Chapter 179: A Magical Concert

"Are you guys okay?" Aiden's voice came from behind, jolting Cole to straighten his back in surprise, while Mary was looking nervously to her left and right. Due to their actions be it direct or indirect, a brawl had broken out. Whilst the original group of ruffians that interrupted their mealtime and tried to intrude themselves on Mary and Cole was already out of commission, the agitated adventurers had broken out in no-holds-barred fisticuffs.

Sitting down next to Mary, Aiden turned to face her. Revealing a friendly smile, he lightly patted her head causing her to almost jump from her seat due to the shock and also turn beet red in the process.

"Calm down, Mary. Everything is alright. I am sorry for taking so long to return, I did not expect that such a thing would happen." He spoke in a calm and soothing tone as if he was addressing his sister.

"N-no, don't worry about it Aiden! I am just sad that we can't enjoy dinner now…" Mary responded, looking at the boy, with a caring expression on her face. 

"Yeah, don't worry about it Aiden! I wanted to speak up, but they were stronger than me…" Cole added with an apologetic expression.

"Huh? What are you saying?" Aiden looked at Mary, with a cheeky smile, as he reached out with his left hand above the table. His open palm was facing down, he slowly swayed his hand. Behind the trail the horizontal arc of his arm, the plates and mugs they ordered suddenly appeared, seemingly materializing out of thin air.

"Who said we can't enjoy dinner?" He grinned at Mary, content with his feat as he saw her stunned look. 

"Wha-? How?!" Mary looked at the table with wide eyes. Taking a quick glance at Cole, she could only see him smiling knowingly. Did Aiden know magic? Could he be a gifted one?

However, before she could utter any other words, she felt the gentle pats on the top of her head. Looking at the source, she saw Aiden's gentle smile and could barely contain herself anymore. Her face was already red as a tomato, threatening her of fainting by the surge of blood that kept gathering. 

"Don't worry about it. Ignore the ruckus around us and let's just enjoy the dinner just as we planned!" Aiden spoke calmly, as he pulled one plate and a mug closer to himself. Without waiting for the others, he reached for the fork and knife and began slowly enjoying the delicious meal. While it still wasn't as energy-rich as the meat of the wolves from the forest, the sausages were still surprisingly rewarding.

After the momentary shock passed, Mary only smiled at the boy's actions, and whilst lightly shaking her head, she reached for a plate and a mug. She felt safe in Aiden's presence and decided to ignore everything else and just enjoy the night to the best of her abilities.

Shortly after, Cole also pulled the last plate in front of himself and reached for the beer, creating a unique scene where three youngsters were silently having dinner whilst all around them the group of adventurers kept bashing and hitting each other. The strangest of the situation was that for some inexplicable reason, they all avoided hitting against their table and did not interrupt them. 

Whenever someone had looked at them and had the urge, they suddenly shivered in fright as they felt a tremendous pressure wash through them, filling their very bones with dread. Unsure of what it was, they all decided to avoid the terrible presence that loomed above the youngsters…

The free for all match was eventually put to a stop when the City Guards finally decided to show up. The innkeeper has secretly sent word for them, and while it took them quite a while to actually show up, they did, and after taking away to noisiest ones and pulled the unconscious away, peace returned to the place just as abruptly as it was shattered to pieces a bit ago.

After the guards left, the only indicator that something could have happened was the thinned density of the crowd and the sparse furniture that remained in the place. What really surprised Aiden was that the band completely ignored all the ruckus and continued prepping for the session regardless of what happened with the gathered audience.

As he finished the last bits from his plate, he gave a contented sigh and leaned against the backrest of his chair. Looking at the band's direction, he voiced the question that kept bugging him for some time now.

"Hey, guys, what is up with those people? How come they ignored all this noise, and are still preparing? Isn't that strange?"

Following the direction where he was looking, Mary smiled as she explained. She gave a light chuckle.

"Ehehe, Aiden, they are an experienced band. This is not their first time having a session in a Tavern like this. Fights like these are a common occurrence, especially in the rougher neighborhoods. As long as the group does not bother them, they learned how to ignore them, and just focus on what they were paid for."

Just as she finished explaining, the group also completed their preparations and setting up. Stepping their feet to a rhythm they counted to three and began playing their respective instruments, creating a soothing, and slow-paced melody that quickly engulfed the entire place.

The central guy, who was responsible for handling the magical drum-like object kept rhythmically hitting its leather-wrapped surface, releasing a low-thudding beat, the base of the music.

A short while later, as the melody reached a height, he closed his eyes and began to sing a song. His clean voice was in sync with the tune being the crowning jewel of the production.

"There was once a battle on land and on sea

Where men and gods, as unlikely as that may seem

Stood confronting great warships and captains and gore

When along came a man, a bard of lore

Aiol, his name, though more than he seemed

A god of secrets, but a secret was he

With great power never seen a song of discord

He struck dissonant sounds like the clang of a sword

The men on the ships resisted at first 

But soon drew blood of their men with a thirst

Not a hand was lifted as they watched in delight

As a great magical zap from a wizard did light

On their heels, they did jump and fear for their lives

But others were bewitched and stabbed with their knives

When all was safe and the battle was won

Aiol was seen with a grin and a hum.

Not much is known of these God's among men

But they come to aid poor souls... and again.

Not much is known of these God's among men

But they come to aid poor souls now and again."

(AN: Inspired version from the Battle Hymn of Ryukyu. There should be a version available on the net for even more immersion. The wording was altered to fit more the world and the story)

His singing mesmerized the crowd, they all looked at him in silence. As he reached the end and the music slowly quieted down, there was only dead silence in place of the previous loud shindig that ruled the atmosphere. 

A moment later, however, the crowd erupted in a loud cheer, clapping and cheering at the band and the mysterious singer.

Mary and Cole were also standing and cheering with a loud elated ovation, while Aiden looked at the man with shock on his face. He saw it! As the man kept singing and rhythmically hitting his drum, he released magical currents into the air. These waves traveled at rapid speeds, washing through the crowd, slowly losing their energy along the way, eventually fading as they reached the far corners.

The energy that the drum released entered the crowd, playing with their minds. Looking around, he saw that besides him and the aged innkeeper, nobody seemed to be able to resist the drum's magical powers, they all seemed to enter a sort of trance, looking at the band in a dazed state.

The bard remained silent and only grinned at the sight, seemingly unaware of the lonesome boy unaffected by his power. He nodded slightly at the innkeeper, who returned the motion along with a friendly smile.

The band patiently and silently waited for the crowd to calm down, before starting their next piece. The drummer began to slowly smash against his instrument, releasing invisible energy rippling through the tavern hall once more. 

As the other instruments slowly joined in, the pace of the beat began to pick up, increasing the tempo of the song, from the beginning cool and calm to a more fiery, rapid piece. With each hit on the surface of the magical instrument, the invisible threads of energy were released, grabbing the attention of the already dazed audience, pulling them into an even deeper trance-like state.

Looking at the dazed crowd, standing and staring with hollow, empty eyes at the band, Aiden furrowed his brows.