Book One - The Dragonkin Empire.

Encounters

 When I woke up I had the pleasant dullness of passing a night drinking the right amount of alcohol and having a good sleep afterwards. with my drowsy head I recalled my retreat from Alice and started wondering what had happened last night, I looked through the room but Lixk hadn't arrived to sleep. I let out a deep breath and drank some water, put my under vest, grabbed my staff and walked out of the room.

 I was expecting to find him sprawled in front of the door but I was proven wrong, leading my steps to the stairs and down to the first floor I went to the counter and greeted the master, he eyed me with a bad stare while handing me a clean towel and soap.

 "There is a shack in the back, you can use the bathtub there, it is already prepared" He said curtly and kept cleaning the counter

 "Alright. Can you prepare a small satchel for a short trip."

 "How short will it be?"

 "Just one day, I'll be back by tomorrow morning and prepare two bottles of wine."

  He just nodded and went back to ignoring me As I went out the paved roads where beginning to become clear due to the gradually rising sun. The buildings and houses all over the place were arranged in circle around a small fountain in the middle and only a few trees managed to cheer up the otherwise dull atmosphere, no one was on the streets yet making it a nice, gentle view. I went to the shack and bathe while thinking my future plans.

  After my bath I returned to the store, ordered my breakfast and waited calmly on a table watching the few girls work serving food and drinks, without the ruckus from the night everything felt different. Light flowed gently through the windows making me drowsy again.

 "Good morning, here's your food, hope you enjoy it," I looked up. The owner of the harsh voice was the girl with the brown skin..

" So you work in the mornings as well? must be tough."

 "Not really, I am already used to it, if you need anything tell the master or one of the other girls."

 "I don't need anything, but do you mind chatting with me?" She turned to leave. "How was last night?" I was grinning

"What do you mean?"

 "I'm only wondering if Lixk had some fun, that's all."

 Her eyes narrowed "Mmmm... It might have been fun in the beginning, but he kinda lost part of his good judgement at some point though and the hangover will be fatal." She turned to look at me with a displeased face. " Alice was pretty upset with him." she left hanging the words.

I rolled my eyes and said. " She's young but she's always angry, a pity if you ask me. Where did they sleep?"

 "I took Lixk to a guest room. Alice and I slept in my room."

 "Pretty generous of you. it's been a long time since the last time I was around, everything seems to have a different air, the city, the buildings... the people." She looked at me with bored eyes, that has been her attitude since the very start.

 "I'm not interested in your story." She said.

  "Fine.."

I was trying to think about something to say to keep the conversation going when two pair of heavy footsteps resounded on the stairs. Soon after, the twins popped their heads into the room, Alice was wearing plain clothes of high quality, while Lixk weared dark pants and a shirt covered by the black green mantle he used inside the Tunnel, he had a pale face and closed his eyes from time to time thanks to a splitting headache.

 I waved my hand calling them over, when they reach us their bodies fell limply on the table

 "Whatever this idiot says don't listen to him. he'll pollute your mind." Alice had dark bags under her eyes while Lixk was resting the upper part of his body on the table and rubbing lightly his temple with the thumbs.