Chapter 8
The stew was hearty, exactly what Alex had hoped for. He savored the warmth spreading through him. Rhian, beside him, attacked her own bowl with the same focused intensity. Her face quickly smudged with purple from the berry juice. A small, genuine smile touched Alex's lips as he watched her. This moment, simple as it was, felt good. It was a quiet victory.
Then, the ambient noise of the tavern shifted. A gruff, booming voice, laced with an unmistakable air of condescension, cut through the general din.
"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in. If it ain't Alex, still slumming it in the dirt-tier ranks."
Alex’s stomach tightened. He knew that voice. Kaelen. A Rank 7 Warden, always loud, always arrogant, and always with an opinion on Alex’s perceived failures. The man’s reputation for bullying was well-known. Alex glanced at Rhian, whose eyes widened with worry. He gave her a subtle nod, a silent reassurance, and turned his attention towards the newcomers.
Kaelen stood there, a hulking figure with a perpetual sneer, flanked by a few other Wardens and a younger-looking individual Alex assumed was the rookie Kaelen was referring to. The rookie, slight and with an earnest expression, stood a half-step behind Kaelen, his gaze darting between Alex and the floor. He had the look of someone who wanted to disappear.
Kaelen swept his gaze over Alex’s simple work clothes, then let his eyes linger on the remnants of the hearth stew on Alex’s plate.
"Five years, Alex. Five years stuck at Rank 9. Must be tough, huh? Real shame."
His companions chuckled, their laughter sharp and unkind.
Kaelen then turned his attention to the rookie, clapping a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Now, Leo, this is what you don't want to be. This is what happens when you get soft. When you let your head get filled with pipe dreams instead of real work."
He gestured dismissively at Alex.
"You follow my lead, kid, and I'll have you at Rank 8 in a few years. Guaranteed. None of this Rank 9 nonsense for you."
The rookie, Leo, nodded earnestly, his eyes wide. "Yes, Kaelen-san. I'll follow your lead."
Rhian’s small hand found Alex’s arm under the table, her fingers tightening slightly. Alex gently squeezed her hand back. He met Kaelen’s sneering gaze, and for the first time, the Warden’s words didn’t sting. He’d spent years hearing variations of the same insult, the same dismissive tone. He’d let it fester, let it fuel his isolation. But not anymore. He had the Arosaurer. He had proof that his methods, his System, his persistence, were more than just rank.
"Don't listen to him, Rhian. He's just loud. Enjoy your stew."
Rhian visibly relaxed, her grip on Alex's arm easing. She seemed glad he wasn't letting Kaelen's words get to him. They returned to their stew, the quiet rhythm of their meal a welcome contrast to Kaelen’s booming voice.
The tavern door swung open again, drawing the attention of everyone within. A hush fell over the room, quickly replaced by a ripple of excited murmurs. Standing there, silhouetted against the harsh daylight, was a team that commanded an immediate respect.
"Whoa, check it out!" one of the male Wardens at a nearby table whispered, nudging his companion. "It's Celestia! I can't believe they are in this city!"
"No way," the other breathed, his eyes wide. "That's Anya, right? The Unbroken. They say she never backs down, no matter what. Like a damn fortress herself."
"And look at her. So disciplined. I bet she'd make you run drills 'til you dropped, but man, it'd be worth it."
"Yeah, but what about her? The one with the golden hair?"
He gestured discreetly towards Fia, who stood radiating energy even in her simple Warden gear.
"They call her 'The Forge-Hammer.' They say she hits like a meteor strike. Imagine feeling that power... maybe she could hit me with it," he added with a perverted grin, earning a shove from his friend.
"Don't be an idiot, but yeah, she’s something else. Pure power."
Lyra, standing slightly behind Anya, scanned the room with sharp, intelligent eyes. Her light lavender hair was pulled back neatly, and her azure gaze seemed to dissect everything it landed on. A faint shimmer from her specialized goggles hinted at the tech she carried.
"And the sniper, Lyra. 'The Far-Strike.' They say she can hit a fly's eyeball from a klick away. I bet she could hit me from a klick away… and I’d probably thank her for it."
Seraphine, the last member of the team, stood with a gentle aura, her peach hair soft against the violet hues of her specialized suit. She offered a small, almost imperceptible smile to a nervous-looking child near the door.
"And her, Seraphine. 'The Soothing Hand.' They say she can heal any wound. Imagine being sick, and she just… touches you. I bet she could make any ache disappear. I'd love to be sick for a week if she was my nurse."
Anya, radiating an aura of calm command, stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the tavern. Her hazel eyes met Alex's for a brief moment, a flicker of recognition passing between them. He remembered her from the forest – the stern leader who had faced down the Timber-Crest Bull. The sight of her team, formidable and renowned, made the Arosaurer feel even more significant, a secret weapon waiting to be revealed.
The waitress, her demeanor shifting from routine to respectful deference, immediately approached Anya's group.
"Welcome, Wardens. This way, please. A table for four?"
Anya nodded, "Yes. For Team Celestia."
Rhian nudged Alex. "Do you know them?"
"Not personally. They were… the Warden team I ran into in the forest. The ones with the stern leader."
A flicker of unease crossed Rhian’s face. "Do you think they recognized you?"
Alex forced a casual shrug, though his stomach did a little flip. "They shouldn't be able to. The canopy's pretty tinted. Makes it hard to see inside."
