Adrian sat in the bustling cafeteria with his friends, Liora and Darian, his eyes scanning the room for familiar faces. His mind wandered back to their conversation about forming a stronger adventuring team. He couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement and nervousness at the thought of asking Elena to join them. As he absently pushed his food around his plate, a sudden movement caught his eye.

He looked up and saw Elena entering the cafeteria, accompanied by a girl he didn't recognize. The new girl was striking, with raven-black hair pulled back into a high ponytail and dressed in a simple black sports bra and yoga pants. But compared to the blue-skinned beauty next to her? She was just plain. They both seemed to be in high spirits, chatting animatedly as they moved through the crowd. Adrian's heart skipped a beat when Elena's eyes met his. He waved them over, his hand slightly trembling with anticipation.

“Speaking of Elena” Adrian said, and motioned to her arrival. Liora quickly put the paper they had been using as ideas to pitch Elena joining their team away.

Elena smiled and nudged her companion, and they began making their way toward him. Adrian straightened in his seat, his pulse quickening. As they approached, he couldn't help but notice how comfortable and at ease they seemed with each other. When they finally reached his table, Elena introduced the new girl.

Elena cheerily greeted him, "Hey, Adrian! How have you been?"

Adrian nodded. "Doing good. So who is your friend?"

Elena looked over at Zara. "This is Zara," Elena said, her eyes shining with excitement. "Zara, this is Adrian."

Adrian extended his hand, trying to appear casual. "Nice to meet you, Zara."

Zara took his hand with a firm grip, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Likewise, Adrian."

Elena then turned to the others at the table. "And these are your friends?"

Liora smiled warmly, extending her hand. "Hi, I'm Liora. Nice to meet you, Elena. Adrian's told us a uh...bit about you. It's just a shame it took so long for us to finally meet."

Darian followed suit, shaking Elena's hand. "I'm Darian. Welcome to our little corner of the world."

Elena smiled at them. "Thank you!"

She looked at Liora for a few moments, as if trying to place something, and then finally spoke up. "Liora, apologies if this is rude of me, but...do you have scales?"

Liora smiled. "Good eye, I'm a Dragon Elf."

They all took their seats, and Adrian couldn't help but steal glances at Elena, still smitten by her presence. As they settled in, Zara leaned in close to Elena and whispered something in her ear, causing Elena to stifle a giggle. Adrian's curiosity piqued, but he tried to focus on making conversation.

"So, Zara, are you new here?" Adrian asked, attempting to break the ice.

"Not really," Zara replied with a playful smirk. "I've been around, but Elena and I just met today. Figured it was time to make some new friends."

Elena nodded, smiling. "Zara's pretty incredible, Adrian. You should've seen her in the arena today."

Adrian felt a pang of jealousy at the easy camaraderie between the two girls but pushed it aside. "Sounds like you had quite the match."

Before the conversation could continue, Liora leaned forward, her eyes bright with curiosity. "So, Elena, how are you liking the academy so far? Settling in okay?"

Elena took a moment to think before responding. She appreciated the genuine interest, but was still a bit shy when it came to being in the spotlight. "Honestly, it's been a whirlwind. There's so much to take in, but I'm really enjoying it. I've met some amazing people and experienced things I never thought possible."

Darian nodded, encouraging her to continue. "Like what? What's been the highlight for you so far?"

"Well," Elena began, "Making good friends and doing good for people has been a life-changing experience. I've learned a lot about my own abilities and apparently how to handle myself in a fight. And then there was my first arena match, which was absolutely nerve-wracking but exhilarating at the same time."

She paused, a shadow crossing her face as she recalled the encounter. "Of course, it doesn't hurt when your opponent turns out to be a sexual predator." She visibly shuddered.

Zara, however, grinned, intrigued. "I still wish I had gotten a chance to see it. Everyone was talking about how you took down Reginald. When I heard he was matched up with another girl, I assumed you were going to get embarrassed or worse by him. But when I heard you won, I could have kicked my ass"

Elena blushed slightly at the praise, but her expression remained troubled. "Thanks, Zara. I'd rather not fight that pervert again. He was strong, and it could have easily gone the other way." She shuddered involuntarily and looked a bit pale. "Look, I'm the new girl here, but why don't they arrest him? Like, has he actually done any of the things talked about?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. Adrian shook his head a bit somberly as he said "No".

