Norbert made his way, opening the door and looking at the bar. Happy that it wasn't locked, he saw the other scouts sitting around. Having a look, it seemed he was the last one to make it here; although the others were still there when he left the waiting room, they somehow made it here first.

Shrugging his shoulders, Norbert took a seat and sat by the fire to the side of him. Obsius flew off his shoulder and perched on the chandelier, gazing at everyone in the room. Everyone was quiet as they waited, looking at Martitia, her back turned as she was sitting on a bar stool with a drink in hand.

Downing the glass, she placed it on the table again, the resulting thunk filling the room. Norbert jumped at the sound. He tore his eyes away from the fire; looking at her, Norbert stared, wondering what was happening.

Turning around, she held a pouch in one hand and a dagger in the other. Norbert stared at the pouch, able to hear the coins inside as she slowly swayed it. Flipping the dagger in her hand, she placed it on the bar table behind her as she opened up and took a coin out, Norbert seeing that it was bronze.

Holding it up next to her face, she examined it, speaking while staring at the coin. "Two couldn't make it back for this mission. A moment of silence for those fallen. That they will never be lost from our memory." She said. Everyone bowed their heads for a minute, Norbert following suit. Gazing upwards, seeing that Obsius was doing the same.

"That means we will be getting two new scouts in the expedition. With it comes a lack of rooms again. We were lucky last time with Norbert, but it might not be the same this time. Any recommendations for boarding?" Martitia asked the group.

Norbert looked around, seeing nobody else had moved; everyone was looking around. Raising his hand, he said, "I'm all good staying in the common room. I don't need that much sleep anyway. As long as your good with keeping the chest in your room Martitia?" Norbert asked.

Receiving a nod in return and everyone breathing easy. Norbert stared out at them, people still looking uneasy about what had happened on the previous run.

"Now that's out of the way; the next list on the agenda is pay. We got all the coins since we were out in the wilderness for nearly a quarter cyclical. That means we each got two and a half silver. Now anyone here not want it taken to the casino?" Martitia asked.

Everyone stared at Norbert; raising his hand, he relented, "Can't use the same trick as last time, or the owner will tear me a new one. So you will probably get the normal return for what you expect." Norbert said, receiving some grumbles, but the rest nodded in understanding.

"So, anyone wants to back out?" Martitia asked again. Nobody raised their hand in response. Martitia just nodded before continuing, "We leave in ten rotations. If you want to come tot he casino, be back here; otherwise, I'll see you all tonight," Martitia said.

Everyone moving off, Norbert looked in his backpack, changing the order of events he would be doing. Guessing the casino would be the first on his list, then new clothes. Pulling out his ruined clothes, he nodded in response, confirming that he would need more clothing.

Remembering his mask that was destroyed before, he also added it to the list. Sitting back, Norbert would also get some daggers, wanting to have a spare in case he lost them, as well as some medical equipment and sharpening tools. With his list formed in his mind and the extra coins placed in his trunk, Norbert returned wearing his Frontier gear that didn't have a hole.

Wondering if they had a tailor to repair his old garments, he added it to the list. Walking down the stairs, Norbert just saw Martitia down there, nobody else waiting for the time. Sitting down by the bar, Norbert sat with her.

"Anyone else joining us?" Norbert asked Martitia as he reached behind the bar, took a bottle and a glass, pouring some of the liquid out for himself. Having a taste reminded him of whisky as he added some more before resting the bottle back. Taking a deeper sip, Norbert let the liquid stay in his mouth before swallowing.

"No, just the two of us. Everyone else left and went to their usual places." She replied, taking another sip of her drink.

Norbert could smell the alcohol coming off her. "Anything you want to talk about? You seem a bit down lately. Not like I'm grilling you or anything." Norbert explained as he looked at her, not wanting to offend the team leader.

"Just losing a couple more people, that's all. Those two had been with us for quite some time, and now, whoosh, gone. At least you have filled up the shoes of the previous role pretty nicely." Downing her drink, she stood up. "But enough about that, it's time to make some coin so we can all have a lovely deserved break."

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Norbert downed his just-poured drink, feeling it burn down his through. "Guess we might need to use that trick again and wave out the ire of Elizabeth," Norbert said as he left the tavern with Martitia, standing out on the road. It looked the same as last time. No sign at all of what the team had been through.

"Any idea how long the break will be until the next one?" Norbert asked as he walked up the street, heading towards the casino.

"We have at least a week, it could be more, but it won't be less. From what I've heard from Dousan will probably be just one week. More things are wildnow." Martitia replied.

Norbert nodded in response, thinking about what he would do for the week. Obsius landing on his head, they made their way to the casino. Norbert hoped that Elizabeth wouldn't be annoyed with him or that he hadn't been banned.

