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Chapter 79: GUILD Master’s Request
Zayn followed the half-elf twin through the heavy wooden door, the noise of the party dulling behind him.
The hallway was quiet, the warm glow of enchanted lanterns casting flickering shadows on the walls.
Despite the muffled laughter and music still bleeding through the stone, this part of the guild felt isolated — separate from the celebration still raging behind them.
He glanced at the half-elf walking beside him, her long ears twitching slightly.
She didn’t talk this time though. Which guaranteed that this was something serious.
Then, without warning, she reached for his hand.
Zayn tensed.
It wasn’t a firm grip, more like an absentminded touch.
He could have pulled away, but he didn’t.
He didn’t understand why she did it, but there was something comforting about it.
Maybe she needed the reassurance, or maybe it was just a habit.
Neither of them spoke about it, and soon enough, they reached the Guild Master’s office.
She gave his hand a final squeeze before pulling away and stepping aside, letting him enter.
The Guild Master sat behind a broad wooden desk, the lanternlight accentuating the deep scars across his knuckles.
Despite his grizzled appearance, he had an easy grin on his face, his fingers resting on the neck of a bottle.
Two bottles of alcohol sat between them, along with a pair of empty cups.
Zayn arched a brow. "Didn’t you just spend the last hour drinking?"
The older man chuckled, scratching his beard. "And now I’m continuing. Sit down, lad."
Zayn sighed and pulled out a chair, the wood creaking slightly under his weight.
The party had been draining enough. He wasn’t sure he had the energy for whatever this was going to be.
The Guild Master poured the first drink, pushing the cup toward him. "Figured you’d need this."
Zayn picked up the cup, eyeing the golden liquid. "That bad?"
The old man smirked. "Let’s just say I have a job for you, and it ain’t one you’ll be able to turn down."
Zayn downed the drink in one go, feeling the warmth spread through his chest.
Whatever this was, he had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
The alcohol burned in his stomach, but he barely reacted.
Instead, he set the cup down with a soft clink, his eyes never leaving the Guild Master’s. "So? What is it?"
The older man leaned back, studying him. "I want you to take on a new mission. Not some fetch quest or dungeon dive. Something bigger."
Zayn frowned. "I just got back from nearly dying in a floating death trap. You sure you’re not mixing me up with someone else?"
The Guild Master chuckled. "Oh, I know exactly who I’m talking to. That’s why I’m giving it to you."
He gestured to the half-elf twin still standing near the door. "She’ll explain the details. I just wanted to make sure you were actually listening before I wasted my breath."
Zayn glanced at her, but she was already moving toward the desk, pulling out a sealed envelope.
She handed it to him, her fingers barely brushing against his as he took it.
He sighed, breaking the wax seal with his thumb and unfolding the parchment.
His eyes scanned the words quickly. Then he read them again, slower this time.
The job wasn’t just any assignment.
It was a high-priority quest. Escort and protect. A noble. A damn high-ranking one.
Zayn groaned, tossing the letter onto the desk. "You’ve got to be kidding me."
The Guild Master just grinned, pouring himself another drink. "Not even a little."
Zayn rubbed his temples. "I fight monsters, not babysit nobles."
"That noble is willing to pay a fortune for your ’babysitting,’" the older man replied, taking a sip of his drink. "And from what I hear, you’re already on their radar after what you pulled in that dungeon. News spread fast in Timberstead."
Zayn exhaled sharply through his nose, shaking his head as he stood up. "Yeah, you can tell this noble that I’m not interested."
He was already done with the conversation before it had even started.
He had enough on his plate and Babysitting some noble? Not on his list of things he wanted to do with his very limited free time.
Without another word, he turned toward the door, gripping the handle, fully prepared to yank it open and leave.
"The noble is offering one gold coin," the Guild Master said casually.
There was a blur of movement. A blink-and-you’d-miss-it moment.
Somehow, impossibly, Zayn was no longer by the door.
He was back in the chair, one leg draped over the other, a cup of ale delicately balanced in his hand as he took a slow, measured sip.
"You were saying?" he asked, voice completely smooth, as if he hadn’t just warped reality to get back in his seat.
The half-elf twin, still standing by the desk, blinked in stunned silence.
The Guild Master chuckled, clearly amused.
"I figured that might get your attention," the older man said, pouring himself another drink.
Zayn swirled the ale in his cup thoughtfully. "You said one gold coin, right? Just making sure I heard that correctly. Not silver. Not copper. Gold."
The Guild Master smirked. "One. Whole. Gold. Coin."
Zayn let out a low whistle. "Damn. That’s enough to buy a small house."
The half-elf twin finally found her voice. "Or at least a week’s worth of the good booze."
Zayn turned to her, feigning offense. "Excuse me, but I am a responsible adult who would never — okay, yeah, most of it would go to booze."
The Guild Master let out a hearty laugh. "See? Knew you’d come around."
Zayn sighed dramatically, tapping a finger against his cup. "Alright, so what’s the catch?"
The old man shrugged. "No catch. Just an escort mission."
Zayn narrowed his eyes. "Bullshit. There’s always a catch. Especially when nobles are involved."
The half-elf twin gave him a knowing look. "Well..."
He groaned, setting the cup down with a thud. "There it is. What is it? Is the noble actually a kid? Do they have a murderous ex chasing them? Are they secretly a dragon in disguise?"
He was definitely a bit high now...
