Unlike its name; The Slaughter Fest was a celebrated tavern amidst the outskirts of the Golden City. Upon nightfall, it was a common sight to see weary adventurers and like congregating on the place filling it with boisterous laughter and cacophonous conversations over the deafening ballad iterating songs of long fallen heroes and warriors. Scantily dressed dancers entertained the drunken crowd as their mugs clinked, spilling liquor all over a spread of half eaten dinner, all celebrating they lived to see another day, another night.

The sun had already set over the Golden City, exposing the glowing moon that spread its soft radiance over the once busy streets. By now most people were either huddled in their homes asleep while others treated the arrival of night as their cue to get ready and start their own special trade.

Lukas wryly smiled as he found himself raising his own glass of honeyed beer with the people he had just faced life and death with. Geoffrey looked like he belonged with his short wavy hair and a relaxed smile, while Mira's face hidden under a veil was flushed; her stunning features attracting more than a few glances. She held her own drink, sipping it as she enjoyed the rambunctious fun swirling all around her. It was a little disheartening the half-elf Renesme left as soon as they were done but it didn't stop Rexsi from being the center of the attention as his words and humor intermingled in the hazy air of alcohol.

How had he found himself here? Well it all started from the very idea suggested by the culprit himself.

* * *

After everyone took their badges from Malten amidst the confusion and bewilderment, they all had plans already made.

When they visited the Trading Pavilion after, they were all given a choice to either take their full reward or make an account that would help them store their money, making it freely available to withdraw at any time.

Lukas made a choice to withdraw nearly a half of his prize money, as the Golden City was conveniently closer to the Cathedral. He could easily travel to and fro wherever his funds run short. Others made their own choices. Both Geoffrey and Mira made an account like Lukas while Renesme & Rexsi decided to fully withdraw their rewards.

With 120 gold coins in his hands, Lukas had plans to venture around the city, buy a few essential items before he journeyed back to the Cathedral the next morning. Rexsi though had other plans as he had stopped them at the entrance of the Trading Pavilion and proposed an idea they could hardly refuse.

He urged that since they were inevitably connected through the disaster from their Qualification Mission, they might as well spend a single night together to celebrate and deepen their bonds before each disappeared to their own institutes. And to top it all off, he knew just the place.

Geoffrey was about to refuse when Mira agreed to it almost immediately, jumping at the first chance to finally having some fun. Lukas faintly had an idea of the reason why. He summarized her life of being a descendant of a great noble family of Fyre must have not been easy as her face practically glowed at the suggestion, almost as if she couldn’t wait to experience it for herself.

And since Mira was adamant about it, Geoffrey had no choice but to follow. Renesme sadly smiled before telling them that she needed to return to her institution the Vastsky Academy as soon as possible while Lukas for the lack of a better option( apart from spending the night, alone, in his rented room) agreed to it after some thought. Rexsi gave them clear directions on where to find the fabled Slaughter Fest and then each was left to their own devices.

Lukas with an intended goal in mind, walked around the outer skirts of the Golden City familiarizing himself. He saw a lot of shops, buildings, pavilions, and residents hanging around with a few beast men pushing aside the crowd with their huge stature.

But what he didn't expect was the attention he got from his Star Marked badge he had pinned on his robe right after he got it from the Adventurers' Guild. People around kept staring, whispering as they pointed at him, apparently impressed that an outer disciple of the Cathedral of Light got a star marked badge. Although he was already used to being under attention as his previous life occupation practically demanded it, he instinctively felt the need to lay low for now. After all he had a lot to hide in his new life and a lot more to lose should he play his cards wrong.

Trying to silently escape scrutiny, he was forced to make an early stop at a famous tailoring house in the city. To almost everyone who lived in the city, Madame Soile Tailorshop was regarded as one of the best shops that catered to the needs of just about every mage and noble living within the raised walls. Lukas was able to order a new robe according to his measurements and as he waited, he was fascinated by the wide range of products sold ranging from simple elegant wears to some of the most expensive robes he had ever seen, enchanted with powerful runes of various purposes.

It was here though where he got his first surprise. Apparently since the Tailoring House was sponsored by the Adventurer's Guild, Lukas could use his Star marked Badge to obtain a 5% fee discount on anything he purchased.

It wasn't much but at the prospect of saving some of his hard earned money, he purposely visited several similar shops with his Star Marked Badge earning quite a few strange gazes. Ignoring the attention, he enjoyed himself glad that he was careless enough to wear the badge on his chest. Perhaps this was what the Representative meant when he bestowed it to him.

One of the stops he made was at a strange musical shop named the Dancing Fool. After making acquaintances with quite a cheerful lad, he made good bargain on a hand held harp that caught his attention the moment he entered. He found the lack of music in his new world oddly disconcerting as he used to take pleasure from listening to some good lo-fi beats when he worked offline or just share some good music during his streaming hours. He wanted to find out if he could reminiscence some of his favorite musical pieces. Together with the harp, he purchased more than a few cooking utensils along the way. He would feed his nostalgia by remaking some of the dishes he once loved at his previous life. All these things would act as his anchor, a reminder of what he was striving for.

With his new belongings, he made a quick stop at the Swift Pavilion. As the simple name suggested, this Pavilion specialized in the courier carriage and missive deliveries. He wasn't sure if they were spread out continent wise but within the region of the Cathedral of Light, they boasted they could send any message and any luggage almost everywhere. He paid for his new luggage to be sent to his abode at the Cathedral while he remained in the City, devouring all of the sights and smells until the sun began to descend and it was time for him to prepare for tonight's event.

