The next two and a half hours passed more comfortably than any of them might have expected. The fire crackled steadily in the hearth, casting warm light across the tavern’s walls while the group split off into loose clusters, searching for clues while gradually getting to know one another.

Conversation came easily, helped along by curiosity, shared purpose, and in some cases, the bottles Erica had begun liberally refilling from.

Patrick turned out to be a middle school science teacher, something that felt immediately fitting given the way he lit up while talking about the stars earlier. Astronomy, he explained, was his main hobby, and he eagerly pointed out that he’d brought a small star chart in his bag in case the sky stayed clear.

Jennifer leaned comfortably against him as he spoke, smiling.

“I met him when he came into the ER with a broken foot,” she said, amused. “Subbing for the gym teacher.”

Patrick winced at the memory. “Turns out middle schoolers don’t understand the phrase ‘demonstration only.’”

“And I had to be the one to tell him he was going to be in a cast for six weeks,” Jennifer added.

“Worth it,” Patrick said, squeezing her hand.

Nearby, Amanda and Casey shared their own stories.

“I work retail,” Casey said, leaning back in one of the leather chairs. “Chain store. Nothing glamorous. But I play softball on weekends. That’s how we met, actually.”

Amanda nodded. “I’m a baker. Early mornings, donuts, pastries, all that. I’m usually up before the sun.” She smiled slightly. “Softball games were one of the few times I actually got to sleep in.”

David and Erica shared their background more formally than the others.

“We’re retired,” David explained, though he gestured casually. “Though I still own a small construction company. Don’t do much hands-on anymore.”

Erica gave a small nod. “I used to be an elementary math teacher. Now I manage our neighborhood HOA.”

“With an iron fist,” Casey muttered under her breath.

Amanda coughed quietly, hiding a smile.

Phillip, meanwhile, remained somewhat more reserved. He described himself simply as a QA tester, though he avoided discussing specifics about what he worked on, steering conversation instead toward the fantasy roleplay he and Alicia were clearly embracing.

Alicia, for her part, brought a bit of flair to the evening. She stepped behind the bar at one point and began casually flipping and spinning one of the bottles, catching it with practiced ease.

“Oh wow,” Jennifer said, impressed.

“Waitressing and bartending,” Alicia explained with a grin. “Pays the bills and keeps life interesting.”

The relaxed atmosphere made it easier for everyone to spread out and search more thoroughly.

Phillip eventually discovered something tucked carefully behind one of the decorative shields mounted on the wall. He carefully lifted it aside and pulled out a folded parchment.

“A map,” he said, unfolding it across one of the tables.

The group gathered around. It was a fantasy world map: continents, islands, oceans, and mountain ranges labeled in flowing script. None of the names meant anything to them. The geography was entirely unfamiliar, detailed enough to feel real rather than decorative. At the top, written in elegant lettering, was the name of the world:

Esora.

“That’s… actually really cool,” Amanda murmured.

“Yeah,” Casey agreed. “They didn’t just make a tavern. They made a whole world.”

Meanwhile, David found something else behind the bar: a small wooden box tucked beneath a shelf. Inside was a worn book, its leather cover cracked with age.

He opened it carefully. The text inside was strange. It wasn’t entirely unfamiliar, there was a little bit of English here and there.

Patrick leaned over his shoulder. “Huh… that looks like… I don’t know… French? Or Spanish?”

“Not quite either,” Phillip said, stepping closer. “Looks like a romance language… but I can’t place it.”

A few words were recognizable, or at least close enough to guess meaning, but most of it remained frustratingly out of reach.

“Well, that’s definitely part of the puzzle,” Alicia said.

Time passed quickly after that. At thirty minutes until midnight, the group gradually settled closer to the fireplace, attention drifting more and more toward the clock mounted above.

The firelight flickered across the ornate face, shadows dancing across the strange symbols and unfamiliar moons. The hands now rested nearly at twelve. No one spoke much. Even Erica had fallen quiet. The last few minutes ticked by in silence, anticipation building in the warm, dimly lit tavern. Then, at exactly midnight:

A resounding GONG erupted through the building.

The sound was deafening. It didn’t seem to come from the clock… or the walls… or any single direction. Instead, it felt as though the entire tavern
itself had rung like a struck bell.

Several people flinched violently. Then it came again.

GONG

Louder. Heavier. Vibrating through the floorboards beneath their feet. And again.

GONG

The group covered their ears instinctively, some crouching as though seeking cover from something physical, something they could escape. But there was nowhere to go. The sound surrounded them. Relentless.

GONG

GONG

Each strike seemed to rattle the air itself, shaking breath from their lungs and leaving their ears ringing. Someone, Kyrie wasn’t sure who, stumbled against a chair. Another person crouched near the hearth, eyes squeezed shut.

GONG

GONG

The ringing continued, merciless and overwhelming. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve.

With the final strike, the sound abruptly stopped. Silence crashed down just as suddenly as the noise had begun. For a moment, no one moved. The fire crackled quietly, the only sound in the tavern.

One by one, they lowered their hands from their ears, blinking in confusion and disorientation. Their balance felt slightly off, the world seeming just a fraction too quiet after the assault.

Kyrie looked around slowly. Everyone else looked just as stunned. No one spoke.

They simply stared at one another in silence, the lingering echo of the twelve rings still seeming to hang in the air.