Chapter 27: Chapter 26: The Shadewind Guild

The Hero Became a Mousegirl
Chapter 26: The Shadewind Guild 

Wishing to avoid the gossiping stares of everyone around us, I grabbed Myra’s hand and charged into the Shadewind Guild. Inside it appeared similar to the guildhall in Belstow, with a massive common room coated in maps, tables for people to sit at, and a guild merchant. The only major difference here was the addition of a bar where guild members could purchase alcohol and food. 

“Go ahead and find us an open table Caelan,” Myra smiled. “I’ll go see if there are any quests worth taking.” 

Looking among the tables, I found they were all occupied. Sighing I decided to approach a table in the corner of the room where a serpentine man was drinking alone. “Care if I sit with you?” 

“Be my guest,” The man replied, sitting his drink down to motion to the empty chairs around the table. His other arm was bandaged so heavily I couldn’t see a single patch of flesh or scales. The fact that he wasn’t moving it at all made me believe his injury must have been rather severe. 

“I’m Caelan, and you are?” 

“Retired,” The man chuckled sardonically. “Florian.” 

“Pleasure to meet you Florian. Sorry for intruding.” 

“It’s fine. What’s your tier?” 

“A tier, you?” 

“A tier, seriously?” Florian’s eyes widened. “As young as you look I’d have assumed C at best. I used to be A tier myself, really thought I was hot shit.” 

“What’d you run into?” 

“A tigerkin woman,” Florian gazed over my shoulder, his eyes becoming unfocused. “Quest came through about four weeks ago, a dead woman crawled out of her own grave and started killing people. Almost everyone who went after her is dead now, ‘cept for a few hunters, and only because she fled from them. By the time my party found her she’d found a few friends, a whole cabal of goblins, ready to fight and die on her behalf.” 

“Goblins did this?” 

“Yeah, little bastards were stronger and faster than any goblin we’d ever encountered in our life. We were crushed before the tigerkin woman even lifted a finger. If I were you I’d walk out that door before the guild master learns your here, they’re drafting every A tier they have in the hunt for her.” 

“Huh…” 

“Caelan,” Myra called my name as she walked up behind me, sounding upset about something. “The guild master has asked to speak with you.” 

“Run for it,” Florian advised as I stood from my chair. 

“I’ll consider it, after I’ve heard what the guild master has to say,” I smiled. “Thanks for the advice Florian.” 

“Your funeral, Caelan.” 

“You’re coming with me, right Myra?” 

“As if I’d let them talk to you alone. We’re a party, they can’t separate us.” 

I walked a few paces away from Florian before a nagging guilt began to twist in my gust. His injury was something I could probably heal. Thinking of a talented warrior losing his livelihood grated at me, making my feet feel heavy as lead. 

“One second Myra,” Turning around I made my way back to Florian. “Hey… I know an extremely talented doctor who might be able to help you get back on your feet. You interested in meeting them?” 

“I’ve heard that line thrice before,” Florian chortled. “I believed the first two, and humored the third. I don’t think my heart could handle another failure.” 

“She uses a technique unheard of in this country, I swear you’ll find none better. I’ll give you every coin I’ve ever owned if she fails.” 

“You’re willing to bet all your wealth on someone else’s skill? Or, is it your skill you’re betting on?” Florian spoke the last bit in a hushed whisper, looking at me with a probing gaze.

“I can’t bring her here, but I’ll guide you to her as soon as I’m done with my business, if you’re willing.” 

“Alright Caelan, I’ll see this doctor of yours. I’m not the wealthiest man, but I’d empty my coin purse if it healed my arm.” 

“I’ll see you again soon then, Florian.” I waved and then returned to Myra’s side, the two of us continuing towards a staircase where a member of the guild staff was waiting for us. 

“You’re too kind, Caelan.” 

“It would tear at my conscience for weeks if I didn’t help him. I just want to make sure I can sleep peacefully as night.” 

 The receptionist guided us up two flights of stairs, and towards a pair of dark wooden doors, with polished brass handles. They pulled open one of the doors and beckoned us inside. The office beyond was disorderly, with every flat surface covered in maps and piles of books. If I didn’t know better, I’d have believed Cesarina had recently been there, browsing through every bit of unique text she could find, though she at least put things away when she was done with them. 

