Chapter 47: Ghost Stories (1/2)

Mike looked at the group, slightly confused. ”What?”

[Wait a second. Did Shy just say something too? I thought he was mute.]

Kate had her hands raised, fingers grasping, like she wanted to start strangling him, but was hesitant to do so. ”Don't you get?! A Rank 3 adventurer should be a high Tier 1 or low Tier 2 at best. If you are Tier 3, you should be a Rank 6. At least! What in the hells are you doing working a Rank 3 mission?!”

Mike rubbed his ear. Her screaming was starting to hurt a little. ”Hey! I just joined recently. Technically this is only my second request. Really, you could still consider me a newbie.”

”That just raises more questions!” She said while throwing her hands into the air, before slumping down dejectedly. ”Whatever, I'm just going to have to accept it, I guess. Perhaps its better this way. A Tier 3 should make this mission easy.”

Philip grimaced slightly, shook his head, and finally sighed while glancing at Mike. ”Look, you have to understand, this flies in the face of everything we know about how guild ranks work.” He rubbed the back of his head before continuing, ”But you've already proven yourself useful, so if you don't want to explain any more, I won't ask you to.”

Mike was impressed. Philip was more mature than he gave him credit for.

Mike stepped forward and clasped hands with him. ”Thanks, Philip. That means a lot.”

”I'm not saying I trust you just yet, but I'm willing to work with you to complete this request.”

”Fair enough.”

Philip leaned in closer and whispered in a voice low enough that the others wouldn't be able to hear. ”However, you stay away from Kate. As her long time friend, I can't let her associate with shady figures like you.”

[Well, maybe not that mature.] Mike just smiled ruefully in response.

Kate clapped her hands. ”Alright, now that's settled lets get a move on. We can make it to a good camping spot by nightfall if we hurry. I know a good place.”

”Are you really planning on taking the road through the valley? That will take us hours out of the way!” Philip replied almost immediately.

”Oh, and I suppose you want to take the cliff route?”

”Yes!”

Kate leaned forward, hands on hips, ”Do you even remember the last time we tried that route? You were picking briars out of your a** for weeks!”

”I told you, it was slippery because of the rain!”

Mike chuckled at their bickering while he followed Shy. The quiet fox beastman started walking, placid smile in place. He obviously had quite a bit of experience with the duo's fighting, and it no longer bothered him.

Kate and Philip ended up following soon after, still in mid argument.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The group spent the rest of the day, and much of the following one traveling.

Mike enjoyed the strange camaraderie of the three. It was clear that, even though they fought like cats and dogs, Kate and Philip cared a great deal for each other.

Shy seemed to act like their protective older sibling, making sure that the fighting never got too serious, and taking care of the little things that the pair forgot in the midst of their conflicts.

Mike realized that this was precisely what he was missing.

[Maybe I need to look into joining a party officially once I get back.]

He broke of his reverie when he sensed a change. The air seemed different all of a sudden. It almost looked hazy,.....or ash-laden. The landscape and sky had taken on a grey pallor, and the normal sounds of the plains became strangely soft and muted. He started to feel dizzy.

Evidently noticing the look on his face, Kate offered an explanation. ”This must be your first time near the Ashmourne. Everyone has a similar reaction at first. Its such a dramatic difference, and you can never really see it coming.”

”Wha-What is it?” Mike felt deeply uncomfortable with his surroundings.