The next morning started slightly better. His omelettes were slowly becoming edible. Azure now helped him with everything in the kitchen. His lack of hands proved to be no issue. His wisp's eyes tracked his every movement and gesture. He reminded him about important steps and observed the details with elaborate insight.

  Things were moving faster than what seemed a normal speed for learning. Yes, his teacher was exquisite in every way, but still? By his twentieth omelette, confidence overcame his hands and took the lead. It was like they were preparing themselves and he was a mere observer. The bartender only came into the kitchen to prepare other orders; all omelettes were his responsibility.

  All of a sudden, handling yet another batch of eggs, warmth surged through his hands with a pleasant, trickling sensation. It slowly spread throughout his entire body. A yellow glow engulfed him, starting from a subtle flicker and advancing to a full-blown bright light, losing the colour and becoming almost white.

  “Sustenance Level One.”

  The words echoed in his head. Not loud, nor soft. They sounded like the weatherman on the news back at home—precise and practiced with immaculate articulation. The voice was deep and soothing.

  “See now what I'm talking about?” chuckled Azure.

  “So this… feeling… the light, everything? You saw and felt it, too?” His words trembled as he spoke.

  “Events are to unfold with their own pace. You cannot rush or drag. You could try, but only you will be affected by your desire to interfere. That would leave you behind or in front of things, never actually landing on them. I told you that I wish not to introduce concepts to you that would be empty words at the time. You are eager to advance and curious to explore but don't expect me to hand things to you. When you level up, it also gives me experience,” said Azure.

  His eyes darted back and forth between Azure’s penetrating gaze and the omelettes he had prepared. The warmth now was spread throughout his entire body and slowly began to dissipate.

  “So we share everything, energy, experience, perhaps thoughts? Why don't I feel anything coming from you? It doesn't seem to be working in both directions?” he asked.

  “We are in a ‘party’, after all,” continued Azure. “An eternal one. But not everything is shared, only strong fluctuations. It sounds scary but you can break the bond any time. I waited as long to reveal it only so I could get to know you in a light where you'd expect to be connected to me eternally, without a chance to break up, so to speak. And I learned a lot about you. You can call it an experiment. I did not lie and I respect our relationship. But I will continue to withhold information I can otherwise share because I want you to experience this world for yourself. My purpose is both being a parent and a child to you. Also, a friend. What friend would willingly spoil the fun?”

  “Why do you speak like this? It is weird. My words also sound strange since I've come here, to Vratsa,” he said hesitantly.

  “Language is constantly evolving. Doesn't it seem odd? Everyone here speaks English, your language. Pretty convenient, huh? But what if it's the other way around and you speak our language? Is your time relevant to the time here? Did you go in the past or into the future? Or is it all one timeline and you simply teleported?”

  He scratched his forehead. His feet couldn't find a place to rest.

  “Well, nothing simple about that, actually, but you get where I'm coming from.” Azure's glow pulsed lightly, reacting to the flow of his words. “It all seems simple. And it is, far more than you could imagine. That does not mean it is easy to understand. Imagine a thousand different things, each of them simple to the core. Now think about the way they interact and intertwine. Is the result simple? Hardly. That is what happens to language, as well. Mine and yours, alike. Sentences twist and turn, sometimes on the poetic side, at other times—landing on a profane note. Every word evolves together with its meaning as we both take steps forth into our relationship and into this world.”

  “I… think I get it. So basically there are no mistakes to be made in communication, everything is part of the flow?” His hands rested on his waist as his body shifted to a more comfortable position.

  “You assume I am wise and know everything but you surprised me with your ability to reconcile with this new world and even with me. You accepted me as eternal without knowing you can reject me, I repeat. That is language evolving through the trust you put in me. Verbal and nonverbal communication. Beyond words. Between us. And beyond us, as well,” mused Azure.

  Not everything he said reached him. Perhaps that was exactly why he wanted to give information in small, digestible chunks. Indeed, language was evolving. He could feel it. But understand it? Not yet. Fuck me. His life had been turned around and the first true connection he experienced was with a hovering, talking wisp on the other side of the world. Was it necessary for things to get so strange just so he could ‘feel’ again?

