"you know, they tell tales of monsters in the farlands," the person takes a long swig of their drink, "dragons and giants and creatures you cant even imagine."
"Oh come on, you really believe in all that stuff? The only monsters around here are the average undead soul roaming in the dark."
"Oh, I believe it. Every last one."
"Then you're a fool if I've ever seen one."
"..."
"...what? not gonna defend your story?"
the person suddenly stood, throwing their empty glass at the wall, shattering and causing the entire bar to jump from their seats.
"I am no fool." exclaimed the standing figure in a firm, husk voice. the figure proceeded to lift their hood, removing the cloak that had previously covered them completely. underneath was a battle worn face. they were young, but you wouldn't have been able to tell from afar. long harsh scars covered their entire body, curving around their arms and neck. black veins stretched up their arms. even more protruded from where their eyes would be, if not for them being covered by a pair of circular, black-tinted glasses.
everyone in the bar stood silent.
the figure took a shaky breath, leaned heavy on a nearby chair, and took off their glasses.
black veins stretched all across their face, coming straight from their milky white eyes.
the person wobbled, struggling to keep themselves standing.
they steadily sat down, tossing their glasses onto the table with a thud.
"I am not a fool." the person stared at the one who had accused them. they looked increasingly worried, taking a step back towards the door with every word.
the figure slowly stood up, picked up their cloak and glasses, and walked over to the bar. the bar keep clenched a fist around the neck of a bottle concealed behind the counter.
"can I get a glass of water." they asked. the bar keep looked confused, but obliged, procuring a glass bottle from under the bar and a pitcher filled with water.
"thank you." the figure drank the glass in one gulp, then turned and started walking towards the door.
they stopped when faced with the person who had confronted them previously. they stared at each other for a long time. the cloaked one's greying eyes piercing into the others, until finally, they had the courage to speak again.
"what happened to you?" they asked.
the cloaked figure hesitated, then spoke.
"I paid for my foolishness. lets hope you're not as reckless as I was."
they pushed open the door and left, leaving the bar much quieter than it had been a few minutes earlier.
the bar keep laughed.
