Alen's heart raced as he stood outside the heavy oak door of Guild Master Hailey's office. The summons had come unexpectedly, and he couldn't shake the feeling that trouble was brewing. He had seen the way the other adventurers had whispered and exchanged glances as he walked through the guild hall. Word must have spread about what had happened with Keira, and he feared that someone had captured the damning moment on camera.
With a deep breath, he pushed open the door. Inside, Guild Master Hailey sat behind her grand desk, her expression inscrutable. The room was dimly lit, giving it an air of secrecy. Alen's unease deepened when he noticed that everyone else in the room was instructed to leave, save for Hailey's sister, Jessica, who leaned against a bookshelf.
Hailey's gaze bore into Alen as she leaned forward, her hands steepled. "Alen, I've been hearing troubling rumors about a certain incident involving a noble family," she began, her tone steady.
