Chapter 52: Promotion Again
The warm scent of roast boar and honeyed ale wafted through the halls of the Adventurer’s Guild in Elandra. The sun had already begun its descent, casting golden light through the stained-glass windows of the great hall. Within, the atmosphere was electric—cheers, claps on backs, tankards raised in tribute. Word of the party’s swift and overwhelming success had already spread like wildfire as the adventurer’s guild opened after the rift’s completion.
The usual hush that followed most rift expeditions was absent. Instead, the guild was alight with celebration. Adventurers—some lounging at long wooden tables, others standing with goblets in hand—turned their heads every time Inigo or Lyra passed, nodding with quiet respect or open curiosity.
At the center table reserved for returning rift squads, Kael sat flanked by Shade and Darius, both enjoying the luxury of hot food and actual chairs. Reina had her feet kicked up on the bench, swirling a mug as she retold the story of WLSN-7’s "adorable rampage" for the third time to a group of curious bronze-ranked adventurers.
"And then boom!" she said, mimicking a missile explosion with her hands. "The staff snapped clean off! Like a twig! I swear, I think it was the turret’s third or fourth shot that did it."
"Fifth," Inigo corrected mildly, sliding into the bench beside Lyra.
"You counted?" Reina blinked.
"Telemetry in the HUD," he said without thinking.
Reina blinked again. "The... huh?"
"Don’t ask," Lyra said with a knowing smile. "Just roll with it."
Before any of them could reply, the doors at the far end of the hall opened once again, and the chatter died down instantly. Guildmaster Thorne entered, trailed by three record-keepers and a pair of armored guards.
He moved with his usual brisk pace, though his eyes held a flicker of something rare—satisfaction. The crowd parted as he approached the party’s table, and his voice echoed through the chamber, clear and commanding.