Sorrows, Ale, and a Chance?

He felt all the color stripped from his face as he glared at the result of their compatibility score.

“No way… It wasn’t even close at all…” Yami said to himself.

There was some snickering in the crowd, as a female voice, likely Sandra, yelled out. “What a loser! Hahaha!”

Raia, who was standing on the platform beside him, couldn’t even utter a word. She was just simply overwhelmed by disbelief.

But before Yami or Raia could compose themselves, the scales of fate began to rumble again.

“The Fates have decided, Raia Zo and Evi Kuro compatibility score: 94%”

After seeing this score, Yami hoped that the earth beneath him would just open up and swallow him whole.

“Really!? That jerk! How can he be more compatible? Even after Raia and I worked so hard.” Yami thought as he clenched his fists in frustration.

“AHHHH! What!?” Sandra screamed again.

The scales rumbled again for the third time. Yami looks at it with anticipation, he still couldn’t imagine being paired up with anyone else outside of Raia.

The scale declared yet again.

“The Fates have decided, Yami Hitsu compatibility score: Inconclusive.”

Yami’s world felt like it had been shattered to a million pieces, as he fell to the ground on his hands and knees.

“No one? Not even one? How can that be!?” Yami shrieked to himself as tears welled up in his eyes.

“Well, that’s no wonder, he is a monster after all.” Said a boy in the crowd, likely one of Yami’s schoolmates. Yami heard it but he didn’t have the energy to care.

“Next Pair!” announced the Fate’s attendant.

After that, the pairing ritual proceeded without a hitch. Each pair that hopped on the platform were able to achieve a sufficient compatibility score.

Sandra, who obviously wanted to be paired with Evi, eventually wound up getting paired with Devon, much to her annoyance.

“And that concludes this year’s pairing ritual” declared the attendant.

“Compatible partners shall be given two weeks to prepare for the binding ritual which will formalize and seal your bond forever.”

“For those without partners, you shall be given a summon in the next couple of days to be sworn in as keepers of the realm, reporting directly to the Fates.”

“That is all. Thank you!” the attendant concluded.

Yami, who was still sitting on the ground in utter despair, felt completely helpless.

“Yami! Still spacing out, are we?” Raia finally spoke as she called out to Yami.

“Don’t worry too much about it...” she continued with a kind smile.

Seeing this, Yami began to focus again and grasped the situation.

“Raia’s smile is so amazing! She’s right! Of course, we shouldn’t give up now!” he thought to himself as he prepared to respond.

But before he could say anything another voice spoke.

“Hey! You’re my partner now! Don’t waste any more time with this monster!” Evi shouted at them from across the room.

“Listen here you slimy little weasel! I may be your partner now but that doesn’t mean I’m going to be like your submissive little groupie! From this point onward you’ll be treating my friends with respect!” Raia snapped back at Evi.

Evi stood shocked and afraid.

Meanwhile, Yami’s face went from relief to shock in mere milliseconds.

“That can’t be right. Did she call herself his partner!?” he thought to himself.

“Raia…” Yami began to speak but before he could continue, she interrupted him.

“We gave it our best shot! And our moments by the river will always be special...” Raia’s voice began to sound more flustered as she paused to stifle her tears.

Yami couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Was Raia giving up?” he thought.

“NO!!!” Yami found himself screaming to the entire room.

“Listen here you three! How can this score be acceptable!? Raia and I know for a fact that we are compatible with one another!” Yami blared at the Council Fates.

“Impudent boy!” shouted one of the council members who was wearing a hooded black robe.

“You dare question the decision of the Fates!?” said the second council member who was also wearing a hooded black robe.

“Sister Clotho, Sister Lachises. Calm your selves. The boy is merely curious of the wisdom of the Fates. Hardly anything to get worked up about” said the final member of the council as she descended towards Yami and Raia.

Any outside observer would be able to tell that this member of the council held the highest position as she was wearing a more decorated robe. The robe was also white in color making her distinction amongst the council clear.

“Big sister Atropos!” the two council members in black hoods uttered.

“Listen child.” Atropos said.

“Although it may be true that the two of you can find a way to make your magic work with one another. That doesn’t mean you’re compatible.”

“You boy.” Atropos gestured at Yami.

“Your “acquire” magic is far too versatile and unpredictable. It is much more suited to serve the realm as one of its keepers as this role requires magic with a bit more spontaneity.”

“Meanwhile, this pretty girl” Atropos turned toward Raia.