“Thanks for coming,” A short elderly dwarven man smiled and motioned for us to sit down. “You are Caelan Kubarev, A tier, rank 0, and Myra, B tier, rank five, yes?” 

“That’s us. To what do we owe the honor?” Myra replied. Her illusionary cloak struggling to hide her look of frustration. 

“We’ve requested the aid of every A tier adventurer in the kingdom, that includes Miss Caelan.” 

“For what purpose have you been recruiting those in A tier?” 

“A threat unlike anything the guild has encountered before,” The guild master noted, holding out a sketch of a woman for Myra and I to see. “This woman is Seinna of Autumn Pines. She died of a infection and was returned to the earth. She remained buried for only three days before digging her way out of her grave, and murdering nearly every resident of the village, including her own family. Now she’s terrorizing the Glyphwood with a horde of demons at her back. It’s our belief that she must have returned to life as a lich.” 

“Impossible,” I shook my head. “She’d have to have been a mage of unfathomable power to rise as a lich, I doubt such a person would be done in by something as simple as a common disease.” 

“We have no other explanation for how she came to be, or why so many demons now rally behind her. Miss Caelan, by my authority as master of the shadewind guild, I am issuing an emergency quest you cannot refuse. You are to hunt down this woman, and slay her. We will place you in a party of individuals hand selected for their abilities, Miss Myra will have to stay behind.” 

“This is something for the kingdom’s knights to worry about isn’t it?” Myra stated, struggling to keep her tone in check. “If she is threatening the entirety of the Glyphwood, this is something a large subjection force needs to handle, not a small party of adventurers.” 

“Glyphwood is a rival nation. If King Cornelius sent knights, it could be seen an an act of war. This is why it is our guild that must handle this threat, only we can freely send armed units across the border without incident.” 

“The King’s been stealing territory from Glyphwood for decades, and now he’s suddenly worried about diplomacy?! That’s bullshit, you’re not taking Caelan from me.” 

“Mind your tone Miss Myra, otherwise I’ll have you suspended.” 

“There’s another A tier in the common room right now,” I sighed. “He was severely wounded, and I hesitate to ask about the wellbeing of his companions. Shouldn’t he be proof that the threat is beyond the abilities of those in A tier?”

“There are no higher tiered adventurers we can call upon at this time. We have no choice but to place our hopes on your shoulders.” 

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“Then I have to ask that you disregard your plans to place me with another party. Allow Myra and I to travel, with our retainers, to the Glyphwood. She knows me better than anyone, having her at my side makes me stronger.” 

“Your retainers… are they members of the guild?” 

“No. We have an artificer, a golem, and a spellcaster among our allies. The artificer provides Myra with specialized ammunition for her weapon, and the golem and spellcaster are both powerful warriors who’ve chosen not to make a connection with the guild prior to now.” 

“I cannot openly allow guild members to draft outsiders into a high-threat quest.” 

“As long as you won’t punish us for bringing them along, that’s enough.” I smiled knowingly at the guild master, as he considered my words. If this was a big enough problem they were drafting every A tier in sight, the promise of a whole cadre of strong warriors banding together to take it out was hard to turn down, even if the guild couldn’t take all the credit for their actions. 

It did mean I’d have to convince Cesarina to postpone our travels to destroy the bands, but I figured given the circumstances she’d be fine with it. Her goal would take decades to achieve anyway, as we needed to do more than just destroy the bands, we needed to convince those in power to stop using them entirely. Besides as someone who spent more time with books than people, Cesarina had to know just how devastating a lich could be, taking it out before it could cause more harm was critical. 

“If you’ll allow us to test the combat strength of your retainers, I’ll consider making an exception for you.” 

“I’ll speak to them then, though it could be a week before they’re here.”

“It was expected that you’d require some time to make preparations, so that is fine. I pray the two of you and your allies are enough to end this threat.” 

“I’m sure we will be,” I smiled and stood from my chair, taking Myra by the hand and guiding her from the room. “Looks like Aurii won’t be able to travel with us, regardless of what rank she gets today.” 

“I’m sure she’ll be upset, but you’re right. She’s too low level to travel with us now. Still, Caelan I don’t like that you’re allowing them to just dictate a job to us. We have no idea how dangerous this lich is.”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit fishy, Myra? It’s been a little over a month since I defeated Stelryus in the cemetery and destroyed Eynhilda’s scepter, now suddenly there’s a lich rallying demons to her side? This has to be the dragon’s work, and that means it’s my responsibility to deal with it.” 

