Chapter 9

"We don't have much time to spare here, the first round of explorers will arrive within the week. If we want to get the commission and still have time to sell a few maps, we will want to be back here within 4 days."

The group nodded along, but my heart sunk. I really thought I would have a bit more time to prepare.

"Last thing, if no one has surfaced within 7 days, we'll be presumed dead. The entrance will be blocked off."

Huh? That doesn't make any sense to me.

I pretended to wander into the group as if I hadn't been listening before.

"Sorry, I overheard the conversation but I was confused by what you just said. Why would the entrance be blocked off? Wouldn't they send a rescue team or more adventurers?"

Bern smiled at me with a toothy grin, "Don't worry 'bout it Hale, like it or not, you're part of this here expedition too."

He paused and gestured at the others, "As for why... I know we may not look it, but we're a pretty good team here. I've been dungeon diving with most of these buggers since I was a teen. If none of us make it out, then there has ta be somethin pretty serious in there."

Bern shifted his gaze back to me, more serious than before. "In that case, it's better to sacrifice those inside to make sure whatever it stays inside... And to make sure amnesiac desert wanderers like you don't wander in! HA!" He guffawed, destroying the serious facade.

With that, the group dispersed. People wandered off to prepare their things and get equipped for the trek.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Bern was pretty good at keeping the mood light. Almost light enough to make me forget that he was the one dragging me into this mess.

I sighed and stared up at the desert expanse. There was no point in running now, as far as Bern told me, this pyramid was near the center of the desert. Furthermore, my skin had just about finished peeling from my brutal sunburns, that experience was not something I was dying to relive.

I pulled myself out of my thoughts and walked back to cart storage.

I was looking for any sort of armor I could find. Anything to increase my odds even just a little. I knew that I was unlikely to find any extras, considering how lightly this group traveled.

Even if I did, the chances of something fitting were near zero with this specific group.

Tap tap.

Something tapped my shoulder, startling the hell out of me. I spun and staggered back towards the cart.

Hallia stood there silently. How did she sneak up on me so quietly? It was impossible to get through this sand without the inevitable SHH of each step.

She was still outfitted in the same cloth, however, a belt hung around her waist. Along it hung daggers, throwing knives, and bottles of unidentifiable liquids.

Oh.

Now it makes sense, she must be some sort of rogue or assassin. Wow, I knew that they were able to move around silently, but now that I've seen it myself, it's a bit freaky.

Damn, an assassin though... That's kinda incredible. I kept staring at the equipment on her belt. Now that I thought about it, I had never actually seen that kind of gear up close, it was a bit intimidating.

Hallia poked my shoulder.

It only took a moment to realize where I was staring. "Oh shoot, I'm sorry! I was just lo-"

She shook her head, unfazed in the slightest, and gestured to what she was carrying.

A light chainmail vest.

"For arrows," she said, her voice as soft as a whisper.

Hallia handed me the vest and strode away quickly, disappearing as quickly as she appeared.

I looked down at the vest in my hand. I didn't even have a chance to say thank you...

-

The vest didn't fit well. Scratch that, it didn't fit at all. It was obviously a relic of Dulmir or Bern, as the loose chains hung down to my elbows and past my knees.

I looked at myself in the reflection of a piece of plate armor. I didn't look anything like the fantasy Harper that I imagine. No, I actually looked like a child cosplaying as a knight with their dad's armor.

I sighed, I've been doing a lot of that these days, it was far better than nothing.

I heard the soft sounds of footsteps padding towards me.

This time it was Fia, I think I heard her suppress a giggle at my expense, but by the time I had turned towards her, it was gone.

"Hey Hale, it's about that time."

I looked up towards the rest of the camp. Everyone was headed toward the pyramid entrance.

I looked back at Fia and forced a smile, "I guess it is."

And I walked towards the entrance.

-

Grouped up at the edge of the camp was our team. Honestly, the group came together a bit better than I expected.

As far as I could tell, it was pretty well-rounded.

Bern's attire was relatively similar to what he normally wears. It seems that his role is that of a fighter, fitting.

The flashiest part of his outfit was the pure white gauntlets he wore, each sporting 4 deadly-looking spikes across each knuckle.

Dulmir was still kitted out in the same plate armor I saw when I arrived. Hung at his side was a longsword nearly half his height.

The silver and gold color scheme led me to believe he was some kind of paladin, but I couldn't spot any religious paraphernalia anywhere.

Tarkas wore plate armor similar to Dulmir, though obviously adjusted to his short stature. At his waist hung a flail with a spiked end nearly twice the size of his head... I wonder how he can throw that around without launching himself.

A yellow amulet lay on his chest, shaped to look like the sun. If I would have to guess, it would be that he is a cleric of some sort? It doesn't really quite fit his demeanor.

Lail... To be honest, he looked a bit like a nerd cosplaying an archer. Tall, lanky, outfitted in a green tunic, and sporting a nondescript wooden bow to boot. There wasn't much to say about him.

Hallia was outfitted as she was a few moments ago. The soft look in her eyes was hardened as she looked towards the entrance.

Finally, there was Fia. Similar to me, she was still outfitting in mostly her travel clothes, however, she was walking with a small wand attached to her belt, and what looked to be a clipboard for recording a map.

I felt a bit guilty, when I first met her, I got the vibe that she was in a similar situation to myself. However, seeing her now removed those thoughts from my head. She was a fully-fledged member of this group.

And then there was me. Tattered clothes and oversized chainmail. I felt like the younger brother being taken on a raid by his older sibling in some game. Not that it's similar at all, as from here on out I was on my own.