The old friends!

SOME TIME AGO

After the not-so-happy talk with the 'Defenders,' Desmond walked towards the coffee shop at the far end of the academy compound.

'The Coffee Shop' that was literally the name of the coffee shop. It was handwritten on a large wooden board and was hung on the top of the shop.

It was a small one-storeyed shop with a true and old look. Out of all the shops and cafeterias inside the academy compound, this was the only one with an ancient look.

The shop sported wooden walls and large coconut leaves as the roof. There was a small pond near the shop and large trees adorned the surrounding area.

Since this was at the far end of the academy, it was completely soundproof from the rowdy atmosphere from the other side.

Also, students never actually enter here. I mean, who wants to drink some coffee from a literal ancient shop when there is an actual 'Moonbucks' inside the academy?

And you may think why anyone would even want to come here in the first place?

Allow me to enlighten you with the universal wisdom of a coffee addict. When you drink from all the fancy coffee shops, you would think the tastiest would be the fanciest one… but here is the catch. If you actually have a drink from a small sidewalk store, you'll never forget that taste. It was as if you would remember the taste of the coffee your mother made for you when you were tucked inside your bedsheet on a rainy holiday.

But would that be the reason our hero had come to visit the shop? No. It certainly is not.

From his not-so-good memories of the past timeline, Desmond remembered that the principal was a coffee addict and the sole reason this shop is still running today was because of him.

This was something only people close to the headmaster knows. Not that he was close to the headmaster, but he knew about it because he had often met the headmaster in this shop. They might have briefly exchanged words, but not much of a deep conversation.

Desmond wanted to meet the headmaster as soon as possible. He wanted to talk about his findings. About Dwarves and elves and other… things. He was sure the headmaster was aware of their presence but wasn't sure about the underground hideout.

He had contemplated about this many times over the three weeks. He thought the dwarves will launch an attack in retaliation and the whole world would know about their existence, but that never happened. The more time he waited the more he got anxious.

He never knew about the existence of other intelligent species in the past, but that doesn't mean they won't attack in this timeline.

He never had made contact with them in his last timeline, but on this timeline, he had made contact and freed an elven prisoner and, not to mention, almost destroyed their underground facility.

They are pissed off; he was sure. And that means the threat is real. And the one person he could think of for warning was the headmaster himself.

Desmond took a deep breath.

[Are you sure about this? Are you sure this old man wouldn't just kill you?]

'Yes, I'm sure. He was a good guy last time and I'm sure this time too.'

Creak.

The door to 'The Coffee Shop' opened with a creaking. As you expect, there was only a few coffee tables and some chair across it. There was a wooden partition-cum-barista table at the far left side of the shop.

Various steel and clay pots stood on the large table welcoming its guests. An earthen pot was on the top of the fire supported by three large bricks on the sides. Sweet aroma swept the entire room.

One could easily watch the two people sitting across each other near the window outlooking the pond. Two cups of coffee with thin trails of smoke trailing from it were in front of the old men.

Two old men with large beards hung to their chests. One was tall and lean the other one was short like a dwarf and portly. Both of them had white hairs not the same as Desmond's but because of their ages.

Both of them looked at the new arrival.

"Blimey! It is actually a new person." The old portly man stood up from his chair and wiped one of his eyes with his apron. "Sniff…It's been so long since I had an actual real customer than this old coot. Come, come… sit, sit." The old man quickly arrived near Desmond and ushered him to the seat he was just sitting in a moment ago.

"Oh dear, what would you like to have?" The old man fidgetted with his fingers in true excitement.

"I would have anything you recommend." Said, Desmond.

"Whoa, daring. Finally, someone worthy, unlike some old coot who only drink the same coffee for the past century. Just wait here I'll make you the very best coffee you've ever drunk." With that, the old man just took off to the other side.

'He is still the same old.' Thought Desmond. He was really happy to see the old man. He and he were buddy-buddy in the past. So, to say another familiar face with a good relationship was a happy and good thing.

"Skipping the first day, eh?" A deep and calm voice was heard from the side.

Desmond gazed at the old man. His turquoise eyes that held deeper secrets and knowledge, than he could ever even imagine understanding.

They held the gaze for a moment.

"Nah, I was having a bad headache. I need a coffee to function." A lie. He could do without coffee but… It's better to have one regardless, to boost the day.

"Ah, same as me. But how did you find out about this one? Nobody actually comes here." The old man lift his coffee cup and took a sip.

"It was on the brochure."

A sweet aroma like that made him remember the old days swept through the shop.

"You should not skip classes, they are important to you. When I was your age, I never skipped any classes for I know they are very important to --" Before the old man can complete his words, Desmond cut in.

"I'm Desmond Shepheard, son of Graham Shepheard."

"Oh...Uh... Okay. I don't--"

"Yeah, you know me and I know you. I don't want to be late for the class so I'll just say what I've to say." He looked seriously at the old man.

The old man rested his coffee cup on the table and sat straight with a serious expression.

"Alright, Desmond. Let's hear what you have to say." He said, smiling.

"I know the existence of other intelligent species."

A moment later. "What exactly are you saying? Are you talking about Blazed Kraken or the Dragon from the Eloidas? They are quite intelligent."

"feigning ignorance without crumpling your face. Must be the centuries worth life."

"Kid, what do—"

"I'm talking about Elves, Dwarves, vampires…" He gestured with his hands.

"from the myths. You believe them?" The old man looked at him like he was ridiculous.

"Drop the act, headmaster. If you don't become serious I'll report about your old friend back there to the authorities." He gestured to the old portly man. "You know, they will experiment on him and whatever magic you used to mask his identity will be gone once they are done with them."

The atmosphere became cold and serene. They held the gaze for some time before being interrupted by the man in question himself.

"Here you go. One coffee shop special to the special boy." The short old man set down the hot and aromatic coffee on the table. "That's the best coffee I've made in many decades. I don't even try for the old coot here."

"Oh, thank you so much." Said Desmond and took a sip from the coffee.

"Mhmm… perfect." That was the first thing that came out of his mouth.

"Glad you liked it. Perhaps, if you—"

"Perhaps he might like some cookies too, right Desmond? I know I would like some cookies too." Headmaster coolly smiled at the old barista.

There was a moment of pause.

"… Sure, sure, anything for the boy." He gave the headmaster a stern look before trudging to the back again.

"So, you ready to talk?"