After a moment, the bar began to settle, and people began to engage in regular conversation again.
Malik stared at the broken table, and tried to fix it, grabbing both of the broken halves and rubbing them together to no avail.
He stared at the broken halves, and that was all he could do. He gazed at one half, then the other, but nothing changed.
Nadeem laughed, "No need, I'll fix it later. Come, have a drink."
Malik lightly nodded, and waved for Thakal to join him.
They both strolled through the blue bar, as the people avoided even looking at him anymore. However, Nian Wei still stared. She was pondering in her own thoughts as she sat in the lonely stool with no table beside it.
Malik thought to himself as he looked back at the woman with a solemn expression.
After some consideration, he called out for Nian Wei. She popped her head up, and her skin brightened as she walked towards the two.
Nonetheless, the people kept pretending to ignore the matter, as if he hadn't been there in the first place.
Malik nearly scoffed at them, but contained his remark.
Whether from Penthos or Marah, these other people still have some fear in them, it appears. Maybe Nawra's the most honest tribe, now that I think about it.
But I can't say I wouldn't be scared of this place too. Zayne's hand, the black spine, Awan missing, and Nian Wei with a dart that nearly cut my life short. But for now, there's a glimmer of hope that Awan's alright.
No matter what, I'll find my way out of this, and my crew will smile again. Hah. I should've given Nodin more praise.
His thoughts collected as he stared above at the blue lights reminiscent of stars. It was a beauty that allowed all to see it. Malik speculated that maybe that was the reason the people remained calm during the confrontation.
Walking up to an empty seat in front of the long marble table of the bar, Malik saw Yona still frozen in place, staring outward at the ceiling.
Following behind, Nian Wei reached them, and snapped her finger. Instantly, Yona stood up as he regained the warmth in his body, and let out a large breath.
"Was he afraid?" Malik turned to her.
Nian Wei shook her head, "Yona's lost many things. He wouldn't want to grieve over the loss of his very own strength. But he hasn't learned that all that muscle means nothing without the strongest of hearts."
They sat down by the table, each lined up side by side. Malik in the first chair, with Thakal in the second, and Nian Wei in the third.
Malik peered closer at Nadeem, and saw his immaculate mustache and well-groomed appearance. He carried a sense of power in his voice that sounded so gentle, yet so commanding.
"Would you like anything to drink?" the bartender asked with a relaxed posture. He stared at Malik with eyes of curiosity, as if measuring him for something.
Malik stared at the array of large bottles settled on a wall, and scanned through the finest of wines and the harshest of alcohols. They emitted an alluring presence that begged for their corks to be unscrewed.
Malik made his choice, and cleared his throat, "I would like some water."
Suddenly, Nadeem brought out an already prepared translucent glass of water. Fine drops of condensation glided down the ridged glass, as the bartender slid the glass in front of Malik.
He was encompassed by the sight, as it reminded him of the morning dewdrop that landed on his tongue, but this time it was pooled into a single drink.
Paying attention to the others, he gave both Thakal and Nian Wei a glass of foamy beer, and they chugged it.
Gulping it down, they simultaneously sighed in relief, and peered at the smiling bartender. As their vision went hazy, Nadeem placed his focus on Nian Wei.
He tapped four fingers on the cold table, "You're angry, and you lash out at those who make you face what makes you angry, isn't that right?"
Nian Wei shook her head, dejecting from the question, and tried looking away, but couldn't. She sighed, "I was. But now, I'm calmer than I've ever been."
Her hand shook as she tightly gripped the empty glass in her palm, maintaining a forced expression.
The bartender clicked his tongue, "You haven't proven to me that you did."
Immediately, Nian Wei sunk in her chair, and struggled to speak, "I had to be angry. My brother I lost, my sister I have a bad relation with, everyone I lost fighting in Zi Jin Cheng, and crawling the coast of Mala to get here. It's necessary to be aggressive, because I wouldn't be here otherwise."
She gulped, "Ever since that wretched dictator Yulou died, it all went downhill, and we were forced to fight, but nobody ever asked why. We just did, like it was orchestrated. I was angry that I never got an answer, and I probably never will."
Nian Wei added, adjusting herself in the seat, "There was a song in the air so full of joy, and when I saw the mangled citizens laugh in pain, that sound rang in my ears, and I always dealt with it by silencing people with my anger to make sure I never hear it again."
She spoke softly, "A lousy excuse to try to move on from it all, but every time I remember, my blood boils further. But there was a man who made it less painful for us all, Guan Sui. He fought in the battles, and was a founding father in establishing this island as our new home."
"I never believed a realm like that would collapse. I was wrong. I never believed a man like Guan Sui could be wrong. Now I don't know what to think anymore."
She seemed to handle the alcohol as she spoke clearly, only maintaining a blank expression, as the memories replayed of those days in her head.
Nadeem's eyes widened as he listened closely to her words. He understood the grief in her words, and he tapped his middle finger on the wooden table.
Meanwhile, the bar kept its calm conversations in the background, as Nian Wei began to put her head down, not asleep, but collecting her thoughts.
She mumbled indiscernible words under her breath, as she clasped her hair with her hands.
Nadeem stepped forward, and patted her four times on the head, as her mumbling fell silent. Breathing slowly, she began to fall asleep.
Thakal tapped her to check on her, "She's knocked out cold," he said.
Malik leaned forward to see, and his smile fell coldly.
And I had to lie about her brother, just to gain some form of sympathy. Well, no, I'm sure that would be something he would say. But nothing I said felt pleasant, none at all.
She's sound asleep, but I hope she gets a moment of peace here. I can't imagine the wars they go through, and here I complain about my quiet life on deck.
