Chapter 9 – Masked Shenanigans at the Guild

After a hectic escape from the forest, I finally arrived in the city.
I headed straight for the Guild—the city’s nerve center for all things secret and shady.

I’m wanted, after all.
So I couldn’t very well show my true face.
I bought a mask from a dodgy stall and decided to go by the name “Nori.”
(Yes, I stole the name from Norisa. I’m not exactly a creative genius when it comes to aliases. Don’t even start criticizing!)

Using every ounce of my street-smarts and those agile, well-trained legs, I navigated the winding alleys and bustling market lanes.
I dodged suspicious glares and sidestepped a few overenthusiastic street performers.
All my honed skills—both combat and stealth—helped me blend in and slip unnoticed into the Guild’s territory.

At the Guild, the procedure for hiring is a bit simpler.
If I were a contractor, I’d have to flash a guild card or even create one myself, which is problematic.
You see, my fighting style is so legendary that my Soulbinder Sword speaks for itself.
I can’t very well risk it drawing unwanted attention, so I keep it hidden.

I finally reached the reception desk and took a deep breath.
It was time to act the part of a humble hirer.

“Hello… sir… my name is Nori… no surname… just Nori,”
I announced, forcing my voice to sound confident despite the absurdity of my alias.

The assistant squinted at me from behind his worn spectacles.
“So… Nori… what do you want?” he asked in a tone that was half bored, half suspicious.

“I want to hire an escort,”
I replied, cutting straight to the chase.
I needed someone who could keep an eye on me—and perhaps my back—while I sorted out this mess of missing Otherworlders and imperial nightmares.

The assistant tapped a few keys on his ancient ledger.
“The price is 100 silver coins,” he stated flatly.

I couldn’t help but let out an exasperated sigh.
Let me break it down for you, if you’re curious about our currency in Eldoria:
We have bronze, silver, and gold coins.
Bronze coins are everyday chump change.
Silver coins are for significant deals—like hiring an escort in a city full of schemers.
And gold coins?
Those are for the really big-ticket items, like persuading royalty or bribing your way out of a dungeon.
For simple math: one gold equals 100 silver, and one silver equals 100 bronze.
Easy enough, right?
At least, that’s how the Otherworlders count it.

“Alright, 100 silver it is,” I muttered.
The assistant’s fingers danced over his ledger as he prepared the necessary paperwork.
“It will take a while to post the proposal,” he informed me, the sound of clacking quills and rustling parchment in the background.

Once everything was stamped and sealed, I gathered the papers into a secure satchel.
I couldn’t risk carrying my Soulbinder Sword openly—its reputation might just start a brawl right here.
But, of course, I couldn’t stay away from it forever.
My sword is my lifeline, my signature.
(Though, trust me, I’d prefer to keep its legend under wraps for now.)

With my proposal in hand and my alias firmly in place, I left the Guild.
I needed a place to lay low and sleep off the adrenaline.
The nearest tavern, a dimly lit den of rowdy patrons and whispered secrets, beckoned me like a sanctuary.

Inside the tavern, the air was thick with the smell of spilled ale and unspoken regrets.
I found a shadowy corner table and sat down, my mask still concealing my true identity.
A bowl of stew was served—hearty enough to remind me that even in chaos, some things remain reliably mediocre.

As I nursed my meal, I couldn’t help but reflect on the day’s absurdities.
Norisa’s betrayal still stung like a bad potion, and the missing Otherworlder loomed over my thoughts like an unsolved riddle.
Yet here I was—masked as Nori, with a satchel full of proposals, and a plan to dig deeper into this ever-complicating mess.

I leaned back, letting the low hum of tavern chatter and the clink of coins in some far-off pocket lull me for a moment.
Tomorrow, I’d dive headfirst into the urban maze of secrets and contracts.
For now, I’d rest, knowing that even amidst the chaos of Eldoria, a little anonymity and a dash of wit can go a long way.

“Onward,” I murmured softly to myself, a smirk playing under my mask.