Burning Bridges

Fortune did not smile at Strea. The latter had learned to not take this personally.

"You look terrible," the Avatar of Chance remarked. It had slithered into the angel's living room through an open window.

With a sigh, Strea ran a hand through the pitiful remains of her hair. "Good evening to you too. Can I get you a drink?"

"Yes please. I could really use a glass of freshly squeezed blood." For an eternally capricious entity, Fortune's appetite for blood was a rather consistent trait. "Well, make that a saucer of freshly squeezed blood – I am not in the mood for having hands today."

Strea glared at her guest half-heartedly. "You know for a fact that we don't serve drinks like that in heaven."

"I also know for a fact that your Friends in Low Places often supply you with all sorts of … exotic goods. Come on, Strea. Hadn't I been kind to you when you were still mortal?"

"I was murdered. Brutally."

"It was a quick death."

The angel brushed a finger against her neck, feeling for a scar that never existed on her celestial body. She had long forgotten the searing pain at the end of her mortal life countless moons ago.

"Fine. I'll send a messenger crane to the Hellhole. In the meantime – "

At Strea's command, soothing orchestral music began to play. Her halo, dangling from the ceiling by a few strands of unicorn hair, dimmed so that the room was bathed in a soft, cosy glow. A plentiful platter of fresh fruit appeared on a marble table nearby, along with a wide yet shallow lacquer cup full of wine.

"Enjoy."

Fortune was quick to help itself to the angel's offerings. Its forked tongue wrapped around an entire cluster of grapes which was promptly pulled into its mouth and shredded to bits by rows of teeth.

"Mm, delicious. I daresay that you angels are the second most hospitable race in all of existence," Fortune said, its lips stained purple.

"Second to who?"

"The succubi."

" … Excuse me?" The mere thought of being inferior to a denizen of the hells filled the angel with primal fury.

"You know it's true."

Strea decided that words would not do her exasperation justice. The chair she threw at her guest shattered into pieces upon impact, though Fortune did not show even the slightest hint of discomfort.

"That's a strong reaction for someone with succubi friends."

"Frenemies. It's a little complicated," Strea said through gritted teeth.

"I can see that this topic unsettles you. Let us speak of more agreeable things," Fortune offered. "Tell me, why do you look so dishevelled?"

Dishevelled was a slight understatement: Strea had lost much of her lavender hair to stress. The same could be said for her wing feathers, such that the pale flesh beneath was exposed. The bags under her eyes suggested that the angel had not seen much rest. Her miserable appearance did not exude the majesty of a heavenly guardian.

"I screwed up at work. Yui was not happy."

"Ah." Fortune nodded in understanding. "One of yours died on your watch. Again."

Yui's very intense scolding lasted three whole days. Fortunately for Strea, the continuous exposure to Yui's LOUD reprimands had ruptured her eardrums so she was effectively spared from part of her sister's lecture. Unfortunately for Strea, even without her hearing, Yui's reproach remained a physically and emotionally strenuous affair, if Strea's hair and feather loss were any indication. The sheer intensity of Yui's voice almost gave Strea a concussion; the former was not known as the Voice of Heaven for nothing.

Also, her ruptured eardrums hurt.

"Don't make it sound like I fuck up all the time. The last mistake I made before this was almost two centuries ago," Strea protested. "But yeah, a Thorn Mistress skewered one of mine a few days ago."

"A few days ago … I think I remember that one. The human mage, yes?"

Strea grunted in affirmation. "You dealt him a pretty bad hand."

"Don't blame me, blame the system," came Fortune's reply. Its tongue morphed into a shape suited for lapping up liquids as it indulged in its cup of wine. "Did that boy ascend to heaven then? I assume he made it in given your lower standards these days."

Strea frowned. "No. He actually chose immortality."

Fortune perked up, its eyes gleaming with interest. The normally impassive entity smiled so widely that its mouth curved up the length of its face. Its body trembled in excitement.

"My goodness! That. Is. Bold!"

"I thought you like people who are bold and prepared. That boy is all bravado, not much cerebral. He's the type to think with his heart; pretty fatal flaw for a mage, really." Strea realised that she was still a little bitter over Loul's decision.

"I'm not a picky admirer. Besides, preparation is wisdom manifest and wisdom comes with age. Our dear immortal has all the time in the world to learn," Fortune reasoned. "So, what is he doing right now? I want details!"

Strea scoffed. "Do you have any hobbies aside from voyeurism?"

