Cecilia wasn’t one to smoke, only from time to time when the stress weighed on her shoulders, like a pile of bricks stacked neatly.

  “This tastes awful.” The goblin named Bucket commented next to her.

  The two sat on the curve right in front of the store. The sign lit up the world around them like a spotlight, the name “Evergreen Stop” loomed above them ominously. Despite the light, the darkness still surrounded the building. A reminder how far Cecilia was from the nearest town. Just a blanket of shadows between her and the town of Redwood. But this time, she wasn’t alone late at night.

  Five new faces. Strangers of mysterious origins, supernatural as well. The fight earlier was still fresh in her memories. She could recall every detail and could give accurate answers if you questioned her. It was a jarring moment in her life, something that made her appreciate the world for what it brought her. The friends she made. She had to be blunt about it; she almost died. That thing, it wasn’t normal. Not just a boar, it was a monster. If these people weren’t around, who knows what it could’ve done.

  Even nature itself was a victim to the beast’s wrath. It tore through the forest and shrubs like nothing, and made its own clearing. Or perhaps, an arena for it to fight in. It showed quite the intelligence, so Cecilia could believe it if so. Still, it was no match to the combined effort of these five strangers.

  Roxas, an elf like her. Long beautiful blonde hair and piercing blue droopy eyes. A green coat so that he could blend in with the forest. An elf of tradition, armed with a bow and a blade that matched his beauty. Some might even compare him to that famous elf character, Legolas. Roxas was as graceful, and with the marksmanship to match. He would be seen just as majestic, if it weren’t for that odd aura that surrounded him. Something about him set off alarms in her head. The more she stared at her kin, the louder those alarms screeched.

  Vonryl, a dwarf like any other. The only difference was the way he talked. See, he was a man of few words, so most of the time he remained silent. If he did speak, it was all in broken English. As if he intentionally forgot to put in a word in his sentence. Now, the most interesting part was the accent. She met many dwarves in her life, and not one of them sounded like him. He always rolled his “R’s” constantly. To match with his stoic appearance, the man had a cold gaze. As if he was always inspecting you whether or not you were a threat. And after he took off his strange helmet, Cecilia found out that he was bald. It looked like all his hair went to his beard and eyebrows. And that he was quite tanned for a dwarf.

  Gorzul, a fearsome orc woman, an ideal specimen for her kind. The biggest orc Cecilia ever laid eyes on. That wasn’t even an understatement, she was big in all the right places. Yet still able to keep her feminine appearance. Wild red mane that went past her shoulders. A permanent scowl on her green face. Brows knitted together over her pig-like nose. And lips curled with malice as tusks seemed to gleam under the light. Scars displayed like trophies. And muscles that would make any orc jealous. It wasn’t just for show, she had to be the strongest one in the group. Able to carry that hammer of hers with great ease. Compared to the others, she was like a bear amongst wolves. Cecilia started to wonder if this orc could fight off her own team.

  Bucket sighed with a satisfied grin as she smoked from her pipe. “That thing you are using just doesn't compare to this. You should honestly try these instead, I have plenty in stock. And I can grow more.” She had discarded the cigarette Cecilia gave her and chose to use her tobacco instead.

  Bucket, one of those rare kinds of goblins that actually has a brain. Cecilia wasn’t even exaggerating. These short little menaces had the lowest population among all races due to accidents. Bucket seemed like Einstein compared to most. During the fight, she managed to stay hidden right at the center of it. She set up a trap that helped bring them the victory. Like a lot of goblins, she was sneaky. Only her personality was different. Unlike the previous three, she was nicer. The mischievous look on her face was merely a farce, as she was kind and caring beneath it. Somewhat cute even.

  Then there was the one person who controlled them all. Their leader, Mara. A mere human girl who wasn’t even old enough to drive. Her presence alone was enough to calm Cecilia down. Quick witted and brilliant in battle, Mara showed them all why she was the one who leads. Equally talented as them, with proficiency with the sword. The way she moved was like watching a dancer, her every step was precise and graceful. Out of all of them, with exception of Bucket, the boar landed the least attack on her. Mara was almost invincible in Cecilia’s eyes. And the way she dressed made her look important. She wasn’t like the other four who appeared as rugged and experienced. As if she wanted to give off an example for them to follow. An idea they could depend on. And Cecilia wouldn’t even try to go against the one human who had the loyalty of these four dangerous people.

