[IRP] Secrets of the Empire

[Breadophile]

A green-haired woman entered the pub after telling her pegasus to sit tight outside. She didn't like to saddle him up, simply letting him fly as he wished and whistling if she needed him. Her pegasus was smart enough and obviously strong enough that no poacher stood a chance in a fight. But he wouldn't get attacked in broad daylight anyway, so neither of them were worried. Just in case of her own safety, she pulled off her staff and iron pole.

The woman was clearly not dressed for the weather, though. Beads of sweat could be seen all over her face. If not for some special concoction she bought at a village, her face would be beet red from sunburn. Even then it was still a little tinged. Nothing too noticeable, thankfully.

It was cooler inside the pub, even though air conditioning hadn't been invented yet. Kalin wasn't one to complain, though. An opportunist she was.

While she may have been a little ditzy, she had street talk nailed down. Pubs were nothing new.

"And what can I get for you, miss?"

"Ilian firewater, on the rocks, shaken not stirred. Burn it to a crisp and let it swim. Oh, and a to-go cup, please."

The man was a little dumbfounded that she knew that much, but it wasn't the most far-fetched order he had heard.

Doing an odd assortment of brewing, the man produced a beverage that looked completely ice cold, belying the extreme heat inside of it.

She took the drink and slipped the man some gold. Having money sure felt good. She had learned some things from Ray and her parents, from basic training, and from her idol Farina about saving money. Personal experience too, though those days were thankfully over.

...but Kalin could indulge every once in a while, especially to blow off some steam. It was painful not having access to local food and drinks, so it was nice that pubs were pretty universal. Ilian pubs had a ton of southern drinks. She had tried a few but this one sat the best with her.

Now thaaaat's the stuff. She closed her eyes and tilted her head up. A discreet taste of chocolate mixed with the powerful tastes of alcohol and coffee. She wasn't one for coffee, but with this combination it worked perfectly. As if everything was in perfect alignment. The rest of her family hated the drink though. Kalin figured they just had bad taste.

"Hey barkeep, I gotta ask you something."

She slipped him a coin.

"Have you seen a incredibly beautiful, tiny, 17-year-old boy? He looks like a girl, but can give off the male vibe to some. His hair color is the same as mine and he's wearing a tight cape."

"A cape?" The man was slightly confused...

"Is he a mage?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Sssshhh, don't let that get out. It's obvious you're not from around here, so let me fill you in. Magic is banned everywhere in this country. Only divine power and catalyst staves are allowed. Pherae is better about it than most but you never know who's watching."

"O-oh, really?"

"Yeah. But to your question, I'm sorry to say, but I haven't seen the person you're talking about. The library is worth a check though."

"Dangit, I was hoping I could find him without having to enter a maze. Thanks anyway. That info about magic was worth the gold piece."

"Then I hope you don't mind me keeping it, heheh."

A fair trade is a fair trade, after all.

"Later!"

She left the pub with her drink. Now what would she do? She looked around...

...is that... the knight who gave me all this money? No way. What's he doing here? Well, I won't let this opportunity go to waste. Where he is, money is. Cha-ching!

Quickly after, however, she saw him enter a carriage.

Dammit!

He was busy. Job seekers have to respect that or they don't get hired. Money-making 101.

She started walking through the town to pass the time. She had gotten better at walking in the boots enough to make her stride look elegant. Well, elegant for Kalin, anyway. Walking in them still sucked just as much.

"Why is it so hoooooot?"

The firewater had cooled down by now, becoming completely ice cold. A very strange drink indeed. Normally one was supposed to drink it quickly, like with a good number of other Ilian drinks, but Kalin figured she could use the cold effect to her advantage while still drinking something delicious. The freezing feeling felt just like home too. Also alcohol, alcohol was cool too. Kalin's tolerance was ridiculous though, so she wouldn't get anywhere close. Such is the pain of her origin.