Sayr felt his back slowly drenching in cold sweat. He tried to convince himself that everything was okay, but just one thought about the man following him sent chills down his spine.
"So? What exactly is this place?" Hades asked, glancing at the many rooms and corridors inside the ringfort.
"This is our Guild's Hall," Sayr answered, confused by the question.
"I didn't mean that. What exactly is this place?" Hades asked again, clicking his tongue in frustration.
"Oh! We used to be something in between a Medic's Guild and an Order. It's a really long story."
"All I have is but time."
Sayr glanced at Hades with a troubled expression before letting out a deep breath and beginning to tell the story.
"Originally, the Inner Circle was just a small clinic founded by Master Edwin. He was the disciple of a renowned physician and came to Alveerwood to gain more experience, but he wasn't just that. He was also a formidable cultivator, even considered the strongest in the whole city."
Hades nodded silently, not interrupting the young man's story.
"What was supposed to be a short stay soon became his permanent home as he began to accept disciples. He trained hundreds in the art of medicine, but only had five direct disciples who inherited his cultivation art." Sayr paused for a moment, recollecting his thoughts.
"Everything was fine while Master Edwin was alive. The Inner Circle thrived, with his five disciples gaining fame and respect in the area. But it all changed when Master Edwin suddenly fell ill."
"And nobody could cure him? Wasn't this a Medic's Guild?"
"To this day, nobody knows what kind of disease it was. One day he was as healthy as ever, and the next he could barely move his body. He ended up passing away days after contracting the disease. It was truly shocking."
Hades mused over the story, already having an inkling of what would happen next.
"So the disciples fought among themselves for the leader position?"
"Yes. And unfortunately, Loringar became the leader in the end," Sayr muttered, his voice filled with anguish.
"You speak as if it was a bad thing."
"Didn't you already experience it yourself? Loringar is a tyrant and has no respect for Master Edwin's legacy."
"Why would this matter? He won the fight for the throne," Hades said, reminiscing about his and his brothers' war against their father and the Titans.
"He didn't even fight! All he ever did was waste his days in bars and brothels. He only became the leader thanks to luck," Sayr bellowed, his eyes flashing with emotion.
Hades stopped, smirking at the young man. It was clear that he had some type of feud with Loringar, and perhaps this dissatisfaction could be of use.
"How did he become the leader, then?"
"Two disciples decided to leave the Inner Circle—one following Master Edwin's footsteps and wandering the world, while the other joined the Crystal Palace. The remaining two decided to settle the matter of succession through a duel, which ended with one of them dead and the other crippled."
"So in the end, he was the only one left?" Hades chuckled.
"Yeah. He was—" Sayr was just about to continue when he noticed that they had arrived at the dormitories. "Hahaha. We've arrived. Maybe we can continue chatting later."
He was relieved to finally get rid of Hades. Even if he now felt more at ease near him, Sayr could still vividly remember how Hades had beaten Dexton and Ryd to a pulp.
"Most of the rooms toward the back are empty, so you can pick any one you like," he continued.
Hades nodded and walked over to the closest room. It was quite small, with only a bed, a nightstand, and a small dresser. Frankly, he had never had much expectation for his accommodations, but even so, he was left disappointed.
Dust and cobwebs filled the room, and Hades even spotted a small mouse squeaking in one corner. He knew slaves back in Greece who had better living conditions than this.
"How I miss the Umber Palace," he whispered, throwing himself onto the hay bed.
He stared at the ceiling, thinking about his realm. He wondered how the Underworld fared now that he was no longer there and if his wife, Persephone, or his subjects had already noticed his absence.
Of course, not even a full day had passed, so there weren't many things that could get out of hand. Yet Hades knew that the moment the Titans or his brothers learned of his disappearance, they would act.
"Hmph! Let them try it," he snorted, clenching his fists. "Soon enough, I will be back and make them all kneel."
Although Hades wanted to head out and continue exploring the Inner Circle—maybe even learn a thing or two more about cultivation—his eyelids felt strangely heavy. He was surprised when he caught himself yawning, not from the usual boredom, but this time from tiredness, something completely new to him.
He had lived his whole life as a god, with no need to eat or sleep. But now he was more akin to a demi-god, perhaps even less.
"Sigh… How low I have fallen," he murmured, slowly shifting into a more comfortable position.
Hades' breathing steadied, his body sinking deeper and deeper into the hay bed. The feeling of complete exhaustion was eerily peaceful and soothing, almost blissful. He allowed himself to drift asleep. After all, his true journey was about to begin.