I look over the numbers I added to the page, oh the misery. Weekly reports will be the death of me, especially since I have to check the lists that get sent to the capital asking for supplies. As I'm looking over the request of the tavern and writing it in the record book, the bell rings above the door. Looking up from my work, I see our newly appointed Captain of the Guards, Clint.

"Hey buddy, still polishing that badge constantly, I see," I say.

He is a tall man with a slightly muscular build, with black unruly hair that barely goes past the base of his neck. "Of course I am, and my polishing is the same thing as you constantly rearranging the books in this library, miss ma'am," Clint says as he sits in one of the chairs, pocketing the rag for polishing and pulling out a gold coin. "So, Rubina, how goes the list of supplies? When do you reckon you will be done? I'd like to send it early," he says as he begins to flip the coin. Four times it fell and hit the ground once. I hate when he throws that stupid coin; I'd rather he polish that moronic badge.

Watching the coin go up and down, five, "Don't know. Caterina still hasn't given me her list, nor has Kolst." I respond

Clint let out a sigh. "It always gotta be the two of them, the Priest and the Tailor," he muttered, flipping his coin and catching it in frustration. He started flipping it between his fingers. "Ah, by the way, Kaja is back in town," he said, with a shrug of his shoulders. "Said they might stay longer this time, whatever that means."

"I love when the traveling merchant makes it back to our town," I said, leaning back in my chair and giving my back a chance to relax. "I've grown quite fond of Kaja. They never fail to brighten my day, nor do they fail to bring back interesting books. I haven't seen Kaja in, what, a month? It feels overdue."

Just as I rested my eyes, the bell above the door chimed again, but voices quickly drowned it out. "Come on, you could do what I do. Let people love me. All of my patients love me, in more ways than one," a familiar voice said. I could already feel a headache coming on just from the thought of them being around too long. Looking over to the door, I saw an overly happy Asa and a very exasperated Beritold.

Asa, the tall and stalky man, has straight sandy blonde hair that falls just above his shoulders. His deep sea-blue eyes captivate everyone around him. He holds the esteemed position of our town's healer and also serves as the male stress reliever. Standing next to Asa is Beritold, his childhood best friend. the whole town is drawn to Beritold, with his wavy strawberry blond hair that is kept shorter than the nape of his neck. His steel grey eyes rarely display much emotion, but on most nights, when he sings or plays instruments in the tavern, those grey eyes seem to sparkle and come alive.

Beritold pulled up a chair beside me as Asa lounged on the couch. Beritold responded, "People love me now, for a reason that makes me happy. Why would I change that?" He picked up the tavern supply request sheet, looking at the book and cross-checking them. Clint and I exchanged a glance, sharing a silent question: Do we want to know?

"Besides, I have my eye on someone and wouldn't wanna jeopardize that," Beritold added with a mischievous smile.

"Alright, I'll bite. What in the Silverkeep are you talking about?" Clint asked, looking between Asa and Beritold.

"It's nothing that concerns you, captain," Asa replied, emphasizing the word 'captain'. I swear, I love Asa. He's great, but he has his moments where he isn't.

"Beri, what are y'all talking about?" I whispered, picking up the inn's supply list. He let out a little laugh.

"He's trying to convince me to do what he does in his free time." I look at him, eyes wide I'm sure. "Those responses were clever," I say, smiling softly before looking back at the work in front of me. The room falls into a comfortable silence, only broken by the shuffling of paper by Beri and myself.

"Guys," Asa says suddenly, sitting up alert, causing all of us to look at him. "Can I rant really quick?" He asks, his face deadly serious. "I feel like you will no matter what we say, but yea," Clint says, sliding the book I didn't notice he picked up on the table next to him.

"So," Asa takes a deep breath. "Cat and I are constantly fighting, or it's more like she constantly throws shade my way for no reason." He sat up instead of being draped on the side of the couch. "Like, for example, while we were at the inn, she managed to get burned and then told me to heal her, then made the comment 'Oh so you can be responsible'. Like, I get we broke up and all, that's fine, but my god, must she always get a quip in?"

Asa got up and started pacing, expressing his frustration. "Like, I knew she was mad when I said I wouldn't stop being loved by people and loving people until she did the same, and that led to us breaking up. But my Elkho, she takes things too far. Am I the one in the wrong here?"

He stopped and looked at each one of us. "Personally, I warned y'all before you got together that it was a bad idea," Beri said, setting down the quill. "Communication is key—talk to her about her words that are annoying you. She won't know otherwise," I added. Asa nodded at our words and then turned to Clint. "I may not be overly fond of you, but do you have anything to say on this?"

Clint, in response, held up his hands in a motion of surrender. "I wish I did, but I've been not in relationships, so I don't have those problems."