  Now they gathered in front of Cecilia’s store. The only light in the center of the abyss.

  The boar they have slain left on the side where Gorzul was beginning to prepare it for- as she said, “Dinner.”

  Cecilia didn’t know whether or not she should stop the orc. Not like she would have the guts to.

  Unlike them, Cecilia was just some store clerk who ran a business. She wasn’t a fighter, a regular person and nothing more.

  That was what divided her from them. Especially after she found them using magic.

  This world was normal, as far as Cecilia knew. But then, they brought with them something beyond her understanding.

  Mara and Roxas were standing at the edge of the light, both deep in conversation. It seemed that they were trying to figure out their situation, with Roxas constantly staring at the night sky. Cecilia and Bucket were just smoking, Vonryl simply sharpened his axes, and Gorzul was preparing the boar for a roast.

  Chapter II: Good Company

  After another few minutes, the two approached. “We are dead in the water here.” Mara finally announced. “I don’t feel anything in the air. No gods, no spirits. Nothing.”

  Roxas nodded. “And the stars only serve to confuse me. The map we hold does not match our surroundings. If it was true, then we would be able to see the Immortal Throne.”

  “What exactly is that?” Cecilia asked just so she could understand.

  “The Immortal Throne is a castle where King Silus Jonathan Goldmane VI ruled. The king of men. Do you know him?”

  “Can’t say I do. I’m not really educated on human history.”

  “Then what about Blancaer, the country of elves?” He asked.

  “Never heard about it. As far as I remember, the elves, dwarves, and man united the nations under the name Elysium ever since… well, I can’t remember.”

  “That’s actually amazing!” Bucket smiled. “To think people can set aside their differences in order to build a new society that will set an example for a better world.”

  Gorzul rolled her eyes. “Hmph. Humans and their alliances.”

  “Doesn’t sound too bad, until you realize you have to share it with a dwarf.” Roxas flashed Vonryl a vicious grin.

  “Nyet, an elf would be useless in such a world. Lazy. All they care about is whether or not they get their fruits and beverages.” The dwarf shot back. “It is not unheard of that our species would work with humans. Though, I am a bit disappointed that we dwarves are united with humans as one country.”

  “I know right? They have shorter life spans than us, though because of that, every generation has five or six noteworthy heroes born.” Roxas chuckled

  “They live fast and loud, that I can appreciate.”

  Cecilia snapped her fingers. “Can you two cut it out? I still have dozens of questions!”

  Mara stepped up. “We have questions as well. And we need any lead we can get. The faster we can solve this problem, the faster we can get home.”

  “I don’t know how to say this lightly. But I think you guys are from the past.”

  “Ridiculous.” Vonryl snorted.

  “It makes sense! No one has ever dressed like any of you in ages!” Cecilia rested a hand on her chin. “That doesn’t exactly explain the whole action hero thing earlier. But that’s all I can think of.”

  “Well, it does explain the weird inventions,” Bucket said, hand pointed at the sign above. “I mean, this is the brightest thing I have ever seen.”

  “Time travel?” Mara hummed as she processed the idea. “With all our clues weighed in, and our questions asked, that is our only answer.”

  Cecilia couldn’t believe how casually she took this information. As if it was just another Monday. The four were all gathered in front of her as they all came up with theories. Which ranged from curses, old traps by a mage long dead, or that the boar they slayed was some manner of time beast.

  “Whatever caused this, we need to figure our way out as soon as possible. Vyrlos will have our heads if we report late.”

  “Vyrlos? You mean the founder of Kobold Kouriers?” Cecilia said. The elf stood up and ran inside the store, then returned with a magazine. “Here. So, is it really time travel?”

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “You’re surprisingly taking this in well.” Bucket commented.

  “That thing,” Cecilia pointed at the boar being roasted by Gorzul. “That isn’t normal. And neither are you people. What you guys did, it’s impossible.”

  Bucket frowned at that. “This is something anyone can do. The fact that you think otherwise supports the theory.”

  Mara inspected the magazine. There on the cover was a dragon of red. Body draped in layers of gold, and eyes that matched their riches. A playful smirk on their lips as they held a glass of wine in their hand, adorned with precious rings. The dragon was no beast, and they knew them better than most. And judging by the magazine that was presented, Vyrlos was also a successful entrepreneur.

