Nothing much to say other than I'm loving the reviews and suggestions. Also a heads up, if someone asks something or writes something wrong that I want to correct, it is beyond frustrating when they have PM turned off lol. Just putting that out there :)

VVVVVVVVVVVV = Change of Scene or time (If it's the latter, like a flashback, it will say)

XXXXXXXXXXXX = Start and/or end of the chapter

Talking: "Hey there old friend."

Thinking: "Is this guy serious right now?"

Summons: "As you wish."

Summons Thoughts: "Is he serious?"

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Comrade-a-Plenty

"Oh, sorry. I Didn't see you there." spoke Kolstein who had just bumped into an armored man. "No please, I wasn't paying much attention myself." came a gruff voice. The man was slightly shorter than Kolstein, standing at 6 foot even. He had steel-colored plate armor which covered his upper body, stopping at slightly past the shoulders. He had dark brown hair and equally dark eyes and beard that radiated his age, that being around 30 or so. He had a basic broadsword at his hip.

He also had some company. The other man was just barely taller standing at 6 foot 1. He had little to no armor on with the exception of some leather shin guards and thin bracers of the same material. He sported short, blue hair and brown eyes along with some perceptible stubble on his chin. He was unarmed yet still had the radiance of a strong warrior yet seemed to be lacking in confidence, signified by a tinge of anxiety hiding in his presence. He was in his mid to late 20's.

"Say, I've never seen you before." started the more confident and older of the two. "I pride myself in knowing most of the people in the adventurers guild. Are you new?" Kolstein and Urman were in fact new and understood that not everyone would know them and for now, that is exactly how they wanted it.

"Yes, in fact we are." answered Kolstein. He was in full gear with his Dragon Scale Armor and twin swords on his back. Urman was also kitted out. "We just became adventurers some weeks ago. As you can tell" he pointed to his evidence "We are both gold plated adventurers. Who are you exactly?"

"Oh, forgive me. My name is Gazef Stronoff, the royal head warrior of the Re-Estize Kingdom. The man behind me is Brain Unglaus, someone who rivaled my strength last we fought. Could you be so kind as to give me your names as well? I like to know new faces I may be working with…"

"Ahh, of course. My name is Kolstein Nash and this is Urman. We are the only 2 members of the gold plated adventurer team, Serene Tempest. I hope we can work well in the future." At this, they all shook hands, even the now named Brain. The two main speakers of either side went at it for a bit in asking each other various questions, such as 'what lead you to become and adventurer?' and 'what does being royal head warrior entail?'

After some 5 minutes or so, Urman's stomach growled, loud enough for even Brain to crack a smirk. "Come, Brain and I were about to come to my home for some food. You seem like respectable fellows, so why not join us? We can talk more about life. You do seem quite wise Sir Kolstein." "Please, no honorifics Mr. Stronoff. I have never been one for such formalities unless strictly necessary. And yes, I think I'll hold you to that dinner."

"In that case, no 'Mr' out of you either. Just Gazef. Now come, lets us move on. I'll lead us to my residence." The party was lead towards Gazef's small abode. Nothing fancy, just big enough to comfortably house 2, maybe 3 people although plenty of space for the small dinner.

Once inside, Kolstein and Urman removed their gear. Both placed their sets nearby on a table set aside by Gazef while he himself also kept on some casual clothes as a replacement to the plate armor. Gazef insisted on making the food himself but, at Kolstein's suggestion, Urman adamantly offered his assistance, of which Gazef finally agreed upon, leaving Kolstein and Brain alone in the other room.

"So, why the long face?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well, I don't mean to be tactless, but something seems to be bothering you Brain. Something bad happen… if you don't mind me asking…"

Brain kept silent and looked down for a second, only a flash of despair on his face before looking up again and looking straight into Kolstein's eyes.

"I am supposed to be strong…"

"Yes, I know. You almost tied with the kingdoms royal head warrior, of course your strong."

"I know. And I thought I was. Before I met her… it…" Kolstein looked on in slight confusion, only to be caught again by Brain's next words.

"I came across something. A monster, something of true power. I couldn't, I didn't, stand a snowball's chance in hell at besting her. I used my most powerful move and yet I didn't even scratch her fingernails. I was going faster than any human would ever even think possible, and yet…"

"So you lost and now you're bummed?" At the reply, Brain looked up with wide eyes. "I have fought a lot…. a LOT of enemies in my past and not always have I won. Sometimes I retreat, sometimes I use my friends for assistance, sometimes I am on my deathbed…"

Brain was listening but seemed to get irate. "No you fool! I am talking about TRUE POWER! We humans, we are nothing! I am considered the second strongest person in the kingdom technically speaking, and yet I failed to lay a finger on my opponent and watched my men get decimated! You cannot even fathom her power!" Brain was clearly distressed, not really thinking clearly. Kolstein knew this much which was why he continued calmly.

"Hmm, well, you are right. I cannot TRULY understand her power unless I meet her. That being said, you are most definitely wrong about more than a few things." Brain was still visibly upset about the current goings on but perked up at the man in front of him's last line.

"Before I start, can you tell me about this… thing? Characteristics, name, abilities, the works…"

"Oh, uhh, yea sure. Her name was Shalltear Bloodfallen and…"

"Stop."

The abrupt interruption confused Brain but he didn't have to wait too long for Kolstein to continue.

"I know of this girl." Brain's eyes widened in shock. "I met her a while ago. We duked it out along with some other people. Before I continue, you must swear secrecy. I assure you, I have not done anything negative towards the kingdom. This is just so that this is kept on the downlow." Kolstein leans in a bit, still hearing the vibration echoing from Urman and Gazef speaking to each other in the other room. "Do not even tell Gazef. I do not want any normal people to take after this Shalltear and openly attack, leading to their own deaths." Brain didn't need to think about it much as he agreed wholeheartedly. At his nod, Kolstein continued.

