Even Someone Made Out of Stone Could Get Drunk

1st of Bryn, the road to the town of Grœnnbýr

(Two days later)

The roads leading to Grœnnbýr were all paved with a near-emerald sheen. The grass that grew around these stones shared that same shade of bright green. Perhaps the everlasting woods were such a point of pride for the people living here that they sought to adapt it as a permanent fixture in their life, or perhaps the magic that had been imbued into this land made it so that everything had a trace of green in it. Nobody knew for certain anymore.

Every now and again Hal and Rei were met with the curious gazes of guards and travelers alike, but they had chalked it up to the general curiosity of people when seeing an odd pair such as they were. However, upon reaching the central town of Grœnnbýr, they were met with loud cheers, colored paper suddenly falling from the sky as the crowd parted for their arrival. People crowded around to take a look at them, most of their eyes falling on Hal’s sword. Children cheered, some wanting to rush to their side, their parents having to rein them in with apologetic smiles on their faces.

Hal and Rei looked at each other confused, but only for a second. Abruptly, Hal's expression changed, as she took it upon herself to become the center of attention, looking out to the people. She smiled brightly, waving at those cheering for her.

“Isn’t it strange, to receive such a welcome? You only told me that you helped out in a few villages and towns before. This seems… Something greater than that,” Rei asked meekly from Hal’s side. She saw how easily the other was drawn to their cheers, which made Rei feel like she had to join in. She blushed as she awkwardly began waving.

“It is unlike any welcome I’ve gotten this far, that’s true. However, even if I don’t like it, doing anything else would dampen the people’s spirits. Even if it’s just for a moment, you should enjoy it.” She smiled a toothy grin at Rei, gently elbowing her in the waist.

After a moment longer, Hal asked, “Have you remembered anything, seeing this?”

Rei looked at the houses around them, all of them built with the same emerald bricks as the roads, if only a bit more orderly. Their rooftops were all different colors, from the bright green, to sky blues, to vibrant yellows. As they walked the well-worn, crowded streets, they saw a bazaar where traveling merchants settled, and every now and again there was a small corner shop. The flag of the nation, a sea dragon over a fishing boat, drawn with white on red, looked entirely unfamiliar to her.

“No. There’s nothing.” Rei shook her head finally as they walked towards the lord’s manor, set at the highest peak of the town. The crowd parted to make a path for them as they started climbing white marble stairs, flowers lining their way. They could see a figure, his form growing steadily larger as they grew closer, and they eventually came face-to-face with the lord himself. He was tall, with a sturdy body, his beard short and white as his hair. He wore a style of rhingrave weaved with emeralds, elaborate ribbons and lace frills heavily adorning his clothes.

“Welcome, heroes, to our humble town!” His voice traveled far, joy audible in his words. “I see that you have managed to find the sword, as I expected. It’s said that whomever can take the sword for themselves will become a wise ruler.” He smiled mischievously. “Would you like to give it a try in my stead?”

“I would not, Lord Grœnnbýr. I’m not in search of rulership, but I am glad to offer my help with whatever may be so challenging to you that you made such an offer.” Hal stood tall, her smile unperturbed.

The lord laughed.

“A humble hero, I see. Then, I shall provide you with whatever reward you desire, so long as you help our land and our people with the many issues that have plagued us for the past several moons.”

“Very well, I accept,” She said without pause.

Rei’s eyes widened as she looked over to Hal, expression incredulous, before she corrected herself, offering instead an awkward smile. On their way to the town, Hal spoke to her before of what her goal was, Rei having even seen her in action a few days back as they dealt with some highwaymen. But she didn’t expect her to give such an immediate answer to such an ambiguous set of tasks.

“Then it is decided.” The lord nodded in agreement. “Tell me, hero, what is that you desire?” he asked, as if testing to see what would drive her to accept so readily.

Hal’s destination was one and one only, to face the monster at the edge of the world, but it was unclear if anyone had heard of her mother’s story, or if it was merely an interpretation of an actual event. Her mother never said much about it, not even if it was real. Instead, Hal decided to go with something much more tangible, another thing she remembered her mother talking about at one point:

“Then, I want to know all there is to know about Heilageilr.”

“Oho, and where did you learn of such a thing?” The lord looked surprised for a moment, his proud facade giving way to a puzzled look, but he quickly regained composure. Still, he was silent, thinking.

After giving proposition some consideration, he responded, “Very well, a deal is a deal. We will search our archives for all that we can find.” The lord finished with a nod, the expression of determination giving way to one of welcoming joy. “With that decided, let us leave the formalities for now. Please, both of you, join us for our celebration of your arrival!”

“Of course!” Once again, Hal agreed instantly.

