Dark Days

As the inquiry room fell silent, all eyes were fixed on Gram, who was still reeling from the shock of the verdict. The tension in the air was palpable, a thick fog of disbelief, anger, and a dawning realization of the severity of his actions. 

 Vanguard Gor was the first to break the silence, his deep voice resonating with a lethal edge. "Give me one reason why your head should stay attached to your body." 

 The sentiment was echoed silently by everyone in the room. Serena, Byron, and Jack shared the same grim thoughts. The noble problem was worse than any of them had anticipated. Serena had hoped that the firm stance she took at the Initiation would curb the rising tide of arrogance and entitlement among the nobles, but it seemed the issue had only festered, spreading like a cancer through the ranks. 

 Serena's voice was cold and resolute as she delivered the verdict. "Since you have nothing to say, you are hereby stripped of your Warlord title and all privileges." 

 Byron, his face a mask of barely controlled fury, added, "You are also banished from my guild. You disgust me." 

 The words reverberated in Gram's mind, their impact growing with each repetition. 'Banished... stripped of my title... Banished...' 

 "Why... why... WHY?!" Gram's voice escalated into a crazed shriek, his eyes wide with madness. He fixated on Sylvie, Mia, and Bane, his face contorting with rage. "THIS IS YOUR FAULT! PEASANTS! PEASANTS! WHY MUST WE CONSTANTLY KNEEL TO THOSE BENEATH US?! WE ARE THE RIGHTFUL RULERS! SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!! SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!! I'LL KILL YOU... I'LL KILL YOU ALL!!" 

 His meltdown was a horrifying spectacle, the twisted culmination of his deep-seated arrogance and hatred. He was a man unraveling, consumed by an antiquated belief in his own superiority. Just as he was about to lunge, Byron stepped forward, delivering a swift, decisive chop to the back of Gram's neck, knocking him out cold. The room fell silent again, the echoes of Gram's outburst lingering in the heavy air. 

 Byron looked at the unconscious form of Gram on the floor with a mixture of disgust and pity. "I've heard enough. Do with him as you see fit. Excuse me." With that, Byron turned on his heel and strode out of the room, leaving Gram where he lay—a clear indication that he was done with the nonsense and had no further interest in protecting the disgraced Warlord. As he exited, his mind was already racing with plans on how to prevent another Gram from rising within his ranks. 

 The rest of the room remained still, processing what had just occurred. Jack shook his head, and even Melody, usually so composed, was visibly shaken by the depths of Gram's hatred. Serena, regaining her composure, turned to the trio. "You were right to bring this to our attention, and although he didn't state it, I'm sure Guildmaster Byron is appreciative as well. This inquiry is adjourned." 

As they exited the palace, Mia left with Melody after bidding farewell to the others, while Jack disappeared to attend to business. Bane and Sylvie walked back to the guild together, reflecting on the events that had unfolded. 

 "I have seen many face discrimination and hate, but I have never seen THAT," Bane said, his voice tinged with disbelief. 

 Sylvie remained quiet, replaying the scene in her mind. The look in Gram's eyes had been pure, unadulterated rage. It wasn't just anger; it was a deep, visceral hatred that seemed to go beyond reason. She couldn't understand why he hated her so much when she had never done anything to him. As she struggled to make sense of it, Bane interrupted her thoughts. 

 "Do not attempt to understand ignorance," he said quietly. "It will only hinder you." 

 Sylvie nodded, realizing the wisdom in his words. Some things were beyond comprehension, fueled by a darkness that defied logic or empathy. 

 When they arrived back at the guild headquarters, they ran into Haruto. The three quickly shared their experiences from the last few days, with Haruto shocked at what had happened with Gram, while Bane wished he had been there to fight the Ifrit hybrid. As they were catching up, someone mentioned that Jack was looking for them in his office. 

 The three of them entered Jack's office, closing the door behind them. Jack sat at his desk, his fingers steepled in front of his face, his expression serious. "I've been reaching out to my sources and connections," he began, his tone grave. "It seems this noble problem isn't new. There are many who are slowly switching their way of thinking and are falling in line more with Gram's and Kane's line of thinking. What happened today... well, it's put our guild on GoldenAge's bad list." 

 Jack leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he continued. "Byron can only do so much, but he can't control the actions of every guild member. The truth is, many are closer to Gram than Byron. On these missions, make sure you're watching your backs if you're paired up with them. It is not uncommon for... accidents to happen. Do you get what I'm hinting at?" 

