"You must leave out Scourge's involvement in the Whispering Forest," Othelia said. "It'd be best to minimize conversations regarding that particular detail when you report to the guild."

The morning air carried the scent of freshly baked bread and coal smoke from the chimneys. Tyrus watched as pedestrians hurried past them, their faces marking the familiar rhythm of city life—merchants setting up their stalls, workers heading to their posts, children weaving between the adults with boundless energy.

Reo frowned, hands behind his head as he walked. "Why would we need to hide that? Scourge was instrumental in—"

"I cannot speak of it freely," Othelia interrupted, her voice carrying an edge that brooked no argument. Her eyes swept over each member of Blue Dawn, ensuring her message was received. "There are matters beyond your understanding at play here."

"The guild will want to know the specifics of how we succeeded," Igneal asked practically. "They will surely not take our word for it."

Fiona gasped while she clapped her hands. "That should be easy. Remember that we accepted a contract that wanted us to look into the disappearances happening in the Whispering Forest. All we had to do was look for Wyfords missing sister. We did happen to find her and the rest of the victims. Not mentioning Scourge should be simple."

"Exactly," Grant said, nodding in agreement. "The contract was about investigating disappearances and finding the missing people. We accomplished that objective. How we managed it is secondary to the results."

Tyrus considered this. "So we focus on the rescue mission rather than the details of the confrontation itself?"

"Precisely," Othelia said, seeming pleased with their understanding. "Your contract was fulfilled. The missing persons were located and rescued. That is what matters to the guild. Just inform them that this is a matter of discretion related to the court."

Grant stepped forward, his face creased with concern. "Excuse me for asking, Royal Knight Othelia. What about Royal Knight Nessa and the council members? Where will they be taken?"

For the first time since her warning, Othelia's tone wavered slightly. "Nessa has been transported to the infirmary within the palace grounds, tended by healers. As for the council members, they will be held in the dungeons pending formal charges. Their willing participation in the corruption ritual constitutes treason against the crown."

"Will she recover back to full strength?" Tyrus asked.

"Given time and proper care, she will. She's stronger than most realize." Othelia's voice carried a note of respect. "As for the council members, their recovery is irrelevant. Their fate will be decided by the courts."

The weight of that statement settled over the group. Tyrus thought of the hollow expressions they'd witnessed in the forest, but now understanding that those council members had chosen their path willingly made the memory feel different; less tragic, more disturbing.

"Come," Othelia said, breaking the contemplative silence. "The Explorer Guild isn't far from here."

They walked through the capital's winding streets, their footsteps echoing off cobblestones worn smooth by countless years of use. Shop signs creaked in the morning breeze, and the calls of vendors began to fill the air as the city fully awakened.

Tyrus found himself studying Othelia as she walked ahead of them. Even exhausted and bearing the signs of their recent ordeal, she moved with the controlled grace of a predator. Her attire, though dulled by dirt and wear, still commanded respect from those they passed. People stepped aside without conscious thought, their eyes drawn to the insignia on her chest that marked her as one of the empire's elite.

The Explorer Guild came into view as they rounded a corner, its distinctive architecture immediately recognizable amongst the other shops. Banners hung from the upper windows, each bearing the symbol of different adventuring parties. The main entrance was a pair of heavy oak doors reinforced with iron bands, currently propped open to welcome the morning's visitors.

"There," Othelia said, gesturing toward the building. "Complete your business quickly. I'll wait here."

As they approached, Tyrus noticed the change in the atmosphere. Conversations grew quieter, then stopped altogether as people caught sight of Othelia. A royal knight was not a common sight at the Explorer Guild—most of their business involved local threats and minor contract work, nothing that would typically warrant the attention of the empire's elite forces.

Whispers began to spread through the gathered explorers. The attention was immediate and intense, dozens of eyes tracking Othelia's every movement.

"Is that really a royal knight? What's she doing here?"

"Look at her! She's been in a real fight."

To her credit, Othelia seemed unaffected by the scrutiny. She positioned herself near the front of the building, leaning against a stone pillar with practiced casualness. Her expression remained neutral, almost bored, as if the growing crowd of onlookers was beneath her notice.

"Yeesh," Fiona murmured. "I'd be crawling out of my skin with all those people staring."

"She's used to it," Grant observed. "Probably been dealing with this kind of attention her whole career."

But Tyrus noticed something the others missed. When a gruff-looking adventurer muttered to his companion, "Now that's what a real warrior looks like," Othelia's stern look relaxed almost imperceptibly. When a young woman whispered in awe, "I've never seen garments maintained so perfectly despite obvious combat," the corner of her mouth twitched upward for just a moment.

She was listening. More than that, the compliments affected her, even if she tried to hide it. Beneath the stoic exterior of the royal knight was someone who took pride in her craft and appreciated recognition of her skills.

