Quest Updated

The kiss lingered for only a second—but in Liam's mind, time seemed to stall.

Aria's hands trembled as she pulled back, her eyes wide with surprise at herself. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and for a moment, no one said a word.

Mia blinked, her mouth slightly open, clearly unsure how to react. Vix, sensitive to the tension, wagged his tail once and let out a low whine.

"…I'll… take Vix out for a walk," Mia mumbled quickly, scooping up the wolf and backing toward the door.

"Wait—Mia, it's not—" Liam began, but she had already disappeared with a quiet click of the door.

Liam turned slowly, scratching the back of his neck. "Aria, I—"

"I'm sorry!" she blurted out, her voice a whisper overlaid with panic. "I… I didn't plan to do that, it just… happened."

Liam took a breath and walked over to the small table by the window. The warm glow of lanternlight spilled across the wooden floor. He pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit.

She did, hesitantly.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Aria, I'm not upset. But… are you sure this isn't just you being overwhelmed? Everything's happened so fast. You've been through hell—and I was just the one lucky enough to be there when you needed someone."

Aria's eyes dropped to her hands, folded tightly in her lap. "No. You don't understand."

"Then help me," Liam said gently.

She inhaled slowly, then spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've been… kinder to me than anyone else ever has. Even my own family. My father treated me like a liability. My older siblings acted like I didn't exist. Only my mother… only she ever looked at me like I mattered. And then there was you."

Liam's gaze softened.

"You never pitied me. You treated me like someone who could still fight. You gave me space, and still came back when I needed you. You believed in me when I couldn't even believe in myself."

Liam nodded slowly. "That sounds a lot like gratitude, Aria. Maybe even relief."

"No." She looked up. "I know what gratitude feels like. This isn't that."

Her voice cracked a little at the edges, and Liam felt the weight of her honesty settle between them like snow.

"I don't expect anything," she said, forcing a smile. "I just… wanted you to know."

Before Liam could say anything more—

Ding!

[System Message: You have received a High Priority Call from: Guild Headquarters ]

[System recommends heading to the guild immediately]

Liam frowned. "Well, that's new."

"What is it?" Aria asked quickly.

"The Guild. Something's happened—I am not sure what it is, but it is probably something related to the corruption, as that is the only major thing that we have been involved in."

Aria stood immediately. "Then let's go. I'll be fine."

"You sure?"

She gave him a nod, her eyes steadier now, a quiet smile playing on her lips. "Yup, I just got some of my strength back, now is no time for me to stay behind."

Liam smirked. "Okay, lets go"

She nodded, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

He grabbed Aria's hand and led her outside the inn

Outside, the night was colder than before.

And darker.

The two stepped out into the hallway, the inn quiet at the late hour. Lamps flickered low, casting long shadows along the corridor. As they reached the stairwell, a familiar scent hit them—a mix of wild grass and faint lavender.

Vix padded into view, ears perked, tail swaying slightly.

And just behind him, Mia stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

"Well, that took a while," she said with a raised eyebrow, though her smirk was more amused than accusatory. "Was starting to think you two eloped."

Liam snorted. "You wouldn't believe it even if I told you."

Mia shrugged. "Try me."

Suddenly, both Mia and Liam got notifications from the system.

Ding!

[System Message: Party Alert — New Emergency Quest Unlocked]

Quest: A Whisper of Rot (A-Rank)] (Updated objectives)

Status: Active

The Guild has detected a breach at one of its hidden supply vaults. Preliminary reports indicate signs of magical sabotage and tampering.

High-priority prisoner involved in recent corruption probe has escaped custody.

Report to the Guild Hall – Captain Diana immediately.

Cannot be rejected.

Reward: ???

Failure Penalty: ???

"A new quest?" Mia asked, surprised.

"Well, looks like the situation is escalating quickly. Let's go there as soon as possible." Liam said urgently.

----------------------------------

The Guild Hall stood quiet in the night, its torches burning low, but the tension in the air was anything but calm.

Inside the command chamber, Guild Master Diana stood near a long war-table cluttered with maps, reports, and alchemical residue samples glowing faintly under detection spells. Her cloak was unfastened, hair slightly tousled—signs she'd been up all night.

She looked up as the four entered.

"Good," she said, her tone brisk. "You came fast. We've got a situation."

Liam stepped forward. "The prisoner?"

"Gone," Diana said. "During the third bell, a fire broke out in Bronzewind Alley—our auxiliary vault. It was meant to be a secure supply depot for dangerous materials. A place few even know about."

She gestured to a charred vial resting inside a magical containment bubble. The liquid inside pulsed a sickly violet.

"They torched the entire storehouse. Used the fire as a cover to breach the holding chamber under it. The smuggler you brought in—vanished. No signs of struggle. No magical alarms tripped."

Aria frowned. "So they either knew the wards... or placed them."

Diana nodded grimly. "That's what worries me. We've got a mole—or someone with intimate knowledge of Guild layouts."

Mia looked at the vial. "That's not ordinary fire residue."

"No," Diana replied. "Our alchemists found traces of a concoction labeled Batch C-3. Same class as what's been recovered in the corruption ring."

Liam's jaw tightened. "So, it is the mastermind behind the corruption. They are probably afraid that the prisoner would have spilled some beans. They're still here. In Highvale."

"Worse," Diana said. "They're moving faster than we are."

She stepped around the table and handed Liam a sealed scroll. The Guild's insignia shimmered across the wax.

"This is your provisional Investigator's Writ. Effective immediately, you're authorized to access restricted crime scenes and question low-tier personnel. Use it wisely. The higher-ups are nervous, and not everyone wants adventurers poking around."

Liam accepted it silently.

"Also," Diana added, her voice softer, "be careful. Whoever orchestrated this... they didn't just come for that man. They came for what he knew. And they were willing to burn half a street to get to it."

"This isn't just cleanup. It's a containment. If they dared steal someone right from the guild's headquarters, then they can do anything. Be extremely careful, and contact me should you see or hear anything suspicious."