Aria walked ahead, hands behind her head, her eyes wide as she took in the city. "Man, this place is fancy," she said, staring at a floating lily pad that followed a little girl, casting just enough shade to keep her cool. ""Look at that! Personalized shade? I need one of those!"

Ivan trailed behind, quieter but no less amazed. The city was nothing like Arkhold. The air was warm, the streets open, and the constant damp, suffocating feeling of too many people was gone. It felt… free.

Mia, still holding his hand, smiled at his expression. "Feels safe, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Ivan said, watching a group of kids chase a tiny, floating fish made of water. The fish slipped through their fingers like liquid silk, only to reform and dart away again. "Safe… and free."

Nearby, a pair of street performers caught the groups attention. One played a crystalline flute that sent glowing blue notes into the air, while the other shaped them with their hands, turning the music into shimmering images of dancers and animals. As the glowing notes swirled into the shapes of dancers, a group of children gathered around, eyes widening in wonder.

"Look, look!" one boy said, tugging his friend's sleeve. "That one looks like my mom!"

"Your mom doesn't dance like that," his friend teased, grinning. "She dances like a chicken shaking off rain!"

"Does not!"

"Does so!"

The first kid narrowed his eyes, then smirked. With a quick flick of his wrist, a ball of water formed in his palm, swirling lazily before he launched it straight into his friend's face. The water splashed over him, soaking his hair and dripping down his nose.

The now-drenched boy stood frozen for a moment, blinking rapidly as water dripped onto his shirt, and then, his expression darkened. "Oh, you're dead."

He clapped his hands, and three snowballs appeared, orbiting his fingers like tiny moons. The air around him turned chilly as he grinned.

The first boy's eyes widened. "Wait, hold on—"

Too late. The first snowball hit him square in the forehead. The second smacked his shoulder, and the third nailed him in the chest, making him stumble backwards.

"That was cold, you jerk!"

"You started it!"

Their little magic fight escalated, water and snow flying everywhere. Kaiser watched with a faint smirk, hands in his pockets. Aria looked ready to cheer them on, while Mia sighed, already predicting how this would end.

And then, a stray snowball smacked Ivan right in the face. He froze, slowly wiping the slush off his cheek, all the while his cheery expression darkening.

Aria covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "Ohhh, now you've done it."

Ivan's fists clenched, his whole body trembling, not from the cold, but from the fake and playful irritation. Then, with a sharp inhale, he stepped forward, his form flickering, and suddenly, there were five of him, making the kids' eyes go as wide as dinner plates.

"Uhhh…" one of them gulped.

"Oh crap," the other whispered.

The Ivans cracked their knuckles in perfect unison. "So," they said, voices overlapping, "Who threw that?"

The two boys exchanged glances. Then, without another word, they bolted, skidding around a corner and disappearing into the crowd. "Sorry, mister!" one of them shouted as they ran.

Ivan sighed, rubbing his temples as his clones vanished in wisps of light. "I hate kids."

Kaiser chuckled, patting his shoulder with a grin that was equal parts amused and teasing. "You are a kid," he reminded him, his tone light but pointed. Ivan shot him a glare, but Kaiser just shrugged, unfazed. "What? You're, what, sixteen? Seventeen? Don't act like you're some grizzled old man."

"I'm old enough to know kids are the worst," Ivan grumbled, crossing his arms. His eyes flicked to the corner where the boys had disappeared, as if half-expecting them to come back and cause more trouble.

"Well, I'm not sticking around to argue about it. I saw a pub on the way here," he said, his tone shifting to something more casual, almost eager. "Think I'll check it out."

Aria, who had been shaking off the last bits of laughter from Ivan's humiliation, perked up. "You got money for that?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Because all of the cash I got from Glunko was taken when those bastards captured me."

Kaiser smirked and tossed her a small bag filled with golden coins. Aria caught it mid-air with one hand, her fingers tightening around the weight of it.

