RAJA VINSPEAR (POV)

“Right this way, sir,” I said leading the sharp-looking young man through the store isles. “As you can see here, our more refined elixirs are kept in secured areas on the shop floor,” I said pointing to the decadent bottles.

“So, tell me,” the man said, “aside from price, what makes these formulas better than the ones I saw before?” he asked.

I would have struggled to answer the question two years ago, but now, hearing it again after years of training, it seemed so simple. And as if I were reading from the books I had used to increase my knowledge, I answered his question with ease.

“The green Jade flower, sir. One of many rare and highly sought ingredients on the market today, it can enhance the effects of any simple elixir ten-fold.” I said. “The price alone is justified by the addition of the exotic plant, but the effects it has can be tremendous.”

“Is that so?” he said eyeing down the bottle.

“Very much, sir. If it is in your interest, you are able to put in a request for a custom formula of your choosing and have it delivered or you can pick it up here on your own. Of course, this type of exclusivity increases the price of what you want to buy, but I doubt you’ll find another store in Haulburn that will provide you with the same offer.” I said.

The young man rummaged through the stubble on his face, contemplating his options. I was still slightly inexperienced when it came to pitching a sale for a product or making a higher-priced option seem more attractive to a customer, but my training with Anaya - the head manager at Boldwick Elixers - was gradually proving to pay off.

“Since it’s my first time, let me buy two bottles of your pre-made Hyperesthesia elixirs - the ones enhanced with Jade flower.” He said. “However, I will most likely be back in the future, that offer you mentioned before sounds tempting.”

“Very well, sir, I’ll have the bottles wrapped and ready for you at the counter in a minute,” I said.

Boldwick Elixers had been growing exponentially for the better ever since I joined. Not saying I was the reason for that growth, but simply that I have only seen the popularity of the shop increase since. My father and mother-in-law - Richard and Poppy Boldwick - haven't been seen around the city much lately since Richard began his expansion of the company to other cities. I’ve had the privilege of learning most of the customer service skills from Anaya one-on-one, who has taken a lead role in the head branch of the company while Richard is away.

“Here you go, sir,” I said handing the wrapped goods to the young man from before. “That will be one stack, sir.”

He chuckled to himself, “You weren't joking when you said the price was high.”

“A high price for high quality, sir,” I replied with a genuine smile.

As he shuffled through the satchel bag he had brought in with him, the ring of a bell near the entrance of the building indicated the doors had been opened by a new customer. I looked up to see the individual enter the store, and my eyes widened in disbeleif.

The individual's wavey auburn-colored hair, elegantly tailored suit and fine posture that would belong to someone who is trying to keep up appearances, caused me to second guess who they truly were. After all, these were all qualities he would have learned after I left him. I could obviously, and at the same time, barely recognize my old friend.

“What is he doing here?” I thought to myself.

I had been able to exclude him from life ever since that day. He was of such little importance after I left that there were times when I would forget completely about his existence. The only time I had heard his name brought up recently was when I first read Elex’s acceptance letter into Haulburn Academy. I couldn’t believe that the little boy that I looked after as if he were my younger brother would now be watching over my own son. And the shock was even greater considering the fact I had left him in the past. Left him to be forgotten. A forgotten memory that I wouldn’t bother delving into.

Yet, there he was. Entering the doors of the very shop I work. A new reformed man - at least that's the way it seemed.

I watched him as he looked around the store, passing by other customers and analyzing the contents within the aisles.

“Hey, Anaya!” I called out, “Could you help me with this customer please?” I asked as she approached.

“Of, course. What’s the problem?” The Demon blooded lady asked.

“Another matter I must attend to has come up, I appreciate you helping me,” I replied while taking my leave.

I walked through the aisles, and past multiple customers before I could meet him. As I got closer, he caught sight of me and stared me down as I approached. He turned his body to face me he stood waiting.

“Raja,” He said.

“Harrison.”

“You look well,”

“As do you,” I replied hinting at his lavish clothing.

He looked down at himself, “Ah . . . a lot changed after you left the guild. New opportunities arose and I took them.”

“Clearly," I scoffed, "a lot has changed,” I said slightly with a hint of sarcasm.

“. . . Raja." he mumbled, "Why did you leave me?" he said with clenched fists.

