The sun sparkled over the road lined with greenery and silky gardens.
Our heroes walked following the direction of their winged guide. The atmosphere was cheerful, each walking at their own pace.
Efa led the way, striding ahead while humming happily. Harvey brought up the rear, eyes half-closed, looking drowsy. Rastaban walked not far from Efa, while Hastur and Arata moved side by side, Hastur seemingly explaining certain things to his companion.
Suddenly, Harvey decided to break the peaceful moment.
— Efa, tell me… Now that I think about it, where did your talking mechanical orb go?
— That's true! exclaimed Arata.
Efa slowed down, her expression darkening.
— It was taken during the Dream Desert incident… But before it disappeared…
Flashback
— Rinnnn! Hold on, don't leave me! shouted Efa.
— Mercííí! Thank you so much! replied the mechanical voice. I'm leaving, but not forever. If one day you want to see me again… take this!
Rin ejected an electronic card before being carried away.
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Return to the present
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— That's all that happened, concluded Efa. I'm sure we'll meet again. I keep this object safely with me.
Arata examined the card carefully.
— But… it's a motherboard! It must contain all of Rin's data.
Harvey let out a relieved sigh.
— Then everything is fine.
At that moment, the guide bird suddenly accelerated its flight. The group had to run to keep up.
— What's happening? asked Hastur.
Eyes fixed on the sky, they didn't notice the obstacle ahead and collided head-on with something.
— Noooooon?!
— Ouch! It's hot! exclaimed Efa.
— What hit us? grumbled Rastaban.
Looking down, they discovered a group of people sitting by the roadside, busy cooking a meal.
— Are you okay or what? Can't you watch where you're going?!
— What nerve! replied Hastur. This is a public road! You have no right to set up here!
There were four of them. One whistled, and in the distance, a white horse galloped. The man ran, jumped with elegance, and landed perfectly on the mount.
Our heroes stepped back cautiously.
The man had long silky hair, a neatly trimmed mustache, and wore clothing reminiscent of 18th-century European aristocrats. He puffed out his chest and declared theatrically:
— Peasants! How dare you knock over our meal and, worse, disrespect us? Do you even know who we are?
The heroes exchanged skeptical looks without responding.
— Allow me to introduce myself, he continued. I am TELLOUK, Jean-Marc… Jean-Marc Tellouck! Head of the reversible Guild of Myth Makers!
— Here we go again… muttered someone behind him.
— A guild, you say? said Hastur. Yet I see only four people in front of me.
— It's true we are few for now, admitted Jean-Marc. But in time, our ranks will grow…
— So your guild is new, observed Rastaban.
— Yeah, barely a month… muttered a voice.
— Stop that! coughed Jean-Marc.
— You could've just coughed, right? said Efa.
— Anyway! I see you're nothing but simpletons who never left their village. Let me introduce my incredible group!
— I'm Marine.
— Hi, I'm Rust.
— And I'm Kantan.
— You ruined my effect! protested Jean-Marc.
— Sorry, chief, replied Marine. Otherwise, it would have taken hours.
— Tell me, asked Harvey, you're following him for money, right?
— Yeah, confirmed Marine.
— Actually… my parents tasked me with ensuring his protection, explained Kantan.
— Me, it's for the fighting… and the money, added Rust.
Jean-Marc, completely dejected, remained silent.
— The real question isn't why we're here, resumed Rust. But how you're going to pay for the damages. You knocked over our meal.
— What nerve! protested Arata. You were the ones sitting in the middle of the road!
— Are you talking to me, redhead? Perfect… my fists are itching!
— Let's avoid tasteless and classless fights, intervened Jean-Marc. Rust is right. It's unacceptable for a prestigious guild like ours to suffer such an outrage. It's only natural we demand justice.
He smiled.
— I propose a duel. If you win, we'll give you a hundred coins. If you lose… you join our guild.
— A hundred coins? repeated Hastur. Wait, let's discuss.
The heroes formed a circle.
— A hundred coins! whispered Hastur.
— That would help with the journey, said Efa.
— It's too risky, protested Rastaban. What if we lose?
— If they have echoes, I could record their abilities, argued Hastur. It would be very useful.
— What a dilemma… murmured Harvey.
After a few moments, Hastur turned to Jean-Marc.
— We've discussed, and we've finally—
— WE ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE! shouted Arata.
— What?! exclaimed Harvey, Efa, and Hastur in unison.
Rastaban, however, simply smiled.
— Isn't this crazy?! protested Efa.
— Don't worry, replied Arata. We have a lot to gain. Besides, Harvey, Rastaban, and Hastur are strong, we have nothing to fear. I'll also take the chance to learn from your fights!
— Very well, declared Jean-Marc. You can't back out now. I mentioned one duel, but there will be three. You may choose who will fight. Who steps forward?
— I'll start, said Rastaban, moving forward.
— Perfect! Then it's m—
— I'm going, interrupted Marine.
— Wait, Marine! You can't! protested Rust.
— Very well, step forward, decreed Jean-Marc.
Rastaban studied his opponent.
— I'm surprised your giant, Kantan, didn't step forward. I expected him… not you. I make no exceptions, woman or man.
Marine smiled.
— Giant? That's rich coming from you. And don't worry about me… I'll finish this fight quickly.