185 - Invitation

The sun was setting on Balrum as Alexandra sneaked through the corridors of the council. Everything had gone according to plan. She’d cleared the sewers, gotten her guild approved, and in just a few more steps, she’d be out of there and on the way home.

Hell, she had even taken a bath.

Nobody could accuse her of slacking off.

She turned a corner, hugging the wall not to be seen, and reached the reception. There, she picked up the pace. Head down. Straight for the door.

She could already taste the fresh air from outside.

“Miss Alexandra, please wait a moment,” Torak called.

Alexandra froze mid-step. Fuck. So close. Then, she hid a grimace behind a smile. After all, Torak did do her a solid today by suggesting she be allowed to use the old school as her guild hall. The rent Yaren asked for was exorbitant, even with her rich elemental source hauls, but it was the best place in town, and she knew it.

She had to agree.

“Torak,” Alexandra greeted. “I have to thank you for today. I didn’t even think to ask for a place to establish myself.”

“That’s nothing,” Torak answered, stepping closer with Cem in tow. “Do tell if I can help with the rent. It’s quite the sum.”

Her mouth almost twitched. There was no way she was agreeing to that. No matter how much she wanted to.

“How nice of you.” She smiled. “But that won’t do. I want my guild to be self-sustainable. If I can’t afford the rent, it means it simply wasn’t meant to be.”

She would have to find a way to monetize the guild, which wasn’t exactly her initial plan, but maybe it was for the best. The Gray Basin had abundant elementals to hunt, which all happened to yield valuable loot, but she wouldn’t always be in a place where she could make a quick buck like that.

“I have taken the liberty to volunteer as the representative to show you your new headquarters tomorrow morning,” Torak said.

Of course, you did.

“Believe it or not,” he continued, “nobody fought me for the opportunity.”

No shit.

“Wonderful. Then I’ll see you tomorrow when the sun rises.”

Alexandra made to leave.

“Actually,” Torak said. “I was going to suggest that—”

“I have a lot to prepare. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She didn’t wait for an answer and rushed for the door. The night was cold, but her bloodline made it a non-factor. She walked fast, navigating the streets filled with excitement for her project finally starting and dread for the awkward meeting that awaited her in the morning.

Before going home, she stopped by the inn to ask the Paladins to show up tomorrow. Torak knew who they were, so she hoped he’d be a little more subdued in their presence.

When she made it home, Nara was already sleeping. Kam and Willow sat in the living room, the former taking notes in a journal and the latter practicing enchantments on a fork.

“Hey guys,” Alexandra said. “What are you doing?”

“I was trying to transmute this fork into a knife,” Willow said, putting the cutlery down on the table. “It’s trickier than I thought. Especially since I want it to switch between the two forms on command.”

“That’s cool, but what’s the point?”

“Well, someone lost two perfectly good knives, so our sets are mismatched. I’m trying to solve the issue.”

Alexandra twitched. “Damn, I wonder who did that.”

“A mystery. Truly.” Willow smiled as she stood up. “Kam is studying. Don’t bother him. What about you? Why are you so late? You’re also clean. Mostly. Which I find highly suspicious.”

The official page where the author publishes the story has this chapter, while this copy was reproduced without approval.

“Mostly? I bathed!”

“Bare minimum.”

“Well, I’m finally done with the sewers and got approval for the guild from the council.”

Willow stared at her, her eyebrows slowly creeping upward, while Kam stopped mid-stroke with his pen.

“You did?” Willow asked. “The council didn’t ask anything else?”

“I’m sure it comes with caveats,” Kam added.

“I got the guild approved, Kam!” Alexandra said. “An official permit. Signed, stamped, and recognized by the council.”

“Where is it?” Willow asked.

Alexandra blinked. “What?”

“The permit.” Willow extended her hand. “Where is it?”

“Ugh… It’s not… Anyway, they agreed.”

“That’s great,” Willow admitted with a grin. She crossed her arms, looking Alexandra up and down. “Though I wish you didn’t stop by the baths only when you visit your boyfriend.”

“I’m going to kill you,” Alexandra said, her voice flat and even.

Kam snorted.

