Ike’s “House” was essentially a mansion. So it was the entire party's base of operations. Everyone got their own room, with some to spare. Hadwyn got one of the bedrooms near the staircase. Alice and Loyd also slept upstairs. Mateo slept at his house.

Ike was a very eccentric person. He was odd even by guild standards. People often talked about him, usually behind his back, whispers could be heard about the man. And it was evident the second you set foot on his property.

Statues of several famous heroes like Adonis, the Hand of Gods, and other various famous heroes. Hadywn recognized a few, like those, and a few other lesser champions. There was a statue of Mage Cryo-Corvin, four time winner of SVS duels and one time winner of a Sparparty Royale outside in the front yard. There were also various paintings inside the house.

There was an instantly recognizable one of the first hero, Adonis, lifting a boulder on his back, while the first demon king’s pet hellspawn, Constrictus, attempts to strangle him. The statue wore a cheery smile.

There were also several paintings of political leaders, which was an indicator of Ike's political beliefs. Which was odd, considering that most Aldaraians don't care about politics, at least, politics that don't affect them. Aldarians followed different laws than Anivors did.

Now about Ike himself.

Hadywn could never figure him out. He imagined the others attempted somewhat, but gave up far earlier. Ike was assumed to be some sort of ex-professional fighter, adventurer, crawler, and hero. He often told stories of his glory days. Loyd always seems to be entertained by these stories, while all they did was confuse Hadwyn.

More often than not, his various stories would contradict one another. Which suggested that he was lying. However Hadwyn found no evidence that this was the case, considering Ike had so many miscellaneous relics of his past that it was like a puzzle with all the wrong pieces.

Ike always wore a robe. Always. Even when he went out, he wore it. A bathrobe, not a warrior's robe. The robe smelled nice, and somehow always appeared clean despite Ike's lack of self maintenance. Ike was prone to drinking, and smoking. Hadwyn was not fond of secondhand smoke, but luckily Ike always went outside when he did so. Unfortunately, he drank inside.

He had a beard and a head with very little hair on it. It would have been a military-style haircut if it weren't for the fact that it was done so sloppily.

When he talked, his favorite was gravelly and sandy, Like he just walked through a desert, but he talked like a noble. Even though he sounded like a hobo.

Ike had many hobbies, most he never bothered to finish, like sculpting and painting. Various half finished paintings and other projects cluttered a few hallways. The closer you got to the center of the mansion, the worse it got. The walls were covered in pain and sometimes weird black powder.

And of course, Hadwyn cleaned most of these messes. Ike, nor the rest of the team ever directly asked him to, but he did it out of fear they would kick him out. The guilds were easing out of hiatus. Soon, everyone and their mother would be concentrating on their yearly progression, which meant if Hadwyn got kicked out, he would be locked out, and the fact that he didn't have skills universally valued by potential teams made it worse. In reality, his chances of finding a replacement party were zero.

Anyways, today Ike appeared to be scribbling something down on a piece of paper.

“Yo?”

Ike immediately stopped and shoved the small slip of paper into the table’s drawer. Ike turned to face the party. He was sitting on one of those chairs that had the ability to rotate freely without having to move the base.

His beard grew at crazy angles, sticking out like he had been struck by lightning. Lead shavings, paper and other bits of things stuck to it. He smiled at the party.

“You were late.” He said.

“Shut up Gramps. This cunt slowed us down.”

Loyd jerked his thumb at Hadwyn.

Hadwyn didn’t respond. He just wanted to go to his room.

Loyd dropped the drakon sack on the bare wooden floor, it made a squelching sound as it did.

Hadwyn winced. Another mess he would have to clean up tonight. Or perhaps maybe not considering the room already looked so much like a junkyard that he sincerely doubted that Ike would notice the blood, and if he did, wouldn't even care. If Hadwyn was getting kicked out, Loyd would have already done so.

Ike twirled his pencil. “Whacha got there?”

“Nothing, just a drakon.” Loyd smirked. “Alice and I caught this bastard in the backland. Right Alice?”

Loyd turned looking for Alice. So did Hadwyn. She was nowhere to be found, appearing to have slipped away.

Hadwyn silently prayed to the Almighty God that Ike wouldn’t ask what Hadywn did to help catch such a creature.

Luckily, he didn’t.

Ike got up from his seat. A beer bottle that Hadwyn didn’t see initially tumbled to the ground from his lap.

He grinned. “A drakon eh? I see. Did you kill its mother?”

Loyd scoffed. “Nope. Some plikg beat me there. Probably one of the cunts from intermission.”

Ike narrowed his eyes. “Half-elf?”

Loyd shrugged. “Probably. Now that I think about it, they did look suspicious earlier. Yeah, they were eavesdropping with those long-ass ears for sure.”

At this point, Hadwyn was up the first flight of stairs. He had managed to slip away. Those hours of watching Mateo camo blending paid off. At least he had some skills.

Ike swirled his beer bottle. “Yeah, stay away from 'em’. Imagine their stupid faces right now.”

“Probably took a whole team of them. They can’t do shit by themselves.” Loyd snapped back, resentfully.