"I appreciate finely crafted wheels – my favourite one's made of camembert. But let's not get distracted. Status update please!"

"Alright, alright. Just a moment." Strea took a deep breath and focused on her connection with her ward. "Oh. He's been reading for the last couple hours. He literally has not moved from the same spot at all. What a nerd. I suppose even immortality can't compensate for him having no life."

Loul carefully fitted a leather-bound tome onto his shelf. The manual was titled Protection against Predator Plants: A Survival Guide written by Alicia Rue. The young mage chuckled; he knew for a fact that Madame Alicia was functionally illiterate during the writing of her book. Loul did promise to take this secret to the grave, though he wondered if his recent death meant he was freed from his oath.

Humming a happy tune, Loul organised his notes into a neat pile. There would be plenty of time to review them tomorrow.

A fist rapped on his door. It opened to reveal Lisbeth. Loul placed a finger on his lips and glanced towards his sleeping roommate; the human girl nodded in understanding.

"Apparently he's had a tough day at the training grounds," Loul said quietly.

"Tougher than usual?"

"He fell asleep as soon as he got back."

"Isn't that what he normally does?"

"Usually he makes it to his bed first. Wasn't easy carrying him across the room."

"Come on, Kirito isn't heavy. And it's literally just a few steps."

"Easy for you to say. The heaviest thing I've carried are conversations with my aunt. One time I complimented her ribbon and that somehow turned into an hour-long discourse on Cait Sith culture."

"But you like long, deep discussions," Lisbeth said, jabbing an accusatory finger at her friend; Loul simply smiled. Her gaze turned to the silvery pendant he wore. "That's new. Why angel wings?"

"Thought I'd show my guardian angel some love. Does it look nice?"

"The craftmanship's decent but angels wings are a little too basic for me."

"Hater." With a grunt – and more effort than he'd like to admit – Loul yanked open his shared wardrobe. The resulting CREAK! made him wince. Or perhaps it was the sheer amount of black-coloured clothing inside. "So, when will you be leaving?"

"But I literally just got here?"

"You're leaving Tolbana Town for your journeyman exam, aren't you?"

"Oh, that. I'll be gone before noon tomorrow. It might be winter by the time I'm done with the whole thing."

"Why would the blacksmiths' guild in Tolbana send you all the way to Medai Village for your exam? That doesn't make any sense."

"My master might've pulled some strings. He did mention wanting to introduce me to someone who lives there. I know, it sounds excessive but I trust him." Lisbeth took a deep breath. "Also, I'm thinking about moving to Medai after getting my license. I can't become a master craftsman without expanding my horizons and starting my career in a new place seems like a good way to do that. If the first few years go well, I might even travel the world a bit. There's always demand for a skilled blacksmith, and with the guild's endorsement I should be able to make a living on the road. But it means that I won't come back to Tolbana for a very long time."

"Oh. That's … news to me."

Loul had chosen immortality because he could not bear to leave the people he loved. Though Strea made it abundantly clear that every single person he cared for would leave him one day, he feared he had severely overestimated the time he had with Lisbeth.

He forced himself to smile. His best friend deserved nothing but his support.

"I don't know enough about the world of blacksmiths to comment on your decision. However, I'm sure you've given your career plenty of thought. Moving to a new place for work sounds challenging – travelling the world even more so – but I'm proud of you for doing whatever it takes to improve your craft." Loul scratched the back of his neck. "I – we will miss you. But we'll definitely keep in touch, right?"

"Of course we will. It's not like I've fully made up my mind about all of this yet but thanks for understanding."

An uneasy silence lingered.

"A-ny-ways, what do you think about this?" Loul asked as he produced a grey wool scarf from his wardrobe.

"The colour's nice. Feels warm and cosy too," Lisbeth remarked, rubbing the fabric with her fingers. "It's pretty well made. Guess you're all set for winter."

"Actually, I bought this for you. It's been getting colder lately and I thought you'd find some use for it soon."

"T-thank you! It's a very thoughtful gift."

"I was going to buy a bright blue scarf of similar make at first, but I know you prefer duller colours and, well, you're going to laugh at me for saying this but I think grey complements your eyes better – ouch."

Lisbeth had pulled Loul into a firm hug. It was a stronger reaction than expected; he awkwardly patted her on the back in response.

"You can be very sweet when you try. I … will miss you too," she said softly.

It was clear that Lisbeth was not ready to part as well. Loul tried to ignore the fact that this brought him some solace.

