"This... isn't what I had in mind..."

Myrese nervously glanced down atop the water slide, joined by Erik, Talia, and Alyssa, the latter who changed into her own bikini, a beige one similar in design to Talia's. The slide was one of the many attractions at the water park, which had quickly become a hotspot for the villagers and travelers alike.

"I meant that I've never done anything like help people..." Myrese weakly continued, trying to clarify her statement as they climbed the stairs to the top of the slide. The water rushing down below made a comforting sound, but it didn't calm her racing heart.

Erik chuckled, slapping her on the back. "Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. Besides, it's all about the experience, right?"

Myrese wasn't sure if Erik was talking about becoming a village doctor or going down the water slide. She swallowed hard as she looked down at the rushing water below. "Experience is good," she murmured, trying to convince herself.

They finally reached the top, where a couple of villagers working the ride greeted them.

"Ah, Burger King!" One of the workers called out, recognizing Erik. "You're here to bless us with your presence again!"

"That... please don't call me that," Erik cringed from the title. "Just.. Erik."

"Which of the slides would you like to go down, Burger King?" Another worker chipped it, ignoring his request completely.

"I said don't- never mind," Erik sighed. "Well, there's four slides and four of us, so ladies, take your pick?"

Talia looked at the slides with a mix of excitement and trepidation, choosing the one with the least sharp turns. Alyssa, ever the adventurous spirit, picked the slide that twisted and turned like a serpent.

Myrese, utterly terrified, chose the shortest slide, the one that looked the least likely to make her stomach drop. She climbed the stairs with trepidation, her legs feeling like jelly. The height didn't help her nerves. "You're sure this is safe?" she called back to Erik, her voice quivering.

"Hope so. Insurance doesn't exist in the world. Yet..." Erik trailed off, unbuttoning his shirt and taking off his bone charm. He slipped it into his swim trunks, zipping up the pocket.

"That necklace... you wear it every day?" Talia couldn't help but ask, her eyes lingering on the spot where the charm had been.

"Uh, yeah. I got cursed whenever we killed that Elephantom, and you said the bone charms would keep me from having bad luck, right?" Erik stretched his body as he casually replied. The bag of bone charms had been a bit too clunky for his taste, so Talia had turned it into a necklace for him to wear.

Myrese took a deep breath, steeling herself. The water looked inviting, but the height was another matter entirely. "What if I don't want to go down any slide?" she murmured.

"Too late," Erik's voice suddenly spoke behind her, and the elf shrieked as she felt his foot push her down the slide.

The rush of cold water sent shock waves through her body as she zoomed down the chute. Myrese's eyes were squeezed shut, and she had her hands clamped over her mouth, but she couldn't stop the scream that bubbled out of her. The world around her was a blur of blue and white, punctuated by the occasional splash of water against her face. Her heart felt like it was trying to escape her chest, but there was a strange thrill in the terror.

As she reached the bottom of the slide, she splashed into the pool, the cool water enveloping her. Myrese surfaced, gasping for air and looking around with wide eyes. Alyssa soon emerged from her slide, shrieking with glee. Talia burst from hers gracefully, clearly using magic to make the water around her rain down in a spectacular show. Finally, Erik was the last to come out, cackling maniacally as he splashed into the pool.

Myrese pushed her wet hair out of her face and swam over to the edge, her heart still racing. "You... you didn't have to do that!" she accused him, her voice a mix of anger and fear.

"Aw come on, it was fun though, right?" Erik grinned, swimming over to Myrese. "Look, I know it's a bit overwhelming, but you're gonna have to get used to trying new things if you're going to help people around here."

Myrese took a moment to catch her breath, then glared at him. "And what if I don't want to get used to it?" she snapped. "What if I just want to go back to being an assassin?"

"Suit yourself," Erik shrugged. "But the only way you're going to pay off your debt is by saving lives and bringing in the coin."

"How'd- how'd you know I have debts?" The elf whispered, her voice strained with a mix of anger and fear.

Erik blinked. "It's not hard to figure out? When it comes to money, there's only a few reasons for a person to want it. One, to get anything you want. Two, to pay off what you owe. And three, for the sake of living. You didn't seem like you're a person- er, elf, that needs anything she doesn't already have and you definitely look healthy. So, I assume there's debts you have to pay, considering you're actually quite terrible at assassination."

Myrese's grip tightened around the edge of the pool, her eyes narrowing at Erik's words. "And why should I care about your assumptions?"

"You shouldn't," he replied nonchalantly as he pulled himself out of the pool. "But, you should care about where you want to place your future in. I'm only extending an offer to you because you can fill a position that can make me- that can make money. It's up to you if you want to accept it or not." He held out a hand towards her.

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Myrese stared at his hand for a moment before taking it, allowing him to help her out of the pool. Water dripped from her bikini, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. It was a stark contrast to the adrenaline that had coursed through her veins moments ago.

She took a moment to glance around the water park, taking in the sight of families and friends splashing and laughing. It was so... normal. Something she had never truly experienced before.

"I'll think about it," Myrese said finally, her voice small. She felt like she was at a crossroads, her assassin's instincts telling her to be wary of this strange new path, yet the allure of a peaceful life was hard to resist.

"Take your time. You can explore the water park and the village to your heart's content with Talia and Alyssa," Erik nodded to the other two joining them. "I'll be at the main burger shack later tonight, so come find me when you ladies are done."

Talia and Alyssa exchanged glances, understanding the subtle hint. They knew Erik's mind was racing with more ideas and schemes. They had seen it before.

They linked arms with Myrese, preventing her from questioning Erik as they dragged her away to explore more of the amusement's offerings.