"Milo gave me enough to get to the capital," Kaiser said, casually flipping another two bags to Ivan and Mia, who both caught them with varying degrees of surprise. "And enough to enjoy the city for a day. So go, have fun. Just don't burn the place down."

Aria grinned, jingling the coins. "Hah! I am the fun."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Kaiser muttered, before jerking his thumb at a nearby building. Above the door, a wooden sign swayed gently in the breeze, engraved with the name The Flowing Current. "I'll be in there till nightfall. Meet me there when you're done screwing around."

Ivan looked from the bag of gold in his hand to Kaiser, then to the pub, then back to Kaiser. His expression twisted with sudden realization. "Wait, wait, wait—so you get to go drinking, and I have to just run around buying useless crap?"

Kaiser gave him a blank look. "Yes."

Ivan puffed up his chest. "What if I also wanna go drink?"

Without hesitation, Kaiser smacked the back of his head. Not too hard, but enough to make Ivan stumble forward slightly, rubbing the sore spot. "Maybe in a few years," Kaiser said, smirking. "For now, go get yourself some apple juice."

Ivan's face went pink in an instant. "W-Who said I like apple juice?" he mumbled.

Aria turned just in time to see the reaction, and her eyes lit up with pure evil. "Ohhh, Ivan likes apple juice~?"

"I never said that—"

"Get him a barrel of it, Mia," Kaiser continued, already walking off. "Make sure he has enough to last a lifetime."

Mia chuckled, grabbing Ivan's hand before he could protest further. "C'mon, little apple boy. Let's go spend Kaiser's money before he regrets it."

Ivan groaned. "I hate all of you."

"That's the spirit," Kaiser said with a grin, before suddenly stepping forward and grabbing Mia and Ivan's shoulders, his expression darkening slightly.

"One more thing," he said, voice dropping into something dangerously low. "If you come back without Aria…" His eyes gleamed, red and sharp. "I will make you regret being born."

Ivan swallowed hard. Even Mia, despite her usual composed nature, hesitated under that heavy stare. "Understood?" Kaiser asked, voice flat.

"Y-Yeah," Ivan muttered. "Crystal clear."

Kaiser let go and straightened up, his smile returning. "Good. Now go get your damn apple juice."

Mia tugged on Ivan's hand, leading him away before he could dig himself into a deeper hole.

Kaiser took one last look at Ivan and Mia as they walked away, the sight making him shake his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Kids," he muttered under his breath, though there was a hint of fondness in his tone.

As they disappeared into the crowd, Kaiser turned on his heel and made his way toward the pub. When he reached the entrance, he paused for a moment, tilting his head as he took in the weathered sign swinging above the door. The Flowing Current. The name sounded familiar, though he couldn't quite place why.

Kaiser stepped through the entrance, expecting just another dimly lit tavern filled with the usual smell of cheap ale and regret. What he found instead made him stop dead in his tracks.

The bar was stunning. Three floors high, its open design allowed him to see nearly every corner of the establishment at once. Grand wooden beams supported a vaulted ceiling, from which strings of glowing blue lanterns swayed gently, casting rippling light like reflections on water. A massive glass dome at the very top let in rays of golden sunlight, illuminating the tavern in a warm, inviting glow.

But the real spectacle? The bar itself.

Behind the long, polished counter, ten thin, crystal-clear rivers of liquid flowed—some golden like honey, others deep sapphire, one shimmering silver, and another glowing faintly green. They weaved and intertwined like living veins of alcohol, twisting into mesmerizing patterns before disappearing into small, sculpted spouts.

Kaiser exhaled sharply. "What the hell is this place…?"

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

Before he could take it all in, a loud voice pulled his attention. "Oi, two drinks over here! One Stormcall and one Blood of the Desert!"

Kaiser turned just in time to see the bartender, a short woman with dark hair in a sharp bob-cut casually reaching toward two of the flowing rivers. Without so much as a flick of her wrist, she tapped into their currents, letting the glowing alcohol pour smoothly into two wooden cups. The Stormcall crackled with tiny sparks of blue energy, while the Blood of the Mountain was thick, deep red, with flecks of black grapes floating inside.

