"This is the list, please prepare it." Ali handed the list to the shopkeeper.. He checked his other list while thinking in silent. Now that he mentioned it earlier, Narcissa and Ali seems strong, could be they live in a really nice mansion? As if he could read my mind he said, "Ian, don't expect a lot from me and Narcissa, we're considered as a new-born party." i mean that's pretty surprising, both Ali and Narcissa looks strong, well i'm not sure either but everyone is being nice towards Ali, the shopkeepers, the children, and even the guards. Some of them asked him about their earlier mission followed with a praise after Ali said that they had finished it. They have a good reputation in all around Churchbell. 

"But isn't Narcissa quite strong?" i asked him 

"She is, she was the member of some older party in churchbell, but after i arrived in here she just randomly appear and asked me to join her party." Said Ali while picking up a few bags of seasonings 

"Huh? why?" i asked again him again while picking up some of the groceries. 

"I don't know, i confronted her about it too" He paused for a second "...She said she disliked her party's mansion and wanted to decorate her own."

Narcissa is really strange... In the moment Ali stopped in front of a fruit shop, he then take a few mangoes and apples. I tried to give him a hand to carry the fruits but he just ignored my hand and pay. 

"You need a rest, our mansion is not that far from here, can you still walk?" Asked Ali to me

"It's nothing, moreover, you sure you don't need my help carrying all of those thing?"

"Don't mind it, Narcissa made me carry more things when we go shopping, it's a relief we don't shop with her."

i smiled "How did you guys can afford shopping more than this." 

"We're a newly formed party but Narcissa is pretty loaded you know, She finished a lot difficult task and mission with her old party, people in Churchbell likes her. We often got freebies or discount." Explained Ali

"I'm not bad myself, i have my own money since Narcissa always pay for every daily needs, besides i finished more tasks than people normally do." He take his pouch and opened it, it's really full of gold coins which i assume as this place's currency. "You take and finish a task and you'll be rewarded. The greater the difficulty of the task, the better the reward is." 

"But all of these moneys are worthless when you're dying." Said him "In this new world, money is only a way for people to continuing their life just like in the old days. What's the most important is to be strong and survive."

Without me realizing, we arrived in front of the doors our mansion. Ali opened the door and welcome me in 

"After you"

I'm speechless by what i saw, cause this mansion is actually really.. empty

"Told ya to not expect anything." He take his robe off and put it in a dirty clothes basket

"But didn't you and Narcissa go on a lot of missions?" I asked while looking around, this mansion only have some sleeping bags, a short table without chair and a pair of drawers. 

"The only way to upgrade the quality of our home is to be acknowledged by our leader. Usually people take a really hard task such as hunting a really difficult target or given ordered directly by him. We called it as ranked mission." I listen to Ali's explanation while exploring our little home, at least we have a set of cooking utensils and a decent bathroom. 

"Why don't you and Narcissa just take ranked mission then?" i asked him again after finished getting to know my new home.

He shook his head "We can't, besides our leader won't give a permission for an uncomplete party to do a ranked mission, it's rather reckless." He take a knife and begin to cut a mango while explaining. "Ranked mission is not a mission that can only be done with only strength. At least five people are needed and each one has their own part of job." Said Ali. 

I could understand that situation, even though Narcissa is well-known fighter and Ali are talented, they still need time to execute the plan to kill a giant serpent when i was defrosted. I guess a ranked mission will take more efforts. 

"That's why we keep taking more task and mission during this time. We deliberately take missions around Defrosted area to scout a new companion"  Explained Ali while he give me a plate of a peeled and cubed mangos. "Now eat this, i put a spell that made the mango colder and take a rest, we're going to see Narcissa tomorrow" Said Ali that somehow already in his sleeping bag. 

Now i see why i bumped into them, if it's not because of Narcissa and Ali, i might ended up eaten by the giant serpent. 

I'm lucky to meet both of them, even though Ali looks cold and firm at first, he is actually kinder. Also Narcissa that are cheerful but strong enough to lead a team. Both of them are a skilled fighters, i wonder if Oliver and Calvin made it out somewhere here.

I have to get stronger so i can meet them again. I will put this in my mind.