The Celestia team settled into their booth, their crimson, goldenrod, azure, and violet armor gleaming faintly in the tavern's warm light. They were still buzzing from their encounter, the scent of the forest and the roar of the Timber-Crest Bull seemingly clinging to them.
"Can you believe that thing?" Fia exclaimed, her amber eyes alight with excitement. "That mechanical beast! It just appeared out of nowhere and slammed into the Bull like it owed it money!"
Lyra adjusted her specialized goggles, her azure gaze thoughtful. "Its combat metrics were astounding. The speed, the articulation, the sheer precision of its attacks… The seismic pulse deflection alone was extraordinary."
Anya, ever the leader, nodded slowly, her expression serious. "It was powerful. And it saved us. But its origin is unknown. We need to report this."
Seraphine, ever gentle, added softly, "It was so loud, but… it felt like it was trying to help. When it roared, it sounded so… determined."
The waitress, a plump woman with a surprisingly keen gaze, leaned in, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Wardens! You must tell us everything! We heard the commotion from here. Was it a Titan? A new type?"
Fia, never one to shy away from the spotlight, puffed out her chest. "Oh, it was a Timber-Crest Bull, alright! A big one, too. But this… this thing!" She gestured with her gauntleted hand, mimicking a charging Zoid. "It came out of nowhere, all silver and blue and red, like a lightning bolt! It was HUGE! And it just started blasting away at the Bull with these cannons!"
She paused for dramatic effect, letting the tavern patrons hang on her every word.
"And when the Bull tried that ground-shaking trick with its antlers? This… this machine just dodged it! Like it knew it was coming! Then it finished the Bull off with claws and fangs that looked like they could cut through anything!"
Lyra chimed in, her voice precise. "The energy signatures were also highly anomalous."
Alex, trying to shrink into his seat, felt a prickle of unease. He kept his gaze fixed on his stew, hoping his tinted canopy was enough to mask his presence.
Anya’s gaze swept the room. It landed on Alex’s table.
Anya walked towards him.
"Excuse me, have we met?"
"Uh, no. You must be mistaken."
Kaelen’s booming voice shattered the fragile peace of Alex’s meal. He stepped forward, swaggering slightly, his eyes fixed on Anya.
"Lady Anya, if I may? Why are you wasting your valuable time with a Perpetual Rank 9? Surely you haven't mistaken him for someone of importance?"
He chuckled, a rough sound that drew the attention of the other Wardens with him.
"Who are you?"
Kaelen stepped forward, puffing out his chest. "Kaelen. Rank 7 Ironclad Warden. And you're Lady Anya, aren't you? I've heard about you."
He then turned his attention back to Alex, his voice dripping with disdain. "And this perpetual Rank 9 is Alex. Been stuck at Rank 9 for five years. Never gotten any higher. Always tinkering with scrap, never actually doing anything significant. He’s practically a permanent fixture in the salvage yards, not a Warden."
Laughter erupted from Kaelen’s companions, sharp and cruel. Alex’s knuckles went white, but he kept his gaze fixed on his plate.
He turned to Leo, who looked mortified. "See, kid? This is what happens when you aim low. You end up talking to… well, him."
Anya’s gaze hardened, her direct stare silencing Kaelen’s mockery. "It is rude to insult someone else, Kaelen. Especially when you know nothing about them. Besides, staying a Warden at Rank 9 for five years takes a certain kind of dedication. It means you're careful, and you don't take unnecessary risks."
Kaelen clicked his tongue, a sound of pure disdain.
"Careful? Or just incompetent? There's a difference, you know."
Anya’s eyes narrowed, a clear warning in their depths. "There are many paths to survival on Terrax, Kaelen. Alex’s path may not be yours, but it is his own."
Anya’s gaze shifted back to Alex.
"Forgive them, their behavior is… regrettable."
Alex finally looked up, meeting Anya’s gaze. He offered a small, weary shrug. "It’s fine, Lady Anya. I'm used to it."
Anya’s gaze lingered on him for a moment, a hint of something unreadable in her eyes, before she turned back to Kaelen.
"We will pay for Mr. Alex’s meal," Anya stated, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Oh, no, you don't have to—"
"It is our commemoration of a shared encounter; consider it a gesture of thanks for your assistance. We will cover the meal."
Alex felt a hot flush of embarrassment mixed with a reluctant surge of gratitude. He was only a Rank 9 Warden, barely making ends meet. Having Anya, the renowned leader of Celestia, insist on paying for his meal felt all wrong. But her resolve was as unyielding as a fortress wall. He decided to view it as repayment for her saving them in the forest earlier. Besides, he didn’t want Rhian to spend her hard-earned savings on a meal for him. He finally nodded, a silent acceptance.
"Thank you," he managed, the words feeling inadequate.
Rhian, her face still flushed with berry juice and newfound gratitude, beamed at Anya and her team. "Thank you so much! That is… really kind."
Anya offered a rare, small smile. "You are welcome. I hope we meet again."
Alex and Rhian finished their stew. Then they left the tavern.
"They were really nice, Alex," Rhian said, her voice soft.
Alex chuckled. "Yeah. They seem like good people."
"Let's head back," Alex said. He stood and offered Rhian a hand. "I have a lot of work to do."
They stepped back out into the late afternoon sun. The tavern's noise faded.