Reincarnated as an Elf Prince-Chapter 81: Outing (2)

Cassian, in an impressive display of confidence with no basis in reality, insisted he knew the best place to eat.

Lindarion and Luneth followed with a mix of reluctance and morbid curiosity.

—

The place Cassian led them to?

A small, hidden tavern nestled between two older buildings, its wooden sign swaying slightly in the breeze.

Lindarion narrowed his eyes at the faded lettering. "Cassian."

Cassian beamed. "Yes?"

"This place looks abandoned."

"Nah, it's fine." Cassian pushed the door open without hesitation.

The lack of immediate catastrophe was somehow more concerning.

—

The inside was unexpectedly warm.

Dim lighting cast a soft glow over wooden tables and hanging lanterns. There weren't many customers, but those present were quietly enjoying their meals, lost in conversation.

Lindarion scanned the place for visible health hazards and, upon finding none, reluctantly sat down.

Luneth, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. "This is… different."

Cassian grinned. "Right? It's one of Eldenholm's hidden spots. Not many people know about it."

Lindarion crossed his arms. "Because it looks like a haunted ruin from the outside."

Cassian ignored him.

A waitress, a middle-aged woman with tired eyes but a warm smile, approached their table. "Welcome. What can I get for you?"

Cassian, without hesitation: "Everything."

Lindarion and Luneth stared at him.

The waitress raised an eyebrow. "Everything?"

Cassian grinned. "Everything that won't kill us."

She snorted, jotting something down. "So, nothing from the specials board."

Lindarion stared harder.

Cassian looked way too interested.

Luneth tilted her head. "What's on the specials board?"

The waitress smirked. "You don't want to know."

Lindarion, with perfectly reasonable caution, asked, "Why?"

She simply walked away.

—

Minutes later, food arrived and Cassian paid for it with a little complaining.

To Lindarion's surprise, it was actually good.

A mix of roasted meats, seasoned vegetables, and fresh bread, along with a side of warm spiced cider.

Cassian, mouth already full, gestured wildly. "See? Told you."

Lindarion didn't respond because he was busy actually enjoying his meal.

Luneth, despite her usual ghostly demeanor, was quietly focused on her food. The only sign of approval was the way she occasionally paused before taking another bite.

Cassian smirked. "Admit it. Best decision of the day."

Lindarion exhaled. "…Fine."

Cassian held a hand to his chest in mock emotion. "You hear that, Luneth? He acknowledged my greatness."

Luneth took a sip of her cider. "That's not what he said."

Cassian chose to believe otherwise.

—

For a while, they just ate.

No training. No near-death experiences. No overwhelming magical discoveries.

Just food and quiet conversation.

Lindarion found himself relaxing—just a little.

Of course, this couldn't last.

Because halfway through their meal, the door to the tavern slammed open.

Lindarion sighed.

Cassian, already reaching for another bite, muttered, "That better not be for us."

The person in the doorway looked around, eyes scanning the room—before locking onto them.

Cassian groaned. "It's definitely for us…there is barely anyone else here.."

Lindarion picked up his drink and took a slow, deliberate sip.

This was supposed to be a normal day.

He really should have known better.

The man in the doorway strode in like he owned the place.

Dark uniform, a badge clipped to his belt, a tired expression that suggested he deeply regretted his life choices.

Lindarion didn't recognize him, nor did he recognize the man's uniform.

"Eldenholm City Watch." Luneth muttered under her nose.

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Cassian, still holding a piece of bread, muttered, "We didn't do anything illegal. Right?"

Luneth tilted her head. "Not that I recall."

Lindarion exhaled. "You don't recall?"

She blinked. "I do not engage in crime. Usually."

'Usually..?'

That wasn't comforting.

—

The watchman reached their table, arms crossed. "You three students from the Academy?"

'Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this.'

Lindarion gave him a flat look. "We are."

Cassian, ever the conversationalist, grinned. "We look that obvious?"

'We are in our uniforms dumbass..'

Lindarion shook his head as the man ignored Cassian. "We need a favor."

Lindarion's grip on his cup tightened.

Luneth's voice was quiet, but steady. "A favor?"

The watchman sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's nothing serious. Just… a minor situation."

Cassian leaned forward. "Define minor."

The man hesitated.

Which was never a good sign.

—

Lindarion didn't want to ask.

But he did anyway. "What happened?"

The watchman exhaled through his nose. "A merchant's cart tipped over near the marketplace. Normally, not a problem."

Cassian raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"…It contained a cage."

Luneth's fingers tapped lightly against her cup. "A cage?"

"A cage full of rift lizards."

'Rift lizards?'

Lindarion stared.

Cassian blinked. "I feel like I should know what that is."

The man pinched the bridge of his nose. "Small, fast, incredibly annoying to catch. Not dangerous—but they do bite."

