Beist walked through the village with a bit of a downcast face. It was another Hearth Day, a day where people celebrated being together, in love, or with family. Beist loved his pets and considered them family, but it was still a day he felt a bit lonely knowing he was an old man that had lost his chances at finding love. He'd focused far too much on his alchemical studies in his youth and now he was sure he'd never find anyone who would want to be with him. Not just because he was old, but also because he looked, for lack of any better description, like a giant beast.

He didn't drink alcohol often, but the sign over the door to the local tavern caught his eye. Maybe just one would be nice. He didn't want to get drunk or anything, he still had his companions waiting for him in the wagon. At least Dora was a good babysitter for the rest of them, so he wasn't worried about being away for a little while, but she'd get upset if he took too long to return from buying supplies. At least the general store had still been open on Hearth Day. Maybe he wasn't the only one alone today.

Aster wove her way through the village, tracing a familiar path to the local tavern. She had almost forgotten her promise to bring the barkeep some cheese danishes now that she perfected the recipe. The pastries rolled in her bag, still warm, as she dipped between houses before finally rounding the corner to the tavern. She stopped dead in her tracks as she turned, eyes going round as coins.



Standing in front of the tavern was someone she hadn’t seen before, in fact she didn’t think she had ever seen anyone like him. He was so tall, more than double her petite frame, and was covered in grey fur. She started to turn to leave, thinking it may be best to come back to the tavern another day and not bother the imposing man who was standing in her way, but something in his expression made her pause.



His downcast expression made him seem almost angry at first, but looking closer that wasn’t quite right. Instead his expression looked…sad? Disappointed? Perhaps even lonely? Whatever it might be, it didn’t sit right with Aster to just leave someone like that if there was something she could do to help. She walked up softly, stopping in front of him and craning her neck so they could speak face to face.



“Hello! My name is Aster, we don’t get many strangers coming through here, and I was wondering if there was anything I could help you with? Finding a certain shop, or maybe just a drinking buddy? I’m also heading inside.”

Beist was a little startled by the sudden greeting. He hadn't expected it, his attention lost in his own thoughts as he was about to enter the tavern. People also generally didn't approach him often thanks to his appearance. He looked down to see the young Elven girl that had greeted him.

"Oh, hello. No, I've finished my shopping, I- I come here often. Not here, I mean. The tavern. I mean I come to this village often and know my way around. I was just about to get a drink." Beist rambled a little. A habit of his.

He considered her offer for a moment. He had been lonely and was going to get a drink. Maybe it would be nice to have a drinking buddy. It was unexpected for that drinking buddy to be a girl that looked around half his age though, but it was hard to tell with Elves. She could have been older than him for all he knew.

"Well, I suppose I wouldn't mind a drinking buddy if you're offering." Beist's frown raised into a friendly smile, his mood improving a bit. He always enjoyed meeting people and having company.

He looked at the doorway that was far too small for him and sighed before ducking low to make his way inside the tavern.

“Wonderful!”



Aster followed him in, darting in front to grab her favourite table, dropping her satchel in one chair and pulling a larger one over for the gentleman, motioning for him to take a seat. She rummaged through her bag, pulling out most of the wrapped pastries, before thinking twice and leaving one inside. The bartender knew better than to complain about one missing if he wanted to try any of the other recipes she experimented with.



Walking over to the barkeep, she dropped off the danishes as promised before grabbing two light ales, figuring it a safe bet. She wove back to the table and set one down in front of each chair, moving her satchel to the floor and pulling up her seat. She commented cheerfully,



“Sorry for just assuming your order, but if you want something else I can go grab it!”



Aster looked back over her shoulder to the barkeep, who she could see was already munching on a pastry, and turned back to the tall stranger in front of her with a bit of a mischievous smile.



“It’s on me, the barkeep owes me one. Well, more like 4 at the moment”



She hadn’t planned to sit at the tavern today, but getting to talk to someone new was always a treat. She had already had a lovely brunch with her family earlier in the day, and she knew they would understand her missing dinner: It was not the first time she had gotten sidetracked while off in town. She leaned back in her chair, enjoying the first sip of her ale. She looked curiously at the man in front of her, happy to see his expression looked a bit lighter now.



“I didn’t catch your name, I’m Aster Farralei. What brings you to a small village like this on Hearth day?”

Beist made his way over to the table slowly, hunched over to avoid scraping his horns along the ceiling, and took a seat. He was a bit awkward, clearly not a regular customer to this establishment and stood out like a sore thumb amongst the other patrons. He just watched Aster get them both a drink while he waited quietly for her to return. Maybe he should have tried the outdoor seating, but he hadn't expected her to be so eager to go get drinks for him. He wouldn't have wanted to impose on her like that by asking her to do that.

