Orcs and humans have had a strained relationship for as long as anyone can remember. No one really knows how it started, but the tension's still just as strong as ever.
Alva—being Alva—probably didn't grasp that. But Talos and Uri sure did, which is why they were hesitant to agree.
So why was I willing to go?
Because what if we could be the first party to actually change something?
What if we could help bridge that gap?
Or, at the very least… what if they had good quests?
The fastest route was through the Elf Kingdom, so we set out a few days later and began the trek.
After a little over an hour, we finally reached the bridge. It was rugged and rusted, like it hadn't been maintained in years.
"Hey! What do you guys think you're doing?" someone suddenly called out behind us.
We turned to see a party of elves, each mounted on a shimmering horse.
Those looked expensive.
"Well?" the warrior of the group said, dismounting and striding toward us. He wore polished emerald-green armor with black accents, his twin black curved swords sheathed at his sides. His long white hair fell neatly down his back, matching his sharp features and steady gaze.
We're literally right next to the bridge, what else could we be doing?
"Just heading to the Orc Kingdom. Why?" Talos asked, stepping down from Gabriel and matching his pace.
The elf stared at us, glanced back at his party, and then turned and laughed.
His party joined in.
"You really think you have a shot?" he said. "Just look at your party. A rogue? Seriously? Get with the times. And a half‑blood archer? Please."
Uri and I were speechless, just watching it unfold.
Alva's fists clenched. I could see the anger rising in him.
Maybe I should say something before things escalate.
"Say one more thing and you're dead," Talos said, coldly.
"Whoa, don't get mad at me, friend. I'm trying to help you. The Orc King's not gonna care about your feelings."
"What are you talking about?" Talos asked, narrowing his eyes.
"You don't know? Seriously?" the elf scoffed. "Why am I even surprised? The Orc King's refusing to leave the throne. Don't you see? It's spring. It has been for nearly two weeks! This is our time to rule. The king isn't doing anything about it so we're gonna take him down ourselves. Right, guys?"
"Right!" his party shouted in unison.
We'd been so wrapped up in our own quest journey that we hadn't paid attention to politics. Or the seasons, for that matter.
If what he said was true, it would be the first time in my life the seasonal rotation was ever challenged.
Orcs chose their kings based on size and strength, so if I knew already we had no chance against the orc knights, we obviously had none against the king.
Clearly, this was our cue to leave.
"Talos, let's just go," I said.
He started mounting Gabriel—until the elf stopped him.
"Wait," he said. "Lucky for you, we're warming up by testing our strength on the first party we run into."
His lips curled in amusement.
"Congrats. You're the lucky volunteers."
That's not what "volunteer" means, but okay.
I glanced at my party. Uri's gaze was locked on the elves, studying them carefully. Talos stared straight at the elf warrior, unblinking, and Alva kept his eyes on the ground, jaw tight with frustration.
We'd never fought another party before. This would be a first. Walking away was probably the smartest choice — the safest too. They clearly had more experience than us, better gear… and a lot more gold.
"If you can't beat us, you have no hope against him," the elf warrior said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "And if you can't beat him…you might as well disband."
Was he right? Probably.
Could we win? Probably not.
But we weren't pushovers either. Yes, we lost to a dragon — and no, they weren't crabs — but I knew that we had something they didn't.
Me, for one. But more than that, our chemistry. It was unmatched.
We've never been tested like this, true, but if our journey had taught me anything — especially after our last quest — it's that when we each do our part, we're unstoppable.
"Are we doing this?" I asked.
The three of them exchanged a look, and for the first time, I saw a fire in their eyes I'd never seen before.
"Look at them," Talos said, his voice sharp. "They think we're trash. Stick to your roles. Let's prove them wrong."
"We can win," Uri said, steady and sure.
"We will win," Alva added, his tone hard with determination.
And if we lose? So be it. But disband?
Never.
We'd make them earn it.
We dismounted and faced the elves, who followed suit.
"Good choice," the elf warrior said. "Before we get started, let me introduce myself. I'm Haron. We're the Haron Party."
His party consisted of two archers — a male and a female — both wearing polished silver armor with flowing sky-blue hair. They looked like twins, each with a carved bow drawn, their calm focus showing precise discipline.
The last member was a male healer in a red robe, carrying several pouches, a grimoire, and no hat.
Pathetic.
Talos introduced us without flinching.
"Alright then," Haron replied. "The fight starts when Joll's arrow hits the ground. Joll."
The male archer raised his bow skyward and fired.
As the arrow climbed and hung in the air, every heartbeat stretched into eternity. We took our positions: Talos in front, Alva to my right, Uri to my left. I readied my hands with magic.
The Talos Party versus the Haron Party.
The arrow fell.
The instant it struck the ground, Haron lunged at Talos. Metal clashed as Talos blocked the first strike, then the next, as a flurry of attacks followed.
Alva exchanged shots with one archer, while Uri darted for an opening, drawing the other's fire.
My eyes swept across the battlefield, heals at the ready.
As the fight went on, I noticed Talos was still on the defensive against a relentless barrage of attacks. He held his own, but I could see him slowly losing ground.
Uri continued to work his way closer, weaving between arrows and cover.
And that's when I realized I needed enhancement spells. My elemental magic and enchantments weren't useful here.
All I could do was heal.
We were out of our depth.
