The confrontation with Captain Worz had left a lingering tension in the air, but Xhaelyn paid it no mind. She wasn't here to play power games—Crimsonclaw could handle that themselves. Her priorities lay elsewhere.
"Alright," Jacob's voice cut through the air. "Let's deal with the mission report first. After that, we rest."
A wave of relief swept through the group at the mention of rest. Even the more seasoned members weren't immune to fatigue after hauling three massive duskrend carcasses through rough terrain.
Xhaelyn, however, hesitated. She had traveled with them, fought alongside them—even if only briefly—but this wasn't her group.
She had no place in their mission report, no reason to stay.
Noticing her silence, Paulo glanced her way. "You coming or not?"
She blinked, slightly caught off guard. "I…"
Jacob chuckled. "You helped us. You're part of the team, at least for now."
Xhaelyn hesitated for only a moment longer before nodding.
The guild's interior was lively but not chaotic. The air buzzed with hushed conversations, the clinking of mugs, and the occasional sound of metal scraping against metal as mercenaries maintained their weapons.
At the reception desk, a guild official in reinforced leather armor reviewed their report. His gaze flickered toward the proof of their hunt—the tusks, claws, and hide fragments they had presented. He gave an approving nod.
"Three duskrends, one trip. That's not something we see every day," he remarked. "Crimsonclaw is making a name for itself."
Jacob accepted the stamped mission slip with a nod of thanks, then handed it off to Owen, who took it with a lazy grin. "Guess that means payday's coming up."
The guild official chuckled. "Enjoy it while it lasts. Big hunts put you on the map, but they also put targets on your backs."
"We'll keep that in mind," Jacob replied smoothly.
With their business settled, the group moved toward a quieter section of the guild hall. Xhaelyn followed, but as they reached a less crowded corner, she finally spoke.
"Thank you," she said, her voice steady.
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"For bringing me along."
A short silence followed her words, as if the group hadn't expected her to say it so plainly.
Then, Paulo scoffed. "You make it sound like we did you some huge favor."
Xhaelyn tilted her head. "Didn't you?"
Paulo folded his arms. "You held your own back there. You're not deadweight, so it's not like we dragged you along out of pity."
Owen smirked. "Besides, you made the trip more interesting."
"Not to mention you gave Worz a headache," Alex added with a grin. "That alone makes it worth it."
Jacob chuckled. "Point is, you earned your place on this trip. No need to thank us."
Xhaelyn absorbed their words, her expression unreadable. Gratitude had never been a weakness to her—it was simply an acknowledgment of what was given. And though she hadn't needed their protection, the fact remained that without them, traveling alone would have been more difficult.
Even so, their responses made something settle within her.
She had expected dismissal or perhaps polite indifference. Instead, they treated her like she belonged, even if only for now.
She nodded. "Alright."
Paulo rolled his eyes. "You're weird, kid."
Xhaelyn smirked. "So I've been told."
Jacob leaned back against the wall, watching her for a moment before speaking. "What's next for you, Xhaelyn?"
Her smirk faded slightly. She hadn't decided.
The world was still new to her. She needed time to understand its structure, its dangers, its opportunities. She had her own plans, of course—building strength, gathering information, ensuring she never found herself powerless again.
But for now…
"I'll figure it out," she said simply.
Jacob nodded. "Well, you can stay at our headquarters."
A casual offer. Nothing binding. But something about it made Xhaelyn pause.
She had spent most of her lives avoiding attachments. Keeping her distance. Staying in control.
"Maybe," she said. But after a brief hesitation, she glanced at Jacob. "Are you sure that's fine?"
Carlo responded almost immediately, his voice warm. "Of course! You can stay with us as long as you want. No need to worry about food either."
Xhaelyn blinked at his eagerness. His kindness, paired with the others' easygoing acceptance, caught her off guard. She glanced down at her hands—no longer the unnaturally deathly pale skin she once had, but a warm, light-medium tone. Different from the warm-medium shade she had in her previous lives.
Her minor wounds had healed without scarring—thanks to Carlo—and the deeper ones were still mending.
As she looked at this lively group of mercenaries, something in her thoughts shifted.
Maybe she wouldn't mind sticking around a bit longer.
The journey to the Crimsonclaw headquarters was quiet. The group, tired from their hunt, moved at a steady pace, eager for rest. Xhaelyn took the time to observe. Their base wasn't too far from the guild, nestled within the outer district of the city.
The building was larger than she expected—not quite a fortress, but fortified enough to withstand trouble. A tall, reinforced wooden gate marked the entrance, flanked by watchtowers where a few members stood guard. As they approached, one of the sentries called out a greeting, and Jacob responded with a casual wave.
Inside, the headquarters had the structured chaos of a lived-in space. The main hall was open and spacious, lined with weapon racks, storage crates, and seating areas. A few mercenaries milled about, some cleaning their gear, others tending to minor injuries.
Jacob clapped his hands once. "Alright, rest up. We'll eat soon."
The group dispersed, some heading straight to their quarters. Xhaelyn, not having a designated place, found a quiet spot near one of the empty seats and leaned against the wall. She wasn't exhausted, but she wouldn't refuse a moment of stillness.
