First Sundown

Kanie stepped up to the crystal ball.

“My turn!” he said. He placed his card onto the crystal ball and laid his palm over it. The ball lit up brightly for five seconds, then faded.

“Let’s see here,” Albert said, glancing at the card.

“—Oh! Now this is something unique!”

Kanie perked up.

“What’s up?” he asked. He pointed to Eric, still being held up in the air by several buff adventurers with baby heads for shoulders.

“Am I also a total badass like Ms. Infinity Mage over there?”

“You scored perfect tens in strength, endurance, and agility,” Albert announced.

“… Alright, let’s go?” Kanie said, hopeful.

“Also—wow! Two more perfect tens in charisma and luck!”

“Okay! Now we’re talking!”

Albert’s smile turned to a frown when he looked at Kanie’s remaining two stats.

“… However, your magic stat is just garbage, man—you scored a two out of ten there. While you can technically use magic, you’re limited to defensive spells and self-buffs.

Your resolve is also below average at just a four out of ten, meaning you tend to freeze up when things get challenging.”

Eric started wheezing in the background.

“Hey!” Kanie shouted. “That’s not funny!”

He turned to Albert.

“So, where does this put me on the adventurer rank scale?” he asked.

“Well, let’s see,” Albert said, “If I tally up your total points…”

“You scored a total of fifty six out of seventy, which puts you in the A-rank category. If you had scored just a bit lower, you would’ve been a B-rank adventurer.”

“Aw, man! I can’t believe it!” pouted Kanie. “Eric had me by the balls last lifetime, and even after becoming a hero, I’m still behind him!”

“C’mon, don’t make that face,” Albert comforted him. “Your floor is already higher than pretty much every adventurer’s ceiling.

If I look at your stats, you’re practically a force of nature. You just lack magic aptitude and need to work on sticking it through when the going gets tough.”

“T-thanks,” Kanie said, dejected. He took his adventurer’s card from Albert and stuffed it into his pocket.

After a short pause, Albert clapped his hands together loudly, causing the guild to fall silent.

“Alright, people, that’s enough heckling the heroes for today! Clear out so they can get through.”

He turned to Eric and Kanie.

“You two must be tired,” he said. “Let me escort you to a nearby inn where you can stay for the night.”

He started toward the building’s entranceway that led back outside. The two heroes followed closely behind him.

It was nighttime when the three of them left the guild. They leisurely walked through the cobblestone streets of Narvec’s capital city—passing market stalls, potion shops, taverns, carriage houses, and the like—before arriving at a cozy-looking inn.

Though not terribly large, the inn was homely and sturdily-built. Its walls were made of stone, and to the left and right of its wooden door sat two identical lanterns that gave off a welcoming glow.

Albert opened the door and walked inside, signaling for the heroes to come with him.

“Hey,” he said to the woman behind the inn’s counter. “These two are new here, and they’re looking for a place to stay.”

He cupped one of his hands around his mouth and whispered to her.

“—Actually, these two were summoned here to save the world from Zarcothida.”

The woman’s eyes lit up in delight.

“Seriously!?” she said. “Then, they’re the swordsman and the witch from The Story of the End of Days?”

“Technically, we’re their successors,” Eric corrected her. “We aren’t the same two people who stopped the calamity a hundred years ago.”

Kanie wiped the smile off his face. He still hadn’t gotten used to Eric’s girly voice.

In a frenzy, the woman rummaged through a nearby drawer and pulled out a large, brass key. She offered it to them with a bow.

“Please, stay as long as you’d like!” she said. “Your room is on the second floor all the way at the end of the hall! It’s the best we have!”

“U-um…”

Kanie and Eric were speechless. They were unsure of how to react at first, but after a short while, Eric took the initiative—and the key.

“Thank you, miss,” he said. “But, we won’t be long. We’ll be leaving tomorrow morning.”

“They’ve got big business to take care of,” said Albert, grinning. “Like getting the five queens of Jandariu to fall for the swordsman.”

“… Eh?”

The woman looked at him, dumbfounded.

Eager to avoid any awkward questions, Kanie and Eric bolted for the stairwell.

“We appreciate everything, you guys!” shouted Kanie. “And Albert, thanks for getting us set up back at the guild! We’ll be back tomorrow morning!”

“R-right. Have a good night, then, heroes,” Albert said. He shot them a wave.

“Alright, baby, show me the spoils,” said Kanie, signaling Eric to open the door to the room they were assigned to.

Upon entering, they were greeted by the sight of two separate wooden beds, plaster walls lined with wooden beams, and a stone fireplace. Between the beds was a lattice window that faced the capital’s plaza. The place even had its own washroom!

“… Amazing,” Kanie marveled. “This place makes that dorm room we were living in look like a joke.”

I’ve said this before, he thought. But thank you so much for killing me, Eric.

After cleansing themselves, they dimmed the lanterns in the room and got into bed. The fireplace burned quietly in the background. Its faint smell of embers blended pleasantly with the evening winds coming in through the window.

“Funny how things just happen in life, huh?” Eric said.

“I know, man,” said Kanie, buried under the sheets. “No phones, no easy dopamine. Just two dudes hanging out. I haven’t felt this alive in years.”

“Heh, you feel ‘alive.’ Funny you should say that, considering I just killed you earlier today.”

“Right, yeah,” Kanie said with a laugh. “Really takes me back.”

“… That happened today, man,” Eric retorted. He stretched with a yawn.

“Oh, whatever. Life really is a strange thing, isn’t it? I mean, one moment I’m jumping out a seventh story window to avoid a manslaughter charge after a prank gone wrong—and then boom—I’m magically a little witch with big tits tasked with saving the world. With the guy I killed, no less.”

“I totally get it,” Kanie chimed in. “I mean, who knew I was just one death away from ridding myself of that awful life?”

“Well, you’re not out of the woods just yet,” Eric said sleepily. “If you’re happy with your life here, then do well to uphold your end of the bargain. Get those dragon queens to fall for you, or you’re going to die again.”

“True,” said Kanie, too tired to even think. “I’m about to nod off now, so I guess I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Eric didn’t respond; he had already fallen asleep, and the sound of snoring filled the room.

Kanie followed his lead. He closed his eyes, and before he knew it—he, too, had drifted off.