(Other Realm)
Alethia gracefully maneuvered through the crowded common room of the tavern, guided by Cordelia's presence at the bar, where she leisurely sipped her ale. Settling down beside her, Alethia ordered a glass of wine and a hearty meal.
Cordelia let out a soft sigh. "So, you disappeared abruptly the last time we went out. Care to enlighten me on what happened?"
Alethia shook her head, her eyes scanning the room. "Nothing of consequence occurred. I simply had pressing matters to attend to."
Cordelia shrugged, her curiosity lingering. "If you say so."
Alethia's gaze shifted towards the middle-aged barkeep, who observed them while scrubbing a mug. She shrugged, returning her attention to Cordelia as their food was served. The waitress approached with a gentle smile. "The owner wishes to speak with you once the commotion dies down a bit."
Alethia flashed a sweet smile. "Kindly inform him that we will gladly meet with him. Also, do let him know that his spiced potatoes are the finest in the realm."
The waitress nodded. "I shall relay your message." She then made her way back down the bar, while Cordelia turned to Alethia, perplexed.
"Why did you agree to meet the owner?"
"Because he has been surveilling you ever since I arrived, and his guard is stationed at the door to ensure we don't leave. Care to disclose what you have done to attract his attention?" Alethia inquired, her tone tinged with concern.
Cordelia shook her head, appearing offended. "I... I haven't done anything."
Alethia rubbed her temple, sighing. "Very well... I suppose we shall enjoy the remainder of the evening until we meet with him."
Cordelia seemed apprehensive as Alethia relaxed, savoring her wine and ordering a few more glasses as the night progressed. By midnight, the common room had emptied, with only a few stragglers either passed out or drowning themselves in drink.
Approaching them, the owner extended his hand with a smile. "The name's Ozark. I am the proprietor of this humble establishment, and I must admit, I do not take kindly to thieves."
Cordelia's complexion paled, prompting a glance from Alethia, who then smiled at Ozark. "What exactly do you mean, sir?"
He raised his hand to silence her. "Normally, I would not entertain thieves, but I have a feeling we might be able to come to an arrangement."
Cordelia sought answers from Alethia with a desperate gaze, but Alethia merely shrugged, equally bewildered.
Ozark continued, his voice filled with purpose. "Hear me out before you respond. I require more assistance in this establishment. It's just me and Tadia running the place, and she is still just a young girl. There isn't much she can handle. I need both of you to serve as waitresses and travel to the neighboring town, where we conduct our trade and procure supplies. What say you? Work for me, and you shall have a roof over your heads, three meals a day, garments on your backs, and coin in your pockets."
Alethia set her glass down, burdened by her myriad obligations. The training with her father, the impending wedding to Zepher. Yet, she also had a duty to Cordelia, a promise she could not and would not break. Glancing at Cordelia and witnessing the hope shining in her eyes, Alethia sighed, closing her eyes briefly before nodding and extending her hand. "Call me Ruby. We would be delighted to assist you."
Ozark shook her hand with a smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Ruby." He then turned to Cordelia. "And what about you, missy?"
Cordelia cast one last glance at her sister before nodding resolutely. "Under one condition: my sister shall serve as a waitress when she is able, as she has other obligations to fulfill. I will handle the procurement and trading, but I have no desire to deal with inebriated individuals unless absolutely necessary."
Ozark's face broke into a wide grin. "Deal," he said.
Cordelia nodded and extended her hand. "The name's Marianna," she introduced herself.
Ozark shook her hand firmly, then grabbed a rag from the counter and began wiping it down. "Excellent. You two start tomorrow. Tadia will provide you with directions and a list of supplies. You'll likely be gone all day. Ruby, you can start tomorrow night when we're busiest. Now, get some sleep. You've got a lot to do tomorrow."
The next morning, Alethia woke to a gentle tapping on her door. Tadia, the young waitress from the night before, entered with a sweet smile, placing some clothes on the chair for Alethia. "Here's your uniform. If you have any questions, just ask," she said before turning to leave.
