The Game Before the Fall

Side Story: A mistake?

Side Story: A mistake?

Midnight. A young man sat at the counter of a bar. In front of him a well-dressed bartender, busy making various drinks for the patrons around him. The bar wasn't all too full being a weeknight but enough came and went to keep it open till late into the night. It was a decent sized establishment and catered to a large crowd serving both cheap and expensive alcohols. There was a sense of refinement in the decorations with dark polished wood adorning most the furniture. It was a nice place to chat with friends or be alone. For the young man sitting at the counter, his alone time had come to an end.

"What a surprise," a seemingly young women sat next to him. "To think we'd end up at the same place."

Vanter, who was the young man, looked at her suspiciously, "You didn't follow me did you Ana?"

"No, this really is just a coincidence," she looked to the bartender, ordering a drink before turning back to Vanter. "You could say it's a hobby of mine now, trying out the different places in the city."

"And here I thought you were just patrolling the area," Vanter chuckled.

"Well, a girl can do both at once," Ana smiled back. "I must say, this world and its people have done at least one thing very well."

"What's that?"

"The drinks," Ana grinned as she received the amber liquid from the bartender. Served in a small glass along with a perfectly spherical ice cube. The drink looked picturesque in her hands. "So many kinds with just as many flavours. The dwarves of Dumar can't hold a candle to it." She sipped her drink and shivered from the taste. "Oh, that's a good one."

Vanter genuinely smiled remembering the days when they had drunk cheap beer together in the dungeon after the Fall. It was hard to get a good drink and they used to complain about the taste but even then, just like the current moment, a side of Ana would come out that he honestly wished to see more of. The women burdened by her role faded away.

"Well, I hope you haven't been spending all your pocket money," Vanter teased as he sipped at his own glass.

"I've been keeping count," Ana replied, settling into her seat and leaning against the bar, face towards him. "So, what brings you here? Trying to escape?"

"Oh no. I love it when I see my sister make lustful looks to my best friend. I'm actually used to that. Add in my Master who's also being lovey-dovey with my best friend's Dad and also his sister that is constantly flirting with her girlfriend, which by the way I totally so coming, it can be a bit much."

Ana laughed, the current drink had definitely not been her first, "I totally get you. I'm sworn from love and yet I'm surrounded by it." She raised her glass, "Here's to being single."

"To being single," Vanter raised his own and the two met with a satisfying clink. "Now I know I just said to watch your pocket money but I'm planning to get smashed tonight. Care to join me?"

Ana's eyes shone at his words, "As long as you're paying."

"One of the few perks of being a prince," Vanter took out his card, "I've got plenty of cash."

And like that the two drunk through the night.

Vanter woke up in a room he couldn't remember. A bed that was unusually softer than his own and a ceiling decorated with silver spirals. His head pinged with a slight pain which he attributed to a hangover. It took quite a bit of alcohol to get a regular elf drunk let alone one with a Mana Heart. Vanter had to fear for his wallet and the result, a night be barely remembered. Flashes passed his mind, memories of cheering various drinks with Ana. He smiled, it had been a good night and most importantly he felt the stress of the past few days had gone. Then Vanter looked to his side.