An electric thrill coursed through G6 as they guided their horses from the palace's wooded edge toward the capital. Anticipation. Bloodlust. A potent buzz.
They reached the forest's edge. The grand archway to the capital loomed. Edmund guided his horse into the deep shadow of a massive oak.
"We should leave our horses here outside," Edmund stated, dismounting.
"Are they not permitted on the streets?"
"They are, but it is more efficient on foot. Allows you to assess the town… well."
"Alright." She tethered her horse with efficient knots.
They removed their cloaks to not draw attention. They folded them and stowed them on the saddlebags.
They stood at the threshold of the archway. A silent look.
Finally. This was it.
They stepped beyond the archway. The vibrant, chaotic energy of the capital washed over them.
G6's eyes swept the bustling streets, the lively stalls.
Exactly like the historical stuff Pisces used to waste his rest.
A flicker of nostalgia that was immediately suppressed by analytical focus.
A vendor called out. "Hey! You there, adventurers! These are freshly picked from the farm for your provisions for your journey! Just picked and I will give you a discount!"
G6's eyes dropped to his produce—unfamiliar, odd shapes—then lifted to study the man. A brief, intense moment. Then she walked away without a word.
Edmund offered a polite, apologetic nod on her behalf.
Hands in pockets, G6 moved through the crowd with an air of belonging. "This town is awfully lively. Their joy disgusts me."
Edmund observed her before responding. "Indeed, Einston is a prosperous kingdom. With the Benediction returned, the land is said to become more abundant than it could ever be."
"Their peaceful faces are nauseating. Such arrogance irks me." G6 said in her usual tone of voice. Cold. Dry. Flat.
Deeper into the main market, the crowd thickened into a press of bodies. Yet the two navigated through it like ghosts. Unnaturally smooth.
THUD!
A beggar child sprawled on filthy cobblestones, shoved by a well-dressed man.
"WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING, YOU USELESS STINKY BRAT!"
G6's attention snapped to where the commotion was. She stopped a short distance away. A spectator assessing a variable.
Let us see how 'peaceful' this kingdom truly is. A cynical smirk formed on her lips.
She watched. The boy, instead of cowering, fixed the man with a look of pure, undiluted hatred before scrambling for the single piece of bread that had fallen in the dirt.
Oh? That look of someone who will turn into a criminal in no time.
G6's interest sharpened. A look she knew intimately. The same cold, murderous intent her high-profile targets threw at her before she killed them.
"HEY! PAY ATTENTION!" The man strode forward, kicked the bread away. "How dare you look at me with such!" The boy's eyes tracked the rolling bread. His small frame coiled with tension belying his size.
"What is he, Edmund?" G6 asked.
"A class commoner. A merchant," Edmund answered.
G6's expression remained neutral. Almost bored.
She was about to turn away when another sharp kick landed on the boy's side. "Look what you have done to my new shoes! You worthless gutter rat!"
The injustice stirred the crowd. A group of decent-looking people moved to intervene.
Then—something unbelievable.
In the space of a blink, G6 stood beside the enraged merchant. Hands in her pockets. One boot planted firmly on his gleaming, expensive shoe.
She ignored the sputtering man completely. Her shaded gaze locked on the boy. The child looked up, eyes wide, meeting hers behind her tinted lenses.
"If you are going to damage his shoes," her voice a cold, flat, emotionless drone cutting through the market noise, "it should be like this."
The boy's face contorted in confusion. The merchant yanked his foot away, face purpling with rage. "What do you think you are doing, woman? How dare you!"
G6 still did not look at him. Focus entirely on the boy. "You are too noisy over a stupid piece of leather."
"You brazen—!" The man raised a hand to strike.
A movement too fast for most to follow. Edmund was there. His foot swept the man's legs out. A sharp, precise strike to the chest sent him crashing onto cobblestones, air knocked out. Edmund's boot came to rest lightly on his chest. A pin.
A satisfied smile touched G6's lips as she watched him struggle. Pain. Humiliation.
"And as for you, you uncultured dog. If you are going to be a villain," she said, referring to the merchant planted on the ground, "do it right."
