When Rast presented the quest to the party the next morning, they seemed both confused and suspicious. Not about the training, well, partly about the training but much more about the food. Someone would give them food and request nothing in return. Complete ludicracy.

But, with their stomachs strongly urging them, and aching backs begging, they decided to go; find out if the lunatic behind this was too crazy. They grabbed their gear just in case things got a bit escalated and set out.

The sun had just begun peeking over the mountains in the distance, turning the city yellowish and warm. The merchants hauled their carriages onto the streets, opened the stores and flipped the signs, warmed up their crow voice for the coming day. Soon the streets would turn into a raging river.

They had to attend the camp today, otherwise they wouldn’t be allowed to come at all. The quest paper said they’d meet up just beneath the largest fountain in the city. They’d meet up in the sewers.

“They want us to go underground?” Loki asked and scratched the back of his head.

“Yeah,” Rast said.

“That’s not suspicious at all,” Loki yawned. “Are you sure this is legit?”

“I found the papers at the adventurer’s guild so it must be.”

Climbing down into the cellars made Rast rethink. He did find the papers in the middle of the night, and there was a stack of them. The only time he’d seen quests stacked like that was when the Adventurer’s guild itself issued a quest.

The sewers beneath the city looked and smelled just as he’d expected, dark and terrible. Traces of yellow light flowed in the water. Was it perhaps shining piss? Alchemists were always up to weird things.

They walked in the direction of the fountain. The sewers were clear like that, paths going forward, left and right, no obstacles in the way, only a clear path. Navigating became a lot easier thanks to that.

They’d walked for many minutes, Björn staying in the lead. He prided himself with always standing in the front and would make sure to stay there. Rast followed quietly behind trying to keep track of how close they were. He thought they’d already reached it but didn’t see anyone so he stayed silent. Rast knew they were walking in the right direction, and thought that he’d overestimated their speed.

Suddenly, a two headed alligator leaped out of the water, straight for Rast. He only had time to breath before the beast bit down on his neck, but Björn had been ready. He shoulder slammed the gator, sending it off course. Marie shrieked.

They quickly reformed their formation. The two-headed gator bit but didn’t approach, not yet. It was measuring it’s opponents, trying to figure out if they were worth the haggle or not. It slammed its jaw shut. Clamp! The sound vibrated against Rast’s skin.

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“Holy shit this thing is scary,” Rast said. “Björn… ummmm… do not get caught by those two mouths whatever you do. It’ll bite through your armour, I think. Loki stay away from this one.”

“Don’t have to tell me that twice,” Loki said, standing at the very back.

Björn grunted in response, clenching extra tight on his large sword. One good swing. One good swing. He repeated in his mind. Rast had already begun casting his spell, squibbling the runes into the air, and aiming them properly.

The gator woofed like a hungry bloodhound, it caught everyone by surprise. Out of the water climbed another two headed gator, and stood behind the first one. There was two of them!

Rast thought if he should run. He thought that was the only option they had here, and dying of course. But they couldn’t win a fight against them, no way in hell, he thought. But he was frozen in panic, not able to order anything. Instead he agonized over what a terrible leader he was.

From the side of the corner they heard clanking of armour. Another party was here. They quickly rounded the corner, the air almost pushing them on, and took in the position.

“Max, up front, Hilma be ready, Klor, protect flank, Kance focus weak spots, go go go,” the mage said, and everyone nodded falling into place. The gators charged at them, thinking themselves invisible. They were a lot faster than Rast had predicted, scarily so.

Max, the large warrior, a head higher than Björn, swung his sword down and cleaved through one of the gators head, the other one ripped off his left arm. Max didn’t grunt. Blood poured out.

An arrow flew by, straight through the second gator’s eye, making it flinch and jerk in pain. Their mage, and leader, had finished his spell and a spew of flames materialized burning the second gator up into a crisp. What a powerful spell.

The first gator realized how outmatched it was and tried to run, but the second it had turned around and a dagger found itself stuck in its brain. It stopped limp.

“Fuuuuck, that’s new armour as well!” Max said, his army regenerating at a visible speed. Of course their healer is great as well. He turned around with a shit eating grin on his face, “at least I can see my muscles now.”

Rast found himself face to face with the parties leader, his hand was outstretched and Rast took it. “I don’t think we’ve met before, I’m Luther. What’s your name.”

“Rast.”

“See we’ve been trying to find this training camp but I’m a horrible navigator,” he’s humble too, of course his humble, is he going to tell me he’s a prince as well? “Back at home we always hired someone to do it for us.” Nobility, of course.

“We’re also heading for the training camp, but we’re also slightly lost. I think its that way though,” Rast said, pointing his finger. “You’re welcome to walk alongside us if you want to.”

“Sure.”

They walked together for the rest of the road; Luther speaking about magic as a passion; Max and Björn flexing to eachother; Annie and Kance speaking about… a god of bead; Hilma and Marie peppering eachother with compliments; and Klor and Loki throwing insults at each other.

The tunnel opened up, and they saw a multitude of other parties. They had reached the training camp.