It was Lars.
He had raised his voice just loud enough for both of them to hear, hoping to stop the fight that was about to happen.
Unfortunately, that didn't go as planned, as the two both just ignored him as if he were a passing breeze of air, continuing their bickering.
Lars felt his heart tighten as he watched his two members argue.
Sure, they might not have been on the best of terms most of the time, but they both could tell when and when not to argue, and this just was not one of them.
"And while we're on this subject, why do you even want to give that shard to Bella, huh? She's the shadiest person on our team."
"Lars, why did you even invite her to join?"
"Damn it, Jalkr, shut the hell up! That was just uncalled for!"
"No, I won't shut up, OK? I'm not even the only one who thinks this," Jalkr said as he turned around, leaving his position as he turned and looked straight into Chloe's yellow eyes.
"Am I the only one here who finds it strange that this bitch, who I'll remind you, is a stranger, is keeping a journal documenting our strengths and weaknesses as if we're test subjects?"
"Tell me that isn't suspicious."
"It's not!" Chloe retorted.
"How?!"
"Because she's new, she's just trying to find out where she would best fit in. So of course, she's going to need this information," Chloe replied, rubbing her eyebrows.
"Damn it, how did I get stuck with someone so dumb," she groaned inwardly.
"Fit in? We've known her for 2 weeks, and not once has she ever practised with us!"
"While we're out there training, she just sits there watching like some bystander! Does that look like the attitude of someone who wants to find out where she fits in, huh?" Jalkr sneered as he looked at Bella with disgust.
"Trusting this girl will only get us killed."
"And for some reason, I'm the only one who seems to notice it."
Taking another jab, he added in. "This bitch would leave us the moment she senses danger."
"She's only sticking with us so she can snatch Lars's necklace the moment she gets the opportunity."
He said as he pointed over towards Lars's neck, which had a strange, demented-looking chicken used as the design.
Bella, who heard this final remark, finally couldn't take it any more, rushing over to Jalkr's side.
"Piece of shit, who are you calling a bitch, you little runt?" Bella replied as she grabbed Jalkr by the collar, finally involving herself in this mess.
Although she didn't want to get herself involved in this arrangement, she just couldn't help herself once she heard Jalkr continuously insult her.
How could she just take an insult from someone weaker than her lying down?
Wasn't this no different than slapping her in the face and then walking away?
The old man, who watched this whole show, didn't know what to say.
At one point, he was anxious and slightly fearful of what was going to happen, but now, with this argument, the anxious atmosphere that had been built had almost completely disappeared.
Being replaced by one of puzzlement and confusion.
He wanted to stop them, he really did, but any time he tried to, his voice was abruptly drowned out by the chorus of voices, giving him no chance to intervene.
Not knowing what to do, he peeked over towards Harry, who still seemed to be working on the shard. Not particularly sure as to what he was looking at, he turned around to see Jalkr.
Jalkr blazed with fury as he looked at the hateful witch in front of him.
But even knowing that she was stronger than him didn't quell Jalkr's anger. Instead, it made the situation worse as he slapped her hand away, pointing towards Lars.
"And you! Do you know how frustrating it is being you?"
"Are you retarded or something?"
"Agh, it's like talking to a brick wall." He grabbed his hair, scratching it furiously.
"How many times do I have to tell you, she's trying to steal your necklace! Do you not understand?"
"Jalkr, just calm down, there's no proof that she wants my necklace," Lars said as he tried to calm Jalkr down.
"No!"
"Are you in love with her or something? I'm trying to help you here because you're my best friend, and you keep saying I'm crazy or I'm paranoid."
"Stop calling me crazy. I'm not crazy!"
Jalkr clenched his chest with his hand as he looked down, his voice low and shaky, as tear drops could be seen cascading off his cheeks, dripping onto the huge tree bark.
"Do... Do you know how hurtful and painful it feels when your brother, who you've known since you were four, keeps doubting you and calling you crazy?"
"It hurts... it.. it.. really hurts." Jalkr said as the droplets on his face soon turned into tears as he stared, crying.