Chapter Six: Whispers Beneath a Faint Light

At the crossroads of narrow alleyways, where pale lanterns flickered and somber stone houses loomed, the lights of a modest tavern glimmered faintly, From within, a medley of drunken laughter and clashing dishes spilled out into the cold night, Soft tunes from a stringed instrument floated through the air, and the tavern's warm glow beckoned like a hearth to the evening's lost souls.

Xenia paused at the threshold.

She gazed into the crowded tavern, watching men converse cheerfully with their companions, raising their mugs, dipping chunks of bread into steaming bowls.

A fleeting thought brushed her mind:

' Taverns are always a goldmine for information... Everyone's drunk, and their tongues move faster than their thoughts... '

She drew a steady breath and pushed open the heavy wooden door, The bell overhead jingled softly, announcing the arrival of an outsider, For a brief moment, silence cloaked the room, The laughter ceased, A few heads turned, But soon, the noise returned, cascading back as if nothing had happened.

Xenia approached the stool across from the bartender and took a calculated seat, She wetted her lips, shifted her tone to something deeper, more rugged, and asked,

" Is there a special dish you'd recommend? I'm a stranger to this city and I'm eager to try something unique "

The bartender offered a warm, welcoming smile..

" You've come to the right place, sir.. Lorenval is famous for its venison stew, served with alcohol aged beneath the lake "

Xenia raised an eyebrow in intrigue..

" Beneath the lake? "

The man chuckled and explained,

" Yes, fruits are sealed in glass containers and submerged in the lake's depths for years. After time has passed, specialized divers retrieve them.

The contents are carefully filtered and sold as the city's rarest drink, It's an old tradition in Lorenval "

Xenia smiled thoughtfully..

' An intriguing invention… '

Then, with a light-hearted lilt, she added,

" But I don't drink alcoho,

Still, I'd love to hear more about your customs, Suggest a non-alcoholic drink, and tell me a little about your city, It seems fascinating "

" How about lemon soda? It's a popular and refreshing choice "

Xenia pulled out ten Ru and placed them gently on the table.

The bartender's eyebrows twitched slowly..

' Ten Ru? This man is terribly poor…'

That was his thought, though he masked it behind a courteous tone:

" The total is fifty Ru, sir... "

Without a word, Xenia nodded, She reache into her coat once more, producing forty-five additional Ru... forty for the meal, and five as a tip... then met his gaze with calm, unwavering confidence.

" Agreed "

A brief silence passed before she resumed,

" Tell me about your city,

If your stories impress me, I might become a regular "

The bartender's lips curved into a genuine smile, and he began,

" Lorenval lies to the east of the continent of Sylvaria, surrounded by green lands and wild deer, Most of the locals work as hunters or wood gatherers, We also have plenty of entertainment... taverns, theaters, clubs. Our most famous play is 'The White Deer and the Hunter', performed every Saturday at the public theatre, Thousands attend, even with the steep ticket prices "

Xenia raised her hand and interrupted softly,

" And the taboos? I'd like to stay out of trouble! "

The bartender hesitated, then replied,

" Avoid violence, theft, illegal trade, and disrespect toward the guards, Most importantly, never raise your voice or laugh loudly in public... it's considered a disturbance to nature, Also, steer clear of the forest north of Lorenval, It's not a law, but a long-standing custom "

Xenia's expression flickered with quiet curiosity..

' A disturbance to nature? Strange... '

After a moment, she asked,

" What's in the forest north of the city? "

The tavern fell silent once more, The bartender's face turned pale as paper, and he hesitated.

Sensing the tension, Xenia spoke hesitantly,

" I meant no offense or intrusion… I'm simply curious "

Then, unexpectedly, the sound of glass shattering rang out, A cup had slipped from a patron's hand, The man stared at Xenia with sharp, narrow eyes..

She met his gaze with mild concern and curiosity.

But as he realized she was a stranger, his features softened, He turned toward her and said,

" Sorry, had a bit too much to drink "

Then to the bartender,

" I'll pay for the glass "

Moments dragged...

Then, the man rose from his place and walked over, He sat beside her and called out in a gravelly voice,

" Hey, barkeep! The usual "

He turned to her, eyes scanning her from head to toe before he smiled warmly.

" My name's Noven, And you? What's your name, stranger? "

Xenia froze for a heartbeat...

The way he spoke the word "stranger" made it sound almost like a her name..

But she had already prepared a false identity.

With a neutral tone, she answered,

" Aerion...

Pleased to meet you… Are you from Lorenval? "

" Yes, Born and raised, And you? "

She hesitated before answering,

" I grew up far from here, Circumstances led me here… I'm looking for a fresh start, A different chapter of my life "

" I understand… You don't wish to speak of your birthplace? That's fine, Sometimes memories can be painful "

Xenia sighed softly and said in a low voice,

" You're right "

A brief pause followed, then Noven asked again,

" By the way… Are you a mercenary? An adventurer? A scholar? Or… a Watcher? "

Xenia's mind stirred with silent surprise..

' A Watcher? What kind of profession is that? Is it like a spy? And why whisper it? '

She leaned slightly back, studied him with a faint smile, and answered in a poetic tone,

" I'm… a seeker of home ~ "