New Companions?

"Move." Repeated Bao cold.

"You should calm down kid." The adventurer swung the greatsword wide over his head, making Bao jump back a step in fighting position, his sword pointed forward.

"Move already."

"You better take a good look at your face, before rushing to your death."

The greatsword hissed through the air right towards Bao, who instinctively held up his weapon, ready to block the incoming attack with all of his might. But once again he was not hit, like a banner, the man rammed his sword into the floor, destroying several wooden floorboards. On the polished metallic surface, Bao could see the reflection of a distorted face turned into a tremendous grimace. Its mouth spread wide open over the whole face showing the gritted teeth beneath it.

"I... I just wanted...," he stuttered, after recognizing that the monstrous appearance was none other but himself. "Yes..., yes... you are right. Maybe I should really calm down for a moment." He sheathed his sword and took a normal, more relaxed stance.

Did he start mixing real life and in-game life again? Why else would he lose his temper over the death of an NPC? The details made the game look extremely realistic, no question, but what he did was childish and irresponsible at best and could have cost him, his only avatar available.

"Dammit get it together Bao." He smacked his cheeks with both of his hands, leaving a red mark.

"That's why I'm against letting immature kids such as this one play heroes. Always rushing into battle without even thinking of the consequences of their actions, not that I care as long as they don't hinder me." Mumbled the adventurer.

"I'm an adult," Bao tried to argue.

"I see that you didn't change one bit Morell." A voice could be heard from the crowd behind Bao but when he turned around, he couldn't make out who of them had just spoken." "Isn't it exactly BECAUSE you care about the young ones that you behave like that?"

"Hol..."

"Wait, now that I think about it, you yourself threw a tantrum like a child just a moment ago. Instead of giving this kid a normal lecture by saying what he did wrong, you needed to teach it to him the hard way." The voice didn't leave him any time to counter.

"Shuddup"

"Not to mention that you weren't any different when you were about what, sixteen?"

"Shuddup."

"Difficult age for everyone I would say."

"Shuddup"

"And what about..."

"I said Shut - the- fuck - up!" The man screamed and put his greatsword over his head ready to swing it at whoever might come.

A rogue-like NPC walked up to the giant adventurer and against Bao's expectations he didn't lose his head on the spot. The small stature and a brown hood that covered the mysterious intruder's face kinda reminded him of his best friend Ning. As expected of a rogue-type character, he had multiple daggers on a thin belt around his waist and on his back rested a strangely shaped crossbow, that looked more like steampunk machinery rather than a medieval weapon. Maybe it's foldable, thought Bao, his glance still on the weapon.

"Why do you always need to be so aggressive Morell?" Murmuring began to rise in the crowd behind them who watched the whole spectacle until now.

"Always a pleasure to meet you again Nathan. Not." Morell cleared his throat. "To be honest I hoped that a dragon may have processed you into a nice roasted steak."

"I don't think that I would make a good lunch."

"Yea, you'll probably only upset everyone's stomach." -Morell smirked- "So, what brings you here?"

"Business," The rogue answered. "How about we accompany him on his revenge campaign against the bad plunderers? Wouldn't it be a good lesson for the kid, to see REAL adventurers at work?"

"Ha, as if I would've time to bother myself with a young sprout like that!" He looked towards Bao, his gaze annoyed by the unwanted presence of the rogue. "If he really wants revenge against those bandits, he can go there alone and get himself killed for all that I care. Besides if they are this close to the city the guards will probably have already taken care of them."

"Come on are you a maiden in love or what? We just need to give him a hand to..."

"Forget it."

"Just chopping off a head here an arm there, looking that the kid doesn't trip and fall down on his nose for then to be hailed as the heroes who saved the farmers. Doesn't sound soo bad to me." The mischievous looking guy started playing with one of the knives, by throwing it up and catching it with the other hand.

"Forget it."

"Man, why do you ALWAYS have to be so stubborn and stiff? Our group would've never..."

"Stop it!" Morel's grip on his greatsword tightened and the voice sounded even more aggressive, which Bao thought impossible.

A small pause followed the threat where everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath.

"Sigh..., I get it, just this one time! Pack your things Beansprout, we are going. I warn you, one stupid action from your side and I'll leave you there in the middle of the fight. And stop staring like this."