15th Tick: Tavern
1002 Words
The both of them walked up to the high city walls. There, a few demons and humans wearing armour stood there as guards. It was a weird sight, to see both races standing next to each other as equals. Thomas handed the wooden plate to them and they were allowed into the city.
“Who was that monk?” Rose asked.
“How am I supposed to know?” Thomas said back. “Get your stuff over with.”
A few children ran past them, laughing loudly as they played a game of tag. Rose watched them until they turned a corner and disappeared from sight. A peaceful town, Rose would have never guessed that demons were interested in these things. She looked around and found the closest tavern, walking straight to it.
Thomas followed her, looking around suspiciously. He did not trust such a place, the people there were simply too happy from what he could see. Since demons were in the town, he could guess that a demon general was also there, but what was the general doing?
Rose barged into the tavern which only had no customers inside. She looked around, seeing a few people inside. The bartender, a demon, was wiping the bar table. A human and another demon were going around arranging chairs and wiping them clean. The demon who was cleaning saw them and smiled apologetically.
“Sorry ma’am, we aren’t open for business just yet.” He told her.
“Oh, sorry.” Rose replied, her face slightly red. “Um... what time do you guys open?”
“In an hour.” The demon replied.
The demon at the bar looked at both Thomas and Rose from head to toe. Thomas was relatively clean, but Rose was obviously dirty. He said, “Hold on.”
Rose was shocked by his voice. Unlike the other demon, the demon bartender had a much deeper voice, much rougher too. He looked at Rose, she got the feeling that she was about to be attacked.
The bartender pointed to the door to the side with his thumb. “Girl, you look like you need a bath. Garnt, assist her.”
The demon who was cleaning perked up and nodded. Garnt walked up to Rose and asked, “Do you perhaps have any luggage?”
“Not really.” Thomas replied for her.
To ease travelling, all their stuff were stored in Thomas’ rip in time. Garnt nodded and gestured Rose to follow him, the both of them disappearing through the door. The human who was cleaning walked up to Thomas with a smile. The bartender gestured for Thomas to take a seat.
“Are you two travellers?” The human asked.
“Yes.” Thomas replied.
“What’s the outside world like?” The human asked, his eyes glowing like a child’s.
“Notre, bring the customer here already.” The bartender said.
“Yes boss.” Notre replied, a smile on his face.
Thomas looked at Notre while he worked, Thomas sitting down. The human had white hair tied back into a short ponytail, his skin was fairly dark and his eyes had a slight hint of red. The bartender noticed Thomas’ gaze.
“That boy’s a hybrid.” He explained.
“Hybrid?” Thomas continued looking at Notre while he worked.
“Yeah, his Ma’s a demon, his Pa’s a human.” The bartender explained. “By the way, what drinks do you want?”
“Anything nonalcoholic?”
“Wrong place.”
Thomas laughed lightly and said, “I’ll just take your house specialty.”
Garnt walked out the door, closing it behind him and continuing his work. The sound of rushing water followed soon after. Thomas watched as the bartender started mixing a drink.
“Where did ya come from?” The bartender asked.
“Can’t really say, can I?” Thomas joked.
“True, many towns don’t have names anymore, huh?”
The bartender leaned closer to Thomas and whispered, “You and I should know what’s going on outside. Young ones like Garnt and Notre don’t know, so don’t go telling them.”
“Got you.” Thomas nodded.
“What’re you two whispering about?” Notre asked from across the tavern.
“Nothing! No get back to work!” The bartender snapped.
“Yes boss!”
Thomas was silent for a moment before he asked, “How long has this town been around?”
“Hm?” The bartender put the drink down, scratching his chin. “Can’t really say. Some time back, I think. The only reason we’re safe is because of our leader.”
“Safe from what?”
“What do you think?” He asked Thomas, his red eyes staring into Thomas’ eyes. “A city with demons and humans, you should know what could endanger the people of the town.”
Thomas could guess, and the bartender was right. Demons and humans in the same town, coexisting. Humans would find it preposterous, they would find it hateful, potentially attacking the town. Demons could find it disgusting, their own kind mixing with the race they treat like toys. Whoever their leader was, that leader needed to be extremely influential, or extremely sneaky.
Thomas returned his thought process towards the drink he was served. He asked, “Um... what’s this?”
“Lava Lake. Our specialty.” The bartender replied.
Thomas looked at the glass, the glowing orange-red liquid swirling inside it. There was quite a bit of shaved ice and even a mint leaf on top.
“It’s quite strong.” The bartender warned.
“How strong we talking?”
“You know beer?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you drink it?”
“Kind of, I usually get drunk drinking two mugs.” Thomas replied.
“Yeah, a sip will knock you out.”
Thomas gave the bartender a look, to which the bartender gave a smile. Thomas said, “I may not be able to hold much alcohol, but I won’t fall from a single sip.”
“Sir, you seriously shouldn’t try to drink that!” Notre shouted from across the tavern.
Thomas brought the glass to his lips. He took a sip and swallowed, his vision becoming black as he collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
“Boss, what do we do?” Notre asked.
“Garnt, being him to an empty room, then tell the lass what happened.” The bartender ordered.
“Alright.” Garnt nodded, hefting Thomas on his shoulders.
“I even warned him.” The bartender shook his head.
“It was funny though.” Notre laughed.
“Hopefully he remembers not to try again. The Lava Lake is only for the top alcohol consumers only.”
“I can drink it just fine though.” Notre said.
“Shut up.”
“Yes Boss.”
Rose, finished with her bath, felt much cleaner. She wore clothes issued to her by Garnt. She walked into the main part of the tavern and asked, “Where’s Tom?”
- Writer
