Chapter 4: Rui (part 2 of 5)

  One by one, I met the rest of the party.

  The third member of the team was a mild-mannered Ranger called Zahir bin Ahmed. Funnily enough, he was precisely what I had imagined Daoshis to look like and easily dwarfed the rest of us. We soon got to talking about each other's trades and he seemed to show genuine interest in my work. I found him to be the easiest person to talk to out of everyone I'd met at Silver Crane thus far. Zahir reminded me of a younger, more spirited Shareef, and even sported a lush goatee that was just as impressive as my favourite Radiographer's.

  Next, I was introduced to Darsik Ramani, a young Guru. He looked even younger than me, and I was honestly surprised by his inclusion on this quest. I was curious about his age but decided that asking about it would be another faux pas. Darsik seemed rather the quiet sort, and stood apart from the rest of the group, content to let Prisha, Zahir, and I sip pu'er tea and continue our small talk. By then, Boonie had already found himself a corner to lean against and catch an early-morning nap—and I was somewhat comforted to see that the smile went away in his sleep.

  During our conversation, I learned that Prisha was a Lancer, adding another layer to her mystique, at least in my estimation. Thanks to the legendary exploits of Seah Choo-Kang, the classification of Lancer had gained a special regard among Temasekians. I wondered—though didn't ask aloud—whether this attitude persisted even among the adventurers themselves.

  We still waited on the fifth and final member of the party, presumably the Field Medic. During a lull in the conversation, Prisha pulled out a watch. After checking the time, she glanced toward Darsik, who shrugged wordlessly. She then turned to me. "I'm sorry. It seems our Medic is running late again. She and Darsik both stay in the dormitories here but he hasn't seen her this morning. Was she like this at home, too?"

  I responded with a blank stare. For a few blissful moments, I hadn't figured out why her question seemed to suggest that I would know anything about their Medic's habits at home. Then it hit me, and I nearly spat out my tea. "Wait, your Medic is... Lucy?"

  Prisha cocked an eyebrow, her smile quickly shifting to mild amusement. "I assumed you knew. Did she not tell you?"

  "No, we rarely get a chance to talk. Last time I saw her was when she told me my tour had been approved. She didn't mention that she was on this quest herself."

  Prisha seemed to consider this for a moment. "Well, you might be interested to know that Mr Seah approved your tour on the condition that Lucy be allowed on the quest. We took a vote, and decided that she was ready."

  I nodded along out of compulsion, yet in my mind, I couldn't quite square the information. I was still recovering from the shock of learning that my sister would accompany me on this high-risk adventure, before I reminded myself that this was her job—and had been for three years. In these years while we both busied ourselves in our respective fields, a gap had grown between the little sister I remembered and who Lucy was now. She had her own career now, and evidently was doing a tremendous job of it. But something about what Prisha said still bothered me.

  "Mr Seah put it up for a vote whether Lucy could join this team," I paraphrased, trying to make sure that I had understood correctly. "But why did he insist that she be on this quest in the first place? Is there a reason it had to be her and not a different Medic?"

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  "You say that as if you don't want her on this quest, doc."

  I turned to the voice that had just decided to join the conversation. I wasn't sure for how long Boonie had been awake and listening in, but he had sat up now and was looking straight at me. His smile—which was starting to look more like a sneer to me—was back, and I felt a weight descend in the pit of my stomach. When I didn't reply right away, he continued, his tone ever casual. "Happy to risk our necks but not your sister's, is that it?"

  The weight in the pit of my stomach instantly grew many times heavier. I decided then that, Prisha's endorsement of him notwithstanding, I did not like this man. Why did he have to so antagonistic with almost his every breath? And how could he suggest such appalling sentiments while sounding as though he were making a quip about the weather? This time, a flash of anger emboldened me.

  "I think you're putting words in my mouth, Mr Chua," I said, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice. I thought I could suddenly feel all of the eyes in the room train on me. "I don't want to see anyone get hurt, especially not on account of trying to keep me alive. That's why I came as prepared as I could. I don't—"

  "Let's get a few things straight, Rui."

  I had expected a response at any moment but didn't think it would come from Prisha. I turned to her, alarmed by the cold edge her voice had taken on. She looked at me with steely eyes.

  "I apologize on Boonie's behalf if you've taken offence, but you need to understand something," somehow, her voice had become at once softer and louder. She had a mastery over the proceedings that couldn't be denied. My anger quickly receded, and I was a schoolboy once again, this time receiving a lecture in the headmaster's office. "Firstly, it is not your job or responsibility to keep yourself safe while you're with us. You have neither the skills nor the knowledge to do so. That responsibility falls to us, and I expect that you recognize this fact and take it to heart."

  I felt myself growing hot. Just seconds ago, I had been so sure in my indignation, so sure that Boonie was the villain—that the gallant Lancer would come to my defence. Now, I was reminded that I was the naive stranger in their world, a world rife with deadly dangers that demanded a particular blend of ability and character to navigate.

  "Secondly, Mr Seah agreed to your proposal not as a favour to you nor Lucy. He sees value in what we're about to embark on today and value in having you join us. It's his prerogative to construct this party for any number of reasons, none of which need be disclosed to you or even to me. This is Silver Crane business, and as such, we will conduct it as we see fit. Do we have an understanding?"

  Those of us who spent our entire lives within the comfort and safety of the city gates could not begin to understand the hellscape these select few people willingly sought out as a matter of routine. I couldn't begin to understand the stresses and fears my own sister must face for a living. Wasn't that why I had brought myself here? Had I not come here to rectify this ignorance? Instead, I had waltzed in here with the illusion of agency, ready to change these professionals' lives without knowing a thing about them. While I still couldn't rid myself of my distaste for Boonie, I could at least acknowledge how my own presumptions could have rubbed him the wrong way. I decided that this would be the right time for me to shut up and listen. "Yes. I understand."

  "I'm glad," Prisha's expression softened, then she rose from her seat. "I'm going to see if I can't rustle up a Medic for us. In the meantime, may I suggest you take one more look at your provisions, perhaps re-organize a few things if need be? I can assure you your belongings would be secure if you choose to leave some of them here."

  Even if I hadn't already been familiarizing myself with adventurer subtext, the implications behind this bit of instruction were abundantly clear. I stood up and looked around awkwardly while Prisha left the room. My eyes met Boonie's first, and I found that his sneery smile had decided to be permanent again. Thankfully, he seemed to have run out of things to say for the time being. Darsik had gone back to silently staring at the wall across from him, completely disintereted in what had transpired. I eventually turned to Zahir, who had also stood up and towered over me.

  "Come on, doc," he patted me on the back, surprisingly gentle. "I'll help you out."