A New Mission – Protecting the Guild from Within
The guildhall had settled into an uneasy calm after Mellali and Hadjer's confrontation with Kellen and Cora. The cult's infiltration had shaken the guild to its core, and though the immediate threat had been dealt with, Eryndra knew the battle was far from over. The cultists had wormed their way into the guild's ranks, and there was no telling how deep their influence ran.
Eryndra had called Mellali back into her office just a few days after the initial confrontation. This time, the tension between them was more subdued, replaced by a shared sense of responsibility and caution. The trust that had been lacking between them was still tentative, but Mellali's actions had earned him a place in the guild's inner circle.
"You uncovered the cultists once, Mellali," Eryndra said, her voice low as she leaned over the large map spread across her desk. "But I need you to go deeper. They didn't infiltrate the guild just to watch. They're planning something—and we need to find out what it is before it's too late."
Mellali nodded, his arms crossed as he studied the map. "I expected as much. Kellen and Cora weren't the only ones. I've seen more signs. Small things, but they're there. Whoever's left is playing it smarter now, though."
Eryndra glanced at him, her eyes narrowing. "I'm giving you the authority to act as you see fit. Root them out. Protect the guild from within. And remember, the cultists aren't just after power—they're after freedom. They see this world as a cage, and they believe Cthulhu is the only one who can break them out."
---
The Cult's True Agenda – Twisted Ideals of Freedom
Mellali left the guildmaster's office with a clear mission, but his mind was racing. The cultists' infiltration wasn't just about power—it was about ideals. They weren't like other enemies who sought control through force or politics. The cultists believed in something deeper, something more insidious. They saw the medieval system they lived under as oppressive, the feudal hierarchies as chains that kept them bound to a life of servitude.
And in a twisted way, Mellali understood their point.
Life in this world wasn't easy. People were born into their roles, and very few ever escaped them. The power was concentrated in the hands of the nobility, while the rest of the population lived at the mercy of their lords. Even in the guild, adventurers were still subject to the whims of the local rulers, paid for their services but never truly free.
The cultists, however, believed in a darker freedom—freedom through Cthulhu. They saw the eldritch god not as a malevolent force but as a liberator, a being that would dissolve the bonds of society and allow them to reshape the world according to their own desires.
It wasn't about chaos for the sake of chaos—it was about power for the sake of freedom. But their version of freedom was just another kind of tyranny.
---
The Investigation Begins – Hidden Allies and Unlikely Truths
Over the next few days, Mellali and Hadjer began quietly investigating the guild from the inside. They didn't broadcast their new role, instead opting to move in the shadows, observing, listening, and piecing together the fragments of information that had been left behind by the cultists.
It was in these quiet moments that Mellali's intellect truly shined. He had always been sharp, able to see the patterns others missed, and this mission was no different. He started noticing the subtle signs of unrest—whispers in the corridors, guild members meeting in secret, conversations that trailed off when he or Hadjer entered a room.
He paid attention to the smallest details—the way some of the newer recruits seemed too disengaged during training, the way they avoided taking orders from certain captains, their boredom in structured life. These weren't seasoned adventurers—they were people dissatisfied with the world they lived in, people looking for a way out.
One evening, as Mellali and Hadjer sat in the dimly lit corner of the guild's tavern, Mellali leaned in close to her, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It's not just power they're after," he murmured. "It's control over their own lives. They hate the system. They're tired of being told what to do, where to go, how to live. And Cthulhu's offering them the freedom they think they deserve."
Hadjer frowned, stirring her drink absently. "So they're a bunch of lazy dreamers on a power trip? They think they can just tear the world apart and remake it in their image?"
Mellali nodded. "That's exactly what they want. They see themselves as revolutionaries, but really, they're just trying to replace one form of tyranny with another. They're tired of being at the bottom, and they think worshiping Cthulhu will make them gods in their own right."
Hadjer shook her head. "They don't even realize they're just pawns in something much bigger than themselves."
"That's the problem," Mellali said, his voice darkening. "They don't care. They don't see it that way. To them, Cthulhu is freedom. Everything else is a cage."
---
A Revelation – The Cult's Next Move
The breakthrough came late one night, when Mellali finally managed to corner one of the newer recruits, a young man named Torrin who had been acting increasingly suspicious. Mellali had observed him for days, watching how he interacted with others—how he avoided any real responsibility, how he seemed disconnected from the guild's goals.
