Two days earlier.
The Adventurer's Guild buzzed like a hive in midsummer. Footsteps echoed across the stone floors, voices rose in a chaotic symphony of chatter, shouts, and nervous laughter. Contracts changed hands—some crumpled, some neatly rolled into leather tubes. The smell of old parchment mixed with the scent of polished wood and the faint smoke of incense Velmira burned in her office… or at least, what was supposed to be an orderly office. Chaos reigned everywhere. Everything seemed normal. Too normal.
Upstairs, away from the hubbub, lay Velmira's sanctuary: her office. A wide room, a battleground of order and disorder. On her massive dark wood desk, stacks of reports teetered precariously—some carefully organized, others on the brink of collapse. Maps plastered the walls, covered in symbols, red marks, and hastily scribbled notes, some so old the paper threatened to crumble at the touch.
Velmira sat behind her desk, motionless, eyes fixed on a document. Her white shirt sleeves rolled up revealed a disciplined, commanding build. Her sharp features, almost severe, hinted at patience worn thin from years of leadership. Her fingers tapped lightly on the edge of a parchment—a subtle but steady rhythm, a silent warning to anyone daring enough to disturb her.
—Knock knock.
No reaction.
—Knock knock.
A tick appeared at the corner of her temple.
—…Knock knock.
This time, she slammed a folder onto the desk.
—Who is it? Enter.
The door opened timidly, revealing a guild employee, stiff as a board.
—Lady Velmira… someone… someone is asking for you.
—Tell them I'm not here.
—But… it's someone important… They said you're needed for—
—I said I'm not here.
The poor messenger swallowed hard, desperately searching for a crack of hope.
—I-it's… it's Mr. Ryo.
Silence fell, heavy and oppressive. Velmira snapped her head up.
—Ryo?
Her expression shifted instantly—from irritation to genuine surprise, then to a bright, almost childlike smile.
—You should have said so earlier. Let him in. Now.
The messenger nodded frantically and vanished. Seconds later, the door opened again.
Ryo stepped in. Black hair, slightly tousled, framed a face that had seen far too many battles and storms to still pretend innocence. His deep eyes scanned the room with the precision of a hunter, yet his posture remained calm, detached, as though he knew exactly where he was stepping and why.
Velmira leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, watching him with amusement that needed no disguise.
—So, finally coming to see me, Ryo. It's been a while.
She tilted her head slightly.
—Did you miss me? Or have you finally decided to accept my marriage proposal?
Ryo sighed, almost resigned.
—I'm glad to see you too.
A pause.
—But I'm not here for you.
Velmira pressed a hand to her chest, feigning hurt, but her smile betrayed her amusement.
—Cruel.
Ryo's eyes hardened, every trace of playfulness gone.
—Selena has found new companions. She's formed a team for a mission.
He locked eyes with her, and the weight of his words sank into the room like a stone dropped into still water.
—I want everything. Their names. Their social status. Their adventurer ranks. Their backgrounds. And most importantly… the mission they've gone on.
Velmira's smile slowly faded. She could feel the seriousness in each word, each syllable.
—I'm sorry. I can't. It goes against guild regulations.
She crossed her arms, as if shielding herself from the intensity of the moment.
—You should know. You were an adventurer too. Rank S, no less. I don't have to teach you the rules.
Ryo gave a faint, sly smile—dangerous, teasing—the kind that made the air between them feel taut.
—Your rules… you're going to have to break them.
Velmira raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
—And what do I get out of it?
—I'll visit you more often.
She tilted her head, calculating.
—Not enough.
Ryo closed his eyes briefly, weary. Then he murmured:
—…Fine. I'll go on a date with you.
Velmira's triumphant smile returned, wide and victorious.
—See? When you try, my dear Ryo.
She rose and walked to a large cabinet behind her, opening it without hesitation. Inside, folders were perfectly organized, silent witnesses to decades of missions and secrets. She pulled out one, thick, edges worn, and slid it across the desk with measured gravity.
—I had a feeling you'd come.
Ryo opened it carefully. The first pages seemed mundane, but as he turned through them, his expression tightened. His eyes hardened, his body stiffened. Velmira noticed immediately.
—What is it?
Ryo gripped the folder, his voice calm but icy:
—They're in danger.
A heavy silence filled the office, broken only by the rustling of paper and the faint breeze drifting through the half-open window.
Velmira frowned.
—To that extent? This mission… it's not a Rank B job.
—Someone lied.
The tension hung over them like a blade poised to strike. Outside, the guild carried on, oblivious to the imminent danger. But in this office, two veterans knew. Something had already begun.
Ryo placed the folder on the desk, his gaze fixed on a point beyond Velmira, whispering almost to himself:
—And this time… the rules won't save them.