After we went upstairs, I knocked on the Guildmaster's door and heard him speak.
"Come in, please," he said.
Isabella and I walked in and shut the door behind us.
"Ah, good. It's you two. Isabella and...Markus?" Gearo said.
I just sighed.
"His name is Mizik. Miz-ick. It's not that difficult to remember, Guildmaster..." Isabella said.
"Right...my apologies. Mizik and Isabella. I was just about to send for you two because I have your reward ready for the request. The total sum of money is around 12,500 gold coins. Which is around four years of wages at a regular job. Well done!" Gearo said.
"What rank was that quest?" I asked.
"It was originally A-Rank, but after we sent the previous group and they didn't return, we upgraded it to S-Rank. We have a system to rank the pay of requests involving a combination of the ranking of the request itself, the manpower needed, and also the payment from the one posting the request. "
"I'm sure that's very interesting, but I have a-"
Before I could finish my sentence, the doors swung open and Akari strolled into the room confidently.
"Guildmaster Gearo! I wanted to inform you that these two and I have formed an adventuring group. We are called Foxfire now," Akari said.
"Ah! Akari! So good to see you again, my dear! If you're part of the group, doesn't that mean some of the reward is yours as well?" Gearo said.
"Why, Gearo! What a wonderful proposition! I wasn't part of the group until earlier today, but I'm sure my generous party leader would-"
"Nope," I said bluntly.
Akari's confident smile turned into confusion.
"You weren't part of the group when we did request. Since you didn't help, you don't get paid. That's just common sense. Now then, Gearo, I have a question," I said.
"Ehm...should you really be so rude to our star member?" Gearo said as his expression turned serious.
"For starters, I don't appreciate her constantly trying to manipulate me using charm magic. Like she's been trying to do since she entered the room. Secondly, she accused one of-...sorry. She accused my wife of threatening her," I said.
I immediately contacted Isabella and Cassandra through telepathy, but it was too late...
"Don't take that the wrong way, Cassa-"
"MIZIK CALLED ME HIS WIFE!!! THIS IS MY LIFE'S GOAL!!! I'M SO HAPPY!!!"
"HE'S COVERING FOR THE FACT THAT THERE'S TWO OF US IN HERE, CASSANDRA!!! DON'T LET IT GO TO YOUR HEAD!!!"
"Too late..."
"EHEHEHEHEHE!!!! THIS FEELING IS AMAZING! I LOVE YOU TOO, MY DARLING MIZIK!!!"
"Ugh...fine, whatever..."
"You said she's been...accusing your wife of threatening her...? Perhaps it isn't just an idle accusation. Akari is the most trustworthy person in the guild!" Gearo said defiantly.
BULLSHIT! SHE'S A DAMN LIAR!!!
"AH! GUILDMASTER GEARO!!!" Akari shouted.
She looked nervous as I shot her a violent glare.
"I just remembered that I did, in fact, accuse her! It was my mistake. I misheard something, is all..." Akari said as she looked over at me.
"Oh. I see. Very well then, Akari. I'm sure they have forgiven you, yes?" Gearo said.
"Yes! And we're all the better for it! Now then...I believe Mizik had something to say to you?" Akari said.
Finally...
"Guildmaster Gearo, we need information on heart stones if you can give it," I said.
Gearo looked puzzled at my request.
"Heart...stones? Did I hear that right? You want information on the most powerful and volatile source of magic in the world?" Gearo said.
"Anything you can offer. It's important," I said.
Gearo took a deep breath and sighed.
"They were discovered around a thousand years ago. The heart stones have caused about twenty-five grand world wars since they were found. They have have brought nothing but chaos and bloodshed to our dear Delvandal... Heart stones are extraordinary sources power and they radiate magic like nothing else in this world. Skilled craftsmen from all over have tested their abilities by making weapons and tools using them and only the very best of the best have succeeded. A weapon made with heart stones is a powerful thing," Gearo explained.
"Where can they be found?" I asked.
"Usually Elysium. They have a monopoly on them right now. Although, legend has it that three heart stones of immense power exist somewhere in secret. Heart stones so powerful that they had to be hidden away. These particular crystals have gained so much energy that it is as if the very world itself beats within them. They are called: The Heart of the Deep, The Heart of the Sky, and The Heart of the World."
"Are they really that powerful?" I asked.
"Oh yes...indeed... The legend says that the ancient gods of this world hid them away due to fear that they would cause the end of the world. Those stones are said to be able to drain an entire world of its essence and life force. A weapon made from those abominable stones could end the world. Even if only one of then was used... If all three were used, I wouldn't doubt that someone could slay a god with great ease...perhaps something greater..." Gearo said.
