56. Drinks at the Pub

Chapter 56: Drinks at the Pub (IV)

The night had stretched on, and the pub's lively atmosphere was starting to wear thin on me. The clinking of mugs, the raucous laughter, and the occasional off-key singing from a group of drunk adventurers in the corner were all starting to blend into a dull hum. I'd had enough drinks to feel pleasantly buzzed but not enough to make me regret it in the morning. My body, still recovering from the last quest, was sending me subtle signals that it was time to call it a night. I glanced over at Freya, who had been sitting quietly beside me, her expression unreadable as she nursed her drink.

"Well," I said, leaning back in my chair and stretching my arms above my head, "I think I've had enough for one night. Time to turn in and get some much-needed rest. What about you, Freya? You coming with me, or are we done here?"

Freya didn't respond immediately. She just stared at me, her blue eyes piercing as if she were trying to decipher some hidden meaning in my words. For a moment, I thought she might actually say something—maybe even agree to join me—but then she seemed to think better of it. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she finished her drink in one swift motion before standing up.

"Goodnight, Kaizen," she said curtly, her tone giving nothing away. And just like that, she turned on her heel and walked out of the guild hall, leaving me sitting there like an idiot.

I watched her go, my brow furrowing as I tried to figure out what the hell had just happened. She'd come here looking for me, that much was obvious, but it sure as hell wasn't about the Duchess. No, this was something else—something personal. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to say it. Typical Freya. Always so damn guarded.

"Well, screw her," I muttered under my breath, finishing off my own drink. If she wasn't willing to come to terms with whatever was going on between us, then I wasn't going to waste my time trying to figure it out for her. I had better things to do—like getting some sleep.

I pushed myself up from the table and made my way over to Ruko, who was still deep in conversation with the female adventurer he'd been talking to all night. He looked more relaxed than I'd ever seen him, his tail swaying gently behind him as he gestured animatedly, telling some story that had her laughing. It was a good look on him. For once, he didn't seem like the quiet, reserved guy who'd been nursing me and the twins back to health. He looked… happy.

"Hey, Ruko," I said, interrupting their conversation with a grin. "I'm still feeling the effects of that last quest, so I'm gonna turn in for the night. Get some much-needed R&R, you know?"

Ruko nodded, his ears twitching slightly as he turned to me. "Of course, Kaizen. You've earned it."

"But before I go," I added, glancing at the woman sitting across from him, "why don't you introduce me to your friend here? It's only polite."

Ruko's ears flattened slightly, and he looked a little embarrassed, but he recovered quickly. "Right. Kaizen, this is Kaiya Blood. She's a C-rank adventurer. Kaiya, this is Kaizen Vale, the rookie everyone's been talking about."

Kaiya smiled, extending a hand toward me. Her grip was firm, her calloused fingers a testament to the life of an adventurer. "It's an honor to meet you," she said, her voice warm but with a hint of amusement. "The rookie who's been making waves."

I raised an eyebrow, shaking her hand. "Making waves, huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

She chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "Less than two months as an adventurer and already a D-rank? That's no small feat, especially in a place like Torak. People tend to notice when someone moves up the ranks that quickly."

I smirked, crossing my arms over my chest. "Well, I'll be honest, I didn't realize I'd already garnered a reputation. Guess I'll have to start living up to the hype."

Ruko chimed in, his tail flicking behind him. "It's rare for someone to climb the ranks so fast, especially here on the frontier. Torak's not exactly known for being forgiving to newcomers."

"Yeah, well," I said, shrugging, "I hope I don't disappoint. The real thing's not as impressive as the rumors make it out to be."

Kaiya laughed, a genuine sound that made Ruko's ears perk up. "I doubt that. Anyone who can survive the kind of quests you've been on must have something special."

I gave her a mock bow, grinning. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Kaiya. But for now, I'm gonna have to call it a night. Ruko, don't stay up too late. You've got a big day tomorrow."

Ruko nodded, his expression serious. "I won't. Goodnight, Kaizen."

"Night, Ruko. Kaiya," I said, giving her a nod before turning to leave.

As I made my way toward the exit, I stopped by the counter where Gwen was busy wiping down mugs. She glanced up at me, her amber eyes glinting with mischief.

"Leaving so soon, Kaizen?" she asked, her tone teasing. "I thought you had more stamina than that."

I leaned on the counter, giving her my best smirk. "Oh, I've got plenty of stamina, Gwen. Just saving it for the right person. Last chance to join me tonight."

She rolled her eyes, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "In your dreams, rookie. Go get some rest before you pass out in the street."

I chuckled, pushing myself off the counter. "You're breaking my heart, Gwen. But fine, I'll take the hint. Night, Gwen."

"Night, Kaizen," she called after me as I headed for the door.

Stepping out into the cool night air, I took a deep breath, the scent of the city filling my lungs. Torak was quiet at this hour, the streets lit by the soft glow of lanterns and the pale light of the moon overhead. The stars were out in full force, their twinkling light casting a serene atmosphere over the city. It was a nice change from the usual chaos of the guild hall.

I started walking toward the Mikaelson Inn and Tavern, a few streets over. The inn had become my go-to spot since arriving in Torak, partly because it was close to the guild and partly because the owner and his wife—a no-nonsense woman named Elara—didn't put up with any nonsense. Plus, the beds were surprisingly comfortable for a frontier town.

As I walked, my mind wandered back to Freya. What the hell had that been about? She'd come to the guild looking for me, but then she'd just… left. No explanation, no goodbye, nothing. It was frustrating, but then again, that was Freya. Always keeping me guessing.

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts aside. Whatever was going on with her, it could wait until tomorrow. Right now, all I wanted was a good night's sleep. The streets were quiet, the only sound the soft crunch of my boots on the cobblestones. The moon hung high in the sky, casting long shadows as I made my way toward the inn.

Torak might have been a rough-and-tumble frontier town, but nights like this made it almost peaceful. Almost. I smirked to myself, thinking about the chaos that would undoubtedly greet me in the morning. But for now, I was content to enjoy the quiet.

As I turned the corner onto the street where the Mikaelson Inn stood, I glanced up at the sky one last time. The stars were bright, their light cutting through the darkness. It was a good night to be alive, even if I was too tired to fully appreciate it.

I pushed open the door to the inn, the familiar scent of wood polish and ale greeting me as I stepped inside. Elara was behind the counter, as usual, her sharp eyes flicking up to meet mine.

"You have finally returned after all this time," she said, her tone dry but not unkind.

"Long night," I replied, giving her a tired smile. "I'll be heading straight to bed."

She nodded, handing me my key. "Don't let the bedbugs bite."

I chuckled, taking the key and heading up the stairs to my room. As I closed the door behind me, I let out a long sigh, the weight of the day finally catching up to me. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, but for now, all I wanted was to collapse into bed and let the world fade away.

And as I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't help but smile. Life in Torak was never boring, and that was just the way I liked it.

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