The celebration inside the guild hall died instantly. Heavy footsteps echoed from the entrance.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
The massive doors creaked open as a towering figure stepped inside.
Obsidian armor covered his body from shoulder to boot, polished yet scarred from countless battles. A blue royal cape hung behind him, its silver crest glinting in the dawn light.
A massive broadsword rested across his back. The air grew heavy. Adventurers instinctively stepped aside.
One of the adventurers standing near the tables suddenly staggered backward, his face turning pale before collapsing to the floor.
"No way…" he muttered weakly.
"That's… that's General Glade of the Purge Knights…"
Whispers spread across the hall.
"General Relmhein…?"
"Why would someone like him be here?"
Even Rowan stiffened. Kael felt it immediately.
That same oppressive presence he had sensed when he first met Zerilda. A presence that commanded respect, and fear.
This man was dangerous. Very dangerous. The towering knight slowly scanned the room, his cold eyes studying every face.
Then he grinned.
"Now then," the man said calmly, his deep voice carrying across the hall.
"Where's this guy named Kael?"
Kael took a small step back. His throat tightened.
Now what?
Before anyone could respond, hurried footsteps echoed from outside. A young girl burst through the door, breathing heavily.
She looked to be in her late teens, wearing a clean white mage coat that flowed down to her knees. In her hand was an obsidian staff topped with a glowing blue crystal orb.
Her short blonde hair bounced as she stopped beside the armored giant, trying to catch her breath.
"Hey… Commander Glade…" she said between breaths.
"What's the haste…?"
She leaned forward slightly, hands on her knees.
"You… you walk too fast…"
Glade didn't even look at her.
Instead, his eyes remained fixed on the crowd.
"He's here, Lenalie," he said calmly.
"The guy we were looking for."
The girl straightened immediately.
"Really, sir? Where?"
She raised one hand above her eyes to block the light and began scanning the crowded hall. Her eyes narrowed.
Then she pointed directly.
"There."
"You're right, sir."
"He's over there."
Her finger pointed straight at Kael.
Zerilda's eyes widened.
How…?
She hadn't described Kael in the report she sent to the capital. Not even his appearance.
So how did they recognize him so quickly?
Kael stood frozen.
Damn it… What now?
His thoughts began to race. Lenalie tilted her head as she observed him.
"But he looks too weak, sir," she said bluntly.
Glade crossed his massive arms.
Then suddenly.. A booming laugh erupted from him.
"HAHAHAHA!"
The entire hall shook with the force of it.
"You really don't know how to hold back, kid."
He reached down and patted the girl on the head. Lenalie immediately puffed her cheeks in annoyance.
"Not a kid, sir," she protested.
Meanwhile, Zerilda stepped forward.
Her boots clicked against the wooden floor as she approached the towering knight.
"What is the commander of the Royal Knight Army doing in a remote town like this?" she asked calmly.
"If I may ask."
"Leaving your post in the capital just to come here?"
Glade turned toward her. For a moment, his expression softened.
"Oh…"
"Zerilda."
A smirk appeared on his scarred face.
"The White Valkyrie."
"I haven't seen you in ages." He studied her briefly.
"I heard the rumors," he continued.
"But I didn't believe you really became the Guild Master of Liberlan."
Zerilda crossed her arms.
"Yes," she replied calmly.
"I retired from adventuring a few years ago."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"So tell me, General…"
"What's the problem in my town?"
The hall fell silent again. Glade slowly turned his head. His gaze landed on Kael once more.
The grin returned.
"Oh… nothing serious." He paused.
"Just a small investigation."
His eyes gleamed with interest.
"About a man who walked out of a cave that's been sealed for centuries."
The temperature in the room dropped.
Every adventurer in the guild slowly turned toward Kael.
Glade's voice lowered.
"And I'd very much like to hear his side of the story."
Kael's heart pounded..The entire guild hall was watching him now. And for the first time since arriving in Liberlan.
He felt truly cornered.
The silence inside the guild hall stretched uncomfortably.
Glade Relmhein stood like an immovable wall of iron in the center of the room, arms crossed over his chest.
