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!”

“I was promised a bonus if I brought her over,” he grumbled.

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 daily basis. And D-Class Raiders rarely made it beyond the first month of the recruitment period.

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 shirt. His silky black hair with subtle purple undertones framed his face, his piercing violet eyes scanning the room with disinterest. A jagged, curved black dagger 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 he was a few inches shorter in stature, his sturdy build, trained physique, and the sharpness in his gaze exuded a palpable air of dominance. This was Giovanni Malanov, the leader of the Crystal Guild.

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

“Fifth one 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 the Guild Leader.” Gio sighed, crossing his arms. “It’s all politics now. Whichever Guild signs Elara Max gains an unparalleled advantage.”

Eryx shrugged off the idea. “Politics and paperwork aren’t my thing. I belong in Raids.”

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.” How angry had she been to make a clean break on each one of Jaxon’s limbs last month?

Gio sighed 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 as his eye shifted to the corner. “Careful, your twisted side is breaking through your mask.”

Eryx relaxed his face but couldn’t help but grin. While he had no personal stake in whether the Guild recruited Elara Max, watching the chaos she left in her wake was undeniably…interesting.

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

Eryx stopped, his expression flattening. “Your jokes are getting worse with age, old man.”

“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 a fifth of 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. It was 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.

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. “If she replaces me, you’ll end up with more injured Raiders than monster kills.”

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 what class the Healer was.