Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

The next morning, Evand got up early. He couldn't wait to know the results of Chet's research. Evand quickly dressed, ate breakfast hastily, and headed straight for Chet's small shop.

Pushing open the door of the small shop, Evand saw Chet intently staring at the workbench in front of him, seemingly conducting some experiment. Hearing the door open, Chet turned around, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "Good morning, Evand," he greeted warmly, "You've come at just the right time; I've just finished my research."

Evans excitedly walked over to Chet, curiously examining the various instruments and materials laid out on the workbench. "Great, Chet!" he exclaimed. "What are your results? Can you tell me?"

Chet smiled mysteriously and picked up a small glass bottle from the workbench. Inside was a shimmering black, gelatinous substance. "This is the result of my research," he said proudly. "This special black gel can enhance your seduction skills."

Evans curiously took the glass bottle and examined the black glue inside carefully. "Enhanced Seduction Technique? What does that mean?" he asked疑惑地问道.

“Listen to me, Evand,” Chet explained patiently, “this adhesive will adhere to your skin, making you look more sexy and alluring. It will make it easier to attract attention and pique someone’s interest. In short, it will make your seduction techniques more effective.”

Evand suddenly realized, a look of surprise spreading across his face. "Wow, this is incredible!" he exclaimed. "Thank you, Chet! This means a lot to me."

Chet nodded in satisfaction. "Don't mention it, lad. This is a reward for your excellent performance yesterday. Remember, this thing is sentient; use this ability carefully, don't abuse it, or you'll be devoured by it sooner or later."

Evand nodded solemnly, carefully putting the glass bottle into his backpack. "I understand, Chet. I will treat this gift with utmost care." He paused, then added, "By the way, if you need any help with any future missions, just let me know. I will do my best to assist you."

Chet patted Evand on the shoulder with satisfaction. "You're a good lad, Evand. I'm so lucky to have such a reliable partner. Alright, now go practice using this new ability. I'm sure you'll improve."

Evand bid farewell to Chet gratefully, his heart filled with anticipation for the future when Nexus would see him. With this special gift, he was confident he could go even further on his adventures. Evand strode out of the small shop, ready to begin a new day.

Full of anticipation, Evans pushed open the door of the small shop and stepped out with light steps. The warm sunlight shone on his face, and he couldn't help but squint, a delighted smile playing on his lips. However, at that very moment, he unexpectedly bumped into a tall figure.

"Ouch!" Evand exclaimed, staggering a few steps before regaining his balance. He looked up, about to apologize, but saw a pair of stern eyes staring at him. A chill ran down Evand's spine – it was his father, Snow, whom he believed to be his father.

Snow crossed his arms, his brow furrowed, and his eyes flashed with displeasure. "Evand," he said in a low voice, "where did you go last night?"

Evans was momentarily speechless, his mind racing. He recalled that he had gone straight to his room to sleep last night because he was too excited. "Uh... Dad, I..." he stammered, unsure how to explain.

Snow took a deep breath, struggling to suppress his anger. "I was planning to give you the keys to the second-floor rooms and the wine cellar last night, so you could stay at the tavern," he said, his voice tinged with disappointment, "but you haven't even shown up. I waited for you at the tavern all night, you know? It seems you don't want this opportunity."

A wave of guilt washed over Evand. He lowered his head, unable to meet Snow's eyes. "I'm sorry, Dad," he whispered, "I was so excited yesterday I completely forgot about it."

Snow sighed and shook his head. “Evand, you’re not a child anymore. Nobody will treat you like one when you step outside!” he said. “You need to learn to take responsibility. This key isn’t just a key to a room; it represents trust and growth. I thought you were ready, but it seems I overestimated you.”

Evans felt a sharp pang in his heart. He knew his father was right. He looked up, his eyes filled with apology. “I’m so sorry, Dad,” he continued earnestly. “I promise I won’t make the same mistake again. Please give me another chance.”

Snow's expression softened slightly, but he remained serious. "Alright."

He finally said, "I'll give you one more chance. I'll be waiting for you at the tavern tonight. Don't let me down again, okay?"

Evans nodded vigorously, a grateful smile spreading across his face. "Thank you, Father! I will certainly not let you down."

Seeing Evand's sincere expression, Snow's gaze softened. He reached out and patted Evand on the shoulder. "Go on," he said, "enjoy your day. But don't forget our promise tonight."

Evans nodded, watching Snow leave. Only when Snow's figure disappeared into the cellar did he breathe a sigh of relief. He touched the small vial of vinyl records in his backpack, silently vowing to use this gift more carefully, hoping his father wouldn't find out.

Evand stood there, watching Snow's figure disappear into the cellar, a mix of emotions churning within him. He gently patted his backpack, confirming that the magical bottle of vinyl was still intact. Just then, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind—his promise to the amazing Tarn! Good heavens, how could he have completely forgotten something so important?

