The tavern looked different now that Ryo didn't have to pretend. He'd spent the morning setting up proper magical wards – not the weak suggestions he'd previously maintained for show, but real protections that made the building probably the safest place in town outside of Elena's command post.

  "You're overdoing it," Elena commented from her seat at the bar, watching as Ryo casually rewrote the fundamental properties of his storage cellar to keep drinks perfectly chilled. "The amount of power you're using for beer storage could protect a small fortress."

  "Good beer is important," Ryo replied without looking up from his work. "Besides, I'm tired of manually hauling ice down here."

  The tavern was empty except for them and Anna, who sat nearby scribbling notes frantically as she watched Ryo work. She hadn't left his side since the revelation, pestering him with endless questions about magic theory.

  "But how are you affecting the ambient temperature without creating a maintenance-heavy thermal differential?" she asked, her quill scratching rapidly across paper. "The energy expenditure should be enormous!"

  "It's not, if you convince space itself that this is just its natural temperature." Ryo finished the modification with a casual gesture. "There. Now, about those blood mages..."

  Elena straightened up. The prisoners had been her primary concern since yesterday. "They're still unconscious from whatever you did to their leader. My mages can't wake them."

  "That's because they're not exactly unconscious," Ryo explained, pulling out three mugs and filling them with his best ale. "I severed their connection to their master – the Old One. Their bodies are adjusting to the sudden loss of power. They'll wake up when they're properly human again."

  "Human again?" Anna's quill stopped moving. "What does that mean?"

  Ryo took a long drink before answering. "Blood magic changes people. Not just their power, but their actual being. Those three were barely human anymore – more like extensions of their master's will. Breaking that connection... well, it's like sobering up from a really bad drunk, but with reality-warping power instead of ale."

  A knock at the door interrupted them. Turner walked in, looking unusually serious.

  "Got visitors," he announced. "Royal Academy types. Full delegation with fancy robes and everything."

  Elena stood up. "They're early. They weren't supposed to arrive until—"

  "Word travels fast when someone fights an Old One," Ryo said dryly. "Especially when they don't bother hiding their power anymore." He looked at his ale regretfully. "Guess we should go meet them."

  The Royal Academy delegation had set up in the town square. Five mages in elaborate robes stood in a formal semicircle, trying very hard to look imposing. Their efforts were somewhat undermined by Beth selling pastries to a growing crowd of onlookers.

  "Worldwalker," the central figure called out as Ryo approached. "I am Arch-Mage Theron of the Royal Academy. We felt the dimensional disturbance yesterday and—"

  "Want to know if I'm a threat?" Ryo finished for him, deliberately maintaining his casual tavern keeper posture. "Planning to offer me a position? Or here to demand I help with the Old One problem?"

  The Arch-Mage blinked, clearly not used to being interrupted. "All of the above, actually. Your power level is... concerning. And your knowledge of the Old Ones—"

  "Is probably better than yours," Ryo cut in again. "No offense, but I actually fought one yesterday. And before we continue this conversation..." He glanced at the gathering crowd of townspeople. "Maybe we should move somewhere more private? Beth's pastries are great, but this isn't really a public discussion."

  "My command post," Elena suggested. "It's secure, and we can discuss the blood mage prisoners at the same time."

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  The Arch-Mage looked like he wanted to object to being redirected, but something in Ryo's steady gaze made him reconsider. The delegation followed Elena to the knights' headquarters, with Ryo bringing up the rear.

  "The situation is grave," Theron began once they were inside. "The Old Ones' awakening threatens the entire realm. Your power could be crucial in—"

  "Let me stop you right there," Ryo interrupted for the third time. "I know what's at stake. Probably better than you do. But I'm not joining the Academy, and I'm not leaving Millbrook."

  One of the other mages, a sharp-featured woman, stepped forward. "You can't seriously prefer running a tavern to—"

  "Actually, I can." Ryo's voice hardened slightly. "I've spent most of my existence dealing with power and responsibility. This tavern, these people – they're mine to protect. I'll help with the Old Ones because they're a threat to what I care about, not because you want to add me to your arsenal."

