Chapter 31: Moving Forward

The sun filtered through the blinds, casting streaks of light across the modest apartment Rin shared with Evelyn. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the faint aroma of buttered toast. Rin stretched, her muscles still sore from yesterday's intense training session, and made her way to the small dining area.

Evelyn was already seated, her usual composed demeanor softened by the morning light. She wore a simple tunic and trousers, her hair loosely tied back. A steaming cup of coffee sat in front of her, along with a neatly arranged plate of toast, eggs, and fruit.

"Good morning," Evelyn greeted, glancing up from a guild report she was reviewing.

"Morning," Rin replied, sliding into the chair across from her. She reached for the pot of coffee and poured herself a cup. "Anything interesting in there?" she asked, nodding toward the papers.

Evelyn shook her head. "Routine updates. Supply inventories, mission reports, nothing out of the ordinary." She set the papers aside and took a sip of her coffee. "How are you feeling after yesterday?"

Rin shrugged, biting into a piece of toast. "Sore, but I'll live. Yesterday was… enlightening."

Evelyn's lips curved into a small smile. "Good. You're improving, Aria. It's slow, but the progress is there. Don't lose sight of that."

Rin nodded, appreciating the encouragement. They ate in companionable silence for a few moments before Evelyn glanced at the clock.

"We should get going soon," she said, standing and gathering her papers. "I have a meeting with the finance department this morning."

"Alright, let's go," Rin said with a grin, grabbing her coat.

The way to the guild headquarters was brisk but pleasant. The streets were alive with the hum of morning activity—vendors setting up stalls, children running to school, and adventurers heading out on missions. As they reached the building that housed the guild, Evelyn turned to Rin.

"I'll be in my office if you need me. Good luck with your practice."

"Thanks," Rin replied. She watched Evelyn disappear down a corridor before heading toward Guild Master Vera's office.

It wasn't long before she arrived at the office of Vera, the guild master. Rin had received a message from her the night before, requesting a meeting. Rin had assumed it would be about something important, given Vera's usual demeanor. She knocked lightly on the door before entering, finding Vera seated behind her desk, a stack of papers neatly arranged in front of her.

"Aria," Vera greeted, gesturing for her to sit. "Thank you for coming on short notice."

"Of course, Guild Master," Rin replied, taking a seat. "What's this about?"

Vera leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers. "Before we begin, let me ask you: would you prefer to hear the bad news or the good news first?"

Rin thought for a moment before replying. "Let's start with the bad news."

Vera nodded. "Very well. Regarding your request about the central archive's restricted area… I wasn't able to find any means to grant you access. There are simply too many barriers in place, and no one within the guild has the authority to override those restrictions. I've spoken to a few higher-ups, but they were all very firm in their stance. I'm afraid we're at a standstill on that front."

Rin's shoulders sagged slightly, but she nodded. "I figured as much. It's disappointing, but not unexpected."

Vera continued, "As for your guiding abilities… I've been looking into it, as you asked. But I'm afraid I haven't been able to find any useful information—not in this country, at least. There may be something overseas, but we don't have the means to contact them. I'll keep searching, but as of now, it's not looking promising."

Rin exhaled slowly, absorbing the news. "Got it. There's a limit to what we can do right now. No problem, it'll take time, but I'll figure it out. For now, I need more experience as a Guide. It would help to meet other Guides, learn about their abilities, and guide more Espers. But convincing Evelyn to let me guide anyone from our guild or team… that's a different challenge."

Vera's lips twitched in amusement. "Evelyn is… protective, to say the least. But you're right—if it's something beyond her control, she'll have no choice but to allow it. The question is how to create such a situation."

Rin nodded. "Exactly. And finding someone willing to participate isn't going to be easy."

Vera tapped her fingers on the desk, deep in thought. After a moment, she said, "What about a joint mission with another guild's team? Would that be helpful?"

Rin's eyes lit up. "That would be perfect. But where did that idea come from?"

Vera smiled. "The Silver Fox Guild recently proposed a joint mission with your team. The team they're suggesting to join is the same one that was in charge of the dungeon you ended up clearing when the shift occurred."

Rin's mind raced. "I see. That's the team that came to apologize when I was in the hospital, right?"

Vera nodded. "Exactly. They feel they owe you for what happened, and they want to make amends. This mission is their way of doing that."