"Simply put, she is strong… very strong. However, you are wrong in that she is unreachable. In fact, I believe that you would even be able to wound her to some extent one day. Power in and of itself is relative; different aspects create what we come to understand as power and strength is reflected through action. Your strength is not put into question rather its your ability to be able to move past your current limitations beset upon you as a human being."

"What are you saying? That I'll be weak because I am a human? That's what I've been getting at as well…"

"No, not necessarily. Let me put it to you this way. Regardless of who you are, the biggest definition to strength is inherent experience. The strongest people are weak without it and the weakest are strong through it. You are not that old. Even as a warrior, most of your life has been that of a person who has been eating, drinking, sleeping away your days until your untimely demise. That is a necessity of course, these periods of relaxation, but at the rate of which those periods exist, you would need someone of pre-existing strength and experience to guide you down the right path."

"Abilities, physique, items, stratagem, preparations, even comradery is what dictates a being power. So tell me this, how many of those have you mastered? You have more than likely worked hard, but, can you truly say that you have mastered all of your abilities or that you have learned the maximum sum of abilities possible? Can you say for certain that there are no longer any items that you can bare, ones that are insurmountable and cannot be mirrored? Can you honestly say with absolute certainty that your comrades, whomever they may be, have reached their each respective peak?"

"Well, there is a simple answer after all. You have not mastered all of these, nor are you close. This Shalltear has not reached that epitome of strength either. What you need is not too necessarily accept what I am saying, but understand it. If you do not accept it, well, good luck changing it although I would recommend rolling with it. As a human, and I might be biased, I can say with clarity that I have not ever seen a race achieve so much in so little time. Never have I thought that humanity would fall before some nefarious deity."

Brain's eyes were even wider than before, mouth slightly agape as he was absorbing this information from the seemingly-younger man before him. Never had he heard someone praise the race quite like this, nor can he comprehend how Kolstein speaks these words even after meeting with the vampire. He listens in even more closely when it is apparent that Kolstein is about to say his final words of this tangent.

"It is because we have the gall to say to our enemies that there is a price we will not pay, there is a point of which they shall not advance. A great man from long ago once said that 'a war isn't necessarily won by the materialistic measure but rather by the morals and will of our people.' I believe that it is this mindset that allows us to move forward, looking to the horizon with a glint of our adventurous side lighting its path through our body, radiating a kind of excitement for what's to come. As a true adventurer myself, I like to believe that we do not fight because it is easy but because it is difficult."

"Brain." At the mention of his name, Brain was listening wholeheartedly at his next words. "It is our right, our need, to help the people. You and I both have discovered this existence of an above average being. I say, what's the point of just sulking about it and not just grow in strength so that one day we can surpass this hurdle?"

"Are you saying that you can help me? Help me reach the height of this monster? And you are only a gold plate, no offense. How can I expect you to do something like train me?" It was a reasonable question, but one that made Kolstein laugh all the same. It was a gentle laugh, one that found genuine humor in Brain's sayings, a laugh that did not irk Brain in the slightest.

"Aye, you would be right in that line of thinking. However, I am not what I seem to be, although I do not typically like to boast. We climbed the ranks to gold plate in just under a month. The only people capable of doing that are ones who have relative power before becoming adventurers. Besides, if you feel no difference in even just a week or 2, you have every right to leave the group."

"Wait, so your saying that…" "I'm saying that I, Kolstein Nash, want you, Brain Unglaus, to join the gold plated adventurer team Serene Tempest. With us, you will make money, gain notoriety, increase in strength, achieve increases in equipment quality and finally, find new comrades that will guard your back no matter the situation. So, Mr. Unglaus. Do you accept?"

Brain was equally shocked compared to before, however, he understood Kolstein character and his meaning as a warrior the second he opened his mouth. Kolstein was more than just your average adventurer. Even if Brain couldn't directly attest to Kolstein's strength as of yet, what he says makes sense, and his attitude is unlike anything he's ever seen. This opportunity could more than likely produce increases in strength for Brain, accompanied by a rekindling of his past warrior's spirit. Also, he would make some much needed friends.

For Brain, the answer was indeed a simple one, as Kolstein had said.

"Of course I will kid. Consider me part of the team. I'll enjoy working with you from now on."

As he goes for a handshake, Kolstein reaches to accept but stays his hand for but a second to retort a "That's captain to you from now on. Creator of the team and your new instructor. I believe I deserve that much…" Brain groaned ever so slightly, but not out of annoyance as one would expect but rather one of feigned hostility, only to be quickly betrayed by a slight upward curve to his lips.

"Deal"

Their hands met in a firm shake of 2 men who had sealed a big chunk of their lives together as comrades.

"Sorry for the wait you 2. Urman and I just finished up with the… hey, what happened? What are you so happy about Brain?"

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Big oof, this one took a little while longer than usual. This will happen periodically because, 1, I have mentioned before of my exams, and 2, some points in the story are essential just boring for me to write really. This is kind of one of those.

Ultimately, this means that the group has of course been expanded. How strong will Brain be, well, he'll never really be on the level to beat Shalltear that's for sure. I mean, come on, he just a human so no surprises there. However, I really like him as a character, personality, fighting style, abilities, even appearance wise.

I hope that no one is really too against this expansion of the party as well as protagonist list. Also, I hope that I'm not the only one whos a small fan of Brain.

Bye for now