Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

The three sat around the campfire, the atmosphere somewhat awkward. Tarn and Roshke weren't familiar with each other; they were only together because of Evand, and for a moment, they couldn't find common ground. Evand looked to his left, then to his right, and seeing that neither of them spoke, he felt uneasy and didn't want to break the silence. But then, his stomach started growling loudly, much to his dismay.

Evand's face flushed red, and he said somewhat embarrassedly in a low voice, "Um...aren't you hungry? I'm so hungry..."

Upon hearing Evand's words, both Tarn and Roshke coughed awkwardly, as if suddenly awakened. They stood up almost simultaneously and said in unison, "I'm going to catch two fish in the lake!"

After speaking, the two exchanged glances, both sensing a hint of awkwardness in each other's eyes. Roshke felt that Tarn was the host and had come to help him; how could he trouble him further? Tarn, on the other hand, thought Roshke was a guest, and he didn't trust him enough. How could he let him go fishing? What if Roshke went looking for something and came back to harm them?

“I’ll go,” Roshke insisted.

“No, I’ll go.” Tarn refused to back down.

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Evand couldn't hold back any longer. He rubbed his stomach and said, "How about... I go? I'm really hungry..."

Tarn and Roshke turned around simultaneously, saying in unison, "No! How can we let you go?"

The two exchanged a glance, seemingly reaching some kind of understanding, and then walked off in different directions along the lake, leaving Evand alone by the campfire, both amused and exasperated. He never imagined that catching fish could become the focus of their argument.

After a while, Tarn and Roshke returned, each carrying several plump fish. Tarn's fish were noticeably larger than Roshke's. He glanced at Roshke smugly and handed the fish to Evand: "Here, the biggest one is for you."

Roshke shook his head helplessly. The world of young people is so simple; everything is compared. As the leader of a lizard tribe, catching fish is a piece of cake for him. However, today he only caught some particularly fresh fish, just to add another memorable meal to tonight.

Although the fish that Tarn caught looked very plump, it would be very difficult to prepare if you really wanted to eat it, and the taste wouldn't be very good either. So Roshke didn't argue with him too much. After all, he was an adult. Why should he compare himself to a child?

Finally, Roshke cleaned all the fish he had caught, skewered them with sticks, and gave a string of them to Evand.

Looking at the fish the two men offered him, Evans felt a warmth in his heart. He smiled and accepted the fish, saying, "Thank you, you're so kind!"

The three of them worked together to clean the fish and then grilled it over the campfire. Soon, the aroma of grilled fish filled the air, tempting their taste buds.

"It smells so good!" Evand couldn't help but exclaim.

“Yes,” Tarn also took a deep breath, “it’s been a long time since I’ve had such fresh grilled fish.”

Roshke silently divided the grilled fish among Evand, keeping only a small piece for himself.

When Tarn saw this, he also shared a portion of his surplus with Evand.

Evan looked at the grilled fish in front of her with a mix of amusement and exasperation; there was simply too much for her to eat.

The three ate grilled fish and chatted. Tarn and Roshke gradually lowered their guard and began to talk about their respective tribes and lives.

As night deepened, the chill on the mountaintop intensified. The campfire crackled, warming the three people sitting together. Their conversation was simple, and soon it ended.

However, Evand broke the silence first, asking curiously, "Roshke, are you really from another world? I still find it a bit unbelievable."

Roshke smiled, a hint of helplessness in his eyes: "Yes, I never expected to come to such a strange world." He paused, then added, "However, I'm very happy to have met you all."

Tarn listened quietly to their conversation. He had previously been wary of Roshke, but after spending time together, he gradually sensed in Roshke a calm and composed leadership quality, much like his father, even more mature and steady. He couldn't help but reflect on himself: why had he never been able to gain his father's approval? Perhaps he should learn from Roshke's composure and confidence.

“Oh, right,” Tarn suddenly thought of a crucial question, “What if the holy water can’t remove the curse from you? I’ve never heard of holy water being able to remove a curse; it’s usually only used to purify corruption.”

