Magic Apprentice

People grew silent at the rebuke of this server. 

“Thank you.” Muttered an embarrassed, but grateful Elric.

Smiling again, the server turned around to get him his drink. It was long before she came back with a bottle of a sweet-smelling and rosy-red liquor. 

The bottle was gently placed in front of Elric as he fished out a gold piece to hand over to her for her services.

“Ser, a gold piece is enough to buy a barrel of cider.”

“But I only have gold!” 

“Hah! See how he flaunts his wealth.” Another patron mocked for just a brief moment before the waitress could glare at him.

“What?” He scowled, “I speak the truth. Flaunting is the only thing those high-nosers know what to do.”

She ignored him. 

“Ser, if you’ve not the coin, then we can put it on your tab for you to pay off on your next visit.”

“You’re not worried I won’t come back?”

“Looks like this here child doesn’t know that’s what makes the Forest Nymph special!” Roared someone out loud.

“Yes, our tavern allows people to hold tabs.”

“It sounds like a big loss of capital.” Elric questioned.

“You take us to be dishonorable fools?” Cursed the same man from before, “We are nothing like you high-nosers!” He advanced.

“Ser,” The waitress stopped him, “As I just said…”

Elric stood up before she could say anything more. “Miss, I was out of line. I shouldn’t have spoken badly about your establishment. I would like to extend an apology to this man.”

He bowed once to the nearby man, much to the latter’s chagrin and confusion. What was he supposed to do in a case like this? Muttering something underneath his breath, the man turned around and returned to his seat.

“I should’ve known,” Laughed Elric as he slid back into his seat. “that every Forest Nymph would be like that.”

Laughter broke out amongst the patrons once more. 

“Things would be swell if a second Forest Nymph existed.” The same man from before laughed from his seat. “I’ve traveled to every city in Karth and have never heard of another Forest Nymph. I’ve never heard of a tavern with a tab system either.”

“It’s true,” Smiled the waitress, “this here place is the only Forest Nymph.”

“That can’t be, my own village has a Forest Nymph. It looks just like this place!” Elric protested.

“Where are you from, greenhorn? Maybe I haven’t been traveled there yet.” Smiled the large man.

“Savana. It’s a small place next to the second largest city in Sovereign, Sina.” 

The answer stumped the man. As well-traveled as he was, the man had never heard of such a place called Savana.

“Oh—you must be the delegates from Sovereign! That explains things, we do actually have a Forest Nymph in Sovereign. How interesting that you’re from the same place.”

The waitress’ interest was piqued. She began to ask question after question to Elric about Savana and how Todd was doing or how Savana was doing on a yearly basis. She was even more excited to hear that he was the son of Savana’s grocer since she actually knew the man. Last year, in fact, the waitress had been fortunate enough to travel to Savana to meet with Todd and that was when she came across the local grocer there. It just so happened that Elric was studying with Victor at the time, thus why the two never met each other.

“Now you hold one for just a sec’, I’m going to finish off a few things. So sit down and stay for a spell, you hear?”

The waitress stood up to walk to the back of the tavern, but not before giving Elric a smile. 

“Don’t go anywhere, you hear?”

She disappeared past the counter and through a door. Walking down a flight of stairs, she then opened a secret door.

Closing the door behind her, the waitress walked down the corridor and into a dark room with no ventilation. In the darkness, she swiftly managed to find a cord and pulled it twice. After that, she waited for just a brief moment before a thin middle-aged man walked into the room.

“What is it?”

“Go and look into the person called Elric. He’s one of the Sovereignian envoys. He should be a highborn if his clothes are any indication. It’s important, so I’ll wait here for any answers.

“Also, go and report to the boss. Tell him that this Elric knows Todd of Sovereign. Ask the boss what we should do about this person.”

“Yes.” The man replied and left the room as swiftly as he came, leaving the waitress by herself, just like she herself had left someone waiting by himself back up in the tavern.

Elric had already lost track of how much time had gone by but he was starting to feel bored here. Without anything to do, he decided to slowly start sipping his cider. It had an aromatic scent due to the fruit, but also an acridic one due to the fermentation process. Slightly spicy to the tongue, the cider rested nicely on his palate whenever he took a swig. As he did, Elric started to listen to the other patrons gossip. Now was perhaps the only time he’d be able to shed some light on what was happening in today’s era.

Perhaps it was the clothes he wore, or perhaps it was because the people around him already knew he was from Sovereign, but everyone was talking about topics commoners would normally seldom discuss: politics. National politics was often a topic far too removed from a commoner’s life for them to even be influenced by, let alone discuss.

“Acht,” Clicked the tongue of a burly-looking patron. “If a Sovereignian highborn is here, then the rumors are true. We’re going to go to war with Sovereign.”

“Why do you think so?” Asked one who shared his table.

“You never left the comfort of Waldsk, you haven’t seen the lords of the edge territories up their conscription and training. They’re even raised the levies. What else could that mean but war?”

“But it seems like normal here in the capital.”

“Some say it’s because Master Kebrilio and His Excellency don’t wish for war.” An elderly man spoke.

“What does it matter if they don’t? The chancellor wants war, the blue-bloods in Waldsk want war, and the lords outside of Waldsk want war. Even the merchants want war!”

“That’s right! They’ll get new territory, wealth, and even a new station for some if they go to war. The merchants will line their coffers even more if they join in.”

Someone from the sidelines immediately piped up with their own opinion. “There’s merit in your old words. The blue-bloods here want a higher station, the feudal lords want territory, and the merchant guilds want riches. But what about us? The people? What want have we?”

“What want is there?” Snapped another, bitter. “All you can do is be levied into service, coin, or grain. Rise to a new station? Riches? Don’t even think about it.”

“Aye. The border army and their millions…our numbers here in the capital are perhaps a few hundred thousand. One or two countries can be taken, but what about after? Nothing will ever be enough for them.” The elder agreed.

“That’s where you’re wrong. War is about who’s left. Only those left alive get the spoils of war.”