Ike cackled. “They think they’re so much better than humans. Ha! Anivors maybe. But ‘you ever seen a Keeb up an Aldarian? Nay! The women throw themselves at them like cattle into a wolf's den!”

“Y’know, I saw a Versurdi the other day.”

“Yeah?”

“He was, well, no, he ain’t full blooded, but you get it, he was Versurdi.”

“Yeah?”

“He was an Aetlan Officer or something, but anyways, he told me when he was a wee lad, livin in some rotten elven squat, he got pushed around by some sharp-ears.” He glanced at Loyd. “Cause’ of war and whatnot, he didn’t have himself parents, so they would gang up on him and call him a worthless toolmote, then they’d beat him up until he ran with blood.

“Cry me a river.” Loyd said, chugging his beer. Realistically, there was nothing to hate about Versurdi. They usually kept to themselves and didn’t overstep boundaries. The only race that seemed to hate

“Yeah, but get dis’, he aint’ hit em back.”

“Why?”

“Cause’ the Versurdi customs or some shit, but anyways-”

“That’s stupid.”

“Yeah, but anyways, they picked on him during his school days, eventually, he got a job as a computer. An Aetlan job. The nasty prick-ears joined a skirmish and he told them they would lose. Dis’ was durin’ the Aetlan era, and their village was gonna fight off the empire. You ever hear of don’t shoot the messenger? Well dat’s what they did. An Aetlan messenger came and they emptied their quiver’s on im’. Turn’s out, the letter he was deliverin’ stated that if they didn’t get der’ arses off the land they’d come and destroy them.” He cranes his neck forward. “He told them that their magic wouldn’t beat the Aetlan troops. So they told him when they were done killing the Aetlan soldiers, they would beat him up too. They changed their mind later and beat him up anyway. “

“Elves?”

“Nah. Humans, mostly. Keeb-lovers.”

Loyd wrinkled his nose. “Keeb-lovers are worse than keebs.”

“Not all keebs, lad.” Not high elves. Stupid mud-keebs, probably.” He slurped down his third beer since the conversation had started, wiping his lips with his sleeve.

“Still hate em’. They insist on the wisdom of the sharp-ears.”

“High elves are wise. Problem is people think it’s all elves. Boy, most of em’ aren’t any smarter than an orc.”

“At least orcs can raise a weapon.”

“They make a good warmup for sure.” Ike smacked his lips. They bashed his legs in and tried to stab out his eyes, but Versurdi eyes are harder than diamond, lad. He told me he could still see the round world!”

Hadwyn put down his book. He had thought that about the eyes of a Versurdi was a myth. But a gruesome thought crossed his mind. A few weeks ago at an intermission assembly, he overheard an Aldarian boasting about having the eye of a Versurdi as a trophy. Hadwyn hadn’t known what the man meant, but he had assumed that he was talking about a Versurdi trinket of some sort. He put away his book and kept as quiet as possible. The conversation captivated him.

“Anyways, what was I saying… Ah, yes. The mud elves fighting the Atlen forces. He said not long after they were finished beating him, the first shots were fired. So they left him bleeding and he left as fast as his crippled legs could carry him-”

“Bows right?”

“Nope, they were crossbows. One of those Versurdi-Aetlan projects.”

Loyd stroked his chin. “Clever bastards. How’d they even get the jump on the pricks? Elves are good archers.”

“Aye, I hear you. But the Versurdi have the keenest eyesight. Legends say they were the only ones who could see ‘round the world.”

Loyd snickered. “Meanwhile, dumbass prick-keebs still told everyone it was flat. When people asked why they just told everyone, because.”

“Ah, true. When Adonis sailed non-stop, he ended right where he started. He said when he got off the boat he said: ‘I have left my home to find new land, yet I found home yet again.’ He proved the elves wrong. It was said before that you could always trust an elves' wisdom. Yet they were proven wrong by the Versurdi. From then on, the magic was destroyed forever. Perhaps it was the magic that made the Highest of Elves right all along. Perhaps the rest of the world didn’t, but the Versurdi, with their keen eyes, can see through any interference. Of course, Adonis too wasn’t fooled. That is why so many respect Versurdi.”

“Get your lips off of his boots old man! Enough about Adonis, Tell me the rest of the story!” Loyd gulped down his beer. “Adonis can kiss my ass! And I don't give a shit about the dumb Versurdi either.”

“Right! Got carried away. The Versurdi could see through any camouflage the rebels wore and picked them off. He told me he could see them fly through the air. No Versudi ever sees blurs, y’know? He watched them drop like stones off the walkway.”

Loyd rolled his eyes. “Surdi-glazer.”

Ike grinned wider. “So he began running and just in the nick of time too, he felt the heat of a fireball behind him. The squat was decimated in mere seconds- Bam!”

Ike smacked his two palms together.

“Aetlans probably got some Aldarians on their roster.”

“Nay. He says he doesn’t trust them.”

Loyd swirled his beer. “Maybe he got some high elven sorcerers.”

“Nay again. The man insisted it took no magic.”

“Then he is a liar.”

“Perhaps.”

Loyd rested his head on his hand, his elbow resting on the arm of the chair. “You ramble like a vet.”

