Chapter 51: Beginning to Form
Five o’clock in the afternoon, sa day. Marcus waited for Elaina’s shift to end and is by the door.
When Elaina stepped out of the door, she looked exhausted.
"Carry my bag for
please," Elaina said, her voice lacking its usual energy as she handed it over.
Marcus took it without hesitation, slinging it over his shoulder as he looked at her more closely.
"...You look drained," he said. "What happened?"
Elaina let out a long breath as they started walking away from the entrance.
"The guild found out I’m resigning soon," she said. "Word spread faster than I expected."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
"And they started piling work on ," Elaina replied, rubbing her temple lightly. "Reports, backlogs, things they suddenly want finished before I leave. Everyone keeps coming to
because they know I’ll get it done properly."
She exhaled again.
"It’s not physical. It’s just... too much at once."
Marcus glanced at her.
"...So they’re squeezing everything out of you before you go."
Elaina nodded.
"Exactly."
They walked a few more steps in silence before she added,
"I just want to go ho and rest today."
Marcus let out a short chuckle.
"That won’t happen to you once you’re working with ."
Elaina looked at him.
"...Really?"
Marcus nodded.
"I don’t run things like that," he said. "If you’re working for , your workload is controlled. No last-minute dumping just because you’re leaving. But you’re not leaving, because you are my wife and partner. This is basically our business."
Elaina stared at him for a second.
"...That sounds nice."
Marcus smirked slightly.
"It will be."
He adjusted her bag on his shoulder.
"Speaking of work," he continued, "I made good progress on the plan earlier."
Elaina blinked, her tired expression lifting just a little.
"You did?"
"Yeah," Marcus said. "mbers, base, training structure. It’s coming together."
Elaina’s interest showed despite her exhaustion.
"...You’re fast."
Marcus shrugged.
"I don’t like wasting ti."
He glanced at her.
"I’ll walk you ho. We can go over it there."
Elaina nodded lightly.
"...Okay."
Then Marcus tilted his head slightly.
"You got the files I asked for?"
Elaina blinked once, then gestured weakly toward the bag he was carrying.
"They’re in there," she said. "I compiled a list of E-rank and D-rank adventurers. Background, past quests, performance notes."
Marcus nodded.
"Good."
They didn’t take long to reach her house.
The streets were quieter now, the noise of the main road fading as they turned into the narrower path leading to her place. Elaina slowed slightly as they approached, her shoulders dropping the mont she saw her door.
"...Finally," she muttered.
Marcus stepped ahead and opened it for her.
"Go in."
Elaina didn’t argue.
She walked inside first, slipping off her shoes near the entrance before heading straight toward the living area. Marcus followed behind, placing her bag down carefully near the table.
Elaina didn’t even sit properly.
She dropped onto the couch, leaning back with a soft groan as she tilted her head upward.
"...I’m exhausted."
Marcus watched her for a second.
"...Yeah, I can tell."
Elaina turned her head slightly toward him.
"...Massage."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"...Now?"
Elaina nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. My shoulders are killing ."
Marcus let out a small breath, then walked over.
"Turn around."
Elaina shifted her position, sitting up slightly and turning her back toward him. She brushed her hair over one shoulder, exposing the back of her neck.
Marcus placed his hands on her shoulders.
Then pressed.
Elaina imdiately let out a quiet breath.
"...Ah..."
Marcus didn’t rush it.
He applied steady pressure, working his thumbs along the tension in her shoulders, then down slightly toward her upper back. His movents were firm but controlled, easing into the areas that felt tight.
Elaina’s posture slowly relaxed under his hands.
"...Where did you learn this..." she murmured.
Marcus didn’t stop.
"Picked it up."
Elaina let out another quiet breath as he pressed into a tighter spot.
"...That feels good..."
Marcus adjusted his pressure slightly, working through the knots that had built up from her day. The tension in her shoulders eased bit by bit, her breathing becoming slower, steadier.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
It was quiet.
Just the sound of her breathing and the soft movent of his hands.
After a few minutes, Elaina leaned back slightly.
"...Okay," she said. "That’s enough or I might fall asleep here."
Marcus let out a small huff.
"Thought that was the point."
Elaina glanced back at him.
"...Not yet. We still have work."
Marcus stepped back, letting his hands fall to his sides.
"Alright."
Elaina stretched her arms slightly, then reached for her bag.
"Let’s go over it," she said.
She opened it and pulled out a stack of papers, neatly organized despite everything. She placed them on the table and sat properly this ti, her earlier exhaustion still there, but now mixed with focus.
Marcus moved to sit beside her.
"Show ."
Elaina nodded and handed him the first set.
"These are the E-rank candidates," she said. "Filtered based on consistency. Not just number of quests, but how they perford."
Marcus took the papers and started scanning.
Nas.
Records.
Short notes.
"...You did all this today?" he asked.
Elaina nodded.
"...In between everything else."
Marcus glanced at her briefly.
"...Not bad."
Elaina let out a small breath.
"I told you I’d do it properly."
Marcus returned his attention to the papers.
"...Good. This saves ti."
He flipped to the next page.
"And D-rank?"
Elaina pulled another set and placed it in front of him.
"Here."
Marcus nodded.
Then both of them leaned slightly over the table.
Side by side, their shoulders almost touching, both focused on the sa set of papers.
Marcus flipped through another page, stopping briefly at a na before tapping it once.
"This one," he said. "Consistent records. No failed missions."
Elaina leaned closer, glancing at the file.
"...He’s quiet, but reliable," she said. "Doesn’t cause problems."
Marcus nodded.
"Good. I don’t need loud ones."
He moved to the next.
"And this one?"
Elaina tilted her head slightly.
"...Strong, but reckless. Takes risks even when it’s not needed."
Marcus paused for a mont.
Then marked it.
"Keep him. We’ll fix that."
Elaina looked at him.
"You think you can?"
Marcus didn’t hesitate.
"Yeah."
There was no doubt in his voice.
Elaina watched him for a second longer, then gave a small nod.
"...Alright."
The papers shifted as they continued reviewing, one after another. Their plan is beginning to form.
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