The party crested the hill leading up to the Adventurer's Guild headquarters. Hector took the lead, like he always did, but this time Ylva brought up the rear, with Tiffany, Calvin, and Brian in that order before her.

The length of their fighting combined with the rests in between meant the sun had gone down a while ago. Crickets chirped and night birds called. From the lake which dominated Trostenwald the lonely song of a hundred frogs and toads filled the air. The streets were mostly abandoned, as the people had work in the morning and couldn't afford a late night bender. Though, some probably drank well past their fill. At night, when a chill went through the air and most folks were safe at home asleep, the town became a much more serene place. Brian would even call it beautiful.

No words passed between the five of them as they climbed up the stairs which led to the stone dais they all had walked out upon after first awaking. It was empty, now, save for the guards standing watch. Different guards, Brian noted. Both were dwarves. He assumed this was because of their ability to see better in the dark than most other peoples. It made sense to have them stand post at night.

Hector took the party down the stairs on the left side and through the entrance to the armory. It was completely empty, save for Therdin who sat a bit apart from the left wall polishing a sword. The display racks had been partially refilled of the things that had been taken, including another set of scale armor, though the style and color were distinct from Brian's own. This made him wonder two things: One, who made all of these weapons? And two, where were the extras stored if not the armory? Questions for later.

Now that they were inside, the party fanned out a bit. There was no need to remain single file for the sake of navigating narrow streets. The five of them retained the same order, but in a much looser conglomerate. They looked overall more comfortable. Brian certainly felt better now that he was in more familiar territory, even if he'd only been inside this room once.

The five of them only made it a few steps toward Therdin before the handsome elf noticed them. He perked his head up and stared long enough to figure out who was in his armory. Then, he put the sword down and stood to await them patiently.

"Hail, Theridn!" Ylva called when they were about halfway to him. The elf just waved.

Therdin made no attempt to meet them in the middle anywhere. Instead, he waited until they came all the way over to him.

"You're back," he said when they reached him. He and Ylva clasped forearms briefly.

"And in one piece... mostly." Ylva indicated the bandages on her leg.

Therdin winced. "I see you're all a bit worse for wear. You'll definitely want to sleep that off, but first you should report to Edgar. Did you complete the contract?" He asked. Ylva was right when she said Therdin was soft spoken. Brian could barely hear him.

"Yep. It's all signed and everything." Hector held out the rolled up contract for emphasis.

"Excellent," praised Therdin. "Edgar is usually in his quarters at this time of night. Just go through the door in the far corner, his is the room all the way at the end of the hallway."

"You're sure we won't wake him?" Ylva asked.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. He doesn't sleep." Therdin said this as if it were perfectly normal. For him, it probably was.

"Oh," Hector let that one roll off his back. "Well, alright, then. Have a good night, Therdin." he began to lead his party away.

"You as well," Therdin returned. "Congratulations on your first successful contract."

"Thank you."

Hector followed Therdin's directions to a T, though they weren't difficult to manage. In doing so, Brian finally got to see what was on the other side of that door by the miscellaneous equipment table. He wasn't sure what he expected, but it probably should've been a hallway full of closed doors, because that's exactly what he got. There were only three on either side, with their destination at the end, yet it raised more questions than it answered. Where did all of these doors go, and was he allowed to enter through them?

The party stopped before the closed room at the end of the hallway. Hector knocked on it.

"Edgar? It's Hector Alvarez. My companions and I have returned from our mission."

"Very well. You may enter," came Edgar's muffled voice through the door.

Hector looked for affirmation from his teammates before proceeding. He received nods from Ylva, Brian, and a shrug form Calvin. With a shrug of his own, Hector opened the door.

Edgar sat only a few feet from it, hunched over a small writing table, jotting down something in a thick tome. To either side of this table, and all along the far wall were row after row of books in many various shapes and sizes. The left wall housed a currently lit fireplace and fine red suede chair with brass fixtures. The back wall next to the door was stacked to the ceiling with drawers.

Edgar finished what he was writing and looked up at them when they'd all managed to squeeze inside.

"The contract, please," Edgar said, holding out a hand. Hector placed it in his fingers. "One moment."

Edgar unrolled the parchment and poured over the contents. He muttered to himself, seeming to read the contents. After a few moments, the paper glowed purple and then flitted away in ashes of the same hue.

"Very well. The contract is complete." Edgar reached into his sleeve and produced a brown coin purse. "Your reward is 200 gold pieces." He placed the pouch on the corner of his table closest to Hector.

"200 each?" Calvin asked with a raised eyebrow.

"200 for the completion of the contract, to be dealt how you see fit," clarified Edgar.

"That's it?" Calvin argued. "We just risked our lives, got all sorts of torn up, and all you can give us is 200 gold?"

"You risked your lives against a few rats, nothing more. The price is fair, I assure you," Edgar said.

"What about the crazy guy?" Calvin asked. "There was some dude living in a cave connected to the lady's basement. He almost killed Brian! I'm pretty sure that wasn't part of the deal."

"You're right," Edgar said after a moment. "It was not, but there are always unexpected complications. Such things are covered in the payout."

