Two weeks had passed since the whole ordeal happened, during those two weeks Mirelle and I continued to do what we did. Mirelle went to accompany me to the library, and head to the training grounds to spar with other adventurers, while I continued to study in the library, occasionally going to the training grounds to put my theories to the test, and continue my studying there, healing the people in the training grounds when it was time to go home.
"Lady Celeste, are we going to the Adventurers Guild again?" Mirelle asked, as we ate on the first floor of the Inn.
I was thinking of doing the same thing today. However, with how oddly quite the whole atmosphere was, I was hesitant to go anywhere. "I don't know, why don't we do some request for today?"
Mirelle responded with the usual glee. "I'll go where Lady Celeste wants to go!"
Watching Mirelle being the same as usual, I ignored the odd atmosphere I was noticing and got up from our table as we finished eating. During the time we spent in the training grounds and library, Mirelle and I didn't forget to finish some request to avoid having our guild cards revoke, with how off I felt I decided to not do our usual routine and do something different for today.
After Mirelle finished eating the last bit of her food, we immediately went to the Adventurers Guild, and as we entered through the front door of the guild's building, we saw more adventurers than usual, they were all huddled together in their own group, whispering and murmuring to themselves, some had serious expressions.
Ignoring this, Mirelle and I went to the receptionist. Not seeing Miss Syl at her usual spot, we took a random guild receptionist and accepted a request within the city. The requestee had requested to deliver quite a bit of goods from their shop to the town's guard tower by each town gates, meaning we had to deliver to multiple places. With it not being too time consuming, I decided to accept and went to the shop with Mirelle.
~ Rina Halford's POV — A few days earlier~
"Are you sure about your report, Cliff?"
"Yes, guild master." Cliff responded to my confirmation.
This was one hell of a timing, to have received the report at the same time most of the high-ranking Adventurers return, must have been a sign from the Goddess of Life. I don't want to waste time. I thought to myself, as I started formulating a plan inside my head. I can't let that camp to fester for too long with that type of entity being there.
"Syl, tell Garrick to call all High-ranking adventurers to the guild on the Guild Master's request." I said to Syl, and quickly turned to Cliff, and gave him my orders. "Cliff, I want you and the other scouts and rogues to keep an eye on our surrounding, and when you come down, tell Dustin to come up."
Cliff put his hands to his head and spoke. "Yes, Guild Master" bowing before he left my office heading to the Adventurers Disciplinary Section Office, to call Dustin up to my office.
"Syl, one more thing. Limit requests that have anything to do with them going into the [Black Forest], and use the quest board to request low-ranking adventurers for logistics." I said to Syl, explaining the reasoning to Syl. With me wanting to prepare properly, I didn't want the staff to be spread too thin and waste too much time with unimportant things.
"Is that all, rina?" Syl asked me, if I had anymore request for her, I did. "Gather all available mages and other occupations with healing magic, from low-ranking to high-ranking adventurers." I replied in one breathe.
Syl who had noticed how serious the situation simply nodded to my requests. "Are you thinking of going, rina?" Syl voice suddenly rang out by the door. Lifting my head a bit, I responded. "I have to, Syl." my voice filled with softness and comfort.
Syl simply nodded, and got out of the office towards the first floor to handle all of my requests.
With no one else around, I leaned back into my chair, gazing at the ceiling of my office, recalling cliff's report about the numbers of Orcs in the camp, as well as confirmation of a High Orc King, with a berserker class in that very camp. What was more concerning, wasn't the number of Orcs, but their plans of invading Eisenwald which could happen at any time.
Because of their plans of invasion, a monster wave was to be expected. With their large numbers and powerful members, they had forced the other monsters in the forest to be restless. That wasn't the end of it, they are taking advantage of the effect of their overwhelming presence to create an artificial monster wave with the [Black Forest]'s monsters.
"Guild Master, you called for me?" Dustin's voice rang out from the door, as knocking could be heard. "Yes, come in." Dustin walked in and approached my table. "What are the Guild Master's orders?" Dustin said, standing firmly a few steps away from my table.
"I want you to stop all surveillance on semi-important individuals, and have all those pulled from surveillance to be ready for battle." I said firmly. Dustin noticing my serious and heavy tone, wasted no time and simply nodded and went to out of the office and I continued to gaze into the ceiling of my office, making plans...
With a whole week passing by, we continued to prepare for Eisenwald's defense against the Monster Wave, and Orc Invasion., I had already informed the nobles, as well as the city guards, who were now currently working together with us, along with Eisenwald's lord and the other guild masters from different guilds.
"Guild Master, the high-ranking Adventurers have been gathered." Syl whispered to me. Hearing this, I raised my hand and informed the people around me. "Viscount Edmund, I must apologize for leaving early, but the High-ranking adventurers have returned. Since the meeting is reaching its end, I hope you would allow me to leave."
Viscount Edmund thought for a few seconds before simply nodding in acknowledgement. "You can go back, Miss Rina. I pray to the Gods for your plans to succeed." He said, as I bowed in acknowledgement before turning back and leaving the meeting.
Once Syl and I were alone, she let out a deep sigh before speaking to me. "Rina, are you sure about this?" and I responded with what I had told to Viscount Edmund. "I won't be alone, that's why we're gathering the other high-ranking adventurers." Syl was completely silent, as she simply nodded. "Just take care of yourself, Rina." she added, and I held her hand, as I laid my hands on top of hers, patting it softly. "I will, don't worry."
Reaching the room for the meeting, I could hear the chatter of the people inside it. Upon entering the room, silence came about as I told everyone to settle down. "Guild Master, what's the emergency?" one of the adventurers ask, as other adventurers began to asked questions about the call for them to gather.
I understand where they were coming from, but this wasn't the time for this. "Stop." my voice carrying immense pressure, creating a chilling atmosphere in the room, making everyone silent. "A B-Rank Party, has discovered a large Orc Camp in the [Black Forest]" I started to explained from the start. "You all were called to eradicate the large Orc Camp, along with me." when I had said this, I took back all the pressure I had been letting out.
"Of course, you're wondering 'Why are we being called for something like this.?' it's no ordinary Orc Camp." I paused for a moment, surveying the doubting and skeptical eyes of the adventurers in the room before continuing. "The Orc Camp is being led by a High Orc King with the Berserker class, with other High Variants of Orcs with Classes ranging from mages, swordsman, archer, scout as well as other support type classes and manufacturing classes."
Upon hearing this, the room was once again in complete silence, they were now understanding the current state the meeting was in, this wasn't a place to play around. "Viscount Edmund, along with the other Guild's Guild Master will be protecting Eisenwald, while me and the select few will strike at the core of the camp, and the rest providing support in protecting Eisenwald from the upcoming artificial monster wave." I continued to explain what the lord and other guild master had discussed earlier.
"This will be a mandatory quest, prepare your equipment and supplies. We'll be departing in two days." I said, ignoring the look of protest from the other adventurers. "Those who will reject this quest will have their guild cards suspended, and this order is not the Adventurers Guild's order alone." I said to crowd, preparing to leave as I left with one final word. "Make your decision in 1 day."
I walked out of the room and headed to the floor which housed the Guild Master's Equipment with Syl by my side.