“It really is.”

 Ryu replied, his eyes scanning the high ceilings and ornate details.

As we crossed the threshold into the Syndicate Hall, the cool air enveloped us, contrasting sharply with the bustling streets outside. 

The interior was just as breathtaking as the exterior, adorned with grand arches and stone walls that seemed to echo with tales of valor.

A receptionist sat at a large wooden desk near the entrance. 

Her expression brightened as we approached. 

“Welcome!”

 she said with a friendly smile.

 “How can I assist you today?”

“We’re looking for Eloise.”

 I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rush of anticipation.

“Of course! Just a moment, please.”

 she replied, her fingers flying over the parchment as she jotted down a quick note. After a brief wait, she nodded and called out. 

“Eloise! You have visitors!”

Moments later, a woman in her mid-thirties emerged from a side corridor. 

Her dark blue hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her piercing blue eyes scanned the room before landing on us.

“Welcome! I’m Eloise.”

 she said, her voice firm yet welcoming as she approached. 

“What brings you here today?”

Ryu set the makeshift bag down, carefully unfastening it to reveal the head of the Kaldrith. 

The room fell silent, Eloise's eyes widening in shock. 

“Is that…?”

“It is.” 

I confirmed. 

“Nicholas sent us. He said you’d know what to do with it.”

Eloise stepped closer, disbelief etched across her features. 

“Ho-how…did you manage this?”

Eloise’s expression shifted, a mixture of awe and urgency taking over.

“With the help of Nicolas's team.”

 I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

 Without another word, she dashed back into the room from which she had come.

 Moments later, she returned, a heavy bag of coins in her hands.

“This is for your trouble.”

 she said, placing the bag into my arms.

 “The Syndicate will want to hear your full report. This is a significant achievement, and it could help us greatly in our ongoing efforts against the beasts plaguing the outskirts.

“We’ll need you to return in three weeks for a formal debrief.”

I nodded, gripping the bag tightly. Ryu and I stepped out of the hall into the busy streets.

 As we walked, I noticed people beginning to stare, their whispers quickly rising into murmurs. 

A group of children pointed at me, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

Then, out of nowhere, a small rock hit me square on the shoulder.

“She’s the daughter of a murderer!”

 someone shouted from the crowd.

I froze for a moment, the word "murderer" ringing in my ears. Ryu immediately stepped in front of me, covering my head with his arm as another stone was thrown. 

“What the hell is this about?” 

he asked, his voice low but sharp, eyes scanning the faces around us.

I let out a shaky breath, keeping my voice steady. 

“Valenor knows my father… for his supposed ‘murder’ of my mother. They blamed him for it, and we were outcast to the outskirts because of it.”

 I looked down, trying to control the wave of emotions that surfaced whenever I thought about it. 

“This is how it’s always been for me here.”

“Shit…” 

Ryu muttered, glancing back at the growing crowd. 

“We need to get out of here.”

We scrambled down a narrow alleyway, ducking out of sight, the shouts from the street echoing behind us.

 After a few turns, the noise faded, and we stepped into a quiet plaza.

In the center, near a fountain, a gathering had formed.

 Two figures stood out, commanding the attention of those around them. 

One was a woman with long blonde hair and amber eyes, clad in heavy armor with a sword at her side.

 Beside her was a man in dark armor, his pitch-black hair falling over his brow, his brown eyes sharp and watchful. 

On his back, he carried an enormous sword, the hilt of which looked weathered but deadly.

The woman stepped forward, her voice steady yet carrying a certain weight. 

"The Huntsman Syndicate has been working tirelessly to exterminate the beasts that plague our lands. But the truth is, no matter how many we slay, they’ll always reform. It’s a cycle we cannot break alone."

She paused, glancing around at the people gathered before her. 

“We need your help.”

“To keep these creatures at bay, we need more than just the syndicate’s strength.”

“ If any of you are willing, if you want to join us, head to the Citadel and register yourself.”

