The three of them- Akako, Hanako, and Aria- stood and stared at the stranger in equal measurements of silence. Akako, for his part, was certain that this individual, just like General, had to be another new visitor to Mystorica, for he had never seen such a person around the village before. What with his long, dark hair that hung in unruly strands and his slumped posture that seemed almost careless yet carried with it a sharp, almost threatening aura. Yes, had Akako previously laid eyes upon such an individual, even if just in passing, Akako was rather certain that he would not have forgotten and thus would have recalled the existence of such a strange and peculiar person.

“Ah- Hello! Welcome to the Restkeep Tavern!” Akako spoke up after several more beats of uneasy silence, hoping that the chipper tune in his voice would be enough to dispel the growing tension in spite of its slight wobble, “Would you like a bite to eat? Something to drink, perhaps? Anything I can get you?”

For a moment, there was no answer. Then, the stranger moved forward, his gait a curious mixture between a limp and a swagger, as though every step he took was both deliberate and uneven. Akako watched as he strutted across the tavern floor with unhurried purpose, until the stranger reached their table and, without so much as a second glance towards them, lowered himself into the chair opposite, and spoke.

“I desire not for your temporal offerings,” The stranger said, voice hinting at a foreign dialect, “But you may most certainly tell me something.”

Akako blinked. As discretely as possible, he stole a quick glance towards Hanako and Aria, noting their shared unease before he mustered up the courage to force out a bright laugh, “Of course! What would you like to know?”

The response came without hesitation.

“The god that resides in this village,” He said, his eyes gleaming with indecipherable intent, “Tell me- Where might I find him?”

Akako felt his left eyelid begin to twitch. Out of the corner of his vision, Aria’s concerned look cut sharper than any blade. The god that resides in this village? Akako could think of no other person but Kami who fit that description. But the entire village had been isolated from the greater Eternless region since the snow had settled in a decade ago! So how could this visitor possibly know about Kami in the first place? And why did his words seem to drip with a faint hint of menace instead of the usual annoyance or dismissal that Akako was more used to whenever Kami was brought up?

“Ah, Pardon me?” Akako attempted to deflect with a nervous chuckle, “I think- You must be mistaken! There aren’t any gods that live in Mystorica-”

BANG.

The words had just barely left Akako’s mouth when the stranger slammed the heavy heel of one boot upon the table, the impact rattling the chairs and startling Akako into a slight hop. Besides him, the corners of Hanako’s lips twitched faintly downwards, while Aria’s brow had knitted itself into a tight furrow.

“Don’t try to fool me,” The stranger’s aura now flared sharper, his eyes sunken, but carrying a menacing flare, “I cannot be mistaken. There is a god that resides in this village, and I must find him.”

“Now. Will you tell me the location of this god? Or…” At this, the visitor leaned forth. His voice grew dark and low, a dangerous insinuation seeping into his tone as he spoke his next words, “...Am I to surmise that you stand in leagues with him against me?”

Akako’s hands were balled into fists, sweat forming in the center of his palm. There was no room for uncertainty now. Everything about this man screamed danger. As much as Akako might have had his own gripes against Kami, there was no way he would reveal Kami’s place of residence to this visitor. That would be no different than inviting a wolf to Kami’s door! Yet, what else could he do? Should he insist on sending this unwanted guest away? No, that would raise this stranger’s suspicion instantly, and with how weirdly hostile the visitor appeared to be whenever he made reference to the false god? Akako had no doubt that rejection would be more than enough to provoke a fight, and he didn’t want that, either. Not with so many townsfolk still hanging around the tavern! Akako only felt the silence stretching, like a blade about to be unsheathed as his mind raced desperately for a solution. Come on, Akako. Think! What should we do? There must be something-

“Ahem,”

Hanako’s voice cut clean through the silence, and instantly, all eyes were upon him.

“Esteemed guest,” Hanako began, calm and unhurried. Voice clear like still water, “Though we know not where you have heard of such rumors, we truly have no knowledge of any gods that live in our humble village.”

The stranger’s eyes narrowed, and his expression darkened.

“However,” Hanako continued, his voice still cool and nonchalant, as if merely discussing the weather even as the tension radiating from the visitor threatened to snap, “There might be one person in our village who may know of this god’s whereabouts.”

The stranger paused. His expression shifted from one of fury to that of sharp curiosity. “Oh? And who might that be?”

“Our Saint High Priest, Sorine,” Hanako answered simply, “If it is the divine and mystical that you seek, then surely he shall have the answers you desire.”

At this, Hanako turned towards Aria, a sharp look in his eyes, “Aria. Could you see if the Priest Sorine is available? Please tell him that this is a matter of great urgency.”

Aria blinked, momentarily caught off guard. But then, he quickly gathered himself and nodded, “Ah. Of course.” Then, he slipped from the tavern in swift strides. Without missing a beat, Hanako turned back to the visitor once Aria had left.

“In the meantime, while you wait, may we offer you something from our kitchen?” Hanako suggested, still speaking with the same polite calm as before, “One of our specialities, perhaps? I’m sure we can find something on our menu that suits your tastes.”

The stranger’s lips seemed to curl into something between begrudging annoyance and mild amusement. Then, slowly, thankfully, he relented, “Fine. Anything with beer or wine in it will do.”

“Certainly,” Hanako nodded smoothly, and glanced at Akako, “Akako?”

All at once, Akako understood. With but a few clever words, Hanako had deftly and decisively bought them time; Hanako had managed to find a reasonable excuse to dismiss Aria under the guise of sending him to fetch the Saint High Priest Sorine whilst Aria ran to look for backup. Meanwhile, he and Hanako would remain at the tavern to distract this dangerous guest until more help could arrive. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

“Alright!” Akako said, standing taller despite his pounding heart,” Coming right up!”

With that, he scurried back into the kitchen, leaving Hanako and the stranger in the tense quiet of the tavern.