Early in the morning, while the light still staggered at the edges of the town, Xenia awoke quietly, as if afraid to wake the world around her, She raised her hand to clutch a piece of white cloth over her chest.. a curtain safeguarding her secret.
Then she gathered her dark brown hair beneath an old-fashioned men's hat, hiding her femininity and weaving a new identity. She dressed in a sharply tailored suit, meticulous in its details, and fastened an elegant wristwatch tightly around her wrist, as if trying to seize time and bend it to her will. With a gentle hand, she brushed a few light freckles onto her face—the small spots that lent her innocent features the calm youthfulness of Aeryon, the name known only to a few.
She sat down and quickly wrote a note for Callie and Joe, telling them she had gone out to find work.. leaving behind everything that could tie her to her past, Or at least, she was trying. Without looking back, she stepped out of the cabin, wrapping her face in a heavy coat as if saying goodbye to her true self, then headed toward the small tavern tucked in the corner of the village.
She entered the tavern quietly; the door's echo announced her presence. The bartender greeted her with a broad smile, as though he had been expecting her return.
" Sir, welcome back. What will you have this time? "
he said warmly.
Xenia smiled, her voice low.
" Lemon soda, please "
" Right away "
As her eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar shadow, she spotted Noven sitting with some young men, Hesitating for a moment, she gathered her courage and quietly approached the table.
Standing behind him, she whispered,
" Hello, my friend "
Noven's skin prickled; he hadn't heard anyone approach,
Turning, he saw the stranger he had met a month ago standing behind him—a face almost forgotten.. He forced a smile.
" Hello, Aer... Aerion, right? I almost forgot you.. You disappeared suddenly, and I couldn't find you.. I thought you left Lorenval "
" I was a bit ill, so I barely left the house "
Xenia pulled a nearby chair and took a seat at the same table as Noven, With casual ease, she said,
" Introduce me to these handsome young men! "
Noven's eyes flickered with a trace of hesitation before he spoke,
" This is Lloyd, a childhood friend.. He works as a lumberjack.
This is Fredick, a friend as well.. He sells goods in the local markets.
And this is Cillian, He's the most well-off among us – a distinguished lawyer "
Lloyd was a man of striking build, every muscle a testament to long hours of grueling labor beneath the scorching sun, His jet-black hair shimmered with threads that gleamed like a starless night, and his green eyes mirrored the vitality of nature itself—like a deep forest alive with breath, His bronzed skin, burned by endless days beneath the sun, granted him a presence that felt carved from the very earth.
Fredick, on the other hand, was slender and delicate in frame, His small face was framed by tousled golden curls that seemed spun from daylight, Freckles danced across his cheeks and forehead, as though the sky had kissed him with a spray of stardust, His blue eyes resembled a still lake on a clear morning, reflecting a quiet inner calm touched by caution.
Cillian was their opposite in every sense, He was the kind of young man born into limitless comfort, His black hair, perfectly styled, gleamed like silk in the midday sun, His clear blue eyes echoed the summer sky at its peak, His skin was pale and smooth like untouched snow, and his graceful features evoked the likeness of royalty, Whether lean or filled out, he shimmered with the mystique of inherited wealth and ease.
Xenia smiled and said,
" Pleased to meet you all, I'm Aerion, and I'm looking for work "
Then, turning to Noven, she asked,
" And what about you, Noven? What do you do? "
" Oh, I work in carpentry with my mentor, but I don't make much, so I pick up odd jobs here and there "
Cillian interjected,
" I haven't seen you around before... are you a tourist? "
Noven replied,
" I met him here a month ago, He said he wants to settle in Lorynval "
Xenia spoke in a low, somber voice,
" I originally planned to open a café in the city, When I arrived, I paid a little to rent a room at an inn on the outskirts and hoped to work and save up enough for my project.. Who would've thought life would turn against me? I fell seriously ill – I couldn't even use the restroom alone, The innkeeper pitied me and started helping in small ways, I wanted to repay her, but suddenly she passed away from her old illness, and her grandson came and threw me out, saying he wanted to sell the inn, I wandered the city and got my bag stolen it had my ID and most of my money, Luckily, I had a few rupees in my pocket, so I decided to get a drink with what little I had left before continuing my search for shelter "
Cillian sighed,
" You've had really bad luck "
Xenia quickly added,
" I'm a stranger here, If any of you know of a cheap place I can rent, I'd be grateful "
She continued,
" And if anyone can recommend me for a part-time job, I'd be deeply thankful, I'll be sure to return the favor "
Cillian responded,
" My nephew owns an inn in the south side of the city, It's really cheap, but he's a bit stingy and short-tempered. He insists on being paid on time—or else "
" Oh~ What's the inn called? "
" The Floating Tree Inn "
" Thank you, friend~ I'll keep that in mind.. Do you have a business card? Give it to me so I can refer anyone who needs legal advice! "
Noven cut in,
" Aren't you two getting a little too cozy in conversation? "
Everyone burst into laughter.
