Hospitality

["Why didn't you simply take it?"]

A voice came from above.

["So you're finally here."]

Winter said with his eyes slightly closed.

["You should know by now that it is not my style to simply snatch things from people."]

["Ha! should I call you a hypocrite now."]

A bright red bird which looked like a Phoenix came down and sat on Winter's shoulder.

["I don't even know about you much. Who knows what trickery you used to bring me under your command."]

Said the bird with a little annoyance in its voice.

["Come now Pride don't be like that. I won the battle fair and square."]

Winter said with a jolly smile on his face.

["But if you still have doubts, I am always ready for a round two."]

Winter's voice deepened.

*gulp*

[This person...I still clearly remember what happened that day.]

Pride tries to remember the events of a day as he shakes in fear.

[He approached me out of nowhere and told me to be his familiar. I who was at the apex of the world whom every creature in this world feared and respected and called the legendary Phoenix was challenged by a mere human for a test of strength. How laughable was that. Being the divine beast I am, I accepted his challenge. But his strength...it exceeded mine by leaps and bounds. As much as it pains me to accept it, I lost miserably. Since I am a divine beast who cannot go back on my word. I had no choice but to become his familiar. I never thought I'd ever submit but here I am under the command of a mere human. Witnessing his strength I am sure he plans to do something big. I just came back from delivering some letters. I am getting curious. I wonder who he is.]

["Looking at you I can see a sense of curiosity and disdain. Don't think too hard, you were a legendary being, so I understand you can't easily submit to a creature you considered will always be below you. Since such is the case I shan't mistreat you, even if I am thy master. You can start by considering us at equal status. Weren't you getting bored with your lifestyle already? I promise you'll have a lot of fun."]

Said Winter with a slight smile on his face.

[How amusing this human is. Even though a human can't live too long I feel that he has lived longer than anyone else. His strength also far exceeds anyone else.

I feel like a new era is unfolding. So why not witness it firsthand. Haha! This shall be interesting.]

Pride chuckles as he sees his master.

["So master, where are we going?"]

["We are going to the location where you sent your first letter."]

["You mean to the great Elven Empire?"]

["Yes."]

.....

["Master what will happen to that Adina girl?"]

Pride asked curiously.

["As you heard, my men will take her to meet her clansmen. The second letter you delivered has already informed them of this matter. We will meet with them after I am done with my work in the Elven Empire."]

[So the Elven Empire comes first. Since someone as powerful as master is going there, the Elven Empire is going to be in great turmoil. Let's see what interesting things happen in this journey.]

Thought Pride as he makes a determined look.

["So master, are we going to fly our way there or we will walk?"]

["Neither."]

Says Winter as he proceeds to open a crack in the void with his hands.

["We will travel with this."]

["Is opening a void even possible by a human!? Is there anything you cannot do?"]

Said Pride with a baffled look on his face.

["Anything I cannot do? I wish I could do anything. I am not omnipotent, there are existences more powerful and influential than me."]

Winter said with a hint of sadness in his words.

["In any case Pride, you should change your form lest anyone gets scared by your divinity."]

["As you wish."]

Pride changes his form which now looked more like a falcon.

["Now let's head to the Elven Empire."]

Winter said with a slight grin.

....

The next morning, Winter walks inside a tavern. With Pride sitting on his left shoulder.

["What would you like to eat?"]

Winter asked Pride.

["I don't need to eat this to sustain myself."]

Pride replied strongly.

["C'mon, don't be like that even if you don't need to eat to sustain yourself you should still eat. You see, humans are very creative in certain aspects. One of them is- food, you might like the food here...probably?"]

["What would you like sir?"]

The waiter suddenly asked Winter.

["Your specialities Of course."]

Winter replied instantly.

The waiter brings the food for Winter and Pride.

["Here you go, Sir."]

Winter and Pride were arguing about the food when suddenly some people wearing suits and armour entered the tavern.

["Here it comes."]

Winter said while looking at his plate.

A guard comes forward.

["Have you seen a person who looks like this."]

The guard proceeds to show a paper with a face on it.

Everyone in the tavern starts mumbling.

("Hey isn't that the picture of viscount?")

("Do you think the Viscount committed a crime?")

("Are they seriously searching for the viscount.")

("Is something major happening in the kingdom?")

Winter stands up.

["I know where the person drawn on that piece of paper is."]

Winter said confidently.

Everyone focuses on Winter's table.

Guards suddenly surround him.

["Hold on! We don't want such valuable information to be heard by everyone right?"]

Winter says as he raises his hands in the air.

["We were just about to do that. Now come with us!"]

One of the guards speaks harshly.

There was pin-drop silence in the tavern.

Slowly Winter and guards started moving outside.

Pride flew out through the window. To witness everything from the sky.

Winter and guards arrive at the inspection post.

["So this was the guy who said he knew where the viscount is hiding?"]

Said a muscular man in armour as he approached winter.

["I was the one who said that...but what's with the hospitality?"]

Said Winter pointing to the chains which tied him.

["Hah! Who permitted you to speak? You're talking to a division captain."]

The knight said harshly.

["We were told to keep you under tight security. Anyone related to the Viscount is very suspicious. Higher-ups will start interrogating you tomorrow so sit still till then."]

["What a noisy knight."]

Winter mumbles softly.

["You said something!?"]

The knight looks at Winter fiercely.

["How can I a mere peasant dare to say anything to a knight?"]

Winter makes fun of the knight.

["If you understand your position. Then it's good."]

The knight walks back.

[He is a dense knight alright.]

Winter sighs in his mind.

...

At night, suddenly it became too quiet.

Winter scans the entire area with his sense.

[Oh! an unexpected development.]

Suddenly the door of the cell bursts open and two armed people starts opening the chains for winter.

["Worry not, we are here to free you."]

One of them spoke in a hurry.

[Who are they? What is their purpose?]

Winter starts wondering.

-----To be continued-----