CHAPTER 6: PARTY

There was a knock on Wade’s door.

He ignored it for the moment, frowning down at the belt spread across his knees.

His fingers worked the dull tip of a knife into the leather, trying to punch a new hole through it.

His body had changed overnight, with his muscles filling in, and that meant his waist had also gotten more... defined.

The belt that once was comfortable now cut tightly into him when he tried to fasten it where it used to sit.

The knife scraped and slipped, but after a few stubborn twists, the leather gave way.

Wade leaned back with a grunt of satisfaction, sliding the belt around his waist and buckling it into its new notch.

Better. It felt snug, but not tight.

The knock came again.

"I’m coming," he called, standing.

When he opened the door, Calista was waiting in the hall, arms crossed over her breastplate.

"Good," she said, eyes flicking down to the new fit of his clothes. "You’re awake. And presentable. That’s progress."

He nodded with a smile. "Yeah."

A smile appeared on her face too. "That’s good. From now on, you’ll be with your party most of the time. If you need me, my office is always open. But your party will handle most issues through their captain."

"Party," Wade repeated under his breath, the word still strange.

"Come," Calista said, turning on her heel. "It’s time."

After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at their destination.

The mess hall was alive with noise when they entered. The long tables were crowded with adventurers in half armor, cloaks, and travel stained clothes.

The pleasant aroma of fried bread, porridge, and meat filled the air.

A few turned to glance at Wade as he followed Calista in, their gazes sliding over his clean but plain attire before returning to their meals.

Calista didn’t pause. She cut through the crowd with ease, leading Wade towards a corner table where three people sat together.

Wade saw them immediately. They didn’t blend in.

The first was huge. A mountain of a man with shoulders so broad they seemed made to block doorways.

His arms, bare below his pauldron, were thick with muscle and scarred from old battles.

His dark beard was neatly trimmed, his jaw square, and his eyes a shiny steel gray. The sword resting against the wall beside him was nearly as tall as Wade himself.

Beside him sat a tall man, not as broad but still imposing in his own way.

His build was lean, his face narrow, framed by long blond hair tied back into a tail.

His hands were calloused but moved with the ease of someone used to delicate work.

A silver chain circled his neck, catching the light as he leaned forward slightly, speaking quietly to the others. His expression carried a calm steadiness.

The last of the three was a woman. She was beautiful in a striking way, her form lithe and poised.

Her hair, a deep chestnut brown, was braided down one shoulder. Her eyes were a pale blue, cold and clear, her gaze filled with the predatory intensity of a bird of prey.

A longbow leaned against her chair, its curve elegant, and its string taut. A quiver of arrows rested at her side, the fletching neat and uniform.

Calista stopped at the edge of the table. "Sebastian. Still need a member?"

The huge man glanced up from his plate of bread and meat. He chewed, swallowed, then spoke with a voice that carried easily over the noise of the hall. "We do."

"Good," Calista said. She gestured to Wade. "This is Wade Barrett. He’ll be your new utility."

She began pointing them out in turn, starting with the huge man. "This is Sebastian, your frontliner and captain. Rowan, the support. And Ingrid, the damage dealer."

Wade nodded at each name, committing them to memory.

Sebastian’s gaze focused on him for a moment, then he smiled, a brief flash of teeth. "Welcome, Wade."

Rowan offered a short nod, his pale eyes assessing. Ingrid just tilted her head slightly in welcome.

Calista stepped back. "Introductions made. I’ll leave you guys to it."

She gave Wade one last look, a reminder that her office was still open, if he needed it, then walked away, vanishing into the press of adventurers.

Sebastian leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "So. Dimensional Merchant, huh?"

"Yes," Wade said, taking a seat.

"My class is nothing special. Just Warrior," Sebastian said, tapping his chest.

He gestured at Ingrid. "Archer."

Then to Rowan. "Auracle."

Rowan smiled faintly at Wade’s raised eyebrow.

"It’s a unique support class," the blond man explained. "Healing, buffs, visions. The name sounds fancy because it is."

Wade nodded slowly. "And I’m... Dimensional Merchant."

Rowan chuckled. "We know. Observe works, you know."

Wade smirked, deciding to test his own.

’Observe.’

A shimmer crossed his vision.

[Name: Sebastian]

[Level: ???]

As he expected, the captain was so far above him, he could see nothing.

He moved to the next person.

[Name: Rowan]

[Class: ???]

Same thing.

’Am I the only new kid around the block?’

He checked the last person.

[Name: Ingrid]

[Level: 7]

[Class: Archer]

Wade blinked, the shimmer fading. So, Ingrid was relatively new. Like him. Maybe.

"Level seven," he said softly, meeting Ingrid’s gaze.

She raised an eyebrow. "You’re not supposed to say it out loud. Rude."

Sebastian chuckled, unbothered. "He’s green. Let him stumble once."

Wade shifted, suppressing the urge to defend himself. Instead, he asked, "So... what now?"

Sebastian grabbed another piece of bread from his plate. "Now you grab your breakfast. After that, we head out."

"Out?" Wade repeated.

"To see what you’re worth," Sebastian said simply. "Before we bring you fully into the party, we need to evaluate you. Can’t trust someone until we know how they move, what they can do, and whether they’ll keep their head in a fight."

Wade glanced at Rowan and Ingrid. Rowan’s calm gaze was expectant. Ingrid’s pale eyes were flat and blank, with not a hint of emotion.

"Don’t worry," Sebastian added with a grin that was both reassuring and unsettling. "We won’t throw you into a dragon’s maw. Just a little test."

"Yeah." Rowan nodded. "It’s just a little test."