Later that evening, after he had meditated and showered, he wore the newly bought blue and white robe for the night. To his delight, the vibrant colors meshed well with his Starlight staff, transforming him from run a mill priest into a dignified mage of elegant stature.

When carriage he ordered finally arrived, he took the ride to the place he was directed only to find his acquaintances were already there. Rexsi was dressed in a long sleeved tunic fastened by a belt that hid the pointed sheaths of his daggers while Geoffrey wore a knight’s surcoat, its crimson color somehow drawing out the brilliance of his blue eyes and his golden curly hair. He had to admit to himself that it took more than a few seconds to tear his eyes away from him. Denying whatever he felt, he focused on Mira who gladly wore his attention as she twirled around, showing off her tight fitting dress glimmering in the hues of red and gold.

Yet once they entered the lively hall of the Slaughter Fest’s tavern they immediately knew they were overdressed. Mira attracted the most attention, the fabric of her dress perfectly reflecting the burning lambs from the walls while Lukas got quite a few gazes sent his way. His pale eyes and hair probably didn’t help but when Rexsi had insisted on casual clothing, this was best he could have done, with other choice involving him appearing at the tavern with his usual white priest garb. But he wasn’t about to get intimidated by the attention as he easily strolled inside following Mira whose gaze was flicking everywhere not minding the spotlight she was in.

Smiling awkwardly, Rexsi hurriedly sent them to their table and it didn't take long for the people inside The Slaughter Fest to resume their jubilant mood, the loud banter overwhelming the clinking of mugs and the chanting of a traditional tune layered with clinking instruments.

After a few orders were placed and the beers started rolling in, Mira was positively enraptured by the heavy silky sweet-like taste the honeyed beer left behind as it warmed her whole body. Occasionally her eyes hidden under the veil flitted to the podium where there was now a single dancer twirling around, capturing the attention of everyone. Lukas who had already made it a common habit to observe everything around him took it all in. From the spilling alcohol to the busty waitresses who slyly cajoled oblivious men to buy even more beer and ultimately to the graceful dancer gyrating her lither body under a light crimson mist. He was positively sure there was some kind of magic involved but it seemed no one cared as the audience roared and clapped at every turn.

Mira couldn't help but snort.

“What is it?” Rexsi noticed.

Mira's head nodded in the dancer's direction. “I didn't expect a fallen daughter from the House of Firaun would be here giving a performance to these hoodlums.”

Rexsi’s face twitched before he sighed; thanking the stars the din inside the Slaughter Fest was loud. “If we don’t want to be chased by these folks its best we keep such names to ourselves.”

Mira rolled her eyes while Lukas leaned closer. “Is she a noble?” He curiously asked.

Mira was about to nod before she shook her head. “More like a half a noble.” She sniggered. “Once it was rumored one of the elders in the House of Firaun had an affair with a servant and that led to her birth. It was quite a scandal back then considering the House of Firaun has ties to the Tabernacle of Flames Sect apart from my own. Trapped in between politics of whether she can even be regarded a noble and hence a descendant, the older elders of the House decisively abandoned her, branding her as a bastard. They were just about to banish her before her father; also an elder of considerable weight intervened and made sure she kept to her studies. I would have never expected to find her here...”

Rexsi let out a breath, “So that’s her story.” He murmured before he noticed everyone’s attention was on him. “She is a very well known adventurer in these parts.” He continued. “Her strength is recognized by almost everyone. Within the adventurer’s circle, everyone is treated as an equal. The squabbles and troubles of the nobles rarely leave a ripple between people who don’t even know when they might not see the light of the next day.”

Reading the message between the lines Mira shrugged. She continued to enjoy her drink with the utmost nonchalance though Lukas was sure Geoffrey had a concerned gaze that he might be witnessing a descendant of a noble house becoming inebriated in his presence.

By the time the food they ordered appeared, the exchange of words had got even easier. Everyone clank their glasses over the steaming dishes in cheers for Lukas at saving their lives, causing him to embarrassingly smile. Even as the topic about them being followed rose in which Rexsi grumbled quite a bit, he was silenced by Geoffrey with a very realistic response. Serious causalities in qualifying exams were not unheard off so they should have been grateful that they even had a protector in the first place despite the hunch that told them that the real reason for a guard to be present might be because they had a famous descendant amongst them. Regardless, it was all brushed away as they devoured their dinner, their voices mingling over the cacophony of noise and music.

After the dinner was served and done, Lukas lingered around for a few minutes before he silently excused himself from the table. In his desire to find a private place, he found himself in empty overhead balcony that overlooked the streets around the tavern with a curtain that seemingly separated the alcove from the noise within.

He held his drink as he stared at the empty pavements with a few waiting carriages. The dark sky was clear with a few cloudy wisps, held by the stars that shimmered like gemstones littered beside the silver lake. And for the first time ever since he came into this world, he felt utterly and truly alone. He knew he had a caring new sister in his new life and he just had an exciting (and dangerous) adventure along with the hunger to experience this strange new world in all of its glory but…deep down he knew it would have been a better odyssey if he truly had a someone to share it with, someone he could fully trust. This unintentionally made him recall his former life back on his earth. He truly missed them all; his mother, his family, his small circle of friends but most of all his fiancé. How was he? He wondered. Does he still remember him? Was he still conquering the writing world in the way he only knew how? These were all questions he had, questions he feared he might not get an answer to for a long while.