1 Prologue : Mamihlapinatapei

The mellow melody of the piano playing a Chopin Nocturne No. 2;

The tranquil ambience embraced by the patrons, who were seeking to unwind under the dim lights;

The hushed conversations along with the occasional sound of ice hitting a thin wall of glass;

It was a typical evening in an acclaimed bar named Sors that was situated in the middle of a business district.

Ensuing a while of quietude, Tristan O' Connor finally decided to confront his superior.

"Sir Brecheisen, are you still displeased regarding what happened during the board meeting earlier?"

"What might you be pertaining to?" Konrad Brecheisen answered, nonchalance evident in his tone.

"I mean, you are clearly irate."

"Are you asking because you don't know, or is badgering simply a hobby of yours?"

"No, I apologize. I was out of the line." Tristan gave his apologies as he lowered his head.

By the looks of it, he noticed that his insistence on the matter was all the more irritating for Konrad.

"It is fine. As long as you understand that in the subsequent meetings, you should not initiate idle chatter regarding an issue of no importance, Mr O' Connor."

"That is duly noted."

"Good, then shall we relax for the rest of the night?"

"I will gladly comply, Sir."

The two men, who were sitting at the bar counter, resumed lushing up their choice of drink in silence.

Konrad opted for a Vieux Carré that made use of all of his taste buds. The spicy flavour of the Rye, the fruity sweetness of the Cognac, and the earthy aroma that came from the Angostura and Peychaud's Bitters, the ingredients of the spirit-forward drink were dancing in harmony within his mouth, gliding leisurely down his throat as he swallowed.

On the other hand, Tristan was indulging himself with a glass of Sazerac. It was a drink that many wouldn't choose to pamper themselves during the winter. However, the man adored the combination of sweet, spicy, and herbal tastes that came with it.

Once they had finished their drinks in leisure, Konrad made the decision to head home. He promptly stood up and informed his company of his departure.

"Mr O' Connor, I'm afraid that I have an early day tomorrow."

Tristan hurriedly rose from his seat to properly send off his superior.

"Oh, I see. Then, do you want me to call for a driver?"

"No need for that since I already did. Will you be staying?"

"Yes, I am waiting for someone."

"Alright, I'll take my leave first."

"Have a pleasant trip, Sir Brecheisen," Tristan said, lowering his head for a few seconds, before taking a seat once more.

Konrad Brecheisen made his way to the door, his footsteps heavy. He was not in a rush to depart, for the reason that his wife probably had a planned engagement with her clique. He also had no scheduled meeting with anyone for the meagre minutes left of the day.

Just as he was about to touch the door handle, it suddenly opened, revealing the figure of a woman who was standing on the other side.

They instantly locked their gazes on each other, believing that it was the sole chance that they could take. At that moment, time was inclined to play with the two individuals, ceasing its hands for them.

Thereupon, a stretch of utter silence, tensed and confounding, descended in the space that only the two of them shared.

"Syn! I am over here!"

The voice of O' Connor resounded inside the establishment, causing their connection to be cut off. With that, the woman nodded at him before making her way to the counter.

Meanwhile, the man's eyes followed the figure of the woman called Syn, allowing a fiery urge to heat up his lingering hunger, previously in a state of slumber, deep within his consciousness.