Rem and Amaia reached the Adventurers Guild just as the evening sun dipped low over Darkgloom. The double doors, once solid oak, hung splintered from their hinges. Rem slowed, her eyes narrowing, Ciara's tails brushing her cheek as the fox let out a faint hiss. Rem walked inside.
The lobby, usually quiet and tidy, was in chaos. Cindy Lou was pinned near the counter, shoved around by three men in loose armor. One, broad-shouldered and scarred, had the look of a wolf demi-human. His yellow eyes showed lust as he loomed over her.
Cindy Lou's voice cracked with fury but carried steady defiance. "What are you doing here? How dare you bring violence into the Adventurers Guild. Do you want the Deputy Guild Master to show up? This is the official property of the Adventures Guild!"
The wolf demi-human chuckled, as his lips curled to show his sharp canine teeth. "You pitiful cat girl. You don't even know, do you? Your Deputy Guild Master has already abandoned this place. Not only the Guild, but the entire Frost Stone Kingdom has as well. Haven't you heard? A monster horde is coming to wipe this city out from the map. And rather than waste soldiers and coin defending it, both the Guild and the kingdom have chosen to cut their losses." The wolf man leaned closer, his breath sour, his voice dropping into to a growl. "But I had my eye on you when I was still a member of the Adventures Guild. So I thought, why not come back and save you? For a fee of course, your body in exchange you will have a spot on the caravan leaving tomorrow with the Vice Adventurers Guild. Everyone else here will be dead in two days time. Me and my friends are gathering a few of the prettiest women in the city before that happens. And you, Cindy Lou, are on my list."
Cindy Lou's ears flattened back against her hair as she trembled, but her eyes burned with rage. "James Hyde," she spat, "how dare you say such a thing. I don't care if what you say is true or not. I will never give up my body, or my integrity as a woman, to secure my own safety. If the Deputy Guild Master and the Adventurers Guild truly have abandoned this city, then I will remain here and die with it. I will defend it to the end. I will never sell myself to filth like you. Leave now before I get violent. I was once an A-ranked thief. Do you really think you stand a chance against me in battle?"
James Hyde laughed, a cruel, leering sound. "So what if you used to be an A-rank? You suffered a crippling leg injury. You can barely move now. Your strength is nothing more than a D-rank at best. If I wanted you here and now, there's nothing you could do to stop me. Why do you think I brought friends?" He nodded to the two men behind him, both eager with anticipation. "I'll have you one way or another, Cindy Lou. Not even the gods of Elsera can stop me today. They have no choice but to watch while I take what's mine and then share you with my companions. I promised them a taste."
Cindy Lou knees shook, but she pushed herself upright. Then her breath caught. "How… how do you know about my injury?" she whispered, horror spreading across her face. "That was supposed to be top secret. Who told you—no, it couldn't have been…" She stumbled two steps back, colliding with the desk behind her. Tears welled and spilled down her cheeks. "The Deputy Guild Master… he was the only one who knew. He betrayed me."
James Hyde grinned, sharp and merciless. "That's right. For a measly ten gold crowns he sold your secrets. And do you want the truth? The Guild Master himself—the one who rules over every Adventurers Guild—approved it. What use is a half-crippled receptionist to a profession run by men? The Deputy cleaned house here, but make no mistake, he and the Vice Guild share the same creed: female adventurers are useless, and when we can, we get rid of them. That's the way of things. And now, Cindy Lou, it's your turn to face that truth."
She collapsed to the floor, shaking, her hands covering her face. "Everything I believed in… the new Guild, the new Master… all lies. They promised change, but on top it's the same scum, the same rot. Just like the Vice Guild. Your all slaves to desire and greed, not protectors of the people."
James Hyde crouched, his shadow falling over Cindy Lou. His voice was low and mocking. "Now you understand. This is how the real world works. It's all pleasure and profit. That's the only law that matters."
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