Chapter 17 – Shadows in the Guild

The guild hall was dead silent. The broken crystal lay in pieces on the counter, its fragments still faintly glowing black.
Everyone stared at me like I had just grown horns.
“Dark magic… immeasurable capacity…” the receptionist whispered.
I blinked. Wait, what? Dark magic?
Then it clicked. My time-stopping ability. The strange way I could pull people into memories with a photo. The way shadows bent around me in the jungle.
So that was it. My power wasn’t just “strange.” It was dark magic.
I scratched my head and gave a weak laugh. “Ehehe… surprise?”
Nobody laughed.

The silence was broken by a loud voice.
“Tch! A dark mage, huh? Figures. Trash like that doesn’t belong here.”
I turned. A bulky adventurer with scars on his face was glaring at me. His buddies chuckled behind him, and then one of them made the mistake of sneering:
“And you’re dragging around a weak little healer girl? Hah, what’s the point? She’s dead weight.”
Mira froze. Her hands clenched. I felt her magic ripple with unease.
And me? My blood boiled.
Slowly, I stepped forward. “What did you just say?”
The man smirked. “You deaf? That girl’s—”
He didn’t finish. Because Frost growled, his silver fur bristling, eyes glowing like frozen fire.
“W-what the hell?!” the man stumbled back, but it was too late.
“Bad move,” I said, and snapped my fingers.
The world… stopped.
Everything froze—the laughter, the chatter, even the swinging of mugs midair. Except for me, Mira, Shimon… and Frost.
I walked up to the guy, leaned in, and whispered in his ear. “If you ever insult her again… you’ll regret it.”
When I released time, he suddenly collapsed to the floor, gasping in terror, his friends backing away.
The guild hall erupted in murmurs.
“Time stop…?”“Dark magic… that’s insane!”“Who IS this guy?!”
I returned to Mira’s side. She looked at me with wide eyes. “…Thanks.”
I shrugged. “No one insults my party. That’s the rule.”

But just when things were settling down, a calm voice cut through the noise.
“That was interesting.”
I turned. A young man stood by the corner, a hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. His black hair was tied back, his stance precise—not like a thug’s, but like a trained warrior. His eyes were sharp, calculating.
He stepped forward. “Name’s Arjun. Swordsman.”
Something about him felt different. Not hostile, but… testing.
“You’re strong,” he said, locking eyes with me. “But dark magic is dangerous. For everyone around you.”
His hand slid onto his sword. “Prove to me you’re not just another monster.”
The guild hall went silent again. Everyone leaned forward, waiting.
I sighed. “…Seriously? Another fight?”
Shimon smirked. “This one might be worth it.”
Mira frowned. “Be careful.”
Frost barked, tail wagging—ready.
I tightened my grip on my camera. “Fine, Arjun. Let’s dance.”
And just like that, my first duel in the capital began.