"What do you think of this final test?" It had been the third and last day of the entrance examination their guild held every year. Bertalan had met Sen on the very first day and despite his best efforts, he and the street urchin had become something like friends. Enough like friends for Bertalan to posit such a question.

Sen turned his head from where he half lay on the table. The kid really had no manners, something Bertalan was sure should concern him more. Instead, he felt himself smile when Sen blinked one bleary eye up at him.

"What do you think ab-"

"Heard ya." Sen's voice was muffled in his arm. "Think they wanna see if we can complete basic jobs. Huntin' monsters for points instead of coin..." He paused. "Hm, hey, Berti?"

Bertalan wrinkled his nose at the nickname. "What?"

"Might be easier if we formed a party." Sen turned his head again, eyes drifting over the room. "Twenty points each on our own'd be hard. Finding and slaying twenty slimes is a lot. But twenty points each in a small group'll be less so. Could take on bigger monsters for more points. Wolves are five each, which would mean four wolves for each."

"Mh." Bertalan had thought along the same lines. He wasn't sure he could take on more than some slimes and weak goblins on his own. Together with Sen, they could definitely pick fights with larger creatures, too. "The two of us?"

"An' a mage an'... see that ranger there? Watched them durin' yesterday's exam. Think we could make a good team. As for the mage..."

Bertalan and Sen looked from one person to the next, until they landed on the same at almost the exact same time. "Her," they both said. Sen even pointed at her. She noticed, blew up her cheeks and came stomping over almost immediately.

"What do you want, pipsqueak?" she demanded to know, slamming her hands down on the table. Bertalan had to bite his lips lest he'd laugh. Sen was at least a head taller than her, despite his scrawniness. The slam jostled Sen into sitting up straight with a low grumble.

"Thinkin' 'bout forming a party for today. You'd be a good mage for us."

The girl drew herself up even more. "Me? With you two? Obviously, you'd need me much more than I need you."

"Wouldn't count on that," somebody cut in from behind. The ranger Sen had pointed out had come over as well. They exchanged a nod with Sen. "I saw them both fight yesterday. Pretty sure they could pass on their own. If they can find any monsters, that is. I'm Aleyne. Looking for a ranger, too?"

"Yes." Sen shot them a winning smile, the same one that had made Bertalan forgive him for stealing his breakfast two days prior. "'m Sen. This is Bertalan. Best warrior in this year's examination." Bertalan preened at the praise. "We'd be honored to have you."

"Would we?" Bertalan muttered under his breath only for Sen to elbow him between the ribs. Aleyne laughed.

"Hey! I'm still here, too." The mage girl stomped her foot. "I'm Antasurra the great flame witch! But to my party, Surra will be fine."

Sen beamed at her. Then at Bertalan and Aleyne too. "An actual party," he said, awe in his voice. "Between the four of us, the final test will be a piece of cake. Tomorrow, we'll be guild accredited adventurers!"

On paper, it had been a simple gathering mission. Go into a dark forest, avoid or defeat any monsters, pick a bunch of herbs and go home. Aleyne had been in charge of the planning and gathering, since they knew the plants. The rest of them would provide assistance. That had been the plan. It had worked like a charm, too.

Within only a couple of months, they'd already become a pretty efficient team. The guild trusted them enough to sent them out on contracts above beginner level now. They'd even gone and defeated lower level boss monsters, like slime mothers. Bertalan was proud to be with his party.

The current contract really had been a breeze. Up until the moment when, while they were gathering the herbs, a wyvern roared.

All eyes snapped up to the sky. The wyvern was approaching the clearing, fast. Somebody screamed for them to get away. And then, the monster, tall as two men and long as five, hit the ground, hard.

None of them had ever faced a monster that large. None of them had ever faced a monster with that much magic. Nor a monster that smart. And fast.

Bertalan grasped his sword tighter. It was too late to flee. He couldn't force himself to turn his back to a wyvern. He'd die. He'd die for sure if he did that. So they'd have to fight. They could do it. He had faith in their group. They could win without any casualty.