Torrin was nervous, fidgeting with the hem of his tunic as Mellali confronted him in one of the guild's quieter corridors. Hadjer stood nearby, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the recruit.
"You've been working with them," Mellali said, his voice calm but firm. "The cult. You're part of it."
Torrin's eyes widened, but he quickly shook his head. "No, no, I swear, I'm just—"
"Spare me the lies," Mellali cut in, his eyes narrowing. "I've seen how you move, how you talk to the others. You're not here for the guild. You're here because you want something more—because you think the system's broken, and you think Cthulhu can fix it."
Torrin froze, his face pale. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."
Mellali sighed, stepping closer, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "You can keep pretending, or you can tell me what you know. If you don't, the cult's going to throw you to the wolves the moment things go south. They'll sacrifice you like the pawn you are. But if you tell me now, I might be able to save you from that fate."
Torrin hesitated, his eyes darting between Mellali and Hadjer. Finally, he let out a shaky breath and whispered, "They're planning something big. Bigger than before. They want to tear the guild apart from the inside. They're going after the captains, replacing them with their own people. Then they're going to take over the town. Cthulhu's power is coming. They believe it's the only way to break free of the system."
---
The Guild's Dark Underbelly – An Unlikely Alliance
Mellali nodded, his suspicions confirmed. The cult wasn't just infiltrating the guild—they were planning a takeover, one that would destabilize the entire region and give them control over Rivermouth. And once they had control, they would use it to summon Cthulhu's influence into the world.
He glanced at Hadjer, who nodded slightly. They both knew what needed to be done.
"You're going to help us stop them," Mellali said, his voice cold as he stared down Torrin. "You'll feed us information, and in return, I'll make sure the guild doesn't put you on trial for treason. But if you cross me, if you try to run—I'll make sure the cult sees you as the traitor you are."
Torrin swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "Okay... okay, I'll help. I don't want to die for this. I just thought... I just thought it would give me a chance at something better."
Mellali's expression didn't soften. "You don't get something for nothing in this world, Torrin. You want freedom? You earn it. Now, let's get to work."
A New Conflict – Unveiling the Noble's Support
The investigation into the cult's infiltration had led Mellali and Hadjer down a dangerous path. With Torrin's information in hand, they had begun uncovering more connections within the guild—small, subtle movements, whispers between adventurers, conversations that abruptly stopped when they entered the room. But as Mellali dug deeper, he found something far more troubling: the cult wasn't acting alone. A powerful noble, Lord Renwald, who held sway over Rivermouth and its surrounding lands, was secretly backing the cult's goals.
Mellali had pieced it together through meticulous deduction—Renwald's ties to certain guild members, the funding behind the cult's operations, and the noble's known disdain for the current feudal system. Renwald didn't care about Cthulhu or eldritch powers. He wanted to break the system that had held him in check, to reshape it in his image—and the cult was his weapon.
This revelation weighed on Mellali, not just because of its implications for the guild, but because it forced him to confront something within himself. Freedom. The very thing Renwald and the cult wanted, though twisted and corrupt. And, in a way, something he had longed for too, even if his vision was different.
---
The Confrontation – Hadjer's Insight
That evening, after returning from yet another round of covert investigation, Mellali and Hadjer found themselves alone in the small room they had been using as a base. The flickering light of a single candle cast shadows across the walls, and the air between them felt charged with unspoken words.
Hadjer had been quiet during the investigation, watching Mellali work, observing how he interacted with the situation, how he maneuvered the pieces on this invisible chessboard. But tonight, she couldn't hold back any longer.
She stood by the window, her arms crossed, staring out into the darkened streets of Rivermouth. Her voice, when she finally spoke, was soft but filled with a tension Mellali had rarely heard from her.
"You know, Mellali, I've been thinking," she began, her tone careful but direct. "About everything we've been doing. The cult, the guild, the system we're caught in... And I can't help but notice something."
Mellali, who had been lost in thought, glanced up, sensing the shift in her tone. "What's that?"
Hadjer turned to face him, her eyes sharp and questioning. "You want the same thing they do. Freedom. You want to fix the system, to change it, just like they do. But... you're different. You don't want the kind of lazy freedom they're after, the kind that lets them put their faith in someone else—Cthulhu or some dark force. You want to do it yourself, to fix it on your own terms."
