Onward!

Making sure that everything is in order, Saito notified the desk that he wouldn't be around anymore. However, should an emergency be transmitted, he'd come back. He also requested a special permission from Glenn to also allow Jeff to come with him.

Glenn was kind of upset. Those kind of exceptions goes against protocol. He ended up accepting, much to his relief.

Stepping out of the castle's entrance, Saito stretches, looking at the distance.
"When's the last time you got freedom like this?"

Jeff frowns. What a stupid question. "Since I've enrolled."
They both smile. Generally, joining the military strips you of your freedom until you've served your years of service. For most, it's 5 years. Depending on your contribution, one can be released early.

"Where do you think we should go next? I haven't really gone around Glarion freely before."
Jeffrey gives him a look. "What did you do before?"
"I didn't leave that village we met each other at."
"Sounds like that sucks."
Saito shakes his head. "Nah. I liked that place. Felt amazing actually."
"Uh huh. I wonder why. You got a wife there."
"True that."

They giggle, following the path toward Grande, the main city close to the castle.
"Soo Captain, what are we doing first?"
"We gotta build a cool party. You know, like adventurers."

The brown haired adventurer smile, amused.
"Woah! So cool!" He says, sarcastically.
"Oh shut the hell up."
"Nah but how many people are we getting?"
"Watcha thing?"

Jeffrey thinks for a moment.
"Four is a popular number."

Saito nods.
"That's true. I'd say minimum 4, upward to 8."
"You want a WHOLE party of EIGHT people?"

Their gaze meet. Jeff looks baffled.
"Why not. That'd be fun."

The soldier smiles widen and nods a couple times. "Yep. That'd be really dumb but I bet it'd be a lot of fun. Fighting would probably suck. Imagine waiting for you turn just so you can hit something."

"So... Six total?"
"Deal."

They'd walk for a while in silence. 
These two have been friends for over a year. Purely because Saito would get lonely and wouldn't stop talking to him. Eventually they bonded and now they can't stop talking to each other, like bestfriends would. 

"What are we looking for though?"

Ohh that's a good question. In every anime or books he has seen years ago, a party is usually a group of people, each filling a different role. An attacker, a tank, cleric, a buffer. Something along these lines. That doesn't really apply as much in this world.

"I'm not sure. A healer would be good I'd say" Replies Saito.
"Not it. I'm done being the medic."
"Hahaha don't worry you're good. I don't want you as a medic?"
"WHAT THAT MEAN?!"

The party leader laughs louder.
He then clears his throat. 
"Yeah, some kind of medic or healer would be nice. A tank and a mage would also be cool."

His eyes glistening, Jeff turns around with a big smile.
You know he's going say the stupidest thing.
"Yo. What about a dwarf?".

There it is. Jeffrey's eternal wisdom.
"Man! Why didn't I think about that!"
"I KNOW RIGHT?"
"Shut up"

Jeff stares at him with a long face.
"Damn. And I thought I actually was onto something."
"I mean. Dwarves are actually cool"

In every setting he's seen dwarves (Books, games, animes), dwarves are usually the friendliest people around. They're also the loudest, first ones to rush in battle. In their free time, they're always drinking. Are dwarves here like this? If so, sure, why not get one. It'd be fun to have around.
They travel for roughly a hour, reaching the city. The moment they breach the entrance, the sound of live blows into their ears.

So much people going back and forth. So much traffic.
Jeff looks around, then back at him.
"Sooo.. We going where?"
"Taverns are usually the best place to get adventurers.. Right?"
"Uh. It's a good place to get drunk people. That's a start." 

Impeccable logic. 
(I've never been more grateful to have him with me. His insight makes me feel wise.)

He thinks that, but he knows Jeff is just joking around. He looks much more happy than usual.
(If I had been stuck somewhere for years and just got out, I'd be happy too.)

They both go through the crowds, searching for whatever first tavern shows up. Doesn't take long to find. Most taverns reside at the entrance of towns and cities to attract travellers. 

Their first attempt didn't go well. The tavern was so crowded they couldn't get understood.
Meanwhile, the second tavern sent them away.
"People are here to drink and have fun. Not to seek jobs."

Over the course of the day, Saito began asking around. But with no positive results.
The day quickly flew by. Now resting at an inn nearing the bar, he sighs.
Jeffrey looks equally defeated. 
"This sucks."

Saito nods. When you think about adventuring and building up a party, you'd think the actual difficult part would be fighting. Or maybe even making money. Nope. Recruiting is where it sucks.
Since they're near the center of Glarion's kingdoms, adventurers aren't really required. The military and guards are there to protect people from any and all dangers. Adventurers are more common in the outskirts or in further villages where the military spread thin to take on monster.
But travelling to those more secluded places would take him weeks. He does have time, but he doesn't want to waste it that bad. Plus he doesn't want to go that far away from Chloe. She'll get upset if he leaves her for more than a month.

"Can I serve you?"
They lift their eyes, an old woman is now standing there, waiting for an answer.

"I'll take uhhhh.. A beer and cheese."
"What about you?"

Saito's expression stiffens. Where's the menu? Do they all serve the same thing?
"Why the difficult expression?"

As he goes to answer that he doesn't know what his choices are, his friend cuts him off, speaking faster.
"We're looking for adventurers. But we haven't found any."

Cool. But what about my food?
"Ohh. You must be new here. Those kind of taverns don't exist anymore."
"Makes sense.."
"I lied. There's one left. It's decrepit and will probably close down soon, but it's still visited."

Jeffrey's eyes light up.
"Where!?"

After giving him directions, she turns around.
"I'll go fetch your food."
"Saito! We got a lead!"

WHAT ABOUT MY FOOD THOUGH?