“What the hell was that?” I asked.

Jarrax pulled out a yellow Guild Badge from under his tunic for a moment. Seeing the badge had a white glow, he tucked it back into his tunic. “It’s white, so it means it’s a Guild meeting. They’ll expect everyone in the hall within the hour. Best finish up what you’re reading, and we’ll head on over, see what that old crone wants.”

I felt a brief bit of worry coming from Luin and then felt her draw closer. I got up and opened the door when I felt her getting nearer. She stopped in the doorway and pointed to the sky where a bright white flare hung motionless.

“Jarrax says it’s a summons to The Guild. You stayed with the kids last night?”

“Yes. I didn’t want to sit around and be bored while you read all day. I played with Luke and the others and told them stories of our travels before bed. I think two of the kids need a healer. They were coughing all night. Do you think they have a healer who’s nice like Vyl?”

I was a bit surprised. Luin had just spoken more words together than most of our conversations combined. I was glad she took it upon herself to do something that interested her. Instead of sitting around waiting for me to finish reading. Were the evolutions speeding up her mentality and maturity as well?

“We can ask when we go. If we have to, we’ll harvest more cores to sell if they want to charge us.”

“The Guild Branch here doesn’t have a full-time healer anymore. He left with his family as soon as the army began to assemble outside the walls. The Guild would have protected him, but not his wife and kids, as they were Beastkin,” said Jarrax.

“So no one will protect this town if the adventurers can’t? Is this place inside a kingdom or something that can send help?” I asked.

“I’m afraid not. Everything south of the empire is called the Freelands. Each city or town has to support itself. They don’t have to pay crazy taxes to a kingdom. The downside is when the empire, or to be exact the Akhusite Kingdom wants to expand, the smaller towns and cities can’t do much.”

“What about Mythtide? Will they be ok?”

“The kingdom wouldn’t dare touch Mythtide. They have more higher-ranked Delvers than any city outside the Akhusite capitol.”

“I’ve heard that term a few times now. What are Delvers?”

“Those not a part of the Adventurer's Guild. Delvers, Dungeon dive for first clears. and accept tasks from cities and towns that can’t afford The Guild’s prices. Most Guild locations want nothing to do with Delivers, but The Guild in Mythtide allows Delvers to accept quests and complete them for the same rewards.

“Hiroaki hasn’t made any friends with that policy, but it has allowed Mythtide to flourish and in return has allowed the town’s guard to become one of the largest filled with Delvers.”

“Couldn’t Mythtide’s Delvers come and help here?”

“They could, but they don’t want to be labeled by the empire as an enemy. Delvers like to retain their freedom to travel where they please so they can conquer new dungeons. It’s different for them if Mythtide was attacked as they call it home and are defending it.”

“Why is the Akhusite army focusing on Meckingmoor?”

“This town is a major producer of cannons and the Fyr Powder used in the cannons. The Gnomes built this town on top of a large Fyr Crystal deposit. The crystal is ground up and used in the cannons. Without the supply of cannons and Fyr Powder, other towns in the Freelands would be easy pickings. It’s also a bonus that the Akhusite can wipe out a large population of Gnomes and Beastkin while they’re at it.”

“The Guild just sits by and watches as hundreds of innocent people die? Will Every adventurer sit inside The Guild’s hall and wait for it to be over? Doesn’t that piss you off? Or don’t you care?”

That seemed to piss the Minotaur off, and he jumped to his feet, grabbed me by my shirt, and lifted me off the floor. I heard Luin shout something before Jarrax tossed me down to the ground.

“Of course, it pisses me off! Oaths are binding. There is nothing I could do unless I wanted to kill myself while doing it. I’m sorry, Zeal, but I value my life over anyone else. The Guild has maintained the strict no politics game for as long as it's been around. The original Guild Overseer created the oath to make sure adventurers weren’t killed in wars so that they would be around to keep Dungeons in check.

“I fear this led to the creation of the empires. Those with more power couldn’t get in the way of their wars. Those who could, such as the Delvers and the few Heroes who tried to stand up to them, were wiped out.

“The best thing anyone can do to survive is to join The Guild as soon as they obtain a class. They will be protected for life as long as they continue to earn the required thousand GCP’s a year. Unfortunately, most of the Gnomes in the city would rather fight and protect their city than cower inside The Guild’s hall.”

“I can’t believe this shit. Can you quit The Guild? Is that possible?”

“Anyone may quit and be relieved from the oath at any time inside one of the Guild’s halls. In doing so, you will be forever banished from rejoining. The oath will be removed, as well as the protections The Guild provides.”

“Well, let’s head to the meeting. I don’t plan on staying long while innocent people are being threatened.”

“Why? You don’t know these people. They have no meaning to your life. Think about it, Zeal. You didn’t take the oath. You could skirt the rules while still keeping the benefits. I’m sure that’s what Lastaf’s favor was to Hiroaki. Don’t throw it away.”

“Fine. How does everything work? How do they have their war without including the adventures?”

“If a location has an established Adventurer's Guild, then the attacking party has to give a twenty-four-hour warning before they attack to The Guild. The Guild then sends out a triple white flare, and every adventurer within the radius of the location must report to The Guild’s hall immediately. The Guild Master of the location then raises the barriers around The Guild to protect its interests and members.”

