Ot should've said a lot about Lucas that his first thought was murder when a man disrespected him. But it was too late to go back. The knife went right into the drunk's stomach as he yelled in pain.
"TAVERN BRAWL!" Yelled another
Tavern goer as several others started fights, loud chaos emerged all around.
The drunkard swung at Lucas, aiming for his head. But he put too much force into the punch, causing him to tumble when Lucas ducked the blow. Repaying the punch by pushing the knife deeper in as the once hate filled yells turned to screams.
The knife was going deeper in the man, taking it out would hopefully take him out for good. Could he live with killing someone? He didn't see why he couldn't. So he grabbed the knife, twisted, and pulled it out.
Blood flowed freely as the man fell flat on his back screaming intensely, his wallet fell out of his pocket during the fall and ended up at Lucas's feet.
"Lucky me" mumbled Lucas as he picked it up, looking through it made him aware that the man had a family. A fiery haired freckled lady stood next to the 'probably' dead man smiling brightly with a smaller version of her but with the man's eyes standing between the two.
"Poor thing. Going to grow up fatherless because of 'natural' causes" Mused Lucas as he went to pocket the man's wallet, minus the photo. The man's scream got quieter and quieter, Death would find him soon if nothing was done.
"Lucas return the wallet" Ordered Oz with a hint of annoyance and gratitude, they grabbed a long flash filled with crimson liquid from their bag and poured over the man's wound. It stretched and started closing as the flesh started to reach across itself, bringing the man back to life.
"Fine. I guess nearly dying should've taught him a lesson plus a mean scar" Said Lucas as he put the photo back in the wallet and laid it on top of the bar table. Propping the man against it.
"Actually wouldn't lying down have helped against the bleeding since the blood wouldn't flow up? So maybe he wouldn't learn" Mused Lucas. Oz sighed, looking tired and done for the night. headed to their room. "Thanks for the help! Couldn't have figured it out without you" Quipped Lucas as he stood up.
Watching the whole scene of the bar was quite chaotic. One man was using a wooden chair to bash another's head in, though it wasn't very effective because the man was well…drunk.
Lucas had to admit the tavern brawl was quite the entertaining show, the use of weapons like table legs and the metal parts of the mugs, did seem a bit excessive, but he did kinda start it. Stabbing a man with a knife wasn't the best way to resolve a problem,
He hadn't particularly liked fighting and anything of the sort. But the man had kinda deserved it, being downright vile to Oz was plain stupid. Plus. He shouldn't have spit in Lucas's food if he wasn't ready to face consequences.
He walked over to the bar, where the bar maiden and the bartender stood looking at the brawl with nothing but disgust.
"Are they always that…violent?" Asked Lucas as the older of the two looked at him "Not usually. But the festival is near so I understand but still. Have some class at least, names Quinn by the way" Said the Innkeeper..
"What's the festival? Like a town thing?" The two stared at him, then at each other. Before the bar maiden spoke up "it isn't a holiday in the normal sense, it's more an event, a catastrophe better describes it" Muttered the shy girl before looking away when she made eye contact with Lucas.
Quinn looked at her with a furrowed eyebrow before smirking "Wendy. How about you explain the festival to the kid" Winked Quinn as she went through a door into the kitchen, ignoring Wendy's protest as the door was slammed shut.
She let out a loud sigh before looking up at Lucas "where to begin…I guess I'll start with what it is. The lunar festival of Rylan" exclaimed Wendy as she continued
"Rylan is the moon goddess and according to the stories. She was wronged by the first king of crownfern. So she sends mist across the 30 states of crownfern to collect 100 people to participate in the festival every decade" Explained Wendy as she continuously avoided eye contact the whole explanation.
"It's been around for at least a thousand years. And from what the survivors have gathered, it's like a battle royale with 3 endings. The blood moon. Dark moon and blue moon, though I don't really kn-"
"Duck" Said Lucas as the girl took one second to process the words before ducking. A rouge chair flew over her and into the wall that hosted several different bottles of liquor. Some of it dripped onto the girl as she flinched.
"How about you tell me in the morning?" Suggested Lucas, Wendy gave a quick nod and thanks before going through the door to storage.
A loud yell alerted Lucas to the presence of someone rushing at him,
Side stepping to the left as the attacker flew into the bar counter. Smashing their stomach against the wood.
Ouch. Thought Lucas as he kicked their side. Making them flinch as they recoiled to the side. Should be done with them. Lucas looked around, the brawls across the tavern didn't look like they'd stop anytime soon, if anything. It looked like more people were joining the medley.
I should probably head upsta- Thought Lucas before a large man rammed into him with full force. Sending him into a wall bouncing off it and onto the floor. "fuck, that hurt" Muttered Lucas as he got up, disoriented by the impact.
