Part One - Third Year - Chapter [019]

Inside the estate, there was a sign that read 'The Laughing Lord' pointed towards a big red building.

Inside the Estate, there were two other buildings and a mansion on the far north of it. The gates were open and the public was going in and out, it seemed like the courtyard of whoever owned the mansion was open to the public, with a fountain and a market in the middle of it. I didn't take much time to enjoy the sites and just go straight for the tavern called The Laughing Lord.

As I approached I heard music being played from a violin, flutes, harps and other instruments that reminded me of my favorite RPG's medieval soundtrack. It fits the ambient quite well. 

As I went to open the door - I heard rowdy voices of men and women alike. 

When I finally peeked inside - things didn't seem like they were peaceful. Instead, it felt like some kind of bar fight was going on - the bards playing on the stage would just swing the music louder as the fight got more intense. People were cheering and throwing beers all around, other's were playing dice games and cards alike. Chess and a game with monster cards was being played - I didn't quite get it. 

Knights and noblemen alike were all gathered here - doing whatever it is that they do during a day drinking session. The whole tavern seemed drunk out of their minds, what's more, they all seemed like a bunch of rowdy extroverted people. Each fighting for attention of their own.

This easily intimated me and I just looked around trying to find the bartender so I could start my registration to the Red Lions. 

I put on my hood and tried to make my way through the floor without causing any type of commotion, a beer flew past me but hit the wall instead. I just panicked a little bit and made no fuss of it. 

As I looked around I saw one thing in common they all had. 

They all bore the same insignia. A Red Lion with a wave pattern behind it. 

Were they all part of the Red Lions and this just so happens to be their tavern? 

Finally, I sat in the bar and removed my hood. 

"Excuse me?!" I said politely. 

The woman on the other side of the bar noticed me right away. 

"One second hon, I'll be right with you," she said in an accent similar to what Arslan had. 

I reached for my pocket, trying to pull my phone, but remembered I didn't have one in this world. Old habits die hard. 

So I just fiddled my thumbs until she finally came to me. 

"Hi love," she said. She was a big brisk woman, with long brown hair and hazed color eyes.

She was big and had some muscle on her. Except she resembled more of a sumo wrestler - rather than the tone and aesthetic build Arslan had.

"You new here? Never seen your face around?!" She continued. 

"Names Marybeth - this here my humble inn" I heard someone break a glass behind me. 

"Oi - Raven! You'll have to pay for that!" She shouted over me. 

"Sorry Ma'" said the man who had broken the glass. Everyone started laughing at him -

Raven just sort of blushed. But the happy-go-lucky extroverted mood that was permeating in the air continued. The bard started playing even more fortissimo.

"Everyone just calls me Ma" the lady behind the counter continued addressing me this time. 

"Better get used to it if you're going to spend time around these parts," she said. 

"Now about that beer? How do you like it? Tap or Keg?" She asked. 

"I'll have whatever you have on tap," I said instantly. 

"Coming right up - " she then fumbled over the side, grabbed a pint glass, and poured beer like they would do at a restaurant. It looked delicious. She then tossed me my beer and it flew through the counter and into my hands. 

The color looked creamy and gold - like some sort of premium beer. 

I took a sip. 

It was delicious, the bubbly creamy texture fizzled in my mouth - the beer was almost sweet and tasted like honey. 

"This is delicious!" I said with a white beer stash on my face. 

"Thanks, love, Red Lion recipe!" she said. And scurried over to attend to other customers.

The man beside me raised his glass and I did the same. 

After some time Marybeth came back to me. 

"So where you from scraggy?" She said - I'm sure she meant that in an affectionate tone. I remembered how Arslan said not to let anyone know how I'm a healer.

But Ma looked like she was trustworthy, still, I should register first. 

"I'm looking into joining The Red Lions," 

"Ah! Another victim, I see," she said laughing while cleaning glass pints and beer bottles. She had running water near where I was sitting. It looked crystal clear. 

"Well if you want to register, you'll need to go over to the lobby by the mansion - they'll have you register with a crystal - don't worry it's all pretty fast - you'll need to wait for a letter of an approval after that - have you got any place to stay tonight?" She asked. 

"I was looking for room and board - do you have any rooms?" I asked. 

"Course we do, we have premium rooms and hostels," she responded. Now that I thought about it, it did seem like this place was made of several floors. On the inside, some stairs led upwards into what looked like a labyrinth of shared and private rooms. 

"What will it be?" She continued. 

"How much for a premium?" 

"That's 7 L'arcs per night, stay longer than a week and I'll throw in free breakfast,"

That's less than a dollar. I thought.

"How much will 23 L'arcs en Riels, get me?" She looked at me bewildered and stopped in her tracks. She laughed at me funny. 

"I'll feel bad if you pay that much - " she then thought about it. "Okay- I'll give you a full month, free breakfast, and that beer you're drinking for that price," 

"All right - I'll take it," I said. She stopped in her tracks now. And just looked at me like I was joking. 

I asked Apollo to make the transaction and convert 1 USD to 23 Larcs en Riels.

[Converting]

[Complete]

I heard a cashing machine sound. And then I had a bunch of coins in my pocket. I took them out and gave them to Marybeth. She took one coin. Inspected it and then bit it. 

"Well I'll be dam - you're worth every penny! Finally, a patron who understands the meaning of a good transaction - all right then - room 11 - all yours until the 4th of the next month," she handed me a key. And I gulped down the beer. And started heading towards the outside. 

"Wait - who'd you say was your referral?" She asked. 

"I didn't - and that would be Arslan -" At the drop of his name - a record scratched - the music came to a stop and the ambient changed to something much more sinister. I suddenly felt like the whole tavern was looking at me. 

"And how exactly do you know of the boss?" She said - it felt like people were drawing knives and swords out of their sheds. I felt nervous and my heart dropped to my stomach.

Had I said something wrong? I had paid properly for my room and board. Or was it that they hated him here and he wasn't welcomed? 

"I met him in the grasslands - and he kindly escorted me to Vinymar so I could join the Red Lions, I'm a student of the elves - and was just recently released as a graduate," I said sweat dripping down from my face. Hoping they would buy my story.

Everyone sort of shuffled back to what they were doing.

The music started back up again. 

"Well if you say is true - then you must already have a way to contact Ar' have you not?" 

"Yes - he did give me this earring," I said showing it off. 

"Ha! Thought so, Arslan is not one to invite just anyone to the Red Lions - you must be a pretty special kid if he saw something in you." 

Patrons inside cheered congratulated me by throwing their ale in the air as I showed the earring.

"I'm - I'm not, I just helped him out a bit," I said feeling blushed. 

"I see how it is - don't worry about that stuff - it's widely common within The Red Lions," she explained. What did she mean by that though?

"By the looks of it - you'll end up in the science building!" she said almost mockingly. I blinked. 

"I was hoping that to be so -" 

Suddenly the respect I had gotten from the patrons inside vanished and they went to mocking me.

"Did you hear that Raven!?" one of them shouted and stood up like I wasn't there.

Marybeth coughed - like she was suppressing a laugh.

"Good luck then, you'll need an inamorato if you wish to survive!" She said implying there would be some sort of hardship coming along.

I just brushed it off and decided to head out of there.

It had already been plenty awkward - I didn't want it to be any more than what it had already been. I headed outside and towards the mansion, she had mentioned.

I closed the door behind me now in the outside of the inn - the whole lot of them blurted out laughing. Marybeth shushed them.

"He's still right outside boys -" but quickly joined in on the fun. She couldn't resist.

I couldn't help but continue onward brushing that interaction aside.

What had she meant by inamorato though?