She walked to the piece of bread the man had kicked away. She looked at the boy, at the group about to help. "Like this," she continued.
She stepped on the bread. Grinding it into filthy stones until it was unrecognizable, inedible paste.
A collective gasp. The boy's eyes widened in utter despair. The would-be rescuers stared in horrified disbelief. Even Edmund, who remained poker-faced, inside his mind was also taken aback.
"What in the world are you doing?!" one cried.
G6 ignored him. Walked back to the child. Stopped before him.
"Give me your hand." A command.
Trembling, despair clouding his features, the boy hesitantly lifted his grimy hand.
G6 placed a single gold coin into his palm, closed his small fingers around it. Then knelt, brought her face close to his, whispered words for him alone:
"Erase that murderous intent from your eyes. That path is destined for someone else."
She stood abruptly. "Let us go." To Edmund. Turned. Left without a backward glance. Edmund fell into step. A stunned, silent crowd in their wake.
The child watched her leave, the gold coin hot in his palm. He knew only harshness and hunger, but she was different—a force of cold, calculated violence. Terrifying. Yet in her cruelty, she had seen his darkness, acknowledged it, then given him a fortune. Monster or savior? The contradiction tore a hole in his bleak world. He clutched the coin. A seed of hope, painful and bright, began to grow in the ashes of his rage.
❈.❈.❈
They walked in silence from that market crowd.
Then, Edmund took courage to break it.
"Lady Reise, a question."
"What?" She did not look at him, busy sightseeing.
"If you intended to help that boy, why crush his spirit first?"
"What do you mean?" G6 asked back, playing dumb.
"You made certain he was watching before you stepped on the bread. It was likely his first meal in days."
"I simply enjoy watching the light of hope fade from people's eyes." She answered. Cold.
Edmund felt a chill down his spine.
"Is that all?"
G6 stopped. Watching children play happily around the plaza fountain. "Boys like him have never known true kindness. Shattering his old hope makes the new one mean more."
"Your logic is cruel… yet not without merit. I cannot say if it is good or evil."
"That is just how it is." She simply said.
A short while later, an affluent area. Boutiques. Cafes. Fine restaurants.
"Is this a street for nobles?" G6 asked.
"Indeed," Edmund said. "That is the Merchant Guild." He pointed to a classy, not overly ornate structure. "And that, at the road's end—the larger, three-story building—is the Adventurers' Guild."
G6 just nodded, and so they continued to walk down the road until they reached the Adventurers' Guild.
Now they stood before the doors. Edmund took the lead and G6 followed.
Inside the Guild, a bustling guild hall greeted them. Spacious ground floor. Reception desk at its center. Tables and benches throughout—tavern and restaurant.
The eyes turned toward them—especially toward G6. Her fashion sense stood out from the typical female adventurer.
Edmund walked straight to the reception desk with G6 behind him.
"It has been a while, Eddie!" a young man behind the counter greeted them with a smile.
Eddie? That is his alias?
What a lame ass.
"How are you, Liam? It has been a while!"
"Busy? Out of town?" Liam's eyes drifted to G6. "You have brought company."
"Ah, yes. My niece, visiting from the provinces. She has decided to join me!" Edmund lying smoothly.
"Of course! You know I come from a family of adventurers."
"So, your name?" Liam turned to G6. "You look very… striking?"
G6 did not react. Tilted her head slightly as if studying him. "Just give me the form. I am not here to chat." She said coldly.
Edmund laughed lightly. "Forgive my niece—not used to strangers."
Liam scratched his head awkwardly, slid the form across.
G6 approached. Scanned.
"Address?"
Edmund took the form momentarily, wrote an address, handed it back.
Northwest, Scutum Town. Scutum… Latin for 'shield.'
Her eyes moved to first and last name.
Hmm… real name from old life? Or…
She wrote: 'G', '6'. Last name: Arcadia.
*My great-great-whatever grandmother's surname from Gemcardia Org. Ironic. G6, the Reaper. Arcadia, peaceful paradise. Almost poetic.*
He took it. Read aloud. "G…6 Arcadia?"
"It is G6. No pause, dumbass." She answered sharply.