The next few hours passed by in a whirlwind of splashes, giggles, and occasional gasps. Myrese found herself trying out different water slides, each one a little more thrilling than the last. She felt the rush of the water against her skin, the wind in her hair, and the occasional splash of water in her face. Her fear of heights didn't disappear entirely, but with every slide she went down, she felt it diminish just a little more. The thrill of the descent was exhilarating, and she began to see the allure in the adrenaline rush that came with it.

Talia and Alyssa watched with varying degrees of amusement and concern. Talia couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the way Erik was coaxing the elf out of her shell, but she pushed it aside. After all, she had her own dreams to chase, and if Myrese was happy, then she had no right to begrudge her that. Alyssa, on the other hand, was in her element, explaining the workings of the water park and the different food options available.

They eventually found themselves at the foot of the park's pièce de résistance: a towering slide that twisted and turned before dropping riders into a deep, refreshing pool. It was the kind of slide that looked like it had been designed by a lunatic with a penchant for defying gravity.

"Who... who the hell designed this ride..." Talia murmured, feeling what she believed was a sense of fear for the first time in her life.

"Yeah... it looks a bit too intense, even for me," Alyssa agreed, eyeing the slide with a mix of awe and trepidation.

"H-how about we just call it a day?" Myrese suggested, her voice shaking as she eyed the towering slide.

Without Erik around to push her, Myrese felt her resolve wavering. She stepped back from the entrance of the slide, her knees wobbling. "Maybe we try it out next time," she suggested weakly.

"Oh? For a self-proclaimed assassin, are you saying this mere water slide bested you?" Talia suddenly challenged Myrese with a smirk, her own fear forgotten in the face of her newfound rivalry.

Myrese's eyes narrowed at the jab. "I'll go," she said through gritted teeth, determined to prove herself. "But only if you go first."

None of the women made a move, awkwardly standing at the entrance. The silence was palpable as they stared up at the daunting slide. A pair of children laughed with glee as they ran past the trio, bounding up the stairs without a care.

"You know, I've had enough excitement for one day," Alyssa said, her eyes glancing around the park. "How about we grab some food from the burger shack?"

Though they wouldn't admit out loud, the two were glad that Alyssa suggested something else to do. Myrese still felt the adrenaline from the last slide coursing through her veins, and Talia's chest heaved with the unfamiliar feeling of fear.

"Sounds good to me," Talia agreed, trying to keep her voice steady. "Let's go get something to eat."

They turned away from the slide, heading back towards the burger shack. The scent of grilled meat grew stronger with every step, and the sounds of laughter and chatter grew louder. Myrese felt a sense of relief wash over her. The slide had been terrifying, but the thought of helping people in a medical capacity was even more daunting.

As they approached the shack, Alyssa's eyes lit up. "You're going to love this, Myrese!" she exclaimed, grabbing the elf's hand and pulling her along. "We've got the best burgers in the land!"

Myrese allowed herself to be dragged along, feeling the warmth of Alyssa's hand in hers. It was a strange sensation, one she wasn't used to. The burger shack was a stark contrast to the elven lands she had known: noisy, chaotic, and filled with the smells of cooking food. Yet, as she stepped into the shack, something felt comforting about it. The heat from the grills and the laughter of the customers created an atmosphere she hadn't experienced in a long time.

"Hey boss!" Rutaminuar waved over to Alyssa. He did a double-take, staring at the three women in their bikinis.

"Can you make my friend a burger, Rutaminuar? And keep your eyes on the grill, dude," Alyssa called out to the young man, still busy ogling the trio. She winked at him, and he blushed before turning back to his sizzling patties.

The burger shack was a bustling place, with villagers of all ages eagerly lining up to order their food. The atmosphere was electric, a mix of excitement and contentment. Myrese couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed, but the warm smiles of the customers and the camaraderie between the staff put her at ease.

"So, what's the big deal with these burgers?" she asked, leaning over the counter to peer at the sizzling patties.

Alyssa grinned. "You'll see. Just wait until you taste one. They're life-changing!"

The burger was indeed delicious, the perfect blend of flavors that Myrese had never experienced before. It was a simple meal, yet it contained a complexity that she hadn't expected. Her eyes widened as she took a bite, and she nodded in approval.

"You like it?" Alyssa asked, watching her closely.

Myrese nodded, her mouth full of burger. "It's... amazing," she managed to say before taking another bite. The juicy patty, melted cheese, and crunchy vegetables exploded in her mouth, and she found herself craving more.

Despite the relaxed atmosphere, Myrese couldn't help but worry about the future. She was an assassin, not a doctor or a businesswoman. Yet here she was, in a bikini, munching on a burger while watching over a village's entertainment. She had blindly put her trust in a man she had tried to kill hours ago, and had abandoned her original mission without word to her employers. The reality of her situation began to sink in, and she felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Whatever it is you're thinking about, don't worry," Talia said out of the blue. She had been quietly sipping on a cola, watching Myrese's reaction to the burger with amusement. "I don't know everything about you, but seeing how timid you've been today makes me feel like you're a good person. So, whatever's bothering you, don't worry about it. You can tell me or Erik, and we'll solve it. We always do."

"And me!" Alyssa leaned in, her voice bubbly. "We're all friends here, after all. Nothing is too strange for us to handle."

Myrese felt a myriad of emotions rushing through her. The warmth of friendship from these two was something she hadn't experienced in a long time, and it was both comforting and disconcerting. She took another bite of her burger, savoring the flavors, and decided to push her fears aside for the moment.