The wind was crisp against my face as I leaned against the rusty rooftop railing, staring down at the sea of students below. The sky was a dull gray, the kind that warned of impending rain, and the faint scent of dew clung to the air.

  Down below, groups of students milled about, chatting, laughing, going about their lives as if nothing was wrong. As if the world wasn’t a constant cycle of expectations and obligations. It felt like watching a swarm of ants—busy, focused, completely oblivious to the fact that I, their introverted classmate, had chosen to disappear.

  Skipping class wasn’t something I did often. Actually, this was probably my first time. But ever since moving up to grade 10, I’d lost touch with the handful of friends I had managed to make in middle school. Starting over felt exhausting, and the idea of forcing myself to socialize again? Yeah, no thanks.

  I sighed, letting my arms rest against the railing. "What’s the point of all this, anyway?" I muttered to myself. "Classes, exams, parents’ expectations..."

  "You planning to jump, or just contemplating the meaning of life?"

  I flinched so hard I nearly fell over. Spinning around, I found myself face-to-face with a boy leaning casually against the entrance. His black hair was messy, his uniform was slightly wrinkled, and his loosened tie gave him the appearance of someone who couldn't care less about school rules.

  His grin was lopsided, his eyes glinting with mischief.

  "Jeez, warn a guy before sneaking up on him," I grumbled, trying to regain my composure.

  He shrugged and stepped forward, hands in his pockets. "Can’t help it. You looked so deep in thought, I had to know if you were about to have some kind of dramatic anime moment."

  I rolled my eyes. "And if I was?"

  "Then I'd have front-row seats," he said with a laugh, then leaned on the railing beside me. "You don’t seem like the type to ditch class. What’s the deal?"

  "Just needed some air," I said, keeping my answer vague.

  "Ah, the classic excuse," he mused, nodding sagely. "Most people just take a walk around the school. But you? You go all the way up to the rooftop. Now that’s dedication."

  I shot him a sideways glance. "And what about you? If you’re here, that makes you just as guilty."

  "Hey, fair point." He chuckled, then extended a hand. "Name’s Yuto. And you are?"

  "Ketashi," I replied, hesitantly shaking his hand.

  Yuto tilted his head, studying me. "Ketashi, huh? Sounds like a name straight out of some old samurai legend."

  "Right," I deadpanned. "Totally. I’m just trying to avoid being assassinated by the math teacher."

  He burst out laughing, slapping my back so hard I nearly stumbled forward.

  "Man, I like you already!" Yuto grinned. "You’ve got that whole quiet-but-surprisingly-sassy thing going on. I dig it."

  I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I just shrugged.

  For a moment, we both stood there in silence, watching the city skyline in the distance. The breeze carried the distant sounds of students chattering below, the occasional honk of a car from the streets beyond the school walls.

  Then, Yuto suddenly turned to me with a thoughtful look.

  "Hey, Ketashi," he said. "What’s the meaning of life to you?"

  I blinked, caught completely off guard. "...Huh?"

  "You heard me."

  I stared at him. "That’s... kind of a deep question for someone who was just making fun of the math teacher."

  "Life’s all about balance," he said as if that explained everything.

  I huffed. "And what about you, then? What’s the meaning of life to you?"

  A grin stretched across his face. "Live without regrets. Do what you want before it’s too late."

  "That just sounds like an excuse to skip class," I muttered.

  "Hey, if the shoe fits," he said with a smirk. "Besides, look around. This view? Way better than a boring classroom."

  Before I could respond, another voice rang out, sharp and accusing.

  "HEY! What are you two doing up here?!"

  I turned to see a girl standing at the rooftop entrance, hands on her hips. Her neatly tied ponytail and crisp uniform practically screamed Disciplinary Committee. A red armband wrapped around her arm, proudly displaying her status as a rule enforcer.

  Her glare could’ve probably melted steel.

  "I knew it," she huffed, eyes locked on Yuto. "You again?! And now you’re dragging someone else into your stupidity?"

  Yuto nudged me with his elbow, whispering, "Oh crap, we’ve been caught."

  "I can hear you," the girl snapped. "Get down here! You’re both going straight to the office!"

  Yuto, however, looked completely unfazed. Instead, he turned to me with that same mischievous grin from earlier.

  "Hey, Ketashi," he whispered. "You ever wanted to live a little?"

  I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean?"

