The kind server hesitantly nodded, quickly mixing around his concoction like an explosive was ticking away in his hands.
Stefan watched the man down the glass of concentrated alcohol in seconds as if it was nothing. Michael didn't know if he was looking in admiration or shock.
The man exhaled, like he had given up his shame. He ordered another one.
"Tough morning?"
The man glanced at Stefan, then downed the glass in response.
"Didn't know there was anyone else that enjoyed day-drinking."
"Who are you?"
"Stefan Jaegen, nice to meet you—"
"No, you imbecile, I'm asking about your guild."
Michael kept eating his food as he watched the two. The man had a deep voice, the type of voice that could've had a real profession in storytelling. If that storytelling meant strictly nightmares. Michael could discern some of the old scars that ran along the man's jaw and neck.
"I'm from the Adventuring guild," Stefan proudly said. "Let's not cause any harm to each other, shall we? I believe we have a common objective."
"The Adventuring guild, what a cheap joke."
Stefan frowned. "What's wrong with my guild?"
"I'm amazed at how you people are still in commission. Has the quest become that desperate to have the Adventuring guild get involved?"
"Oh, and how long have you been here?"
"My time in this quest is none of your concern."
"And the quest still remains unsolved."
A grim expression washed over his face. "I would advise you to not provoke me."
Stefan shrugged, cutting around his bread. "I just thought we were on the same page. You insult my guild, I state the obvious of your incapability—"
"You're awfully arrogant. I assume it's part of that piss-poor guild that you affiliate with."
"But that's where you're wrong." Stefan pointed with his fork. "It wouldn't be piss-poor if the quest came to our doorstep, wouldn't it? That means we have the same qualities as your guild."
"And your logic is just as terrible."
"Luca, there you are!" someone stumbled beside the man. "What's wrong with you? You can't just leave like that."
The other person was considerably younger. He had a distinct mess of bleached hair that went against all sense of fashion. Michael assumed this was another adventurer, except he was actually different from the rest of them. Instead of the armor, he wore a long-stitched cloak over a light tunic and a tight belt around his waist. He looked more of a mage than a warrior. Even so, Michael didn't find a staff that all mages were supposed to carry.
Luca pushed away his glasses of alcohol and headed for the exit as if their conversation had never happened.
"Woah, hey!" Stefan called at him. "You're not going to pay for that?"
Luca didn't turn around.
"Sorry about that," the mage paid for it instead. "Luca is a bit…distraught from the past few days. I take it that you are another adventurer, like us?"
Stefan snorted. "What else could we be?"
"Even…the boy?"
Michael was still trying to finish his plate. He wasn't yet ready to enter the conversation.
"My name is Felix, I'm a part of the Espion guild. With this quest turning collective, there's been more adventurers coming through this town. If you don't mind me asking, what guild are you from?"
Stefan dropped a few coins on the counter. "Does it matter that much?"
"Well," Felix glanced back outside. "It would be easier to identify yourself to the other adventurers. We've been at this quest for some time now, so we all decided to band together."
"Can we meet them?"
Michael shook his head, trying to give Stefan a clear warning. It felt like they were about to walk into a mouth of multiple beasts.
Felix nodded. "That would be great. Follow me, I'll show you where we're held."
***
Michael and Stefan followed behind Felix as he led them to the far ends of Alaris, somewhere that felt secluded from the other townsfolk. There were old buildings that looked untouched and left alone. Michael would have been overjoyed to see one of these back when he was a slave. This was basically a free home in disguise.
They entered an empty small building or house, Michael couldn't really tell, but it was the gaze from the other adventures that mostly caught him off-guard. There were three other parties, fully equipped with gear with some choosing to dress casually. A total of eleven adventures and they all looked at him and Stefan. On the bright side, it was less than the mess they had back at Almore.
But other than that, the place was in total shambles. Everything had been broken apart, from the furniture and the structure of the walls, Michael would even thought they had mistakenly loosened a mana beast inside.
"Welcome to our nest," Felix welcomed them. "We're all on a little edge, so I must ask you to treat the others with some kindness."
Stefan chuckled to himself. "Yeah, that's impossible."
"You're back," one of the adventurers said to Felix. "Did you get to talk to that hot-head?"
Felix sighed, shaking his head and turning to Stefan. "We were supposed to have a meeting, with a conclusion to forfeit the quest."
"Forefeit?" Stefan jolted his head back. "Why would you want to forfeit a quest?"