  The day was heavy with rumbling bellies waiting to be filled in The Cabbage. He both cooked and served to the point of exhaustion. There was no time to take a breath. How did his boss manage when he was alone? He must be a wizard. Actually, it wouldn't surprise him if he turned out to be one. You must have magical powers to channel the patience needed to deal with hungry customers. The bartender was very understanding of his mistakes. He suddenly remembered something!

  “Uhm, excuse me, but I never bothered to ask your name,” he said as he rushed to the bar.

  “My name is Cabbage Green. Hence, the name of the tavern. In return for it, you owe me yours.”

  “Howard Bright, and the wisp in the kitchen is Azure. He is so occupied and passionate about our cooking… I mean my cooking. Well, who am I kidding, he's monitoring the process so well that I might just call it his work.”

  “He seems so happy to be your company. Cherish it. I've seen horror stories with relationships with wisps. You're lucky.”

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “But he says I can call off the bond any time! Is that not true?”

  Cabbage took his time to rinse a couple of glasses. He threw a penetrating gaze at him. His eyes narrowed.

  “You can break up with your wisp, yes, but there is a price to pay,” said the bartender, measuring every word.

  “What does that mean?”

  “My pasta is cold and it was just served!” an angry crocodile shouted.

  “I'd better go apologize and make a new plate, please tend to the bar in the meantime,” Cabbage whispered to him, leaning on the counter.

  What was all that about? A price to pay? His heart thumped, every beat louder than the last.

  A human walked to the bar. He brushed off dirt from his sleeves. His hands were covered in ash. It just spread on his shirt. He became a total mess of black and grey.

  “Offer me a drink. Your choice. Surprise me. Too thirsty to pick,” he said, eyes barely open.

  His racing heart picked up the pace. What did Mr. Green usually offer? He squeezed a lemon with great haste. Two spoons of honey and fresh water went into the glass. The drink arrived at the counter in record time, well, a record for him, at least. The customer took a sip. His eyes widened. He gulped the entire glass empty.

  “What is this?!” he asked with a hand on his forehead.

  “Well, it's just plain lemonade,” he replied, truly unaware of a plausible reason for this reaction.

  “Lemon-what? Is this a new specialty on the menu of The Cabbage? It's the most refreshing liquid that has ever entered my body!”

  Didn't they have lemonade in medieval times or whatever times these were? He thought this drink was ancient!

  “Please, make more.”

  The next cup he took over to his table and shared it with his friends. They all came asking for seconds and thirds. It spread like a rumor. By the end of the day he was making omelettes and lemonades at the speed of light. The motions were now close to effortless. His hands seemed to move of their own accord. He entered a flow state.

  “You are doing a wonderful job! And this new drink you invented on the spot! The customers love it. The Kladenets seems generous in its connection with you. Your own efforts are also important, thanks to them you tap into its powers,” Cabbage said as they closed the tavern for the day.

  Again with this Kladenets. He had no idea what everyone was talking about but he felt… different. After all, he had leveled up! Was all this just a simple game? Maybe a dream he had fallen into? But it felt more real than his life before.

  Evenfall brought silence to the street outside. The glow of lanterns gently embraced the darkness. All chairs were upside down on the tables. The lit candles in the tavern flickered softly. His body was thick with exhaustion. Cabbage was cleaning mugs. Azure lazily hovered, his light pulsating in rhythm with his heartbeat. That was odd; he hadn't noticed it before.

  Three booming knocks rattled the door. Cabbage turned his gaze in its direction with a slow, annoyed turn of his head. He looked alert but not alarmed. This wasn’t a first-time event. Mr. Green walked lazily to the door, halfway opening it. Three figures were standing outside. Two humans and a centaur.

  The centaur said in a low voice, “We heard you serve food late.”

  Cabbage replied calmly, “The kitchen is closed.”

  The wind whistled. Cool air entered the tavern. The eyes of the centaur looked around and they fell on him, narrowing threateningly.

  “We rode far. We eat!”

  Cabbage shook his head, hands on his waist.

  “Come back tomorrow.”

