35 Chapter 32: Guild Master Part 1

Gracier flashed a radiant smile, her eyes sparkling with newfound confidence.

"I'm back, Big Brother Alex! From now on, I can be your partner in this adventure."

Alex remained silent, his surprise etched on his face. Gracier's transformation was startling. Her left eye glowed with an otherworldly golden hue, her hair cascading down her shoulders in a fiery red, a stark contrast to her previous timid demeanor. Now, she exuded an aura of untamed power.

Gracier's smile faltered as Alex's shocked silence stretched on. An unsettling feeling gnawed at her. Had something changed? Unconsciously, she touched her left eye, feeling a dried trail of blood. Panic surged through her as she raced to the bathroom mirror. A shriek escaped her lips.

"What happened to me? Why is my eye golden and my hair so long?" she cried, her voice laced with fear.

From the doorway, Alex spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Your gift has awakened, Gracier."

Gracier, composed after cleaning herself, returned to Alex, seeking answers. He sighed and gestured towards the bed. They sat facing each other, Gracier's heterochromatic eyes intense, their gaze locking. Alex swallowed, feeling a strange pressure emanating from her golden eye.

"Please," he pleaded, "cover your left eye. It's... affecting me, making it hard to breathe."

"I didn't know it could do that," Gracier said, remorseful.

"I have no idea how to control it."

〖Master, expecting immediate control is unrealistic. Covering her eye is the only viable option for now,〗 Silveria suggested telepathically.

"I understand," Alex replied, retrieving a black bandana from his inventory, a relic from his knife-throwing training days. "Gracier, allow me to cover your left eye until you learn to control its power."

He gently tied the bandana around her eye, the black fabric muffling the golden glow. Settling back into his chair, he decided to use his Appraisal skill to gain more insight into this unexpected turn of events.

[Gracier]

Class: Fire Empress

Age: 14

Female

Level 1

Experience Value:0/100

Magic Power: 800

Magic: Fire Magic

Attack: 90

Defense: 60

Agility: 50

Intelligence: 70

Luck: 100

BP: 0

Gift: Ignia's Bracelet

Skills: [Cooking Level 4] [Sewing Level 3] [Fireball Level 3] [Fire Arrows Level 1] [Meteor (???)] [Dragon Eye Level 3]

Titles: [Avenger] [Child of Fire]

A gasp escaped Alex's lips, his eyes widening comically as Gracier's status materialized before him. He blinked, rereading the shocking transformation. Gone was her unassuming "Magician" class, replaced by the awe-inspiring title "Fire Empress." A faint memory stirred; another bearer of the "Empress" title - the formidable Ice Empress, Maria.

Shaking off the distraction, Alex delved deeper into Gracier's status. A plethora of new skills adorned the list, the most prominent being a level 3 "Fireball" - likely a byproduct of her newfound class and title. But his gaze snagged on the enigmatic "Dragon Eye" skill, undoubtedly tied to her glowing left eye. Even at level 3, it exerted a palpable pressure on him, a level 10 veteran.

"Level 1 and she can already put the squeeze on me? Imagine what she'll be capable of after a few levels..." Alex muttered, his voice laced with awe and a hint of concern.

His musings were abruptly cut short by Silveria's telepathic interjection.

〖Hold your horses, Master. A mere stare wouldn't finish you, but she certainly packs a punch now. A powerful ability, but wielding it won't be a walk in the park. Speaking of generosity, that Divine Weapon Spirit... quite the gift, wouldn't you say?〗

A spark of curiosity ignited in Alex's eyes.

"So you recognize her contracted spirit? Is it... the Fire Dragon Goddess Ignia?"

Silveria hesitated, her response cryptic. 〖Who knows? Perhaps a visit to the Adventurer's Guild is in order. Time to get this fiery young lady registered.〗

With a sigh, Alex decided to drop the subject for now. Turning to Gracier, he offered a reassuring smile.

"Now that your Gift has awakened, Gracier, you can summon your weapon spirit. Just focus on her image, and she'll manifest."

Gracier closed her eyes, conjuring the vision of the majestic woman who had introduced herself as the Dragon Goddess Ignia. A surge of warmth bloomed within her, a power yearning to be unleashed. With a whispered command, she released the energy, and the room crackled with anticipation.

With a blinding flash of gold, a magnificent bracelet materialized around Gracier's left wrist. Its intricate patterns flowed with an inner life, culminating in a miniature dragon emblem that seemed to pulse with power. The very air crackled with energy as the temperature subtly rose, a silent testament to Gracier's newfound control over the heat.

A radiant smile, warm as the sun itself, bloomed on Gracier's face. "Big Brother, can I truly help you now?" she inquired, her gaze unwavering.

"Absolutely," Alex returned the smile, a hint of wonder in his eyes. "Let's head to the Adventurer's Guild and get you registered."

"Yes!" Gracier's excitement bubbled over, barely contained. This was the first step towards vengeance, a burning ember within her heart.

They exited the Moonlight Inn, but their departure wasn't unnoticed. Lea, spotting Gracier's eyepatch, almost lunged at Alex, mistaking him for harm. Thankfully, Gracier's quick wit, honed by hardship, smoothed things over with a convincing lie. Though curious about Gracier's longer hair, Lea dismissed it as an oversight.

The bustling Adventurer's Guild pulsed with activity. As morning sunlight streamed through the windows, adventurers sipped drinks, chatted, and picked up quests. Gracier, a wide-eyed country girl, couldn't help but swivel her head, taking in the sights and sounds of this unfamiliar world.

A hush fell over the room as the newcomer duo entered. Eyes turned, scrutinizing, assessing. Gracier, young and fresh-faced, wouldn't have been remarkable were it not for the aura that clung to her, a shimmering energy only the "Gifted" possessed. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. In Mystia, Gifts were rare, coveted abilities marking individuals of exceptional talent or belonging to prestigious clans. Gracier, with her eyepatch and powerful aura, instantly became an enigma.

Some adventurers gulped, aware of the respect the Gifted commanded. While curiosity about her connection to Alex, the rookie, lingered, most knew better than to pry. Information would reveal itself in time. However, as in any crowd, there were exceptions.

Diaz, a man infamous for his dubious dealings, and his cronies swaggered towards them, blocking Gracier's path. He flashed a smile that promised trouble, his hands rubbing together like a scheming merchant.

"Greetings, young lady," Diaz's voice oozed insincerity as he approached, flanked by his burly companions.

"I'm Diaz, an E-rank adventurer, and these fine gentlemen are my associates. Allow me to enlighten you about our guild's... intricacies."

His condescending tone and self-important posture drew disdainful glances from other adventurers, who clearly recognized his manipulative tactics. However, their amusement was about to reach new heights.

With a disarmingly innocent voice, Gracier tilted her head.

"Big brother Alex," she began, "doesn't this big brother sound a bit like a shady merchant trying to swindle his customer? We shouldn't trust him, should we?"

The room erupted in laughter. Diaz's practiced smile faltered, replaced by a grimace that strained his features. Instead of confronting the girl, his glare burned through Alex before he stormed off with his posse. In an ill-timed attempt to save face, he misjudged his path and stumbled against Alex's outstretched leg.

His red-faced retreat, complete with a sputtering threat ("Just wait, I'll get you!"), sent the adventurers into another round of guffaws. Alex merely sighed and turned to Gracier.

"Ready to go?" he asked, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.

"Of course, Big Brother," she replied, her gaze sparkling with mischief.