Around the same time yet again.
Calvard. the Capital City, Edith. Riverside.
Cafe & Bar Bermotti.
"Aww yeah, now this is how to start a party. Thanks for letting us use the place, Bermotti. Happy new year!", A boisterous voice rang out in one of the popular areas at Riverside.
It has not been long since this bar has been established, but its owner, a flamboyant guy who calls himself Bermotti, ended up renting the entire place out to a particular group here. As for where they were, Riverside, as its name implied, had a large river cross through the entire Burrough. It split the Burrough down the middle. Buildings could be seen on both halves of it, and it also acted as a popular fishing spot.
While the restaurant acted as a bar to most and served as a place to gather information, at the same time, it was as friendly as a family restaurant. Bermotti offered a wide variety of services to anyone who enters. And right now, a particular group was enjoying the new year.
It was composed of a couple school students and a couple adults. The youngest one was still a kid who had a deadpan look in her eyes. Even she felt the festive mood was contagious. It was getting harder and harder not to join in, despite it being late into the night already. Normally, she'd be asleep by now, but this was a special occasion. It was S1200 now!
Among this group was a particular, cerise-haired woman whose cheeks were already rosy from being drunk. It was thanks to her that the ongoing atmosphere was this cheerful. She was having the best time of her life, even though it was only earlier in the year she could even drink alcohol like this. Who else could this be but Sara Valestein?
Going in order, it was Sara Valestein, Lavian Winslet, René Kincaid, Van Arkride, Elaine Auclair, and a new guest they weren't really expecting to come across. They scattered across the padded seats. on the outside of the restaurant was a closed sign so no one else could interrupt this moment.
"Thanks again for lettin' us use this place, Bermotti. You're a lifesaver.", Van said, thanking the purple-haired man.
"Oh don't thank me hun. You're the one who reached out to me. Still, I'm surprised that you know such a crowd. René and Elaine I get, but to think you would know the Purple Lightning. You're just full of surprises~", The man said, who was called Bermotti. In a playful tone, he clapped his hands together. "You chose little 'ol me out of all the restaurants you could have chosen from to enjoy the new year. I'm flattered!"
"Uh-huh.", Van said, and sighed. "Maybe I chose the wrong spot after all..."
"Well, this place is both practical, and affordable. You're a student now, so it's not like you have enough Mira to go around like before.", René said. "I say that, but it's not like you have much money to begin with."
"H-Hey! I'm tryin', okay?", Van shot back, glaring at René.
"Hic...", Sara said. "You say that, but this schtuff is deliciousss! My compliments to the cheff!", Sara continued, appearing very drunk.
"Oh man, you're totally wasted now, Sara. It's going to be a big pain getting you back to the Guild after...", Lavi said, and sighed.
"You don't need to worry about that Miss Winslet. I already went ahead and reserved some rides for you all so you can eat and drink without a care in the world!", Bermotti said. He even stretched his arms out, and his eyes sparkled, playing along with the ongoing show.
"Now you're talkinnn...hic!", Sara happily replied. She took another swing of the beer she was currently on.
"That's fine and all...but even I have limits to how much I enjoy. Is this the Purple Lightning's true form?", Van said, and frowned seeing how drunk Sara is. Sara was serving back and forth now, humming a light tune while attempting to hold the beer in her hand without splashing it around. Van couldn't help but look at Lavi.
"Nah. I've seen worse.", Lavi said, and sighed. "Trust me when I say this. You haven't seen the real Sara yet. This much is nothin'. Bein' a Jaeger back at North Ambria isn't exactly the best influence to be around."
"Boy you can say that again. I decided to drop by and pay the Guild Branch in Edith a visit to check in on you all since I finished most of my business in Erebonia. I really hope the Purple Lightning here doesn't decide to pay Aina a visit on a whim after this.", A voice said, who just so happened to be the one guest that joined up with Van's group. He just so happened to be Toval Randonneur, the Zero Artisan!
"I did not think the Zero Artisan would decide to drop in and greet us all the way here in Edith. Guess things have settled somewhat back in Erebonia?", Elaine said with an amused look in her eyes as she observed the blonde-haired man before her. Toval was seated across.
"For the most part, yeah.", Toval said. "I did not think sh*t would hit the fan when I'm out in Calvard of all places, though. I seriously have no idea what is going on in that Chancellor's head. He was even as bold as to propose a hand-in-hand alliance like that. Didn't Erebonia hate Liberl's guts half a decade ago?"
"Hic...", Sara hiccupped again, attempting to speak. "Are you refeerrrin to Naoto, by chance?", Sara continued, letting her slurred voice echo around the bar. Toval raised his eyes at Sara, becoming interested.
"Are you suggesting you know Liberl's Crown Prince, Purple Lightning? Miles never informed me of any connection with us in the Bracer Guild, minus The Immovable. His connection with the Crown Prince is clear as day. You, though...", Toval said, not expecting Sara to say that. Since Naoto ended his business in Legram, Toval had kept to his own business since then. Granted, he did fight alongside Naoto in a very similar fashion to Sara. Except the fact that one time it was against Jaegers, while Toval's situation was against Monsters.
"Funny you say that, Zero Artisan.", Van said before Sara could answer. "I'm afraid that all of us in this bar here have come across Naoto one way or another. I even consider him a friend. Did you happen to see him recently?"
"Haaah?", Toval shot back, becoming shocked. He even found it in him to slam the table with his hands. That caused the many dishes with eastern-styled food to shake a bit, but it wasn't enough to cause a mess. René nodded along to Van's words.
