The sunlight of Mythlorien, filtered through the now translucent and vibrant leaves of the tree that served as the headquarters of Astralis Requiem, created a spectacle of colors that none of the guests had expected to witness.
Lohan and Lisa had invited their most important business partners in Thalendor; in addition to Aeliana, Lohan’s closest friend and a disciple of Archmage Yrneha Ylasys, they had also invited Intervar, the owner of the Silver Crucible and their first business partner in Thalendor, and Kora, the master leather artisan who had gradually proven to be a major buyer of most of the materials the guild acquired.
Acpanying the group, Aeliana walked along cheerfully, though her gaze still bore the weight of the recent revelation about her friends’ identities as Players.
As they crossed the perimeter of the passive purification barrier, the three visitors were immediately struck by the sensation. Although they did not experience the same high Mana and Stamina regeneration effects as the guild members, the purification of the air and Mana in the environment was still clearly noticeable.
Intervar stopped abruptly, adjusting his reading glasses as he observed the white, polished wood that now formed the trunk of the headquarters.
He, who dealt with high-purity materials on a daily basis, felt the density of Mana reach his core like a refreshing breeze. Kora, usually gruff and indifferent, let her jaw drop slightly, running her gloved hand over the surface of the wood, which glowed with veins of luminous sap.
"Halon... Lisa... I knew that investing in you would pay off, but this is even more astonishing than I could have imagined, even in my most optimistic speculations," Intervar murmured, his voice laden with a respect he had never shown before. "Just a few weeks ago, you were scouts bringing snake acid in a Slime’s belly, and now you’ve built a sanctuary that holds its own even when pared to the great groups of Thalendor, forgive my frankness, even though your current strength isn’t anywhere near theirs."
Lohan, who now rested on the central pedestal in an impeccable sky-blue form, vibrated his membrane in a weling gesture. Lisa sat down beside him, her two white tails swaying rhythmically beneath the light emanating from the tree’s vigorous, energy-charged sap.
Kora crossed her muscular arms, her yellowish eyes sweeping every corner of the main hall. "The rumor about the Astralis Requiem at the Grand Bazaar was that you were just a group of lucky monsters who defeated some spoiled tamers in the forest..." Kora remarked in her hoarse voice. "But seeing this infrastructure... both in terms of organization and what you’ve already managed to achieve... is even more shocking."
Intervar approached the meeting table carved from the master root and let out a short laugh, recalling something that had happened at his shop recently. "You know, Halon, I should have connected the dots sooner. Yesterday afternoon, a group of otherworlders came into the Silver Crucible to buy basic reagents. They were in a state of agitation that I rarely see in those arrogant folks, no offense," the elf said, looking at the slime with amusement. "They spoke with a mix of envy and dread about someone named ’Astralis.’ They said she was the most advanced guild in Elysium, the only one that had ever conquered elite dungeons and things like that."
The alchemist paused dramatically, watching Lohan and Lisa’s reaction. "One of the players said his dream was to join that group; given how that group was developing, anyone who joined would bee famous overnight. When I heard them mention the name ’Astralis,’ I imagined it was some secret organization of human nobles from another world... it never crossed my mind that this organization, constantly talked about in the city, was actually the work of my two little friends."
Aeliana, who until then had been silent, taking in the scale of the base, let out a small gasp of surprise.
She ran across the room, marveling at how well-organized the place was. To the elf, who lived in an immaculate magical tower, Astralis’s headquarters was every bit as sophisticated. However, what truly captured her heart was seeing two tiny figures flying through the lower lobby.
Elle and Pip emerged from among the interior branches, carrying baskets of mana flowers that now glowed with the silvery light of the moons.
Aeliana stopped in front of the fairies, speechless at the sight of such pure, nature-bound creatures working so harmoniously within a guild of players.
She spoke with Elle for a few minutes, listening intently to the story of how Pip had been captured by the Glass-Shell Queen and how Halon and Lisa had risked their lives to save him.
"You... you saved little Pip from a dungeon boss and now you’ve given him a home?" Aeliana asked, turning to Lohan with her blue eyes sparkling with emotion.