“The fight is far from over, and we cannot stand against them alone."

As she finished, her amber eyes settled on me. 

There was a flicker of curiosity in her gaze.

Slowly, she began to walk toward me, her heavy armor making a soft, rhythmic clink with each step.

 My heart pounded as the crowd seemed to blur, everything around us fading into the background.

 It was just her and me.

She stopped in front of me, her eyes searching mine.

“What’s your name?”

For a moment, I hesitated.

From even being in her presence it was hard to breathe…like my throat was closing on its own.

"Yvette... Yvette Auclair."

She didn’t say anything right away, just looked at me, her expression shifting.

like she was piecing something together. 

Then, almost to herself, she murmured.

“Interesting.”

Without another word, she turned and walked back toward the man in dark armor. 

I watched as she leaned in, whispering something to him. 

Their expressions were serious, though I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

I turned away, feeling the weight of the moment still pressing on me as I walked, trying to make sense of it.

Ryu stepped up beside me, his voice low. 

“That woman… she’s one of the best swordsmen in the Huntsman Syndicate.”

“Evane Lorinet if i'm correct…”

He glanced back at them with a curious frown. 

“Wonder why she came up to you.”

I shook my head, still turning it over in my mind. 

“Not sure…myself.”

As we walked, a thought suddenly struck me—Aime’s toy. 

I hadn’t gotten her anything in a long time, and after everything we’d been through, I figured it was the least I could do. 

Glancing over at Ryu, I slowed my pace. 

“Let’s make a stop. There’s something I need to get.”

Ryu didn’t ask questions, just followed me as we made our way down the narrow streets until we found a small toy shop tucked between two larger buildings. 

I pushed the door open, and a bell jingled softly overhead. 

The smell of old wood and dust greeted us as we stepped inside.

The shopkeeper looked up from behind the counter, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of us—particularly me.

 There was something in his gaze that felt… resentful. 

Like he recognized who I was.

But he said nothing, just continued to watch as I moved through the small aisles.

I scanned the shelves until my eyes landed on something that made my heart skip. 

A small, carved figure—a Kaldrith, almost identical to the one we had fought just the day before. 

Its wings spread wide, its sharp tail coiled, ready to strike. 

I picked it up, feeling the weight of it in my hand. 

I walked up to the counter and placed the toy in front of the shopkeeper. 

He glanced at it, then back at me, still silent. Before he could say a word, I reached for the bag slung over Ryu’s shoulder, pulling it open to retrieve five coins. 

I placed them on the counter, my hand steady.

The shopkeeper’s eyes flickered, but he still said nothing, just took the coins.

I turned and pushed the door open, the bell jingling softly as I stepped out into the cold air.

Ryu followed me outside, his usual silence broken as he glanced at the small toy in my hand.

 "Why'd you buy a toy?" 

he asked, his tone more curious than anything.

I looked down at the Kaldrith figure, its sharp wings and tail a stark reminder of what we’d just faced. 

“It’s for my little sister, Aime.”

 I said quietly. 

“She loves toys, and... she wanted one when I left the cabin.”

Ryu looked at the toy again, his expression softening just a little as he nodded in understanding. 

He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he got it. 

We continued walking in silence, the narrow streets slowly widening as we approached the massive gate that separated the district from the rest of the city.

When we reached the gate, I stopped and turned to face him. 

“This is where we part ways.”

He gave me a brief look, his usual stoic demeanor in place, though there was something else there too—something quieter. 

I offered a small smile. 

“You know, you can come visit... if you want.”

Ryu scoffed, shaking his head. 

“It’s fine. Just… don’t get yourself killed.” 

His voice was firm, but there was a hint of something almost like concern beneath it.

I chuckled softly, knowing this was as close to a goodbye as I was going to get from him. 

“I’ll try.”

He gave me one last look before turning and walking away, his figure soon blending into the bustling streets behind us.