"It will be quick," I said, my voice low and devoid of warmth. "Sit."
Oliver looked at the open door, then at my face, then at the door again. He did the math, realized his escape probability was zero, and slumped back into his chair. He looked like he was about to cry.
"P-Please don't take my lunch money," he whispered, clutching his bag to his chest. "I… I only have a sandwich today. It's cucumber. You wouldn't like it."
I stared at him.
Was this really the future Guardian of the Forest? The man who, in the bad ending of Asteria Online, sacrificed himself to hold back a wave of Undead Treants? Right now, he looked like he would faint if a squirrel looked at him wrong.
"I don't want your cucumber sandwich, Oliver. I want an invitation."
Oliver blinked, confused.
"An… invitation? To… a party?"
"To your home. I'm planning a trip to the Fern Kingdom this weekend. Specifically, the Ecological Park."
Oliver let out a breath of relief.
