Evolution begins with an ant colony

Amidst the bustling atmosphere of the adventurers' guild, the trio stood in front of the quest board. John's demeanor exuded a sense of leadership as he took charge of the situation. He cleared his throat before confidently stating, "Alright, it's been decided. This is the quest we're going to take."

As John began to stride purposefully toward the receptionist's desk, his footsteps carried the weight of his decision. He gestured for Chris and Mina to follow, his body language echoing his leadership.

Chris, known for his outspoken nature, couldn't resist challenging the choice. Irritation laced his words as he questioned, "Hey, who made you party leader?" His voice rang out, causing heads to turn in their direction as the other adventurers in the guild momentarily diverted their attention.

Growing more agitated by John's apparent disregard, Chris couldn't contain his frustration any longer. He raised his voice and asserted, "Hey, I'm talking to you!" The urgency in his tone disrupted the guild's usual murmur with a momentary hush, drawing curious glances from fellow adventurers.

In contrast, Mina, her thoughts still drifting back to Evan, moved along with the two men. Her body language, however, spoke volumes about her preoccupation. Her steps were somewhat absentminded, and her gaze seemed distant, her mind lingering on the cold encounter with her former classmate.
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John and his two companions made their way to the receptionist's desk, where he confidently placed the quest paper on the polished surface. "We'll be taking this quest," John declared, his voice clear and determined.

The receptionist, a friendly and efficient woman, responded with a bright smile. "Alright," she said cheerfully as she reached for the quest paper. With practiced ease, she stamped the paper, signifying their acceptance of the quest, and handed it back to John.

Turning on his heels, John set his sights on the guild's exit, already taking charge of the situation. He gestured for Chris and Mina to follow. "Follow me," he directed them, his movements purposeful as he strode toward the exit, the wooden floorboards creaking lightly under his boots.

However, Chris, seething with frustration, couldn't let the matter rest. He called out to John with a hint of anger in his voice, "Hey, stop! I'm talking to you!" His tone was sharper, laden with irritation, and it reverberated through the guild hall.

Mina, still lost in her thoughts, trailed behind the two. Her gaze remained downcast, her mind preoccupied by her encounter with Evan, her steps slow and slightly disconnected from her surroundings.

As John, Chris, and Mina made their way towards the guild's exit, Lyra and Elara cornered Evan within the bustling guild building. They leaned in, ready to question him about his actions.

Lyra, ever the candid one, stepped closer to Evan with her arms crossed, her brow slightly furrowed. "Why did you turn that girl down like that?" She inquired, her curiosity evident. Her head tilted to the side, waiting for an explanation.

Elara, her eyes gleaming with mischief, joined the conversation with a playful grin. "Yeah, instead, you just broke her heart." She leaned in a bit, as if inspecting Evan. "Did you hit your head or something?"

Evan, typically aloof, leaned casually against a nearby pillar. He crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "That is my problem, not yours," he replied with his usual calm demeanor.

Lyra, never one to hold back, took a step closer, her finger pointing at Evan. "Keep acting like that, and you might just end up dying single." She maintained her assertive posture, challenging Evan's attitude.

Elara backed her up, nodding in agreement, her hands on her hips. "Yeah, what she said." Her teasing tone didn't conceal her genuine curiosity about Evan's actions.

Evan, with a touch of sarcasm, couldn't resist firing back. He pushed himself off the pillar and gestured casually with one hand. "Big words from people who are single themselves." He raised an eyebrow at the two women, his tone slightly mocking. "I haven't seen either of you talk to any other men other than the guys in your party."

Lyra's cheeks flushed slightly, and she leaned in closer to Evan, her eyes narrowing. "The hell do you think you are? You've only known us for a few hours." Her body language indicated a hint of annoyance at Evan's presumptuousness.

Evan couldn't resist a smug grin as he responded to Lyra and Elara's protests. "The fact that you got all defensive means I'm right, doesn't it?" His tone held a hint of self-satisfaction, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth banter.

Elara's frustration boiled over, and she clenched her fists in irritation. She was about to retort when Kalardix intervened. He called out to them, effectively putting a halt to their squabble. "Hey, you guys should cut that out," he urged, raising his voice enough to catch their attention.

"The guild master has arrived and now wants to hear our accounts of what happened to Evan's previous party." His words carried a sense of urgency, prompting them to set aside their disagreement for the time being.

Lyra and Elara found themselves blushing slightly, caught off guard by Kalardix's interruption. Their cheeks reddened, but they quickly regained their composure, though their gazes remained sharp. Kalardix's authoritative tone had shifted the situation.

"Fine," both Lyra and Elara replied in unison, their tone still carrying a hint of irritation. They exchanged a brief, almost imperceptible glance, reaffirming their resolve to address Evan later. Kalardix led the way towards the guild master's office, and they fell in behind him.

Before leaving, Lyra and Elara turned back to face Evan, determination in their eyes. Their expressions shifted from slight embarrassment to sternness, and they leaned slightly towards him.

"You got lucky this time," Lyra warned, her voice slightly menacing, "but next time, it'll be game over."

Evan, maintaining his composure, met their challenging gaze with a subtle narrowing of his eyes. He knew that their rivalry was far from over. With a nod, he followed them closely as they proceeded toward the guild master's office, ready to face the consequences of their recent mission.