Vidra found the tavern after a few minutes of walking. It was located in the heart of the small forest. There was a trick included. A spell made the small wooden house invisible. Vidra found it by luck.
He accidentally followed a student who disappeared right in front of his eyes. This is how Vidra knew that he had found what he was looking for. The wooden house appeared in front of him as he stepped right in front of its door.
'Wooden Lotus. What a weird name for a tavern. Especially one inside an academy.'
Vidra opened the door and stepped inside. Expecting a lively atmosphere. What greeted him instead was a friendly group of students sitting around a round table. They wore robes of different colors, and their belts were equipped with different materials.
These students just came back from a mission and were taking a breather before reporting to the academy. Some of them were drinking beers while others just talked about various things.
Vidra walked up to them with a plan in his mind. He took one of the seats around the table. The members of the group looked at him in silence. Finding the situation weird. One of them decided to ask Vidra what is he doing.
"I'm sorry, but do you think you can find a different seat? We are tired after a long journey and just want to talk with each other."
"Finding a different seat... It's not impossible if you truly think I'm bothering you. However, would you like to hear me out first? I'm in a bit of a tight spot here."
The members of the group looked at each other and started whispering between themselves, trying to decide how should they answer.
"Let's just help him a little. He seems to be a first-year student. We were one a little less than a year ago, and I pity him."
"I don't know. Doesn't he seem a little suspicious? Why did he visit this tavern on his first day? He reminds me of a con man instead of someone in need."
"How can you say that? Let's just hear him out first. We can just decline his request if any of us finds it suspicious. Besides, he reminds me of someone I saw in the newspaper. I don't exactly remember, but it was him."
The group agreed to hear out Vidra.
"Fine, we'll help you out if it's something simple. However, forget it if it's anything money-related, long, or something hard to do. We were about to head back to our rooms and sleep."
Vidra showed off the mark on the back of his hand. One of the girl members of the group gasped in realization.
"You're that guy! The one who confessed to the White Witch girl. Vidra was it? Word on the street is that you have the potential to be the strongest trait holder in the history of Eberhart Academy!"
The others were surprised to find out that the boy in front of them was the top scorer of this year's entrance exam.
"Well, well, how can we help the celebrity?"
"The thing is, I don't know how to say it, but it's related to my trait. I hit a wall, and it doesn't seem to go away unless I start drinking. I know it sounds weird, but that is the case. I can't seem to improve without drinking alcohol."
"Anyway, what I want to say is... I need one of you to buy me beers. I'll pay for it and everything. I take the blame. Just buy it for me."
The group stared at him, once again, and silence reigned.
"You're aware that we could get in trouble for buying you the drink, right?"
"I'm willing to pay you extra! Four hundred copper coins to each of you. I'll just get drunk on my own and that's it."
Hearing the amount of money that Vidra was willing to fork out to get drunk made them stagger. That many copper coins were not something people would just give away. It was all the money Robert gave Vidra for this month.
"You give us the money first. We can't be the only ones taking the risk!"
Vidra took out the coins and gave them to the group without hesitation. One of them walked up to the front desk.
"How many beers do you need, junior?"
"I don't know. I never tried this before, so just buy an amount that gets me drunk without a doubt."
"You're going to regret it tomorrow, but you pay for it, so I don't care."
Soon, the beers started arriving one by one. The workers of the tavern didn't care about who drank the beers as long as someone paid for them. As long as a second-year or higher grade student tells them to bring it, they bring it.
When the teachers question what happened the tavern owner just tells them that the students tricked him. It happened several times in the past and the students had to take the blame every single time.
Vidra looked at the beer in front of him and took a sip. The first beer of his life was unusually bitter. Elves were sensitive, and alcohol had a greater effect on their mind. Vidra downed the beer and proceeded to drink the next one.
This continued for a while, until Vidra had had enough and decided to take a bathroom break in the forest. He staggered out of the door. The alcohol is affecting him. The members of the group decided to stay and watch over him.
Soon, Vidra came back and continued drinking. One beer, two, three. He downed them without hesitation. One of the older students looked at him with worry apparent on her face.
"Are you alright? This could be a bit much for a first-timer elf. I think you should go back. We'll help you, okay?"
"He He help Me?! What?? Help! Help me?! No I gAve You... You fake coins!"
The group stared at him. Their eyes widened at what they heard.
"You did what?"
"I I ThE For tHe Beers. Wanna gO?"