A familiar presence lingers behind me as I gaze at the vast ocean. Before I can turn to see who it is, an all-too-familiar voice slices through the salty air.

When I turn around, my suspicions are confirmed. Evelyn stands before me, her red-brown hair neatly braided, and her sleek military suit starkly contrasting with the serene backdrop.

She is one of my closest friends. As children, we were practically inseparable. After graduating, she moved to the States with me, and since then, she has been an incredible support. Even now, at 24 years old, she still looks out for me, despite the fact that I’m two months older than her.

"What are you doing here? Is there something specific you need, or are you just hanging out?" she asks, her deep brown eyes locked onto mine, piercing through the calm.

"I just wanted to escape the stuffy room. What's your excuse?" I reply, attempting to sound nonchalant.

"Yeah, right. If you're not in the mood to talk to your teammates, just say so. Don't waste my time worrying about it," she retorts, her tone as direct as ever. I’m not surprised; I know her well enough by now. We aren't exactly best friends, but we share a few common interests, and she is one of the few who knows some of my deepest secrets—though I haven't shared them willingly.

"You need to learn how to communicate with people, even if you can't stand them," she continues, her expression unwavering.

"I mean, what's the point?" I groan. "I just don't like being around people whose only goal is money and who would risk their lives for it. That's all. I know I used to feel differently about socializing but after that... I don’t know what I'm trying to prove here, but I just don’t want to talk right now."

Her gaze softens slightly as she considers my words. "Archer, you know how important this is. Once we get to Cresha, we'll have to rely on each other, especially if we encounter those horrific creatures."

Her words hang in the air, heavy with truth. I fall silent; she isn’t entirely wrong. If I don’t make an effort, I might find myself in serious trouble. After a long pause, I let out a resigned sigh.

"Okay, 'Mum,' I'll probably introduce myself to the others then," I say, trying to inject a bit of humour into the situation.

Evelyn's eyes brighten at my concession. "Yeah, you better listen to me; otherwise, don’t come crying if something happens to you," she shoots back with a grin, leading me toward the other members. I might not be in the mood for it, but what can I do? She knows me, and I know her, so she understands what I have to do and what I can’t avoid.