Huff… Huff…
Shelly's thoughts were a mess as she walked. We've been walking for five hours straight…
Beside her, Luck and Lars were just as exhausted, their steps sluggish, their breaths heavy.
Luck shot Shelly an annoyed glance. "You're the captain of our party, tch. Why didn't you take horses? You let the knights have them, and now look at us."
Shelly cleared her throat. "Hem-hem. I didn't know we'd have to return to this town. Besides, we're already at the entrance, so don't exaggerate."
Their eyes drifted toward the man walking ahead of them.
Luck frowned. "Sir, in a small town like this, I doubt there's even a guild branch."
The man said nothing.
Shelly, however, answered. "There is one, but it's fragile at best. I doubt we'll even find a guild master there."
As they stepped onto the town's main street, the dull ache in their legs was momentarily forgotten. Stalls lined the roads, displaying everything from fresh vegetables to exotic spices. The smell of roasted meat wafted through the air, blending with the chatter of merchants and customers. The crowd was a chaotic mix of humans, elves, and dwarves, their voices overlapping in an indistinct hum.
We're here.
For Alex, these streets carried the weight of old memories. Five years ago, he had wandered through them, not as a prince, not as royalty, but as just another nameless figure. For one year, he had roamed, surviving off scraps, learning the ways of this world—not by privilege, but by necessity.
The remaining four years? He had done nothing but cultivate, drowning himself in training to suppress his agony.
Lars suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "Sir, I think we're here."
They stood in front of a weathered building wedged between two larger structures. The wooden sign above the entrance was so faded it was barely readable—Rose Guild Branch.
But calling it a guild branch felt like an overstatement.
The building was barely standing. The once-sturdy wooden walls were riddled with cracks, the paint peeling in long, jagged strips. A lantern dangled from a rusted hook, swaying slightly in the evening breeze, its flame weak and flickering. The door itself was slightly ajar, revealing a dimly lit interior. A thick scent of alcohol and damp wood seeped out, mixing with the distant aroma of street food.
Lars wrinkled his nose. "This place looks more like a den for drunks than a guild branch."
Shelly crossed her arms. "Well, that explains why the rumour says the guild branch of Rose Guild here is fragile."
As they took their first step inside, the wooden floor creaked beneath their weight. The dim lighting barely illuminated the room, but one thing was clear—this was not a place of order and discipline.
Scattered tables were occupied by slumped figures, some laughing drunkenly, others unconscious with empty mugs in hand. A few turned their heads lazily at the newcomers before returning to their drinks, uninterested. The air was thick with the stench of cheap ale and unwashed bodies.
Shelly sighed. "Great. Just what we needed."
Alex walked forward taking his usual steps, leaving Shelly, Lars, and Luck behind as he approached the counter which was placed at the corner of the den.
A woman stood there, leaning against the worn wooden surface. Her face was strikingly beautiful, but her physique was unexpectedly muscular she wearing trunks and a half-cuffed t-shirt in which her cleavage was visible—her broad shoulders, toned arms, and a curvy figure that almost seemed too perfect to be real. Despite her intimidating presence, her voice was smooth and inviting as she spoke.
"Well, well… Tell me, young man, what can I serve you?"
Alex met her gaze, his expression calm and unreadable. His tone matched her own, fluid and unwavering.
"What I want… you can probably give me—the presence of the guild master."
The woman clicked her tongue, her playful smirk widening. "Tch, today's youth really have no lust left in them. Why are you looking for that old man? And more importantly, why should he meet with you?" Though her words were teasing, her gaze sharpened, half-playful yet half-serious.
Alex remained unfazed. "Why I want to meet him is none of your concern, miss… is it?"
Without another word, he pulled out a guild pass and placed it on the counter.
Her eyes flickered with interest. "Oh? A member, are you? Why didn't you say so from the start? Though… you don't look like one. I've never heard of that old man taking in a handsome young man before." She leaned slightly forward, her lips curling into a sly grin. "Your charm, young one… It might just steal my heart."
Alex stepped closer, leaning in until his lips nearly brushed her ear.
"I could," he whispered, his voice low and smooth. "But right now, I want his presence more than yours… so you'll have to wait."
The woman froze for a brief second before chuckling, her amusement evident. "Oh, I like you," she murmured, her fingers tapping against the counter.
The woman leaned against the counter, a playful glint in her eyes. "I mean… the guild master isn't here. He's at the battlefront with the general."
Alex's expression remained unreadable.
She tilted her head slightly, still watching him with interest. "Though… why do you want him? You can tell me, handsome. Who knows? Maybe I can help."
Alex let out a sigh. "Oh, so he's not here…" He glanced at her, his voice calm but firm. "When he returns, could you let him know I was looking for him?"
He stepped back slightly, his gaze unwavering. "As for why I need his presence… That's something you wouldn't be able to fulfill, now would you?"
The woman chortled, her fingers still on the counter. "Mysterious and charming, huh? Now you're making me even more curious."
As Alex turned to leave the counter, the woman suddenly called out in a loud, teasing voice.
"Handsome! You can still tell me—I'll fulfill your wish."
Her words echoed through the dimly lit guild hall, drawing the attention of everyone present. Conversations halted, and all eyes—men and women alike—turned toward Alex, staring at him wondering. Even Shelly, Lars and Luck's eyes were on him who were standing at the entrance.
For a moment, silence hung in the air, the weight of her bold words settling over the room.
Alex, unfazed, simply paused, his back still turned to her. Then, without looking back, he let out a soft chuckle and continued walking.
The woman simpering, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Tch, acting cool now? How interesting…" she murmured under her breath.
Though Alex paused mid-step, a flicker of thought crossing his mind. Instead of leaving, he turned back and moved toward the woman.
Leaning in close, his breath warm against her ear, he whispered, his voice low and deliberate.
"If you tell me… I just might be able to fulfill what you want."
For a brief moment, the woman's playful smirk faltered. A glint of intrigue flashed in her eyes as she met his gaze, her amusement deepening.
"You're dangerous, aren't you?"
Alex's lips touched spot between her neck and ear his breath warm as he whispered,you want to tell me, don't you?
a shiver ran down her spine. Her breath hitched, and for a fleeting moment, an intense sensation washed over her, leaving her body tense.
Barely suppressing a gasp,her voice softer than before almost hesitent, "I… I could tell you when he'll return. I think… probably two nights from now."
Her eyes flickered, her usual playful confidence momentarily shaken.
Alex pulled away, his voice calm yet unwavering.
"Then I'll fulfill my promise. Meet me tonight… at midnight."
The woman froze, her breath catching in her throat. A deep blush spread across her cheeks, turning them a vivid shade of red.
Before she could respond, Alex had already turned, stepping away toward Shelly, Lars, and Luck.
She remained there, motionless, lost in the moment—her usual playful demeanor replaced by something else entirely.