Emperor's Reckoning

"What just happened?" asked one adventurer as he hardly had any thoughts after seeing Arf getting picked up by his teammates.

"I have no idea, but that cloaked group is no greenhorn," said another. "He knocked him out in a single fist and we could hardly keep up with our eyes!"

"Such speed! Such control! What is happening in the Mortal World?! Who are they?!"

The adventurers were left flabbergasted by the unfolding events, however, the main characters had moved elsewhere.

The Dark Continent was a place that was restless despite having a thick wall surrounding their city. The beast and absolute monster were roaming the land, the sea, and the sky. They could only band and unite together but without any more strings attached. Thus, the guild had become a primal institution that softly governed the street as a whole. However, there was always more than one guild in every city. They struggle both for market share and power overall.

The Harp Guild. The guild had three strings harp as their little insignia, worn like a brooch. Some on their collar, some on their chest. The proof of identity was wildly known on the street of Arkham as one of the strongest guilds ever existed.

"Ah, Sir Doma, good to see you," said the woman behind her desk.

"Good to see you too."

However, it wasn't Doma who said that. In fact, the man was seen to have a flutter of wind against his hair as his eyes were taken back by what he saw.

"E-Eh?" The woman was taken back before courting all of the others' attention.

Lyon was already leisurely putting his arms on the desk and looking at the beautiful receptionist with a smile on his face. "No wonder this plac—!! GAh!" his face was slammed against the desk.

"I'm sorry, this man is a bit of a handful," said Lumina as she smiled her cute pair of fangs.

The receptionist could only smile wryly. They were obviously coming here with Doma, thus she glance over at him ( Huh? ) the man she and other high valued adventurers respected, was shaking his head as a clear hint of fright present.

The situation turned awkwardly silent inside the hall. The building may not be fancy like a hotel but there were still powerful adventurers roaming about with papers in their hands. However, none of them dare to speak up about the situation, since the official himself hardly could make a comment.

A cloaked group where Doma looked like he was being threatened. It won't be good to join and meddle with their circumstance.

"Ah, welcome, to the Harp Guild, how may I refer to your party?" asked the receptionist.

"Not bad," muttered Assid.  ( She hid her nervousness well, or perhaps, too well? ).

"Avi, they are my guests," said Doma. "We have something to discuss in my room, so if you please show the way?"

"Ah, absolutely Sir Doma," said Avi as she gave out a bright smile. "Please follow me."

The group and Doma immediately left the prying eyes of other adventurers, but the latter immediately entered their own discussion. A mysterious group suddenly emerge and made even Doma himself bow his head and spoke eloquently.

"I've heard that they knocked out Arf just outside about a minute ago," said one adventurer.

"Yeah, I heard that too, his jaw was dangling on the wrong side as I've heard."

"Oof! That guy got his jaw disconnected? Holy shit, what kind of person is inside that cloak?"

"Better not mess with those people in my opinion."

"The wild part is, they called them greenhorn, hah, they lucky none of their bones were broken."

"They should thank Arf for his sacrifice."

"Wasn't that Nafail?"

....

The group went upstairs to the second floor before finding another set of stairs in the opposite direction. There were two adventurers standing by, one with a fairly long halberd, the other with a pair of daggers inside a strapped belt around his waist.

"Sir Doma?" called out one of the adventurers.

"Make room," said Doma before the two adventurers furrowed their brows. They looked at each other before nodding and stepping away from the stairs leading to the top room.

Avi smiled as she ascended first before Doma and the rest followed.

The two adventurers returned to their posts but turned around and looked up. They crossed their arms with brows raised.

Lyon noticed a door made out of sturdy wood and a golden knob to boot. The walls were decorated with creamy wallpapers and were a bit more modernized than the standard that he had seen from city to city outside the Dark Continent. ( Despite its name, this place is pretty advanced).

"Welcome, Doma's friend," said Avi with a smile before she turned the knob and pushed open the door then took a step inside. The aura she exuded immediately shifted to a domineering one.

Luna was stunned by the sight before she saw Doma bowing at the side, "Please enter, young master."

"Young master?" Avi raised her brows inside the room before she spare a chuckle. "That's a first."

"Well, well, well," Lyon smirked before he entered the room. The room immediately gave out a feminine scent from nearby pot flowers. It was spacey enough to hold a meeting. There were a pair of sofas at the side with a table. Bookshelves with three levels, but not full of books. Decorated walls with paintings and beast trophies. A beautiful desk made out of superb quality wood and a huge window facing the street below.

Avi made her way around the desk before sitting down on her chair. Her smile was different from the one she gave behind the receptionist's desk. The total polar opposite, even Doma had to be the one closing the door back.

"You seem to have fun," said Avi with a smile. "What do you want to discuss?"

"That's a nice play, I hardly noticed that you would be the one that has the power around here," said Lyon as he nodded.

"Give me an applause then I will spare you a smile," said Avi. "However, that's not what you came here for right."

"Can we sit first?" said Cecile as she took a step forward.

"Absolutely, you can sit on the sofa over there," said Avi as she leaned her back and make herself comfortable by crossing her legs.

"Wee!" Kesya jumped and stiffened herself up before falling against the soft cushion of the sofa. "This feels really nice."

"Of course, it's better than that caravan," muttered Assid.

"I have to say, I'm surprised," said Avi before she saw Lyon and Cecile sitting right across her desk, "I never thought that I would see Doma shivering like that."

"Please do excuse my lack of strength, Miss Avi," said Doma.

"It's alright Doma, I'm not berating you," Avi smiled. "I'm just curious, why would someone this strong has no guild."

"Too early don't you think?" Cecile smiled. "We are not here to join any guild."

"Really? Too bad then, I'm sure you would make it past what the Frost Party could," said Avi before she furrowed her brows. "You, are aware of the Frost Party right? The strongest party in the Harp Guild? Or should I say, hmm? Nafail?"

"H-Hello, Avi," said Nafail as he peeked out from the back.

"Oh, I never thought that I would reveal my identity to you hahaha," Avi chuckled.

"I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize, I just failed to notice you, oh right, that Frost Party that I mentioned earlier? This adventurer was the ex-leader," said Avi before she sighed. "But drama, drama, drama, yadda, yadda, yadda, you know the drill."

Nafail smiled wryly as he looked down.

Doma made his way around the desk before whispering at Avi. Her face turned from smiling to her brows furrowed. She blinked a few times as she listened to his words before she darted her glance toward the two in front of him. She smiled and raised her hand. Doma made his leave and stood by the door.

"Well, well, what a fascinating turn of events, I never thought that you beat up one of our most precious champions," said Avi as she got off her chair and grabbed three wooden glasses. "It's hardly believable that Arf would be knocked out with his jaw dangling to one side with one hit, but adding that to how Doma couldn't breathe properly and the preparation on his temples, I guess it is the truth of the matter."

She served the two of the wooden glass and filled them with sparkling water before filling hers from the same bottle. She toasted against them before she drank with an audible gulp.

"Pah! Do excuse me," Avi smiled before sitting back down and putting back her wooden glass. She put her arms on the desk before clasping her hands together. "Now then, I've heard that you are here in search of Zelena's sister?"