Without saying a word, Akane rushes out of the guild, expecting that we would drop everything so we can help her despite not knowing what’s going on. Nerva does which isn’t a surprise because she’s gun-ho over everything but Adam and I continue to sit on the ground, wanting to relax. Akane returns, surprised we didn’t come.

“What’s wrong?” she asks us.

“Akane, I don't know what the hell’s going on. I’m not just going to drop everything I’m doing to help you with some vague thing. Like what child?” I shoot back.

“There’s no time to explain.”

“Yes there is! I don’t know-”

Akane picks me up and slings me over her shoulder like I weighed as much as a feather. Ok, this is weird. Don’t know how to react to this. Am I getting kidnapped?

“Quincy?” Adam says in shock.

Akane picks him up too, slinging him over the other shoulder.

“There’s no time. We must go at once. The child beckons. As my friends, you must help.” she deadpans.

Nerva runs back into the guild and yells “Yeah! Friendship means doing friend shit!”

I’m too lazy to fight back so I accept my fate. Adam squirms and continues to ask what’s happening but it’s too late, Akane’s off. She runs into the streets of Colonus with Nerva running in tow. We bypassed Will who from the quick glance I could get was wearing some weird blue coat.

“Ugh hi Quincy?” Will greets, confused by my kidnapping.

“Hey Will” I greet back.

“No time to talk! Child awaits!” Akane interrupts, running into a nearby portal.

We emerge on the other side and by seeing my surroundings realize we’re near Warren’s place. How could I forget the area where I watched Warren reveal he had a guy in his trunk? Good times; that was before we went on the worst trip ever. The area looks the same, it being a standard apartment complex. I even spot Warren’s car which seems to be covered in sand. Where exactly has Warren been? Before I could guess Akane ran into the complex, heading up a stairwell located outside of the building. She bolts up to the third floor, Adam and I’s weight not impeding her in the slightest. She kicks the door open which allows Nerva to run past her. They're strangely in sync.

“Third door on the right.” Akane commands.

Nerva runs down the brown carpet of the hallway, past the dark yellow walls, pivots in front of the door and kicks it open.

“Warren, we're here to save you from a brat!” Nerva exclaims, running into the room with fiery hands.

Akane quickly catches up, entering the room.

“Warren, I brought reinforcements” she announces.

Now that Akane has finally stopped moving, Adam and I free ourselves from her grip. Because of the sense of urgency I expected the room to be on fire or something but that's not the case. The place looks normal. Realizing this is the first time I’m in Warren’s place I try to take note of everything. The place has a brown wooden floor and to the right there’s a coffee table on a green rug surrounded by a grey couch and two grey chairs. In the corner sits an old radio on a stand. To the left there’s a kitchen and ahead of that, a shelf filled with photographs. Across from me is a door that must lead to a bedroom. On the grey couch sits a little girl in a light blue dress decorated with black ribbons. She has a blue bow in her long, poofy, and curly brown hair. I look at her eyes and feel a sense of unease. Her eyes look dead. She has a thousand yard stare, looking out at nothing. It’s as if she’s staring into the void. Seeing that look on a child gives me the chills. It’s unnatural.

The little girl doesn’t react to a bunch of strangers bursting into the room. Nerva notices her, says “so that’s her huh? Alright brat I’m here to kick your ass.”

Nerva takes a step forward but is immediately picked up by Akane.

“No. We are here to help the child.” she corrects.

“Huh? We’re not here to kick ass?”

“No.”

Akane puts Nerva down who now doesn’t know what to do with herself.

“So ugh...w-what’s happening?” Adam inquires.

“You need better observation skills Adam. The child is sad. I tried to cheer her up, but failed. I need assistance.” Akane reveals.

“Ok but where did she come from!?” I exclaim, upset that Akane’s thrown us into this mess.

“Long story” A voice says from the bedroom.

Warren reveals himself, rubbing his eyes like he’s just woken up from a nap. He’s in his standard adventurer garb but for the first time in a long time, I can actually see his face. My god, the homeless man's beard is gone. Something big happened. I need to know everything.

“Warren!” Nerva and Adam yell in excitement, running to the former homeless man.

We give our greetings, with Adam hugging Warren against his will.

“You didn’t do that with me” Akane points out, sounding jealous.

“You don’t want a pervert like Adam to hug you.” Nerva points out.

“Very well.”

“Hey!” Adam says, quite offended.

“Alright alright enough greetings. We can catch up later.” Warren states.

“No, we need to catch up now. I want to know why Akane and some child are in your place.” I demand.

“Fine. It all started when-”

“Do not worry Warren, I got this.” Akane cuts in. “I have prepared for this moment. I’ve written and drawn a comic.”

Akane reaches into her pocket, revealing a little booklet. She displays it revealing an artstyle consisting of stick figures and crayon drawings. It looks like the little girl on the couch made it.

“Aw did she make that?” Adam speculates.

“No. Do you not see how this is professional quality? I made this” Akane answers.

Warren sighs while Adam and I give each other a glance. Jesus Christ Akane can’t draw for shit.

“Woah! That’s dope as hell!” Nerva exclaims, looking at the little book in awe.

Akane uses the book to tell us what happened, like it’s storytime at a kindergarten. It was a bizarre and surreal experience but I got the gist. Akane and Warren fought racists in the desert while hunting down the guy that got Warren’s friends killed.

“And that’s why they’re in my apartment” Warren adds after all’s said and done.