Sounds exactly like what we need. Those things could help us kill Difar.
"Looks like we have an objective then," I said.
Isabella nodded.
"We're going to Elysium," she said.
"W-wait! What about the Mad Admiral?" Akari asked.
"What about him?" I asked.
"I mean...aren't you scared of him?" Akari said fearfully.
I allowed the slightest smile to cross the corner of my lips.
"Sacred? Ridiculous. I've seen horrors beyond your worst nightmares, Akari. Not even death himself scares me at this point. Besides, I have a job to do, and I plan to finish it."
"A job!? What kind of job needs all three of the legendary heart stones!?" She asked.
"Killing an Abyssal god."
"A...what?" Gearo said.
"It's a long story and it would be pointless to tell you anything. Give us a job. Anything that involves the heart stones. Legendary or not. We need as many of them as possible," I said.
"Let's see..." Gearo said as he thumbed through a stack of requests on his desk.
"Those are the SSS-Rank requests, right, Gearo?" Akari said fearfully.
"Yes. If they want to acquire heart stones, then this is the best way to do it. Unless they truly do feel like going to Elysium," Gearo said.
He picked out two requests and handed them to us.
One of them was to investigate a large abandoned mansion far to the northwest. Supposedly, it was haunted and all who entered never found their way out. There were rumors of a great treasure located within its depths. A treasure that might have included heart stones.
The other was to slay a gigantic frost dragon located far beneath a mountain to the north.
The dragon was said to be exceedingly wise but also very protective of its territory. And it was rumored to be guarding a trove of heart stones, among other things...
Hearing that there was a great wise dragon of ice reminded me of the water dragon from Avernia.
Corruption or not, a frost dragon on the same level as the water dragon from Avernia was definitely a fearsome opponent.
Actually, it wasn't a stretch to say that the shadow dragon, by herself, could end the world. We needed to be careful.
"Looks good. We're going to the mansion first. Everyone get ready and Isabella, I might need you to slay some undead," I said.
"Excellent! I'm ready at a moment's notice!" Isabella said.
"U-umm...did you say...undead...?" Akari asked fearfully.
"Yes. Undead. Like zombies, ghosts, skeletons, and other rotting creatures. If you're scared, feel free to stay behind. But as the leader, I say if you don't work, you don't get paid," I said bluntly.
"Ah! N-no! I'll go! I'll go! Especially if there's lots of treasure! That's what adventuring is all about, right?" Akari said with a nervous smile.
"Great. Let's get ready and go. We have a lot of distance to cover by the looks of it," I said.
After that, we made our way downstairs and towards the Inn.
On the way, Isabella tugged on my sleeve.
"Cassandra wants you to speak with her via telepathy," she said.
I nodded and began a communication as we prepared to leave.
"Cassandra, what's going on?"
"D-darling! I-I'm so sorry!!! I'm terrified of the undead... They remind me of the pit... I'm so sorry!!! Please don't make me fight them!"
"You of all people...are scared of skeletons and zombies...?"
"Y-yes...just like Isabella is scared of bugs and-"
"Hey! Don't turn this on me, Cassandra!"
"Look, if you're scared of the undead, then you don't have to fight. However, I still expect you to keep an eye on Akari and watch our surroundings. Additionally...try to get over your fear, okay? If you do, I'll be proud of you. I'll...hug you and let you lay on my chest...or something..."
"I will strive to obliterate any undead creature that dares to oppose us! Leave them all to me! I fear nothing!"
"Right...well, that's sort of Isabella's area of expertise. She can kill the undead very easily. But if you help out and prove to me that you aren't afraid, you'll be rewarded. Deal?"
"Deal!!! Haaaah! My darling Mizik will be so impressed!!!"
"Yeah...okay..."
I terminated the connection and saw Isabella roll her eyes.
"Sorry, but-"
"No. I understand. It's the only way to motivate her... Besides, it's not like you intend to go to bed with her or kiss her...right?" Isabella said as she looked worriedly at me.
"Of course not. You're my one and only and I love...ugh... Yeah. That..."
"I'm happy to hear you say that. But please try not to agitate your curse, my love," Isabella said.
She clung to my arm and rested her head lovingly on my shoulder.
"I'll do everything I can to help you," she said with an adoring smile.
Looking at her caused the pain in my head to flare up again... But deep down, I felt a great adoration for that smiling face of hers.
Once we had prepared to leave, we set off to the west.
I marked the location of the mansion on my map, and the compass pointed us in the right direction.