"In the game of alliances, words are both weapons and shields. 

Some seek to bargain with promises, others with power.

But few understand the cost of what is given, and lesser, the price of what is lost."

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the plaza as a growing crowd gathered near the guild district. Tension hung in the air like smoke, voices rising in frustration. Protestors had begun shouting again, their chants echoing off the stone buildings.

Then, heavy footsteps broke through the noise. The Guild Master of Hunter’s Eye walked in—broad-shouldered, confident, and calm. His presence alone was enough to cause a few people to pause. He clapped his hands loudly.

“Alright, what’s going on here?” His voice carried authority, steady and firm. “You’re disturbing the other district's people.”

A man near the front of the crowd snapped, his face flushed with anger. “Of course we are! You don’t care about us. You guild folks, with your fancy titles and affinities—you treat us like dirt!”

The Guild Master didn’t flinch. Instead, he raised his hand in a peaceful gesture. “Easy now,” he said. “I hear your frustration. But let’s not start twisting the truth. Weren’t you all protesting about the merchants? Let’s stay on topic.”

Another protestor stepped forward, eyes red and fists clenched. “We’re sick of promises! They said the merchants would be released days ago. But nothing’s changed. You just keep us quiet and move on!”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.

The Guild Master took a slow breath, his expression steady. “Listen. We have already told you all this before but i will repeat again-The merchants aren’t locked away without reason. They’re being questioned by order of the Royal Capital. It’s related to the recent tax riots and the rise in magical beast attacks. When the questioning ends, they’ll be free. That’s the truth.”

Doubt flickered in the protestor's eyes. Someone muttered from the back, “That’s what they always say…”

The Guild Master stepped forward, lowering his voice slightly. “If you truly care about them, you’ll let the process work. Stirring up chaos here will only make things harder—for them, and for all of you.”

His words hung in the air for a moment. The crowd began to shift. Some protestors still looked angry, but others started backing away, the fire in their voices cooling. One by one, they dispersed, though a few kept muttering as they left.

Just as quiet began to settle, the Guild Master’s gaze locked onto a young woman standing at the edge of the crowd.

Her presence was different. She hadn’t said a word, but somehow she stood out more than anyone else. The very air around her felt heavier—like damp monsoon wind. He watched her closely as she turned to leave, her golden hair catching the light, her clothes worn from travel yet neat and precise. A strange mix—too sharp for a commoner, too humble for a noble.

She was almost out of sight when he spoke up.

“Excuse me, miss. A moment of your time?”

She stopped, glancing over her shoulder. Her expression was calm, but distant, like someone who’d been approached like this before.

“What would the Guild Master want with someone like me?” she asked with a sigh, her tone neutral.

He offered a small, knowing smile. “Let’s just say, you’re not just someone. That presence you carry—it isn’t something you can hide. That kind of control... power like that isn’t common. Even among mages.”

Lia sighed, almost tiredly. “You must be mistaken. I’m no one special. Just a traveler.”

She turned to walk away, but his voice followed her.

“Power like yours doesn’t go unnoticed. You can walk quietly, sure—but someone like me sees the storm behind the calm. If you visit the King like I think you will… stop by the guild hall after. Just once. If it’s not worth your time, I’ll never ask again.”

Lia paused. Her gaze shifted back to him, sharper this time.

“How do you know I’m meeting the King?”

He chuckled. “I have my ways. Don’t forget this conversation.”

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving her with a question lingering in the air.

The next day, Lia walked through the capital’s busy streets, dressed in clean but simple clothes. She carried a satchel with official papers and a small box wrapped carefully—a gift from Euratia’s minister, meant for the King.

Around her, life was lively. Children ran past laughing, shopkeepers called out prices, and neighbors greeted each other with warm smiles. But Lia felt none of it. Her footsteps were steady, her eyes forward. She had a strange feeling, unwilling to be moved by peace. Joy-wierdly no longer reached her heart.

The guards at the castle gates checked her permit, then escorted her inside. The palace was enormous. Sculpted gardens lined the path, and tall statues of past rulers stood watch. Inside the hall, sunlight poured through stained glass, and tall marble pillars stretched to the ceiling. The King sat at the far end on an elevated throne, surrounded by advisors.

A guard stepped forward and announced her. “Lia, traveler from the Northern Plains, seeks audience with His Majesty.”