Then, in a motion so effortless it barely seemed like magic, she summoned two glittering butterflies that lifted the drinks into the air with a gentle hum of light. The glowing insects flitted toward the waiting patron, gracefully setting the drinks down in front of him.

The man who ordered them chuckled, shaking his head. "Still insane to me that you got your hands on those. You do realize those butterflies are some of the strongest weapons in the world, right?"

The bartender rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. If I could afford anything from Lady Uriel, I wouldn't be stuck working here. These babies just looks the same."

Kaiser narrowed his eyes at that name. Lady Uriel. Something to remember.

The bartender suddenly turned her gaze toward him, eyes lighting up in recognition. A slow smile crept onto her lips. "Well, well," she said, wiping her hands on a cloth. "Now that's a face I didn't expect to see. Lord Milo said you'd be coming."

The moment she spoke, a quiet murmur spread through the bar. People leaned in, whispering. Kaiser ignored it, already used to this kind of attention.

"He's waiting for you on the second floor," she continued, nodding toward the staircase. "It's an honor to host such guests."

Kaiser gave her a curt nod, then made his way toward the wooden stairs, his boots thudding softly against the polished floor. He could still hear the murmurs behind him, but he tuned them out. Right now, his focus was on Milo. And, more importantly…

Why exactly had Milo asked for him?

Kaiser climbed the wooden staircase, the murmurs from below fading as he reached the second floor. The air was calmer here, the music and chatter from below muffled but still lively. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on a table tucked away in the farthest corner.

There, seated comfortably with drinks in hand, were Milo and Regulus.

They were laughing, their voices deep and unrestrained, the kind of laughter shared between men who had seen too much and yet still found joy in the little things. Their mugs clinked together before they each took a swig of the dark brown liquid inside.

Kaiser couldn't help but smile.

Their last conversation had begun with tension, filled with sharp words and hidden tests, but as it progressed, it grew more relaxed, transforming into something he hadn't anticipated. He found himself growing fond of them, especially Milo. The man was unpredictable, but not in a way that put Kaiser on edge. It was something else. Something almost comforting.

Milo noticed him first, his grin widening as he slammed his mug onto the table. "Ah-ha! Look who finally decided to join us!"

Regulus turned, his expression immediately lighting up. "There he is! We were starting to think you'd gotten lost."

Kaiser smirked, pulling out a chair and settling into it. "Would've been hard to miss this place." He gestured vaguely to the spectacle below. "The drinks fly, for fuck's sake."

Milo threw his head back with a laugh. "That they do! Bartender! Three more Barkam Ales!"

From below, the bartender beamed, staring directly at their table despite being an entire floor away. Somehow, she saw them perfectly.

Less than a minute later, three glowing butterflies fluttered toward them, each carefully carrying a brimming mug of dark ale. The butterflies hovered, then gracefully set the drinks down before vanishing in faint bursts of light.

Kaiser raised an eyebrow. "Still not over how weird that is."

Regulus chuckled, lifting his mug. "You'll get used to it. Barkam is one of the greatest cities in the world, specifically known for its unmatched food and drink. It's a privilege to taste its ale."

Milo grinned, taking a deep sip. "A damn fine privilege, wish I could someday go there."

Kaiser took his own mug, about to drink, when something clicked in his mind. He narrowed his eyes. "Wait… if Barkam is so great, why haven't you gone there already?"

Milo wiped the foam from his lips and laughed. "Ah. That's because I can't."

"What?"

Regulus smirked. "Barkam isn't like Arkhold. It's not a free city. It's under the direct rule of the Western Liberatorium, and only its citizens are allowed entry."

Kaiser stared at them. "That's stupid."

"That's just how it is," Milo shrugged. "Some cities are open to everyone, like Arkhold. Others? They're on a tight leash. You need specific passes to enter, and some places, like Barkam, don't even allow outsiders."

