Chapter 17 — Whispers Behind the Guild Doors

The Viscount’s carriage had barely disappeared down the street when a sharp knock came at the door of Old Man Ray’s forge. A young courier stood there, clutching a sealed letter bearing the emblem of the Adventurers’ Guild.
Ray opened it, scanning the contents before handing it to Kai.
“It’s for you,” he said. “The guild’s requesting your presence — something about Thorne and the attempt on Lira’s life.”
Kai frowned, sliding the letter into his pocket.
“Go,” Ray instructed. “I can handle today’s orders. Just… keep your guard up.”
Kai nodded silently, heading upstairs to change into his usual attire — black boots, fitted trousers, a dark shirt beneath his light leather armor, and his hooded cloak. He strapped his ninjatō to his back and his kunai to his thigh. Without stopping for breakfast, he left the forge.

The Adventurers’ Guild in Drakensport was bustling as always, the sound of clashing steel, raised voices, and clinking mugs filling the air. As soon as Kai stepped inside, the familiar receptionist, Mira Solvane, greeted him with a polite smile.
“Kai,” Mira said softly, “the Guild Director has been expecting you. Follow me.”
She led him up the wide staircase to the second floor, where the noise of the hall faded into silence. At the end of a long corridor, she stopped before a heavy oak door, knocked once, and opened it.
Inside, Lira and Darius were already seated, waiting.

Behind an ornate desk sat the Guild Director, Garrick Valen — a broad-shouldered man in his late forties with streaks of silver in his black hair, wearing a finely tailored navy coat. His calm, steady gaze landed on Kai as he entered.

“So, you’re Kai,”Garrick said evenly, his deep voice steady but curious. “You’re younger than I expected.”
Kai gave a slight nod but said nothing.

“Well,” Garrick continued, gesturing toward the chairs, “let’s get down to business. Please, have a seat.”

A servant placed a tray of steaming tea and a plate of small almond cookies on the desk. Theron gestured lightly. “Help yourself.”
Kai sat across from him, glancing briefly at Lira and Darius.
It felt strange seeing them like this — out of their usual adventuring gear. Lira wore a dignified sapphire-blue dress paired with short heels, her long silver hair cascading elegantly down her back. Darius had opted for a more casual style: a dark jacket over a loose tunic, long pants tucked into brown boots.
“Heeeey, Kai!” Darius grinned, waving enthusiastically. “’Bout time you showed up.”
“Hey,” Kai replied simply, lowering his hood.
Lira smiled warmly. “We were waiting for you. I’m glad you came.”

As the conversation began, Kai surprised them by removing both his hood and mask, resting them on the table beside him. It was the first time either of them had seen his face unobscured.
Darius whistled. “Damn, Kai… didn’t think you were hiding that under there. You’re actually handsome!”
Lira nodded softly, her cheeks faintly pink. “I agree… you should take your hood and mask off more often.”
Kai’s expression remained neutral. “…I’ll think about it.”

Garrick folded his hands on the desk, his expression sharpening. “Let’s discuss why I called you here. It’s about Thorne — the mercenary who attempted to abduct Lira.”
Lira’s hand instinctively went to her lap, fingers tightening slightly.
“Thorne was not acting alone,” Theron continued. “He was hired. We’ve traced his contracts back to a faction operating within the capital — one connected to certain noble houses. They want Lira, but we still don’t know why.”

Darius leaned forward, frowning. “So… this wasn’t random. Someone powerful is after her.”
Theron nodded. “Exactly. And based on the intel we gathered, this wasn’t a one-time attempt. There will be more.”
Kai’s eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts racing. The Viscount. The woman in the carriage. And now this. Threads of a larger plot were starting to form, and he didn’t like where they were leading.

Garrick looked directly at him. “Kai, your involvement with Lira makes you a target as well. That means from this point forward, your choices carry weight. More than you realize.”
Kai didn’t answer immediately, but the quiet determination in his gaze was unmistakable.