  A crushing silence fell. The centaur closed his eyes and held them shut. One of the humans pushed the door open. Cabbage did not budge an inch.

  The other human said through his teeth, “It smells of food, so you are still open.”

  He said hesitantly, “Don't you see the chairs?”

  “Don't interfere!” interrupted Cabbage. After a pause, he quietly said, “Leave.”

  The centaur gave an exaggerated sigh. He stepped forward, door swung wide open. His hooves echoed in the empty tavern. He walked past Cabbage, who didn't flinch.

  His body became heavy. Azure started glowing brighter than before. He looked at him and nodded. He responded with a puzzled gaze back.

  He took a step back and hit a table. Chairs slammed to the ground. The humans spread out. They started walking in a circle around Cabbage. Green took a step forward and then paused. He grabbed the nearest man, twisting him and threw his body onto a table. Wood cracked. What strength!

  The centaur turned towards him. His eyes narrowed. He stared back at his face. Then it dawned on him. He was the one that had been very angry and displeased with his omelette.

  “You,” the centaur said in a low voice.

  His stomach dropped. The centaur walked slowly towards him.

  “Move,” whispered Azure to him.

  He remained rooted on the spot, dripping with sweat. The centaur reached for him and he grabbed the nearest thing, which turned out to be a pan. He swung it too slow and missed. The centaur shoved him and he collapsed on the floor. Air left his lungs. It felt like a train ran into him.

  He started crawling. His hands shook and his feet barely moved. His palms slid through what appeared to be spilled butter. The centaur made his way towards him, taking his time. One of his hooves landed into the butter. Trying to keep balance, he started a silly, desperate dance routine. Unfortunately, he was no professional and balance was lost. His head connected with the nearest edge of a table. It split open. Blood gushed through the crack.

  All this gave him a chance to catch his breath. His eyes fell onto the flying body of the other man. He turned to dust yet another table. Cabbage grabbed him and threw him outside. The other man was nowhere to be seen, so he guessed he met a similar fate.

  “Get up and help me carry this centaur, I can't do it alone,” he said.

  “But… his head… is he gonna be alright?”

  “Their skulls are harder than stone. It's just blood. He just tried to burst yours open. Is there really room for worry on your side?”

  “You have a point.”

  They grabbed the massive body and threw it out of the tavern. He was lighter than expected. Maybe due to the fact that Cabbage had enormous strength and did most of the work.

  “First fight?”

  He nodded. Cabbage handed him a mug of ale. The taste of woodsmoke and grain gently soothed his tongue.

  “You did good.”

  “I fell and crawled to safety.”

  “You stayed your ground as long as was reasonable.”

  Azure's glow slowly returned to its usual, gentle tone. Something very strange happened. He felt his hand on his shoulder, even though he hadn't got arms. But he knew it was his hand, he was certain of it. Their eyes met. He nodded, again.

  A feeling of warmth spread through him, again. His body glowed bright.

  “Survival Level One.”

  Cabbage seemed to notice nothing. Azure beamed at him.

  His hands were still shaking from the fight. The eyes of the centaur didn't leave his imagination. How could someone hold such a grudge over a fucking omelette? These people were insane. His level up felt undeserved. But he guessed not dying was an achievement, right?

  “You felt it, didn't you?” Cabbage suddenly said.

  So he did notice it?

  “…Yes.”

  “Good.”

  He looked around at the mess they'd made. His boss asked him to help clean up. They picked up broken chairs and lined them close to the entrance. He wiped the spilled butter off the floor. Then came the sweeping of all the wooden splinters. Azure floated low. He looked at him puzzled. Then he saw that his glow illuminated broken pieces that he wouldn't see otherwise.

  “Thank you, Azure.”

  He nodded. They spent some time picking out debris from the fight until the floor was as good as new. Then Azure got to the pool of blood. That was an early celebration. He boiled some water and scrubbed it off with great effort. Violence turned mundane when you cleaned its residue.

  His body was aching in places he didn't know existed. He barely made it to the second floor where his bed was. Azure flowed quietly beside him. Every muscle burned. Azure dimmed, settling into a soft glow.