Chapter 21: The Turmoil of The First Lovers

Rian stomped into the office breathing raggedly with cuts around his body and a brown sack of something that was leaking blood in trickles. His dark hair stuck to his forehead, heavy with sweat and dried blood. Fresh wounds crossed his arms, face, and chest like red marks from a hard fight. His clothes hung in torn pieces, and every step left small drops of blood on the wooden floor. In his right hand, the sack swung heavily, leaving a slow trail of thick, dark liquid behind him.

Lena stood leaning against the far wall, her prosthetic arm folded across her chest. She had just returned from her long mission on the northern border only an hour earlier. Dust and monster remains still covered her armor. When she saw Rian, her eyes widened in real surprise. Three full months had passed since they last stood in the same room. Both had been busy with their own tasks, facing danger far from Greenhaven. Seeing each other now, battered and changed, hit them both with a quiet shock.

"Rian?" Lena whispered, her voice rough from days of hard travel. "Three months... you look terrible."

Rian did not smile. He walked straight to Madame Vesper’s wide desk and dropped the heavy sack onto it with a wet, heavy sound. The Guild Master sat calmly in her chair. She did not move or show fear. Instead, she raised one elegant eyebrow and leaned forward slightly, her long purple robes clean and untouched by the mess before her.

"You’re both here," Vesper said in a smooth, steady voice. "Good. Give me your reports."

Lena spoke first. She pushed herself off the wall, standing tall despite the tiredness in her bones. "The northern border mission is complete. The waves of monsters have been pushed back. I took down the leader of the main nest myself. We lost two good men, but the trade route is safe again. Travelers and traders can move freely once more."

Vesper gave a small nod of approval. "Well done, Lena. You have served the guild with strength and care."

Then she turned her sharp eyes to Rian. "And you?"

Rian wiped fresh blood from his split lip with the back of his hand. His voice came out flat and tired. "Gorzod is dead. His whole settlement is gone. Every single goblin. I made sure none were left."

He reached into the brown sack and pulled out the severed head of King Gorzod. The goblin king’s face was locked in a last angry snarl. His yellow eyes looked dull and empty. Deep cuts and dark bruises marked his features and neck, showing the fierce, close fight that had ended his life.

Lena stared at the head, then back at Rian. Her surprise grew deeper. "what...?"

Rian nodded once. "Madame Vesper gave me the task in private" he said, shifting the blame and signalling to Lena that it wasn’t his fault.

"She said, Gorzod was growing too strong too fast. His tunnels were breaking into our supply paths. He kept talking wildly about coming for Star again" he said, hoping to get Lena’s approval but her face twisted the more

"Bull shit! That doesn’t make it anymore better, committing a whole genocide for her?! How did you even manage to pull that without getting killed?"

"With this" Rian said as he fished out a round thing with two crosses on the surface, etched onto it..

"No way...is tha.."

"The insignia of the holy church of the god Dakota, said to boost a wielders power to the absolute levels when activated"

"I found an old artifact in the western ruins. It gave me the power I needed. The entire goblin home is now nothing but ash."

Madame Vesper leaned closer, studying the severed head with cool interest. A small, pleased smile touched her lips.

"Excellent work, Rian. You have taken away a problem that was becoming dangerous. Gorzod’s growing kingdom was getting in the way of my bigger plans for the guild and the land."

Lena stepped forward, her metal fist tightening at her side. "Bigger plans? You are fucking crazy!"

Rian stood beside her, his body still aching from the long battle. Together they faced the Guild Master, waiting for answers.

Vesper’s eyes changed. A cold, dangerous light glowed in them for a moment. Both Lena and Rian felt their bodies freeze in place. A wave of deep, natural fear washed over them, making their hearts race and their breath catch. The air in the room felt heavier, and Madame Vesper suddenly seemed far more powerful than she had ever been.

"Very well," she said, her voice returning to its smooth tone. "Since both of you have done your jobs well, I will share the truth about Star’s mission as a reward, especially for you, Lena."

"Star’s mission?" Lena whispered, fear was now accompanied by dread and worry.

She - vesper- leaned back in her tall chair and folded her hands neatly on the desk.

"Star was sent to the local Kingdom of Elyndor"..

"No way, you mean the one plauged by monsters?" Rian said, tensed up

"Yes" she replied.

"Tch!" Lena folded her hands into a knuckle beside her. But once again, she was powerless against Vesper.

"The Veil is what we call it " she continued

"It is more than a place where monsters slip through. It is a deep wound in the world itself. Old and powerful energy is pouring out from it, energy strong enough to change the whole continent. Star’s special mana, his rare gift, and the way he connects to things make him the perfect one to face what is coming. I sent him because he grows stronger when life pushes him hard into the unknown. And because I needed someone who could survive the challenges ahead."

Rian’s jaw tightened with anger. "You are using him like a tool."

"I am guiding him," Vesper corrected gently but firmly. "There is someone greater watching from a hidden place. The old gods are waking up. Someone must be ready when everything changes. Star Denice is that person, even if he does not fully understand it yet."

Lena looked ready to jump across the desk in fury. Her face flushed with heat, and her prosthetic arm creaked as she clenched it harder. Rian placed a bruised hand on her shoulder to hold her back. The fear from Vesper’s gaze still held them, warning them not to push too far. She was a legendary hero after all

Vesper continued calmly. "The elimination of Gorzod and his settlement was necessary. The reason remains classified for now. But know that it protects larger interests. The balance of power in these lands must be kept steady."