  "Great!" he said, ignoring my confusion. Before I could react, he grabbed the railing and vaulted over it in one smooth motion.

  I froze.

  I watched as he gracefully landed on the balcony below, as if he’d done this a hundred times before.

  "Your turn, Ketashi!" he called up, waving at me. "Come on, you got this!"

  I stared down, my stomach doing flips.

  What the hell am I doing?

  But Yuto’s grin was infectious.

  With a deep breath, I gripped the railing tightly and swung one leg over, my heart pounding against my ribs. The drop wasn’t that high, but from up here, it felt like I was about to plummet into the abyss.

  "Just ease yourself down," Yuto called up. "Don’t overthink it!"

  Easy for him to say.

  I carefully shifted my weight, lowering myself until I was hanging from the edge by my fingertips. My legs dangled in the air as I searched blindly for the balcony railing below.

  "Ketashi, just let go!" Yuto urged, stifling a laugh.

  "I’m getting to it!"

  Swallowing my nerves, I sucked in a sharp breath and released my grip. The fall was short, but the moment of weightlessness sent a jolt of panic through me. My hands barely caught the metal railing below, and for a split second, I thought I was going to slip.

  "Holy—!"

  I scrambled, swinging my legs forward until my feet hit the ledge. I wobbled, barely keeping my balance, before finally stumbling onto solid ground, chest heaving.

  Yuto let out a whistle. "Not bad! A little shaky, but you stuck the landing."

  I shot him a glare. "Never making me do that again."

  "Sure, sure," he said with a grin. "Now let’s go before—"

  "I’M GOING TO REPORT YOU TWO IDIOTS!"

  We both flinched as the disciplinary girl’s voice echoed from above.

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  Yuto didn’t waste a second. "RUN!"

  And just like that, we took off.

  Our laughter echoed through the school grounds, mixing with the girl’s frustrated shouts.

  For the first time in a long while, I felt alive.

  I jolted awake, blinking at the wooden ceiling above me. The dream lingered, the feeling of that rooftop escape still fresh in my mind. It had been so long since I’d thought about my old life. And that guy... Yuto.

  As I sat up in bed, the events from last night came rushing back. After Jasper, Lia, and Finn had pulled their stunts, I made them a serious offer: to help Eregor and the Drakonians spread goodwill and resolve misunderstandings with the locals. At first, they seemed intrigued—until I mentioned the Drakonians.

  I could still picture the way their faces had drained of color.

  “You... you want us to work with dragons?!” Finn stammered, his eyes wide. His oversized hat wobbled precariously as he trembled. Jasper and Lia exchanged nervous glances, their bravado deflating like leaky balloons.

  “No, not dragons,” I clarified, rubbing my temples. “Drakonians. They’re... well, let’s just say they’re trying to improve relations with everyone. They’re not out to destroy the world.”

  Lia leaned forward, lowering her voice to a whisper as if someone might overhear. “Wait... you guys aren’t, like, secret agents for the dragons, right? Planning some... apocalyptic takeover?”

  Sylas, who was leaning casually against a nearby wall, burst into laughter. “Seriously? Do we look like we’re here to destroy the world? We’re just trying to help Eregor clear up misunderstandings, not summon meteors.”

  Jasper scratched his head, looking unsure. “But... everyone knows dragons are dangerous. And those Drakonians are their relatives, right? How can we trust them?”

  Mira stepped in, her voice calm but firm. “If they wanted to destroy the world, why would they bother sending a messenger to negotiate? Eregor’s genuinely trying to build trust, not burn them.”

  I nodded, crossing my arms. “Look, I’m not asking you to trust them right away. Just... help us show the villagers that not every Drakonian is a fire-breathing monster. That’s all.”

  For a moment, they just stood there, eyes darting between each other, then back to us. Finally, Jasper let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Alright... we’ll help. But if we see even one dragon... we’re running.”

  “Deal,” I said with a smirk. “Just don’t trip over your own feet.”

  No sooner had Jasper and his friends accepted than the door of the inn burst open. Several villagers, pitchforks in hand, rushed in, their eyes wild with fear. “Where are they?! We heard there were spies of the Drakonians here!” one of them shouted.

  I stood up quickly, raising my hands to calm the mob. “Whoa, whoa, everyone relax! It’s not what you think!”

  The villagers hesitated, eyeing Jasper’s group with suspicion. “But we heard they’re working with that dragon-folk,” an elderly man muttered.

