The tavern buzzed with life. Men and women filled sturdy wooden chairs or leaned against tables, drinking, eating, and gossiping. Laughter and clamor filled the air, mingling with the scrape of chairs and clink of mugs. White-painted walls and ceilings bore smoke stains in corners, while a golden chandelier with five crystal-lit sources hung at the center.
Staff navigated the crowd briskly, all wearing aprons stitched with *Jerry's Rest*. Women wore uniform ankle-length red dresses beneath, while men's attire varied—shirts, trousers, and vests in assorted colors and wear.
At the far end, a polished wooden counter stretched nearly wall to wall. Behind it, shelves displayed branded liquor bottles, flanked by a poster of a towering four-legged beast from the Badlands. Its spindly legs, flat face with sharp horns, crooked neck, and skeletal wings loomed over jagged rock spires.
Patrons glanced at a cloaked figure in the doorway, murmurs rippling as they stepped inside. To the figure's right, before the counter, a stairway descended with a sign reading *Lodging* in bold red, an arrow pointing down. To the left, a board layered with bounty posters hung, secured by iron tacks. Below sat a hammer, a box of tacks, and two larger boxes of posters—one marked *Reward Collected/Reward Withdrawn*, its top sheet stamped *Cancelled* in red, bearing a wide-brimmed hat emblem with a flower, crossed flintlock pistol, and sword. The words *Captured by Deck* were scrawled across it.
The bounty board had three rows, each with a wooden divider. The first, fullest row, marked by a bronze-painted hand of five fingers, held fifteen posters with bounties from one hundred to one thousand bronze coins. Sketches, mostly black and white, showed targets against buildings or wilderness, with bronze bounty amounts and a green *Hunting* seal matching the cancelled poster's emblem.
The second row, under a silver-painted arm, had ten colored posters with bounties from thirty to three hundred silver coins. Names included Silverneck, Crusher, and Johnny, with Johnny's bounty the highest, Crusher's the lowest.
The third row, topped by a golden, blood-dripping head, listed bounties from forty to four hundred gold coins. Names like Goldenaxe, Bever, Honey, Clown, and Hunter filled it, Hunter's bounty the highest, Bever's the lowest. Each poster followed the same layout: red *Wanted* at the top, a central sketch, the bounty amount, and fine text with details below. A separate poster, *Rules and Tips*, was pinned to the left.
Stools lined the counter, some occupied by drinkers eyeing the stranger. Behind the counter, a young woman with curly orange hair, in a red dress patterned with white flowers and a *Jerry's Rest* apron, opened a bottle. Her grip slipped, and the bottle shattered behind the counter. The tavern fell silent.
"I'm sorry!" she gasped, kneeling to gather shards, cutting her hand as liquor seeped into the floorboards.
"My shoes!" a patron shouted, lifting his feet.
Another grumbled, "Just bought these, don't need 'em ruined."
"Miss, let me help," a patron, Carrey, offered, moving toward the counter gate.
"Stop right there, Mister Carrey. You're transgressin'," came a calm, commanding voice.
From the back door stepped a man with sleek black hair, garnet pupils, and a sharp face. He wore a black waistcoat, red-and-white checkered tie, white shirt, pressed trousers, and polished boots. Murmurs spread.
"Mr. Jerry? What's he doin' here?" said a necklace-wearing man.
"Dunno," replied a cap-wearer. "Don't like his smug look."
A blonde woman in a short white skirt with black stripes and a black bodice with pink flower embroidery smirked. "So that's Jerry? Handsome devil."
The cap-wearer scoffed. "Told ya not to befriend a whore."
Her glare sharpened. "Funny, from a man whose wife left over his little cock."
He slammed the table. "What'd you say, bitch?"
"You should thank me for the discount, baldy," she shot back, voice sweet but venomous.
The necklace-wearer intervened. "Calm down, both of ya. Bigger things happenin'."
Carrey, by the gate, protested, "She's hurt, sir. Just tryin' to help."
Jerry lifted a used plate, his voice steady. "Patrons don't cross into staff space. Call for help, and staff will respond when free. Bargin' in isn't help—it's trespass. Sit, enjoy your drink."
Carrey frowned but returned to his stool, downing his drink. Laughter spread from the blonde and her companions.
Jerry crouched, collecting shards. "Jessica, step back. That cut needs tending."
Another staff member rushed over. "Jessica! You let the owner clean glass?"
The cloaked figure lingered as Jerry instructed, "Ben, take Jessica to the back, bind her cut. I'll tend the counter."
Ben nodded, leading Jessica away. Jerry mopped the spilled liquor, then glanced at the figure. "My apologies for the poor welcome. What brings you here? Dust on your cloak suggests a long journey. Why so quiet?"
The figure placed a white, gold-trimmed cloth pouch from their belt on the counter, revealing a hand caked in maroon blood. A voice emerged at last. It was soft, steady, but flat, each word placed with mechanical precision. "I require lodging. One night."
Gasps rippled. "That voice? Never heard such an accent," whispered the necklace-wearer.
"Maybe a girl," muttered the cap-wearer.
