Chapter 6: Perspective

Okay, let’s see if I’ve got this down pat. Lucian summoned his [Menu], the familiar blue panel flashing into existence before him. First, let’s go to Stats, then we go to Party Status, and there should be the Add Party Members option… Ah! Here we go.

His finger hovered over the option, and then he hesitated. Crap. What’s his name again? Lucian’s gaze flicked up to the man in the red-knit hood sitting across from him. Blank. Nothing. No clue. Instead of asking outright, he grabbed the mug beside him, downed its contents in one go, and slammed it back down onto the table.

Wait, his name should already be displayed somewhere, right? That’s what had happened when he’d added Raven to his party just a few days ago. Certain he was missing a step, he tapped the [Add Party Members] option again. To his relief, a list of available adventurers popped up. That relief was short-lived. Because the list just kept going. And going. And going...

[Add Party Members]

> Jonathan Hawkwalker [Add]

> Elise Strongflare [Add]

> Hugh Trevatt [Add]

> Veronica Crochiade [Add]

> Gabriel Pellechanteau [Add]

> Alex Lionswillow [Add]

> Edward Heins Lourag [Add]

> Marvin James Getingone [Add]

> Genevieve Vernillard [Add]

> Michael Clements Racket [Add]

Lucian squinted. Damn these Free Agents. They wouldn’t be such a nuisance if they actually wanted to party up with me.

He’d run into an unexpected problem after returning to the guild. Networking had been easy—he’d talked to other adventurers, built a rapport, even managed to harmonize with some of them. Yet, no matter how well those conversations went, the answer was always the same. A polite, but firm, “No”.

Guess I’ll really have to ask him directly. Lucian sighed, shutting his [Menu] before finally looking across the table at the man. He opened his mouth, then—

“Hey, bestie!” A familiar voice cut in, and before Lucian could react, Raven dropped into the seat beside him. Lucian groaned inwardly. Of course she shows up now.

Raven’s gaze flicked between Lucian and the man sitting across from them. Her eyebrows shot up. “And who’s this guy?” she asked.

Eagerly, the man stood up, extending a hand toward Raven. “Trevatt. Hugh Trevatt. Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Raven.”

Lucian exhaled in relief. Raven, you absolute lifesaver. He quickly cleared his throat, straightening in his seat. “Mr. Trevatt here is interested in joining our party,” he said smoothly. Then, without missing a beat—“Would you like me to top off your drink, Hugh?”

“No thank you, Mr. Nyx.” Hugh placed a hand over his mug momentarily. “I haven’t even touched my drink. I was just so excited about finally being part of a…” He hesitated, as if savoring the words. “Well, a party.”

Something about the way Hugh said ‘party’ gave Lucian pause. It wasn’t just excitement—it was hope. The kind you felt when life handed you a second chance and you weren’t sure if you deserved it. Lucian recognized that look. He’d worn it himself not long ago. Maybe, just maybe, this party thing could work out.

“I’ll take you up on that offer, though.” Lucian felt a sharp nudge from Raven as she raised a finger, calling for the bartender’s attention. The woman behind the bar barely acknowledged her—just a slight raised eyebrow. Then Raven pointed down at Lucian. Without hesitation, the bartender grabbed a mug and started filling it.

A moment later, a server dressed in a simple white shirt and apron walked over, placing the freshly poured ale in front of Lucian. He barely noticed the drink—his attention locked on her hands. Strange markings covered them, shifting in a subtle neon glow as she moved. Not tattoos, that much was obvious. Something else. Something alive.

Lucian opened his mouth. “Uh, wait. I don’t think—” Raven cut in immediately. “That there’s anything wrong with the drink? Of course not, silly!” She laughed—loud, forced, and way too long—until the server, now thoroughly confused, turned and walked away.

The moment she was out of earshot, Raven snatched the mug and took a long swig. Lucian sighed deeply. She turned to Hugh, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “So, why us?” she asked, peering over the rim of her mug. “Are all the good parties taken?”

She didn’t get an answer, because Lucian had grabbed her by the arm. Beer spilled over the table as he yanked her down behind his open menu screen. Hugh blinked at the scene unfolding before him. “Excuse me and my friend for just one moment,” Lucian said smoothly, before lowering his voice to an intense whisper.

“What are you doing? Are you actively trying to drive away the only person who’s shown an interest in joining our party in three days?!”

“I was curious,” Raven said with a shrug. Then, she smirked. “Besides, in case you haven’t noticed, people have actively been avoiding us. There’s a reason for that.”

Lucian narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.” He leaned in closer. “What do you know about it?”

“Nothing,” Raven said immediately. Lucian’s eyes narrowed further.