"Oh, it's quite alright. I appreciate it. Moving around in here is rather challenging for me, so it's very kind of you. I don't drink often, so I wouldn't have know what to order anyways." Beist said, while waving Aster's concerns away. He felt a bit bad about her paying for his drink, even if it was through a favor instead of coin. "Are you sure? I'd be happy to pay you back. I wouldn't want to take advantage of your kindness."

"Ah yes, I must have neglected to introduce myself, my apologies. My name is Beistmild, but please call me Beist. I'm a travelling alchemist. I was just here to stock up on some medicinal herbs and other supplies and decided to get a drink before I went back to my wagon. I'd almost forgotten today was Hearth Day, but... I don't really celebrate it anyways."

Beist's expression dipped back into gloominess for a moment as he finished speaking before returning to a warm smile that may have been just a little forced. He took a sip of his ale and his smile seemed a bit more genuine.

"Mm, this is good! Thank you for choosing it for me. So, tell me about yourself. How did the barkeep come to owe you one?"

Aster waved his concerns off in kind at his offer to pay her back.



“No payback needed, kindness offered freely is not being taken advantage of, and I can’t remember the last time I paid for anything here anyways.”



She listened patiently to Beistmild as he spoke. An alchemist! She hadn’t yet met anyone who was very skilled in that before, the majority of people she had run into through town being more of the martial or offensive spellcasting variety. Her ears perked up at the mention of medicinal herbs: Perhaps he was a healer as well?



“Well it’s lovely to meet you Beist, let’s call it a lucky turn of fate that you happened to be standing outside the tavern while I had to do my delivery!”



Seeing his expression turn cloudy again for a moment, she took a better look at her large new friend. He definitely seemed scary at first, but she could tell by the way he spoke and held himself that he was a kind soul. Aster was incredibly glad she had pushed past her first assumptions and approached him instead. She replied to his question with a warm grin.


“I'm glad you like it! I have a bit of a reputation as a decent cook around the village, not to sing my own praises too much. Me and the barkeep have an understanding that if he wants to keep trying my new recipes, I get my rounds on the house. I was actually on my way to deliver some pastries I perfected recently when I ran into you. Oh! That’s right-”



Aster reached into the bottom of her satchel, pulling out the final cheese danish and placing it in front of Beistmild.



“Well, I’ve only ever celebrated Hearth Day with my family before, and while I wasn't planning to celebrate with anybody else I think it’s pretty nice to be able to enjoy some new company. Consider this a gift from a new friend?”

"Mm. If you insist, I won't argue. I suppose I owe you a favor now too." Beist chuckled before taking another sip of his ale.

"It's lovely to meet you as well, Aster. A lucky turn of fate indeed!" Beist agreed, raising his mug up for a small toast. He was very careful to control his strength and not overdo it, practically just holding his mug still for Aster to clink hers against. He didn't want to end up breaking the mug by accident. That would have been quite a way to spoil a nice time.

Beist listened intently to Aster speak while sipping at his ale. His ears rose a little higher and his tail started to sway behind him when she presented the danish. A cheese danish! Cheese deserts were his favorite, but he hardly ever got a chance to eat them.

"Ooh! Thank you, I will!" Beist happily picked up the danish and took a big bite, which ended up being the entire danish with how large his mouth was. Unfortunate, since he'd have like to savor it a little longer, but it was still delicious.

"That was delicious. The barkeep really made a great deal, didn't he?" Beist chuckled, not noticing a bit of cheese stuck to his mouth.

"I haven't celebrate Hearth Day with my family in years... in decades, actually. It's been quite a while. Well, I don't have much family left to celebrate it with anyways. Just my brother, but I haven't seen him in so long. Hmm... Maybe I should try to get in touch..." Beist looked distant as he thought about seeing his brother again for a moment.

He cleared his throat and looked back to Aster with a smile. "But I am also very happy to celebrate with a new friend."

Aster raised her mug in return for the toast, clinking the glass against Beist’s and finishing her ale in a final swig. She laughs a little at how quickly Beist devoured the danish, mentally noting for another time to make him his own bag. Perhaps she would be able to make them in a bigger size too? It might mess with the cooking speed but maybe a little magic could help them along.



“Oh yes, and he knows it! Though, this will be one of his last deliveries for a while since I’ll be traveling soon myself.”



