"We're getting close to Mordain, shouldn't be long now." Said Ken as he tied the horse to a watering trough.
They'd stopped at a small inn and tavern on the side of a dirt road. They'd made their way out of the forest finally, and this was the last pit stop before reaching the capital of Merravale.
The two entered together, Ken paid the man at the counter and they took a seat in a dark corner. Anna eyed the tankard of mead in front of her, she didn't touch it.
Ken took a few sips from his and wiped his lip. "I've never been one for drinking, don't like the taste. But I heard mead was sweeter than ale, guess it's not too bad."
Anna dipped a finger in and gave it a lick. "It's alright I guess."
"Have you ever drank before?"
"A few times.
Syl didn't like when I did though."
Ken scratched his chin for a moment, "Wait. How old are you Anna? I never asked."
Anna dipped her finger in the mead again, swirling it around and staring at him with empty eyes. "How old do I look?"
"I'd say you don't look a day over seventeen."
"Twenty one."
"Hmm, so three years my junior. Good, for a moment I was afraid I'd given booze to a child." He took another sip.
Anna picked up her tankard and drank from it, taking a long chug. Ken gave her a funny look, "I thought you didn't like it?"
She took a gasp and sat it down, sliding it over to him. "Try it."
He was confused but did as she said, taking a sip. His eyes widened and he gave it a bigger chug as she did before slamming it down.
"That's delicious! It tastes like-"
"Blueberries?"
"Yes! I can't even taste the alcohol! What did you do?"
"Another illusion. It'll still get you drunk all the same, just tastes better now."
"Dangerous…" Ken raised an eyebrow and slid the mug back over to her.
"Does it bother you?"
"Does what bother me?"
"My illusions. Do they make you feel as if I'm
lying to you?"
Ken cocked his head, "Why would they do that? There are plenty of mages who specialize in illusion spells, it's a perfectly valid school of magic."
"You're not worried I'm fake? Not real?"
Ken smiled and reached across the table, patting her hair. "You feel real to me."
Anna stared at him, "Okay."