After the meeting ended Fuwa couldn't help but have this mental image of Raven and Maxwell like two hungry wolves waiting to claim some steak, she felt bad for copying so badly the idea of others, but at least she persuaded them to look for another name. She couldn't understand why suddenly Raven was so interested in earning coins, she seemed like she didn't cared at all at the beginning, but now she seemed to have something in mind. In the beginning, when Raven revealed her true self to the merchant she could feel his gaze and his distrust, but after they started to talk about making gold both had that face of idiots.
They managed to leave the place following a secret passage, it was needed in order to create the illusion that the healer was gone. Now, finally Raven was free. But she looked confused about what to do next. Maxwell had told them that he will take care of the rest about the travel of the healer.
What was the source of Raven confusion?
The reason was straightforward. She never was truly free. Prisoner to her fear, prisoner to her anger, prisoner to the laws that bind her, her past chained her, her actions were even more chains, and her promises too, it seemed like even if she washed her image, nothing would really change. But it was true, now she had more chances. At least she wouldn't get chased down of decent places or she could even sell stuff at the market... that was what motivated her to ask for this favor, now she could sell the dungeon spoils and get some more funds.
As they traveled across the streets they came across a kitten, Fuwa rushed forward to play with it, Raven didn't stop her because her mind was filled with doubts. If she wanted to go deeper into the dungeon she will need more people, and someone like her ain't charismatic to lure adventurers to her side, her charm was different to that of a leader... And she understood well the danger ahead, now the battles were versus goblins and orcs, maybe some small monsters, but then? What will she and Fuwa do when the monsters become giant?
As she watched Fuwa laugh and play with the kitten ahead, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread settle in the pit of her stomach. Fuwa, so innocent, so full of life, had no idea of the storm that might be brewing. It was Raven's burden to bear, and she knew it. She had to take care of both of herself and Fuwa, she didn't knew why but she felt like it was right, maybe even selfish.
Fuwa's voice snapped her out of her dark thoughts "Raven! Look at this little guy!" Fuwa held the kitten up with a bright smile, its tiny paws waving in the air.
Raven forced a smile, though her heart was heavy. "Cute" she said softly, her mind still far away. Fuwa's joy was infectious, but it also reminded her of what she had to protect. Not just herself anymore... but Fuwa too. She had taken this choice by herself, but then, how to do it?
She soon would be forced to make a decision. If she tried to mix with other adventurers she and Fuwa would get exposed to danger faster... but if they chose to rely on their own strength they would evade some of the danger and maybe then get swallowed by it. And as she had already experimented, running away wasn't an option, be it the monsters inside the dungeon or the treacherous blade of an enemy they weren't safe.
'What I am supposed to do?' She asked herself.
She didn't felt okay about asking for other people's help, she had always been alone and fought her own fights. She observed as Fuwa let the cat in the ground and observed how it went away.
"Such a cute thing" Said the human fully charmed by the cat, when she noticed the look on Raven's face she giggled and hugged her "Raven is cute too!"
"Let me go you brute!" She said trying to claw her, but Fuwa was way stronger than her physically, she blushed lightly, what would others think about her if they saw her 'I bet Thorsen would be laughing his ass off if he saw me like this'
Then Raven realized... Where the hell was the dwarf? She had walked down the alleys she knew he would be, and even asked to other dwarves, but he hadn't returned since he went on an expedition to the dungeon, for a moment a dark thought crossed Raven's mind. Then she smiled, after witnessing him she doubted that he could even die on the lower floors of the dungeon, he was strong, damn she felt he was way stronger than her and they were on the same level.
"Let's go Fuwa" Raven said "Do you have any suggestion about what we should do?"
After hearing Raven's question Fuwa eyes got wide and she let her go and gasped, Raven rolled her eyes annoyed.
"Whaaaaa! Raven is asking being humble!?" Fuwa mocked earning a mocking smile from the cat, then after laughing Fuwa calmed down a little and then shrugged "I thought we would go straight to the dungeon, but if you ask me... should we try to get into a clan of adventurers or something?"
Raven frowned, she had never thought about joining an adventurer clan. For starters she wasn't interested in big earnings or in being famous, also, after the mercenary fiasco, she didn't believe she would have a reason to do so... even now, she had come to this city just to gain a little more strength to have revenge and if she could find more about her father, but... now things were different.
"Do you intend to conquer the dungeon?" Raven asked.
For a moment Fuwa smiled, but then she became serious, deep in thought.
"I don't know" She said with honesty "None has been able to do it, right?" Reven nodded, the martial artist crossed her arms "When I traveled here, I believed that I was special, that I will awaken ancient strength and become the strongest in the world" She said earning some laughs from Raven "I'm being serious silly, they had told me I was special, the chosen one" Then she sighed "But after struggling with the goblin I'm really happy I am alive" She looked at the dungeon tower and moved her head side to side "I don't think it's possible to conquer the tower"
"Is that so?" Asked Raven interested.
"Yeah, I don't think a single person can rise above this tower" She said smiling "But then again, it's the fastest way to become strong"
"Answering your question, I haven't even thought of joining a clan... but it has benefits" Raven said raising a finger while she explained "The big clans have their own dorms... so that's no more money on eating and sleeping... and you can access the floors the clan has cleared.... but... you are not free to roam and do whatever you want anymore"
Fuwa listened intently as Raven explained the pros and cons of joining a clan, her expression shifting from curiosity to contemplation. Raven, on the other hand, was gauging Fuwa's reaction, unsure of what her partner truly wanted. The idea of joining a clan felt wrong to Raven on so many levels. She was used to being independent, and she didn't trust people easily... especially not enough to let herself be bound by clan rules. But they needed more strength, and that meant they needed resources.
"Maybe we have to think more about it before reaching a conclusion" Said Fuwa smiling.
Raven pretended to cry and looked at her between the opening of her fingers.
"Little Fuwa is getting smart!" She said.
Fuwa got flustered by it.
"Why you...!"
Then she proceeded to chase down a cat girl who ran away from her, Raven laughed while being chased by her companion.