Adrian looked in Rose’s direction, passing the contract to her. “I checked the details, and there isn’t anything unusual about it,” Adrian remarked.

  “Why are you handing it to me then?” Rose snapped, her irritation evident.

  “Sorry,” Adrian said quickly, his tone apologetic.

  Alan noticed how Rose’s frustrated expression changed into a concerned one the next moment, as if she realized her words might have come across the wrong way.

  “I didn’t mean that, sorry,” she spoke in an apologetic tone as she took the contract from Adrian’s hand.

  “Do you want a pen?” Alisa questioned, reaching for one from her pen stand.

  “Wait a second, please,” Rose said. Alan noticed how this time, she spoke with her usual confident expression instead of the unsure one.

  Alisa didn’t say anything and simply stretched her hand back.

  “Do you want to join White Tiger Guild?” Rose questioned Adrian as she looked directly into his eyes.

  “You could choose for m—”

  “Yes or no. Both of our wants matter, not just mine,” Rose yelled at Adrian, clearly frustrated by his reply.

  “I think… I’d prefer not being bound to a city or a place,” Adrian added hesitantly.

  “Miss Alisa,” Rose spoke up as she passed the contract back to Alisa. “I am really thankful for the offer you presented us with. 200 gold coins is certainly way more than what we deserve right now, but I don’t think we would like to be bound to a guild just yet. Sparring with top swordmasters or sorcerers might obviously benefit us greatly, but I think what we need more right now is battle experience, which we could only get by fighting monsters and taking all the quests we can.”

  Ahh, I am pretty sure Alisa’s getting deja vu from this answer, Alan thought as he glanced at Alisa, who looked slightly taken aback by Rose and Adrian’s reply.

  A smile spread on Alisa’s lips as she caught Alan’s glance. She turned her gaze back to the Weeble siblings, “I actually got a similar response from someone else too previously, though that person’s answer wasn’t as descriptive as yours,” she added.

  What exactly was my answer? Alan questioned himself. He tried to recall his memories, but it was to no avail. The only thing he remembered was Alisa’s reaction—she looked pleased with his answer; that much he remembered.

  “Was it Alan?” Rose questioned, a hint of curiosity tinging her voice.

  “And why’d you think that?” Alisa questioned Rose.

  “I just guessed. He seemed rather close with everyone here… so I made an assumption,” Rose replied, her eyes still focused on Alisa.

  “Is that so?” Alisa said in a neutral tone, turning her gaze toward Alan. “Why don’t you tell her the answer, Alan?” she asked.

  “Since when has he been sitting here?” Rose exclaimed in surprise as she looked at Alan.

  “You didn’t notice when he entered the room?” Adrian questioned. “Sis, your senses are dulling, I must say. Are you sure you’re a swordmaster?” he added with a smirk.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “I was deep in thought, thank you very much,” Rose retorted, she glanced back at Alan, “Is my assumption right?” She questioned.

  “Well I guess you are right. That person, if I’m not wrong, was me. Now, about my reasons… I prefer working solo, and joining a guild would take that freedom away from me,” Alan admitted with a slight, awkward smile.

  “With the sword of yours, I couldn’t blame you for thinking that…” Alisa added as she glanced at Alan’s golden scabbard, looking at the sword he carried.

  “The sword?…” Rose repeated. “Is it some special kind of sword?”

  “It sure is…” Alisa spoke. “The Sword of Stolen Powers, one of Sage Bewildre’s masterpieces…” Alisa added, stopping midway as she looked outside the window. “Looks like Blake and the others are ready to leave. You all should join them as well,” Alisa suggested.

  “That would be the ideal thing to do,” Alan mumbled as he stood from the couch. “I have already angered Sir Blake once today; wouldn’t want to repeat it,” he added.

  Adrian and Rose stood from their seats as well.

  “We’ll get going then,” Adrian said, with a small bow of respect to Alisa.

  Alisa nodded in approval at his gesture. She then turned to look at Alan. “Remember, Alan, the village or anything else is secondary. The safety of the guild members is more important. The lives of your comrades should always be your top priority.”

  “Why are you telling that to me?” Alan asked, narrowing his eyes and looking at Alisa with a doubtful expression. “Shouldn’t you have told this to Ais?”

  “She hears this on a daily basis from me. I thought I’d let you know this too. And Alan, another thing…”

  “The number of goblins in the horde is unusual. It’s as if the whole goblin population from the Forest of Deadalus is running away from something. If anything strange happens, make sure that Ais makes the right choice. Keep an eye on her for me,” Alisa added.

  They’re running from something? Alan repeated Alisa's word's in his mind. “Are you sure about it?” he questioned her.

  "It’s just a hunch. If I were sure, wouldn’t I be joining the battle myself?" Alisa replied sarcastically.

  “Answering a question with a question? Seriously?” Alan added, raising his eyebrows. “If things go south, I’ll send you a messenger,” Alan added. Turning his gaze to the Weeble siblings, “We should get going now,” he added.

  Alan and the Weeble siblings reached the ground, and he immediately noticed five carriages allotted by the city knights standing outside the White Tiger Guild. Additionally, three more carriages belonging to the White Tiger Guild were stationed outside.

  Alan noticed Bella, Ais, and Blake standing next to the gate while other adventurers climbed in and took their seats in the carriages.

  And I am getting scolded by Sir Blake, Alan thought to himself, slowing down his walking pace.

  "Took you quite long," Ais remarked as she noticed Alan and Weeble walking toward her.

  Alan noticed the death glare he was getting from Blake. He's pissed, he thought. "I was actually…" he started, trying to make an excuse as he stopped in front of them.

  "Miss Alisa was giving Alan some instructions," Rose spoke up in a calm tone.

  "Alisa was?" Blake spoke up, his pissed-off expression vanishing into thin air. "Well, that explains why you all were this late," Blake said.

  I was mistaken about her. She is for sure some kind of god's incarnate, Alan mentally said, over exaggerating Roses’ assistance.

  "We should get going then. Alan, and you both climb the first carriage," Ais said in a neutral tone as she pointed at the first carriage.

  "Understood," Alan mumbled as he walked toward the first carriage, momentarily glancing at Rose. "Thanks for saving me," he mumbled as he climbed the carriage.

  "Adults gotta take care of kids, don't they?" she replied with a smirk.

  And she’s back with a snarky comment. Well, I was the one who started it technically… but would I take it lying down? Alan thought to himself as he glanced at Rose. I mean, obviously, I would. I’m not childish enough to pick a fight over such insignificant things, Alan added, as he took his seat on the carriage.