Klaus descended from the mountain range with controlled flight that carried him across hundreds of kilometers in mere minutes, the landscape blurring beneath him as he made his way back toward the capital. The transition from cosmic contemplation to mundane desires felt surprisingly natural—perhaps transcendence meant having the wisdom to appreciate simple pleasures rather than abandoning them entirely.

The familiar glow of the capital appeared on the horizon as evening painted the sky in shades of amber and crimson. Klaus could have returned directly to the Eastern Tower, yet something pulled him toward a different destination entirely. The memory of warm lamplight, honest conversation, and uncomplicated human kindness drew him toward The Silver Crown like a beacon calling him home.

Klaus landed several blocks away from the tavern and walked the remaining distance on foot, allowing himself to blend with evening crowds that moved through streets with purposeful energy of people ending productive days. His perfect form drew admiring glances despite his simple training clothes, yet Klaus found satisfaction in observing normal human activity without the weight of cosmic responsibility pressing down upon his consciousness.

The Silver Crown appeared exactly as Klaus remembered—warm light spilling from windows that promised refuge from whatever complexities the world might offer. Music and laughter drifted through doors that stood open to welcome evening air, creating atmosphere that spoke to community bonds forged through shared experience rather than supernatural enhancement.

Klaus paused outside the entrance, allowing himself to appreciate the contrast between this humble establishment and the cosmic forces he had been grappling with for weeks. Here, power meant the ability to make others laugh, wisdom was measured by understanding of human nature, and transcendence came through genuine connection rather than reality manipulation.

Klaus pushed through the doors to find The Silver Crown bustling with evening patrons who had gathered to celebrate successful day's work with drinks and companionship. The interior remained as welcoming as his memory suggested—rough wooden tables occupied by merchants sharing tales of profitable trades, craftsmen debating techniques over ale, couples finding quiet corners for intimate conversation.

Behind the bar, Marcus worked with practiced efficiency while maintaining jovial conversation with customers who clearly considered him friend rather than mere proprietor. His weathered face showed genuine pleasure at providing hospitality that transformed simple tavern into gathering place where community bonds were strengthened through shared experience.

Klaus scanned the room until his enhanced perception located familiar figure moving between tables with grace that spoke to years of navigating crowded spaces while carrying loaded trays. Samantha appeared even more striking than Klaus remembered, her practical efficiency combined with warmth that made every patron feel valued creating presence that dominated the room through sheer force of personality.

She noticed Klaus almost immediately, her eyes widening with surprise that quickly transformed into delight that seemed entirely genuine. Samantha abandoned her current table with apologies that carried no real regret and made her way toward Klaus with purposeful stride that suggested she had been hoping for exactly this development.

"Well, well," Samantha said as she approached, her voice carrying mixture of amusement and genuine pleasure. "Look what the evening wind blew in. Arkadius, right? Though you look..." she paused, studying his transformed appearance with analytical attention that Klaus found surprisingly astute. "Different. Better, somehow. Like you've been getting proper sleep and decent meals for once."

Klaus felt himself smiling with spontaneity that surprised him. "Something like that. I've had some time to work through the complications I mentioned during our last conversation."

"Must have been quite the breakthrough," Samantha observed, her gaze taking in details that spoke to enhanced perception of her own. "You look like someone who's figured out answers to questions that were keeping him awake at night."

"A few of them, anyway," Klaus admitted, recognizing truth in her assessment. "Though I've discovered that solving old problems has way of creating new ones."

"That's life for you," Samantha replied with philosophic acceptance that made Klaus appreciate her practical wisdom. "The trick is making sure new problems are more interesting than old ones. Speaking of interesting—what brings you back to our humble establishment? Business or pleasure?"

Klaus considered various responses before settling on honesty that felt appropriate for conversation with someone who had demonstrated capacity for genuine human connection. "I realized I was in danger of forgetting what normal feels like. Thought I might find reminder here."

"Normal?" Samantha laughed with genuine amusement that transformed her features from merely pretty to radiant. "Clearly you haven't spent enough time in taverns. We specialize in helping people forget normal for few hours at a time."

Her observation carried truth that Klaus recognized as exactly what he needed—opportunity to step away from cosmic significance and remember what it felt like to be person whose greatest concerns involved social interaction rather than dimensional stability.

"In that case," Klaus said with grin that felt natural despite everything he had experienced since their last meeting, "I think I've come to exactly the right place."

Samantha studied him for moment with expression that suggested she was weighing possibilities before making decision that would commit her to course of action she might later regret.

"You know," she said finally, her voice carrying challenge that Klaus found intriguing, "we don't usually get nobles in here who can handle their drink properly. Most of you fancy types are all talk when it comes to real drinking."

Klaus raised eyebrow with amusement that spoke to recognition of opportunity for exactly the kind of uncomplicated competition he had been craving. "Is that professional assessment or personal challenge?"

"Bit of both," Samantha admitted with grin that suggested she was enjoying this development immensely. "See, we've got standing tradition here—anyone who thinks they can outdrink local crowd gets chance to prove it. Winner gets bragging rights and free drinks for rest of evening. Loser pays tab for everyone present and provides entertainment by trying to walk straight line."

Klaus looked around tavern that had filled with evening patrons who appeared to be normal working people rather than enhanced individuals with supernatural tolerances. The challenge should have been completely unfair given his transformed physiology, yet Klaus found himself drawn to competition that would require him to engage with others according to rules that had nothing to do with cosmic power.

"What makes you think I'm interested in such contest?" Klaus asked, though his tone suggested he was already considering accepting whatever challenge Samantha might propose.

"Because," Samantha said with confidence that spoke to years of reading people who wandered into her family's establishment, "you've got look of someone who's been dealing with serious problems for too long. Sometimes best cure for that is friendly competition that reminds you why winning matters when stakes are just pride and good humor."

Klaus felt recognition crystallize that Samantha had identified exactly what he needed without understanding cosmic scope of problems he had been addressing. Her solution was elegantly simple—engage in activity that would remind him of joy found in uncomplicated human interaction.

"Besides," Samantha continued, her voice taking on tone that suggested she was revealing information she normally kept private, "I happen to hold current tavern record for alcohol consumption without losing consciousness. Been three years since anyone seriously challenged it."

Klaus detected note of pride in her voice that spoke to accomplishment she had earned through dedication rather than supernatural enhancement. The idea of competing against someone who had achieved excellence through normal human effort appealed to aspects of his personality that transcendence had not eliminated.

"Three years?" Klaus repeated with surprise that carried genuine respect. "That's impressive longevity for drinking champion."

"What can I say?" Samantha replied with shrug that attempted modesty while failing to conceal satisfaction. "I come from family of tavern keepers. We're practically born with hollow legs and iron stomachs."

Klaus made decision that felt simultaneously impulsive and perfectly logical given his current need for normal human experience.

"In that case," Klaus announced loudly enough for surrounding patrons to hear, "I formally challenge the Silver Crown's drinking champion to contest that will settle question of whether nobility can match common folk when it comes to serious alcohol consumption."

The tavern erupted in cheers and laughter as word spread that evening's entertainment would involve watching noble stranger attempt to outdrink Samantha, whose reputation for alcohol tolerance had become local legend. Bets were quickly placed while Marcus began arranging supplies for competition that promised to provide memorable entertainment regardless of outcome.

Klaus found himself grinning with anticipation that had nothing to do with cosmic power or transcendent understanding—just simple pleasure of engaging in friendly competition that would test capabilities that had nothing to do with reality manipulation.

For first time in weeks, Klaus felt completely, perfectly normal.