"Tiaraaaa!"
I shout playfully trying to catch up with her as she quickened her pace.
She stop mid-way, causing me to bump into her and dramatically falls on the ground.
"That hurts..."
I say as I rubbed the temple of my nose.
Tiara glanced down at me, her expression is unimpressed as usual but there's a small grin forming on her lips.
"You're ridiculous."
Charlotte strolled past us, clearly amused, but didn't stop to help.
"Get up, idiot."
I groaned, pulling myself back up, brushing off the dirt from my clothes.
"I'm not the one who stopped out of nowhere!"
We entered the guildhouse, the familiar warmth and buzz of the Arcane Brigade's base greeting us.
Guild members were scattered around the main hall, some chatting at tables while others were practicing spells in a corner.
The air was thick with magical energy, and the sight of home lifted my spirits.
I glanced around, catching the eye of a few familiar faces.
They nodded in acknowledgment, but most of them looked curious at the man, probably noticing the tension in the air.
"What is this?"
One of the guild members, a man named Cedric, asked as his eyes lingered on the scarred man we had brought back with us.
His question echoed the thoughts of everyone else in the room.
"Long story, but he's the reason behind the marked beasts attacking the village."
I replied, waving him off.
Cedric raised an eyebrow but didn't push further.
As we made our way toward the stairs to report, the usual bustling energy of the guild seemed subdued, like everyone was waiting for something to happen.
Just as we reached the top of the stairs, the heavy wooden door to the Guildmaster's office creaked open a little wider.
Tiara knocked firmly but didn't wait for a response before pushing the door open all the way.
Charlotte and I followed her inside, the scarred man still in tow.
The office was as grand and cluttered as ever, filled with odd magical artifacts and scrolls stacked high on the shelves.
But before Tiara could speak, I felt a sudden presence behind me.
"Looking for me?"
A low, gravelly voice sent a chill down my spine.
I turned quickly, my heart skipping a beat.
There, standing inches behind me, was the Guildmaster himself, Master Merrick. He was shorter than me by a good half a foot, and far from what one would expect a Guildmaster to be.
He had the appearance of an eccentric scholar, with a thin frame, round spectacles perched on his nose, and hair that seemed to stand in every possible direction.
His long robe, adorned with various magical symbols, was frayed at the edges, giving him a disheveled look.
In his hand, he held a half-eaten sandwich.
"Uh… yeah, we were just…"
"Just about to explain."
Tiara said sharply, already accustomed to Master Merrick's strange habits.
"We've captured the man responsible for the beasts."
Merrick squinted at the scarred man, taking a slow bite from his sandwich.
"Ah, so you're the fellow causing trouble. Welcome to the guild. I assume you'll be staying for a bit, eh?"
His tone was casual, almost friendly, as if we had brought back a guest instead of a criminal.
The scarred man scowled but remained silent.
Merrick took another bite and walked around us, inspecting the man as if he were some kind of rare artifact.
"Hmm, interesting aura you've got there. Nasty scar, too. I've seen worse, though."
"Master, he was using dark magic to control the beasts,"
Tiara explained, her tone is all business.
Merrick waved a hand dismissively, still focused on his sandwich.
"Yes, yes, dark magic, terrible stuff. We'll deal with it."
He turned to me and grinned, crumbs still on his chin.
"Kira, you look like you had quite the adventure. How'd you do? Manage to freeze yourself again?"
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling heat rise to my face.
"Not exactly…"
Before I could finish, Merrick clapped his hands together.
"Wonderful! Let's lock this fellow up and have a chat later. I've got some magical theories to test."
Then suddenly, Tiara slam her hands on the table.
"Master! This guy is responsible for destroying a village that almost killed an innocent people."
Tiara's sudden outburst caught everyone off guard, especially Master Merrick, who paused mid-chew, staring at her with raised eyebrows.
His normally playful eyes sharpened for just a second before he let out a sigh and wiped his hands on his robe, pushing his half-eaten sandwich aside.
"Almost, Tiara. Almost killed."
He emphasized, as if that made all the difference in the world.
"But no one actually died, right? That's all that matters."
I blinked, taken aback by his response.
Even the scarred man seemed momentarily stunned, his expression shifting from defiance to confusion.
Tiara's fists clenched, the air around her growing tense with magical energy.
"Master, that's not the point. This man unleashed dark magic and could have caused a massacre!"
Master Merrick shrugged, turning away from her and strolling lazily over to his shelves, rifling through some scrolls.
"Could have, but didn't."
He tossed an old, dusty scroll onto his desk, then turned back to face us with a grin.
"Look, Tiara, you're too uptight. We're the Arcane Brigade, not some moral knights out to deliver justice to the world. We prevent disasters, protect what we can, and—most importantly—learn from every encounter. This man…"
Master Merrick waved lazily at the scarred man.
"Is a valuable learning opportunity."
"But–"
Tiara's face was a mixture of disbelief and barely contained frustration.
"No 'buts', Tiara,"
Merrick interrupted, his tone still light, but there was a strange finality to his words.
"The village is safe, and we've got our culprit. That's a win in my book."
I could see Charlotte watching the exchange quietly, her eyes narrowing, but she kept her thoughts to herself.
