“That’s the headquarters?” Momo asked, staring at the intimidating-looking ocean-blue ramparts. She only thought those belonged on castles, not a place in the middle of a city. Even then, Momo had to admit the headquarters came together to form a unique structure. 

“Yeah. It’s big, isn’t it?” Servi answered Momo's question.

“I’ve been here a few times with my father, but I'm always impressed by the sheer size of this place,” quipped Srassa.  

The two best friends, and one regular friend, for now, were walking towards the agreed-upon meeting place.  

It was a little bit after 7:15, and the moon had found the courage to come out and play. As the night continued, the celestial object would be witness to a very fond memory that would remain in the hearts of three women.  It would be something they would look back on with fond eyes and a wanting heart.  

“Oh, I see them.” Right in front of the entrance to the headquarters stood four humanoid figures. Two Dwarves and two Koena.  

Riki and Rakkire had on tight-fitting black and white shirts and pants, respectively.  Their stocky and burly arms almost couldn't be contained by simple sleeves. Thick brown boots were their footwear of choice.  

Silverado had on black pants and a white shirt that was a bit too tight, and a small yellow string was tied to his wrist.  Desperado, meanwhile, chose a far more casual approach. A black tank top and blue shorts. Both had on red shoes, but it was an awkward mismatch of colors. It was evident that they didn’t care that much about fashion.  

“Servi!” Riki waved at the approaching group of three attractive women.

“Hey, guys. Sorry if we’re late.” 

Desperado shook his head. “Not at all. If anything, we showed up early.” 

So these are the guys Servi trains with. They seem nice, but I don’t see Feral.  Momo thought.

“Oh, this is Momo, and she's my part member. And that’s Srassa. She’s training with Momo under Dineria." Servi then turned to introduce her training partners to Momo and Srassa.  "And that’s Riki, his cousin Rakkire, and that’s Silverado and Desperado.” 

“I’m Srassa Flinn. It’s nice to meet all of you.” Srassa did a curtsy. She didn't like doing it, but since she was a member of the Flinn family, she had to do it for her family's reputation.

“And I’m Momo,” said the Singi.  Her tail lazily swooshed from left to right.

“It’s nice to meet you two. Now then, I hope yer hungry," Rakkire grinned, “The restaurant isn’t that far.” 

“If you’d like, we could go ahead and leave.” 

The three girls nodded, and along with the four men, they all started walking together down a small street.  

“What’s the name of this place?” Servi asked.

“It’s called Canary’s Steak House. Ate there the first day I came here,” said Desperado.  

“Same here. It’s cheap, too. Almost too good to be true. You ever ate there before?” Rakkire asked. The three girls were the only ones who shook their heads.  

“It’s a nice place. Anyways, Momo, Srassa, how’s your training going?” Silverado asked. He turned his silver face towards the Singi and smiled.

They are nice. Thought Srassa as she gathered the courage to answer. She was so far out of her usual element that she was screaming and thrashing on the inside, but Srassa knew she had to overcome an uneasiness that might wash over her.

Strength wasn't just physical, but mental, too. Even if Srassa was the world's strongest girl, it would amount to nothing if she was as weak as a baby inside her mind.  

“It’s hard, but I like it. I feel like I’m learning so many different things every day,” replied the noble.

“Same here. But I’m always tired afterwards. Dineria is nice, but her training is tough. What about Fisher’s training? Servi said it’s tough,” said Momo.  

“Aye. Fisher's a damn devil, that's what I think,” Rakkire said.  

“Agreed. I didn’t even eat dinner after the second day. I don’t even know how I got back to the inn,” added Desperado.  

“So it’s that hard?” asked Srassa. The group made a left turn at an intersection. For it being nearly 7:30, there weren't that many people out on the road. Probably because it was a weekday, but still. The seven of them almost had the road to themselves, but they had to share it with the few wagons that still had deliveries to make.

A quick breeze flew by, and it felt nice.  

“Hard is an understatement,” said Desperado. “Every day, we push our bodies to the brink, then we push even harder the next day. I’m still sore.” 

“Yeah. I would’ve given up if not for Servi.” Silverado pointed to the only girl with red eyes.

“What happened?” it was Momo's turn to speak up.

