Chapter 80: Explanations
The woman rolled her eyes at Arthur’s blunt assessment of his companion, a flicker of amusement briefly softening her severe features before the professional mask slid back into place. The weapons aimed at them hadn’t lowered, though the atmosphere in the room had shifted slightly—from immediate threat to cautious evaluation.
"How do I know I can trust you two?" she asked, "How do I know you’re not with Crimson Soul or some other guild here to cause problems?"
Arthur’s brow furrowed in confusion, his exhausted mind trying to process this new information. "Crimson Soul? The Flame Lord’s guild?" He shook his head slowly, wincing as the movement aggravated the bruises forming along his neck and shoulders. "No, and even if we were, why would we be here to cause problems?"
The woman’s stern expression instantly transformed into one of flat unamusement, her eyes sweeping over their battered forms and improvised equipment with newfound understanding. "Yeah, you guys are definitely not with the Flame Lord."
’Why does it seem like I’m being judged right now?’ Arthur thought with mild indignation. ’Should I feel offended?’
While Arthur wrestled with these inconsequential thoughts, the woman came to a decision. She made a subtle gesture with her left hand, and the weapons surrounding them gradually lowered—not completely, but enough to signal a tentative truce.
"Well, I guess if you’re not with them and you’re already here, there’s no point in not working together." She straightened her posture, authority radiating from her stance. "I’m Lara Downing. Nice to meet you." She indicated each of her companions with a precise tilt of her head. "This is Jonas, Jake, and Kay."
Arthur scanned the room, taking proper measure of these unexpected allies for the first time.
Jonas stood like a mountain to Lara’s right—an overly large, stocky man with short brown hair and slightly tanned skin that had been weathered by sun and battle alike. His most striking feature wasn’t his imposing physique but the massive shield he carried with apparent ease. The shield was nearly as tall as Arthur himself, its metal surface inscribed with runes that glowed with a faint gold luminescence. The edges looked sharp enough to serve as weapons in their own right.