Darian breathed in a heavy sigh as he shrugged. His face, however, was a mix of anger and disgust.

Liora was the first to respond, her voice low and careful. "As far as him being arrested, well not that I know of," she said, shaking her head. "Most girls just throw themselves at him. He is good-looking, wealthy, and comes from a powerful family." Both of the boys turned to her, now giving her questioning looks. "What?" she asked, as she explained herself unabashedly. "He's the kind of guy that most girls lust for, and families hope their daughters meet. Being part of that family would lift most families to wealth and status."

Elena, sensing the tension, attempted to clear up the confusion. She shrugged, "Well, I certainly don't plan on hooking up with him. And especially not after he threatened to collar me and turn me into a sex toy for his friends and himself. At least I beat him, so hopefully that changed his mind."

The reaction was immediate and intense. Adrian breathed in deeply, his face awash with disgust. He had been there when she threatened Reginald’s friends but it was one of the things he never told his friends. Darian's eyes narrowed dangerously, his hands clenching into fists under the table. Liora gasped audibly, her hands flying to cover her mouth.

Zara's eyes flashed dangerously, her jaw clenching as she fought to keep her composure. She glanced at the others, expecting them to say something, do something. But they just sat there, shocked into silence.

"Well, damn," Zara finally said, her voice low and tight with barely contained anger. "Looks like pretty boy Reginald just earned himself a one-way ticket to a world of pain." She cracked her knuckles, a predatory grin spreading across her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hey, Elena, how about we go pay him a little visit? I've got some new moves I've been dying to try out. I heard it’s possible to insert a whole fist into someone’s ass, and I’m more of a see to believe kinda person."

As Elena looked on, oblivious to the gravity of the situation. “I mean I don’t get what the problem is. He threatened me, but I beat him. So what if he puts a collar on me. So long as it doesn’t do something like drain my mana, I think I got him. Thinking back, I’m sure the hooker thing was just to get under my skin.”

Zara felt her frustration grow. She watched Adrian, Liora, and Darian, assessing their reactions. Their silence spoke volumes. She couldn't quite let it go. She leaned in, her voice low and intense. "Elena, we need to talk about what you just said. That's not—"

Just as Zara was about to unleash another biting comment, Liora leaned in close to her, grabbed her arm, brought her head closer to Zara’s ear and whispered urgently. "We need to let her tell us when she's ready. Pushing now might make her shut down."

Zara leaned back from Liora as her eyebrows shot up in surprise. She studied Liora's face for a moment, seeing genuine concern there. With a slight nod, she relented, some of the tension easing from her shoulders.

Meanwhile, Adrian had leaned back in his chair, his face pale. Zara's keen ears picked up his barely audible whisper, "I'll kill him." The cold fury in his voice sent a chill down her spine.

Realizing that perhaps she had misjudged their reactions, Zara decided to follow Liora's lead. She cleared her throat and said with forced cheerfulness, "Nevermind. So, Elena, tell us more about this training of yours. Any chance you're learning how to deal with jerks more effectively? Because I've got a few candidates in mind who could use a lesson."

Darian, still visibly angry but understanding Zara’s intent, cleared his throat. "Right, yes. The training here can be intense. What's been your favorite part so far?"

Liora, her voice slightly shaky, added, "Y-yes, tell us more about your routine. It sounds like you're really dedicated."

Elena, still unaware of the undercurrent of tension, smiled at the renewed interest in her training. "Well, I've been trying to make it to the library as often as I can. Most folks aren't there after dinner. There's so much knowledge there, it's incredible..."

As Elena continued talking, her voice faded into the background for the others. They exchanged glances, their faces a mix of barely contained rage and concern. Darian's jaw was clenched so tight it looked painful, while Liora's fingers nervously twisted the hem of her shirt. Adrian's eyes darted between his friends, silently pleading for guidance on how to handle this situation.