  “The Lady of Greed lives up to her name.” Roxas commented. “Do you think she remembers us?”

  “Not only is she wealthy, but Vyrlos is proud of her acute memory.” Mara said. “Is there a way to contact her?”

  Cecilia shrugged her shoulders. “Doubt it. She isn’t exactly a people’s person.”

  Mara smiled as she waved a dismissive hand. “Nonsense! Vyrlos always loved to talk to everyone! Running the Adventurer’s Guild required her to know who is who.”

  “Stop…” All eyes landed on Vonryl. “We can’t contact her easily, you must understand that we could be strangers for all she knows. Are we truly in the future? Maybe. But we must first understand why magic has ceased to exist.”

  “Don’t look at me, I didn’t pay attention in history class.”

  Vonryl scoffed. “Elves like you should know this! What use is your immortality if wasted?”

  “Hold on a minute, elves were never immortal! And I am only 24 years old! I don’t have time or interest in learning about history!”

  “You’re what!?” Roxas exclaimed.

  Vonryl’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull from shock. “An elf, so young!?”

  The idea to meet an elf so young was almost impossible to the two, even Gorzul and Bucket were surprised by this.

  “That makes sense.” Mara gasped. “Elves, or the Magimei, are made of magic. Which is why they live for thousands of years. If there’s no magic, then that means…”

  “They age with man.” Roxas finished. “This opens up questions about other creatures that rely on magic. Unicorns? What about golems? Elementals?”

  “Are those real?” Innocently, Cecilia asked.

  Roxas grimaced. Everyone else just couldn’t believe what they heard. “How does this world even function?”

  “It just does.”

  Mara sighed heavily. “We need to go to the library for some proper answers. For now, we need to rest.”

  “Good, the boar will be ready soon.” Gorzul announced.

  “Wait, I still have some questions.” Cecilia said. “Like, who are you people? Actual adventurers? Like some table top role playing game?”

  Mara smirked. “I don’t know what that means. But yes, we are.” She then flashed her an identification card with a gold band. “Mara the Noble Blade. These are my comrades in arms: Gorzul the Immortal, Vonryl Grimforge, Bucket the Goblin Weasel, and Roxas Orc Slayer.”

  “Orc Slayer!?”

  “Something wrong?” Surprised, Mara asked out of concern.

  “That is not a good name.”

  “It’s a title,” Roxas proudly corrected. “I have earned it after years of hunting orcs.”

  “That’s the problem! You can’t just call yourself that. It’s… problematic.”

  “And?”

  “None of you guys see how bad it is? You people really are from the past.” Cecilia grumbled. “What do you guys think about goblins?”

  “Weak.” Gorzul answered with obvious malice.

  “Easily manipulated.” Said Vonryl.

  “Target practice.” Roxas grinned.

  “You shouldn’t have asked them.” Bucket sighed tiredly.

  “I think some of them are fine.” Mara was the last.

  “That is all utterly wrong! You can’t just talk about them like that. Sure, they can be a little chaotic, but you can’t just treat them like that.”

  Vonryl crossed his arms. “For the longest time, goblins always followed those stronger than them. Which is why you will always see them among bandits, not knowing any better.” Bucket could only sigh as she saw no reason to argue with the dwarf.

  “Us orcs have seen goblins as mere servants who will never rise above. They have their use, but they will always be beneath our soles.” Gorzul said coldly.

  Roxas shrugged. “Other than being good target practice, I like to watch them fight over a coin.”

  Bucket shook her head in defeat. “Shouldn’t have asked. Listen, I promise you that they will be on their best behavior.”

  Mara grunted in agreement. “Yes, I shall personally keep our friends in line.”

  Cecilia groaned tiredly with her hands raised in surrender. “Sure, not much people care about goblins, but still, this is not acceptable behavior. What about grey elves?”

  The group sans Mara suddenly wore scowls. Roxas sighed as he slouched. “Dark elves…”

  Gorzul flexed her fingers as if she was trying to strangle someone. “Those Aeshmei scum.."

  “Just as bad as the Aeshhin.” Vonryl spat at the ground in disdain. “Both will see my axe all the same.”

  “I am not fond of those kinds of elves.” Bucket confessed. Something that honestly surprised Cecilia since Bucket seemed to be the nicest of the group, other than Mara of course.

