Chương 50: An Unconventional Breakfast

Once his father explained why they were here, to replenish their mana before the big excursion, and because his dad had, for real, apparently, fought part of the Horror, and so as in desperate need of a replenishing, LANCE calmed himself down. He went from fifty to ten in an instant. With a shaky tray of drinks, the server set down several drinks for them, including iced-water, mixed liquors for his father, as well as an assortment of hempen drinks for him. It was a full spread!

"So," Lance began.

"You teleported into your favorite restaurant, expecting a full meal, but forgetting it was early in the morning. Then, upon seeing the bar, you stole—" his father interjected with a "Nay, bought! I placed my money on the counter!" Lance swirled his eyes as his dad swirled his drink.

"Fine," he said.

"Bought drinks. Then you formed a plan. You found the restaurant's employee contact tome, teleported around, and bribed the workers to come in early with an insane amount of gold for a day's work. Is that the gist of it?" Finishing one of his drinks, a dwarven whiskey he enjoyed, Warhol nodded.

"Yeppers, that's the gist of it, son! I'm proud to see the academy is showing its worth. Your ability to recap information is excellent!" He stared at his father. He was half-way to drunk already. Great. Seeing the displeasure on his face, his father assured him that they would keep the drinking to a minimum. Right. He had heard that before.

"I skipped breakfast, so I guess this is fine," Lance commented.

"Ah, you can't be skipping breakfast, son! It is the most important meal of the day! Just look at me! Even I, as busy as I am—""And as drunk as you are..."

"Yes, and as drunk as I am, find the time for breakfast. Even if it's just liquor and meat! I know, rolls your eyes, but it beats eating a bullet!" He couldn't argue with his father over such facts. Liquor and meat were a better breakfast than getting shot in the face, but that was a low bar. Lance had one of his hempen drinks. It was a mixed cocktail with a number of calming herbs and relaxing botanicals infused into the mix.

It looked a lot like a mixed alcoholic drink and though contained no alcohol whatsoever, still had a 'strong' taste to it. He felt himself energized after just a single sip. As they waited for their meals, platters filled high, as his father told him, they chit-chatted about life, Lance's schooling, all the things a father and son would talk about: "How're you handling the academy?

It's your first year and I know firsthand how distracting an academy campus can be, what with all the beautiful people and free-flowing alcohol... I hope you're pounding the books as much as you're pounding the -Uss! Wink, wink." Lance's face reddened. Why did his father have to talk like that? His 'intimate' life was the last topic he wanted to talk with his father about. Especially when he devalued women so much.

Though his father would never admit it, Lance believed his father's language regarding the fairer sex was one of the reasons why mom left; well, that, and his habitual drinking, gambling, and his inability to remain at home for more than a couple of hours. Warhol might have been all powerful when it came to magic, but love? That was another story. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Yeah, I've been focusing on my schoolwork, dad. You don't have to worry. I'm getting top marks in my classes."

"Well, I do worry, son! You take after me, after all. You need to restrain yourself from the party culture on campus. You need to hit the books harder, too! There is more to life than field exercises, remember!"

"First of all, dad, I do not take after you. I take after mom. Secondly, I intend on studying more. Did you hear? I brought down an illegal campus cult. Or is that not impressive?" Warhol took another sip of another alcoholic drink, this one an elven brandy.

"Bah! I heard. Anyone could do that! It was a nice little side-quest, wasn't it? Probably saved some young damsel, eh? The damsel then offered some 'lady services' to thank you? Don't pass off pleasure as business, son. It reflects poorly on us both!" He took a deep breath. He focused on his breathing. If he didn't, he would tear his father's head off. Thankfully, he never got the chance to tear his dad's head in two because their food came out.

As promised, there were two platters piled high with baby back ribs slathered in rich barbecue sauce, the king the restaurant was known for far and wide, and an assortment of additional meats — sausage links with a mustard dip, chicken wings coated in a spicy glaze, past and cheese, and cut, deep fried potatoes slivers salted and peppered. Not realizing how hungry he was until just then, Lance went at the food like an animal, mimicking, unintentionally, his father.

In the culinary melee, few was safe from their hunger. In his bravery, though, when Lance glanced toward his father and saw how, at least in one respect, they were the same, he grinned, chuckled, even. In his case, the apple fell far from the tree, but who was to say they couldn't still share a stem? He eat his meal and was happy he had some quality time with his dad. Troubled or not, Warhol was the only father he would have, so he'd better appreciate the time he had with him while they both lived.

At the meal's end, they and their table was a mess. Their restaurant provided bibs did little to contain the damage. Using his twentieth napkin of the meal, Lance threw the soiled thing into the trash one of the waitstaff pulled up to their table. Warhol burped and he wasn't far behind.

"How did you like that fast, son?"

"Mighty fine, dad. Mighty fine! Strange eating like this so early in the morning, but it hit the spot. I'm still adjusting to my stamina being so high, so I lost some sleep there as I tried to balance wakefulness and rest. I slept for ten hours, minimum, before you picked me up, but I was still tired. Not now, though..." His father chuckled as he rubbed his belly, satisfied.

"It took me a while to adjust, too. You have so much more stamina than anyone, even other Deity Champions, and because you build points so quickly, you lack that natural adjustment frame everyone else has when they put a point or two into stamina. Learning how to manage this all at once will be a job in itself, so don't sweat it if you lose some sleep here or there. As long as you hit all of your tests and classes when you're supposed to, it's all water under the bridge."

Again, he burped and slurped down another glass of iced water. He and his father hit the restroom then paid for their meal. On top of the impressive bribe the staff had received for coming in early, his father gave everyone an impressive tip for dealing with their nonstop demands. When they left the restaurant, everyone smiled and waved as if their dearest family had dropped by for a surprise visit.

Before they entered through the portal, this time, his father promised him, would be the actual training excursion, he asked where they were going. Warhol chuckled.

"Going? Why, only the best, the most bio-diverse place on the planet. None other than the Marshes of Eternal Waste!