First Live

Maya shouldered her way past the crowd and the odd stares and murmurs. Tipsy and hell-bent on proving she wouldn't lose to Io Hara's survivability, she didn't care what people thought of her. The constant pressure of appeal in the idol industry back on Earth was gone. It was the first time she ever thought that way because in this new world called Ghala, she truly didn't have anything to lose. All she had was herself.

Maya arrived at the stage. Instead of standing on the box, to the audience's surprise, she sat down. Whether it was her light-headedness or she wanted to appear sensual, she slowly opened her legs like the heavy gates of a castle. She placed one hand on the middle of the box's side and placed the other close to her thigh at the box's corner right above the rusty screw.

The noise of the tavern died down. The patrons watched in curiosity at this woman in strange garments. The flicker of the candles on the chandeliers and torches stilled.

She tapped on the box's hollow center and it boomed. She liked the fullness. She tapped on the box's corner and it went 'tak'. She would've liked more sharpness but it would do.

"Is she of right mind?" An elf asked a wizard from her group.

"I've seen people maddened with nonsense before." A warrior nodded with a wrinkled face of great concern. "Possession is a serious affliction, lads. Might there be a healer in the house?"

A dwarf who wasn't a believer of any gods inconspicuously made the sign of the cross.

Boom, tak.

Maya's hands hovered above the box's surfaces. She took a look at the crowd's anticipation then exhaled. She whispered to herself, "Here we go."

Boom, boom-tak. Boom, boom, boom-tak-tak. Boom, boom-tak. Boom, boom, boom-tak-tak.

"Check it."

Tak-tak-tak-tak!

While slapping the beat, with an angst dirtier than the back alley of The One-Legged Duck and with unbridled swagger, Maya rapped, "Who's this lady? Makin' a beat and lookin' crazy? Get a pint, make it two, here comes thine story."

Boom, boom, boom… taktaktaktak!

"Thy name's Maya. Outta luck, outta this world.

Through a door I went, right into a forest absurd

Thick trees, thicker mist, thickest of all nights, moon's bright, and hell no, I ain't all right!

Fell down, took my time gettin' off the ground. There I am, confused, tryin' to straighten things out.

But no, watch out! Not a time for bliss. Because a mean wolf comes straight outta the mist!"

The audience gasped and held their breath. And even though he was there, Athalos did so too.

Maya broke the beat for silence, took a breath, then continued. Boom, boom-tak. Boom, boom… taktaktaktak!

"It snarled! Oh so mad and hungry! Thine feet took off in more than a hurry!

It chased, we raced! I ain't going for second place! Thy heart's beatin' at a faster pace!

But just in time! Spared another breath of thine! Climbed up a tree, ripped my favorite tee! What's gonna happen to me? I yelled at the wolf, just—"

"—LEAVE ME BE!" The crowd answered heartily. Some people even stood and leaned across their tables. Ale spilled as they shot their mugs in the air towards Maya.

Maya couldn't stop now, not with the first genuine grin on her face. She picked up the fire she spat and burned on.

"But an arrow! Fast like a sparrow, and I know, got my first stroke of luck from the get-go!"

Athalos edged his seat and almost slipped off.

"Saved by a ranger! First time I thanked the heavens for a stranger. But wait, hold on, took a step back, there might be danger."

Once again, the people leaned in. Did more danger lurk in the night? Would the wolf sprout wings? Their anticipation went wild.

"But no! Oh! The only danger to be had, was he smelled like the piss and the shit of this land!"

The tavern rumbled with laughter and shuffling boots. Athalos cautiously and discreetly smelled his shirt.

"So he aimed, cocked his shots, and let loose. They hit close to my face, close to my eye, under my thigh, the wolf and I, waved as they flew by!

Then finally! Outta tragedy! There's nothing to fear! An arrow dug a new hole on that wolf's rear!"

The crowd cheered and rejoiced. Shaking fists reached for the ceiling. The previous bard wasn't sure if she wanted to break her lute on the wall but the inclination was there.

Athalos raised and waved his hand, "You are all truly welcome. Not so smelly now, eh?"