Really? Was he being serious? The rash side of me wanted to slap him where he stood, but many people were on the shop floor, and something like that wasn’t like me anyway.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“You know why I left, Harrison,” I said calmly.

“Even still, you didn’t reply to any of my messages for months. All the letters I sent, I assumed they were lost in transit, only for me to find out that you had left your home in Fortica city,” he said. His face looked slightly distraught, slightly betrayed.

I sighed, “Why is it that you are here, Harrison,”

He didn't have the right to play the victim. Neither of us did. Perhaps I was wrong for completely leaving him in the dark, maybe my actions should have been done with more consideration. But what I did certainly doesn’t justify the tension he created back then. Or justify the problems he could have caused.

He looked downwards, acknowledging the fact I dismissed his questions. “It's the Yellow Vanguard.”

“What? I thought the guild disbanded years ago?”

“It still is,” he said, “But reports have been going around that some of the ex-lead members of the guild have been causing trouble within the outer city. So I’m here to ask if you can help me get in touch with the others.”

I cackled discretely, “You couldn’t do it yourself?” I asked.

“I haven’t spoken to them for years.” he said “I didn't exactly end on a good note with them.”

“Why am I not surprised.” I said, "You know, the fact that we haven't spoken in years, and then you suddenly walts into my workplace, covered from head to toe in opulent clothing requesting I help you with your problems just proves that you will never understand why you ended all your relationships on a bad note."

“Listen, Raja,” he said with some flare, “I may have made some mistakes in the past, mistakes that I regret to this day. But you don't have the right to belittle me now that I’ve humbled myself to come and ask you for help,” he said with an annoyed face. "Don't forget, you were the one who left. You were the only one who could have brought us all together, but instead, you turned and ran away."

“Humbled yourself?” I scoffed. "I turned and ran away? I'm sorry, I didn't realize that you’ve made it so far in life that it makes a great stain in your pride to ask me for help,” I replied. "I didn't run from you guys, I simply left behind those who started to hold me back."

For the most part, I didn't mean what I said, but our conversation had gotten slightly heated, and I decided to let loose a little piece of my mind.

He sighed, “I didn't mean it like that.”

“So what do you mean then?” I asked, “What is it you really want from me, Harrison.”

“I want . . . I need you to help me to persuade the others to stop what they’re doing. I haven't tried it yet, but I know they won’t listen to me. But they will to you. Maybe.”

“Why do you even care? You said you haven't spoken to any of them for years and yet you know that they are the ones who are making the trouble in the outer city. How do you even know all this?” I asked, “And why is it up to you to solve it?”

He hesitated slightly, then said, “It was a request from the king.”

“By Arcinose,” I replied in shock. “The king?” I repeated.

He nodded his head. He didn't have to say anymore, I understood the gravity of his situation. But why was this happening? Why now? When we were younger - just a group of desperate orphans trying to get by - the others weren’t the type of people to cause trouble within the city. Back when we all lived in Fortica, we were poor, the lowest of the low. Rats they would compare us to, but we did what we had to do to survive and I was the one who led them. We stuck together, robbed stalls for food and everything else of the like. If it weren’t for me, the others would have never taken the risks we took to get to where we are now. Perhaps that means something today. However, only after much persuasion, I had convinced the others to help me rob the house of a rich man, where we were lucky enough to find money and a pouch full of basic arc stones, which we used to make our way to Haulburn and start our life as naive adventurers. It seems that decision was the worst for our group's relationship in the end.

In all the time I spent with them, it was always me who invoked the action to do something. It was me who led them to commit crimes or to help me with my plans. Even though we were kids, we knew what we were doing was wrong. They knew that I was leading them to do wrong things, but they also knew that it was because I cared for them that I did it. Which is why I don’t understand why they would be causing trouble now. We left that lifestyle in the past, why would they ever want to go back to it?

“Will you help me? Please, Raja.” Harrison finally begged.

As I listened to him pleading for my assistance, the memories of Olivia surfaced in my mind. The times when she would tell me to forgive and forget about the past. Even in death, she still had a way with my emotions. Perhaps by reconnecting with the others and Harrison, I could fulfill her wish.

