Chapter 21: Chapter 20

Once Hiro’s mana was replenished enough, the squad of four left the safe zone, heading for their guild. The guilds had many functions and perks and one perk the Phi team had not made use of yet was its bank.

They finally had enough money, two fifths the spoils of a dungeon, to put away. While bags of holding kept them from being weighed down it was still easier and more convenient for them to keep it at the guild. Their dues would be automatically collected, their money would collect interest, and, most importantly, they would have more prestige within the guild.

Hiro bumped shoulders with Suzie as they walked along the road. “You think team Sigma will finally show us a little respect now that we’ve cleared a dungeon?”

Suzie raised an eyebrow at him, “you passed out partway through and had to be sent back to the safe zone. Kelsi and I were never there to begin with. We didn’t clear a dungeon... Alphonse did with another team.”

Hiro pouted, “we don’t need to tell Kulya that.”

“They’ll know.” Alphonse said.

Hiro looked back at Alphonse, who trailed behind the group with his fingers laced behind his head. Hiro gave Alphonse a pouty, narrow-eyed glare and Alphonse shrugged. Then Hiro sighed before his energy returned with a wide grin. He planted his feet, put his hands on his hips, and rather loudly exclaimed,  “guess we should just clear another dungeon on our way back!” 

Kelsi let out a startled ‘eep’ at Hiro’s bold declaration, having to stumble out of the way of his elbows that suddenly jutted out from his sides and blocked the path next to him.

Suzie pursed her lips, “we can try.”

Hiro threw his arms up in the air and cheered.

...

“This is very much not a dungeon.” Alphonse said, holding Suzie’s weapon as she hung off the side of a cliff, reaching for an injured fox on a small ledge below.

“Oh hush, “ she responded, wiggling a little further forwards to be able to reach farther down. Kelsi sweated profusely as she and Hiro held onto Suzie’s ankles. Finally, Suzie managed to scoop the small fox up in her hands, “alright, got ‘im! Pull me up!”

Once her feet were back on solid ground, Suzie set the fox down, but it didn’t run away immediately. It scratched at Suzie’s leg armor before turning and pointing its nose in a direction and holding very still.

“I think he wants us to follow him,” Suzie said excitedly, looking around to her party members with wide, sparkling eyes.

Alphonse groaned, “great...”