As Hal stood confidently, the crowd cheered. Rei wanted to speak to her, but as she looked at the expression on Hal’s face, she could only smile, unwilling to bring up anything that might dampen her spirits. As Hal had told her before, even if only for a moment, they should enjoy this time.

Until the middle of night, the townsfolk celebrated their new heroes’ arrival. A great bonfire raged in the central plaza, music filling the air as the people gathered and danced around it. Here and there, tables had been set with food and drink that was graciously provided by the Lord himself, his cooks and maids joining the people in celebration. Some were serving more food and drink, others dancing, with no distinction between work and joy amongst them.

As the night went on, Rei learned that even someone made out of stone could get drunk.

“What are you saying, you little…?” Rei held Hal by the scruff of her neck while she was trying, and failing, to pick a fight with a few drunkards. “I might not have beaten a dragon just yet, but I can beat your asses!” There was no bite in her behavior, thankfully, as Rei began to drag her away.

“Don’t,” Rei hissed, trying her hardest to keep the flailing Hal at bay.

“But they said I wouldn’t be able to beat a wolf that was as tough and as smart as a dragon.” She was almost on the verge of tears as she looked up at Rei, her face beet red, the smell of alcohol heavy on her breath.░▒

“How you jumped from that to fighting an actual ▒▓dragon is a bit beyond me…” Rei sighed, trying to distract her somehow.

“Rei, don’t you know how metaphors work?” Hal hiccupped▓█, now with a smug smile on her face.

“That was a comparison. Have you even forgotten how words work?” ░▒Rei sighed. “That’s it. You are going straight to bed.”

“Alright, alright. If you want us to go to bed that badly, then I guess it can’t be helped." She kept her smile and added a shrug, acting as if she was the one doing Rei a huge favour.

But it was no favour, as Hal did not bother trying to walk on her own. Instead, Rei had to drag Hal to the Lord’s manor, where they’d both been given their own rooms.

“Look Rei… It’s huge! I’ve never slept in a room this big before!” She slurred her speech as Rei tried to keep her from falling one more time. She didn’t catch Hal for her sake, but because if she broke something, Rei knew there was no way they could afford to pay for it.

“It’s quite large, yes.” Rei was amazed as well. Even without her memories intact, she knew that she had never slept somewhere like this before. She looked around, examining it for herself, noticing that it was a lot of space for not a lot of things.

“It’s pretty empty, really,” she remarked out loud.

“It is, isn’t it?” Hal laughed, holding onto Rei’s hand, pulling her a bit too close, the scent of alcohol suddenly strong again. “Let’s sleep together. It won’t be as empty then.”

“Alright.”

Rei smiled to herself, wondering if perhaps Hal was just shy enough to not admit she was lonely. Most likely, as self-sufficient as she liked to pretend to be, that she could admit anything at all must have been a side effect of being drunk, Rei supposed.

They were provided nightgowns by the maids, as well as a bath, but even after all that, Rei couldn’t help but feel a bit bad about dirtying the pristine silken sheets beneath her simply by using them. And yet, it was a comfort too good to pass on. The mattress that seemed to be made of plush, the pillows so fluffy that she couldn’t help but lose herself in.

Her eyes lingered on the sword that peeked from Hal’s back, threatening to tear through the sheets if she were to make any wrong move. Rei had no idea that the sword was actually embedded into Hal. At the base of her neck, where it met with the muscles on her back, it was a constant fixture in her own body, a slight crimson glow flowing up and down her spine. The sheathe she carried was just for show, a way to hide it.

As Rei was contemplating, she could hear Hal giggle from time to time next to her. The bed was very large, more than enough for them to comfortably sleep together.

“What are you thinking about?” Rei asked as the moonlight from the window lit up the grin on Hal’s face.

“I’ve finally been recognized as a hero.” She giggled again, still clearly inebriated. “I know that I haven’t done anything yet for these people to see as such, but I’m still glad.”

Hal paused a moment, then added, “It’s strange.”

“It’s not strange. You have saved my life, so to me you’re a hero, at least. I’m happy for you,” Rei said, looking over at Hal.

Hal turned to face Rei. “You, too. You’re being recognized as well, you know?”

“Me? What have I done so far?” She laughed as she turned to look over, meeting Hal’s gaze. “I can’t even remember anything.”

“Then, we’ll make our own memories. About you being a hero,” she chuckled, flopping backwards onto her back again. “Alongside me, of course.”

She raised her fist in the air, half-laughing.

“... Alright. Let’s do that.” Rei joined her, laying back again instead of on her side, her own fist alongside Hal’s, the drunken optimism contagious.

In truth, Rei was not yet sure what she was capable of doing. She knew that she knew how to fight, and she wanted to help Hal achieve her dream. But for now, she didn’t have anything else.

She watched Hal as her eyes drifted shut, holding her hand as she too fell asleep not long after.