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And so began a friendship between the sword prodigy from the Kingdom of the Frost Eagle and a surprising man who had started out as a simple mercenary.

The first drinks were accompanied by light discussions, anecdotes of battles and childhood.

Maxime recounted how, as a teenager, he had found himself trapped in a burning barn while trying to save a dog.

Of course, this wasn't true, since he'd only had access to Eternity for 4 months.

But he couldn't just say:

"Actually I'm not from this world, I used a watch to cross the dimensional boundary that separated me from this world called Eternity and the original world where I was born."

No matter how much he drank, his unconscious knew the risks of exposing himself in this way.

Rather, the real story was how he'd found himself trapped inside a burning building while trying to rescue people trapped inside.

"How did you get out?" asked Dorian curiously.

"Some village elders smashed up the barn to create an entrance that hadn't yet been attacked by fire, and luckily we weren't far from them so it was very quick and safe." replied Maxime, making up a story at the time.

The truth was that he'd been lucky and that a strong man was passing through town, and when he heard about the incident he saved everyone with his own strength.

"You were very lucky, or what shall I say, the world was very lucky not to have lost you that day."

Maxime shook his head spitefully at Dorian's words, he really did seem to have a tendency to say extraordinary things whether serious or not.

"If you like I've got a rather interesting story too, do you want to hear it?" asked Dorian with a mysterious smile.

"I'm all ears," replied Maxime without too much expectation.

In any case, with alcohol, even if the story was mediocre, they'd laugh anyway.

"When I was young, I must have been 13/14, I was already very popular with women..."

Maxime immediately stopped him with a smile on his lips.

"Wasn't it rather your status as heir to a duchy that interested them?"

"Let's skip those details..." replied Dorian, sweeping aside with a wave of his hand.

"And among all those girls, there was the daughter of an earl who particularly interested me."

"So obviously I courted her, but she rejected me with a cold, contemptuous look."

Maxime continued to listen, sipping his wine.

"But when my knightly skills were put to the test, her attitude changed completely."

"And as my strength progressed and my reputation improved..."

But as he spoke, Maxime interrupted him again with another laugh.

"Wait, was there a time in your life when you had a good reputation?"

"Yeah...That's just when it started to slip." Dorian exclaimed with pride.

"Why do you look so proud?" asked Maxime, looking up.

But Dorian ignored him and continued to tell his story.

"She started sending me letters to see each other in secret. And of course, I agreed."

"And pretty soon it became someone I was seeing regularly."

"And you know, there's no smoke without fire."

"Because she learned that I was also seeing other women."

"She made the decision to go and talk to these women, and after a long discussion, they decided together to destroy my reputation so that other women would no longer be attracted to me."

"Without them, my reputation would never have reached this point of no return."

The more Dorian spoke, the more shocked Maxime became.

"So this kind of story really exists, it's not just in the movies?" he thought silently as he let Dorian continue.

"Besides, it's kind of funny that all those who criticize me behind my back are the ones who can't get enough of me anymore."

"Wait, they stayed with you despite the fact that you cheated on them all?" exclaimed Maxime, suddenly rising from his chair with surprise.

"Of course, compared to other men I'm so exceptional. They can't go back to men who are too ordinary because the difference would be too great."

As he said this, Dorian sounded particularly arrogant and proud.

He was almost hateful, but somehow Maxime couldn't help laughing.

"It's just that they're too vindictive, and don't want other women to be won over by me because it would mean less time for them."

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"But at this stage you have to have children now?" asked Maxime curiously.

"A knight's vital seed isn't called vital seed for nothing," Dorian began to explain with a smile, like a master mastering his art.

"It gives the ability to wield our vital energy to strengthen our bodies or even our weapons."

"And one ability derived from it is the ability to block all vital energy during...exchange."

"Incredible, it is indeed incredible." Maxime commented with surprise.

He didn't think a world resembling the Middle Ages would have such elaborate and effective methods of contraception.

"It's an open secret among noblemen, but it still happens that sometimes, in the heat of the moment, a knight loses control. Not everyone can be as good as me," Dorian said, shaking his head in annoyance.

He was the illegitimate child of a great knight, so he spoke from experience.

But that didn't stop the two men laughing more and more as the bottles emptied. Dorian, whose cheeks were taking on a rosy hue, raised his glass in an unlikely toast.