"It is… unique."
"Yeah, you would not like the meaning. Hurry up."
Liam offered an awkward smile, brought out the appraisal orb.
At the sight, both subtly stepped back.
They exchanged a quick glance. We forgot about this.
"Is something wrong?" Liam asked.
"Oh, uhm. Nothing, we just…" Edmund sweating.
G6 stared at the orb. Her mind racing for a bypass.
"By any chance…" Liam began, seeming to understand, "has your registry lapsed more than six months in any kingdom?"
Edmund and G6 shared another look. They were confused.
"Oh, you must be a traveling adventurer," Liam continued. "Such adventurers are not officially registered in a single kingdom. Usually temporary or guest passes. They cannot maintain consistent reported activity. Is that it?"
"Whatever. I need a new guild card." G6 lying.
As G6 stepped forward—always one for risks—Edmund gently held her wrist.
"La—G6." Caution.
She pulled her hand away. "This, or sink." Firm.
She placed her palms on the sphere. It glowed. Text flickered:
!! STATUS IS PRIVATE !!
AFFINITY: N/A
RANK: S-RANK
A quiet sigh of relief from both of them.
"Oh. It seems your guild private your information, G6," Liam said, smiling. "A distinguished traveler, I see."
He put the orb away.
"What do you mean?" G6 asked.
"It happens. To certain individuals affiliated with higher positions."
"Who do you think I am?" G6 asked.
Liam suddenly felt a shuddering intent. Behind those tinted lenses he could feel her glaring at him.
"I assume you are like Eddie—a ranger hired directly by nobility for sensitive expeditions," Liam explained. "That explains why the sphere did not alarm. Recognized as from the Kingdom decree, not an intruder."
"Liam is trustworthy. He will not peer into the affairs of distinguished… adventurers," Edmund assured G6.
"Alright. Get this over with." G6 said.
Liam pricked G6's finger. A drop of blood onto a plain silver card. He disappeared into a back room.
"What does he mean by the alarm?" G6 asked.
"If a hired ranger from another kingdom tried to come here and register at the Guild, it would alarm. Ordinary adventurers are welcome to any kingdom's guilds, but not distinguished ones."
Before G6 could press any longer, Liam returned.
"Your identification card. Registered you as A-Rank, like your uncle. Your affinity rank shows you are not a common ranger." A smile. "Welcome to the Einston Kingdom Adventurers' Guild!" A slight bow.
G6 took the card. Examined it:
G6 Arcadia.
"Thanks." She said curtly. She then walked away.
"Thank you, Liam!" Edmund.
"You are welcome, Ed! See you both around."
Edmund glanced at her. Do you truly despise the palace life so much?
"Do not worry. We must adhere to the plan—avoid suspicion," G6 said.
"What about this one?" G6 pointed to a C-Rank task: exterminate goblins.
"A C-rank mission, Lady Reise."
"Call me by my alias, Eddie."
"Very well… G6. Are you certain you wish to take such a low-rank task?"
G6 smiled—a sharp, unsettling expression. "I wonder how it feels to kill a goblin."
Edmund's eyes twitched. Other noble women would stay far from these activities, but his mistress was different.
"Then we shall take this." He reached for the notice.
"That was supposed to be ours." A woman's voice cut in.
G6 and Edmund turned. "Is your name written on it?" G6 asked, unimpressed.
"You are new here. Do not give me that attitude, newbie. You and your… bizarre fashion sense do not fit in."
"So your bra and skirt showing underclothes are more appropriate?" G6 retorted without hesitation. "Here to hunt monsters or to parade your body?"
The woman's face flushed with humiliation. "HOW DARE YOU!"
G6 offered a mocking smile. A dismissive glance toward her companions—young, barely minors. Two boys, two girls.
"Please, do not make a scene," Edmund interjected.
"That is enough, Riza," one boy called.
"But that was our task! We agreed after lunch! And she mocked me! I am her senior!"
G6 laughed—short, derisive. "Senior? Give me a break."
"You keep running your mouth!" Riza on the verge of lunging.
"What is going on?" Another group approached from the entrance. The same group from earlier. So they were adventurers.