And yet, his palms were sweaty. His body was trembling. He was afraid. He'd never been this afraid in his life.

"Protect Surra!" Aleyne's cry snapped Bertalan back to reality. "Draw its attention! Focus on defense!"

Bertalan glanced briefly at Surra. She'd closed her eyes, slowly turning her staff in her hands as she muttered to herself. A big spell was in the works. And a big spell like that took its time. Time she wouldn't have if the wyvern attacked her. He didn't waste time looking for Aleyne and Sen. Those two could handle themselves. But it was on him to protect Surra. Only he could do that.

Normally, a warrior was trained to charge a great monster. Yet in a party like his, Bertalan wasn't the one to deal the heavy blows. Sen and Aleyne both could strike with much greater precision, yet just as hard if need be. So he'd gotten used to paying closer attention to defense.

When the wyvern reared its head at Surra, Bertalan stepped between them, shield raised. When an arrow struck the monster's side, he slashed at it with his sword, maintaining its attention on him. He saw Sen dancing around the beast, dodging its claws by a hair half the time, slicing at its side, looking for a soft spot. He didn't see Aleyne, only saw their arrows striking true one after the other. Some pierced the wyvern's wings, leaving them more and more tattered. One hit the monster square in the eye, causing another horrible roar and a burst of fire. Most, however, nicked the wyvern's scale, sticking into the flesh only to fall off the next time the monster moved.

Finally, Surra had finished her spell. Someone, Aleyne, screamed for everyone to get down. Without a second thought, Bertalan dropped flat to the ground. He felt the spray of the giant jet of water the back of his neck. Heard the wyvern gargle and sputter. Heard it inhale and then the sizzle of steam. No fire ever came, though.

"You doused its fire!" Aleyne screamed. "Sen! Now's our chance!"

A beat of silence that made Bertalan's heart clench. But then Sen answered from behind the monster: "There's no scales where the legs meet the body! I'll try getting you a clean shot!"

Bertalan was getting back to his feet just in time to block a swipe from a giant claw. He didn't have time to recover, though, blocking the backswing two heartbeats later. The wyvern was furious. Yet, it also completely focused on him. No matter what Sen tried it didn't pay him much mind.

That was until the wyvern howled once again. Its head whipped around, its one remaining eye glaring at Sen. It raised its claw...

"Water weapon!" Surra shouted.

Aleyne's bowstring twanged.

The water imbued arrow hit the wyvern in the pit of its arm, piercing the flesh until only the very tip of its feathered end stuck out. The wyvern didn't make a sound. It just fell over. The impact was so hard it shook the ground.

For the first time since the wyvern had arrived, Bertalan dared to seek out his party. They were all fine. Dirty, hassled looking, but fine. Alive. They'd made it.

He dropped back to his knees, wiping furiously at his eyes. They'd all made it through a battle with a wyvern alive.

It had been less than two years ago. Their party had been camping in the woods. As usual, Sen and Bertalan had taken the middle shifts for keeping watch. Surra always took the first, since she could get cranky when woken up in the middle of the night. Aleyne took the morning watch, sometimes catching them breakfast as they did. It simply made sense.

Bertalan had woken early for his watch that night. As usual, he hadn't gotten up from his bedroll, but had watched Sen for a while. Occasions where he could look at Sen as long as he wanted were rare and far between. The second Sen noticed, he'd turn his face to obscure at least part of it.

At the moment, he was looking out into the woods. He wasn't moving much. The fire between them added a healthy glow to his skin as it burned down. Bertalan bit back a sigh as his eyes followed the lines of Sen's profile. He knew he was staring. Knew his thoughts were less than pure. He even knew it was stupid to think that way considering Sen was his friend and ally. But he couldn't help himself. At some point in the past eight years, as he had turned from a scrawny kid into a man who ate three healthy meals a day, Sen had become beautiful in Bertalan's eyes.

The fire was burning down, yet Sen paid it no mind. He was still looking off into the darkness. Bertalan wondered what it was he was watching, if there was anything to watch. He also knew the fire would go out if anyone didn't do something about it soon. It was still cold during the nights. They'd all feel it if the fire burned down too low or went out entirely.