“Fisher was being a devil as always, and we had to do sixty sit-ups after doing a ton of other stuff. And I’m was just lying there in pain. I think I did 31 or 32 before I wanted to give up, but Servi was there to encourage me.” 

Servi felt embarrassed and turned her head away, choosing to look at the passing wagon to her right instead.  

“But I’m glad we only have a week or so left,” Desperado said 

“Same here, but I’m going to be a little sad. After being called a maggot for two weeks, it’s hard going back to Rakkire,” said Rakkire.  

In his best impression of Fisher Jin, Riki began to talk. “Maggots! Line up and give me fifty sit-ups!! And don't fucking tally about!” 

Servi and the rest of Fisher's mentees laughed while Srassa and Momo looked horrified.  

“Does he really do that?” 

“Yep,” Servi answered Srassa. “But he slowed down on calling us maggots. Honestly, I think it was just a test."

“A test, huh?” Momo muttered.

“I was thinking the same thing. But when Fisher pulled out that dagger on the first day, I thought he was about to cut us," Servi said.

“That seems too intense for a test. I couldn’t imagine Dineria calling us names and threatening to cut us," Srassa folded her arms and imagined her mentor the way her new friends described Fisher. She shuddered and thanked the Gods Above for being given Dineria as a mentor.

“They don’t call him the Justice Captain for nothing,” replied Riki. 

They reached another intersection and took another turn.  It was a dead-end, and the group of friends was face to face with a large restaurant.

The words ‘Canary’s Steak House’ were burned into a beautiful piece of grey wood that spanned the length of the building. Like the Warden office, it seemed to be made of all wood.

“It’s a pretty building.” 

“Agreed,” Srassa said after Momo.  

Desperado went to the door and opened it up. His fellow Koena, two Dwarves, Srassa, Momo, and Servi, entered in that order. They all said a quiet thank you to him.  

Inside, it was a bit dark and atmospheric. Seven or eight workers dressed in white button-up shirts with black ties, black pants, and black dress shoes all maneuvered around as they did their jobs. Some were carrying plates and trays of drinks, and others had a small wash bucket as they cleaned tables. Servi could see Humans, Singi, Koena, Dwarves, and a lone Kobold, but no Elves.  

Fluorescent Lights that hung from the ceiling via chains provided just the right amount of light. The tables and chairs were made from wood, stained with a dark coat of paint that matched the dark atmosphere.  

It wasn’t anything evil, but Servi guessed that this restaurant followed an irrefutable theme. She felt calm and relaxed. The dark color soothed her, somehow, and she smiled.  

“We have to stand here until a waiter comes and gets us,” said Desperado. There was a line of booths in the  lobby, so the three girls took a seat and chatted amongst themselves. The men did the same standing up.  

“This place looks kinda nice,” Momo turned her head and took in the sights.

Srassa agreed while hugging her purse to her lap. “I’ve never been to this part of town before.”  

“Why not?" Servi asked.

“My father is very overprotective of me, and I usually stay in the noble district for one reason.” 

“What reason is that?” pipped Momo.  

“It’s a bit embarrassing, but father has a guard or two to follow me when I leave the house. I guarantee there’s someone following us right now. Sometimes it’s a bit much, so I just stay in the noble district.” 

“Hmm. I think that’s kind of sweet. It shows your dad cares a lot about you,” said Momo.  

“You’re probably right, and I shouldn’t be upset, but I want just a little bit of freedom.” 

“So that's why you joined Warden?” asked Servi.  

“Yes. My cousins, uncles, and aunts on my father's side of the family are either active members or have retired. Father was the oldest of his siblings, so he had to take care of the house, and mother was an only child. And father allowed me to join when my mother got pregnant. That way, even if it’s a girl, they can raise her to take over the home and name. Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to only talk about myself.” 

“That’s no problem. I like hearing about my friends.” Momo smiled at Srassa, whose heart skipped a beat. Before she could say anything, Desperado walked over.  

“Servi, we’re about to head to the table,” he said as he straightened his clothes.  

“Got it,” Servi replied as she stood up. Srassa and Momo did the same, and they followed a Human boy with yellow hair and hazel eyes. He had seven menus in his hand, which were made out of tanned paper folded into a three-page long book, bounded by brown cow leather. It was almost like a work of art, in a way. It certainly fit the atmosphere.  

