Twists of Time: A Tale of Morning Misery

As the sun rudely blasted through the curtains of their room at 'The Silver Flagon,' Alex and Ethan grumbled in unison, their faces contorted in comical expressions of morning misery. Rubbing their eyes like a pair of disgruntled bears emerging from hibernation, they exchanged glances, silently agreeing that waking up was a crime against humanity.

"Alex, my friend, I swear if mornings had faces, I'd punch them all," Ethan grumbled, his voice thick with sleep and sarcasm.

Alex chuckled, the sound resembling a dying walrus trying to laugh. "You and me both, Ethan. You and me both," he replied, his hair sticking out in all directions like a botched science experiment.

With a collective groan, they both attempted to burrow deeper into the warmth of their blankets, clinging desperately to the last shreds of sleep like survivors clinging to a life raft.

But the relentless march of time, like an overeager drill sergeant, refused to be ignored. With a resigned sigh, Ethan reluctantly kicked off the covers, his movements resembling a sloth on its morning commute.

As they stumbled out of bed, their limbs protesting every step of the way, Alex couldn't help but cast a longing glance back at the inviting embrace of the mattress. "I swear, Ethan, if I could fucking marry this bed, I'd do it in a heartbeat," he joked, his voice tinged with equal parts admiration and despair. Ethan chuckled.

With a final farewell to their beloved bed, they reluctantly shuffled their way toward the bathroom, their movements resembling a pair of drunken penguins attempting to waltz.

As they prepared for the day ahead, exchanging groggy banter and sharing tales of their most epic morning mishaps, Ethan and Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie in their mutual suffering. After all, misery loves company, especially when that company can commiserate over the horrors of waking up before noon.

"Well, let's head to the guild and earn some cash shall we?" Alex, said enthusiastically .

"Yes! Turn off the lights as well by-the way". Replied Ethan.

As Alex and Ethan stumbled out of their room, rubbing the sleep from their eyes and attempting to shake off the lingering fog of exhaustion, they were greeted by the friendly innkeeper, a cheerful man with a twinkle in his eye.

"Good morning, lads! Did you sleep well?" the innkeeper asked, his voice brimming with warmth and hospitality.

Ethan grunted noncommittally, still half-asleep and longing for the sweet embrace of his bed. Alex, ever the more diplomatic of the two, mustered a polite smile and nodded. "As well as one can in a bed that feels like a sack of rocks," he quipped, eliciting a chuckle from the innkeeper.

As they made their way out of the inn and onto the cobblestone streets of the town, they were suddenly accosted by the same group of troublemakers who had confronted them the day before. The ringleader, a burly man with a sneer etched permanently onto his face, stepped forward, flanked by his cronies.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the two little rats who dared to challenge us yesterday," the ringleader sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

Alex shot Ethan a warning glance, silently urging him to keep his temper in check and avoid escalating the situation. But Ethan, fueled by a mixture of stubbornness and bravado, couldn't resist the urge to stand his ground.

"Listen here, you oversized oaf," Ethan growled, his fists clenched at his sides. "We don't want any trouble. Just leave us alone and we'll be on our way."

The ringleader let out a booming laugh, his cronies snickering in amusement. "Oh, I think we'll have plenty of trouble today, little man," he taunted, taking a menacing step forward.

Before Alex could intervene, Ethan's temper got the best of him. With a roar of frustration, he lashed out, his fist connecting solidly with the ringleader's jaw. The ringleader stumbled back, his cronies lunging forward in retaliation.

Amidst the chaos, a flash of steel caught Ethan's eye. Before he could react, pain exploded through his chest as a blade plunged deep into his side. With a strangled cry, he crumpled to the ground, blood staining the cobblestones beneath him.

Alex's heart pounded with fear and fury as he rushed to his friend's side, desperately trying to staunch the bleeding. "Ethan, hang on, damn it!" he shouted, his voice thick with emotion.

As Alex knelt beside his injured friend, panic and desperation coursing through his veins, he knew there was only one option left. With trembling hands, he took out the pocket watch.

"Temporalis." Alex whispered hoarsely,

"Time selected:- One hour thirty minutes in the past". His voice barely audible over the chaos unfolding around them. With a surge of energy, the watch glowed brightly, enveloping them in a blinding light.

"Going back in time."

"Time travel complete."

When the light faded, Alex found himself standing once again in front of 'The Silver Flagon,' the morning sun casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. But something was different this time. Ethan was still by his side, unharmed and confused, but Alex could feel the weight of his rage burning deep within him.

As the innkeeper approached with a cheerful greeting, Alex's hands clenched into fists, his mind ablaze with fury. How could he stand idly by while Ethan was attacked? How could he let these bullies get away with their violence?

"Ethan, go get us some food," Alex muttered through gritted teeth, his voice strained with barely contained rage. "I need to take care of something."

Confused by Alex's sudden change in demeanour, Ethan nodded hesitantly and made his way towards a nearby food stall, leaving Alex to confront his demons alone.

As Alex scanned the crowd, his eyes fell upon the ringleader and his cronies, their smug expressions sending a surge of anger coursing through his veins. This time, Alex refused to let them get the upper hand.

"Where's your little shit-head friend?" the ringleader sneered, his cronies leering menacingly at Alex.

