OldBegginings:[I started college this week, didn't really do much 'Electronics' related things though. I also only have school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so my schedule won't change, unless I get an assignment which requires more time on since I gather most work is done outside the classroom. If this happens I'll just not have a chapter to post, post it later or post a comment on the previous chapter to tell you if my leave is long enough. According to how I've been told the system goes though, it shouldn't be that bad.]

*'Titanious'*

"Eh?!" Jeehan exclaimed to his sister, Thorborg.

"As I said, your sister wants your group of friends and you to escort her to Skimmington," Alice said, resting her head on Thorborg's, hugging her tightly as she spoke. The latter's response was apathy at this point, assuming the former wouldn't stop, she stopped reacting. Content with this, Alice continued "Well? Will you or won't you?"

Well, my thoughts are thus: there was no monetary reward, and we were lacking Doki and LOD, who were the main force behind us, we had a prepaid carriage to catch tomorrow and wanted to sleep here tonight. so I rejected the offer quickly. This is Jeehan's younger sister though, so blood relations may get in the way of him accepting me rejecting the escorting quest.

"Ahem." I cleared my throat loudly, reminding everyone of my presence. With everyone's attention, I continued."We were wanting to stay the night anyway. Could we possibly talk it over later and come up with a conclusion then, or are we forced to choose now?"

Still hugging her sister, Alice gave Titanious a minor stare, asking, "I don't see why you'd need to though... Care to explain the reasons you can't help out Jeehan's darling little sister?"

Ignoring her glare, I replied bluntly "Sure. Firstly, we had a carriage with two seats carry us here, already paying the rider for a return trip, it would be a waste of money and the riders time if we just canceled this. We're also pretty tired, as traveling without much rest does to a person. This means we'd rather hit the hay quickly. We also left the other two waiting, without them we can't assure our success. This stuff is trivial to a certain degree, but I feel like it's unfair to spring this upon us, dictating we have to throw out all of our previous promises to walk her there and back."

Alice's glare intensified, but she got cut off by Thorborg before she could respond.

Thorborg, who slapped herself in the face in preparation, spoke up and gave a stammered response. "Um... It's fine really. I don't mind waiting to get more money to get a carriage or anything, I was the one who originally wanted it anyway..."

I cut her off at this point, I talked to Thorborg to start off with but switched to talking to Alice at the end of my response. "Sorry. What I said earlier doesn't mean we won't. We just don't really know what to do. That's all, we don't know how to transport you and keep our previously made promises yet, so wanted some time to come up with something. We also know death could happen, and we don't want to have you die too based on a rushed decision. So can we have tonight to think?"

In response, Thorborg relaxed starting to blush and Alice stopped her glare and started nodding content. Well, we successfully bought ourselves some time, hopefully, we'll think of something since the pressure is only going to build...

-

With the conversation over, Jeehan and I took a bath. We were alone, being the only males and not perverts, and started to talk about our plan. I've been in it before, but it's size still bothered me. The bath was more of a hot-spring than an actual bath the way the steam covered the area, spiraling into the air like a white flame was awe-inspiring and the atmosphere was peaceful, almost absorbing me into the silence.

Jeehan started by accusing me of being lazy. "So wait, there's a possibility we can't help my sister? Why were you so negative?"

I replied in a mocking tone. "Oh, so you want to die for the first time with your sister then? How cute. Have fun, I won't go with you."

"..." Jeehan was speechless, trying to get me to help his sister out now, but couldn't argue against my point, so opted to stay silent instead.

I broke the silence, explaining what my actual point was. "As I said, we need time to plan this stuff out. We don't have Doki, so we can't rush into things assured there he can quickly tell us what to do if we get stuck. We are over-powered compared to most of the mobs on the street, but it's the ones we aren't that are the problem. We're also associated with the guy, having that clan out for him and all. We probably have the same target on our backs as he does. If we don't plan, we will probably get killed by mobs or assassinated by the angry clan."

Jeehan looked at the ground, clearly seeing my point. He was silent for a while, I used this time to wash my hair and body and got out as he continued. I was tired, so went straight to bed. We couldn't think like this anyway, so sleeping on it was a wise idea, I think.

-

I woke up to someone burst into the room. I overheard a conversation coming from outside between Alice, and a male voice I felt was familiar, but couldn't really place.

"You're insane!" Alice exclaimed, pausing and continuing a bit later. "You're actually trying to do that? You know that this isn't a game, right? You will actually die if you try doing that much!"

After a bit of time, I heard a male voice mumbled something. I couldn't really make most of it out, but what I could make out went like this, "I know all of this."

I saw person peering through the door was LOD, seeing if we were really asleep. I don't know why they're here, but it helps with the quest. If LOD's here, then is the other guy is Doki?

"Nio, are you up?" he whispered to me, probably Jeehan was still asleep, and LOD didn't want to wake him up. I nodded, and started to get up.

I headed out to talk to LOD, trying not to wake Jeehan in the process. I looked at my HUD whilst leaving the room, it was about seven PM. So that's why I feel so sluggish.

