Navine, the Winter Witch, stood at the doorway of the small briefing room, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the chaotic scene before her, her thoughts swirling like the blizzards she commanded.
"This… this is my new team?" she muttered under her breath, eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. She had just been assigned to this ragtag group of misfits, and she wasn't sure if it was an insult or a test of her patience. She had been content in her solitary studies in the mountains, far away from the hustle and bustle of others. She wasn't sure why she had to be stuck with these loud, boisterous adventurers.
She turned back to Commander Alden, who had just assigned her to the Silly Party.
"Commander, surely there must be another group. One that is… quieter?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with barely contained frustration.
Alden, ever the stern and unmoving officer, didn't even glance at her as he gave a tired sigh. "Navine, the Silly Party is the only team left that needs another member. No other squads are available at the moment."
"But they're... silly," Navine added, her eyes still on the disarray inside the room.
"Yes, well, that's their name for a reason," Alden replied flatly.
With no other options and a slight huff, Navine reluctantly stepped into the room, her eyes flicking to the group that would now be her new comrades.
She froze.
In one corner, Nandya and Seraphine were locked in a heated argument, voices rising in indignation. Seraphine, standing confidently with her arms crossed, had a smug smile plastered on her face.
"I'm telling you, it's just a game of chess, Nandya. Get over it!" Seraphine laughed, tapping her fingers on the chessboard in front of her, her golden eyes twinkling.
Nandya, on the other hand, was standing up from her chair, practically vibrating with frustration. "I did not lose because of that stupid move! It's rigged! You're cheating!"
Navine blinked. Chess? This was the grand argument they were having? She had expected more… important discussions. Maybe about magic or strategy, but no, it was over a board game.
"Cheating?!" Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "You think I'm cheating? You just suck at chess, Nandya."
"You suck at being gracious in victory!" Nandya shot back, crossing her arms in defiance.
At this point, Zara, sitting nearby and seemingly minding her own business, sighed deeply. She was absentmindedly polishing Alphenluev's sword, but even she couldn't help but glance over at the argument. Her expression was one of pure indifference, like she had seen this scene a hundred times before and it was already tiresome.
Navine's eyes darted from Nandya to Seraphine to Zara, taking it all in.
"Are they… are they always like this?" she asked cautiously, her voice still laced with a mix of confusion and disbelief.
Zara didn't even look up from her polishing. "Oh, you get used to it," she said in a nonchalant tone, as though she was used to watching these two fight over the dumbest things. "Nandya always loses at chess. It's just how it goes."
"Wait, no, I don't lose! I just—" Nandya started, but Seraphine interrupted with a playful wink.
"Let's be honest here, you're terrible at chess," Seraphine said smugly, flicking one of the chess pieces on the board.
Nandya's face flushed with irritation, but she said nothing more, crossing her arms and turning away, sulking.
Navine stood still, taking it all in, her eyes narrowing. This is my new team?
"I don't think I can do this," she muttered to herself, feeling a cold shiver run down her spine. She looked again at Commander Alden, hoping for some miracle. "Are you sure there's no other group?"
But Alden had already walked off, clearly not interested in listening to her complaints.
Sighing, Navine walked to the table where the others were gathered. Nandya was now sulking in the corner, Seraphine had a devilish grin on her face, and Zara was still polishing the mecha's sword with an unsettling calmness.
"Alright then," Navine muttered under her breath as she pulled up a chair, sitting down quietly at the table. She gave them all a long, searching look.
"So... What now?"
Zara glanced up at her for the first time, her eyes gleaming with the faintest hint of curiosity. "You join in the chaos."
Navine blinked, processing the answer. "Chaos?" she asked, eyebrow raised.
"Oh, yeah," Zara replied, tossing her cloth aside. "Nandya and Seraphine argue about pointless things all the time, and I just... do stuff." She shrugged nonchalantly, as though it was the most normal thing in the world.
Navine stared at Zara. This is the most 'normal' one of them all?
"Welcome to the Silly Party, Winter Witch," Zara said, giving a small smile. "Get ready for the ride."
Nandya shot a glare at Seraphine, who had just taken the chess pieces and began rearranging them as though they were her prize.
Navine sat back, already regretting her decision. This is going to be the longest mission of my life.