"Come on, man. I think we deserve a bit more for taking care of him," Calvin said.

With every word the youngest member of their party uttered, Brian wished he would just shut the hell up. By the glares given by Ylva and Hector, they agreed. Tiffany, meanwhile, directed her gaze anywhere but at anyone in particular. Edgar took a long breath in through his nose.

"Who delivered the killing blow on this crazy dude," Edgar asked, his tone clearly mocking at the end.

Brian and Ylva both glanced at Tiffany. This peer pressure was most likely what caused her to sheepishly raise her hand not even an inch above her brow. Edgar reached into his sleeve again and retrieved ten more coins, along with a piece of twine. He tied the coins up in a stack and tossed them to Tiffany. The coins hit her in the chest, yet she managed to catch them in both hands as they bounced and fell.

"A reward for a good kill," Edgar said. "The prices of our contracts are non-negotiable. Further attempts to haggle will not be in your favor."

Calvin looked from Tiffany, the coins in her hands, to Edgar, and back again. His mouth agape struggled for form words. Brian was ready to smack him if he tried to pull anything else. Calvin bit his tongue, however, which was likely to the benefit of everyone present.

"Now, if you're looking for more work, you can request a contract from me or Therdin at any time," Edgar says. "Or, you can wait until you are assigned something. I suggest you take a day's rest, however. You look to need it."

"No," Tiffany said suddenly. Coins in a balled up fist at her side, she pushed between Ylva and Brian to stand before the group.

"Something you wish to say, Ms. Tailor?" Edgar's tone was smooth. He folded his hands into his sleeves as he turned in his chair to face her.

"I don't want to do another job for you people," Tiffany said.

"You don't have a choice, or need I show you the deal you signed?" Edgar said. "Perhaps you need a refresher on what happens to deserters."

"No, I don't need a refresher." Tiffany crossed her arms. "We did your stupid contract. We killed the stupid rats. Now I want to go home."

"That was just one contract of many," Edgar reminded her. "The work you do for the Adventurer's Guild is a great service to the world and—"

"I don't care about this world," Tiffany cut him off. "I'm not from this world. I don't want to be an adventurer. All I want is to go back to Earth."

"I'm sorry," Edgar said. "What you do beyond the Guild can be discussed at the end of your tenure, but I cannot help you with this request, because I know not of what you speak."

"Alright, fine. If you can't help me, then point me in the direction of someone who can."

"The only being I can think of with the power to teleport someone between worlds, not just plains, would be the Mesiter."

"Then stop wasting my time and bring me to him."

"Know your place, girl!" Edgar rose from his chair. All five party members faded away from him. "The Meister only meets with kings, and nobles, and even the gods themselves. What can you offer to a man who keeps such company? No, the Meister will not see you. Rise through our ranks, gain power and prestige through the glory you bring us, and then he might ordain to honor you with his presence. Even thin, I don't know if he can provide what you seek."

Tiffany looked down, her face red, all the fire that was in her gone all at once. Maybe it was the sudden anger Edgar displayed, or hearing that her one chance of gong home was too far off, but she pushed the matter no further. She stepped back to retake her spot behind Brian and Ylva. They both let her go without resistance.

"Now," Edgar sat back down, "if that will be all, I must return to my ledgers. If you need shelter for the evening, we have rooms here, but they're only available to members who completed a contract within the last ten days. Think of it as a perk of your service. You are free to use them."

"That is very gracious of you, Edgar," Hector spoke up before anyone else had a chance to. "Thank you for the gold. We'll leave you to your books."

Edgar said nothing. Brian took that as their cue to leave. So did Hector, apparently, because he pushed into the hallway with the rest in tow. Ylva brought up the rear so she could close the door behind them.

On their way back through the armory, they asked Therdin where the rooms were. He led them there personally, to a space above the armory. It had a common room with three couches, a coffee table, an unlit fireplace, and a big bookshelf, as well as a kitchen area, long dining table, and two writing desks. A hallway in the back right corner of all this contained many doors.

"There are four beds in each room. The last two on the right are open," Therdin said.

"Thanks again for taking us here," said Ylva.

"Think nothing of it. Have a good night."

"You, too." Ylva waved at Therdin as he left.

In accordance with Therdin's suggestion, they took the last two rooms on the right, splitting them into one for the girls and one for the boys. The rooms had a bunkbed against either wall, an empty desk at the foot of each, and a singular wide dresser against the far wall beneath a square window. Brian picked the bottom left bunk and began to take off his armor. He had a bit of trouble with the knots Ylva placed inside the cuirass, but he managed to figure them out. He'd probably need her help to put it back on, though.

...

About and hour later, when he thought everyone had settled in well as they could, Hector made his way from the boys' room to stand before the close door to the girls'. He gave the door a few light knocks.

"It's me," he called. "It's Hector."

"Door's open," Ylva said from inside.

Hector opened the door. Ylva had taken the right bottom bunk. She lounged leaning against the wall, ankles crossed up on the bed, a red book in her hands. Her armor was piled up on the dresser, while shield and sword leaned against the bed.

