Chapter 337 - Emergence
The murmur of voices and the rustle of parchment filled the chamber, punctuated by the creak of wood as people shifted in their seats. Bookshelves climbed the walls, and banners bearing the Shields Guild’s sigil—an upturned triangle enclosed by a shield and the hilt of a sword—hung in still vigilance. The air held the quiet focus of those used to serious dealings.
Livvi moved around the central table, placing a fresh set of documents before each of the gathered individuals. The glow of magical candlelight bathed the room, highlighting a mix of faces. Some were seasoned Shielders, others Guild officials and members of its leadership.
Arnaud Astrey, elbow propped on the table, fingers idly resting on his cheek, accepted the documents with a polite nod, his gaze half-distant. Across from him, Gratianus Graham—his thick greying beard and weathered face lending him the atmosphere of a man who had seen most things—let out a low hum as he flipped through the first few pages.
“Thank you, Miss Knottley,” Mansfield said at the head of the table as she set down the final stack.
The Guildmaster of the Shields Guild’s imperial operations was a man often described as sharp-minded and unshakably composed, but the dark circles beneath his eyes did little to reinforce that image now. He motioned to another stack of papers on a side table.
“Before you leave, see to it that these are processed and relayed to the branches in Stepmond and Autumnwell. Prioritise anything involving Rank-B and A Shielders — even if those are stretched thin. Divinations from Bridgespell Tower indicate dusk fiends might be found near both cities.” He exhaled through his nose, as if already expecting trouble. “Also, remind them once more that any other high-threat requests from our branch must be cross-checked against recent sightings before we assign them. We won’t send people into death traps blind.” His gaze sharpened slightly. “And please, if another city’s lord or local noble tries to requisition Guild forces like we’re some mercenary band, remind them—politely—that we operate under charter, not decree.”
Livvi dipped her head. “I will.”
Without delaying too long, she gathered the second bundle of papers and left the chamber, her steps echoing against the wooden floor of the Guild’s Elystead headquarters as she skimmed the document while walking.
The entire branch had been in a near-constant state of activity for weeks. Non-Shielders like her were caught in a relentless cycle of coordination, documentation, and crisis management. The last few days, following the most recent major attacks, had only intensified the workload. The atmosphere wasn’t panicked, necessarily, but it was taut. There was an unspoken understanding among them all that they were standing at the precipice of something larger.
As she moved through the halls, a young Guild scribe nearly collided with her in his rush. He thrust another set of documents into her hands.
“More reports from Wildscar,” he said. “Two more settlements near the Everdust Barrier have been fully evacuated, and the Wildscar branch is asking for more people. Monster sightings are climbing.” He paused. “…Some of the local nobles are also offering hazard pay for higher-ranked Shielders willing to take contracts without Guild clearance.”
Livvi adjusted her grip on the growing stack, eyes flicking over the top page. She gave a small nod of thanks, then continued on, suppressing the urge to sigh.