World of Alvarra: Rise of the Vampire Lord

Chapter 11: Stories

Van was always surprised by Thea's appetite. She stuffed herself for what he believed to be beyond what her body should be able to handle and then some. She seemed to enjoy the food so much it seemed she couldn't help but smile while eating. Luna for her part always seemed concerned for her mother when she was eating like this.

"Thea, you don't need to eat like that, the food is not going anywhere," Alvaroz said with some concern.

Lillia giggled "oh let her be. You know she doesn't get the chance to let loose and enjoy herself unless it's with us. She probably has to eat slowly and dainty-like back at home, so as not to appear unlady-like in front of the others." Thea paused in her eating to blush at that as if Lillia hit the nail on the head.

Realization dawned on Luna as she figured that's probably the reason why her mother had been acting weird when it comes to eating since they got here. Or for that matter in general, Luna had noticed that her mother generally seemed to be happier and more carefree since coming over to visit and wondered if it wasn't because she felt at home with her friends.

Lorenzo began to chuckle "that reminds me! Remember when we were almost kicked out of a tavern because Thea almost ate them out of business!" Lorenzo began to laugh "when she heard that we may have to go a few days without proper food again, she decided to "pack her body" with as much food as possible, the reason she gave was "so I won't get hungry."" Lorenzo couldn't keep it in and started having a bit of a fit. "an-and because she said, "I don't like jerky!" The tavern keeper's face as Thea kept asking for more was priceless! In the end, the whole tavern was staring at her and the stack of plates! And we were so fucking embarrassed! Wh-when it was time for us to leave, she ended up eating all our jerky anyway! And the reason she gave was, "Because it was there!"" that seemed to do it for Lorenzo and he couldn't talk anymore.

Alvaroz and Lillia couldn't hold it in and began laughing along at Thea's expense who was blushing beet red but also trying not to smile along with them. If she was to be honest, she missed this, and she knew it was all in good fun. "I can't believe I even miss being made fun of by Lorenzo. It really has been too long." she thought as memories of their past adventures entered their mind.

Luna and Van thought it would be rude to laugh but still couldn't help a small smile at the obvious fun being had all around.

Soon the dining room was filled with stories of the past, the adventures they had, the close calls. Van and Luna were swept away by what they heard, even Anna who was on duty couldn't help but pause to more intently listen on to the fantastical tales of far-off places being told.

They heard tales of Istra, the great mercantile nation in the moon sea. Stories of the magic kingdom of Malor. And much dissing and crude language on the Empire of Baloes. Van perked up when his mother started talking about her home. A floating city where many other angel-kin and even bird-kin live. How their kind originated far to the west beyond charted maps. How she grew up to be a librarian and met his father. As well as other things about the Angel Conclave and even how the floating city was an offshoot of the capital city of the angel-kin. The capital city of the angel-kin being more of a giant floating ark that traveled from the western lands to where they are now.

Everyone was very interested in that, since that was new information to everyone, including Alvaroz and Thea, though not much to Lorenzo who seemed to already have known that through his own studies, but appreciated an angel-kins view and perspective.

The stories continued and so did Van's, Anna's, and Luna's imagination. The more they heard the more they wished to see the world that their parents talked about. Van wondered if he would ever get the chance to explore the world. Fly on airships, combat deadly monsters, make loads of money, and more.