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Chapter 154: Reporting To The GUILD
Below them, the cultist tilted his head slightly, as if amused, before melting back into the dispersing crowd.
The robed figures around the fountain continued to preach as if nothing had happened.
Seren finally peeked up at him, confusion and fear in her bright green eyes. "Zayn... what was that...?"
Zayn didn’t answer immediately.
His gaze remained locked on the crowd below, watching for any sudden movements, any signs that the cultists had noticed or cared about their sudden disappearance.
But no... the robed figures continued their sermon like mindless drones, hands raised to the sky, voices loud and zealous.
He let out a slow breath, setting Seren down gently on the rooftop. His mind raced.
This wasn’t normal.
In the novel, the cult movements started subtly — whispers, small gatherings, not full-on public sermons like this.
And that cultist who looked at Seren... the way he looked at her...
"This is bad," Zayn muttered under his breath.
Seren gripped the hem of his sleeve. "What’s happening?"
He forced a smile, ruffling her hair. "Nothing you need to worry about. Let’s just... stay hidden for now."
Seren pouted slightly at being left out of the loop, but nodded nonetheless, trusting him.
Zayn crouched low, hands on his knees as he watched the black-robed figures below.
He counted at least a dozen gathered around the fountain. More trickled into the square every minute, their numbers swelling.
’This isn’t a random gathering. They’re making a statement.’
Which meant the local authorities would either have to disperse them — or the cult intended to start something much worse.
Zayn’s eyes narrowed.
He needed to make a decision. Fast.
Either he could wait for the guards to get involved and risk the cultists taking action against civilians... or he could go down there himself and deal with it.
His hand flexed at his side, soul energy pulsing faintly at his fingertips.
Seren tugged his sleeve again. "What do we do, Zayn?"
He gave her a lopsided smile. "We get back to the guild. Fast. Let the GUILD Master know. Then we come back with backup."
No way was he risking a confrontation now, not when there could be higher-ranking cult members hidden among the flock.
And not when he had Seren with him, after all, she was one of the people the cult would need...
He scooped her up again — earning a yelp of surprise — and sprinted across the rooftops, heading toward the familiar, towering structure of the Adventurer’s Guild.
Behind him, the eerie sermons continued, the words chilling his spine:
"The Demon Lord shall rise! Her light shall cleanse this rotting world!"
He tightened his grip on Seren and ran faster.
The familiar sight of the Adventurer’s Guild building came into view, and Zayn didn’t slow down.
His boots thudded against the rooftop until, with a small leap, he launched off the edge.
He landed on the cobblestone with a heavy thud, knees bent to absorb the impact, kicking up dust.
"Zayn?!" Elisse called out immediately, her voice laced with confusion.
She stood near the Guild’s entrance with Kara and Bran.
They looked surprised — Zayn never ran like this unless something serious was happening.
Elisse stepped forward, brows knitting together in concern. "What’s wrong? Why are you — "
But Zayn didn’t even stop to answer her. He dashed past, cloak fluttering behind him, and pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the Guild.
Althea was behind the reception desk today — the half-elf receptionist with wavy silver hair and gentle purple eyes.
She had a warm, familiar smile already in place as she noticed him, her lips twitching.
"Zayn! You’re — "
"Emergency!" he barked, cutting her off.
The words startled her into a rare moment of wide-eyed silence.
Panting slightly, Zayn slammed his hands onto the counter and leaned forward, voice low but urgent. "There’s a gathering of black-robed cultists in the town square. They’re preaching about the Demon Lord. This isn’t some random group. They’re organized."
Althea’s warm smile vanished in an instant.
The others burst into the Guild behind him, Elisse reaching him first.
She touched his arm, brows furrowed deeply. "Zayn, what do you mean... cultists?"
Zayn turned his head slightly toward her, breathing still a little heavy from the run. "The Demon Lord’s cult. It’s starting."
The words seemed to ripple through the Guild like a cold wind.
Several nearby adventurers who overheard immediately straightened, alertness sparking in their eyes.
Whispers broke out among the groups sitting at tables.
Althea wasted no time. She snapped her fingers sharply, a motion that made the two guild guards stationed by the door jerk upright.
"Mobilize!" she ordered. "Deploy immediate units to the town square. No civilian casualties. Capture if possible — eliminate if not."
The guards saluted and rushed out, one of them blowing a shrill horn that echoed through the streets outside. A call to arms.
Elisse moved closer to Zayn, voice tight with worry. "You didn’t get hurt, did you?"
Zayn shook his head. "No, but... Seren was there too. They were eyeing her. That’s why I bolted."
It was better to say it so that they would make sure to protect Seren from the group.
At that, Bran’s expression darkened, the axe on his back shifting slightly as he clenched a fist.
Kara cracked her knuckles. "If they laid a finger on her, we’re going hunting."
Seren herself clung to Zayn’s side, wide-eyed but trusting.
She was a little shaken, but she hadn’t said a word since they’d entered.
Althea leaned forward across the desk. "Describe them. Quickly."
"Black robes," Zayn said. "Red crests stitched into the fabric. They’re preaching about the Demon Lord bringing salvation and freedom from rulers. Probably about fifteen gathered when I left and more are on their way."
Althea’s jaw tightened. "They’re moving faster than we thought..."
That made Zayn’s eyes widen, She knew about them?
She grabbed a thick ledger from under the desk and began scribbling furiously.
Orders, deployment lists, and emergency calls to higher-ranked adventurers who lived nearby.
In the corner of the Guild, a bell began to toll — deep, heavy clangs that echoed down the streets.
Other adventurers began standing, grabbing weapons and armor hastily. The mood shifted from lazy afternoon chatter to rapid, military-like organization.
Zayn stepped back, letting the Guild’s officials take over.
He finally allowed himself to catch his breath properly, resting a hand on his hip. His mind was still racing.