  “We are,” I said, earning gasps and murmurs from the crowd. “But not in the way you think. We’re cooperating with the Drakonians to make peace, not war. These three,” I pointed to Jasper, Lia, and Finn, “are going to help us clear up any misunderstandings.”

  Jasper gave a nervous thumbs-up, his smile more of a grimace. “Yeah, what he said! We’re totally, uh... not gonna destroy anything.”

  The tension in the room slowly dissipated, and the villagers lowered their pitchforks. The innkeeper, hands on her hips, let out a relieved sigh. “Alright then, no fighting in my inn! Go on, get back to your homes, everyone.”

  I couldn’t help but shake my head. What a mess that had been. But at least, for now, we had the villagers and Jasper’s crew on our side—or at least, they weren’t trying to run us out of town.

  Now, the real challenge would be convincing everyone that the Drakonians weren’t the monsters they were made out to be.

  The scent of freshly baked bread, sizzling bacon, and spices wafted through the air as I descended the stairs. The common room was a lively mess of adventurers, villagers, and a few merchants, all sharing stories and laughter over mugs of beer. The inn itself had a rustic charm, with beams of dark wood crisscrossing the ceiling and stained-glass lanterns casting colorful reflections across the tables.

  The innkeeper, a plump woman with rosy cheeks and a booming voice, was cheerfully serving breakfast to a table of rowdy mercenaries. She glanced up as I walked in, giving me a quick nod. “Good morning! Hope you’re hungry. Fresh out of the oven!”

  I offered a polite nod “Thank you, miss”, weaving my way through the crowded room to find my friends. At a corner table, Sylas, Mira, Kael, and Kaldor were already seated, each of them with plates piled high. Sylas was animatedly talking with Kaldor, who listened quietly but with an amused look in his eyes.

  “Morning,” I greeted them, taking the last open chair between Mira and Kael.

  “Finally awake, huh?” Mira teased, nudging me with her elbow. Her hair was tied up today, making her bright eyes even more noticeable. “What took you so long? Dreaming about some mysterious lover, perhaps?”

  “Yeah, right,” I grumbled, rolling my eyes. “More like a nightmare where people keep showing up uninvited.”

  Kael smirked, sipping his tea slowly. “Sounds like a metaphor for your life lately, doesn’t it?”

  The door to the inn slammed open so hard it nearly flew off its hinges, causing half the patrons inside to flinch. I barely had time to react before a trio of all-too-familiar figures stormed in like they owned the place.

  Jasper. Lia. Finn.

  The self-proclaimed “loyal followers” I had somehow acquired after that whole mess with the fake adventurers. And, judging by the sheer confidence in their stride, they were still fully committed to this ridiculous role.

  Jasper led the charge, his gaudy golden chest plate shining under the dim inn lights like he thought he was some kind of hero. Lia flounced in right behind him, her overly frilly purple cloak billowing dramatically despite the complete lack of wind indoors. And Finn—poor Finn—had his ridiculously oversized helmet slipping down over his eyes as he struggled to keep up.

  I knew something stupid was about to happen.

  “BOSS!” Jasper bellowed, loud enough that I swore the wooden beams above us rattled.

  The entire inn fell into silence.

  Every eye in the room turned toward me.

  Before I could even open my mouth, the three of them dropped to one knee in perfect synchronization.

  I blinked. “...What.”

  Jasper slammed his fist to his chest in a salute. “Reporting for duty, Boss!”

  Lia clasped her hands together, beaming up at me. “We’re at your service, as always!”

  Finn adjusted his helmet, which had slid down too far. “Yeah, uh… we pledge our blades! Or, well, in my case, a crossbow, but you get the point!”

  I put my face in my hands. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

  The entire tavern was staring. Some of the adventurers looked confused. Others looked downright amused. One guy at a nearby table was choking on his ale from laughter.

  Kael, who had been sipping from his drink, calmly set his mug down and immediately started cackling. “Oh, this is priceless.”

  Mira grinned, leaning in. “I see you’ve acquired some... enthusiastic retainers, Duke.”

  Sylas, who had been in the middle of chatting with some adventurers, casually glanced over, took one look at the three kneeling idiots, and burst out laughing. “Oh, I love this. Please tell me you actually recruited them.”

  “I DIDN’T,” I hissed under my breath. “I mean,... technically yea but not like this. They just keep following me around!”