Zara, for her part, maintained a facade of casual interest, but her eyes were hard, and her posture was tense, like a coiled spring ready to snap. She nodded along to Elena's words, but her mind was clearly elsewhere, likely plotting various painful scenarios for Reginald.

The group's responses became mechanical, automatic "mm-hmms" and nods as they struggled to focus on Elena's words. Each of them was fighting an internal battle: wanting to pursue justice for Elena, yet respecting Liora's earlier warning about not pushing the issue.

Liora, forcing herself to engage, managed to ask with a slightly strained voice, "That's fascinating, Elena. Have you had any time to just relax and explore the campus?"

Elena chuckled, grateful for the shift in topic. "Not really, no. I've found some nice quiet spots around the gardens where I can just sit and think. But between stretching, yoga, combat practice, breakfast, a 6-mile run, classes, and magic training, my schedule is pretty full."

She paused, a small smile playing on her lips. "Although I've been trying to make it to the library as often as I can. Most folks aren't there after dinner. There's so much knowledge there, it's incredible. But honestly, a big part of my routine has been that training every morning. It's tough, but it really sets the tone for the day."

Zara's eyes lit up, her earlier anger transforming into something more purposeful. A mischievous grin spread across her face as she leaned forward. "Morning training, huh? Count me in, blue. I could use a good ass-kicking to start my day. Plus, watching you sweat might just be the motivation I need."

Darian nodded in agreement, looking somewhere between anger and excited. "Count me in too. It's a fantastic way to stay sharp and get a head start on the day."

Liora groaned, leaning back in her seat. "Morning training? That sounds awful. Do we really have to?"

Zara smirked, nudging Liora playfully. "Come on, it'll be fun. Besides, we need to stay at our best, right?"

Darian looked at Liora with a serious expression. "The three of us are a team, Liora. We need to be in top shape, all of us do. I'm going. So yes, you have to join."

Liora sighed dramatically, throwing her hands up in defeat. "Fine, fine. I'll do it. But I'm not going to enjoy it."

Adrian, who had been listening quietly, shook his head with a chuckle. "I think I'll pass on morning training. I'm more of a night owl anyway. You guys go ahead and have fun."

Liora immediately piped up. "Hold on a second, that's not fair! I don't-"

Darian looked at Liora and silenced her with a look and a quick kick under the table. "Oh, well obviously you're exempt from coming." Seeming to put Adrian out of his mind, he looked over at Elena. "Just so we're clear. When Liora comes, should she also be in a sports bra like the one Zara is wearing?" Liora covered her hand in front of her chest a little taken aback by the question. Darian kicked her under the table again.

Elena shrugged, having missed his point. "I mean I guess? Crap, I think I need to get one too. The clothes I'm wearing are supposed to work against sweat, but running wasn’t very comfortable when they're flopping around." She looked down at her chest and pulled her blouse closer to her. She jumped up and down in her seat to show what she meant.

Nodding thoughtfully, Darian looked over at Liora and winked. "Well, I guess all the ladies are going to be wearing sports bras. Liora, did you want to go with Elena and get some matching clothes or something?" Liora looked from Adrian to Darian and nodded, a mischievous smile on her face. "Well, I mean I might as well! Elena, do you have a tailor you go to in town? If not, I know of a few. They may even have some in your size."

Elena's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of suspicion creeping into her expression. She glanced between Darian and Liora, then at Adrian, who was trying hard not to look interested.

Darian snapped his fingers. "Oh! Question for you Elena. When you're done with your workout, I assume that we're going to get all sweaty. Are there showers on hand to clean off? I don't want to go from training to the academy and stink up the place."

Elena's eyes narrowed as the pieces started falling into place. She responded, her voice tinged with growing irritation, "I mean...yeah? It's a tavern. What kind of tavern or inn doesn't have showers? The Silver Chalice has a few bathrooms. I also found out this morning that they also have a really nice bath."

Liora perked up at that one. "Is it a solo one?"

