b2 chapter 134: the return pt. 4


    kaius stiffened slightly as he walked through the open door of the stout oak, though he did not break stride. he had a lot of memories in this place.


    of the leather wrapped benches and tables, nestled in cosy nooks that were recessed into one of the tavern’s walls. the tables buffed to a high shine, reflecting the candles that sat above despite being discoloured from many a spilled drink. he remembered falling asleep under one as a boy, lulled by the soft murmur of a busy tavern and the warmth of a good fire and a full belly.


    of the hearth that dominated the far wall across from him, its wide mantle covered in a dozen trinkets and trophies, and a large deer skull mounted above it. many bards had sung there, dancing and playing in front of the crackling flames for the delight of a crowd.


    of the bar to his right, with its sweeping bench and a trio of handpulled taps that served whatever concoctions hurrin had brewed in the months prior. his first sip of beer, he remembered its malty and bitter taste, hurrin and father laughing at the face he pulled.


    of the many tables that dotted the wide open space, filled to the brim with locals and visiting wanderers alike. they were empty now, the fire dead, and the place quiet.


    “fetch the pints and get the stew hot, will ye lass?” hurrin said, looking to his daughter.


    illendra nodded and rushed off ahead, flying around the bar to rush into the kitchen. thankfully, the stout oak had had their stew going for years, and he knew that illendra would have topped it off this morning, so she would only need to bring it up from a low simmer. she’d be back soon.


    hurrin jutted his chin towards one of the larger tables that sat towards the centre of the room, exposed and open. kaius had normally seen it used for games of cards or dice, but it seemed it would be the site of their discussion.


    as a group they walked over, porkchop hunching down slightly to fit through the double doors. they’d already stopped by the hunters lodge, depositing the deer on their way to the tavern.


    kaius took his seat, porkchop settling in next to him as the elders of three fields took their own.


    “sorry we don’t have anything suitable for yourself, porkchop.” eilish said, addressing his bond-brother. porkchop had gotten sick of being called a ‘forest king’ on the fourth go of it on their walk over and had insisted that they call him by name. “we were not expecting anyone of your... lineage to ever visit our humble village. i would be happy to fetch you a hide or a rug, if you would like something. the workshops are close by.”


    “no, thank you, i''m used to stone and soil, so this is fine.” porkchop replied politely.


    the elder of the artisans nodded, waiting patiently for illendra as the soft hiss of ale hitting tankards continued. a few moments later, his old friend returned, seven tankards and a low bowl expertly balanced on a serving tray. she moved around the table depositing drinks, including one for porkchop, before she finally gave him his.


    “imperial stout. pretty strong, but i remember that''s not really an issue for you.” she whispered, before rushing over to take her seat by her father’s side. kaius smiled at her. strong and dark had always been his preference for beer. through some arcane interaction, rapid adaptation had bolstered his tolerance to drink, and his father had warned him that he would need the help of brewers with high skill levels to feel any effects far before most classers vitality reached the point that common brews stopped working. even suppressing a skill couldn’t remove its effects completely, at least not at higher levels.


    “what’s this, kaius?” porkchop asked him quietly, sniffing his bowl full of amber foamy liquid that was set at his edge of the table. even sitting on the floor, he still reached it easily.


    he smiled. “beer, expect it to be a little bready and kind of bitter. it might make you feel a little warm and ... relaxed, for lack of a better term, but i expect it won''t have much effect on you with your constitution. give it a try though.” kaius whispered back, receiving a glimmer of curiosity in turn.


    turning his attention back to the elders, he found them waiting patiently. he sighed, taking a long drink from his tankard. the rich notes of a good stout flooded his palate, and he groaned in appreciation.


    “a year without your drop is a year too long, hurrin. this is a good batch.” he said appreciatively, his tankard clacking as he returned it to the table.


    the stocky tavernkeep grinned at him. “of course it is, i bloody well brewed it, didn’t i?”


    saldar was the first to break the tense dance they were doing, cutting through the fluff and pleasantries with all of his familiar grump.


    “yes, yes.” he waved. “you make good beer, we all know this.” saldar leaned forwards, fixing him with a stare, though one more tinged with guarded curiosity than suspicion. “now, boy. why don’t you tell us what trouble you’ve gotten into this time.”


    jekkar shook his head. “not those ones. that plateau has to be a good hundred-and-fifty strides in the air, and the falls are massive. he’d have broken a leg at least, and would have been caught in the undertow.”


    “i was. leg was snapped clean through, and my health completely drained.” kaius explained, drawing a soft gasp from illendra. “the undertow had me fully, i nearly drowned.”


    “then how are you sitting here, lad.” hurrin asked, fully enraptured in his story.


    kaius grunted, taking a deep pull of his stout. “there was a depths portal at the bed of the falls, undertow sucked me right through.”


    he was met with silence, every single listener watching him intensely.


    “impossible.” saldar half spat, planting his hands on the table to rise from his seat. “you mean to tell us you survived the depths? that’s a fucking death sentence for an unclassed.”


    porkchop growled, a throaty bass that rattled the very table, sending ripples through their drinks. handspan fangs bared, his bond-brother’s eyes drilled into saldar. “you will not accuse my bonded brother of falsehood. especially not for something i have witnessed myself, or would you also accuse me as well?”


    saldar paled, freezing.


    yanmi pulled the man back into his seat, eyes narrowed at the old farmer. “we would do no such thing, porkchop. saldar was simply taken aback by shock. weren’t you, saldar?”


    “..yes, yes i was.” he stammered. “i apologise for interrupting.”


    kaius nodded, taking the time to have another sip of his stout. he could feel it working now. strong as it was, the heady brew was doing well at cutting through his vitality. he still had full control of his faculties, but at least he felt a little...looser.


    “i take no offence. if i heard it i would question it too, but regardless it happened. the second layer too.” kaius said.


    jekkar winced at that, with a combat class, he knew best of everyone here the exact dangers that the depths posed. though, he noticed that neither him nor hurrin or yanmi had acted surprised. they knew something. his seed of dread rattled.


    “i only survived those early days due to things i would not speak of. not yet. what is important is that after i managed to kill two champions, i had the sheer blind luck to be rewarded with a natural treasure.”


    everyone at the table froze, though jekkar in particular had been staring at him intently even before the mention of the fruit.


    “truly?” eilish whispered.


    “true as rain.” kaius nodded. “what i am about to share, i only share because i consider this my home, and this and some later knowledge may be vital in ensuring that it remains a place for me to return to. this must not leave this room, clear?” he met the eyes of each of his listeners in turn, only moving on when he had gotten a nod, all a mixture of solemn, resolute, and curious.


    kaius grunted, finishing his tankard. sharing would be a risk, but porkchop had been wearing off on him. the desperate claws that most people sank into their secrets were foolish. if they hadn’t, they might have already passed whatever trials the system had left for them, or at least be far better prepared.


    while he couldn’t see himself living in three fields, it was still where he had been raised before he was old enough to survive the sea. it was home, and he wouldn’t see it potentially destroyed by his own paranoia.


    kaius steeled himself. “after eating the fruit, i became observed.”


    there was a moment of silence. then the room erupted into chaos.