Moonlight shone through the window of the cheap inn in the capital of Burgovin kingdom. On one of the beds, Keyzier was sleeping messily—his legs dangling off the edge and his blanket piled on the floor. His soft snoring broke the silence of the night.
Donovan sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his newly updated guild card. The "Rank D" stamp still looked fresh. It was a huge leap for their party, "Donkey," formed less than a day ago after defeating the Metal Monk.
His eyes shifted to Keyzier's peaceful face. That sleeping idiot was his childhood friend. They had been friends since they were 5 years old, growing up together in Rast Village, a peaceful little village at the foot of the mountains.
Donovan's mind drifted far away, pulled back by memories to the past. To the day destiny brought two little boys together in a forest.
Nine years ago, Little Donovan was playing in the woods near the village when he heard sobbing. There, under the shade of a large tree, he found a boy crying his eyes out.
"Why are you here?" asked Donovan.
The boy looked up, his face wet with tears and snot. "I'm lost and I don't know the way home!"
Donovan, feeling responsible as the kid who knew the way, guided him back to the village. From that moment on, Keyzier was like a newly hatched duckling that considered Donovan his mother.
Every day, every moment, Keyzier would come to find Donovan. Even when Donovan was taking a nap, he would find Keyzier sitting there waiting for him. Until they were 8 years old, Keyzier was always like that. He was Donovan's inseparable shadow.
However, for a young boy who wanted to look independent in front of his peers, Keyzier's clinginess started to feel annoying. One afternoon, Donovan's patience ran out.
"Stop following me! You're annoying, you know!?" Donovan snapped.
After Donovan said that, Keyzier never came to find him again. The boy disappeared from sight. At first, Donovan felt relieved that he wasn't being followed anymore. He felt free. But that freedom slowly turned into a gnawing worry.
One day, amidst a storm pouring down on Rast Village, Donovan's door was knocked on loudly. Keyzier's parents arrived with panicked faces, asking Donovan about their son's whereabouts.
Because Donovan didn't know where he was, Keyzier's parents went out desperately searching every corner of the village.
At that moment, a thought crossed Donovan's mind. There was only one place. The place where Keyzier used to hide when he was sad. The place where they first met.
Without thinking twice, Donovan ran out of the house, dashing through the heavy rain.
"Hey Novan, where are you going?" his mother shouted from the kitchen.
"I remembered something! I'm going, Mom!!" Donovan answered without looking back.
"In this rain?"
Donovan ran, ignoring his mother calling his name. His feet splashed through the mud, his breath heavy. He arrived at the forest where he first met Keyzier.
And sure enough, his hunch was right. Keyzier was there, curled up in fear under a tree. But it wasn't the thunder that scared him. He was being surrounded by two wild, hungry goblins.
Seeing his friend in danger, Donovan's fear vanished instantly. He sprinted toward Keyzier, grabbed a wooden log lying on the ground, and attacked the goblin blindly.
WHACK!
The hard blow worked. One goblin fell, groaning in pain. However, the other goblin jumped to attack Keyzier, who was still frozen in fear.
Without realizing it, Donovan's body moved on its own. He jumped to protect Keyzier.
ZRASH!
Donovan's back took the hit. Sharp claws tore his skin, leaving a deep wound on his back. A stinging pain spread instantly.
Donovan fell on top of Keyzier, shielding him. Perhaps seeing the wound on Donovan's back and the blood mixing with the rain, something inside Keyzier awakened. With a hysterical scream, Keyzier fired fire magic from his palms—magic he never knew he had—and burned the goblin to a crisp instantly.
Even though his consciousness was fading, Donovan saw it. Keyzier's magic was beautiful. Orange fire dancing in the middle of the heavy rain. Donovan truly admired that beautiful magic.
However, the stinging pain from the goblin's scratch felt even more torturous as the rain soaked his body. His vision began to blur.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Novan!" sobbed Keyzier, holding Donovan's shoulder with trembling hands.
Donovan smiled weakly. "You idiot. Why did you come here?"
"I was thinking about what you said to me while walking in the village. Before I knew it, I was already here! Why did you come?" Keyzier answered innocently between sobs.
"Your mom searched all the way to my house. So, I only thought of one place. that's why I came here!"
"I'm sorry I got you hurt because of me!"
"I should be the one apologizing. Because of my words, you got hurt and heartbroken!" whispered Donovan, his voice getting fainter.
"I was wrong too, Novan. I'm sorry."
At that moment, the wound felt more painful, and Donovan's consciousness was slipping away. Yet, Keyzier hugged him tightly—very tightly—which ironically made the wound hurt more because of the pressure.
But Donovan was too weak to scream. The pain and the warmth he felt at that moment mixed together, until finally, he didn't know what was happening anymore. The world went dark.
When he woke up, Donovan realized he was in his own warm room. The scent of herbal medicine filled the air. The first thing he saw was Keyzier sleeping on a wooden chair with his head resting on the edge of the bed, right next to Donovan's hand.
Donovan moved slightly, and Keyzier sleep beside him.
"Novan, you're awake? You haven't woken up for 3 days!" his mother exclaimed.
Donovan's brain was slow to process. "What? 3 days?"
"Yes. Keyzier took care of you while you were unconscious!" Donovan's mother's voice came from the door.