But Alex was done playing nice. With a primal roar, he unleashed all of his pent-up rage, his fist connecting with the ringleader's stomach with bone-crushing force. The ringleader doubled over in agony, gasping for air as Alex stood over him, his chest heaving with exertion.

"Listen here, you piece of shit," Alex growled, his voice dripping with contempt. "You lay one finger on Ethan, and I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your filthy life."

With a final warning glare, Alex turned on his heel and marched away, leaving the ringleader and his cronies nursing their wounds and nursing their wounded pride. After Alex delivered his final warning to the ringleader and turned to leave, the cronies stood there in stunned silence, their mouths agape like fish out of water. They couldn't believe what they had just witnessed – their fearless leader, brought down by a single punch from this seemingly ordinary traveler.

Meanwhile, Alex hurried through the bustling streets of the town, his mind racing with worry for Ethan. Spotting him at the food stall, Alex rushed over, relieved to find his friend safe and sound.

"Ethan!" Alex exclaimed, his voice filled with relief.

But as Alex approached, he couldn't help but notice something peculiar. Ethan was sitting amidst a pile of donuts, crumbs scattered around him like fallen leaves, his cheeks bulging as he greedily devoured another pastry.

"Huh, Ethan. Did you not order for me??" Alex asked, eyeing the mountain of donuts with amusement.

Ethan looked up, his mouth still full, and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, mate. There were for both of us, couldn't help myself. These are too good to resist!"

With a shake off his head and a chuckle, Alex grabbed a donut for himself, joining Ethan in his impromptu feast. Despite the chaos and uncertainty of their morning, they couldn't help but find solace in the simple pleasure of good food and good company.

 Alex and Ethan made their way to the guild, their stomachs content and their spirits lifted by the camaraderie of their friendship. As they approached the familiar building, the sound of laughter and lively chatter spilled out into the street, filling them with a sense of anticipation.

Spotting Agatha behind the front desk, Alex and Ethan exchanged a knowing glance before making their way over to her. Agatha looked up from her paperwork, her face breaking into a wide smile as she caught sight of them.

"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite troublemakers," Agatha exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I was beginning to think you two had gotten lost in the wilderness!"

Alex and Ethan grinned sheepishly, their cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Sorry, Agatha," Alex said, rubbing the back of his neck. "We may have gotten a bit sidetracked this morning."

Agatha waved off their apologies with a chuckle. "No matter, my dear boys. What's important is that you're here now, safe and sound."

As Alex and Ethan eagerly awaited their first quest from Agatha, they anticipated something along the lines of gathering herbs or chasing off pesky goblins. However, their expectations were shattered when Agatha handed them a quest scroll detailing a rescue mission deep within the treacherous dungeon.

"Wait, we're supposed to find a lost girl in the dungeon?" Ethan exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Alex's jaw dropped in shock, mirroring Ethan's incredulous expression. "But... but we were expecting something a bit less... perilous," he stammered, trying to wrap his head around the sudden change of plans.

Agatha chuckled at their stunned reactions, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "My dear boys, you've grown stronger than you realise," she explained, her tone filled with pride. "Only adventurers of your caliber would be entrusted with such a task."

Alex and Ethan exchanged a glance, a mixture of excitement and apprehension swirling in their chests. While they were thrilled at the prospect of undertaking a mission of such importance, they couldn't shake the nagging feeling of doubt lingering in the back of their minds.

"But why us?" Ethan asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Agatha smiled knowingly, her gaze softening with affection. "Because, my dear, anyone who can make me resort to using my magic is more than capable of handling a B-Class mission," she replied, her words carrying the weight of her unwavering confidence in their abilities.

"All right well, goodbye Agatha" Said Alex.

"Goodbye boys." Agatha said with a tender smile.

As they examined the map provided by Agatha, Alex's enthusiasm waned. The lines and symbols seemed like an indecipherable mess, more akin to abstract art than directions to a dungeon. He squinted at the parchment, trying to make sense of the jumble of lines and dots.

"Ethan, do you have any fucking idea what any of this means?" Alex asked, frustration creeping into his voice.

Ethan scratched his head, equally perplexed. "Not a clue, mate. It's like trying to decipher ancient runes."

Their confidence quickly turned to trepidation as they realised they had no idea how to navigate to the dungeon. They couldn't go back to Agatha empty-handed, not after she had entrusted them with such an important task.

"We need help," Ethan declared, scanning the bustling streets for someone who might lend them a hand.

Their search led them to a burly man with a sword strapped to his belt, a seasoned adventurer by the looks of him.

"Excuse me, sir," Alex began, approaching the man cautiously. "Could you perhaps assist us in finding the entrance to the dungeon?"

The man eyed them warily for a moment before grunting in agreement. "Follow me," she said curtly, leading the way with a confident stride.

As they walked, Ethan couldn't help but voice his curiosity. "Hey, Alex, how did you know all of Agatha's moves back there? It was like you were predicting her every move."

Alex hesitated, caught off guard by the question. "Oh, uh, well, I just... I observed her closely during the fight with the ringmaster. You know, studying her technique."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, unconvinced but deciding not to press further for now. "Interesting," he remarked, storing away the observation for later consideration.

Finally, they reached the entrance to the dungeon, a gaping maw in the earth that seemed to swallow the light around it. The burly man nodded once, then disappeared into the shadows without another word.

Alex and Ethan exchanged a nervous glance before steeling themselves and stepping into the darkness. Little did they know, their adventure was only just beginning.