Eyes of the City

Liam's grip tightened around the Brush of the Architect as he stared up at Captain Rainer. The air felt heavy, charged with suspicion, as the murmuring of the gathered crowd continued to grow.

"I can't afford to mess this up."

The captain's sharp gaze locked onto him, his crimson-plated armor reflecting the dim glow of the street lanterns. He wasn't just another soldier—he was the enforcer of order in Ardentia.

And right now, Liam was standing at the center of a disaster.

"I…" Liam swallowed, choosing his words carefully. "I've always had this brush. It was a family heirloom."

Rainer didn't react immediately. His eyes flicked to the massive corpse of the Chitin Tyrant, then back to Liam. "A family heirloom?" He scoffed, crossing his arms. "And you expect me to believe an ordinary Architect suddenly gained the power to summon creatures and kill an A-rank monster?"

Liam didn't answer.

Because, honestly? He didn't believe it either.

"Captain," one of the guards spoke up, stepping forward hesitantly. "I saw it with my own eyes. That thing—it was made of ink. He didn't just summon a creature; he created it."

Rainer exhaled through his nose, his expression unreadable. "Hmph. Unregistered magic in the middle of a city. Unauthorized combat usage. And you…" His gaze sharpened. "You just happened to kill a creature no one else could?"

Liam's jaw clenched. He could tell where this was going.

He thinks I planned this. That I summoned the Chitin Tyrant myself.

The weight of the situation sank in.

He wasn't going to be praised for this. He wasn't going to be treated like a hero.

He was going to be arrested.

Before he could speak, a new voice cut in.

"You're looking at this all wrong, Captain Rainer."

Liam turned to see a man stepping forward from the crowd. He was tall, cloaked in fine dark robes, and carried an air of authority. His presence alone seemed to demand attention.

Rainer's expression darkened. "…Vance."

🔹 [Vance Eldrin – Guild Representative of the Silver Veil]

Liam's heart skipped a beat. A guild representative?

Vance smiled, adjusting his gloves. "What we have here isn't a crime—it's a miracle. A mere Architect defying the odds, protecting the people. If anything, he should be rewarded, not treated like a criminal."

Rainer's jaw tensed, but he remained silent.

Liam could hardly process what was happening. Was this guy… defending him?

Vance turned toward him with an amused expression. "Tell me, boy. Have you ever considered joining a guild?"

Liam blinked.

The crowd gasped.

And just like that, everything changed again.