Hours later, Ali stood calmly outside a two-story bar. The noise within was unmistakable—laughter, shouting, music. The kind of raucous, carefree joy that echoed down the street and lit the windows with golden light. The tavern was alive, pulsing with energy.
Ali looked sharp, wearing a white coat adorned with a sleek black dragon design slithering down the spine in a straight, commanding line. Underneath, he wore a black turtleneck that hugged his broad, muscular frame like a second skin. His tailored black pants and clean, minimal shoes made for a striking contrast, and as always, Ali didn't need flashy clothing to turn heads—his face and presence did enough of that.
'I should stop thinking about it and just enjoy the night,' Ali told himself as his mind flickered back to the ominous letter from the Tech Guild. But tonight wasn't about threats or preparations—it was about Evelyn.
He opened the tavern door and stepped inside.
The warmth and chaos of the bar instantly hit him—the scent of grilled meat, the buzz of alcohol, wood creaking beneath boots, tankards clanking against tables. Players from every guild and rank filled the room, losing themselves in loud conversation and laughter.
Then silence.
As Ali entered, it was like a cold wind swept through the room. One by one, heads turned toward the door. Conversation stopped mid-sentence. Mugs hovered halfway to mouths. The crowd collectively froze.
Ali scanned the room…
'I should have hidden the fact that I killed Toji,' he thought, noticing the fearful glances, the way people avoided meeting his eyes. News of his battle—and victory—had travelled fast. In a place like Paradise, nothing stayed hidden for long. Especially not a story about a player who took down a renowned Player killer like Toji.
"Over here," a familiar voice called out.
Ali turned to see Evelyn sitting gracefully at a table tucked into the corner of the bar. She waved him over with a warm, inviting smile. Her black hair was pinned back behind one ear, and her long red and black skirt flowed elegantly around her like ink in water. She looked stunning, even in the dim light of the bar.
Next to her were two women, dressed casually but attractive in their own right.
On Evelyn's left sat a woman in her late twenties, refined and poised. She had short black hair that stopped just below her jawline and carried herself with the composure of someone who didn't need to prove anything. Her name was Rose, and her brown eyes studied Ali with curiosity. She wore blue jeans with a clean white top, a light jacket thrown casually over her shoulders. She didn't have Evelyn's figure, but her face was lovely and expressive.
On Evelyn's right sat a younger woman, clearly the more bubbly of the two. Jasmine. She looked around twenty, with long, curly dirty-yellow hair that matched the warm golden hue of her yellow eyes. Her charm was youthful and radiant, and her body, though curvy, was overshadowed by Evelyn's presence. Still, there was something about her smile that made her feel like the kind of girl people instinctively wanted to protect.
All three women turned to face him as he approached, their expressions ranging from excitement to thinly-veiled awe.
Ali walked past the crowded tables. Players averted their gazes the moment he drew near, some holding their breath, others subtly shifting away from his path. He didn't look at any of them—he was used to the silence his presence created.
When he reached the table, he smoothly pulled out a chair and sat down across from Evelyn, placing himself perfectly between her two friends.
"Ali, meet my friends Rose and Jasmine," Evelyn said, gesturing with a graceful hand.
"You look good," Ali said, completely ignoring the introduction as he focused on Evelyn, his black eyes locked on hers.
Evelyn blushed, clearly caught off guard by the sudden compliment. "Thank you," she murmured, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Jasmine's eyes went wide as she covered her mouth. "Oh my God, he's a flirt!" she gasped, looking between Ali and Evelyn as if she were watching the climax of a romance novel.
Rose arched an eyebrow. "Jasmine, behave," she said in a slightly chiding tone, though her lips curled into a smirk.
"Ignore her," Rose added, turning her attention back to Ali. "It's nice to meet you. Evelyn's told us a lot about you."
"Is it true you asked her to be your girlfriend first?" Jasmine interrupted immediately, leaning forward on the table with glittering eyes. "I mean, that's so bold. I like it."
"I didn't know she was my girlfriend until this morning, actually," Ali replied coolly, eyes still locked on Evelyn.
That answer made Evelyn flush even redder. She looked away and lifted a hand to call over the waitress, pretending to be distracted.
Rose laughed softly. "You two are too much already."
Jasmine was bouncing in her seat with excitement. "Okay but seriously, did you actually kill that super strong guy? Like, the sorcerer killer?"
Rose gave her a sharp look. "Jasmine, stop interrogating him."
"I'm not interrogating, I'm just—curious!" Jasmine replied, pouting a little. "Eve's always been mysterious about who she likes. This is the first time we're seeing one in the flesh."
Evelyn glared daggers at her, but Jasmine just giggled.
Ali didn't mind the questions. If anything, he found them amusing. "I'm right here, you know. You can just ask me directly."
Before Jasmine could bombard him again, the waitresses began to arrive—one after another, balancing trays stacked with sizzling steak, roasted vegetables, and fragrant bowls of seasoned rice.
The girls watched in stunned silence as the staff brought more and more dishes, enough to feed a banquet. Eventually, they had to pull over an extra table just to hold all the food Ali had ordered.
"Are you that hungry?" Jasmine finally blurted, wide-eyed as she stared at the mountain of steaks. "
Ali looked at the food like it was just a warm-up. "I have a high metabolism," he said casually, picking up a fork.
Evelyn rested her chin in her hand, watching him with a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She was the one who ordered the food before Ali even got here.
