lizards showed up? He covered my shield in it before we left.
A strong smell drifted up Feryn's nose that made his eyes open wide.
Feryn: (Recoiling away from the bottle's neck, nearly knocking it over.) I'm glad that it doesn't stick around—it smells like crap in and out the bottle, and this bottle is much bigger than the ones he had.
A hand snatched the bottle from Feryn's grasp, making sure to keep it safe, seeing him recoil from it and almost dropping it.
Magio: Careful, these things aren't cheap. 'Stern.' Also, that "garbage" makes acidic spit inert; it's the cheap stuff sold in batches, but it works just the same on lower-tier creatures, and buying it in a bottle this size also cuts back on the cost and time of transferring it one by one into little bottles.
Amanda looked confused for a moment, staring and thinking about the bottles that were just mentioned.
Magio: Sadly, you need a bottle of the same magical spectrum and lesser capacity to keep the contents from spoiling before there time. (Wiggling it once more, left to right.) Too much and it fails; too little and well... it fails. You can ask spark here if you don't believe me.
A soft nod rose up and fell.
Yervel: 'Defeated.' Pretty much hit the nail on the head, except Ayrell would have to buy them as I can't do alchemy just yet.
The bottle moved out of view and down below the bar, safe from Feryn's interest and clumsy hands.
Amanda thought on Magio's and Yervel's words.
Magio: This and Ayrell are a godsend; thank the many gods. He thought ahead and stopped up all night beforehand pouring it into smaller bottles. 'Smirking.' I helped him out a little, so some of that praise should come my way by keeping him company, not like you four who were fast asleep and tucked in.
Crimson eyes looked up in the growing silence of the four, finally having a say. Instead of sitting still, her lips began to move.
Rache: Come on. 'Aggitated.' We were all experiencing a difficult time yesterday and were simply venting; we did not intend to discuss the possibility of excluding him from the party, did we? (Glancing at the others.)
Before anyone could speak, the tirade began once more.
Magio: Huh... She speaks,! (Raising her hands.) I thought you were a golem in human form for a moment, forged by the little one or one of the living dead able to venture into the day.
Rache joined the others with a sealed mouth.
Magio: 'Speaking up.' When I say it's enough, it's enough. (Arms crossed.) Sure, Ayrell isn't the best, and I believe you only allowed him to join because you all grew up together in that orphanage. But he has other qualities you will never find in a random adventurer; if you all have looked past it, then he is better off with someone else who sees his worth than someone who doesn't.
The woman leaned in to Rache, whispering something into her ears.
Magio: 'Quietly.' At least be honest with him; he deserves that, don't you think? Especially you, Rache... I see how you look at him when he is in the bar—when he is with me, that is.
Rache's ears warmed and steamed hot, the red emanating from her ears and cheeks as the others, not hearing the words spoken between the two women, in secret looked up.
The other three adventurers glanced at each other, then returned their attention to the ground as Magio continued her one-sided conversation that began to hit home, even to herself and her own feelings.
Magio: Where are you going to find someone as honest as he is? (Pushing her blonde-hair back behind her ears.) The only reason I even let him and you lot stay here is because he begged me to take you all in for two days...
The mood in the room changed.
Magio: He promised to help me behind the bar, cooking meals and going over the books. 'Happy expression.' To be honest, I only ever expected him to go over the books and some odd chores, and I would have let the other stuff slip, but he kept his side of the deal and more. 'Thinking.' Plus, he's delightful to have around, always cracking some type of joke and coming up with new ideas for meals and drinks; he even fixed that bar door and put a spring on it with a stopper; he's handy.
The room's mood mellowed as Magio's voice grew softer. The four, no longer staring holes in the ground, began to listen attentively, slowly looking up.
Magio: He is a talented cook and makes some of the best stuff I have ever tasted, even with terrible ingredients I have on hand, mainly his stew. (Slapping her lips.) Also, when one of the patrons becomes rowdy, he has a way with words; he could talk a dragon down, given the chance, if there were any left, that is...
A hand moved to a glass, followed by a cloth.
Magio: A lot of the regulars like him and if they don't, they have me to deal with; if he wasn't in your party, I'd surely offer him a job here. 'Smiling.' I might just come out and ask him eventually if he does depart your stupid group. (Looking to the ceiling and smirking.) Instead of selling preserved food from the guild, he helped Arnold directly procure fresh food from the merchant stands, which significantly reduced our expenses on fresh meals and personally, they taste even better.
One by one, the glasses moved from the bottom of the bar and above on the clean top. Being wiped down as the landlady spoke even more.
Magio: Those mages are indeed greedy when it comes to preservation spells, but that is the way it is. (One hand up.) No offence to your ilk, Yervel!
Violet eyes looked up.
Yervel: None taken... 'Sheepishly.' (Thinking about the forgotten bowl.) I won't fight you on that; they can be greedy and selfish.
The scout of the group spoke up, hearing the words of a "stew."
Rache: 'Perplexed.' Wait... So Ayrell is the one who makes the stew? So, you aren't the one cooking our meals.
Behind the bar, a folding of arms occurred, with a perturbed look.
Magio: Don't tell me you all thought I made it. I'm flattered, but I can't do anything as complex or tasteful as that; I just don't have the patience for it 'Happy.' Simplicity is my thing in life.
A warmth grew on Magio's cheeks at the compliments, wanting them to be hers but knowing who they rightfully belonged to.
Magio: I can cook, but nowhere near that level; he always slaves over it and puts his best into it. Cooking isn't easy, you know. You have it or you don't. 'Confident.' And his grover stew is to die for.
The four slowly realised what Magio was saying and the coming weight of her words.
Magio: As for your question... 'Pausing.' Ayrell rightly deserves all the praise. He has always been the one to bring the meals up to your room; I thought you all knew that. So I hope you at least enjoyed it together before he left last night.
An eerie silence fell on the room, and the door to the Dozy'Mare opened. Thoughts rushed into the minds of the people by the bar of the words "Grover Stew."