Kirito's eyes shot open. Someone was pinching his nose.

"Looks like you slept well!" Lisbeth's voice carried a hint of mirth.

"No thanks to you," Kirito replied. The pale elf rubbed his eyes as he propped himself up.

"I heard you broke one of my swords again."

"Yeah, that happened."

"Wipe that smug grin off your face, you doofus. Those things take time to make."

"I don't know, Liz," Kirito said with a shrug. "Maybe you should make better swords."

"Maybe I should smother you in your sleep." Lisbeth joking pressed a pillow against the elf's face.

"I'm not asleep right now."

"You will be when I'm done with you. Are you free tonight? Loul and I are going to spend the evening in Tolbana."

Kirito turned to his roommate. "Are you planning to get blackout drunk again?"

"I mean, isn't that the point of drinking?" Loul answered nonchalantly. Kirito was promptly reminded of his parents' warnings about "bad influences" among the city folk.

The elf shook his head. "You have an addiction. And a liver problem if you keep this up."

"Look, it's a tradition in my family to drink ourselves into a stupor at the Golden Apple. As a filial son, I'm just following in my parents' footsteps."

"This is actually kinda true," Lisbeth piped up. "His family and the lady who runs the Golden Apple go way back."

"Oh, I see. That explains a lot," Kirito nodded sagely. "Then losing drinking contests must be another family tradition of yours."

Lisbeth burst out laughing. Loul stared at Kirito, mouth agape. It reminded Kirito of the koi fish in his village.

"You really woke up and chose violence, huh. Alright then, let's go to the tavern right now. I'll show you all – stop laughing Liz!"

"As your friend, I'm trying to stop you from embarrassing yourself. You've never come close to beating Liz in a drinking match."

"That is also true," Lisbeth quipped.

"I sure as hell won't win with an attitude like that. Come on, Golden Apple, let's go!" Loul said as he clapped his hands loudly.

"I don't know, Loul. It was fun the first few times, then it was funny for a bit, and now it feels like I'm bullying you."

"You're such a considerate friend Liz. Don't worry, I'll drink you under the table this time. You can thank me later."

"You're going to lose," Kirito deadpanned.

"I most certainly won't!"

"You most certainly have, again!"

Kirito spoke louder than intended. He realised that the alcohol was starting to get to him.

Loul jabbed a finger at Kirito, almost poking him in the nose. The former's face was a deep shade of red. "Don't. Don't count me out yet. This the part when the competition REALLY begins, you know?"

Loul was blissfully unaware that he had been drinking nothing but water for a while. For a moment, Kirito thought that his roommate was trying even harder than usual to get drunk. He decided that the human simply had lower tolerance than he remembered.

Lisbeth easily drained another mug of ale. Unlike the inebriated mage, the blacksmith was still in good shape. She passed a cup of water to Kirito who nodded in appreciation.

"Self-study month's right around the corner. Have you made any plans yet?" she asked him.

The pale elf turned to his roommate. "You didn't tell her?"

"Hmm? Tell what to who?"

Kirito sighed. "Man, you're hopeless."

"No, I'm Loul."

Deciding that his friend was beyond salvation, Kirito returned his attention to Lisbeth. "A travelling merchant called Agil hired us to protect his cargo for the next month. We're also supposed to help him with treasure hunting."

"Oh wow! Sounds like an interesting time. Are you excited about it?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'm a little nervous – okay, more than a little nervous because it's my first official job, but I'm also looking forward to visiting new places." For most of his life, Kirito had no interest in the outside world. That completely changed after he left his elven village for Tolbana Town earlier in the year. "It's just … how do I say this?"

"Use words."

"Thanks Loul, very helpful. I was trying to say, I get the feeling that Agil might actually be very strong. Like, he'd probably destroy me in a fight. He also has an assistant already, so I don't know if I'll even be any help to him."

"Don't sell yourself short. Agil's a merchant, right? Someone whose life revolves around profits and losses wouldn't hire you if he thought you had no value. At any rate, take care of yourselves out there. Remember, common sense is your friend."

"Thanks, we'll be careful."

"I'm curious, how'd you guys get the job in the first place?"

"He's the one who told me about it," Kirito said as he jabbed a thumb at his drunken roommate. "Hey Loul, how did you meet Agil?"

"A what?"

"Agil. The merchant."

"Oh, him! He found my body in a cave about … multiple twenty-four hours ago."

Lisbeth and Kirito exchanged confused looks. Their friend's phrasing made little sense.

