Chapter 47: Onwards to the Rift
"Okay, settle down now," Guildmaster Thorne said firmly, clapping his hands once. The sound echoed off the stone walls and snapped everyone’s attention back to him. "Let’s discuss the rift."
From a leather satchel slung across his shoulder, Thorne pulled out a thick scroll sealed with the crimson insignia of the Central Guild Authority. He unrolled it over the long wooden table near the breakfast spread, where several maps and sketches of magical readings were already laid out.
At the center of the table was a drawn depiction of the rift’s location.
"Before anything else," Thorne began, "let me be clear. This mission is dangerous. If any of you came here expecting an ordinary subjugation quest, walk out now."
No one moved.
Even Reina, normally full of words, had gone still. The flicker of anticipation in her eyes dulled to something more serious.
Thorne nodded approvingly and continued. "This is what we know so far. Two days ago, a rift appeared in west ridge, as confirmed by Inigo and Lyra. It’s stable for now but the longer we left it there, the more chance it could turn into a breach, unleashing a monster existing inside of it."
Darius crossed his arms. "So we close it."
"That’s right. As you all know, rifts can be closed by exterminating the monsters inside of it. The numbers are unknown and the strengths are also unknown. If the enemy numbers inside are overwhelming, or if there’s something we haven’t accounted for, you are to fall back immediately. Exit the rift and signal us. In that case, the Guild will escalate the matter and deploy multiple strike teams in collaboration with the government."
"Sounds like a lot of ifs," Kael murmured.
Thorne didn’t deny it. "That’s why we selected you seven. You represent a wide range of strengths and specialties. If anyone can handle this, it’s this team."