Inns and taverns are concepts you're familiar with. In Darius' book, they're illustrated as lively buildings brimming with food, drinks, and jubilant spirits. It's those pages in particular that stick in your mind.

A place full of festivities and merriment, such an idea has captivated you for a long time.

That is until you learn what that entails.

"And we were promptly kicked out of there!" Leronil slams his tankard against the table, having recounted what occurred at the men's bathhouse. "Garden Beast, how do you deal with that animal?!"

"Ehehe..." you awkwardly chortle and lower your head.

Apparently, the Mystfox had caused a ruckus in the springs. He would refuse to sit still and playfully kick waves of water at crowds of people. The force of his kicks was so powerful, that anyone in the way of these watery blasts was blown away.

Enduring the brunt of his seismic splashes were Leronil and Fidri, who had chased him around the cavern for hours.

When they finally grabbed hold of the mischievous Mystfox, half the elves inside were already displaced. And they were asked to leave the premises.

Celia, having heard all this, bursts into laughter, and the mead nearly spills from her mug.

"It's probably best we didn't take him with us," Anna remarks.

One look at your friend and you can tell, he isn't remorseful one bit. "Honestly... what am I going to do with you?"

The animal averts his eyes and continues sitting proudly.

Sitting at a wooden trestle with the gang, you get a glimpse of the elves' favorite pastime: getting plastered. After dark, the people of Elderwood Village would drown their troubles with liquor.

Not just any liquor though.

[Eldersap Mead]

Description: An alcoholic drink made by fermenting water mixed with Elderwood Treesap. Its golden appearance mirrors the nectar of the gods.

Quality: Good

Weight: 0.5

It is a special brew extracted from the sap that flows through the Elderwood trees. The golden ichor shines like sunlight and its sweetness is heavenly. You stare at the glass mug in front of you and nervously gulp.

"Not a fan of mead?" Anna notices your hesitance. "It is an acquired taste..."

"Nah it's just... this is the first time I've alcohol. I simply want to savor the moment you know?"

"Oh, seriously?! I'll drink to that!"

And the Elder raises her mug in a toast to your first drink. Anya, Fidri, Celia, and Leronil all join in.

"To the Garden Beast's first drink!" everyone clinks their glasses and downs a mug of whatever they're having.

You follow suit and are hit with one of alcohol's defining qualities: its strength. And you spit out your drink, surprised by this intense sensation on your tongue. Celia once again cackles like a goose.

"W-what is this?!" you cough.

"Haha! That's alcohol sweety. You'll get used to the taste." Anna assures you.

You survey the room and see elves from all walks of life partaking in this intoxicating beverage. The fact that you're the only one having trouble swallowing this drink does embarrass you slightly.

Immediately after though, you glimpse a different colored liquid in Fidri and Anya's mugs.

"Are you not drinking the mead?" you ask them, as though to make yourself feel better.

Fidri glances at his sister before turning to you. "D-don't get me wrong! The sole reason I'm not drinking is that Anya's here. I have to set a good example for her as an older brother and all. She's too young to be having this stuff!"

"Oi, Fidri," Anya catches what he's saying, "does that mean you drink when she isn't around? You're underaged too you know?"

The boy realizes his slip-up and sweats profusely. "O-of course I don't drink! I'm as much a law-abiding citizen as any other! Right, Leronil?!"

"Don't talk crock, kid," Leronil has his face buried in his arms and he is incapable of looking up. "I can't count how many times I've caught you guzzling this stuff..."

"Never mind! Don't listen to him Anna, he's hammered!"

And Anna gives the boy an earful following his failed attempt to defend himself. Celia repeatedly hits the table, unable to contain her laughter.

This has you thinking though. "Aren't I younger than these two?"

You choose not to tell them though, lest you face Anna's ire.

"H-hey, Celia," Anya turns to the woman whose face is redder than a tomato, "I've been thinking this for a while, but aren't you laughing a bit much?"