"Okay, so you met Agil in a cave a few days ago. What then?" Lisbeth asked.

"We talked about a whole bunch of stuff. He offered me a job so I recommended Kirito because … because!"

"Right, I get the picture. I know I've said this before but thanks for looking out for me," Kirito said.

"Mm … I gotta go pee." Loul stood abruptly, knocking his chair over. Kirito held the unsteady human by the shoulders and steered him towards the entrance, the complete opposite direction which Loul was headed.

He's not making it back to the Academy tonight, Lisbeth thought. Kirito was looking exhausted too. She made her way towards the bar where Griselda, the sylph tavern keeper, was tending to her patrons. Before Lisbeth could get a word out, the proprietress placed a copper key on the counter.

"You guys can take the room on the third floor, at the left end of the corridor. There's a bucket, a jug of water and towels in there for whoever needs them. I've added the room's cost to Loul's bill, he can pay after he wakes up tomorrow."

"Thanks. You're the reason why the Golden Apple is the best alehouse in town."

"It's nice to be appreciated," Griselda said. She smiled at Lisbeth knowingly. "I can tell that you haven't had enough to drink. What can I get you?"

"Am I that easy to read? That's troubling. I'll take a bottle of Inferno to go."

Someone let out a low whistle. The nearby patrons regarded Lisbeth with a mixture of intrigue and awe. Griselda's pointy ears twitched in surprise.

"Interesting choice. Is everything okay?" The sylph asked.

"Don't read into it too deeply, I just want to know what it tastes like. Ah, I'll pay for this myself," Lisbeth said as she placed a few coins on the bar. Although Loul was supposed to pay for her drinks on account of losing their drinking match, she decided to make this an exception.

"If you say so."

A bottle of bright red liquor appeared on the table. 'Inferno' was written on the label in the language of dragons, though 'scorched earth' would be a more literal translation of the draconic characters. The label also had a beautiful drawing of a burning bridge. The alcohol content was encouragingly high.

"You are aware that this magically enhanced drink is explicitly designed to mess you up, correct? It's not lethal but it'll feel like it is," Griselda warned. Morbid curiosity welled up within her. Agony was the fate of those who would swallow the Inferno – but by her wind fairy ancestors! The imminent consequences of her customer's bad choices would be amusing to witness. It was not unlike watching a carriage racing towards the edge of a cliff, she supposed.

She would, of course, ensure that Lisbeth was brought to her room safely. Schadenfreude was no reason to deny her customers a good service.

"I'm perfectly aware." Eyeing the bright red bottle, Lisbeth could not help but grin as a mischievous idea formed in her mind.

"Griselda, you've always been an amazing host. I've completely lost count of all the happy evenings I've spent at the Golden Apple. Sometimes it feels like I've been taking you for granted!" Lisbeth flashed her sweetest smile at the bartender as she spoke.

"Aww, that's very kind of you to say. I'm totally flattered."

"That's why, as a token of thanks, I'd love to share my joy with you." Lisbeth pushed the bottle of Inferno towards the tavern keeper. In this part of Aincrad, an offer to "share one's joy" was widely understood as a sign of respect towards one's caterer.

"Oh my. You really are a generous guest, aren't you?" Griselda's tone remained casual, though the joy seeped from her eyes. She could ill afford to reject the blacksmith's generosity without good reason – in full view of her patrons, no less.

With a sigh, Griselda poured the red liquor into two glasses. A good tavern keeper knew not to take too much or too little of an offered drink; however, given the notorious potency of the Inferno, the sylph knew her customers would not let her get away with drinking a modest amount.

Griselda made sure that a stool was nearby; she would certainly need it soon. Unfortunately, alcohol resistance was not one of the magical gifts of her sylph heritage.

"To the eternal prosperity of the Golden Apple. May all who enter leave with full stomachs and empty pockets," Lisbeth said as she raised her glass.

"Aye, I'll drink to that," Griselda said with an exasperated chuckle. Ignoring her survival instincts, she brought the glass to her lips –

The red liquid scorched her mouth, her throat, her stomach. Within seconds, every inch of her body was aflame. Tears and sweat streaked down her face; it took every crumbling bit of her willpower to not hurl her glass across the room. With great pain and difficulty, she placed the cup on the bar. Griselda's legs buckled. She fell onto the stool next to her.

Bear with it! It'll be over soon, she reminded herself. The Inferno was infused with minor illusory magic: the effects were intense but short-lived. As for the alcohol in her system, she had the rest of the evening to deal with that.

