The Grand Catastrophe

…

Arche stood with her fellows, her eyes looking and peering at every little thing. The job that her group, Foresight, had taken was one that paid well. 200 gold up front, 200 after. It wouldn’t completely clear the debt that her parents had made, but it was a start.

The loan sharks would be fine with her not fully paying right away, they knew that she was good on her payments. It would be fine if she fell here as well, as her sisters were in the care of someone trustworthy. All would be well.

The area that the meeting spot took place in was a rather flat and clear area. A rather large manor was in the background, belonging to the person who set up this whole thing in the first place. Off to the side were other groups of Workers, some of them rather famous.

There was the group, “Heavy Masher.” They were led by the Worker, Gringham. He was rather famous for being rather chivalrous. His way of talking and his body language spoke of quality.

Next was, “Dragon Hunt.” They themselves were led by the man, Parpatra Ogrion. He was known for slaying a green dragon, however young it was.

Finally, other than Foresight themselves, there was, “Tenmu.” The only people in the group was the leader, “Erya Uzruth,” and three elven slaves. Arche sneered in her mind at the man. He was a rather skilled swordsman. His way with the blade was on par with that of Gazef Stronoff a few years ago.

On the other side of the clearing were multiple carriages guarded by what seemed like gold-ranked adventurers. The steeds pulling the carriages were anything but normal, just like the rest of the job. They were Sleipnir.

She looked back to the middle of the area. Her eyes latching onto the leaders of each of the other groups. It was then that one of her friends spoke up. Imina pushed him towards them.

“Hekkeran, you better go talk to them. They look ready to discuss the job and the plan,” Imina said, and tried to push him over to them.

The man nodded to his girlfriend, and walked over to them all. Arche sighed in exasperation. She looked up, and tried to find something to talk about in the meantime. There weren’t many other things to discuss other than the other groups. Though, she didn’t really want to discuss them.

It was then that her eyes locked onto something, or rather, someone that she knew. Her eyes widened as she saw her. There, standing by her compatriot’s side, was Anna. She was one of the other members of the adventurer group, Darkness.

Calvaria was nowhere to be seen. That was to be expected, of course. She was back in the capital. Arche didn’t even notice when the other woman looked to her. She also didn’t even notice as she walked over to her. she could feel Anna raise a brow as she walked over.

Arche’s words came free from her mouth. Before she even noticed, she had started a conversation. She also didn’t notice how her friends had simply let her do so, and hadn’t followed her.

“Lady Anna! I didn’t know you were here,” Arche said, and the woman responded.

“Yes, Calvaria is busy in the capital doing things, and working with the church. So, I and Nabe are here instead,” she said, and leaned to the side, “I had heard from our leader that you and your party would be here. How are your sister’s? Have they been well?”

“They have been rather well. I Left them with your leader. I simply didn’t trust them back at home. I actually trust your church and I trust Calvaria. Unlike my home,” she said, and maybe let out a bit more personal information than she should have.

She simply hadn’t talked about it in a while. She hadn’t really let out any true emotion over this whole thing, even to her best friends. Anna nodded her head as Arche spoke. Though, she got the feeling that her mind was elsewhere. Arche didn’t really care.

Sooner, rather than later though, a butler came from the manor. Arche looked to him as he started to speak, his voice professional. As he did so, he started to gesture to the adventurers.

“I am the head butler employed by the Count. Now, as I am sure that you all know, we will be exploring a newly discovered tomb. We haven’t the faintest idea what’s inside. Yet, that is why we are sending you all, and why it pays so well,” he said, and gestured to the carriages.

“We have hired some gold ranked adventurers to handle your luggage,” he finished, and one of the Workers spoke up.

It was the leader of Tenmu. His hair tied in a bun, he smirked as he spoke. She really wanted to punch him in the face. He looked so punch-able.

“I am fine with Gold-ranked handling my things. Yet, are you sure that they are sufficiently armed and prepped to guard it?” he asked, and several of the others nodded their heads.

The butler simply nodded, then turned his head and looked to both Anna and Nabe. Arche got out of the way as they stepped forward, and the butler spoke once more. Nabe looked like she wanted to be anywhere, but here. Meanwhile, Anna stood like the professional that she was.

“These are two of the three person Adamantite ranked adventurer group, Anna and Nabe of Darkness!” the butler yelled out.

It was at this point that most of the Workers started to gossip to each other. One didn’t see a genuine Adamantite ranked person every day. In fact, it was rather rare. Though, everyone seemed to be confused as to why Calvaria herself wasn’t there. That was put to rest by Anna herself.

“I have a single thing to say, or rather ask,” she said simply, and everyone quieted down, “Now, Calvaria couldn’t be here. She has other duties. She wanted me to ask a question of you all. I already know Foresight’s answer. Yet, I don’t know anyone else’s,” she said, with a pause at the end.

“Why are you all here? Why have you come here, to this place, to this job?” she asked, and one person scoffed slightly.

“Money,” Erya Uzruth said succinctly.

“We have come here, for this job, paying enough money for us to risk our lives to gain,” Gringham said.

“I see,” Anna said simply, “I apologize. I have asked a rather worthless question.”

After she said that, she moved back to Arche and resumed their previous conversation. Arche smiled at this. Yet she still couldn’t help the chill from racing up her spine.

…