First Come First Serve

First Come First Serve

IT WAS MERE HAPPENSTANCE THAT THEY WERE TRAVELLING TOGETHER.

Andraaz winced in annoyance as the fifth rock shattered underneath the robot's feet. The automaton was a nuisance—his eight-foot frame prevented any sort of finesse or stealth, and his need to comment on every tree was grating on Andraaz's last nerve.

Meanwhile, the Spartan at the head of the party remained completely silent, his stoicism somehow annoying Andraaz even more. Nearby, the clergyman muttered to himself, filling some more lines in his book.

All in all, Andraaz was thoroughly nettled.

"You seem in good spirits," the Snake said to him, stepping up to Andraaz with an imperceptible gait, and Andraaz growled. While potentially the least annoying, the Pureblood's voice seemed to be consistently locked in a quantum state of sarcasm and indefinite wit. At the very least if he was juggling, Andraaz would be amused.

"This adventuring group is possibly one of the most dour things I've had to experience, and I was put on Sleipnir cleaning duty once."

"I can see that, but we do have some beauties with us," the Pureblood winked.

Andraaz turned his head. The twin sisters were walking arm-in-arm, the latter dressed in fine reddened armor. Draconic, by Andraaz's estimate. On the other side, the shorter twin donned armor of blue steel. Both of their hair was tied back, and it flowed from their shoulders like fine blonde silk. From an objective point of view, Andraaz would indeed label them as beautiful, but what he focused on more instead was the lance the taller twin held at her side, and the embroidered tower shield the shorter one had slung over her back.

"The mean one's name is Feris, from what I've been able to gather, and the nicer one is Claris."

"Tall and short, then?"

"Yep."

Andraaz frowned. They stood out—possibly too much, and they obviously were aware of it. Twins, in his experience, didn't go out of their way to intentionally look alike, and the inverted clothing pointed, perhaps coincidentally, to their inverted personalities.

"Are they some kind of freak show, then?"

"I can't comment on that, but I've seen people who use lances without being mounted, and I've learned to stay away from them."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well—…" Zilu paused, "you'll find out eventually."

With that, he moved to join the Spartan, and Andraaz's mood darkened even more. What did he mean? In any case, while slightly peculiar, it wasn't completely abnormal to see people walking about with lances. Maybe they were entertainers.

Andraaz chuckled. Great, I'm part of a travelling circus.

Their mission was simple. Excruciatingly simple. Investigate an abandoned temple of Alu'kuri. The Saki themselves had placed the request, Angel told them. They wanted to make sure no evil apparitions had invaded their place of worship.

It was an expected quest to be given to D-rank adventurers. Andraaz found any act revolving religion to be appalling, but with his current rank, he had no other feasible option.

"So you think the map is wrong, then." The clergyman spoke up, nearly causing Andraaz to jump. He had addressed his question to the Spartan, who was currently musing over his reply.

"Yes, I believe so. You see, it simply makes no sense the road would end here."

"Oh, and what do you know of maps, Spartan?" Andraaz said, his amusement leaking through his words. The clergyman and Spartan turned to him as if noticing him for the first time.

I'll teach you what happens to those who ignore me soon enough, Andraaz internally snarled.

"I'm an officer. We're expected to know these things. I believe that answer will suffice." the Spartan snorted, turning back to the clergyman.

"I've been marking our route. So far, our path has paralleled the map's."

"Hold on, I think it's here," the Pureblood's voice rang out, causing everyone's heads to turn.

"A secret entrance?" The Spartan asked questioningly.

"More like a collapsed one. Look here, the supports crumbled long ago."

"Abandoned indeed." The robot nodded thoughtfully.

"Very well, how exactly do we get in then?" The clergyman posed.

"Allow me," the robot said, striding over to the wreckage, "I am very strong—likely more than you all."

"Point taken," the Pureblood chuckled.

And with a single push, the automaton had single-handedly lifted a large chunk of marble, pressing it against the edge of the cave.

"Neat."

"Indeed."

If the banter hadn't tired him before, it did now. "Let's finish the damn quest already."

The robot raised a mechanical eyebrow, "The best rewards are reaped with patience."

"Well, damn patience to hell then. I'm going in." And with that, Andraaz leaped straight down the hole.