The rain hadn't stopped by the time Olivia reached the Silver Phantom Guild. Water dripped from her cloak as she pushed open the wooden door, letting the faint scent of wet earth drift into the hall. James and Ilyanna were seated near the hearth, sharpening weapons and sipping weak tea.
They looked up as she entered.
"You're back earlier than I thought," James said, setting his mug down. "How'd it go?"
Olivia removed her hood, her expression unreadable. She hung her cloak on the peg by the door, then walked to the table and leaned on it with both hands.
"It went… as expected," she said. Her voice was even, but the weight behind it was enough to make Ilyanna stop mid-motion with her whetstone.
"Meaning?" the archer asked cautiously.
"Meaning," Olivia said, "that the other guild masters think we're too small to handle the goblin threat. And, to be blunt—" She paused, her jaw tightening just slightly. "They're right."
James frowned. "Right? Olivia, you're not—"
"I am," she cut in. "We've been at this for less than a week. Two of you are fresh from street fights and rabbit hunts. Sending you against an organized goblin outpost isn't strategy—it's suicide."
The words settled heavily in the room. James leaned back in his chair, staring into the fire. Ilyanna didn't look angry—just thoughtful, as though weighing the truth in silence.
Olivia straightened, her tone softening slightly. "This isn't about doubting your potential. It's about preparing you for what's coming. If Silver Phantom is going to prove itself, we need to grow stronger first."
James tapped his fingers against the table, thinking. "Then let's not waste time. We keep hunting—but this time, tougher prey. Something that pushes us."
Ilyanna raised an eyebrow. "Like what? Wolves? Boars?"
Olivia's lips curved faintly. "Tree Hounds."
The name alone made Ilyanna's eyes narrow. "You mean those overgrown wooden mutts with teeth like sawblades?"
"They're stronger than horned rabbits," Olivia admitted, "and much more aggressive. But they're still manageable with the right strategy. They're fast, but their bark-covered bodies are weak to fire and concentrated strikes at the joints. If you can't handle them, you won't handle goblins with weapons."
James's gaze sharpened. "Weak to fire, you say? That's… doable."
Olivia nodded. "Exactly. This won't just be about killing them—it'll be about learning to read their movements, control your distance, and fight under pressure. Tree Hounds hunt in pairs or trios. You'll need to coordinate every step."
Ilyanna finally smirked, the smallest glint of competitiveness in her eyes. "Sounds like the perfect chance to see if the scholar can keep up."
James returned the smirk. "Just keep your arrows straight and I'll handle the fire."
Olivia didn't smile, but there was a hint of satisfaction in her gaze. "Good. We start tomorrow morning. Eat well tonight. Rest. And sharpen your focus—Tree Hounds won't give you the luxury of mistakes."
The fire crackled between them, shadows flickering across the room. Outside, the rain kept falling, but the air in the guild hall had shifted.
They weren't going to the goblin outpost—not yet. But they'd be ready when the time came.