His scarred face held a faint grin as his eyes remained locked on Kael. Every adventurer present slowly turned to look at him.
Kael could feel it. Dozens of gazes pressing down on him.
Rowan stepped slightly to the side, instinctively placing himself between Kael and the towering commander.
Kinon straightened, while Runo, still recovering, watched nervously from behind him.
Lenalie tilted her head, studying Kael curiously. The blue crystal orb on top of her obsidian staff glowed faintly as she held it close to her chest.
"So," Glade said at last, his voice echoing calmly through the hall.
"You're Kael."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"Yes."
Glade's grin widened.
"Interesting."
He took a step forward. The wooden floor groaned slightly under the weight of his armor.
"Do you know how many rumors reach the capital in a single week?"
Kael didn't answer.
Glade continued anyway.
"Hundreds.... But most of them are useless."
Then another step.
"But sometimes…" he said, tapping the side of his helmet with one finger.
"…something catches my attention." His eyes sharpened.
"A sealed cave from ancient times. And now a group of adventurers nearly wiped out by personal greediness ."
"And a man who walked out of that cave alive."
No one spoke. Rowan's hand drifted toward his sword. Even the guild's veterans held their breath.
Glade stopped a few steps away from Kael.
"Tell me," he said quietly.
"How does someone like you survive a place that has killed every explorer for centuries?"
Kael held his gaze.
"I got lucky."
For a moment… Nothing happened.
Then Glade burst out laughing again.
"Hahaha!"
"Lucky?"
He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.
"That's the best lie I've heard all week."
Lenalie stepped forward slightly.
"Sir," she said softly, raising her staff.
The blue crystal orb glowed brighter.
"May I?"
Glade waved his hand casually.
"Go ahead."
Lenalie nodded and lifted the staff.
The crystal shimmered, releasing a faint ripple of light that spread across the room like a gentle wave. Several adventurers looked around in confusion.
"What is she doing?" someone whispered. Rowan frowned slightly but didn't move.
The magic passed through the room… brushing against every person.
Then it reached Kael. The orb flashed.
Lenalie's eyes widened.
"Huh?"
The glow flickered. Then flickered again. Her expression shifted from curiosity… to confusion.
"That's strange…"
Glade raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
Lenalie lowered the staff slowly.
"I can't read him properly." Murmurs rippled through the hall.
"What do you mean?"
She stared at Kael again, concentrating harder.
"It's like… his mana signature is…"
She hesitated.
"…wrong."
The word echoed through the quiet room. Rowan's hand moved slightly toward his sword.
Kinon tensed. Runo swallowed nervously.
Glade's grin slowly faded. Now he looked genuinely interested.
"Wrong, huh?"
He stepped closer to Kael. Very close now. Close enough that Kael could see the thin scars running across the commander's jaw and neck.
Glade studied him silently for several seconds.
Then he spoke again.
"You don't smell like the Abyss."
A pause.
"But you don't feel entirely human either."
The room froze. Zerilda's eyes narrowed. Lenalie tilted her head again, staring intensely at Kael as if trying to solve a puzzle.
Glade straightened. "Well now…"
He slowly cracked his neck. "This just became interesting."
Kael's heart pounded. He had a feeling this man wasn't just testing him.
He was hunting.
Glade turned back toward Zerilda casually.
"Relax, Guildmaster."
"I'm not here to start trouble."
His grin returned.
"Yet."
He looked back at Kael.
"But I do have a proposal."
The room held its breath. Glade tapped the hilt of the massive broadsword on his back.
"The capital is organizing an expedition."
"To the deepest parts of the Sanctum Forest."
"And more importantly…"
His eyes gleamed.
"…to the sealed cave."
Several adventurers gasped quietly.
Glade pointed directly at Kael.
"And you… You're coming with us."
Silence fell again. Rowan stepped forward immediately.
"Hold on."
Glade glanced at him. Rowan's voice hardened.
"You don't just walk in here and take someone from this guild."
Glade stared at him for a moment.
Then slowly…
He smiled.
"Oh?"