  The Arch-Mage's face reddened. "This is bigger than one small town! The entire realm—"

  "Will be better served by me staying here," Ryo finished. "Think about it. The Old Ones want to remake everything. They'll need focal points of power to do it. Places where reality is... malleable." He smiled grimly. "Like, say, where a worldwalker who merged with the realm's fundamental forces happens to live?"

  Understanding dawned on Elena's face. "You're setting yourself up as bait."

  "Got it in one." Ryo leaned against a wall, his casual posture at odds with the weight of his words. "They'll come here, drawn by my power. And instead of endangering your cities or the Academy, they'll face me on ground I've prepared, surrounded by people I trust."

  "That's... actually brilliant," the sharp-featured mage admitted reluctantly. "But incredibly dangerous for the town."

  "Less dangerous than you'd think." Ryo gestured, and the air shimmered briefly. "I've been laying protections since yesterday. This entire area is probably the most heavily warded location in the kingdom now. I just made them subtle enough not to draw attention."

  The Academy mages stared at him. That kind of large-scale warding should have been impossible without days of preparation and multiple powerful mages working together.

  "Besides," Ryo continued, "I like it here. The ale's good, the people are honest, and no one tries to make me sit through boring meetings about magical theory." He gave the delegation a pointed look at that last part.

  Theron sputtered. "But... but your power... your knowledge... you could be leading the Academy!"

  "Been there, done that, got the interdimensional trauma to prove it." Ryo straightened up. "Here's what's going to happen: I'm staying here, running my tavern and protecting my town. I'll help with the Old Ones because they need to be stopped. But I'm not joining any organizations, I'm not moving to your fancy towers, and I'm definitely not sitting through any meetings that could have been handled by messenger crystal."

  Elena tried to hide her smile as the delegation processed this. It was clear they'd come expecting to either recruit or contain a powerful being, not negotiate with a stubbornly independent tavern keeper.

  "At least let us assign some researchers to study your methods," the sharp-featured mage pleaded. "The way you manipulate reality—"

  "Anna's already documenting everything," Ryo cut her off. "She's better at magical theory than half your researchers anyway. I'll have her send you notes if she finds anything useful."

  Somewhere in the distance, a bell rang. Ryo perked up.

  "And that's the lunch rush starting," he said cheerfully. "Unless there's anything else urgent, I have customers to serve. You're welcome to stay for a meal – my stew's pretty famous locally, and I just got the cellar's temperature regulation working properly."

  The Arch-Mage looked like he might explode. "This is not... you can't just..."

  "Actually, I can." All pretense of casualness dropped from Ryo's voice. "I chose this life. I chose these people. And I'm choosing to protect them my way. The Academy can either accept that and work with me, or waste time trying to force me to comply. Which do you think will work better against the Old Ones?"

  There was a long moment of silence. Finally, Theron sighed.

  "We'll... coordinate through Knight-Captain Elena," he said stiffly. "But we'll need regular updates on any Old One activity."

  "You'll get them." Ryo was already heading for the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have ale to serve and a reputation for oddly perfect drink temperatures to maintain."

  As he walked back to his tavern, Ryo could hear Elena explaining things to the delegation in more diplomatic terms. He'd probably catch hell from her later for being so blunt with them, but it felt good to finally be honest about what he wanted.

  The tavern was starting to fill up when he returned. Regular customers mixed with curious newcomers, all trying to act normal while sneaking glances at him.

  "Alright," he called out, letting a tiny bit of power make his voice carry. "Yes, I'm magical. Yes, I can do impressive things. No, the prices haven't changed. And yes, the ale is still the best in town – just a bit colder now."

  The tension broke as people laughed. This, Ryo thought as he began serving drinks with just a touch of magical flair, was exactly what he'd wanted all along. A normal life, just with less hiding and better temperature control.

  Of course, the Old Ones would come eventually. But for now, he had a tavern to run and customers to serve. Everything else could wait.