Chapter 9: Of Secrets and Saviors
Silence gripped the guildhall.
Emma's cheeks were still burning red, her hands frozen mid-motion as if she could physically rewind time.
Mario blinked. "Wait—what do you mean Emma likes me?"
Caroline smirked, leaning on the table like she'd just dropped a spell scroll labeled Truth Bomb. "Exactly what I said. She's liked you for years. You just never noticed because you've got the emotional awareness of a brick."
Andrew leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, clearly enjoying the show. "This is better than any war game I've ever watched."
Emma let out a tiny noise of protest—somewhere between a gasp and a squeak.
Caroline wasn't done. "It's not just because you saved her from those bandits, by the way. It's because of what you did back in ninth grade. Remember that time Emma was getting picked on for wearing glasses and oversized sweaters?"
Mario's brows furrowed. "You mean… those guys from class C? They said she looked like a granny or something stupid."
Emma's voice was barely a whisper. "You threw your juice box at one of them. Said anyone who insulted me would have to deal with you."
Mario blinked. "Oh. That."
"You got detention," Emma added. "And you told me I looked cool. Like a tech-savvy superhero."
Mario scratched the back of his neck. "I mean… you did."
Emma looked away, trying to hide a smile behind her cup.
The others watched in silence.
Then Andrew leaned over. "So… are we all gonna pretend like this isn't a slow-burn romance subplot?"
Mario threw a bread roll at him.
The group moved to a corner booth, food finally arriving—roasted meat skewers, fresh rolls, and surprisingly decent cheese.
Andrew glanced around the table, watching as Caroline helped Emma cut into her meat while pretending nothing happened, and Mario poured water into everyone's mugs like he hadn't just had his heart momentarily cracked open in front of everyone.
"You're quiet," Caroline said to Andrew.
"I'm watching the drama unfold," he replied.
She smirked. "You do that a lot. Observe. Analyze. Like you're waiting for the perfect moment to strike."
"I prefer to call it strategic social awareness."
"You're such a nerd."
"And proud."
They shared a quiet look—something unreadable flickering between them. Then Andrew broke it.
"I'm still recovering from sleeping on the floor while you all lived like noblewomen."
"You'll live," Caroline teased.
Across the table, Mario cleared his throat. "So uh… not that I'm asking for feelings confirmation or anything—"
Andrew perked up. "Oh, here we go."
"—but Emma," Mario continued, rubbing his neck awkwardly, "you really remember all that stuff from ninth grade?"
Emma looked down, then slowly back up.
"I remember everything, Mario."
He went quiet. Genuinely quiet.
Andrew mouthed toward Caroline: Bro's done for.
Caroline whispered back: Finally.
Outside, the late afternoon sun poured through the stained-glass windows of the guild, bathing their table in warm light. A moment of peace. No zombies, no bandits, no isekai chaos.
Just six unlikely travelers, tangled in fate, emotions, and the awkward buzz of a high school crush carried into a fantasy warzone.
Then Andrew raised his glass.
"To future battles…"
Mario raised his own. "To better beds."
"…and to the slowest romance in recorded history," Andrew finished.
Emma blushed.
Mario groaned.
Caroline laughed.
And somewhere outside, destiny waited—probably with another quest and at least one exploding fireball.