The waiter approached and placed a lemon soda before Xenia, then walked away.
Lloyd asked,
" Why don't you drink alcohol? "
Xenia replied with a grimace,
" It tastes awful! And besides, I have my own philosophy about it "
Fredick asked curiously,
" What's your philosophy? Now I'm intrigued "
Xenia answered passionately,
" Humans, in their eternal pursuit of escaping the weight of their existence, chase pleasure as if it were a lifeline – never realizing it is, at its core, another chain.
When pain blocks their path, they turn to alcohol like a wounded man turns to a false cure; they swallow its bitterness in a cup that seems at first a refuge but soon reveals itself as a gentle abyss—like quicksand—the more you try to escape, the deeper it pulls you.
Alcohol doesn't erase pain; it weaves it into the body, drop by drop, until pain becomes part of your being.
The headache is unbearable, the shame that follows is unpardonable, And thus begins an endless cycle: gulp, stagger, vomit, restless sleep, then waking to an existential hangover... only to return to the start.
Drinking, at its core, is nothing more than a futile ritual to flee the self, a waste of time, a ruin of health, and a silent reminder that we try to feed the hunger of the soul with what does not nourish "
Lloyd interrupted,
" Enough, enough! You're starting to sound like my parents' lectures – so heavy and repetitive! Can't you imagine someone drinking simply... for fun? "
Xenia gave a faint smile, the kind born of seeing the sun behind fog, and said,
" Ah, pleasure... that lovely illusion we use to trick ourselves... But tell me, my friend, do you truly believe that a creature born flawed can ever truly practice moderation? Humans are not created perfect; they are born thirsty and never full... That's precisely where their tragic charm lies.
Tell me, have you ever seen someone stop at one drink just to taste it? No! The first tempts the second, the second invites the third, and then the doors shut behind bottle after bottle.
Alcohol isn't served for taste—it is served as a mirror, and the longer you stare, the more it swallows you whole "
Cillian spoke clearly,
" That's logical. I like your insight... But don't you think there's no harm in drinking sometimes? Just a sip now and then? "
She smiled, though her smile held the shadow of deeper wisdom, and said,
" True, there is no harm in a little that doesn't enslave.. Real freedom isn't about abstaining—it's about not being ruled by your cravings.
Still, my opinion isn't law... I just don't like the smell of alcohol, nor the swaying that steals my self for a moment, like becoming a ghost within myself, So I choose abstinence—not out of rigidity, but out of love for clarity. As for others, let them walk their path.
We're all travelers on diverging roads, each led by the pull of their spirit "
After a moment of silence, Noven said,
" You mentioned you're looking for part-time work, right? I've been thinking about it and I believe one of my acquaintances is looking for a receptionist at a hotel, What do you think? "
Xenia replied with overflowing joy,
" Meeting you was my luck! Of course I want it – if he wouldn't mind "
Then she looked nervously at Cillian. He blinked, puzzled, and said,
" What? Why are you looking at me like that? "
She replied softly,
" You're a lawyer! I just want to ask a simple question and hope you can help "
He nodded. Xenia thought for a moment, then said,
" Didn't I mention earlier that I lost my ID? How do I get a new one? I'm afraid of trouble with the police "
Cillian replied simply,
" Go to the police, tell them you were robbed, They'll ask for your photo, fingerprints, and current address, then they'll issue a new ID.
The most important thing is honesty "
Xenia bowed slightly to both Noven and Cillian,
" Thank you both! "
She gave a wide smile and added,
" If I hadn't come here today, I would've missed so much! I'm truly glad to have met you all "
Noven said warmly,
" It's my pleasure to help you! I'll talk to my relative and let him know about you... Come back here tomorrow at the same time "
Xenia replied,
" Of course! If I get the job, I'll treat you all—on me! "
Noven laughed,
" With pleasure! "