The sun was setting the sky to an orange glow, bringing the nearby Mt. Pyrhh to match its name. Even at this time of the day, the area is bustling in business. Bars are opening at this time of the day, restaurants flourishing after spending the entire day preparing food. It's a lively place full of lively people. The lively air calms me down and I duck into a nearby bar called 'Uhthea'. It had apparently been given a literal meaning of the sound one makes when they pass out drunk and I took a liking to it.

"Ah! Lady Kaede! You grace us today with your presence the first day back?" A lady greets me from behind the bar. The owner of this bar has been working this shop since before I became a Great General.

"Aye, ma'am. I need something stronger than myself and nothing beats the punch you pack when you brew!" The surrounding patrons yell a collaborative 'Ayyyy' before going back to their drinking. "In fact, my mood may be mixed but throw everyone a round of drinks on me!" The cheering gets louder only increasing my mood slightly. I pull myself up onto a stool at the bar. I stretch my arms out towards the bartender before me. "As for myself Tia. I need me a bottle of the famous Uhthea."

"Long day eh? Coming right up Kaede just hold on a moment." Tia moves gracefully to the back for a moment and returns with a bottle the size of my face. With a loud thunk, it lands in front of me, causing the bar to go silent.

"You know rumors mention how even an Earthen one can't finish a single bottle of that." A voice to my side speaks out that I recognize as my apprentice. I turn over to face her while uncorking the bottle.

"Xerena. How long have you known me? I can take a bottle of these any day I felt like it." With a maneuver to show off, I begin to chug the potent drink. Other patrons around us who weren't used to the spectacle were cheering on in chants as the bottle drained into me. My insides felt like fire with tears rolling down my cheeks but I press on. I make a satisfied noise as the last drop rolls down my throat and crash the bottle down onto the counter. I breathe outwards, smoke billowing from my insides. "Tia." I pause to cough uncontrollably. "May none ever learn your secrets."

"As long as you agree to meet whoever else can finish one of these bottles in a sitting Kaede." We both laugh while she covers the orders from other patrons.

"I may have known you a long time, Kaede," Xerena speaks up to me after ordering a drink herself. "But it's not often you order that drink unless you're upset."

"I... I regret my actions in the battle I just left." My head hung downward, hair covering my face from Xerena. "I really could have just... taken the area. It would have been easy for me. Even if I had left the base empty and come back only for the humans to recapture it."

"Kaede that's not fair to your-"

"But I didn't, now did I?" I cut off her concerned voice. "There was something I saw in that one Human Girl that I admired as she stood alone before fifty of us. How easily she bested my soldiers with apparent skill." I motion Tia for a shot that she pours with a warm smile. "By tomorrow the whole world will know the name of the girl who bested the Great General. I have no shame of it other than I could have kept fighting. I just... I saw myself in her. So, of course, I tested her will. We crossed blades and I recognized her potential." I gulp the drink that was freshly poured. "So of course I did the sensible decision. I stopped our fight forcibly as I caught her sword and told her there was no point in fighting more." This time Xerena takes a swig from her glass.

"She just accepted that? So easily?"

"Yeah. Now she was surprised mind you. Even asked why she was alive if I could stop her so easily." A short laugh escapes my lips. "Her eyes told me this was something she wasn't used to and yet she rolled on ahead with no worry or fear of the repercussions. Like me when I first joined. Like you, Xerena, when I first met you brawling on the streets."

"I'm horrified you remember that. Even still though compared to you I've never fought an actual battle."

I laugh a little and pat my hand in her shoulder. "The experience would do a young one like you some good when it comes to combat." My voice lingers briefly and I slide my hand off her shoulder. "Everything else it brings, however... I would never wish that one someone I held dear to me." At this time Tia had pulled up a stool of her own on the other side of the bar's counter. She pours herself a drink, as we were the last patrons in for the night, and sets the bottle she used in between us.

"Already closed up shop. Several others were getting too curious Kaede about what you were saying." I flush in embarrassment after I realize where I was throwing my mind out like that. She pours the two of us another shot which we down immediately. I sit up a little into my stool to lean my elbow onto the counter before I continue speaking.

"I also... got into an argument with the Lord and my Brother if all people."

"You didn't!" They both gasped immediately. I only nod my head.

"Hopefully it's enough to let me retire." I slide my glass over to Tia and flip it over. I rise slowly and stretch my limbs out.

"Kaede," Xerena speaks up to me as she also stands. "You know they'll try everything to keep you. I mean without you we don't even sound threatening anymore."

"Well, I'll see during the called meeting tomorrow." I give Xerena a hug and wave at Tia. "I'm going to call it a night and get that rest I deserve. You guys have helped me vent at least a little."

"Its the least my brew can do for you Kaede." Tia has a sly smile across her face before she walks into the back and shut the door. I try my best to also smile, but it feels broken. Xerenas eyes felt like they were trying to tell me it was a bad idea to go now, however, I just raise my hand to stop her before she speaks.

"Your concern means everything to me before you speak, but I must go. If I was to arrive with the headache of an erupting volcano I feel like the wrong word to me would end up in a red council room." I laugh alone to a nonexistent joke and continue out of the bar. I don't even hear Xerena whisper behind me.

"You fool..."