Elena shrugged, her suspicion now fully formed. "Why? Do people share a bath with strangers or something?" She fixed Darian with an accusing glare.

Before Darian could respond, Adrian piped up. "I was thinking about what you said Darian. You're right. The three of us are a team and it would be a shame if I just spent my morning lounging around when you guys were putting in all this hard work."

Darian waved his hand at Adrian. "Oh, but I'd hate for us to intrude on your alchemy practice in the morning. I'm certain if you really wanted to work out you could do it at night. I'd be happy to tell you what the practices we did are."

Adrian was quick to respond and looked a little worried. "I mean, I guess that could work. But then how do I know you aren't going at a different pace, or that you're putting in more or less time than I am certain activities. It'd be just better for me to join you."

"Well, I mean if you really want to." Darian said as he smiled and leaned back on his chair.

"Go team!" Adrian responded slightly less than enthusiastically.

Elena breathed in deeply, feeling more than a slight annoyance at having been used as a reward. She leaned back and began speaking, as if recalling a memory.

"You know, it’s friends like you guys that remind me of my old home" Elena started, her tone reflective, "b, there was this one time I got suckered into helping a friend move. You know how it goes—you're just trying to have a chill weekend, and then someone hits you up, asking for a hand."

Adrian and Darian glanced at each other, curious about where this was going.

"So, I show up, expecting to move a few boxes, right? But the guy hadn’t even packed yet. I ended up doing all the packing, organizing, and moving while he stood around giving directions. And the best part? He promised pizza as a reward. But by the end of it, he goes, 'Oh, sorry, forgot to order it. I’ll get you next time.'"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She let the words hang for a moment before adding with a wry smile, "Dick move, right?" her head leaned to the side as she stared daggers into Darian.

Darian chuckled, a little more aware now of what she was getting at. Meanwhile, Adrian tilted his head, puzzled.

"Wait, what’s a pizza?" Adrian asked, genuinely curious.

Elena blinked, as the realization that she hadn’t seen a pizza here hit her. She smiled, leaning in as if sharing a secret. "Pizza is this amazing food. It’s like a flatbread topped with sauce, cheese, and all sorts of delicious things—meats, veggies, you name it. It’s the kind of food you can’t say no to."

Adrian’s eyes widened with interest. "That sounds incredible. How come we don’t have pizza here?"

Elena chuckled and continued her story, while still looking accusingly at Darian. "Yeah, you’d think someone would’ve come up with it by now. Anyway, so after that whole ordeal, I told my friend, 'You owe me.' Not just for using me to get what you want, but for that missing pizza. Of course, he promised to make it up to me, but you can probably guess how that went. Spoiler alert: No pizza, and I ended up helping him again."

She gave Darian a pointed look, her tone light but with a subtle edge. "So yeah, ‘You owe me’ only works if the person actually follows through, right?"

Darian rubbed the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. "Yeah, that kind of is a dick move. At least when I owe somebody, I follow through."

Adrian, still intrigued by the idea of pizza and not fully catching the subtext, nodded. "Alright, alright. I’ll join you guys for training. But if I collapse, you both owe me… one of these pizzas."

The five of them settled into a comfortable rhythm, the conversation flowing naturally as they began to get to know one another better. Darian, always the strategic thinker, decided to start with a general question to break the ice.

"So, Elena, Zara," Darian began, leaning forward with genuine interest, "what brought you both to the academy? We've heard bits and pieces from Adrian about you, Elena, but not much about your interests or goals."

Elena, caught slightly off guard, fumbled for a moment before responding. "Oh, well, I'm here to learn and grow stronger. The academy seemed like the best place to do that." She quickly looked at Zara, "What about you, Zara? I realize we haven't really talked about that ourselves."

Zara leaned back in her chair, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, you know, I heard they were bringing in all sorts of devastatingly attractive and incredibly talented individuals, so I thought I'd grace them with my presence." She winked at the group. "But seriously, I'm here to kick ass, and take names. Emphasis on the ass-kicking part."

Liora's eyes widened, a mix of amusement and surprise on her face. "Well, you certainly don't lack confidence! Any particular areas you're focusing on, Zara?"