  Mara gave no answer. Perhaps she wasn’t as experienced as the others when it came to the grey elves.

  These were the answers they gave. From the bottom of their heart, with no hint of deception. Though they have questionable opinions about the goblins, and may just be because of the majority, it was different with grey elves. They seemed to hold grudges toward them as if they were their true enemies.

  Cecilia pressed her palm on her head. “Good grief, you all are crazy. I am going to close up shop and go to bed. Just, I don’t want to do anything with you people anymore. So please, leave and never come back.”

  The five watched as she entered the store. For a moment they remained silent, unsure and confused as to why the elf reacted that way.

  The night went by quickly, Cecilia woke up in her bed, tired and sore. A sign that whatever happened last night wasn’t a dream. All that running really pushed her to her limits. Surrounded with the mess she was all too familiar with, she pushed herself out the bed with whatever strength she could muster. Some might believe that her room was untidy, but Cecilia knew where everything was. It was a chaotic order that she alone could navigate. Anything she needs, she could easily find. Such as the apron they carelessly threw on the floor.

  Freshening up wasn’t that much of a problem, it was quick. One moment she went into the bathroom, the next, she was already in her uniform. She stared at her reflection, her glasses crooked on her nose. She smoothed out her apron. The green stop sign on it reminded her why she was still alive. With a fake smile, she walked out of her apartment.

  The building was two stories high, with a nice roof deck she liked to spend nights on. The ground floor was the Evergreen Stop store, while the second floor was her apartment. It felt a little lonely being the only person around, but it was better than living in some cabin deep in the woods. She at least got better internet reception here.

  As she walked into the store, her face blanched when she saw the people she wanted to see the least were still around. Vonryl was in a corner with one of her fridges. And much to her dismay, he was gutting it. Bucket and Roxas were in another corner surrounded by reading materials. The goblin was deep in elven beauty magazines while Roxas had a camping mag in his hands. Mara was nowhere to be seen, not around to take control of the situation. As for Gorzul, the orc was behind the counter with a familiar face. A gnome woman in a similar uniform as Cecilia. The two were in a conversation, but the gnome noticed Cecilia as soon as the elf walked in.

  “Ceci! I didn’t know your brother was in town!”

  “Brother?” She parroted.

  It was then that Roxas popped out of nowhere. “Yes, sister! It has been a decade since we saw each other.” He wrapped an arm around Cecilia and pulled her in close. “Listen, your friend there started interrogating us and threatened to call the authorities. I would have done things my way, but Mara did not approve. Luckily, we both share similar traits, and a lie was then made. So here we are, trapped in this complicated trap of mine. So please, play along.”

  Tiredly, Cecilia sighed as she shoved him away. The woman still remembered their unabashed opinions from last night, and felt the need to distance herself away from them. But she felt no energy to deal with the problem. “Drop the ye old accent and speech, then maybe they’ll believe it.” She said before walking over to the gnome. “Mandy, your shift doesn’t start until later.”

  Mandy was as short as a dwarf, maybe shorter. Not as stout as well. The redhead looked like a miniature elf for the most part. “I know, but since I had to bail out yesterday, I thought it was a good idea to come in early.”

  “Right, how’s the kid?”

  “Oh, she’s doing fine. Just a bit of a flu, but my mom is watching over her.” Mandy smiled warmly. “Anyway, I am glad that you finally hired someone else. This store might have been the end of you, seeing how it is just us. Well, it was just us.”

  “Wait, who?”

  “The boss must be still groggy from her sleep. She stayed up late at night.” Gorzul said.

  Cecilia stared at the orc, and wondered how everything got so out of hand. The crazy elf and orc were now roped in on her daily life. With the orc as her employee, and Roxas as her supposed brother. If things got worse, then she might explode. “Yes, right. Sorry. Last night was just exhausting. I was running around too much, but thanks to my brother and his friends, I got to be alive right now.”

  Mandy giggled. “Always the jokester, Ceci. Well, Gorzul is honestly quite useful. About time we had some muscles around here.”

  Gorzul nodded, her red mane bounced. “Yes, you two are pitifully weak. I am surprised that you two lasted so long without proper help. Such thin arms, it would have snapped in two soon enough.”

