As Arthur walked, one of the stationed guards noticed his approach and moved toward him with discipline. Though the man wore standard-issue armour, the sharpness in his posture and the asured pace of his steps spoke of a seasoned soldier.
He stopped a few paces away, offering a respectful nod.
"Sir, how may I assist you?" the guard asked, his tone polite but alert. Clearly, he recognised Arthur’s identity.
Arthur returned the nod, keeping his voice calm and direct. "I’m here to speak with General Draketower. Is he available?"
The guard didn’t hesitate. "One mont, sir. I’ll inform the General of your arrival."
He turned and moved quickly toward the command tower, leaving Arthur to wait beneath the shadow of the great eastern wall.
The guard returned swiftly and gave Arthur a sharp nod. "The General will see you. Please follow ."
Arthur stepped into pace beside him, ascending a wide stone stairwell that spiralled up one of the main towers overlooking the eastern frontier. As they climbed, he caught glimpses through narrow viewports, soldiers drilling in formation, supply lines being managed, mages calibrating long-range detection wards. The entire eastern wall was a war engine in motion, tightly coordinated and ruthlessly efficient.
At the top, the wind grew stronger, sweeping across the battlents with a low hum.
There stood General Raemund Draketower.
He was a tall man, broad-shouldered and clad in dark, heavy armour. His dark black hair was pulled back neatly, and the deep lines on his face spoke of decades spent on the battlefield, not behind a desk.
He stood near the edge of the tower, hands behind his back, eyes narrowed as he tracked movent in the distant terrain. Even at a glance, Arthur could tell the man wasn’t just observing. He was analysing, predicting and preparing.
Despite his age, Raemund’s posture remained unyielding, and the aura around him, refined, grounded, quietly dangerous, made it clear this was a man forged through endless conflict. His body still held the sharp tension of soone who trained daily, not out of vanity, but discipline.
When Arthur stepped closer, the General turned his head slightly, acknowledging his presence without needing introduction.
"Guild Master Azarel," the General greeted him in a gravelly voice. His tone was asured, neither warm nor hostile, but carried a formal respect that acknowledged Arthur’s status without conceding any undue authority.
Arthur t his gaze evenly. "General Draketower. Thank you for agreeing to et with ."
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I’m here because of the last guild council eting. We agreed that, as a rising guild, I would reach out to the four elite families of Caldera to discuss potential cooperation."
Arthur’s voice held steady, confident but not arrogant. "I’ve already spoken with Guild Master Seraphina, and we’ve established a preliminary cooperation plan."
For a mont, Raemund’s eyes narrowed, weighing the implications. Then, a slow smile broke across his face.
"You’ve already reached an agreent with Seraphina?" he muttered, almost to himself. His voice carried a rough edge of genuine interest. Raemund was a man who spoke his mind freely, preferring blunt honesty to evasive diplomacy.
"That’s interesting," he added, folding his arms as he studied Arthur. "It seems that you’ve given her a benefit she couldn’t ignore. You understand the value of strong alliances."
Arthur smiled back, not comnting on the General’s praise.
"I understand Power Guild seeks cooperation with established military forces, and I’m totally drawn in. Anything that can improve the city’s power and advance its developnt is always welcod," General Draketower said, his tone calm but edged with genuine interest rather than perfunctory diplomacy.
Raemund got straight to the point. There were no pleasantries, no roundabout testing, just business. And Arthur appreciated that. It saved ti that they didn’t have to waste.
"Correct," Arthur replied with a nod. "We believe mutual benefit can be achieved through strategic partnership."
He gestured toward the defensive preparations surrounding them, mages maintaining ward lines, logistics officers organising supplies, soldiers executing drills.
"Your forces have unmatched organisational structure and deep territorial knowledge thanks to your leadership. Our guild brings a different edge, resources. Together, we can reinforce Caldera’s strength in both conventional and unconventional threats."
The proposition was simple: practicality over politics.
Raemund’s expression shifted, the professional mask giving way to sothing sharper, calculated interest. This wasn’t a noble’s son trying to curry favour. This was soone who had sothing real to offer.
"What specific cooperation did you have in mind?" the General asked, voice low, steady.
He was listening now, not out of courtesy, but because he saw the possibility of value.
"I propose providing your most talented soldiers with enhanced equipnt based on rit assessnt," Arthur stated calmly. "The top three perforrs would receive rare-ranked weapons and full protective armour sets."
It was a bold offer, and it was definitely a substantial investnt. It showed asurable incentive.
General Draketower’s eyebrows lifted, the reaction imdiate and unguarded. For a man known for his composure, the surprise was telling.
Rare-ranked equipnt wasn’t handed out lightly. It was the kind of reward that could shift battlefield performance and morale. Arthur was offering sothing aningful, not rely symbolic, like dals.
He’s not playing around, the General thought.
"That’s generous of you, Guild Master," Raemund said, his tone carrying more than simple politeness. "A full outfit of rare-grade gear, three tis over. You’re either extrely confident in your guild’s finances or very serious about this cooperation."
"Both," Arthur replied with composure. "We don’t waste resources. We place them where they’ll make the most difference. I’m simply investing in the city’s safety. Those soldiers risk their lives daily to protect Caldera. They deserve it."
Raemund gave a faint grunt of approval. "And in return?"
"A small but reasonable request," Arthur said, a soft smile on his face. "I would like permission for a select group of our guild mbers to join your training rotations. They would receive standard wages, nothing excessive. The real value is in the thodology, learning how your forces operate, how you instil discipline and awareness."
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