"Let her in. We will hear what she has to say," the King said, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

She stepped forward as the great doors creaked open, the guards parting to let her through. The grand hall fell into silence. Lia walked with quiet resolve and knelt before the King, lowering her gaze in respect.

"Your Majesty," she began, her voice calm but edged with urgency. "I come on behalf of Euratia—a land wounded by famine and worn down by relentless attacks. We seek your aid—not just to rebuild, but to survive."

The King studied the woman before him for a moment longer, then gestured gently. “Raise your head, Wanderer. Your deeds are known, and your name carries weight even here.”

Lia looked up slowly, surprise flickering in her eyes.

He continued, “You held the line at Hollow Ridge and brought order to the scattered clans of the North. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.”

She bowed her head once more, this time in gratitude. “I thank you, Your Majesty. But I must ask not for myself. Euratia needs grain, medical salves, and access to the southern roads before winter closes in. Without them, we risk collapse.”

The King studied her, fingers steepled. “I know of Euratia. But if we offer supplies and open trade routes… what do we gain in return?”

She met his eyes steadily. “Even now, weakened as we are, our trade routes are unmatched in the North. Once, we fed half the continent. That can happen again, if you help us recover. Support us, and your kingdom will be known as the one who saved the North.”

An advisor scoffed. “Words are cheap. Euratia has been unstable for years. What guarantee do we have that this won’t fail again?”

Lia didn’t flinch. “Instability came from war, not weakness. With support, we’ll have the strength to hold the borders. You don’t have to believe in us—but believe in the value of what we offer. Our merchants, our trade, our reach—these are assets your kingdom could control.”

She leaned forward, her voice steady but softer. “This isn’t charity. It’s a partnership.”

The King held up a hand, silencing the room. “Interesting. But I prefer guarantees to promises. What can you offer in return that’s certain?”

Lia took a breath. “Exclusive trade rights. When our lands recover, no other kingdom will have access to our grains or routes. Only Eryndor.”

The King raised an eyebrow. “And your mines?”

“They’re already pledged to another ally,” she replied. “Grain and trade are all we offer. But I heard Eryndor’s own harvest suffered last season. Surely, you could use the food.”

The King let out a small chuckle, the first sign of warmth. “You’ve done your homework. Fine then. If you deliver your first shipment within two seasons, our alliance stands. If not… well, you won’t like the alternative.”

Lia nodded. “We will deliver.”

She bowed once more. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Euratia will not forget this.”
With a stroke of ink, she signed the provisional accord laid before her. A royal seal was pressed beside it, marking the pact official.

Moments later, a steward gestured politely, and Lia was escorted from the chamber.

Later that evening, Lia left the castle with her satchel a little lighter and her mind heavier. The King's agreement was a victory—but one earned at a cost. The weight of responsibility sat on her shoulders like a stone.

As she made her way through the city, her steps slowed in front of the guild hall. The building stood firm and proud, its wide doors carved with symbols of battles past. The Guild Master's invitation echoed in her thoughts. "Come to the guild hall."

She wasn’t sure if she should. The guild might be helpful—or it might be another web of politics she didn’t want to walk into. Yet something about the Guild Master’s words stuck with her. He hadn’t sounded like a man chasing favors. He sounded like someone watching the horizon.

Finally, she stepped inside.

The noise inside the hall dulled for a moment as people noticed her. Adventurers glanced up from their tables. Conversations faltered. There was something about her that made people look twice.

Lia ignored them all. She walked up to the front desk and asked to see the Guild Master.

Soon, she stood in front of him again, inside a quieter chamber at the back of the guild. He greeted her with a polite smile, though the sharpness in his eyes hadn’t faded.

“Welcome, Lia. Or should I say… the Wanderer of the North? Your name travels faster than you do.”

She didn’t respond. Her expression gave nothing away. She wasn’t here for games.

“I came because you asked,” she said. “Speak plainly. What do you want from me?”

The Guild Master folded his hands behind his back. “Only a conversation—for now. But I think both of us know this world is changing. And people like you? You don’t walk unnoticed for long.”

Outside the room, the guild buzzed with life. But inside, the air was still—heavy with unspoken possibilities. Lia stood her ground, unsure whether she had just stepped into a partnership or the beginning of something far more dangerous.

Chapter End