Maya's blue eyes flared. She slapped the box with heavier force. Then spat the next verse in one breath like a machine gun.

"Done droppin', I'm walkin', and fumblin', and stumblin', on the stool ale-sippin', just wonderin', lookin' for nothin'— And then thy heart beats burnin'! To the sight! Oh! Of the one who's been fakin'! And oh! Yo! I'm swingin' and itchin' to take her ass down as long as I'm breathin'!"

After that verse, the crowd gasped for air. They felt as if they had been submerged in fiery water.

Boom… Tak… Boom, boom tak…

Maya slowed the beat down. She bobbed her head to it like a boxer before a match. "You know what? Imma stick to the business. You know what?! Imma stick around until I claim my spot!"

She jumped on the box and continued the beat as she clapped her hands over her head. "If thee liketh my rhymes, give me an 'aye'!"

"A-Aye!"

"If thee liketh my rhymes, give me an 'oh'!"

"Oh!"

"Now stick 'em together like Miss Maple's pie and hark thrice out loud before the bell tolls!"

"AYE-OH! AYE-OH! AYE-OH!" The audience cheered and they followed it up with a rain of applause.

"Thank you." Maya couldn't believe the reception of her song. She sucked up her tears from falling and clenched her sweatshirt. She didn't expect that it would take whisk away to a far away world, to feel validated for the first time ever. She held herself together and didn't want to forget this moment.

A few dwarves even undressed their shirts, got on the table, and shook their dual hammers vigorously. Some adventurers went for the quest board for they knew their heated blood would not settle for sleep. Coin was thrown not at her but into Athalos' hat. She bowed and went off the stage.

Maya bowed again before she claimed her earnings. The hat was heavy and the coins clinked like rain. But hearing the audience chant out loud, Maya realized her blunder. Away from the crowd's eyes, she turned and shouted at herself, "DAMN IT! I MADE THEM CHANT THAT WOMAN'S NAME!"

Athalos raised a new mug claimed from someone else and raised his voice over the 'aye-oh' chants for all to hear, "To Lady Maya Mordeaux! A songstress that does not warm but doth blazes!"

The crowd happily obliged and raised their cups in honor.

"Mordeaux?... Stage name?" Maya kind of liked Athalos' rename. She shrugged and went with it. She thought of the other people that might have difficulty with her surname.

Behind the counter, Miss Maple added, "And a round of free drinks to all! Just one round, you dirty bastards!"

The crowd got happier and rowdier.

It took some time, squeezes, and stumbles but Athalos arrived at Maya's side. With his staff, he shooed away the people who shook her hand and patted her shoulders. When the people finally dispersed, he smiled at Maya, "What in the three hells was that, my lady?"

"I don't know," chuckled Maya, as she swiveled Athalos to her direction; He faced the wall. The hat was full of coins and the bard who was playing just moments ago was heartbroken to look at it. She confessed, "I was gonna sing my audition song but then I remembered Io's poster. I just- I just felt so angry that I had to let it out."

Athalos pinched his stubby chin, "I never knew hate held such power-"

A woman got between Maya and Athalos. It was the previous bard. She fixed her stringy and wavy brown hair to no avail and patted down her grey dress clean of creases and potato skins. Her teal eyes, meant as a glare but more of a squint, met with Maya's. She shook Maya's hand. "Well, well, well. I'm Frina Hobbles. And no, I walk as normal as anyone would."

"M-Maya Mordeaux…" Maya was unsure what to make of the bard's strange vibe. She thought Frina wanted to come off as a superior performer but also thought of her as this mystical ball of hair that looked lost.

"Pleasure. Sort of." Frina flicked her hair and hit a bystander on the face. She thought nothing of it. She asked, "New to Dernham?"

"Yes, I just got here with Athalos and—"

"Well!" Frina exclaimed like the sudden sharp bark of a dog in the morning. From surprise, an elf spilled his beer all over himself. She thought nothing of that too. She turned but looked back at the duo and curled her index finger at them. "Fine. Come. There's someone who wishes to see you."

In the corner of the tavern, there was a cloaked man whose face was hidden by shadow. He smoked a long mahogany pipe and smoke lingered around him. He coughed.