The guild hall was unusually quiet for midday. The air held an undercurrent of tension, subtle but unmistakable. The usual chatter of adventurers was subdued, and even the receptionist offered only a brief nod as Liora and Tessa stepped inside.
At the back of the hall, near the notice board, stood Guildmaster Halric, his arms crossed, his eyes sharp. But it wasn't just him.
Two others stood beside him.
One was a demi-human girl who looked no older than sixteen. Her long silver hair was tied in a playful braid over her shoulder, and she wore a sleek black leather armor. Despite her youthful appearance, there was a confident sharpness in her gaze, and her A-rank badge gleamed on her collar.
The other figure beside her was the opposite, a grizzled, heavy-set man with light black leather armor and a battle-worn axe slung over his back. His hair had mostly gone gray. He stood with the stillness of someone who had seen countless battles.
The Guildmaster spotted Liora and waved her over.
"Liora. Tessa. Glad you came quickly."
As they approached, he gestured toward the pair. "This is Nellie and Garth. Both A-rankers. You'll be teaming up with them starting tomorrow."
Tessa blinked. "Teaming up? For what?"
Guildmaster Halric's tone dropped, more serious now. "Mass monster activity has been spotted in several parts of the region. No known cause yet. Northern forest in particular is seeing higher concentrations than usual, agitated monsters, more aggressive behavior, and movement toward the outer paths."
Liora's expression darkened. "A swarm?"
"Not a full one. Not yet. But if left unchecked…" Halric shook his head. "We can't take chances."
He pointed to the table behind him, where a map had been pinned. "We're organizing teams to hit multiple zones at once. Tomorrow at dusk, I want your team heading toward the northern forest perimeter. Nellie and Garth will guide the approach, they've scouted the zone already. Liora, with your tracking skills, and Tessa's support, this should be a balanced team."
Nellie gave a sharp, playful smile and waved. "Nice to meet you. I've heard of you, especially the B-rank mom who took down a forest stalker with a half-broken blade."
Liora blinked at the phrasing, but smiled faintly. "That story's a little exaggerated."
Garth grunted in amusement. "Most stories are. But we're not here for glory."
The Guildmaster nodded. "This isn't a solo mission. Monsters, this stirred up? That's never random. Keep your guard up. Meet back here an hour before sunset tomorrow. Travel light. Expect resistance."
Liora glanced at Tessa, who gave a firm nod in return.
"We'll be ready," Liora said.
As they turned to leave, Nellie called out with a grin, "I call dibs on campfire duty!"
Garth sighed. "Not if you try to roast root vegetables again."
Their voices faded behind Liora and Tessa as they exited the guild, the sun already starting to set.
It was time to prepare for what could be their most dangerous assignment yet.