Without moving his gaze away from the darkness, Sen reached for a new log to add to the fire. It had burned down so far the log wouldn't catch fire. Sen frowned, then added two more logs and flicked his wrist at the campfire. Flames sprang up. Bertalan gasped. He hadn't felt any magic. He wasn't any good at magic himself, but he could tell when people cast spells. Whatever Sen had done looked like magic, but it hadn't felt like it at all.

When Sen turned his head to look at him, Bertalan noticed something else. There were markings under his eyes, like burning feathers. His eyes were glowing from within, their normally gentle brown red. Bertalan swallowed hard. "Sen?"

"Did I wake you?" Sen asked, his eyes turning back to normal as he blinked. "Didn't mean to."

"Are you... you're..." Bertalan pushed himself up. His hand had found the hilt of his sword. He didn't want to draw it against his friend. But... "Demon," he whispered.

Sen shrugged. "In a way. By blood, at the very least. I'm not gonna hurt you just because you now know. I..." He hesitated. "I was meaning to tell you for a while now. Anytime you looked at me like that. I wanted you to know. Sorry I didn't manage to tell you before you found out." His gaze shifted back to the woods. "Something's watching us."

"What?" Bertalan didn't know what to process first. Sen was a demon. His upbringing had told him that demons were the ones who fought all the gods during the eternal wars. That they were foresaken because of it, because they'd never chosen a side. The few surviving gods still hated them for it. And Sen, his sweet, funny, clever Sen, was one of them. It wasn't fair.

"There's something in the darkness, watching. I can feel it."

The unease in Sen's voice made Bertalan focus again. "Something?"

"Not a monster. Not a person. Something." Sen shrugged. "Dunno, probably an echo of magic."

"Is it dangerous?"

"That's what I was wondering, too." Sen sighed. He patted the ground next to him. "Share your watch with me?"

Bertalan grabbed his blanket before he moved around the fire. He sat down next to Sen, wrapping them both up in the blanket. "Anytime."

It earned him a smile, small, yet genuine. "So, we're still good?"

"Don't think you were ever good," Bertalan joked. "But yeah, we're good. So my boyfriend is a demon. Who cares?"

The smile turned into a sly smirk. "Boyfriend, yeah?" Sen teased. He pressed a kiss to Bertalan's cheek. "I like that."

So late in fall that it was also early winter, just before the roads became impassable with storms and snow, the town held a festival. It was the Return of the Merchants. The merchants who wintered in town arrived all within a week of each other. At the end of that week, a big festival took place with a busy market, food and drink, and entertainment. Since it was also a religious festival, there were also ceremonies, but those mostly involved the merchants themselves. Bertalan had never been too interested in them.

However, this year, their forth year as adventurer guild members, Aleyne and Sen had insisted the four of them went to pray for good business as well. Surra had been easily swayed, with promises of sweets and a visit to the different stages around town. It had left Bertalan with no choice but to come as well.

The ceremony they attended was at one of the smaller temples. The priests greeted Sen by name, which was briefly concerning. Bertalan had never taken Sen for the religious type. But just as they'd taken their seats, Sen had whispered a brief explanation. They'd picked this temple because it was close to the orphanage he grew up in. He'd visited there that morning, checking in on younger kids and some of the kinder priests and employees there.

Both Aleyne and Sen had muttered along with the prayers, leaving Bertalan feeling out of place. Not that Surra was any better than him, but the other two seemed to have at the very least some faith. By the end of the ceremony, Aleyne and Sen were silently guiding Surra and Bertalan to the priest in the front, carefully showing off the correct behavior to receive a proper blessing.

The entire thing left Bertalan's head spinning.

They spent the rest of the day at the market. In silent agreement, Bertalan and Aleyne had taken one of Sen's hand each, keeping a firm hold. There were too many wares and full purses around to let their rogue loose.