The blonde smirked. "Or both. A rare treat."
"Ridiculous," the cap-wearer scoffed. "No such folk exist."
"I'd take a night with one," she purred.
He sneered. "Your name Glory Whore?"
"At least I don't pay for it," she retorted.
Their bickering faded as Jerry washed his hands. "I can't grant a room unless you show your face. New rule, not yet posted, but enforced. I trust you understand."
The tavern hushed. A staff member, Lisa, fetched Jerry a towel. "Thank you, Lisa," he said warmly. She blushed, then hurried off, muttering about Ben's delay.
Jerry turned to the figure, expression neutral. "Your answer?"
The figure raised their bloodied hand, pulled back the hood, and dust drifted free. Patrons coughed. Carrey, mid-drink, sneezed, nearly spilling his glass. "Watch it—"
His words stopped. Silence gripped the tavern.
White, silken hair spilled down the figure's neck. Flawless white eyebrows arched over a porcelain-pale face. Scarlet lips stood stark against serene features. Long, pointed ears jutted past their hair, undeniable. Slanted, serene eyes with midday-blue pupils locked onto Jerry's garnet gaze, unblinking.
The tavern stilled for a moment before Mr. Carrey, half off his stool near the cloaked figure, spoke. "Wha… what… is that an elf?"
Murmurs spread as patrons leaned forward. "What's an elf doin' here?" one whispered.
"I can only see them long ears," said the cap-wearer.
"I never expected an elf here… explains the feminine features," the necklace-wearer chuckled.
"I knew it! It's both," Glory exclaimed, eyes gleaming.
"What do you mean, both?" the cap-wearer demanded.
"Elves can be both male and female as adults. Before that, they're both," Glory said confidently.
"Just a rumor," the cap-wearer scoffed.
"I heard it from a trustworthy caster," Glory retorted.
"A caster? You trust those black magic users?" the cap-wearer laughed.
"Not all casters. He was… forget it," Glory said, sipping her drink.
The men fell silent, drinking as attention shifted.
Jerry, holding the figure's pouch, spoke. "What's a sky elf doing here? I thought your kind stayed in your territories." He drew a silver coin, setting the pouch down.
"I'd like a bath and quality food delivered to my room. You may need more coins," the figure, Saan, said flatly.
"Figured as much," Jerry smiled. "Your cloak'll be cleaned and dried by tomorrow. Fire and water crystals will handle it. Burns on it suggest it can take the heat."
"As expected of a sky elf's cloak," Saan nodded.
"I'll take that trust seriously," Jerry said. "Why are you here?"
"I'm walking to The Edge," Saan replied, smiling faintly.
Whispers erupted. "The Edge? The edge of the world?" Carrey slurred.
"How can there be an edge?" another muttered.
"Ask Jerry, he knows everything," Carrey said, lifting his glass.
Word spread that the elf was heading to The Edge.
"My mother used that story to scare me to sleep," the cap-wearer laughed.
"Maybe it's where Usar lies," the necklace-wearer mused, touching his necklace.
Glory stood, eyes wide. "Jacob, your ten bronze coins from last time cover our drinks. I'm leaving. See you tomorrow."
"But—" Jacob began, but the cap-wearer waved him off. "Let her go."
"Didn't you say she slept with you for free?" the cap-wearer asked.
"She charged me, discounts at most," Jacob admitted.
"Hah, thought you two had somethin'," the cap-wearer teased.
"Just friends," Jacob said, draining his mug.
Jerry's garnet eyes met Saan's calm blue. The back door opened, Ben and Lisa emerging.
"Sorry, took a bit to find a bandage," Ben said.
"No problem. Ben, take the counter. Lisa, take…" Jerry paused, smiling at Saan. "Your name?"
"Saan," they answered.
"Lisa, take Mr. Saan to a silver-quality room. Ensure his cloak is cleaned and dried by morning. Handle any food requests," Jerry instructed.
"Yes, sir," Lisa said, blushing.
Saan followed Lisa downstairs to a circular underground chamber with white walls, yellow trim, and chandelier-like lights. Three paths led to doors labeled "Bronze," "Silver," and "Gold." Lisa took the middle path to a square chamber with four doors. She opened S-2, revealing a light pink room with sandstone floors, carpets, and brown furniture. A bathroom door was labeled in white.
Lisa pointed to the sprinkler system. "This runs on water crystals. Twist the knob to control the mana flow. Mr. Jerry designed it."
Saan remained silent.
Lisa laughed nervously. "Sorry, here's the light." She showed the ceiling light and a lever by the bed. The room had a bed, table with a glass and menu, books, a grassland painting, an armor stand, and a wardrobe.
Saan removed their cloak, revealing white-and-gold armor with a flame bird on the chestplate. Their broken gauntlet showed a blood-caked hand.
Lisa, stunned, took the cloak. "Put your armor on the table or stand. Wash up. Hit the lever by the door if you need anything. Clothes are in the wardrobe. Food'll come when ready. Good night, Mr. Saan." She closed the door slowly, leaving Saan alone.