“What do you know?” she asked, a little too quickly, a little too suspiciously. Lucian didn’t have time to unpack whatever that was. He needed to seal the deal with Hugh—ASAP.

With a sigh, he locked eyes with Raven. “Look at him and tell me,” he whispered. “What do you see?”

Raven peeked beyond the [Menu], eyeing Hugh carefully. A dark-skinned man with slight stubble, his hood pulled low, masking most of his features—except for his strikingly blue eyes. A gold earring dangled from his right ear. But what really caught her eye? The tools laid out on the table in front of him. A small hammer, a piece of chalk, a roll of parchment alongside a roll of leather. And rested on top of a leather-bound book, an odd-looking monocle.

Raven studied him a moment longer. Hugh glanced up, smiled, and waved at her. Raven immediately ducked back down behind Lucian’s menu. Then, she grinned. “Ahhh, I see what you mean.” Lucian nodded, satisfied. “He’s like a submissive version of you.”

“Yes,” he said absently, still nodding. Then his brain caught up. “Wait—no. That’s not what I meant.”

“I gotta admit it, dude,” Raven ignored Lucian’s protests entirely, grinning as she leaned back in her seat. “I didn’t know you swung that way.”

Lucian’s eye twitched. “I don’t—”

“I guess that’s why my charms don’t work on you,” she mused dramatically.

“No, no. That’s not what I meant.”

Raven leaned in closer, her smirk widening. “Also, I gotta say,” she whispered conspiratorially, “our tastes in men are kinda starting to match, don’t you think?”

Lucian dragged his hands down his face in pure suffering. “Okay, you’re ignoring me on purpose.” He gestured to Hugh. “He’s an Enchanter! Someone who can imbue weapons and equipment with magic! A valuable asset to any team!”

Raven bonked him on the head with her empty mug. “Uh, hello? Did you forget? I’m a Spellsword. I can already imbue magic into weapons.”

Lucian rubbed his head, glaring. “When did you even finish that drink?” Raven shrugged, unbothered. Lucian exhaled sharply. “Yes, your own weapons. But he can help me improve my gear before we go out on quests.”

Raven smirked. “Oh, he can improve you, alright.”

Lucian visibly choked on his own breath. A polite cough interrupted them. “Um,” Hugh cleared his throat, watching their antics with mild amusement. “I would just like to clarify something.” Lucian and Raven both looked at him expectantly. “I am not into either of you… not like that.”

Raven nudged Lucian with her elbow. “Tough luck, pal.”

“Shut up.”

“Secondly,” Hugh continued smoothly, “I do not mind the rumors I’ve heard about Ms. Raven being a money-grubbing con-woman with the longest bar tab in the guild.”

Lucian slowly turned to stare at Raven. Raven? She pursed her lips, staring straight at Hugh, refusing to meet Lucian’s gaze. Lucian opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Raven pressed a finger over his nose and chin. “Shush,” she hissed. “Can’t you see our guest is speaking?”

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Hugh smiled knowingly, then turned back to Lucian. “The reason I want to join this party is because of you, Mr. Nyx.”

Raven tilted her head. “Hey, why is he ‘Mr. Nyx’ but I’m just ‘Ms. Raven’? I have a last name too, you know. It’s—”

“Me?” Lucian interrupted. “What did I do?”

Hugh’s smile widened. “Well, you inspired me, sir.”

Raven snorted so hard she nearly choked. “This guy?!” she scoffed. “He couldn’t even inspire himself, let anyone else...”

Lucian’s eye twitched. “You’re still here?” His tone was heavy with irritation. Hugh chuckled at the duo’s continued bickering, shaking his head. This was going to be an interesting party.

“I must admit, Mr. Nyx,” Hugh said, his tone calm but earnest. “The way you can overlook someone’s past and still have this kind of rapport with them. It’s one of the biggest reasons I approached you today.”

Lucian and Raven both turned to stare at him. Then, as if sharing a silent agreement, they glanced at each other. Finally, Lucian sighed. “Again, why are you still here?” Before Raven could react, he gritted his teeth and forced out: “Go get your drink refilled… b-b-bestie.” The second the word left his lips, he regretted it. He hadn’t cringed that hard since—

Actually, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever cringed that hard. Raven squeaked in glee, nearly vibrating with excitement as she dashed toward the bar. Lucian took a moment to collect himself, then turned back to Hugh. “Okay. So what exactly did you mean when you said I inspired you?”

Hugh nodded, folding his hands on the table. “You probably weren’t aware of this at all, sir,” Lucian stiffened slightly. No one’s called me ‘sir’ in a long time, especially not since I got here. “But we were in the same platoon back in the military.”