Kaiser was dumbfounded. "And no one has a problem with this?"

Milo snorted. "Not if you like being alive."

Regulus leaned back. "It's how the world works. The Liberatoriums run things."

Kaiser raised his drink close to his lips. "Yeah, I know that much. Five of them, right? Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern, and the First. The big ruling powers."

Milo grinned. "Oh? You do know something."

Kaiser shot him a dry look, putting the cup down on the table, remembering he learned that from Glunko. "I'm not completely ignorant, but I still don't know the basics."

Regulus set his mug down, shaking his head. "I keep forgetting you are not from this world. Alright, listen up. There are five Liberatoriums—Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern, and the First. That much you already know."

Milo leaned in, tapping his fingers against the wooden table. "The world is divided between them. Most cities—like Arkhold—are free cities, meaning anyone can enter. But the controlled cities are different. They require strict passes. And then, there are cities like Barkam, where only their own people are allowed in."

Kaiser absorbed the information, his brow furrowed. "I was told this world was ruled by a single king. That there were no more kingdoms."

Milo smirked. "You're not wrong. The ruler of the First Liberatorium is the King of the World. But do you really think one man could run everything alone?" He shook his head. "That's where the Liberatoriums come in. Each one has been in power for over five hundred years, managing their own share of the world. The King may rule, but the real power is spread between them."

Milo leaned in, tapping the table. "The First Liberatorium sits at the top. The rest—Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern—manage their own territories, but in the end, everything leads back to the First."

Regulus nodded. "The King rules from the Central Palace, but he doesn't handle day-to-day governance. That's why the Liberatoriums exist. Each one controls its domain with full authority. Their leaders have ruled for the past five hundred years without change."

Kaiser exhaled through his nose. "That long, huh?"

Milo chuckled. "And they're not going anywhere."

Kaiser rested an elbow on the table, tapping his fingers against his mug. "Those people in charge of the Liberatoriums… What more can you tell me about them?"

Milo and Regulus exchanged glances, a brief silence passing between them.

Regulus exhaled, swirling the ale in his mug. "They're… mysteries."

Kaiser frowned. "Mysteries?"

Milo leaned forward, voice lowering slightly. "They're not just rulers. They're entities. Six out of ten haven't been seen in over two hundred years. The rest? They only appear when absolutely necessary, and even then, barely."

Regulus nodded. "You don't just meet them. They exist above the world, pulling the strings, and if you do see one of them…" He let out a dry chuckle. "Either you're one of the most influential people alive… or you're about to die."

Kaiser raised an eyebrow. "That bad, huh?"

Milo took a slow sip of his drink. "Their presence alone changes the course of history. When they move, the world shifts. The only reason you and I can sit here drinking Barkam Ale is because none of them have decided otherwise."

Regulus leaned back in his chair, stretching with a satisfied groan. "Enough politics. I didn't invite you to a pub to talk about the bureaucratic nightmares of the world."

Milo smirked, swirling the last of his drink in his mug. "For once, I actually agree with him." He downed the rest in one go, then set the cup down with a solid clink. "Let's talk about something else, like Aria. She got any family near Arkhold? Somewhere she'd want to go live?"

Kaiser raised an eyebrow, then let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, you're not getting her that easily. She made it very clear that she's coming with me."

Milo sighed, rubbing his temple. "I had a feeling she would say that. But you do realize the capital isn't some peaceful backwater town, right? Especially The Southern Liberatorium. That place eats people alive. It's one of the most dangerous places in the world."

Kaiser leaned back in his chair, shrugging. "She knows that better then me."

Milo studied him for a moment before shaking his head. "And those two? The twins? You're bringing them along too?"

Kaiser nodded. "Yeah. Ivan and Mia are coming."

Regulus exhaled sharply through his nose, unimpressed. "They're just following you because you saved them."

