Chương 4: Orsus Town

Evel awoke with the rest of his group inside a tavern. How did Arlo even get us all into beds? Imagining the stoic veteran tucking them all in was a fun image, despite how unrealistic it sounded. The owners were quick to notify the Yosten group of Arlo's instructions: They had two hours to explore Orsus town proper before heading off to the military section to the east, Orsus camp. He also gave each member 5 Riak to explore the town with.

The shine of the coins reflected off Evel's eyes as he could already feel his mouth salivating. A proper meal! It's been so long... Four of them, Elena, Brenton, Evel and Leo, immediately set off. Juniper and Fern politely declined their invitation and explored the city themselves. The four didn't browse; the soft smell of freshly baked bread was all the convincing any of them needed. Walking into the restaurant, they got seated comfortably.

It was a homey place, with a nearby furnace, and a constant warm scent drifted throughout. They got seated and read through the menu.

"They're scamming us!" Elena pushed off her chair and slammed the table. Brenton yanked her back down.

"Sit down, please." Shaking him off, Elena doubled down.

"Do you not see these prices? Four Riak for a deer soup? Back home, you could get it for one!"

"It's not our Riak!"

"It's the principle!" Elena's hand fell upon the table once more.

"Elena, I swear..." The commotion invited the attention of a nearby waiter.

"Is something the matter?" The waiter wasn't nervous. The glass badge on his chest revealed he had the strength to handle any altercations that may appear. Evel quickly answered.

"I'd like the stew, please, with a lot of garlic bread." Elena looked at Evel in shock at the betrayal.

"I want the roasted fish." Leo was quick to follow with his order.

"And I'll take the... deer soup." Brenton wasted no time. Realizing that nobody was on her side, Elena shook her head and sat down.

"Sandwich... the breakfast sandwich..."

"Principles, huh?" Brenton mocked. Elena only sneered back. The waiter jotted down the orders in his notebook and smiled.

"The total will be 15 Riaks, is that all?" The group nodded and soon got back to conversation, and 20 minutes later, the food arrived. The stew had a thick, velvety broth, with small pieces of tender meat. The veggies and the aromatic herbs gave it a certain fragrant smell and warmth that invited Evel to begin his feast. His mouth watered at the sight and didn't hesitate before directly digging in, but he forced himself to slow down.

Once, after going more than a day without eating, he'd stuffed himself too quickly and ended up immobile for hours. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. He grabbed the garlic bread and dipped it in the stew, and thoroughly savoured the first bite. As he enjoyed his meal, his thoughts eventually drifted to Arlo's advice and the pressing matter of his affinity. A number that would decide his future in less than two hours.

The specifics weren't clear, but their importance wasn't lost on him. His paradise didn't last long. The good mood and homey setting soon broke down with the creak of an opening door. The warm atmosphere chilled. A cold chill climbed down Evel's back. He looked at the rest of his group and noticed they also all had uncomfortable expressions. The feeling they got was one of someone having an active ability... yet something was off.

Usually, the aura felt akin to a hot match burning out, with each ability adding a certain aspect or feeling to it. But this feeling was different. It resembled a dull lamp ahead of a dark, creepy hallway. It was dull and eerie. Evel scanned the restaurant for the source of this unnerving feeling, and his eyes led him to the entrance. A man in a dark hooded robe stood, as nearby customers excused themselves to get away. Under his hood was a bronze-skinned young man.

His face was full of cuts, with a particularly deep cut going through the edge of his lips. The restaurant, which had previously been full of people chattering and utensils clinking on plates, was now in a still silence. The same waiter who had previously tended to Evel's group paced to the new customer.

"Hello, is there something we can help you with?" The man took off his hood, revealing thick, unkept black hair and a neck full of shallow cuts.

"Food." His tone was as neutral as it could get. There were no signs of malice or gratitude.

"Of course, but we'll have to request you to stop using your ability while in this establishment." The man intensely stared into the waiter's eyes. The waiter, unflinching, stared right back. After a tense silence, a look of enlightenment hit the waiter's face as if he remembered something.

"Ah, you must be Bremin! Such young talent! Come, we have a separate room we can accommodate you in. Hera, take this man to Room C!" Bremin nodded and followed the waitress closely. His aura dissipated as he entered the next room, though a faint trace of his presence remained behind. Was he… training? Evel considered himself a hard worker, but in this case, he felt completely outclassed. With the aura now mostly gone, the customers gradually relaxed. Within a few minutes, the chatter and clinks returned.

"I hope I don't ever have to fight guys like him," Brenton said quietly as he sipped on his bowl of soup. He looked fairly young, and although his power had a certain eerie vibe to it, it wasn't overwhelming. Did he also recently get here? Evel got the waiter's attention and asked him a question.

"Could you tell me more about that Bremin guy?" The waiter looked at him with a curious glance.

"No, it's not my place to do so." Evel paused, taking a quick look around the room.

"In that case, could I finish the rest of my meal with him, in the other room?" His three companions' heads snapped to him with such intensity that he could practically hear their thoughts: What was this psycho thinking? Eat with that creepy guy? Evel ignored them, waiting patiently for the waiter's reply. The waiter shrugged with a sigh.

"As long as he doesn't mind, I don't see an issue. Come with me." A small yank came from his coat; it was Leo looking at him, a deep concern in his eyes.

"Are you sure, Mr. Evel?" Evel looked back in amusement and gave him a soft smile.

"Just Evel is fine. I'll see you guys later at the camp." He snatched his soup and his bread and left 4 Riaks at the table before following the waiter to the room. The waiter knocked.

"Enter." A coarse voice answered, and the waiter opened the door. The deathly aura washed over Evel, but he tried not to show his discomfort on his face. The room was well decorated, looking more like a study than a dining room. There was a large bookshelf to the right and a large painting on the left. It showcased the Emperor, his Majesty, in his royal armour, his sword held high in the air, as if declaring to the world that he would take on anyone who dared challenge him.

At the center, there was a large dining table with four seats. One of them was occupied with Bremin, who had a blank expression. Focusing on Bremin, Evel asked,"Hey there, Br- uhh man, how bout some company while you eat?" Bremin had never actually told his name to Evel, so it didn't feel right to act overly friendly. Silence. Evel cringed as the silence dragged. He began backtracking.

"If not, I c –""Okay." Evel blinked. It worked? Delighted, Evel entered the room and sat across from Bremin. He placed his stew and bread on the table and got as comfortable as he could in the seat. The waiter didn't stay for any longer than he needed to and closed the door tightly behind him. Bremin's order hadn't arrived yet, so instead, the terrifying man's blank gaze remained fixed on Evel. How am I supposed to eat with that look? What do I even say?

After agonizing over it for far too long, and with Bremin's eyes never leaving him, he gave up on anything normal and reverted to what he was most familiar with.

"Wanna see a magic trick?"