Lucavion turned his head to the side, scanning the bustling street for a moment. His expression shifted from playful to thoughtful as his eyes settled on a nearby vendor.
“Excuse me,” he called out, waving a hand at the vendor. “You wouldn’t happen to know where the Adventurer’s Guild is, would you?”
The vendor, a burly man with a thick beard, looked up from his stand, eyeing Lucavion with mild curiosity. “Adventurer’s Guild? Aye, it’s just a few streets over. Head down this way,” he gestured toward the narrow alley to their left, “then take a right at the third corner. Can’t miss it. Big building with a sign out front.”
Lucavion grinned, giving the man a quick nod of thanks. “Much appreciated.” He turned back to Valeria, his usual carefree attitude firmly back in place. “Shall we?”
Valeria sighed, feeling a mix of resignation and curiosity tugging at her. She wasn’t entirely sure why she was still following along, but with nothing pressing to do, she found herself giving in. “Lead the way,” she said, her voice laced with mild reluctance.
They wove through the crowd together, the sounds of the city fading into the background as they ventured down the alley the vendor had mentioned. The streets were narrower here, less crowded. freewebnσvel.cm
Lucavion glanced over at her as they neared the third corner, a light smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “You look deep in thought again.”
Valeria shook her head slightly, brushing it off. “I’m just wondering what this guild is going to be like. I’ve never been to one before.”
“Oh, you’re in for a treat,” Lucavion said with a wink, his pace picking up as they rounded the corner and approached the large building that could only be the Adventurer’s Guild.
The sign above the entrance was simple, but the large wooden doors and the steady stream of people going in and out told her all she needed to know—this place was busy, filled with people of all kinds, most likely mercenaries and adventurers seeking contracts, bounties, or simple tasks to earn a living.
As they stepped into the Adventurer’s Guild, the atmosphere immediately shifted. The noise hit them first—a mixture of rowdy laughter raised voices, and the constant hum of conversation. The hall was massive, with high ceilings supported by thick wooden beams, giving the place an almost tavern-like feel.
Tables were scattered throughout, each one occupied by adventurers discussing contracts, planning expeditions, or boasting about recent conquests.
Valeria’s eyes scanned the room, taking in the chaotic energy. There were all sorts of people here—mercenaries in battered armor, mages in simple robes, and a handful of rangers with bows slung across their backs. Some sat at the bar along the far wall, downing drinks and swapping stories. Others huddled around notice boards where quests were pinned up, each one offering coin in exchange for a task.
It was a world apart from the structured, disciplined environment she was used to in her knightly duties. Here, everything felt… unpredictable.
Lucavion, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease. He stepped forward with his usual relaxed stride, weaving through the crowd without a second thought. “Lively, isn’t it?” he said, glancing back at Valeria with a grin. “Feels like the kind of place where anything can happen.”
Valeria’s gaze lingered on a nearby group of adventurers who were arguing loudly over the spoils of a recent job. She frowned. “It’s… chaotic,” she remarked, her tone disapproving. “No order. No structure.”
That was something that she could not get used to.
Her frown deepened as she observed the chaotic scene. The Adventurer’s Guild was packed to the brim, and though she was still getting used to this disordered environment, she suddenly realized why it was so overwhelming. The tournament, she thought.
That had to be the reason for the unusual crowd. Even though Andelheim was a prosperous city, it didn’t usually draw this much attention.
But with the tournament around the corner, adventurers, mercenaries, and travelers from across the region had all flocked here, seeking work, fame, or simply a chance to witness the spectacle.
Her mind pieced the situation together. “Of course,” she muttered to herself. The influx of people made sense now. This was an unusual time for the city, and that explained why the guild hall was overflowing with rowdy adventurers.
Before she could dwell on the thought any longer, Lucavion moved forward, cutting through the crowd with his usual confident stride.
She followed close behind, watching as he made his way to the reception desk. Her eyes caught a glimpse of the receptionist—a strikingly beautiful woman with flowing blonde hair, her expression calm despite the flurry of activity around her.
She looked as though she was used to dealing with this sort of crowd, maintaining an air of professionalism even as a group of adventurers lingered nearby, trying to flirt with her.
Lucavion, however, seemed completely unfazed by the scene. Without even glancing at the men who were attempting to charm the receptionist, he stepped forward, offering her a bright smile as if he had all the time in the world.
