The atmosphere at Kubu Fort had slowly returned to its usual rhythm. The guild members were hard at work, training their bodies and minds to prepare for any challenge that might come their way.
The sounds of clashing weapons, magical incantations, and focused drills filled the air. Despite the recent events, there was a sense of normalcy returning, though the underlying tension lingered.
Gerrard sat in the guild hall, flicking a rune in his hand absentmindedly. His gaze was distant, lost in thought as he pondered over the events of that fateful night when they discovered the remains of their squad members.
The unanswered questions gnawed at him. He murmured to himself, his voice barely audible, "Was there something more to it? Was there another motive behind the attack? Something... hidden?"
His murmuring grew lower, as he pondered whether there was more to the incident than what they had initially assumed. It didn't sit right with him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that someone—something—had orchestrated the whole thing from the shadows.
"Gerrard?" a voice interrupted his thoughts.
He looked up to see Dyeva standing by his table, her arms crossed, a curious expression on her face. "What are you murmuring about so early in the morning?" she asked with a slight grin.
Gerrard let out a small sigh and leaned back in his chair. "I was thinking about the attack," he said quietly, tapping his fingers on the table. "The bodies we found... something doesn't add up. I can't shake the feeling that there's more to this. Maybe there's a deeper motive behind the whole thing."
Dyeva raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A deeper motive?" she repeated. She tilted her head slightly. "You know, it's not like you to go on about conspiracies, especially when there's a good bottle of wine waiting for you. What's got you so serious this time?"
Gerrard chuckled softly, though his eyes remained clouded with thought. "Well, maybe I'm trying to do more than just think about the next drink for once." He grinned at her, trying to lighten the mood, but it was clear that the weight of the situation still lingered.
Dyeva smirked, folding her arms across her chest. "I don't believe that for a second. But alright, I'm listening. What's going on in that head of yours?"
Gerrard sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I think someone was behind it all. I don't buy the idea of a random attack anymore. There's something bigger at play here. Those bodies weren't just left there for us to stumble upon by accident. Whoever did this wanted us to find them."
Dyeva frowned, the playful teasing fading from her expression as she took a step closer, her gaze becoming more focused. "You really think someone orchestrated it?" she asked, her voice low, more thoughtful now. "I mean... it's a big assumption, even for you."
Gerrard looked up at her, his expression serious. "I know it sounds far-fetched, but there's just too much about it that doesn't add up. Why would a random band of raiders leave their mark so obviously? It doesn't make sense. It's like they wanted to send a message."
Dyeva studied him for a long moment, her arms uncrossing as she considered his words. "You might be onto something... I just don't want to jump to conclusions without facts."
"Of course," Gerrard agreed, his voice softening. "But there's one thing I've learned in this line of work. Sometimes the facts are buried deeper than you think. You just have to keep digging."
Before the conversation could go further, the door to the guild hall creaked open, and Runa stepped inside.
She was holding a stack of papers, her expression thoughtful. She spotted Gerrard and Dyeva and walked over to join them.
"Good morning," Runa said, her voice soft but filled with a quiet strength. She placed the papers on the table, glancing between the two of them. "I've been in a meeting with the administration team. They've been discussing the recent events and the completed missions. I learned a lot."
Dyeva looked up at her, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? What did you learn?" she asked, a trace of curiosity in her tone.
Runa sat down, pushing the papers aside to make room for herself. "Well, I've gathered a lot of information about the current state of affairs in the other races. It seems things are more tense than we realized. The Elf Kingdom, in particular, is on edge."
Gerrard's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yeah, I've noticed that too. They've been acting... strange, for lack of a better word. But why? What's going on up there?"
Runa glanced between them before answering. "It's complicated. The situation seems to be growing more strained, especially at the borders. Rumors are circulating about internal disputes, but no one can confirm anything. The higher-ups aren't sharing details, but the tension is palpable."
Dyeva raised her hand slightly, as if to indicate her concern. "We're closer to the Elf Kingdom than any other kingdom. If things go south, we'll feel the effects here first."
Runa nodded grimly. "That's exactly what I was thinking. The timing of it all... it doesn't sit well. And if this is connected to the attack here..." She trailed off, her voice heavy with worry.
Gerrard rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I've been hearing the same rumors. Nothing concrete, but it's clear something's brewing up there. Whatever's going on, I don't think we're far from it."
Runa frowned, tapping the edge of the papers on the table. "The Elf Kingdom is so far north, though. It would take at least two or three weeks to get there without stopping. What could have them so on edge?"
Dyeva bit her lip, her expression growing darker. "I've thought about that too. Maybe it's something we're not meant to understand yet... or maybe they're not telling us everything."
Gerrard clenched his fists briefly, frustration creeping into his voice. "The more we stay in the dark, the more vulnerable we become. And if they're involved in this..."
Dyeva's voice was quiet but firm. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. But we have to keep focused. We can't let paranoia cloud our judgment."
Runa looked at them both, her brow furrowing with concern. "What does this mean for us, then? What should we do now?"
Gerrard stood up, pushing his chair back with a loud scrape against the floor. "It means we work harder than ever. We can't afford to sit here and wait for things to fall apart. Evan and the others are out there in the wilderness, doing their part. We need to do ours."
Dyeva followed suit, her face set with determination. "You're right. Time doesn't stop for us, and neither should our training."
Runa met Gerrard's eyes, her expression resolute. "I won't let this hold me back either. If there's a threat out there, I'll be ready for it."
Gerrard smiled slightly, feeling the familiar weight of leadership settle back on his shoulders. "That's the spirit. Let's get to work then. We've got a lot to catch up on."
The three of them exchanged nods, an unspoken understanding passing between them. The weight of the uncertainty was still there, but they knew what needed to be done. They couldn't let the shadows of the past cloud their future.
"I'll go to the training yard," Gerrard said, pushing the door open with a renewed sense of urgency. "There's no time to waste."
There was a sense of resolve in the air, a collective drive to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The tension that had gripped the guild was far from gone, but they would confront it head-on—together.