“So everyone is locked up inside the hall while innocent blood spills on the streets outside? This world is so barbaric that it enrages me. My kind searched the stars, Jarrax. We helped those in need, even with no promises of anything in return. I don’t think I can sit back and watch these Akhusite soldiers kill those just because they are different.”

Jarrax seemed to smile again. “Good, I’m sure that’s what Lastaf was hoping for. Now tell me, what do you need?”

“Cores for Mana. Do you know when they plan to attack? Are there any dumb rules saying those defending themselves can’t attack first?”

“None that I’m aware of. Why?”

“A species we saved called the Valthrun had taught us something called guerilla warfare. It’s not honorable combat, but the honor went out the door if you had a home you wanted to protect. Do you perchance know the Rank 2 spell Store for the school of Crystal?”

“No, but I know a few who do. I could get it for you. How many cores do you need and what class?”

“Any cores will work. The higher rank, the better. I’ll use them to restore my Mana.”

“And what of your companion?”

I looked over at Luin, who was sitting quietly on the pillows listening to us. “I honestly don’t know. She doesn’t have much in terms of a Mana pool. I was planning on having her learn a weapon of some kind to help her defend herself.”

“I want to help. Those children have no one to protect them. I do not wish to see them come to harm,” said Luin.

“When we return, I have plenty of weapons in the basement. We will see what comes naturally to you, little one,” said Jarrax.

We spoke for a few minutes longer, trying to gain any tidbits of knowledge I could from the Minotaur on what he knew of the Akhusite army. He knew almost nothing, except every town seemed to have been taken over by a small army, the size of the one outside the walls. All reports from the survivors had all reported the same. When night fell, the small army quickly razed the cities without survivors.

Those who had survived were the ones who had fled before the attack. Nothing was heard from those who remained. The reports of survivors of the first mining town had been false. No one made it out alive. The Akhusite army left no survivors.

“How is that possible? Hadn’t those in The Guild’s hall see how the town was taken so fast?”

“Nay, the shield that protects the hall can not be seen though. By the time the shield comes down, seventy-two hours have passed, and the Akhusite army is already on the move. Only a few Akhusite Nobles remain to rebuild the city or town for the kingdom.”

The three of us left shortly after, Jarrax leading us to The Guild. Once inside, we found a free table near the bar and sat. I was about to ask Jarrax about his home when a group of adventurers strolled over to our table. All five sported blue badges, the man in the lead had five stars on the badge, making him a Rank A Azure Class.

“Wow, the bull leaves his cozy home when called. What’s this? A new student and his pet?” said the man in the lead.

I watched Jarrax look up at the man, chuckle, and look back at us, ignoring the man. That seemed to make the man go beet red and very much pissed off.

“I’m talking to you, fleabag! I don’t even know why they keep you around. You don’t do quests anymore, you don’t earn GCP, yet you walk in here like you own the place. Our team does the hard work around here and helps keep this territory safe from monsters. You can show us the respect we deserve!” he yelled, spittle coming out of his mouth.

Jarrax looked back up at the man and down at his badge. “I see you have your fifth star, odd as there haven’t been any Azure class threats around here in ages. How much did your father pay for it, Samium?

That seemed to be the last straw, and the man went for his weapon. In a blur, the man flew upwards and was plastered to the underside of the second floor. An old lady with features I hadn’t seen before came walking over before nodding to Jarrax, looking at the four wide-eyed party members of the man on the ceiling.

Her calm face broke for an instant, the signs of disgust before returning to her calm expression. She looked up at the man, who I could see was fuming with anger at being embarrassed and now being the center of attention. The entire hall had gone silent, and I could see all eyes on the man on the ceiling. That’s when I noticed how nice his armor was. It looked expensive.

“I’d also like to know how you’ve gained a fifth star, let alone your fourth, Samium. Your group was here not long ago, and you only had three stars then. Is that how things are handled at The Guild in the capital these days? You can just buy your rank now?” The older woman asked in disdain.

“I earned these ranks! I quested with a well-known group getting the GCP required for them. Wait till my father hears how you’ve treated me, old hag!”

That was probably the wrong thing to say to the woman as she removed her red-colored Guild Badge from under her robe and said something in a whisper. “For violating the rules of The Guild and striking out at a fellow member, I hereby remove three ranks from you. For mocking the Guild Master, I remove two ranks from you, and because I’m having a shit day, and you’ve pissed me off, I officially drop you down to Jade Class Rank A.”

The man began to howl in anger as his badge glowed blue, then Green, before he was lowered from the ceiling. He was then ejected out of the building by an unseen force. His four-party members looked around and headed for the door after their disgraced leader without saying anything.

“Well, now that I have everyone’s attention, I’ve called everyone here to find out who broke Guild Law. The Akhusite has informed me of a Bone Class adventure killing a squad of five outside the city’s walls yesterday. They’re also suspected of killing another squad the day before on the road to Mythtide.

“If you reveal yourself, I’ll only fine you platinum and remove two ranks.”

“Take it on the chin,” whispered Jarrax as he pushed a white coin towards me.