"How did I get here, Mom?" asked Donovan, confused.
His mother smiled gently, then explained what happened. "The villagers saw him walking while carrying you and crying. They approached him and saw you were hurt. They immediately brought you home and treated you. While crying, he explained everything that happened to you."
His mother looked at Keyzier affectionately. "Then, he stayed here accompanying you for 3 days. Even when his mother came, he refused to go home."
Donovan looked at Keyzier, who lowered his head shyly. "Is that so, Mom? This guy always makes people worry!"
Donovan's mother chuckled, her tone turning teasing. "If he were a girl, I would definitely accept him. He is very cute. But, too bad he is a boy!"
Donovan's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"
"If he were a girl, I'd let you marry him. Or, do you two have a special relationship, Novan?" his mother teased.
Donovan's face turned bright red. "W-What are you saying, mom? Of course not!"
Suddenly, Keyzier, relieved to see his best friend awake, jumped and hugged Donovan's neck while wailing.
"Novan....?? NOVAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNN...!!!!"
"Hey, stop! Don't hug me! It hurts! Hey, my wound hasn't healed! KEEEEYYYY....!!!" Donovan screamed in pain.
Since that incident, their relationship changed. Donovan and Keyzier became closer. There was no more awkwardness. They spent all their time together.
Because Donovan was still weak during his recovery, he insisted on practicing swordsmanship in the yard. And Keyzier always sat there, watching him with an intense, unblinking gaze.
One day, that stare made Donovan feel self-conscious.
"DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT. I'M GETTING SCARED OF YOU!!" snapped Donovan.
Keyzier looked straight ahead, his face innocent. "Like..."
Donovan's heart stopped for a second. "Huh??"
Keyzier stood up and shouted enthusiastically. "I SAID I LIKE IT, YOU STUPID DONOVAN!!"
Donovan panicked. "W-What are you shouting? Like? What do you like?"
"I LIKE YOU AND YOUR SWORD STYLE. I LIKE EVERYTHING!!" Keyzier explained, his eyes sparkling with admiration for his friend's sword technique.
Donovan sighed, half relieved and half annoyed by the ambiguous sentence. "W-What are you saying? And stop shouting like that!"
Keyzier ran closer. "Novan, teach me swordsmanship!"
"No!" refused Donovan, playing hard to get.
"Come on..." whined Keyzier, hugging Donovan's leg.
"Stop, let go of your hug!"
Donovan's mother, who was passing by, laughed at the sight. "After shouting 'I like you', turns out there's a romantic scene too? But, as long as you are happy, I don't mind!"
"MOM? THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK...!!!" shouted Donovan in frustration.
Thanks to his mother's misunderstanding and Keyzier's endless whining, they inevitably trained together.
Time passed. Now they were 13 years old. Ambition began to grow in Donovan's chest. He wanted to see the outside world. He wanted to invite his best friend to the capital to become adventurers together.
That morning, Donovan walked to Keyzier's house with determination. However, when he arrived in front of the house, he saw a sight that crushed his plans. Keyzier was getting ready with a backpack, standing in front of four strangers with shining equipment. One of them was Argus.
Keyzier approached Donovan with mixed emotions on his face.
"Novan, I'm going now. Argus and his party invited me to join as a member!"
Donovan was tongue-tied. He was too late.
"Is... Is that so? In that case, do your best and take care of yourself!" said Donovan, forcing a smile.
"Of course. You too, Novan."
Keyzier waved his hand, then turned and left him with the Argus's group. It turned out, Donovan was one step too late in asking him.
However, Donovan didn't give up. He determined to be strong and become an adventurer so he could catch up to his best friend.
Time passed. And a year later, Donovan said goodbye to his parents to go to the capital and become an adventurer.
Fate is indeed funny. When Donovan looked for the Adventurer's Guild in the capital, he didn't find that guy. Instead, he met Keyzier, who was gloomily counting coins in the city park.
He had been dumped by his comrades. Hearing the story, Donovan became very angry and wanted to settle the score with Argus. But Keyzier stopped him.
In the end, the two of them became adventurers and took on missions together. It made Donovan happy, even though their party name was very tacky and weird.
Donovan smiled faintly in his daydream in the inn room. Keyzier's foolish behavior proved that he was still the same person Donovan knew. Donovan was grateful to meet him again.
"n...!"
A faint voice broke Donovan's daydream.
"Van..!!"
The voice got louder. Donovan turned his head. Keyzier was awake, his face right in front of Donovan's.
"NOVAAAANNN....!!!" shouted Keyzier right in his ear.
Donovan jumped in shock. "What is it? Why are you shouting like that?"
Keyzier pouted. "I've been calling you, but you didn't answer! What are you thinking about?"
Donovan looked at his best friend, then chuckled softly. "Nothing. I just remembered a fool crying under a tree and being surrounded by 2 goblins in the past!"
Keyzier's face turned red. "Wait! A fool crying under a tree? Isn't that me?"
"Maybe! Hahahaha!" Donovan laughed.
Keyzier threw a pillow at him. "YOU ARE ALWAYS LIKE THAT, YOU STUPID NOVAN...!!!"
"Hahahahahahahaha!"
Their laughter filled the small room, closing the painful chapter of the past and opening a new chapter of Party Donkey's adventure.