In the small tavern in the royal capital that night, the man wearing the turban had been drinking at the counter since before most of the other patrons arrived.
“Hic.”
“You feelin’ okay there, Canis? You ain’t lookin’ right these days.”
“Nah…I mean, thanks for askin’, Butch,” Canis muttered. “But things have been terrible, no kiddin’.”
“What’s up? I’ll listen if you’ve got somethin’ to get off your chest.”
Canis lifted his ale stein and took another swig of his drink.
“So…I had somethin’ I was workin’ on all secret-like, all this time, yeah? But then some guys I don’t even know just came and took it all away… Just butted right in, and to top it all off, they screwed up so royally that now everythin’s so messed up, I dunno what to do,” Canis explained miserably. “Like, this was tough to begin with, but now…ah…those damn idiots!”
Canis was drunk, his speech slurred, and his words coming out in incoherent fits and starts. Butch couldn’t understand much of what he was saying, but he’d been running his little tavern for years and was used to chatting with heavy drinkers.
“Man, that sounds tough. I get what you’re goin’ through.”
“You do…?!” Canis exclaimed. “I…like, I’m gettin’ sorta tired…”
“People can’t just try and try and jus’ keep that up forever,” Butch said gently. “Sometimes you gotta stop and take a breath. Get some rest, that’s what you need.”
“Ah…Butch…”
Just then, the door swung open with a creak and a rattle.
“Still open?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, heck, if it ain’t Zack! You too, eh, Ferris? Welcome, welcome!”
The pair’s arrival was a gift from heaven to Butch, who let out an internal cry of joy as they walked in.
“Huh, Ferris, is it time to go already?”
“No. Well, yes,” she corrected, eyeing him critically. “But no. Things to talk about.”
“Hmm? What’s goin’ on? Gimme the deets!”
“Gross. Annoying. Drunk.”
“Th-thas’so mean…!” Canis slurred.
Zack and Ferris walked over to the counter and took their seats.
“I’ll take an ale, as usual! What’re you gettin’, Ferris?”
“Mead.”
“Comin’ right up!”
Butch quickly prepared their drinks. Zack swigged his like a sailor, and Ferris sipped gingerly from hers.
“Ahhh! That’s the stuff!”
“…Tasty.”
“Man, sure was a surprise when you came to see me outta the blue, Ferris,” said Zack.
“Huh? Ferris went to see you…? What for?” asked Canis.
“Asked about Gilbadia. We should go too.”
“Huh?” Canis hiccupped.
Zack took another swig of his ale, then turned to Butch.
“I’m actually gonna be headin’ back to Gilbadia tomorrow. Since…y’know…given everythin’ that happened at the academy.”
“Whoa, whoa, this is so sudden! Gonna be sad without you here.”
“Aw, heck, I’m glad to hear that! I was finally gettin’ used to the city m’self! Tough break!” Zack said. “But…Gilbadia’s my home, I reckon. I’d always planned on goin’ back someday. I owe a heck of a lot to the guild master who runs things out there.”
“I see,” said Butch. “You’re a real loyal one, eh? Ain’t gonna stop you if you’re goin’ for a good reason!”
“C’mon, I’ll be back before you know it! I’ll be sure to come an’ see you, all right?”
“Yeah, you better! All right then, you ain’t payin’ tonight!”
“Sweet! I got friends on the way, gimme drink enough for them too!” Zack grinned.
“Gah ha ha ha! Y’damn freeloader!” Butch exclaimed with a raucous laugh. “Fine, fine, call as many of the damn lads as y’like! I’ll drown ’em all tonight!”
“Hell yeah, I knew you had it in ya, Butch! Cheers!”
Ignoring the casual exchange between Zack and Butch, Ferris leaned in to whisper in Canis’s ear:
“Academy on break. Need to return to Gilbadia. Good chance for us, even. No reason to stay.”
Ferris’s expression was deadly serious as he listened, and yet none of it stuck in his alcohol-soaked mind.
“Huhhh? Hic! Whadd’ya say?”
Ferris fixed a silent glare upon him. Canis was far too drunk to talk about anything so important.
“Never could hold your drink,” she remarked. “Lightweight. Weakling.”
A short while later, Zack’s friends arrived. From that moment on, the loud peals of laughter never ceased, ringing out late into the night from the windows of the small city tavern.
3
I COULDN’T WAIT TO BE HOME.
There’s nowhere better than this in the whole wide world, I thought to myself, as I dived into my own bed and buried my face in the pillows. It had only been a few months since I’d entered Aslan Magic Academy, but so much had happened in that short amount of time. I’d had so many new experiences; though unfortunately, most of them had been irritating, troubling, or downright miserable.
Seriously, why is all this happening to me? Not even I know the answer to that one yet… But if there’s one thing that I’ve come to believe in, it’s fate. I made the choice to fight desperately against my fate, to prevent my defeat at the hands of the main character of this story, Abel, by putting in a little more effort. Honestly, while I might have caused a few disparities between the original story and this one, it sure seems like nothing about the fundamental underlying story has changed.
Or has it, I wonder? My efforts have brought obstacle after obstacle my way, an unending parade of issues. Is that why, now that I’m back home with my parents, all I want to do is stay here forever? Why can’t I stop wishing I’d never have to set foot outside again?
There’s nothing to irritate me here. Everything’s in order; all my needs are met. This place is wonderful. When the world out there is so full of nuisance and bother and bore, why should I ever trouble myself to leave this house again? I really should just stay here forever.
As I considered shutting myself off from the world entirely for a brief moment, another thought struck me.
Perhaps this is my fate?