Most people prefer Soma wine for it's exquisite flavor and rather addictive properties. It certainly wasn't the only brand of wine though and I myself prefer Dungeon wine that was brewed by Demeter using the unique fruits found in the dungeon along with water from it. It had a smooth feel on the tongue and a stinging sourness that I enjoyed. The brand wasn't very popular for that exact reason ironically but the hostess always carried stock in case it was needed. I just sat at my table humming to myself as I relaxed and waited for my food.-
Naturally my drink came first in a red clay jug with a bronze topped cork stopper that bore the Demeter familia emblem. I popped the cork and took a swing of the sour drink but didn't swallow it immediately but savored the flavor for a moment first.
"Never had a taste for that stuff myself, too sour for this tongue." a warm familiar voice said as it's owner sat at the table across from me.
"Hroldar, haven't seen you in a hot second. You seem well." I said with a smile at the dwarf.
"Aye lad, been busy with the familia business. Not as busy as you though, hard to believe the clueless lad from not so long ago has gone and matched with the king himself. They call you the dark prince you know, bunch of nonsense if you ask me." he said frankly.
"It's just gossip mate. The title might stick if it gets enough traction but it'll change once I surpass Ottar." I said not bothered by it at all.
"Think you can? I'll admit you've grown ridiculously fast lad but this is Ottar we are talking here. A remnant of the time the Zeus and Hera familias ruled Orario." he said seriously.
"I don't see why I wouldn't be able to. I have the momentum while Ottar has long since stagnated without challenging himself. Not saying I can't see why as he was already the strongest and there was no real point for him at that point but the fact remains he stopped growing stronger." I said matter of factly.
"You act like everyone is able to skip through levels like you do lad. Just not how that works for the rest of us." he said shaking his head.
"I won't deny that I am a freak of nature but you forget that Orario once had a level nine who was only in his forties. That guy WASN'T a freak of nature, he just knew how to push himself to his utmost until the level came naturally. Nobody but me does that anymore and the few who do get careless and die before they can go very far. I know my limits Hroldar and I am VERY careful not to go over them if I can help it but pushing them is a whole other matter. My leveling speed isn't just because of my strength but because I also push my craftsmanship as hard as I can. It's many hands pushing a single cart." I said seriously.
"I can see the logic. Sounds dangerous though. One slip up and that's the end of everything, couldn't do it myself." he said shaking his head.
"Most people are the same. sure you they can have a fire burning in their bellies when they first start out but going full tilt constantly wears on you. At some point they start throttling it back until even the idea of pushing to their limits again seems foreign and impossible. I have a goal though, something I desire more than life or comfort. So long as I am making progress towards it, no matter how small I am satisfied." I said looking him dead in the eyes.
__________________________
(3rd person pov)
In a land far from Orario screams filled the air as woman and children fled while the men of a small village stood with pitchforks and hoes knowing their death came swiftly. They all thought if their death bought even a moment for their families it would be worth it but it was not to be. Green mist rolled across the ground slowly and coiled around their ankles with an intense sizzling sound as it ate through their flesh. -
Under the pale moonlight the source of this calamity was illuminated. A hideous beast standing at three meters tall and having a body like a horse with four hooves that changed when it reached the neck. From there a humanoid torso rose up with two long thin arms that had blades instead of hands and a hollow jagged horse skull for a face with two green burning lights in the place eyes should be.-
The entire body of the creature lacked skin leaving all it's muscles of crimson intensity visible along with the bones at it's joints and bone made blade arms. From between the fibers of it's body a sickly green toxin seeped like mist that filled it's surroundings. Even as the screams of agony filled the air the monster did not show any reaction as it strolled leisurely and occasionally skewered a corpse on it's bladed arms before tearing chunks of flesh off with it's exposed teeth and consuming it without care as the blood dripped down it's raw muscles.-
The beast took special delight in consuming the young children who barely clung to life when it arrived. Their cries of agony and terror made it shiver in delight before silence once again ruled this night. Once this once vibrant with life place lay dead and quiet the beast strolled at ease towards the next place it sensed of life to continue it's feast. Unaware however that in the distance a pale faced and rage filled adventurer from a certain familia lay prone watching this slaughter. Once the beast was gone this adventurer left to report their findings to their god as they had been ordered to do knowing death would come for the monster soon enough.
_______________
Support me on pat reon if you want to read ahead. I post almost daily there.
pat reon.com/pat reon_loskro