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This is a first for a reception room, Ketal thought, glancing around the sparsely furnished space.
Every other waiting area he’d visited on his travels had been impeccably clean and often luxurious. However, this place merely served the basic function of having chairs and a table. Given that it was part of a pirate hideout, expecting refinement was perhaps too much.
Still, even this crude setup was a novel experience for Ketal, and he grinned broadly, clearly amused by the rough atmosphere. Yet, he seemed to be the only one enjoying the current situation.
Aquaz sat beside him in silence, her expression unreadable. Baker wore a look that plainly asked what twist of fate had led him to be sitting in a pirate captain’s grungy office. And Captain Valkran himself looked completely bewildered, unable to grasp the strange circumstances.
W-what in the blazes is going on? the captain wondered frantically, sweat beading on his brow.
He had mentally braced himself for the possibility of the fearsome inquisitor showing up eventually, but he had no idea why there was a massive barbarian sitting confidently beside her. And he also didn’t know who the other nervous-looking man was with them. He couldn't make heads or tails of it.
As if sensing the captain's swirling confusion, Ketal spoke up, his voice calm and cheerful. "Right, perhaps we should start with proper introductions."
Ketal smiled pleasantly, a disarming expression that nonetheless caused the captain to flinch involuntarily, a primal fear stirring deep within him at the barbarian’s unnerving presence.
"I am Ketal, a barbarian," Ketal introduced himself simply.
"This," he gestured to Aquaz, "is Aquaz, an inquisitor of the Sun God. And this," he indicated Baker, "is Baker, a mage hailing from the Mage Tower. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The captain's eyes widened dramatically at the mention of the Mage Tower. Mages from the legendary Tower were highly respected, almost revered figures in any kingdom, often treated with deference usually reserved for high nobility.
An inquisitor of the Sun God and a Mage Tower mage traveling together already formed an incredibly imposing party. And this barbarian, this Ketal, spoke with the casual authority of someone leading them.
What kind of bizarre, overpowered group is this? How did such a party even come to exist? The captain couldn't fathom it.
...No, focus, Valkran! The captain forcibly pushed aside his mounting confusion, trying to regain control. Forcing a semblance of calm he didn't feel, he replied, puffing his chest out slightly, "I am Valkran, Captain of the Valkran Pirates. Welcome to our territory."
"Oh?" Ketal murmured, tilting his head with slight, genuine impressiveness.
Valkran projected an air of confident authority, the typical swagger of a pirate captain, though Ketal could easily sense the fear churning beneath the bravado.
Valkran forced his suddenly dry tongue to move. "So… what brings such esteemed individuals to this humble abode of ours?"
"A simple reason," Ketal replied leisurely, leaning back slightly in his creaking chair. "We came here to...
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