"You're acting as if I'm a compulsive criminal," Sen muttered. He was walking closer to Bertalan than Aleyne. Not that it mattered. But it warmed Bertalan's chest with feelings nonetheless. "I can behave."

"You stole a guy's entire purse and two expensive potions just last night," Aleyne hissed back. "He made a big fuss about it. Not that anyone saw you, but still."

"That guy was being gross to Surra all night. I saved him from a fireball," Sen muttered.

"That he did," Surra agreed. "But I am pleased with the compensation for my suffering." She matched Sen's grin. "So, what are we getting first? Potion ingredients? Sweets? Weapons?"

Bertalan looked around. There were so many stalls, myriads of wares. Every merchant was doing their best to sell everything they could so they could comfortably get through the winter. Most of the wares on sale at the market would go bad before spring or were unwieldy to take on the road. Bertalan had no idea where to start.

"Sen and I made a list last night," Aleyne said. They waved some scrap paper. "Things we need, things we could turn a profit on with only little effort, things that one or more of us would enjoy. We'll look around for the things we need and the ones we could profit on first."

Surra pouted. "And the sweets? I was promised sweets."

Sen extracted his hand from Bertalan's to reach into a pocket. His own pocket, Bertalan was relieved to see. From it, Sen pulled out a small bag of wax cloth which he handed to Surra. "Picked them up this morning. And I paid for them," he added, rolling his eyes at Aleyne. "The orphanage sells cookies and candied fruit for the festival."

Within the first hour of their shopping trip, Bertalan quickly became aware of why he'd been asked to come along. Aleyne and Sen both used him to intimidate merchants while negotiating prices and when they didn't they made him carry the heavier bags and boxes. There were so many items on the list of things they needed. They weren't even halfway done when Surra demanded a break.

"I know you two are actually into all this." She waved her hand at the market. "But I want to see at least some of the entertainers! What's the point if we can't enjoy ourselves a little?"

As Aleyne started to grumble, Bertalan spoke up: "I'd like a break, too. Treat you all to some greasy food?"

They ate in view of a stage. At the beginning, jugglers were doing slapstick comedy. Then, a small band came on with a dancer clad in colorful, flowing clothes, waving around cloths to the music. Surra stared at her as if she was a princess, a goddess even, not a nameless dancer from a travelling troupe. Bertalan watched just as fascinated. It was also the safer option, as Sen and Aleyne had started to dissect their purchases and were whispering over their still worryingly long list.

"We'll get going again," Aleyne declared as the band took a break. "You can wait here. It'll be easier to get around with all that stuff."

Bertalan shot Sen a look and got a shrug in return. So Sen wouldn't argue Aleyne. Surra was huffing and puffing, clearly getting ready to protest getting left out. For the sake of peace, Bertalan ruffled her hair. "Don't you wanna see what else that dancer will do?"

Surra turned to him with shining eyes. "Her movements look like high magic without the mana behind it." She glowered at Aleyne and Sen. "I guess you could leave us behind, for the time being. But don't take too long. Don't get lost."

It got her fond smiles from the both in return. "We'll hurry," Aleyne promised.

In the end, they didn't return until it was almost time for the fireworks that marked the last moments of the day. Both Sen and Aleyne returned not only with full backpacks, but also several smaller satchels clutched in their arms. Bertalan and Surra boggled at them. As it turned out, they'd picked up some favorite treats for everyone, some fruits and spices for their meals together, a new knife Sen gifted Aleyne because it had felt good in his hand, a book on higher mathematics Aleyne wordlessly handed to Sen and a scroll of spells they gifted to Surra. Bertalan got a new pair of bracers from Aleyne. It was nice, but he'd wished Sen would get him something as well.

The fireworks had already started when Sen touched his shoulder as he leaned in closer. A thunderclap sounded above. "Got you something, too," Sen whispered right into Bertalan's ear. "Hold out your hand."

Bertalan did as he was told, shivering despite his thick coat. It had nothing to do with the cold. Sen grasped his wrist in one hand, fingers brushing his pulse point. Something small yet warm landed in his palm. Their fingertips touched as Sen withdrew his hand.

