Their First Drink

When they passed through Helbeck once more they did not inform the town of Lukas' death, as they were told not to redeem the bounty by Instructor Piers. They also did not mention the crazed monkey with a greatsword in its back. Thirteen had felt they should, but Nine reasoned that Instructor Piers had likely assigned someone else to hand in the bounty when they left, and that person would tell the town what they needed to know.

Thirteen had reluctantly agreed, and without causing any waves, the three moved on the next day. They no longer stopped at the villages, instead camping on the road between towns. It was a long and peaceful venture back to the estate, during which time Thirteen finished reading the legend of creation. It spoke of each of the spirits and how they came to be, as well as how they each affected the world. Even after finishing it however, Thirteen had no concrete idea of what the dao was, merely experiencing a vague shift in perception, like he almost had an idea what it could be but didn't know what that was yet.

On their final night before they would reach the estate, the three camped in the woods, far off from the road, and were currently all positioned around a small, contained campfire. The night tonight was still chilly as it had been for weeks now, but with the fire and thicker clothes, it wasn't an issue.

Thirteen was currently standing while the others sat. Resting on the ground before him, stood upright, was a 5ft tall gourd filled with unknown liquid. They opened it once along their journey and had been met with the intense smell of alcohol. None of them had drunk anything like it before, so they decided that at some point before returning to the estate they would try it. That time was now.

Gripping the stopper that plugged the gourd's opening, Thirteen had to strain and employ considerable strength to slowly pull it free, before finally, with a popping noise, he yanked it into the air.

The gourd, now open, released a very potent scent that quickly spread. At first, it smelled like intense alcohol, but after a second or two, it smelled sweet. Finally after a few more seconds, the scent grew intoxicating.

Thirteen breathed in deeply and felt every muscle in his body contracting and releasing ever so slightly.

Gulping an excessive degree of saliva, Thirteen lifted the large and heavy gourd, trying to tilt it slowly towards Nine who held out a metal cup. They had each had one of these, they were large and stackable, with holes near the brim to run rope through. They were used for collecting and drinking water from rivers, far too large for this kind of drink, not that the three knew that.

With how unwieldy the gourd was, Thirteen doubted he'd be able to hold it at an accurate enough angle to only poor small amounts if not for both his strength and control attributes.

When Nine's large cup had been filled to almost full, Thirteen lifted the gourd back up and moved over to Ten who held two cups, filling each of those to full as well.

The gourd was not filled completely with this liquid, but at least half of it was, and for a 5ft tall gourd that was saying a lot.

After the three cups had been poured, Thirteen placed the heavy gourd back on the ground with a thud and swishing sound, before he found the stopper and plugged it up once more.

Sitting by the fire and taking his cup from Ten, Thirteen smelled that intoxicating scent once more before looking to the others and raising his cup.

"Cheers! To um… To that monkey, and his hard work in procuring our drink?"

"To the monkey!" Ten followed

"To the monkey."

Thirteen, overcome with that amazing scent, threw his head back and drank greedily from his large cup, as did the others.

Immediately, he was amazed! It was… It was awful!

Ejecting what remained in his mouth into the fire, it flared in response as Thirteen began coughing and gagging with a dry and barren throat. It was nothing like drinking water! It felt like he was LOSING moisture! And the taste! What sweetness? It was so bitter and harsh.

Thirteen dropped his cup in a coughing fit, only to see each of his friends doing the same.

Scrambling for his waterskin, Thirteen drunk deeply from it which helped slightly, but that dryness remained. And he was hot. So very hot. Wasn't it meant to be a cold night?

Taking off a layer of thick clothes, he looked to Nine and saw him drinking furiously from his own waterskin, then he looked to Ten, and saw her wiping her mouth with her sleeve, an unpleasant expression in her eyes.

When they had all calmed down, he had the distinct feeling his head was swaying slightly. Like the top of a tree in a mild wind.

Reaching for his cup, Thirteen found his balance not as steady as it should be, but paid it little mind, as he was focused on more immediate worries. His mind felt dense! Like a part of it was unreachable.

"It was poison," He said suddenly. He had just been thinking about it when the words escaped his lips.

"It's not poison" Nine said as he half lowered himself and half fell onto his back, looking up with a swimming head. "Yer just a half weight." he slurred slowly, mixing up the phrase.

"I might have some – more" Ten muttered before Thirteen pulled the large gourd away by the rope.

"No. It'll poison you. Go to sleep and – it will – go – away" Unintended pauses were breaking the flow of his speech as Thirteen felt a very subtle headache amidst his swimming perception.

Laying down with so little grace he made a thud, Thirteen was shocked that even flat on the ground he felt it couldn't support him. Like the world was unbalanced and tilting.

——

Thirteen awoke to a subdued headache and pain in his eyes. He didn't remember going to bed, and indeed he didn't. He still lay next to the now burnt out fire, the large gourd missing from his side, having been pulled to where Ten now slept.

Pulling himself to his feet, Thirteen still felt his head a bit 'clogged' for a lack of better term, but at least he was thinking clearly, his balance restored. Looking around the camp, he found a stray dog sleeping by his discarded cup and realized how dangerous that had been.

'Thankfully it was just a dog. If a monster had been attracted it may have taken more interest in us than the alcohol.'

Thirteen waited for roughly an hour as he packed up the tent that saw no use and got the horses fitted to leave, but neither of the others had woken yet. He would have let them sleep in since it's the last chance they had before returning, but it was already midday and they needed to get moving if they were to reach the estate today.

He gave Nine a light kick to the side to wake him up before moving to Ten and shaking her awake too.

"Come on, we need to head out within an hour" he said as he continued getting ready.

"Alright, just give me a little bit,'' Nine said, still laying. He had to be woken on a normal day let alone now, so Thirteen kept an eye on him to ensure he didn't go back to sleep.

Ten on the other hand rose quickly, but directed a wary gaze to the gourd like it was some venomous serpent.

When finally Nine had abandoned the dream world to join them, they set off from where they were, rejoining the main road and travelling to Beckton. They had no intent to stay there however, as Beckton was very close to the estate, and so once they saw the town, they rode a line straight through it from the southern gate to the northern, and left without ever dismounting.

When Thirteen saw that same metal gate of the estate's property opening up before them, he felt like a little chapter of his life had been completed. It was just one mission, a brief one at two to three weeks long, and something he would likely do many more times in the future, but at this moment it felt very significant.

The silent gatekeeper closed the gate behind them, as they followed the winding path back to the estate's mansion, eager to see their friends and at least for Thirteen, eager to return to his 'normal' life.