Heroes are not immortal (Part 4)

"Are you just gonna stand here, or will you take a seat?" asked a sitting lizardman with his serpentine voice.

The woman, after a few moments of thought, sat towards the other side of the table.

Perplexed, she found that there was another cup, a piece of crisped meat, a wooden fork, knife and even a spoon.

After she sat down, she looked back at the lizardman, still reading his empty book. 

In the dimly lit tavern, Maria found her thoughts a turbulent tempest of anger and bewilderment. Across from her, the man named Syzoth, who she had been looking for the past days, occupied the adjacent seat. Neither of them seemed inclined to break the silence, but within the fire mage, a storm raged, a storm of questions and frustration.

Her gaze then turned towards the dancing flames within the hearth, their flickering patterns only intensifying her inner turmoil. 

How could he? How could Syzoth betray them after everything they had endured together? The memories of their struggles, the suffering, and the sacrifices the cohort made gnawed at her, leaving her feeling betrayed and confused.

As she absently traced the rim of her empty glass with a trembling fingertip, her mind continued to replay the journey—the battles, the bonds they had forged, and the moments of camaraderie that had defined it. It was all supposed to mean something, to be a testament to the cohort's unity and purpose.

But then, Syzoth's betrayal had shattered that unity like fragile glass. She couldn't fathom why he had turned against them, why he had chosen to do what he had done. After all the suffering they had endured together, after the sacrifices they had made, it felt like a cruel twist of fate to see it all unravel so easily. 

Was he mind controlled? Was he forced to do it? Or did he just snap after all these years and just went insane like Gavin Sunless?

She had these thoughts for a long time now. So many questions, and yet she couldn't bring herself to ask them.

She had been thinking for a long time what she would do when she found the alchemist. And now he was here. Sitting, eating and enjoying his meal as if nothing happened? How could he sit there, as if their shared journey had meant nothing to him? The very sight of him, lost in his own world of indifference, fueled her frustration. 

Part of her yearned to confront him, to demand answers and hold him accountable for his actions. But the weight of betrayal and the uncertainty of his motivations held her back, leaving her seething in silence, her thoughts a turbulent sea of anger and confusion.

In that corner of the tavern, as the flames before her mirrored the raging fire within, she continued to struggled to make sense of Syzoth's betrayal, grappling with the painful reality that the bonds they had shared were now shattered, leaving behind a bitter taste of betrayal and unanswered questions.

"You have questions, don't you? Ask. I am here." The lizardman was the first to break the silence. His gaze still fixed on his book.

Maria remained silent.

But not for long.

"Why … why are you so calm?" she asked.

For Maria, not only Syzoth, but reptiloids in general were always hard to read. They had a different face structure compared to any other humanoid being, as so none but themselves could tell if they were happy, sad, or angry.

But after over three decades spending with him, she started to understand it more and more.

And now, she couldn't read him at all. He wasn't scared of her, even when she could just burn him any moment.

He also didn't seem to show any regret for his actions.

Syyoth continued to read his book.

"ANSWER ME!!" she finally screamed from the top of her lungs. Her hair and eyes, now in fire.

Only then did Syzoth sigh, and put the book inside his robe.

"You sure seem to lack patients, just lie always."

"I. Lack. Patients? How dare you just sit here as if nothing happened? After everything that we've been through, you betray us! You killed our friend! She w…"

Not letting her finish, Syzoth took out a small bottle from his robe, and poured the liquid into both his and Maria's cup.

"We won't be able to hold a good conversation when you risk burning this place down. It would be a shame if Eldertown started to burn again. That would make Doro's sacrifice pointless."

"…how dare you use his name. How…"

Syzoth just took his cup, taking a sip. "It's Enchanted Ember Fizz. I know you like it."

Breathing heavily, Maria grabbed the cup, and then drank it.

If it there was any poison in it, Syzoth wouldn't have drunk the liquid.

He was right, it was indeed Ember Fizz.

After a few moments, the fire in her calmed down