Howard roamed the market streets carrying two large rucksacks filled to the brim with tools, food and other resources, following after Beatrice and Dhorn as they stepped into the center of town. Nothing really special lay before them, just an open square where adventurers met to go elsewhere.

Just as he had planned with Kendo and Sting, “Anybody see them?” He asked through the mountain of stuff, and with much lighter pockets than he had been a few hours earlier.

“Yeah, I see em.” Dhorn replied, gesturing over to their left where Sting and Kendo sat at a food stand, joined by another player whom they didn't know.

The group of three turned to their comrades, watching with some disgust as Kendo devoured an entire platter of whitish-meat.

Coming up to them then, Howard unloaded everything onto the nearest chair, making Kendo jump in surprise.

“Ooof! Don’t sneak up on a guy as he eats brah!” Kendo spat out as sauce went everywhere from his mouth.

“Ugh, you call that eating? Did you even get any of it inside?” Beatrice mused with a raised brow.

Kendo glanced from her to his dish and then back at her, “I think so?”

“Hah, more of your friends Sting?” Asked the new face as all but Kendo stood up, he continued stuffing himself.

Howard looked Sting’s friend up and down as he turned to them, human yet taller than even Sting’s elven form, if Beatrice wasn’t around he was sure to be the tallest amongst them. Not just tall but buff too, the man was almost an entire shoulder wider than Howard and full muscle.

Schaal {Iron Wall} [Level 19]

“Name’s Schaal,” He introduced himself with his thick central European accent, forwarding his hand to Howard for a shake. Glancing him over once more, average short brown hair and eyes, other than his giant’s body the man looked quite friendly with his wide smile.

“Howard,” Introducing himself just as well, Howard took the man’s massive hand for a shake, “Same level as Bae, our mage, I'm guessing by that big hunk of metal you’re carrying around that you’re more of the tank type?” He asked, glancing over at the huge plate of metal shaped like a shield, yet looking more like a small door than anything.

“That would be a correct guess, yes.” Schaal responded, heaving up his shield with one hand and seemingly no extra effort, he also tapped the sheathed longsword at his side. “I like the base meta best.”

“No harm in that,” Dhorn mused, stuck on staring at the shield, “Our boy Howard here prefers a more custom style, with that big ole’ gauntlet he carries around, loves to grab and strangle things, slam em about and whatnot.”

Laughing more so at Dhorn’s sudden voice than what he had said, Schaal then did his best to hold it back, “Thank you for letting me join in on this expedition, I’ve been thinking of heading off myself for a while now, just couldn’t find the right people to join.”

“You’re welcome, just don’t hold us back.” Beatrice then mused out, sitting down by Kendo she ordered herself a drink.

“Oh, don’t even Bae, what specific levels you running right now?” Kendo then asked as Beatrice did her best to avoid his splashing of sauce.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Ugh, 4 Martial, 11 Arcana and 5 crafting…” She replied in disgust, wiping her face clean with a nearby cloth before moving onto her robes.

“Bah! This guy here’s rolling 5 Arcana and 14 Martial already!” Kendo exclaimed.

“Yeah, I’m not much for crafting, rather leave that to those that are good at it ya know?” Schaal said with a chuckle.

“Well you’re more than welcome to do your thing,” Howard added, “Party composition wise we’re fairly well set, I’m running off-tank fighter while Dhorn here runs off-tank healer, then there’s Sting for our back-line support dps, Kendo our front-line dps and Bae as our magic CC and dps.”

“Speaking of which!” Kendo then hopped up from his chair and grabbed a massive object covered in cloth, setting it on the stand he then quickly unraveled the beast within. “Look at what I made!” He then announced enthusiastically, as before them now lay a massive great-sword ending in a trident-like set of three forked sword points.

“So that’s what you’ve been working on all this time.” Sting mused, smiling with great amusement at Dhorn’s expression to this atrocity of a weapon.

“By the gods why did you bring that…that…Thing! Back to life!?” Dhorn exclaimed horrified.

“Come on man, you know how much I love this thing! It’s my signature weapon!” Kendo whined, “Plus Hel came up with it for me!...I mean, of course I wanted one.” He then said, causing each of them to sigh but not say anything further.

Feeling the awkwardness that had risen, “How exactly did…you come up with this shape?” Schaal tried to break the ice.

“Hah, knucklehead here loves to swing big swords around but ever since Jor taught him how to use the war-trident he just couldn’t go back. So Hel made him…that.” Sting explained.

“Hel and Jor huh? I’ve been hearing a lot about these two from you,” Schaal mused, “Are they the other two members you’re off to search for?” Then feeling the awkwardness double as he finished his sentence.

“No, we’re off to look for Sin and Dark, two other members. Those two…aren’t-” Beatrice began to say when Howard cut her off.

“We’re looking for Jor as well, alongside Sin and Dark.” Howard said, at which point Beatrice’s wooden mug of ale shattered into dozens of pieces.

The air around them grew cold as mana oozed out of the sorceress, who had visibly grown annoyed and with each passing second it was turning into fury.

“Ah, let’s go make sure you all got everything…” Kendo then added, pulling Sting and Schaal off from the stand, Dhorn also awkwardly moved to follow.

“Uhm, did I say something wrong?” Schaal asked as he allowed the smaller human to guide him off.

“Nah big guy…it’s just personal shit.” Kendo assured, now hurrying his pace as he watched Beatrice rise from her seat.

Howard expected this reaction, watching Beatrice closely as she stood giving him her back. Her fists clenched tightly, she took long deep breaths, keeping herself in check.

“You failed to…mention that last part.” She said, turning to face Howard, Beatrice glared down at him with cold harsh eyes.

“Sorry, I just postponed mentioning it, till now.” Howard replied.

“Hah…I should’ve known, it’s always like this with you!” Beatrice shouted out, rage filling her tone, “Mr.Second in Command my big green ass. You always gave Jor everything he wanted, you just let him be...like…t-that. You never said anything not till…not…” Taking in a long breath, Beatrice let it out in an agitated and scattered manner.

Howard simply watched calmly, yet a tinge of guilt could still be seen upon his expression. “Yeah, I did. I could never correct him…Not until it was too late. I’m sorry Ba-Patricia, I’m sorry for what he made you go through. If you want no part in this expedition, I understand, and so will the othe-”

“No, I’m coming.” Beatrice then said, “What happened is in the past, I’ve long gotten over it now. I’m not how I used to be, the shy and awkward me died that day.” She added, grabbing hold of one rucksack and heaving it onto her back before taking her staff into both hands.

Turning to face him, Beatrice’s anger had drained away, in its stead lay a wide grin full of madness. “Actually, I’d love to find Jor, now.” She said, twirling her bladed staff about as red and blue trails of energy flowed with it, “Show him a thing or two, of what I’ve become, thanks to him.”

Howard chuckled, more so in relief, “Yeah, maybe you will.” Pulling the other rucksack onto his own back alongside his shield, he turned to the others who stood nearby, but far enough to be outside a mage’s distance. “Let’s set off then.”

“Yeah, this should be good fun anyway, I’ve been horribly bored.” Beatrice mused.

“Hah, when is it ever not fun, with this group?” Howard joked, as both of them stepped towards the others.

“I guess it’s official then,” Howard added, “We’re back, Yggdrasil is back.”