Day x, month x, year x

Dekin City

Dahji Desert

The sun was rising, and its rays beginning to illuminate the city. A few people were walking through the streets, some opening stores, others heading towards the city gate.

Among them walks a young man, he doesn't stand out much among the other people, he had dark skin like most of them, either natural, or due to exposure to the sun. His hair was black, and went down to his shoulders, and they were a bit curly, he must have been about one meter seventy-five, and his eyes were the color of sand, like most of the inhabitants of the desert.

The color of the eyes says a lot about the region where the person was born, for example, people born on the coast have blue eyes, while people born near volcanoes, even dormant ones, and hotter areas have red eyes.

He was heading towards the city gate, but on the way he stopped at a restaurant. The name of the restaurant was 'The Desert Rose', their food was not the best in the area, but they had good prices. Besides the fact that the owner of the restaurant, Balkan, was very nice.

"Trim trim trim" the boy entered the restaurant and sat down on one of the stools in front of the main counter.

From behind the counter a man was approaching, he was the kind of person no one would want to have a problem with, he was at least a two meters tall, bald and well muscled, his skin was dark brown and unlike the norm he had red eyes.

Anyone who saw him outside the city would avoid him without a doubt, but despite his frightening appearance, the smile he brought on his face showed how he really was.

Arriving in front of the boy he spoke "Good morning Gen, and happy birthday."

"Thanks Balkan."

"The usual?"

"Yes."

"How old are you again?"

"Twenty"

"Two decades hm, my father always said that when we have a birthday, it is the time we are closest to 'time', especially on the first and closing decades, who knows, something good might happen to you today" Balkan spoke giving a little wink and pointing in a direction.

Looking in the direction he pointed, Gen saw a young woman who was waiting tables. She was a little taller than Gen, had straight brown hair that reached to her shoulders, and her eyes were the same color as Gen's. She wore an indifferent expression on her face, as if she were so used to the job that she did it automatically.

Watching her for a while Gen replied "She really is beautiful, it's a shame -", before he could finish his sentence, a man from one of the tables she was serving, started talking to her. "Hi my love. Why don't you sit down and have some drinks with me, I'll pay triple."

Everyone in the bar stopped what they were doing, and looked in his direction. He had blond hair, and grey eyes, he should have been a little bit taller than gen. The people around started saying "I've never seen him around here. Must be someone passing through town" "Pff, ignorance is a blessing ..." one of them spoke as he looked at the people around him. "Hahaha!" The group started laughing, some people who were leaving even ordered some snacks and decided to stay.

After thinking for a while she sat down at the table. "Haha! What is your name my love?" "Blue rose cedar" the man was amazed "What a different name, but it does justice to your beauty" upon hearing this, some people giggled, and looked at each other.

"That's not my name, that's what I want to drink"

"ah! All right, let me ask -"

"Ask who? I'm the only attendant here, you'll have to go get it from the counter." She said without changing her expression.

"No problem my love, I'll be right back with your drink so we can talk more" he said with a wink at the end.

When he got to the counter he stopped by Gen's side and started talking to Balkan "a blue rose cedar boss" "Right away!" Balkan headed towards the kitchen to get the drink.

While the man was waiting for his drink, Gen made small talk with him, "Pretty huh?" He looked at Gen, turned around and looked in the direction of the table he was sitting at, "Very" he replied with a smile on his face.

Hearing this Gen turned to the counter, let out a sigh and spoke low so that only he could hear "Roses are so beautiful, sometimes you forget they have thorns." He looked in Gen's direction confused and spoke, "ahm? What are you talking about?" Gen turned his face to him and said, "You better run while you can, you still have time." Hearing this he was confused at first, but soon a smile came over his face, "Jealousy won't stop me from achieving my goals" he said looking at Gen with a smile that said 'nice try'.

Seeing this Gen turned back toward the counter while shaking his head in denial. Gen thought, 'I guess I expressed myself badly. Well, at least I tried to help him, now let's enjoy the show.'

Shortly after that, Balkan returned with the drink. You could tell from the bottle that it wasn't a cheap drink, it was sea blue, which isn't a color often seen in the desert, it was adorned with several roses, and it wasn't very big, it should have enough for about three shots.

The man took the bottle and went back to where he was sitting. As he sat down he placed the bottle on the table and started talking to the attendant again, "Okay, here is your drink dear, could you tell me your name now?" Upon seeing the drink, the young woman for the first time showed a smile on her face, which only made her more beautiful. "My name is Lina" she spoke as she stretched her hand toward the bottle.

As she held the bottle, his hand held hers over it, and he said "what a beautiful name, my name is Raja, it's a pleasure. Do you have a boyfriend Lina?" Hearing this, she looked at him and pointed to the bottle, "Could you pour me the drink first?" She spoke with a smile. "But of course!" He said.

He took the bottle from her hand and opened it, at this instant the smell of the drink spread throughout the restaurant, it was a wonderful smell, like a rose perfume.

The only ones who had a different reaction were Lina and Raja, she was looking at the open bottle with a huge smile and obsessed eyes, and he, when he smelled it, seemed intoxicated, but then he got scared.

'what is this drink?!' He wondered, 'even though it is a high quality drink, it shouldn't affect me to that extent, unless ... 'gulp'

"how envious, I would give all my savings for a glass of that drink." Spoke a slightly drunk man, "don't be an idiot, you know your savings won't pay for even a sip of that drink." Said someone close to him. "Still, then I just need -" he said insisting but before he could finish he was interrupted "Have you forgotten the time you tried?" said another person.

Hearing this the man looked in the direction of the table where the smell was coming from, after a while he felt a shiver down his spine that made his whole body shake, "better let it go, the drink is not worth the risk" he said a little more sober.

Raja was paralyzed looking at the bottle, he only came out of his trance when Lina called him, "hello? What are you doing, aren't you going to pour the drink for me?" Upon hearing this, Raja looked at her and then at the bottle, and then made his decision.

"Unfortunately I won't be able to give you this drink" he said pulling the bottle close to him. Upon hearing this everyone in the bar started talking amongst themselves, some made gestures with one hand saying he was crazy, others started laughing non-stop.

"what did you say?!" Said Lina a little annoyed, "I'm sorry my angel, but this drink is very important to me, and I won't be able to give you any of it, but you don't have to be sad, order any other drink and I'll pay for you" he said as he prepared to pour some of the drink into his glass, but before he could, something he didn't expect happened. Lina reached out and grabbed the bottle, not letting him pour.

"What do you intend with this?" He asked with a carefree smile on his face. "That's my drink." Answered Lina with a serious expression. Hearing this Raja laughed and said, "I will show you the difference between me and a person with no essence like you."

As he said this Raja's surroundings began to blur.