Golden Brew in the Depths
After days of revelry that made time fly, the vast sea churned beneath my wings. The cool ocean breeze brushing against my scales felt utterly delightful.
That said... I glanced back at Nis perched on my back. Even after crossing vast lands and distant oceans, she sat there with impeccable poise, her black dress not a single wrinkle out of place.
She looks so comfy. Is my back really that pleasant? Come to think of it, Nis was the only one I'd ever carried on my back.
Next time, I should give Ricoris a ride too.
At last, a familiar silhouette emerged far across the sea. A massive sea chasm, deep as the abyss itself. We were nearly at Desmeer.
"There it is, Frostia!" Nis's voice pierced the wind, brighter and more exuberant than usual—excessively so.
"So it is." My reply was curt. Not out of gruffness, but I was eager to return to Ricoris.
As we drew closer to the chasm, its distinctive form sharpened into view. Around the shell-shaped temple visible deep in the waters, the dark waves of the profound depths rippled. The undersea labyrinth Nis had ruled for millennia. It teemed with seafood and rare treasures, but it wasn't my taste. I preferred the ice and snow of Sia Kalt.
And above all, now the place with my Ricoris was the best.
Thinking about it, I'd been leaving her side too often lately. She was stronger now, so she should be fine, but a creeping anxiety gnawed at me—what if something happened?
I need to hurry back.
I sped toward the chasm. Familiar territory after so many visits. Each time, I'd dive deep beneath the surface in dragon form to reach the temple entrance, then shift to human shape to enter.
Plunging into the water, cold currents seeped between my scales. The deeper I went, the darker it became, but a dragon's eyes saw clearly.
The enormous temple on the seafloor came into view. Overwhelming in scale, no matter how many times I saw it—grand columns and intricate carvings fit for ancient myths.
Suddenly, I recalled the time I'd come to fetch Nis. She'd ridden on my back then too, chattering happily. The memory brought a faint smile to my lips.
I slowed as we reached the temple entrance and shifted to human form. Moments later, a figure darted out.
"Lady Nis! Oh! Lady Frostia too! You've returned safely!"
She wore pitch-black armor from head to toe, only her red eyes glinting.
Dayana. Nis's most loyal Death Knight subordinate. Her rigid, soldierly posture was almost comical.
"Yes, Dayana." Nis waved casually. "Nothing happen while I was away?"
"No, ma'am! All clear!" Dayana bellowed so loudly it hurt my ears. Bursting with disciplined zeal, like a trained soldier.
Why is she so devoted? What's her deal with Nis...? Their relationship had always puzzled me. Whatever history they shared, Dayana's loyalty bordered on excessive.
"Good work." Nis flashed a slight smile, and Dayana's eyes lit up brighter.
"Thank you, Lady Nis!"
What a hassle. Time to head back. Mission accomplished—delivered Nis safely. Back to Sia Kalt.
"Well then, I'll be off." I prepared to shift back to dragon form. "Ricoris is waiting."
"Aw, already? We haven't even caught up properly." Nis suddenly tugged my sleeve, her face full of disappointment. "Stay a bit longer? Please?"
"Hm... troublesome." Honesty slipped out, though not a full refusal.
"Isn't that mean to your one and only friend?" Her expression turned sullen, lips pouting like a child denied candy.
Friend... The word gave me pause. Yes, Nis was like me—a kindred spirit. No one else had been around as long.
Come to think of it, we'd just reunited after ages, yet I'd only talked about Ricoris. I'd been wary when she showed interest in Ricoris, but hadn't even properly chatted with her.
"Fine. I'll stay a little."
Nis's face lit up. "Really? Yay! Follow me!"
She bounded ahead like an excited child. Dayana looked puzzled briefly, then bowed and stepped aside.
We delved deep into the labyrinth after her. The briny, humid air of the undersea maze tickled my nose. I missed Sia Kalt's crisp, dry chill.
Through twisting corridors, we reached Nis's chamber. As always, it brimmed with treasures—gold and jewels, rare weapons, exquisite jewelry. Collecting was her hobby, through and through.
"Here we are!" Nis approached a ornate display case lined with bottles of every shape and hue.
"These are all super rare liquors. But I heard Ricoris loves booze? Shouldn't you let her try some?" She pulled out several, offering them to me: blue liquid in a crystal flask, amber in a wooden cask, silver in a tiny glass vial.
For Ricoris? I'd mentioned it offhand during the flight...
"No need to go this far."
Seeing her like this, it seemed she harbored no ulterior motives toward Ricoris. I felt a twinge of guilt for suspecting her.
