Armaros stretched his body in his rented room as he felt some satisfaction after doing them as his body felt a bit more relaxed. He looked at the town from the window as he reminisced about what had happened yesterday.
After he and the villagers were escorted to the town by Aurelia, his sisters and the knights, his mother talked with the chief of the town, the leader of this town's church, the guild master and Chelsea. He didn't hear what the discussion was about as he was talking with Rhia who was very worried about him.
The people in the town were more focused on his family and while he did get some looks, the fact that he wasn't with them dissuaded them from thinking that he was a part of them. Even if he has blonde hair and eyes of the same colour as them, it wasn't exactly unique, and the fact that he didn't stand with them also seemed to make them think that he wasn't part of the clan.
Well, he was now officially removed from the clan, and he didn't have any particularly fond memories of it as well. Aside from Mary and the time he has spent with his sisters and mother, there weren't much to be said about the clan.
In any case, the people of the village of Lucia were given citizenship and home in the town, in fact, he had learned that they had been given great accomodations that rivaled the nobles and the money as well, not to mention blessings from the Church.
He supposed that his mother had told them to give them the best that they got since they were the descendants of the ones saved by his ancestor and they also possessed that sword as well, despite her previous thoughts on how to handle the situation of the attack.
After it was said and done, and with the people of the town being especially happy to see his clan, they left the town of horseback and he is sure that they went back to the mansion with his mother's magic.
'I wish I was able to use mana without so many problems.' Armaros thought to himself as he sighed at his problem.
He never understood why he had this problem with his mana. There wasn't anything on it in the library of the clan, nor was it in the library in the town as well. Granted, the library in his clan held more information, but he was hoping that he would find some lead as to why he is the only one who seemed to be in pain whenever he used mana.
'Enough moping around. You need to go to your job.' Armaros thought to himself as he went to get ready.
Half an hour later he went towards the guild after getting food in his stomach as he drew gazes from the people. Something which he thought would be normal since he did come to the town with the villagers yesterday.
But he ignored all the gazes and reached the guild as he walked inside. The people inside immediately took notice of him after they looked at the door in curiousity to see who had come inside. The adventurers inside were curious about him due to his arrival in the city with the villagers, but he wasn't in the mood to care about that.
'I should probably visit the Church after doing some commissions. I wonder if that little girl is fine.' Armaros thought to himself as he thought about the girl who had lost her parents.
She is still young and he hoped that she would be able to have some form of happiness in this world, even if life will become only harder as she grows up.
"Hey Armaros. Good morning." Rhia greeted him with a smile from the place as she saw him approaching.
"Good morning. Have any commissions picked up or should I go check the board?" Armaros asked her as he looked at her.
"Actually, the Guild Master wanted to meet with you." Rhia said to him as he blinked at that.
"Why?" Armaros asked her in confusion and some apprehension.
'Why would he want to meet me? Did mom say anything to him?' Armaros thought to himself as he looked at her.
"I don't know. But I think it's due to the attack on the village. He told me to bring you to him when you come here." Rhia said to him as he nodded at her words.
"Alright, if that is what the Guild Master said then I can't disobey him." Armaros said to her as she smiled slightly.
"Don't worry, I'm sure it will be fine. Now come on, let's go." Rhia said as she walked out of the counter and walked past him.
Armaros wordlessly followed her as they went up the stairs to the guild master's door as noted that the corridor is in good condition and seems to be made from fine materials.
"Guild Master, I have brought Armaros as you wanted." Rhia said after she knocked twice on the door.
"Do come inside." The guild master's voice responded from the other side of the door.
Rhia opened the door and walked inside, followed by Armaros as they saw the Guild Master sitting at the desk with a serious face as Armaros looked at the man more closely.
The Guild Master, Brunes, is a man in his 40's with black hair, a pronounced face, grey eyes, fair skin, a moustache and a stoic expression while wearing a suit which was something that only nobles wear, with the emblem of the Guild on it as well.
As the master of the guild, he is one of the most powerful people in the two as he has great influence in the town, which was also why he had been with the chief and the church leaders when his mother went to talk to them.
While the nobles who lived in the town had influence in the inner circle, as that was the place most nobles lived, the guild master had a lot of influence since he is the highest authority in the guild of this town and his members are working in every part of the city, so the people of the town see him as a major figure.
And with how the man looks and sounds, it was pretty easy for Armaros to see why they would think so as he has an air of authority. It wasn't like his mother's as it was lacking, but it is considerable.