"Wait," Alethia called out.
Tadia paused in the doorway, looking back. "Yes?" "How old are you, Tadia?"
"I'm fourteen, miss," Tadia replied.
Alethia looked puzzled. "So, Ozark is your father? And please, just call me Ruby."
Tadia shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "Oh, no. Ozark isn't my father. My parents were killed when I was very young. Ozark took me in and raised me. It wasn't until I turned twelve that he allowed me to start helping him out in the tavern."
Alethia's expression softened. "I'm so sorry about your parents, Tadia."
Tadia smiled warmly. "No need to be sorry. Ozark has been wonderful to me. I'll always remember my mother and father. Breakfast will be ready soon. If you're joining us, you should get dressed." With that, she left the room, shutting the door behind her. Alethia could hear her knocking on Cordelia's door to inform her that breakfast would be served shortly.
Alethia made her way to the wash basin to freshen up before picking up the uniform and laying it out on the bed. The knee-length black skirt with slits on both sides for ease of movement was accompanied by a form-fitting white midriff blouse. She couldn't help but feel that her role was to attract customers and keep them coming back. Deciding to stick to her own clothes until her shift later, she slipped her dagger into her boot, brushed her hair, and headed downstairs.
Taking her seat at the bar, a plate of bacon and eggs was already waiting for her. She glanced around the room but didn't see Cordelia. Tadia sat nearby, humming softly as Ozark emerged from the back.
"Morning, has Marianna already left?" Alethia greeted him with a smile.
Ozark nodded, returning the smile. "Morning, Ruby. She wanted to take her food on the road so she could get started on her errands."
Alethia nodded in understanding. "That's great. It's usually a struggle to get her out of bed before noon. Thank you for the breakfast. It tastes amazing."
Ozark's smile brightened. "My pleasure." He then made his way back to the kitchen to continue cooking.
Alethia and Tadia finished their meals and began reorganizing the tavern, putting chairs back in their places and sweeping the floor before the morning customers arrived or the inn's occupants woke up. As Alethia wiped down a few missed tables from the night before, she sensed someone entering the room. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw long black hair peeking out from under a hood, a white shirt, and black pants hidden beneath a cloak.
It was Ryos. And as she thought about it, Russell and Ryos bore a striking resemblance. That’s why Chris told her to be carefull. Did this mean Russell had truly followed her from life to life? What did Ryos know?
Ryos caught her gaze and smiled, revealing his pointed teeth, before making his way to the bar. Tadia approached him, engaging in conversation as he spoke with his hands, eyes, and voice. Tadia seemed unfazed by the fact that he was some sort of demon, laughing at his stories.
Alethia couldn't tear her eyes away from him now; he was utterly captivating. Ozark stood beside her, clearing his throat. "You know, Ruby, these tables won't clean themselves."
Startled, Alethia blushed. "I'm sorry, Ozark. I guess I was lost in thought."
Ozark smirked, glancing towards the bar. "Lost in thought, huh? I see."
Alethia refocused her attention and resumed wiping the tables, stealing glances outside to determine the position of the sun in the sky. "Oh no, I'm late! I'm sorry, Ozark, but I have to go."
Without waiting for a response, she quickly teleported away, arriving at the training grounds of her mother's palace. She curtsied before her father, apologizing, "I am so sorry, Father. Please forgive me for being late."
Marcus's gaze bore into Alethia as he shook his head disapprovingly. "How do you reckon to best Kakaron if you cannot even muster the discipline to arrive promptly for your daily training? Punctuality, my daughter, is an indispensable quality for any Queen, God, or Warrior."
Alethia's eyes met her father's, filled with remorse. "I beg your forgiveness, father. I assure you, it shall not transpire again."
With a deliberate nod, Marcus acknowledged her apology. "See that it does not. Now, let us commence."
