As he entered a small shop at the back end of an alley, near invisible in the night painted black with the darkest purple accents as it was. Swinging open the silent door, the smell of incense hit Mr. Zurk in the face and his notoriously bad temper flared. Sadly, he had to tamp it out as he knew that even the Head of the entire merchant group couldn’t act out here. He neared the counter where an old man was sitting and smoking a pipe. “What do you want?”

Mr Zurk ignored the tone speaking, “I’d like a private consultation.”

The old man sat up and gestured with his pipe to the hall next to him. “Second door on the right.”

He did as instructed and opened a sliding door to a small room with only a table and two chairs. Taking a seat, he only had to wait a scant few minutes before a black cloaked figure came in. The swooping irregular shape hid all detail of their body, even their gender. The hood seemed to contain endless darkness as not even the slightest detail of the face beneath could be seen, not even by someone as strong as Mr. Zurk.

A male voice sounded from the black shape standing in front of the table, “Mr. Theon Zurk, it’s a pleasure to do business. May I know what brings you in today.”

“I need a slave brought back.”

“Oh? That’s all? Why come to us and our steep fees?”

“I need discretion, and the last group of idiots I sent were a full C rank party and they went missing months ago.”

A chuckle escaped from under the cloak, “That’s what happens when you cut corners.”

Theon’s eyebrow twitched in anger but pushed it back down, regaining his composure.

“Yes, I hope I'm making the correct choice this time. Here’s all the information I have on the owners of the target.”

Looking through the files, the cloaked figure betrayed nothing until he spoke up, “Down payment of 50,000 gold, then another 40,000 on live delivery.”

Angered by the sky high price, but expecting it he agreed, “Deal. Go to the Randier branch in the outpost for current information on them, I’ve been told that they’re staying there right now and enter regularly.”

The next morning, Adrest woke early as usually and left to drink some tea and let the girls sleep in a little longer. It was just barely dawn with the little light coming in through the windows being a muted purple grey. It was no problem for Adrest and his demonic eyes to navigate as his kind were naturally attuned to darkness and the dead of night.

Silently he made his way downstairs and spotted a sleeping Rose. Her freckled face being supported by an arm propped up on the bar. As she evenly took slow breaths Adrest took a second to admire her beauty. With her thin eyebrows, sculpted face, and full lips, Rose could pass as a hometown beauty on Earth. Adrest had to admit, in terms of looks the only ones that could beat out Rose were Alissa and Rin. Which wasn’t really a fair comparison considering one was an actual dragon and the other was a hero blessed by a God.

Seeing her like this, mischief wormed its way into Adrest’s heart and he couldn’t stop himself. Balancing on the balls of his feet Adrest carefully walked over to the sleeping redhead.

Adrest’s heart skipped faster as he stood across the innocent and defenseless young woman. He really didn’t know what a woman like her was doing out in the middle of nowhere, Adrest was confident Rose would succeed anywhere she went, even in the capital.

He couldn’t hold back anymore and before Adrest could stop himself his hand was moving of its own accord. In Adrest’s eyes all he could do was watch it sailed through the air towards it’s destination.

Boop. He poked the fair freckle covered cheek. Roses eyes shot open and her blue irises met Adrest’s orange. He saw that for a moment they were filled with fear and confusion, but as she took in who it was and her surroundings they calmed and simply seemed to be asking, “Why?”

Adrest was embarrassed by his own immaturity and brought back the finger that was still poking into the surprisingly soft cheek. He tried to brush it off.

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“Morning. didn’t sleep well last night?”

Rose was so embarrassed she wished she could crawl under the bar and hide, but had to fight through the fire that was her blushing face, now entirely red as a tomato and stretching down her exposed neckline.

“M-morning Adrest. It’s just because the days are so slow, s-sometimes I get a little sleepy.”

Adrest couldn’t help but think how cute Rose was when she was embarrassed, normally she was calm and cool behind the bar, but this was a brand new side of her for Adrest.

Trying to get past his little prank Adrest cleared his throat, “Well, could I have some tea, and in a little while some breakfast for everyone. I’ll wake them up when Rin comes downstairs.”

Still blushing furiously, Rose nodded her head repeatedly like a chicken and ran off to the bar. Adrest sighed hoping he hadn’t messed up their friendship. If she complained to Alissa, Belle might end up with only one sibling.