"Combat, primarily," Zara replied, cracking her knuckles. "There's nothing quite like the rush of a good fight. But I'm not opposed to being a tank for squishy here.” She hooked a thumb at Elena and laughed at her own joke. “I mean, you know how tanky blood mages can be."

Adrian couldn't help but chuckle. He turned to Elena, "And you, Elena? I remember you mentioning an interest in healing magic before. Is that still your focus?"

Elena nodded, grateful for the easy question. "Yes, among other things. I'm particularly interested in how different types of magic can interact and complement each other. The library here has been an incredible resource for that."

Darian's eyebrows raised, impressed. "That's going to make you quite the attractive team member. Have you had prior magical training to the academy?"

Elena shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting briefly to Zara before responding. "I... well, it's complicated. I've always had a knack for it, I guess." She paused, clearly reluctant to delve deeper into her past. Her tail swished back and forth and Elena felt it brush up against some passing students.

Before Elena could fumble further, Zara cut in playfully, "Oh, come on, Darian. Some of us are just naturally gifted. Not everyone can be as dashingly average as you." She flashed him a teasing smile to soften the jab.

Elena shot Zara a grateful look before steering the conversation in a new direction. "I'd love to hear more about your team. How did you all come together?"

Liora, picking up on Elena's desire to change the subject, smoothly took over. "Well, it's quite the story, actually. Darian and I met during a group assignment in our first year. We quickly realized our magic complemented each other well -- my wind magic and his earth-based abilities."

Adrian chimed in, "They were already making waves as a duo when I joined the academy. I was this bookish kid, always buried in ancient texts, and they..." he chuckled, "well, they basically adopted me."

Zara leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Aw, that's adorable. So you're telling me you've got the brains, the brawn, and the... what are you again, Liora? The beauty?" She winked at Liora, causing the dragon elf to blush slightly.

Darian nodded, a fond smile on his face despite Zara's earlier teasing. "Adrian's knowledge of ancient magic and alchemy has been invaluable. He's pulled out obscure spells in clutch moments more times than I can count."

Zara looked curious and asked Darian, "So, Darian, what got you into adventuring? Any family history there?"

Darian smiled. "Actually, no. My family runs a bakery. I was always fascinated by the stories of adventurers that came through our shop. One day, I decided to leave the dough behind and become part of those stories."

Elena laughed. "From baker to strategist. That's quite a leap!"

Darian grinned. "Yeah, but someone's got to plan the best way to slice the bread, right?"

As the conversation moved on, Elena couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice in her head—Agatha's voice. You need to talk to someone, Elena. Keeping it all inside will only make it worse. If you think you can trust them, you should tell them.

Liora leaned in, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "You know, we've really got something special going with our team. We've been working together for a while now, and we've developed this amazing synergy. Darian here is a tactical genius, always one step ahead in a fight. And me? Well, let's just say I've got a knack for keeping everyone on their toes. Together, we cover each other's weaknesses and play to our strengths. It's like a well-oiled machine."

Darian nodded in agreement, his face lighting up with pride. "Absolutely. Liora's right. We've been through some pretty tough battles, and each time we come out stronger. We've got each other's backs, no matter what. We're always looking to improve and push ourselves to the next level. Having someone like you two, would take us even further. We think you'd fit right in and make us an unbeatable force."

He looked at his two teammates. "And unless one of you two disagree, I think I speak for all of us when I say we think you'd make a great addition. Of course, even if you don't want to join, there are no hard feelings. But we do hope that you'd at least come join us again and hang out some more."

Liora grinned, her excitement palpable. "And the best part is, we have a lot of fun too. It's not just about the fights and the challenges. Like Darian said, we support each other in everything, whether it's training, strategy sessions, or just hanging out. We've become kind of like a family. One with a smart older sister and two dorky younger brothers. So, what do you say? Want to join us and see just how far we can go together?"

Darian leaned forward, his voice earnest. "We're not saying you have to say yes now. We heard you were at the recruiting thing earlier today. Just...think about it. And keep us in the running if possible."

