Chapter 10 – Housemates
Jessica handed Dannie a small booklet filled with names, crests, and short descriptions of groups she could join. Some were small associations, others were larger guilds, each offering their own advantages.
"Most of the guilds registered with us provide perks and rewards for completing tasks," Jessica explained, her tone light but encouraging. "It's not just about the pay—you'll also build connections and learn valuable skills."
Dannie flipped through the pages with quiet curiosity. Each entry displayed something different: merchants trading rare goods, explorers charting unclaimed lands, and craftsmen perfecting their art. But it was the guilds that caught her eye the most. Their insignias were bold, almost daring her to take part.
Jessica leaned closer, tapping on one of the entries.
"This one here—the Silver Fang Guild. They're reliable, well-balanced, and fair to their members. You'll get proper training, not just errands."
Dannie nodded slowly, weighing the words. "And the others?"
Jessica chuckled softly. "Some guilds chase profit above all else. If you want quick money, you can try them, but…" she gave Dannie a knowing look, "don't expect fair treatment. Unless you enjoy being overworked, I'd stay away."
She flipped a page and pointed to another entry.
"This is the Celeste Guild. The smallest one—only five members. They're very selective. Instead of fighting for big contracts, they focus on training, hunting, and trading rare raw materials. Quality over quantity, you could say."
Dannie raised a brow. "Only five?"
"Yes. Peculiar, isn't it?" Jessica lowered her voice. "Some say each member is quiet and low-key, but all of them are frighteningly capable. Specialists, as people call them."
The word specialist stirred something inside Dannie. Was it truly special to be one? Judging by Jessica's expression, it seemed like something remarkable.
Still, Dannie decided to play it safe. "I'll go with the Silver Fang Guild for now," she said.
Jessica smiled as though she expected that answer. "Good choice."
The two shared a brief laugh before Jessica stood. "But before we handle guild registration, you'll need to settle your living arrangements."
On the way out, Dannie asked the question that had been nagging her.
"Jessica… why am I being treated so well here? I'm still a stranger, after all."
Jessica glanced at her, then smiled knowingly. "Because of the token you hold. Mr. Jace gave it to you, didn't he?"
Dannie's eyes widened slightly. So Jace actually has influence here…
They left the office and walked down a hallway that branched into several wings. Jessica continued her explanation as they went along.
"You'll be sharing quarters with three others. Don't worry—they're good people, though a little… eccentric."
At the end of the hall, Jessica pushed open a door. The smell of cooking lingered faintly, and the sound of faint chatter drifted from the common area.
Three faces turned toward Dannie the moment she stepped inside.
The first was a tall boy with sandy hair tied into a messy knot. He lounged lazily on a couch, juggling two apples as if it were second nature. His grin was quick and mischievous.
"New blood, huh? I'm Marcus."
The second was a petite girl sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by books stacked higher than her head. She adjusted her glasses, giving a polite but distracted smile.
"Call me Lira. Don't mind the mess—I like keeping everything within reach."
The last leaned against the window, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Dark hair framed sharp features, and their gaze lingered on Dannie a moment too long before they finally spoke. Their voice was calm, almost cold.
"Evan. Welcome."
Jessica clapped her hands cheerfully. "There you go. Your new housemates. You'll be seeing a lot of each other from now on."
After a round of brief greetings, Jessica handed Dannie a small pouch with a playful smile.
"Silver and gold are the main currency here. I can't just give you money outright, so think of this as a loan from us. We'll charge you two percent from every trade you make through the association. So, work hard, dear Dannie." She winked before slipping out the door, leaving Dannie alone with her new housemates.
The room she was given was simple—just a pillow, a bedframe, and a folded blanket. Nothing more.
She caught sight of herself in the tall mirror across the room and let out a soft, wry laugh.
I look like a traveler who just stumbled in from the wilderness…
Her reflection didn't lie. Her clothes were worn and dusty from days of travel, hanging loosely on her figure. Compared to the neat and comfortable attire of the others in the house, she looked utterly out of place.
As she adjusted her tunic, she noticed the makeshift bandages tied around her arms—remnants from her fight against the creepy birdlike beasts. Blinking, she quickly unwound the cloth.