In his hand was a small locket. Or maybe it was an amulet. Bertalan could see some etchings on it. He held it up to his face to take a closer look. None of the tiny symbols rang a bell for him. "Thank you," he still said, closing his hand around the locket. Sen had given him a piece of jewelry. That had to mean something. Maybe not what his hammering heart was hoping for, but something nonetheless.

"It's a protection amulet," Sen whispered. "Blessed by the God of the Desperate and Damned themself according to the guy who sold it. It's supposed to grow warm when you help people."

"You believe in them?" Bertalan whispered back. He'd thought Sen followed the Merchant God like most people in their town.

All he got in response was a shrug. "Dunno. Maybe. I mostly thought the story was sweet. Wear it for me?"

In the light of the fireworks, Bertalan could have sworn something akin to hope shone in Sen's eyes. He swallowed heavily. Licked his lips. He wanted to kiss his friend so badly. "Thank you," he said instead again. "I will."

For most of the day, Surra had been unusually quiet. It took until the night, while they were all sitting around their campfire with a bowl of stew each in their hands, that she burst out: "So, what're everyone's plans once you stop being adventurers?"

Aleyne shot her a sidelong glance. "Where'd that come from?" They shrugged. "Same as most, I guess. Have my own specialty store, a house, a family."

"What kind of store?" Sen asked, barely looking up from his food.

"Medicine," Aleyne immediately replied. "An apothecary's store."

Sen nodded, satisfied. "Study," he told Surra. Any more words were less important than his dinner.

"What about you, Bertalan?" Surra asked. She was still only poking around her bowl with her spoon. "What would you do?"

Bertalan looked at Sen. What they had still felt new. He was sure, though. "Marry Sen," he said. It earned him a snort from Sen. "What?"

"Adventurers can marry."

"Yeah, but I'd like to not be in mortal danger. So I could enjoy it."

"House?"

"And garden. Adoptive children." Bertalan could feel his face heat up and it had nothing to do with the fire. "If you'd like that."

Sen shrugged. "If we save up enough to live."

Taking pity on Bertalan, Aleyne turned to Surra: "What about you?"

With a sigh, she let herself fall backward. Sen caught her bowl out of the air so she wouldn't spill her stew all over herself. "I don't think I'd ever retire. What else is there to do? But... You know my friend, Martha? She quit. To marry, like Bertalan said. Her new husband has a store in town. It's just... It just sounds so boring, you know?"

"On the other hand, you won't get almost eaten by a monster every other month," Bertalan grinned. "You're a mage, though, people will trust you more the older you get. An old swordsman, though? There'll be a point where I'll get weaker and slower. And experience won't be enough to make up for it."

"Could still go for guild official, you know?" Sen muttered. "That's my realistic retirement plan. Do training and bureaucracy until I die or become old and feeble. In twenty to thirty years."

Everyone looked at Sen. Bertalan couldn't help but frown. Surra looked thoughtful, as if she hadn't considered the option. Aleyne was the one to speak again first: "You don't really believe in retirement, do you?" There was something like pity in their voice.

"I don't believe in saving up enough money for it without taking risks that could kill me." Sen sighed. "I'm not so stupid or optimistic to think that my chances of living to forty five are more than fifty percent. All in all..." He put his empty bowl down and let himself fall backward like Surra had. "Outside of this, aside from you three, I got nothing and no one. If I get sick or injured? My savings get used up. If I run out, I'll starve. It's that simple. So, sorry to bring down the mood. But a future? It's hard to imagine one that feels like more than a pipe dream."

Bertalan opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water. "I'd take care of you. If you get sick. Or injured. Or even if something permanent happened. I'd take care of you." His heart had moved to his throat and was blocking the airflow. His heart hurt and he couldn't breathe. He'd never wanted to hear Sen sound that pessimistic. "I love you."

Sen looked at him with one eye. He parted his lips as if to speak, but only sighed instead. His hand reached for Bertalan's hand. "Love you, too," he whispered.