Elena looked between them, a bit surprised by the sudden invitation. She exchanged a glance with Zara before responding. "Actually, I'm already planning on joining Zara. We hit it off, and we think we could make a great team."

Liora and Darian's expressions faltered for a moment before they recovered, nodding in understanding. "Well, that's great too," Liora said with a forced smile. "You and Zara will be an amazing duo."

Darian nodded in agreement. "Yeah, absolutely. Just let us know if you ever want to team up for a mission or something. We're always open to collaboration."

Elena smiled appreciatively. "Thanks, guys. I really appreciate the offer.”

Zara tapped Elena’s arm. “Hey teammate, Can we go talk for a second?"

Zara and Elena stepped away from the table, finding a quiet corner to discuss the situation. "What’s up?" Elena asked, her voice thoughtful.

Zara shrugged, a playful smirk on her lips. "Honestly, I think we should go for it. Liora and Darian seem like solid teammates, and having more people on our side could be beneficial. I still think we'd do really well as a duo. But as a whole team? We’d be able to cover our asses a whole bunch more" Zara's smile turned into a teasing grin. "Of course this decision is entirely up to you.”

Elena raised an eyebrow “Why? If we’re a team, I hope that you’re not thinking I’m gonna be the leader”

Zara gave Elena an amused look. “Because I’m not the one Adrian is smitten with. The question is are you okay being on a team with him?"

Elena blushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I've noticed. It's... flattering, but also a little overwhelming? I don't want it to become a distraction and honestly I'm not really used to it."

Zara chuckled. "Yeah, I can see that. He seems like a good guy, though. Maybe just be honest with him. Set some boundaries."

Elena sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I guess you're right. Do you have any advice on how to deal with it?"

Zara thought for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "Not your type? I think the key is to be upfront but gentle. Let him know that you appreciate his feelings but that you're focused on your training and the team. Maybe with some time he'll see you more as an invaluable teammate than a romantic interest. He'll respect that."

"And if he doesn't?"

Zara shrugged. "I dunno, tell him that your heart belongs to another. Wait, why are you asking me? I'm sure growing up you had plenty of guys who wanted your attention. Just do to him what you told the other guys. Unless you were a real bitch about it. Then maybe be more of a bitch?"

Elena chuckled to herself. "Yeah, I think you'd be surprised how infrequently guys wanted to talk to me."

Zara snorted, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "If you want my advice, Be blunt. Tell him you're more likely to kiss a troll than date him. That ought to do the trick."

Elena nodded, feeling a bit more confident. "Thanks, Zara. I'll try to talk to him about it. So, are we doing this? Joining their team?"

Zara grinned, giving Elena a playful punch on the arm. "Hell yeah, we're doing this. These dorks need us to spice things up. Besides, I've got a feeling you and I are gonna raise all kinds of delightful hell together."

Elena nodded but put her hand on Zara's arm. "Hey, before we join I should sit all of you down and give you a bit of my story."

Zara stopped and looked at Elena. "Are you sure? You really seemed like you didn't want to talk about it. And if you don't want to, I'm not going to force you." She looked up in thought for a moment. "I mean unless there are people coming to kill you. Then I kind of need to know whose ass we're going to be kicking back to...well...wherever you're from."

Elena shrugged and looked at her. "I mean, no? Yes? Look. Let's all go back to the Chalice."

Elena and Zara led Darian, Liora, and Adrian through the bustling streets to the cozy warmth of The Silver Chalice Inn. The inviting glow from the windows and the gentle hum of conversation within promised a comfortable retreat from the day's excitement. As they entered, Gareth greeted them with a warm smile from behind the bar.

"Welcome back, Elena! Who are your friends?" Gareth called out. Elena could tell he looked genuinely curious.

Elena returned the smile and gestured to her companions. "Gareth, this is Zara, Darian, Liora, and Adrian. They're...friends?"

Zara put her hand on Elena's shoulder. "I mean we're more than friends at this point. We're teammates." She hooked a thumb at the other three. "But I guess these guys seem alright though."

Elena smiled and then turned to look at everyone. "Everyone, this is Gareth, the best innkeeper in town."