"So she gets happy when complimented," Tyrus thought, finding the observation oddly amusing.

"Alright, let's hurry and get this done," Fiona said, leading them toward the guild's entrance.

The interior of the Explorer Guild buzzed with activity. Adventure parties clustered around bulletin boards, studying contract postings and discussing potential jobs. The air was thick with the mingled scents of leather, steel, and a fruity incense that masked the rank of sweat.

Behind the main reception desk stood Celeste, organization her work station. She looked up as Blue Dawn approached, her professional smile already in place.

"Blue Dawn," she said, her voice carrying the warm efficiency of someone skilled in client service. "You've arrived here quicker than I expected. Has there been a problem with the contract completion?"

Fiona shook her head. "On the contrary, we've already completed it."

Celeste's eyebrows rose slightly. "Already? Lindell is quite far from here. I'll need the details for our records," she said, pulling out a leather-bound ledger and preparing her quill. "Start from the beginning, please."

Fiona launched into their report, focusing on the core objectives of their original contract. See described their investigation of the disappearances, their tracking of the missing persons into the Whispering Forest, and their eventual discovery of where the victims were being held.

"We were contracted to investigate the disappearances and specifically to locate Wyford's missing sister," Grant explained to Celeste. "During our investigation, we discovered that the missing persons had been taken to a lighthouse built on top of a cliff at the end of the Whispering Forest."

"And you were able to rescue them?" Celeste asked, her quill moving steadily across the page.

"We were," Fiona confirmed. "All the missing persons were successfully located and freed from their captivity. They returned to Lindell relatively unharmed thanks to Royal Knight Othelia assistance."

Celeste's quill paused. "A royal knight? That explains the commotion outside." She glanced toward the windows, where the gathered crowd was still visible. "What was responsible for the disappearances in the first place? Did you uncover anything sinister or unusual that we should be aware of for future contracts in that area?"

Fiona exchanged glances with Reo and Grant before whispering. "That's… something we're not at liberty to discuss. The Imperial Court is currently investigating the matter. All we can say is that the danger has been dealt with, and there's no further threat to Lindell."

"Ah… I see. So it's a matter of discretion. Very well. I'll omit those details. The main thing is that the missing people are safely back home. The rest is for the court."

Celeste set down her quill, pivoted on her heels, and entered a door to her left. A few minutes later, she returned with a small chest. The sound it made when she placed it on the counter was the distinctive clink of metal coins.

"Your contracted payment of one hundred and fifty sil coins. There will also be a formal commendation added to your guild records. This kind of success rate and civic service reflects well on both your party and the guild as a whole."

"We appreciate the recognition," Grant said, distributing the coins among the party members.

Tyrus felt a surge of satisfaction at the sight of his coin pouch being filled once more. Celeste asked if they would be accepting any more contracts, to which Fiona politely rejected. They thanked Celeste and made their way back toward the exit.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

They stepped back out into the morning sunlight to find Othelia exactly where they'd left her. If anything, the crowd of onlookers had grown larger. She remained against the stone pillar, but Tyrus could see the weariness in her posture more clearly now. Her eyes were half-lidded, and there was a subtle sag to her shoulders.

Fiona approached her first. "Royal Knight Othelia, would you like to get some rest? You look exhausted, and we've completed our business here."

Othelia straightened, her professional mask sliding back into place. "Rest is a luxury I cannot afford at present. My duties regarding this matter are not yet complete."

"But surely you can spare a few hours," Grant said, stepping up to join the conversation. "You've been awake for over a day, and you were fighting for most of it."

"The care and processing of Nessa and the council members requires my oversight," Othelia replied firmly. "There are protocols to follow, reports to file, and security considerations to address. Rest will come when all responsibilities have been fulfilled. That being said, I will have to take you all in for questioning at one of the Thasmian Court's rooms."

"That's… not a punishment, I hope?" Fiona asked hopefully.

"Consider it a formality. I need your testimony while the details are still fresh. Thasmian's interrogation rooms are designed for discretion and fairness. It is a place where the facts can be safely recorded without interference from the prying eyes currently gathering outside. The room has been prepared ahead of time. As of now, you will be teleported."

Othelia approached the group, taking Fiona's hand and placing it on Reo's shoulder. She then grasped Reo's hand, placing it on Grant's arm. The royal knight continued in this way, linking them all together.

The teleportation happened swiftly. Othelia gathered Blue Dawn into a tight circle, her insignia flaring to life with silvery magical energy. Within moments, the bustling streets of the capital dissolved around them, replaced by the stark interior of a small, windowless room.

The chamber was deliberately neutral—plain stone walls, a rectangular wooden table surrounded by simple chairs, and a single magical light crystal providing steady illumination from the ceiling. A court scribe sat quietly in one corner, quill poised over fresh parchment, while Othelia took her position at the head of the table. Everyone else took their seat.

