The Boar's Hat (3)
Around an hour had passed since we had started drinking. The elf companions of Zelphar were chatting among themselves as they downed one jug of alcohol after another.
But Zelphar was…
"As I already said before! I am stronger than you!" shouted Zelphar. Now, this is something that would be normal; if only he weren't yelling at a potted plant kept in the corner of the room.
He acted pretty normally and elegant until he took his first sip of the alcohol.
He really couldn't handle his alcohol. I wonder why he suggested we drink in the first place.
Anyway, there was a more significant issue at hand! I gulped the jug of alcohol in my hand.
[All poison has been nullified!]
Smashing the jug at the table, I picked up and gulped another jug.
[All poison has been nullified!]
WHY!! I don't even drink that often!! It has almost been months since I last drank! I couldn't even enjoy my alcohol anymore!
"You alright, kid?" asked Elrid as he put a hand on my shoulder.
Elrid was the eldest man in the elf's team. The woman who had whispered in Zelphar's ear before was Elyon. She was Elrid's daughter.
"Yeah, why?" I asked. Nothing was wrong with me; why would he think so?
"Well, it's just that... it's your twenty-second mug of the 'angel's sweat'," Elrid said as he pointed to the pile of mugs on the table.
Well, nothing was having any effect anyway!
'Angel's sweat'; although the name made me uncomfortable initially, the waitress assured me that the name was just for show and that the alcohol was made from some fruits. Plus, it was really delicious, even if it didn't make me feel what alcohol should.
"It's nothing," I replied, waving my hand.
Even though I didn't like the fact that I couldn't enjoy my alcohol, this skill was beyond anything I had ever expected. Although I didn't know if I was resistant to 'every' poison, the fact that I could nullify at least some toxins was terrific.
"Plus, shouldn't you worry about him?" I pointed at Zelphar, who was now performing a handstand on a table.
Zelphar Paxina. In the past hour, I had learned a lot about him through his mindless blabbering and some stories Elrid had told me.
Zelphar is the second prince of 'The Great Elven Kingdom'. He seldom left his house, burying himself in books and training. Many people called him dumb and useless due to his lack of social skills, but he didn't pay much mind to them.
His mother had died when he was still young, and his father had neglected him. Although his elder brother, the first prince, loved him dearly, the faction that supported the first and the second prince were constantly at odds with each other.
On entering the Tower, his only supporters were the four people in his team. The rest of the summoned elves acted hostile toward him.
"Ah, shit! Young master!" shouted Elrid as he rushed to Zelphar.
Running away from Elrid, Zelphar jumped on top of the bar counter.
"You should all enjoy life! What's the use of becoming a God if you are unhappy? It's more fun to just drink alcohol!" yelled Zelphar as he picked up a random bottle on the counter and drank it.
Every eye in the room was now fixated on Zelphar. This was bad!
Many of these people are veterans who came to the Tower a long time ago. Their power must be immense! Most of these are probably climbing the Tower in hopes of becoming a 'Divina', as Haldon had said.
But, right now, Zelphar questioned their reason for climbing the Tower. These people may have been offended.
Many people pushed their chairs back and got up. Zelphar's team got up, too and made their way beside him.
Something was off; the people weren't looking at Zelphar. Instead, they were looking... beside him?
Beside Zelphar stood… the child! Sarroth! He was calmly rubbing a wine glass with a cloth. Then, after filling the glass with wine, he jumped up on the table.
"Wise words by our friend here. Let's offer a toast in his name," said the child.
"What is your name, young one?" asked Sarroth. Young one? Was Sarroth older than he looked? That indeed made the most sense.
"Zelphar!" Shouted Zelphar as he puffed up his chest and smiled brightly.
"To Zelphar," shouted the child as he raised his wine glass.
"TO ZELPHAR!" shouted all the people who had stood up.
Everybody obeyed what Sarroth said. Just how much power does he hold to command such reverence?
Suddenly, an instrument appeared in Sarroth's hand. It was a harp.
"Seeing our elf friend wishing to be happy; allow me to sing an elven song!" shouted Sarroth as he downed the wine in his glass.
"Is he really going to sing?"
"He seems to be in a good mood!"
"I have never heard him sing before!"
