Carla nibbled on the avocado toast. She still wasn't sure if she liked it, but Noah had been so enthusiastic about trying out what he called 'A Two-Legger Delicacy!' Carla was trying to summon up the same level of enthusiasm.
Her guildmate, Megan, wasn't so picky. She was eating hers with rapturous moans that Carla was sure were faked. It was okay, but then again, Carla liked her avocados in guacamole more than anything else. If it wasn't for all the condiments presented to put on top of the toast, she'd probably wouldn't be able to take more than one bite. She still wasn't sure who'd recommended chopped pecans, but her mother might like it.
That sparked a smile. Her mother hated avocado anything, up to and including guacamole. Carla was distracted from her thoughts by Megan thumping her toast on the table, frowning.
"What's that?" Megan asked, frowning.
Around them, people were shifting and standing. Noah had a heavy rolling pin in his hand, staring at the doorway.
A man in a cloak stood there. At least Carla thought it was a cloak. It was ruffling as though a stiff breeze was blowing, but the world outside the café was still. Carla could see a few others similarly dressed walking around behind the man.
"I am looking for a book," the man said, his voice growly and harsh.
Carla put her toast down on the plate. She wasn't sure if she was happy at the interruption or not. Across from her, Megan was standing up, her hand drifting to the sword strapped across her back.
"Megan," Carla hissed as Noah opened the passthrough on the counter.
"We don't have any mage towers in Sy'Lian," Noah said, thwacking the rolling pin into his other palm. "It's best that you and your friends be moving on."
"We shall, dear sir. We always seek the Crossroads of life after all," the man said, looking towards Noah.
The mood in the store altered from curious discontent to a sort of manic disbelief. People started scrambling up from their seats, pressing back towards the counter.
"None of that nonsense, sirrah," Noah snarled, taking a step forward.
To Carla's surprise, he swung the heavy rolling pin at the man. The man caught it one-handed, also a surprise. Noah immediately let go, springing backwards with an agility that was surprising in a man of his stature. It seemed to be a day for shocks.
Noah was a beefy man with bulging arms. He was usually affable, joking that his strength helped him in kneading all the dough for the breads he baked for the café. His wife, Alma would always chuckle at his pronouncements as she bustled around, ensuring that everything was in order.
Now, Noah was swinging a frying pan Alma had slapped into his hand. She was now urging her erstwhile clients through the passthrough and into the kitchen.
Carla swung her vision back towards the man in the doorway. He'd stepped a single foot into the bakery, and there seemed to be some sort of black substance emanating from his foot.
"What is that," Megan asked, coming to Carla's side.
"Dangerous?" Carla ventured. She glanced through the giant picture window at the front of the café. "Is that mayor?"
Megan jerked, hissing. Outside, the town's mayor was fighting another of the cloaked men. He was wielding a giant greatsword almost bigger than himself effortlessly. It was another reminder that the NPCs weren't to be ignored or harassed.
"That's bigger than mine," Megan muttered.
"He's taller than you, so yes," Carla assured her.
"How dare you defy those who rule us," the cloaked man snarled, catching their attention again.
"We're free folk in Sy'Lian! If there is a ruler than they live in Liannenken," Noah replied. He pulled back and swung the frying pan with both hands, aiming for the man's head.
"The Shadows free us from all earthly burdens. Bow and accept their generosity and mercy," the man snarled, producing a spiked shield from his cloak.
He slammed the shield against Noah's frying pan, making Noah grimace and take a step backwards.
Carla dipped into her pouch, seizing a handful of powder. She withdrew it, holding it tight in her hand.
"Noah! Pull back," she shouted while clamping a hand on Megan's shoulder. "Impenetrable," she muttered.
"You sure," Megan asked, a grin starting to form.
"As if you weren't going to," Carla sniped back as Megan pulled free from her hand. She tossed the powder, the tight ball disintegrating as it flew towards the cloaked man. "Dust Storm."
The ball turned into a tiny whirlwind which expanded to fill the café's interior. Carla backed away towards the counter, squinting slightly. As the caster, the tiny minute particles didn't disturb her at all.
For Megan, it would be as if they weren't there. Carla's proficiency with the skill wasn't high, so one person's immunity was all she could handle.
Megan snagged Noah's arm and tugged him towards the counter.
"She'll be fine," she shouted to be heard over the whirling of the dust.
"You don't understand! She might get Corroded," Noah protested as she and Alma hustled him out of the café.
"Corroded? What's that?" Carla asked. She glanced back to see Megan gleefully slamming her greatsword against the man's shield. She'd already broken off the spike. "Megan is great at sparring. She might even beat him."
"Call her back," Noah pleaded as Alma yanked him into the kitchen area. "Now, before it's too late."
"Too late?" Carla turned back to the fight.
Megan swung her sword to be blocked yet again by the man's shield. Her sword nocked into his shield to her irritation. She was tugging at it when the man swiped at her with his hand.
He had to be wearing claw armaments of some sort. They glittered in the bright light of the café as he swung them against Megan's side.
Megan grunted, jerking away and leaving her sword. She lunged forward, hands wrapping against the hilt and gave a great heave, freeing it. She fell back, swinging it again only for the man to block her yet again.
"Let's go," Carla called to her.
Megan stored her sword away, most likely in her inventory. Then she jumped backwards, avoiding another swipe of claw. Once she disengaged, the man's movements became wilder.
Carla let out a soft sigh of relief. Obviously, he was reacting to the sounds of Megan's fighting—the swing of the sword, the sound of her breath. He turned towards her direction at the sound of the sigh.
Carla's eyes narrowed as she saw that. She jumped backwards through the passthrough as Megan passed her, her hand on her ribs.
She slowly closed the passthrough. The skill only lasted for five minutes after all. Then she turned and followed Megan.
The whole thing was so surreal.