With nothing else to do, Adrest sat on the stool overthinking while he waited for Rose to come back. Eventually, far longer that it should have taken to boil water for tea, Rose returned, with her hair cutely and neatly braided bouncing as she walked. There was no trace of a blush on her face, but Adrest did notice a little pout.

“Alissa always says you’re a troublemaker, but I never believed her. Turns out you like to prank sleeping girls. Hmph.”

Adrest felt his cheeks burn, when she put like that, it really sounded bad, huh?

“I’m sorry Rose, I couldn’t stop myself when I saw you snoring on the job.”

Adrest let the small pale fist land against his shoulder, “I don’t snore! Just you wait Adrest, I’ll return the favor. Now drink your tea.”

Happy that Rose didn’t get offended and went along with his joking. Relieved, he sank back into the stool and sipped on the floral and lightly bitter tea. He didn’t even need to add honey as Rose added exactly how much he liked.

They sat in a comfortable silence for only another ten or so minutes before a still very much sleepy Rin trotted downstairs. With her short hair frazzled and locks out of place she stumbled to the bar and took the seat nearest Adrest.

“Ya-awn. Good morning Adrest, good morning Rose.”

Rin took a sip from the tea Rose had prepared as soon as she saw the hero make her way downstairs. Rin only took a sip before scrunching her nose at it and mumbling under her breath, “Bitter~”

She grabbed a dish of honey and loaded four large spoons into the black liquid before she was satisfied.

“Ah, Much better.”

Adrest looked on, still having a hard time putting this innocent sweet toothed teenager together with the word hero.

“Morning Rin. Still want to go out with us today?” Adrest asked as he didn’t want to hold Rin to what she’d said in the spur of the moment while drinking if she wasn’t willing.

Contrary to his expectations, Rin seemed to find her usual energy and her eyes lit up. “I can’t wait! It’ll be so much more fun searching for monsters if I'm traveling with you guys. I just have one rule, if we run into a B rank or higher, you all have to do as I say and run. I'll be fine alone, but I won’t be if I’m worrying about you.”

Adrest could agree with that point; as far as Rin was aware they were just a few traveling adventurers with the 2 strongest both at C rank.

Rose grew a little nervous hearing the serious talk, but she didn’t want to overstep, besides Rose knew Alissa was a smart girl, if she agreed to go they’ll be fine.

“That’s reasonable, we’ll do as told if the situation arises Rin, please take good care of us today.”

“It’s a deal! I’m really skilled at finding the good stuff so just follow me and we’ll make a fortune.”

Rin let out a goofy laugh and her eyes were filled with the images of gold Trevil, Adrest didn’t think a hero would need to worry about money but apparently he was mistaken.

“Just give me a minute to wake up Belle and drag Alissa from bed. Then we can eat together and head out.” Now that the sun was fully risen and glaring more brightly in the sky than the cold weather would suggest, he’d actually be able to get Alissa up and ready.

Rose went to the kitchen to make breakfast for everyone while Adrest walked back up the stairs and to his room. In it, the girls were exactly as he’d left them. Belle buried under the thick blankets, curled up and leaving on her snow white ears exposed. Meanwhile, a sloppy dragon had taken over where Adrest had been sleeping and tossed around so much the blanket only half covered her leaving her honey tanned skin exposed. As Alissa was wearing a light and thin black tanktop with matching pair of shorts, more of her was exposed than Adrest was used to.

However, Adrest had built up some level of resistance to the flawless beauty, the drool slowly escaping her mouth also helped. Adrest poked and prodded the violet beauty until she reluctantly cooperated.

Belle was much easier as he just had to gently talk into the exposed ears before the mound of blankets shifted and a sleepy eyed pale rabbit popped out.

Before leaving so the girls could change, Adrest stage whispered to Belle, “Don’t let Ali fall asleep again or we’ll have to leave her behind.”

Adrest had to duck out the door to dodge the heavy pillow sent his way and returned to the less violent crowd on the first floor. Rin was devouring a tall stack on pancakes drenched in a red syrup and Rose was making trips to set up Adrest’s and the others breakfast.

Adrest just sipped on his tea waiting for the other two to make it down. Just as Rose finished placing everything on the bar top the missing members marched down the stairs and joined the sitting pair.

Now that everyone was awake, it only took a further ten or so minutes to eat and make sure everyone was ready before they were ready to head outside the town.

They said their goodbyes to Rose and left through the gate nearest the mountains with Rin in the lead skipping with a big smile on her face.