Luneth hummed. "So you want us to help?"

"Yes." The watchman looked exhausted. "We're short on hands, and people are screaming about 'monsters' loose in the streets."

Cassian grinned. "I love public panic…however not to that extent."

Lindarion sighed. "That's concerning."

The watchman ignored both of them.

—

'The hell should we do?'

Lindarion considered his options.

On one hand, not his problem.

On the other hand…

Cassian looked way too excited about the idea of chasing lizards through the streets.

Luneth, as always, looked unreadable.

Lindarion exhaled. "Fine. Let's go."

Cassian fist-pumped the air.

Luneth finished her drink in one elegant motion before standing up.

The watchman muttered a tired "Thank you" before leading them outside.

—

Lindarion followed, already regretting this decision.

Because the moment they stepped into the street—

He immediately saw the problem.

Half a dozen small, scaled creatures darted across the cobblestone path, their quick, erratic movements making them hard to track.

A group of merchants and civilians were yelling in distress, some standing on crates like that would help.

Cassian whistled. "They're fast."

Luneth's eyes glowed faintly. "They seem… agitated."

The watchman groaned. "Yeah. Good luck."

Lindarion clenched his jaw.

He was a mage…not a high level one but he was at least decent. He was a warrior trained in combat.

And now?

He was chasing lizards…

Lindarion took a slow breath.

'Alright. It's just lizards. Nothing complicated.'

Then one of the creatures sprinted up a fruit stand, launched itself off a barrel, and disappeared onto a rooftop.

'…Perhaps it's more complicated than I expected.'

Cassian stretched his arms. "So. What's the plan?"

Luneth adjusted her gloves. "We could lure them into a confined space."

Cassian nodded. "Smart. How?"

Luneth blinked, as if that wasn't her problem to solve.

Lindarion massaged his temples.

—

The watchman crossed his arms. "Look, if you can just get most of them, that's good enough."

Lindarion raised an eyebrow. "Most?"

"We can't catch all of them," the man grumbled. "There's always a few that escape. People just get used to them."

Cassian looked amused. "So the city just has wild rift lizards running around?"

"Only a few," the man said. "They usually end up in someone's basement."

'Seriously?'

Lindarion gave him a look.

The watchman shrugged.

—

Lindarion rolled his shoulders.

'Fine. If we are doing this, we need to do it properly.'

He glanced at Luneth. "Can you track them?"

Luneth's black eyes flickered. "Not conventionally."

Cassian grinned. "Oh, this'll be good."

Luneth lifted a hand—

And a cold breeze rolled through the street.

For a moment, the air itself shifted, a faint shimmer of ice tracing the ground—like invisible ripples moving through the world.

Then—

Luneth pointed. "There."

Cassian's eyes widened. "That was cool."

Lindarion didn't comment—because he agreed.

—

The three of them took off.

Cassian, naturally, was having the time of his life. "This is basically a game. I love it."

Lindarion, sprinting after a lizard that had somehow climbed halfway up a wall, did not share that enthusiasm.

Luneth moved almost soundlessly, her gaze locked on another lizard that tried to duck into a crate—before she grabbed it by the tail.

It froze.

Cassian slowed. "Wait, you actually caught one?"

Luneth tilted her head. "Yes?"

Lindarion scowled. "Why does it look like it's the one experiencing an existential crisis?"

The lizard, suspended in her grip, was completely still.

Like it had no idea how this had happened to it.

Cassian leaned in. "You're really good at this."

Luneth blinked. "Should I not be?"

Lindarion exhaled. "We don't have time for this. That's one. Five more."

Cassian cracked his knuckles. "Time for some real strategy."

Lindarion did not trust that statement.

—

Unfortunately, Cassian's 'strategy' turned out to be…

Pure, chaotic energy.

"I'll chase them your way, you grab 'em!"

'This is the worst idea ever.'

Lindarion opened his mouth to protest—

But Cassian was already running.

And so were the lizards.

"…This is the worst plan," Lindarion muttered.

Luneth, holding the first lizard in one hand, simply nodded.

Cassian was enjoying this way too much.

"Ha! You little bastards are fast!" he laughed as he vaulted over a crate, sending two lizards scurrying in different directions.

Lindarion was not amused.

"This is not a game, Cassian."

"Isn't it, though?"

Cassian suddenly kicked a barrel, sending it rolling—directly into a lizard's path.

The creature bounced off it, flipped in the air, and landed squarely on Lindarion's shoulder.

Lindarion froze.

The lizard blinked.

Luneth tilted her head.

Cassian burst out laughing.

'Slowly..'

Lindarion slowly reached up to grab it—

And the lizard leaped off his shoulder and disappeared into an alley.

Cassian wiped a tear from his eye. "That was amazing."

'I fucking hate this.'

Lindarion was going to kill him.