Tarn's words instantly froze the previously relaxed atmosphere. Evand then realized that he seemed to have misremembered the effects of the holy water, and he lowered his head in annoyance.

Seeing this, Roshke felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew the anxiety and unease in Evand's heart, so he comforted him in a gentle yet firm tone: "Evand, there's no need to worry too much. On this path full of unknowns and challenges, we must learn to take each step bravely. Trying is the first step in exploring the unknown, and it's also an essential path for our growth and progress. Even if the power of the holy water is not enough to lift the curse, we should not be discouraged, because there are always other methods and paths waiting for us to discover."

Relying on others may bring temporary comfort, but true strength comes from our inner resilience and self-reliance. If we always wait for others to save us, we will never be able to control our own destiny. Evand, your wizard friend may possess extraordinary abilities, but ultimately, we must rely on our own strength to face difficulties and challenges. If even they are powerless, where will we go? Therefore, we must take the initiative, constantly try and explore, rather than sitting idly by and passively waiting for fate to take its course.

Remember, every failure is a stepping stone to success, and every attempt is a test of your abilities. Let us join hands, bravely face the difficulties before us, and use wisdom and courage to forge a new path. Only in this way can we truly take control of our own destiny and become the masters of our own lives.

Remember, the greatest help you've given me is being able to trust me unconditionally and without question once I'm no longer afraid of me. In this unknown world, having a friend like you is enough. Even if I can't go back, I won't complain, because I met you.

Roshke's words resonated deeply with Tarn. He had always longed to be like Roshke, bravely taking on responsibility, instead of hesitating and timidly behaving as he was now. He had taken the first step to resolve the conflict between the two tribes, and he believed that one day he would earn his father's true approval.

At this moment, Tarn finally completely trusted Roshke. He no longer treated Roshke as an outsider, but like Evand, he regarded him as his best friend. He looked at Roshke and said sincerely, "Roshke, I believe in you. We will work together to find a way. You will definitely be able to return to your world."

Roshke nodded gratefully, his heart filled with hope. He knew that with the help of Evand and Tarn, he would surely overcome his current difficulties and find his way home.

As night deepened and the temperature on the mountaintop dropped, the three sat around the campfire, feeling each other's warmth. Roshke broke the silence, asking curiously, "Evind, what's your tribe like?"

Evand paused for a moment, his thoughts drifting back to his hometown, his eyes filled with tenderness: "My tribe, Spear Village, is a very beautiful place. There are clear rivers, rolling mountains, and dense forests. The men in the village are all very warm and friendly, especially my old man, he always..." At this point, Evand's voice lowered, and a trace of melancholy flashed in his eyes.

Noticing Evand's change in mood, Roshke and Tarn looked at him with concern. Tarn gently patted Evand's shoulder and comforted him, "Don't be sad, Evand. We will definitely find a way to lift the curse and let you return home as soon as possible."

Roshke chimed in, “Yes, Evand, we will all help you. Like me, although I am currently a wanderer, I believe that one day I will be able to return to my tribe.”

Hearing their words of comfort, Evand felt a little better and forced a smile: "Thank you, I'm fine, I'm just a little homesick."

Roshke smiled slightly and steered the conversation back to the tribe: "Speaking of tribes, our lizardman tribe is also built around a temple. Legend has it that the temple was built by an ancient civilization, but we don't know the specifics. People in the tribe rarely approach towns because there are humans in the towns, and they seem to be afraid of us, hiding whenever they see us. As for places further away, I don't know. People in the tribe generally don't stray far from the temple."

"Humans?" Evand and Tarn asked in unison, their eyes filled with doubt. They had never heard of this race before.

Roshke explained, “Yes, humans. Our world has many races, just like yours. However, we don’t have this strange mist there.”

“Mist…” Tarn repeated the word softly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, “I hope that not all parts of the world are shrouded in mist.”

Evans shook his head: "No, Tarn. There is no fog in my hometown; the sun shines brightly and the air is fresh."

Roshke also showed a longing expression: "I really hope to have the opportunity to see your hometown in person, Evand."

