Chapter 57: Furnace Tavern

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Furnace Tavern

Elvin took the inventory list, but instead of immediately opening it to check the goods, he stepped aside and made an inviting gesture. "Your accommodations have already been arranged. Please, follow me. You can leave the supplies here; I will have the storehouse staff come handle them."

He led the group into the Divine Hall, speaking as they walked. "Although the Spring Festival is still some time away, there is quite a lot of preparation to be done. The entire Divine Hall is grateful that you all could come to help."

Lorin walked at the very back. As he listened to Elvin’s empty pleasantries, he observed the interior of the Divine Hall.

The space inside appeared even larger than it did from the outside. The vaulted ceiling towered high above, and sunlight poured in through the stained glass windows. A faint scent of incense lingered in the air.

Elvin led them through the nave, turned down the right-hand corridor, and brought them to a spacious reception room.

"You may rest here for a moment. Lunch won’t begin for another hour. After you have eaten, I will take you to your quarters." He nodded to Anya, then turned and left.

The short fellow plopped down onto a chair and let out a long sigh. "Pip thinks this Elvin is even more nerve-wracking than that Viscount."

"It’s a common occupational hazard among the Clergy," Erin said as she stretched and plopped down onto a chair. Before she could even settle in, Anya flicked her on the forehead.

"Ouch..."

Lorin, meanwhile, walked over to the reception room window and looked out. Outside was the Divine Hall’s inner courtyard, where a few gray-robed servants were unloading goods from a handcart. Their movements were brisk and practically noiseless.

Watching the scene unfold, he felt completely ill at ease. A strange sense of oppression prevented him from relaxing. Even though the environment of the Divine Hall was nice and Elvin had been very welcoming, it was simply too quiet and empty. He felt entirely out of place in such an environment.

"Anya, I won’t be staying here," he said, turning around.

"Pip won’t stay here either! Pip snores at night and is afraid of waking you!" The short fellow came up with an excuse at lightning speed, but Lorin knew he simply wasn’t used to this kind of place either. They belonged to the fields, the taverns, and the lively campfires, not to quiet corridors and incense-filled rooms.

Anya had been gently gathering her friend’s loose hair. Hearing this, she looked up and nodded without much surprise. "Where do you plan to stay?"

"There is the Furnace Tavern next to the Adventurer’s Guild. I plan to stay there for a few days first, then find a place where I can reside long-term."

"Then what about Erin’s teaching?" Anya asked.

Hearing her own name, Erin narrowed her eyes at Lorin. "Yeah, how am I supposed to teach you if you’re staying outside?"

"You can set a time, and I’ll come over punctually every day," Lorin replied.

Erin frowned and looked away. She carefully observed the firewood in the fireplace for a few seconds before reluctantly saying, "...I’m staying outside too."

"Erin?" Anya paused in surprise.

The Red-haired Mage propped her chin on her hand and sighed in defeat. "It’s too stuffy in the Divine Hall. I can’t get used to living here either."

"Alright. Let me know once you’ve settled in. If anything comes up, I’ll have Rain find you. Erin, make sure you arrange the time to teach Lorin Magic yourself," Anya said with a smile as she rubbed Erin’s head.

Erin snorted and stood up from the chair, hugging her Magic Staff as she walked toward the door. "Let’s go," she said. "Lead the way to the Furnace Tavern."

Lorin glanced at Anya, and only after receiving an acknowledging nod did he follow Erin out of the reception room.

The three of them crossed the nave and returned to the entrance the way they had come. The cold wind from the streets blew in, carrying the aroma of baked bread mixed with various other scents. These smells, which were usually far from pleasant, somehow made Lorin feel like he could breathe easier.

Truth be told, the urban construction in Frost Valley City was actually quite well done. Especially here in the Upper City District, Lorin hardly smelled any stench of excrement.

Erin stood beside them, hugging her Magic Staff and watching the pedestrians come and go. Catching Lorin’s gaze on her, she impatiently tapped her fingers against the staff. "What are you looking at me for? Lead the way."

Lorin twitched his mouth. He really couldn’t stand this woman’s foul attitude. If he didn’t have to rely on her to learn Magic, he would definitely...

"The tavern is still a bit of a walk. We can grab a meal once we get there," he said. He would endure what he had to endure. Sooner or later, his day would come!

The three of them followed the flagstone path out of the Upper City District.

The Furnace Tavern hadn’t changed much since he had last left. The bustling crowd of people looking for work was still gathered outside, making the place seem very lively. Lorin pushed open the tavern doors. The inside was much larger than Hiv’s rundown establishment, but the furnishings weren’t all that different; it still had the typical look of a tavern.

There weren’t many patrons drinking at this hour, with only a few tables sparsely occupied. There were men who couldn’t find work and came to relieve their boredom, people dressed as Adventurers gathered together to discuss matters, and two Dwarves sitting in the corner, loudly hollering in incomprehensible Dwarven.

However, Lorin actually understood most of it...

Behind the bar stood a lean old man with a thin mustache. A gleaming white towel was draped over his shoulder as he poured ale into a customer’s mug. He looked up, and upon seeing Pip, a familiar smile appeared on his face as he teased, "Oh, Pip is back? Last time you said you were going to strike it rich, I thought you’d been stewed by goblins."

The short fellow eagerly rushed to the bar, tossed a few Silver Coins onto the counter, and stood on his tiptoes with a wide grin. "Pip is tough to kill! Two mugs of ale..." He turned his head to glance at Erin before adding, "And a glass of juice, plus a super barbecue feast."

"You really did strike it rich, huh," the bartender joked with a laugh. He nodded at the two standing behind Pip, then turned around to pour the drinks.

They found a table against the wall and sat down.

Pip picked up his ale and took a massive swig—GLUG, GLUG, GLUG. He let out a satisfied sigh and said, "Gustav has been to Ironforge before. He stole a few tricks from the Dwarves there, so his brewed ale is as authentic as it gets!"

"If Hiv heard you say that, he’d definitely hammer you to death." Lorin picked up his mug and took a sip. Truth be told, it really did taste better than what Hiv brewed.

Not long after the three sat down, a young-looking woman walked over. She leaned down and placed a few small dishes from her tray onto their table. She wore a snug, apricot-yellow dress that was tightly cinched at the waist, perfectly accentuating her smooth curves. The hem stopped just above her knees, revealing her calves wrapped in woolen stockings.

"Little Pip, long time no see." She smiled, her eyes curving into happy crescents.

The short fellow looked up at her happily. "Lily! Pip missed you to death!"

Lily reached out and gently patted Pip on the head. "Save it. You say you miss me every time, but you never leave a big enough tip."

She straightened up, offered Erin a polite smile, and then looked at Lorin.

The firelight from the hearth happened to fall upon the side of Lorin’s face, outlining his features with a sharp contrast of light and shadow. The numerous life-and-death trials he had endured gave him an aura of steady composure, which perfectly complemented a face that was undeniably handsome...

Lily’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. She covertly observed the seating arrangement of the three. Upon realizing that he was sitting quite far from the red-haired woman, the corners of her mouth slowly curled upward.