"Ahahaha! Now that's the good stuff!" Lisbeth exclaimed. The strong drink made her double over but she quickly righted herself. In stark contrast to Griselda, Lisbeth looked positively radiant.

"H-h-how're you s-still standing!?" The sylph's voice was a little hysterical.

"Blacksmiths have to be strong to work with metal," Lisbeth replied cheerily. Her smile softened. "If it's any consolation, I really meant it when I said that I appreciate you and the Golden Apple – and after this drink, my appreciation might've grown just a little deeper."

"I can definitely feel the love tonight," Griselda quipped. The pain was fading. She propped herself back onto her feet with shaky limbs. "Lisbeth, you're a valued customer. If you ever need to drink away your troubles, the Golden Apple will welcome you with open doors and open arms."

Lisbeth picked up the half empty bottle of Inferno. With a wave, she walked away to join her friends.

The night wind felt nice against her flushed skin.

The guardsmen would chastise her for wandering the streets so late. If she was unlucky, some scoundrel might pull a knife on her. Yet, both agents of law and crime would not find Lisbeth perched atop the slightly slanted roof of the bell tower. Neither their sight nor reach extended this far.

Her eyes swept over Tolbana Town. Though it was hours pass midnight, she could see the city clear as day. The blacksmith's guildhall was a short walk from the now vacated central market. As a human child, Lisbeth was so nervous about visiting the guildhall that she lost sleep the night before. The memory made her chuckle. The Golden Apple was on the east side of town, among that cluster of buildings. It was no secret that the tavern still served drinks after curfew – not that the towns guard would bother to do anything about it. Approximately an hour by foot from Tolbana Town was Cardinal Academy, the place she called home for the last seven years.

She could not bring herself to call Tolbana Town 'beautiful'. If anything, the smell was outright appalling in certain areas. Yet, Lisbeth realised that she had come to love this city.

Lisbeth closed her eyes, drinking in the city's uncharacteristic silence.

Fulfilling work, a caring mentor, lovable and loving friends. It was a truly happy life; a frighteningly fragile dream.

Once I pass my journeyman exams, I'll say goodbye to this city for good.

Best to wake before the nightmares come.

"Meow."

A calico cat appeared on the rooftop next to Lisbeth. It affectionately nuzzled her hand before crawling onto her lap.

"Meow ~ "

The cat purred contentedly, stretching as Lisbeth scratched its back.

"I fear that the Inferno might be too strong a drink, even for you," it whispered sadly.

"Really? I feel like a strong drink's exactly what I need."

"So you've made your decision." The cat turned over to face Lisbeth. She scratched its belly softly. "You plan to live as a nomad, taking your skills from one place to another. You'll stay long enough to impact a few people's lives but not long enough to form any meaningful relationships. And then what? What awaits you at the end of your self-imposed exile?"

"Home, I guess. Do you disapprove of my choice?"

"I mean, there are people here who have accepted you. Leaving Tolbana for good feels like a pity."

"Lord Heathcliff barely tolerates my existence. Master is a special case, he doesn't count." Lisbeth gestured towards the city below with a sweeping motion of the hand. "I can co-exist with them, even live among them, but I'll never be part of them."

Because bad things will happen if I try.

"I just don't want to see you lonely."

Lisbeth smiled wryly. "I won't be lonely, Argo. I still have you and your weird cult."

"We're not a cult!" Argo protested, her tail swishing violently. "We are a society of like-minded individuals, bound to one another emotionally and spiritually, united in healthy worship of yours truly. Nothing cultish about that at all."

"Eh. Sounds exactly like a cult to me."

"Silence, infidel."

"Hey, don't be rude. I'll throw you off this tower." The blacksmith accentuated her threat by raising Argo overhead.

"That's a meaningless threat. I'm a cat, I'll land on my feet."

Lisbeth scoffed as she placed Argo back onto her lap. "You're not here just to chat, are you?"

"Yup, I have a message from your last client. They want you to know that the mission was a success, and that your help is greatly appreciated – so much that they want to discuss another assignment with you as soon as possible. I can take you to them now."

"Alright, let's go. Just so you know, I'm happy to do a job or two for now but I'll take a hiatus once I reach Medai to focus on getting my license."

"Sure, I expected that much."

Argo's tail wrapped around Lisbeth's ankle. In the blink of an eye, the cat and the girl vanished with the wind.