“It isn’t! You’re not a hero, Caelan. This is the job of the military, this is just them treating us adventurers like we’re expendable. I bet they’re sending adventurers into the Glyphwood to be defeated just to use our deaths as justification to move in with the knights and annex the whole territory.” 

“Well then they’ll be upset when we deal with this lich on our own, won’t they? Don’t worry so much, I fully plan to have Kaphis act as our vanguard. I realize that I can’t hold a candle to their strength as I am now, so I’ll work as a rear guard and healer. With you and Cesarina providing ranged support I can’t imagine a lich capable of defeating us. I mean, Kaphis is just as strong as the day we defeated the dragon after all.” 

“You really should talk to Kaphis then, I’m certain they’ll be just as against you putting yourself in harm’s way as I am.” 

Myra and I reached the guild’s first floor right as Auriel walk triumphantly into the room, her shiny new guild card clutched in her hand. 

“I did it! I’m C tier!” 

“Congrats Aurii!” I grinned. “We’ll have to celebrate. Why don’t you and Myra go shopping for all your favorite foods, and return to the manor. I’ll catch up with you once I finish something else I have to take care of.” 

“Aww, you can’t come with us?” 

“This will take no time at all, I’ll be there to enjoy the spoils of war.” 

Auriel pouted a bit as Myra wrapped an arm around her waist. 

“Come on Aurii, Caelan’s got things only she can do. Let’s go wild and get some strong liquor, maybe we can get our cute little Caelan drunk as punishment for abandoning us.” 

“Ah,” Auriel’s cheeks flushed a light shade of pink. “That does sound fun, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her drunk… even in my dreams.” 

“She’s never been one to overindulge, but I’m sure she’ll down a few glasses to make amends, won’t you Caelan?” 

“Go easy on me, please.” 

“We’ll think about it, Come on Aurii,” Myra made a sound that made it obvious she was sticking her tongue out at me, then she and Auriel left the guild. As soon as they were gone I made my way back to Florian’s table.

“Ready to get back on your feet?” 

“Yes,” Florian grinned and stood, following me out of the guild. I led him to a deserted alleyway before turning around. 

“Alright, I’ll heal you now, just stand still for a minute.” Holding out both of my hands I channeled my holy magic into Florian’s body, letting my mana course along his damaged flesh, causing it to rapidly regenerate. 

“Fuck… I can’t believe it, just like that.”

“Yeah. Magic like this is extremely rare so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone who healed you.”

“The secret is safe with me. Still, Caelan, how much do I owe you? I wasn’t lying when I said I’d hand over everything I had to be healthy again.” 

“I don’t need your money, though I have a request for you.” 

“Name it.” 

“I’m going to be leaving Shadewind soon to take out the lich that crippled you. I know you told me to run, but this is something I feel like I have to do. While I’m gone, I want you to protect someone important to me. You may have seen us talking in the common room earlier, the catkin girl.” 

“Yeah, I saw her.” 

“I don’t expect any problems, but a lot of strange things have happened to me recently and I just want a bit of insurance. Just pretend like you need a little extra time to heal up and get back to fighting shape. Stay in town, and keep an ear out for trouble. Once I get back, the job will be over and you can consider any debts to me paid.” 

“Sounds easy enough.” 

“It should be. Any trouble that could get to her here would hopefully have to get through the town guard first. I can’t imagine anything that powerful striking the city.” 

“It would take one hell of a creature to threaten the city, that’s for sure.” 

“Are you strong enough to ward off such a thing?” 

“I’m stronger than any of the guardsmen in Shadewind. I can’t promise anything, but I’ll use every ounce of my strength to protect the girl. Even if it means just buying her enough time to escape.” 

“I knew I could rely on you Florian, thank you.” 

I gave Florian every detail I knew about Auriel’s routines, including the location of our manor. Once he was up to speed on everything I could possible tell him, I turned on my heels and headed for the park. As much as I wanted Cesarina to free Auriel from Bahram’s memories, I couldn’t exactly wait any longer. We needed to start our preparations to leave. 

“Eyrina… I could really use your power now. I don’t know what’s been keeping you so quiet, but please return to me. I don’t know if I can do this without you.”