 The smells of grilled and baked steak and chicken, with fried potatoes and sautéed shrimp, and more, filled all of their nostrils, and Riki even drooled a little bit. From the entrance, they went straight down a set of stairs before taking a right, passing by a room filled with parties of four that occupied each table they saw. A few seconds later, they came to a large, mostly empty room except for 11 people, made up of Humans, Dwarves, Elves, and Koena, who all sat at one table. They looked like they were having a good time, and Servi definitely smelled the booze that seemed like it disappeared faster than it could be poured.  

It seems this room is for large groups. Itarr said. She had been silent for a while, no doubt observing Srassa and how she reacted to certain things. When the Goddess wasn't talking to her Servi, she took everything she saw and used that information to learn about the world.

The Human boy went to the table and laid down the seven menus. 

“Someone will be with you shortly. I hope you all enjoy your meal,” the host nervously said. His reddish-brown eyes were focused on two particular girls.

“Thank you!” Momo slightly tilted her head. Unfortunately, he wasn’t staring at her.  

Regardless, he nodded at her, acknowledging her, but his eyes were on Servi and Srassa.  

So, they all took a seat. By total coincidence, the four men all sat on one side, and the three girls sat on the other. The order went Desperado, Riki, Silverado, and Rakkire for the guys, and Momo, Srassa, and Servi for the girls. There was a spare chair sitting beside Servi.  

A few moments later, when they opened the menus to take a look, a Kobold came walking over. It’s almost unbelievable, but the three-meter tall beast had the uniform on, and Servi instantly recognized him. 

“I can’t believe it! Feral?!” Servi had said, louder than she wanted to. The four men all glanced up from their menus and stared with open mouths. Srassa and Momo glanced up, but only Momo was surprised. Srassa just stared at the hulking beast and wondered how his thick body managed to fit in the uniform.  

“Ahhh. Servi, Silverado, Desperado, Riki, Rakkire. This is the restaurant you were talking about? Momo, it’s good to see you again.” His broad arms and large hands looked quite comical, holding a pen and a small notebook as he nodded at Momo.  

“You work here?” Momo asked.

“Wait, you two know each other?” Riki interjected.

“Yep. Servi and I saw him when we went to Madam Canary's Sweetie Tweety.” 

“Yes, I work here, too. Living in the city is expensive, so I took a second job,” he growled out. He wanted to start slamming his tail because he was happy but couldn’t. The manager had already told him before not to do it.  

“Hold up, you work at that sweets shop?” asked Desperado.  

“That I do. My relative owns it, and she gave me a job there. Even then, I still run short on cash. A Kobold requires a lot of meat to stay strong.” 

“But why not do some quests or hunt in the sewers? That’s what Servi and I do. Well, we haven’t done it since the program started,” said Momo.  

Feral froze up as the gears in his head began to turn.  

Feral was as sweet as he was big and tall, but he was not the sharpest tool in the shed. He never even realized that was an option.  

“Hmm...” His green alligator-like face took on a red hint, and he figured that was something he could do. “I do suppose that’s an option,” he calmly said. “After my shift, I need to talk to the manager. Regardless, what can I get you to drink?” 

“Aye, give me some mead,” said Riki.  

“Aye, same here.” 

“Over here as well.” 

“I’ll take a glass as well.” 

Said Rakkire, Silverado, and Desperado, in order.  

“Very well. Then for you three?” Feral turned his giant body to the three girls.  

“I’ll take a glass of tea,” Servi said after glancing at the drink list.  She wasn't in the mood for juice, and while drinking alcohol with the boys sounded like a fun idea, she figured she could do that some other time.

“Can I get a glass of water?” asked Momo. Srassa ordered the same.  

“Very well. I’ll go put these in. I’ll be back in a few minutes to take your order,” growled Feral as he walked through the door that connected their room to the rest of the restaurant. The table behind them roared with laughter, providing a little bit of background noise.  

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Kobold that big before,” said Srassa as she glanced through the menu. Usually, she would’ve been so nervous she wouldn’t be able to speak, but Srassa felt fine because the current situation was just what she wanted.