"With no clear direction, we have no other choice. We are just withering our quota for our guilds. And as we told Luca, he had a…disagreement with everyone."
"Is that why this place looks so wrecked?"
Felix moved away some of the debris. "Sadly."
The adventurer approached them. His hair was ash-blonde was neatly cut, wearing a half-cloak over his clothes while two empty sheaths hung from each side of his belt. Michael was beginning to get tired of all these tall people he's meeting.
"Luca came here as a party of two." he said. "One day, he went absolutely crazy and attacked the cathedral. Guards tried to intervene but they couldn't arrest him on time. Everyone in town is terrified of him."
"That…" Felix lowered his face. "Is the gist of what happened. We can only assume that Luca has gone mad from his time on this quest. He is beyond saving, that man."
Stefan's face lit with enthusiasm. "Then let's forget about Luca, because your help has already arrived! We will help you complete this quest once and for all!"
All of the adventurers glanced in his direction, then they resumed whatever they were doing before.
"Sorry, but," Felix cleared his throat. "Who are you, again? I recall myself asking you before."
"Stefan Jaegen. I'm from the Adventuring guild."
"Right, the Adventuring guild…and was there some occasion for you to bring your child along on the quest?"
Michael felt like he was just openly insulted.
"He's just as strong like any of you here." Stefan patted Michael's back. "You'll come to realize that soon enough."
After a few more minutes of conversation that Michael wasn't really interested in, Felix started to introduce everyone else. The adventurer they were first talking to was named Reed, a member of Felix's party along with two others that stood in the back waiting. Another party also had four members and their leader was named Omen. Michael couldn't figure out his appearance because it was hidden with a hood and scarves, just like the rest of his party.
It was a strange group, Michael thought to himself, he wouldn't have been surprised if they were the problem of this quest.
The last party had three members and their leader was named Veronica. She had short, deep blue hair that fell over the sides of her face. She wore basic leather that looked expensive from what Michael assumed, and a small coat over her torso. Even if her armor looked underwhelming to everyone else, her sharp face seemed to make up for that factor.
Michael was watching her clean around with her party, picking up after the broken debris of furniture that Luca's tantrum caused. As she bent over, he caught two of the small empty sheaths behind her hip.
Why was everyone missing their weapon, he asked himself, did they forget it at home before coming on this quest?
His ego sword strongly hummed on his back, scaring him half to death. It had been a while since she had done that. What was she getting mad for?
Felix then revealed that Luca's other party member was the one that formed their nest. Instead of competing against each other, they all swore to work together under one rule. To trust each other like any member in their own respective party. But then Luca started to terrorize the people at the cathedral.
Reed said Luca was venting his anger, blaming the cathedral because his party member had disappeared. They said she left, unable to bear the stress under Luca and his deranged mind. But when he came back to the nest, they refused to help him either.
Because Luca wanted to attack the cathedral again with the sole purpose to kill every single one of its followers.
"He had truly gone mad," Felix said again. "Asking all of us to commit mass murder in means of completing this quest."
Stefan rubbed his chin. "So, he's out of the plan then? Can me and my party take his spot?"
"It's…not that simple," Felix fiddled with his hands. "If Luca is left to run off alone, with nobody tracking his motives, there's a heavy chance he might be in our way."
"Be in our way? What is he trying to do, kill us?"
"That can be a possibility, yes."
"Then let's forget about that guy," Stefan profusely smacked Felix's shoulder. "Me and my party will help, and we'll get through this quest together. Sounds fair?"
Reed stopped Stefan, overhearing their conversation. "We've already seen adventurers like you come and go, what's the difference with you being here?"
Stefan groaned. "Fine, I'll go find Luca and bring him here. What if I could force him to cooperate?"
"Is this guy for real?" Reed gestured. "To be honest, I don't trust anything that comes from the Adventuring guild. How could someone from there possibly help us with an empty quest?"
Stefan chuckled, lowering his face to Michael. "Get a load of this guy."
Reed studied him. "Is there something funny?"
"We can take any help in any form," Felix blurted. "I would rather return home with a quest completed than forfeited. Luca might not be on our terms anymore but the sooner we can get through this, then the sooner we can all go home."
"Well said." Veronica said loudly behind them.
Reed turned his attention back to them. "Stefan, was it? If you want to take your chances of finding Luca, then break a leg. But don't get in our way. We take our job seriously around here."
Felix waited for him to join back with his party. "I…apologize for that. It's just…we all have our experiences with other adventurers, I'm sure you can relate."
Stefan flatly smiled.