Races: Online

The bottle was spinning—it drew everyone's eyes to it, hypnotically, almost as if they were called to pay attention to it. 

And it really was a plain bottle of glass. 

Perhaps anyone else who had noticed that the group's attention was on a mere container would think that something was very wrong. Lady Angelika held her breath, Donovan was tapping his fingers on his table (he ended up getting slapped for disturbing the bottle's twirling) and Lu Rei was frozen in place as the bottle did its course.

Even those who had earlier qualms were now looking at the bottle intently—as if it spelled life or death.

And it did.

… Well, not exactly, but finally the bottle stopped spinning and it stopped on the young man who was actually still eating their supper. Calum raised his spoon to his mouth and then felt the eyes of the group on him. Even the man couldn't ignore it for too long, and so the young Archer placed his utensil back down on the bowl. He returned everyone's looks, "What?"

"You're supposed to say something, Calum." Diov rolled his eyes and bit back a snort. The young Noble and Fist Fighter didn't think that it would be interesting and yet here he was—fascinated with a game. It should have been obvious that something like this probably existed, but it had never been brought up for him and so he was entranced.

There was something to be learned in this game of two truths and one lie.

Even Sir Harrington was particularly interested, especially when Han insisted that no truth gems were allowed. Somehow, Donovan had to put his axe down while they played—which was obvious, but nevertheless, the young brutish man ended up placing it far away.

"What am I supposed to say?" Calum raised a brow.

Lu Rei slapped a hand over her face and she perhaps expected this kind of response. While the young woman beside her, Teresa scoffed, "You're supposed to say two true things about yourself and one lie—and no, don't tell us which is which. It's up to us to decide which is false."

"...and why do I have to do that?" 

"Because it's supposed to be fun." Han insisted with a nod and urged them to continue. Sitting right beside him was the cloaked Half-Elf who hadn't exactly said much of a thing since the game had started, but she was there nonetheless.

The others could only imagine what she would say when it came to be her turn.

Sir Leon de Harrington cleared his throat, "You can also see it this way. It is a way to increase your ability to lie—which may perhaps be quite useful if one were to be captured by the enemy and interrogated by them. If you are able to convince them that what you are speaking is the truth when you actually feed them falsehoods, then this activity might save the lives of your friends."

"...okay, I guess that's also a valid reason." Han coughed and waved a hand. "But wait, aren't truth stones a thing?"

"They're not reliable if you can use your words properly." Diov chimed in at last with a shrug.

Lady Angelika Primrose looked somewhat embarrassed but added her own words, "I suppose it can be taken that way. Ah, as expected of you to always find something beneficial to each undertaking that you do. But I believe that it's meant for leisure." 

"Can you guys shut up for one moment, I think he's trying to say something now." Donovan grumbled. Even the normally respectful guy was itching for the man to speak up—he had essentially told the Nobles to shut up.

Han didn't know that was a thing.

Out of all the people in the group, somehow, it was this guy and not the others who was keen on hearing whatever it was Calum had to say. It was a good thing that nobody had their notebooks around to keep track of what everyone was saying—but it didn't mean that others didn't remember.

"How long do you need to think, Cal? Can I get a turn now?" The young man beside Calum sighed and placed a hand underneath his cheek. This was the only occasion when it was the Nobles who were trying to pay attention and listen to Peasants like them—he wanted his turn now.

"Learn how to wait, Russel. We'll probably all get our turns." Teresa rolled her eyes. "I doubt you have something that interesting to say anyway, 'I have a mother, I have a father and I have a lover'—you can see the lie from a far distance away."

"Well, the bottle is the one who chooses—it's a game of chance." Han waved the bottle around and shrugged.

"Can I spin the bottle this turn? You're doing it too weak, Han." Donovan cut in. "That's why we've already been through others thrice now, the strength you put into it is always the same."

"You might shatter—"

"I have met a Dragon." Calum said. His face was serious but also blank at this moment, as if deciding what else to say. "And—"

Teresa slapped a hand over her face, "That's a lie, you don't even need to say the other things now." She glanced at Lu Rei and elbowed the girl's side, "Of course he'll end up messing up the game. This is expected."

Lady Angelika offered a sheepish smile, "You have to try and make the untruth seem more realistic, Calum. We could have believed you if it was a Wyvern, but Dragons…"

"Is it alright if I have my turn now?" Russel asked and waved a hand.

"The bottle, we're spinning it—you can't insist you have your turn."

"But we've already had you twice, Teresa. That's not fair."

"Well, the bottle spun twice to me, it can't be helped."

Han Jing really didn't expect for the two truths and one lie to be something that the others would thoroughly enjoy. He had decided to do this instead of truth and dare—because dares probably meant leaving the table and it could turn out messy. 

But they didn't even need to leave the table to make a ruckus.

Even the people that he hadn't exactly knew that much were the ones being more active and speaking up rather than Sir Leon and the others. Then again, even if the Noble didn't say a thing—he was taking the game quite seriously for reasons. 

.

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In Another Part of Kraelonia Academy's Dining Hall

"What are they doing?" Roux Arcois motioned as covertly to what he learned to be Xanthe's cousin. He usually enjoyed looking around but somehow, it was their group that struck him the most. "They're… watching a bottle spin? Peculiar. Have they all drunk something that made them act that way?" Truly the appearance of the group all bent over a bottle and waiting for it to stop—it was hard to ignore that.

He hoped that his teammate had an answer for it.

However, Xanthe sighed and didn't even bother looking behind her to see. She gave a dismissive wave, "He can do whatever he wants. If he wants to watch rain fall down from the skies or stick a bottle in his bum, he can do that. It's not my business and neither is it yours, Roux." She stabbed her fork on her steak to prove a point.

It wasn't exactly the best way to show it.

If anything, it simply revealed to him that she was doing her best to ignore her cousin for whatever reason. "Tut-tut, Xanthe. You really are cold, he's your family and you should be more concerned as he's younger than you." Roux picked up a slice of the ocean plum slices on his plate and took a bite. "Which reminds me, I have to drop by and see my older brother. We're not having any other assignments soon are we?"

"I didn't know you had a brother." Azhura said as she placed down her utensils. The woman's plate was already cleaned spotless. She even had extra plates lying around beside her compared to the Healer's own single plate.

Roux scratched the back of his head, "I think I've already mentioned him several times—"

"I don't remember." 

"Of course you don't, Blackthorne." The Healer shook his head and sighed resigned at the attitude of his two other members. "If the two of you are not planning to do anything, then I might as well go and see what exactly it is about the bottle that intrigues them to watch it? Look at their faces, that such intent gazes—it's almost scary."

Roux Arcois was a little worried that someone might get eaten alive with one wrong move. He felt the need to intercede before something terrible happened.

"Are you sure that you're not looking at their faces for another reason, Roux?" Xanthe spat out a bone. She gave him a look.

He wrinkled his nose. "That's not a really good thing to say aloud, Xanthe. What if someone hears you, what are they going to think about us?"

The blonde woman pursed her lips and averted her gaze. She grumbled something underneath her breath and decided not to pursue it any longer. It was weird for someone that was a Bard to not enjoy engaging in word warfare. Azura however raised a brow, "You didn't actually deny it—"

Roux rubbed a hand over his face, "Oh, would you have liked to hear me say that?"

Sometimes, he really did wish that he had joined the other team back in the days.