Chapter Seventeen: The Brackhill Guild.
1356 Words
Eerie was the only way to describe the site the uncomfortable travel carriage dropped us to.
Bleakfen village, an isolated and deserted town that is basically only a graveyard.
We could see the tower in the near distance, standing its ground against the moon’s reflection while still managing to crumble recklessly with each bitter gust of the wind. It looked like it would collapse at any moment, even though it was covered heavily by thick fog and a curtain of ruined walls.
A part of me bore slight gratuity to the fog. It will be easier to enter a building whose total faults could not be exposed. That way, I can easily trick my mind into a false sense of security.
A hollow shriek echoed horribly in the distance, doing the work of the gods in terrifying us before we actually met the ghost of the tower.
“Alright, everyone, don’t forget the plan.” Breca said once more as we approached the Guild’s marked entrance, a flimsy gate narrowed down by yellow and black tape.
“Cards.” The man holding the source of the tape asked with a chill-inducing smile.
His makeup was neon green, which made little sense because glow in the dark colours ensure that one stands out in the dark. Is that really what one would want in entering a haunted environment?
We did as he said, presented our cards, to which he scanned all of them.
“I’m sorry, did you not see the recommended level for the trip?” the man asked in such a sweet voice that I near shuddered.
“I-I did.” I bat my lashes, “B-but I am the porter, so….”
“So you are important.” His smile widened. “You are an F level, with no skills. The only way we can let you in is if you stay with me…you know, so I can protect you.”
“Pardon?” Breca frowned. “We are a team.”
“Yes, but what can a bunch of E and D levels even do?”
“You wanna find out?” Ruben blurted.
Before the situation escalated, I grabbed the man’s hand.
“Really, you’ll keep me safe?”
His gaze immediately dropped to mine, actually to my well-covered chest but close enough, right?
“Definitely, just wait for me on the fifth gravestone towards the entrance of the tower.”
Wow, how romantic.
“Alright!” I smiled, then walked past the group.
“What the hell was that?” Ruben grabbed my arm when we were at a safe enough distance from the gateman,“I get that you are new and all-,”
“It's because I am ‘new’ that I would like to keep a low profile. How in the f**k do you expect them not to keep an eye on you after threatening them?”
He flinched.
“Look, we all agreed to keep a low profile, right? How many women do you think he’s harassed? I bet you even he doesn’t know, so calm down and get your s**t together.” I sighed, then ran a hand over my bun held hair.
Still, the wind took the little push I offered and made the hood of my coat fly off.
“Shit.” I cursed but no sooner had I fiddled with its ties than, Wreigner pulled the hood on my cloak back in its place for me.
“What is…” I began, however, just the same, Wreigner interrupted.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Go ‘where’ with me?”
“To the man at the gate from the guild?” he offered, “Will you not do the raid by his side?”
“What? No, no one is going with him?” I c****d my head to the side, “To him, I am just an easily forgettable bimbo. I mean, did you see how easily he let me pass? Those were just empty words I offered.”
Seriously, who was the amateur adventuere here?
“But, to be on the safe side,” I said, “Let's blend in with the crowd. Even the fog is on our side today.”
We walked to where the rest of the adventurers stood, where their unfounded laugher and chatter grew as they awaited further.
Still, all Brackhill guild members had on a hint of neon make-up or powder.
Just a touch of neon.
Something is off.
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Lord Wreigner G. Hyle
She was quick.
He had heard rumours about oakwood's hero, but he had honestly assumed her lucky, perhaps even spoilt.
He did not have a complete image of Arusei, just the knowledge that she was well adored by the prince. Enough that he would brag about taking her ‘off the market’ to none who had asked.
Then again, that was Killian’s version of a p********e joke meant to demean Étienne’s authority.
Was she the one that was an easy lay, or was it her mother?
He knew she was adopted, but the rumours surrounding her were too amplified for him to trust them.
Perhaps if she clarified them, then he could believe her version.
Rose or whatever her Alias smells of eucalyptus and mint, perhaps a little bit of sage?
All he was confident of was that her presence seemed to soothe him.
Did that make sense? Perhaps not. Yet still, there was no other way he could describe it.
The pressures of high society gave him nightmares. The only response he could find lay in the commoner world, and even his access to it was due to Jacob’s presence.
Jacob Gilhal Hyle, the heir to the western duchy. The holidays were in three weeks, meaning he only had three weeks to work the frustrations comparisons always brought.
The searing anger at the injustice burned once more only, the second Lady Arusei’s green gaze met his, he forgot what ailed him.
It was a pleasant sensation, really, as though he was drunk only…
He neared her.
Tender…childish…giddying. He could not pinpoint the sensations she erupted in him, but he craved more…madly.
A hand warmed his chest when the green of her eyes grew too vivid.
“Slow your roll there. You are in my space.” Arusei…Rose? said curtly, “I mean, I get that the fog is hindering, but I will seriously kick you in the nuts.”
A peal of laughter escaped his lips, the lightness in his chest only doubling in quantity.
Fuck…she was near engaged. Should he really feel this way?
Still, her first introduction to him was a lie. He was invisible most of the time, so there lay a possibility she knew him not.
Still, that should change soon, right?
“My apologies…Miss Rose.”
Soon.
For now, he should not push his luck or intentions.
*
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*
“Ladies and gentlefolk,” A man with pink neon paste smeared across his face announced as he climbed atop the tallest rock, “we are about to officiate the beginning of the quest. So I’d ask you to pay attention.”
The crowd grew silent.
“Now then, it is midnight, the prime time for ghost hunting. Now, for the rules.” He began. “The brackhill officials will be in charge of your safety. Therefore, in exchange, any legendary or epic items belong only to us.”
The man smiled.
“Do not regret not heeding that.”
More instructions were issued about dividing us into groups with at least one brackhill representative or how not to engage with the boss when we first meet them.
All dull life-threatening information, basically.
“and now, ladies and gentlemen, shall we commence the operation?”
All plant life trees in the vicinity held the dominant energy in the area, negative. Meaning most, near all, are dried and or withered.
I am at a severe disadvantage.
Without even adding on to the fact that I cannot use the plants to spy on my surroundings, I can barely replenish my unawaked mana supply.
Lovely.
- Writer