The shock over her Player’s identity seemed to be giving way to deep admiration. "I know many elves who would treat fairies as nothing more than garden ornaments or magical resources. To employ fairies and treat them as family members... that speaks volumes about your character, even as otherworlders."
Lisa tilted her head, her telepathic voice sounding soft in everyone’s minds. "Astralis Requiem doesn’t seek only power, Aeliana. We seek a refuge in Elysium where we can coexist for mutual benefit. Elle and Pip aren’t employees; they’re members just like everyone else."
Aeliana fell into deep thought after hearing Lisa’s words.
She walked over to the crystal window, watching the trail of silvery pollen that Elle left in the air as she tended to the new flowers.
An idea began to take shape in Yrneha’s apprentice’s mind, something that linked her master’s needs to the extraordinary potential she was seeing in that place.
She recalled the private conversations in the tower, where Yrneha had plained about a series of disturbances in Thalendor’s underground mana flows, something the official guard couldn’t investigate without causing a political uproar with other nobles, but which the other magic apprentices either lacked the power to carry out or were unwilling to put their studies on hold to do.
And seeing how this group of friends of hers intended to follow a path of undertaking tasks like these in exchange for rewards, it seemed perfect!
"Halon... Lisa..." Aeliana began, her voice now more serious and less childish. "Seeing how you operate... the way you coordinate and how you treat the native beings of this world with such respect... I believe my master will be even more interested in you, especially considering the last monster you faced..."
Intervar and Kora also approached, intrigued by the blonde elf’s change in tone.
Aeliana continued, explaining that Yrneha needed a discreet investigation in a sector deep within Mythlorien that bordered the ancient tunnels of the Great Rift. It was a high-risk mission, one that required not only brute force but also a level of adaptability and discretion that no group of ordinary mercenaries or elven guards possessed.
"My mistress hasn’t yet found anyone suitable to carry this out for her," Aeliana explained, looking at the blue slime with confidence. "She fears that if she sends mages from the tower, news of the instability will spread and cause panic in the city. But your guild... you’re Players; you’re immortal in the face of death, and you’ve already proven you can clear a level 15 dungeon in a matter of days, which makes you at least strong enough to avoid certain death. I think this might interest you."
Lohan felt the Holy Light within his core pulse at the mention of that opportunity.
A direct mission from Archmage Yrneha wasn’t just a chance to gain massive experience, but a likely diplomatic springboard that would elevate Astralis Requiem to a level of political influence far beyond their current standing.
Although they were very influential among the Players, their influence in the world of Elysium was still almost nonexistent. Being able to strengthen their ties with Thalendor in this way would be wonderful.
Aeliana continued. "My mistress suspects that the plant corruption you faced in the Cave of Whispers is merely a symptom of something much deeper that is trying to emerge from the void. If Astralis Requiem can uncover the source of this... I’m certain my mistress will do everything she can to help you secure the corresponding rewards and prestige among the Thalendor Council.
Intervar looked at Kora, and the two exchanged a surprised glance, but remained silent, realizing that this was pletely beyond their reach.
"We’ll accept the proposal to speak with Lady Ylasys about this, Aeliana," Lisa declared, equally excited.
Intervar and Kora left the headquarters tree with their bags full of renewed contracts and their minds full of plans to expand their supply to Astralis. With the news that Astralis would increase its current membership by at least four times, if they didn’t want to miss out on the potential profit from this partnership, they would have to improve their sales contacts as well.
As the guests descended the luminous wooden walkways, Aeliana paused for a second and waved back at Halon.
She smiled, realizing that the revelation of their Players’ identities hadn’t destroyed their friendship, but rather given it a new purpose.
She was dying of curiosity about the other world, wanting to ask thousands of questions to clear up the doubts she’d had ever since learning of these people’s origins, but she knew now wasn’t the ideal time for that.
She was excited to bring the news to her master and see Yrneha’s face when she found out that her "little friend" was now the mander of one of the most feared forces among the otherworlders.
Lohan watched the group walk away through his instinctive perception, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.
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