[center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fallout-new-vegas-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/230112/f7d774d3ec20946c1b1c06b083a1b2cd.png[/img][/url][/center]

Adam and Zell passed eachother in the entrance hall, the Druid coming in as the Fighter was going out.  Upon seeing the younger man, Zell smiled.  Not his usual one-sided grin.  Not a cocky smirk.  Simply a tired and warm smile for his friend.  They didn't stop to talk - talking one on one wasn't something Adam and Zell did often - but as their paths crossed, Zell reached across the man to give him a pat on the opposite-side shoulder.  And then one went further inside, while the other went outside.

Upon hitting that crisp night air, Zell took a big whiff, letting out a "Whew!" to exhale, forcing some energy.  As tired as he was, he was not ready to sleep just yet.  Not that he was scared of sleeping.  Never that.  Of course not.  Zell wasn't scared of anything.  Ha! Zell?  Scared?  Don't be ridiculous.

He took a slow strolling pace, looking at the stars as he made his way to the edge of the plateau, where the steps down Temple Hill began.  There, he stopped, got off the path a little and posted up against a stone column, arms folded, looking out onto the view of Northern Central Mytheria's silouette.

"Fucking hell," Zell said aloud, feeling the ache of his wounds through James' bandages and 'first aid stuff.'  "If that's a Gold Tier contract, I dread to think what lurks in this world."

True as that might be, what was important is that they had indeed completed a Gold Contract, which meant that Second Chance's party classification would make one big leap from 'Brand new Bronze Tier Registrar' straight to 'Silver Tier with access to the Source Comm' in just a single, relatively quick mission.  And that meant answers.  Zell was sure of it.  It was one thing that he, Fenna and MacKensie were instinctively certain of.

[i][b]~~~~"There's a message in your Source Comm.  But you've only just registered so how...?"  Even the Adventurer's Guildmaster was confused.~~~~[/b][/i]

[i]Not surprising really,[/i] Zell thought. [i]Fucking ANYTHING related to people from another planet is bound to confuse the shit out of anyone.[/i]

Still, that message.  A message left for them.  By a sender who surely had answers as to why they were here.

Zell sighed loudly, continuing to stare sightlessly into the dark.  He would have to sleep soon.  But not just yet.