We are surrounded...

My closest friend ran away. We were unlucky enough to find an unexplored area filled with enemies. Since he was fast enough though, he was able to escape. I had heard that he was someone who abandoned his group a few times. In order to flee from traps that were placed throughout the portals he entered. 

I thought this was what had made him strong. I thought that because he was a survivor he was someone that could continue on even though his friends had died. This is actually how he portrayed himself, and he got me caught up in his tales. 

Every time he talked about the groups he witnessed being destroyed. He always had tears in his eyes. He told tragic stories about how he fought with the group and one by one they fell. Until only he was left. Then he would tell about his escape. Being proud about being able to 'carry on' their legacy. 

At first, I didn't trust him. I mean only an idiot would trust someone who survived the massacre of multiple groups. As soon as I heard about him I did my best to stay away. I joined any trustworthy groups that had experienced members. Making sure not to be caught in the same group as him. 

Then I made a mistake. I entered a group that wasn't very experienced and had four members instead of five. After making this mistake, unluckily enough my 'friend' joined the group. I tried my best to stop them, but those inexperienced idiots actually accepted him. 

Since he was accepted I thought that it would be good for me to exit the group. As I tried to leave though, the dolts begged me to go with them. Otherwise they wouldn't have enough people to go realm raiding. Which is when I made my second mistake, giving in to people's demands to work with someone with such a sketchy background. 

After forming this group I stayed away from the guy. As long as I benefited without meeting my end it would be fine. Since we were the most experienced ones there though. We oftentimes had to do most of the difficult fights. In the end that raid went well, and since he and I did the most on that raid we got to split most of the loot from that trip. 

Afterwards, I was still cautious, and did my best not to be in the same group as him, but over long periods of time you are bound to make the same mistake. This happened a few more times spanning the two millennium I had been in the Cloud District. Though this was a long period of time, I wasn't the oldest and certainly not the most experienced in the city. This happens when you realize that a millennium isn't very long for a society with perpetual youth.

I seem to have gotten used to having him around. While all the other groups I had been in were destroyed while I was not with them, or broke up due to me secretly taking the most expensive loot. I was never found out, due to me planting evidence but after getting angry at everyone for either being blamed or blaming someone else they were embarrassed. He became the only person I had grouped up with that neither didn't want to work with me, nor no longer 'existed'. 

He and I started grouping together much more often afterwards. We would only join groups to benefit ourselves, and I did my best to find ways to do that. We would join groups of newbies that had come to the Cloud District and 'cooperate mutually'. They would group up with us and we would 'split the loot'. We'd take a larger reward for our efforts, and then we'd come back in secret to take all the 'secret treasures' we found.

After doing this, I began to rely on and trust my 'best friend'.  Until today. As he and I set out someone pulled him to the side for a second. To me, this wasn't strange and I thought nothing of it, but as he got back he started acting differently. This is when I made my last mistake. I was overconfident. Though I was suspicious of what he might be planning, I thought that I would be strong enough to get away from anything, no matter what it was. 

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

As we waited for the newbies we were planning to 'cooperate with' at the gate, I tried to talk to my 'best friend'. I wanted to ask him why he was acting differently, trying to glean information about the ‘place’ in the enemy’s territory he was going to bring the newbies and I. All he would say though, was that he had gained information from one of his ‘friends’. There was an unexplored place where it was possible to make it rich.

Though I did not get any information about the trap, I was still happy. This man wouldn’t tell such a blatant lie. This meant he would bring our group to an area with a lot of loot, even though it could be dangerous. Though the people in the shadows were probably going to kill us once we made it out. 

As I thought about that I waited until finally the newbies came. After they came we left the cloud district. Everyone had high morale, thinking they could make it rich on the expedition. I was the same, and as we made our way to the area marked out by my ‘best friend’ we did what normal people do on trips. We played around. 

The bowman hunted malnourished rabbits and other game with her bow. Since it would be a few days before we made it anywhere, I guess she decided to get food to eat, even though it would still be horrible. She also said she could cook, but when she tried the food either burnt up or was raw. I had to take her place because I could at least make edible food, which was rare in the cloud district. Everyone else was honest and said they couldn’t.

The dagger user played with his daggers, targeting apples that he asked people to throw. Missing most of the time, and making everyone sigh. Everytime he missed though our group slowed down and had to wait for him to find his blade. It wouldn’t take him very long though. I guess he would make a good spotter, if he knew what to look for.

The shield bearer tried to make jokes, making us laugh every once in a while. Though they looked weird what with their big body and small shield, I guessed that could make them lighter on their feet. Able to dodge attacks and block attacks aimed at the others.

The swordsman tried to train their techniques. They seemed to know what they were doing. I just didn’t know what style of swordsmanship that was, if it was one.

The other, I didn’t know what they were. They kept clasping their hands together and muttering. It was weird, but definitely not the weirdest thing I had ever seen. I’m at least glad that they are having fun.

The first night we camped it was quiet. There were no attacks, even though we were in enemy territory. We all took watch though, and while we were on watch we talked about things.

I was on watch with the female bowman, as we talked I told her about how dangerous this mercenary job was. 

I asked “Why are you doing this mercenary job?”

She answered “It’s because I will suffer if I don’t.”

I replied, “Why did you have to become a mercenary, though. It’s not like you’ll starve when you are this beautiful.” This caused her to blush, then I continued. “If you just used your beauty correctly you should be able to make it pretty high up in society.”

She angrily yelled at me “The only way I could do that is by selling my body. There’s no good men anywhere is there?”

I replied “Of course not, but that’s why women should probably be in charge. If I was a good looking woman like you then I would use those looks to seduce men into doing what I want them to.”

She replied “But if I do that. It would conflict with my beliefs.”

Why is this woman so hypocritical... and she doesn’t even realize it. She’s accentuating and flaunting her looks but says she doesn’t want to use them. Hcoff

After I coughed over what she just said she got confused “What?”

I replied “You know that if you are so open with your appearance people will go after you, and not compromising values is another thing. If you keep being so straight-laced people are going to use and throw you away, no matter what it’s about.”

“Wha-what do you mean?” 

“I mean that you need to get new clothing. This clothing you wear might be good for moving around but it’s dangerous around men. Where did you get it?” 

“I got it at Old Greggs’, armor shop.”

“Naniii? You went to Old Greggs’, armor shop, the one with the funky ball of tits…?”

“Huh, what’s that?”

“It’s a ball of tits that supposedly allows you to become funky.”

“So that guy was a pervert all along.”

“Yes, if you saw what he had hanging behind the counter, you would have known immediately. Are you not very observant?”

Blush “I don’t know what you are talking about, I notice almost everything that goes on around me. I will have you know.”

“And you didn’t realize that the clothes you were wearing, give off super exposure.”

“Stop it”

No wonder this girl is so straight-laced, she’s a complete airhead. I guess it’s a curse for being born beautiful.