34 The Colour Of Mud (2/2)

”Yes, you're right. I've changed. In more ways than one. Seeing as how our conversation is going around in circles, I'll take my leave then.” Sebastian stood up and with a turn, made his way out of her study.

Rivie was left staring at the door, thinking if the first conversation she had with Sebastian after a few months was actually real.

***

Jin saw a familiar figure walking into the pub as he frantically waved the other person over. ”Oi! Sebastian! Over here!”

Sebastian waved back while smiling a half-baked smile as he walked over. ”You actually called me for drinks. I thought it would be for dinner or something.”

”Why can't two guys have a few drinks together? Would you like to talk over dinner in a fancy restaurant instead? I felt a noisy pub would be better at getting you out of that house. Ale? I have another pint already here for you.” Jin handed an almost over-filled pint to Sebastian. It was filled to the brim with a yellow foaming liquid. If he didn't hold it properly, it would surely spill with minimal effort.

”You're still as lively as ever.” Sebastian took the pint as he lightly tapped Jin's waiting pint before they downed their drinks in one go.

”puhaaa. I'll have another. Don't skimp out on the snacks.” Sebastian placed his pint back on the table while motioning it towards Jin, indicating he was buying for the night.

”Oi oi oi, you're supposed to be loaded with the previous Forgotten One's coin and yet you're still trying to mooch off me?” Jin complained with a loud voice as he pretended to be hurt, however, he already pa.s.sed the order to a pa.s.sing barmaid.

”So what's the occasion this time? You've been inviting me for the past few months.” Sebastian picked off a handful of nuts and fried mushrooms which was served as a side dish of sorts.

”I just thought that you should get out more and just talk to people. I know it's been hard on you. It's also been hard for all of us. If you're not ready to talk then I won't, but if you do feel like it, then the rest of us are here.”

”Oh, the usually lively Jin has turned melancholic?” Sebastian continued to nibble on the side dishes as he poked fun at the serious adventurer in front of him.

”Well, we just figured out that you've holed up in Mel's house for some time now. We don't even know if you're staying healthy or not. I almost expected you to be a fat, chubby adventurer by now.”

”Ah, there he is. Lively Jin has come back. Thank you for your concern though. I still look like myself as you can see. How's everyone else? How have you been?”

”Mel has been training and learning new skills as you should know. I've been taking some quests here and there, also my guard duty is keeping me busy. Aima is also busy with her blacksmith job since the change in season requires different equipment. However, I feel like we're stagnating at the moment.” Jin couldn't hide his disappointment as he looked down at the table and at the half-eaten side dishes in front of him.

The barmaid walked with three pints of ale and a few more side dishes which she placed deftly on the table. Even though she was a young female dwarf, she still managed to hold everything with grace and carried their order without spilling anything on the way there.

Sebastian looked up at her, trying to see if he recognised her from somewhere. When his memories failed him, he blurted out his question. ”Why is there three? I heard Jin order for two pints of ale only.”

”That one is for me.” A cloaked figure stood beside the duo as he lifted his hood, revealing a half-elf.

”Leo?” Sebastian stood up before Jin and Leo grasped his shoulders, urging him to sit down.

”My plan was for me to walk over unannounced, but I can see that you're continuously using a skill. You're actually a.s.sessing your surroundings using your senses right? This was the only way for me to approach you with stealth.” Leo kept his winter cloak on as he sat down on an empty stool.

”So why are you there then?” Sebastian's face fell as he stared at Leo with his intense gaze.

Jin tapped the table as if to call attention to himself before saying, ”I actually called him here. I know that you won't come if the invitation came from Leo. Also, he tried to contact you through Mel but I don't think she told you anything. We just want you to hear something we feel that you should know.” Jin nodded to Leo, indicating that he should continue at this point.

”ahem. It's what Jin said. Also, it's with regards to what we found in the cave a few months back.” Leo paused to look at Sebastian, waiting for his reaction. To his relief, Sebastian merely picked up the pint in front of him as he took a few sips. ”After we evacuated and treated you, Elias and I went down there to scout the place. We found some disturbing things.”

”His name's Nate Cohen, and he's also a Forgotten One like me. Is that what you found out? I think we've finished this conversation then.” Sebastian was about to stand up when Leo continued with his report.

”I surmised that you would know that much. Instead, what I found in the cave adds more to that. I've found his journals which explain some things about him. We also found weapon sketches which he called a 'gun'. I wanted to show you that to see if you know anything about it.” Leo paused once more to wait.

Sebastian ate a few more mouthfuls of the side dish before continuing. ”So you actually found his journals? Does it explain that he also came from Earth and what he was doing there?”

”That's right. It also showed his plans, and this was just the beginning. Being a Forgotten One, he is extremely dangerous.”

”You don't need to tell me that.” Sebastian finished off his ale as he placed the pint down the table with force.

”You can have mine.” Jin placed his untouched pint in front of Sebastian. With an apologetic look, Sebastian knew that Jin felt uncomfortable seeing him act like this. With a nod, Sebastian accepted Jin's offer and started drinking his third pint.

”ahem. Just to briefly touch about his background, Nate was supposedly from Earth working as a weapons dealer.” With a cough, Leo brought the attention of the conversation back to himself.

Sebastian stopped drinking and looked at Leo with wide-opened eyes. ”Did it say what year or millennia he was in Earth?”

Leo answered Sebastian's question with a calm gaze before picking out a few pieces of paper from his pocket. ”It says here that it was around 2015 or something like that. He started to forget already. I think it was near your time as well?”

Sebastian placed the pint down gently as he stared blankly at the papers in Leo's hand. His eyes quickly flashed from a golden hue to the colour of mud once more.

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