The girl gasps and steps out from behind me, slapping the drunk in the face. She goes for it again but the man grabs her wrist, squeezing it. At that moment, I imagine the bartender as Cyra. I lunge forward, grabbing the man by his throat.

I’m not in the mood for this shit. I’m done letting this behavior slide.

Lifting him in the air, he gasps for breath as I carry him to the doors. Other customers clap as I walk by but their praise hardly alleviates my foul mood. As I throw him out the exit, I hear an uproar from the crowd as a chivdouyu takes center stage.

“Hello everyone,” greets the performer. “My name is Ris, and I’m here tonight to sing a little song about something that’s touched us all at one point; heartbreak.”

Well that’s hardly what I need to hear right now. I’m out of here.

I leave through the exit myself, walking by the drunk looking like he’s taking his first baby steps as he stumbles around. I decide to head to the same dingy bar I’ve been frequenting with Braythe, knowing he’s more than likely already indulging in a drink there.

A few minutes later, I arrive and just as I predict, I see Braythe seated at the counter. I walk up and take a free seat beside him.

“Hey Braythe,” I greet, signaling to the bartender for a drink.

“What’s up Lykan? How are you?” he replies.

“Ah, nothing new on my end.”

“Hmm, looks like there’s about to be. Some girl is coming over with her eyes locked on you.”

I have no time to react when I turn to the other side to see a dark elf woman standing close to me. She wears a tight red dress that shows off a tight figure, exposing heavy cleavage as she licks her lips.

“Hey handsome, want to buy me a drink?” she says in a seductive tone.

“No thanks.”

“I’m sorry, I thought I heard you say-”

“I said no, now beat it.”

The woman recoils, scoffing at me before walking away. I turn, seeing Braythe looking at me with wide eyes.

“Are you fucking crazy?” he asks.

“I don’t care much for chasing women around anymore,” I reply, sipping on my drink. “For all I know, she was going to try and scam me.”

“I don’t know what to tell you,” chuckles Braythe. “I think you need to immerse yourself back into the social scene.”

“No thanks man. I’m better off alone.”

“If we’re going to do it, I’ve got the picture perfect opportunity for us to do so. It’s perfect timing actually.”

“I said no,” I snap.

“There’s this military ball coming up later on this evening,” he says, my words seemingly going unheard. “You should totally come along with me.”

“Military?” I exclaim. “Braythe, I am no longer a miou, so why on Protheka would I go to a fucking military ball?”

“True but you can come along as my plus one. Come on man, don’t make me go to this thing all by myself. Besides, everyone will recognize you from your old service days.”

“I’m not going, Braythe.”

“It’s going to be this big blowout event. There’ll be food, alcohol, entertainment, the usual stuff.”

By this point, I’m trying to ignore all of what he’s saying.

“Oh!” he exclaims. “How could I forget the most interesting part? It’s going to be hosted by Nasthyn at his mansion.”