Solid, the Second Guild

As we made our way through Matilda’s streets, I felt uneasy. Night was approaching, and the few people around looked at us with suspicion. After such a cavalry force passed by, probably the word spread quickly.

Yet that wasn’t it. No, the city itself felt different. I saw a field at a distance where armored people were giving orders to what looked like villagers. In contrast to the Plaza’s near neighborhoods, I could breathe the tension in the air.

This place is a mess after the attack, but even so, people were more cheerful. Now it’s quieter…and clean?

Matilda noticed my uneasiness.

“Alicia, I don’t know what is in your mind. But if you want to live one more day, let me do the talking. Yes, you can feel it, right? You are going to meet a monster.”

You mean another one?

We stopped in front of a one-story building on a corner. However, this one was special. It was in such perfect condition, with no visible scratches or breaks. The freshly painted white wall had a strong smell, which I enjoyed for a second. Moreover, I could swear there wasn’t a single speck of dust.

Madego didn’t bother to knock on the door.

It was open.

And a Guild was now in front of me.

The hall was so big that it sheltered more than fifty people, without counting us. All of them wore different kinds of armor, metal or leather, and tunics of different fabrics, with two things in common: the red tones and the cat figure in one part of their garments.

A knight without a helmet stood in front of us. The same as before, but now I saw the beads of sweat forming due to the unbearable heat of the jungle.

“So you came anyway, lieutenant. Even when the Heirs of Othal don’t have a say in these matters?”

From a seat in the back, a hooded figure rose from his seat in silence.

“We came for justice, and we won’t fall back. I let you take the criminal in good faith, and now I’ll lead her interrogation, sergeant.”

Madego spoke in a dry but respectful tone. The red knight was some sort of superior.

“Yes, sergeant, you’ll do well remembering that. Do you think we are idiots in here? You left us with donkey’s work, and now you claim to…”

The hooded figure stood up at a table.

“Renzhar, that’s enough. I’ll be the one to decide.” He grimaced at him. “Get out of my presence and take off your armor. In fact, all of you take off your armor. I will not tolerate a single drop of sweat dirtying this floor.”

Now he looked at us with scorn.

“And you, I won't listen to any filthy woman. Tooko, Catfished, take them to the showers.”

I was about to open my mouth to protest, but even the thought was too late.

The hooded man appeared from behind my man while I was frozen in place. When I looked at my feet, I was literally frozen to the floor. I saw genuine terror in Madego’s eyes. No, that was an understatement. Everyone present was scared.

“Master Dreadroxprime, I’ll take them to the baths. Please, let us clean the ice.” One woman interceded on our behalf.

He relaxed his expression.

“Yes, yes, of course. My sincere apologies. Filthy people can take the best of me. You and Catfished take good care of them.” And then he directed all the presents, “I want this room prepared to hold a court in an hour and finish this disgusting issue. You know the drill, when I’m back, I want this clean.”

Dreadoxprime left the hall, leaving a trace of hail on the floor, which five subordinates started to clean as soon as possible.

“Call me Tooko. You must be insane if you were planning to talk back to the GM in such a state.” She had a sincere smile and an easygoing attitude.

“State? What do you mean? Who does he believe he is?”

Tooko looked confused at Madego.

“I’m sorry for all this, Tooko. I underestimated Dreadoxprime's peculiar personality. This one, Alicia, is just a noob girl; she’s not even level 10. And the quieter one is Kalandra, from around here. She may not be a Hero, but she has better common sense.”

Our guide giggled at Madego’s presentation.

“Alicia, then. So I'd better inform all of you then. Dreadoxprime is our GM—Guild Master, didn’t you know that?—He’s a Wizard. An Ice Wizard, to be precise.” Then she smiled at Madego, “One of the few level 100 people in the Land of Corners.”

Kalandra shuddered.

“Level 100? I got no news of this! That wasn’t in the last register.” Madego wasn’t happy with the news.

“Oh, sorry, lieutenant, our GM recently got 3 new levels from the last raid. I know the paperwork will be done shortly.”

We met Catfished, the other companion. We all took the chance to relax and take a shower.

I have to be careful here. I can’t ruin everything again by speaking too much.

“Alicia, since you are a noob, you should also know who we are, since the lieutenant here didn’t do a good job. I’m joking, I’m joking!”

Catfished, who was completely absorbed in her own thoughts, enjoying the hot water, joined the conversation.

“We are Solid, the Red Cats, and the Second Guild of the Second Raid Army. Don’t phrase it like that in front of the Dreadoxprime; he hates being second as much as dirtiness. Despite our status as the second biggest and most powerful, we are being relegated to the rearguard. Damn Court.” She closed her eyes and fell silent. She really enjoyed baths.

Knowing my origins, Madego continued the explanation.

“There are five raid armies, each one of them raiding from a different point on the border. The oldest ones were born in the Four Corners, but the majority of us are only descendants of the exiles.”

“Invaders.” This time, Kalandra could not contain herself.

“Maybe, but we have all the right to this Land, same as you. In any case, the Court of Peace only allowed this raid if nationals or descendants took part in it. Guilds around the world were called or created, and here we are.”

Suddenly, Tooka hugged me so tightly against her chest that I suffocated.

“My dear girl, oh my, are you ignorant of that many things? What did the higher-ups have in their minds, accepting little girls without properly preparing them? Are you in this for the Bull, too? Or is it for money? You can still go back, you know? We are still close to the border.”

The woman was really moved.

But I shouldn’t ask more questions. Probably, they’ll start suspecting me even more. And going back to what exactly? No, I need to stick to Madego. Yet I can’t wait too much; I need to take risks.

“I… I don’t have anywhere to go back to. I’m not part of any guild or anything similar; I just came here looking for a white rabbit. One that wears clothes.” Madego gave me a warning look. She knew I was on dangerous ground.

“A rabbit? You mean like a monster-rabbit? Or a messenger-rabbit?”

She was about to say something, but a potent voice from the other side of the bath’s door interrupted the conversation.

“Tooka, Catfished, it’s about time. The food is served, and you know that Dreadoxprime doesn’t like to eat it cold.”

Capricious bastard.