Gareth nodded at them. "Pleasure to meet you all. Make yourselves at home."

Agatha appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She bustled over and gave Elena a quick hug. "You're looking so much better. Whoever did your makeup did a great job." She gave Elena a quick wink before she turned her attention to the other four with Elena. "And what's this? You've brought friends!" She turned to look at the four others. "You lot are damn lucky, you know that?" her tone was half serious, half teasing. "This young lady here, she's gonna be the stuff of legends."

Elena blushed slightly and gave Agatha a 'shut up' look, but Agatha just chuckled.

Elena introduced them all to Agatha, who welcomed them warmly. "Come on, let's find you a private table," Agatha said, leading them to a cozy corner of the inn where they could talk without interruption. Once she brought them over to an empty booth, she tapped the table. "Now, let me get something cooking for you. I won't have you leaving here on an empty stomach."

Liora looked at Elena as Agatha scurried back into the kitchen. "Was that your mother?"

Elena shook her head no.

Once they were settled at the table, drinks were brought over by Clara. Elena looked up at her and tried to pay once again. "Hey, so I'm not covering their drinks. What do they owe?"

Clara shook her head. "Well, normally they'd have to pay Gareth, but he's already said friends of yours pay the same rate you do." She scurried off to another table.

Zara looked at Elena. “Free drinks?”

Elena shrugged. “Yeah, I found out how much drinks and a night were a couple of weeks back, but at this point it’s just a game. I try to pay, they try to stop me. I find new ways to pay, they find new ways to stop me”

Elena took a deep breath, looking around at her new friends. "Before we get into anything else, I feel it's fair that you know what you're getting into. So I wanted to give you all a bit of background about myself." She looked over at the kitchen, and saw Agatha looking over at her. As if she knew the reason that Elena brought her friends here, she gave her a reaffirming nod. Even from another room and not being privy to the conversation, Agatha told Elena with that look that she would be there offering her support.

Elena glanced at Zara, who gave her an encouraging nod. "I know this is going to sound crazy, but I grew up on a planet called Earth. My name used to be John. I died there and was reborn here. I am only called Elena as that was the first name I heard that sounded like a woman's name. I know it sounds strange, but that's the truth. I've only been on this planet for a short period of time...Maybe a few months."

All of her friends at the table looked at her with more than a fair bit of confusion.

Elena took a deep breath, her eyes distant as she began to recount her old life. "Before I became Elena, I was John. I grew up in a small town on a planet called Earth, living a fairly ordinary life. I was an accountant by profession, spending most of my days crunching numbers and managing finances. But my true passion was gaming and creating stories. I spent countless hours with my friends, playing tabletop RPGs and delving into fantastical worlds. It was my escape, my way of dealing with the monotony of everyday life."

She paused, taking a sip of her drink before continuing. "I was married to the love of my life, Danielle. She was everything to me—smart, funny, and incredibly supportive. We had two kids, a boy and a girl, and they were my world. We had a modest home with a garden out back where we grew herbs and vegetables. Life was simple, but it was ours. I used to think we had all the time in the world to build our future together, to watch our kids grow up and create more memories."

Elena's voice grew softer, tinged with sorrow. "But that all changed in an instant. I don't remember the specifics of how I died, but I know it wasn't supposed to happen. One moment, I was driving home, and the next, there was a blinding flash of light and then... nothing."

She took a deep breath, and then drank a sip of her ale. She decided it was best to leave out the part about Athena. "When I woke up, I was here, in this strange new world, with a new body and no identity. It was disorienting, to say the least. I had to come to terms with the fact that I may never see my family again, and that I had been cheated out of the life I was meant to live. But if I have any say in the matter I'm going to kick ass until I get back there."

She looked around the table, her gaze steady. "As of now, I'm Elena. I've been given a second chance, and I'm determined to make the most of it. I need to get stronger, to understand why I was brought here and who or what caused my untimely death. This is my new reality, and I'm going to face it head-on."

