Adam stood before Edward Douglas, the Guild Master's office a stark contrast to the chaotic hall outside. He began his rehearsed story, the tale of a traveler, robbed and left destitute, hoping to elicit sympathy and a path to acceptance.
Edward listened, his gaze unwavering, betraying no emotion. Adam felt a prickle of unease. He didn't feel like he was fooling this man. Mid-sentence, Edward held up a hand, stopping Adam cold.
"You're an otherworlder," Edward stated, his voice calm, devoid of accusation, yet utterly certain.
Adam froze, stunned into silence. His carefully constructed lie crumbled. How did he know?
Edward leaned forward slightly, his expression sincere. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. I've encountered your kind before. I was once in a party with an otherworlder, decades ago."
Adam's shock slowly morphed into a desperate hope. "If that's true... then what happened to him?"
Edward's gaze drifted, a hint of old sorrow in his eyes. "Otherworlders appear, seemingly at random, perhaps once every few decades. You arrive with extraordinary power, far exceeding the natives of this world, especially in your early stages. But that power comes with a terrifying consequence."
Lyra's analysis, running in the background, confirmed Edward's words. The information on "otherworlders" and their unique properties, previously hidden even from her vast database, was now being rapidly integrated.
"When an otherworlder dies," Edward continued, his voice heavy, "their accumulated power doesn't simply dissipate. It erupts. Their very body transforms into a dungeon. And depending on the strength they've amassed, that dungeon becomes incredibly complex, with multiple levels, teeming with creatures."
He fixed his gaze on Adam, his expression hardening slightly. "The problem, you see, is that the stronger the otherworlder, the more intricate and powerful the dungeon. And if these dungeons aren't properly 'cleared' and managed, the creatures within will eventually overwhelm the dungeon's boundaries, pouring out into the world and destroying everything in their path."
Edward's eyes bore into Adam's. "So, answer me honestly: wouldn't it be more merciful to end you now, before you gain even more power and potentially become a greater threat than any dungeon? To cut the problem off at its root?"
Adam reeled. The casual, almost logical tone of the question, combined with the chilling revelation of his potential future as a catastrophic dungeon, left him speechless. He was being provoked, tested, perhaps even threatened with death.
Lyra's calm, reassuring voice resonated in his mind. "Adam, his mana signature shows no killing intent. This is a deliberate probe, a test. Remain composed. I will ensure no harm comes to you."
Edward watched Adam intently, his gaze unblinking, clearly weighing Adam's reaction, contemplating his next move. The fate of an otherworlder, and perhaps the future of Damarsh, hung in the balance.