She knew, like I did, that once Master Merrick had made up his mind, there was no point arguing.
Master Merrick clapped his hands again, and two guild members appeared at the door as if summoned by magic.
"Take our new guest to the holding cells, I'll have a chat with him later."
As they dragged the scarred man out of the room, Merrick plopped back into his chair, propping his feet up on his desk with a content sigh.
"Now then, anything else urgent before I finish my lunch?"
Tiara glared at him, but after a long, tense moment, she backed down, her shoulders slumping.
"No, Master."
Master Merrick nodded, smiling like nothing was wrong.
"Good! Oh, and Kira, next time you go off on one of these little adventures, make sure to bring me back something interesting. A new spell, maybe? Or at least a souvenir."
I gave him a weak smile, still unsure how to process the bizarre turn of events.
"Sure thing, Master."
As we left the room, the door closing behind us, Tiara muttered under her breath.
"I can't believe him. No one died, so it's fine? What kind of logic is that?"
"Welcome to the Arcane Brigade. Where the motto is 'No one dies, we call it a win'.'"
Charlotte finally spoke up, her voice calm but tinged with sarcasm.
"Haha! That's great, Charlotte."
I laughed at her sarcasm.
"Don't agree with me... you idiot."
Tiara's glare deepened as she walked ahead, her frustration still evident in the stiffness of her shoulders.
Charlotte gave me a sideways glance, her usual smirk softened into something more thoughtful.
"She's got a point, you know, Master's approach might work for him, but... I'm not sure how long we can keep skating by like this."
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck again.
"Yeah, I know. But it's hard to argue with him when he's technically right. No one got hurt."
"'Technically', but that doesn't make it right."
I glanced back at Tiara, who was already halfway down the hall, her pace is quick.
I could tell that this night wasn't over for her. Not even close.
"She's not gonna let this go, is she?"
"Nope. And I don't blame her. Dark magic's not something you just brush off."
We followed Tiara down the corridor, passing by other guild members who were busy with their tasks, their curious gazes trailing after us.
---
Master Merrick sat alone in a dimly lit room, facing the scarred man.
The room was small, windowless, with a single lantern illuminating the space.
The air felt thick with tension, but Master Merrick seemed relaxed, sitting casually with a cup of tea in hand.
The scarred man sat chained to a chair, his expression cold but no longer defiant. His eyes, however, never left Master Merrick.
"Comfortable?"
Master Merrick asked, sipping his tea without looking at the man.
The scarred man grunted, his voice rough and hoarse.
"Get to the point. What do you want?"
Merrick finally met his gaze, setting the cup down on the table between them.
"I just want to know what you know. See, you've piqued my interest. Dark magic, marked beasts, destruction without a single casualty. Very curious, very precise."
The man's lips twisted into a sneer.
"I wasn't trying to kill anyone."
"Ahh, see? That's what I thought. Controlled chaos, yes? You're not the reckless brute everyone thinks you are. No, you've got a purpose behind your little show of power."
The scarred man remained silent, his jaw tightening as Master Merrick's words hit closer to the truth.
Master Merrick leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
"What are you after? And who taught you how to wield that kind of magic?"
For a long moment, the man didn't speak. Then, his lips curled into a dark smile.
"You wouldn't understand."
Master Merrick chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Oh, I think I would. More than you realize."
He stood up, walking slowly around the table, his hands clasped behind his back.
"You see, magic like yours doesn't just spring up out of nowhere. It's ancient, forbidden. And for someone like you to wield it? Well, you're either incredibly talented or incredibly foolish. Maybe both."
"Why do you care?"
Master Merrick paused, standing behind the man now, his voice carrying an almost playful tone.
"I care because dark magic has a habit of leaving… echoes. It touches things, warps them, and sometimes... just sometimes, it creates something new. Something powerful."
He leaned closer, his breath barely a whisper in the man's ear.
"And I want to know what you're trying to create."
The scarred man's eyes flickered with a brief glint of fear before he composed himself.
"You won't get any answers from me."
Master Merrick straightened, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
"Oh, I think I will. In time."
He turned and started walking toward the door, leaving the scarred man in the dimly lit room.
As he reached the door, Master Merrick glanced back, his expression is unreadable.
"Take your time. I'll be back when you're ready to talk."
With that, Master Merrick slipped out, the door closing with a soft click, leaving the scarred man alone in the flickering light.
---
"Tiaraaaa!"
I called out once more, waving my hand dramatically in front of her face. She blinked slowly, her eyelids heavy, but a soft smile curled on her lips, betraying her current state.
"Kira... y'know you're... so loud,"
"And you are absolutely drunk..."
She lifted her drink, swirling it lazily, and giggled.
"Maybe a little... but it's fine. I never get to let loose like this."
Tiara chuckled softly, but her laughter faded as she reached for her drink again. Her fingers slipped, causing the cup to tip over, spilling the rest of her drink across the table.
"Oops,"
She giggled, blinking in surprise.
Alice quickly grabbed a napkin, dabbing at the spill.
"Alright, I think that's enough for you,"
Tiara groaned, her forehead resting heavily on her arm as she stared mournfully at the colorful liquid pooling on the table.
"I can handle it,"
She muttered, though her voice was slurred and unconvincing.