Arrows whizzed past as Alva dodged and fired back on the move — but then I noticed something. He was missing. Badly. Not even grazing their armor… just outright missing.
An arrow grazed him, then another followed, knocking him down.
I dropped to him immediately, healing his wounds.
Tears streaked his face. Not just from pain — I could tell he was trapped in his own head.
"Alva, listen to me. You can do it. We can win."
Maybe I lied. But what else could I say?
He stood up now fully restored.
"Jell, ignore the half-blood! Target the rogue!" Joll barked, and his sister obeyed.
Both turned on Uri.
Uri was suddenly under fire from both of them, struggling to keep up.
I glanced over — Talos was still holding his own against Haron, but he couldn't get an attack in. I was giving him just enough healing to keep going.
Alva sobbed, his shots growing wilder with every release.
Uri kept taking hits, my healing forcing the arrows out as the wounds closed — just enough to keep him moving.
But even that had its limits. He dropped low behind cover, clutching his side and gasping for air
"Get the healer!" Haron ordered.
What? Everyone knows targeting the healer is against battle etiquette.
This was not how I wanted to be noticed.
If Alva didn't focus, we were finished.
And if I didn't act now… we were through.
Arrows sliced through the air, one after another. I conjured whatever came to mind — a chair, a cauldron, even a lamp — each one shattering as arrows slammed into them instead of me.
I shot a gust of wind under my feet, sliding just out of harm's way before the next volley could land. My breathing was ragged, my arms aching, but I forced myself upright.
Through the chaos, I turned toward Alva and shouted:
"Maybe you're not a high elf — but you're still Alva. You're part of the Talos Party, and we're nothing without you. We need you now more than ever!"
He looked at me, helpless, his eyes still wet.
"Half-elf or not…you're elf enough for me. Now focus!"
Alva took a deep breath, steadying himself. He slowly picked up his bow and fired — his arrow slicing clean through Joll's arm, forcing him to drop his bow in shock.
"Brother!" Jell cried.
She and Alva quickly began trading arrows, their shots snapping across the battlefield. I ducked behind cover to catch my breath.
Talos, with a second wind, finally pressed forward, swinging at Haron with renewed force.
I rushed to Uri, healing his wounds until he was steady again. The moment he caught his breath, he bolted toward the archers.
Joll was already being healed, and as the healer spotted Uri closing in, a shimmering yellow barrier formed around them.
But Uri wasn't running for them — he was running for Joll's bow.
Genius!
"What!" Joll said as he was finally restored.
Uri hurled the bow behind us and charged straight at Haron.
He lunged with his dagger, but Haron blocked it with a blade. Holding both Uri and Talos at bay, he defended himself with a sword to each side.
He was impressive — dodging, weaving, and parrying as the two of them began their assault.
Meanwhile, Alva and Jell were still locked in combat, Alva's arrows glancing off her armor, just shy of the weak points in her plating.
Then I saw an opportunity.
"Ignore the archer! Target the warrior!" I shouted to Alva.
"No!" Haron roared as he kicked both Uri and Talos back with a sweeping strike, then dashed toward his team.
"Enough! You win," he said, raising a hand.
Someone doesn't like the taste of his own medicine.
Exhausted, Talos, Alva, and Uri collapsed to the ground.
I stood there, trying to process what had just happened.
We… actually won.
Haron quickly regrouped with his team. I picked up Joll's bow and handed it back, only for him to snatch it out of my hands.
"You may have beaten us with dirty tricks," Haron said coldly, "but that'll only get you so far."
Says the one who ordered his party to target me.
I healed the remainder of our wounds.
"Ugh, here." Haron tossed a pouch onto the ground near us. "The next time we see you, you won't be so lucky."
His team turned and left the way they'd come.
Alva picked up the pouch and pulled out a single coin. "Woohoo! We're rich!"
Then he tipped it, dozens more spilling into his hands.
I couldn't tell if it was pity or honor from Haron — but either way, I appreciated the gold.
"Good job, guys," Talos said as he stood. "I knew I could count on you."
"Everyone did their part," I said.
"What would I do without you?" Alva said, pulling us into one of his infamous group hugs.
"Thank you, Vel," he whispered to me.
When we broke apart, Alva grinned. "Let's take it easy for a few days. The Orc Kingdom can wait. Maybe a shopping spree?"
"We definitely deserve it," I said.
"Uh… can we do one more quest first?" Uri asked.
"Sure," I said. "What do you have in mind?"
"I'm not sure… yet," he admitted.
"When you figure it out, let us know. But make it quick," Alva said.
"Don't forget about the Orc King," Talos added. "Eventually, we'll have to stop him — once we're stronger."
I'd been hoping for a way to fix the relationship between our peoples, and somehow this situation arose.
Was this a sign? It just might be.
This fight felt like the first step — and it gave us the confidence we needed.
"Can't someone else do it?" Alva groaned.
"I think it's our duty," I said. "Like we were called to do it."
"Ughhh," Alva sighed as we all headed back to the horses.
Uri and I trailed behind. "Did you see the bow fakeout I pulled?" he asked.
"Yes — that was genius. More plays like that from you and the Orc King won't stand a chance," I said.
Uri smiled as we reached the horses.
Now our sights were set. The road ahead would be long and arduous… but we were going to defeat the Orc King, no matter what it took.