Bariton was running from place to place; worried of his lack of a crowd. Even his typical spot right besides the fountain wasn’t picking up the traction it usually did. The bells tolled as it hit noon; the rush of people going on break filled the streets.

  Even then, Bariton was left inable to catch onto a crowd, and it seemed like they were all drawn elsewhere to a different bard. Bariton looked at them, and they were definitely less… classical than Bariton was.

  They were actually quite seriously everything Bariton wanted to be, with an odd instrument in their hands. It sounded a lot more like… a metal sheet wobbling with the tones still the same as a guitar. It was interesting for sure.

  And Bariton stared at the star on the stage, as they winked at him. The red hair and thin body caught his attention best, alongside the scars visible from the open leather vest.

  57 - Foolishness

  Bariton awoke to a little surprise in his bed. Another person with their arms holding him close. He suddenly remembered something he said while delirious, at Kishtan’s offer. “Nah, I can share my bed with one of my party members…”

  Bariton thought of how embarrassing it was, as he realized just how nice it felt to be held. But based on the width of the arms, definitely not Pallad, nor was it Clara nor Judine from the feeling of ribs digging into his back.

  It wasn’t painful though. They were tough, sturdy. Not buried under soft flesh, but the rest of the torso made up for it. Bariton tapped who he presumed to be just a mirage’s arms. The mirage muttered something in response, but let go.

  Bariton was hesitant to leave the warm embrace, hesitant to stand up, but then he remembered that it was absolutely just a mirage. Bariton climbed out of the bed, and turned to face it, expecting it to be empty, but looking at Shammus’s half lidded eyes made him do a double take.

  The red looked into his own blue, and he was terrified for a second; rooted into place by that. Shammus just shrugged and rolled over burying his face in his pillow. Bariton was the only one awake still.

  “Thank the gods…” Bariton whispered under his breath as he backed up against the opposite wall and slid down. His face was burning hot, definitely due to the embarrassment of being held by someone so gently and not due to anything else.

  Bariton takes a moment to breath, the room still dark due to the curtain covering the window, but his internal clock told him it was morning. He slowly opened the door, closing it gently to allow his party the rest they so graciously deserve.

  As Bariton wandered along the halls, he finally found a grand kitchen, with three different ovens and stoves. It was certainly made for a team, and manning one of them was Kishtan. They even had a little apron on, over their overly formal robes.

  Kishtan wielded the knives with grace, dicing some peppers into small little cubes. He contemplates for a moment before tossing them into whatever he was cooking. Bariton walked around a counter towards whatever Kishtan was cooking, and saw inside the pan.

  It was an omelette. Nothing too special, with some already minced meat inside cooking thoroughly. There was even cheese atop it, leaving it practically glowing in greatness. As Kishtan flipped it with the two chef’s knives, Bariton noted how skilled Kishtan truly was.

  The handling of the cast iron pan was also splendid as he shifted it onto one of four plates. Bariton spoke up before Kishtan could get started on the next, “Why are there only four plates?” He felt he had to ask, even as he was searching the pantry for tea.

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  He manages to find some. There was a wide amount of teas, many of which were variants of green tea. Unfortunate, but Bariton would make some. “Ah, right, you have a fifth.” Kishtan answered, but Bariton locked eyes with the humanoid in the eyes with a look that said all the words that needed to be said.

  “Mhm, right, I need to eat too.” Kishtan responded to the glare with a simple phrase, ignoring it mostly as he placed a plate upon the countertop. Kishtan also grabbed a kettle and placed it on the counter.

  It slid for a moment with a push as Bariton caught it and filled it with water from the sink. It ran well; the hydromancy runes in this building were nice and up to code as far as the bard was concerned.

  As it filled up with water, a crack and sizzling filled the air as Kishtan got to work on the second omelet. The sound of water boiling was soon added to the kitchen. It was still nice and quiet, as Bariton thought back to the morning before pouring the hot water into his cup.

  Bariton just collapsed down into a nearby seat, burying his face in his hands as he released a scream. Kishtan stops for a moment, leaving the room filled with just the simmering egg on the pan.

  Bariton slumped down further, laying his head down on the counter. Kishtan places the first omelette in front of him, and sits across the counter from Bariton as he places the newest omelette on his own plate.

  “May I ask what trouble’s you, Bard of the Tower?” Kishtan asks, his eyebrows pulled up by worry. Bariton looks up at him and at the food. Bariton takes a bite, and it’s pretty good. Not the best he’d had, but it’s really good. A little too spicy for the bard’s taste though.

  He still ate it, but he responded between bites. “...I don’t think you’re here to talk about more…” Bariton took another bite as he tried to find the word. “Interpersonal issues.” He continued eating the omelette. It wasn’t too big of one by any means, but it was certainly good enough to scarf down.

  “Well, I am here to be your mentor in just about anything, and while I’m not an ancient dragon…” Kishtan offered, taking bites of his own omelette like a taco. Bariton gave him a curious look at his style of eating. “I am still older than even the oldest of you at 3000 years.”

  Bariton glared at Kishtan saying that before finishing his omelet. He stared at his own reflection in the green tea. “But… Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you got experience in that topic.”

  Kishtan thought for a moment, before going back to making another omelet before finishing his own omelet. He never mentioned the way he was eating it despite providing cutlery to everyone else.

  “Well, that’s true…” Kishtan continued making the omelettes, making two at once now. They were both made in the same attention to detail. The chopping was predone to ensure quick application to the omelettes. “But I can tell that you probably like someone more than just friendship?”

  Bariton felt his face redden even further. Of course the rest of the party woke up at that time, and Shammus just had to sit right beside him. Pallad on the other side, and Bariton just hid in his cup of tea.

  Kishtan let out a little chuckle at that as he served the other four. Clara said something or other with a response from the dragon but Bariton didn’t catch it in his stupor. He was still staring into his tea before Shammus patted him on the shoulder, causing a light start.

  “Woah, you okay Bariton?” Shammus had asked, a light worry filled his gaze atop Bariton. Bariton felt his face get hotter, definitely not because of embarrassment or like any strong feelings similar to that.

  “Yeah, but it could be better.” Bariton said, words flowing out of his mouth. “Like we could be on a date!” Bariton stopped speaking, his blush only getting worse as he buried his face in his arms.

  Shammus suddenly turned away, probably in disgust at the terrible attempt at flirting and Bariton let out a groan. Kishtan covers his mouth but it’s clear he’s laughing, and Pallad lets out a chuckle as well on the other side of Bariton.

  Bariton looked up at Clara, who offered just a stare of sympathy but then also let out a light laugh at Shammus. Shammus seemed infuriated, his red eyes furrowing. Bariton refused to look into Shammus at the heat rising in the room.

  Yes, he was suddenly is in a sauna. There was no other logical conclusion to reach in this scenario. Why would Bariton ever be in love with someone like Shammus. Yes, this was completely random.

  Absolutely. No other explanation. You believe me, right? Right?!