The guild doors opened with such a bang that the entire hall fell silent. The echo of the impact reverberated off the stone walls, and the goblets on the tables clinked as if the building itself had shaken to its foundations.
The bard, who had been playing in the corner just a moment ago, stopped his melody mid-note. The guards along the walls exchanged watchful glances, and the adventurers fell silent, their conversations cut short by a sharp blow of silence.
A tall man entered. His hair—long, blue, shining like a stream of icy river—flowed freely over his shoulders. His attire was wild and disorderly: leather, metal belts, pieces of armor, worn not for protection but as decoration. The aura he exuded was heavy, suffocating, full of confidence and strength.
Behind him entered the rest of his team. There were four of them, each wearing a medallion of the highest rank, whose brilliance contrasted with the iron glinting at the necks of Valdor and his companions. One of them wore full plate armor, another had two curved blades at his belt, and the third was wrapped in a cloak embroidered with runes that glowed with a pale light.
The atmosphere thickened. A whisper passed through the hall:
— It's them...
— The highest rank...
— The Wolf Blade team...
The eyes of those present were filled with a mixture of fear, envy, and admiration.
The leader, with blue hair, scanned the room and stopped at Valdor and his team. The smile that crept across his face was predatory.
— Well, well,— he said in a low, harsh voice. — You've barely entered, and already you think you're something? — He took a step forward, his words sharp as blades. — Iron... heh. It suits you. Hard, but brittle.
He paused for a moment, as if he wanted his words to sink in, then smiled more broadly.
— And since we're getting to know each other... my name is **Arok**. Remember that name, because you'll be hearing it more often than you'd like.
Noah reacted immediately. His hands rose instinctively, and orange tongues of fire danced around his fingers.
— Want to see how brittle?— he growled, ready to send flames toward the arrogant leader.
Kael grabbed his arm, stopping him.
— Noah. — His voice was calm but firm. — This is not the time.
The fire hissed but did not go out.
Arwen snorted in irritation, her golden eyes flashing.
— You talk a lot for people who don't seem to have anything better to do, — she said mockingly, crossing her arms over her chest.
Mayuri was silent. Her gaze rested on Arok. There was no anger or fear in her face — only cold analysis, as if she were evaluating him like a piece of a puzzle.
Valdor stood calmly. He didn't say a word or make a gesture. He looked straight ahead, confidently, without trembling, and his silence was more eloquent than Noah or Arwen's words.
The only sounds in the room were the crackling of wood in the fireplace and the rapid breathing of a few seekers.
— Enough!— The guild master's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
The older man rose from behind his desk. He was slim, but exuded authority. His beard was gray, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp light. He tapped his cane on the floor, and the echo silenced the entire room.
— This is no place for fighting, — he said icily.
He walked slowly, his step sure. He stopped between the elite and Valdor.
— The novices must undergo their first trial mission. — He pulled out a scroll of parchment and unrolled it. — The nearby ruins, where monsters have taken up residence. A simple task, but mandatory.
Someone in the crowd snorted.
— Ruins? That's a job for children, not warriors...
The master ignored the comment and handed the scroll to Valdor.
— This is your first assignment. Prove that you are worthy of wearing the medallion.
Valdor accepted the document, nodded, and replied briefly:
— We'll do it.
Noah, still seething with anger, turned toward the exit. Kael stayed close, ready to restrain him if he exploded. Arwen took one last look at the elite, her smile full of defiance.
Mayuri was silent, but for a moment her gaze met Arok's. The look was like the clash of two blades — silent but piercing.
Valdor's team left, leaving behind a heavy silence.
The elite team exchanged glances. One of them, a warrior in full armor, cleared his throat.
— Newbies... they won't last long.
Arok leaned against the doorframe and smiled mockingly.
— We'll see how far they get before they break.
Valdor and his team left the guild. Whispers filled the air, and their companions' eyes followed them to the door. Not only did they carry the Iron medallions on their shoulders, but also the weight of the entire room's gaze.
**To be continued...**