The next three days passed much the sa way, with us helping the Association farm the zone. Nothing exciting happened, unless getting increasingly bored with the work counted as sothing.
The monsters, the Grotors might once have been powerful beasts, but years of careful farming had slowly pushed them toward dostication. Their claws and fangs were already growing shorter and flatter as they fed on both at and vegetables.
After our successful "hunt" that day, we headed back to town as usual after dropping off the monsters, dead and alive. Temur promised to cook sothing special once we got back to our rented place, so we stopped by the local market to buy raw food and ingredients.
I slowed to a stop when sothing in the middle of town caught my attention.
"Wait," I said, frowning. "Is it just , or are there a lot of Awakeners around?"
Calan was one of the towns farther from the capital, and its usual atmosphere was slow and unhurried, with people going about their work at an easy pace. But now, voices were raised everywhere, and I couldn’t take more than a few steps without bumping into soone.
"You’re right," Litha said, nodding. Her sharp eyes swept over the crowd, a slight frown forming on her face.
"Let lead," Temur said as he stepped forward.
Just then, sothing whirled overhead, casting a long shadow over the street. We all looked up.
A massive ship passed above us like a large monster bird of prey, the air vibrating from its presence. It was painted blue and black, with a sleek-bodied and a pointed tip.
Flying ships were one of the most popular ans of transportation within the Tower.
"That’s the Tower Guard," Litha said, watching it head east. "What the hell is going on that they need to bring a ship? I don’t like this. Calan should be far from all of this."
We hurried back to our rented place. A large building complex where we occupied a three-room space. Quite a number of Awakeners lived there as well.
"Look at that," I said, pointing ahead. Another ship sat at the front of the building, a smaller one this ti, painted gold and carved with elaborate designs. Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded owning one like it. "Soone must have an important guest."
"Just so," Litha replied. Ships were expensive, never mind the massive amount of mana stones needed to keep one flying. They were one of the clearest ways Guilds showed off their wealth.
We rushed inside and climbed the stairs to the fifth floor, where our place was located.
"Wait," Temur said, suddenly from the front, slowing to a stop. He drew his sword, and we reacted instantly, responding to the unspoken warning.
Temur stepped aside, and I saw why he’d stopped us. The lock on our door had been fried, the tal lted and warped.
We exchanged glances, our thoughts aligning instantly, it had to be assassins? Who else could it be? Thieves wouldn’t bother since Awakeners carried their valuables in spatial rings after all.
Who would want us dead? I frowned at the door. We don’t even know that many people, and we haven’t offended anyone, wait... what if it’s the cult?
I gestured to the others, pointing at Litha, and whispered, "Shield."
She nodded and stepped forward, forming a shield in front of us as we moved closer. She raised her left hand and counted down with her fingers. The mont she reached one, she sent a wave of mana forward, blasting the door inward with a sharp cracking sound.
We rushed in, and...froze.
I hissed sharply, there were people inside our place. Not one. Four!
What the.....!!
"Thayer Argent!" The na burst out of , surprise, confusion, and annoyance blending together.
Thayer lifted the wine cup in his hand in greeting. "Why! You all look so happy to see ! You look good, Litha dear."
Temur lowered his sword but didn’t sheath it. His eyes narrowed, though his hostility wasn’t as sharp as Litha’s. He looked at him and then around. "This guy again? And you brought friends."
Tim waved at us from where he sat. Besides him, there were two others, a blonde woman in a red robe, and a beastman with canine ears leaning against the wall, dressed in all black.
"What exactly do you think you’re doing here?" Litha demanded. She dropped her shield but raised her right hand instead, blue mana blazing around it angrily.
"How did you even find us?" I asked. That felt like the most important question.
The woman in the red robe raised an eyebrow. "Looks like they don’t trust you either, Thayer."
"Co on, Cele," Thayer said easily. "They’re my friends. Look how happy they are to see ."
Cele glanced at Thayer, then at the ruined remains of our door, then back at him.
Thayer raised both hands. "Alright, alright! But we do know each other!"
Temur looked between and Litha, then ca to a decision. "I’ll leave this to you," he said calmly. "I’ll go start cooking."
Silence filled the room as we watched him calmly walk into the kitchen and close the door with a firm click.
Litha opened her mouth, but Thayer beat her to it. He tossed several gold coins onto the table. "That should cover the door."
She frowned, clearly displeased, but lowered her hand and went to pick them up. "What exactly are you doing here, Thayer? What are you playing at now?"
"Nothing! Nothing!" he said quickly. "I’m just here to say hi."
Everyone gave him a look that clearly said Really?
"Are you here to pick a fight again?" I asked suspiciously, though I wouldn’t have minded one. Things are rather too boring nowadays.
Thayer smirked and adjusted his suit. "No... but yes. I’m not here to fight you. I’m here to fight other people. A whole lot of other people."
"Stop playing around and just say what you want," I snapped in dissatisfaction.
"I’m a businessman," he said smoothly, "and I’m here to start a business. More importantly, I’m here to debut."
"Debut what?" Litha asked, mistrust heavy in her voice.
"The creation of my Guild, of course," Thayer said, grinning. "What else? I’m here to let the whole Tower know about it."
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