The three of them nodded, understanding the unspoken warning. In the world of Warlords, "accidents" often meant targeted attacks disguised as misfortune. Jack's concern was clear: they were now marked, and they would need to be vigilant. 

 "Alright," Jack said, dismissing them. "Be safe out there." 

--- 

Meanwhile, in a grand stone mansion outside the kingdom, a group of refined individuals sat around a table, dining on a feast fit for royalty. These were the heads of the major noble families, their wealth and power evident in every detail of the room. At the head of the table sat the patriarch of the Ageton family, the founder of the GoldenAge guild, and among them was Vanguard Kane. 

 The patriarch, an older man with a commanding presence, looked at Kane with a steely gaze. "Boy, you have yet to move up in rankings, although we provide you with everything you need. Tell me, is there a reason you have decided to take your time?" 

 Kane, choosing his words carefully, replied, "No, grandfather. Things have stalled due to these mutations that have been occurring. The twins are out on an expedition and have yet to return." 

 The patriarch narrowed his eyes, sipping his tea slowly. "I see." 

 Another elder noble, with an air of intellectual curiosity, spoke up. "Ah, yes. I've heard rumors that these beasts have gained some sort of intelligence. Fascinating indeed. I would love to study one or two for my research." 

 The patriarch, however, was less interested in academic pursuits and more focused on power. "Truth is, Kane, we all grow impatient. We put you in a position to move up in ranks and eventually take over the Warlords, but it is starting to seem like you lack the resolve to do what is needed." As he spoke, a suffocating pressure descended on Kane, nearly crushing him under its weight. The patriarch's eyes gleamed with cold menace as he watched Kane struggle to remain conscious. "Make sure you get back on track, boy." 

 Kane, barely managing to nod, felt the pressure ease up slightly. 

 Just then, a knock came at the door, interrupting the tense atmosphere. The nobles exchanged puzzled looks—who could be visiting at this hour? 

 "Enter if you must," the patriarch commanded, his voice laced with annoyance. 

 A man entered; his demeanor nervous as he approached the table. Upon closer inspection, it was the same guard who had smirked earlier during the inquiry. 

 "Your Highnesses, Vanguard Kane," the guard stammered, bowing deeply. "I humbly come with information." 

 "You do know the penalty for interrupting my meal should I not feel satisfied?" the patriarch asked, his voice dripping with menace. 

 "Y-Yes, Your Highness," the guard stuttered, his fear evident. "But this could not wait." 

 "Then speak, boy, or do you think I have time to waste on commoners?" the patriarch snapped. 

 "No, sir. Apologies," the guard hurriedly replied. "There was an official inquiry today. Your grandson, Sir Gram, has been stripped of his Warlord title and banished from the GoldenAge guild. The ones who brought the inquiry against him were the Infinite Light and Orions Heart guilds. Also, your grandson was beaten by the current GoldenAge GuildMaster, Byron." 

 The room fell deathly silent, the air thick with tension. Kane's eyes widened in shock and fury. Mana leaked out from him, causing the table to melt under the sheer intensity of his rage. He couldn't believe what he was hearing—his brother? An inquiry? Stripped of his title? It was unthinkable. 'How dare he embarrass this family!'

 The patriarch's smile was slow and eerie, his expression chilling. "That little ice girl has sure become bold." 

 "Ageton, this is because we have let them run amok for far too long. Not only that, but these peasants have the gall to file an inquiry? It is completely and utterly absurd," another elder nobleman hissed, his anger barely contained 

"Calm yourself Edgar. These little Warlords have only become this bold because we have allowed them to. They are like dogs given an area to roam. But eventually they will choose to dig under the fence in search of things far beyond their reach. A small oversight that we will correct." An elegant woman stated as she sat without a worry-free state. 

"Well, I am glad you can be so carefree Lilly. You don't have to sit on the council under that wretched king. Why of all people did he have to be the one to find a Awakening stone that contained Draconian magic. It practically makes him untouchable. He should be on our side considering he's your kin" Edgar looked at Ageton. 

"Do not mention that trash in the same sentence as my name." Ageton's tone became extremely serious, and the house shook slightly. 

Lilly chuckled. "You should know better than to poke the beat Edgar" 

At this statement, the patriarch sat in thoughtful silence for a moment before making a decision. "Very well. I will remove Byron myself. The King can be dealt with but it will take some time." He then looked towards the guard. "You have proven your worth with your information over the years. You've done well," he said, flicking a gold coin to the guard. The coin bore a strange design, marking it as a token of membership. "I have more plans for you, much more. From this day forward, you now belong to The Dark Guild."