Rya had been sleeping in her bed as best she could while recovering from drinking too much Dwarven Ale after Hajdah's challenge.
She woke up to the jarring sound of heavy knocking at the door as if someone were relentlessly hammering it with tremendous force. With her keen, elven ears, the noise seemed utterly overwhelming as the door swung open. But in reality, the knocking was barely more than a polite tap to a human's ear.
"Owww! God damn, my head," Rya grumbled, squinting her eyes to make out who was disturbing her. She battled against a brutal hangover from only a single ale. This would have been humiliating if her head didn't feel like it was about to burst.
"Alpha? Are you okay?" Dalia asked nervously as she peeked her head into Rya's room.
"I'm fine... Ugh... I just had a little too much. Ah, what time is it?" Rya replied, trying to ignore her aching head as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"You've been sleeping for about four hours. Do you need anything?... Like food or something?" Dalia asked as she walked through the doorway.
"Food sounds good. Ow... And water. Thanks," Rya answered while rubbing her temples. The Dark Elf closed her eyes and leaned on her back, letting out a long sigh.
The wolfkin nodded her head and wagged her tail before turning around and heading toward the kitchen.
After a few minutes, Dalia came back to the room with Percy's help. Dalia had a tall glass of water while Percy struggled to navigate to Rya's room, carrying a large platter of various cooked meats with a side of vegetables.
Rya's eyelids slowly fluttered open as a tantalizing scent wafted into her nostrils, awakening her senses. The aroma of sizzling meat made her stomach emit a low, rumbling growl, reminding her of her intense hunger. Her mouth began to water uncontrollably. She cast a glance over at the two figures nearby and couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at the sight of Dalia treating Percy like a makeshift pack animal. However, hunger overpowered her amusement, so she promptly sat upright, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the much-needed meal.
'She's going to lose her mate if she keeps using him like that. It's kinda cute, though,' Rya thought as she slowly sat up in her bed.
"Ugh! H-Here you go, Lady Rya. We have wild boar and root vegetables for you," Percy grunted as he bumped against the doorframe and regained his balance.
"And I brought you water, Alpha!" Dalia chimed in with her usual chipper attitude. The Wolfkin outstretched her arm, holding the glass for Rya to take.
The Dark Elf drank half of the glass before putting it down on the nightstand next to her bed. She sighed a bit as the cold water went down her throat. Percy was able to gently place the platter on a tray table near the bed and let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't hurt, but he did have a few close calls.
"Thanks, Dalia, and thank you, Percy," Rya said, picking up a piece of boar. She took a small bite and savored the flavor. She had to admit these dwarves knew how to cook meat.
"Is there anything else you need, Alpha?" Dalia asked.
"Yeah... You shouldn't have treated Percy like that. You'll lose him if you keep doing that, you know," Rya stated with a straight face.
Dalia's expression turned into a blank slate as if her mind was struggling to make sense of the information.
"But, Alpha?... Gamma took the large platter from me, and he insisted he'd do it... He said it had something to do with being 'gentlemanly.' I told him that he was annoying, but he really seemed like he wanted to do it. I don't think he's going anywhere," the Wolfkin replied with a puzzled expression.
Rya shot a quick glance at Percy, who appeared slightly embarrassed, before looking back at the puzzled Dalia. It was no secret that the wolfkin wasn't known for her sharp wit, but Rya attributed it to cultural differences. Despite wanting to burst into laughter, the Dark Elf contained herself, letting out a small chuckle and shaking her head in a dismissive manner.
"Anyway, is there anything else you need, Alpha?" Dalia asked again.
"Yeah, you two can help me with eating all this meat... It's a little too much for me," Rya answered.
The dark elf forked another piece of meat and tore into it. Her teeth shredded through the meat, exposing the juicy insides. Her mouth watered as the rich flavor flooded her tongue. It was cooked to perfection, and the meat melted in her mouth. It was already helping Rya's headache as she began to forget her hangover.
Dalia and Percy looked at each other and grinned. They both picked up a slice of meat and began to eat along with the Dark Elf.
The air was thick with anticipation as they savored each bite of the mouthwatering meat and crisp, flavorful vegetables. Once they had cleaned their plates, Rya's gaze drifted to the window, where she noticed the sun hidden behind heavy clouds. In the distance, the majestic mountain range loomed, adding an intriguing backdrop to their quiet moment.
"It seems like it's gonna rain," Rya said.
Dalia looked out the window and sniffed the air.
*Sniff! Sniff!* "Hmm? Well, I do smell more moistness in the air than normal," Dalia replied.
"Maybe it's a storm coming in?" Percy asked.
"That's if the wind is blowing the clouds towards us... I hope it rains. I like the sound of it from time to time... Haah... Well, I'm feeling better, thanks, guys," Rya said as she stretched her arms over her head.
"Well, it's the least we can do. And you did well with Hajdah's challenge, Lady Rya. I was a little worried when the Mage's Guild surrounded us," Percy admitted as he winced at the thought of fighting the mages.
"Huh? They were a part of the Mage's Guild? I thought I felt something radiating from them. Was that their mana? I have never experienced that kind of sensation before..." Rya wondered out loud as she recalled the sensation she felt when the guild members surrounded them.
"Well, that's what mages say, at least. If someone is born with the ability to become a mage, then mages can sense other mages' mana. They say it feels different from everyone else's mana. But it feels all the same to me... Anyway, don't worry about it. Only the mages can sense your mana. They are the only ones in the city who can tell that you are different from everyone else," Percy explained.
"Hmm? So, are there multiple mages practicing their magical arts in this city? That's quite intriguing... I wonder if they possess different spellbooks or mystical tomes that can expand my understanding of magic. Maybe there are some secrets that I haven't come across yet," Rya muttered under her breath as her mind raced with new possibilities.
"If you're looking for books on the subject, I think you'll be disappointed. Most of their books are made by other kingdoms from millennia ago, and we are unable to reproduce them ourselves unless there's a magical scribe in the city. On top of that, they are impossible to read because they are written in dead languages from what I've been told," Percy answered.
'I wonder if those stupid Goddesses gave me the ability to read dead languages? It's the least those assholes could do! Who am I kidding? They would take away abilities if it amused them,' Rya thought to herself with a grimace.
The Dark Elf emerged from her thoughts and glanced around, only to realize that Quin and Sir George were nowhere to be found.
"Hey? Where is Quin? Where's he gone to?" Rya asked her friends.
"Yeah, Beta came back from an errand earlier and was watching over you like a sick puppy! But the Baron asked him about sending a message to someone or something... I didn't care to remember. Anyway, he should be back soon... I think," Dalia replied.
'Why would the Baron want to send a message? Maybe it's a message for his parents? Whatever, it's probably not important for me to worry about,' Rya thought to herself.
"So, is there a desk around here, or is this it?" Rya asked as she looked around the bedroom, which was nice but offered little beyond the craftsmanship of the furniture and walls.