Tyrus observed the proceedings with careful attention as Othelia methodically guided Blue Dawn through their account of recent events. The questioning began with the basics: their acceptance of an Investigation & Rescue contract to locate someone's sister, who had gone missing in the Whispering Forest near Lindell. The guild had presented it as a straightforward search mission, though it had quickly developed into something far more complex.

Fiona provided the most detailed testimony about their discoveries in the forest. She described the strange, supernatural mist that had surrounded the entire woodland area that seemed to toy with travelers' emotions through haunting voices and disturbing illusions. The mist had a way of making people lose their sense of direction and purpose, drawing them deeper into the forest where they would become lost and eventually captured.

Her account continued with their discovery of the source: an ancient artifact hidden within an abandoned lighthouse deep in the forest's heart. The pseudo-artifact, they had learned, was being used by Scourge as part of their nefarious operations. The group had been systematically kidnapping and experimenting on orphans and other missing persons, using the supernatural mist to draw victims into their web.

Grant and Reo took turns describing their encounter with a sorcerer, who had been operating within the corrupted area of the forest. They provided detailed descriptions of her appearance and most importantly, her primary affinity for dark.

When they reached this portion of the testimony, Tyrus noticed something shift in Othelia's demeanor. Merely a slight narrowing of her eyes, the way her grip tightened almost imperceptibly on her uniform. She said nothing about it, simply nodding for them to continue while maintaining her professional facade. Tyrus found it odd that kind of reaction was elicited, yet she never reacted when Fiona brought up kidnapping and experimenting, which Tyrus had just now found out about.

Nonetheless, they concluded their testimony by explaining how Royal Knight Nessa had already been investigating the case when they arrived on the scene and what Blue Dawn were ordered to do afterward until Othelia's appearance.

When the formal testimony was complete, Othelia thanked Blue Dawn for their cooperation and assistance in the matter. She assured them that compensation for their additional services beyond the scope of their original contract would be processed through official imperial channels and delivered to them within the week.

"Additional compensation?" Fiona's eyes immediately lit up with excitement. "How much are we talking about?"

Othelia raised an eyebrow at the blunt question. "Adequate."

"More than adequate, I hope!" Fiona practically bounced in her chair, barely able to contain her enthusiasm. "I mean, we did risk our lives and all that. Surely that's worth—"

"Fiona," Grant interrupted gently, though he was clearly amused by her reaction. "Perhaps we should just be grateful for any additional payment."

"Grateful? Grant, do you realize what this could mean? We could upgrade our equipment, maybe get better lodgings in other cities, perhaps even—" Fiona caught herself mid-sentence as she noticed everyone staring at her. "I mean, yes, grateful. Very grateful."

"The exact amount will be determined by the treasury based on the severity and importance of the incident," Othelia explained, standing from her position at the table. "I suspect you'll be pleased with the result. The empire recognizes and rewards such service."

Fiona nodded toward the scribe, who was still organizing his notes. "What happens to all of this testimony?"

"It becomes part of the official record," Othelia replied. "Filed away in the archives, accessible only to those with appropriate clearance. Your names will be noted as contributing to the resolution of the Whispering Forest incident. I'll escort you out of the court complex. Security can be particular about unaccompanied civilians wandering the halls."

They followed her out of the windowless room and into the ornate corridor beyond. The contrast was stark from the plain, functional interrogation chamber to the richly decorated hallways of the Thasmian Court. Marble columns, intricate tapestries, and a spotless floor.

As they walked down the imposing hallway, Tyrus noticed other people moving through the corridors. Court officials in formal robes, guards in ceremonial armor, and what appeared to be nobles or dignitaries conducting various business. Everyone they passed showed immediate deference to Othelia, stepping aside and offering respectful nods.

They turned a corner, and Tyrus saw a familiar man approaching from the opposite direction. His thick beard and confident stride made him instantly recognizable.

"Father?" Grant started, then stopped as recognition dawned.

Sir Geroth approached them with a warm smile spreading across his weathered face. "Grant, my boy! I'm glad to see you're all safe."

"You knew we were here?"

Sir Geroth's eyes moved to Othelia, who gave a slight nod. "Royal Knight Othelia was kind enough to notify me about your involvement in recent events. I came to check on Nessa's condition... and to ensure my son and his friends were unharmed."

Without wasting time, Sir Geroth began examining each member of Blue Dawn with practiced efficiency. He checked Grant's arms and shoulders for injuries, looked over Reo's hands and face, inspected Fiona and Igneal for any signs of harm. When he was satisfied they bore no serious physical wounds, his expression grew even more serious.

"More importantly," he said, his voice dropping to a careful tone, "do any of you feel anything unusual going on in your head? Strange thoughts, voices, compulsions you can't explain?"

Grant frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Anything that doesn't feel like your own thoughts," Sir Geroth explained patiently. "Mental intrusions, foreign influences, memories that seem out of place."

