"For the life of me, I could have never guessed this town would be so alive."
The air hung thick and warm, heavy with the scent of fried dough, saltwater, and cheap booze. Colorful lanterns strung between the buildings dripped light onto the cobblestones, turning the bustling street into a chaotic painting. "How could anyone not enjoy this?" Jamie laughed, waving a hand at the spectacle. Her smile was a beacon, cutting through the revelry, and I watched as it pulled people into its orbit. Maybe it was because I felt so much less, but I couldn't grasp the source of their intoxicating joy, that cozy, self-absorbed bliss that made them abandon all sense.
"That's enough of that," Vince grumbled, snatching a bottle of cheap liquor from Kainan's loose grip. Kainan, in turn, tried to wrestle it back with the coordination of a newborn foal. You could tell Vince was just as far gone; his declaration of responsibility was immediately undermined by him taking a long, defiant swig from the stolen bottle.
"It feels so annoying," I muttered to myself, "having to babysit them." My eyes scanned the crowd, a habit I couldn't break. "I only wonder what would happen if they fell into the wrong hands."
A sudden warmth bloomed next to my arm. I swung my head to the side. "Oh." she let out a slight, involuntary chuckle. It was Jamie, settling onto the bench beside me.
"You're right about that," I said, following her gaze to our drunken comrades. "Hey," I began, my voice softer now, "don't you feel... pressured at times?"
"About what?" she asked, still watching Vince try to teach Kainan a sea shanty with all the wrong words.
"Being the only one who stays sober. The anchor. The guy who has to keep the ship from sinking because you did it once, and now you're destined to be the lookout for the rest of your days? Don't you just want to be the carefree one sometimes? Don't you just want to drink and forget everything?" The words tumbled out of me, a dam of unspoken feelings breaking under the influence of a single beer.
"What makes you think I'm not?" she asked, her eyes glinting in the lantern light.
"Argh. Just forget it. I spoke too much. It must be the booze." I made a move to stand, to escape the weight of my own confession, but I felt a slight, firm tug on my sleeve, pulling me back down.
"Shane. Have a bite," she said, holding up a half-eaten stick of fried squid. The battered exterior was dark and craggy. I moved my face away with a grimace—squid was never my favorite—but she insisted, pushing it closer to my lips. Of course, I could never say no to her. I gave in, taking a small, hesitant bite.
I was prepared for a rubbery, unpleasant chew. But as I bit down, the crunchy, rocky exterior gave way, and a smooth, impossibly tender layer burst in my mouth, engulfing my senses with a savory, oceanic flavor. It was... incredible. I was so caught off guard by the taste that I almost forgot to swallow. I opened my eyes to see her watching me, a hand over her mouth as she chuckled at my surprised expression.
"Good, right?" she smiled. "The best part is always hidden underneath."
The silence that followed felt heavier, more profound, especially since her hand had come to rest casually on my knee. The warmth of it seeped through my jeans.
"Ah—" she started, her composure finally cracking as she seemed to realize the intimacy of the gesture. She snatched her hand back. "Here," she said, a little too quickly, shoving a bottle of water in my face. "Drink this. So you forget what I just said."
"Y'know, Jamie," I began, ignoring the water and choosing my words with a sudden, piercing clarity. "When I look at you from a distance, you look like the frost type. Someone built of ice and duty, who shuts everyone down to get the job done. And I know your duty must be heavy, especially for someone who took an oath." I paused, meeting her gaze. "But you're the polar opposite of that. You're... the warmth in the middle of all this chaos. I, I don't know where I would be without you."
I could feel our bodies getting closer, to an inevitable end. I had no idea what I was doing, and neither did she.
And when I could feel her breath hit mine, someone, someone had to say something.
"Awww, look at those two. Aye, Muna come look at this!!" Oliver screamed, directing all attention toward us. The yelling, compromised band of savages tearing each other apart turned composed, gently staring in our direction. It kind of brought me back to my senses? "What am I even doing?"
....
"Where are these guys? Fool me once, they say"
"Ollie!" I heard a crude voice say. I could instantly tell who it was. He wore a light linen cloak, and I had no idea where found it, and why he was wearing it, something of such low quality, when the market sold better clothing for so cheap.
His hair, now out of school, showed its true wild nature, looking similar to when we initially met him, in that small village. Ever since then, I could tell he's grown a little. He wasn't as huge as Vince or muscular like Josiah, but his build was now sturdier, and his face now more defined.
"Ah. I thought I was waiting on hibernating bears with how long everyone slept" I replied, a tad pissed.
"Ha. I dont think you're one to talk." he looked around for a bit, as if looking for someone. I wouldn't know why though, no one would spend their time in the outskirts of the forest like we are now. Given their accommodation situation, it was the best they could do. The scattered bottles and the multiple barbecue sticks piled near the fire told stories of last night. Muna made his way through them, carefully avoiding the glass with each step a light and delicate maneuver.
"Have you seen Shane?" he asked, a grin finding a way onto his face.
"Now that I think about it, I haven't seen of him since last night. To be specific, after he gave me this artifact-thingy. Said he had some thing to do urgently and couldn't explain in the meanwhile. What, did you kidnap him?" I asked, not getting where he was going.
"He's not worth the trouble, but I'll tell you anyway. I'll give you a hint. He's not a quiet lover. Not one bit" he whispered before.
I instantly knew what he meant. Great minds think alike.
"I think we should postpone this discussion till you're wearing something decent." I pointed out, scoffing at his poor choice of clothing. He snickered, but got the message.
Not long after, we found ourselves getting ready to excavate a cave, or dungeon as you may call it. The city air was heavy. It was filled with chatter and liveliness. I had to soak it up, I sometimes feel that it won't always be like this-- the calmness might not last long. The evidence was but a feeling, and the feeling was strong.
"Remember, if you see it turn black, you run" Muna instructed whilst strapping his boots. The crew assigned to take care of the excavation was Kyle, Muna, Alana, Vince, Shane, Kainan and I. Josiah and Kainan left with Adriana the night before for some mandated business.
"Why are we getting this mineral again? And who are we to say how good that blacksmith is, or, if he'll run away with our spoil?" Kainan whined. He looked jittery, obviously against exploring the cave.
"We have to give it a shot. I know a determined craftsman when I see one. I know one thing, he wont run away with that gem, crystal, or whatever it is. Second, I asked around. That little kid is a celebrity among the locals, he and his 'teacher', who seems to be the center of it all" Alana replied while wiping her glasses.
"And if we get this crystal 'thing' we'll be able to get close to this blacksmith, maybe get our hands on a few more custom builds and get the trust the locals, all-in-one go. Even knowing who is teacher is isn't wishful thinking. That's 3 birds with one stone." Vince confidently added, whilst on his pushup routine.
"Hey there!"