Orion's Pov:  

 

After about 20 minutes of walking, I finally got back into town. I went back into The Orical after a bit of walking. “Hey, Orion your payment is needed if you want another month for both rooms.” Kaza said as I opened the door.  

 

“Don’t tell anyone I’m back yet.” I tossed him some gold coins and headed into my room.  

 

I went straight to bed and went to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.  

 

I probably slept for the rest of the day because when I woke up it was midnight. I woke up to the sound of my stomach growling begging for food. I left the room and ran into Scarlet walking through the halls alone, looks like she was drinking. Probably with Summer.  

 

I smiled in her direction, but she was too out of it to notice. She stumbled her way down the hall and walked past me, that’s when she looked at me then looked back down at the floor. She looked back up at me, you could practically see the gears turning behind her eyes as she figured out who I was. “O-Orion?” She asked before trying to walk up to me.  

 

She tripped over her own feet and fell into my arms. “Hey.” I replied. “I’m back.”  

 

“Where were *hic* you?” She asked not looking up.  

 

“I was in the nearby forest training, where is Shiro.?” I asked concern bleeding into my voice.  

 

“She’s *hic* in the room.” She replied finally looking up.  

 

That’s when Summer stumbled around the corner. “Holy *hic* shit Orion’s back, *hic* come drink with meee.” She was practically yelling. 

 

I sighed at the sight of a drunk Summer. She tried taking a step forward but tripped over her own feet. Shit, she was too far to get to without thinking I let go of Scarlet and used the movement technique I’ve been working on and closed the distance in a single step catching her before she hit the floor. “Huh, what the?” Summer managed to get out. “How, what did you do? You were halfway across the hallway.” 

 

“I uh, hmm flash stepped, yeah that’s what it’s called.” I answered. 

 

“Anyway, come drink with meee.” She complained.  

 

“Uh sure let me bring Scarlet to her room.” I answered looking at Scarlet, she was using the wall as a support. 

 

I let go of Summer who was in a giddy mood she stumbled her way back into the dining hall. I walked up to Scarlet and put her arm around me and helped her to the room. I unlocked her door with the key their room was a lot like mine, but the room was a bit rearranged the desk and mirror were on the other side of the wall. I picked up Scarlet who was passed out and put her into the bed next to Shiro’s and left. “Goodnight.” I said before leaving.      

I walked into the dining hall and looked for Summer, she was sitting at the front bar next to someone who had passed out drunk. It was a boy with short auburn brown hair, I couldn’t really see his facial features since he was face down in his arms, his jacket was ash black with sky blue highlights there was a lightning bolt looking symbol on his chest.  

 

I sat next to Summer which startled her. “Yay, Orion’s here.” She wrapped her arms around me. “Get us the Grunt, got to start strong.”  

 

I sighed as Kaza poured our drinks. After a minute or so the drinks were done, it was in a wooden tankard. I swallowed the spit that was forming in my mouth at the amount of liquid that was in the cup. I’m going to die. I thought to myself.  

 

“Kanpai!” Summer yelled before raising up her tankard. 

 

“Kanpai!” I cheered as our tankards clashed.  

 

I put the cup to my mouth and started to drink. The warm smoky liquid burned as it went down my throat. I kept chugging down the liquid until it was gone. I instantly felt the repercussions, everything around me started to spin and everything was distorted. I felt like I was going to throw up, when I remembered the rock. 

 

 I took it out of the storage and held it in my hand. It took a few seconds, but it all went away. I took a few deep breaths then looked at Summer. “Two things. First you weren’t supposed to drink all of it at once go, how are you not throwing up? Second, I probably should've told you, you should imbue mana into your stomach and throat to reduce the effects.” Summer said surprised. “He did the same thing as you, and he’s passed out.”  

 

“I guess I'm just that good.” I responded, putting the stone in my watch. 

 

“Another round please.” Summer asked Kaza. “But make it shots of vodka so we don’t kill him.”  

 

After she said that she started to chug her drink I could feel the mana condense around her throat and stomach. She started to sway a little, but it didn’t seem as bad as what happened to me.  

 

After about an hour or two in we were both wasted, I couldn’t see straight, and I felt giddy. Summer on the other hand, passed out, then again, she was drinking with Scarlet and the boy passed out. “I should probably get going. Where is her room.?” I asked Kaza.  

 

“She doesn’t have a room she usually just crashes with Scarlet.” Kaza responded. “Hey, Kerano buddy wake up time to go home.”  

 

He poked at the boy named Kerano to wake him up. After a few pokes Kerano woke up, when he looked up, I could see his facial features. He had bright sky blue eyes with a sharp jaw line what stood out the most was a lightning bolt scar across his left eye. “Ugh, my head what happened?” he asked groggily. 

 

“You drank the drink wrong.” Kaza responded. “Now go home you don’t have a room here.”  

 

“Yeah, yeah I'm going.” He stumbles out of the Orical. 

 

I picked up summer and stumbled my way to Scarlet’s room and tried to open it but it was locked. Shit I don’t got the key. I thought to myself. I’ll just take her to my room for the night. I stumbled my way to my room and opened the door.  

 

I put her in the bed and tried to leave but her arms wrapped around my neck. “No, don’t leave me, not again.” Summer said still asleep. 

 

“What? Again, who are you talking to?” I asked.  

 

No response. 

‘She probably has past trauma.’ Yokai sounded in my head. “What do you mean by that?” I asked. ‘Well, she probably has separation trauma with someone, so you should probably stay with her.’ he answered. I felt bad for the girl I sat in the bed and started to pet her head to calm her breathing.