"Harmony in the Belching Toad"

Roaring laughter and mirth filled the room; the Belching Toad tavern was bustling with activity—lasses walked to and fro, tending to the tables whilst customers caroused and drank themselves into stupor.

A few were discussing the latest news; others played card games, gambling away their meager fortunes. The place was packed with all manner of folk, most being adventurers and travelers.

A group of unruly, obstreperous dwarves bashed their tankards on the bar's countertop, ale spilling everywhere and drenching their thick, bushy beards—far off in a corner sat a party of elves, conversing amongst themselves in a low voice as they sipped wine.

Despite the crowd, Erasmus was able to spot Lyra. The blind bard's beautiful, melodic humming and grey, sightless eyes were pretty distinctive. Lyra sat on an empty table with her slender legs crossed and a lute on her hands—absentmindedly strumming a couple of chords to pass the time. It had been quite a while since Erasmus last saw her;

Having left town in search of fortune while Lyra stayed behind, making a name for herself with her bardic skills."Long time no see," Erasmus joked as Erasmus shuffled over to Lyra's table.

"It's good to know your childish sense of humor hasn't changed one bit, Erasmus ," Lyra spoke while tuning her lute, fingers plucking at the strings.

"Here, let us have a drink," Erasmus replied, presenting a flagon of ale to her.

With one arm, Lyra tried to grasp at what was in front of her; however, she caught nothing but air and pouted. Upon seeing the blind girl's predicament, Erasmus gently guided her hand towards the mug.She responded with a beaming smile, "Thanks. You're so sweet."

Erasmus though there was something admirable about Lyra; it was remarkable how, despite her visual disability, she was so full of life and confidence that at times, Erasmus even seemed to forget about that important detail."It's been too long. Let me take a look at you," she said before raising her hands and invading Erasmus 's personal space.

Lyra's fingers brushed against the adventurer's face with meticulous precision, running along and feeling every feature as she tried to conjure up a mental image just from her sense of touch. It was a good thing Lyra was blind, or else she would have noticed Erasmus taking on a faint blush."Well, it's good to know that pretty face of yours is still intact, no fresh scars or anything," she said, before slumping back in her seat. "What brings you back to town, anyway? You didn't come all the way down here just to visit little old me, did you?"

"Is that a bad thing?" Erasmus asked with a smirk.

Lyra shrugged, "No, I guess not."

Erasmus took a sip of ale, savoring its taste. They had always been close.

There was a certain chemistry between them, but somehow, neither of them had acted on those feelings before; never going further than the occasional flirty comment or joke.

Erasmus wondered if it was because their relationship had always been platonic, or perhaps Lyra didn't want to complicate things. Whatever the case may be, Erasmus couldn't deny the fact that his heart quickened whenever they were together.

"So, what have you been up to these days, Lyra?" Erasmus asked."Oh, just the usual stuff, I suppose. I've been singing and playing my lute to anyone who'll listen," she replied in a nonchalant tone. "But enough about me. How's the adventurer's life been treating you? I'll wager you have a lot of stories to tell," she said before taking a drink from her mug. Her voice was soothing, like a gentle breeze on a hot summer day.

"Oh, yes, I have quite a couple…" Erasmus began.

They spoke for hours, laughing as they shared memories. Drink after drink went by as Erasmus recounted his tales of high adventure. Erasmus told Lyra all about the wondrous places Erasmus had visited, the lost treasures Erasmus 'd uncovered, and the fearsome monsters Erasmus had slain—enjoying the bard's company whilst relaxing in a tavern was a delightful change of pace from Erasmus 's usual night out on the road.

Lyra listened to each word the adventurer said, nodding along as she absorbed every detail."So there I was, about to be set upon by a group of orcs, right?" Erasmus explained, while retelling one of his latest adventures.

"Fascinating!" Lyra remarked with great interest, leaning forward on her seat and resting her head over her hands, "I should be composing songs about your tales." With a playful smile, she continued, "A heroic adventurer battling against all odds… It's perfect material for a ballad, don't you think?"

"You'd do that for me?" Erasmus asked.

"Sure! But I would need a new story, one I haven't heard before," she said, raising an eyebrow suggestively.The conversation continued.

"You know, Erasmus, I've always found it strange how someone with your looks and personality doesn't have a lady companion," Lyra suddenly said.

"What about you? Have you ever considered settling down?" Erasmus inquired.

"No, I'm too busy to be thinking about that. And besides, I already have you, don't I?" Lyra remarked with a cheeky grin.

Erasmus's heart skipped a beat. Was Lyra actually hinting at something?

"Yeah, I guess we'll always have each other," the adventurer replied, trying to sound casual.

The two continued their conversation. They drank, ate and laughed, sharing stories of their exploits. Lyra told Erasmus about her adventures, though they weren't nearly as exciting as the ones the adventurer experienced.

Erasmus was an adventurous man who had spent his whole life travelling the land. He was always searching for treasure and glory, often finding himself in dangerous situations. Lyra was a simple bard, spending most of her days playing music for coins and occasionally helping others.

The two had become friends, enjoying each other's company.

"What is it like being able to see?" Lyra asked, curiously.

Erasmus considered the question. "Well, I guess it's nice to be able to see all the amazing sights," he answered.

"But you don't have any idea what it's like not to see. How would you know if something's amazing?"

"I suppose you're right. I can't say I've ever been blind."

"I've always wanted to travel, see the world with my own eyes. I wish I could experience everything you do.""You could come with me. We could explore together," Erasmus offered.