Lucian froze. Then—

Memories flooded back like a dam bursting. “No way.” He stared at Hugh in disbelief. It hadn’t even crossed his mind that someone from his old life might end up here too. “Were you also…?” Lucian trailed off.

“Yes, sir.” Hugh nodded firmly. “An Engineer, just like you. That’s how I got to see your work up close.” Hugh’s eyes gleamed with sincerity. “That’s how I was inspired by you and what you did.”

Lucian blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in Hugh’s voice. It was strange hearing that someone had looked up to him—especially in that part of his life. Back then, he’d been more grease-stained loner than legend. But here Hugh was, saying it like it had meant something. Maybe it had.

The coincidence of finding a fellow military engineer here of all places was staggering, let alone one that recognized him. How did I not recognize him back? Lucian thought, before remembering how aloof he could be—especially back then. Plus, it was a big, trouble-filled platoon, with plenty of revolving faces—including, eventually, Lucian's own.

The truth was, Lucian had kept most people at arm’s length. Friends came and went in the military, and names blurred after too many late shifts and blackouts. Hugh must’ve been one of the few who noticed the little things—like how he modified every tool he could get his hands on, always trying to improve them. That had been his escape. His purpose.

“Lucian was in the military?” Raven’s voice cut through the moment as she returned, a mug in each hand. She plopped down into her seat, staring at Lucian like he’d just grown a second head. “For real?”

Lucian barely had time to process her question before he noticed something else. “Why do you have two mugs?”

Raven grinned, completely unfazed. “Well, this one’s for you.” She slid the pint across the table. Then, still smiling—“Oh, and the bartender wouldn’t give me another one unless I told her it was on you.” Lucian’s eye twitched again. “By the way,” Raven added casually, taking a sip, “you have a tab open now.”

Lucian opened his mouth to complain, then promptly shut it. Nothing I say will bother her. That woman has zero guilt when it comes to spending Gold. Instead, he took a long sip from his drink. Raven turned back to Hugh. “So,” she said, wiping the foam from her lips. “Is it true? This guy was in the military?”

“That’s correct,” Hugh nodded. “He was an amazing Engineer—the best in our division. The stuff of legends… and rumors.” Lucian raised a brow but didn’t argue. Hugh continued. “It’s no surprise he chose the Blacksmith class—he was always in tune with the tools at our disposal.”

Raven leaned forward. “Was?” she echoed. “What happened?”

The question hung in the air. Hugh turned to Lucian, watching as he stared down into his mug. A beat passed.

“Perhaps,” Hugh said carefully, “that’s a story for another time.”

Lucian exhaled sharply. “No, no. It’s alright.” He took another drink, then set his mug down. “There was an accident.” He frowned. “Well, not exactly an accident.” Raven’s eyes stayed fixed on Lucian, while Hugh’s gaze dropped to the table. Lucian swirled the contents of his mug, watching the liquid move as he continued. “You see, we were Engineers,” he explained. “We had our hands on some pretty strong stuff—chemicals, machinery, devices meant to help us work faster, easier.” He ran a finger around the rim of his mug. “Officially, all of it was for vehicle maintenance.” His voice lowered slightly. “But in the right hands…?” His fingers tightened slightly around the handle. “It could do a lot more than just fix a damn truck.”

Lucian exhaled again. “There was one device in particular that caught my interest. We used it to quickly load fuel cells into different machinery. But I had a feeling that, with a few adjustments, I could make it better.” He let out a short, humorless chuckle. “Of course, we weren’t allowed to use it outside of work hours. So, I snuck it into my room during downtime.”

Hugh finally spoke, his voice quiet. “I remember when it happened.” Lucian glanced up, and Hugh continued. “There was a ruckus in the barracks, and I saw someone getting hauled into an ambulance. Didn’t know it was you until I heard through the grapevine later.”

Raven leaned forward, gripping her mug tightly. “What?!” she exclaimed. Her eyes flicked between them, desperate for answers. “Don’t leave me in suspense, guys!”

Lucian let out a dry laugh. “The not-so-much-an-accident happened.” He set his elbows on his knees, hands clasped loosely together. “I had the device laid out while I was tinkering with the trigger mechanism.” He paused, his fingers flexing slightly. “I guess I put too much pressure on it.” Lucian’s lips pressed into a fine line. “Next thing I knew, the damn thing came flying right at me.”

Hugh flinched slightly at the memory. Lucian gave a bitter smile. “I got knocked down, disoriented. And then—bam.” He exhaled slowly, gripping his knees as if reliving the pain. “Both my kneecaps shattered.” Raven’s expression fell. “The device became fully automatic, but it just kept bouncing around—until it crushed my ankles, too.” He remembered the beeping of the machines, the sterile lights. The smell of disinfectant clinging to his clothes longer than it had any right to. The looks—not of pity—but of quiet disappointment from his old unit. The kind that say, “What a waste”.

