Chapter 211: Goodwill
The bar known as Lowkey smelled of ale and laughter. No matter the times Dasha came and went, it was the same. The talk and laughter and chatter spread and swirled. A nexus of unconscious information in the Dark Sector, that was what Lowkey was. Open in the day and night, always filled and never without a problem, it was a busy, messy bar.
The Endless Bar had its advantages too. More formal and cleaner with magic involved. Not here. Not at this hooded bar in the Dark Sector. This was raw and old school. This was open to anyone and everyone.
Dasha’s eyes scanned the room until they landed on Charles Mackley. Seated with him were his friends: the former Holy Dynasty knight who smiled at the jokes Charles told and the wizard in the rune robes and with a bag on his waist.
"Charles, you seem unusually cheerful tonight," the wizard remarked, drinking and gulping. "Care to share the reason for your exuberance?"
"Ah, don’t worry about it, really," Charles replied, taking a sip from his tankard.
"Come on, Charles, don’t leave us hanging." The former Holy Dynasty Knight nudged his friend with his drink. "You’ve got that look in your eye. What’s got you all fired up?"
"I told ya, it’s nothing. Really! And is nobody other than me going to mention that he said exuberance?"
"That’s because I’m well-educated."
"Well-educated in stupidity," Charles shot back with a laugh.
Dasha observed from the shadows. Charles’s friends continued questioning him about his jubilant demeanor and with a nonchalant shrug, Charles dismissed their inquiries, insisting that it was nothing of importance. But Dasha knew better. There was a glint of something in Charles’s eyes, a spark of anticipation that hinted at a secret he craved to tell. He wanted to tell them that he had been dreaming wonderfully. He wanted to tell them of the heaven he saw. But he couldn’t. They would strip it away from him and he knew it.
For thirty minutes, Dasha watched from afar, biding his time until Charles was alone. Easier said than done. Charles Mackley was popular and often went around as if he knew everyone.