  I turned back to the trio, who were still kneeling. Jasper looked absolutely delighted, like he had just been chosen by destiny itself. Lia was practically vibrating with excitement. Finn… well, he was fiddling with his helmet, trying to make sure it didn’t fall off again.

  “Alright, first of all,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose, “get up. You’re embarrassing both yourselves and me.”

  Jasper hesitated. “Are you sure, Boss? This is how knights show respect to their liege.”

  “You are not knights!” I shot back. “You’re… I don’t even know what you are!”

  “Loyal followers!” Lia said brightly. “And we’re here to take on our next mission from you!”

  “Mission?” I repeated, already dreading the answer.

  Finn nodded eagerly. “Yeah! You know, something heroic! Like rescuing a kidnapped noble! Or slaying a vicious beast! Or… or infiltrating an evil organization!”

  I stared at them. “What part of anything I’ve done makes you think I need a personal task force?”

  Jasper clapped a hand over his chest. “Boss, you saved us that night. You showed us the true meaning of honor and courage!”

  “That… that’s really overselling it,” I muttered.

  Lia clasped her hands together. “Please, Duke! Give us a mission! We’re ready for anything!”

  Mira leaned in toward me, her smirk widening. “Hey, Duke, maybe you should actually give them something to do. You know… make them useful?”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “And by useful, you mean ‘get them out of my hair.’”

  “Exactly.”

  Sylas wiped a tear from her eye, still clearly enjoying this entire thing. “Actually, what if we had them help Eregor? He could use some extra hands in spreading goodwill for the Drakonians.”

  I turned to Sylas, then to the trio, then back to Sylas. “You want to put these three in charge of diplomacy?”

  Jasper perked up. “Diplomacy? I can do that!”

  Lia beamed. “Oh! I’ll wear my best outfit for negotiations!”

  Finn frowned. “Wait, does this mean I have to talk to people?”

  Kael leaned back in his chair, chuckling. “Well, Duke, what do you say? Give them a task, and you might just make the Drakonians’ reputation even more… memorable.”

  I sighed. I was trapped. There was no getting out of this.

  “Alright, alright,” I relented, rubbing my temples. “But let’s get a few things straight. One—you stop calling me ‘Boss.’”

  Jasper looked horrified. “But Boss—”

  “No.”

  Lia pouted. “But it suits you so well!”

  “No.”

  Finn hesitated. “Uh… can we at least call you ‘Captain’?”

  “NO.”

  They all drooped slightly, looking like kicked puppies. I exhaled. “Second—no missions. Not yet, at least. Just… go do something useful. Without making a scene.”

  Jasper immediately perked back up. “Understood, Boss! I mean—uh—Duke!”

  Lia clapped her hands together. “We won’t let you down!”

  Finn gave a thumbs-up, though his oversized helmet made the gesture look a little ridiculous. “Yeah! We’ll be the best... uh, whatever-we-are ever!”

  Before I could tell them to please leave before I died of secondhand embarrassment, the three of them spun around and practically sprinted out of the inn. Jasper knocked over a chair on his way out. Lia tripped, but recovered with an exaggerated twirl. Finn ran straight into the doorframe and had to stumble backward before actually making it through.

  The second they were gone, the inn filled with laughter.

  Kael wiped a tear from his eye. “Oh, Duke… you really are a magnet for chaos, aren’t you?”

  Sylas grinned. “I say we keep them. They’re entertaining.”

  Mira smirked. “Who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll be known as ‘Duke the Great Leader.’”

  “Or ‘Duke the Unfortunate Babysitter,’” Sylas quipped.

  I groaned, slumping forward onto the table. “This is going to be a very long day.”

  Kaldor, who had been silently watching the whole thing with his usual calm demeanor, finally spoke up. “Look on the bright side, Duke,” he rumbled. “At least now you have followers who are... highly enthusiastic, if not exactly competent.”

  “Yeah, sure,” I muttered. “I just hope their enthusiasm doesn’t get me killed.”

  Sylas nudged my shoulder. “Come on, ‘Boss,’ time to get moving. Eregor’s waiting for us.”

  I shot her a glare, but stood up, stretching. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go before those three cause another disaster.”

  But as I watched Jasper, Lia, and Finn stumbling their way out the door to start whatever ‘useful’ thing they were planning, I couldn’t help but smile just a little. Maybe there was some truth in Yuto’s words from my dream after all. Live without regrets, huh?