The next day was quite odd. The morning classes didn't have Fina in them.
("Where could she have gone?") [Solace]
I was a bit curious about it, but I wasn't about to invade her privacy from looking for her.
("...What if she's in trouble though?") [Solace]
Even when I was trying to make light of it, thoughts like those would come to mind. To be honest, I was a bit fearful of her getting kidnapped again.
("Hm… I COULD just leave a mimic in my classes.") [Solace]
There was also the worrying point of Fina not having any mana.
("Screw it.") [Solace]
So I just straight up used |Mimic| in human form. Good thing it was able to copy my clothing since I wouldn't really have another pair.
("Now to fina Fina.") [Solace]
There weren't many ideas I had to go find her. The first was to run around on a wild goose chase. The second is that I use |Mana Detection|, a skill I never used.
("|Mana Detection|.") [Solace]
That was a horrendous mistake. All I could see was blue. Maybe it was because the last time I used it there was no one around, but I think my vision was filled with the student's mana.
("Well that won't work.") [Solace]
I racked my brains for another idea.
("How about I try searching areas that Fina might be at.") [Solace]
After that, I searched a good amount. Firstly, her room. She was not there. Secondly, the bench she hangs out with Leyhna. I don't know why I even checked because Leyhna was still in class. Third, I remembered that Fina had a part-time job at some kind of diner. She wasn't there.
("I'm really running out of places to check.") [Solace]
I had considered the possibility of teleporting to her as a spirit, but that really isn't how it works.
("Where else could she be?") [Solace]
There was a severe lack of information. That left me with on option.
("I'll have to ask around.") [Solace]
As a self-proclaimed introvert, that was a tall task. I still did it anyway.
"Hey, have you seen a girl with kind of long black hair anywhere?" [Solace]
"Oh. You mean that forsaken girl?" [???]
"Y-Yeah…?" [Solace]
"Nope." [???]
That interaction was useless.
"Hey, you! Can you tell me if you saw a girl with long-ish black hair?" [Solace]
"You mean the forsaken girl? Not at all." [???]
I asked a few more people, who also referred to Fina as "That forsaken girl".
("I'm starting to run out of patience.") [Solace]
Most of the people I asked would give me disgusted looks, as if they didn't even want to think of Fina.
"Excuse me, have you happened to see a girl with long-ish black hair?" [Solace]
"You mean Finea Kane? I have." [???]
I was left shocked. Not only did they refer to Fina as something other than "that forsaken girl", they also have seen her.
"Can you tell me where?" [Solace]
This guy with short light blue hair tapped his chin while looking upwards.
"If I remember correctly… I think she was called to the counselor's office." [Light-Blue Haired Boy]
"Uh… and where is that exactly?" [Solace]
"Go down the hall and take a right. Then go to the end of that hall and take a left. The office should be the third door to the left." [Light-Blue Haired Boy]
"Thanks!" [Solace]
Following his instructions, I rushed down the hall.
("I think it would be best to turn into spirit form from here.") [Solace]
I turned invisible, moving to the counselor's office in complete silence. It was there that I opened the door a little and slid in.
("Huh?") [Solace]
I was surprised to see that party from the other day to be inside. There was Fina, the warrior looking guy, the mage, the priest, the… tank?, and Ms. Ross.
"Fina, what will you choose?" [Ms. Ross]
"I… I'm not sure." [Fina]
The warrior guy stepped in.
"I heard that you're the most talented of your peers." [Warrior Guy]
"Indeed. Ms. Ross is more than enough to vouch for you." [Mage]
Fina looked a bit uncomfortable.
("What are these guys talking about?") [Solace]
"You would be a great porter." [Tank Guy]
"What?" [Ms. Ross]
Her face was that of shock.
"Weren't you guys looking for another party member?! Why make her a porter?!" [Ms. Ross]
Other than the warrior, all the party members snickered.
"She's a forsaken! You can't possibly think she could hold a major role." [Tank Guy]
"You're supposed to be the hero's party! How could you believe baseless speculations of hair color?!" [Ms. Ross]
The priest raised a hand.
"It's not baseless. Everyone knows that hair color is a blessing from the gods." [Priest Girl]
"We also have the tournament later to choose someone for the next major role. We just need someone to carry our baggage." [Mage Girl]
The tank nodded.
"I think Fina is perfect for that." [Tank Guy]
That's when I snapped.
"Guys… I don't think that we should-" [Warrior Guy]
"Take that back." [Solace]
I stepped into the room in human form.
"What? Hey, don't you know this place is-" [Tank Guy]
"And?" [Solace]
That shut him up. I guess people in this world aren't used to that kind of reply.
"Alt?" [Fina]
"Sorry, Fina. I'm assuming this is the hero's party that everyone wants to join, but I don't think I want you in it. I know I'm a bit selfish." [Solace]
"Alt, why are you here? This is Fina's decision on the matter." [Ms. Ross]
"I understand that, but I just want these guys to apologize to Fina for their behavior. That's it." [Solace]
The tank guy strolled up to me.
"You have no right to ask anything of us." [Tank Guy]
"Okay? I'm still gonna tell you guys anyway." [Solace]
The tank guy scoffed. He looked down on me, literally since he was taller. The heavy armor he wore also made him look a bit bigger, but I wasn't worried. I had already checked earlier that these guys were around level 50 to 60. The warrior guy was pretty much my level though.
"You best leave. This is not your place to speak." [Tank Guy]
He turned his back on me. I wasn't about to just let him ignore me like that.
"No." [Solace]
The tank guy looked back at me.
"What?" [Tank Guy]
"I said no." [Solace]
The tank guy seemed a bit annoyed at my response.
"I am warning you." [Tank Guy]
He slowly approached me. I could feel his heavy footsteps on the floorboards as he came closer.
"Don't warn me. Do something about it." [Solace]
The tank guy's eyes widened in disbelief. It was only for a moment, but his eyebrows soon narrowed.
"It was your choice." [Tank Guy]
He took that huge shield off his back and poked my chest with a finger.
"Last chance. Turn back now." [Tank Guy]
I smiled.
"Make me." [Solace]