Verse 11: "How Lucky"

What had happened after that was interesting. Vivian’s expression changed from slight inspiration to outright fear, and Niels’ disdain changed into confusion. I stood still for a few moments, hoping that I hadn't accidentally ruined everything. After no one said anything, I coughed into my closed fist and slowly sat back down.
          “So not only isn't he a wizard; he’s a godforsaken priest.” Niels shook his head disapprovingly.
          Vivian sighed and smiled awkwardly.
          “Well… now do you believe me when I say that I wasn’t planning on stealing from you?” 
          Niels looked at me, and I smiled empathetically. He sighed.
          “Fine. Obviously you weren’t trying to steal from me. You were just trying to get my business shut down.” Niels said sharply.
          “What?! Niels, that makes even less sense.” Vivian retorted.
          “Why else would you bring a priest here? They can’t drink, and you know the laws about priests and towns!”
          “Technically, priests are allowed to go into towns as long as they don’t talk about what they believe in public.” Vivian replied. "Also, Shinko's okay with drinking."
          I raised my hand politely. The conversation they had was nice, but I needed to get more information.
          "I hate to interrupt, but Niels, can I ask you a quick question?”
          “I’m in the middle of a conversation, if you couldn’t tell.” He gestured at Vivian, but she backed away and let me have the floor. He rolled his eyes. “What is it?”
          “I wasn’t lying when I said that I came from a faraway land. Do you know of a place where I could talk to people who are experienced in the magical arts?”
          Niels tensed slightly as he stood behind the counter to his bar.
          “Yes, I know a place.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “But a priest has no business going there. Wizards and priests historically don’t get along.”
          “That’s not what matters. Where is this place?” I asked eagerly.
          “Come on Niels, if you know somewhere that can help him out, why don’t you just tell him and we’ll be on our way?” Vivian chimed in.
          Niels looked surprised at Vivian’s words.
          “Wait, you’re actually planning on staying with him?” He pointed a slender finger at me. “He’s a priest! You can’t be too closely associated with them.”
          “Are you concerned about me?” Vivian smiled playfully.
          He opened his mouth to reply, then shut it quickly. In the dim light of his tavern, he lowered his head to the point that I couldn’t see his face clearly.
          “No. The place you need to go is the capital. For the next few weeks there’s a council of archwizards meeting up and discussing magic. A lot of traveling wizards will be there. If you want to meet a wizard who knows anything about what you need, that’s where you’ll find one.” He turned away, sounding upset. “Now go away.” 
          “Thanks. Wizards in Kuzges.” She stood up from her stool and nodded at Niels. 
          I went to do the same, but an odd feeling inside my chest stopped me. I turned around. Niels was slowly moving towards the back of the bar again with a glass in his hand. He picked up a new rag and began cleaning the glass despondently, his back still turned to me and Vivian.
          “Niels, why are you here?” 
          He didn’t turn around, but his ears twitched.
          He was obviously smart, and he had a keen sense of business. If elves in this world were anything like the ones in the games my father enjoyed, then he could probably use magic very well. He was studious too, and possessed an analytical mind. If all of those things were true, then why was he a bartender in a town that was seemingly in the middle of nowhere? 
          “Shinko, what are you doing?” Vivian was standing near the door.
          “Why are you in this bar?” I said, ignoring her comment.
          He didn’t move at all, and the air grew tense.
          It was clear that he was a decent bartender, but the way he acted so content and confident when he was giving his lesson to me; the way he enjoyed being able to claim victory in a battle of wits; it was obvious that that was his true passion. Furthermore, he had been slightly disdainful when I told him that I was a wizard, but when I mentioned being ‘self-taught’ he seemed to gain more respect for me.
          All of those clues seemed to indicate one thing.
          “Why are you working as a bartender instead of being a–” I was interrupted by the sharp sound of glass shattering as it rang throughout the tavern. Vivian gasped, and I flinched.
          “Shut up and get out of my tavern, strange priest.” He said, his voice dripping with spite. “Come back when your god can help me out of this place.” 
          His voice shook slightly, and he walked over the glass that he had dropped on the floor and towards the very back of the tavern where there was a broom. I looked at him silently for a few moments as he retrieved the broom, then turned to look at Vivian and followed her out of the tavern.
          The sun was on its way down as we walked; it was the late afternoon. Once we were both outside, Vivian walked me over to a different store that was already closed and we both sat down against its wall.
          “I’ve… I’ve never seen Niels that upset before. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him drop a glass before. Why was he so upset?” She asked, looking at me curiously. 
          My stomach growled loudly and slightly painfully as I tried to respond. My face turned red.
          “Oh! Right, you still haven’t eaten.” She looked under her cloak, and I heard the sound of coins clattering together. Her face became one of slight concern.
          “What’s the matter?” I asked once I regained my composure.
          “Umm… Is stealing a loaf of bread or two okay?” She asked shyly.
          I wanted to say yes; I really wanted to, but I couldn’t do that after the whole speech I gave to Niels about forgiving debts. Plus, it would have felt weird to be disguised as a priest while saying that it was alright to steal.
          “W-well Vivian… uh… you see, if you ask, then it shall be given to you.” I said awkwardly. I knew I was skipping some of the context, but my hunger was finally catching up to me.
          “Are you saying that I should just ask people for bread? Like a beggar?” She sounded put-off by the idea.
          “See, what I meant to say was that…” 
          I sarcastically prayed that a solution would show itself; whenever I thought about those sorts of moral quandaries, my head spun.
          “Hmm…” I shook my head. “Why don’t we try to find some quick and honest work? Maybe someone around here needs something recovered, or some chores need to be done.”
          “That’d take too long; I’m fine, but your stomach sounds like it could use a bite to eat.” She replied.
          As we continued talking about what to do, something fell from the sky and hit me in the head. It wasn’t a hard object, but it also wasn't alone, as a lot of similar objects hit my head in rapid succession. Vivian gasped and laughed a little bit as several old, stale, slightly moldy bread rolls were tossed onto my head from the window of the shop that we were leaning against.
          Vivian managed to catch all sixteen bread rolls as they fell before they hit the ground. She smiled triumphantly as she clutched her spoils.
          “Wow! That was pretty lucky.” She held up one of the rolls and squinted at it, before cradling it in her cloak, pulling out a knife, and cutting off the moldy bit. Once she tossed that piece away, she bit into the bread roll with gusto. “Not bad. I’ve definitely had worse.” She offered me one of the bread rolls.
          I took it, but instead of eating it, I stared at it. I hadn't even really prayed for that to happen; it was more of a vague sarcastic thought. I grumbled as I made a resolution: I was going to figure out how this prayer thing worked if it killed me. I bit into the bread roll.
          “Did you remember to cut off the moldy part?” Vivian asked innocently.

Edited on 09/29/25