Chapter 147: Chapter 147 - Adventurer’s Guild

Steam from the oversized marble bath rose in thick, lazy curls, clinging to the opulent gold fixtures of the master washroom.

The water, infused with aromatic oils that smelled of sandalwood and citrus, provided a stark contrast to the destructive display of power they had shared only an hour prior.

"Ahhh... Now that’s much better." Kurt leaned back against the cool edge of the hot tub as his muscles finally began to loosen.

Diana was nestled between his legs, pressing her back against his chest as she let the warmth soak into her skin. He had his arms wrapped loosely around her waist, and she rested her head back on his shoulder.

"Hey, Ana? I was thinking about what you said. About merging elements with mana coating. How do I even figure out what my affinity is? I don’t feel particularly ’fiery’ or ’airy.’"

"Hmm~" she hummed contentedly, shifting her body to get more comfortable. She reached down, taking his hands in hers and interlocking their fingers beneath the water.

"You want to figure out what your affinity is? Well, I have no way of figuring it out but I do know a place that does."

"Really? Where?"

Diana looked up at him and smiled, "The answer is already on your personal tag."

...

A half-hour later, they stood near the front doors of the mansion. Julianne stood with her arms crossed, looking radiant in an emerald morning gown, while Wendy and her three maids stood in a neat row, ready for the day’s duties.

Diana, now dressed in her formal – but no less stunning – principal’s attire, adjusted her cuffs. "Well... I’m leaving for the Academy now. The last batch of students from overseas should be arriving today."

She turned to walk away, but Kurt cleared his throat. "Wait, Diana. Aren’t you forgetting something?"

Before she could teleport away, Diana stopped dead in her tracks, and her ears turned a vivid shade of pink. She slowly turned back to him as her eyes darted toward her mother, who was watching with an insufferable, predatory grin.

"Rosie... not in front of my mom." she whispered under her breath.

"Oh, don’t mind me!" Julianne chirped, leaning against the doorframe. "I’m just a part of the scenery. Please, by all means, continue whatever scandalous farewell you had planned. I insist."

Diana fidgeted with the hem of her jacket as her usual composure began to crumble. She tried to step toward him, but she looked as though she wanted to bolt. Seeing her struggle, Kurt took pity on her.

"I’m fine with just a hug, if that’s easier."

Nodded shyly and appearing immensely relieved, Diana hesitantly stepped into his space until she finally wrapped her arms around his middle. She buried her face deep into the crook of his neck so as to hide her flaming cheeks from Julianne’s sharp eyes.

"Oh, how sweet," Julianne remarked, dripping her voice with a mockery of sentimentality. "Though I do remember your father being much more... adventurous with his hands during a goodbye."

"Mom!"

Kurt let out a soft chuckle and after a moment of holding her, he began to pull away but he found that Diana’s grip only tightened. She remained anchored to him, still hiding her face. Confused, Kurt looked over her head and at Julianne, silently asking for guidance.

Not missing a beat, Julianne puckered her lips and made a soft "mwah" sound, gesturing wildly toward her daughter.

Picking up what she’s putting down, Kurt reached and gently cupped Diana’s chin and lifted her face. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and misty with embarrassment. As she met his gaze, he leaned down and deeply kissed in a way that silenced the teasing comments from the background.

When they broke apart, Diana looked like she was about to float away. But she snapped out of it and cleared her throat, trying to regain her authority. "Yes. Right. Well. Have a good day, Rosie... and you too, mom."

"Mmhm. Have a good day, my shy little baby." Julianne waved.

"""Have a good day, Ms. Valentine.""" the maids bowed.

With a final, lingering look at Kurt, Diana stepped out the door and teleported away.

"Excuse me, Master Rossana, may I know what your plans are for today?" Wendy asked. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"I know!" Julianne clapped her hands together. "We should spend the day together! I can show you the high-end boutiques, or perhaps we can visit the vineyards–"

"As much as I’d love that," Kurt cut in, scratching the back of his head, "and as embarrassing as this is to admit... I was thinking about finding some work. I need to make my own way here."

"Nonsense. As long as you are with my daughter, you’ll never want for a copper coin."

"I don’t want to become a bum, Julianne," Kurt said firmly but kindly. "I like to stay busy. Besides, I have a pretty good idea of where to look."

Julianne pouted, though there was a twinkle of respect in her eyes. "Aww, what a shame. Perhaps we can spend time together another day?"

"It’s a date." Kurt smiled.

Julianne’s eyes went wide as she blushed. She let out a small, flustered "Oh!" and hastily retreated back into the mansion, muttering something about checking the wine cellar.

"Master Rossana, I believe you are still not yet familiar with Eldoria’s layout yet. Please take one of these three maids with you for assistance."

"Take me! Take me!" Sadie shouted, jumping up and down. "I know all the best spots!"

"No," Wendy said flatly.

"Aw, but why?!"

