Chapter 170: The Mission Details
The early afternoon sun bathed Elandra in golden light as Inigo and Lyra approached the Adventurer’s Guild. The stone and wood building stood tall and sturdy, its arched entrance flanked by banners bearing the Eldrath crest—a silver stag against a forest green background. Adventurers came and went, some battered from recent missions, others loitering with mugs of ale and loud laughter. But Inigo and Lyra bypassed the bustle, heading straight inside.
The guild hall was its usual organized chaos—requests posted on boards, clerks scribbling in ledgers, adventurers haggling over bounties. At the center, the reception desk was manned by Elise, who looked up as they approached.
"Inigo. Lyra," she said with a faint smile. "Right on time. The Guildmaster’s waiting for you upstairs."
"Hopefully with coffee," Inigo muttered, brushing imaginary flour off his apron. He was still technically on break.
Lyra gave Elise a nod before following Inigo up the stairs. The second floor was quieter, lined with rooms for guild officials and private consultations. At the end of the hallway stood a heavy oak door with brass trim—Guildmaster Thorne’s office.
Inigo knocked once.
"Enter," came Thorne’s voice from inside.
They stepped in.
The room was large but uncluttered. A wide desk dominated the center, piled with scrolls, documents, and a few maps pinned with colored markers. A low-burning hearth kept the chill at bay, while tall windows offered a sweeping view of Elandra’s western quarter. Thorne stood beside the desk, arms crossed, while Elise leaned against a nearby cabinet, arms folded.
"Take a seat," Thorne said, gesturing to the chairs across from him. "Let’s not waste time."
Inigo dropped into a seat. Lyra took the other, remaining upright and alert.
"So," Inigo began, "what’s so urgent that you had to pull us from our glorious career in burger-flipping?"