The cheerful conversations going on in the guild suddenly came to a halt instantly the moment Arthur stepped through the guild doors.
The evening sun cast it's golden rays into guild hall giving it a certain shady Amazon vibe as Arthur's shadow came into view.
His boots dragged dust across the wooden floor, trailing faint smears of blood. Streaks of dried crimson lined his face—thick around the eyes, as if he had been weeping blood.
"Hey look at that kid." a voice whispered amongst the silence.
"Look at his eyes... Did he cry so much that he his blood replaced his tears" another voice answered.
And soon the entire guild members were murmuring about the 'new kid' that arrived in injuries all over him.
"He probably met a monster that out ranked him out there."
"Yeah. I bet he's still alive cause of one of them heroic adventurers." Another said with a loud laugh.
But he hadn't though. The truth was that Arthur's Eyes of Divinity had taken its toll on him back in the forest.
'It's like I literally had the eyes of a god...' he thought, vision blurring at the edges. 'It hours dammit.'
Still, he walked with a steady stride, refusing to fall or stagger.
He approached the counter, his cold expression still plastered on his face.
"A- Arthur..." Lisa called out in fear, looking as if she'd seen a ghost.
He dropped a bundle onto the table with a heavy thud. The cloth peeled back, revealing bloodied fang and sharp claws. Four wolf tails followed, still dripping with blood.
The receptionist paled. "W-wait... is that—?"
"Four dire wolves," Arthur said calmly. As he placed the mission parchment on the receptionist's counter. Before continuing. "And one Ash Wolf."
Gasps erupted across the room.
"No way!"
"He took down an Ash Wolf?!"
"Thats impossible! By himself?!"
He ignored the noise. His gaze flicked briefly to the group of young adventurers he saved earlier—now staring at him like he'd grown a second head.
Judging from their expressions, he could tell they were worried.
"You did that alone?! That's amazing!"
"Let us treat you or—"
"No," Arthur cut, shaking his head.
Their excitement stumbled instantly. "Huh?"
"Dont give me that fancy," he replied.
The boy blinked, confused. "W-Why not?"
Arthur's eyes sharpened. "I don't want it."
Their awe melted into awkward silence as some backed away.
"I can't afford to draw attention, he thought. If the Kingdom learns I'm alive, they'll come to finish the job. again.... Good thing there's always gotta be someone like that-" his voice trailed off.
"You bunch of idiots!" A voice erupted from the crowd of adventurers. His appearance was menacing enough to be classified as a bandit, especially the eye patch that hung over his right eye. "Can't you see that he's a mess...?" He asked while drinking a bottle of beer.
"Yeah!" Another voice replied "You can't possibly expect us to believe that he could do that hahaha" he mocked as the other guild members joined in.
All the while, Arthur kept quiet looking nonchalant despite his pain
The receptionist coughed, trying to refocus the moment. "R-Right. Let's see... two copper per grey wolf, one bronze for the Ash Wolf. That makes one bronze and eight copper total."
Arthur accepted the payment with a nod, then placed six copper back on the counter.
"For the swords."
She nodded, still a bit stunned. "Both were beyond repair. That'll cover it."
Her eyes lingered on the crusted blood across his side and arms.
"We also have healing potions and bandages. Five copper for both. You… look like you need them."
Arthur did a quick tally in his head. Seventeen copper earned... minus six for the swords... five for the potion and bandages... leaves six. That's enough for one night at the inn and a meal.
He slid the coins forward.
The receptionist handed over a small vial and a roll of clean bandages. "You should really take the night off. You look like hell."
Arhur did a quick tally in his head. 'Seventeen copper earned... minus six for the swords... five for the potion and bandages... leaves six. That's enough for one night at the inn and a meal.'
He slid the coins forward.
The receptionist handed over a small vial filled with red fluid, and a roll of clean bandages. "You should really get some rest. You look like hell."
Arthur gave a faint smirk. "I've looked worse."
He turned on his heel and walked out, ignoring the gazes that clung to him like vines.
The moment the door shut behind him, the guild burst back into chatter.
"Did you see those eyes?"
"You really think he did it?!"
"No way he's just a little bastard. Cheers."
Arthur just ignored them. Maybe he just didn't care.
The evening air bit into his skin as he stepped into the darkening street, the shadows welcoming him like an old friend as he made his way to the inn.