Rin's mind raced as she processed the information. "I see," she said aloud, though her thoughts were elsewhere. If the Silver Fox team was involved, it meant Ash might be part of the expedition. The memory of their last encounter resurfaced vividly.

Flashback to Chapter 15

"I was hoping to speak with you," Ash said, his voice low and deliberate.

"About what?" Rin asked, keeping her tone neutral.

"The dungeon," he replied. "And what happened there."

Her pulse quickened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play coy," he said sharply. "Something happened in that dungeon—something unnatural. You felt it, didn't you?"

Rin narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"

"Call me Ash," he said. "That's all you need to know for now."

"And why should I trust you, Ash?"

"You shouldn't," he admitted. "But you're in over your head. Whether you realize it or not, you're part of something much bigger than you think."

His words sent a chill down her spine. "What do you mean?"

Before he could answer, a sharp whistle pierced the air. Ash's gaze snapped to the side, his expression darkening.

"Stay safe, Felstone," he said, retreating into the shadows before she could stop him.

Back in the present, Rin's jaw tightened. If Ash was part of the joint mission, it would be an opportunity to confront him and demand answers. She looked up at Vera, determination in her eyes.

"When is this mission scheduled?"

"We're still finalizing the details," Vera replied. "But it should be soon. I'll keep you updated."

"Understood," Rin said.

Rin sat back, considering the news. She wasn't sure whether she felt relieved or apprehensive. There was still so much she didn't know, and the uncertainty gnawed at her. But at least she had something to focus on now.

"So, is that all the bad news?" Rin asked after a moment.

Vera chuckled softly. "Yes, that's all for the bad news."

"Good," Rin replied. "Now, let's hear the good news."

Vera's expression softened, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Well, I've found a location for you to move to, as you requested. Would you like to see it?"

Rin blinked in surprise. "Wait, really? I thought your team might not be able to find something that fit all my requirements."

"I thought the same at first," Vera admitted. "Your demands were… quite specific. But to my surprise, there is a location that accommodates everything you wanted. It's a bit secluded, as you requested, and it has all the features you asked for."

Rin's heart skipped a beat. "I'd love to see it."

Vera slid a tablet across the desk, tapping a few buttons. A series of pictures appeared on the screen, showing a sprawling property nestled near a mountain range. The images depicted lush greenery, a pristine lake, and a large, modern house with multiple floors and balconies.

"The house is near a mountain range, just as you wanted," Vera explained. "It has a large underground basement, plenty of space, and a garden area. There's even a terrace above the lake, which I found quite impressive. If it weren't for your request, I might have considered buying this place for myself—it's perfect for retirement."

Rin gazed at the pictures; her eyes wide with awe. "It's beautiful. It's like my imagination realized itself."

Vera smiled. "I thought you'd like it. If you do decide to purchase it, you'll have to invite me for tea sometime. I'd love to enjoy the view from that terrace."

Rin chuckled. "Of course. I'll make sure to invite you."

Vera leaned back in her chair, eyeing Rin with a thoughtful expression. "So, what are you going to do now? When are you going to move, and when will you tell Evelyn?"

Rin sighed. "I'll do it soon. Dragging it out won't help anyone. Please finalize the deal for me, and I'll talk to Evelyn about it. I'm sure she'll understand once she sees the place."

"Alright, I'll take care of it," Vera said. "I'll let you know when everything's ready."

Rin leaned back in her chair, a contemplative look crossing her face. "Guild master, I need your help with something else."

Vera raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What's the problem this time?"

"I need a trainer for ranged combat," Rin said, her tone serious. "Evelyn's a close-range fighter, and the others in my team are either elemental users or a barrier specialist. None of them can guide me in this area."

Vera tilted her head, curious. "Ranged combat? That's… unusual. Guides don't typically take on combat roles. They learn basic self-defense, sure, but it's more about surviving in case of danger inside a dungeon. Espers are there to protect you, especially someone like Evelyn. She's S-Class. Why do you want to learn ranged combat?"

Rin's expression hardened; her voice resolute. "Because I need to be strong enough to protect myself and be useful to my team. If I'm going to go against the Council, I can't afford to rely solely on others. I need to be prepared for every situation they might throw at me."