Asa laughs "I can see why, maybe if you take off your helmet once in a while women might look your way" Everyone lets out a small laugh at that. Clint has been so focused on getting guard captain he hasn't taken his helmet off for as long as I can remember. Beri looks at Clint "Hey would it offend you if I said I forgot what colour your eyes are?" Clint leans back in his seat "I've only had my helmet on for like a few months, maybe a year" Asa's brow is furrowed "yeah what colour are your eyes?"

I don't know why they are making a fuss about his eye colour they are… I should know what my best friend's eye colour is… Looking up from my paper at Clint I get a feeling of loss and despair… What's going on?

"Rubina, are you good?" Beri asks from beside me and I feel a weight on my shoulder. It breaks me out of the haze that I was in "Yea I'm fine must be tired from looking over these lists all-day" I say smiling. I never noticed how nice Beri's hair was, or his eyes, or his skin, or his mouth, what am I doing?

"Hey Rubina can I have this," Clint asked holding a gold book holder "Why?" I ask confused on why this child in a man's body would want a book hold. "Because is gold and I like gold," he says smiling holding it next to his face like they were friends posing for a portrait. "Fine take it, greedy himbo," I say carefully mumbling the last part

"Yay," he says "wanna go to the tavern yall get some nice Juniper Ale Sophie just made a new batch," he said swinging the blook holder side to side like a child would a purse. "I'm down," Asa says as he turns to where Beri and I are sitting "I still have all these to go through imma stay here but yall have fun," I say getting up to get a glass of water. "I'll stay and help two people working on it will help it go faster," Beri says getting up to stretch and to walk with Asa to the door. I see they have a rapid and hushed conversation then with that, it left Bertold and me alone.

We sat for a while in silence just working. I love that he helps me when he can, I find it funny that he is our bard yet he is surprisingly competent. The first one to break the silence was Beri "Have you heard from Teri?" I shook my head no "How are you doing since he…" his question trailed off. How do I feel about it? I fall for a guy, he falls for me then one day he just up and leaves saying he wants to discover the word, "I feel abandoned, discarded, unwanted I could keep going but thus far those have been my thoughts and feelings summed up" I say fidgeting with the edge of my drink

Beri's expression softened, and he reached out to place his hand over mine, offering a comforting gesture. "I'm sorry, Rubina. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you. But you're not unwanted or discarded. Teri's decision to leave is about him, not about you. Sometimes people need to figure things out on their own, even if it hurts others in the process."

I sighed, appreciating Beri's words of understanding. "I know, logically, that's how it is. But emotions don't always align with logic, you know? It's just been tough to accept and move on."

Beri nodded, his eyes filled with empathy. "I understand. Healing takes time, and it's different for everyone. But remember, you're not alone in this. You have friends who care about you, including me. And we'll be here to support you through it all."

A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I looked at Beri.

As I looked up from the supply lists, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for my friend Beri. He had always been there for me, supporting me through thick and thin. I paused my work and turned to him with a heartfelt expression.

"Beri, I just want to take a moment to thank you," I said, my voice filled with sincerity. "You've been such an amazing friend to me, and I appreciate you more than words can express."

Beri smiled warmly, his eyes reflecting the genuine bond we shared. "Rubina, you don't have to thank me. It's what friends do. We look out for each other."

Encouraged by his response, I suggested that we take a break from our tasks and join the others at the Tavern. It was always a lively place, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for us to unwind and enjoy the company of our companions.

Beri agreed wholeheartedly, and together we began organizing the paperwork to ensure everything was in order before leaving. Just as we were about to finish up, Kaja stormed into the room, his face etched with frustration, muttering under his breath about a wrong map. For once his thin wavy black hair doesn't perfectly frame his pale blue eyes and tanned skin.

Curiosity piqued, I set aside the documents and approached Kaja, who seemed deeply engrossed in his thoughts. Sensing my presence, he looked up and let out a sigh, clearly needing someone to talk to.

"What happened, Kaja?" I asked, concern lacing my voice. "Why are you so bothered by this map?"

Kaja's eyes met mine, a mixture of confusion and disbelief evident in his gaze. He began recounting the peculiar encounter he had in the inn. A man, looking rather eccentric, had walked in and booked a room. Intrigued by Kaja's profession as a traveling merchant, the man struck up a conversation.

"He called himself a Cartograph," Kaja explained, his voice tinged with awe. "He claimed to be working on a map of all the major countries, including Havenfall and Markstar, which he said he had already completed."

Being from Havenfall himself, Kaja couldn't resist the opportunity to see the map. However, upon examining it, he was taken aback by the inaccuracies and discrepancies it contained. An argument had ensued between the two, escalating to a point where our mutual friend, Lee, had to intervene.

Rubina and Beri exchange concerned glances as they listen to Kaja's account of the encounter with the mysterious Cartograph. It is clear that Kaja is deeply bothered by the inaccuracies on the map and the ensuing argument. Understanding their friend's distress, Rubina steps forward and places a comforting hand on Kaja's shoulder.

