Ezra kept walking, unaffected by the bandits he had easily sent running, but the silence among the group felt heavier than usual. Korr, ever the curious one, broke the quiet with a question. "So, Ezra," he began, his voice light with intrigue, "I didn't notice before, but you're like... famous, right? Serena even mentioned that noble ladies were lining up to marry you. What's the story behind that?"
Ezra sighed, the weight of the past settling on him as he glanced at Korr. "You know I fought in the rebellion, right? Well, before we lost, before the rebellion was crushed, we were on the verge of victory. We thought we were in the final stretch. And that's when things took a turn." He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts.
"The rebellion's leader, Ryzen, the man I considered my father figure, had once been one of the king's top generals. When he turned against the throne, it made waves. Some of the noblemen who had sided with the king during the war started to switch sides, joining the rebellion. And in order to get in good with Ryzen, to prove their loyalty, they decided to marry off their daughters to his most trusted retainer—me." Ezra's voice grew colder as he continued, his thoughts lingering on the past.
"I displayed great feats of strength on the battlefield," he said, almost as if trying to downplay it, "and according to Ryzen, who wouldn't want their daughter to marry a strong man and have strong children? I was seen as a prize to those nobles. Some even thought they could secure their place in the new order by tying themselves to me."
Korr stayed silent for a moment, his mind turning over what Ezra had said. "That sounds… like a lot of pressure," he finally commented.
Ezra nodded, his gaze distant as he kept walking. "It was. But when everything fell apart, all those marriages, all those promises, they became nothing. The rebellion failed, and I was left with nothing but a name—one that still carries weight, apparently. But all the titles in the world won't bring back what I lost."
The group fell into another heavy silence, each of them contemplating the past as they continued their journey.
After a few more days of camping and walking, the group finally arrived in Stellaris. They spent some time wandering around the city, showing Serena the sights and making light conversation. It was a welcome change of pace after the constant traveling and danger. Eventually, they made their way back to the Shadow Panther Mercenary Core's base.
Ezra opened the door and stepped inside, gesturing for Serena to follow. "Welcome, Serena, to the place we call home," he said, his voice filled with a bit of pride.
Serena walked in, but immediately let out a small confused noise, her eyes widening at the sight before her. Ezra followed her gaze and saw what had caught her attention: sitting on one of the chairs at the front desk was a goblin, standing just above Ezra's hip. He wore worn leather armor and had a rifle slung across his back, with what appeared to be bombs strapped to his leg. The goblin seemed unfazed by their arrival, casually fiddling with some equipment as if it were an ordinary day.
Ezra quickly ushered Serena upstairs, making sure to put some distance between her and the odd sight. He then walked behind the front desk where Korr was standing, and turned to face the goblin.
"Sorry we've been out of town for a few days," Ezra began, his tone professional, though his eyes were carefully tracking the explosives on the goblin's leg. "What can I do for you, sir?"
The goblin waved a hand dismissively. "I get it. I'm a patient man, and it's not like I have much else to do." He grinned, showing a row of sharp teeth. "Oh, I'm Storm, by the way."
Ezra nodded and smiled in return. "Nice to meet you, Storm. So, what do you need from us?"
Storm's smile widened, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "I'd like to join your mercenary group."
Ezra leaned back in his chair, clearly intrigued. "So why our group? We're pretty small right now, Storm."
Storm's grin only grew wider. "Simple, really. No other group would accept me. Our cousins from the abyss have given goblins a pretty bad name, so I get why other groups won't take me in. But I heard you took in a bear beast person and you're hardly the typical human yourself, so I figured you'd be my best bet."
Ezra considered this for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, species doesn't matter here. We're based on merit." He leaned forward slightly. "Speaking of which, what are you good at?"
Storm pulled the rifle from his back, resting it across his lap with casual ease. "I'm a marksman and a scout. I can do stealth, but when it's time to make an impact, I can make things go boom too. Also, I'm a novice-level aether user. I use an ice affinity to enhance my bullets."
Ezra nodded, processing the information. He had no problem with Storm's chosen affinity, though he noted it would be helpful to have aether users who could work independently without requiring his teaching. Korr had been an exception, with Ezra helping him learn shadow affinity, but it sounded like Storm already had his aether well in hand. However, Ezra did have one lingering question.
"So, your name's Storm, but you use ice? And, you know, your personality... well, it's a bit out there. Ice affinity users tend to be a little cold. Why ice?"
Storm's smile turned sly as he leaned back in his chair. "Freezing things makes them blow up way cleaner. No blood and guts, just ice chunks to clean up. A lot easier for everyone involved."
Ezra raised an eyebrow at the logic. It was unorthodox, but it made a certain kind of sense. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "Sound logic. I don't see why hiring you would be an issue. We're going to be resting for a few days, so you won't have any immediate work. But you'll need to be okay with following my orders."
Storm gave a sharp nod, his grin never fading. "I can follow orders. Besides, you seem like someone who knows how to get things done."
Ezra looked at Storm for a long moment before finally giving a small smile. "Alright, welcome to the Shadow Panthers."
Korr chimed in, his curiosity piqued. "Welcome aboard, Mister Storm. We're glad to have you, but I've got a question if you don't mind," he began, not waiting for the goblin to respond before continuing. "How did you get your hands on a rifle? They were just invented a few years ago on Isloria—at least that's what my brother told me. He's been looking for one for his weapon collection, and I figured I'd send him a letter about it if you don't mind sharing."
Storm grinned, his sharp teeth flashing in the light as he slung the rifle back onto his back. "Good question," he replied with a hint of pride. "I'm actually from Isloria myself. Came to this continent guarding a cargo ship carrying these beauties. Unfortunately, getting back home turned out to be more of a hassle than expected, so here I am, looking for work."
Korr's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, so that's what you were guarding? Rifles like yours are going to start circulating here soon?"
Storm nodded. "Exactly. Your brother won't have to wait long—these things are about to make their debut across this continent. My ship was carrying the first shipment."
Ezra leaned against the desk, his expression thoughtful. "Sounds like things might get a little more interesting around here once those rifles hit the market."
Storm chuckled. "Oh, no doubt about it. But hey, at least you'll have a marksman who knows how to use one properly. I'll make sure to put this baby to good use under your banner."
Korr grinned, clearly impressed. "Well, glad to have you and your rifle with us, Storm. I'll be sure to let my brother know the good news."
Ezra gave a small nod, signaling his approval. "Looks like you'll fit in just fine, Storm. Welcome to the team."