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Returning to the Guild

After the shock of receiving his quest completion notification and new skill, Zarin shook himself out of his reverie. He still needed to confirm that Lady Mariel was free from the succubus’ influence. Despite the completion of the quest, Zarin wanted to personally confirm that Lady Mariel was alright.

Retracing his steps back through the house, his mind buzzed with the aftermath of the encounter. When he finally reached the entrance hall, a wave of relief washed over him—Lady Mariel stood by the door, looking... different. Still frail, yes, but a faint color returned to her cheeks. The dark circles under her eyes seemed lighter, and a subtle energy radiated from her, one that hadn’t been there before.

Lady Mariel glanced up as Zarin approached, her tired eyes meeting his. “I... I feel different,” she said softly, as if testing her strength. “Like something has lifted. The weight... it’s gone.”

Zarin smiled, trying to hide his own lingering nerves. “That’s good to hear. I believe we have resolved whatever was causing your illness.

Lady Mariel nodded, her expression filled with quiet gratitude. “I can already feel the energy returning to me. You—” She hesitated, clearly searching for the right words. “You’ve done what no one else could. Thank you.”

Zarin felt a slight flush of embarrassment. ‘I didn’t really do much. It seems like she didn’t see Jora and her bodyguard,’ he thought, but he wasn’t about to admit that. He needed to maintain his reputation—everyone seemed to expect great things from him now.

“I’m just glad I could help,” he said, trying to sound modest.

“Would you mind escorting me back to the Guild?” Lady Mariel asked, her voice growing steadier. “I want to personally let them know the quest is finally completed,” Lady Mariel said. After all these years... it’s over.”

Zarin nodded. “Of course. Let’s head back together.”

---

The walk back to the Guild felt surreal for Zarin. Lady Mariel, who had been so weak and sickly when he first met her, now walked beside him with growing strength. She still appeared tired, but she walked with a lightness in her steps.

Zarin couldn’t help but feel a small surge of pride as they approached the bustling Guildhall. ‘I completed my first quest. I got some unexpected help, but it’s still done.’

When they entered the hall, Lady Mariel approached the reception desk to report that she was not under the effect of her illness anymore. Zarin stood a few steps behind her as she spoke with the Guild clerk. The clerk’s eyes widened in shock as Lady Mariel explained what had happened, and it didn’t take long for whispers to spread across the hall.

Zarin didn’t want to draw too much attention. Still, it was only a matter of time before the unmistakable sound of Guild Master Ordan’s booming laughter echoed through the hall.

“Hah! I knew it!” Ordan’s voice cut through the chatter as he approached from the back, grinning from ear to ear. He pushed past a few adventurers and strode over to Zarin. “I knew my eyes didn’t deceive me when I first saw you, lad. A genius, that’s what you are!”

Zarin blinked, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the Guild Master’s enthusiasm. “I—uh—”

“Don’t be modest, lad!” Ordan interrupted, giving Zarin a hearty slap on the back that nearly knocked him over. “You’ve done what no one else could! Five years that quest sat on our board, with the best and brightest of the kingdom trying to solve it. And you—first quest, and done in a single day!”

Zarin smiled nervously, feeling the mounting pressure. “Yeah, it... wasn’t easy.”

Ordan shook his head, still grinning. “You’ve got talent, boy. To succeed where others fail takes actual skill. Tell me—how did you manage it?”

Zarin hesitated. The truth was that he hadn’t managed it alone. If Jorra and her Gold Rank bodyguard hadn’t shown up, he would have been finished. But he couldn’t tell Ordan that someone had rescued him - not when everyone regarded him as a hero.‘Besides,’ he thought, ‘the ones who helped me aren’t coming back here. No one will find out.’

“It, uh... it was a succubus,” Zarin finally said, doing his best to sound confident. “She was behind Lady Mariel’s illness, using her as bait to lure adventurers. I fought her off, and after a while, she decided it wasn’t worth it and fled.”

Ordan’s eyebrows shot up. “A succubus, eh? That explains a lot. Nasty creatures, those.” He laughed again. “And you fought her off on your own? I’m impressed, lad. That’s no small feat, especially on your first quest!”

Zarin chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, it was... tough, but I managed.”

The surrounding adventurers murmured in awe, clearly impressed. Zarin’s stomach twisted slightly. He hadn’t been truthful, but it wasn’t a complete lie. He fought the succubus, even if it was trying to escape her grasp, and in the end, she fled. That was what mattered.

As Ordan continued to praise him, Zarin’s thoughts drifted to Jorra and her mysterious bodyguard. A Gold Rank adventurer in town... it still seemed strange. Why would someone of that rank be here? And why they had accepted to escort Jorra? Even if Jora was truly a princess, that sounded still not enough to order a Gold Rank around, at least to Zarin’s mind.

‘Either Gold Rankers aren’t as powerful as I thought, or maybe there is something more in that person’s story.‘ He trusted Jora knowing how to pick a bodyguard, but the whole thing was puzzling.

Still, he pushed those thoughts aside. He had completed his first quest and wasn’t about to let doubts ruin the moment.

Ordan clapped him on the back again, harder this time. “You’ve done us proud, Zarin. Keep this up, and you’ll be Silver Rank soon.”

Zarin grinned, though his mind was still spinning. ‘Silver Rank, huh? I guess that’s the next step.’

Zarin felt the weight of everything settle on him as the crowd dispersed. He had survived his first quest, but the challenges ahead would only grow tougher. And with a succubus still lurking, he knew his problems were far from over.

‘I’ve got to be ready for whatever comes next.’

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