A day had passed and various luggage had been gathered and brought outside. Tibaut and Elizabeth were in their armour while Jake looked like he had left him in some luggage.

The dirt opening had various travel bags and suitcases strewn about. Honestly, with how many were there it made Tibaut feel under-prepared with the single bindle being held on his shoulder.

"Is that really all you need Tibaut?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, we shouldn't be there for too long so it should be fine." He said, sounding unsure of himself. "Still, bodyguard work? Are you sure we're not mercenaries?"

Jake interjected.

"Don't be like that, Tibaut. This is respectable work we're doing compared to those guys."

"Well, I won't lie, there is overlap between us."

"Come on Liz, not you too!" He said while pouting.

"You idiot, have you already forgotten why we're going there?" A voice said to Tibaut.

He turned to see the front door open with Tina standing at the frame. She was in the armor she wore on the night of the fire but it seemed far more polished than before.

"Oh, you're the fourth one coming with us."

"What? Disappointed it wasn't someone else?"

"No, leaving you at the house without us might just make you sulk without doing any training."

She ran up to him and started (lightly) punching him.

"S-shut up. I don't need you or Elizabeth to train. Do you think I'm some lonely hamster? But I suppose seeing your stupid face will keep my blood pumping." She said while looking flustered.

"But aren't you happy?"

"About what?"

"That you're with us. If you were weak we would have left you behind."

A smile started forming on her face but she increased the power of her fists and Tibaut had to bend over to catch his breath from being winded.

"Whatever, Elizabeth probably just brought me here to even us out."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"I wasn't the one who made the team."

"Huh? Then who did?" Tina asked.

"Mr. Bentley. I asked if me and Tibaut could go alone but apparently, the commission was four at least and he decided to add you two."

("Tch, did the old man think he was doing me a favour with this?") Tina thought to herself.

Tina staggered slightly. ("Did you seriously not consider me, Liz!?")

"Do we seriously have the time to be doing this?" Tibaut asked.

"How many have you asked and how many times am I going to tell you we have to do it?"

"I mean, are we sure about just leaving the parish? Couldn't the cult attack in the time we're gone?"

"Don't worry, by the time we come back we should have reinforcements of some kind whether it be other adventurers, soldiers or the police."

"Police?" Tibaut looked at her confused.

"Yes, police. Are you so dense you don't know the names of the guards officially stationed in the parishes?"

He scratched his head. "Oh no, it's just that I didn't know that's what they were called here as well. (Hearing the word police and not something like "the Royal Guard of Smith's Borrow" in a world like this did kinda trip me up.)"

"Oh right, you aren't from here so I suppose you wouldn't know the formal name of the guards stationed here. (Especially because you're more likely to see a mythical beast than any guard.)"

"He isn't?"

"He isn't?"

The two sitting out the conversation commented that but they went ignored.

"(I know Elizabeth said she told them a modified version of how we met but did she not tell them I'm not from here? Shit, Elizabeth said it was a close country but I don't know where she was talking about, she might get suspicious if I can't name it. Though it's not like I can't say I'm from Akumia but I feel like she'll be pissy about me lying about where I'm from.)

"We can have all the time in the world to chat when we catch our carriage, so let that be for the time being," Elizabeth said.

("Nice save Elizabeth!")

"By the way Elizabeth" Tibaut looked around the forest and also scanned the clearing they were located in.

"How is the carriage gonna get here?"

Jake looked concerned when Tibaut pointed this out and commented, "um, it is coming here, right Elizabeth?" in the most polite tone he could muster.

"What, do you guys not know?" Tina said while holding all of her luggage.

"Ah, it appears I forgot to inform you two. We'll be running to town to catch the carriage."

Tibaut let out a sigh of agony and Jake fell to the ground like he had just been shot.

Tina didn't seem to pay them any mind and was the first to set off.

"Oi Elizabeth, come join me already, surely you aren't afraid of losing." She said before disappearing from view.

"I suppose I can give her a head start." Elizabeth then calmly picked up her luggage and started walking.

"Wait, Elizabeth isn't it past noon now? How long are they gonna be there for?"

Her eyes went upwards and she entered thought for a few moments. Although her expression was calm, sweat soon started beading on her forehead.

"Maybe I shouldn't give Tina a head start after all." And immediately after, ran into the forest.

("Well at least I only have this small thing") Tibaut thought to himself looking at his bindle.

As he took his first step he felt something grab one of his legs and turned around to see Jake on the ground nearly in tears.

As he looked around he realized something. Only half of the luggage was gone.

Jake said no words and looked at him with puppy dog eyes.

Tibaut tried to walk away but couldn't force himself to shake him off his leg.