Alexandra whipped her head in his direction. “You too. Any last words?”

The boy shook his head, mimicking the gesture of zipping his mouth.

“I thought so. Well, since you like Torak so much, you two are coming with me tomorrow. He’s going to show us around our new headquarters.”

“But—” Kam started.

“What headquarters?” Willow asked.

Alexandra smiled. “Torak got us the old school.”

“Oh.” Willow put a hand over her mouth. “So you do like him.”

“Whatever,” Alexandra said. “It was his idea.”

“Alex, that property is massive,” Kam said, his eyes narrowing as he did the math in his head. “The council wouldn’t just hand that over, and the price alone—”

“The rent is exorbitant,” Alexandra cut in, holding up a hand before he could spiral. “Absurd, even. Yaren tried to squeeze everything out of me.”

“And you agreed?” Willow asked. “With what money? The elemental sources are good, but not that good.”

“I’ll figure it out,” Alexandra said with a wave of her hand, though a small knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach. “I’ll monetize the guild. Once people understand the power of my quests, we’ll have options.”

She decided not to share that Torak offered to pay. Worst-case scenario, she could always ask for his help, though the thought alone sent shivers down her spine.

As for the rent, she wasn’t that worried. She had enough to pay for a few months. More if she kept hunting. It should be enough for people to understand the value of her quests. Once they did, she would make them pay a small fee to be part of the guild.

That’s how it works usually.

Of course, she was aware that basing her business model on fictional stories wasn’t the smartest move.

I’ll figure it out.

“So, what time is this grand tour?” Willow asked, picking her fork back up and eyeing it as if deciding whether to attempt another transmutation.

“Sunrise,” Alexandra replied.

Kam groaned, letting his head drop onto his open journal with a dull thud. “Sunrise? Alex, I need my sleep.”

“Too bad. You're part of this now,” Alexandra said, pointing a finger at him. “Besides, I already stopped by the inn and told the Paladins to meet us there too.”

Willow paused. “The Paladins? All of them?” Another grin spread across her face. “Let me get this straight. You secured a massive building, took on crippling debt, and you're bringing a heavily armored zealot squad to act as a buffer against your admirer?”

“He is not my admirer,” Alexandra hissed. “Well, I guess he is, which is precisely why I want them with me. He’ll behave.”

“Right,” Willow teased. She put the fork back in its drawer and stretched. “Well, if we have to be up before the sun, I'm going to get some sleep. Goodnight, Guildmaster.”

Kam sighed, finally closing his journal. “I'll make sure Nara is up, too.”

“Just be ready,” Alexandra muttered, watching them climb the ladder to the second floor. “Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

Maybe I should roll in the mud or something. That’ll keep him away.

She grimaced. It wasn’t like she was always clean when they met. It didn’t seem to bother him.

I’ll just tell him I’m not interested.

To think Zeynep had promised to keep him off her back.

“Wait.” She snapped her fingers. “That’s even better. I’ll get her to come too.”

Alexandra sneaked outside and made her way to Zeynep’s. Like Alexandra with her high constitution, Gold-ranks like her didn’t need that much sleep. The hunter opened her door, surprised to see her at this hour, but she invited her in regardless.

“Hey Zey, you promised to get your cousin off my back.”

Zeynep frowned as she closed the door. “I did. Did he approach you again?”

“That, he did,” Alexandra said as she plopped down on the carpet. “He got the council to give me the old school for my guild. He even offered to pay.”

“What?” Zeynep paused. “You didn’t accept, did you?”

“I didn’t accept his money, but I took the school. We’re visiting tomorrow. With him.”

Zeynep grimaced. “Alright. I’ll be there. I’ve also put in some thought about your ambitions. If the offer still stands, I’d like to be a part of it.”

“I’m sure we can figure something out,” Alexandra said with a smile. “I’m happy to have you on board.” She paused. “Though, to be honest, I’m tight on money. Yaren squeezed me dry with the rent.”

“That’s no problem. We can discuss my role and compensation later,” Zeynep said with a wave of her hand. “First, we need to plan for tomorrow.”

Alexandra’s smile widened. “I’m listening.”