Kaiser smirked. "And? That's their choice. I'm not forcing them to stay. They can leave whenever they want." He added, "Only thing I am doing is making sure Ivan learns how to fight. The world's too dangerous for him to be this useless."

Milo chuckled, shaking his head as he swirled the drink in his hand. "I don't know about that." He shot Kaiser a lazy grin. "You're strong, sure, but your fighting style?" He jabbed a finger in Kaiser's direction. "That can't be taught."

Kaiser raised a brow, his smirk never fading. "Oh? And why's that?"

Milo leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table. "Because your strength doesn't come from technique. It comes from your regeneration."

A beat of silence.

Then Kaiser threw his head back and laughed, loud and full. He slammed a hand against the table, making Regulus's mug almost fall over. "Obviously! That's how you're supposed to fight! You take advantage of your strengths. That's the most basic rule of combat. What, am I supposed to ignore my own abilities?"

Milo smirked but didn't back down. "I get it. A fight's a fight—you use every advantage you've got. But if you're planning to teach that boy, you might need to rethink your approach."

Kaiser's grin dipped slightly, his head tilting. "And what approach is that?"

Milo sipped his drink, watching him over the rim. "You're a powerhouse, Kaiser. Anyone with a brain can see that. You throw yourself into a fight, let yourself get torn apart, then come out on top because your body lets you." He set his mug down with a soft clink. "That's not something you can pass on."

Kaiser narrowed his eyes slightly.

Milo continued, unfazed. "Ivan's got potential, but he's not you. He can't afford to take a sword through the chest just to land a hit. He needs skill. He needs control. And frankly?" He leaned back, stretching his arms. "You're not exactly a refined fighter."

Kaiser scoffed, crossing his arms. "Oh? And who do you think is better suited for the job?"

Milo smirked. "I dunno. Maybe someone who doesn't fight like an immortal lunatic?" he said, pointing at himself

Regulus snorted into his drink.

Kaiser exhaled sharply through his nose, shaking his head. "I could argue, but I won't bully an old man while he's drunk."

Milo grinned. "You're all talk, kid."

Kaiser's smirk sharpened. "Alright then." He leaned forward, his eyes glinting. "Before I leave for the capital tomorrow, I challenge you to a fight with wooden swords. First strike to a vital point wins."

Milo raised a brow, considering it for a moment. Then he rolled his shoulders, exhaling through his nose. "Hah. Fine. But don't come crying when I knock you on your ass."

Regulus, watching the exchange like a spectator at a festival, chuckled and raised his mug. "Oh, this I have to see."

Kaiser leaned back, rolling his shoulders. "Good. You can take notes on how to burry an old man alive."

Milo huffed. "Cocky brat."

Kaiser grinned. "Drunk old man."

Regulus sighed, swirling the last of his drink before downing it in one smooth motion. Then he set his mug down and gave both of them a dry look.

"Alright, alright, save the flirting for tomorrow," he said, waving a hand. "I'll bring the swords. Gods know if I leave it to you two, one of you will show up with an actual weapon just to prove a point."

Kaiser smirked. "Sounds like something Milo would do."

Milo raised a brow. "Kid, I could beat you with and without a weapon."

Regulus snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Now quit puffing your chests at each other. Kaiser, try the damn ale before you get so caught up in your pride that you forget why I dragged your ass here in the first place." He nudged one of the untouched mugs toward him.

Kaiser eyed the dark amber liquid. It had a thick, foamy head. He picked up the mug and took a cautious sip, then his entire body froze.

A slow blink. A pause. And then…

"Oh my god."

Milo raised a brow as Kaiser's expression morphed into pure, unfiltered bliss. The man gripped the mug like it was a holy artifact, staring at it with a reverence most men reserved for seeing the love of their life for the first time.

"This is—this is divine," Kaiser gasped. He took another sip, his eyes fluttering shut as if he were ascending. "This isn't ale. This is liquid perfection. This is a gift from the gods themselves. If the afterlife doesn't have this, I don't want to go."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.