Evolution begins with an ant colony

John's voice was a reassuring presence as he spoke to Mina, his words aimed at alleviating her hurt feelings. "Don't let him get to you," he said, his right hand gently resting on her left shoulder, offering both physical and emotional support. His touch conveyed his solidarity with her.

Mina, still harboring the sting of Evan's coldness, nodded with a soft sigh, her vibrant and ever-changing eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. She whispered in response, her voice carrying a hint of resignation, "Okay... Let's go." With a determined resolve, she turned around, her colorful hair swaying with the movement, and led the way.

The trio began to walk together toward the quest board, moving forward despite the lingering unease in thethe.

In front of the quest board, Chris couldn't help but express his irritation with Evan. His frustration was evident in his body language as he folded his arms tightly across his chest, a clear sign of his displeasure. His voice carried a tinge of annoyance as he spoke, "Stupid Evan, he's starting to get cocky.

If I find him anywhere outside the walls of thei royal capital, I'll teach him a lesson." His words were filled with determination, and his brows furrowed with irritation.

John, on the other hand, remained composed in contrast to Chris's agitation. He sensed the need to redirect Chris's energy and offered a more level-headed perspective. His voice was calm and collected as he addressed his friend, "Enough of that now.

You should put that energy into joining me to look for a quest on the quest board." John's gesture was a subtle but inviting one, urging Chris to focus on the task at hand rather than dwelling on their encounter with Evan.

Chris's attention was drawn to a peculiar quest pinned to the board. Intrigued, he swiftly ripped it off, a gesture filled with determination. He presented the quest to Mina and John, his excitement evident as he spoke, "What about this one?" The quest involved slaying a group of goblins.

However, John was quick to express his reservations. He shook his head and turned down the idea, concern etched on his face. "That won't do," he said, his tone cautious. "Taking on monsters as our first quest might be a bit too dangerous."

Chris couldn't hide his frustration. His eyebrows furrowed, and he retorted, "Did you hit your head or something? What were all those months of sword training for?" His annoyance was palpable, and he expected John to share his enthusiasm.
Explore more stories with empire

John, however, remained calm and rational in his response. He explained his reservations without getting defensive, maintaining a composed demeanor. "I am not denying that going on a quest like that would be nice to test out our abilities," John began, his voice even. "But you are forgetting that the training we received involved sword swings and spars with other trainees.

Basically, we have no real combat experience. Fighting monsters is different; it's a life-or-death situation. Plus, we're unfamiliar with the terrain where we'll be facing these monsters. Taking on a quest like this as our first is far too risky." He concluded with a piece of advice, "Please put more thought into your decisions next time.

Don't just say whatever comes to your mind; it makes you look foolish." John's gesture of reason reflected his thoughtful nature.

While the discussion about the quest raged on, Mina remained in a daze, her gaze still fixed on Evan. Her sad expression was unmistakable, and her right hand gently rose to rest above her chest, as if trying to soothe the ache within.

John's comment, calling Chris foolish, didn't sit well with him. A flash of anger coursed through Chris, evident in his body language. He clenched his fist around the quest paper, his knuckles turning white. He didn't hold back, challenging John openly. "Who are you calling foolish?

Come on, John, let's fight, right here and now." Chris's confrontational stance and his release of the quest paper showed he was ready for a confrontation.

However, John maintained his composure and refused to be drawn into a brawl. His response was measured, his voice calm and collected. "As much as I'd love to enlighten you right now, this is not the place or time for that," he reasoned. "As I said earlier, put in all that energy into looking for a quest for us, since you seem to be beaming with energy."

Chris muttered something under his breath, still frustrated but recognizing the validity of John's point.

Resuming his focus on the quest board, John decisively ripped off a quest and held it up for Chris to inspect. Chris leaned in closer, peering at the quest with a skeptical expression. He taunted John, questioning his choice. "Let's see what quest you chose, Mr. Genius," Chris remarked.

As Chris examined the quest details, he couldn't help but express his disappointment. "Delivering some herbs? That's lame!" he exclaimed, his body language indicating his discontent.

John, on the other hand, calmly elaborated on the quest. He explained that it involved delivering Gunshin flowers to an alchemist in a nearby town. He read aloud from the quest paper, "They can't afford to pay for a carriage to bring it over since they only need the flowers." John's focus shifted to Mina, who was still lost in her thoughts.

He called out to her, his tone gentle but insistent, "Hey, Mina, snap out of it." His gesture was subtle, a small wave of his hand to get her attention.

Mina finally seemed to snap out of her daze as she apologized, her voice tinged with regret. "Oh, I'm sorry, guess you lost me. What did you say?"

John couldn't help but sigh in response, his disappointment evident in his body language. He shook his head slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes, as he muttered, "I can already sense failure before the quest even began." His words hung in the air, a gloomy forecast that cast a shadow over their upcoming adventure.