Chat at the counter

The day passed smoothly, and so came the night. Asteri had rested, just like Allatu is Betty.

They spent the whole day in the room Brocc kindly offered him without paying anything. Lanola confessed that it didn't take long to convince him. As soon as she said they wanted to help the rebellion, she didn't think twice about giving the trio a room.

"I'm going downstairs, I hear a lot of noise, I think this is the perfect time to celebrate in the tavern. What are you doing?" Asteri was settling down to go down to the ground floor of the tavern.

"I'll stay here, maybe I'll come and celebrate later." Allatu was currently writing the usual letter to send to the succubus chief.

"I do not want." Betty was simply lying on the bed, not very fond of the company of humans.

"Okay, if you need anything, I'm over there." Asteri does not force the girls to follow him and leaves the room, heading downstairs.

Unlike this morning, the tavern was full of people in a party mood. Seeing this atmosphere and not knowing what bad waters the kingdom was in, one might think that these people are reckless. But sadly it wasn't like that, the guy knows what these people have been going through lately, but celebrating helps to endure the dark times.

'I think I'll talk to Brocc, I haven't had a chance to talk to him after all.' Asteri goes to the counter, seeing Brocc serving customers.

He sits down on an empty stool, waiting for Brocc to serve his customers. The man notices Asteri's arrival and prepares to serve the customers, also wanting to speak with Asteri.

"Have you waited a long time?" Brocc stops in front of Asteri, preparing two mugs of mead.

"Not much, don't worry. I hope it doesn't bother, I wanted to talk to you, because we didn't have time." Asteri did not want to disturb Brocc, after all the latter was kind enough to donate a room to the group, without any compensation.

"Of course not, no disturbance from the allies of the rebellion. And I wanted to talk to you too, I don't know why but I have the impression that you are a special boy." Brocc finishes filling the mugs lays them on the counter. One for him is one for Asteri.

"Special? No, I don't think I'm that special. But you don't seem like a simple landlord, do you?" Asteri takes his mug of beer but doesn't drink it right away.

"Well, I can't hide it, actually I'm not just a tavernkeeper. My previous job was different, let's say a little bit more eventful. But after the fall of the previous royal family, I didn't want to keep doing it so I bought this tavern. I'm adapted to this life. "Brocc raises his mug of beer, Asteri does the same and they toast together.

"But I don't think old habits are that easy to break down." Asteri says after a sip of mead.

"You're not completely wrong, even though I've been doing it for a while, I'm not completely used to it yet." Brocc agreed with the boy. "I heard your meeting didn't go very well." The man enters the discourse of what dried up in the morning.

"To say that 'it did not go well' is optimistic, it went shit. He did not want to give us even a minimum of attention, Brocc the rebellion is in danger and real risks being annihilated." Asteri wants to see what Brocc thinks.

"Guys, Lanola told me everything that happened. Honestly, I can't even believe you 100% ... but I can't even ignore this fact undisturbed, after all, if Lanola gives you her support, it will mean something." Brocc didn't have the same idea as Piera, but he couldn't even give his total trust to Asteri.

"Ahhhh." Asteri had speculated what Brocc was thinking so he didn't have high hopes, but hearing him directly from him didn't give him much inspiration. His sigh was heavy.

"I think you should give it a chance, Brocc." The foreign voice to the two was that of a girl. They turn around, only to see a hooded girl, but that hood can't hide the princess's long golden hair.

"Princess, do you trust this boy too?" Brocc prepares a cup of water for the princess.

"Yes, after what we've seen, both Lanola and I, I give all my trust to Asteri. And I'm sure he's right about this spy." Beatrix looks Brocc in her eyes, with a determination the man has never seen. "Brocc I ask you ... no, I order you to support this adventurer if there is any need." Both Brocc and Asteri gasped.

Brocc for never having seen the princess so daring, it is mostly for the reason that he never gave orders as a ruler.

"As you wish, Your Majesty. Asteri it will be an honor to cooperate with you." Brocc formally bows to the princess, delighted to see that he is bringing this character out of her. While it meant next to nothing, it was already a step forward for Brocc. And he said what he thought of Asteri.

"Sure Brocc, the honor is mine." Asteri didn't look at Brocc as he replies, as he was busy watching Beatrix. He was amazed that the girl had thrown this character out so suddenly.

"What is it? It's rude to stare at people, so you know?" Beatrix noticed that Asteri was staring at her, she is taking advantage of it, she made fun of the boy.

"You're right, but I was amazed by the tenacity of a beautiful princess." Asteri did not mind the girl's mockery. In fact, he was pleased with this fact and smiled at him.

Beatrix blushed incredibly, looked away from Asteri, not knowing what to answer. Brocc could only smile at the princess's reaction to Asteri.

Suddenly the atmosphere was ruined by the news brought by a man who entered the tavern full of sweat all over his body.

"THE ENEMY ATTACKS US!" he yells at the top of his voice.