Mellali's expression remained unreadable, but he didn't interrupt. He could see where she was going.
Hadjer took a step closer, her voice growing more intense. "You've been leveling up, gaining power, making plans. But you've never told me what the endgame is. I know you, Mellali. You're not just some wandering adventurer trying to survive. You're building something. I've seen the way you look at the guild, the way you talk about the system. You're not on their side. Not really."
Mellali met her gaze, his face calm but his eyes flickering with something deeper. "And what makes you think that?"
Hadjer's expression softened slightly, though her conviction remained strong. "Because I know you, Mellali. You've always wanted to be free—free from everything that tries to control you. And this world? It's no different from the one we left. Maybe even worse. But you're not like them. You don't want to break the system because you're lazy or because you think Cthulhu will save you. You want to fix it because you hate how it traps people, how it limits them. You want freedom, but you want earned freedom."
---
Mellali's Response – The Difference in Vision
Mellali didn't respond immediately. He let her words hang in the air, weighing them carefully. Hadjer was right about a lot of things, but not everything.
He stood slowly, walking over to the small desk in the corner of the room, leaning on it as he spoke. His voice was calm, measured, but there was a hint of something harder beneath the surface.
"You're not entirely wrong, Hadjer," Mellali admitted, his eyes dark and thoughtful. "I do want freedom. I've always wanted it. Back in our world, I hated the way the system was set up. You work your whole life, following rules made by people who never had to struggle the way you did. And here? It's worse. This medieval system, the feudal lords, the guilds—it's a cage, just like you said."
Hadjer watched him, her expression softening further, but Mellali wasn't finished.
"But," he continued, his voice sharpening, "there's a big difference between me and the cultists—or Renwald, for that matter. They want to tear everything down. They're on a power trip, thinking that if they destroy the system, they can build something better. But they're lazy. They want freedom without responsibility. They want someone else—some dark god—to give them the power to do it. That's where we're different."
Hadjer raised an eyebrow. "So where do you stand, then?"
Mellali turned to face her fully, his gaze intense but steady. "I don't need to break the system, Hadjer. I just need to fix it. If I get the chance, I'll reshape it—but not out of some lazy desire to watch it burn. I'm not here to destroy everything just because I can. I'll fight the system if it provokes me, if it tries to take my freedom. But right now? I have no obligation to tear it all down."
Hadjer stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "But what happens when that moment comes? When the system pushes you too far? Will you tell me then? Will I be part of that plan?"
Mellali's gaze softened, and for the first time, there was a hint of vulnerability in his expression. "You're always part of the plan, Hadjer. But I don't know when—or if—that moment will come. I'm not out here looking for a fight with the world. But if the world tries to take my freedom, or yours? Then I'll have no choice but to act."
Hadjer's tension eased, and she gave a small nod. "I just want to make sure we're on the same page. I'm with you, no matter what. But I need to know that when the time comes, we'll make these choices together."
Mellali reached out, gently taking her hand. "We will. I promise."
---
The Noble's Involvement – The Plot Thickens
Their conversation was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. Mellali, his focus immediately shifting, opened the door to find Lyra, the ranger, standing there, her face pale with urgency.
"Mellali, Hadjer," Lyra said quickly, "we've got a problem. I just overheard some guild members talking. Lord Renwald... he's making moves. They say he's planning something big, and it's tied directly to the cult."
Mellali's eyes darkened, his thoughts immediately racing. Renwald had been playing his hand carefully, keeping his involvement with the cult hidden. But if Lyra's information was correct, he was about to escalate—and fast.
"How soon?" Mellali asked, his voice calm but filled with intensity.
Lyra shook her head, her voice hushed. "Soon. I don't know the details, but it's bad. He's got people in the guild—powerful people. If we don't stop him..."
Mellali clenched his jaw, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Renwald wasn't just a noble with delusions of grandeur—he was someone with real power, and if he succeeded in his plan, the entire system could be upended. Not through revolution, but through the dark influence of Cthulhu.
Mellali turned to Hadjer, his voice steady. "Looks like we've got our next move. We're going after Renwald."
Hadjer nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "And this time, we make sure he doesn't get the chance to break anything."