Chapter 16: Train
The Tipsy Solberry's warm glow and the hum of conversation buzzed around Leon as he sat in the booth, his plate of half-eaten Drake Wing Stew and Glowcap Pie pushed aside.
The weight of Terya's curse and the looming journey to the demon's lair hung over him, but the lingering taste of the magical herbs and the sight of Saria and Terya across the table kept his nerves at bay—mostly.
Saria's stoic face, framed by her black ponytail, betrayed no hint of the concern she'd shown earlier, while Terya's cocky smirk and the pulsing, web-like curse on her cheek made Leon's heart race for reasons he wasn't proud of.
"You need to train before we leave," Saria said, standing and gesturing toward a private booth tucked in the tavern's corner, its curtains drawn for privacy.
"Your magic's too weak. Let's recharge. Come."
Leon's stomach flipped, a mix of nerves and excitement sparking in his chest.
"Recharge? Like, now?" he said, his voice cracking. He glanced at Terya, who was finishing a skewer with a smirk, her green eyes glinting with amusement.
"Uh, okay, sure." He scrambled to his feet, his sneakers squeaking on the wooden floor, and followed Saria, his mind racing with possibilities—most of them involving her lips and the ritual that had broken her curse.
The booth was cramped, its wooden bench creaking as Saria pulled the curtain closed, shutting out the tavern's noise.