Value

Azuran's liquid form pulsed with intrigue as he observed Sol. "Traveler, the information you have given me is far more valuable than what I have provided in return. Consider this—if you wish, you may ask another question, or take something from my store as compensation."

Sol's interest piqued, but he forced himself to hold back. He knew that keeping this favor for another time might prove more useful than indulging his curiosity now. "I think I'll save it for later. Never know when something like this might come in handy."

Azuran rippled, a hoarse laugh reverberating through his shifting form. "A wise choice. Information, like time, is most valuable when spent at the right moment."

With that, Sol turned his attention to the store. Rows of oddities lined the walls—some shimmering with unknown energy, others emitting faint hums as if alive. There were artifacts he had no hope of understanding and gadgets that made his fingers itch with ideas. His mind whirled with possibilities, already concocting all sorts of wild contraptions he could create if he had access to such advanced tech.

He browsed for some time, his curiosity pulling him from one strange item to the next. Eventually, though, he decided to move on. He had seen enough to know that this place was a treasure trove of the unusual and the powerful, but for now, he had other matters to attend to.

Stepping into the adjoining bar, the Cosmic Drift, Sol immediately felt the shift in atmosphere. The lively chatter, the clinking of glasses, and the hum of music in the background wrapped around him like an old friend. But what caught his attention the most was the sudden shift in energy as eyes turned toward him.

A few women—some human, others from alien races—threw him flirtatious glances, their gazes lingering on him with interest. He had always known he wasn't bad-looking, but after months of intense training and honing his abilities, there was a confidence in his stance now that seemed to attract even more attention than before.

Behind the bar, Candy was busy mixing a drink when she caught sight of him. For a moment, she hesitated, her brows furrowing slightly. Then, with some uncertainty, she called out, "Sol?"

Her ears twitched, as if she wasn't entirely sure she was seeing the right person. Sol smirked, stepping further into the bar, his sharp starry eyes glinting under the neon lights. "The one and only."

Candy blinked, then let out a small, breathless laugh. "Damn, traveler. You clean up well."

She had seen how people changed after experiencing Luminara, but this was something else entirely. The shift in Sol wasn't just physical—it was deeper, something almost intangible. The most striking feature was his starry eyes, shimmering with an unfathomable depth. When they locked onto her, she felt as if he was peering straight into her soul. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought before she quickly masked it, clearing her throat. 

"How long exactly were you gone?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity, ears twitching.

Sol leaned against the bar, casually resting his elbow on the counter. "A month, give or take."

Candy's ears flicked upward in surprise. "A month? No way, traveler. You couldn't have been gone more than a few days. Time's weird in Luminara, sure, but that's a whole other level."

Sol shrugged, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. "Tell that to my body. Feels like I've been through hell and back."

She studied him for a moment, her golden eyes scanning him from head to toe, lingering slightly longer on the sharpness of his new features. "You do look different. Stronger. More…" she hesitated before smirking. "Mysterious."

Sol chuckled, swirling a finger around the rim of a stray glass on the counter. "Mysterious, huh? Sounds like you're interested."

Candy rolled her eyes, tossing a rag over her shoulder. "Don't flatter yourself, traveler. But I will admit—Luminara changed you. People come back from that place shaken, but you? You look like you thrived there. What'd you see?"

Sol tilted his head, debating for a moment. He wasn't about to spill everything, but he also didn't see the harm in a little tease. "Let's just say I got a glimpse of something divine."

Candy narrowed her eyes, lips twitching upward in amusement. "Sounds like bullshit."

"Then don't believe it," Sol said smoothly, taking a seat at the bar. "But since we're talking about mysteries, any chance I can get a drink before I dive back into reality?"

Candy huffed a laugh and reached for a bottle behind her. "Fine, fine. First drink's on me, but only 'cause I want to hear more of your nonsense."

She poured a glass of something smooth and iridescent, sliding it over to him. Sol caught it with a smirk, raising it slightly in thanks before taking a sip. The cool burn trickled down his throat, grounding him back into the moment.

"So," Candy leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "What's next for the great and mysterious traveler?"

Sol laughed at the title, shaking his head. "This traveler settled down, actually. I'm working as a delivery boy for Lover's Bar now."

Candy's ears twitched sharply, her expression shifting to one of clear surprise. "Wait—what? You're working for that old bastard? No way."

Her reaction made Sol pause. He had expected some surprise, but there was something else there—something that sounded almost irritated. He smirked, curiosity piqued. "What's this? Did the old man reject you or something?"

Candy's tail flicked in agitation, and for a brief second, her expression was unreadable. Then she scoffed, turning away to busy herself with a bottle. "Mind your own business, traveler."

Sol chuckled, taking another sip of his drink. "That's a yes."