Feud

alexander shrinks back in disapproval before saying

 "you know i don't drink"

alexander says with a hint of annoyance

 "I'm just testing ya resolve 's all i mean cant a man like me test his friends "

the man says with the smell of putrid raw liquor on his breath

"yeah yeah id advise you go to bed and hope you're not hung over in the morning"

alexander says in annoyance with a hint of sincerity 

as they continue to bicker a boy with a short wolf cut and pale skin with black eyes seemingly 16 or so shouts

"will both of you shut up, we all have more pressing matters to deal with"

 "eh 'r ya tryna fight mista pretty boy!"

the drunk exclaims in blind anger

 "oh please your pitiful even more so in your intoxicated state"

the frustrated teen remarks

"oh really"

the drunkard says seemingly sobered up

 "test me then"

the newly sobered up man says before conjuring a bright lime green flame within his palm

"hmm"

the teen sighs in annoyance before unsheathing his broad sword on his hip

"markus, sermeth calm down, we don't want to exhaust ourselves!" 

alexander screams 

"you stay out of this"

markus says while the flames rage on in his palm,clapping and snicker as if it was a living breathing animal

"this is none of your business"

sermeth says as he deepens his grip on his cold steel blade and rushing forward setting the pace of the duel, his sights steadfast on markus, before clocking back his sturdy blade and swinging it towards the indifferent markus whom simply steps back and releases the bright ember he homed within his palms which is brilliantly evaded by sermeth who spring forth to grab sermeth, blade in hand

"and you called me pitiful"

markus says as he commands the previous fireball to slam into sermeth's unguarded back 

"listen"

markus shouts

"like it or not i'm your senior and you'll learn to listen and know you're place..kid"

markus says

"there was no need for that, he was just trying to get us on track"

alexander remarks as sermeth revels whilst gripping the dirt in anger 

 "he'll learn to respect his elders"

markus says before walking to his tent

"i'm sorry he's like that from time to time, how about this since you're new I could teach you the ropes even if it's kind of late"

alexander says as he extends his arms to sermeth

"leave me alone"

sermeth says as he slaps away alexander hand and runs away to his tent

"hmm guess some of us aren't as optimistic as you"

maria snarks

"anyway you should probably get to bed, we're leaving early tomorrow"

maria says now in a more serious tone

"you're right, but I have to ask why did you want me to come here."

alexander asks

"well now that you bring it up i have no idea"

maria says

"oh"

alexander responds almost comically softly 

"any way you guys stay well i'm heading back home"

alexander says before running out of the forest outpost while slightly limping

[4:00 AM wednesday]

atop a large aged tree sits Alexander whom seems to be in deep though a bag on his back and his trusty sword launched onto his hip and various decor and survival equipment on his frame

"do you even sleep"

maria echoes from below startling alexander

"oh I do, but shouldn't I be the one asking you that"

alexander says with a quick tone shift 

"hmm don't be fooled my eye bags are an aesthetic choice"

maria chuckles

"its 4 in the morning do we really need to be up this early"

markus butts in 

 "we need to or else the other teams will have a head start"

alexander responses with a sterness in his voice

 " that was a rhetorical question"

 markus response

"anyhow lets get going the newbie is at the edge of town waiting for us"

maria says before walking off followed suit by Markus and alexander

who eventually reach the edge of town

"wait"

alexander says,turning around and facing the village

 "why do you always do this ?"

maria asks

"one of these days I might never come back, I mean there's no guarantee I'll return"

alexander says with a melancholic tone

"listen me and you have been doing this for 4 years now I doubt you would just keel over and die any time soon"

markus says, comforting alexander

 "oh your all so cushy, we wont be stopping again we're kinda behind time"

maria says, breaking the sentimental mood

" your right lets go"

alexander says as he continues walking

 "and I am not cushy !"

markus exclaims