We were led to a secluded table that wasn't very visible and a menu was set in front of me. I handed the menu to Aurora. "What would you like?" She looked at the menu, then looked at me. "Right… You can't read." I took the menu. "How about beef skewers? Chicken pie? Oh, what about braised beef with potatoes?" She looked confused. "No, you can't have what you had last night. Trust me, this is way better. Look, how about I order for you? Sounds good? OK."
I called the innkeeper to place the order. "One of everything, take it out as soon as it's made."
"Yes, sir."
While we waited, Aurora was observing everything that was happening around us with fascination. Absorbing every sight, every sound and smell, finally the food began to flow in. Her eyes were full of amazement while scanning various meats and pies.
"What are you waiting for? Dig in." I urged. She looked at me as if to ask if I'm sure. I simply took a lamb shank in my hand, slightly lifted my mask with the other and took a big bite, exaggerating my experience. "Um… This lamb is so good… The seasoning matches the sublimely cooked, juicy meat perfectly, um… So good."
Aurora swallowed hard, looking at my over exaggerated performance and grabbed a piece as well. She carefully lifted it to her face, absorbing the scent and finally took a bite. The lamb fell from her hands to the table and tears began welling up in her eyes. "That bad? I thought that it was pretty good." She regained her senses and started shaking her head. "I see, there is still a lot of tasty food coming, so don't be shy and eat up."
While my table manners are sub par at best, Aurora was on a whole different level. Her eating was so loud and violent that it got the attention of some unsavory characters a few tables over. While most people at the inn just ogled and whispered appalled at the sight, those unsavory folks dared to come over to our table.
One of them, presumably their leader, slammed his hands on our table, scaring my companion into dropping her food again, and said. "This isn't an institution for filthy beasts like her. Pack up and leave or else…"
"Or else what?" I challenged.
"Or else I make you. You might not know this, but I am a member of the tower. If I say something in this city, that happens. The tower of 'Babel' is the law here."
"Then, should I presume that you represent the whole tower? You seem to be a bit young to be the tower master."
One of his lackeys joined in. "You insolent fool, this is the head disciple of one of the eight tower masters - the 'earth' master's - …"
"Please, spare me the name, I don't have the brain power to remember it anyway. Just pretend that you scared me and fuck off." I said, sipping poison straight from the bottle. This infuriated these goons.
"You insolent brat, do you take the tower of 'Babel' for a joke?!" The leader shouted.
"Honestly, yeah… If someone as weak as you gets to be the head disciple, then the organization itself isn't really worth much in my eyes."
I could see the veins bulging on the head disciple's forehead. The guests of the inn were noticing the commotion, some of them started shouting for him to teach me a lesson. Suddenly the head disciple bore a wicked smile, took off one of his gloves and threw it to my face. The glove, after hitting me, fell to the floor.
"What the hell is this?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"Pick it up. Or are you too afraid?" the glove thrower taunted, still smiling.
Me, afraid? Never! I picked it up, making the goons start laughing maniacally. They acted as if I had just offered them something precious without knowing it. I heard surprised gasps from the people around, this whole scene made me very curious.
"What's so funny? C'mon, don't be like that, tell me already."
"Ha ha ha! Do you know what you just did? Do you know just how fucked you are?!" One of the side goons asked.
"No, you idiot, that's why I'm asking."
"You are the idiot here! You just accepted a duel! Meaning that your life is in our hands now. We can legally kill you and there will be no consequences!" Aurora visibly tensed at the word kill.
"Killing without consequences? I like the sound of that. Give me a sec, I wanna finish my meal before this duel of yours." I started eating as fast as possible. I haven't killed anyone in quite some time, I should hurry, I want to start as soon as possible.
The goons laughed. "Sure, sure, we wouldn't like to take away your last meal!"
It took me a while to eat, by boundless appetite to blame. Aurora looked tense the whole time, barely eating. After around 15 minutes of waiting, the head goon kicked the table over, spilling all the food to the floor. "You had enough time, let's go."
"Wow, you really are an asshole, it seems that the tower takes in all kinds of trash." I retorted. "You don't even know the value of food…" I was getting irritated, for someone to take away my food? Only Diana could do such a thing. Who are you to do what only she could?
"You won't be yapping for long, follow me." The head goon instructed.
I sighed. "Fine. Aurora, we're going." I dropped a few gold coins on the ground where the table used to be and went out of the inn after the soon to be corpses.
I was told to stand in the street in front of the head disciple and one of the others started shouting the rules. Soon a crowd of people started gathering around. The rules were pretty simple - no weapons, no help, only magic allowed, the duel lasts until one of us is incapacitated, dead or admits defeat. To my great annoyance, I was supposed to only ki-fight the head disciple. It seems that my slaughter fest has turned into a simple homicide…
The duel began. For some reason my opponent started conjuring spells and swirling them around or firing them to the sky, the people around started cheering as if this was some show. I had to admit, the spells did look kind of cool, this guy's control over magic was admirable, but it lacked power.
He started laughing. "Well, are you impressed? Do you see the difference between you and me now? If you surrender, kneel and beg for life, I might consider letting you go by just breaking your legs."
"I thought that the fight ends if I surrendered? Well, never mind, the difference in power between the two of us is truly insurmountable." He started laughing again. I looked at Aurora. She was standing on the sideline, the fear etched on her face. Show time. "If you're not attacking then, I'll make the first move."
"You still wish to fight? Fine by me, show me what you've…" He wasn't able to finish, in an instant, a black flame swallowed him whole, leaving nothing behind. The crowd was silent, you could hear a pin drop.
I turned to the other goons of the tower, approached them, took a single glove from my dimensional ring and threw it at them. All eyes were on me. "One wasn't enough, I want more. Are you up for the challenge?" They regained their senses, looked at me, then to the place their fearless leader used to be, then at me again. "Well, I'm waiting. Answer me…"
They lowered their eyes. "No, sir, we wouldn't dare." One of them stammered, Fear evident in his voice. "P-please, let us go…"
I sighed. "Fine, get out." They turned and quickly walked away, glancing over one shoulder the whole time as if expecting a surprise attack. When they left, the crowd surrounding us also dispersed. I walked over to the stunned Aurora. "How did you like the show?" I asked. "Yes, he disappeared. All those that stand against me are doomed to the same fate. Now that you stand with me, all those that stand against you will disappear as well."
Silence.
"Would you like another demonstration?" She shook her head. My mask hid my smile. "You really are a good kid…"
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