Going out to dinner with some friends was a reoccurring dream she had whenever she fell asleep. Though she would hesitate to call the four boys and Servi her friends, she felt like maybe that could happen in the future.  

“Speaking of Kobolds, I never woulda expected Feral to work at a sweets shop.” Riki's innocent sentence kicked off a discussion about people working jobs they didn’t seem suited for. Like a Singi working in a dusty mine or an Elf doing heavy construction.  

Servi listened to the four talk amongst themselves, with Momo and Srassa interjecting whenever they could, as she figured out wanted to eat.  

She thought the ribeye looked good. It came in three different sizes, 180g, 225g, and 275g, and had fries and a salad. It also came with a small cup of the juice it produced while being cooked.  

But the filet mignon looked mighty tasty too, but it only came in one size, which was 390g.  

Okay, I can't starve because I don't need food. Because of that, I don’t think I’ll gain any weight even if I eat for a hundred years. Servi pondered within the depths of her mind, and she didn't break free until she heard someone speaking.

“What’re y’all getting?” Riki asked. He had one hand stroking his beard, and the other one flipped through the paper menu.  

“I worked up a mighty appetite, so I’m getting the 700g ribeye cooked medium-well and extra taters,” said Rakkire. A Dwarf’s hunger was as big as they were stocky. It took many calories to support their strong legs that carried their bodies and thick arms that swung a pickax over and over.  

“Same here,” Riki said.  

Silverado and Desperado spoke next.

“I think I’ll get the porterhouse with the shrimp,” from the picture on the menu, it was a thick cut of meat covered and smothered in shrimp that was sautéed in the steak’s juices.  

“I might go for the rib platter. But if you’re getting shrimp, why don’t we all go in for this shrimp platter? Then you’d be able to substitute that for something else.” 

“Good idea. I’m game for it. How about you all?” asked Silverado.

“I’ve never had shrimp before, so I don’t know if I’ll like it. But I’ll certainly try it,” squeaked Momo, who waited for the right moment to join the conversation.  

“Really?! I thought all Singi loved seafood? Like they jumped at any chance to eat it,” replied Riki.   

“Don’t be rude, Riki. But I am surprised,” Rakkire interjected.

“My village wasn’t close to any trading villages, nor was it close to any lake, so I grew up mostly eating vegetables,” answered Momo.  

“No meat?” asked Silverado.  

“Only ten or fifteen times a year.  Meat was a bit too expensive for us to buy.  But it wasn’t like I was starving. Grandpa made sure I never went to bed hungry.” 

Desperado smiled, displaying his pearly white teeth that were stained with a hint of yellow. “He sounds like a good man.” 

“He is. But I’m happy to pitch in for that shrimp. Servi, Srassa?” 

Before they could answer, Feral came back supporting a large tray with seven glasses. After handing out the drinks, he spoke. “Are you all ready to order, or do you all need a few minutes?” Even though he was a Kobold, he was dedicated to his job, even if it was something that a Kobold would usually never do.  

They were a race that lived for war and battle, but not all thought that way. In a sense, he was far more mature and understanding than the other members of his kind, even though he was technically just a young adult. His body was big and strong for someone his age, but if he were to fight against a Kobold with more years of experience, it wouldn’t even be a close match.  

“Can you give us a few?” asked Servi.  

He nodded and unconsciously growled. Srassa tensed up slightly.  

“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He turned and left, his large tail slithering behind him.  

“So about that shrimp. Srassa?” Momo asked again.

She stared at the Kobold as he walked away before realizing somebody was talking to her. “Uh? Oh, yes, sounds fine to me. I’m sorry, I never heard a Kobold growl like that before.” 

“Don’t take it personally. That’s just how Feral talks,” Servi said.  

“She’s right. Feral's like one of those people who act cold and dismissive, but he's the complete opposite,” said Silverado. “Even if he did crush my chest, he apologized to me later that day for going too far.” 

“Wait, what?!” Srassa and Momo spoke at the same time.  

“It sounds way worse than it was, but we were sparring. It was me, Feral, and Servi. She ducked his tail swipe, and I didn’t.” 

“Ouch…” Momo put a hand to her chest and imagined it was caved in.

