IX - Unwanted Attention

The first rays of dawn painted the sky in streaks of orange and pink, but Azea's thoughts were anything but serene. He stared at the glowing interface hovering in front of him. The system updates from summoning Eris still lingered, highlighting the ripple her presence would send through the world.

---

[New Summon Acquired: Eris, Knight of the Azure Flame (Rare Tier)]

[Team Status: Power Rank Increased to C+]

[Warning: Rare-tier summons increase visibility in the Summoner's Registry.]

---

"Visibility," Azea muttered. "Just another word for trouble."

The Summoner's Registry was a universal network, tracking every Summoner and their most powerful summons. Rare-tier summons like Eris didn't just make a splash—they created a tidal wave. And tidal waves tended to draw sharks.

A knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Yo, boss!" Lyra's voice called out. "Breakfast. Let's go before Kael eats all the good stuff."

Azea closed the interface and stretched. His body still ached from the fight with Borak, but he pushed the discomfort aside. Trouble or not, they needed to keep moving.

---

The Guild's dining hall buzzed with energy. Adventurers traded stories from the field, some boasting about recent victories while others nursed their wounds. The smell of fried eggs and fresh bread filled the air.

Kael was already at a table, chewing on a loaf of bread. "You're late," he said with his mouth full.

Lyra grabbed a plate and plopped into the seat next to him. "Don't listen to him. We've been here for two minutes."

Amon sat across from Kael, calmly sipping tea. Eris, however, stood near the entrance, her sharp eyes scanning the room.

"Are you going to eat?" Azea asked as he slid into a seat beside her.

Eris's gaze flicked to him, then back to the room. "Not yet. I don't trust this place."

Lyra snorted. "Relax, knight girl. It's just a Guild hall. The worst thing here is probably Kael's table manners."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "And yet, my table manners have never gotten anyone stabbed."

Before anyone could reply, the air in the room shifted. Conversations slowed, and heads turned toward the entrance. A group of adventurers strode in, their presence heavy and commanding.

At their center was a man wearing obsidian armor, his crimson cape trailing behind him. A massive sword was strapped to his back, its hilt decorated with jagged red crystals. His eyes scanned the room like a predator searching for prey.

"That's Alric," Kael whispered, leaning closer to Azea. "B-rank Summoner. Dangerous."

Azea's stomach tightened. "What's he doing here?"

As if in answer, Alric's gaze locked onto their table. His lips curled into a smirk, and he began walking toward them. His party—four equally intimidating figures—followed close behind.

"Well, well," Alric said, stopping a few feet from Azea. His voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it. "So you're the one who summoned the Knight of the Azure Flame."

Eris immediately stepped between Azea and Alric, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. "Identify yourself."

Alric chuckled. "No need to get defensive, milady. I'm just a curious Summoner, eager to see the new talent in town."

Lyra leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing. "If you're curious, ask from over there. You're kind of killing the vibe."

Amon set down his tea, his gaze sharp. "State your intentions, Alric. We don't have time for games."

Alric ignored Lyra and Amon, his attention solely on Azea. "I don't mean to alarm you, kid. But Rare-tier summons like her? They make waves. Big ones. If you're not careful, you'll drown."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "And I suppose you're here to offer a life raft?"

Alric smirked. "Not exactly. I'm here to offer advice. Give her up. Sell her contract, if you're smart. Someone inexperienced like you can't handle the weight of a summon like that."

Azea stood, his fists clenched. "She's not for sale."

Eris's blade slid halfway out of its scabbard. "You'd do well to heed his words, Alric. My loyalty is not something to be bartered."

Alric held up his hands in mock surrender. "Easy, easy. I'm just looking out for the kid. Wouldn't want him getting crushed under the pressure."

"Then walk away," Amon said, his tone icy. "Now."

For a moment, the tension in the room was suffocating. Alric stared at Azea, as if weighing his next move. Then, he laughed—a low, mocking sound.

"Fine. Keep her," he said, turning to leave. "But don't say I didn't warn you. Rare summons attract attention. And not all of it will be as polite as mine."

As Alric and his party left the room, the din of conversation slowly returned. But Azea couldn't shake the unease settling in his chest.

Kael leaned back in his chair. "Well, that was fun. What now, boss?"

Azea sat down, rubbing his temples. "We train. Harder than before. If people like him are going to come after us, we need to be ready."

Lyra grinned. "Now that's the spirit."

Eris sheathed her blade, her expression unreadable. "He's right. Your power is growing, but so is your responsibility. If you falter, it won't just be your life on the line—it will be ours as well."

Amon nodded. "The next step is clear. We find stronger quests. Push ourselves to the limit."

Azea's jaw tightened. He glanced at the party around him—his team. His responsibility. The Rare-tier summon standing by his side.

"We'll be ready," he said. "No matter what's coming."

But as the words left his mouth, a new notification appeared before his eyes.

---

[New Quest Unlocked: The Crimson Tide Approaches.]

[Difficulty: B+]

[Objective: Defend against an unknown enemy targeting your summon.]