“So you’re looking for Sophie’s dad huh?” I comment. “How’re you going to do that?”

“I’ll think of something. The tournament’s starting soon; Maybe I’ll find him there.”

“Yes yes that’s important but not more important than the current emergency. The child is sad.” Akane points out.

“What are we supposed to do about it?” I ask.

“Anything to make the child happy. My skills are insufficient.”

“Ugh ok guess I’ll try. I-I think I’m good with kids” Adam expounds.

That couldn’t be further from the truth. Adam heads to the little girl, bending down so they’re eye level.

“H-hello. I’m Adam. Nice to meet you.”

Sophie doesn’t respond. She continues to look into the void.

“I-I know you’re sad, but we’re gonna help you ok?”

No response. Adam looks back at us, clearly having no idea what to do next.

“Adam, of course you suck at this. You gotta be direct with brats.” Nerva argues.

She shoves Adam out the way and screams “Aight bitch stop being sad!”

Nerva grabs the girls and starts to shake her, as if this is how you’re supposed to handle children.

“Stop being sad!” she yells again.

Akane heads over and chops Nerva on the head, making her let go of Sophie.

“No disturbing the child” Akane scolds.

“Ow fuck!” Nerva curses, rubbing her head.

She backs away and mutters “that’s what I did to my sister when we were kids. I don’t know what the problem is.”

“Times have changed. You can’t violently shake children anymore” I say to Nerva.

“Hmph no wonder so many people are pusssies”

Everyone looks at me. Oh great it’s my turn isn’t it? I slowly approach the girl. Despite having been shaken by Nerva, the girl is unresponsive. After hearing everything she’s been through, I’m not too surprised but still put off by her appearance. Whelp time to cheer her up the only way I know how.

“Sup little lady?”

To no one’s surprise she doesn’t respond. Time to whip out the big guns.

“So you’re sad huh? I got just the trick.”

I pull out a book. It’s a good one too, a biography on Plutarchus the Upset. I put it in her lap.

“Yeah boy this is good stuff. This has got to put a smile on your face.”

To my utter astonishment, the child doesn’t react. What is wrong with her? Don’t kids love 500 page volumes?

“This girl is deeply disturbed.” I conclude. “If books don’t work, nothing will.”

“Ugh, wanna play patty cake?” Adam asks the little girl.

No response.

“Wanna burn shit?” Nerva proposes.

No response.

“Do you wish for me to give you more comics?” Akane offers.

No response.

“Nothing is working. I have failed as a guardian.”

Akane strides to the nearest window and looks out of it dramatically I think to express her sorrow.

“Listen, what she’s been through is going to take years of therapy. She’s not going to be her old self for a long time, if ever” Warren explains, sounding like he knows a bit too much from personal experience.

“I will never give up. I miss the old child. She was small and made me laugh. Now she’s small and makes me sad” Akane retorts, still looking out the window for some reason.

“Have you taken her to the park or the library? Kids love those” I mention.

“I’ve tried. The child is sad there too. Nothing works. I hug the child constantly as well but Warren keeps taking her away from me”

“That’s because you keep strangling her,” Warren points out.

“Well there has to be something that makes her laugh.” I argue.

Adam pats the little girl on the head.

“I’m sorry you-Ow!” he yelps.

Adam jumps back, holding onto his right index finger.

“She just bit me!” he yells.

“Forgot to mention that, she doesn’t like it when people touch her.” Warren reveals. “Think it’s obvious why.”

“Because Adam’s a fucking pevert!” Nerva exclaims, kicking Adam in the shins.

“Ow!”

Adam falls over while Nerva continues to kick him when suddenly we hear a childish chuckle. We all stop and look at the child, who I swear just smiled for a second.

“We figured it out!” I exclaimed. “Everyone beat up Adam!”

“Very well” Akane says, about to take out her sword when Warren stops her.

Nerva kicks the downed Adam which makes the girl chortle again.

“So this is the secret to happiness, the pain of others” Akane concludes.

“No it’s not” Warren corrects.

“You know Adam’s going to be in the tournament. I’m sure he’ll get beat up there too. You’re already going right?” I ask Warren.

He nods.

“It’s perfect. We can all watch Adam get beat up together. This is going to be great. I mean, I gotta get to the semi finals or something which blows but I’m sure it’ll be worth it. We’ll also help you find her dad.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ve already acquired tickets. We will sit in the front row. Blood is bound to spray onto the child. I think she’ll like that” Akane remarks.

“We’re changing seats.” Warren decides.

“W-wait, why is everyone looking forward to seeing me get beat up? I don’t wanna get beat up. I don’t wanna fight at all!” Adam discloses.

“This is to make a little girl happy, don’t be so selfish. I also don’t wanna fight, but you don’t see me complaining about it besides all those times I openly complained about it.” I berate.

“Regardless, thank you everyone. We have made the child happy. Mission success. I knew you could do it.” Akane congratulates.

“In hindsight it makes sense, hurting Adam always makes me laugh.” I reply.

“Me too” Nerva concurs.

Adam looks defeated, too sad to argue.

With that over we spend the rest of the time talking. Sophie still isn’t very responsive but she looks a lot less dead inside, even talking every now and then. Seeing my party together, not in the midst of a fight or some other perilous situation is refreshing. Sometimes it’s nice just to be with people, even though there’s no reading happening. I enjoy being around them (excluding Adam). I hope things continue to be like this, it’d be a damn shame to see it go away.