"It's nice to see you, Armaros, Rhia. I hope that you had good sleep after yesterday's events?" Brunes asked the young boy.
'He addressed my first.' Armaros noted it in his mind as he looked at the man.
"Yes, I had enough rest and am ready to go adventuring today." Armaros said to the man with a nod.
"I see. Well, I shall not hold you here for too long and get to the point. Due to the events that had happened at the village yesterday, it has been decided that your shall be promoted to a B rank Adventurer as of now." Brunes said to him seriously.
Armaros and Rhia looked at the man in surprise when they heard that.
"B-B rank? B-But he was just a D rank before. Isn't this too sudden?" Rhia asked in shock as she looked at Armaros and then at the guild Master.
"I assure you that this decision was made after careful consideration of his abilities and contributions during the siege on the village. He was a key figure in the survival of the village and so, he shall be rewarded for his efforts." Brunes said to them as he looked at them.
"But won't the other adventurers be displeased at my sudden promotion?" Armaros asked the Guild Master as he knew that it might be a problem for him.
"You do not have to worry about that. We'll tell them that you have a powerful sponsor. That way they will keep to themselves as they wouldn't want to be in the bad end of a powerful person. They are adventures, but most do not have backing after all." Brunes said to him seriously.
"Sponsor? Does he really have one?" Rhia asked in shock as she looked at Armaros.
"He does not. It is nothing more than a lie to dissuade the other Adventurers from going after him." Brunes said to her with a shake of his head.
"I see. Well, I am glad that he will have protection." Rhia said with a smile as she felt relieved.
"And what do you think of this decision boy?" Brunes asked him as he looked at the young adventurer.
"I'm fine with it as long as the other Adventurers don't do anything that would be detrimental to me." Armaros said to the man as he didn't see much of a reason to refuse the offer.
He had fought against an army of demons and killed a lot of them, and had been at deaths door as he fought to stay alive in that place. So getting a promotion to B rank was something that he didn't mind, though he did wonder if it was the correct way.
"I'm glad to hear that. Rhia, go and give him the official designation. The needed paperwork is with Elgaf, go with him to meet him." Brunes said to her as she nodded.
"Of course Guild Master, I will do it immediately." Rhia said to him with a smile on her face.
"Good. Adventurer Armaros, follow Rhia and she will take care of the proceedings." Brunes said to him as he nodded.
"Sure." Armaros said simply with a nod.
Then the two left the room as Brunes reclined on his chair as he let out a sigh as he recalled the talk he had with the Matriarch of the Dawnbringer Clan.
Flashback
"You wish for me to promote him?" Brunes asked the Matriarch after she asked to talk with him a bit alone.
"He has fought against demons in village and killed a lot of them. I believe that it is an appropriate reward for his efforts and the clan will also support him in the shadows." Aurelia said to him with a steely look.
"Of course. But promoting him straight to B rank will cause a stir in the guild, and people will question about it." Brunes said as he felt uncomfortable looking at her face.
"I do not care. He will get the promotion and protection from the guild, and you shall make sure of it. Understood." Aurelia said to him resolutely, and he knew that he couldn't refuse her even if he wanted to.
"Of course Matriarch, as you wish. But, if I may ask, why do you wish to give such support to a young boy like that?" Brunes asked her carefully.
"You have no need to know. The only thing you need to know is that you will make sure that he will have the protection of the Guild." Aurelia said to him with cold eyes, as if she was delivering judgement on him.
And if he were to be honest, it truly felt like she was and he couldn't hope to defy her.
"I shall do as you ordered." Brunes said to her with a nod as she hummed.
"See that it is done." Aurelia said in an authoritative tone as he gulped nervously.
Flashback End
Brunes felt his hands shake from remembering the gaze of the matriarch. Cold and unyielding, as if she would rain judgement upon him if he were to displease her with his decisions. He knew that she could do whatever she wanted due to the power she holds, both magical and political.
The Dawnbringers is a clan that is respected and revered throughout the empire and beyond and no one would wish to challenge their might, as only a fool would do something like that. As the blessed of the God of Light, even the Church will not oppose them as they would be taking arms towards those blessed by their God.
He didn't know why she had ordered that, though he had a theory after seeing Armaros, but he didn't dwell on it and decided to do what he has been told.
'I hope no one would be foolish enough to do anything to that boy.' Brunes thought to himself as he sighed and sagged on his chair.