There was a long silence. Raven opened her mouth, then closed it again. Finally, she whispered, “Oh, god.” She swallowed hard. “I-I’m so sorry that happened to you, Lucian.”

Lucian gave a small shrug, as if brushing it off. “It’s all good. For some reason, the lingering pain isn’t really an issue here, but back home it was…” A pause. “Well, I got medically discharged,” he admitted. “But I knew that if even one thing had gone differently, I would’ve been dishonorably discharged instead.” His voice turned quieter. “Because of that, I at least got some physical therapy. A job, even.”

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Started working as a janitor at the local mall. They saw my Engineering background and let me do maintenance work, too.” He scoffed. “It was fine. I was bitter and in pain, sure, but I was getting by.” He let his fingers tap idly against his mug. “And then,” he murmured, “I saw the door.”

Raven and Hugh both perked up at that. “The door?” they asked in unison.

Lucian nodded. “Yeah… the door.” He said it like it was an obvious thing, as if they should already understand. “The door that led here. To this universe.”

Raven and Hugh exchanged glances. Lucian caught the uncertainty on their faces. Hugh cleared his throat. “I know what you mean, sir,” he said carefully. “But for me it wasn’t a door.”

Lucian’s gaze shifted to him, and then he turned to Raven. She simply shook her head. Lucian’s brow furrowed slightly. “Then what was it?” he asked.

Hugh tapped his fingers against the table. “For me, sir—well, it was an alleyway.” Lucian sat back, listening. “I was out jogging one morning when I noticed an alley that wasn’t usually there. It was strange.” Hugh’s brows knitted together, as if struggling to put it into words. “I don’t know how to describe it,” he admitted. “But it was calling to me.”

Lucian’s fingers tightened around his mug. Hugh continued. “I walked down its path. And the next thing I knew…”

Lucian finished the sentence for him. “…You were in a blank room.”

Hugh nodded once.

“An empty space,” Raven added, her voice softer.

“A lonely void,” Hugh finished.

The three of them exchanged looks, no words needed. A silent understanding passed between them. We all arrived in the same place. Just through different doors.

Hugh broke the moment first. “Well, it was only empty until a woman appeared. Beautiful. Dressed in clothes that flowed like water in the air.”

Lucian snorted. “You saw her too, huh?” he said, raising an eyebrow. “I was sure I was having a fever dream when I saw her.”

“Me too,” Raven chimed in. “Tried pinching myself, even.”

Hugh shook his head. “I knew I was awake,” he admitted. “I was just in awe of her. And then—” He gestured vaguely around. “I woke up here—or, rather, there, in that forsaken first area...”

Lucian chuckled, leaning back in his seat. He remembered his own confusion, landing in the Tutorial Area with nothing but a flimsy cloth on his back.

From the look on Raven’s face, she was reminiscing, too. Then, with a grin, she lifted her mug. “Well, add him to the party already!”

Lucian rolled his eyes, but his smirk lingered. “You don’t have to tell me twice.” He pulled up his [Menu], scrolling through the long list of names until he found:

[Hugh Trevatt] — [Add to Party]

He tapped the option. Across the table, Hugh eagerly pressed [Yes].

Raven grinned. “A toast!” she declared, raising her mug. “To the newest member of our merry little disaster of a party!”

Hugh hesitated. “Ah… I don’t really drink alcohol,” he admitted. “It’s against my beliefs.”

Raven paused—then promptly yoinked Hugh’s mug right out of his hands. “More for me, then!” she cheered, clinking it against Lucian’s before downing it in one go.

Lucian couldn’t help but laugh as Hugh watched with mild concern. “Bet you already regret joining us,” Lucian smirked.

“Far from it, sir!” Hugh replied with a chuckle.

They both turned back just in time to see Raven reaching for Lucian’s mug next. He swiftly moved it out of reach.

“Boo! You stink!” Raven slurred, pouting dramatically. She was clearly past her limit.

Hugh sighed, taking the initiative to gently push her back into her seat before she face-planted onto the table.

“Oh, that’s right. I almost forgot!” she suddenly perked up, wobbling slightly. “I got us a job!”

Lucian raised an eyebrow. “You got us a job?”

“Yep!” Raven pointed dramatically across the hall. “From that gentleman right over there!”

Lucian and Hugh followed her finger, turning toward a finely dressed man, sitting alone, his face buried in his hands, watching the woman who accepted his request get drunk beyond all reason within minutes of taking the job.

Lucian and Hugh exchanged a glance. Lucian sighed. “Well,” he clapped Hugh on the shoulder, “welcome to the party.”