“Ouch indeed. My chest was caved in, but thanks to the medics, I was healed up. But I was afraid for a moment.” 

“But wouldn’t you be mad?” pipped Srassa. She didn’t understand how someone would be okay with the person that almost killed him.  

“I’m a Koena, so even if my scales were crushed, I’d be fine if I made sure nothing important was there. We are resilient, after all. I was afraid I was going to pass out, though.” 

But isn’t his heart in his chest like mine? He has lungs and ribs, right? That's important... It has to be... But it was totally crushed. I’m curious, but I don’t know how to ask.  

“Servi? About the shrimp?” Desperado turned away from the conversation and asked Servi.

His question interrupted her thoughts, and she hastily answered. “Sounds good to me.” 

“So how about you? What are you thinking about getting?” Riki asked Srassa.

She bashfully answered him, and it was clear to all around that she was nervous, even though she was putting on a brave front.  

“Umm… Probably the spring chicken with mushrooms. Dineria told us to eat lean foods.” 

“Bwahaha! A good choice as any. You?” Riki took a swig of his mead and asked the only Singi at the table.

Her tail slowly swayed from side to side as her blue eyes scurried the three pages of the menu.  

“Maybe the barbie grilled chicken and sauce. Wait, what’s a barbie?” she asked.  

“That’s just another name for barbecue.” 

“I didn’t know that. Servi, what are you getting?” asked Momo. She closed her menu and took a sip of her water.  

Servi took a small sip of her tea, enjoying the cold sweetness as it flowed down her throat, and flipped back through the menu. “Probably the rib and chicken combo with a baked potato on the side. I’m pretty hungry.”  

As if Feral had timed it, the hulking Kobold walked back over with a pen and notepad at the ready.

“Are you all ready?” asked the big guy. One by one, the seven at the table gave him their order. “Alright. I’ll go put this in,” he growled once more, nodded, and left.  

Momo glanced over and noticed that Srassa slightly quivered.

It seems she’s a little bit scared of him. Thought Momo.  

“Servi, didn’t you face Feral in a sparring match today?” asked the Singi.  

Servi took a sip of her tea and nodded, promoting Riki to talk about the fights. “Yep. Today was nothing but sparring. We didn’t even work out that much.” 

“You were allowed to use skills and shields, right?” 

Desperado nodded at Momo. “Yeah. I lost three times,” he sighed.  

“Same here,” Riki sighed as well.

“Hey,” said Silverado, “guess who went undefeated today?” He grinned at Servi, and she went a bit red in the face.  

“Feral?” Srassa answered as she took a sip of her water. It was cold and refreshing, the perfect solution for a stuffy, hot room. She picked up her napkin and wiped her face and arms, and wished it was just a little bit cooler.

“Nope!” Silverado replied before pointing his white scaley fingers at Servi.  

“You did it?! You beat Feral?!” it took a few moments for Momo’s brain to process what she saw, but she became happy and excited for her friend after she made the connection.  

“Yeah. We’ve fought twice in the past, and I lost, but today I finally won one.” 

“How did you win? I don’t want to be rude, but he’s a lot stronger, right?” it took almost everything Srassa had to ask that tiny question. She desperately wanted to know, but she also wanted to talk to someone who might become her new friend.  

“It’s not rude at all. And Feral is stronger. Like, by a lot. I only won because I could use skills.” 

“Tell em’ about how you climbed his shield,” Desperado took a giant gulp of his mead.  

“What?! I’m a little confused…” Momo put a hand to her chin.

Servi took another sip. “He had a tower shield, which is really tall and big, but a tower shield is like a baby to what Feral had. His shield is a literal chunk of iron with a handle plastered on. It’s a bit over two meters tall!” 

“He’s that strong..?” Srassa said with a voice full of wonder. She knew iron was used for shields, but to make a shield over two meters tall? She thought something like that would’ve been far too heavy to lift. And it was, for Humans, Koena, Singi, Elves, and Dwarves. But Kobolds had thick, powerful arms. They had the strength to rip out a tree stump from the ground.  

“He is. He can even run with it. But the surface of his shield isn’t smooth and flat. It’s cracked and coarse, and I climbed it when he was distracted by one of the skills I used. I can’t remember if it was Lucem or Thunder Snap.” 

