Inside the Adventurers Guild headquarters of Treasurehold, the Guild Master let out a long, weary sigh as he reclined in his chair. Yesterday had been a complete and utter disaster—a vampire being in town, Sir Hamish picking a pointless fight with a monster hunter, and sudden reports of demon sightings flooding in from all over Aetheria. The Guild Master ruffled his scruffy white hair with both hands in frustration, his once neatly tied hair now wild and unkempt.
"Why is it all happening at once?" he muttered to himself, clearly at the end of his rope. Leaning back in his chair, he tried to find some comfort in the quiet moment. "At least it can't get any worse from here," he said, unknowingly tempting fate.
As if on cue, the door to his office burst open with a loud bang, causing him to jump. A young adventurer with a gold badge, his face flushed with urgency, practically shouted, "Guild Master! A noble from Veridiania has arrived in the guild hall!"
The Guild Master groaned and let his forehead drop onto the desk with a thud. "Of course one did!" he muttered into the wood. "Fine, fine! I'll be down in a second!" He sat up, rubbing his head, as the young adventurer, momentarily shocked by the Guild Master's reaction, nodded quickly and left, closing the door behind him.
The Guild Master took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever new chaos awaited him downstairs. "It never ends," he grumbled, pushing his chair back and rising to face yet another challenge.
Before heading downstairs, the Guild Master prepared himself for a fight. He wasn't planning on starting one, but you could never be too careful these days. "Can't ever be too careful anymore," he grumbled, reaching for a thin leather strap to tie his hair back into a bun. Next, he turned to the wooden dummy in his office, where his armor was displayed—a combination of heavy chainmail and dark leather. The chainmail was meticulously woven with small, interlocking rings, providing solid protection while maintaining some flexibility. The leather armor overlaying it was dyed a deep, rich brown, reinforced at key points with metal studs and plates, designed for both protection and mobility. He carefully removed it from the display and started putting it on piece by piece, ensuring each strap was securely fastened and that the armor fit snugly over his muscular frame.
Once he was fully armored, he reached for his twin longswords resting on a rack nearby. The blades gleamed with a keen edge, the hilts wrapped in dark leather for a firm grip. He sheathed them both at his sides, took a deep breath to steady himself, and finally opened the door to make his way downstairs.
As he descended, he saw a group of seven gold-badged adventurers, including Sir Hamish, surrounding a man clad in ornate, intricate armor. The armor was unlike any he'd seen in a while, with delicate engravings that shimmered like circuitry, catching the light in strange ways. *Of course, he's wearing G.E.A.R.,* the Guild Master thought, his annoyance growing. He continued to approach, overhearing a heated argument between Sir Hamish and the armored Noble.
"You think you can just walk in here and do whatever the fuck you want? Not while I'm here, tin can!" Sir Hamish spat, his spear leveled directly at the Noble. The Noble, unfazed, glared back with glowing yellow orbs where his eyes would be, his voice distorted by the helmet's vocal modulator, adding a menacing edge to his words.
"Put that stick down before I skewer every single one of you with it," the Noble retorted, his tone cold and threatening. The tension between the two was thick, the room buzzing with potential violence, as the other adventurers watched on, ready to jump in at a moment's notice.
Seeing this, the Guild Master quickly stepped between them, raising his hands in a calming gesture. "Alright, calm down, both of you," he commanded, his voice firm and authoritative. The Noble's glowing eyes shifted to glare at him, but he ignored it.
"But Guild Master! This guy is—" Sir Hamish began, his grip on his spear tightening, but the Guild Master cut him off sharply. "I'll handle this, Sir Hamish. Just stay quiet," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Reluctantly, Sir Hamish closed his mouth and stepped back, still tense but deferring to the Guild Master's authority, his spear still at the ready.
The Guild Master turned to face the armored Noble, his patience clearly wearing thin. "What are you here for?" he asked, his tone flat and weary.
If looks could kill, everyone in the room would have dropped dead from the glare the Noble gave. "I'm looking for a black knight. I know he passed through this place. Now tell me where he went," the Noble demanded, his voice dripping with menace.
The Guild Master let out another long, exasperated sigh. "He headed north from here, as far as I know. But let me give you a word of advice: if you're hunting him, you're in for the fight of your life," he warned, his voice steady but firm.
The Noble tilted his head, processing the information, then turned on his heel to head for the exit. He stopped just before crossing the threshold, glancing back over his shoulder. "If I don't find him, I'll come back to kill every one of you," he threatened, his tone cold and matter-of-fact. The adventurers bristled with anger, several of them tightening their grips on their weapons, but the Guild Master merely rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Just get out of here," the Guild Master replied, waving a dismissive hand. The Noble did as instructed, taking a few deliberate steps forward. Suddenly, the circuitry on his armor flared up, illuminating with a burst of light and energy. In an instant, he launched into the air, soaring northward in the direction the Guild Master had pointed out, his figure quickly becoming a distant silhouette against the sky.
Once the Noble was out of sight, the Guild Master turned to address the room. "What are you all standing around for? Get back to work," he barked, snapping the adventurers out of their stupor. They quickly dispersed, muttering amongst themselves as they returned to their tasks.
The Guild Master then made his way back upstairs, already feeling the weight of the day settling back onto his shoulders. *I'll keep my blades sharp, just in case,* he thought to himself, preparing for whatever might come next.