"A child? He's the beer master?" Aaron muttered, staring at the small boy with disbelief, as if he'd just seen a fish flying in the sky. "What's a kid like that doing in a cave this deep?" He scratched his head. "I should probably wake him up and take him out of here. Someone must have sealed him away or something." Aaron said, acting as if he was the hero about to rescue someone from peril.
But before Aaron could reach out to touch the boy's hat, the child suddenly sprang to his feet.
"It's just a fourteen-year-old kid," the boy said, his voice steady, calm, as though he hadn't just woken up from a deep slumber. There was no sign of sleepiness in his expression—no grogginess, no tiredness. Just an eerie composure.
Aaron glared at him, his chest puffed out in irritation. "Hey! Hold on a second—who exactly are you calling a kid? You're younger than me by at least five years!" His voice had the sharp tone of someone who wasn't used to being disrespected.
The boy raised an eyebrow. "You shouldn't be so cocky just because of your appearance, little brat. I've lived a hundred times longer than you will in your entire life," the boy replied coolly, his expression unreadable.
Aaron scowled, stomping his foot like a spoiled noble. "You kids these days just talk too freely! Where are your parents? I'll take you back to them right now!"
The boy narrowed his eyes, considering Aaron for a long moment before responding. "Seems like you're the one who needs saving, not me. But hey, congrats on passing the trial. A kid your age defeating a hydra is pretty impressive, almost unbelievable."
Aaron froze, the shock clear on his face. He stood still for several moments, his mind racing. What was the boy talking about? "What's a hydra?" Aaron finally blurted out, his confusion evident.
The boy blinked, and then a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Ah... So you really don't know what you fought? That's... that's something. You don't read books, do you?" He chuckled softly, almost pityingly.
Aaron's face twitched. "I've never heard of this... hydra. What are you talking about?" His tone was defensive now, a mix of embarrassment and frustration.
The boy grinned, still calm. "Hahaha... You must've been in a pretty deep sleep, huh? Alright, alright... Well, I guess I'll let you off the hook for now. But you really should know what a hydra is—it's just basic knowledge. Anyway, tell me your name, I'm curious. I'll take you home myself. You poor kid."
Aaron couldn't help but smirk. "Big dreams, huh? You sure talk like you've accomplished a lot. But don't go bragging about it before you've actually done something. I'm the Duke's son, you know."
That's when the boy lost his composure. He stood up straighter, his eyes flashing with something fierce. "What do you think, huh? Being a Duke doesn't make you superior to me. I don't care who you are. No matter who you are, you'll never be better than me!" He clenched his fists and glared at Aaron, his voice rising in intensity. "Do you want to know who I am? I'm Merlock! The very first spirit to ever walk these lands! And I was the personal assistant to the first person who used magic to create spells! Got that?!"
Aaron, unfazed, raised an eyebrow. "This is an underground cave, not a stage drama. You're getting on my nerves now."
Merlock gritted his teeth. "You know what? Fine. Let me show you what the future holds for you, idiot!"
"I don't believe in astrology or fortune-telling, kid," Aaron shot back, rolling his eyes.
Merlock paused, taking a deep breath before regaining his calm. "Just checking... do you, by any chance, drink beer?"
The moment those words left Merlock's mouth, Aaron froze. His eyes widened, and for the first time, a true look of relief crossed his face. His hands trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes. Slowly, he dropped to his knees, hands clasped in front of him in prayer-like desperation.
"Wait... what? Are you okay?" Merlock asked, his tone full of concern as he watched Aaron's strange reaction.
Aaron's voice cracked with excitement as he finally spoke, "Finally... Finally, my long-awaited wish is coming true! All this effort... it's all going to pay off!" He looked up at Merlock with an almost worshipful expression.
Merlock raised an eyebrow. "What wish?"
"The wish of finding the most exotic beer ever! You... you're going to give it to me, right?" Aaron's voice was filled with hope, his body shaking with anticipation.
Merlock's expression darkened. His voice grew cold and serious. "The same beer you've been so desperate for? That very beer... will be the reason you die one day."
Aaron froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Wha... What do you mean?" His voice shook, his excitement turning to fear.
Merlock's eyes narrowed, a knowing look in his gaze. "You'll find out soon enough, kid. But don't say I didn't warn you."