Lively and cheerful music with patrons and guests drinking and singing to the melody greets me. Some patrons are eating but clearly enjoying the friendly and energetic atmosphere.
We sit down at a free table, and a waitress comes over to take our orders. "One mutton stew and two tankards of water. Oh! And a large baked potato!" Ros orders our food, and I just listen in, observing everyone here.
Even though most people here are probably strangers, they get along pretty well. The atmosphere itself makes you want to join in and dance around with the ladies who are performing alongside the singers and the instrument players.
Once our food arrives, Ros digs right in, but I hesitate. 'I'm still suspicious of him, but the stew looks so good... Even the smell makes me salivate!' After contemplating whether or not I should eat, I pick up the wooden spoon and taste the stew.
It's nice, although it's lacking some flavour. I take a piece of bread and dip it in my stew before taking a bite, savouring the flavour, and how the soft and fluffy bread melts on my tongue.
The tastes mash together, creating a rich flavour in my mouth. I heartily eat the warm meal, enjoying how it fills my empty stomach. Even if it's a bit bland, it's better than nothing. A warm meal like this can really lighten up my mood, huh? But it's good.
While we eat, I make sure to ask Ros about Greenvale between bites. And during our meal, I learnt that this village is pretty similar to those in my world, just a few centuries behind...
"So, to put it simply, Greenvale is Alamoria's province. Although we're an autonomous province." Ros sums it up, and I'm slightly taken aback at his vast vocabulary and understanding despite his young age.
'It might be because he's a halfling. I think that Merle mentioned something about elves being very intellectual and that their intelligence gets inherited by their offspring. That's why half-elves are smarter than other, ordinary humans.'
"Alamoria?" I ask, raising an eyebrow as I pit another spoon full of the warm, delicious stew up to my lips, blowing a bit on it to cool it down before I eat some more. 'I've heard that name somewhere,' I think, desperately trying to remember.
'Right. It's one of the biggest cities marked on the map of Eldur. Although I'm curious as to what Alamoria does since it seems like it's very influential in the Eloria Kingdom.'
"Yes? Alamoria is the very capital of the Eloria Kingdom. It's basic knowledge for anyone. Especially us, who live in the Eloria Kingdom ourselves." He says and gives me a puzzled look.
'Yeah, yeah. I know that I'm basically an infant in this world, but he doesn't need to say it like that. It makes me look stupider than I actually am!'
With a short inhale and shallow exhale, I calm myself down and look at Ros, already making up a story to mask the fact that I didn't know that Alamoria is the capital of Eloria Kingdom and not just another big city.
"I know that, Ros. I just didn't know that Greenvale was a province of Alamoria and was simply surprised. After all, we don't learn everything about Eldur in Lafiel as we are a small village ourselves without much knowledge." I make an excuse and nod, resuming my eating, almost done with the food.
"Mhm, sure..." The boy says with clear scepticism in his tone, not really bothering to mask it as he's obviously doubting my words. But, of course, being the smart kid he is, he doesn't comment on it much and just finishes his own meal without pressing on it any further.
"So..." I start another small talk, looking at him as the same waitress from earlier comes to our table and takes the empty wooden bowls away. I then continue speaking. "Why are you hiding that you're a half?"
Ros doesn't answer for a while and takes a sip of his water, swallowing and answering only then. "The human kingdom is on odds with the Elven race. I'm not sure if all places ruled by humans are in the same situation, but Eloria Kingdom is openly letting everyone know that they're not too fond of us."
This information makes me raise an eyebrow, curiosity brewing within me. "Why, though?" Silence takes over our table as Ros considers how to answer my question. Only the cheerful and boisterous laughter of the patrons from all around the tavern can be heard, accompanied by the quick, lively music and sweet, melodious voices from the singers.
"Well, it's... a bit complicated. But as far as I know, the elves made a truce pact with the human kingdom. They exchange materials and resources, but there's obviously still some tension between both of them."
As I listen to the explanation, I doubt some things. 'While I was in Silvailia, they seemed to treat me like one of their own even though I'm clearly a human and a complete stranger. What more is there that I'm missing?'
"The tension could be dangerous," he continues, "I heard from the adults that it possibly preceeds war." This makes me tense up a bit.
'He's just a kid, yet he seems as though he's talking about the weather and not the possibility that a war might break out! Just what kind of life has he lived so far? Or is it simply childish ignorance and innocence that makes him act like this?'