The sun spilled golden light across the villa's wide windows, warming the polished floors and catching on the faint wisps of smoke rising from the kitchen hearth. Mira moved with practiced ease, ears flicking as she hummed a soft tune, her hands busy over a sizzling pan. The smell of herbs, eggs, and roasted meats filled the air, wrapping the villa in the comfort of home. She plated the food neatly, tail swishing in rhythm with the clinking of utensils.
Kenshin staggered into the room with a yawn, hair tousled, scratching his head. "Yo, Mira, you spoilin' us again. At this rate, we might as well hire a whole squad of maids so you ain't gotta be our house mom."
Mira's ears twitched, but she didn't look up. "A squad of maids, huh? So they can clean up after your lazy ass too?"
Seme appeared next, stretching with a grunt before dropping into a chair. "Bad idea. That's just more random people in our house. No privacy. I don't need strangers wandering around my room."
Drathan slid into his seat, smirking faintly as he adjusted his cloak. "Nah, Kenshin's got a point. We're out on quests half the time anyway. Wouldn't hurt to have someone taking care of things here."
Kenshin shot Seme a triumphant look. "See? Even Mr. Lazy agrees with me."
Before Seme could retort, a loud BANG-BANG-BANG shook the front door. Mira's ears flicked, and the trio froze for a heartbeat. Heavy, hurried knocks echoed through the villa, urgent and unrelenting.
"Yo, who the hell bangin' like that this early?" Kenshin muttered, rising with a frown.
Drathan pushed back his chair and crossed the hall. When he swung open the door, a guild messenger stood there, chest heaving, cloak half soaked with sweat. "Emergency summons! All capable adventurers are to gather at the guild hall immediately!"
Drathan arched a brow. "Emergency?"
"Yes," the messenger panted. "The Guild Leader calls everyone. Now." Without waiting for a response, he darted back down the road, still shouting the call.
The trio exchanged quick glances. Kenshin groaned. "Man, we just got back. Can't even eat breakfast in peace."
"Grab your gear," Seme said, already strapping her sword. "If Aelira's calling the city together, it's serious."
The streets bustled as they made their way to the guild hall. When they arrived, the place was packed wall to wall with adventurers—armor clinking, voices overlapping in a storm of speculation. The air was hot with tension, and the smell of sweat, steel, and ink filled the chamber. Shouts rose from every corner:
"Bet it's another expedition!"
"No, something hit the villages!"
"Maybe the guildmaster found another ruin—"
Seme crossed her arms, frowning as her eyes scanned the noisy hall. "We just got out the woods, now we gotta deal with this mess? Man, I need a damn vacation."
Kenshin leaned back against a pillar, smirking. "Welcome to Tierwyn, sis. No such thing as peace here."
Drathan said nothing, simply watching the crowd. He could feel the unease, the way some adventurers tapped restless fingers on their weapons or shifted their weight like predators waiting for prey.
The clamor slowed as footsteps echoed from the back of the hall. Aelira, Tierwyn's guild branch leader, stepped forward, her auburn braid glinting in the lamplight, her sharp eyes sweeping the crowd into silence.
She raised a hand. "Adventurers of Tierwyn. This is no simple summons. Three days ago, a horde of orcs and ogres swept across nearby villages, burning homes and slaughtering families. You saw the refugees at our gates—those were the lucky ones. The horde still roams, and if left unchecked, it will reach us."
A heavy silence followed, the weight of her words settling like stone.
Aelira continued, her voice carrying clear authority. "As of this moment, the guild is issuing emergency quests. All ranks are to participate. Slay every orc and ogre you find. Bring proof of your kills back to the guild. Payment will be generous, and rewards greater still. But understand—this is not just about coin. This is about Tierwyn's safety. Our people's lives depend on it."
The hall exploded into noise. High-ranked adventurers in polished gear smirked or chuckled, some calling out with cocky grins:
"Orcs? Ogres? Easy money."
"Just make sure you got enough bags ready to haul all the loot back."
But lower-ranked teams weren't laughing. A group of greenhorns huddled near the back whispered nervously.
"I heard ogres can heal fast. Like, crazy fast. What if we can't kill them?"
"Orcs fight in packs, don't they? They'll swarm us."
One young mage swallowed hard, clutching her staff tight. I've never fought anything bigger than a wolf… how the hell am I supposed to stand against that?
A hand shot up from the front. A broad-shouldered B-rank warrior called out, "Guildmaster! How big's the horde, exactly? Hundreds? Thousands?"
Aelira's gaze fixed on him. "Numbers are unclear. Scouts report dozens at least, possibly more. The horde is not organized like an army—but do not underestimate their ferocity. Orcs and ogres are not mindless beasts. They fight with brutal cunning."
Another voice rose, this one from an older cleric, his tone heavy. "And what of the villages destroyed? Survivors? Supplies?"
Aelira's jaw tightened. "Few survivors remain outside the city. Supplies are being redirected to the refugees. But if we do not cut off the horde, more towns will burn."
The younger adventurers paled, the reality settling deeper. One muttered, "So this ain't just about money. If we fail… everyone pays the price."
Meanwhile, some of the rowdier veterans slapped each other on the back, laughing darkly about finally having a fight worth their blades. One rogue grinned wide, whispering to his partner, "Bet half these newbies don't come back. More contracts for us after."
Seme caught that and scowled. "Assholes," she muttered. "They're already counting bodies."
Drathan's eyes flicked toward Aelira again, unreadable. Kenshin just exhaled slowly, a grin tugging at his lips. "Well," he murmured to the trio, "looks like it's time to make a name for ourselves again."
The tension hung thick, the hall split between fear, greed, and determination. Aelira's voice cut through once more, steady as steel: "Prepare yourselves. Tomorrow, the hunts begin."