Evand smiled and said, "Yes, Roshke, once your curse is lifted and you can come back, I will definitely take you there! I will take you to visit my hometown."

"Haha~ If I can really come back again, then I will definitely go. But before that, you have to tell me about your tribe's customs. Otherwise, if I go and cause serious consequences due to my lack of understanding of the customs, I don't think that's the result you want to see."

“You’re right. Speaking of customs,” Evand scratched his head, “our Spear Village does have a rather unique coming-of-age ceremony.”

Roshke and Tarn curiously gathered around, eager to hear what special customs Evand's hometown had.

Evan cleared his throat and said, “In our Spear Village, every werewolf receives a blessing from the elders of the tribe when they come of age. On the day of their coming of age, the elders of the tribe will spend time alone with the werewolf who is about to reach adulthood and impart to them knowledge about… reproduction.”

When he said the word "reproduction," Evans' voice unconsciously softened, and a blush rose on his face.

Tarn and Roshke exchanged a glance, both understanding the essence of the ritual—procreation. Roshke nodded and said, "Procreation... is indeed a very unique ritual."

Seeing that the two didn't react in any particular way, Evand stopped feeling embarrassed and continued, "Actually, I think this ritual is quite common in many tribes, right? After all, procreation is crucial for the continuation of the tribe."

Tarn nodded in agreement: "Yes, procreation is something that every tribe must take seriously."

Roshke looked at Evand and suddenly asked, "Evand, have you received the elder's blessing?"

Evans shook his head: "Not yet. In our Spear Village, werewolves who are about to come of age need to leave the tribe to find a treasure. Only by finding the treasure and bringing it back to the village can they receive the blessing of the elders and become true adults."

“I see,” Roshke suddenly realized. “So you came to this forest to find treasure too?”

Evand nodded: "You could say that. I originally planned to return to the village to receive my father's blessing after finding the treasure, but I never expected to encounter so many things..."

"Did you find the treasure?" Tarn asked curiously.

Evans shook his head and sighed, "Not yet. I've been searching, but I haven't found the right one. And now I'm also under a curse, so I don't know when I'll find one."

Roshke comforted him, "Don't be discouraged, Evand, we'll help you. Once we've solved the curse, we'll help you find the treasure together."

Tarn chimed in, “Yes, Evand, we’ll definitely help you. The coming-of-age ceremony in your hometown sounds fascinating; I’d love to see it for myself.”

Evand's face flushed instantly: "Um, thank you, but let's not do this. It's best not to have too many people around!"

As night deepened, the temperature on the mountaintop dropped further. After finishing their grilled fish, the three of them crawled into the tent that Roshke had set up, huddling together for warmth.

Evans lay in the middle, with Tarn on his left and Roshke on his right. He felt as if he were being protected by his two older brothers, and his heart was filled with a sense of security.

"Goodnight," Evans said softly.

"Good night," Tarn and Roshke replied in unison.

With the warmth of the campfire and each other's company, the three gradually drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow, they would enter the temple together to find the holy water that could help Roshke return home.

The next morning, as the sun rose, golden sunlight bathed the mountaintop, dispelling the chill of the night. Evan stretched and emerged from his tent. He took a deep breath; the mountain air was fresh and cool, making him feel invigorated.

Tarn and Roshke also emerged from the tent one after another, and the three of them quickly packed their belongings. Tarn led Evand and Roshke to the entrance of the temple, where the temple doors were tightly closed, and ancient and mysterious runes were carved on them.

Tarn pointed to the runes on the gate and said, "This is the temple's barrier; it can only be opened during the day." He took out a strangely shaped stone from his pocket and placed it in a groove in the center of the gate.

As the stone was embedded into the groove, the runes on the gate emitted a dazzling light, and the gate slowly opened, revealing a passage leading into the interior of the temple to the three.

“Let’s go,” Tarn said, stepping into the passage first. “The holy water is at the deepest part of the temple.”

Evand and Roshke followed closely behind, their hearts filled with anticipation and trepidation, unsure of what awaited them.