Chapter 262: Aestrea Against The World (XXXIX)

BAAM!

James slammed down a frothy tankard in front of Aestrea, the foam spilling over the rim.

“Alright, everyone, listen up!” He banged his knuckles on the table, making a few nearby patrons jump.

“No mana circulation tonight! I don’t wanna hear excuses. If you’re not getting drunk, you’re not doing it right.”

“Yeah, no cheating. We’re gonna see who taps out first like normal people.” Derek grinned, already uncapping a dark bottle.

Aestrea raised an eyebrow.

“You’re seriously disabling mana just for this?”

“Damn right we are,” James said, taking a swig and slamming the mug down again.

“It’s graduation. If you don’t feel like you’re gonna puke by the end of it, then you’re doing it wrong.”

“For once, I actually agree with James. Let’s see if our great Aestrea can handle drinking like a human instead of a walking god.” Mia raised her own glass, smirking.

“Oh, I’m very interested in this.” Maria chuckled low, swirling her drink before taking a slow sip.

Clang!

The group clinked mugs together.

“Alright, alright,” James leaned forward with that smug grin of his, slamming his mug down a little too hard, making the foam spill over the edge.

“Since everyone’s in a good mood… let me tell you a little story about my dear twin brother here.”

“Don’t you dare!” Derek’s eyes narrowed instantly.

“Oh, I dare,” James smirked, glancing around the table like he was about to unveil some ancient treasure.

“Picture this… Silverleaf’s Spring Festival, two years ago. Derek, full of confidence, decides he’s going to ’win the hearts’ of some lovely ladies.”

“Oh, gods…” Derek groaned, already covering his face.

“First one? Turns him down because she already had a date.” James held up one finger.

“Second one? Said she thought he was younger than her little brother.”

The table chuckled at his words.

“Third? Just laughed in his face. Fourth? Told him she ’wasn’t into water magic users.’”

Everyone was snickering now, except Derek, who was muttering something into his mug.

“And the fifth?” James paused for effect, grinning like a wolf. “She… just walked away. Didn’t even give him an answer. Just left.”

The table erupted in laughter.

“Oh, you’re laughing now?” Derek suddenly sat up, eyes gleaming.

“Let’s talk about the barista, shall we?”

James froze for a moment.

“You wouldn’t—”

Bam!

“I would.” Derek slammed his mug down with the same dramatic force.

“Ten times. He ordered coffee from her ten different days, always trying a new pickup line.”

Mia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

“And?”

“And she rejected him every single time, ” Derek grinned wickedly, “while calling him ’sir’ like he was some old man.”

Even Aestrea cracked a smile at that one, sipping his drink calmly.

“Sounds like you two have an impressive record of failure.”

“Shut up,” they both said at the same time, which only made the table laugh harder.

Gulp, gulp!

They took a mouthful of their drink before swallowing directly, as if trying to forget about those memories.

Hours, or maybe just too many mugs, later, James was flushed red and leaning dangerously close to tipping over.

Derek’s grin was sloppy, his words starting to slur.

Mia had her chin resting on her palm, eyelids heavy but still holding herself together. Maria’s cheeks were pink, her laughter softer than usual.

Aestrea, meanwhile, sat perfectly straight, sipping his drink like it was just flavored water.

James squinted at him.

“…You’re not even buzzed, are you?”

“Nope.”

“…How?!” Derek nearly choked on his drink.

“We turned off mana! We turned it off! That’s cheating!”

Aestrea set his mug down with a faint smile.

“Maybe I just have good tolerance.”

“Bullshit,” James muttered, narrowing his eyes. “You’re telling me you’ve had—what, eight drinks, and you’re not even feeling it?”

“Nine, actually. And no.” Aestrea’s lips curled upward.

“Guess even without mana, you can’t take him down.”

Maria laughed under her breath.

“Unfair…” Mia pouted, her head dropping onto the table.

“Fine. If we can’t get you drunk, then at least you’re paying the next round.” James leaned forward, jabbing a finger toward Aestrea.

Aestrea chuckled, reaching for another bottle.

“Gladly.”

Seeing that Aestrea was normal as ever, Derek decided to go with Plan B, elbowing James slighly.

And that broke a little of James’s drunkness…

His lips turned into a grin a little too wide as he suddenly reached under the table, rummaging around in a small enchanted bag.

“Alright… since the drinks aren’t working on him… we’re going to need something else to loosen him up…”

“Oh no…” Derek muttered, acting like he was surprised

“Not the game

.”

“Oh yes, the game.” James slapped a strange wooden box on the table with dramatic flair, nearly knocking over Mia’s mug.

The lid creaked open to reveal what looked like Jenga blocks, except each one had strange shimmering runes engraved into it.

Mia blinked, tilting her head in confusion.

“…That’s… not normal Jenga.”