“Her “refine” magic is of the upmost quality. Much like the members of her family. Which is why she would make an ideal partner for this boy of the same familial class.”

“Their binding is almost guaranteed to contribute great quantities of magic for the realm. And they are also expected to produce offspring with as much potential as them to ensure the future of this realm, again, much like the families in their class.”

“Thus, this is what’s best for the realm and this is what we Fates have decided.” Atropos concluded.

Hearing this only fueled Yami’s rage even more. He couldn’t bear the thought of not having Raia as his partner forever.

“This can’t be how it ends!” Yami thought.

“I CAN’T ALLOW THIS!” Yami began to retaliate. But before he could say anything else a loud scream interrupted him.

“STOP!!!!” Raia shouted.

Upon hearing this, Atropos smiles as if declaring her victory.

“Just stop Yami!” she continued.

“The Fates have decided and now we must accept. Please, don’t make this any harder than it has to be” Raia said with tears falling down her face.

Yami rushed to comfort Raia. Hugging her as they both collapsed their knees to the ground.

“Raia, but I can’t just let it go,” he explained.

“But we must. I’m sorry Yami, it’s over. The Fates have decided,” she said.

Realizing that there was nothing more he could do at this moment. Yami stopped. Together he and Raia left the grand room feeling utterly defeated.

Outside the structure, before being able to say a proper goodbye to one another, Raia turned away and left Yami behind.

Not wanting to go home yet, Yami found himself wandering to the edge of the Heart level. More specifically, towards the level’s tavern.

“So, this is the place where people go to wallow in their sorrows huh?” Yami thought to himself.

He had never been to a tavern before. The only idea he has of it is that one time his father came home acting unusual.

“Don’t mind your father for now. Looks like he just needed to leave his sorrows somewhere. He’ll be back to normal in the morning.” Yami’s mother, Ao, said at the time.

Yami entered the tavern and sat himself in a booth at a corner of the bar. As soon as he settled himself a female server came to greet him.

“So, what will we be having?” she asked.

“Uh… Whatever it is that the people get to leave their sorrows behind?” he replied nervously. Afterall, it was his first time in a tavern, and he had no idea what to order.

“Mmhmm… so ale it is then. Anything to eat with that?” the server responded with some slight judgement in her voice.

“No, I’m not hungry…” Yami said as he began to space out.

“Alrighty then” responded the server.

After a couple of seconds, the server returned with this drink.

“Here ya go, hon.” She placed the drink on Yami’s table and left.

The drink in front of him had a strong unusual smell. The smell wasn’t overtly repulsive. Yet, it wasn’t overtly inviting as well.

Yami reluctantly takes his first sip.

As soon as he took his first gulp. Yami paused to assess.

“Well, it’s not the tastiest of drinks.” He thought to himself. But after a little bit his head felt a buzz that he rather enjoyed.

At that point, Yami devoured the rest of the beverage in one shot. A sudden warmth filled his cheeks and somehow, he felt a lot lighter.

“Excuse me server. Another one please!” he asked the server.

He was only halfway through his second glass when he started mumbling to himself.

“*hic* Who are they to decide that for me and Raia!? *hic*” he began to say.

“*hic* What gave them the right to decide everything anyway? *hic*”

“*hic* It’s not like the people are always happy with their decisions. Otherwise, we wouldn’t need places like this tavern *hic*”

Yami now felt that he understood his father’s erratic behavior.

“*hic* he probably feels like this a lot too *hic*” he wondered to himself.

“*hic* Why weren’t Raia and I compatible? I wonder if anyone has ever convinced the Fates to change their minds? *hic*” Yami asked himself again.

After he said this, the entire tavern suddenly dimmed. As if the only thing that was in the room was him and his booth.

Normally, this is something that would shock Yami. But his head was still buzzing, and he really didn’t care about anything right now.

“Those are some mighty powerful questions you’re asking there, lad” an old man said as he sits himself across from Yami.

“*hic* Hey! who are you, old man? What do you want? Leave me alone, I’m busy leaving my sorrows here! *hic*” Yami says.

“Me? I’m just some old coot passing by who happened to get inspired with your powerful questions. I go by the name, Archimedes,” he replied.

“Archi…. Wha…?” Yami asked, finding it hard to pay attention with his head buzzing.

“As for what I want, you ask? Nothing much really. I just want to offer you a chance, lad.” Archimedes said as he leaned closer to him.

“A chance to change the minds of the Fates, that is. You interested?”

***