Anna shifts her attention from the poor boy to Celia. "Ah, you're right. How many drinks did you have Celia?"

"It'sh fine," Celia slurs her words as she giggles. "I can take moreee..!"

The Elder looks under the table and sees 25 empty mugs by her feet. And she stares at the woman with half-closed eyes.

"Alright. Fidri, Anya," she lifts Celia by the arms, "help me carry her back home, will you?"

The duo waste no time supporting the barely-conscious elf and they carefully walk her to the entrance.

"Sorry Nameless Seer!" Anna opens the door for the siblings and waves at you. "We'll only be a minute!"

And they disappear behind batwing doors, leaving you alone with your Mystfox friend and Leronil. You're subjected to a few minutes of chitter-chatters and background clatter.

Then, Leronil gets up and the lull is broken.

"Agh, my head..."

"Oh, you're awake?" you lean in, relieved in having someone to converse with.

"Ngh..? Where is everybody?"

"They just left to accompany Celia home. She was pretty bombed."

"Huh. Guess I'm not worth escorting back home."

"T-that's not true..! I'm certain they—!"

"Don't worry. I'm used to it."

You cast your gaze to your mug, the mead swaying as the table shakes. An uncomfortable mood arises, one that could suffocate a fish in water.

Leronil uses all his strength to push himself up, and he turns to the Mystfox. "Ugh... why's he the one I'm stuck with?"

"A-ah... I could ask him to wait outside if you'd like..."

"No, don't bother. He'll cause more trouble out there than here."

"Haha... true..."

Again, there is an awkward silence between you two. You try your best not to annoy the clearly intoxicated man, keeping his past struggles in mind.

He swiftly notices your discomfort and loosens up.

"Sorry," he sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I get weird when I'm drunk."

You shake your head. "No, no, it's okay. I know you have a lot on your plate right now. You don't have to put up a veneer around me, especially since I'm an outsider."

"Oh. Did Anna tell you about my situation?"

You realize your slip-up and sweat profusely. Perhaps you're not far behind Fidri's absent-mindedness.

"Well, it's not exactly a secret," Leronil peers through his empty mug. "The whole village always has its eyes on me."

"Leronil..."

"I kinda envy you, Garden Beast. You live out in the wild with no responsibilities, you tend to a garden of your own, and every day is peaceful, say for the occasional monster attack."

"That's..."

"It beats this life by a long shot. Sometimes I wish I could leave it all behind, you know? No strings attached."

You look him square in the face. "Then, why don't you?"

"Hm?"

"What's stopping you from living the life you want?"

He contemplates your question before answering, "My responsibilities. I can't abandon my people, Garden Beast. My conscience prohibits it."

"So, you want to be free, but you also want to help your people?"

"Yes, I suppose I do."

"That's... difficult to achieve..."

"Most dreams are Garden Beast. Most dreams are..."

Your friend picks up on your crestfallen countenance, and he places his head flat on your lap.

"But," a smile lines his lips, "that doesn't mean I hate the life I'm currently living."

"Eh?"

"Anya, Fidri, Celia... without the Elderwood Scouts I could have never continued messing around with those guys. Sure, the group is looked down upon, but what's a little criticism when you've got the best team anyone could ever ask for?"

And there is a twinkle in his eye, a glimmer of joy. You've never seen anyone make this kind of expression. It is a grateful smile. A smile that could melt the winter snow. The kind of smile that comes once and never again.

"Yeah, those idiots won't hear it from me, but I don't know where I'd be without them," he chuckles.

"Mm," a dimple appears in your cheeks and before you know it, you're also smiling. "I can tell."

To the average onlooker, you two are three sheets to the wind—no different than the befuddled drunkards that frequent this establishment. And they would be right, for this happiness you experience is intoxicating.

But like a beautiful sunset, all things must come to an end.

Abruptly, a voice bellows from the entrance.

"Leronil! I'll have your head, you failure of an heir!"