  Mandy wasn’t even offended by that statement. “Oh, that’s true. Makes me wonder if she will ever have a man in her life.”

  “Mandy!” Cecilia hissed. “And what’s Vonryl doing!? I hope you bunch have enough to pay me back!”

  The large woman rolled her eyes. “Leave the dwarf be, he was annoyed with the constant rattling from the machine and saw fit to fix it.”

  “Free of charge?” Gorzul nodded. “Alright! As long as he fixes it, then I won’t complain.”

  Mandy clasped her hands together. “Ceci, you should really relax. Now that there’s three of us, and your brother here, this store can see some actual changes.”

  “Like what?” Cecilia crossed her arms. “Don’t see the need to do so.”

  “Come on, maybe we can sell these!” Mandy showed her a necklace of bones. “Quite tribal, isn’t it? Gorzul says these are orcish, and brings good luck! With her help, we can get some of these on the shelf by next week.”

  “Is that made from the boar last night!?”

  Many tilted her. “What happened last night?”

  “We were attacked,” Gorzul answered. “But we proved stronger.”

  Roxas chuckled as he leaned on the counter. “Indeed, our prowess was no match for a lowly beast.”

  Mandy gasped. “Oh dear, if the boar population is migrating to this side of the province, it will be catastrophic. We have got to report it.”

  “It is no worry, lady. For it was the only one that crossed these lands. Trust me, boars travel in packs. If we only found one, it means there is only one.” And much to Cecilia’s fears, he drew out his knife. Roxas twirled it in his hand with excellent dexterity. “It was a team effort, and the boar fell thanks to our might.”

  “Oh, I hope none of you were hurt.”

  “It did toss Gorzul around. But she’s a tough woman.” Bucket said. Gozul smirked proudly at that fact.

  The doors chimed as it opened. And walked in Mara with a conflicted look.

  “Ah, fearless leader!” Bucket rushed over to the human. “Any news?”

  “I am ashamed to say that I have lost my way several times. But luckily, I had kept note of which direction this store is.” Then her eyes landed on Cecilia. “Just the elf I was looking for! Now, this may be a bit too much, but could you accompany us to the nearest town?”

  “Oh, that’s a great idea!” Mandy said as she began pushing Cecilia toward the group.

  “Wait, Mandy!” Cecilia resisted, which of course ended exactly as you would expect. “I can’t just leave the store, someone needs to be here!”

  “I’m here. And you haven’t seen your brother for so long, that this is the perfect opportunity to catch up. Here, you can take my truck. Just move the extensions to the back.”

  “That’s very thoughtful of you, but we can do that next time!” And to add to it, she didn’t want to spend more time with these five. Especially after she learned how far detached they were from the current world. Crazy wasn’t the beginning of it. Those three especially; Roxas, Vonryl, and Gorzul were nuts.

  “Now now, dearest sister!” Roxas grabbed Cecilia by the collar of her shirt, and lifted her up with his abnormal strength. “How can you be so cold? Come, let us enjoy the day. You can show us around, and perhaps even introduce me to your friends!”

  Mandy couldn’t help but smile. “Aw, see? You two look like a happy family! Though, I can see where the looks went.”

  Cecilia scowled and flailed her arms around. “Did you just call me ugly!?” Suspended in the air, she couldn’t do much but struggle.

  Roxas turned his head to the side and smirked. “Indeed, I was blessed by our genetics to have such awe inspiring features.”

  “That’s enough.” Mara said. “We have things to do and places to see. Vonryl! Finish that later, we need to be together.”

  The dwarf only grunted in acknowledgement, then returned the fridge to its proper place.

  “Wait!” Cecilia struggled. “These people are crazy! Don’t you see!?”

  Mandy watched in silence as Roxas dragged Cecilia through the door. The others in tow. Each one gave their goodbyes as they walked out. She waited for a moment until the engine of her truck roared. Before it faded into silence as it drove off. The room was finally silent. Which was a surprise for Mandy as she just noticed that Vonryl’s work was done. The fridge was returned to its place, and it was as silent as the room itself. No rattling, no scratching, nothing. This store was quieter than ever before. So much so that it felt serene even. Relaxing perhaps.

  The gnome then sat down on a stool behind the counter. Her usual form of entertainment when there wasn’t any work to be done, was to read her novel. “What an interesting group.” She hummed cheerfully as lost herself in her book.