Sunspire City was just as Caleb had imagined. Even near the entrance, the place buzzed with activity as various races went about their business.
Caleb noticed many unique beings he'd only ever seen in books or on TV. People walked along designated pedestrian paths, while horses and carriages moved steadily on paved roads. Uniformed guards patrolled the streets, keeping order amidst the lively atmosphere.
Near the city walls, hundreds of meters away, smaller homes clustered together, likely housing the "small folk." As they moved further in, the buildings became more sophisticated and well-maintained.
Despite being a bustling metropolis, Sunspire wasn't purely concrete and stone. The city had been planned carefully, blending nature with its urban layout.
In the distance, possibly hundreds of metres away, Caleb could see grand buildings with tall towers and striking blue and turquoise roofs. The sight gave the city a picturesque charm.
'That must be the academy district,' Caleb mused, admiring the distinct architecture.
"You're falling behind, Caleb," Jess called out without turning around. "If you want to explore the city, we can do it after we reach the main guild."
"The main guild?" Caleb repeated. "Are there other guilds here?"
"Of course," Jess replied with a nod. "The main guild is the central hub, but since it's closer to the city centre, not everyone's willing to travel that far.
"To address that, the leaders decided it was best to establish branch guilds across the city," Jess explained, slowing her pace so Caleb could catch up.
Once he was walking beside her, she continued. "Each branch has its own rank system and specializes in certain types of missions."
She pointed in a specific direction. "For example, over there is a smaller guild that mostly deals with minor tasks, like gathering herbs and similar jobs."
"I get it," Caleb said with a curious nod. "So the main guild is for the big leagues—people like you."
"Exactly," Jess confirmed with a small smile. "Even so, we're stretched thin considering the amount of work we do."
"Why is that?" Caleb asked, tilting his head. "I thought you'd have hundreds of members."
"We do, but it's still not enough," Jess explained. "With the number of dungeons in this region, we're often overwhelmed. Sometimes, the knights have to assist us in subjugating dungeons to prevent monster waves from breaking out."
"Well, no need to stress. I'm here now," Caleb declared confidently, making Jess raise a sceptical brow.
"Look, I know you're capable, but don't get overconfident," Jess warned, her expression serious. "There are monsters—and people—out there you can't even begin to imagine."
"Noted," Caleb said with a nod, though his thoughts wandered elsewhere. 'This is good. If there are abilities out there beyond imagining, with the genetic system, nothing is impossible.'
After several minutes of walking, they reached their destination: a grand, three-story building that stood tall and imposing within a gated compound.
The grand structure stood apart from the surrounding buildings, its presence commanding attention, yet its wide entrance invited anyone wishing to step into its halls.
"Genesis Guild?" Caleb read the name etched above the entrance, raising his brows before glancing at Jess. "What's the story behind the name? Was it one of the first guilds to be established?"
Jess blinked, surprised. "Wow. You figured that out just from the name?"
"It's not exactly a leap," Caleb said with a casual shrug, his gaze drifting back to the impressive building. Then something caught his eye in the distance, several meters from the guild.
"Wait, is that a colosseum?" Caleb asked, his voice laced with excitement as he turned back to Jess.
"Yeah," Jess replied, eyeing him curiously. "What's with you? Why are you so excited about that?"
Caleb chuckled, amused by her reaction. "You wouldn't get it. Let's just say I'm a man of culture, and there are certain things we simply must experience to feel whole," he explained with a wide grin.
Jess could only shake her head at his cryptic response and continued toward the guild's entrance. Despite their own worries, Selene and Max couldn't help but be uplifted by Caleb's infectious enthusiasm.
Caleb quickly reined in his excitement, though his mind wandered to imagined scenes of face-slapping and shocked faces.
'Hehe… all in due time,' he thought with a sly smile, then followed the others toward the guild.
As Caleb approached the guild's entrance, he couldn't help but notice a few adventurers stealing glances at him.
It wasn't just his appearance—they seemed intrigued by his behaviour, with some whispering among themselves, likely wondering if he was some clueless bumpkin.
But Caleb's attention was elsewhere. His domain sense had picked up something intriguing. 'They're already here,' he thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Inside the guild, four knights were stationed at the corners of the ground floor, blending in as though they were casually mingling with the adventurers.
The sharper individuals in the guild, however, knew better. These weren't just any knights; they were among the most powerful in the region.
The tension in the air was subtle but palpable. Something was clearly brewing, and while curiosity outweighed fear, most of the adventurers pretended to go about their business as if nothing was amiss.
Caleb's senses stretched further, revealing more knights positioned behind the buildings surrounding the guild. They stood ready, poised to act at a moment's notice.
"Jess," Caleb called, his voice calm but devoid of its earlier excitement.
Jess turned, immediately noticing the change in his expression. Her brows furrowed, and she stopped just before stepping through the guild's entrance.
"What's wrong?"
"Whatever happens from here on, don't get involved," Caleb instructed firmly as he moved to stand beside Jess. His tone left no room for argument. "This is my issue, and I'll deal with it."
Jess frowned, confusion evident in her eyes. "What are you talking about? Are you in some kind of trouble?" she asked, her gaze darting between him and the guild.
She took a moment to observe her surroundings and noticed something peculiar. The lively buzz inside the guild had quieted, and it felt as though every eye was now on them.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Jess pressed, unwilling to back down despite his cryptic warning. "If you're in trouble—"
"No," Caleb cut her off sharply, his tone resolute. "This has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it, or you could end up getting dragged into something you shouldn't."
Without giving her a chance to argue, Caleb stepped forward, entering the guild. His nonchalant demeanour seemed almost out of place under the weight of the collective stares.
He walked to the centre of the room and stopped, his calm presence somehow commanding attention.
"You might as well get on with it," Caleb said, his voice cutting through the silence as he turned his gaze toward one of the corners. "There's no point in hiding anymore."