Aster frowned slightly at his mention of his lack of family. It didn’t seem fair that someone so sweet was so lonesome. She considered asking about it more, but thought better of it. They had only just met, and she didn’t want to bring up possibly painful memories for no reason. Shifting the conversation, she asked:



“So you mentioned you were picking up medicinal herbs? Are you a healer too?”



Realizing what she had just said she blushed slightly, scratching her cheek and feeling a bit embarrassed.



“Well, ah, not too! I’ve been studying a bit by myself to be a healer, but I’m still a beginner! I didn’t mean to be so presumptuous. What kinds of potions do you make?”

"Really? That's too bad for him. Where are you headed? I've seen some interesting places in my own travels, you know. I travel by wagon along with my companions now, but I travelled on foot for some time as well." Beist finished his ale and continued. "Maybe I can repay you for the ale and the danish by offering you a ride."

Beist was surprised when he heard Aster ask if he was a healer too. Too? Was she a healer as well? He loved meeting others in similar lines of work as him. One of his best friends was an herbalist, and they got along very well, talking for hours about their shared interest of plants and medicine.

"Yes, there are some wonderful gardens here with great herbs in them. Are you a healer as well? I'm happy to meet a fellow healer! Ah, I'm a bit jealous. Living here, you must be able to pick all the herbs you want whenever you want. That must be wonderful. I suppose that won't be the case while you're travelling though." Beist started rambling on. "Being a beginner at anything is the first step to being a master. Good luck to you, and study hard! Still, if you're practicing, I'd say you are a healer already. I don't think you were being presumptuous at all"

Beist began to stroke his beard, combing his claws through it as he thought for a moment.

"Mmm, what kinds of potions do I make... Well, I'd say I have an interest in just about any type of potion. I've learned many different recipes. But, my specialty would be a potion entirely of my own invention. I developed the recipe myself in my travels." He went on as pulled a bottle from his bag that contained a liquid that changed its color and viscosity continuously. "This potion allows one to change their appearance. Sadly, it's incomplete. The effect is only temporary and often imperfect." Beist sighed. "Well, even then, it's still come in quite useful and I've even sold a few bottles to others."

Aster finished her own ale, setting the empty glass down with a gentle clink.



“I’m heading to Eclipse City! It’ll be my first time traveling outside of Moonveil, I’m pretty excited. I’m hoping to go to as many new places as I can and see what good I can do outside the village. What has been your favourite place you’ve visited so far?”



Aster’s face turned an even darker pink.



“I’m definitely packing up what I can take with me from the garden here, it’ll be a shame to lose such an easy source for useful herbs. I’m still just beginning my journey but I really want to help people! I’m hoping I'll be able to learn more by heading to the city and getting to study there. I’ll do my best!”



Aster listened attentively as Beist rambled on, enjoying finally having a conversation with a like minded individual. As he pulled out the potion her eyes went wide, following the way the substance inside shifted.



“Even incomplete, that’s a very impressive achievement! Even a temporary change in form could be extremely useful.”



She looked down at the table, her words getting a bit quieter.



“It’s kind of a silly dream but I'm hoping, once I’ve studied more, to find a way to incorporate healing magic into food. Something tastier than just medicine and that can be easily transported and given out, even if there isn’t someone skilled in the healing arts present. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I want to try!”

Beist blushed at the compliment, but smiled happily.

"Thank you. It took a lot of work just to get it where it is now, so I am proud of it as it is already..." He mumbled bashfully.

He cleared his throat before continuing. "Ah, my favorite place I've visited... Hmm..." He pondered the question for a moment, stroking his beard before chuckling. "It'd be a bit too cliché to say this village, wouldn't it? Let me think of somewhere else I enjoyed. So many of the places I've visited were quite dangerous. Oh, but I did quite enjoy my visit to the hot springs up in Frostgale. They were very soothing. Soaking in the hot water in the cold air, it was quite nice. It did make my fur all poofy though." Beist laughed.

When Aster got quieter, Beist looked down at her with concern and leaned a little closer to hear what she was saying. But hearing her idea, he smiled warmly and chuckled again.

"Healing magic in food sounds wonderful. Everyone loves food. Being able to close a wound by having a little snack sounds great to me! Who wouldn't want that? Ah, I'd just have to fear for my waistline if I ever got a nice basket of healing cheese danishes. I don't know if I'd be able to resist taking the opportunity every time I got a slight scrape or scratch." Beist mumbled as he unconsciously put a hand on his already fairly doughy middle with a sigh. "It sounds totally doable. I believe you can do it. Good luck!"