“Damn right it’s not,” James said proudly, pulling out a piece and holding it up.

“It’s called ’Truth or Dare Collapse.’ Every block you pull has a magic trigger, truth, dare, or…” his grin grew dangerous, “…wild card.”

“Wild card?” Maria tilted her head.

“Let’s just say the magic… decides what happens. Could be you, could be someone else. Could be… physical.” James smirked at her.

“Interesting.” Maria’s eyebrow arched, but the corner of her mouth curved into a tiny, knowing smile.

Aestrea gave the box a mildly curious look.

“And you think this is going to… what? Get me drunk?”

“Nooo,” James waved his hand dramatically, nearly tipping his drink again.

“It’s going to get you flustered. Big difference.”

“This is such a bad idea…” Derek rubbed his temples.

“Shut up, water boy.” James plucked out the first block and handed the tower over to Aestrea.

“Graduating boy goes first.”

Aestrea shrugged, reached forward, and slid a block out effortlessly. The rune on it glowed faintly before a soft female voice echoed in the air:

“Wild card: The person to your left must… sit on your lap for the next two turns.”

Everyone’s eyes turned.

Slowly.

To Maria.

Maria froze mid-drink, cheeks instantly pink.

“…You cheated this, didn’t you?”

“I would never.” James looked way too innocent.

Mia was covering her mouth to hide her smirk.

Derek just sighed in defeat.

Aestrea, on the other hand, simply patted his knee like it was the most normal request in the world.

After all, they indeed were dating.

“…Well?”

Maria hesitated, glancing at Mia, who just arched a brow like she was silently daring her.

“Mhm…”

With a small, flustered huff, Maria walked around the table and settled herself on Aestrea’s lap.

James grinned like a predator.

“Ohhh, this is going to be good.”

Maria sat stiffly on Aestrea’s lap, clearly trying to act like nothing was happening, but her body betrayed her; her shoulders were tense, her legs pressed together, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

The faintest warmth was radiating from her, and Aestrea could smell her perfume and even feel her heartbeat quickening through the thin layers of clothing.

“Well… guess it’s my turn.” James pulled a block with exaggerated care, like he was playing for an audience.

The rune glowed.

“Dare: Receive a slap from the person on your right.”

James froze as his eyes slid to Derek.

Derek’s smirk was slow and evil.

“Oh, this will be therapeutic,” Derek muttered before his palm cracked across James’ cheek with enough force to rattle the cups on the table.

SMACK!

“AAAH! MY BEAUTIFUL FACE!” James clutched his cheek, groaning.

Mia chuckled quietly, then reached forward for her turn. Her nails grazed the wooden tower as she pulled a block.

The rune shimmered crimson this time.

“Wild card: The person across from you must… feed you something by hand.”

Her gaze locked on Aestrea, her lips curving into a small smile.

“…Well, Aestrea? You heard it.”

He didn’t hesitate, he simply reached for a slice of honeyed fruit from the platter, holding it delicately between his fingers before leaning forward and placing it just before her lips.

Mia tilted her head slightly, accepting it in a slow bite that let her lips brush his fingertips.

Maria’s shoulders stiffened ever so slightly on his lap, and James’ smirk grew wider.

“Ohhh, things are heating up already,” James muttered, rubbing his hands together.

Derek reached for the next block, muttering under his breath.

The rune flashed.

“Dare: Sit on the lap of the person to your right.”

Everyone looked at James.

“Oh no,” James said immediately.

“No way. Absolutely—”

Derek stood and sat down heavily on James’ lap before he could finish.

“Get off me, you giant tree log!” James yelled, trying to shove him.

“Nope. Rules are rules.” Derek leaned back comfortably, making James wheeze as his ribs compressed.

Even Maria and Mia snorted at the ridiculous sight.

Maria’s turn came next.

She pulled the block gingerly, and when the rune flared, James’ eyes lit up like fireworks.

“Wild card: Kiss the person whose lap you’re on… anywhere but the lips.”

Maria froze completely.

Her eyes flickered to Mia, then down to Aestrea, her cheeks burning hot.

“…This.”

“Rules are rules,” James sang mockingly.

“No chickening out~”

Rolling her eyes at James, Maria leaned in and pressed the softest kiss to the side of Aestrea’s jaw.

Chuu~

Mia’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, though her smirk never left.

James’ turn again. He yanked a block.

“Wild card: Switch seats with the person farthest from you.”

In a blur of movement, James leapt up, grabbed Mia’s wrist, and tugged her right into the seat next to Aestrea, swapping places before she could react.

“Oh, accidentally closer? Who could have seen this coming?” James said innocently, rubbing his chin.

Mia, now directly at Aestrea’s side while Maria was still on his lap, simply rested her elbow on the table and her cheek on her palm, her green eyes staring at Aestrea deeply.

The game went on as the tower grew unstable.

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