Tiffany sat cross-legged on the left bottom bunk She still wore her armor, and didn't appear to be doing much of anything. Both women looked up at him as he took a step inside the room.

"Is everything okay?" Ylva asked over her book.

"Yes, everything's fine." Hector said. He looked at Tiffany. "Do you have a moment, Tiffany?"

"Me?" She pointed to herself, as if Hector would be talking to anyone else.

"You're not in trouble, or anything. I just wanted to talk to you," Hector said.

"Um... sure." Tiffany glanced at Ylva, clearly a bit uncomfortable.

Ylva seemed to read the mood instantly. She closed her book, set it on the bed next to the wall, and stood up.

"I'll go get some fresh air," she said before exiting. The door closed behind her. Hector waited a few seconds before walking over to Tiffany.

"I just wanted to see how you were holding up," the older man said. He gestured to a spot on the bed next to Tiffany. She said nothing, which he took as permission to sit.

"What do you mean?" Tiffany asked as Hector settled in.

"Well, it got pretty hairy back there," Hector began.

"It did."

"And," he hesitated. "And you might have done some things you're not comfortable with."

"I'm not comfortable with any of this." Tiffany gestured toward the roof, as if to indicate the entire world.

"I don't think any of us are," agreed Hector.

"I don't know," countered Tiffany. "You and Ylva seem pretty jazzed about it."

"What I'm trying to say," Hector brought it back on topic, "is you were in the thick of it. Other than Ylva, you killed the most things."

She shrugged. "They're just rats. I've seen dead animals before."

"Okay, but you also killed a person." Hector finally got around to the point he'd wanted to make in the first place.

"No, I didn't," Tiffany said matter-of-factly.

"Tiffany?" Hector wondered.

"None of this is real, right? It's all a dream. I didn't really hurt those rats, and I didn't really kill that guy. I'm not really in this room right now having this conversation with you. None of this is real."

"Tiffany." Hector repeated her name, this time a warning.

"Yeah," Tiffany continued. "I mean, think about it. I finally let my stupid big brother convince me to play his stupid dragon game with his stupid friends, and all of a sudden I'm in the game? Oh, and I'm supposed to be a member of a crazy guild, and also I know how to use a crossbow? How does that make any sense? It has to be a dream, that's the only explanation."

"I..." Hector proceeded gently. "I know you're probably in shock. Edgar just said you're gonna be stuck here for a while, and you're—"

"I'm not stuck anywhere," Tiffany interrupted. "It's just not real, plain and simple. Otherwise, how could I stab a bunch of rats without losing it?" Her voice became notably high pitch as she went on. "How could I shoot a guy in the throat with—" She sniffled. "With a crossbow and just—" The first tears fell. "Just stand there and watch him die? I would never be capable of that in real life, so this has to be a dream or something, right?"

Hector let the question hang in the air. He did his best to give her a soft expression. She wanted comfort that he just couldn't give. He came in here to check up on her, not to lie. It may have been a difficult pill to swallow, but it was one she had to take. This world would gobble her up, otherwise. So, Hector stayed quiet, for he didn't know what to say.

"It has to be a dream, right?" Tiffany repeated. "If it's not that means... that means... oh God." Her last few words came in a choked rasp. Her face twisted with sorrow before she slowly pushed a few inches away from Hector. She wept openly, head tilted into balled up fists which caught her tears.

"I..." Hector began, but stopped himself. He knew there was nothing he could say to make this better, so instead he just let her cry.

"I killed him," Tiffany said through shuttering breaths. "I shot him. I... I murdered him."

"He was attacking our friends. He would've done the same to any of us," Hector said. "He almost did to Brian."

"We didn't even try to talk to him. We just started fighting. He had no choice." Tiffany continued, barely audible through the strain in her voice.

"He did have a choice," Hector said. "He chose to fight us, and we defended ourselves. I know that doesn't make you feel better, but that's how you have to look at it."

"Hector, what are we doing?" Tiffany asked. "What am I supposed to do?"

"We're surviving together, just like Ylva said," he answered simply. "Beyond that, I don't know, and I'm sorry that I don't."

"I want to go home."

"I know. I'm sorry. We just have to keep working for the Guild, then—if the Meister likes us enough—he'll send us home. That's what Edgar said." Hector let himself tell a little fib.

"No, he didn't." Tiffany immediately caught him.

He hesitated. "I'm sorry, Tiffany. I wish I had more answers for you."

"I just want to go home. I want to see my brother again, I want to sleep in my own bed, I want my phone, I just... I just—"

Tiffany could speak no longer. Sadness overtook every fiber of her being until all she could do was sit there and cry. Hector let her. He understood how important an emotional release like this was to the healing process. Ever since he was little, he always believed feelings were better expressed, rather than bottled up. It was painful, but Tiffany had to feel that pain. He couldn't make her feel better, but he could at least be there for her through it all.

Hector glanced at the door and saw a shadow shift beneath the gap shift on the other side before coming to rest. Too thin to be Calvin, but just a little too broad for Brian. Hector grinned, despite himself. He should've known Ylva wouldn't actually leave her fellow woman alone. As the two oldest members—though Ylva not by much—they would have a lot of work to do to keep this party together.