Chapter 61 - The Guild

When Seraphina returned to the room at The Amber Hearth, she found Edwin and Samuel already there— that wasn't outside of her expectations, she had been gone for much longer than she planned.

Samuel lounged on his bed, flipping a dagger idly between his fingers, while Edwin stood by the window, his usual watchful gaze directed at the bustling street below, he most likely saw her coming before she even arrived.

The room was quiet, save for the faint creak of the wooden floorboards as Seraphina entered.

"You're back late."

Edwin said without turning, his tone calm but carrying an unmistakable edge.

Samuel glanced up, smirking slightly, he wasn't really bothered by her desire to go out, he wanted to do the same.

"Didn't think you'd stay cooped up all day anyway."

Seraphina closed the door behind her and set her cloak aside, meeting Edwin's gaze as he turned to face her.

"I stayed in the inn for most of the day, just like I said I would. I wasn't planning to leave originally."

She began to explain her reason for going out. While she had no obligation to do so, she believed that if she wanted their trust, she needed to give them a reason.

She might be the daughter of the Duke, the person they served, and thus they served her— they were now on the run. They had no reason to stay with her, yet they did.

"But I remembered something important— the library. I couldn't resist visiting it to see what information they had. Knowledge could be incredibly useful to us, especially right now."

Edwin crossed his arms, his silver eyes narrowing slightly, he wasn't angry at her— he couldn't possibly be— he was simply disappointed that she went against her own words.

"You said you wouldn't leave, and yet you went out without telling us. You know how dangerous this city can be."

Seraphina sighed, taking a seat at the edge of her bed.

"I understand your concern, Edwin, but the library is in the middle of the city— one of the most populated and safest areas. The chances of running into trouble were slim to none."

Samuel, who had been listening to their conversation the entire time, decided to weigh in, shrugging his shoulders as he spoke.

"She's got a point. She's not exactly helpless, and it's not like we can force her to stay put. She's been trained."

Edwin remained silent for a moment, clearly weighing his words; however, before he could respond, Seraphina continued, her voice firm but not unkind.

"I can't stay locked away just because danger exists outside. If I do, I'll never grow. I'm a knight in training, and that means experiencing danger and learning how to handle it. If I don't push myself, I'll never improve."

Edwin's shoulders relaxed slightly, though his expression remained conflicted— he was like a parent who didn't want their child going out in the world to get harmed but knew that they had to in order to grow.

Even if Seraphina wasn't his child, she was at an age where she could have been, and he felt a sense of responsibility for her that went beyond just being her knight.

But she was right, he couldn't force her to be safe, otherwise she wouldn't grow.

"I see your point. Just... next time, let us know. It's not about doubting your abilities, it's about staying prepared for anything."

Seraphina smiled faintly and replied with a chuckle.

"Fair enough."

She shifted the conversation, eager to change the topic.

"How did it go at the Adventurer's Guild? I've been thinking, that maybe it could be more than just an identity for us. It seems like it could be a good way for us to earn money and gain experience."

Edwin nodded in agreement with her; he also had a similar idea but he was hesitant to offer it because it could be dangerous— plus it required them to leave the city for most cases.

"The Guild is an interesting place. Getting IDs will be simple enough, but we'll all need to go there in person to complete the process."

"And how does it work?"

Seraphina asked, her curiosity piqued— she hadn't learned much about the Guild in the books she had read. In fact, from all the books she had read, the Guild was often mentioned in the background, like a supporting role rather than one with information or history.

Edwin leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed.

"I did some asking around, and from what I could learn from the adventurers and workers, the Adventurer's Guild seems to be one of the oldest organizations on the continent.

It was established thousands of years ago by a coalition of merchants, knights, and nobles. Initially, they united for mutual profit and protection, realizing their combined strength far exceeded their individual capabilities. Over time, this group evolved into the Guild we know today."

Seraphina listened intently as Edwin continued— that made sense, most organizations had some sort of founding in self-interest. She didn't expect the Guild to be that old however, it was older than some Kingdoms and Cities.

"The Guild operates independently of noble influence, which is rare for an organization of its size. It has branches in every major city— even operating outside of the Empire— and enough power to undertake large-scale operations."

"What about the quests, isn't that their main thing?"

"They're divided into five ranks."

Edwin explained.

"Beginner, Novice, Experienced, Expert, and Master. The difficulty seems to scale significantly between each rank. Beginner quests are simple tasks— things anyone can do, like gathering herbs or delivering messages. Novice quests involve some danger, such as hunting small monsters or escorting merchants."

"And Master quests?"

Seraphina asked with some interest in how difficult it could get— she didn't plan to do them but it would be a nice goal to aim for.

Edwin's expression grew serious.

"Those are rare and incredibly dangerous. They include things like slaying dragons or handling threats that could destroy entire regions. Only the most powerful adventurers can attempt them."

Samuel chimed in from his bed, finally setting his dagger aside.

"So basically, we'd start at the bottom. Lots of boring jobs before the exciting ones."

"Exactly. But the Guild's structure is designed for that. It weeds out those who aren't ready for higher risks while offering opportunities for those who are."

"You mean the rewards? I'm sure they have some good things, more than just money."

Samuel replied, his smile sly as he imagined the potential rewards, though he still wasn't thrilled about the grind of lower-ranked quests.

Seraphina leaned forward slightly.

"What about joining? You mentioned we had to go in person, is it difficult?"

"Not at all. Anyone can join by speaking to a Guild worker and obtaining a badge but they need you to go in person to do so. The process is honestly much more straightforward than I expected— no background checks, no tests. Even non-adventurers can take on quests, though they receive fewer benefits and won't have their families compensated if they die."

"That's... pragmatic."

Seraphina mused at the thought— it was a lot simpler than she expected it to be based on the novels she read on Earth.

"It's how they maintain their influence."

Edwin said, sharing his opinion on the Guild.

"The Guild is powerful because it's accessible. But it's also shrouded in mystery. No one knows everything about how it operates or how it's governed. That secrecy has helped it survive for thousands of years."

"I'm sure the fact that they are independent of any one nation's control also helps with that."

Seraphina added that it was the aspect she was most impressed by. To be independent, meant to be strong enough to hold that independence.

"It's what makes the Guild so formidable. No noble can control it, and no kingdom can claim it. The Guild answers only to itself."

Seraphina nodded thoughtfully, processing everything she'd learned.

The Guild was much bigger and deeper than she had originally thought, wasn't just a means to an end; it was an opportunity. A way to blend in, gather resources, and perhaps uncover more about the undercurrents of Vesta and beyond.

"It sounds like the Guild is more than just a place for adventurers. If we could use it properly, we could gain a lot of benefits."

"It is, but that power comes with risks."

Seraphina met his gaze, determination gleaming in her violet eyes.

"Then let's make sure we're prepared."

Edwin nodded, and Samuel grinned— with that out of the way, she moved on to Samuel who had gone to explore the docks and gather information. He seemed eager to share but held it in while they spoke.