Introduction of "The Hero"

    Hero: "I'm awake"
    When he opened the windows, a cool breeze blew into his room at the inn.
    Stretching as he took in the chill of the night, he noticed the picture frame in the window.
    Hero: "Hmmm. When did I put this portrait here?"
    The hero was the only one in the picture. And yet he wasn't in the center, but in the right half.
    It was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a piece of art.
    Hero: "Actually, you know"
    He looked away from the picture and turned a little to his right to speak. The very next moment, a sharp pang ran through his head.
    Perhaps he was simply tired, but either way it wasn't exactly a good marker of his health.
    He put the photo frame back where it was and took a look around his room.
    You could say it was a little big for one person
    Hero: "Oh, right. You were here too |||"[they used box characters to censor the name here]
    The hero tried to place a name all too familiar to him. but he was interrupted before he could... or maybe he was silenced.

The Hero encounters "The Alchemist"

    The hero walked through the forest, populated by many colossal trees, staying fully alert of his surroundings. But that wasn't enough to detect the slender arm that reached out from behind him and grabbed him by the shoulder.
    Alchemist: "Heya"
    Before the whispering even reached his ears, the hero twisted his body to shake the arm off.
    He crouched, prone to attack, and his right arm grabbed the sword sheathed on his waist. Only then did he look up at his assailant.
    His gaze met the alchemist's who was tottering toward him waving his arm.
    Hero: "Man, not you again."
    Having confirmed that he was only dealing with the alchemist and his eccentric ways the hero returned to a relaxed stance.
    Alchemist: "Rude! You should be more appreciative of me! A friend in need is a friend indeed remember?"
    Hero: "I have no idea what you're talking about."
    Alchemist "You're heading to the ruins up ahead aren't you?"
    Alchemist: "I'm willing to help. Alchemists have the wonderful ability to grant people wishes after all!"

The Hero, The Alchemist, and the Gladiator encounter "The Scholar"

    The hero's sword and the rapier clashed, and the (resulting sound of metal on metal) [not 100%, but pretty sure] echoed around the Grand Library.
    The alchemist and the gladiator stood a little way away.
    The one fighting the hero was the custodian of the Grand Library a renowned scholar.
    He was trying to avoid fighting in close quarters, and so when the hero charged in he backed away to keep his distance and stuck his rapier at his opponent.
    Scholar: "How many times must I spell it out for you? How do you not understand that what you're doing is pure hypocrisy?"
    Hero: "I'm not who I was back then."
    The hero parried the rapier and used that chance to attack. All of his swings were filled with drive and determination, his technique as sharp as the glint in his eyes. But even that volley couldn't reach his opponent.
    The scholar dealt with each of them with poise. He deflected overhand swings by striking at the heart of the sword with his rapier, and he avoided sweeping blows by hopping backward.
    Following this fierce back and forth, the two of them paused for breath. They both knew that the fight wasn't headed toward a decisive conclusion. But they both were also prepared to use their ace in the hole if they saw an opportunity to. The tension in the air was so palpable that even the alchemist and gladiator felt it. That was precisely why the latter deemed it necessary to bellow a roar and stop the battle as soon as he heard the ringing of the clock tower's bell.

Flashback to when The Hero and The Alchemist first met "The Gladiator"

    The box seats at the Arena offered the best view of the combat below. And standing at the entrance to that seating area were the hero and the alchemist, both with bemused expressions on their faces.
    From where they stood, they couldn't see the fighting at all.
    All they could see was a man seated in a towering chair made of bones, staring back at them.
    Even fully clothed, you could tell that this man had a finely honed body. He was probably a muscleheaded workout freak.
    Hero: "You sent this didn't you?"
    The hero threw the envelope he was holding down to the floor.
    Alchemist: "Such an honor, receiving a direct invitation from the famed Ringmaster of the Colosseum!"
    The man's lips broke out into a wry smile.
    Gladiator: "So I hear you're looking for strong companions to join your party."
    Hero: "Well yeah, but."
    Cutting the hero's words off, the Gladiator stood up and threw his chair at them.
    Gladiator: "Then fight me. We can do it here, the Arena, or wherever the hell you want!"

The party is all together

    Heavy chains came crashing down between the hero and scholar, cracking the floor.
    The impact left the two battlers completely dumbfounded.
    Gladiator: "I came along 'cause I thought I'd get to see a good old fashioned brawl. What is this pansy crap?"
    Alchemist: "I certainly enjoyed it, though."
    The two of them walked over and stood by the hero.
    Even without it being spelled out, the scholar could see that it was a display of solidarity.
    Scholar: "Very well. I recognize your skills and your determination. but know that you are nothing by yourself."
    With those words the scholar turned around and gracefully walked toward the exit.
    Hero: "Excuse me?"
    Gladiator: "Forget that. Let's grab some grub"
    The gladiator extended his arms, grabbed the other two by their shoulders, and dragged them toward himself.
    Incapable of defying the gladiator, the pair exited the Grand Library after the scholar.