Despite having weathered a number of disasters over the years, Erdwatch had proven time and again its unyielding nature and the resilience of its inhabitants.
It was said that humanity as a whole was highly adaptive, but the residents of the city had proven this proverb through their hard work and determination. No matter the calamity that threatened to shake them, they had remained steadfast and emerged stronger.
While a mote of concern burned within me, I tried not to think too much about the outcome. I had yet to confirm whether their strategy had worked or not, but that could wait until after I had eaten.
The moment we stepped outside the inn, a light drizzle encased our bodies like coats made of rain. The shower was unlike the one Amara and I had encountered within the forest; it almost seemed to hold a calming effect. Almost.
My gaze drifted to the ominous blanket of pitch-blackness, just as a rough wind stirred the rain into pelting our bodies at an angle. Amara had wrapped a thin cloak of shadows to ward off the dust and rain, while Tania's armor covered her body perfectly. I was the only one getting soaked.
"Let's hurry and find an eatery before we, I mean I, am completely drenched."
I urged the duo and took off. Though Amara treated my words the same as the air, she nonetheless followed close behind. I briefly wondered if she would keep to her promise or give in to my plight.
Wading through a mob of people while dodging the bellowing wind and stirred-up dust made finding a tavern rather difficult. Though we did ultimately find one after asking the locals.
As we stepped foot atop the front steps, the slightly protruding roof shielded us from the rain. I ran a hand through my blonde locks, frowning at the sticky wetness that clung to my body. Even my clothes weren't spared.
"Let me." Tania was suddenly standing close, holding a hand in front of my chest. I raised a brow in inquiry, but the dwarf had already shut her eyes as she concentrated deeply.
A faint, illusory golden flame manifested before her palm, and a surge of warmth spread along my being, causing the ingrained chill to escape my body. Even my clothes looked dry and clean. Too clean, in fact.
"Was that the Flame of Creation?" I asked, eyeing the dwarf who was beaming at her handiwork.
"Mm-hmm." She nodded, holding a wisp of the golden flame in her hand for my benefit. "This is the purest of the flames, the Flame of Creation. One of its basic functions enables the cleansing of armor and weapons."
Having experienced its benefits firsthand, I couldn't help feeling a pang of regret at not having chosen the talent. First it was Amara's Shadow Dominion, and now it was this. Though I knew I hadn't made a wrong choice, it was hard to convince myself when I had literally discarded a simple and portable bath in favor of enhanced strength and durability.
"Damn..." I muttered under my breath, drawing a curious look from Tania. I shook my head and said, "It's nothing. Let's go inside."
Our entry didn't go unnoticed. A vampire and a dwarf weren't exactly common sights, and their exceptional looks only drew more attention.
The inside of the tavern was spacious, with a spread of tables and chairs occupied by men and women alike. A bar sat to the left of the entrance, manned by a squat man with sparse brown hair and beard who stood cleaning the counter. Right beside the shelves full of cheap liquor was a decently covered entrance that probably led to the kitchen. The entire place smelled of sweat, spices, and alcohol.
I was quick to spot an empty table for four near the back and made a beeline for it. Amara and Tania followed close behind while most of the customers watched us with a scrutinizing gaze as we settled into our chairs.
Sweeping a cursory glance at the rest of the inhabitants revealed that most of them were hunters. They carried with them their weapons and wore armors ranging from simple leather to full plate armor.
I waved a hand at the attendant, who circumvented the tables with practiced ease and arrived before us. "Good morning," I greeted with a smile. "I would like a serving of pottage and stuffed mushrooms. Bring me a mug of brown ale also."
"Anything else, sir?" The boy who was probably a year or two younger than me asked. I shook my head, and he turned his attention to the duo. "What about you ladies?"
Tania was quick to relay her order, leaving me in surprise at the amount of food she had asked for. When it was Amara's turn, I half-expected her to put forth a difficult request, though she managed to subvert my expectations.
As we sat in silence waiting for our food to arrive, I took a moment to close my eyes and focus on the world around me. Blood Monarch was a talent I dearly wished to master, though after what happened with Amara, I wasn't sure now was the best time to ask for help.
Instead, I tried to refine my senses further, distinguishing the light of vitality that burned at different intensity in different humans. Those who were stronger usually had more robust vitality, and I wanted to develop that sense of mine further yet.
Like motes of light in a pitch-black darkness, the world opened to me. Amara was like a beacon of luminosity, a wellspring of vitality compared to the others around us. As I basked in the feeling of warmth radiating around me, I found a particularly thick mote draw near.
I opened my eyes to spot a man dressed in overalls, with hide armor covering his chest, arms, and thighs. He paused near our table, his eyes scanning each of us with derision.
Tania frowned, while Amara maintained an impassive stance. Just as I made to speak up, the man leaned forward, slamming his hand atop our table, and smirked. "That's one exotic party you got here."
My eyes narrowed in amusement as I leaned back, but then he spoke again, and I nearly toppled over.
"What's an Empire scum like you doing here?" His words were directed at Amara, who thankfully hadn't broken from her passivity. I sighed in relief and then abruptly stood up before the guy managed to enrage an already angry vampire further.
"You got any problem, dumbass?"
The man shifted his attention to me, his lips curling into a mocking sneer. "The fuck you said? You this bitch's blood bag or something?" He then turned to address the rest of the patrons. "Look what we got here, guys; the boy's angry for his mistress Vamp."
A roar of laughter erupted from all around, and then the man turned back to me. "What are you going to do now, boy? Suck my dick, like you suck hers?"
I was about to reply when I, along with a dozen other occupants, heard a distinct crunch, followed by a shrill scream that escaped the man's throat. My eyes grew wide as saucers as I beheld a foot that had nearly been flattened into a meat patty.
A pall of silence fell over the tavern as we watched the man, screaming and crying, fall to the ground and roll around in agony. In a synchronized motion we turned to look at the person responsible, who stood with her arms crossed as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
Amara swept a frigid warning look across the audience before sliding back into her seat.
Fuck! I cursed inwardly and knelt before the man to stop him from exacerbating the wound further. Wow, she really showed no mercy at all.
"Hey, you!" I pointed at the skinny man standing near a chair. "Pick him up and take him to the healer." I had spotted the man as one of the party of three to which this writhing man belonged. The skinny man stood shaking in his boots, not daring to step forward.
"Stop deliberating and pick him up!" My shout caused the man to shudder, who nervously edged closer until finally managing to help his comrade. "Oh, and before you leave, make sure to settle your bill and mine too, got it?"
The man nodded and turned to leave, dragging his injured and potentially maimed partner along. Unless he managed to procure the help from a high-rank healer, he was effectively crippled for life. Though Amara could've healed a wound of that nature, I wasn't sure she would even bother, and honestly I wasn't going to ask.
I took my seat back at the table and eyed the silent vampire. "Ask her why she had to be so ruthless." I motioned to Tania.
She looked at Amara and put forth in a shaky voice. "Um... Amara, why did you...?"
"Did what?" Amara raised a brow, blinking innocently. "Oh, you meant this?" She pointed to a bloody spot soaking the floor. "The guy is lucky he managed to walk out of here alive, well, crawl out of here, but the point remains. Anyone who messes with me and mine, they better be prepared to suffer the consequences."
She made sure to announce the latter part in a loud voice.
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