'You don't have to overthink it, Sora... just take a deep breath and it'll all be over soon,' Sora thought, his eyes never leaving Asami as she drank the last mug of ale. There was a hint of danger in her eyes, the kind she wore whenever she was about to do something stupid.
"Alright, listen up," Sora said, clapping his hands together as he straightened his back. "There's a job. If we move now, we can still make it in time. But we have to get our asses together."
Daren barked out a laugh, his arm slinging over the back of the chair as he leaned into it, almost tipping it over. "A job? You mean that pathetic little poster we saw earlier? Come on, Sora. No one's interested in doing something that lame. Especially not when it's paying less than what we can split into three."
Asami wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, setting the empty mug down with a thud. Her eyes slid to Sora, half-lidded and full of playful disdain. "Maybe if you were stronger, you could've taken that job alone instead of getting all dilly-dally on us."
Sora clenched his jaw, his fists tightening at his sides. "I know I'm not... talented when it comes to magic, but that doesn't mean I can't still be the greatest."
"Whatever you say, kiddo," Asami said, rolling her eyes as she reached for another mug. "If you're with us, that means you're a reject. No guild wants us. Just look at you, me, and Daren. We're like trash. Always drunk, always broke. And you being a part of us was the worst idea. Let alone..." Her gaze raked over him, her lips curling in a cruel smile. "You're originally useless."
Daren chuckled, picking at a piece of bread crust. "Yeah, Sora. You keep saying it's only a matter of time before you become the greatest. But all I'm seeing is a guy who can barely handle a weak job like this."
Sora's face flushed, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. "I can handle it," he muttered, voice strong. "And I'm going to prove it."
"Been there, done that," Asami said, waving a dismissive hand. "You're just wasting your breath."
Sora exhaled through his nose, nostrils flaring as he forced himself to stay calm. Ignore them. Focus on the goal. Without another word, he stood up and grabbed Daren by the wrist, yanking him up from the chair.
"Come on," he said, voice steely. "We're doing that job. Even if it pays less."
"Whoa, whoa, hold up!" Daren sputtered, his grin faltering as Sora dragged him toward the door. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious," Sora said, his heart pounding in his chest. "Let's go."
Asami and Daren stumbled down the dirt path, arms slung over each other's shoulders, their voices loud and slurred as they belted out the same crude song they always sang when they were piss drunk.
"The king is a fraud, a fraud, a fraud!" Asami sang, voice pitching high. "With a crown made of gold and a heart full of rot!"
"His throne will crumble, his kingdom will fall!" Daren shouted, swaying as he stomped his boots in rhythm. "We'll dance on his grave and piss on his wall!"
A passing couple scowled at them, the woman clutching her child closer as she glared at Sora. Sora's lips tightened, his gaze fixed straight ahead. He was used to it by now; the stares, the whispers, the looks of disgust. They were nobodies. Trash. Just three rejects wandering through the kingdom, smelling of ale and regret.
After what felt like hours, they finally reached the outskirts of the city. The farm lay beyond a rickety wooden fence, the fields overgrown and half-dead. Chickens clucked aimlessly, and a skinny goat chewed on a fence post like it was its last meal.
A man stood at the edge of the field, arms crossed over his broad chest. He had a shock of dark hair and a face tanned by the sun. His gaze narrowed as he spotted the trio approaching.
"You the ones here for the job?" he asked, voice gruff.
"Depends," Sora said, letting go of Daren's arm and stepping forward. "Are you the guy paying for it?"
"Yeah," the man said, wiping his brow with a cloth. "Name's Borin. Been losing livestock and crops to orcs that've set up camp in the nearby caves. Those bastards have been coming out at night, stealing my chickens, trampling my fields..." His jaw clenched, eyes darkening. "I need them gone."
"And the payment?" Sora asked, already feeling his heart sink. Orcs were just as dangerous as any predator he could think of. And without proper skills, they could kill them without hesitation.
"A cart full of cabbages," Borin said proudly, jerking his thumb toward a wooden cart loaded with limp, green cabbages. "Enough to feed you lot for a month."
Daren snorted, a loud, derisive sound. "Cabbages? Are you serious? Who the hell wants cabbages?"
"We'll take the job!" Sora said quickly, before Daren could open his mouth again. "We'll handle it."
Borin nodded, crossing his arms again. "Good. The orcs usually come out after sundown. You can wait by the caves. Take care of them and the cabbages are yours."
Sora forced a grin, his cheeks burning. But deep down, he felt like a total jerk. Cabbages? Out of everything? The payment had to be bloody green cabbages? "Right. We'll take care of it."
But inside, his stomach twisted. Cabbages. Great. Just great.
'Guess we're going to be eating boiled cabbage for the next month,' he thought, glaring at the cart as he tried to ignore Daren's loud, obnoxious laughter behind him.