It's been a week, since I lost my party, but I did not lost my resolve, before everyone left the party, there where many adventurers who wanted to join dragon fall, I'm sure I could still find some adventurers.
"Would you like to join the great dragonfall party?"
I was currently inside the guild hall trying to recruit those members, since I still had a reputation of being the leader of dragonfall party...oh who am I kidding..
Some of the people didn't want to join because of the absence of a certain individual.
"I'm sorry but if Celine isn't a member of this party, there's no reason for me to join."
Some were already recruited by other parties.
"Oh it's quite a tempting offer but I have already joined the whitesaber party."
Some were annoyed by my presence.
"Go away."
And some, didn't even bother to hear the question.
"I have a boyfriend."
And well...some were just downright embarrassing.
"Haha, aren't you that guy who just lost all of his party members, did you ever thought that you might not be cut out for the role of party leader."
Yup...even after speaking to many adventurers, I got nowhere.
I was about to give up and leave when I noticed a familiar figure...
"Uh... Ru?"
Ru, who was currently conversing with some other adventurers also noticed me and after saying something to them, he walked towards me.
"Hey...uh.. didn't expect to see you here Jason?"
He tried to initiate a conversation with me but I could tell that he's definitely feeling awkward..
"Yeah....uh so, Ru..looks like you joined a new party?"
He suddenly became enthusiastic as he heard about me talking about his new party and before I knew it he started praising them. After some time I decided it's time to leave now.
"Uh...haha...it was nice seeing you here but I should get going now."
He must have noticed that things were getting more awkward and said.
"Haha sure."
And with that, Ru returned to his party members.
"Man... I'm glad he already got a new party."
As I was leaving, I overheard a bit of their conversation.
"Hey Ru, who was that guy?
The person who said this was a girl with a pony tail and a long sword, as she asked this, another member who was a big guy with a hammer said.
"Hey isn't he that loser party leader of yours, that guy who always banked on Celine's popularity."
I tried to suppress my anger since even though I heard him making fun of me, he's still Ru's party member, and I cannot do anything that might be embarrassing for him. Still, I was surprised Ru didn't say anything, is he even being treated right?
But for now, I could do nothing but leave.
.
.
.
After walking for sometime, I realised that I don't really need to recruit members from the guild, there's already someone who might be able to join me with enough persuasion, I'll just have to remind that person of what I did for them.
And if there's atleast two members, more people might join as well.
After making my decision, I went to a blacksmith shop inside the adventurer's market.
As I opened the door, I was greeted with a smell of nostalgia, after all this was the place where I first met him.
"Hey Borris, you got sometime?"
I said as I looked at the man who was at the front desk showing other adventurers some really awesome weapons.
.
.
.
"No, I'm not going to join your party"
Before I could ask, he refused.
"Hey, don't be like that!! At least hear me out!!"
He took a deep sigh, and then gestured his employee to take care of his customers and started walking towards me.
"The only reason I'm even giving you some time is because you're my old friend. Now hurry up and speak and before you ask, no I'm not joining your party."
Damn, he knows.
"But why?"
He looked at me for a minute then said.
"Look, I'm sorry Jason, but this work, I find it better than risking my life on daily bases knowing I might not even be able to see the next day."
As I was trying to open my mouth, he continued.
"I know the party was important for you, but everything cannot go the same way as we want now, can it?"
After taking a deep sigh, he looked at me with a sad expression and said.
"Look, I grateful to you for what you did in the past but this is my passion now... I hope you could understand."
I was at the lose of words, I was banking on the fact that I could remind him of our past to persuade him but he's already made up his mind.
I looked behind him and noticed that he's not wrong about the money, this blacksmith shop was filled with A-grade weapons.
After giving some thought, I simply nodded and he gave an understanding smile.
"Thanks."
As he turned back, I asked.
"Say? You don't happen to know where I could find her, right?"
He stopped on his tracks, knowing full well who I was talking about.
He turned his head a little to look at me and said.
"Are you sure about that?"
I looked at him and nodded.
"I'm already out of options so, might as well try this."
He scratched the back of his head a little and snorted.
"I don't know if you could find her there but that was the place where she was last seen, so you might as well give a shot....just don't tell her that I told you."
Saying this he told me the location, which was the Founder's mountain.
"Thanks Borris, I should get going now...and sorry about how things ended...but I'm glad you found your passion."
Saying this I left the shop.
"Alright, I'm coming for you Celine."
I'll just have to beg her....a lot but once she join my party, I could easily gain more members.
"She will join me.....right?"
-to be continued.