The room stayed silent for a long moment. The smell of blood and sweat hung thick in the air. Finally, Vesper waved her hand lightly. "You may go. Rest and recover. The guild thanks you both."

Lena and Rian turned and left the office without another word. The heavy door closed behind them with a soft click. Outside, in the cool evening air of Greenhaven, they stood together under the darkening sky. The fear from Vesper’s eyes still sat in their chests like a bitter taste that would not go away. It made their steps feel heavier and their thoughts cloudy.

Rian broke the quiet first. His voice sounded tired but determined. "I am heading to Eiden Borough. My cousin sent word inviting me to a family gathering. I need time to heal and gather supplies."

Lena looked at him, her surprise showing again. "You know... sometimes I forget you are royalty."

Rian gave a small, tired, and bitter smile. "Yeah..."

Inside Rian’s mind, guilt twisted like a sharp knife. He had wiped out an entire settlement on orders. Every life taken. Even if Gorzod had been a threat, the weight of it pressed on him now. Lena felt a deep dread in her chest too, like a shadow that followed her steps. The things they had learned about Star and Vesper’s plans left them both uneasy.

Lena flexed her prosthetic arm, feeling its familiar strength. "I have nothing important waiting for me right now. I will go with you. We can use the journey to make a proper plan to find Star."

Rian nodded slowly. "Good. But first... I need healing."

They walked side by side through the streets of Greenhaven toward the temple district. The city lights glowed softly around them. People moved about their evening business, unaware of the heavy secrets the two adventurers carried. The air smelled of fresh bread from nearby bakeries and wood smoke from home fires. Yet for Rian and Lena, the world felt smaller and more dangerous after their talk with Vesper.

They found healer Mira at her small temple clinic. The kind woman, who had once worked as a simple receptionist, gasped loudly when she saw Rian’s condition. Cuts covered him, and dried blood marked his skin like dark paint.

"Oh dear," Mira said softly, her eyes full of concern. "Come inside quickly."

She led them to a quiet room with soft cushions and warm light from glowing crystals. Mira placed her hands gently on Rian’s wounds. A soft, golden light flowed from her palms, warm and soothing. The magic knit his skin back together, eased the deep aches in his muscles, and cleaned away the dirt and blood. Rian closed his eyes and let out a long breath as the pain slowly faded.

While Mira worked, Rian and Lena spoke in low voices so no one else could hear.

"We will get everything we need in Eiden Borough," Rian said quietly. "My family has strong connections there. They can provide maps, old artifacts, and access to good information networks. Then we can start tracking Star properly."

Lena’s eyes burned with strong purpose. "And when we find him... we make sure no one treats him like a tool again. He deserves to choose his own path."

Mira continued her careful healing, humming a gentle song under her breath. The golden light danced across Rian’s body, closing the last of the cuts. His breathing grew steadier, and some color returned to his face. Yet the deeper wounds, the ones in his heart from the things he had done, remained untouched by magic.

As the healing finished, Rian sat up slowly. "Thank you, Mira. I feel much better."

The healer smiled kindly. "Be careful out there. The world is full of sharp edges these days."

They left the temple as night settled fully over Greenhaven. The moon hung high and bright, casting silver light across the rooftops and streets. Lena and Rian paused outside, looking east toward the long road where Star had vanished three months earlier. The weight of their new knowledge pressed on them. Vesper’s words about ancient powers, waking gods, and Star’s special role echoed in their minds.

Rian felt the guilt again, sharper now in the quiet night. He had killed so many under orders, using that powerful ancient artifact to turn a whole settlement to dust. The artifact had given him speed and strength beyond normal limits, but it had not protected him from the horror of what he saw. Bodies, flames, and the final look in Gorzod’s eyes stayed burned into his memory.

Lena walked close beside him, her dread mixing with fierce loyalty. She had completed her mission with honor, but learning the larger game left her chest tight. Star was out there alone, growing stronger in ways he might not fully control. They could not let Vesper or anyone else pull his strings without question.

They found a quiet spot near a small fountain in the temple square. Water bubbled softly, reflecting the moonlight. For a while, they sat in silence, letting the cool night air wash over them.

"Three months," Lena said finally. "It feels longer. I kept thinking about him during the northern fights. Wondering if he was safe."

Rian nodded. "Same for me. Every time I swung my blade against those goblins, I remembered why we started this. To protect our friend. Now it seems the threats are bigger than simple monsters."

They talked for hours, planning their next steps. Rian described the road to Eiden Borough, a journey of several days through safe lands. His family home there was grand, filled with history and resources they could use. Lena shared ideas for tracking spells and contacts she knew in other towns.

As they spoke, more details of their recent months came out. Lena told of the endless monster waves, the cold nights on the border, and the bravery of the men she lost. Rian spoke carefully about the western ruins, the discovery of the glowing artifact, and the terrible final battle in the goblin tunnels. He did not hide the scale of the killing, though shame colored his words.

The conversation stretched long into the night. They moved to a nearby inn for warm food and rest. Simple stew, fresh bread, and cool water helped restore their bodies. In the soft light of the inn’s common room, they looked like any other travelers, but their eyes held deeper stories.

Rian paid for two rooms. Before they parted for sleep, Lena placed her real hand on his shoulder. "We will find him. Together. No more secrets between us."

Rian managed a real smile this time. "Agreed."