Guild

Morning came quickly, the soft glow of the rising sun filtering through the windows of their new home. The group wasted no time as they stepped out into the bustling streets of Arthalon. It was a city unlike anything they had ever seen before, a perfect blend of medieval architecture and fantasy aesthetics, filled with merchants shouting about their wares, street performers dazzling crowds, and adventurers moving with clear purpose.

Before heading to the guild, Liam had to finalize the purchase of their house. As promised, the seller returned that morning, handing over the agreement sheet and the certificate of ownership with a smug grin, as if still bitter about the haggling from the previous day. Liam took the documents, double-checking them, while Marcus stood beside him, muttering under his breath about being ripped off.

"A whole seventy bronze," Marcus grumbled. "We could've bought a whole damn farm with that money."

"Shut up, Marcus," Eleanor sighed. "It's done. The house is ours."

With that settled, the group shifted focus to their next objective—finding a guild to join. However, before they could even begin their search, Marcus's stomach growled loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

"Alright, before we do anything," Marcus said, rubbing his belly, "we find food."

Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Do you think about anything other than food?"

"Yes," Marcus shot back. "Food and winning."

Despite Eleanor's complaints, no one was against the idea of eating first. They had been traveling for days and had barely eaten anything decent. After asking around, they found a small inn with a modest dining area. The place was lively, filled with adventurers sharing stories over plates of food and drinks. The scent of roasted meat, fresh bread, and spiced vegetables filled the air.

Each of them ordered their preferred meals, with Marcus going all out, ordering the biggest plate of grilled meat and a side of mashed potatoes. Sophia and Eleanor took lighter meals, while Liam settled for a basic platter of roasted chicken and bread. As they ate, Liam couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

His eyes darted around the room, observing. The city was unfamiliar, and he wasn't about to let his guard down. He had learned long ago that new environments meant potential danger. His instincts screamed at him to be alert.

Then, he noticed it.

"Hey, guys," Liam said, lowering his voice. "Seems y'all didn't notice something."

"Huh?" Jason looked up from his plate.

"Those guys," Liam nodded discreetly toward a nearby table. "They've been staring at Sophia and Eleanor for a while now."

Marcus, lacking any concept of subtlety, turned his head fully and stared directly at them.

Liam sighed and smacked the back of his head. "You idiot. I said don't be obvious."

Marcus scowled, rubbing the back of his head. "Damn it, man, I almost choked on my food!"

Jason shook his head. "Stop being a fool, Marcus."

Across the room, two men sat watching them. One of them, a lean, sharp-eyed man, was biting into an apple as he spoke to his companion. The other was bulkier, muscular, with a smug expression that oozed arrogance. Their attention was entirely on Sophia and Eleanor, their gazes shamelessly lingering.

After a few moments, they finally stood up and strolled over to the group's table, moving with the kind of confidence that came from knowing they were stronger than most people around them.

The lean man took another bite of his apple before smirking. "What's a couple of pretty little things like you doing in a place like this?"

Sophia and Eleanor ignored them, focusing on their food, but the two men weren't taking the hint.

"Bet those asses are as succulent as they look," the bulky one added, his voice low but loud enough to be heard.

Sophia's grip on her fork tightened, while Eleanor's eyes narrowed, her usual calm expression turning cold. Liam saw it. He saw the irritation flashing in their eyes, and that was enough.

Liam stood up, his chair scraping against the floor as he locked eyes with the lean man. His voice was calm, controlled, but filled with warning.

"Fuck off."

A tense silence spread through the room. Conversations halted. The weight of Liam's words hung in the air like a storm cloud about to burst.

The lean man smirked, amused. "Oh? And what if we don't?"

Liam's fists clenched. He could already tell these guys weren't just random troublemakers. The way they carried themselves, the confidence they exuded—it was clear they were capable fighters. But that didn't matter.

Jason stood up and placed a hand on Liam's shoulder, a silent reminder to think before acting. "We just got to this city," Jason said under his breath. "We don't need unnecessary trouble."

Liam didn't take his eyes off the two men. He had no intention of backing down, but Jason was right. The last thing they needed was a fight before they even established themselves.

The lean man chuckled, tossing the rest of his apple onto their table. "Tch, not worth the effort today. But you better watch yourselves."

His companion gave Sophia one last look before they both turned and walked out of the inn, their gazes still filled with amusement, but now tinged with something else—an unspoken challenge.

As soon as they were gone, Marcus let out a breath. "What the fuck was that about?"

"Trouble," Liam muttered, sitting back down. "And something tells me we haven't seen the last of them."

Sophia finally exhaled, looking down at her plate. "Creeps."

Eleanor nodded. "They're strong. You could feel it."

Liam leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Their journey in Arthalon was just beginning, and already, the city was showing its dangerous side.

As they ate, Liam found himself lost in thought, barely tasting the food in front of him. The more time passed, the more uneasy he felt. Everything about this world—the pain, the exhaustion, the realism—was too much for just a game. The idea that Nexus Corp had lied to them lingered in his mind like a bad taste. If this wasn't virtual reality, then what the hell was it? He needed answers. But right now, there was nothing he could do except push forward.

After they finished eating, they paid for their meals and stepped out into the bustling streets of Arthalon. The city was alive with energy, merchants shouting over one another, armored warriors strolling past, and beggars lingering near alleyways. Following the directions they had received earlier, the group moved through the maze of streets until they arrived at their destination.

The moment Liam saw the guildhall, his mood soured. The building was large, with a massive wooden sign above the entrance displaying a crest of crossed swords. Mercenaries and adventurers of all kinds gathered outside, some sharpening their weapons, others engaged in loud conversations. But none of that mattered. What mattered was the two men standing at the entrance—

The same bastards from the inn.

Liam clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to curse out loud. The two men weren't just standing there. They were positioned like they owned the place. And judging by the way others greeted them with nods of respect, they weren't just regular adventurers—they were important figures here.

"Shit," Liam muttered under his breath. "You've got to be kidding me."

"What?" Marcus asked, glancing at him. Then he followed Liam's gaze and immediately groaned. "Oh, fuck me. Are you serious?"

Eleanor crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "So those guys weren't just some random lowlifes. Great."

"Should we leave?" Jason asked, lowering his voice.

"No," Liam said firmly. "We're here to get stronger. I don't care who they are. We're not walking away."

Sophia smirked slightly. "You're going to start trouble, aren't you?"

"Not if I don't have to," Liam replied. "But I'm not about to bow my head to anyone."

With that, he pushed forward, leading the group toward the entrance. The moment they stepped closer, the two men turned their heads, their expressions shifting from surprise to amusement.

"Well, well," one of them drawled, taking a bite from an apple. "Look who it is. Thought you'd still be crying in a corner after our little chat at the inn."

The other man chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "You got guts showing up here. Too bad guts don't keep you alive in this city."

Liam held his ground, staring them down. "We're here to register. Now move."

The first man grinned, tossing his apple to the side. "That so? Alright then. Let's see if you're worth the trouble."

Liam's grip tightened, preparing himself. This wasn't going to be easy.