Some Advice, and then Short Desert Battle

-The next morning-

I walked up to Isaac, who had been very quiet as of late for some reason.

"Yo."

"hey, kid."

"I just came to inform you of some important info."

"I'm not blind, kid. I can tell when somebody is hiding something, and you and that guide are hiding a lot of stuff. Just tell me what I need to know."

"You seem slightly annoyed."

"I have every right to be since I have been mostly ignored by the two of you constantly. It's like I was forgotten or something."

"Sorry about that, it's just that Jacob and I have a lot on our minds at the moment, and these days have been pretty hectic."

Oh? Tell me what's been bothering you. maybe talking to an old man like me might give you a better perspective on the matter."

And so I did. I spoke about how I was summoned, what I was apparently supposed to do, and even the recent interdimensional complications.

"That's... That's a lot to carry on your back, kid. I can see why you are so stressed."

"Yeah, I feel like the whole world is being held on my shoulders, and it kind of is."

"Kid, don't worry about what you are supposed to do in the future. You now and you then are two different people. If you worry about your choices in the future, you won't be able to focus on the present problems."

"I get your advice, but I can't help but feel like I have to be the hero I was 'hired' to be."

"Kid, I have one last piece of advice for you: Don't try to be someone you aren't, try to be yourself because if you try to become someone else you won't be you anymore."

"I don't understand what you mean."

"Don't worry, you will understand with time."

I could only nod confusedly as I watched him walk away.

-In the afternoon-

I walked into the living room that we had transformed into a meeting room and sat down on the opposite side of the table from Jacob. Isaac was sitting on the side of the table for some minor advice.

"So, how are we going to do this desert trip?"

"We are going to head to the nearest desert and hope we find any structure because they usually have some sort of loot. Who knows, we might even run into another person while we are exploring."

Isaac decided to chime in with his own advice:

"it's okay to be optimistic, just don't be too optimistic or you may not see your own death in front of your own eyes."

"Thank you for telling us to trust nothing and doubt everything, old man."

"Kid, this strategy is how I lived this long. Trust me on the fact that it is an effective strategy if you want to live."

"Okay, so now that we are done contemplating the treachery of mankind, can we get back to our plan?"

"Yes, let us get back to our plan."

Jacob cleared his throat and continued on his 'game plan'.

We shall try and find an entrance to the structure so that we may obtain some sort of treasure. We then retreat back home. End of plan."

"That's it?"

Isaac chimed in once again:

"Short and concise, like a plan should be."

I looked at him incredulously

"You agree to this poorly explained plan?"

He only responded with one word.

"Yes."

Jacob rejoined the conversation.

"it's two for the plan, one against. The plan shall be put into action."

I only muttered one line.

"We're so screwed."

-A few hours later-

I could only ask one thing after the several hour long trek:

"Why does the desert have to be so far away?"

Jacob chimed in at that moment.

"A better question is why we built our home so far away from a desert."

Isaac decided to say his piece as well.

I still don't like the fact that the desert is so far away, these old bones were made for anything but travelling long distances. I'm too old for this."

I decided to add my own smug comment.

"Aw come on, old man! You agreed to this plan, you gotta make it through the entire thing!"

Isaac just sent me a brief but sharp glare.

"Kid, I'm over sixty years old. I know when I have reached my limits, and this is not even close to what it is."

"Whatever you say, old man."

Jacob decided to end our argument right then and there.

"Can we stop bickering like the children that one of you are and continue our plan?"

I could only protest in annoyance.

"I am not a child!"

"Your reaction says otherwise."

Isaac chimed in once more.

"The guide has a point you know."

"That does not make me happier about being called a child!"

Jacob joined in once again.

"Let us stop bickering and continue our plan!"

And we both stopped our argument in order to proceed towards our end goal: The giant pyramid in the distance.

As we approached it, we saw several giant vultures flying over our heads, ready to swoop down and attack us.

Jacob pulled out his bow in order to shoot them down, I pulled out my hook to try and pull them from the air, and Isaac went with 'old reliable': Explosives.

I aimed for one of the closer vultures and threw my hook, which proceeded to latch on and drag both of us into the space between us. I slashed and managed to bisect it, which still ended up with me getting into the 'splash zone'.

Jacob sat in the back of our group, sniping at the vultures in the distance. He managed to hit several of them and knock them down to the ground due to a pierced wing. And that is where Isaac came in.

Isaac was throwing grenades towards any of the grounded vultures, which is highly effective. he also dealt with any vultures flying too close to Jacob, which meant that we took out the group of vultures rather quickly.

After taking out the vultures, we had a smooth trip to the pyramid sitting in the middle of the desert.

We did not know what we were getting ourselves into. Not. One. Bit.