“Yes, but you enjoyed it?”

Loyd smirked, trying to balance the empty bottle on the other arm of the chair. “Yeah, maybe at first. Shit-talking those pointy-eared bastards was fun but got old real quick. And you really need to stop glazing Adonis, man.”

Ike snickered. “Adonis was the mightiest of the mighty. Anything that could have been done had been done by him.”

“Y’know what?”

“What?”

“I think he was a fraud.”

Ike scoffed.

“Yeah, and another thing. I think those stories were pulled right from your ass.” he stared down at his empty bottle. “Can you pass me another beer?”

Ike threw his hand protectively over the case. “Apologize to Adonis first.”

Loyd rolled his eyes. “Whatever, man. I changed my mind, I could really go for some water right now, actually.

“Well you’re outta luck. We’re out of barrels. The nearest well is downtown.”

Loyd tossed the bottle over his shoulder. “Screw that. Maybe I can get Hadwyn to do it.”

“Hadwyn?!” Loyd yelled.

Hadwyn sat in the chair sitting as still as possible. He didn’t know how strong Loyd’s hearing was, but he didn’t want to find out.

“Hadwynnnnn!”

“Maybe he's asleep.”

“Shut up. That bookworm stays up all night reading.” Loyd cupped his hands.

“HAAAAADWYNNNNN!”

Ike chuckled. “Maybe he’s tired of getting pushed around.”

“What do you mean?”

“I see how you and the team treat him. He’s a good lad. Lotta potential.”

Hadwyn stuck his neck out. Was Ike complimenting him? It sure seemed like it.

“And I’ve seen what he can do. I’ve seen plans you lay out on the tables and your tactics. I know that they are mostly his ideas. Are you sure he isn’t a Versurdi?”

A frown spread across Loyd's face. “Nope. He’s an Aldaraian like me and you. And another thing, he’s an annoying prick.” Loyd turned back to the staircase. “Hadwyn, if you’re awake-”

Ike cackled. “After all that yelling? He’s awake for sure!”

Loyd glared at Ike. “I'm gonna fire him someday, I swear it.”

“But you won’t, cause you need him.”

“I do not need him!” Loyd snapped back.

Ike popped his neck. “Careful, he might hear you-”

“Good. I hope he does. Then maybe he’ll think twice about pulling shit on me.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Long story. Basically I made a promise that got stretched too far and this stupid guy came up, like he was a police officer or something, but anyways, he wanted me to pay, and so I tried to get Hadwyn to pass me his wallet, but he wouldn’t go for it.”

“Ah.”

“Anyways, I don't need him. There’s this girl… Names on the tip of my tongue, but anyways, there is this girl… She said she wanted to join…”

Ike tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at Loyd. He had a childish grin on his face.

“This girl, huh? Does Alice know about ‘this girl’?”

And the plot thickens… Hadwyn thought.

Loyd bit his upper lip. “Nope. But that doesn’t matter. Like I said, I’ll kick him out when the time’s right. But for now-”

“The lad’s stayin’.” Ike tilted yet another bottle he had towards Loyd as if to toast Hadwyn residence, then he put it to his lips and drank.

Loyd sighed. “I wanted to talk about something else too. About going on some solo quests.”

“Go for it.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” Ike flapped his hand. “Go do it.”

Loyd slumped back into his chair, whatever argument he had prepared for didn’t happen. A smile appeared on his face.

“So… Is that what you did.”

“Exactly.” Ike snapped his fingers. I figured out my team was practically leeching off of me, so I threw them out. Never felt better. I got my life together and made a down payment with a small loan. Signed up for a bunch of quests. Bing bang boom. Next thing you know, I sitting here-”

“In a big pile of trash?”

“No!” Ike barked. “In this glorious home.”

More like a mansion. Hadwyn thought.

“You see my trophies?”

“Aye.”

“Yes sir. All of these I collect over the years. Bought some of them, but most, I won or earned. Best decision of my life. I even shook hands with Cryo-Corvin himself.”

Loyd raised an eyebrow. “I read his biography. Didn’t say nothin’ about you.”

Ike scratched his neck. “Well it was early in his career. Back when he barely won more than he lost. I beat him though.

Loyd straightened. “You’re pulling my leg.”

Ike cracked his knuckles. “I’m not. I swear it. I met him about ten years ago. It was a small local SVS. I joined to make a name for myself.

“How’d you beat him?”

I shot fireballs at him, so he covered himself in armor. Naturally, then, he was slow. So I attacked him until he was too tired to stand up. Then I sledged him into the barrier. He surrendered.”

“Bullshit.”

Ike waved his hand. “Forget it. You don't believe me, and sometimes you do. Make up your mind.”

“I’m going to bed. We’re gonna sell the drakon to the guild collectors tomorrow.”

“Don’t forget about the S-games.”

The S-games were small activities hosted by guilds to improve the levels of parties. Hadwyn had almost forgotten one was tomorrow.

“Guess we’ll do it after.”

Hadywn scrambled to his feet as he heard Loyd come up the stairs. He made it back to his room just as Loyd’s head appeared over the railing. His door was shut before he even looked in his direction.