Walking around the town and listening to the citizens speak of the battle that occurred four days ago so casually irritated me.
I kept having the sudden urge to go and confront them, tell them how it wasn't all as easy as they thought.
The horrific sight of Halrig and the other adventurers kept flashing in my mind as I heard more and more people talk about the fight.
The lives of various adventurers I once fought alongside, especially Halrig's, weighed heavily on me. If I had sensed the monster the first time it appeared, none of this would've happened. If I had been stronger, I could have prevented his and the others' deaths.
Form One drained me, that is true, but it is a powerful force that helped me greatly to defeat The Corrupted, or the Hollow.
I furrowed my brows slightly as I thought, there has to be more to this ability, it feels like I'm barely scratching the surface.
I'll need to find out more before it comes back.
I lifted my head up as I arrived at my destination, the Adventurers Guild. I was told to come here by Alde after I woke up on the same day I collapsed, he apparently wants to talk.
I felt bad for snapping at Alde and for almost killing him, and I haven't apologized, so I hope he doesn't hold a grudge now.
Entering the building, I instantly saw Alde, as if he was waiting for me.
Our gazes met and there was a moment of silence before I greeted, "Good afternoon."
For some reason, a frown crept across Alde's face. His single arm gestured for me to follow.
Following him, I shifted my gaze to scan the Guild. Unlike before, it had less people. It always used to be noisy, now it just feels gloomy.
"Sit here." Alde ordered, pointing to a table where two others sat waiting.
The first person was somebody I could recognize, it was the blonde healer. The second person, which I somewhat knew was the support in Alde's party. His name was Ros. It seemed like they were also silently waiting.
I sat down on the wooden chair, Ros was next to me. In front of me was Alde and on his left was the healer.
"I'm sorry for what I did back then. I wasn't thinking straight." I apologized to Alde as I faced him directly.
"No matter. You saved us." Alde replied while holding eye contact, before I had the chance to respond Alde continued, "I want you to join our party, Alex."
"What?" I replied with a confused expression on my face.
Alde is one of the most renowned adventurers in Alos, and I assume in other places too. I was surprised he chose somebody like me to join his party.
"We are lacking members right now, and to fill that spot you're the best choice we have." Ros suddenly spoke as he had his arms crossed.
I get that they need members now after what happened in the last battle, but I was never fit for a party. I've gotten used to being alone, after all this time, I slightly frowned thinking about it.
Regardless, I had no reason to decline. If there's any way to be stronger, this is one of them. I'll take this to my advantage.
I replied coldly, but truthfully, "I don't trust you guys right now," the blonde healer in front of me turned her head away, like she was expecting me to refuse before I added, "But I hope we can build our relationships slowly."
"Likewise." Alde agreed as he stretched his arm for a handshake. I raised my arm politely to shake hands with him, indicating I'd joined his party.
After shaking hands, Alde handed out a piece of wood, with words inscribed on it.
"Channel your mana into this, to lock it in." Alde said with a somewhat happy yet serious expression.
I took the piece of wood, then channeled mana. More words started appearing on it until something I could finally read showed up, it was my name.
"Let's reintroduce ourselves—start fresh. To commence the beginning of our new party." Alde ordered once more, as he had a smile on his face.
"I'm Alex." I said before silence hung in the air for a few seconds.
"Ros. I come from Salyra." Ros introduced himself. Something about the way he looked at me felt like a challenge. Like he wasn't fully on board with this decision.
"Salyra?" I blurted out, mostly from curiosity.
Ros started tapping his fingers impatiently, "Heritage does not matter." He answered coldly, thinking I knew what the word even meant. I assumed it's just a family name, so I won't think much about it.
The blonde healer, whose name I never knew, stepped up from her chair and put a hand over her chest before exclaiming, "I'm Lara," she paused for a moment before adding, "From Ari." as she sat down again.
I put on an unamused face as I thought, what an overdone introduction.
"And I'm Alde, from blood Loro." Alde finally introduced himself, finishing up the introductions.
"Not going to tell us where you're from?" Lara asked me, her face showing no hint of trust.
"I'd rather not share." I answered.
Lara clicked her tongue before stepping out of her chair quickly. Ros, with no hesitation, followed as he left the Guild with Lara, leaving me alone with Alde.
"I'm sorry for how they're acting. They're not usually like this, but after the recent incident, they've been trying to get over it." Alde said as a frown crept on his face, showing that he feels just as guilty.
I quickly replied, "I understand, it's only normal."
After saying that, the memories of what happened to Halrig, and the other adventurers flashed in my head like a ringing bell, my head trembled at the mere thought.
Not noticing how I felt, Alde stepped up and waved goodbye before leaving the Guild.
I put my head on the table, unable to hold it in. I felt completely miserable, but at the same time I was mad.
Not at the party. Not at the monster — but at myself.
I furrowed my brows as I thought about how I could've done so much more back then, but I disgraced myself by crying.