The bar bustled with a rowdy but friendly energy as Kieran stepped in. The moment his boots hit the worn wooden floor, a cheer erupted from Barrick, Loris, and Garven, their mugs raised high in his honor.
"Kieran!" Barrick's booming voice carried over the din, a grin splitting his bearded face.
"Knew you'd pull through!" Loris added, lifting his mug in a quieter but no less genuine toast. Garven leaned back in his chair, balancing on two legs as he gave Kieran a casual salute with his drink.
Before Kieran could respond, Seraphina darted through the crowd, her face lit with relief. She threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're okay!" she exclaimed, her voice softer than her usual confident tone.
Kieran chuckled and returned the hug briefly. "I'm glad too," he said, his voice laced with gratitude. He moved to the table where the others sat and dropped into a chair with an exaggerated sigh. "Bartender! Some beer!" he called.
Behind the bar, JoJo, the Protectors' cook, raised an eyebrow. "Well, look who it is," he said with a smirk, grabbing a tankard and starting to pour.
Kieran did a double take. "JoJo? What are you doing here?"
JoJo chuckled, setting the frothy mug down in front of him. "What does it look like? Need the extra coin. Running a kitchen doesn't exactly pay for all the supplies I need. Besides," he leaned in conspiratorially, "it's not half bad getting to hear all the gossip that comes through here." He slid the mug over. "This one's on the house."
Kieran grinned and raised the drink in thanks. "You're a lifesaver, JoJo." He took a long gulp, savoring the cool bitterness of the beer.
Garven leaned forward, his green eyes glinting with curiosity. "Alright, Kieran, spill it. How in the world are you already walking around? Thought the docs said you'd be laid up for days."
"Yeah," Loris chimed in, his deep voice tinged with skepticism. "What happened? Did you secretly have a stash of healing potions or something?"
Kieran set his mug down and smirked. "Calvin healed me," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Used some kind of magical toad. Thing worked like a charm."
"A toad?" Garven's eyebrows shot up. "That's a new one."
Barrick stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Ah, yes. Magical toads. Rare creatures, those. You usually find them far from Brittlefrost, in the marshlands past the Verdant Ridge. Expensive, too, if you're lucky enough to buy one."
Seraphina, who had taken a seat beside Kieran, let out a relieved sigh. "Well, I'm just glad you're alright. It's good to see you up and moving again."
Kieran shot her a teasing grin. "Ah, you were very worried about me, weren't you?"
A faint flush rose to Seraphina's cheeks. "S-shut up!" she retorted, punching him lightly on the arm.
Kieran laughed, rubbing the spot where her fist had landed. "Careful, Seraphina, you'll bruise me again."
The group burst into laughter, their camaraderie filling the room. JoJo watched the scene with a faint smile as he wiped down the bar. It wasn't every day he saw the Protectors so at ease, and it was a nice change from their usual battle-worn tension.
As the evening wore on, the group traded stories and jokes, the table filling with empty mugs and plates. Barrick recounted a time he had used his warhammer to take down an entire tree that had nearly crushed their camp. Loris shared a dry, deadpan tale of a mission that had gone disastrously wrong but somehow ended in success. Garven spun a tale so exaggerated that even Kieran, with his wild imagination, had trouble believing it.
Seraphina, though smiling and engaging in the conversation, still hadn't touched her drink. Kieran noticed and leaned over. "Not a fan of the beer?"
She shrugged. "Not tonight. Just… feels like a lot's happened."
Kieran nodded, sensing she didn't want to dwell on it. Instead, he turned back to the group, raising his mug. "To the Protectors!" he shouted.
"To the Protectors!" they echoed, clinking their mugs together.
Seraphina got up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor.
"Hey, sis, where are you going?" Barrick asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"I'm going to check up on Calvin," she replied over her shoulder, already heading for the door.
"Wait—" Barrick began, but she was already outside, her steps quick and determined.
The city was quieter now, the bustle of the day giving way to the softer hum of evening life. Seraphina moved purposefully, stopping passersby and asking if they had seen Calvin. Most shrugged or pointed in vague directions, their answers leading her on a frustrating chase through winding streets. Minutes turned into what felt like an hour, her patience wearing thin, when she finally spotted him.
There, behind a large, elegant house with ivy crawling up its stone walls, Calvin stood. He was bare-chested, his back to her, as he pulled a shirt over his head. A small bag lay beside him on the ground. Seraphina froze for a moment, unsure whether to speak.
"Uh… Calvin," she managed, her voice louder than she intended.
Calvin turned, his expression shifting from surprise to a smooth, easy grin. "Oh, hey, Seraphina," he said, his tone warm and unbothered. His eyes sparkled with a teasing glint. "Like what you see?"
Her face burned, and she immediately covered her eyes with one hand, turning away. "W-what? No! I wasn't— I mean—" She shook her head, flustered.
By the time she glanced back, Calvin had already slipped his shirt on and adjusted his belt. "Relax," he said with a soft chuckle. "I'm decent now."
"Right," Seraphina muttered, trying to regain her composure. She looked at him, her brow furrowed. "Why were you—uh, why were you out here like that?"
Calvin arched a brow, his expression perfectly casual. He gestured toward the house behind him. "Ah, well, you see, the gentleman who owns this place is a tailor. He offered to fix my shirt—it had a tear in it from earlier, and I figured it'd be rude to say no. Didn't want to walk back with it all ripped up, you know?"
Seraphina glanced at his shirt, now clean and intact. Her suspicion wavered. It made sense, she thought. Calvin always did have a way of charming people into doing things for him.
"And… the bag?" she asked, her eyes darting to the small satchel at his feet.
Calvin's smile didn't falter. "Ah, this?" He crouched and picked it up, holding it out slightly. "Just some spare clothes. I've been meaning to carry a change of outfit in case things get messy during missions. Thought tonight was as good a time as any to get them sorted."
Seraphina stared at the bag, then at him. He met her gaze steadily, his expression open and earnest. There wasn't a trace of hesitation or deceit in his voice.
"I mean," he continued with a small laugh, "it's not like I enjoy wandering around half-naked. Though if it got a reaction like that from everyone, maybe I'd reconsider."
"Shut up," Seraphina muttered, her face warming again. But her lips twitched, betraying a faint smile.
Calvin slung the bag over his shoulder and adjusted the strap. "Anyway, what brings you out here? Couldn't resist my charm?"
She rolled her eyes but felt herself relax. "I was just… checking in. You disappeared, and I thought—never mind. Barrick was worried."
"Barrick worries too much," Calvin said, waving a dismissive hand. "I'm fine, Seraphina. Really."
She studied him for a moment longer, her doubts fading as his easy confidence seemed to wrap around her like a warm blanket. Finally, she nodded. "Alright. Just don't go disappearing without saying anything, okay?"
"Captain's honor," Calvin said, holding up two fingers with a grin that made her roll her eyes again.