"To us, two misunderstood geniuses, alone against the rest of the world!"

Maxime raised his glass, his eyes shining.

"And to the drunkenness that makes this world more bearable!"

They toasted with a resounding flourish, spilling a little wine on the table as they went. The atmosphere was charged with a familiar, almost fraternal warmth. Hours passed, and the words became more chaotic, more frank.

"You know, Maxime, I envy you a little," said Dorian, leaning awkwardly on the edge of the table.

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"You, you don't have to bear the absurd expectations of an entire family on your shoulders."

Maxime, his eyes unfocused, nodded with exaggerated gravity.

"But you eat. You eat well, my pig." Then he burst out laughing for no apparent reason, followed by Dorian.

It was at this point that words and phrases began to become incomprehensible.

Perhaps they themselves no longer understood what they were saying either.

Dorian tried to get up to fetch another bottle, but stumbled, barely catching himself on a chair. Maxime, hilarious, tried to help him but ended up falling backwards, taking a stool with him.

"You're a bad host." he muttered, laughing.

Dorian, lying on the floor, raised a hand in a dramatic gesture.

"And you, an unbearable guest."

After chatting for a while, they stood up to pour themselves some more wine, after all there were still many bottles to be emptied.

Their laughter echoed through the room, covering the crackling of the candles.

Finally, exhaustion and alcohol got the better of them after a long time together. They collapsed on their own, Dorian sprawled on the floor and Maxime slumped in his chair with his feet up on the table and a smile on his face.

Both seemed to be having pleasant dreams.

Soon the light of dawn began to pierce through the window, casting long shadows over the untidy scene.

The two men were fast asleep, their glasses overturned at their sides.

The distant but insistent tinkling of a bell roused Maxime from his slumber.

He opened one eye, groaning in the harsh morning light that flooded the room.

His head was pounding like a drum, and his belly seemed very agitated.

Dorian, still stretched out on the floor, made light snores, one arm thrown dramatically over his head.

Maxime struggled to his feet, leaning on the table and wobbling. Empty bottles, spilled glasses were silent witnesses to their evening.

"Dorian, wake up..." he growled, kicking his new friend lightly in the leg.

The knight let out an indistinct grunt before opening his eyes, staring at the ceiling with a bewildered expression.

"Shit, what's wrong with waking people up so rudely?"

After a short silence, he asked:

"What time is it?"

Maxime glanced out the window. The sun was already high in the sky.

"Too late to go on sleeping, too early to forget I have to leave."

Dorian sat up slowly, running a hand over his face.

"Ah yes that's right you have to leave this morning. Lapi right?" He rose with a grunt and walked awkwardly to a table where he found a carafe of water.

"Here, drink this. You can't leave in this state."

"Because you can?" replied Maxime, gratefully accepting the water and drinking in large gulps.

"My reputation won't sink any lower," he replied, laughing lightly.

"You'll miss me, won't you?" quipped Dorian with a teasing smile.

Maxime raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon my love," Maxime replied with a charming little smile and a wink.

Dorian burst out laughing.

"Oula, tell me, did anything happen between you and me last night to make you say that?"

"If you only knew..." commented Maxime without finishing his sentence.

But he didn't want to keep playing this game for much longer; it was possible that his mercenaries were already waiting for him.

Maxime took one last look at the chaos they'd left behind before grabbing his coat and sword.

"Try not to get into too much trouble while I'm gone."

Dorian burst out laughing.

"Me? In trouble? I don't know what you're talking about..."

With a final smile, Maxime stepped through the door and into the colors of this mysterious, abandoned building.

He soon reached the main courtyard in front of the mansion.

The courtyard was bustling with activity; his mercenaries had gathered, ready to go. Some were adjusting their armor, others checking their mounts or reorganizing provisions.

"Chief, we're ready." said one of them as Maxime approached.

Maxime nodded, his posture regaining the discipline of a leader.

He had an extraordinary physique, so even after a whole night's drinking and not much sleep he still had enough energy to be fit.

"Good. Off we go, then. We've got a long way to go."

But as he said this, the world suddenly turned gray around him.

Ding!

[Eternity is closing!]

[User Maxime Valdreuve will be logged out shortly].