Chapter 4: Guilt

I waited at the table, my body a bit tense, as my anxiety began to overflow. After a while, the sound of a creaking wooden door was heard throughout the silent guild and the party in question entered. As the party entered everyone turned to look at them and it felt as if time began to slow as Phil stood up.

He slowly and methodically walked over to the party, keeping his posture as proper as possible as he glared at them. The party, confused, looked around and saw him coming towards them, a couple of them seemed nervous, as they were uncertain as to what was about to happen.

"Kapata." He said in a low grumble.

Is... He suppressing anger...? My thoughts seemed to have disrupted my slowed perception as time seemed regulated after I wondered that.

"Ph-Phil, what's up?" A young man with dark brown hair asked.

"Have you any idea what your quest wiping has done!?" He asked sternly. Oh yeah... He said he was going to talk to them because of what they did...

"Wh-what do you mean?" A young mage asked from the back of the party. Phil narrowed his vision at the party as pressure began to fill the room, making me feel sick to my stomach. I felt frozen in my seat, one hand on the back of the chair, one on the table as I watched Phil speak to the party.

"What do I mean?" He asked gruffly with a scoff. "You've taken all the quests for low-ranked adventurers! There are individuals who depend on those, and yet you've taken them all without even thinking about the people you could be putting into a bad situation!" He lectured.

"But... I don't think there's anybody like that here, Phil." The brown-haired young man said, trying to keep his cool. I feel bad that they're in this situation... I tensed my hand as I tried to force myself to move as Phil scoffed again.

"Then what's Lana doing here!?" He asked. I froze. I already knew he was doing it for me... But... "Why would such a girl be here if she didn't have to!?" He asked angrily as he smashed his fist into the clerk's desk. I forced myself to move and walked over to him as the party contemplated his words.

I tapped his armor and he turned and glanced at me. "Y-you don't... Have to..." I said with tears in my eyes.

"This is for the best." He said in a voice only I could hear. They're scared... But what can I do? I'm small... And I can't even do gathering quests without everybody around me worrying about me...

"W-we didn't know! Besides, her parents should be working if they're so desperate!" A female rogue exclaimed in defense. As she spoke and the pressure intensified, I felt my stomach become increasingly upset as I fell to my knees and hands, my breathing becoming erratic.

My senses dulled as I felt the pressure begin to relieve itself from my body, but by the time it was gone, everything had gone black and I couldn't hear. For a few moments, I was alone again.

When I came to, I was in a soft bed with Lindsey, the receptionist, next to me. It took her a few moments to realize that I woke up.

"Lana! Thank goodness, we were all worried! What happened?" She asked. As she asked questions, I felt my head spin and my stomach began to feel awful. As I was about to open my mouth to speak, I realized I was going to throw up and redirected my face to be away from Lindsey. "L-Lana! Are you okay?" She as she put her hand on my back as I threw up.

After a few moments, I stopped and wiped my mouth, slowing my breathing and calming myself down. "Sorry..." I said as I laid back down.

"No, it's fine. Are you sick?" She asked. I shook my head.

"I'm okay." I said with a wry smile.

"Are you telling the truth, or are you lying because you need work?" She asked.

"I'm not lying." I said as I gave up on faking a smile and stared at my hands. "When Phil got angry, it made me feel like throwing up..." I continued.

"Oh, I see." She said.

"Where are we anyway?" I asked as I slowly looked around the room.

"We're at my place." Lindsey said. My eyes widened.

"I-I'm sorry! I threw up on your floor!" I exclaimed as I sat up and got ready to jump out of the bed before being stopped by Lindsey.

"It's okay, I'll clean it later, for now, you lay down and sleep." She said as she picked me up and laid me back down on the bed.

"Okay..." I said. It's not like I'm strong enough to argue anyway... I'm hungry and tired, and my arms feel like limp noodles. Throwing up sucks... And it's a budget killer!

That aside, this is Lindsey's bed... I feel guilty monopolizing it like this. Slowly I began to drift into sleep.

In the dark, I heard yelling and screaming as the scent of burning buildings filled my nose. I held my breath unconsciously, hoping not to be found. I hid for what felt like hours, but eventually, the screams and yelling stopped. I kept hiding, waiting to be retrieved, but after a while, nobody came.

I decided to keep waiting though. After waiting even longer, Falyn opened the overhead door and found me, a relieved look in her eyes. She reached down with her hand and I grabbed it. She pulled me out of my hiding place and I looked around.

"Fay..." I said confusedly. "Where is mommy?" I asked as I looked around the burned building. A look of shock came over her face.

"M-mom is..." She paused as he expression darkened and I looked at her with confusion. "Mom is with dad... They had to go, but they'll come back, okay?" She said with a pained voice as her eyes watered.

"Okay!" I said as I gave her a hug. She hugged me tightly and started to sob.

"They'll be back... I promise..." She said as she began to cry.

Light flooded my eyes as I felt my body sit up as if it had a mind of its own. "Oh... It was a dream..." I mumbled as my eyes watered. "Why did you lie?" I mumbled as I began to cry.