"Did you already forget what happened the last time you invited someone into our party?" Maya snapped, pointing her index finger at Evelyn.
"How was I supposed to know that little girl had an invisibility skill? I was just trying to be helpful, you know," Evelyn replied, clenching her sides with both hands.
William massaged his forehead. It was always like this whenever a decision had to be made. These two girls were like two sides of the same coin.
As a leader, he calmed the girls down and took charge of the situation.
"Alright, let's calm down and handle this fairly, shall we? Maya, you first, why do you refuse to party with them? Give your reason," William asked.
"We're not some kind of charity party that accepts anyone who wants to join us. I don't want to expose my back to someone we just met. We don't know their true intentions," Maya explained, glancing sideways at Evelyn.
"Hmm... good point," William nodded, closing his eyes as he folded his arms and touched his chin with his right hand.
"Next, Evelyn," he then turned his attention to her.
"I-I know it's not right to let strangers join just like that. But lately... our team has felt so stiff and emotionless. We just focus on completing the quest, then move on to the next, and the next. We barely have any real conversations anymore. Both of them..." She glanced at Bob and Alan.
"They seem innocent. And they're funny, too. I just want us to feel motivated and happy again, like when we first met." Tears started to form in Evelyn's eyes, and a soft sniffle escaped. She wiped her face with her left hand. "That's all I want," she said with a teary smile.
"Evelyn..." William was at a loss for words.
Maya felt conflicted. She never realized that her best friend—like a sister, though born from different parents—was carrying such feelings.
She sighed and crossed her arms. "Fine. We'll allow them."
"Maya…" Evelyn looked at her, disbelief written across her face. Maya was never one to change her mind once she'd made a decision.This was almost unheard of.
"But on one condition. If they do anything suspicious or drag us down, we disband them right away. Do you agree, William?" Maya asked.
"Sure, I agree with that," William smiled, pleased that things ended well.
"Thank you, both of you. Love you so much," Evelyn said, looking genuinely happy. She then hugged Maya tightly.
---------
The group finished their discussion and returned to their seats. Maya still looked angry and turned away, refusing to make eye contact. Evelyn was smiling, clearly satisfied. William was the last to sit down before he spoke.
"We've made a decision. You two can join—but only for this quest."
"Thank you for your consideration. Don't worry, the last thing you'll ever expect from us is to drag you down," Bob said, still sounding as boastful as ever.
"We'll meet in two hours at the east entrance of town," William instructed, finishing his drink.
"We should get going," he added, standing up and grabbing his axe.
"Where are you heading first?" I asked. Two hours felt like a long wait.
"We're going to see the mayor first, then pick up some supplies for preparation. You two should get ready as well," Evelyn replied. Her bright smile hadn't faded. "Bye-bye!"
The trio then left the inn.
Bob stuck out his tongue at Maya's back. I tried to stop him, but she suddenly turned around and shot us a terrifying glare before walking out the door.
"So… now what?" I asked, tipping the last drop of tea into my mouth.
"There's something I need to confirm," Bob said with a dramatic rise, like he was about to announce a prophecy. "Alan, to the weapon shop!"
"What do you want to confirm?" I asked, half curious, half worried.
Bob's glasses caught the light. "You'll know soon enough" he said in a mysterious voice that would've sounded cooler if his belly didn't jiggle as he walked off.
I sighed. There was no stopping him now.
After wandering in three wrong directions, talking to a cabbage vendor, and accidentally walking into a bakery, we finally found the adventurer district.
Shops selling weapons, shields, armor, and supply items lined the street. Or at least… they used to. Most were closed.
"Looks like half the town retired early," Bob muttered.
"Can't really blame them, considering the state of things," I said, stepping forward.
The street was practically a ghost town. Only one shop looked alive, lights on and door open, Naturally, we entered.
"Good afternoon, sirs! How can I help you today?" greeted a man with a bowl cut so perfect it could double as a salad dish. Behind him, a muscle-bound blacksmith was banging away at a sword.
"We want to try some weapons," Bob announced, puffing up his chest and walking forward like a noble's spoiled son trying to impress the peasants.
"Of course, please have a look," the man replied, giving us tour of the shop.
The shop was organized surprisingly well. Swords were lined up in neat rows in the center, varying in size and shape. Spears, shields, and armor had their own corners. The fancier weapons were mounted on the wall, gleaming ominously under the light. If this were a video game, those would be tagged Epic or Way Too Expensive.
Unfortunately, despite the tidy setup, the selection was... modest.
"Well, not many choices," Bob muttered.
"I'm sorry, sirs," the clerk said, rubbing his hands together. "Materials are scarce these days, so we work with what we have. But don't worry! These weapons are still top-notch, crafted by the best blacksmith in town!" He smiled the smile of a man who really, really wanted a sale.
"Alan, come here," Bob called.
I joined him and found him standing in front of an absurdly large broadsword. It was the same width as Bob, and somehow twice as long. I didn't even know swords came in skyscraper edition.
"This is an Iron Broadsword," the clerk said, clearly trying not to sound nervous. "It has excellent durability and reach, but it's... well, very heavy. I suggest you also take a look at something more manageable, like, say, a dagger."
"Try equipping it, Alan," Bob ordered like a coach in a gladiator gym.
"You want me to lift this? This slab of iron?"
The sword was taller than me. If I swung it, I'd probably decapitate a flying pigeon in one swing.
"Are you sure?" the clerk asked, in concerning voice. "That weapon's really heavy. Please don't destroy the shop." he sweeped his forehead.
Without giving it too much thought, I stepped up, grabbed the hilt, changed my stance, and prepared to lift it with all the strength I had and mentally preparing to possibly throw my back out.
"Iyaaah!" I screamed, trying to make the moment a little dramatic.
But then... something unexpected happened.
The clerk and Bob's jaw dropped.Even the blacksmith stopped hammering mid-swing, staring at me.
I was holding the gigantic broadsword.
And not just holding, it felt light. Like... disturbingly light. Was it made of foam? Was this some kind of prank? It felt more like wielding a plastic weapon than a real one.
I then casually tossing the sword from my left hand to my right like I was juggling an umbrella.
It made a whoosh sound as it flew through the air, prompting the clerk to duck and yelp.
"What is happening here? Is this weapon real or just a replica?" I asked, lowering the sword carefully while still holding the hilt.
"Of course it's real," the clerk replied, sounding slightly offended.
Then the muscular blacksmith behind the counter stepped forward, wiping his hands on a thick cloth. "Let me show you," he said.
He grabbed the hilt from my hand and prepared to lift the weapon. Muscles tensed across his arms and neck as he strained. Veins bulged with effort.
Slowly, the sword rose to his eye level, then, after only a few seconds, slipped from his grip and dropped back down with a loud thud.
A quiet pause followed.
"Who are you?" the blacksmith asked, eyeing me with disbelief. "That sword was forged for advanced-class adventurers. Are you sure you're not hiding something?"
"No, no... I still don't even have a class yet," I said quickly, raising both hands to my chest in denial.
"What? Then how in the world did you lift that thing?" he muttered, now more confused than angry.
"Alright, alright, we're done here! Let's go, Alan," Bob cut in, suddenly grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the exit. "Thanks for your time!" he shouted back as we hurried out.
We ran through the streets and didn't stop until we reached the center of town. A large round fountain gently sprayed water into the air. We took a seat on a bench facing it, catching our breath.
I looked at Bob. "What was that all about?" I asked, still puzzled.
Bob leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, trying to act serious.
"I think I have an idea what your ability is."