The Frosthold Guildhall, home to countless adventurers, bustled with life until the guilds doors swung open, casting silence over the room.
As a lone figure stepped inside, his cloak billowing slightly as he moved inside, each footstep echoing through the hall. All eyes locked onto the mysterious adventurer, and whispers quickly filled the silence.
"Hey, that's him, isn't it?"
"Yeah, that's definitely him."
"You mean, his the one everyone's talking about…"
"Tch. What's he even doing here?"
"I wish he'd just leave already."
At their table, Galen and his party exchanged confused glances. Only moments ago, the guild was filled with laughter and lively conversation, but now a heavy tension blanketed the entire room.
"What the… Why did everything go silent all of a sudden?" Galen muttered to himself.
Both Raine and Lyra, equally surprised, glanced around the hall. "What's with the sudden mood shift?" Raine whispered.
Lyra shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea…"
Thorne leaned in, his voice low. "Dam, the air here got so thick you could literally slice through it with a knife, pretty scary if you ask me.."
Galen turned to one of the adventurers who had been chatting with them earlier. "Hey, what's going on here? Why's everyone acting so strange all of a sudden?
The adventurer crossed his arms, looking a little uneasy. "Oh, yeah… you see, the thing is…"
However, before he could continue speaking, a booming voice interrupted him. "Well, well, well! Would you look who it is?"
The speaker was none other than Cyrus Voss, a well-known adventurer with striking blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Leader of the Iron Talon party, Cyrus was known not just for his skill, but for his cutting words. "If it isn't everyone's favourite freak."
All around the hall, the seated adventurers, all whispered silently to one another.
"There he goes, giving the poor kid a hard time again, man.."
"Serves him right… I wish the guy would just kick him out already."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
Galen, even more confused than ever, tried to make sense of the situation as Cyrus sneered at the cloaked figure.
"Hey, freak! I'm talking to you!" Cyrus barked, reaching out and ripping the hood down, revealing the face of the silent adventurer.
A scar marked the boy's left eye, which shone a deep brown, contrasting with his black hair streaked with white.
Recognition dawned in Galen's eyes. It was same boy who had saved all their lives on Mount Draegnor.
And as the room held its breath, Galen clenched his fists. As it wasn't right.
'Just who really is this guy?' He wondered to himself, realizing that this mysterious figure held more secrets than anyone in the guild dared to admit.
End of Chapter 10.