As the three frontline scouts began to draw closer, Veteran remained calm. He didn't draw the short sword at his side or the many daggers hanging from his belt. Even his shield remained on his back.
The scouts steps began to falter. Their opponent was way too calm.
"Last chance, scum. Drop your weapons and surrender." The leader said, maintaining his distance from Veteran.
Axe scoffed. "Do you really think anyone is going to surrender to you clowns?"
Veteran raised a hand, "Let me handle them, Axe."
Axe hesitated, nodded, then stepped back.
"Now!" The leader of the scouts yelled. He and the other two with swords charged at Veteran.
Veteran's foot swept off the ground, kicking up a wave of sand.
The formation broke instantly as the scouts crashed into one another while rubbing their eyes.
Veteran moved. He crossed the distance in a single leap. His fist slammed into the scout leader's stomach. The boy folded and collapsed to the ground.
Without missing a beat, Veteran spun. His hand snapped out, plucking a glowing arrow from the air before driving it down into another scout's foot. The recipient had barely let out a scream when Veteran's hand chopped at his neck, leaving him choking for air.
Veteran seized the third scout by the arm and yanked him forward.
Two glowing arrows from his teammates slammed into the boy's gut.
He staggered back, bumped into Veteran, then collapsed to his knees.
The remaining two scouts froze, their arrows vanishing.
It happened so fast. Their leader lay crumpled in the sand, another gasping for air beside him, and a third with friendly-fire arrows buried in his gut.
Veteran brushed dirt off his sleeves. He didn't even look like he had been in a battle. His sword remained sheathed by his side and his clothes unruffled.
His eyes fell on the two rangers, and they immediately dropped to their knees, lifting their hands in the air.
Veteran watched them for a moment.
Then he turned away.
"Take your friends and walk away."
The rangers scrambled to their feet and somehow managed to drag the rest of their team along within a minute.
As they scurried away, they kept glancing back. The humiliation and hatred they felt was impossible to hide.
At last Veteran returned and Axe let out a whoop.
"Stay humble, suckers!"
"Axe." Morgana slapped his arm, but she couldn't hide the huge grin on her face.
The scouts' looks grew even more hateful, with some visibly grinding their teeth, but they kept retreating.
"He didn't even use his weapon or any of his abilities," Ludacra grinned while puffing out her chest in pride.
"You should have let me at them," Axe said as Veteran drew closer. "There was no need for you to personally handle those small fry."
Veteran shook his head.
"You don't know how to hold back."
Axe opened his mouth to argue but seemed to decide otherwise.
"Whatever," he said, waving Veteran away.
Veteran chuckled before continuing on to Yurim.
"Why did you choose to stay with us when the guild arrived?" He came to a stop in front of her. "I overheard your conversation with Morgana. The situation is more a matter of right and wrong than logic."
He paused, his lips betraying a smile.
"You made the right choice."
Yurim shrugged.
"I just didn't feel like going anywhere with those losers."
Morgana's expression soured.
Veteran nodded thoughtfully.
"That's fair enough."
"Ludacra," Veteran turned around, "escort her back to the city. It'll be too dangerous to go with her."
Yurim stepped up beside him.
"No."
Her voice was soft but firm.
"What?" Veteran frowned. Stein also felt that Yurim was being too confrontational.
"I want to remain with you guys," Yurim said, her voice turning small and shaky.
"What if the guild comes for me again when I'm alone in the city?"
She clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at him.
Stein blinked. This girl wasn't an easy person to deal with.
"You would be left in trusted hands." Veteran shook his head. "The Oasis is no playground for newbies."
Her mask slipped, revealing a faint frown.
"I'm sure I'll be just fine if I remain close to you guys."
Veteran looked down at Yurim, expression firm and stern
"You just got here. It's too dangerous—"
Yurim lifted a hand cutting him off before pointing a finger straight at Stein.
"He is also new. I don't see anyone stopping him from going."
Stein frowned.
Yurim reached up and plucked something from his hair, a piece of brown straw.
Heat rushed to Stein's face.
Yurim grinned at him.
"I bet he was dressed like me not too long ago."
...
Veteran had reluctantly allowed Yurim to tag along after making her agree to follow a bunch of rules.
Stein drifted to the group's flank beside her. While she wasn't thirsty anymore thanks to Morgana's water flask—Why didn't she wipe the mouth?—Yurim's face and shoulders were beginning to redden under the angry sun, her porcelain skin clearly losing the battle.
"Ludacra," Yurim said, eyeing the other girl's hat. "Do you mind?" She pointed at her face. "My skin is really sensitive."
Stein blinked.
This was his first time seeing someone this brazen in real life.
Ludacra's eyes narrowed in thought for a moment before she tossed the hat to Yurim. The moment Yurim put it on, Stein realised it wasn't a normal straw hat. An unnaturally large circumference of shade seemed to envelop her, completely shielding her from the sun.
"Thanks," Yurim let out a satisfied sigh. "My skin was no match for the sun back on Earth, let alone this one."
Axe chuckled. "You look like one of those K-pop stars."
Yurim's cheeks reddened. "No, I don't."
Ludacra turned back, frowning slightly. "What is a K-pop star?"
With the oasis drawing nearer, patches of stubborn bushes began to appear, with grass becoming more frequent as they headed for the treeline. The air became fresher and had an earthy smell.
There was loud whistling sound followed by a bang. Stein lifted his head to see colourful sparks above the trees. Fireworks?
"What's that?" Yurim gaped at the sky.
"Flare." Veteran frowned. "There is danger nearly. Adventurers use it to call for help."
As they stepped past the treeline, Veteran gave Yurim and Stein an intense look.
"You two, stay close, and together. It'll be much easier to guarantee your safety if you are next to one another."