Ch.64 Just a Hangover


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya had been sleeping in her bed as best she could while recovering from drinking too much Dwarven Ale after Hajdah''s challenge.


    <span style="font-weight:400">She woke up to hear the door open and a knock.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"O! God damn, my head," Rya said groggily, fighting a hangover.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Alpha? Are you okay?" Dalia asked nervously.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"I''m fine, just had a little too much. Ah, what time is it?" Rya replied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"You''ve been sleeping for about 3 or 4 hours. Do you need anything? Food?" Dalia asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Food sounds good. Ow... And water. Thanks," Rya answered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Percy brought a tray filled with food and drinks to Rya.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya started to sit up when she felt someone touch her shoulder.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Here you go, Lady Rya. We have wild boar and root vegetables," Percy said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Thank you, Percy," Rya said as she slowly ate her meal.


    <span style="font-weight:400">After finishing her meal, Rya looked outside the window and noticed the sun was overcast. She could see the mountain range in the distance.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"It seems like it''s gonna rain," Rya said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dalia looked out the window and sniffed the air.


    <span style="font-weight:400">*Sniff! Sniff!* "Hmm? Well, I do smell moistness in the air," Dalia replied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Maybe it''s a storming in?" Percy asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"I hope it rains. I like the sound of it from time to time. Haah... Well, I''m feeling better, thanks, guys," Rya said as she stretched her arms over her head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Well, it''s the least I can do. And you did well with Hajdah''s challenge, Lady Rya. I was a little worried when the Mages Guild surrounded us," Percy said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Huh? They were a part of the Mages Guild? I thought I felt something radiating from them. Was that their mana? I have never experienced that kind of sensation before..." Rya said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Well, that''s what mages say, at least. If someone is born with the ability to be a mage, then mages can sense other mages'' mana. They say it feels different from everyone else''s mana. But it feels all the same to me. Anyway, don''t worry about it. Only the mages can sense your mana. They are the only ones in the city that can locate you... I hope?" Percy exined.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Hmm? So, are there multiple mages in the city? I wonder if they have different books or something that will allow me to learn more magic. I could use some help right now," Rya said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"If you''re looking for books on the subject, I think you''ll be disappointed. Most of their books are made by other kingdoms from millennia ago, and we are unable to reproduce them ourselves unless there''s a magical scribe in the city. And they are hard to read. At least that''s what they tell me," Percy answered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">''I wonder if those stupid Goddesses gave me the ability to read deadnguages? It''s the least those assholes could do! Who am I kidding? They would take away abilities if it amused them,'' Rya thought to herself with a grimace.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya looked around and noticed Quin and Sir George weren''t there.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Where is Quin? Where''s he gone to?" Rya asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Yeah, Beta came back from an errand earlier and was watching over you like a sick puppy! But the Baron asked him about sending a message. So, he should be back soon," Dalia replied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">''Why would the Baron want to send a message? Maybe a message to the capital? Whatever, it''s probably not important,'' Rya thought to herself.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"So, how''s my room?" Rya asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dalia pointed to the door. Rya exited her bed, walked over to the door, and opened it to see avish bedroom.


    <span style="font-weight:400">A small desk sat beside the bed with a quill and some ink pens.


    <span style="font-weight:400">On the wall were two paintings of thete King Burell and his wife.


    <span style="font-weight:400">''Jeez, this stuff looks expensive!'' Rya thought to herself.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The room was painted white with gold ents.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya walked over to the window and stared outside, looking down at the streets below. She then noticed a man sitting at a table in the corner of the courtyard. She recognized him as one of the dwarven mages from when they got surrounded when they entered the pce walls.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Who is that?" Rya asked Dalia.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"That''s the dwarf from the Mage Guild. He''s been hanging around after you were in bed. I thought he was going to go home. I guess he isn''t," Dalia replied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya looked down at him. After a moment, she heard the door open behind her.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Well, someone''s awake," said the familiar voice that belonged to Quin.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya turned around quickly to see Quin standing there with a smile on his face.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Quin put his hand up and scratched the back of his head. "I''m sorry, Rya. I didn''t mean to scare you."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya shook her head and sighed, "No, it''s fine. And I''m sorry about being a burden after getting drunk again."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Quin smiled and nodded, "Don''t worry about it. It''s not your fault. Hajdah was hell-bent on proving to me that you were using me. He was an idiot for trying to start drama between us. Don''t listen to him."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya frowned and ced her hand on Quin''s chest. "Does he not trust me because I''m a Dark Elf? Or what?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">Quin took Rya''s hand into his own. "Yeah. The weird thing is Hajdah has been alive for 120 years, and you''re the first Dark Elf he''s run into? It seems like most of the continent hasn''t run into the Dark Elves except the Alliance of the Divine Three?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">''Huh? Are Dark Elves a rare species? I thought they- we were prettymon?'' Rya thought to herself.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Well, we''re invited to have dinner with the Baron tonight. Would you like to join us?" Quin asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Sure, why not? I don''t want to be rude. I''ve never met the baron before," Rya replied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Just try not to drink too much ale tonight. You don''t need another hangover," Quin said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ryaughed and nodded. "I think I had enough for one day. But I have to say that stuff is too good!"


    <span style="font-weight:400">"You know I don''t care if you get drunk as long as you behave yourself," Quin said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rya just grinned.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Oh yeah! There''s a festival for the Goddess happening tomorrow. It should be nice just to rx a bit," Quin said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Well, I wouldn''t mind checking it out," Rya replied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dalia and Percy were also in favor of seeing the festival.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Yeah, I''d like to watch the animal show if anyone is interested," Percy said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Yeah, I''d go see the main attraction, but I don''t really like to see animals in captivity. They are used mostly for fighting or performing. But if it were humans that were fighting in an arena, then I would be interested," Dalia said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Ah... Uh?... N-No animals, got it. I believe the main attraction will be human fighters. We can avoid the animal fights, Lady Dalia," Percy answered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Good, that''s why you''re the best little wolf in the world," Daliaughed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"You know it''s like you''re going on a date with Percy?" Rya said with a grin, trying to tease her.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dalia sighed and rolled her eyes. "It''s just a simple trip to the arena. It''s tough to embarrass me in public."


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Heh... Putting up a brave front? Well, enough joking around, let''s go meet the Baron," Rya said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">With that, the group headed to the dining hall, where the banquet was already being held.