"Because you sneaked out on your break to follow him to the docks. Consider your ’adventures’ suspended for the week."

Sadie immediately deflated, looking like a kicked puppy, and slunk back into line.

Yuna stepped forward next. "I would volunteer, but I am still in the middle of teaching little Hope the proper ethics of a maid and her duties. I cannot leave her unattended."

That left Isabel. The quietest of the trio looked up, her face turning pink as all eyes fell on her.

"Isabel," Wendy commanded. "Accompany Master Rossana."

Isabel gave a tiny, shy nod. "Yes, Head Maid."

"Good. Now, girls, back to work!" Wendy clapped her hands, and the group dispersed. Sadie groaned a "bye-bye, bossman" to Kurt, while Yuna and Wendy offered polite nods.

Left alone with the shyest maid in the house, Kurt turned to her.

"Uhm... sorry, Isabel. You probably feel pretty uncomfortable being stuck with me for the day, huh?"

"That– That’s not true at all!" Isabel burst out, sounding much louder than usual. She realised her volume and immediately shrunk back, fiddling with her apron.

"I mean... I am not uncomfortable. Not at all. Please... follow me. The carriage is ready."

She marched toward the driveway with a stiff, military-like gait. Kurt shrugged and followed, amused by her sudden burst of energy. When they reached the carriage she opened the door for him, watched him enter but didn’t follow suit and closed the door. Instead, she climbed straight up onto the driver’s bench, taking the reins.

Kurt opened the front driver’s window and teased her. "That’s right, I remember Sadie telling me you liked horses more than people. I guess she wasn’t kidding."

Isabel gasped, looking down at him. "S-Sadie talks too much! It’s not that I dislike people... people are just as wonderful as horses. Mostly..."

"Oh? So that means you like me too, right?"

Isabel’s brain seemed to short-circuit. She looked down at the reins, her fingers fumbling with the leather.

"I... you... well, Master Rossana is... a person, yes. And a very... nice... um..." She began to stutter incoherently, her face matching the crimson trim of the carriage.

"Pffthaha! I’m just teasing you, Isabel. Don’t worry about it." He leaned back on the seat and relaxed. Through the small front window, he saw her huff and puff out her cheeks in a fake display of anger.

"Ahem! Where are we going, Master Rossana?" she asked, her voice regaining its composure.

"The... uh... Adventure Building? Adventure Firm? Is that what it’s called?"

Isabel giggled, a tiny, cute sound. "You mean the Adventurer’s Guild, sir."

"Right. That. The Guild."

"Understood." Isabel snapped the reins, and the horses lurched forward, pulling the carriage out of the estate’s grand gates and into the bustling streets of Eldoria.

As they rode, Isabel proved to be an excellent guide, pointing out landmarks through the window. After twenty minutes of navigating through increasingly crowded streets, the carriage began to slow down.

"Master Rossana?" Isabel called out. "We are approaching the guild soon."

"Can you stop somewhere private? Like a block or two away? I don’t want to make a scene by pulling up to the front door in a royal-looking carriage."

"Understood." Isabel expertly guided the horses into a quiet side-alley a few streets over. She tied the horses to a hitching post and hopped down, opening the carriage door for him with a professional bow.

Together, they walked back toward the main road. As they turned the corner, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The quiet, residential beauty of the upper district was replaced by a roar of life.

The street leading to the Guild was packed with a diverse mix of people. Kurt watched in awe as a group of women walked by. Some in ’bikini armor’, others in expensive flowing robes with pointed witches’ hats as they argued about the price of mana-infused ink. Behind them, a massive man clad in heavy, scarred plate armor hauled a wagon filled with monster parts.

"This place is... incredibly lively," Kurt noted.

"It’s no exaggeration to say that this is the heart of the city," Isabel said, staying close to his side. "Many come here seeking work, fame, or fortune. Some are luckier than others. But the Guild is where the pulse of Eldoria is definitely loudest."

They soon stopped in front of the building itself. It was a massive, sprawling double story structure built in dark stone, intricate ironwork balconies, and huge glass windows. A giant sign hung over the double doors, depicting a sword and a staff crossed over a shield.

Inside, the lobby was cavernous and bustling. The floor was polished wood, worn smooth by thousands of boots. To the left, a giant corkboard was plastered with hundreds of parchment notices, surrounded by a crowd of eager-looking men and women. To the right, a long mahogany counter was staffed by busy receptionists in similar uniforms.

The air smelled of old paper, sweat, and cheap ale from the adjacent tavern section. Groups of adventurers sat at round tables, polishing weapons or poring over maps, while a constant stream of people moved in and out of the high, arched doors. It was a place of high stakes and high energy.

’It’s like an entire world of its own within the city.’

Kurt took a deep breath, feeling the familiar hum of a place where things got done. "Well, Isabel," he said, adjusting his collar. "Let’s see what awaits us."