A few minutes later, Carlo stretched his arms and stood. "I'll start preparing food."
Paulo groaned but pushed himself up. "Fine, I'll help."
Carlo smirked. "I wasn't going to ask, but since you're offering…"
"Tch," Paulo muttered, following him to what seemed to be the kitchen area.
Xhaelyn watched them go before shifting her attention to her surroundings. The atmosphere here was… comfortable. It lacked the rigid discipline of an army but had an unspoken order—everyone knew their role, their place.
Soon, the scent of cooking filled the air. Whatever Carlo and Paulo were making, it smelled good. Her stomach gave the faintest of grumbles, though she ignored it out of habit.
Before long, Carlo's voice rang out. "Food's ready!"
The mercenaries gathered, some with more enthusiasm than others. Bowls of stew, roasted meat, and fresh bread were spread across the table. It was simple, but hearty.
"Bon appétit," Carlo said with a grin.
Xhaelyn hesitated for just a second before sitting down with the others. It wasn't her first time eating with a group, but it had been a while since she had done so in a setting like this—casual, lively, free of tension.
She took a bite. Warm, flavorful, filling.
Not bad.
"See? Told you I can cook," Carlo said, glancing at Paulo.
Paulo scoffed. "I did most of the work."
Owen smirked. "You peeled vegetables. Congrats."
Laughter rippled through the group. Xhaelyn listened, not quite joining in but not entirely detached either.
After the meal, Jacob stood. "Alright, Xhaelyn, let's get you settled."
She followed him down a hallway lined with doors. He stopped in front of one and pushed it open.
"This'll be your room."
Inside was a simple but clean space. A bed, a small wooden desk, and a wardrobe. Bare, but functional.
"Not much, but it'll do," Jacob said. "If you need anything, let us know."
Xhaelyn stepped inside, testing the space. It was more than enough.
"It's fine," she said.
Jacob nodded and left her to settle in.
She turned her attention to her clothes—still stained from travel and battle. Before she could think of a solution, there was a knock on her door.
Carlo stood there, holding a small bundle of neatly folded clothes.
"These might fit you," he said. "They belonged to my daughter, but she's with her mother now, so…"
Xhaelyn accepted them with a nod. "Thank you."
Carlo smiled. "No problem. Let me know if you need anything else."
As he left, Xhaelyn glanced at the clothes. A simple tunic, pants, and a warm cloak.
She changed, noting how they fit—slightly loose, but manageable. The fabric was well-worn but comfortable.
After changing into the clothes Carlo gave her, Xhaelyn sat on the edge of the bed. The exhaustion she had been pushing aside was finally catching up to her. Her body, though stronger than an average child's, was still recovering from days of travel and fighting.
Maybe just a short rest.
She lay down, the mattress firm but far better than sleeping on forest ground. As soon as she closed her eyes, the weight of fatigue settled over her, pulling her into sleep.
When Xhaelyn woke up, the room was bathed in the soft glow of late afternoon light. She sat up, blinking away the lingering drowsiness.
So she had actually slept. Longer than she intended.
Stretching slightly, she pushed herself off the bed and adjusted her clothes. She felt more refreshed, though her body still carried the dull ache of healing injuries.
As she moved toward the small mirror hanging on the wall, her reflection caught her attention. Her hair, now completely clean from the journey, cascaded in long, voluminous waves past her waist. The deep black base blended seamlessly into rich golden-brown tones before transitioning into vibrant violet and spectral silver-white at the tips. Before, the dust and grime had muted its uniqueness. Now, in its pristine state, it stood out far too much.
Too eye-catching.
She had no interest in drawing unnecessary attention. With practiced ease, she gathered her hair into a tight bun, securing it neatly before pulling up the hood of her cloak. Satisfied, she turned to the door.
She needed to get a better feel for the city, understand its structure, and gather information.
Exiting her room, she found a few Crimsonclaw members lounging in the main hall. Carlo and Owen were engaged in casual conversation, while Paulo was sharpening his weapon. Jacob wasn't in sight, but she figured he'd turn up eventually.
She approached the group, and Carlo was the first to notice her. "Hey, slept well?"
Xhaelyn gave a small nod. "Yeah."
Paulo glanced up from his blade. "So, what now? You planning to stick around or heading off?"
She crossed her arms. "I'm going out for a bit."
Carlo raised an eyebrow. "Alone?"
"Yes."
Owen smirked. "And here I thought you were getting comfortable with us."
Xhaelyn shook her head slightly. "I need to look around. Learn more about the city."
Carlo hummed. "Fair enough. Just be careful. Some parts of the city aren't exactly friendly."
She nodded. "I'll manage."
Jacob's voice came from behind her. "You heading out?"
She turned to find him leaning against the wall. He had that usual calm demeanor, but his gaze was sharp.
"Yes," she confirmed.
Jacob studied her for a moment before nodding. "Don't get into trouble."
Xhaelyn smirked. "No promises."
With that, she turned and made her way toward the exit.