The Adventurer's Guild stood tall at the heart of the district, its grand structure bustling with activity. Although officially a subsidiary branch of the Protectorate of Adventurers and Pioneers, it carried its own authority within the town. Mercenaries, explorers, and cultivators of all backgrounds flowed in and out, exchanging missions, rewards, and battle experiences.
As they stepped inside, Nile's eyes scanned the spacious reception hall. Massive boards displaying quests, bounties, and hunting notices lined the walls, while groups of armored men and robed cultivators engaged in hushed discussions. The air smelled of sweat, leather, and ink, a mix of the physical and administrative aspects of the adventuring world.
James motioned for Nile and Jessica to sit at the waiting area while he strode toward the inquiry counter.
Jessica, arms crossed, leaned back in her chair, watching James interact with the guild officials. Her gaze shifted to Nile, her voice lowered.
"So… earlier, with Sid. How are you feeling?"
Nile, staring at the polished marble floor, exhaled slowly. "I'm fine. I'm not going to act rashly—at least not in town. We can't afford unnecessary trouble."
Jessica arched a brow. "But you're planning to settle scores later?"
A small smirk played on Nile's lips. "I'm not going to forget what happened."
Jessica sighed, shaking her head. "You're too calm about this. Before, you would have snapped instantly."
Nile shrugged. "I've learned that patience is also a weapon. The right strike at the right time is deadlier than a blind swing."
Jessica considered his words for a moment before nodding. "Just don't let patience turn into hesitation."
Their conversation was cut short when James returned, his expression grim.
James sighed. "Bad news, guys. The person I had in mind for your combat training is currently out on a hunting mission. He left with his team for an island expedition and won't be back until the day after tomorrow."
Nile frowned. "So we have to delay the training?"
James nodded. "Yeah. I could find someone else, but he's the best fit for what you need right now."
Jessica tapped her chin, thinking. "Then why not use this chance for Nile to get an Adventurer's License?"
James' face darkened instantly. "No."
Jessica blinked. "Why not? It would help him gain more freedom."
James crossed his arms. "Do you have any idea how dangerous the test is?"
Jessica opened her mouth to protest, but James continued before she could.
"The lowest rank—F Rank—requires you to survive an onslaught of three beasts of the same cultivation rank as you. For E Rank, you need to handle four. For D Rank, five. Six for C, seven for B, eight for A, and if you want an S Rank license, you need to hold your ground against nine simultaneously."
Jessica paled slightly, but Nile remained thoughtful.
"Right now, you two wouldn't even survive facing two beasts, much less three," James added firmly. "Forget the license. We focus on training first."
Jessica sighed in defeat, while Nile simply nodded. "Fine. We wait for the instructor."
Having decided to wait for the instructor's return, Nile, James, and Jessica made their way back to the inn. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, and the streets had begun to bustle again as merchants prepared for the evening crowd.
As they stepped inside, Nile's eyes immediately fell on Lyra, standing behind the reception desk.
"Lyra?" he asked, slightly surprised. "Where's Jennifer?"
Lyra grinned as she balanced a ledger in one hand. "It's all Arin's doing," she replied, waving dismissively. "If you want details, talk to him."
Curious, Nile moved further inside and spotted Veena and Jennifer deep in discussion, their gazes locked over a game of chess. The board between them had several pieces strategically placed, signaling an intense match in progress.
As he approached, they both acknowledged his presence. Veena spoke first, her voice tinged with approval.
"Arin is really good," she said, moving a piece forward. "He finalized everything. The deal is done. Now we just need to make it official."
Jennifer leaned back, eyeing Nile. "You're the last one left to sign it."
Nile watched as Veena reached into her storage pouch, retrieving a strange, pulsing stone. It glowed like a bumblebee caught in golden light, as if on the verge of bursting.
His mind immediately connected the dots—Jessica's teachings had covered this.
"A Contract Stone," Nile murmured.
Veena nodded. "Yes. It simplifies deals like this, ensuring both parties uphold their terms. Just record your imprint on it. Jennifer has already done hers."
Jennifer gave a small smirk. "Don't take too long. My hand's already itching to move my next chess piece."
Nile reached for the stone, feeling the details of the agreement etched into it. It was a contract of cooperation and protection, ensuring that Jennifer's inn would serve as a secure base in exchange for their assistance.
As Nile prepared to imprint, he instinctively called to the butterfly within his soul.
Nothing happened.
A flicker of annoyance crossed his face. It wasn't responding.
His consciousness shifted inward, revealing the garden within his soul—a mystical place where the butterfly often rested. There, he found it playfully flitting around the flowers, entirely uninterested in his call.
"Hey," Nile called mentally, trying again.
The butterfly, disturbed by the constant buzzing, flicked its wings lazily before uninterestedly gliding toward him. Just as Nile prepared to admonish its playful nature, something unexpected happened.
A rune began forming inside the black sphere in his palm—a shifting, flickering rune identical to the one glowing at the butterfly's center.
Nile's breath caught. This rune… it wasn't just his soul imprint. It was also the butterfly's.
A realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. The butterfly wasn't just some random manifestation of his cultivation. It was entirely unique—something unheard of.
He barely had time to process this revelation before the black sphere detached from his palm and floated weightlessly toward the contract stone.
To his expectations, no one else seemed to notice it.
The sphere drifted toward the contract stone, and as soon as they touched, Nile felt the exchange occur. His imprint—the butterfly's mark—was fed into the stone.
A moment later, the stone ceased its pulsing and began to liquefy, floating in the air like molten gold.
Half of the liquid drifted into Nile's body, while the other half was absorbed into Jennifer's.
Jennifer exhaled sharply, shaking her hands as if to adjust to the strange sensation. Then, with a broad grin, she stood up.
"Well then, that's settled!" she declared, stretching. "This calls for a celebration. Time to eat!"
She turned toward the kitchen, where Arin had been preparing lunch. Moments later, the scent of freshly cooked food filled the air, drawing everyone to the table.
The tension from the morning's events gradually faded as laughter and conversation filled the dining area.
Jennifer playfully bragged about securing the best deal.
Jessica subtly studied Nile, wondering about his moment of deep thought.
Veena, noticing Nile's distant look, gently nudged him. "You alright?"
Nile blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Yeah… just thinking."
James chuckled. "Thinking too much again?"
Nile simply smiled, the weight of his discovery settling within him.
As the afternoon rolled on, he couldn't shake the feeling that his journey had only just begun.