Golden rays spilled through the high windows of the Adventure Guild, catching motes of dust that danced in the air. The warm buzz of activity echoed faintly from the main hall behind them.
Outside, Aaron stood with Fiona, Auriel, and David. But what caught his attention more was the way all three kept stealing glances at him quiet, thoughtful, unreadable.
Aaron, glancing over his shoulder, awkward,"…Okay, seriously. You're all staring like I just sprouted wings. Say something before I start blushing."
Fiona, blinking out of her daze,"You threw a throwing knife, and it exploded dealing a damage of 15. What exactly are you hiding in those sleeves?"
David, brows still raised, "First hit was modest. Then boom straight to twenty-five. That wasn't a fluke. That was a statement."
Auriel, slower to speak, gaze sharp, "That wasn't just raw force. The energy shaped looked something like a throwing knife."
Aaron replied, "Let's drop it. We need to focus on the Mud Golem."
Fiona at this time said," According to the details that I found. The mud Golem lives at the Marsh Hollow that's what the locals call it. A sunken stretch of land where thick, murky water hides the bones of trees long dead. The air hums with gnats and damp rot, clinging to every breath like a second skin. Patches of ground look solid but squelch underfoot, revealing sinkholes and bone-pale roots coiled like veins."
"At the heart of the hollow rises a mound of living sludge, crowned with broken stone and twisted reeds. This is the Mud Golem's lair a patch of unstable terrain where the mud churns like it has a pulse. Each step echoes through the muck, as if the ground itself is listening."
"Above, the canopy is split letting in dim, slanted shafts of sunlight that glint off oily water. Sometimes you catch a glimmer of movement just beneath the surface: frogs, perhaps. Or worse."
" It's located 30 kilometres Southeast of Blueish City."
Auriel's tone was like frost. "To face that thing, we've no choice but to head into the swamp."
David added, voice low and tense. "Those swamps aren't just mud. They're crawling with venomous predators. One misstep… and you're gone."
Aaron tapped his chin, thoughtful. "We'll need scrolls especially the kind that stop us from sinking or getting dragged under."
Fiona gave a deliberate cough, drawing all eyes. "Seriously, did you all forget who I am?"
Aaron answered right away. "Of course not. You're fire mage and an alchemist."
Fiona smirked. "Exactly. Which means you don't need to worry about scrolls. I've brewed what we need."
She held up a vial of pale blue liquid. "This is a lightweight potion cuts your body weight for five minutes. Ideal for swamps… though you might want to duck during a strong gust. Getting blown into a tree isn't part of the plan."
She pulled out another flask. "I've got antidotes, too. Just in case something decides we're dinner."
Then a final, blood-red bottle. "And this one's a hemostatic potion. Splash it on a wound it'll stop the bleeding almost instantly."
Aaron hesitated, then shook his head. "No we can't use the potion."
David backed him up, arms crossed. "Right. She's not part of the team. Just a temporary tag-along."
Auriel cleared her throat, suddenly sheepish. "Actually... I forgot to tell you. She's already joined us."
Aaron and David exchanged a look.
Auriel added quickly. "Remember when I asked Aaron to call you, David? She joined right after that."
Aaron narrowed his eyes. "You... Next time someone joins the team, maybe ask us first?"
Fiona raised an eyebrow, hand on hip. "Wow. Don't strain yourselves with the warm welcome."
She uncorked a vial with deliberate flair. "Good thing alchemists don't need permission to be useful."
Aaron squinted at Fiona. "Weren't you the receptionist? How did you end up on our team?"
Fiona rubbed the back of her neck, clearly flustered. "Technically… I'm not from Blueish City. I'm from Talos Town about 300 kilometers west."
She gave a sheepish shrug. "I came here to collect rare ingredients, but I ran out of money. So I took a part-time job at the Adventurer's Guild front desk."
Aaron narrowed his eyes, suspicion mounting. "Fiona… what's the success rate of your potions?"
Fiona blushed, voice dropping. "Um… thirty percent? Okay maybe twenty."
Aaron turned sharply toward Auriel. "Can we kick her out of the team?"
Auriel sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Contract's already signed. Unless she volunteers to leave, she's staying."
Fiona crossed her arms and leaned back smugly. "That's right. You're stuck with me and my legally binding mediocrity."
Aaron shrugged. "Come on, David. Let's sell the loot."
David gave a brief nod and fell in beside him.
Auriel called after them, "We'll wait for you at the Adventurer's Guild."
The two men disappeared into the bustling street, leaving Fiona and Auriel standing by the guild's front steps one patient, the other already eyeing a passing merchant stall like it owed her money.
.....
Inside the study room of the Goldvien family estate, Kael sat in silence, eyes fixed on the report sprawled across his desk. His expression was unreadable calm, yet edged with contemplation.
The files detailed the profiles of Auriel and David. But they were shallow frustratingly so.
Auriel: Female. Profession: Ice Mage. Known Spells: Three.
David: Male. Profession: Driver. Known Spells: Three.
That was it. Barebones data, clearly scraped from recent activity within Blueish City. Nothing from their past. Nothing personal. Nothing usable.
Kael leaned back, fingers steepled beneath his chin.
Then his gaze drifted to the third file Aaron.
Profession: Ninja.
Primary Weapon: Throwing knives.
Noted Capability: Can condense energy into a blade and launch it over distance impact classified as highly destructive.
Skills: Unknown.
Identity: Illegitimate Son of Kael Goldvien, officially exiled from the Goldvien family.
Kael's gaze hardened as he addressed the butler, his tone sharp and unwavering. "Gather a team of adventurers. Ensure they intercept Aaron's group beyond Blueish City. Place a bounty of 500 gold coins on his head. No mistakes must be made this time."