The clinking of beer mugs and hearty laughter filled the crowded tavern. The lively atmosphere buzzed with activity as patrons engaged in various pursuits—some drinking, others playing games or chatting. Beast men and humans, lizard men and ogres, dwarfs and ogres mingled freely, though chaos reigned. It was a place where the strong dominated, mocking and bullying the weak with impunity.
The noise abruptly died as the tavern door swung open. Heads turned, and a hush fell over the room. Marcella and her crew stepped inside, their presence immediately drawing attention. Whispers spread like wildfire among the crowd as Marcella strode forward confidently, flanked by the twins. Liam, however, lagged slightly behind, his unease clear in his darting eyes and hesitant movements.
Marcella approached the guide's table and spoke firmly. "Can we get a room for the night?"
The guide, a grizzled man with a bored expression, studied her for a moment before replying flatly, "You have to be a member to get a room."
"but It's only for the night," Marcella said, her tone insistent.
"Rooms are assigned based on the level of quests you've completed and to have to be a member to be assign a quest, No exceptions," the guide replied, unimpressed.
"But it's just for the night," Marcella pressed.
The guide shrugged, his gaze lingering on her in a way that made Liam shift uncomfortably. "Those are the rules."
Liam tugged at Marcella's sleeve. "Let's just go, Marcella. This place is creepy. I don't like the atmosphere," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Before Marcella could respond, a booming voice cut through the air. "Hey! You!"
All heads turned toward the source of the voice. A group of beast men approached, their leader towering over the rest with a fearsome presence. The whispers resumed, hushed and fearful.
"That's Roko the Beast," someone muttered. "I heard he killed his parents when he was just a child."
"Don't look into his eyes," another warned. "They say they're cursed."
"What a monster," someone else whispered, their voice trembling.
Roko stopped in front of Marcella, his imposing figure casting a shadow over her. His cold, piercing eyes locked onto hers as he sneered. "Didn't you hear what the guide said? Pesty insects like you should run along."
Behind him, his crew erupted into raucous laughter, their mocking jeers filling the air.
Marcella remained unfazed. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze steady as she shot back, "Well, I wasn't talking to you, bird brain."
A collective "Ooooh!" rippled through the crowd, the audacity of her words shocking everyone.
Roko froze, momentarily caught off guard. He was used to instilling terror with just a glance, yet the girl before him showed no fear whatsoever. For the first time, Roko found himself unsure of what to say.
Roko's face contorted with rage. "Bird brain, why you little—" His hand flew to his sword.
Seeing this, Marcella instinctively reached for hers, her eyes narrowing. But before either could make a move, a shimmering blue orb flew through the air and landed between them.
The guard nearby yelped and leaped aside just as the magical orb exploded, releasing an icy blast that instantly froze the shelf of alcohol behind him. Bottles cracked and shattered in the sudden cold.
"Who did that?" Roko roared, his furious gaze scanning the room.
Marcella and everyone else turned toward the source of the disruption.
A figure emerged from the shadows—a man cloaked in a flowing cape with a hood drawn low over his face. His voice, calm and tinged with amusement, cut through the tension. "Destiny is an arrow flying toward you," he mused, stepping closer. "While fate... is an arrow coming from behind."
He chuckled softly, the sound laced with mockery. "Forgive my intrusion, but your incessant rants are quite annoying."
Roko flushed, his embarrassment quickly turning to indignation. "Who the hell are you?" he bellowed, his voice echoing in the room. "Do you know who I am?"
The man stopped, his hood shifting just enough to reveal a pair of cold, piercing gray eyes. They fixed on Roko with an intensity that made him falter, his bravado draining away.
"S-Sir Le-Vorah," Roko stammered, his voice trembling.
A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd.
"Is it really him?" one murmured.
"It's Sir Le-Vorah," another confirmed, awe mingling with fear.
"Roko's done for," someone muttered.
"I knew this day would come," another said, almost smug. "His days of ranting are over. He picked the wrong person to provoke."
Le-Vorah smirked, his expression unreadable but dangerously calm. "Stop irritating me and scram," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Y-Yes, Sir!" Roko stammered, his voice cracking. Without another word, he bolted from the room, his crew scrambling after him, bumping into tables and chairs in their haste to escape.
Liam let out a sigh of relief, the tension in the room finally dissipating.
Le-Vorah extended his arm toward Marcella, his expression calm yet unreadable. "I am Le-Vorah Ice," he said simply. "You're welcome."
Marcella, however, ignored his outstretched hand, her tone sharp as she replied, "I didn't need your help."
Before the moment could grow more awkward, Liam stepped forward, clasping Le-Vorah's hand warmly. "Thank you for saving us, kind sir," he said with genuine gratitude. Then, turning to Marcella, he added, "Pardon her, sir. She's just being childish."
Le-Vorah pulled his hand back, his movements abrupt but controlled. Without shifting his gaze from Marcella, he addressed the guard. "Give them whatever they ask for," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for debate.
He turned to leave but paused, a smirk playing on his lips. "The bills are on me," he added before striding out of the room with an air of confidence.
"Thank you, kind sir!" Liam called after him, his voice echoing with appreciation.
**************The Next Morning*************
Marcella and her crew emerged from the tavern, their bodies relaxed and their movements slow as they stretched and breathed in the crisp morning air. A sense of relief washed over them after the restful night, and Liam remarked with a contented smile that it had been a long time since they'd enjoyed such a peaceful sleep.
"Did you sleep well, my beauties?" Le-Vorah's voice broke the morning silence as he strolled toward the group. His steps were calm, his presence commanding. He stopped in front of Marcella, his warm smile fixed on her, his eyes holding hers with an intensity that made her heart race. Flustered, Marcella quickly looked away, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush.
"Yes," she managed to reply, her voice quieter than she intended.
Liam, watching the exchange closely, caught the subtle shift in her demeanor. Her reaction didn't escape him, and his thoughts grew troubled. Lord Le-Vorah is definitely a charmer, he mused, a frown forming on his face. And Marcella's fallen for him, hard. I need to do something about this,
Just as Liam prepared to step in, Amelia moved ahead, her voice calm but firm. "Lord Le-Vorah, thank you for your help," she said with a slight bow, her tone polite yet resolute. "But we must be on our way now."
Before anyone could respond, Le-Vorah chuckled, his confidence unshaken. "I want to come with you," he declared, his tone light but deliberate. "I'll sponsor your journey financially." He paused, his gaze lingering on Marcella, a playful glint in his eye. "Besides," he added with a charming smile, "everything about you intrigues me."Le-Vorah's gaze rested on Marcella as he spoke, his expression unwavering. Before she could respond, Liam stepped forward, his tone earnest.
"Lord Le-Vorah," he began, meeting the nobleman's eyes, "our journey is shrouded in uncertainty. A man of your standing cannot simply venture into the unknown. I'm sure you have many responsibilities and plans for the future—things that require your presence and attention. Abandoning them for an uncertain path is not wise. Please, reconsider."
Alexander, standing nearby, nodded in silent agreement, his expression firm.
Meanwhile, Amelia strode over to Marcella, her movements brisk and purposeful. Grabbing Marcella by the arm, she pulled her aside and hissed sharply, "Marcella!"
Startled, Marcella blinked, snapping out of her daze.
"What are you going to do?" Amelia demanded, her voice low but intense. "He wants to stay because of you!"