The bar is empty at this time of day, as usual. Dan, the owner and operator of the place, is standing behind the bar, busily working on cleaning and drying glasses and mugs for the evening, while Mika, the scullery boy, is lounging around on a barstool, having nothing to do for the time being.<br/><br/>Dan, a heavy-set man in his late 40s or early 50s, looks up from his work to greet Cherine gruffly. "Coming in early today? You know the place is dead until noon." With that, he focuses his attention back on his work, his muscles bulging briefly as he scours a particularly stubborn glass, the light from the windows reflecting on his bald head.<br/><br/>Mika, on the other hand, is gawking silently, much as you'd expect from a boy roughly Cherine's age when a girl like her walks in. Noticing Cherine looking back at him, he looks away, a blush creeping over his features. If Cherine has ever noticed him before, she'd have to wonder if he's been with any girl in his life. He's cute, black-haired, brown-eyed, tall, muscular and tanned, but somehow seems to blush and stumble over his tongue with even the plainest of peasant girls - which is probably why he hasn't dared to even approach Cherine.<br/><br/>Finally, sitting in the far corner, Cherine briefly catches a glimpse of a shadowy figure, its robes making it impossible to tell the gender - and the figure is gone the next moment.