Evan slapped his forehead in frustration and immediately turned and ran towards the Minotaur tribe. His heart pounded all the way, both from the strenuous exercise of running and from the anticipation of the adventure to come. However, when he arrived at the Minotaur tribe, panting heavily, he wasn't greeted by Tarn's warm smile, but by a tall, imposing figure with a cold, stern gaze.

"Look who's here," a deep, resonant voice said with a hint of sarcasm, "our little hero, Evand, has finally graced us with his presence."

A chill ran down Evand's spine. He recognized the voice—Axel, the chief of the Minotaur tribe, Tarn's father. Axel had always looked down on Evand, believing the skinny wolf cub was unworthy of their powerful tribe.

“Ah…Chief Axel,” Evand stammered, “I’ve come to see Tarn. We agreed to go hiking together.”

Axel scoffed. "Climbing mountains? With your frail appearance, I doubt you'd even reach the foot of the mountain." He sized Evand up, his eyes full of contempt. "Tann has always been too lenient with you. Remember, kid, this is big shots' territory. You'd better not cause us any trouble."

With that, Axel strode away, leaving Evand standing there alone, his face burning as if he'd been slapped hard. He looked down at his thin arms and began to doubt whether he could truly complete the challenge.

Just as Evand was lost in self-doubt, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. "Evand! My good brother! You're here!" Tarn ran over excitedly, putting his arm around Evand's shoulder. "I thought you'd forgotten our promise!"

Seeing Tarn, Evand felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He forced a smile, "I'm sorry, Tarn. So much has happened these past few days, I almost forgot. I just ran into your father..."

"And what did you call me just now?"

Tarn's expression immediately turned serious. "What did my father say? Don't take his words to heart, Evand. He just doesn't understand you. I believe you're a fine wolf!"

"Oh, as for how to address someone, in our tribe, we usually address each other as brothers or sisters to express friendship. If you don't like that, I can call you by your name."

Evans shook his head, forcing a smile. "It's nothing. I don't dislike the nickname, but I don't think I'm really suited for this climb."

Tarn patted Evand on the shoulder, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Don't talk nonsense! You're my best friend and my bravest adventurer. But before we begin, I have to ask you: are you ready? This climb is no joke."

Evand took a deep breath, recalling the gear in his backpack: a water bottle, rations, a rope, and that mysterious bottle of vinyl alcohol. He felt a sense of comfort, though unsure if the latter would come in handy. He looked up, meeting Tarn's eyes directly, and said firmly, "I'm ready. Let's conquer this mountain together!"

Tarn grinned and patted Evand on the back. "This is the Evand I know! Come on, let's go!"

The two walked side by side down the mountain, beginning their climb. As they ascended, the scenery gradually changed. The dense forest thinned out, replaced by jagged rocks and sparse bushes. The wind grew stronger, howling through the cliffs as if warning the challengers.

Their destination was an ancient temple on the mountaintop, a dilapidated temple that only extraordinary people would go to.

Evand and Tarn climbed the winding mountain path, both excited and full of anticipation. As they ascended, the scenery gradually changed. The dense forest thinned out, replaced by jagged rocks and sparse bushes. The mountain wind howled past, as if challenging the two young adventurers.

Just as they reached the halfway point of the mountain, an ancient shrine came into view. The shrine looked like it hadn't been visited in a long time; it was overgrown with weeds, and its wooden structure appeared somewhat dilapidated. Evand and Tarn exchanged a glance and decided to investigate.

Upon entering the shrine, Evand was immediately drawn to a massive stone. Standing in the center of the shrine, it bore a distinctive symbol painted in red. Tarn explained, “This is a unique mark of our Minotaur tribe. This shrine commemorates the warriors who died in battle and the children who were taken away.”

Evand nodded thoughtfully, his gaze sweeping over every corner of the shrine. Suddenly, he noticed a small straw figure next to a stone. He crouched down to examine it closely and discovered that the straw figure appeared to be woven from some kind of plant, but most of its color had faded.

“Tann, look at this,” Evand said, pointing to the scarecrow, “it looks faded. Do you know why?”

Tarn approached, a trace of sadness on his face. “This is a tradition of our tribe,” he explained softly. “Whenever a warrior falls or a child goes missing, we place a straw effigy here in their memory. This straw effigy looks very old; it may have been here for many years.”

Evand gazed thoughtfully at the faded scarecrow, a complex emotion welling up within him. He asked softly, "Why does it look like no one's been here for so long?"

Tarn took a deep breath, his gaze dimming. “This place always evokes painful memories for those who have lost loved ones. To avoid that pain, many choose not to come here again.” He paused, then added, “But that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten them. We simply choose to commemorate and remember them in other ways.”

Evan stood up and looked around. This dilapidated shrine seemed to bear too much sorrow and memories. He couldn't help but think that perhaps it was these experiences that forged the strong and united character of the Bull Tribe.