The group of men shot him irritated looks, but Lucavion ignored them, his attention entirely focused on the task at hand.
“Good afternoon,” he greeted, leaning casually against the counter. “I’d like to register for an adventurer’s license.”
The receptionist, to her credit, barely reacted to the flirtatious group that had been pestering her. She met Lucavion’s eyes with a polite but professional smile, clearly appreciative of his straightforwardness.
Of course,” she said smoothly, her voice calm and composed. “Please fill out this form.”
As the receptionist handed Lucavion the form, her gaze lingered on him a moment longer than usual. Something about him made her pause. It wasn’t his relaxed demeanor or the easy smile that barely left his face—she had seen plenty of adventurers like that. No, it was something else, a feeling she couldn’t quite place.
“Do you have a recommendation letter?” she asked suddenly, her tone still professional but tinged with curiosity. It was not that of a standard procedure to ask but she felt like this young man would have it.
Lucavion’s smile didn’t falter. If anything, it seemed to widen ever so slightly, as if he had been expecting the question. “Of course,” he said smoothly, reaching into his coat. “I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble.”
With a practiced motion, he pulled out a folded letter sealed with an ornate wax stamp, as well as his identification card. He handed both over to her with the same effortless grace he carried in everything he did.
The receptionist took them, her eyes flickering over the letter first. She noted the seal with raised eyebrows, clearly recognizing it, though she didn’t comment. Her expression remained neutral as she moved on to his ID, holding it up to the light to inspect it. She nodded slowly, clearly satisfied, but that odd feeling in her gut persisted.
There was something about this young man that seemed to ripple beneath the surface, something she couldn’t quite read.
Before she could hand the papers back, one of the adventurers who had been flirting with her earlier suddenly stepped forward, clearly annoyed that Lucavion had so easily taken over the conversation.
“Hey,” the man said, his voice rough as he shoved his way closer to the counter. He was tall, with a muscular build and a scar running across his jaw. “Who do you think you are, just barging in here like that?”
Lucavion, still smiling, turned his head slightly to face the man. “I was not even barging in. I calmly came here and simply asked for a registration process.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. “You think you’re real clever, don’t you?”
Lucavion shook his head, still wearing that easy, almost amused smile. “Clever? No, I wouldn’t say that.” His tone was calm, and casual, as if they were having a friendly chat rather than a confrontation. “There are plenty of people far smarter than me, believe me.”
It was the lack of concern in Lucavion’s voice, the way he didn’t rise to the bait, that seemed to irritate the man even more. His face darkened, and he stepped closer, looming over Lucavion. The sheer difference in their sizes became clear as the man straightened, his broad shoulders casting a shadow over Lucavion. The tension in the air thickened as he leaned in, his voice low and dangerous.
“You might want to be careful, newbie,” the man growled, his breath hot with barely concealed aggression. “Things happen to people around here. Especially fresh meat who don’t know when to shut their mouth. It’s better to stay in line and keep your head down, or you might find yourself in more trouble than you can handle.”
Lucavion’s smile never wavered. He met the man’s gaze with an almost lazy confidence as if the threat barely registered. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said lightly, his tone so unaffected that it felt like a dismissal more than anything else.
The man’s jaw tightened in frustration, clearly annoyed that Lucavion wasn’t taking him seriously. His eyes flicked over to Valeria, and a sly grin spread across his face. He gave her a once-over, his tone shifting to something he probably thought was charming, though it came across as anything but.
“And who’s this?” he asked, his voice dripping with forced charm. “You with him, sweetheart? If you’re looking for someone who can show you a good time, I’d say you’re wasting your time with this guy. You want someone who knows how to handle things.”
Valeria’s eyes flashed with irritation as she felt his leering gaze settle on her. His attempt at flirting was not only pathetic but infuriatingly transparent. She could feel the urge to shut him down rising, but before she could say a word, Lucavion spoke up again.
“She’s with me,” Lucavion said casually, his tone still light, but there was an edge beneath it now. “And she’s not interested in whatever it is you think you’re offering.” He didn’t even look at the man, focusing instead on adjusting his coat as if this conversation barely warranted his attention.
“Oh? I don’t think you have the capability to keep her, though. Or at least, you will not have.”
–SWOOSH!
Following that, a quick jab followed.