Cease the Suffering - Etrian Odyssey II (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 11

AN: Sorry for the wait! Thanks so much Irish_Moon_Dreamer for reviewing the last chapter! And to everyone else reading this; please review! I’d really appreciate it!

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Chapter 11:

Just like what Alchemist Magnus had said; The Stickleback Bar was hard to miss. The building was quite big in size with tables and chairs littered around, inside and out. It was rather busy as well. Explorers were flittering in and out, sometimes in groups of five or more, others in pairs. The majority of them were indeed explorers as they carried with them an array of weapons and were adorned in armour.

There were some, Lynus couldn’t help noticing, that were either passed out from drinking too much. Or were simply there sleeping, probably too poor to pay for a room at Flaus Inn.

Stepping through the two large oak doors that served as the bar’s entrance, Lynus barely had enough time to look around before a familiar form appeared before him. Then a pair of arms were around his neck in a hug.

“Lynus!”

“Lirit?” Lynus muttered in surprised, his arms automatically returning the hug for a moment before he placed his hands on Lirit’s sides to push him back. “What are you-?”

“This is the place I told you about,” Lirit said, grinning at him.

“Here?” Lynus looked around at all the drinking patrons, not entirely sure how he should feel about a 17 tear-old performing in a bar. Then again, there were worst places, weren’t there? “You didn’t mention it was the bar, though. “

“I didn’t?” Lirit tilted his head to the side, a little confused, before a bashful smile appeared on his lips and he shrugged as he stepped away from Lynus. “Sorry, I guess I was just happy to be of use that I forgot.”

Lynus took a moment to look at his surroundings, noting that there were indeed quite a few individuals that looked like veteran explorers. “Is this ok?”

“Sure it is!”

“Wah!” Lynus eeped and subconsciously reached out to Lirit, instinctively trying to shield and protect him. A habitual response he had picked up during those eight long years. He then turned to the source of the loud, booming voice to see a man, quite stocky and tall, grinning at him. “Y-you scared me.”

“Haw haw haw!” the man laughed boisterously, seemingly amused by Lynus’ reaction. “Sorry, short stuff. Didn’t mean to scare ya. The name’s Cass, I’m the owner of this joint.”

“N-nice to meet you,” Lynus managed to reply, despite the way his heart was thundering in his chest from the fright. He calmed down quickly, though, when he realised that Cass wasn’t a threat. “Thank you letting Lirit-”

“Pleasure’s all mine!” Cass interrupted him. “He keeps the patrons entertained and they drink more! Perfect for business! Haw haw haw!”

Lynus found himself staring at the man in a dumbfounded way. He wasn’t sure how he should react. He didn’t feel threatened in anyway. And Lirit didn’t seem to be bothered by him. He just hadn’t met someone so…loud before.

“Scared me when I first met him, too,” Lirit whispered into Lynus’ ear. “See what I mean about strange people?”

Lynus was unable to prevent a nervous laugh from passing his lips. “Believe me, I know,” he whispered back, recalling those he had met during their brief stay. He smiled warmly, though. “But they seemed nice enough.”

“So, the two of ya friends, guildmates, or what?” Cass asked as he walked back over to the bar, getting ready to serve up some more drinks.

“Brothers,” Lynus answered hastily. For some reason that question made him feel a tad nervous. There was really no point at all going into depth about how they knew each other.