The sun beginning to dip lower in the sky. A cool breeze swept through the trees, and the faint sound of chatter from the rest of the camp echoed in the distance.
The camp was busy with preparations. I stood with Andrew, Sophia, and Crimzo in the outside, gathered around a rough wooden table, all of us trying to decide who would be the last member of our team.
"So, we've got most of the team set," Andrew started, rubbing his hands together like he was about to strike a deal. "But we still need one more. Who do you think?"
Sophia glanced around, her expression calms as always. "We need someone who knows the terrain. Someone who can track, move quickly through the land without leaving a trace."
I was still thinking about the choices, not entirely sure where this conversation was going. They all seemed capable, but none of them felt like the perfect fit.
Crimzo broke my thoughts, his grin wide as ever. "How about Tomas? The guy's a beast in the woods. Knows every trail, every hidden path."
Andrew wrinkled his nose. "Tomas? He's good, yeah, but... I don't know. He's not the easiest guy to work with."
I glanced at Andrew, confused. "What's the issue? He's a good tracker. He can handle himself out there."
Sophia stepped in; her voice soft but firm. "It's not just about his skills, Roy. It's about how he fits in with the team. We need someone who can get along with everyone, Tomas is... highly-strung."
I took a deep breath, knowing she was right. Tomas might not be the best option after all.
Crimzo threw out the name I hadn't been wanting to hear. "What about Lauren? She had a mission a while ago, she's been out there for days, knows the land like the back of her hand. She's a damn good tracker, too."
Lauren. She was... difficult. The kind of person you didn't want to deal with unless you had to. Still, Crimzo had a point, she was good, maybe the best here, and we needed someone like her.
"Who's going to talk with her then," I said. "She's not exactly the most... cooperative."
Everyone looked at me.
"You're the leader, Roy," Sophia said, her gaze steady on me. "It's your job to make it work."
I knew she was right, but that didn't make it any easier. "I don't know about..."
Andrew gave me a teasing smile. "You're the nice guy, Roy. You can talk her into it."
I shot him a quick glance. "Nice guy, Euh?"
"Yeah," Andrew laughed. "You're the one who can smooth things over. You're the leader, after all."
I wasn't sure about that, but I nodded anyway. I didn't have much choice. "Fine. I'll go talk to her."
Before I left, Andrew threw in one last question. "So, what's the team's name gonna be? Ironveil right?"
Everyone's face changed as if they were holding their laugher.
I paused, turning to him. "I changed my mind."
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Really? Why?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. Just doesn't feel right."
He grinned. "Well, anything's better than Ironveil."
I shot him a look.
Sophia's slight smile made me feel a little better, but Crimzo, as always, had an idea. "Maybe we should call ourselves the 'Shadow Syndicate' ??"
I shook my head. "Too dramatic... First, I've got to deal with Lara. Then we talk about this"
I turned and started walking in the camp searching for her, the weight of the task settling on my shoulders.
The sun dipped lower, painting the sky in deep shades of orange and purple. I had been searching for over an hour, weaving through different parts of the camp.
I wasn't even sure why I was trying this hard; she's the only blonde girl here. But Lauren wasn't the type to stay in one place, and from what I knew, she didn't exactly make herself easy to find.
Then, finally, I spotted her.
And… I wasn't sure what I was looking at.
Lauren was crouched near the training grounds, completely focused on a small rock in front of her. She had two branches in her hands, tapping them together like she was trying to communicate with it.
I stood there for a second, debating if I should just leave and pretend, I never saw this.
She must have noticed me because she looked up, raising an eyebrow. "What are you looking at?"
I crossed my arms. "What are you doing?"
She looked back at the rock, then at me. "Testing something."
I exhaled. "Umm..."
Wait, is this how a conversation should even start?
She dusted her hands off, standing up straight. Lauren was tall (taller than most) but still shorter than me. Her blonde hair was tied loosely behind her, and her sharp green eyes studied me with an expression that was both relaxed and curious, she was wearing her military shirt wrapped around her waist, and a white half-sleeved T-shirt.
"So," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Roy Celgius is looking for me. What's the occasion?"
I wasn't great at this. Talking, convincing, any of it. But this was part of the job.
I got straight to the point. "I'm forming a team. We need a tracker."
She let out a low whistle. "Tracker?"
I nodded.
She folded her arms, smirking. "And you chose me?"
I shrugged. "You're the best at what you do."
Her smirk widened. "Hmm, obviously."
There it was, that confidence, that slight attitude I expected. I had no idea how this conversation would go, but I knew one thing for sure. Lauren wasn't going to make it easy.
She looked at me for a moment, as if evaluating something. Then she exhaled and grinned. "Alright, I'm in."
What...?
Just like that. No resistance. No argument.
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "That easy?"
She shrugged. "I respect you, Roy. And you wouldn't be asking if you didn't really need me."
She wasn't wrong.
Still, I didn't expect her to accept so quickly. "So, it's normal to accept that quick?" I asked.
Lauren smirked again. "I guess... And I just like the idea of working with someone who actually does things instead of sitting around and barking orders."
I didn't respond to that. I just studied her for a moment, trying to gauge her. So that's a normal person right there, Sophia and Crimzo gave me a wrong idea, that what I can say.
She leaned in slightly. "Why you're thinking too hard about this. Relax."
I exhaled.
She stretched her arms behind her head, looking at me with that same relaxed expression. "So, what now, boss?"
I ignored the teasing tone in her voice. "We meet the rest of the team."
Lauren smirked. "Looking forward to it."