The Three Blessed Kings

Chapter 22: The tavern's beauty

By some chance,
I had made my way back home,
Under the silky moonlight.

Though the tavern was closed,
The flame remained lit,
For the guild never did.

I entered swiftly;
My footsteps like a ghost's,
As the floor barely creaked.

I tried to stay silent,
As my manager,
Was most likely asleep.

It was just her and I,
Who lived upstairs,
Though I rarely see her there.

She was an anomaly.
A slender woman,
Just about Ren's age.

In fact,
In quite a few different ways,
She did remind me of Ren.

Her small round glasses,
Or how tidy her hair was,
To her snow white skin.

But unlike the doctor,
She felt cold;
Not in a mean way but still there.

I always make sure,
To stay on her good side.
She scares me a little.

I've fought many opponents,
But none compare,
To the pub's own "beauty".

I was almost to the stairs,
But my instincts turned on,
And I got chills.

Suddenly,
My feet felt like they were frozen;
I couldn't move an inch.

"Welcome home, boy.",
A familiar voice called out.
Speak of the devil...

That voice was my boss,
Vanessa,
As she sat in the pub's dim lighting.

I was practically a statue,
Standing there,
But I turned my head.

Alone at the bar,
She held her elegant drink;
The ice like diamonds.

"Back so soon?
I thought your exam was today?
Did they fail you that quick?"

She had said all this,
With her signature smirk,
But deadly frozen eyes.

I told her of what occured,
And she was impressed,
But didn't say or show it.

She invited me to sit down,
Which eased my nerves,
From the fright she gave me then.

I wanted to move,
But when I looked down,
Ice encased both of my feet.

She chuckled and apologized,
And with a wave,
The frost flickered off.

"You're a mage too, Vanessa?!",
I said like a kid.
So much for "quiet".

"That's 'boss' to you, boy.
And yes I am,
But my days of battle are done.

You think I could run this place,
Without being strong,
In the ways of war?

Everyday's a battle,
Though you should know,
After serving these dorks."

After she said all this,
I noticed her pendent,
Shining through her shirt.

I guess Rajj was right,
That all mages,
Received these engraved magic stones.

I think she noticed my eyes,
Because she started,
"My attribute is of ice.

All humans have an element,
But can't use it,
Unless given these."

She gestured to her necklace;
But from my lessons,
Any item worked.

"Boss, your magic seems powerful,
So why did you quit,
Adventuring?"

She took a small sip,
And folded up her glasses,
Before responding.

"Call me a fool, boy,
But love is more powerful,
Than any magic.

I met my husband in battle.
I saved his life;
And he, my whole world.

We didn't want to lose each other,
So,
We both chose to resign.

We settled down,
And were blessed with a daughter,
Who carries on our tale.

She left Ligen this year,
To go adventure,
'The great big wondrous world.'

I run this pub,
While my husband works alone,
Somewhere close in Borhn.

Though I have to sleep here,
Due to the long hours;
But I still see him.

He is my world;
The only mage,
Who's made my ice melt, without magic."

She seemed truly happy,
And that alone,
Was enough to bring me joy.

As we sat at those wood stools,
I felt truly at home,
For the first time.

"I can't wait to see your results.",
She was getting warmer,
"You will pass.

But before all that,
You still have three days,
So why not rest a little?"

She had read my mind.
I hadn't had a break,
In over three long months.

But that'll start tonight.
It was already late,
So I should head up.

Right as I was getting up,
Vanessa tugged my shirt,
And got quiet.

"Thank you, boy.",
She randomly said.
"I'm going to miss you around here.

Whether you fail or pass,
I hope you'll always come back,
For a visit."

Maybe she couldn't hold a drink,
But that sentence,
Made my eyes water.

She didn't notice though,
As I brushed it off,
And just nodded right back.

No matter how far I go,
This very pub,
Will always be my home.

"Now get to bed, boy.
I'm sorry I kept you up,
But I enjoyed this.

Before you have to leave,
How about every night,
You join me here?"

I said I'd love to,
To her delight,
As she picked up her glass again.

Swirling it around,
She became playful,
As her face got rosier.

"Just one sip,
C'mon don't be shy.
Do you not trust the drinks that I make?"

I took the glass from her,
But as I looked at it,
I saw her lipstick.

Bright red stained the side of it.
I made sure,
To not touch the side it stood.

I got flustered,
But I took the glass,
And in one gulp, finished it off.

"That's bitter, boss.",
I said with my tongue out,
To which her soft laughter spilled.

"The best things in life often are.",
She said through giggles,
Taking the glass.

When she laughed like this,
I see why people call her,
"The tavern's beauty".

If she wasn't taken,
I might've proposed.
She was just that gorgeous.

But instead I went upstairs,
Happy knowing,
I got to see her laugh.