"Elaine and I haven't met the guy in person, but if he's good in Van's books, then he is good in ours.", René responded. "I'll even appreciate the fact that Liberl's Crown Prince made Van take his studies more seriously. With each passing day, you're becoming student council material."
"You aren't wrong. I'm quite pleased with how you've turned out, Van. You are quite studious.", Elaine said, adding in. "You just forget one thing René, Van hates responsibility. I have a better chance to join the Student Council than he does."
"Haha.", Van laughed, not denying it. "I couldn't give a sh*t about a few things here or there. You are a lot more disciplined than I am, René."
"I guess so. People still have their shortcomings. I did not think you Bracers would be acquainted with Van's friend. It's a small world out there.", René said.
"Is it reallly that surprisinggg? Hic.", Sara said. I've fought alongside that princy boy in the past. He's the real deall.", Sara answered. A wave of surprise reached everyone's eyes learning the fact that Sara and Naoto have fought together.
"You really are drunk, Sara.", Lavi shot back, and sighed seeing Sara this tipsy. It was quite bad.
"Isn't it finnne? Bermotti is lookingg after uss.", Sara said, drinking away without a care in the world.
"Haha.", Bermotti laughed. "If this is the Purple Lightning on a good day, I can't even imagine what she is like when she's had too much to drink. But like I said earlier, eat and drink till you can't do so anymore. It's the new year, and you'll reach our respective destinations without worry!"
"Thanks.", Lavi said, and nodded. "If you didn't do that, I would have struggled tryin' to take Sara back to the Guild. Even with the Zero Artisan here."
As Lavi let out a groan, everyone laughed.
"Don't sweat the small stufff!", Sara happily replied. "It's all covered. Let's drink until we drop deadd!"
"Yeah. How about no?", Van immediately said, shooting Sara down. And yet, that even earned more laughter.
"You're one to talk, misterr.", Sara said, only to suddenly glance toward Van. "Aren't ya hidingg something? Want to tell us how you and Elaine got together?"
It was as time stopped the moment Sara said that. It took a good moment to realize what Sara had just said. Bermotti was the first one.
"Oh my oh my oh my! Are you telling me it finally happened!?", Bermotti happily said.
"What do you mean by finally!?", Elaine immediately retorted. That calm and collected look she usually wears was replaced with a hint of red on her cheeks. She didn't deny the words Sara said.
"Heh.", René chuckled. "So that's why you've been so dodgy lately. Congrats man."
"Yeah, well, even I'm not that dense to realize the recent advances. It just kind of...happened. Or am I wrong, Elaine?", Van asked, looking at Elaine.
Hearing that, Elaine took a moment and coughed, attempting to regain her composure.
"I mean...you aren't wrong. I won't deny that we are now together. But don't let that distract you, or your studies Van. School is still number one. What we do comes after that, understood?", Elaine asked.
"Loud and clear, ma'am.", Van said, playing along.
"Hic.", Sara said, hiccupping once more. "Then what are you all waiting forrr? We have even more reason to celebrate! You join us too, Bermotti!"
"Well, congratulations, I suppose. It doesn't hurt to celebrate like this every so often, so hear hear!", Toval said, also raising his beer.
"Congratulations!", Bermotti said, and smiled. "Happy new year!"
""Happy New Year!"", Everyone said.
From there, everyone celebrated the new year, now that it was S1200. The happy chatter went smoothly afterward. It was a surprise to all that everyone was acquainted with one another in some way through Naoto, and adding a layer to that was the fact that Van and Elaine were now dating. Van, in particular, was forever grateful to Naoto. He had stayed mostly quiet as to what happened in the DG Cult. He hadn't opened up to his friends regarding that.
Elaine was curious as to what happened back then and the situation hadn't been fully explained, but at the same time, she wasn't pushy. She was just happy to reunite with Van after that long period of absence, and just this year alone, the two began to date. It was enough reason to celebrate. Van and Elaine dating also took place as a backdrop to Van's story in Daybreak. By then, the two had split apart as Van couldn't open up to Elaine.
But now that Naoto was here, and that Van still had his Demonic Core and that he wasn't subjected to Dantes's torture, he didn't have much to hold him back, barring the Demonic Core. Van wasn't sure to tell Elaine about that, only time will tell. Once Naoto learns that van is now dating, no doubt he will congratulate him too.
Did Van have thoughts of revenge? Absolutely. Those feelings did not fade away, but have become muddled as time went on. Especially so when Van trained together with Gunther Barkhorn, a secret Dominion of the Gralsritter. He himself wasn't interested in joining the Church, but he was grateful to the guy, That helped Van get on his own two feet after Naoto did the rescue.
Now, it's been a few years since then. He did not think the same prince would become the talk of the whole country. No, the whole continent.
Naoto's new position barred Van from being able to get in contact with him in person, but he managed to stay in contact through letters. Courtesy of that falcon of his, Sieg. He's such a handy falcon, isn't he?
Van still wondered why Naoto was so adamant on studying economics of all things, but he could only put that thought aside for now. The ongoing mood was festive, and he was going to have his fair share until it was time to leave.
Seeing Van behave like himself no matter how much time had passed, a faint smile appeared on Elaine's lips. Van couldn't even react only to see Elaine kiss him on the cheek. Just that alone caused everyone to roar loudly. Elaine quickly looked the other way, acting embarrassed again, but Van didn't reject it.
"Happy new year, Van.", Elaine uttered while looking the other way.
"Yeah, happy new year, Elaine.", Van said, and smiled.
Like this, Van's group ate and drank to their heart's content, and enjoyed the new year as the rest of the continent was!