The Truth

It’s tense. Very tense. Only natural really, we were just threatening to kill each other only moments ago.
Currently we’re sitting around the campfire like an awkward family reunion.
Ranger joined us once the archers stood down, currently sitting next to Priestess.
Captain is sitting opposite me, two of her soldiers flanking her, ready to draw.
Retainer is sitting next to me, her hands hovering her daggers, just in case.
“Where are the other two?” I finally decide to break the silence.
“Why, want to finish the job?” Captain spits.
“Okay, listen here. I did nothing wrong.
“Oh really? Nothing wrong?”
“Look, Captain. I know you’re very worked up after everything that happened, but we agreed to talk didn’t we, and at this point in time, we need a proper tank.” Priestess mediates.
“I-I’ll start.” Ranger finally speaks up.

According to him, they got the same message I did when I declined Lancer’s request. But without the knowledge of why it was happening. They both had to wait in the safe zone wondering what was happening, then when Lancer and Ka’el finally reappeared, both injured, with no loot, and without me or Retainer.
“He told us you refused to share the loot when he asked about it.”
“Let me guess, which according to him, was classified as a hostile action against the party so that’s why it was disbanded?”
They both nod.
“Then when the Guardian arrived, it ignored you, attacking only him and Ka’el. He said it seemed to be following your orders.”
“And that thing behind you proves it.” Captain adds, bringing her hand to her throat.
“Thing?” I look behind me at Retainer standing there.
“It is a bit of a bad look, it being with you.” Ranger adds.
“I have no idea what you guys are talking about.”
“I can’t tell if you’re just playing dumb, or you’re being completely honest.” Priestess points behind me. “You have a Guardian following you.”
“What!” We both exclaim.
“First they try to pin everything on you and now they’re calling me one of those things?” Retainer is understandably angry.
“Now now, just calm down. Let’s finish talking first okay?”
“You can even talk to it?” Priestess asks, incredulously.
“You guys can’t even understand what we’re saying?”
They all just stare at me like I’m the weird one.

“Before I tell my story, where are the other two?” I have to know where they are.
The room falls oddly silent.
“We were trying to level up, and get more combat experience before facing the floor boss.” Priestess informs me. “Lancer said we’d be fine as long as Ka’el was kept healthy and could frontline.”
“The first few fights were fine,” Ranger continues. “Then we got swarmed by a group of Ogres and a cursed Shaman.”
“We tried to retreat, but before we could, Ka’el got hit with a curse, petrifying him.”
“We’d all be dead if Captain hadn’t rescued us. Her summons made it so we could escape.”
“You don’t start with a party, do you, Captain?” I already know the answer.
“No, my ability would be even more busted if I started in a group. I had already defeated my first floor boss and was camping here when I heard them battling.”
“Very touching, but it didn’t answer my question.”
“Ka’el is resting in a tent until we can remove his curse, and Lancer is patrolling with a few of my soldiers.”
That’s good. Since neither of them are here, this should be easier.
I begin telling them about what happened. How Lancer and Ka’el tried to kill us, the Guardian attack, being saved by the Merchant.
When I reach Retainer’s class change they are all shocked, but I keep going, until I reach where we are now.
“You’re telling me that thing is Retainer?” Ranger asks, wide eyed.
To her credit, Retainer is still standing behind me, hands at the ready.
“Yes it is, and I can prove it.” I turn to Priestess. “Join my party.”
I send her a request. She just stares blankly ahead.
“Or, invite me into yours.”
“We never reformed our party.” She admits.
“What?” I'm shocked. “But without a party, how were you tracking each other's health, conditions, what about loot?”
“Lancer was in charge of all that.” Ranger sheepishly adds.
A small popup indicates that my request has been accepted, and once again, I see Priestess’s icon appear.
“So now wh…” She starts, but cuts herself off when she looks at Retainer.
Before either of us can react, she leaps out of her seat, and tackles Retainer to the ground.
“I’m so glad you’re okay” She’s between crying and laughing.
“I’m still very confused.” Ranger speaks up.
I send both him and Captain an invite as well. Their icons join the others on my screen, Captain’s icon, being a sword and a hat, the only new one.
“Oh my god, it is her.”
“But, why did she look like that?” Captain asks.
“Simple, it’s the cloak.”
The Guardian cloak she wears is from an enemy that is meant to instill fear and terror into people. So it only makes sense that the equipment from it will also carry that same effect, even when used on others.
The fact that she looks normal to them now is just like the fact you can’t hurt party members, effects like that won’t work on them either.

“So, I take it you guys believe me then?” I ask as Priestess sits back down, dragging Retainer with her.
“I always thought his story was strange, but there wasn’t much we could do to go against those two.” Priestess admits.
“Yeah, as much as it sucked, we couldn’t really do anything.” Ranger adds, his nervousness stuttering basically gone.
“But now that you’re back, and we also have Captain, maybe there is something we could do.”