The sun was barely above the horizon when Saeko stepped into the Mercenary Guild of Rivermere. The guild hall buzzed with the usual energy—mercenaries bickering over contracts, recruiters sorting through mission scrolls, and the scent of steel oil and sweat lingering in the air. It was a place where money and reputation held equal weight, and Saeko, with her calm presence and katana slung over one shoulder, drew quiet nods of recognition as she entered.
She approached the mission board, scanning the array of parchments pinned to the weathered oak. Her gaze settled on one that felt fated—a return escort to Avila, the Mercenary City.
It was a caravan of herbalists and alchemists, heading toward Avila to sell rare ingredients and potions to the guild districts. The coin was decent, the route familiar, and Saeko knew the roads well.
But more than anything, she felt the time had come to return home, to her temporary base.