“I’ll help you,”

ELEX VINSPEAR (POV)

“I honestly don’t see what the problem is,” Leo said again. “We have a mission to do, you do realize that if we don't complete it we won't be able to leave, let alone pass this school year?” He said as we walked through the echoing hallway.

After we had spoken with the person named Rosh trapped under the tower, we decided to split up and look for clues around the building as we suggested to do before. I followed suit behind Leo with the girl named Sarah behind me who I knew very little of. We had traversed up the stairs to the fifth floor of the tower and were searching each room thoroughly for any hope of a hint as to what the man that Rosh spoke of was trying to do in order to get him out.

“I know, I don't doubt that,” I replied, “It’s just that the way we go about how we do this should be thought out and considered with caution.”

“You think I'm being too rash, Elex?” Leo said with a humorous tone.

“I’ve put my trust in your decisions, Leo, but that won’t stop me from voicing my own opinion. And I do think you might be overlooking the fact that we are attempting to release someone who’s been locked away in an abandoned tower high up on a mountain without a second thought.” I argued. “Even when I spoke to Chrollo about this, he agreed he felt something off about the person.”

“I have to agree with him there,” Sarah said from behind me, “Although I didn’t quite sense anything strange coming from the person as you said, I do feel that maybe we could take better precautions,” she added.

The entire time we had entered the dungeon doors, I had never heard the girl speak once. However, ever since we were split together along with Leo, she had become more vocal and seemed to speak her mind. She was your average rich girl - daughter of a noble I assume - and she had a sound mind.

“You too, huh?” Leo said, “Fine why don’t we just think about this,” he said while walking with slight haste.

“We have the task to help let out someone who has been trapped in this tower for who knows how long. And don’t tell me that there could be another objective because right now it doesn’t seem like we have any other leads to do otherwise. Now, does that sound like it’s a fitting task for a Beta-level dungeon?” He said rhetorically. “I think so. But let me swallow my pride. Let’s say I'm wrong and there's more to it, there are monsters hidden somewhere within the tower - which, let me just add, we haven’t run into a single one yet. I think we are more than capable to handle ourselves if it comes to that.” he said, “Elex, I’ve heard the way people have talked about your battle with Chrollo and how when you guys train together it seems you two are in leagues of your own. Are you telling me that I can't trust the fact that my two friends will be able to protect this group from any danger it faces? And let's not ignore the fact that we are all arc stone users as well. Albeit not as gifted as you two, but still capable of bending the elements to our will” He finished.

Leo was able to put things in a way that would force me to doubt my own power if I disagreed with what he was saying. He had a way with words that annoyed me when you were on the receiving end of his arguments. Although he may have a point, is it not better to be extra careful?

“And before you say something like, “But shouldn’t we expect the unexpected or be extra careful,” ” he added “Where is your sense of adventure? I’m the one who usually doesn’t get to enter the field with this kind of stuff, but you, this is right up your alley. You should be excited by the fact that maybe we could be falling into a trap.”

‘Damn him,’ I thought with a smile.

“I suppose,” I said too tired to continue the conversation.

We kept walking through the skylit hallway until we approached a door at the end of the corridor. We opened the closed door and entered a place that had the appearance of a study or perhaps an office of sorts.

“This looks promising,” Leo said as he walked around the desk at the backside of the room.

He opened the drawers while Sarah and I looked at other things that could potentially be important until he called us over to see what he had found.

“Look at this,” he said flipping through the pages of a book on the desk.

“I think it’s a diary,” Sarah said.

As Leo turned from page to page, we could see that the writing was in a language we couldn't understand. Any information that the diary might have held would be ultimately useless if we couldn’t read it. Or so we thought.

“Ah, look,” Leo exclaimed, “Those words there,” he said pointing at the diary, “ they mean, my name is . . .”

“Is . . .?” I repeated.

“M . . . Morsom?” he finished.

“How do you know that?” Sarah asked.

“The translation booklet that Thomas - our guide in the Gala - gave us.” He said, “I poked around within it prior to us entering the dungeon. Looks like I’m going to have to learn more about it if we want to understand what this Morsom man was recording. Maybe we can learn more about the person trapped below.” He said turning his head to me, “Would that give you some peace of mind?” Leo asked.

“It would,” I said.

He smiled at me with a face of satisfaction, “Let’s, show this to the others.” He said. “I think Emily and I will have a lot to learn in due time.”