She took a moment and looked at all of them. "Zara, I know that we sort of agreed to be a team, but it was unfair of me to join without you knowing what you're getting into. So if you want to, we can part ways or maybe the four of you can join up together. Either way you slice it, meeting all of you and potentially forming this team feels like the start of something good, something that can help me find the answers I need. So I hope you still want to be friends or teammates."

Zara leaned back, a smirk playing on her lips. "Well, well, well. Looks like I've hitched my wagon to the most interesting horse in the stable. Gotta say, Elena, or John, or whatever you want to call yourself - you sure know how to keep a girl on her toes. Either way, I'm in.” She shook her head as if the very idea of not being in was ludicrous. “Like all the way. This is gonna be one hell of a ride."

Elena took another sip and looked at Darian, Liora and Adrian. "Zara and I talked about it and if you're willing to take us, we're willing to join. But I wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into with me." She looked up and saw an encouraging nod and smile from Agatha who was standing next to her husband smiling. She mouthed the words "Good job. I'm proud of you." Elena wiped away the beginning of a tear as she nodded back.

Elena turned back to Adrian. "Look, I know you've been feeling some kind of way about me. I need you to know I'm still happily married where I'm from. And sure I have this pesky thing where I kind of died back there. But I got better, and I'm going to do what I can to undo that."

She quickly corrected herself. "I mean the dying part, not the getting better part. So as much as it's flattering to see, I'm not going to be reciprocating feelings for you any time soon." She put her hand on Adrian's as he looked at her. "I'll be a friend of yours, and I'll be more than happy to be a kickass wingman if you see another girl you want. But this?" She motioned with her other hand between the two of them and shook her head. "I'm sorry." Darian, Liora and Adrian looked a bit confused. Zara just shrugged and looked like she already accepted Elena was just going to be an oddball. And that's why Elena knew they were going to be great friends.

She gave Adrian a sheepish look. "And honestly Adrian, even if I were to try and find love, I'd be looking for someone who looks more like Liora or Zara here. I don't know if being a woman is going to make me change preferences, but as of right now I still prefer women." Elena figured if she's going to rip off the bandage, might as well get it all done at once. She looked over at Zara and Liora. Liora looked a bit taken aback. Zara on the other hand looked like it wouldn't have been the worst decision she ever made as she shrugged and frowned at the same time.

Darian looked over at Adrian. "Sorry bud. Guess that solves that." Then he turned back to Elena, his brow furrowed in concentration. "So wait. You said you died? That's... a lot to process. But if you need to uncover the truth, we'll approach this methodically. We'll need to gather intelligence, train for various scenarios. We're with you, Elena."

Elena nodded. "Yeah. I don't remember much about how it happened, but I know I only died because something or someone cheated. I wasn't supposed to die when I did. One of the things I actually need to do is figure out about my death. I need to get powerful so I can figure out who or what caused my early death."

Liora leaned forward, her eyes wide with fascination. "So, wait. You've been here for only a short time. No formal training? No artifacts to unlock dormant power? That's incredible! We must document your experiences. The comparative study between your world and ours could revolutionize our understanding of magic! Were you also a Tiefling on your planet?"

Elena was a bit taken aback. "Tiefling? You're the first person I've met that called me that. Well, first person that wasn't a tiefling."

Liora responded. "But that's the official name. Demon spawn and the others are technically more of an insult."

"Well either way, I was a human. On my planet it was only humans. Well, animals too. But the intelligent species was Human." Elena responded.

"So how did you become a blood mage?" Liora pressed on with her questions and Elena was a bit shocked at how much her and Lily had the same expression.

"I guess you could say I was born with it. I just kinda hit random and came here."

Zara raised an eyebrow, her tone a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Random, huh? Sounds like you hit the jackpot in the cosmic lottery. Though I gotta say, if I had to pick a new body, I might've gone for something a little taller. No offense, short stuff."

Elena thought for a moment. "Uh, I'm not sure how much I should say. But random is an apt description."

Adrian, who had been quiet since Elena let him down, perked up and held out a hand for the others. One by one the others joined hands and formed a circle around the table. Elena, the last to add her hand in, looked at all of them. “You guys are awesome!”