"Oh. It is you," the man said.
"Sebastian!" Riza clung to his arm. "This newbie disrespects me!"
Sebastian gently detached, looked at G6. "It was you earlier. So you are an adventurer."
G6 did not answer. Turned to Edmund. "Give that piece of crap to the loud one."
"What did you just say?!" Riza fumed.
"Are you certain?" Edmund asked.
"What matters is I already know where the goblins are." A cold smile toward Riza. "What good is the poster if the content is already gone?" She walked away.
Edmund sighed inwardly. Brutal pragmatism.
"Did you hear what she said?!"
"Here." Edmund handed the notice to one of Riza's crew.
"Hey! Ed—where did you pick up that cunning bi—"
"Refrain from vulgarity." Edmund's tone firm. "It is your mistake for not securing the task promptly." He turned, followed his mistress.
G6 was already seated at a table, staring out the window. Tracing architecture, layout—scanning data. Analyzing. Calculating. Categorizing.
"Trouble may be drawn to you, my la—G6." He corrected, sitting.
"They are just amateurs." G6 dismissing the annoying subject.
"Shall we select another task?"
"No tasks within the capital. All outside the walls," G6 said.
"Indeed. The capital is safe ground—protected by the palace."
"Then afternoon stakeouts are useless. Let us change the plan."
"What do you propose?"
Sebastian's group approached.
"Excuse us…" Sebastian began. "Please forgive Riza. She is still young, not fully aware yet."
G6 stared back. Assessing each member: one woman, two men.
"Forget it." G6.
"Then, here." Sebastian offered the poster.
G6 did not reach. "I do not take back what I have already discarded. Now, excuse us. We are discussing something important."
"You are as cold and distant as you appear," Sebastian said, a hint of amusement. "Very well. We shall see you around."
G6 paid no further attention. The group nodded politely and withdrew.
Sebastian's group sat a few paces away. Sebastian himself positioned where he could observe G6. A paradox. A quiet, simmering aura screaming DANGER, yet undeniably ATTRACTIVE. Magnetic charisma.
"Back to it." G6 pulled Edmund's focus. "Change the schedule. Six days at Collegium. First three, I am actually there. Remaining three for 'Utility Magic Department'."
"A sound plan in theory. But will Her Majesty accept? Particularly given certain nobles… quite attached to your presence." A delicate hint. Prince. Two Pillars. Brenda.
"I do not care. That, or I will run away." She said flatly. No room for argument.
Edmund sighed inwardly. "Knight recruitment begins in two days. An abrupt change may draw suspicion. Perhaps for now, continue the facade of afternoons at Utility until then?"
"You are right."
"A task just outside the capital. Two hours away. Let us take a low-ranked mission first—to ease your… restlessness," Edmund said.
"So glad I have a strategic butler." A note of satisfaction. A faint smile.
"We will take the horses tomorrow. Following the carriage path," Edmund said.
"Then for now, we see." G6 replied.
On the other side, Sebastian's team watched their captain. His gaze lingered too long on the woman in black.
"Quite taken with that… intense lady, Captain," Xena said, sipping beer.
"Hmm. Did he not just yell at her earlier? 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!'" Dante smirked.
"Stop teasing. He is smitten. Into the… problematic type," said Nick, the youngest.
"Shut up." Sebastian's eyes never left G6. "She is just… different." A slow drink. "Something about her aura. The kind that breaks you, then comforts you—not from pity, but from amusement." A thoughtful frown. "She is… attractively dangerous."
Knowing glances. In unison, they whispered, "Looks like we were right…"
She laid her plans, carving a path toward her goals, unaware of the new threads of fate she had pulled into her orbit—including a seasoned captain captivated by her dangerous grace. A shield, or a weapon? A blessing, or a curse? Only the treacherous road ahead would tell.
In a quiet corner of the tavern, two worlds now spun. One, a woman from beyond the stars, plotting with cold fire. The other, a man of battle, caught in her pull. The game had expanded. New players were drawn onto the board, willing or not. The stakes rose. The line between ally and casualty grew thin.
—To Be Continued…—