Vera's gaze softened, but Rin wasn't finished. "And let's not forget the last dungeon we tackled. I'm sure you haven't forgotten how close we came to being wiped out. I had to face the dungeon boss unprepared. I can't let that happen again. Dungeons are unpredictable, and we can't trust them to follow any set rules."

Her inner thoughts bubbled to the surface, though she kept them to herself.

The two dungeons I've attempted so far were far from ordinary, and the ones I'm heading into next won't be any easier. Even the system couldn't predict the dungeon shift, and I only got the quest after completing the original one. I can't leave anything to chance.

Rin looked back at Vera. "We can't be too well-prepared."

Vera nodded slowly; her expression thoughtful. "Fair enough. I'll find someone trustworthy—someone outside the Council's influence. Give me a moment."

Vera made a call, and after a brief exchange, she turned back to Rin. "I've called in someone who fits the bill. She'll be here shortly."

A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Vera called out, "Come in."

The door opened slowly, and a timid young woman stepped inside. She was petite, with shoulder-length dark hair and wide green eyes. She wore a standard guild uniform, her demeanor shy but determined.

"Guild Master Vera," she said softly, bowing her head slightly. "You called for me?"

"Yes, thank you for coming, Celine," Vera replied warmly. "This is Aria Felstone, an S-Class Guide. She needs a trainer for ranged combat, and I've chosen you for the task."

Celine's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Rin. "It's an honor to meet you, Miss Felstone," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm Celine, a B-Class Shooter."

Rin smiled kindly, sensing the girl's nerves. "It's nice to meet you, Celine. Please, call me Aria."

Vera nodded approvingly. "Celine, your task is to help Aria improve her ranged combat skills. Aria, take her to the S-Class training grounds and get started."

"Understood," Rin replied, standing. She gestured to Celine. "Shall we?"

Celine nodded hesitantly, following Rin out of the office.

At the S-Class Training Grounds

The S-Class training grounds were expansive, equipped with the latest technology and a variety of weapons. Rin led Celine to the shooting range, her demeanor calm and polite.

"Don't be nervous," Rin said as they walked. "I'm here to learn from you, not the other way around."

Celine managed a small smile. "Thank you. I'll do my best."

Once at the range, Celine handed Rin a practice gun. "Let's start with the basics. Show me your current shooting skills."

Rin took the gun, adjusted her stance, and fired at the target. The shots were precise, landing in a tight grouping near the bullseye. Celine's eyes widened in surprise.

"You're… really good," she said, blinking. "For someone who's primarily a Guide, that's impressive."

Rin grinned. "I've had some practice, but I know there's a lot I can improve on."

Celine nodded, her confidence growing. "Alright, let's move on. Ranged combat isn't just about accuracy—it's about positioning, timing, and teamwork. As a ranged fighter, you're in the backline, supporting your team while maintaining distance from the enemy."

She picked up a pointer and gestured to a diagram on the training ground's holographic display. "Here's the key: your position must allow you to attack effectively without endangering your teammates. This means understanding your team's formation and adjusting accordingly."

Celine's voice grew more animated as she continued. "You also need to keep track of your surroundings. A good ranged fighter is always moving—staying in one spot makes you an easy target. Watch for opportunities to reposition, especially if your line of sight is obstructed."

She demonstrated a few movements, weaving between obstacles and taking mock shots. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Rin found herself smiling as she listened.

"During a fight," Celine added, "you need to maintain a safe distance from the frontline. Too close, and you risk getting caught in the melee. Too far, and you won't be effective. It's a balance you'll learn with practice."

Rin nodded, absorbing the lecture. "That makes sense. What about dealing with enemies that close the distance?"

Celine's expression turned serious. "That's where evasion and quick reflexes come in. If an enemy breaches the frontline, your priority is to stay alive and reposition. Use the terrain to your advantage—jump, roll, duck. And if you have a secondary weapon, like a dagger, don't hesitate to use it."

Her tone softened as she added, "You're already good at guiding others, Aria. Think of this as another way to guide your team—by providing consistent support from the backline."

Rin smiled. "You're a great teacher, Celine. Thank you."

Celine blushed slightly; her earlier timidity replaced by a growing confidence. "I'm just doing my job. Let's keep practicing."

As they continued training, Rin couldn't help but feel grateful. Celine's enthusiasm and expertise were exactly what she needed, and for the first time in a while, she felt like she was making real progress.