Chapter Four: Alliance
Michael made his way to the forest which hid the Guild under the cover of night, sneaking out of his home which he knew he'd have to suffer serious repercussions for later. None of that mattered to him, he only cared about getting to Westcliff and finding the Mayor so he could make him pay for his crimes. Everything else was secondary.
Michael held up his Guild Seal and channeled his will into it. The seal began to shine brightly and he began looking around for his signal to move. Off in the distance another similar light shined and Michael doused his Seal, crawling through the brush in order to make his way to the light. He emerged into a clearing where Willow was waiting for him with her seal, which she quickly stopped shining as well. Michael smiled when he saw her, looking around to make sure no one had followed them.
"I'm glad you came, are you ready to go?" He asked her in a quiet tone.
"Yes, we are." She said with a cryptic smile. Michael tilted his head, wondering if she had misspoke.
"We? Who is we?" He probed.
"That would be us, Bloody." Through the bushes emerged two familiar figures which made Michael's stomach turn. Shunt and Speer, "Willow asked us to come, she knew you'd die on this stupid quest so she asked me to protect her once you screw up." Speer said with a sarcastic tone.
Willow shot him a deadly glare more familiar of the 'old Willow' which stopped Speer from mocking Michael further, but that didn't stop Michael from drawing his sword on Speer.
"Listen to me you sadistic egomaniacal piece of dog waste, I don't need you here. I don't need you mocking me the entire trip, I don't need you going overboard and slaughtering some civilian you think is a highwayman. So you have two choices: shut the hell up, or get the hell out of here because I will not have you jeopardizing this mission for me!" Landry shouted louder than he should have given the situation, and Speer held his hands up still with that cocky sneer on his face.
"Easy Bloody, easy. I want this guy dead as much as you do!" Speer began, "Honest! Mayor Wilson has been screwing people in his arena for decades now, but he's never let Heroes compete. I say we show up dressed as normal adventurers, enroll in the Arena Challenge as a group, then when we catch him trying to screw us like he's been doing to everyone else, we kill him! You get your dead Mayor, we get prize money, and Westcliff is free from the biggest tyrant since Lucian. How does that sound Bloody?"
Willow stepped between Speer and Michael, lowing Michael's sword slowly.
"As much as I don't like it Michael, Speer has a point. His plan can work, and with four of us we have a much better chance at survival should things get hairy in there. We have no idea what's waiting in the Arena, let alone what kinds of traps Mayor Wilson might have set for someone posed to win. This is the best shot we have, so please, try and get along just this once?" Willow pleaded with Michael. It took him a good long while but eventually he sheathed his sword and turned away from Speer.
"Fine. If Speer wants to help then he can help. But this doesn't change anything between us." Michael said sternly. He marched through the bush towards the trail that would lead them to their destination. "Come on, the trip is long and I don't want to waste any more time than we have to."
Speer Shunt and Willow stared on, wondering what had gotten into Michael with this new attitude. All three followed behind, and Shunt whispered to Willow, "He's starting to remind me of the old you." Willow sighed and bit her lip uncomfortably.
"Yeah…I know. Let's hope we can find the old Michael somewhere on this Quest."