“Aye, you used both, but I can’t remember what order,” Rakkire corrected Servi. He also took a swig of his mead. It had a honey-like taste and smelled something fierce, but it was also delicious: the perfect drink for relaxing after a hard day of fighting.  

“But I should’ve lost.” 

“What do you mean?” Momo asked.

“Like Silverado put it, if Feral would’ve remembered he had a tail while he was blinded and deaf, I would’ve lost. I was in the perfect position to be attacked, but he didn't counter-attack. I took the chance to attack his knees, and I won.” 

“It was actually me who said that,” Desperado muttered. He knocked back his whole mug of mead in a single gulp.  

“Sorry about that,” Servi said.  

“There’s no need. Hell, sometimes I can’t even remember things from an hour ago. It must be old age.” 

“You idiot. You’re 22, like me.” Silverado rolled his eyes. The two Dwarves chuckled and took another swig.  

Desperado's face went slightly red, and he hiccupped before chuckling himself. 

Is he wasted off of one glass? Servi thought. Alcohol acted like water to her since True Immortality prevented her from being drunk, so she couldn’t tell how potent the drinks were.

“Is that right? It might be old age anyway,” a passing waitress, a Singi with purple hair, ears, and tail, walked by the door, and Desperado flagged her down. He asked her for another mug of mead. A moment later, she was setting one down while taking his empty one away. He thanked her, and she just smiled.  

“Wait, are you two family?” Servi asked. She knew the Dwarves were cousins, but she wasn't privy to the relationship between the two Koena.  

Silverado shook his head. “Not blood related, but we grew up together in the same village.  We were even born on the same day. We have different parents, but we're pretty much brothers.” 

Momo smiled at him, but it wasn’t genuine. Nobody could tell it, though.  

Growing up with a friend? That’s just what I wanted. Dang it, Momo! You might not have a childhood friend, but you’re friends with Servi and Srassa. There’s no need to get depressed. You’re out on a fun night, so please don’t sour the mood with a bad attitude! 

“What about you two?” Rakkire pointed to Servi and Momo.

“We’ve been party members for a little over a month and a half, right?” Servi asked.

Momo nodded. “Yep! I was actually the person in front of her. We signed up at the same time.” 

“I walked over to the quest board, picked one out, and stood in line. Momo then asked me to be in her party.” 

She’s so cool! I wonder if they’d let me join the party. Thought Srassa. …Maybe not. I mean, they’ve known each other longer, and they seem like close friends. I wouldn’t want to intrude on that.  

“What about you four?" Servi took another sip of her tea. 

“He and I are,” said Silverado while pointing to his fellow Koena.  

“Same with him and I. I’m stuck with that blubbering fool.” Rakkire sat his cup on the table and pointed to his cousin.

Riki let out a belly laugh and downed the rest of his drink. “You know you can’t get rid of me that easily!” 

They seem so close to each other. I wonder if I’ll have anybody like that? Thought Srassa. She also took a sip of her water in a lady-like manner.  

But soon, the question turned to Srassa.  

“How about you? You in a party?” it was Silverado who asked it.  

“No,” Srassa shook her head. “I just recently joined Warden. I haven’t even been on a quest.” 

“If you’re fine with it, then how about taking a quest or two with us?” asked Silverado. “No strings attached. Just to see if we’re compatible.” 

“Thank you! Oh, I mean, if you’re fine with me, then I’d like to join you two,” her face took on a slight red tinge, but she was smiling.  

“But I think it’d be best to wait until after the tournament. Wouldn’t you agree?” 

“Oh, yes. That way, we can give it our all with no distractions, right?” 

Silverado nodded towards Srassa. “That’s right. After the tourney, let’s do a few quests together and see how we all mesh.” 

“I promise I won’t let you down!”  

Silverado smiled. “Same with us two. We’ll do our utmost best.” 

As Srassa chatted with the two who could be her future party members, Momo smiled at the three. She couldn't have been happier for her friend.

If she's like me, then all she really wanted was some friends. Srassa, I’ll be hoping with all my heart that it’ll work out. Having supportive friends can make all the difference. I know that now, grandpa.