***

Tying his sword down into its sheath, he made his way up the stairs of the casino to the entrance. Walking past the guards, Norbert nodded to them, happy that this time at least, they didn't stop him. Walking with Martitia to the kiosk desk Norbert just waited behind her, allowing her to talk with the attendant.

Norbert just waited and looked around, the place was quiet for now, but he knew it would start to pop off soon if he started to play a show for them. Shaking his head at the thought, knowing it would just lead to trouble for him. Especially as he was unmasked this time, it would lead to many issues.

The chips in Martitia's possession, she went to one of the tables and started playing. Norbert just watched behind her and leaned in, giving his thought occasionally. The two of them combined; they slowly racked in the chips, not at the rate he would but much less suspiciously than usual.

With their chips secured, adding double the amount before Norbert looked to the table playing roulette. Taking Martitia's shoulder, he pointed her too the table. A conversation continued until she relented, handing the chips over to him.

"Only two rounds", she responded.

Norbert just smiled and waved back, saying, "But of course, I don't want to go against the boss", Norbert replied. Making his way to the table, Norbert asked under his breath, "Hey Luck, one for blue, two for purple. And hide it from others."

Seeing two motes of light appear, Norbert placed them on purple. The wheel spun. Norbert watched it tensely as he scanned the rest of the room, knowing that each second here was a second he could get caught. Getting given his chips, Norbert looked down again, seeing it was purple.

Placing all the chips on purple again, Norbert watched as the roulette spun, landing on purple. Happy that it pulled through, Norbert took the chips. Happy that he would now have sixteen extra silver. Not enough for an elixir but enough for some of the items he wanted to get. Just enough, it seemed.

Meeting back with Martitia, they cashed in the chips, receiving the coins instead. Walking out the door, Norbert looked behind, seeing the stairs open leading to the higher levels, wondering if Elizabeth was there somewhere. He was smiling to himself that he would return with a mask instead. See how many people he could freak out.

Grinning at the thought, he left the casino, the sun just starting to set in the sky. Remembering the shops from last time, Norbert just followed Martitia back to the inn, knowing they would meet up and it was starting to get late to make it clothes shopping. Adding it to the agenda for the next day.

Coming back, the coin was divided between everyone. Norbert looked as if they enjoyed a meal together. Norbert chatted with the others as they combined tables, everyone celebrating what they could.

As people started to pair off and move to other areas, Norbert headed out the door opening. The wind blowing caused everyone to shiver, wondering when winter would come in this land. They did not want to know how cold it could be.

Everyone left just stared; the others had already left; turning back around, Norbert explained, "Just going to the temples. I'll be fine out there." Norbert explained.

As the door shut, he heard a whisper, "Didn't know he followed anyone." Another voice, Martitia, he believed, responded, "Not a follower exactly, but was sitting outside the Lady Luck fountain last time." She explained.

Norbert just nodded, heading that way already. As his champion, someone would need to take care of the place. Remembering how the fountain was left last time, all dried up with dirt, he went to the temple section.

***

Arriving at the fountain, Norbert saw it, surprised at what was before him. A small trickle of water came out of the jug, just a constant line. Remembering last time, it was scorched; the bottom section is filled with mud. Scooping it out, Norbert cleaned up the statue more, smiling as he did so.

Standing on the rim of the fountain edge, Norbert looked at Luck's face set in stone. "Can't believe its, you." Norbert said, still unable to get around the fact. Hopping back down, Norbert looked over his shoulder, seeing that nobody else was in the temple, or at least in this section.

Facing the statue, Norbert put both feet in the fountain, hearing them splash in the water. Closing his eyes, Norbert covered his face with his hands as his elbows rested on his knees. "It's nice not being alone, isn't it," Norbert said.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder as a body leaned against his. Her smell engulfed him, Norbert knowing precisely who it was. Not wanting to move or else she disappeared, Norbert just stayed still. Eyes in his hands, Norbert leaned slightly, the two of them happy with their company. Feeling a flap on his head, Norbert knew Obsius had flown away somewhere, knowing the bird would be fine.

"It is", Luck replied.

***

"See, I knew he was good," Lily told Sally. Sally snorted in response before Lily continued, "But he sure has had a lot of elixirs. But other than that, can we trust him?" Lily asked Sally.

Nodding in response, she flipped the papers to herself, seeing the recount of what happened, surprised herself that Tashen let them get away. The history she had with her wouldn't have thought otherwise with the cat-woman. "He's trustworthy; I don't know about this Hyeon, though," Sally said.

"Yeah, and what a weird name. Wonder where she comes from." Lily replied.

Sally, just nodding in response, smiled. "Well, at least we have one good candidate for the tournament. Let's hope he can do Morenas proud." She replied. Lily nodded in response, whispering, "Knew he would be a good one."