The trio arrived at the town gates, feeling exhausted from their journey. Their bodies were covered in the remnants of their mission, mud and guts mixing together, emitting an unpleasant odor. Though the townspeople were accustomed to the adventurers' activities, they still preferred to avoid the unpleasant aftermath. Many cast scornful gazes at the trio as they passed.
"Ugh, being stared at like this is kinda embarrassing," Xiona muttered, wrinkling her nose.
"Don't mind them," Arnolt replied with a shrug. "It's probably a common sight. They'll forget about us soon enough."
"Indeed they will," Tyrina added with a confident smile. "But what we did today will be remembered. We likely saved many lives. They'll be grateful soon enough."
Xiona grimaced as she wiped the filth off her hand. "I just want to get back and shower. This rat guts are getting crusty on my skin."
"Do they even have showers at the camp?" Arnolt asked skeptically. "We'll probably have to make do with rainwater."
"Not to worry, my young friends," Tyrina chimed in. "My lodge has a bathroom out back. You can use it after we visit the guild."
"Really? You're gonna let us use it?" Xiona's eyes lit up. "Thanks a lot, big sis! You always come through in a clutch."
"Just make sure you scrub those rat guts off thoroughly," Arnolt teased with a grin.
Their banter continued as they made their way to the guild, the weight of their mission already beginning to lift. As they neared the entrance, they spotted a familiar figure heading in the opposite direction, coming straight toward them.
They all stopped as Tyrina immediately greeted the figure. "Hello there, Haeness!" she called out with a grin. "We just finished our mission!"
"Hey there, Mr. Earth Mage. Do you remember us?" Xiona asked, waving her grimy hand.
It was Haeness, the Argentum-ranked Earth Mage who had helped them during the Omen attack. He was usually quiet and composed, but as soon as he saw the trio covered in filth, his composure seemed to waver. He struggled for words, his usual stoic demeanor slipping into discomfort. "Ah... hello. I see you've... been busy." His voice was low, and he quickly averted his gaze.
"Yes, we have," Tyrina replied, her hands on her hips. "Where are you headed?"
"Nowhere in particular," Haeness mumbled, adjusting his glasses, clearly eager to escape the conversation. "But... if you're heading to the guild, I suggest cleaning yourselves first. There's an important person at the guild, and it would be best if they don't see you all in that state."
Xiona's eyes widened with curiosity. "Important person? Who is it?"
Haeness did not answer directly, his gaze flickering between them. "You'll see for yourselves. It's... just advisable. You should clean up."
Xiona frowned, considering their options. "We could head to big sis Tyrina's place first, but that might take too long."
"Yeah, but we both don't necessarily need to be at the guild," Arnolt argued.
Tyrina laughed, looking between her companions. "Ha-ha, Nonsense! You're both coming to the guild. Don't worry, we'll figure something out."
Haeness's brow furrowed as he listened to their chatter, his patience thinning. With a resigned sigh, he said, "Enough! This will be quicker." He pulled out his magic wand, a faint glow enveloping its tip.
"Aimondea," Haeness cast in a clear voice.
Before any of them could react, a soft breeze swept over them, carrying away the filth and grime in an instant. The unpleasant odor vanished, replaced by a fresh scent of citrus and flower. The trio looked down at themselves, now spotless and presentable.
"There. You're clean," Haeness said flatly, his tone betraying a hint of irritation.
"Wow... that's so cool," said Xiona. "But I thought you were an Earth Mage. You can use other magic too?"
"When your work often involves trudging through mud, mastering simple utility spells becomes essential," Haeness explained, adjusting his glasses with a practiced motion. "They're far less complicated to learn than elemental magic, but just as necessary."
The trio stood in silence, admiring Haeness's explanation.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get going," Haeness said, turning on his heel and walking away, leaving the trio standing in stunned silence.
"Thank you, Mr. Earth Mage!" Xiona called out to the retreating figure, breaking the silence.
"Well... that was convenient," Arnolt remarked.
"It definitely was," Xiona agreed. "Now come on, let's go to the guild."
"Indeed," Tyrina said. "Let's see who this mysterious important person is."
As they stepped into the guild, the trio scanned the room, searching for the important person Haeness had mentioned. Their eyes landed on Jaaka, lounging in the corner with a drink in hand. He spotted them first and waved them over. "Well look who's back, I taken you guys are done with the quest?" Jaaka asked.
"Yep! It was an exhilarating experience. Those rats didn't stand a chance against us," Xiona replied, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Indeed! These two young warriors have definitely proven themselves to be guild material," Tyrina added with pride.
Jaaka raised an eyebrow, noticing how impeccably clean they were. "You guys look way too clean for folks fresh outta a swamp fight. Did you take a bath on the way here, or did a magic wind just blow all the muck off?" he joked.
"Actually, we ran into Mr. Haeness on our way in," Arnolt explained. "He cast a cleaning spell on us just before we entered the guild."
"Oh wow, I didn't know he could do that," Jaaka said, mildly surprised. That's gotta be handy."
"He also mentioned there's an important person at the guild. Are they still here?" Arnolt asked, curiosity piqued.
"Yeah, he's still here. The guy's chatting with the guild master in his office right now," Jaaka replied. "Kinda unexpected for him to come here instead of calling us to his estate, but—"
Before Jaaka could finish, another figure approached the group, a warm smile on her face.
"Hello there, everyone. We meet again," the figure greeted.
"Lady Alastir! It's so nice to see you again," Xiona exclaimed.
It was Alastir. She had noticed the group entering the guild and made her way over. Caught off guard, Arnolt struggled to find the right words, but finally managed to stammer out a greeting.
"L-Lady Alastir, geuh... Greetings," he said, trying his hardest to keep his composure. Xiona noticed and grinned at her cousin's awkwardness.
"Miss Alastir, your arrival is most exquisite," Tyrina said with a welcoming smile. "Come, join us for a friendly chat."
"I'm afraid I have to cut your discussion short," Alastir said, her gaze settling on Arnolt and Xiona. "Count Dermeuelle has requested to meet the two of you. He's waiting in the guild master's office."
Her words took everyone by surprise. As the sun outside slowly descended toward the horizon, it became clear that another unexpected turn of events was about to unfold.