A loud chatter spread throughout the room like wildfire.
Sarroth started singing while playing his harp;
"Enchanteur, tul- na see,
tur- cin, tur- cin tul- na see,
sui cin once were blind,
in i galad hi cin tur- glinn-?
Hi are i days -o miruvor a gilded arms
hi are i days ir gúl na- reborn
seal or- i breach, i evil na- baw more
once a an all, mín close i darkened fen"
His voice was unlike anything I had heard until now. It was incredibly captivating and comforting, almost hypnotic. It was soft but amazingly carried itself throughout the large room.
But his voice wasn't the only beautiful thing; how he played the harp was alien to me. The calmness and confidence his every stroke contained were beyond amazing.
My muscles relaxed, and I felt at peace. Even though I was surrounded by strange beings in a strange place, I felt at ease.
The fact that I was in the Tower, where literal gods and myths reside, seemed to be forgotten by me, and the only thought in my mind was... oh, how beautiful this music is.
The music seemed to wrap itself around me, enveloping me in its grace and elegance. I felt at home, as if I had returned to my mother and father; it felt as if I was held in the loving embrace of my parents.
Even though I didn't understand a word of the song that Sarroth sang, each letter of each word seemed to have been carefully chosen among millions to heal the soul itself.
"Thank you!" shouted Sarroth at last.
What?! Did the song end already!? I guess everything, no matter how beautiful, must come to an end sometime.
"Take him to a room!" ordered Sarroth as he pointed to Zelphar, who had fallen asleep on the counter. Obeying him, a waitress picked him up and headed inside the door at the corner of the room. Elrid and the rest of Zelphar's team followed behind the waitress.
Looking around, everybody seemed relaxed. Nobody said a word. It looked like they were still listening to the music they had heard.
But, Sarroth. He was able to calm everyone down with just a song; he owned this inn, and everybody revered him. Just who was he?
Well, anyway, I'd better get a room for the night.
Standing up, I tried to drink the mug of alcohol one last time.
[All poison has been nullified!]
I guess nothing could be done about it; it was a fantastic skill.
I glanced at the counter, where Sarroth had been standing until now. He wasn't there anymore! It looks like he went away. Well, it would probably be better to not get involved with an influential figure like him.
"Hey there," said a child's voice as I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, Sarroth was standing right behind me. Just when did he get here !?
[The Divina (?) is watching you]
Divina!?
Instinctively, I took a step back. Right now, at this moment, a Divina was standing in front of me. At my current strength, showing any signs of hostility would only bring me doom.
"Hello," I replied, bowing down. Showing respect to him, probably the strongest person in this inn right now, was the best thing to do.
A slight smile appeared on his face. Now that he was standing so close to me, I could see him clearly. His face was extraordinarily beautiful, as if the gods themselves had spent countless years carving every inch of it.
His hair was a bright shade of golden; it was moderately long and unkempt. His eyes were like big bright green emeralds. His radiant skin was tanned and marble-smooth.
His half suit, along with the white shirt whose upper two buttons were unbuttoned, looked a little too large for his stature; the red tie hung loosely on his collar.
"Welcome to my humble inn; are you enjoying yourself?" asked Sarroth.
Why was he asking me this? Was this some sort of test?
"I have had a very enjoyable experience so far. Your singing was exceptionally amazing," I replied.
"It was nothing much, just a little song. So, what brings you here tonight?" He asked.
"I just entered the Tower today; the guards at the gate advised me to come here," I replied.
Why was he asking me these questions? Was he just being kind to a guest?
"I see. I see. Are you ready to book a room yet?" Sarroth inquired.
"Yes, I am," I replied. I was going to call a waitress to book a room, but the inn's owner came and asked me himself.
"That's good. Come find me if you have any questions," the boy said as he beckoned to a waitress. Soon, Margaret, the waitress who had welcomed me, was standing in front of Sarroth.
After having a short discussion with Margaret, the Divina said to me, "Looks like you both have already met each other. This is one of the head waitresses of my inn, Margaret. She will assist you with anything you require during your stay here. "
Was he giving me the special treatment? Why?
As if reading my thoughts, the yellow-haired boy said, "Well, it's nothing much. Just give 'him' my regards."