Gideon’s party entered the hall and sat down at one of the tables. A quick glance around told them everything... they weren’t the only ones puzzled. No one in the Guild seed to know where those tremors were coming from, or why they hadn’t stopped yet.
After a short wait, the food finally arrived at their table.
Ronald grabbed a mug, raising it to his lips..
But just then...
BOOM!
Another violent quake rattled the entire building. The mug slipped from his hand, spilling ale across the table. Ronald cursed, "What the fuck?!"
"Mind your language, Ronald," Lilith said sharply from the side.
Ronald shot her an annoyed look. "Yes, I should mind my language," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. But inside, "Does she even hear the things she says half the ti?" he grumbled.
The rest of the table didn’t need to hear his thoughts to know what he was thinking. They could only suppress their laughter.
Over the last two years, Lilith had fought with them through countless dungeons. A deep bond had ford. Sure, she was foul-mouthed and sharp-tongued, but everyone knew what lay beneath. She was soft, kind—and reckless when it ca to protecting her comrades. Once, in a C-class dungeon, she had nearly lost her life saving Luna from the grasp of a raging minotaur.
Now their team had grown stronger with two new additions. One of them was none other than Zephyr Albrecht—the Wind Phantom, who had stunned the crowd at the Arcadia Young Elite Tournant three years ago.
Another familiar face had also joined from the sa tournant three years back. He was not in Gideon’s party, though. He was on Vanessa’s team. It was Morgan Benedict.
And not long after, another boom rang out, shaking the building.
This ti, even Gideon couldn’t take it anymore. "What’s going on. There is no hunter test going on today. And even during that ti, the condition isn’t this bad."
On another table, the sa kind of murmurs rippled.
Then suddenly, soone blurted out, "Guys, have you noticed sothing? It all started after a few monts that boy had gone inside."
The mont he said that, the air in Gideon’s table shifted drastically. His entire party stiffened, everyone except the two new mbers. The sa thought echoed in their minds, "Is it him?"
But then another hunter’s voice cut through, pouring cold water over their hope.
"Wait, I rember sothing... That’s why his face looked so familiar. It’s because of Aiden. He was also the sa age. If this new kid’s na wasn’t different, then I would have almost mistaken him for Aiden."
The hope that had flickered in all the eyes of Gideon’s party mbers vanished without a trace.
But just then....
"Yeah," another voice chid in. "He said his na was Logan, right? And he doesn’t wear a mask either. So of course it’s not him."
The mont that na was spoken, the mug in Lilith’s hand slipped, clattering against the floor. She shot to her feet, storming toward the man. Her hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"What did you just say his na was?" Her voice cut sharply through the hall.
The hunter blinked, taken aback. "Hands off, kid! Who do you think you’re talking to? If you want help, try asking politely."
Everyone turned their head. In the hunter’s guild, all were familiar with Lilith, her temper, her foul mouth, and everything. But unlike Gideon’s party, they didn’t know about her good side. So no one ever thought of being considerate toward her. They had respect for Noah Starwind but not his daughter. They recognized her talent, but that wasn’t enough to let her through her weight around.
But Lilith’s temper flared up. She was in no mood for a tantrum. Lightning cracked in her palm. Her eyes narrowed. "Do you want to die?"
A collective shiver went through the Guild. Everyone knew the rules. No spells inside the hall. Even rivals respected that. Because it was a clear instruction from the Guildmaster himself. But now, the air was heavy with killing intent.
Gideon’s party was alerted.
lissa and Luna moved at once. lissa grabbed Lilith’s arm, tugging it back, while Luna clamped her hand over Lilith’s mouth before she could spit out sothing worse.
lissa flashed the man an apologetic look. "We’re sorry. She’s just in a foul mood. Dungeon raid went badly today, that’s all."
The hunter who had ntioned Logan’s na swallowed hard. He knew exactly whose daughter she was. Even if Noah Starwind was a man of respect and discipline, who could say how he’d react if his daughter’s temper got pushed too far? He wasn’t afraid of Lilith. But if the situation escalated too much, it might create a problem.
"It’s alright. You guys want to know that new boy’s na, right? He said his na was Logan. Ok? Are we fine now?"
The mont that hunter confird what Lilith had just heard, her mind jolted.
"So it’s him. He’s finally back. That pervert...." She thought.
Her heart thudded as she fixed her gaze on the sa hunter again. "Did Logan go inside?" she asked.
"Yes. He said he wanted to et the Guildmaster, and Elizabeth took him there."
Lilith didn’t wait to hear anything else. She spun around and stord off toward the inner chambers.
lissa reached out, trying to stop her, but Lilith ignored her completely. "What’s gotten into her all of a sudden?" lissa muttered. None of them knew Logan’s real na, so they couldn’t make sense of what was happening.
At Gideon’s table, however, one expression shifted. Zephyr’s sharp eyes narrowed. "The way she reacted... could it be the sa Logan I’m thinking of? Is he really alive sohow?"
And at that very sa table, another face darkened—one no one noticed.
"So... he’s back at last."
Lilith hurried down the corridor, her steps long and urgent, heading straight for the Guildmaster’s chamber. But when she arrived, the room was empty.
Without a mont’s pause, she turned and stord toward the fighting arena instead. The mont she reached, her eyes landed on Elizabeth standing nearby. Lilith moved to ask her. But before she could even open her mouth....
Creak...
The heavy doors swung open.
Two figures erged from inside.
Lilith froze where she stood. Her lips parted, but no words ca out.
User Comments
0 comments from readers