I repeatedly straightened out the folds of my skirt, looking at the soft material in the numb silence of the room, left behind by the storming away brunette. I gulped dryly, glancing guiltily towards the bed, its sheets and blankets left behind in their current chaotic state.

I lowered my gaze, staring at the stone floor, in the meantime, fidgeting my fingers nervously. Then, being unable to contain my emotions, which seemed to be a growing tendency recently, I groaned. My fingers unconsciously grabbed my hair at both sides of my head, tugging into it until my scalp prickled with the grounding pain.

There were no words that could excuse my behavior today.

That girl could be my granddaughter for all I care!

I started to move up and down in the room. My head pulsed with a variety of emotions.

I stopped... ─ "Oh my God... what was I even thinking!" ─ Sitting down on the side of the bed, suddenly feeling completely drained. Then I jumped up and restarted my nervous walk across the room. ─ "No... calm down, yes I need to calm down... It was not my fault, right? She practically jumped on me!" ─ A fraction of a memory flashed in front of my mental eyes, the sound of my own moaning voice pleading Alita, "Don't stop!".

My face paled, then my cheeks flushed beet-red, all in a matter of seconds.

I started to scratch my head. ─ "Why, why, whyyy?~ It's like, as if everybody just wants to fuck me!" ─ I groaned again, this time around it sounded more pitiful, somehow.

I let my arms drop down before I accidentally ripped my hair out from all the stress that coursed through me.

... I chuckled to myself. ─ "She actually told me that I'd better wait for it... to get fucked, she is crazy..." ─ I licked my lips, shaking my head, completely baffled, and actually a bit amused with her antics. ─ "Who the hell does even say something like that?" ─ Apparently, Alita does.

For the last time, I straightened out my beige tunic and patted down my black skirt, adorned with the by now familiar silver engravings that formed the Dimhollow crest.

"I should go." ─ I mumbled to myself, stepping towards the door, on the way picking up my hairband from the top of the table right next to the wardrobe.

I walked through the door, turning towards the main hall. On the way, I tied up my hair into a simple braid.

When I stepped into the main chamber, I took a long look around the place. There were even more people running around in the guild in the morning hours. The difference compared to the slow drinking and overall relaxed attitude of yesterday's late afternoon was quite obvious.

After some effort, I noticed Alita sitting alone at one of the tables. Noting the heavy frown on her face, I decided to slowly amble towards the woman. I couldn't miss her constantly moving leg, which was as clear a sign showcasing her frustration as anyone could get.

When I was only a few meters from her position, her brown eyes finally focused on me as she grew aware of my presence.

Her leg stopped moving, just as her frequent tapping on the table, her fingers freezing in the air. ─ "What took you so long?" ─ She huffed.

I hesitantly stepped closer. ─ "I..."

"No matter." ─ She waved off my concern while pushing a chair out, invitingly. ─ "Take a seat." ─ She requested firmly.

I glanced at her, then nodded and stepped closer.

A minute passed after that, then another. Silence reigned between the two of us, while the constant noise and occasional laughter filled every part of the guild.

After an uncomfortable amount of time passed in this tense silence, Alita placed a paper on the table and slowly pushed it towards me. ─ "What do you say?"

I glanced at the paper, happy for the simple distraction as I started reading the text.

Attention to able-bodied men and women of the Northern Kingdom. The guild had been notified that there had been various sightings of unusual happenings, strange tremors in the earth, and distant shapes of creatures prowling the deep roads around the capital. We request various teams to search the area, ascertain the nature of the threat, and, if possible, eliminate it. We are waiting for the application of brave adventurers who are especially familiar with the area to search it efficiently and eliminate the potential threat before it can evolve into something more sinister. The reward is paid by the amount of explored area and the presentation of acquired trophies.

I read the paper, then leaned back into my chair, unsure what to make of this most recent turn of events.

I let the paper lie on the table, then glanced up at Alita. ─ "Is this some sort of quest for adventurers?"

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Alita nodded. ─ "I am familiar with some of the adventurers here. Many groups would welcome a mage like you, even for the length of a single quest. You could likely pick any of them, and they wouldn't turn you down, elfy.

I narrowed my eyes at the brunette, hearing her call me that. I shook my head lightly. ─ "Perhaps, but I am no adventurer."

Alita blinked, snorting sarcastically. ─ "Evidently not."

This time, I blinked, annoyed with the way she phrased it. ─ "Whatever you mean by... that?"

She smiled innocently. ─ "I didn't mean anything by it."

I huffed. ─ "Look... could you... Stop doing that? This is getting weird again..." ─ I said while combing some of my more stubborn hair out of my eyes.

"Weird? Hah... that's a word for it, I guess." ─ She sighed, shaking her head. ─ "It doesn't matter if you are an adventurer or not. There is no such title as being one to begin with. Anyone can walk in here and take a quest; of course, it would be a lot preferable to know how to wield a weapon and have some armor beforehand, but nobody is going to test if you actually know how to use them or not."

