The Golden Griffon Guild's Offer

Arthur looked at Eamon and narrowed his eyes. His face still held the strain of many sleepless nights, but his voice was firm.

"But why does this even concern you? I have never seen you in the town. You don't belong here. Why would you help me?"

Eamon didn't answer immediately. He shifted his weight, looked away toward the trees, then back at Arthur. His hand brushed his coat where his sword lay hidden. He wasn't ready to tell Arthur about the curse. Not yet. That truth came with dangers. And Eamon had learned long ago that trust should be given carefully. So, he lied.

"The vampire you're after," he said, "he killed people from my town too. People I cared about."

Arthur's brow furrowed. "What?"

Eamon nodded slowly. He spoke with a low, serious tone, his voice steady.

"2 month ago, I returned home after a quest. I found my town in chaos. Houses were burned. The guard post was destroyed. I went to my friend's house… and all I found was blood."

Arthur looked stunned.

Eamon continued, "that's why I'm here. I've been tracking him ever since. The trail led me to this town. I thought I had lost him. But now… now I know I was close."

Arthur let out a long breath and looked down at his hands. He spoke more softly now.

"I believe you. I… I'm sorry about your friends."

Eamon looked at him and nodded in silence. For a moment, both men stood still under the quiet trees. Eamon felt bad for deceiving Arthur but he had no other choice.

Then Arthur stepped forward and held out his hand. "We help each other. You want revenge. And so do I. Let's find him and finish this together."

Eamon reached out and shook his hand firmly.

Arthur's grip was strong.

"That man is a maniac," Arthur said. "He's a sadist. He doesn't just kill. He plays with his victims. He enjoys it."

Eamon said nothing, just listened.

Arthur kept going. "When me and the doctor looked at those bodies, they noticed things. Cuts that weren't meant to kill. Bruises in places that made no sense. Like he hit them just to see them cry."

Arthur's jaw clenched. "He made them go through pain. He tore their hope apart before their flesh."

Eamon's voice was quiet. He said, "I saw the room where the doctor and his wife were killed. It was unbearable to watch."

Arthur looked down, his voice filled with something between sorrow and rage. "But one thing I realised about him…"

Eamon looked up. "What?"

Arthur stared ahead. "He's an egoist. Full of pride. When the doctor saw him that night in the forest, he didn't run. He stood there. And he spoke."

"What did he say?", Eamon asked.

Arthur mimicked the voice. "He said, 'You will be caught. I will make you pay.' That's all."

Eamon blinked. "And what happened after that?"

Arthur's voice turned darker. "The vampire leaped toward him. He was enraged. The doctor cast a light spell—blinded him just for a second. Enough to stagger him."

Arthur exhaled. "That's when the guards arrived. Just in time. The vampire ran. But I know that moment wounded his pride."

Arthur looked back at Eamon.

"He took it personally. It wasn't just about killing anymore. He wanted to destroy the doctor. Humiliate him. So, he planned it."

Arthur took a step closer, his eyes intense. "He went to my cottage first as he knew that killing me would hurt the doctor the most. I think he suspected something there. He discovered the blood packets in my room. He found out I was a vampire. That's when he made his plan."

Eamon's face darkened.

"He waited?" Arthur nodded.

"He waited until I left the house that night. Then he went in. He tortured them. Killed them slowly. And left a note in my name saying that I was a vampire and I killed him. That was the final blow. Not just to their lives, but to everything they stood for. The villagers arrived and saw the note and suspected that I was the real killer."

Silence again.

Eamon finally said, "So how does this help us? How do we catch him?"

Arthur looked at him, a thin smile creeping on his face.

"He has a superiority complex. He thinks he's above everyone. Smarter. Stronger. Always ahead. And with that pride… we'll bring him down."

Eamon shook his head.

"Still, my question is the same, man. How do we defeat him?"

Arthur stood with straight face. "Yeah… about that. We'll have to think about it."

Eamon smirked and replied, "Wow. So apart from his one weakness—that he can't sustain sunlight—we have nothing concrete."

They both put their hands on their heads in worry.

Arthur said, "Let's take the day. Rest, think, and gather our thoughts. We meet here again at midnight."

Eamon nodded and began to walk away, but he stopped and turned back.

"You also have the same weakness, right? You can't live in sunlight?"

Arthur shook his head. "No. Sunlight doesn't affect me."

Eamon frowned. "Huh? But you're a vampire too. How's that possible?"

Arthur looked up at the light breaking through the trees. "My mother was human. My father was a vampire. I'm a half-breed vampire. I have the hunger for blood, though not as much as a pure blood one. Also, I've got the strength, and the senses… but not the curse of sunlight."

He paused and looked at Eamon.

Arthur continued, "as for the killer… I'm sure he's a pure-blood. He never strikes during the day. Even when the doctor confronted him, he waited until next night to kill. That tells me… sunlight is poison to him."

Eamon nodded slowly. "Ohhh…"

They shared one last look, then parted ways. The sun had risen now. Birds chirped from the treetops. Dew still clung to the grass. Eamon returned to the town and walked to his hotel.

Outside the door, a man in a golden cloak was waiting. He wore an insignia on his chest—a lion with wings. His posture was stiff. A faint smile curled his lips.

"Hello, Mr. Eamon," the man said. "I've been waiting for you. I suppose you went for a morning walk in the forest?"

Eamon stopped, cautious.

"Do I know you?"

The man bowed slightly.

"My name is Myrx. I represent the Golden Griffon Guild. The same one Mr Thandor belongs to."

He held out a sealed envelope.

"I'm here to offer you a place in our guild."

Eamon took the envelope and opened it. Inside was a paper listing benefits. Access to ancient scrolls. Weapons from private vaults. Gold. Protection. Fame. The usual.

"I appreciate the offer," Eamon said, folding the paper. "But I'm not interested in joining any guild. I prefer working alone."

Myrx blinked.

"Excuse me? A Rank 2 adventurer… working solo? That's not just reckless, it's stupid."

Eamon smiled lightly. "Maybe. But I value freedom. And I don't think I'll be a good fit for your guild."

Myrx took a step forward, voice colder now. "You're turning down the offer to join one of the strongest guilds in the Light Realm. Do you have any idea how foolish that sounds?"

Eamon met his gaze. "My decision is final."

Myrx's smile faded. "We can offer you more. Name your price", he said.

"It's not about the price," Eamon said. "It's about control. I don't want someone breathing down my neck."

Myrx narrowed his eyes. "You're the first man to ever decline us. You'll regret this."

Eamon's eyes hardened. "Excuse me, sir. Are you threatening me?"

"Consider it what you will," Myrx said. "But you won't survive those dungeons alone. And things get harder if you're on bad terms with us."

Eamon stepped closer, his hand resting near his sword.

"Your tone is very disrespectful sir. I request you to leave… before I draw my sword."

Myrx looked him up and down.

"Fine. I'll leave now. But you'll pay for this. Joining us would've brought you glory. Power. You turned down something people kill for. A shame."

Eamon's face didn't change.

"Don't worry. I'll deal with it."

Myrx scoffed and turned away. His golden cloak fluttered as he walked off, vanishing into the street crowd.

Eamon stood there a moment longer. He muttered under his breath.

"What a rude man."

He sighed and looked up at the sky.

"Well, I declined his offer. But I just hope he or his guild doesn't cause any problems for me in the future."

He walked inside, the door closing softly behind him.