Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 1245 - 31: The Small Tavern in the Business District

Chapter 1245: Chapter 31: The Small Tavern in the Business District

Strolling leisurely along the commercial district’s streets, Pannis roamed the pavement, his eyes darting around as if he wanted to etch everything he saw deeply into his memory. The morning in the City of Knowledge was still a scene brimming with vitality and energy, where the streets, with the freight wagons almost gone, were gradually taken over by an increasing number of passenger carriages, inclusive of both private and public ones. Aside from the carriages, a growing stream of people walked along the expansive avenues of the commercial district, raising the temperature of the streets a few degrees compared to just a while earlier, though it was not just the rising heat of the sun or the inner warmth of the passersby that did so. As always, the shops lining the streets were open for business bright and early, with visitors constantly coming in and out of the store doors, adding to the business of the entire district.

"Phew, no matter how much time passes, this place still looks as bustling as ever," Pannis sighed heavily, his hands clasped behind his back as he patrolled the roadside slowly, much like a lord surveying his domain, aimlessly and without destination, simply observing. However, after wandering for a while, Pannis couldn’t help but express his sentiment, "Every time I stay in the commercial district a bit longer, I get infected by the surrounding ambiance and feel a bit younger."

"That’s just an illusion," a cool voice came from behind Pannis, where each syllable and every aspect of grammar was impeccably precise, indicating the speaker was the type to be very strict about every detail: "A lively atmosphere won’t make you younger nor turn back time, everything is merely your own wishful thinking. Besides, you are just a child to begin with, so what’s there to talk about getting younger."

"By that logic, Odin is a child too," Pannis didn’t turn around, and even his forward steps didn’t pause as if he already knew someone was behind him. He chuckled lazily, "I don’t think he’d agree with that assessment much."

"Yet for us, considering age alone, you’re nothing but children," the person behind him quickened his pace to catch up with Pannis, walking shoulder to shoulder with him: "Why do you have so much free time today, wandering around the streets in the morning? I thought you would become very busy these days."

"Hm? You already know about it," Pannis turned his head, eyeing the old friend next to him, wrapped in a green mage’s robe with energy flames flickering at the spot of his eyes under the hood, shining brightly. He spoke with a smiling tone: "Seems like Flare has already informed you."

"What else was I supposed to do?" Antuin, the President of the Mage Guild, leaning on his antique magic staff, continued at Pannis’s leisurely pace, sounding somewhat complaining: "You always do this, never giving anyone time to prepare. You suddenly come up with an idea and then want to implement it right away. If you could give a little heads up, maybe five or even three days in advance, we wouldn’t be in such a rush. The lord urgently wants the high-level conference to pass your proposal to coordinate with your actions, and asked me especially to back her proposal through the Mage Guild to add persuasive power. And now, because of your sudden idea, I have to change all my plans, tangled up at Neville’s meeting place last night and having to rush back today to handle official duties. This is why I hate unexpected events that aren’t part of the plan the most. Next time something like this happens, I’ll definitely not care about you."

"Tsk tsk, besides talking tough, what else do you dare to do? Besides, it’s not like I can decide to move things forward or delay on a whim, time waits for no one, my old friend." Pannis taunted with a curl of his lip but eventually shook his head, saying, "But, you don’t have to worry, after this time... there probably won’t be a next time. Hmm, shall we go inside and sit down?"

"Hm?" Antuin turned his head to see the spot where Pannis had stopped and realized aloud, "No wonder you wandered all the way here, you were intending to come to this shop."

"Although I’ve been living in the City of Knowledge for several years, I have been hesitant to come this way, completely unfamiliar with this area. I originally came over today just to try my luck, but I didn’t expect this place to still exist, and it seems not much has changed," Pannis shrugged his shoulders, looking up at the shop in front of him.

This was a very small tavern, which, at a glance, could accommodate only about a dozen customers. The whole shop seemed filled with the aroma of ancient history but was clean enough not to concern anyone. It wasn’t even ten in the morning, and there wasn’t a single customer in the store, yet the inviting scent of wool wine and food wafted out from the doors, indicating the owner had everything ready and was prepared to welcome any sudden visitors.

"This place must have nearly two hundred years of history by now, though I’ve never visited it," Antuin said, rummaging through his memories: "If I remember correctly, your first meeting with her was here, wasn’t it?"

"Something that happened so long ago, how could I possibly remember that well?" Pannis shrugged noncommittally but without hesitation, headed to a table in the corner and sat down, instinctively stroking the edge of the table as if greeting an old friend, silent for a moment before speaking: "You’re so busy but you came to find me, it can’t be just to complain. There must be something else you want to discuss, and since I haven’t had breakfast yet, let’s sit down, eat, and talk."

"Alright, as long as it doesn’t take too long," Antuin nodded, sat down opposite Pannis, and surveyed the surroundings: "I didn’t expect such a small shop to exist in the commercial district, hats off to the owner for managing to keep it running."

"It’s probably not just about managing to keep going, I bet the business is probably pretty good," Pannis waved at the white-haired owner, calling out loudly, "Prepare two of everything as usual, and give me a large mug of wool wine from the third barrel. As for him, just a glass of water will do."

The owner was taken aback, then his face brimmed with a smile, eagerly saying, "Turns out it’s a long-time customer, it’s been seven or eight years since anyone specifically asked for wool wine from the third barrel, right, right, just sit tight, I will prepare it for the two of you right away."

"Seems like you are quite familiar with this place, hardly looking like someone who can’t remember," Antuin snorted: "What did you order exactly?"

"Food, what else," Pannis, seeing Antuin’s stern face, replied with a grin: "This place only sells three kinds of food, so that’s why I said to prepare two portions of each."