Rose and Jasmine quietly watched Ali as he began slicing into his first steak. There was something almost cinematic about it—the deliberate, composed movement of his hands, the ease with which he handled the cutlery, and the way the warm light danced across his sharp jawline and calm black eyes. Even mid-bite, there was a rugged, effortless grace to him.
Jasmine leaned forward unconsciously, her chin propped on her hand, lips slightly parted.
Rose, who normally carried herself with more maturity, wasn't immune either. Her gaze lingered on Ali's face a second too long, caught up in thought.
COUGH COUGH
Evelyn's subtle clearing of her throat might as well have been a warning shot. Her sharp gaze swept across her two friends, snapping them out of their dreamy trance.
Jasmine flinched and looked away, blushing in embarrassment. Rose gave Evelyn a small, guilty smile and took a sip of her wine to play it off.
"How did you guys meet?" Ali asked casually, his deep voice cutting through the moment.
Jasmine's eyes lit up. "Oh! I can tell you that one!" she chirped, perking up like a child with a story to tell. "It was back in the Slum. I was brand new to Paradise, had no idea how anything worked. I joined this team—thought they were cool, you know? But as soon as we entered the world, they turned on me. Told me to hand over all my stuff and PC. Total betrayal."
"That's when Evelyn came in," Jasmine continued, grinning as she hugged Evelyn's arm. "She swooped in from behind, guns blazing, like a total badass. Saved my life!"
"I told you I just happened to miss you," Evelyn replied with a dismissive roll of her eyes, gently pushing Jasmine off her arm.
"Don't downplay it!" Jasmine whined. "Anyway, after saving me, Evelyn couldn't just leave me alone in a hellhole like Game of Thrones."
"More like you clung to my leg and cried, begging me not to abandon you," Evelyn said dryly, smirking.
Rose couldn't help herself—she burst out laughing.
Jasmine's face darkened as she turned to Evelyn with mock outrage. "Do you have to say it like that? You're making me look bad in front of Ali!"
She turned back to Ali with a sunny smile, despite her annoyance. Ali, already halfway through his third steak, didn't break pace. He chewed leisurely, eyes calmly observing.
"So we lived in Game of Thrones for months," Jasmine went on, her tone softening. "We stuck with Jon Snow's side, of course. That's where we met Rose—on the other side."
Rose snorted. "Yeah, I was stuck with the Lannisters. Worst assignment ever."
"We beat her up pretty bad," Jasmine teased, poking Rose in the arm.
Rose turned her head, glaring. "Why do you always say it like that?"
"I'll finish the story," Rose said, her voice smooth and slightly more composed. "She fainted the moment she saw blood. Me and Evelyn fought it out—I lost, but it was close. Then we met again here in Paradise… became friends after that."
Jasmine sighed dramatically and shook her head. "And then Evelyn joined the murderers and left us."
The air around the table changed. Jasmine had meant it playfully, but her tone dropped a shade too low. Evelyn's smile became tight and artificial, the kind someone wears when they're holding something back. Rose quietly took another sip of her drink, her expression unreadable.
The weight in the air was lifted when a booming voice echoed across the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for the main show!" the tavern owner called out from the stage, standing under a warm golden spotlight. Cheers erupted from the tables as he bowed and stepped aside. The crimson curtains began to part.
Ali turned his head toward the stage, following the excitement. The others perked up with anticipation.
"Here she comes…" Rose murmured, a soft smile appearing on her lips.
The curtains drew back slowly to reveal a breathtaking sight. A young woman with long, flowing blonde hair sat elegantly on a red velvet chair. Her skin was pale and luminous, like porcelain kissed by moonlight. A large golden harp stood next to her, its strings gleaming under the lights.
She looked serene—almost ethereal—with her eyes gently closed and her delicate hands resting on the harp. Her fingers rose and began to move, barely brushing the strings.
A melody was born.
The moment her voice joined the harp's notes, the bar fell into a hush so complete it was as if time itself paused. Her voice was not just beautiful—it was haunting. It sank into the bones, soaked into the soul. Gentle. Vulnerable. Powerful. Each note carried raw emotion, like a letter to a long-lost love.
Ali stopped eating.
His hand hovered over his plate, still holding a fork, as his eyes focused on her face. Something shifted in him—so subtle only Evelyn caught it. There was a heaviness in his gaze. Not sadness, not pain… but a quiet, aching familiarity.
'She resembles her…' Ali thought as the song tugged at a part of him. 'My first wife…'
Evelyn was watching him. Her lips parted slightly as she stared at Ali. It was the first time she'd ever seen him show something—anything—that resembled true emotion. She felt a knot twist in her stomach. 'Why?'
The song came to an end, gently tapering into silence. A beat passed.
Then the bar exploded into cheers. Standing ovations. Whistling, clapping, shouting. The woman on stage bowed gracefully with her eyes still closed. The audience adored her.
After the cheers calmed down the bar went back to their conversations and laughter as Jasmine left the table and walked up to the stage where she raised her hand to the singer who smiled at her once she recognised who it was and took her hand.
Jasmine guided the singer through the tables until they got to Ali who looked up at her face and he reminisced…
"Ali, meet our friend, the best singer in Paradise and the most beautiful lady i know. Summer", Jasmine hugged Summer who smiled and hugged her back.
"Oh Jasmine stop it", Summer said and her voice when even just normally talking still hit deep inside every person.
'It's magic', Ali thought.
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Exams are over, I'll try and get back to consistent uploads now👍
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