"It's fine. I don't drink anyway." Nis grinned, then paused thoughtfully before her eyes sparkled. "But... shall we have a drink ourselves?"
"...I don't need to eat or drink."
For a dragon like me, food and drink were mere amusements.
"I know that, obviously. It's just for fun, right?" Her smile turned knowing.
Ah... I sighed inwardly. Truth was, I couldn't hold my liquor well. My constitution made me tipsy far faster than humans. I preferred to avoid it.
As I opened my mouth to refuse, Nis retrieved something from the case's depths: a golden bottle encrusted with gems—rubies, sapphires, emeralds. A treasure in itself.
"What's that?"
"Oh, this? Loot from smashing a dwarf kingdom a millennium ago—their royal vault."
She said it so casually, like picking up a pebble.
"The dwarves' finest distillation: golden liquor. I saved it for a special day—haven't tried it myself."
Her sparkling eyes made refusal tough. Besides, drinking with someone else? That'd be a first too.
Wish Ricoris were here... Regret flickered—I should've joined her that time she drank and confessed to me. The memory curved my lips.
Then Nis blurted, "Actually, this is my first time drinking."
"...What?"
Hard to believe for someone as ancient as me.
"Then why collect all these?"
"Hm... 'cause they look cool?" She shrugged.
...'Ridiculous. Her crow-like hoarding of shiny things baffled me.
Nis fetched two ornate crystal goblets and poured the golden liquor—clear liquid shimmering like liquid sunlight.
"Cheers! Let's try it!" She clinked hers against mine.
"Clink!"
She sipped eagerly; I took a cautious one.
"Whoa! So good!" Her eyes widened in delight.
Better than expected—fragrant aroma filling my mouth, smooth sweetness, warm trail down my throat. Not quite Ricoris's honey, but it'd be the best otherwise.
"Better... than I thought." Honesty again.
"Right? Should've tried it sooner~!" Nis beamed.
"Then why didn't you?"
"Duh, booze is for sharing, not solo!" She refilled as she spoke.
Strange conviction for a first-timer...
Still, not a bad time. Felt like a rare, relaxed chat.
By the third glass, Nis's eyes glittered more. Tipsy, her chatter ramped up.
"Oh, speaking of—curious about other labyrinth news?"
"No, been stuck at Sia Kalt. No reason to care about the rest."
I shrugged indifferently. Only Nis and I knew the Eight Great Labyrinth rulers well—and even then, just each other. The others? Vague existences.
"My Deadhead scouted the continent lately—juicy intel!" Nis swirled her glass, cheeks flushed.
"Hm. Like what?" Despite my apathy, she barreled on excitedly.
"Remember Terthes of Eld Island!"
"Terthes...? Oh, the steel golem."
Vague recall: massive steel golem-shaped ruler. Seen it once.
"Yes! He's churning out insane golems. Deadhead says he made this huge rock one—Petramos or something..."
"Petramos?"
"Yup! Giant rock golem. Adventurers entering Eld Island got wiped out by it, rumor has it..." Nis gushed, thrilled.
I wasn't impressed. Other rulers' antics meant nothing to me.
"Huh. Interesting." Polite nod; she lit up more.
"And the eastern labyrinth's weirder!"
"East? Oh, that human-packed spot..."
"Yeah, their empire... what was it, Diat? Dihas?" Nis tilted her head, rummaging her memory.
"Anyway! Its labyrinth reactivated recently—closed for centuries, now wide open."
"Huh. Who's the ruler there...?"
I barely knew; never met.
"No clue! Deadhead only glimpsed a 'shadowy silhouette.' Monsters around it's going nuts—humans fleeing or whatever." She shrugged.
"So? Anything big?" I swirled my glass boredly. Ricoris thoughts intruded more than labyrinth gossip.
"Nah, just fun trivia!" Nis giggled.
"The others... eh, Deadhead mentioned more, but I zoned out..." Her voice trailed off. She wasn't that invested either.
...
Nis kept refilling; we bantered on—mostly her. Her collections, undersea tales, thrilling human "disposals."
A few more glasses in, haze settled. Body limp, drowsy.
Oh... way too drunk...?
The room's lights glowed brighter, prettier. Nis's voice echoed distantly.
Glancing at her, she blurred. Closer look: passed out, face flushed, breathing steady on the table.
Out cold...
My eyelids drooped too.
Need to get back... Ricoris waiting. Might worry.
But exhaustion hit hard—lately too active.
Just a quick nap... close eyes a sec...
Head on table, consciousness faded. Ricoris's cute petals and glowing stamen danced in my drunken mind, drawing an unwitting smile.
And with that, I blacked out.