Chapter 262: Aestrea Against The World (XXXIX)
BAAM!
Jas slamd 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," Jas 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 Jas. 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," Jas 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
tell you a little story about my dear twin brother here."
"Don’t you dare!" Derek’s eyes narrowed instantly.
"Oh, I dare," Jas smirked, glancing around the table like he was about to unveil so ancient treasure.
"Picture this... Silverleaf’s Spring Festival, two years ago. Derek, full of confidence, decides he’s going to ’win the hearts’ of so lovely ladies."
"Oh, gods..." Derek groaned, already covering his face.
"First one? Turns him down because she already had a date." Jas 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 sothing into his mug.
"And the fifth?" Jas 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?"
Jas froze for a mont.
"You wouldn’t—"
Bam!
"I would." Derek slamd his mug down with the sa dramatic force.
"Ten tis. 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 ti, " Derek grinned wickedly, "while calling him ’sir’ like he was so 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 sa ti, 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 mories.
Hours, or maybe just too many mugs, later, Jas 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, anwhile, sat perfectly straight, sipping his drink like it was just flavored water.
Jas 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," Jas muttered, narrowing his eyes. "You’re telling
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." Jas 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 Jas slighly.
And that broke a little of Jas’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 sothing else to loosen him up..."
"Oh no..." Derek muttered, acting like he was surprised
"Not the ga."
"Oh yes, the ga." Jas 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 shimring runes engraved into it.
Mia blinked, tilting her head in confusion.
"...That’s... not normal Jenga."
"Damn right it’s not," Jas 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 soone else. Could be... physical." Jas 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
drunk?"
"Nooo," Jas 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." Jas 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." Jas 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.
Jas 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 sll her perfu and even feel her heartbeat quickening through the thin layers of clothing.
"Well... guess it’s my turn." Jas 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."
Jas 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 Jas’ cheek with enough force to rattle the cups on the table.
SMACK!
"AAAH! MY BEAUTIFUL FACE!" Jas 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 shimred crimson this ti.
"Wild card: The person across from you must... feed you sothing 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 Jas’ smirk grew wider.
"Ohhh, things are heating up already," Jas 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 Jas.
"Oh no," Jas said imdiately.
"No way. Absolutely—"
Derek stood and sat down heavily on Jas’ lap before he could finish.
"Get off , you giant tree log!" Jas yelled, trying to shove him.
"Nope. Rules are rules." Derek leaned back comfortably, making Jas wheeze as his ribs compressed.
Even Maria and Mia snorted at the ridiculous sight.
Maria’s turn ca next.
She pulled the block gingerly, and when the rune flared, Jas’ 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," Jas sang mockingly.
"No chickening out~"
Rolling her eyes at Jas, 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.
Jas’ turn again. He yanked a block.
"Wild card: Switch seats with the person farthest from you."
In a blur of movent, Jas 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?" Jas 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 ga went on as the tower grew unstable.
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