The West Bar

Haku refused to be in her room. She walked back and forth in front of Lily's house, either because she was worried about her or because she wanted to kill her. The gravel crunched loudly beneath her boots with every furious step. She also gave a suspicious look to the doctor who went to the girl twice a day.

During the day, Ren walked alone in the city. He admired the developed architecture and enjoyed the solitude. He felt like he hadn't been alone in years. The smells of flowers and fruits, as well as vegetables from open-air markets, filled his nose, providing a welcome distraction. Sometimes he would run into Zel in the city, but usually, a lot of people were around him, so Ren could easily escape him and his questions unnoticed. For the first time, he missed Haku, who tends to solve everything for him.

Ren felt lost. And not just because he knew nothing about his surroundings. Along with his memories, he had lost his personality—his very self. He was an empty shell, lacking the virtues, goals, and history of difficulties that define a person. How does an adult build his personality without all that? He felt like a ghost, haunting his own life.

He entered the "West Bar" for the first time, which was located on the outskirts of the city, next to the stone walls. The wooden door creaked open, revealing a warm, smoky interior filled with the murmur of voices. West, the bartender and owner, was a man in his 50s with dark brown hair, a mustache, and a long beard. He chatted and laughed with everyone while he made their drinks, and he even greeted Ren with a huge smile. Ren closed his eyes and pointed to something on the drink menu, hoping he would like it. He had no money and didn't even know what currency they used in this world. The Royal Palace had offered to pay for his and Haku's expenses while they were here, and the boy didn't want to refuse this kind gesture.

He took a sip of his lemon-yellow drink, which was both sweet and bitter at the same time. It wasn't his favorite. Looking around, he met the gaze of a few people who quickly looked away. He wanted to meet new people—friends—because currently, the only connection he could boast of was Haku. Although everyone whispered about him, no one dared to go up and talk to him.

"You're quite famous." West gestured towards the other people who stared at him, not mockingly, but rather as if he felt sorry for him.

"I guess I don't like being famous."

"You can't blame them. Everyone has heard about the new boy who came back from the dead. The Hero stabbed you, right? The gods up there must really like you for you to have survived."

Ren sat on the tall barstool and leaned on the counter; the cool wood felt comfortable under his forearms. The man had piqued his interest. West liked to talk, and he wanted to learn new things about Zel. He couldn't decide what to think of the so-called Hero. He didn't want to get involved in the struggle between the elves and orcs, but he sympathized with Haku and her side unintentionally. Maybe because he met her first, and maybe because she didn't stab him in the stomach.

"The Hero. That's Zel, right? What exactly does it mean that he's the Hero?"

The bartender stopped wiping the glasses. He put down the cloth and leaned on the counter, his expression growing serious.

"Son, you don't know a lot of things. Twenty years ago, a prophecy foretold that Ezekiel would be the one to free us from evil."

A prophecy? Like Lily? Was she that old, or did she write prophecies as a baby, too?

"And when will that time come?"

"No one knows. But now, finally, after centuries of suffering, we have a little hope."

West seemed happy, hopeful. But Ren was rather alienated by the immense expectations that Zel had to live up to. To live his whole life in fear of disappointing an entire nation.

He clutched his heart. The pain coursed through his body, a sensation he was almost getting used to. Several times a day, randomly, he would be seized by a burning pain that made him gasp, as if his heart wanted to burst out of his chest. Tears welled up in his eyes as he hunched over.

"Hey, son, are you alright?"

West patted his shoulder with strong movements. This pulled him back to the present a little. He forced a smile onto his face and stood up. He was breathing a little heavily, but he answered.

"I'm fine, I'm not used to this taste. It hit my stomach a little."

West burst into loud laughter and clapped the boy on the back, which almost made him throw up. 

After he felt better, he walked out into the fresh air. The flower-shaped streetlights cast a soft glow on the dark street. Only a few people were loitering outside, and a few drunk people staggered out of the bar, their slurred laughter echoing off the stone.

He pulled his hoodie over himself to protect against the cold when a voice spoke from behind him.

"Hi, sorry, I saw you inside and you forgot this there."

A beautiful, dark-skinned, white-haired elf girl held out a piece of cloth full of strange papers. He took the object, which resembled a wallet full of money, and handed it back to the girl.

"This isn't mine."

The girl seemed surprised. Her ankle-length blue skirt danced around her legs, and her strapless top rose and fell evenly. She awkwardly tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, a nervous habit that Ren found endearing.

"I'm Sonja."

He didn't know what to do. Kindness was not a feeling he was familiar with. He felt almost uncomfortable, but prepared himself mentally to answer a few questions.

"Ren," he said, his voice quiet.

"Actually..." Sonja stepped closer to him. "This is mine. I just didn't know how to approach you."

"Why?" the boy blurted out.

The girl took a lock of her hair between her fingers and started twisting it, "Because you look cute."

Ren held his hand in front of his face to hide his blush. This was the first time a girl had said that to him. This was the first time his heart was pounding because of something good. How do people here give compliments? Can he say that the girl enchanted him with her beauty? Would that be too much?

The girl continued awkwardly, "I was thinking that maybe... while you're here, we could meet up."

"Yeah, of course," he cut her off. "I'd love to."

Sonja's smile was the most beautiful in all of Ebony, Ivory, and the Earth, and it made childish butterflies flutter in his stomach.

"Tomorrow at noon, here?"

Ren nodded, and he felt like he had smiled for the first time since he had been here.

"I can't wait!"

Sonja turned on her heel and disappeared around a corner. He felt a little annoyed with himself for getting so excited, but for the first time, he felt a sense of normalcy. In a not-normal place, he could finally do something normal.