Page 284 of The Wishing Game

"I believe I know somewhere," he mentions. "Though I have never been myself..."

"Let's do it! I finally feel free, Ze, and it's all thanks to you. We need to celebrate this occasion."

"We do?" he asks, unsure.

I nod effusively. He gave me this perfect gift. It stands to reason I should return the favor and show him how to havefun.

"I have never imbibed alcohol. But I suppose for you I can make an exception..." he muses aloud.

"Yay!" I jump up and down, crashing into him. Maybe this is an odd reaction considering I'm in literal hell. But I don't think I've ever felt as free and unencumbered as I do now. The past... it's just the past. It made me into who I am today. Only the future matters now. And I aim to grasp it tightly with both hands and not let go.

Ze smiles indulgently at me.

"Yes. For you, I shall make an exception." He nods to himself as he wraps his arms around me and flashes us out of Katras.

FIFTY-NINE

Raucous noise fills my ears. I open my eyes and step away from Ze, my eyes widening as I take in the busy locale. In the middle, people are dancing to the sound of music as a live band demonstrates its prowess with instruments that look uncannily like human ones. To the back, I spot various tables already filled with people, eating and drinking their fill. I can't make out too much, but I think I recognize pies, steamed buns, and potatoes.

To the side, the most popular area of the locale is—the bar. People crowd and elbow each other to get ahead and order faster to get their drinks. There are bottles with all sorts of labels, all foreign to me.

"What's that?" I ask Ze, pointing to the huge barrel hanging from the ceiling and from which the barman pours a drink into a pint mug.

"That is Sizà mead. It is the cheapest and most common type of beverage in Aperion."

"Should I try that then?" I muse pensively.

I turn to him, my eyes widening in shock.

"What happened to you?" I point to his changed appearance.

He runs a hand over his face, threading his fingers through his hair to arrange it.

"I think you have seen what happens when I go out as Commander Azerius. My tattoos are far too recognizable, and since there is not one person in Aperion who does not bear me a grudge, it is safer if I go around as Ze."

"I see. I suppose you are right," I nod.

"Come," he says, leading me by the hand to the bar. Despite his changed look, his appearance is ever as imposing, and as his eyes narrow at the men at the bar, they immediately make space for us. Ze offers me a chair, pulling me close to the bar as he positions himself right by my side, his hand on my back. Withdrawing another pouch from his pocket, he places it on the bar table with a thud, the coins inside clinking loudly and announcing to everyone the contents inside.

The barman takes a look at the pouch, and a wide smile appears on his face.

"What can I bring you, fellas?"

Ze gives him a stare down.

"What is your most expensive drink?" he asks in a condescending tone. He might change his appearance, but he cannot change the inside. I shake my head, amused, as the barman's expression changes at Ze's supercilious countenance.

"We have a wide variety of Aperite ales and liquors as well as otherworldly drinks. The latter are the most expensive, since they are rare," the barman explains.

Ze nods thoughtfully.

"I want to try the Aperite ones," I murmur in his ear.

"Two of the most expensive Aperite ales then," he commands, handing the barman the money. He counts it, nodding at us before going to prepare the drinks.

"You know, expensive isn't always better. We could have gotten the Sizà mead," I tell him.

"Nonsense," he huffs. "I will not buy you acheapdrink. Who do you think I am, human?"

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