The F Ranked Journey (BL)

Lars POV:

Jean was someone who I couldn't understand. He acted so, as if he was older than all of us, but looked young like us. Also, he just couldn't be separated from Mike.

The recent developments were something I still couldn't come to grasp with. I was in the party of a prince, the son of a general who died a martyr's death to ensure the life of the child he believed in, and a nature spirit. 

A nature spirit, who was resting on Mikes back, and chewing on a bit of grass.

"Jean, do you think we could go out sometimes?" and Mike was like a lovesick puppy, even if he himself didn't realize it yet.

"We are already out, Mike," Jean stretched like a content cat, his arms going once more around Mikes shoulder. "But you can carry me like this anytime."

I couldn't help it. A chuckle escaped through my lips. That earned me Jean's stare.

"What are you laughing at? Do you not see how comfortable Mike is? He is the perfect high to carry a Halfling," I just rose my hands in surrender. Jean's ire was certainly something I didn't want. He was a boar in his real form. I was very soft and squishy.

The downsides of being fat, I guess.

We filled the rest of the journey back to Mirstone with small talk, as Jean either dozed off, or commented from time to time.

It was peaceful. We should have known it won't last. 

As soon as we entered the guild's courtyard, we were surrounded. I blinked a couple of times, but our situation still looked grim. There was Mr. Medon, who looked at me with narrowed eyes.

 Behind him was guild master Bern.

A man who was twice as wide as Mr. Medon, and with a gaze which could break stone. No, we really hadn't thought things through. Jean was a nature spirit, and there was a barrier around the guild house. Obviously, the guild would be set on high alert.

"What do you all think you are doing?" guild mater Bern's voice was like crushing waves on a small pier during an overcast night. Just as dangerous as well. I swallowed; thought about all the ways we could get out of this situation without saying the truth.

Before I could open my mouth to bullshit, however, Jean sprang off Mike's back.

"My name is Jean, and I will be joining," he said, self-assured and calm. I envied him for that, but I was also glad. The guild master would surely not welcome it, if we all started to try to fill his ears with lies.

Some of the adventurer hopefuls had told me that he had a lie detecting necklace. I didn't know if that was just a rumor, but I didn't want to find out either.

Bern had the power to send us all to jail for breach of contract. Yes, we were teenagers, but to put it bluntly, our asses were property of the guild.

"And who told you that we were recruiting?" the guild master still frowned, but there was something akin to respect in his dark orbs. Something that I have never seen pointed at me during the few times in which I came in contact with him.

No, Mr. Medon was the only instructor in the guild who believed in me. That is why I was ready to go in a burning building for him.

"Adventurer's guilds always recruit," Jean scratched himself on the nose, then sneezed. The guild master looked strange for a couple of seconds, then narrowed his eyes once more.

"And you think that is the truth?" something about his tone told me that he was no longer considering murder. Honestly, I had no idea why he was like this. There was nothing in Jean's stance or body language that should bring guild master Bern to the idea, that Jean was dangerous.

Honestly, if one looked at Jean now, and didn't know he was about as big as a building... oh, yes. That small detail.

"Why not?" asked Jean, then he scratched himself on the left ear. "I can fight you. Right here, right now."

"Jean!" exclaimed Mike. His face was a mix of emotions, but there was a small grin on his face. "We could all fight the guild master! As a group. We are a party, after all!"

Before I could protest, for I valued the fact I had two legs and two arms, also felt very strongly about keeping that number, Nate laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Think about it, Lars. When would we get such an opportunity again?" to what, I wanted to ask Nate: To get all our bones turned into flour, our teeth pulled out one by one?

 Or did he just want to save the guild the bother and money of repainting the weathered outer walls, and offer our blood as paint?

And our stomach acids as well, now that I was thinking things over.

"You all want to fight me?" the guild master started laughing. His entire body shook. For a moment, I feared that he would swallow his tongue. Which... would have saved our lives, really. Or at least saved us the beating.

"Yes! How will we ever improve, if we don't train?" Mike sounded excited, the traitor. I wanted to remind him that if it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have even been allowed to come with us on the quest which led to him meeting Jean.

"Right, Lars?" Nate didn't have his priorities straight, but he looked at me so, as if he were an overexcited puppy, and I, his best friend. His brown eyes were so big, so full of light.

Everyone was looking at me, as my hands shook lightly. No, if I said I won't play along now, I would be forever thought of as just a coward, who wanted to be carried by his teammates.

There was no avoiding the beating.

"We can do it. I mean, with all respect sir, we can recover after you are done with us," my attempt at politeness leads the guild master to such shaking, that I hoped that he would land himself in the hospital. His smile must have hurt, so wide it was.

Of course, Mr. Medon had to pat him on the shoulder. The guild master stopped laughing, pointed at the arena, and then pointedly looked at me.

Goodbye legs, goodbye arms, goodbye teeth. I will miss you.