Fiona shook her head, looking puzzled. Igneal and Grant both shook their heads as well, clearly not understanding the significance of the question. Tyrus, however, understood immediately. Sir Geroth was checking for signs of mental manipulation, the kind that Wanderer employed. The ability to toy with a person's mind, plant suggestions, or leave lingering influences was one of the most dangerous aspects of encountering such entities. Tyrus shook his head as well, meeting Sir Geroth's eyes with understanding. He would have to tell him when they were alone.

"Good," Sir Geroth said, sighing with relief. "Very good."

Othelia stepped forward. "Sir Geroth. The assembly with the other royal knights. Tonight. Don't be late."

Sir Geroth straightened, his expression becoming more formal. "Of course. I'll be there. As for you, make sure to get some rest. This habit of yours of pushing beyond exhaustion isn't sustainable. I'll escort these young people out."

"Noted," Othelia replied curtly, though there was no indication she intended to heed the advice. She turned and walked back down the corridor, her boots clacking with each step.

"Now then," Sir Geroth said, his tone shifting to something more paternal but still serious, "I should remind you that your academic leave is nearly over. You need to return to the academy by tonight."

The mention of returning to their studies seemed to drain what little energy remained in the group. The contrast between their recent life-or-death adventures and the prospect of classroom routine was stark.

Reo visibly shivered at the thought. "Honestly, I'd rather go back to the Whispering Forest than go back to that hell-hole."

Fiona rolled her eyes. "Of course you would. You're the only person I know who thinks dodging dark magic is preferable to taking notes."

Sir Geroth let out a genuine laugh. He reached out and gave both Reo and Grant hearty pats on the back. "Well, you'll have plenty to discuss in my next lesson. I can hardly wait to see the accumulation of your parry drills against I, Sir Geroth."

Reo's laugh in response was distinctly uncomfortable. "Oh, wonderful. Something to look forward to."

Sir Geroth escorted them through the remaining corridors of the Thasmian Court. The ornate hallways gradually transitioned from the most elaborate ceremonial spaces to more functional administrative areas, though even these lesser corridors maintained the imperial grandeur that marked all buildings near the palace.

As they walked, Tyrus took in the details of their surroundings. Portraits of past emperors and officials lined the walls, their painted eyes seeming to follow the group as they passed. Elaborate chandeliers hung from vaulted ceilings, their crystal components catching and reflecting the light from magical illumination sources. The floors beneath their feet were polished marble, so perfectly maintained that Tyrus could see his reflection on the surface.

Guards stationed at regular intervals snapped to attention as Sir Geroth passed, their gleaming weapons maintained to perfection. Court officials hurried past on various errands, their arms laden with books and documents. Sometimes, a person dressed in fine garbs was shackled by the hands, being led to a room by some of the Thasmian Court guards.

When they finally reached the court's main entrance, stepping past the massive doors, the Thasmian Court opened onto the inner section of Valis, where the nobles lived and shopped freely. The streets here were wider and cleaner than other parts of the capital, lined with elegant boutiques and upscale establishments. Well-dressed citizens moved about their daily business, their fine clothing and leisurely pace a stark contrast to the hurried atmosphere of the working districts.

As Blue Dawn prepared to take their leave, Tyrus lingered behind. "You all go on ahead. I have something to say to Sir Geroth."

Fiona looked concerned, glancing between Tyrus and Sir Geroth. "Will you be alright walking back on your own?"

Tyrus gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine. I know my way back."

"Alright then," Fiona said, though she still looked slightly worried. "We'll meet up later, back at the Explorer Guild."

She turned to Sir Geroth and offered a respectful bow. "It was good to see you again, Sir Geroth."

"The pleasure was mine, Fiona," Sir Geroth replied warmly, returning her bow with a nod. "Take care of yourself, and try to keep these boys out of too much trouble."

Grant and Reo said their own goodbyes before heading off together into the noble district's streets, their voices gradually fading as they discussed plans for the evening and their return to the academy.

Once they were alone, Sir Geroth turned his attention fully to Tyrus. "What's wrong? That's quite the serious face you're wearing."

Tyrus met his gaze directly, knowing this conversation would be crucial. "I need your help with something, Sir Geroth. Could we talk somewhere private? Perhaps in front of Wildwood?"

Sir Geroth's expression grew more intent. Having surveyed the area, he carefully put his hand on Tyrus's shoulder and gave his chest a light tap.

Pillars of light surrounded his every direction, and the inner section of Valis dissolved around them in a brilliant flash. When the light faded, they stood in a completely different landscape. In front of them lay the Emerald Hills, and looming behind them was Wildwood.

"We should be alone out here," Sir Geroth said, releasing his hand from Tyrus's shoulder as the teleportation magic faded completely. "What's troubling you, my boy?"

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