He ignored the glass of water in front of him, pretending it wasn't there. Instead, he only rubbed his eyes, sighing.
I don't deserve any of this . . .
After a moment of murmurs from the bar, Nadeem eventually walked up to Thakal.
Thakal scratched his patchy beard, staring at the foamy drink.
He raised an eyebrow, speaking clearly, "You haven't touched your drink, why is that?"
Silently, Thakal pushed the drink away, and faced Nadeem, "I'm not in the mood for a drink. My son wants me to go on vacation with him. Alcohol gets me at my lowest, and I can't betray his promise."
"I was only here to support Nian Wei, and hear the talks about the man with the blade. I have met him today, and I know his purpose here is far greater than mine," he said.
Suddenly, Thakal arose from the seat, averting his eyes from the liquor.
He patted Malik on the shoulder, "Stick by your crew, always. People need you most at their lowest, so soar for them, with them. If not, do it for you. You've earned it."
Through the blue-lit bar, Malik saw a far more azure glint in Thakal's eyes, but could sense the sincerity within his words. He couldn't respond, as the man had already turned around and went to leave the bar.
He only stared at the man's back, and it appeared that Thakal had grown a spine where he had lacked one for a time. It reminded him of Awan, but for some reason, he couldn't put a finger on where the man was headed.
Thakal only waved, and exited the bar.
Nadeem smiled, and stared at the door he left through. He left the drink right where it was.
"Do you think he'll come back?" Malik asked, tilting his head.
"He's not one to break promises," the bartender replied.
"Right." Malik glanced at the glass of beer that remained, as the foam dissipated.
From afar, Yona silently came and picked up Nian Wei, carrying her on his shoulder effortlessly. "She'll wake up in a bit, she just needs a little rest."
The large man strolled past the people, ignoring the broken table, and sat her in an empty seat in the corner of the room. He then faced the people, analyzing them.
Nadeem nodded at Yona with a smirk, but the large man only blinked tightly as he surveilled the surroundings, unbothered.
Darting his vision away to the glass of translucent water below him, Malik grabbed the cold glass, as the condensation soaked into his palm.
It reminded him of the purest water in the ocean, much like the coast of the island. For a second, it made him forget about the dark waters he once dreaded in the sea, and his dreams.
At once, he took a sip, and felt the freezing droplets grace his tastebuds. After a taste, he chugged the glass in the manner he remembered Amaya or Lias doing when they had liquor.
An ocean of a tasteless luxury passed by, and he let out a sigh of relief quickly after.
Nadeem kept the same expression, a slight smile, "Did you enjoy it?"
Malik was about to nod, but Nadeem added, "All the things that led up to now?"
His voice emanated such eloquence. The bar turned their heads, shifting their attention just to hear where the voice came from.
Malik's eyes widened at the addition to the question.
A slight smile curved as something in his pocket rattled, "Yes. I did. I have counted the waves, drawn the clouds, and each was worth the grasp of land."
Malik's voice was assisted with something else, something sharper, but it was clear, coordinated, and collaborative.
Nadeem gave out a light chuckle, and scanned the bar. He waved his hand with his pinky tucked behind his ring finger, and signaled the bar to continue their conversations.
Then, with his pinky, he pointed at a stairwell at the end of the bar leading upward. He left the glass alone, and walked towards it. Malik followed soon after.
The wooden floorboards creaked with each of their steps, and Nadeem suddenly halted, adjusting his collar.
"That question never gave me a yes or no. Yours is proof that you are far more capable than most. You are of Solythe."
. . . .
Malik's mind fell blank when he heard the word. It was a trigger that set off a white flash through Malik's mind, one that he couldn't forget.
In that moment, his mind drifted to a desert. A scorching night illuminated in a purple hour. He felt sweat drip down his body, but felt rejuvenated at the same time.
It's a blurred view of the people around him. Malik looked around and saw a blank canvas as his body, and a man in front of him serving as a reflection.
He spoke in such eloquence, and it was evident he had flowing long hair on top of some kind of robe.
Malik couldn't control the scene. In that moment, he was in another body, yet it felt all too familiar. He could see the beautiful scenery, but people were all the same.
I can't move anything, but I'm encompassing this body, a life that isn't mine, but how sure am I that this was a real life? Am I intruding it, or is it aware of me?
Then, he heard words from voices that sounded the same. He could only tell who was speaking based on the distance of the sound from their voice.
The figure asked, "You know 'Solythe,' don't you?"
In the blurry perspective, Malik felt his mouth move on its own, "I've heard of it before. Our drive, our life." He nodded.
The body then came closer to the other, and noticed five ring-like bracelets on the other's arm, only slightly less blurry than all else. It could barely be discerned through the indentations of the thick robes the other figure wore.
I wouldn't have seen that if he hadn't stepped closer. Whoever this Mashia guy is, he's an observant one.
. . . .
But why?
This vision doesn't even look like a real world to me, all this sand. I've heard they called it a desert in some books I read when I was younger. Why am I in another body? No, could it be a memory?
Suddenly, the long-haired figure turned its head, as if it had heard Malik's thoughts. From the figure, he saw the corners of its would-be mouth curve upward.
Malik's thoughts froze, and so did the figure he viewed through.
When the other was about to speak-
. . . .
"Malik?"
Malik shook his head, and his vision was blurry in front of the stairwell as Nadeem called his name to check on him.
"Sorry, I zoned out," he said.
Nadeem sighed, "I'm usually careful, but you're quite the paradox."
"What do you mean?" Malik asked, his vision returning.
"The word holds weight. It affects you in the way that you could carry a large ship effortlessly, yet you'd crumble at the lightest of feathers."