The young man cried into the sleeve of his iron-pressed business suit, his sniffles muffled but incessant as two colleagues hovered nearby.

“It’s not the end of the world,” one muttered, giving him an awkward pat on the back.

“She’s just... difficult,” the other offered with a half-hearted shrug.

“Difficult?” The man wailed, his voice cracking like glass. “The woman is a demon!”

Despite the noise, the lobby’s usual bustle continued unabated. It was, after all, just another day at the Crystal Guild. It’d become a common occurrence, recruiters coming back broken—physically, emotionally, or both—on a regular basis.

But as the lobby doors slid open with a soft hiss, the atmosphere shifted. Conversations hushed, and heads swiveled toward the entrance.

Two figures strode in, exuding an air of effortless dominance. One was tall and broad-shouldered, his muscled frame accentuated by a fitted black turtleneck. Wavy black hair with subtle purple undertones framed his face, his piercing violet eyes scanning the room with disinterest. A jagged black knife rested in a thigh holster, completing his intimidating presence.

Beside him walked an older man, his silver-threaded beard marred by a scar cutting across his cheek. Though smaller in stature, his lean, trained physique and the sharpness in his gaze made it clear he wasn’t to be underestimated.

Eryx’s voice broke the silence as they walked past the spectacle. “Another one?” His tone was dry, almost amused.

“Third this month,” Gio muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

Eryx raised an eyebrow. “She’s not interested. Why keep trying?”

“You’ll understand when you’re a Guild Leader.” Gio sighed, crossing his arms. “It’s all politics now. Whichever guild signs Elara Max gains an unparalleled advantage.”

“I’ll never be a Guild Leader.” Eryx shrugged off the idea, his disdain evident. “Politics and paperwork aren’t my thing. I belong in Domains.”

They glanced briefly at the weeping recruiter, slumped but uninjured. 

“At least this one came back in one piece,” Eryx mused, his smirk almost predatory. “Unlike Jaxon.” Jaxon was known as the muscle-head Raider of the Crystal Guild. How angry had she been to make a clean break on each of his limbs? 

Gio winced at the reminder. “She did a number on him, that’s for sure. Healer fees were through the roof.”

Eryx’s smirk deepened. “She must’ve been disappointed in how weak one of our top Raiders turned out to be.”

“Wasn’t my best idea,” Gio admitted. “But you’re enjoying this way too much.”

Eryx’s grin widened. While he had no personal stake in whether the guild recruited Elara Max, watching the chaos she left in her wake was undeniably entertaining.

“Actually...” Gio slowed mid-stride, his eyes lighting up as an idea took root. “If you went to recruit her personally, she might actually listen.”

Eryx stopped, his expression flattening. “Me? No.”

“Why not? You’re an S-Class Raider. You’ve got the reputation to command her respect,” Gio pressed. “And if it comes to a fight, I’d bet on you.”

Eryx snorted. “I already bring in half the guild’s revenue. Now you want me recruiting, too?”

“It’s just one meeting,” Gio said, clapping a hand on Eryx’s shoulder. “I’m sure you two would find... common ground.”

Eryx winced, barely perceptible, but enough for Gio’s sharp eyes to catch it. His brows furrowed as he fixed Eryx with a scrutinizing look. “Still bothering you?”

“It’s fine.” Eryx rolled the shoulder as if to prove his point. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Don’t lie to me, kid. That injury’s been dragging on for weeks.”

“It’s manageable.” Eryx’s tone was curt. “I’ve handled worse.”

Gio studied him, his calculating gaze lingering until his face brightened. “Wait. HQ just registered a new A-Class Healer this morning—the highest on record. Why don’t you let them take a look?”

“No.” Eryx’s reply was immediate.

Gio’s frustration was palpable. “They’re an A-Class. Not an S-Class, but still leagues above anything else.”

“It doesn’t matter who the Healer is,” Eryx countered. “I’m always out of commission for days. It’s not worth it.”

“This could be different,” Gio pressed.

“It won’t be,” Eryx said flatly. “I’ve gotten by for ten years like this.”

They stared at each other, the tension crackling like static, until Gio sighed and threw his hands up. “Fine. Be stubborn. Just don’t die out there—or else I’ll really need to sign on Elara Max to replace you.”

Eryx smirked, the tension easing. “Don’t worry, Gio. I’m not planning to lose my spot anytime soon.”

As they walked away, Eryx couldn’t help but glance down at his shoulder. The dull ache throbbed in rhythm with his heartbeat, but he pushed the thought aside. He had no intention of becoming anyone’s experiment again, no matter how promising the Healer’s record was.