Her eyes widened.
The cuts and bruises… were gone.
"H-How…?" she whispered, bewildered. The skin was smooth, without even the faintest trace of injury. I really need to understand how this world works if I'm going to survive here.
Pushing aside her confusion for now, she let out a breath and straightened her posture.
"First things first… clothes. I need proper clothes before I can even think of resting."
Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her she hadn't eaten a proper meal since earlier. The faint, savory scent of cooking drifted into her room, coaxing her toward the common area.
Maybe I should at least see what the others are doing…
Gathering her courage, Dannie stepped out into the living space, where her housemates' voices overlapped in casual conversation.
Lira was the first to notice her. The bespectacled girl blinked, tilting her head as her sharp gaze swept over Dannie.
"You look… bloodied," she remarked softly, more curious than alarmed.
Heat rose to Dannie's cheeks. She scratched the back of her neck, awkwardly explaining—at least in part—her strange arrival into this world. The details were fuzzy, but it was enough for the three to piece together the gist of it.
Marcus let out a low whistle. "Well, that explains the dramatic entrance." He grinned, his tone light and teasing, like a boy next door trying to put her at ease.
Evan said nothing, only returning to the stew with an aloof air, though his eyes flickered toward her with quiet thought.
Lira closed her book with a gentle snap and smiled warmly.
"Gosh, you must be starving and thirsty. Come, eat first. After that, I'll lend you some of my clothes until you can buy your own. And don't worry about the money—I'll cover it for now. You can just pay me back once you've earned something."
Her kindness disarmed Dannie, making her shoulders relax. For the first time since arriving, she didn't feel like an outsider.
The table wasn't extravagant, but it was warm and inviting. A pot of stew simmered in the middle, filling the air with the rich aroma of herbs and meat. A basket of fresh bread sat beside it, still warm from the oven.
Dannie slipped into an empty chair. Her stomach growled again, loud enough for Marcus to laugh.
"Hear that? The newbie's stomach already likes us more than she does!" he teased, his grin infectious.
"Marcus," Lira muttered with a sigh, though her smile betrayed her amusement.
Evan ladled stew into bowls and passed them around in silence, his movements efficient and deliberate. Lira neatly sliced the bread, her stacks of books pushed aside just enough to make room for the meal.
The first spoonful nearly undid Dannie. It wasn't fancy, but after days of tough bread and bitter dried meat, the stew tasted like heaven. Warmth filled her chest, spreading to her fingertips.
She didn't realize how quickly she was eating until Marcus nudged her with his elbow, flashing his boyish grin.
"Careful there, newbie! Don't inhale it all at once. If you choke, we'll have to tell Jessica the house lost a tenant on the first night."
Flustered, Dannie slowed down, cheeks warming. "S-sorry… it's just really good."
"Of course it is. You're welcome," Marcus said proudly, puffing his chest.
Lira raised a brow. "Don't exaggerate. You barely managed to chop the onions without crying. Evan did most of the cooking."
Marcus leaned forward, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Don't let her fool you, newbie. She cried more than me when she peeled the garlic."
Lira swatted him with the spine of her book, though her cheeks reddened slightly.
Evan, meanwhile, remained quiet, his gaze fixed on his bowl as he stirred slowly. For just a moment, a faint smirk tugged at his lips—but it vanished as quickly as it came, replaced with that same distant gloom.
The conversation carried on, Marcus' teasing stories filling the room, Lira scolding him in between laughs, and Evan occasionally cutting through Marcus' exaggerations with blunt, almost gloomy remarks that ended the tale faster than any scolding could.
Dannie listened more than she spoke, but every now and then, she found herself laughing with them. Slowly, the tension that had clung to her since she arrived began to unravel.
When the last of the bread was gone and the pot scraped clean, Lira stood and adjusted her glasses with a small smile.
"Alright, Dannie. Once you've rested, I'll prepare some clothes for you. Tomorrow morning, we'll go shopping together."
Gratitude welled in Dannie's chest. She smiled faintly. "Thank you. Really."
"Don't mention it," Lira replied warmly. "Housemates look out for each other."
And with that, Dannie's first night in this strange new world ended not in fear, but in warmth.