The tavern was loud, warm, and packed just as Owen remembered it to be. Eren moved easily through it, greeting adventurers by name.
"So," Eren said, sitting across from Owen, "what's your specialty?"
Owen took a sip. "Survival."
Eren laughed genuinely this time. "Good answer. You'd be surprised how rare that is."
They talked.
Small things. Jobs gone wrong. Guild complaints. The way Stonehaven had been… tense lately.
"Something's off," Eren admitted quietly. "Jobs keep coming in that don't add up. Places already cleared. Beasts that shouldn't exist."
Owen's grip tightened around the mug.
"You ever question the Guild?" Owen asked.
Eren's smile faded, just a little. "All the time. But questioning doesn't pay rent."
That sounded real.
Too real.
Elsewhere, Zach perched on a rooftop, eyes gleaming as black lightning crackled faintly along his fingers.
"Ooooh," he whispered. "This city's juicy."
He'd followed three guild runners already. All of them ended their routes at different places.
But they all started at the same basement.
Zach grinned. "Found you."
Lucius stood in the cathedral archives, light mana illuminating ancient records.
"Missing children," he muttered. "Expunged beast reports… falsified blessing requests..."
His jaw tightened.
"Experimentation," he said aloud. "You monsters."
Back at the tavern, Eren leaned closer.
"You didn't hear this from me," he said softly, "but if you're looking for real answers… watch the Guildmaster."
Owen met his eyes.
"And if I do?"
Eren smiled again. Warm. Earnest.
"Then I hope you survive long enough to regret it."
Owen smiled back.
"That doesn't really interest me. As long as I'm making money, the world can burn."
Eren's expression twitched for a second. Owen noticed and that was his confirmation.
He had made contact.
Eren took a long drink, wiped his mouth, then sighed."You ever notice how people only talk when they think it doesn't matter?"
Owen glanced at him. "Are you talking about drunk idiots… or yourself?"
Eren chuckled, not offended in the slightest."Both, maybe. But mostly the idiots. They're honest when they think no one's listening."
"And what are they saying?" Owen asked.
"That Stonehaven's cursed." Eren leaned back. "That beasts are showing up where they shouldn't. That jobs feel staged. And that every time someone questions it… they stop asking questions."
Owen's fingers tapped once against the mug. "They disappear?"
Eren didn't answer immediately. He stared into his drink, swirling it slowly.
"Sometimes," he said at last. "Sometimes they get transferred. Sometimes they die on routine missions. And sometimes… they just quit."
"Coincidences maybe?" Owen asked.
Eren smiled thinly. "Most likely. Or maybe that's what they want you to think."
Silence stretched.
Eren studied Owen more carefully now."You don't feel like a rookie," he said. "And you listen too much. Either you're very cautious… or very broken."
Owen's eyes stayed on Eren."Does it matter?"
Eren considered that."No," he admitted. "Not really."
They drank again.
"You know," Eren continued, lowering his voice, "the Guildmaster likes people like you. Quiet. Capable. Doesn't ask too many questions."
"And you?" Owen asked.
"I ask too many." Eren smiled. "That's why I stay where I am. Middle management. Close enough to hear things. Far enough to pretend I don't."
Owen finally looked at him."Then why tell me?"
Eren met his gaze without flinching."Because sooner or later, someone like you always digs. And when you do… I'd rather you knew where the ground is weakest."
Owen nodded once.
That last sentence didn't sit right with him.
He sipped the his drink.
Eren stood suddenly and adjusted his coat.
"Get some rest," he told Owen. "If you're staying in the city, we'll talk again."
"And if I'm not?" Owen asked.
Eren smiled, but there was something tired in it now. "Then I hope you don't become another rumor."
-
Morning in Stonehaven came gently.
Sunlight spilled between buildings, merchants shouted about fresh bread and dull blades, and mercenaries dragged themselves out of taverns with the same old groans. If the city had secrets, it didn't wear them on its sleeve.
Owen walked through the streets like he belonged there.
No tension. No scanning rooftops. No weight in his steps.
Just like he did when he was a mercenary.
He stopped at a vendor's stall, turning a piece of fruit over in his hand.
"Fresh?" he asked.
"Fresh enough to not kill you," the vendor replied cheerfully.
"That's reassuring."
Coins clinked. Owen moved on, biting into the fruit without a care in the world.
From the outside, he looked… fine.
He paused near the fountain at the central square, watching children chase each other while their parents argued prices nearby. A street performer played a clumsy tune on a battered lute.
Owen sat on the fountain's edge, stretching his legs.
A voice suddenly cut in."You always look like that, or is today special?"
Owen didn't jump. He turned his head slowly.
Zachary Oriana stood there, hands in his pockets, grin wide, black lightning crackling faintly along his sleeves like it was bored.
"You get uglier every time I see you," Zach added. "Congrats."
Owen snorted. "You talk too much for someone who disappears mid-fight."
"Style choice." Zach plopped down beside him. "Also, you didn't die. Congratulations."
"You don't even know have the shit I've gone through. This is far from what can kill me."
Zach laughed, loud and genuine, drawing a few annoyed looks from passersby."Man you're interesting, I think I know why Glauderia's been acting weird since you showed up."
Owen raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"
"Hmmmm" Zach pondered. "I cant figure it out."
Owen sighed. "You're probably reading into it too much."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the city move.
"Your different," Zach said casually.
Owen shrugged. "Not everyone is the same though."
"Yeah," Zach agreed. "But not like that."
He didn't push.
Instead, he leaned back, hands behind his head."Stonehaven's nice," he said. "Bit boring. You planning to stick around after everything?"
"No," Owen replied. "I've got a mission to finish."
Zach smirked. "Ahh I see. If you're interesting enough then I'll grace you with my power."
"You're not even as strong as me though." Owen scoffed.
"Oh please don't start," Zach shot back. "That aside, what do you think Lucius is doing?"
-
At that moment elsewhere, Lucius walked openly through the guild hall, robes immaculate, expression unreadable.
Mercenaries straightened when they saw him.
A Holy Knight didn't belong here. Not really.
He paused at the notice board, scanning posted requests with disinterest.
"So this is the place," he murmured. "Hmph."
The Guildmaster approached with a practiced smile."Sir Lucius Styrar. An honor. What brings the church to Stonehaven?"
Lucius returned the smile but his eyes stayed cold."Guildmaster Cyrus, just a routine observation," he said. "Nothing that should concern you."
The Guildmaster laughed lightly."Of course not. You'll find Black Rose guild peaceful."
Lucius nodded."Yes," he said. "I'm sure I will."