I was surprised by that. ─ "Isn't there a general standard, or various ranks among adventurers?" ─ I asked, overlooking the previous topic in favor of a more comfortable one.

"Ranks?" ─ Alita asked, momentarily confused. ─ "No, people measure their own abilities; there is no need for a third party's involvement. Those who fail to judge themselves rightly pay their due in blood. It was how adventurers operated from old times. They are people who struggle to fit in with regular jobs, or people with strange, unusual skills and abilities. It would be impossible to fit such people into unified groups based on skills. Not even speaking about that they are very proud people, who usually can't handle being told what to do beyond general descriptions. The very idea of doing so feels like a complete headache, even worse than the one I am currently suffering," ─ Alita said while flinching likely from the presently mentioned headache.

"I see... I guess there is some truth to that." ─ I admitted. Then glanced back at Alita. ─ "So... what do you want with it?"

She smiled, pointed at me, then back to herself. ─ "I don't want anything to do with it... We, on the other hand, are going to take it."

I blinked several times. ─ "Oh?" ─ I smiled, straining to keep the facade as I looked at the serious-looking girl. ─ "Since when did I decide to be included in such an event?"

Alita smiled sweetly at that. ─ "You didn't specifically agree to it, yet..." ─ She leaned across the table, staring deeply into my eyes, making me start fidgeting in my seat.

She shrugged her shoulders dismissively. ─ "Do you intend to wield your magic against rocks and straw dummies forever? It won't help in actual combat, you know."

I was surprised by her sudden angle. ─ "Uh, I... no, of course I don't, I only wanted to practice my incantation..." ─ I stammered defensively.

"Yeah, I guessed as much, but I am fed up with it." ─ She said, a flicker of annoyance leaking into her voice. ─ "You keep ignoring me like that, and we will have a problem. Understand?" ─ She demanded suddenly.

I sputtered. ─ "I wasn't ignoring you... I just... lost myself in it..."

"For a month, yeah..." ─ She added sarcastically. ─ "You also turned down all of my requests to meet you. What is your excuse for that, elfy?"

She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at me confrontationally.

I looked aside, suddenly feeling a spike of guilt. ─ "I... I didn't feel like going to a tea party..." ─ I mumbled.

Alita snapped at that. ─ "It wasn't just supposed to be a tea party... are you that ignorant? I wanted to introduce you to some of my friends. What is your issue with having tea while at it, anyway? Besides, since I couldn't meet you personally, you left me with no other way to contact you, aside from the official channel. Guess what? We are nobles, and even in Dwarven society, there are certain expectations to be met. I can't just ask you to hang out in an official invitation." ─ Alita paused, breathing heavily after her outburst.

I pulled myself together, listening to her reasoning. Of course, I knew that much, I wasn't that dull... It's just, I didn't want to talk about the battle... and... damn, I guess I was ignoring her.

Realizing such, I felt a wave of guilt pass over me. I lowered my head a bit and said in a subdued voice. ─ "Sorry... I guess I was actually ignoring you... after all."

Alita stopped her follow-up, took in my words, then huffed. ─ "Right you were."

"Sorry..." ─ I said again, my stomach buzzing from the constant shifts of emotions I was enduring since I woke this morning.

A short pause followed after that. The silence couldn't stretch far this time, though, as Alita asked with a sudden intensity.

"So, you are fine with it? I take it?"

I blinked rapidly. ─ "Fine? Fine with what exactly?" ─ I made a habit of always specifying such vague questions; accidentally being adopted by a Dwarven Noble House would make that to a person, I suppose.

Alita looked at me with a curious expression, a ghost of a smile passing her features, before she straightened it out. ─ "With the mission, of course?" ─ She paused for a second, needling me with a knowing smirk. ─ "Were you perhaps expecting a different question?"

I looked aside the moment I felt my face starting to get hot. I really need to learn how to control the reactions of my new body, and do it fast. ─ "I will have to talk it out with Emrum..."

My dwarven companion nodded to that, acknowledging my statement, then smiled on, before asking once again in a haughty tone. ─ "Now that we are on the same page again. Tell me, how do you intend to apologize after ignoring me for a month?"

I noticed a familiar silhouette among a few others entering the guild hall about twenty meters behind Alita, and smiled cunningly. ─ "Oh, I will tell you right after you explain to a certain someone why I couldn't get home yesterday, or at least notify them about my absence."

Alita's eyes widened almost comically as she turned around and stared in the direction of the incoming dwarven entourage. Led by Emrum on the front.

"I am very curious about his opinion on you getting wasted from drinking too much alcohol..." ─ I added, channeling my own set of grievances.

Alita paled a few shades, but otherwise remained still. Clearly resigned to her fate by now.

The stubborn dwarf she was...

Still, I was starting to get excited about this exploration mission; it was only the near vicinity of the deep roads around the capital, but it was still dangerous. There wasn't any section of the deep roads that wasn't dangerous in one way or another. Especially not a month after we got invaded by dark elves.

The only real question was whether Emrum would agree to let me participate or not.

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