A split second dodge was all that Lucas could pull off as the large man rammed into the spot Lucas just was. Getting his bearings together as he stared at the large ram of a man who had just fallen over.
The man was tall and fat with a red shirt barely covering his stomach, head full of brown hair with stubbles panting his face, this seemed like one of the only people who wasn't drunk. Best deal with him fast.
Getting into a fighting stance as he pulled his hands close to cover his head, the large man finally got up. Both faced each other, sizing up the competition. The man ran first, throwing an overhead hook while Lucas weaved to the side and delivered a right hook to his side in return. Causing the man to flinch.
Lucas took advantage via a barrage, two quick jabs using his left hand, a strong hook using his right. An uppercut from below and so forth. The large man's nose had started dripping blood as he put his hands up, blocking the barrage of hands.
He started walking forward through Lucas's punches, each doing less damage than the last. Not working. I need a better plan. Thought Lucas thought the thought itself was enough of a distraction for the large man to seize the opportunity.
Launching a mean left hook that took Lucas off guard. Sending him flying into a nearby table and landing on top of it. "Shiit. That hurt!" Yelled Lucas. Frustration and pain mixing in his voice.
But the large man hadn't let up, walking over and holding his hands above Lucas's head. Aiming to end him in, nononono, MOVE! Yelled his mind as his body followed suit. Rolling off the table as the large man hit the table, breaking it in pieces. Strong bastard. Gotta get crafty.
His eyes looked for a weapon when the perfect object showed itself.
A pristine chair stood ready to be broken against someone's head.
Lucas grabbed the chair, smashing it over the large man's head, and even when it broke he kept hitting it over his head, throwing it away when the weapon proved useless, switching to a sturdy mug and using the steely bottom end of it to end the large man.
Lucas stopped his onslaught once the large man's blood started covering the mug. Putting it to the side as he looked upon the man's fallen body. "Go to hell," Muttered Lucas as he kicked the large man's side. Was that too petty? Nah, just the right amount.
Coughing and wheezing. He turned around to notice Quinn was back out by the bar staring with disapproval.
"If you were going to be a thug like the rest of them, at least do less damage to my property" She said, but this time Lucas didn't have a retort of the sort. Pain and fatigue hit him hard.
He had only been hit two times the whole fight and he was practically winded. Weight classes are a bitch. He thought, ready to head up stairs before Quinn stopped him. "How about you pay me back by getting Edgar back to his wife and kid? Evie doesn't deserve to see him drunk and beat at the bar" Said Quinn as she pointed at the man Lucas had stabbed with a knife.
"Ok" Mumbled Lucas as he grabbed Edgar's arm, putting it over himself. "Pass two houses and knock on the red one and you'll find it" Explained Quinn, Lucas made his way, following her instructions as he went through the inn door into the night. Truth be told he kind of zoned out whenever he walked past the main town road.
The village looked beautiful at night. The stars were perfect and the lanterns spread on the roads and paths were just the right amount of light to have a serene ambiance.
The red house came into sight, and so Lucas walked over and knocked. What opened the door was not what he expected, a small girl with fiery hair and green eyes opened it. Looking no more than 7 years old.
This probably wasn't the sight she should've seen of her dad, but what did he know? He couldn't even remember his. Though he did get a warm feeling in his chest when he thought of him, so he couldn't have been a bad dad.
"Mum! Dads back!" Yelled the girl as an older looking version of her came zooming past. "Edgar where were yo-" immediately cutting herself off when she realized her husband was
Out of it.
She immediately profusely apologized, taking the man into her arms as Evie watched. "Thank you again for returning Eddy back to me, i'm jane by the way, and this is little evie" Said the woman as she and the kid waved Lucas off.
Walking back to the Inn and going to his room and he knocked. Oz opened it. Letting him in.
"The Innkeeper managed to get an extra bed in here for you" Said Oz, their voice hiding something in it.
"Really? For nothing at all?" Lucas suspiciously stared out the open window.
"Yes…" Said Oz. Lucas then stared at Oz while they stared back.
. . .
"Fine. I paid for it. Though the owner did do it for a discount" Relented Oz as they looked away. A small blush making its way onto their pale cheeks.
"Thanks buddy, what for?"
"I'll tell you in the morning" Sighed Oz as they pull the covers over themselves.
Lucas went to his bed, finding Coin and Ruby laying there already sleeping, and slipped in as quietly as he could. Unfortunately Coin woke up immediately. So maybe stealth wasn't for Lucas.
"Heya bud. Heard of your little adventure today, stealing food are we?" Teased Oz as Coin squawked at him before rubbing against Lucas to get comfy.
Finally laying down. The day's fatigue finally got to him as sleep claimed another victim. With that the night reigned and nearly everything had fallen victim to sleep.
…nearly everything.
Long white mist swept through the town moving past most houses but stopping at the inn. Moving into the open window and covering them before disappearing. Leaving them branded.