The temperature in the room dropped again.
"And who exactly is going to stop me?"
Rowan didn't back down.
But before anything could escalate,
Zerilda raised her hand.
"That's enough."
Her voice carried authority. Both men looked at her. She sighed slightly.
Then spoke.
"If the capital wants to investigate the cave, that's their business."
Her eyes shifted briefly to Kael.
"But Kael is an adventurer registered under this guild."
She stepped closer.
"So if you want him involved…"
Her gaze sharpened.
"You'll ask him."
The entire hall waited. Glade looked back at Kael. The grin slowly returned.
"Well then."
He folded his arms again.
"What do you say, kid?"
The dawn sunlight finally reached the windows of the guild hall. And Kael realized something important.
No matter what he answered. His life in Liberlan had just changed forever.
The challenge hung heavily in the air.
"A friendly duel," Glade repeated, his deep voice echoing across the guild hall.
"Just to see if the man who survived the Forbidden Cave is more than just a lucky survivor."
Before anyone else could react, Rowan stepped forward.
"Then I'll be your opponent."
The room stirred in surprise. Glade slowly turned his head toward Rowan, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
"Oh?"
Rowan's posture was firm, his hand resting near the hilt of his weapon.
"If you want a duel," he continued, "fight me instead. Kael just returned from the forest. He's exhausted."
Several adventurers nodded in agreement.
"That's right!"
"He's barely standing!"
Runo leaned forward nervously.
"Rowan's right! The guy just fought in the Sanctum Forest!"
Glade studied Rowan for a moment, amused.
"A loyal guardian, huh?"
He chuckled quietly.
"I admire that."
But before the commander could answer.
"Rowan."
Kael's voice cut through the room.
Rowan turned. Kael stepped forward calmly.
"Let me handle the duel." Rowan frowned.
"You don't need to prove anything to him."
Kael shook his head slowly.
"Yes… I do."
His eyes shifted briefly toward Glade.
"If I want to go back to the cave… this is my only ticket."
The words settled over the room like a heavy stone. Rowan understood immediately. The cave.
Kael wasn't doing this for pride.
He had a reason. A purpose.
Rowan studied him for a long moment.
"…You're serious about this." Kael nodded.
"I am."
A quiet sigh escaped Rowan before he stepped aside.
"Fine."
But his eyes hardened as he looked toward Glade.
"If he gets seriously hurt…"
Glade raised both hands innocently.
"Relax."
"I said friendly."
He cracked his neck.
"Besides…"
His sharp gaze returned to Kael.
"If he's really going back to the Sanctum Cave…"
"…he'd better be able to survive something like this."
Lenalie clapped her hands excitedly.
"Ooooh! This is getting interesting!"
Zerilda rubbed her temples.
"I swear this guild hall is becoming an arena…"
Glade turned toward the doors and pushed them open.
Morning light poured inside.
"Outside," he said.
"Wouldn't want to destroy your guild building."
Adventurers immediately began moving, pouring outside to watch.
The streets of Liberlan were still quiet at dawn, but the gathering crowd quickly turned the open space in front of the guild into an impromptu arena.
Glade walked to the center of the clearing and slowly removed the massive broadsword from his back.
The sound of steel sliding from its sheath sent a chill down many spines.
He rested the tip of the blade against the ground casually.
"Don't worry," he said.
"I won't use the sharp edge."
Then he lifted the sword with one hand and rested it on his shoulder.
His grin widened.
"Your move, Kael."
The morning wind brushed across the empty street. No one spoke. Even the townspeople gathering nearby held their breath.
Behind them, the adventurers of Liberlan watched with tense anticipation.
Rowan folded his arms, eyes locked on Kael.
Kinon muttered quietly, "This is insane…"
Runo swallowed nervously. Lenalie leaned forward with sparkling eyes.
And Kael stepped into the center of the clearing. His hand moved toward the dagger at his side.
If he wanted to return to the sealed cave…
If he wanted to save Eiscia…
Then this duel was only the beginning.
General Glade Relmhein intended to discover whether the man before him was a survivor… or something far more dangerous.