We went to the kitchen to talk, but he was still not very talkative until the door was completely closed..

LOD began to explain why he was here. "Okay. Let me explain what's going on. After doing some research, Doki came to the conclusion of talking to you two and Alice. Hence we're here. He didn't tell me much, but his final goal is to try making a more stable democracy here in Fourth Island or something. It went in one ear and out of the other... His sporadic actions with unexplained motive confused me, like talking to the boss of the Samurai_Girls for no real reason in private. He's also been really private about his plans, stating that 'Traitors, spies, and scum line the streets' or something. So I have no idea what he's doing right now," LOD shrugged to show the fact he gave up trying. I thought the two of them were pretty close, I guess Doki's more skeptical than I thought...

~Hm~ I thought about it for a while, later replying "I don't really know how this world works, but as long as he doesn't do anything completely bad, I'll trust him. He didn't tell us any of his other plans anyway, but they all worked flawlessly. It could just be our ignorance is a part of his plan or something..."

LOD nodded in agreement. Then another round of shouting came from the kitchen. We subconsciously listened in.

"What?! They're on your side?! How?!" It seemed Alice was shouting at Doki again.

Doki's voice, clearer this time, calmly changed the subject to Alice's dismay,"You remember how the other two were sleeping, right? Think they're still awake after all of the times you've raised your voice? I also know for a fact LOD is listening in, I think one of the others is with him from the sounds of it..."

Alice's voice became softer as Doki told them. "Really?"

Doki explained to what I assumed was a bemused Alice, "I think I heard him talking to someone in the kitchen, I think it's Titanious from the voice, but it could be Jeehan. They stopped just as you shouted, though. You guys can come in then I guess... It's not confidential anyway if Alice keeps shouting it."

After Doki's jab, LOD and I joined them. We were overheard overhearing anyway, or however that works, so actually being present wouldn't change much.

I apologized off the bat. "Sorry, we didn't mean to overhear you. When one of you is shouting, we can't help but hear it, you know?"

Ignoring us and talking to Doki, Alice re-started the conversation. "I see one massive problem with your plan so far Doki. You've told me your basic plan, to get the powerful clans in Skimmington to join some council, since it's the capital, and expand outwards. But Skimmington isn't the capital of Forth Island anymore. Duskin is instead."

Met with a lost look from Doki, she explained. "It changed about three years ago, and Mr. Crossfield got annoyed since it was his fault it happened, so banned any mention of it in public space. Buying up and burning any books stating it from the library, and taking the costs out of the library's funds. Basically, he's a dick who's actions almost destroyed the democracy here, through his corruption and bullying tactics. His racism is awful too. This is why I agree with your goal. If that cunt can be a mayor, any can. I have serious doubts about your ability to achieve them, though. I know you're not dumb, but you're not as threatening as you think, even with your allies. Another point, why are even you here? To brag to me about your plans?"

Doki took in the information for a few seconds, before answering her questions. "Hm. Well, that makes sense to why they had lots of problems. Also, I came here to ask for a lesson in how the world works. I have a basic knowledge based on how I think things work, but I came asking for any corrections and information into the smaller clans. I want to see which I could add to my make-shift alliance, and which I would need to be cautious of."

Alice smirked mischievously, "Really, that's it? How about this, since I wanted your group to do a job for me anyway. How about I make that a reward for it?"

"If it's the one you told me and Jeehan already, about transporting your sister to Skimmington and back, we accept," I spoke first, accepting it since I knew what it was. LOD and Doki were confused, obviously since they hadn't heard what the escort mission was. Thorborg was asleep already, so we decided not to wake and, instead informing her when she was awake in the morning.

"It's the same task, but didn't you say you needed to plan?" She brought up my defense from last time with spite.

Making up another one, I pointed to Doki and said. "Well, at that time it was just us two, not knowing who was the leader. Now we have Doki, so he can do all the work." I said it in a playful manner, but it was true. The synergy between me and Jeehan was good, but we were basically pawns doing as Doki said. It worked so we don't mind, but with of us substituting the king piece, we were probably screwed...

"Oh, so that's how it is. Well, good luck to you all, I'm pushing my sanity staying up anyway," Alice said as she tried to leave.

I started visibly deflated as she left, feeling relieved things work out.

Then Doki objected. "I refuse this deal. Instead, I want the reward to be meeting the clan you work as an adviser for. We technically met them before anyway, but I feel like they're better sources that you are. No offense, I just feel like you're more preoccupied financing, so you clan knowledge would be less that those who actually experience them."

With his new conditions stated, everyone froze for a second.

She gave an annoyed expression in response. "I was going to do that anyway, but sure... We'll make it official. Is that all, or do you want me to officially introduce you to every member in turn..." She paused for a second, hastily adding "That was a joke!" before leaving for good.

Alone in the room, the other two looked towards me. I knew what they were going to ask, so told them the reason we needed to get Thorborg to their destination. Doki had heard our conversation, so tried to state his plans in an easier way, it didn't help though... the goal, the methods, it honestly made no sense to me, so I stopped listening partway through. I think LOD did the same.