"Hey.... Hey ban! Hey are you listening to me?"
That voice echoes in my head, it's familiar I hadn't realized I've been drooling in the middle of my work hour, when I snap out of my trance and turn to my left side and look at that boy, brown hair grated eyes as he offers me a snack my best friend.
-Brother, you look so lost, what were you thinking? -He confesses to me with a soft laugh while he signals me to take the snack since it's our break time.
-It's nothing Helios .... I was a bit distracted I guess .... I was thinking about the debts I owe.... -I confess with a long sigh as I grab the sandwich and start eating it.
Since I was born nothing has been easy, being one of the minority of people in the world who are born without being able to manifest skills is quite a challenge. Getting a good salary is complicated when now everyone depends on powers or skills for day to day life.
-Don't be discouraged, I know you have a lot of debt..... Like me, we have this job for a reason, but I know you'll get through it, your determination is like a rock. -The smile and grace with which Helios says this makes me smile, he is a good friend.
"You're right, well at least we've cleared the place enough for those adventurers to come and we know our pay is safe." -I scratch my chin as I finish the sandwich in one bite.
"Tell me Ban .... What do you think is behind that?"
I turn and see Helios looking at the space-time rift before us, a portal to a place that no one knows where it leads only those who dare to cross it.
"Well, not that I know it, but I've heard from some adventurers that it's like going to another world, you can encounter strange and unique things... and you get paid a lot for it."
My voice denotes the same curiosity he feels, we've both wanted to explore those crevices But I don't have any skills and my companion's is totally useless to be used in combat.
I sighed before thinking more nonsense like that, and started walking towards the big debris that still covered part of the ground, it's funny what was a house with a big and beautiful yard was smashed to pieces when this crack appeared without warning.
My partner joined me with a smile to help me, we were weak but strong at the same time, since due to the great nuclear energy that covers the planet our bodies can consume a lot of damage and lift incredible weights but it's no use if other people not only have that but also special abilities.
"Ban... and your little sister how is she? Last time I saw her she was looking pretty bad." -Helios' question sent a shiver down my spine as I remembered my little sister's medical situation.
"Well the expense is incredibly high but I try to do everything I can I don't care about anything else..." -I notice the expression with which Helios looks at me, I know he doesn't quite believe my words but I can't be telling everyone all my problems, I know we all have problems.
For a while we were picking up the heavy and huge debris and cleaning the place, it didn't take long to see a group of at most 6 people arriving in the distance. Those armor and clothes made it clear to me who they were, they were the adventurers who paid for this rift.
"Me and Helios guessed that tall man with bulging muscles and an axe on his sword was the leader of that team because he was the first to speak.
"Hi! You fence have left everything very spotless for us it's very nice to arrive and see the place like this."
"You shouldn't thank us, it's our job...besides it was about time you arrived the protector wouldn't last much longer" - explained helios while pointing to the small device that was attached to that crack that prevented the creatures from passing into our world before the adventurers arrived.
My companion and I walked away to start gathering our work tools with nothing more to say, but the man's complaints reached our ears.
"Damn, they're taking too long we can't wait any longer" -He grunted as he looked impatient But seeing us he changed his expression to a smile was something I noticed with insecurity and more when he started to approach us.
"Hey guys, it's me again.... You see some of our teammates haven't arrived and as you know if we don't get into the rift fast the shield will break and the creatures will be able to get out. .... We need more people, could you two help us?
His request really surprised me, he is asking me, a man with no skills, and my partner to participate in something extremely dangerous.
"We can't, we just clean the affected area, we can't participate in something like this" -I confessed seriously But helium's expression is the opposite of mine wanting to participate in this knowing that it is too dangerous for people like him or me.
"Ban it's a good opportunity! Maybe this way we can prove that even if we have no skills we could fight!" -Helios' excitement made me sigh and give him a little smack on the head.
"Are you crazy? I remind you that we have to go to 5 other portals to clean up the mess before our work shift is over..."-I spoke with complaint and boredom just thinking about all the work we had planned for today, but the big guy with the axe insists with the idea.
"Come on guys you will be my heroes if you accept it doesn't matter if you are weak I know you cleaners don't have good combat skills, the team will take care of you and we will give you the part of the pay our missing comrades won't get and part of the loot but without 8 people we can't go in without getting complaints from the guild."
Hearing that we would be given the pay of an E class adventurer which would be at least 2 shiny cubes apart from a small part of the Loot I hesitate whether to accept as I really need the money, though Helios' face screams at me to accept the proposal.
"Aaah! I accept..... But I hope nothing bad happens to me and my partner, as I said we are not qualified for that kind of work."
The tall muscular man just laughs and offers his hand firmly to my partner and then to me.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine! By the way my name is klent, now come on there's no time to waste!".
When we approach the other members of the group and they hand us some pieces of armor and swords I notice the unseriousness of the team apparently they were new which made me hesitate more But fuck I need that money so bad.
When everyone is ready Klent approaches the crevice and removes the shield, the only thing keeping the creatures inside, they all start walking and disappear inside that bright green crevice.
I swallow saliva feeling that something is not in place, But I snap out of my thoughts when I see Helios smile and point to the portal.
"Come on Ban! That money is waiting for us."
He enters the crack disappearing and I follow him until we are in front of that mirror with lightning forming around it before crossing....