"Kaja, I can understand why this upsets you," Rubina says gently. "Maps hold great importance, especially to someone like you, whose livelihood depends on accurate information. But let's take a moment to breathe and calm down. Getting worked up won't solve anything."

Beri nods in agreement, his voice soothing and reassuring. "Kaja, we know how passionate you are about your work, and it's admirable. But sometimes, there are people who may not have the same level of expertise or attention to detail. It doesn't diminish your skills or the value of your knowledge."

Kaja's tense shoulders relax slightly as he absorbs their words. He takes a deep breath, allowing the weight of frustration to ease from his chest. "You're right," he admits a hint of gratitude in his voice. "I guess I let my emotions get the best of me. It's just... I take pride in my craft, and when I see someone misrepresenting it, it's hard to stay calm."

Rubina smiles warmly, understanding Kaja's perspective. "We know, Kaja. Your dedication and expertise are commendable, and that's why we value you as a friend and a merchant. But remember, one flawed map doesn't diminish your skills or the trust people have in you."

Beri chimes in, his tone reassuring. "Exactly. You've built a reputation for yourself based on your accuracy and integrity. People know they can rely on you for reliable information. Don't let this incident shake that confidence."

Kaja lets out a sigh, his expression softening. "Thank you, both of you. I needed that reminder. I guess I just needed someone to talk to and help me put things into perspective."

Rubina squeezes Kaja's shoulder gently. "That's what friends are for, Kaja. We're here to support each other through the ups and downs. Now, how about we take that break we were planning? Let's go to the Tavern and have some fun. It'll take your mind off things."

A small smile forms on Kaja's face as he nods appreciatively. "You're right. I could use a distraction. Let's go."

With their friend feeling more at ease, Rubina, Beri, and Kaja leave the room, heading towards the Tavern, ready to enjoy the company of their companions and create new memories that will help them leave the incident behind.

As Rubina, Beri, and Kaja make their way to the Tavern, their conversation shifts to lighter topics, and the atmosphere becomes more relaxed. The sound of laughter and merry chatter greets them as they enter the lively establishment.

Sophie, the tavern owner, spots them and waves them over to a vacant table. "Welcome back, my dear friends!" she exclaims, her warm smile lighting up her face. "I have a fresh batch of Juniper Ale waiting for you. Come, sit, and enjoy!"

They settle at the table, and Sophie brings over glasses of the aromatic Juniper Ale. The smooth and flavorful drink immediately soothes their senses, and they savor each sip.

As they engage in animated conversation and laughter, the tensions and worries of the day slowly melt away. The atmosphere in the tavern is infectious, with music playing softly in the background and the sound of cheerful patrons enjoying their evening.

As I take another sip of the Juniper Ale, the smooth and aromatic flavors dance on my tongue, bringing a sense of relaxation to my body. The warmth of the tavern, coupled with the lively atmosphere, helps me forget about the troubles that have weighed me down earlier in the day.

I take in the lively atmosphere of the tavern, my eyes are drawn to the familiar figure of Clint, the Captain of the Guards, engaged in animated conversation with his comrades. I can't help but smile at the sight, knowing that our town is in good hands with him and his team protecting us.

Just as my gaze lingers on Clint, a familiar voice breaks my reverie. "Rubina!" I turn to see Vera, my best friend, approaching our table with a wide grin on her face. She embraces me warmly, and I can't help but feel a surge of joy at her presence. Vera is a beacon of light in my life, always bringing laughter and adventure wherever she goes.

Over the years Vera's straight white waist-length hair has always framed her green eyes and tanned skin, as kids Vera loved the outdoors more than me she specifically loves plants one could say she is our florist or alchment, the polar opposite of me who is our humble librarian and record keeper.

Beritold, our talented musician and a close friend follows closely behind Vera. With his lute slung over his shoulder, he wears a mischievous smile, ready to entertain the tavern with his enchanting melodies. I know his music will only add to the cheerful ambiance of the evening.

As we settle back into our conversation, Kaja, the youngest member of our group, leans in eagerly. "So, Rubina," he begins with a sly grin, "did I interrupt a romantic moment between you and Beritold earlier today?" My cheeks flush crimson, and I glance at Vera, who can't contain her curiosity either.

I let out an embarrassed laugh, feeling the need to defend myself. "It wasn't what it looked like, I swear! We were just... caught up in the moment." My explanation only seems to fuel their excitement, and they exchange mischievous glances. I can't help but roll my eyes, knowing that my friends won't let me live this down easily.

The tavern's lively chatter and the gentle strumming of Beritold's lute provide the perfect backdrop to our gossip-filled conversation. Laughter and merriment fill the air, drowning out any lingering worries or tensions that had followed us to this place.

As the night wears on, we continue to share stories, jokes, and dreams. Our bond grows stronger with each passing moment, and I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for these incredible individuals who have become my chosen family.